|
|
||
 |
 |
 |
 |
CH. 3: "THE HAUNTED DAGGER" By Bronwyn Published: May 31, 2005 Updated: May 31, 2005  Print by Bronwyn CHAPTER 3: Kelim let a large grin escape from his bearded face. “We were very lucky Laddie. This group is not one who decided to ally with anyone. All they want is their land returned to them. Since they saw no threat in our little group they let us go. But, I’m wondering about these rumors and conversations they have been hearing. He also told me that they have heard of a group including an Elf, a Dwarf, two humans, a wizard and four Hobbits who are on some type of quest. The reason wasn’t made clear, but it does give one pause to wonder.” “What year is this?” asked Anborn. “Why, it’s 3019 of the 3rd Age,” replied Kelim. “They’re talking about the legendary Battle of Pelennor Fields!” blurted out Anborn. “It’s in our legends!” “How can you know about something that hasn’t happened yet?” asked Kelim. Anborn hesitated a few seconds, gathering his thoughts. “We haven’t said much because neither of us knew what really happened, but now I guess we’d best tell you everything.” And he related what had happened to the best of their knowledge and from what time period they had come. “At least,” he added, “I think…er…we think that is what has happened. But we don’t understand why or how.” “Well I’ll be,” was all Kelim could come up with. After a bit he slapped his knee and added, “I’ll bet this will surprise the troops when we get back!” and he chuckled loudly. “When you mentioned being from the future of Middle Earth, I just thought you’re mind was a bit hazy from being caught in the cave, but you really believe you are from the future.” Morthoron smiled at this conversation. “I told you there were things at work here beyond our explanation. Now you know what I meant!” He turned to Kelim. “ A wizard, in this group you mentioned,” as he rubbed his chin in thought. “I’m very interested in finding out more about this. Especially about this wizard.” “I’m wondering about there being a Dwarf and an Elf among the group,” chuckled Kelim. “Why is that so strange, Kelim?” inquired Anoreth. “We all go to school together in Minas Tirith.” “Well, Lassie there is no love lost between many kinships of Elves and Dwarves in our Middle Earth. Of course there are exceptions, but I’ll bet my beard it will be an interesting group especially with a wizard and two Men. And of all things four Hobbits. I’ve never heard of such an alliance! Their quest must be an unusual one!” “Some of my best friends in school are Hobbits and Dwarves,” protested Anborn. “We all go to school together, just as my sister said, Kelim.” Kelim just shook his head. “Your Middle Earth must be quite different than ours,” he commented. The terrain was becoming rougher as they traveled further. A large, rocky outcrop gazed down on them as they began to climb. Anoreth teetered on a ledge as Anborn grabbed her arm. Kelim saw this and clasped a large, muscular hand onto her arm pulling her up. “Thank you Kelim,” panted the girl. “Could we rest for a few minutes?” The two Dwarves were used to such ground, but he realized that the two human young people were not. “Of course Lass,” he agreed as he showed them a shady spot in which to sit. They could see most of the area around them. It seemed peaceful enough to the twins, but Kelim and Maur kept a careful watch. “Where are you leading us, Kelim?” Asked Anoreth. “Is it a long ways yet?” “We should be seeing old camps that our troops left pretty soon,” Maur said to Kelim. “This is about the same area we covered earlier. There will be an area in which we had a battle, too.” “Who are you fighting?” asked Anoreth. “Our enemy is made up of several different types,” explained Maur. “Most that I have seen are from Dunland, but there are some Easterlings and a few Southrons mixed in.” “And some Orcs, too,” broke in Kelim. “Haven’t seen any Uruks lately, though.” “We’ve read about the Orcs in our legends, but what are Uruks?” inquired Anborn. I don’t think I’ve ever heard about them.” “Oh, Laddie you don’t even want to meet one!” put in Kelim. “They are something altogether terrible. They are said to have been created by the wizard Saruman just for the purpose of killing us. They are not like the Orcs as they will fight in the night or day. Orcs prefer night only. They don’t like daylight, but Uruks will fight anytime. And, they are very large. Covered with black armor, they are. Very hard to kill, too.” With that description the twins shivered a bit. They really didn’t wish to see any of these monsters! “Don’t forget the Nazgul, Kelim nor their little pets the Fire-dragons,” put in Maug. “Nasty things they are!” he grunted as he picked himself up from the rocky ground. “Lady Aiya was attacked by a Cold-drake at Barrow Downs, too I believe,” he added grimly. The two young people gazed at each other with wide eyes. Cold-drakes, Fire-dragons, cystals that glowed? It seemed as if they were in some strange land! Not the Middle Earth in which they lived. The group kept to a grown over track that Kelim and Maug seemed to know. At least the twins hoped they did. They had been hopelessly lost since the cave. Now, they were just awed by what they had seen and heard. “This is your home Anborn,” comforted Morthoron. He could see that they were becoming more confused as time went by. “I promise you, this is Middle Earth. The same as where you live. It’s just your ancient past. You will understand as we continue.” “Ah,” cried out Kelim. “Here is the place of the last battle, before I left the troop. We should be able to find them soon, I hope.” Both the Dwarves hunted for the signs of direction in which their friends had gone and before long Maug beckoned them in his direction. “I’ve found a track. It’s moving in a strange direction from what I expected, but it may be they had unexpected problems. Let’s just keep going, but I warn you it’s a wee bit swampy across some of these areas!” As the twins found out this was an understatement. The swamp led on for what seemed forever with little islands of ground in between murky, muddy water. On one of these the leaders decided to make camp for the evening. Maug and Morthoron built a small fire with bits of branches from the sparse brush that attempted to grow on the small bits of land that poked out of the marshy land while Kelim hunted for some food. In a bit he brought back some plants that looked awful to Anborn and Anoreth, but he promised they would taste fine once cooked. As they choked down the ‘vegetables’ which Kelim had produced they sat silently. “How is it you two,” asked Kelim. “Oh, just fine,” answered Anoreth. She cut off what Anborn was about to say, and looked at him with a warning in her eyes. As a twin, Anborn knew she meant ‘ don’t say a thing!’ They were used to knowing each other’s thoughts. It happens that way with twins sometimes, they had been told. After they ate they curled up next to the fire wrapped in the cloaks that the Dwarves had given them. A strange and awful sound awoke all of them. It was deep night with just a sliver of moon for light. The two young adventurers could barely discern dark shadows in the air above them. Their Dwarvish friends knew immediately what they were. Dragons of the Nazgul. But, why were they here in this area? The crystal! Kelim had a feeling that this might be the reason. Could the evil one see that one of these youngsters was carrying it? He knew they would have to be protected at all costs until they could find the safety of the troops. Standing with his axe ready, and joined by both Maug and Morthoron they readied themselves for an attack by these silent shadowy beasts. “Here, you two, under the bushes with you,” ordered Kelim. “Now you stay put until we find what is going on!” With this he stalked back to the other two and they all three stood back to back awaiting whatever should come out of the night. “Whom ever is riding those beasts must know were here. Why else would they be here?” questioned Maug. Suddenly there appeared a piercing blue light over the wasteland. It seemed to be emanating from a point south of them, but in the darkness they were unable to discern just what it was or from where. Finally, out of the gloom rode a figure swathed in dark clothing and riding toward them as if already knowing their whereabouts. Kelim halted the figure just outside of the small encampment with a firm command, which the figure obeyed. A quiet conversation ensued after which both Kelim and the figure approached. After dismounting the stranger nodded to the occupants around the fire. Both teens had come from their protection beneath the bushes and were staring wide eyed as this new visitor brushed the hood from a deep blue cloak back to uncover the face of a beautiful Elf woman. She stood tall and proud as the twins noticed that the dark blue cloak covered highly burnished armor. They also could now see that she was fully armed with two swords and a highly decorated shield, which had been partially hidden, on her back. “Hello,” she said in a soft and tinkling voice. I am Nymphadora. I saw your travels and thought to aid you. I come from the north of the Hithaeglir. I believe you usually call them the Misty Mountains? My castle is located in that area.” “Ah, you saw us?” You must be some type of Sorceress, My Lady? Are you also a Seer?” questioned Maug. “But I have never heard of a castle in that area.” The woman smiled. “I am Istari, and have taken care not to advertise my existence. My abode is hidden to all but those I will allow to see it.” As she gently seated herself on a convenient rock near the fire she continued. “I know where you head, my Dwarvish friends. And, I also know with whom you travel.” With this she directed her gaze at the twins and nodded. “Then you must also be aware of our problems in seeking those for whom we search,” commented Kelim. “I have seen your problems and I also know the whereabouts of the troops you seek. They are on a rescue mission and are about to become involved in a battle with Sauron’s allies,” she related. If you will allow me I will guide you along an unknown path towards those you wish to find.” Kelim thought for a moment before answering. “My Lady, I don’t doubt you, believe me. But, it will have to be a safe path. These two we care for are not used to this country. At least not the way it now is, so full of dangers.” “Worry not, my Dwarvish adventurer. This path is unknown to most, especially the allies of Sauron and Saruman. Oh yes, I am aware of whom those two contrive to ally themselves!” The Sorceress then made ready to rest a bit. “We will leave at dawn. You will no longer have to worry about those who fly in the night. They will, I think, be engaged in other things for awhile.” All lay down as Maug pitched another branch on the fire and soon were fast asleep. No dangers could befall them while this female wizard protected them. At least that was their fervent hope. At dawn after a short meal the group followed Nymphadora along the marshy area onto an unknown track and headed for a foothill that seemed taller than the others. After climbing a steep, narrow path with several very deep pitfalls they approached what looked like a cave entrance. “We aren’t going into this are we?” questioned Kelim. “Orcs love places like this, not to mention Long-worms!” Kelim, as well as Maug had been told tales of Scatha from childhood. And, even though this happened long ago in the north, Dwarves were ever cautious. “No enemy of any kind lurks here,” comforted the Sorceress. “Come along now, this will be a shorter way, I promise.” Anborn and Anoreth had been silent for sometime. This was, of course, unbelievable to them. More like a bedtime story, but this cave looked even scarier than the last one. They held each other’s hand going into the entrance. This was a habit they had grown out of years ago when still older children! As the group entered the black maw of the cave Nymphadora raised her staff. A blue light shown from it lighting the way and what they saw took their breath away. The walls of the tunnels and chambers glittered brightly as if solid with jewels! “Oh, what kind of cave is this?” gasped Anoreth. The rest of the group were just as awed by its appearance. “In all my days as a delver in the ground I’ve never seen a sight like this!” declared Kelim in a whisper. Maug just nodded silently. He was speechless for the moment. Onward they traveled until they came to a giant hall. It was so large that one couldn’t see the entire area even with the aid of the Sorceress’s light. There were large columns, which seemed to hold up an unseen ceiling, and black arched doorways leading to unknown areas yet Nymphadora seemed to know exactly where she was heading. She led them on with certain strides twisting and turning into passages, and passing though more halls, although not as big as the one they had first encountered. As they passed along an unusually broad tunnel they came to another large chamber. What they saw made the group stop abruptly. There, in carved niches along both sides of the wall were reclining statues of what appeared to be kings! “Wh- where are we?” stuttered Anborn. “This looks like a royal burial chamber! Are these kings? I’ve never read about anything like this in the books at Minas Tirith. “Don’t feel along, Laddie,” added Kelim. I may be a Dwarf, but I have never heard nor seen this before. Even in the hidden lore of my people there is no mention of a hidden burial chamber in a jeweled cavern in this area, or, anywhere else, for that matter. “This is unknown to but a few and will remain that way. Unless accompanied by one like I you would not be able to see the entrance,” informed the Sorceress. “We will be staying in another part of this place for a rest in awhile. Then I will tell you about this place.” The group continued down a short hallway into an area, which was set up as a living area. It contained a table, chairs, cots, and a storage area with food. All of this seemed usual to the Sorceress, while the others could not fathom what was happening. After they drank and ate what was available the group, seated around the table looked to the Elf-Sorceress for the information she had promised. “Long ago there were a group who were my ancestors. They did not go to the Blessed Lands after awakening, but stayed in this land underneath the ground in these caves. That is why the word ‘dark’ was used for them. Long after, the word became known for other things. It took on the meaning of deep thinking, and the Dark Elves had by then made their way out of the caves, living in other places.” The Sorceress stopped for a moment and then continued, “The tomb that you saw is the place of rest for the Lords of the Dark Elves who used to abide here. If you noticed on the statues of their tombs they wore no crowns. At the time of their existence crowns were not part of their attire.” “But, this looks like a guard room,” Kelim put in. “Where are they? Or are there none needed with all of the magic that surrounds this place?” “Oh there are guards,” replied Nymphadora, “But you will never see them unless they wish to be seen. Come, we have now rested and it is time to continue.” The group passed along more twisting and turning tunnels until a dim light appeared far down one tunneled path. This they took following the Sorceress out into the fresh air of dawn. “We’ve been traveling all day and night?” questioned Maug. “Yes, it was a long journey through the Blessed Caverns,” smiled their guide. “But to you it seemed but a few hours, I think. This is the way of the ancient ones of my people. When in the small room where you ate, you slept for sometime.” The twins would not remember that while they slept Anborn heard a noise, and awakening his sister they had crept down the passageway to the tomb chamber. There they watched in a hidden corner as they saw the Sorceress talk quietly to many wispy looking gray subjects. To them they looked like ghosts. And, that is what they were. The spirits of the long gone ancestors, of which Nymphadora had spoken. She spoke to them in a tongue unknown to the twins. After some time had passed they saw that she was about to finish and was getting ready to return to the room where they had slept so they scurried back and lay back down. They didn’t see the knowing smile on her face as she reentered the room. “I certainly didn’t sleep!” protested Kelim, and turning to the others he questioned them. “Did any of you sleep while we were there?” All shook their heads in agreement. None could remember sleeping. They had just walked through tunnels and now out into the open. “Do you not remember the Sacred Chamber that you saw?” smiled Nymphadora. Again there was a shaking of heads. “Ah, that is good. The duties of our guards were upheld.” She did not explain that once they were outside of these caves their memory of what they had seen would disappear. No one would ever remember their experiences when inside. ‘And no one will ever remember my explanations of the tombs, either,’ she thought to herself. Their trek became more difficult through the days that followed. At one time the Sorceress took them along a very narrow trail along a cliff which ended at a waterfall. The water came tumbling down in three long plumes with the center one being the largest. They followed as their guide led them beneath the falls and into a another cavern. “I think I’ve seen more caves and caverns since this happened to us than anything else!” grumbled Anborn. “I’d really love to see something I could recognize.” “I don’t think anything exists in our lifetime that is now here,” replied his sister. “At least I don’t think I’ve seen anything familiar yet.” Anoreth looked around at this cavern they were now going through. “I hope she’s right about nothing being in these!” Their guide had heard this and smiled her familiar mysterious expression. “I wouldn’t bring you to any place that would harm you. At least not yet,” she said as she led them onward. Around a bend a glow appeared, but it didn’t seem to disturb Nymphadora who kept leading them towards it. The tunnel ended in a large chamber filled with bright embers and a large fire. Smoke and fumes were hanging in the air above making it difficult to breath. “I thought I smelled something quite a ways back,” whispered Anoreth to the rest of the group. “Yes, I think we all did. Maybe we shouldn’t have been so quick to trust this lady,” replied Kelim. At another corner they saw a sight that stopped them in their tracks. The twins shrank against the side of the chamber as both Kelim and Maug brought their battle- axes up and drew near the twins. “No, wait,” commanded the Sorceress. “He is no danger to you. He is my friend!” She said this as a dragon unfurled its tail and looked at them with large yellow eyes. It spoke in a language of it’s own, smoke emitting from it’s long snout, to the woman who returned the conversation in the same tongue. She then drew her arm out of the cloak and caressed the beast on its nose and turned to the group, which was frozen next to the wall of the cave. “Don’t be frightened. This is a friend, as I said. He is the only Fire-dragon not in the service of Sauron. He has been a friend to my people, and now me, for many ages. My ancestors helped him at one time and in gratitude he has always been an ally when we needed him. My people hid him away to save him from the evil of Mordor long ago. “Now, you said you have a crystal, Anoreth, that you found in a cave. I need it,” said the Sorceress as she held out her hand. Anoreth gripped the stone, which was still hidden in her pocket, but felt it might not be a good idea to give it up. Even so, her hand came out of the pocket with the crystal and she dropped it in Nymphadoras’ outstretched hand. It was then shown to the dragon who bent his long scaly head down close to the stone and eyed it with his gleaming, yellow squinting eyes. “Ah, a stone, but not a crystal I would say,” he declared in a rough, growl. “Give me a few moments to study this.” In the silence the others in the group, who had stayed near the tunnel entrance along the side, ventured just a little nearer. This was unusual even for the Dwarves to experience, much less the twins, and when the dragon spoke so they could understand him it was even more unusual. After a few minutes the dragon looked up from the stone with a hissing sound emitting from his nose. “I believe what we have here is the Stone of Elendilmir.” Anborn turned to the Dwarvish companions. “I thought it was some kind of magic crystal,” he whispered. “If my friend says what it is, then depend upon it being the truth,” stated the Sorceress. “Ancalagir is very old and wise.” The dragon continued to stare at the stone with his squinting, yellow eyes, which gleamed in the glowing light of the cavern. “Yes, that is what it is. The Stone of Elendilmir was thought lost long ago in another age. It is a crystal, the white star, and was made by Elven smiths of Imladris. It used to rest in a fillet of mithril. It was worn by the ancient king Valendil of Arnor, and had descended from the Silmarien to Elendil. It was the only royal insignia worn by these valiant men, it is said.” Nymphadora handed it back to Anoreth with a smile. “You don’t trust me very much, do you?” she laughed. “Don’t worry. I am just as much against the evil of Mordor and Isengard as the rest of you, believe me!" With the stone back in her hand and safe once more in her pocket Anoreth felt much better. ‘If it wasn’t for a talking dragon in a smelly cave’, she thought to herself, ‘I’d probably feel even better.’ Speaking up she hesitantly cleared her throat and asked both Nymphadora and her dragon, “Is there really magic in this stone?” The dragon looked at her and made a grimace that she supposed was a smile. “There is much magic in your crystal young lady. All you have to do is hold it, concentrate, and look into it. You will see what you wish, sometimes, but I warn you, you may see things you will not wish to. It tells the future as well as the past, when it decides to. Now, let me get back to my rest,” he hissed as he curled his tail around him and lowered his head. “Come, I will lead you out of here. Ancalagir is very old and needs his rest,” declared the Sorceress as she turned and proceeded back up the tunnel towards the outside. As they followed a misty, partly hidden path around a sharp corner a small figure met them face to face. All were startled at the meeting for a moment, but the figure was of a small Hobbit who immediately introduced herself as Mirabella Took. “I’ve always wished to go on an adventure,” she explained as the group prepared to make camp for the evening. “I was with my cousin, but we lost track of each other and I became lost here. I so wanted to meet the Elves. I’ve heard about them for all my life, but never seen one. But, I’ve never seen Dwarves, either,” she said with a lilting laugh. Both twins felt much more at home with Mirabella with them. They were used to having Hobbit friends, although they hadn’t as yet told the small Hobbit about their strange circumstances. That could wait until tomorrow. Right now they were all tired, and after the meal they lay down by the fire and slept. Discuss this article in the Forum! |
 |
 |
 |
 |
©2004-2006 The Arda Post - All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners
LotR Sword Store | LotR Poster Store | LotR Jewelry Store | LotR Games Store | LotR Toys Store
LotR Sword Store | LotR Poster Store | LotR Jewelry Store | LotR Games Store | LotR Toys Store
