Scouting Ahead, Part 6: The Road to Rivendell

[ArPharazon]

Calaron:

He grasped at the gash on his leg, the pain showing in his face. In less than a second, he withdrew his power, and the silence vanished from the surrounding area. Hatred showing in his now pitch-black eyes, Calaron looked up and let out a loud scream of agony and frustration at the Avar, enough to scare the remaining birds out of the nearby trees and make even the Orcs shudder.

"Get him!" he shouted at the Orcs in a deep, echoing and slightly broken voice. "Kill him! He cannot be allowed to reach his friends! We'll capture another instead!" The terrified Orcs shot their crossbows at Estarion, only grazing his leg, and hitting some of their companions which were giving chase to the Elf.

Chasing after his enemy, Calaron darted into the trees despite the wound on his leg, his Orcs running with him. Seemingly radiating shadow now, he ran to the circle, but was too late to stop Estarion from reinforcing the party. Just in time he regained his caution to stop himself from jumping into the clearing, and instead he signalled the Orcs to follow him, as he swiftly made his way along the outer edge of the clearing.

Calion:

Being occupied with spiders in trees and Orcs who weren't surrounding Auros, but approached his ranged companions, Calion was the last to join Auros and Frali in close combat, after cutting a bigger hole out of the gap Frali had entered. The companions prepared to make a stand, and his hope for their victory strengthened even further when Meren's darts hit their targets, until a new, larger force of Orcs burst through the trees on the westflank. Turning around to glance at their numbers, his eyes widened, for in their midst stood his own brother, surrounded by shadow, with a darkness in his eyes and an evil smile on his face.

As Orcs, Elves and Dwarf turned briefly to look, and the fighting seemed to slow down, Calaron raised his hand, and ordered loudly in a black, authoritative voice, to cease the fighting. Immediately the Orcs around the fighting Elves fell back around their leader, now greatly outnumbering the tired defenders. Calion raised his blade to face the new and old adversaries, eyeing his brother warily.

With restrained anger, Calaron caught his glare, and spoke calmly, his voice still echoing the shadows within and around him. "You have fought well, brother. But you cannot last. If one of you tells me what I want to know, I might spare some of you. But believe me, I have many ways to extract information, physical or otherwise. You would not want me to use them." Facing Auros, he continued, "Sir Auros, I know you are on a mission of potential great importance to the fate of this land. For your own health and sanity, you would do well to reveal the secret."

[Eonwë]

Auros:

The Noldo drew himself up. Suddenly laughter erupted from his lips, but there was no mirth in it, only derision. "'My own health and sanity?!' I am of the Noldor! Through anguish and woe, through death and flame, through treachery and the threat
thereof my sires made war upon Morgoth. With might and with pride we defied his greatest servant. What do you think one such as you could accomplish against me?

Indeed, my eyes pierce your cloaks. The Noldor are not blind! I know not by what deceits you have gained your prisoner, but you have not the power to stay me. Look not to your prisoner to protect you, for if he cannot master himself, he is already lost."

Auros drew his sword to his side, his stance shifting slightly, his eyes fixed on his target. "I would be doing him a favor to free him from you. You would fall to my blade long before the first of your orcs could slide an arrow into its bow."

As Auros prepared to attack his enemy, and it appeared the fight would start once more, a shrill whistle came from the trees, and a company of elves emerged from the north into the clearing, bows drawn.

[ArPharazon]

Calaron:

Glancing at the newcomers, Calaron winced. If there was one squadron in the open, there would likely be 2 more hidden in the trees. Obviously his scouts and roaming forces did not do their work well, for this region of the forest should have been cleared of and checked for Elven patrols days ago. Blast these Elves and their skills of stealth.

Knowing that there would be little chance of victory against such a force, he gestured to his forces with the most minimal of handgestures, while addressing the Noldo in conversation. As he spoke, the Orcs moved into a protective stance, ready to interrupt any assault.

"It might please you to know that my 'prisoner' fought well, Elf, and I had to take some measures to break his spirit. But the powers of those who serve the Dark one are great, and not even you might last very long, had I chosen you instead." Taking a few steps back into the shadow, Calaron continued, "But lucky for you, I did not. The secrets of Mirkwood were worth more to me. A bad choice, perhaps, if I can even guess at the importance of your mission. But for now, it seems I must cut our conversation short. In Mirkwood your life is guarded, but perhaps the next time we meet you won't find yourself on friendly grounds."

Retreating back to the shadows around the clearing, he shouted: "I know you have business in the North, Noldo! I will be waiting for you! Find me if you dare!" And with that he vanished, the Orcs following in more disorganized manner, while fending off Elven attacks, and trying to dodge the arrows that followed swiftly.

Calion:

No longer able to control himself, Calion raced across the clearing to chase his brother. "Calaron! Fight him! You can't let him win!" he shouted, while motioning the Elven patrols to follow. After sprinting into the woods and cutting down a spider or two in his wake, leaving behind his reinforcements for a short distance in his folly, a sword struck at him. Parrying it with his knife, he stared into a familiar face.

"Ah, but I've already won, brother", Calaron said, mocking the last word. "But I can't stay. If you want your revenge, face me in Angmar!" And with that he released the sword, threw a small shockwave of shadow in Calion's face to knock him back and distract him, and was gone into the trees. When Calion had shaken it off, further chase looked to be impossible, for by skill or sorcery, Calaron had seemingly left no trace.

Falling back to his comrades, Calion apologized to lord Auros for his rash behavior just before. "If you move to Angmar, I will stand at your side. For it seems we now both share some unfinished business."

[Varda]

Fainan:

The spiders moved back from the oncoming patrols, but left strands behind them forcing the travel both in the trees and on the ground to be more cautious. Fainan tried to send off a shot at the possessed Calaron's leg but, with so many orcs in the way, redirected to clearing spiders from the path of the patrols.

"Mae govannen!" she called to them. "And never so well met as now!"

[arienv]

Frali:

The dwarf suddenly found himself engaged with a couple of orcs while their elven leader vanished after a short exchange with Auros, that turned quickly into a rout when elven reinforcements joined them finally.

He was enough of a strategist to know that a confrontation without their timely arrival would have meant their certain death - at least his -, but part of him regretted the missed chance to prove himself worthy.

Frali hoped he hadn't made a fool of himself so far and almost frustrated he threw the last of his beloved axes into the back of the fleeing orc and grunted satisfied when the weapon bit deep and the unlucky victim collapsed in a heap.

After a quick glance around the warrior picked his way through fallen orcs and spiders to join Fainan and the others and bowed deeply to their rescuers after wiping some sweat from his dirty face with mud and blood splattered hands.

[Eonwë]

Auros:

Wiping the blood from his blade and sheathing it, Auros left the chase to Calion and the first company. Another company had emerged from the trees to secure the area begin dealing with the evidence of the battle. Seeking out the captain, he and Auros conversed quietly, though the discussion quickly became heated. Walking away unsatisfied, Auros found a clean spot in the clearing, out of the way of those labouring, and called for those of his companions who hadn't charged after the enemy.

"Two hours, then we depart. Take your rest now. Once the scouts have ensured the path westward is clear, we must be ready to go. This battle has cost us much time, and we must lose no more."

Sitting down and leaning against a tree, Auros closed his eyes as the bustle carried on about him.

[Shelob]

Estarion:

Estarion breathed heavily at Auros' side, preparing himself for what he supposed would be the last assault and their doom. Unexpectedly, a shrill whistle announced the arrival of help from the Woodland Elves.
As soon as the Orcs and the traitor Elf departed, Estarion sagged to the ground, no longer able to stand with the adrenaline keeping him going gone. Feeling his leg for the gash left by the arrow, he found that the trunk of his pants was completely drenched with blood.

"Lady Meren!" He called, "I am afraid I do require some attention!"

[Indis]

Meren:

During the confrontation between the brothers, Meren had watched and listened carefully, attempting to learn as much as she could of the being that had possessed Calaron. She had no doubt that were they to reach Angmar, they would meet it again. As she organized her observations and thoughts and pondered where to search out more information in the few books she had been able to bring, she heard Estarion's shout. Though drained of energy by her exertions of the past hours, to say nothing of the fear and anxiety she had felt, she managed to pull herself up, pick up her pack with the herbs, and wearily make her way to the injured Avar.

Once there, she saw his bloody garments and was energized at once. "I'm sorry, Master Estarion, but I must remove your leggings to reach the wound." With those words, she reached for a knife to cut away the leather. That done, she found a messy but not fatal injury. "You are fortunate, Gwanur, that I can treat this and bind it. It is in a place that is easy to reach, not only by the blades of the enemy, but by your friends to repair it."

Once finished with stanching the bleeding, cleaning the wound, placing herbs, and binding it up, she commented, "This is not the fine job that Master Elrond's healers would do, but it should be enough to get you to them, so they can provide the fine touches. Try not to exert yourself any more than necessary for a couple of days, so you can restore the blood you have lost and let the wound heal." She grinned at him and winked, "This is a good time to become better friends with your horse."

[Shelob]

Estarion:

After calling out, Estarion watched Meren pick herself up and make her way to him slowly, looking weary. She was quick to recognize his blood soaked pants and immediately went to work. Estarion nodded to her muttering he had another pair in his pack, but he doubted she would have done any differently.

When she was finished, Estarion replied slowly and chose his words deliberately. "I assure you, you did a fine job Lady Meren. As for the horse," he chuckled softly, "I am afraid it will take longer than that to get used to any horse at all."

[Varda]

Fainan:

Fainan watched for spiders, helping the patrols locate and pick off strays. As she did so, she chatted with the elves since she knew many of them personally.

"That was a fast response to the alarm whistle!" she said to one old friend, as the pair of elleths neatly crossfired on one of the few remaining spiders.

"Thanks, but we had already noticed a surge of spider movement and headed after it; the whistle helped us pin down the actual place they were headed. They like you but don't like the old feasting areas, so they clumped around it handily."

"We're running out of targets so, if you don't mind, I'll rejoin the party I'm helping escort. A snack and a little reverie time would be welcome. Then we're heading out of Mirkwood. I've never been far outside so it's very exciting!"

"Me either. I would envy you, but don't think I'd care to have to answer to that Noldo."

Fainan laughed. "He's not so bad, just focused on his mission. Rather cute, really."

"Oh please. Ok, I noticed that too but he's just not my type."

"Probably not mine either, but he's still interesting. At least you know to tell the others that I'm not in the least unhappy with the assignment. I heard a few of the guys talking."

"That's good to hear but better you than me. Rest well."

"May your duty be light."


Fainan smiled at the group that she would be traveling with, thankful to all of them for the chance at travel and new adventure. Mirkwood spiders and orcs were so ordinary, except for this one possession problem. Surely the wise Lord Elrond would be able to tell them how to cure it. Then the next tough part would be applying that cure and stopping the attacks on Mirkwood from Angmar in the process. An excellent mission!

[Eonwë]

Auros:

The clearing was now behind them, and the Forest Gate not far. During the ride, Auros ignored the scouts moving silently through the trees, a measure taken by the Silvan captain to ensure Auros' company a safe journey to the bounds of Mirkwood. A small contingent would be found guarding the Forest Gate, once they arrived.

And so they were. Leaves glistened at the hint of the sun on the edge of a glowing doorway that spelled the end of tree's protection on the road. Two guards stood near the edge, watching for all comers. Others sat in the flets above. The evidence of the battle long ago had of course vanished.

"Let us rest one last time within the wall of trees. We will speak with the guards and see what news comes from the west, and then we shall ride into the open field."

[Varda]

Fainan:

While Fainan felt pleased that her people took the threat to Auros's mission seriously by sending the guardian patrols, she also felt that she and the escorting party had proven inadequate to the task.

"Folks," she said, "we need to start practice runs against pretended opponents so we'll have some idea of how to defend our group and what we're capable of if we need to make our own attack. We need to figure out our individual capabilities and weaknesses that we can aid each other with to make a powerful unit. While we still have a short period of peace, perhaps we could work out a few drills now and practice along the way?"

[Varda]

Fainan:

That was the fourth hillock their little party had attacked, shocking various lizards and rabbits. Fainan felt pleased that this time they had worked together well in timing, not acting purely as solo fighters. They had begun to know what to expect of each other, Frali's ability to go ahead and quickly engage the "enemy" rock and side rocks while the others came into position surprising her most. He made a good helper to Auros' fearsome direct attack on whatever he perceived to be the leader.

Close ahead lay the passage through the mountains and potential surprise attacks. This party would know the roles of their members and be ready! Quick side hunting trips added to weapons practice and stores to carry through this less hospitable pile of rock. She felt an odd gladness for the less open area, more like the closeness of the deep forest than that constant exposure to distant eyes.

[arienv]

Frali:

After retaking to the road Frali was relieved that this continuing journey had proved to be more entertaining than he thought.

Thanks to the ministrations of Meren and some of the other elves at the clearing his stout pony could be recaptured and calmed down, the few deep cuts he had gotten away with tended to and healed. Now he seemed to be happy enough following the bigger Elven horses and trotting steady onwards like a well oiled wagonwheel. Affectionately Frali patted his pony, whom in his mind he had started to called "Chomper" and put himself into a more comfotable position in the saddle.

He glanced at his newest weapon, the orc sword he had picked up at the river and slightly shivered as he discovered some barely visible runes on the hilt. For some reason they had been hidden hitherto, but he was not too sure whether it was of any meaning. For the moment the dwarf decided to remain slilent about them and kept an eye on Fainan whether she would launch a new "attack" any time soon.

[Eonwë]

Auros:

Part of the day had been spent getting the company more used to group combat maneuvers, once they were close enough to the feet of the mountains. It had been relatively dark since a little after noon, when Anar descended westward and the Hithaeglir's shadow reached out towards the Carrock. Now the night was coming, and the last vestiges of day were fading as the mountain's shadow blended with those approaching from the east.

"That's enough for now," Auros said. "It's time to gather our strength. We make for the High Pass early tomorrow."

The Noldo built a small fire in a nook at the feet of two hills. The Beornings still kept the Pass clear, but Orcs were not the only spies that could scout this land. Some consolation could be taken in that they were not a great distance from Gwaihir's eyries (as eagles fly), but even that was little guarantee that nothing would come near.