Angmar Bound, Chapter 2: Where Shadows Lie

[Eonwë]

Auros:

A low voice carried in the night, sounding the notes of the high-elven tongue. "It's not even halfway through second watch and you already stir. Do you actually sleep or do you just pretend to set others at ease?"

Auros stood up, pushing himself off from the wall against which he'd perched, answering in the same tongue. "It depends on my mood. How do things look?"

Telperos shook his head. "There's nothing out there, at least not orcs. If you want to see it, you're still too early."

Auros leaned against the wall next to the window, a watchful eye focused on Telperos. "What is this thing? Surely no shade of the Atani could have you so concerned?"

Telperos glanced up at Auros, the look of someone hunted again flashing in his eyes. "One of the Atani? I don't think so. It's... some watchful presence that wanders the city. I have not before met its like. I do not fear the dark, or the foul things that creep under its cover, but I find this thing unsettling, as if it bears a fate I should not wish upon my worst enemy; a fate that, but for different choices, I could have borne. You've ventured to enter places ill-advised. Perhaps you've been unfazed by things that would make another's blood run cold. Perhaps this thing will mean nothing to you. I know not what binds it here, whether it haunts the city by its own will or anothers', but I almost pity it."

Auros nodded. He could see the earnestness in Telperos' face, hear it in his voice. "I suppose I'll have to judge for myself after all. What of our mission? What do you think?"

"I think you have your work cut out for you. Everything here looks prepared for a long sojourn. Perhaps the one who prepared it has some connection to the one you seek. Perhaps not. I hope we find something of use, but if it's here, I believe it's in that cellar." Telperos' mood lightened as he glanced up at Auros' hardened expression. "How is she?" Telperos pointed to the sword on Auros' right hip.

"Aldawë brought it to me."

"I see." Telperos frowned.

"I was going to see her, then something important came up."

"What could be more important ---" Telperos' scowl didn't even have time to form. "I'm sorry. Perhaps I shouldn't have set out again. It doesn't seem to have gone well for either of us."

"I made my decision, and you made yours. She would understand."

"She would've sent you after me. She would've come with you."

Auros smirked. "Indeed. Besides, I wouldn't say it's been ill fortune. You've found your father's trinket, and we've found you. I think we'll need all the help we can get before this mission is over."

Telperos glanced around the room, then took up the conversation in the Sindarin tongue. "Aye. I'll leave the cellar to you. I shall take Master Frali with me to the smithy in the morning, and we'll see if there's anything of import to be found. There's a tower in the center of town that should give an excellent view of the surrounding land. Someone positioned there should be able to see anyone coming from a distance. I don't think we'll need an archer up there, but that's up to you. I would suggest someone to --- wait. This is too early!" Telperos glared through the cracks in the shutter. "It's never come this early!"

Auros nudged Telperos out of the way. A menacing presence, a cloud of fog, poured through the street, lurching toward the guardhouse. Out of the cloud a form coalesced. One might consider it a fair visage, but something was off about it, something Auros couldn't discern until it drew closer. Auros could see the face, the eyes. It was fair, but hollow and cold. The warmth of life and the love of it had long since left those eyes, and all that shone in them now was a forlorn desire for what it could not have. The form halted before the door to the guardhouse. Recognition sparked in its eyes. It reached an arm towards the door, and the hand looked to be as firm as Auros' own. For a moment the missing warmth returned; only a moment. The hand flickered and faded. The warmth vanished as fast as it had come, and the hollow was filled with hatred and rejection. The visage twisted until it became as hideous as an orc's. The face screamed at the door, but no sound ushered forth. The face turned upwards and again took up a silent wail. The form faded back into the cloud, mouthing a curse for all living, and retreated down the street towards the cellar.

[Eonwë]

Auros:

"Rise and shine!" The sizzle and scent of meat filled the room as Telperos kicked the boots of the sleepers. "Our captain has agreed to permit our gracious hosts to supply us with some cured ham, so eat up and prepare to face the day! Alas, the eggs weren't in such good condition."

Auros sat by the window, staring into the streets filling with daylight. He hadn't bothered waking Fourth Watch. The quiet of that hour was the perfect time to reflect, and he had much to reflect on. He didn't notice Telperos until he was ready to nudge a plate into his arm. "Here, eating means you too. I found a decent enough plate for myself in the food stores."

"Thanks." The ham was salty, but it was hot, and there was a chill in the air. "Perhaps I should've asked last night, but have you found any water while you've been here?"

"Yes and no. There is a cistern the orcs used, that I wouldn't drink from on a bet, and a deeper well that seems to tap into much cleaner water. The only problem is it was of rather shoddy construction and I broke it when I threw an orc against it the day before yesterday. I don't think it collapsed completely, and we should be able to clear it and make it usable again."

Auros sighed. "Very well. That needs to be a priority. We also need someone on watch for anyone approaching."

[arienv]

Frali:

Frali grunted dismayed , then he jumped to his feet with his hands fumbling for his axe that he drew battle ready and peered around. ""Who dares to boot me in the morning? I will teach you manners for this!"

Only then the young warrior smelled the tempting scent of meat and noted the elves laughing at him. Frali grinned at them sheepily and took his place at the fire." "So, a new day has arrived then, hm? What lies ahead of us , Master Auros? I trust you haven't wasted the night as I did." The dwarf looked exptctantly ar Auros.

[Varda]

Fainan:

Laugh settling to a smile, Fainan cut off a generous portion of the ham onto what would pass for a plate and handed it to Frail. "Good morning!"

To Auros, she commented, "Somehow I seem to be well-rested, and ready to act as your look-out or even, perhaps, sniper in the tower. Do we need to set out a condensing cloth for water, before the morning fog lifts?"

[Eonwë]

Auros:

"Aye, let's do that. After breakfast, our first order of business will be to assess the damage to the well."

[Eonwë]

Telperos:

After breakfast, he led them to the well. He and Auros stared down into it.

Telperos' voice echoed back up at them. "As you can see, the walls further down are stone, but up here, it was all wood. If we're careful, I think we can pull up the broken planks before they slide further down, and maybe even recover the bucket."

Auros stepped back from the edge. "It's as bad as an orc-hole."

"Aye."

"I suppose it would take too long to try and dig at it from the side."

"If you brought a shovel you think could do the job in less than week, by all means, I'll do the digging myself. There are none here, and yes, that surprised me as well."

"Oh well, there's nothing for it. Give me a rope and tie the other end—"

"You're not the one going down there, my friend."

"It'll go faster if—"

"Someone needs to go through those manuscripts, and you're the one who knows what you're looking for. I just hope you know how to read them."

Auros grimaced. "So do I."

"Go ahead. The four of us can handle this."

Auros looked around. "Very well." Off Auros went to the cellar.

"Well, now that he's gone, we need a sentry in the tower, one person to climb down into the well and pass things up, and two people to secure the rope and grab what's passed up." Telperos stretched his arms and legs, a wry grin on his face. "When was the last time any of you went caving?"

[Varda]

Fainan:

  Fainan looked at her own boots to hide embarrassment before volunteering. "I'll take the tower, as going underground has never been my first preference. Even the chance to enter the caves of Thranduil's Halls, beautiful though they are, makes me volunteer for spider-hunting in the forests. Besides, you have the caving expert, Frali, here!"

[arienv]

Frali:

At the word "caving* the young Dwarf's eye began to sparkle. "Let 's see. The last time I went near a cave that was not Erebor you mean? Too long .. much too long , anyway. Normally I've missed them cquite a lot .. a good solid rock around me would be nice. " Frali sighed. "Are there any interesting caves near? And would it be safe to go there and leave the town for it and then return to this base?" Curiosly Frali looked at Auros , still with a sparkle in his eyes that let the Elves guess vivid interest.

[ArPharazon]

Calion:

Looking down into the well and back to Frali, Calion smiled. "I'm not sure if this counts as a cave, but you never know what treasures might be found down there." He sized up the young dwarf and added, "Though if we are to carry your weight, and of what you find, it might be best if you left your weapons up here."

[arienv]

Frali:

The dwarf looked at Calion with a mixture of disappointment and amusemment and sighted , seemingly resignated, "It will have to do then, I guess. It is better than nothing. Stone is stone I guess ..l. basically I mean, even though they tend to take the character of the environment they are in as well as the elements that formed then and the circumstances."