The Fall of Arthedain Chronicle

[dustin]

Character Introductions:

Elledan: A Half-elf from Rivendell. Deadly with bow and great ax and armed with an extreme hatred of all things evil.

Luinmir: Sindarin Elf from Lorien and grand-niece to Thranduil. Aloof by nature, she keeps her own counsel and prefers to fight alone. If she keeps company at all, it is with Elledan. Deadly with an Elven bow.

Lorwen: An Arthedain noblewoman of the Dunedain. Arrogant and spoiled, her inexperience in the ways of the world are obvious. She looks down her nose at everyone to the point that she is almost intolerable.

Beleg: An Arthedain soldier. A middle man of about 40, he is an experienced warrior, serving in many skirmishes during the on-going border wars with Rhuduar and Cardolan. Much to his resentment, he has been assigned by the King to protect Lady Lorwen, a task he refers to as babysitting.

Eradan: A rogue from Cardolan and raised in Arthedain, he has been hired by Lady Lorwen as a guide. Well versed in the customs and lands of Arnor, he blends in with the local population and is useful as a spy and a scout.

Urr: (NPC) A human raised by Elrond after his family was killed, he is a well rounded warrior, equally proficient with both bow and sword.

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Act I, Scene I
Spring, 1974 of the Third Age.

Our tale begins with a tragic story. While visiting the capital city of Fornost, Lorwen's family estate was raided and destroyed by a band of Hillmen and orcs from Angmar. When she returned, Lorwen found her entire family murdered, except for her 15-year-old younger sister. Her body was nowhere to be found. Fearing that she had been abducted, she pleaded to the king for assistance in finding her, but was refused. Attacks along the borders had intensified, and he could not waste manpower to search for a single girl. He did, however, provide her with some protection in the form of an experienced, albeit aged, warrior named Beleg.

Not giving up hope, Lorwen decided to set out and find her sister Estelwen on her own. After much protest, Beleg decided to help. Afterall, he was ordered by the king to protect this brat. Lorwen then hired a "guide" to take her to Rivendell; maybe the great Lord Elrond would help her.

Meanwhile, Elrond had already become aware of the abduction and it disturbed him greatly. By the time Lorwen, Beleg, and the guide Eradan had arrived, Elrond had already dispatched a rescue party to find the girl. But Lorwen was persistant. She could not sit idly by and wait for news, she had to do something.

News did arrive, or rather, didn't. Elrond became worried. One of the members of the rescue party was an adopted son of sorts named Urr. No news from Urr for this long of a period was indeed troublesome. He decided to send two more of his trusted rangers to accompany the Lady Lorwen and her party. Besides, he had to get rid of the noblewoman, for her arrogance was aggrevating, even to the patient Elrond.

So, in the late spring, Lorwen, Beleg, and Eradan set out from Rivendell accompanied by an Elf maiden called Luinmir, and a Half-elf warrior called Elledan. Elrond cautioned the party not to fail, for he had forseen that this girl is important, "Hers is a line of destiny that will produce a great king. One that can reunite Arnor and end the threat from the North."

Scene II

The first part of the journey was fairly easy. But once they crossed into Rhuduar, things began to go terribly awry. Not used to long days in the saddle, Lorwen began to easily tire. After a couple of days travel, she could go no farther without substantial rest. The company decided to camp in a clearing for the night. Once the decision had been made, Lorwen seemed to perk up and began immediately issuing orders to the company, especially to Beleg. Commanding him to make a fire and cook her dinner, Beleg replied that his mandate was to "protect" the Lady Lorwen, not to act as a servant to a spoiled wannabe princess, and promptly cast her dinner into the fire! When she protested to Eradan, he replied, "You don't pay me enough to be your maid."

Luinmir and Elledan stopped the argument from going any further by setting up the watch schedule for the night. Most of the evening passed uneventful until it came time for Lorwen's watch. After falling asleep in the middle of her watch, Luinmir was awakened by the screaming whistle of an arrow and the thud of it hitting the ground next to her. Ambush!! The company had been followed by a group of seven to ten Hillmen since mid-afternoon and they had been waiting for the perfect opportunity to pounce.

Reacting quickly, Elledan douced the campfire, giving himself and Luinmir the advantage of fighting in the dark. The two began to systematically dispatch the raiders with bow and ax. Beleg, with weapons at the ready, took to his obligation and kept himself between Lorwen and the enemy. Eradan slipped into the shadows.

The two rangers carried the brunt of the fight, but Eradan gained a measure of Elledan's trust when he struck a Hillman from behind that was attempting to do the same to Elledan. Beleg also added a notch to his credit by splitting a Hillman's head with a heavy blow of his battle ax, and Lorwen blooded herself for the first time by killing a raider with a sword thrust through the eye, after which she promptly vomitted.

Scene III

Three days after the ambush, and one week since leaving Rivendell, the sky started to grow dark with thunder clouds. Sensing a storm, the company searched for some overhead cover, preferably in a defensible position. They soon found the abandoned remains of a hillfort with solid looking stone structures.

Upon entering the fort, they were greeted by a surprise--Urr. He appeared to be shaken and he relayed how his party had been tracking the kidnappers. When their guard was down, his warriors attacked and destroyed the raiders, but in the confusion of the melee, the girl had escaped. His party immediately began a search for her but they, in turn, were set upon by another raiding party of orcs. In a running fight, two of his were killed and another wounded and in the process, lost the girl's trail. Only two days ago where they able to lose the orcs and begin to look for the girl again. In fact, just this morning, Urr had gone out to try and pick up the trail again. When he had found it, he returned to the hillfort where his comrades had been waiting, and treating the wounded man, when he discovered their bodies, just a few minutes before the company arrived.

Upon inspecting the bodies, they discovered no sword slashes or ax cuts or claw marks, only two puctures in the neck and no blood--a vampire! Worried about this new threat, Urr relayed all that he could remember about vampires, but it was sketchy at best. He recalled how, as a spirit, they can possess a body at will, and how they are able to take the shape of a giant bat, but he couldn't remember all the details about them. He knew there was some kind of enchanted cloak, but couldn't remember what they were for.

With this new threat fresh in their memories, the company settled in for a night tormented by nightmares and thunderstorms. But this will be another long night, indeed. Around midnight, howls could be heard at the bottom of the hill. Elledan and Luinmir, standing in the door of the stable where they had sheltered, tried catching a glimpse of what might be down there. Seeing only vague shadows creeping around, Luinmir decided she would check it out while Elledan roused everyone to be ready for action.

Carefully and quietly, Luinmir creaped down to the bottom of the hill where she discovered animal and human footprints. With the rain rapidly destroying the prints, she could not make out exact numbers so she decided to follow them. They led her to a small hole in the side of the hill, just big enough for her to fit through. Her curiosity getting the best of her, she went in. Crawling on her belly, she wiggled down the hole only to discover a she-wolf and two pups sheltering from the thunderstorm. Relieved, she crawled and wiggled back out of the hole only to be confronted by a Hillman! Surprising each other, but reacting quicker, she dispatched the Hillman with a swift stroke of her long knife.

Knowing she had to warn the others, she began to race up the hill, but she was too late, they were already being attacked from all sides. She decided on a solitary pincher move and began to circle behind the nearest group. Using the storm for cover, she began her work, silently killing the Hillmen one at a time from behind with her powerful elven longbow.

The rest of the company was holding their own in the stables. With only a narrow lane to attack through and a solid defensive position, the Hillmen's numbers were negated. All was going well until a group circled behind the stable and started ramming the rear wall down. But the Valar must have been watching over the company, for as soon as the enemy breached the wall, Beleg dispatched a couple with a huge swing of his ax, but was driven back by the sheer weight of the attack. Gaining the interior of the stable, the enemy looked as if they were about to catch the company in a kill box, but their own demolition work and weakened the roof's support, and coupled with a well placed lightning bolt, the roof caved in on top of the attackers, killing them instantly.

Knowing their rear flank was now clear, the company lashed out at the attackers with a renewed vigor. This ferocity, the unknown killer from behind, and their captain being killed in the collapse was too much for the Hillmen and they began to save their own lives. But they did not go very far. By now, Luinmir had come up to join the rest and Beleg and Elledan had readied their own bows, begining a pursuit-by-fire. Eradan managed to snatch a couple of the attackers from the shadows and promptly cut their throats.

All but one of the Hillmen were, by now, dead or dying. This one was just too far ahead of the company to catch. When it looked as if Luinmir had a shot, he managed to duck behind the corner of the exterior wall of the fort. Luinmir raced to catch him before he could get away. As she neared the corner, she approached cautiously, for she heard a terrible growl and a blood-curtling scream. Coming around the corner with her bow drawn and ready for anything, she saw the Hillmen slumped on the ground with his throat ripped out and the she-wolf standing proudly over the body, happily wagging her tail.

End of Act I.

Sorry it was so long, but, as you can see, we managed to accomplish a lot on the first night. More to follow as it happens, if you are interested?

dustin

[Pusher]

Thanks, it was a good read and sounds like a fun start to your chronicle. I liked the bit about the 'spoiled wannabe princess' wanting someone to cook her dinner. Good stuff. The scene of the fight in the barn was nice. It had me envisioning a desperate fight at close quarters with everyone wet from the rain and miserable conditions.

Nicely done and I look forward to reading more.

[dustin]

Act II, Scene I

Two weeks after the fight at the hillfort, the company is running low on food supplies. Game is scarce and the rangers are forced to share their precious lembas bread until all the food is gone. Desperate, the company decides to go hunting.

Aided by the she-wolf and her pups, Elledan and Luinmir begin tracking down a deer. Stalking their prey for several miles, Luinmir brings the animal down with a clean bow shot. The meat provided will sustain the company for at least a week, longer if they go to half rations.

After scarfing down a quick meal and refilling their waterskins from a nearby stream, they come across signs that Estelwen had passed by recently. Determining she was still on foot, they are confidant that, being mounted, they should catch up to her within 24 hours.

The company follows Estelwen's trail for several hours, but then make a disheartening discovery--she has been recaptured by a marauding band of orcs. They estimate the size of the war party at between ten to fifteen. Following their trail, which is fairly easy, they happen upon their campsite. The remains of several animals are scattered everywhere and Elledan determines that the party is at least twenty to twenty-five strong and there are also signs that at least one warg is with them. The remains of their campfire suggests that they are only a couple of hours ahead.

Following the trail through the night, they find the orc war party making camp in an abandoned farmstead. The buildings are made of stone and are surrounded by a sturdy six-foot stone wall. All is in disrepair. Using the surrounding hedgerows as cover, the company decides to attack just before dawn, putting the orcs at a disadvantage by fighting in the daylight.

Scene II

Dividing into three groups, the company decides on a flanking maneuver to surprise the orcs. Elledan and Urr decide to make a frontal attack on the farm while Lorwen, Eradan, and Beleg circle to the right flank. Luinmir, as is her custom, ventures alone to the left flank, closest to the main house.

Moving as quickly and quietly as possible, the company attempts to determine the exact position of as many orcs as possible before commencing their assault. Eradan, the rogue, initiates the attack, quite accidentally as he is surprised by a mountain orc coming around the same corner as he. He quickly dispatches the foul creature with a thrust to the throat, but the alarm has been raised!

Being pressed by around five orcs, Eredan wisely begins a fighting withdraw back to where Beleg and Lorwen are posted. The Lady and her bodyguard become engaged with a group three times their own number. Beleg's battle ax proved especially deadly, as he too harbors a tremendous hatred of these foul beasts. Invigorated by the prospect that her sister is near, the spoiled Lorwen fights with a mad rage, decapitating one orc and splitting the skull of another. With this group eliminated, Beleg begins to support Eredan with deadly bow fire as the rogue leads his pursuers into a murderous ambush.

Meanwhile, Urr and Elledan have their hands full with their frontal assault. It seems as if the orcs main counterattack is directed at them. They, alone, are fighting almost half of the raiding party which is supported by a captain mounted upon a particularly big warg. Some of the orcs, returning from a reconnoiter attack the two from the rear, accompanied by another warg-rider! Fighting back-to-back, the two rangers soak their weapons deep into orc blood. Killing one attacker after another, Urr and Elledan clear the main approach into the farmstead until only the two warg-riders remained. Urr kills one with absolutely no fanfair, just a nice, clean, and precise attack. Elledan, however, with his blood boiling, recklessly charges the warg-mounted orc captain. With a vicious blow of his great ax, he mercilessly butchers the warg, reducing its skull into bloody bits of bone and flesh. The captain is thrown from his headless mount as is trapped beneath its corpse. Elledan, in a blood rage, hacks the captain to death, never giving him a chance to defend himself.

One the left flank, Luinmir stalks the orcs as if they were another deer. One after another, the orcs fall victim to her deadly elf-bow. Trying to use their numbers to advantage, two orcs charge her while a third supports with bow fire. Seeing the archer readying a shot, Luinmir grabs the nearest orc and pulls him in front of her, just as the deadly black arrow hits home in the unfortunate orc's heart. Dropping the dead orc to the ground, she draws her own arrow, and using it as a sword, drives it through the second orc's throat. Quickly loading the "sword", she looses it at the orc archer, bringing him down with a shot through the heart.

Scene III

With all of the vile enemy destroyed, the company splits up to search the farmstead. Eradan finds a leather pouch with four precious stones in the stable. Elledan discovers a parchment, translated by Eradan, on the orc captain's body detailing his orders to march and join an invasion force along the Arthedain-Rhuduar border. Luinmir finds young Estelwen in the main house, hungry and scared. She also finds a diary, which Lorwen deciphers, left by the original occupants. It tells how they were beseiged by a war band of Hillmen. It stops shortly after telling about a vampire and a "shadow".

After bandaging their wounds and tending to the frightened young girl, the company was attacked by an invisible foe that lurks in the shadows. Not being able to see their assailant, the company retires from the homestead, putting as much distance between them and the "shadow" as possible. They must move fast, for they are still deep within Rhuduar, many miles from Arthedain, with an army massing between them and safety.

End of Act II

dustin

[dustin]

Act III, Scene I

Two days following the rescue of Estelwen, the company finds them selves deep inside enemy territory, low on supplies. To complicate matters, Estelwen's health is failing. She refuses to eat, her skin is cold and clammy, and she is beginning to show signs of fever. Luinmir becomes suspect of the girl, but does not give voice to her suspicion, only offering a warning that a vampire is still lurking about.

Lorwen refuses to believe such a veiled accusation, saying that her sister is only sick, not evil, and that they had better get her to safety as quickly as possible. She figures that Estelwen has five to seven days, at best, before all hope of a recovery is lost.

Eradan steps forward. He offers suggestions for escaping to Arthedain. He points out that he has traveled extensively through all of Arnor and knows the best places to avoid detection. He gives the company two options: travel by day, which will allow the company to move faster and reach Arthedain within three days, but warns that the chances of detection are greater; or travel by night, which will slow travel to five days, but suggests that the cover of darkness will greatly improve their chances of avoiding detection.

The company hotly debates these two options. Luinmir proposes travelling by night. This, she points out, will avoid any human patrols, and she can detect and avoid orcish patrols at night. Elledan suggests daytime travel, as time is of the essense if they are to have any hope of saving Estelwen. He admits that it is riskier, but with Eradan acting as a scout, they could manage to avoid serious trouble. Ultimately, though, the decision was left to Estelwen's guardian--Lorwen chooses to move by day.

Scene II

Eradan volunteers to take the lead and scout ahead of the company. He points out the he would have a better chance of passing unnoticed through the countryside. He would not be as obvious as an Elf, a Half-elf, two noble women, and an Arthedain soldier. Seeing his point, the rest of the company agree. But Eradan has one request: in order to help him with his guise, he asks Elledan for the Seal of the Witch-King, an iron-band ring bearing the Witch-King's device and given only to his captains. Elledan had secured the ring from the Hillman captain the night they found Urr in the hill-fort. Not entirely trusting the rogue, Elledan, having no real choice, gives Eradan the ring.

The next three days prove tense for the company. Eradan routinely checks in with the company, steering them away from potential trouble, finding and guiding them to suitable resting places for them at night. Luinmir and Elledan are constantly on the alert and effectively cover their trail to prevent anyone from following. Beleg, as usual, grumbles about babysitting, but keeps a watchful eye for trouble. Lorwen tends to her sister as best as she can.

In the course of the trek, Eradan discovers two large encampments, each numbering into the thousands. Of a peculiar nature where the huge, leather-covered wagons accompanying the armies. This is something he has not seen before, and the company speculates over what could possibly be inside--ranging from siege eqiupment to some secret new weapon.

Of greater concern to Luinmir is the shortage of food. The closer they get to Arthedain, the more scarce the game. Sensing her uneasiness, the she-wolf takes it upon herself to forage for the company. She begins to supplement their rations with one or two rabbits, or other small game, every day.

Finally, after three very long days, the company are closing in on the border. They begin to feel the pressure being lifted from their shoulders. Arthedain is only a few more hours away. Then....

Scene III

Only a few short hours to go, Eradan reports back with bad news. Only a couple of miles ahead is an encampment the size of which he has never seen before. It alone contains more men, orcs, and wargs than he could count accurately, but guesses their numbers to be in the tens of thousands! There is also a clan of hillmen that he has had dealings with in the past. Their leader, Naman, is particularly vicious brute that has crossed paths with Eradan. The two have a deep hatred of each other.

Luinmir suggests finding a way around, but Eradan says he has already looked for a way--there is none. This camp alone stretches for miles in either direction and there are some smaller encampments beyond that. To circle around would take another two to three days. Beleg suggests just fighting their way through. Elledan offers to split up and let Eradan get the ladies through while the rest try on their own, but no one else likes the idea of splitting up and every-man-for-himself.

Urr points out that Eradan's ruse has worked this long, why not give it one more try. Eradan's mind immidiately contrives a scheme that just might work, but it involves everyone but he and Urr posing as prisoners, thus giving up their weapons, which no one is inclined to do. Eventually, they come up with a plan. They will pose a prisoners, but their weapons will be stowed in their blanket rolls on the cantle of the saddles. Their hands will be tied, to further the impression of captivity, but they will be tied using the elven rope the rangers are carrying. This will give them the ability to get free if the need arises.

Wary and cautious, they enter the camp. All about them they see an army preparing for war. Everywhere, as far as one can see, orc and hillman warriors fill the landscape. There are smiths forging weapons and armor. There are some mountain orcs ripping an animal apart with their claws and hillmen from Cardolan performing some sort of religious ritual. Uneasyness fills the company, but they manage to get through with very little trouble, only a few curious looks that are turned away when they see Eradan's ring.

It is only when they are almost through, that trouble arises. A barbarian captain stops the party. He is suspicious, but seeing the Eradan is a captain also, decides to inquire about what he is doing. Eradan says that he is a member of Naman's clan from Rhuduar and these are prisoners he has taken to present to Naman.

"They have caused the deaths of several of our clan in a night ambush a couple of weeks ago," Eradan lied, "viciously murdering a hunting party while they slept. I have tracked and captured the brigands and bring them before Naman to do with as he sees fit." Seeing the captain was unnerved by the mention of Naman's name, Eradan adds, "If you persist on this course, maybe you would like to explain to Naman why his trophies have been delayed." The captain allows them to pass without further interrogation. Once clear of the camps, the company spurs their mounts to put as much distance between them as possible.

Scene IV

After crossing into Arthedain, there is a great relief in the company. Urr says that there is a small outpost a mile or so ahead and suggests resting there for the night. They can set out in the morning and be in Fornost by midday. Being early in the evening, the company agrees. But as they near the outpost, it becomes obvious that it is under attack.

There is an orc raiding party besieging the ramparts of the keep. Two of the large wagons are just inside the village and two trolls step out of them. (The leather covering was to protect them from sunlight during the day.) Out of frustration, the company attacks. Only Beleg remains mounted.

Luinmir again goes alone and begins to loose volley after volley into the rear of the orc formation. Caught in the crossfire of Luinmir and the Arthedain archers, the orcs begin to falter.

One troll sets out after Beleg and Eradan. Attempting to charge the beast, his horse refuses to obey. Cursing the beast, Beleg dismounts to fight on foot. Unable to stop the attack of the monster, Beleg and Eradan fight desperately to defend Estelwen. Lorwen attacks a group of onrushing orcs and dispatches three of the attackers. She then begins to administer first-aid to Beleg and Eradan after the troll has lost interest and left them for dead.

Urr and Elledan attack the second troll under the covering fire of the Arthedain. Ignoring the orc around them, the focus entirely upon the beast, and after a relentless struggle, manage to bring it to bay. Seeing the first troll begin to attack the keep, the two rangers go after it next. Attacking in tandem, Urr distracts the beast while Elledan attacks from behind, hamstringing it. With the beast on its knees, Elledan splits its skull to the cheers of the Arthedain inside the keep.

Seeing the trolls killed, the remainder of the raiders attempt to retreat, but are cut down by the pursuing fire of Luinmir and the Arthedain archers.

Seeking refuge in the keep, it is glady given. Eradan and Beleg are helped in and their wounds are tended to. Estelwen is made as comfortable as possible. They are relieved to be safe inside Arthedain. A couple of days of rest, and they will make their way to Fornost to warn the king of Angmar's impending invasion.

End of Chapter I

[dustin]

Act I, Scene I

It is the early summer of 1974 of the Third Age. It has been a couple of weeks since the Company has returned with Estelwen. She is still running a slight fever and she stell appears a little pale, but her appetite has returned and the nursemaids say she will make a full recovery.

The Company has enjoyed great hospitality and some minor fame, especially Elledan, whom the people of Fornost have been calling Trollslayer after his exploits at the border post two weeks earlier. Everyone has been enjoying this respite and allowing their cuts and bruises to heal and their bodies to rest. Elledan and Luinmir have grown closer and Lorwen has even found some comfort in a new friendship with the captain of the border post. He is a tall, muscular man with long black hair and deep blue eyes that seem to look right through her. His name is Aranarth, son of Arvedui.

But their little vacation will soon come to an end, for King Arvedui has summoned them.

"I have a task I wish you to undertake. We are hard-pressed again by the Witch-King and our army is spread thin against the Enemy's raids from Cardolan and Rhuduar. If we should be attacked if force, we cannot stand. We must seek aid from our cousins in the South and from any quarter we can find."

"I have sent couriers to Lindon, Imaldris, and to Gondor. The messages to Gondor, however, have either been intercepted or, I fear, ignored. But I will make one last attempt and this is where I need your help."

"You shall go to the Gray Havens where one of Lord Cirdan's fastest ships awaits to take you to Gondor. Once you reach Minas Arnor, seek an audience with King Earnil. He will listen to a noble, so I have decided to send you, Lady Lorwen, to carry out this mission. My son also wishes you to be away from here, for he fears for your safety should Angmar attack."

"Beleg, my old friend. I know you with to stay and fight by my side, as do I, but as much as I want you with me, I need you to remain at your current post and protect Lady Lorwen on her journey." (Beleg is obviously not happy with this assignment and mutters some unheard curses under his breath.)

"You have two days to gather your provisions and say your good-byes."

Urr takes Luinmir and Elledan aside and explains that he has been recalled by Elrond and will be taking Estelwen with him to Imaldris where she can be guarded. But he also leaves them with a great responsibility that they are not allowed to reveal, for it may endanger the fate of Middle Earth.

The Company begins to equip themselves for the journey. Eradan sets about brewing a couple of doses of poison while the others barter for new weapons and gear. Elledan's minor fame and Lorwen's negotiating skills insure they don't pay through the nose. In fact, some of their gear she manages to get for less than one-quarter of the asking price! Beleg doesn't waste his time bartering, he simply returns to his regiment and uses his contacts there to re-equip, acquiring a well-made, well-balanced battle ax and a powerful new bow.

With their good-byes said and their gear readied, the Company sets out for the Grey Havens and Gondor.


Act I, Scene II

Three days out from Fornost, the Company comes into a small village. Nothing of noteworthy, just a small farming community like thousands of others. With only another day to Gray Havens, they decide to stop for the night at the local inn for a bath, bed, and hot meal. Again, Lorwen demonstrates her bartering ability as she aquires two rooms and stables for their five horses--for a mere fifty copper pennies total!

With everyone enjoying a fine meal and few mugs of ale, the inn was a lively place, crowded with the locals and a couple of rather "happy" hobbits who proceed to sing and dance on the bar.

But Luinmir, seated at a table close to the door, senses something is wrong. Six rather large men look out of place in the inn. A closer inspection reveals that they are Hillmen and she recognizes one of them as the lieutenant of Naman's that had questioned Eradan when the Company had posed as his prisoners. They began to gather, almost unnoticable, around Lorwen, who was sitting at the bar watching the joyful hobbits.

Following her gut instinct, she alerted Elledan to the threat. He casually makes his way to Beleg and Eradan and alerts them of the danger. Feeling the situation was quickly deteriorating, Luinmir sprang into action. She lept up onto a table close to Lorwen so she would have a clear shot on the lieutenant and put an arrow into his lower back. Taken by surprise, the three assasssins on either side of Luinmir had no time to react before Elledan buried his great ax into the chest of one and Eradan slit the throat of another from behind and Luinmir kicked the third in the face. Beleg dispatched the one closest to him while the sixth hillman, attempting to attack the Company from behind, got tangled up in fleeing civillians!

The lieutenant, in agony from the arrow in his back, made a grab for Lorwen. He managed to get a hold on her, but she broke away easily then drove her sword deep into his chest. Luinmir spun around a put a hillman down with an arrow to the heart as he disengaged himself from the mass of people. The hobbits and the innkeeper took cover behind the bar. Lorwen stepped toward the assassin lying on the floor that Luinmir had kicked in the face and demanded to know who had sent them and why. With Eradan translating her questions, the hillman gave no reply. Lorwen began kicking the man hard in the ribs and repeated her demands. The man's only response was to cry out in agony and beg her to stop, but nothing of any real value, before finally succumbing to internal bleeding.

Knowing they cannot stay the night in this town, the Company immediately sets out for Lindon and the Gray Havens.

Act I, Scene III

Twenty-four hours later, the Company is encamped in a small grove of trees. They have hastened their pace to be in the Gray Havens by mid-morning of the next day. Everyone is still a little on edge after the attack at the inn and they know they will not be safe until they reach the Elven city. And the wolf's sudden attention toward a small hedge does nothing to ease the tension.

Luinmir pulls her cloak around her and makes her way silently toward the hedge. Coming around the hedge, bow at the ready, she is surprised to find two halflings crouched behind, making a drunken attempt to stay still so they won't be seen. Relieved, and irritated, she grabs the two hobbits by their collars and hauls them over to the campfire. Lorwen recognizes them as the same two hobbits from the inn. They give their names as Milo and Hamson.

Lorwen explains that it is not safe here and asks why they have followed. Milo says that what they did at the inn was "quite impressive" and they wanted to know more about these strange travelers. They tell her that they wanted to join the other hobbits that had answered the King's call, but were told they were much too young. It becomes all to obvious that these two halflings have managed to procure even more spirits and have not been sober for awhile.

Forgetting about the danger Lorwen warned them of, the hobbits become quite fascinated with Luinmir. They had never seen a "Big Man with pointy ears" before and have become very curious about her.

"She positively glows," slurs Hamson poking his finger at her, and getting it slapped away by an ever more irritated Luinmir. "How rude," he protests.

Luinmir rolls her eyes, groans angrily, and marches off saying, "I'm going somewhere else. Away from them."

"She is positively in a huff," complains Milo. "Quite irritable, that one. Are all her kind like that?"

"Yes!" says Elledan. "And you would do well to leave her alone."

Changing the subject, the hobbits begin to sing. No words, they just begin bellowing, "La la la te da te da" at the tops of their lungs.

"Shut up!" Eradan and Beleg shout together and move away from the camp.

All comes to an end, however, when a dozen arrows come screaming into the camp. Gathering the hobbits up, Lorwen makes for the safety of a nearby hedge and tries to keep the hobbits quiet.

Luinmir warns that they are surrounded. The hobbits have guided these attackers right to them. Probably more of Naman's men. She sets out to attack the two nearest her on the southwest side. Eradan moves to the northeast side of the camp where he sees three behind the same hedge the hobbits were found. Their attention focused on the others, he draws his dagger and begins to stalk his prey. As he is about ready to plunge his dagger into the nearest hillman, he steps on a twig, the breaking sound alerting the assassin. The hillman sidesteps Eradan's attack, avoinding the worst of wounds, but still suffering a nasty slash across his ribs. Off balance, Eradan cannot block the counter-attack. Beleg's arrow stops the man before he can do too much damage to the rogue, and drawing his battle ax, charges into the fray.

Elledan and Luinmir begin cleaning up the southwest flank, dispatching four of the attackers in quick succession. It looks as if the Company will easily defeat the remaining three attackers when all suddenly goes wrong.

Two unseen hillmen charge into the middle of the campsite, straight at Lorwen and the hobbits. Surprised, she is knocked to the ground by one and held down by his foot while the other grabs the halflings as shields. All suddenly stops.

"Drop your weapons," demands the leader. "Attack and the halflings die. All we want is the girl."

Lorwen, pinned under the weight of her attacker, offers herself in exchange for the halflings' lives.

"Not happening," growls Elledan. Eradan and Beleg steel themselves against the two hillmen on the northeast. Luinmir readies her bow and takes careful aim at the leader's head. The wolf crouches down.

Noticing the elf, the leader draws Milo closer to him. "Back off or the hobbits die. And call that wolf off."

"Not a chance," challenges Elledan. "Do what you want with the halflings, but you are not leaving here with the girl."

"NO!" shouts Luinmir. "Do not harm the little ones. Release them all, and you will be spared, else you shall not escape with your lives."

"Enough!" The leader is clearly becoming unnerved. He puts his blade to Milo's throat. "Surrender or he dies, NOW!"

Seeing the hillmen distracted by the stand-off, Lorwen reaches slowly for her sword. Taking hold, she plunges it into her tormentor's groin, letting go an awful scream. The leader's head jerks towards his companion and the wolf leaps at him snatching the hobbit from his arms as Luinmir's arrow finds it mark. Beleg and Eradan sieze the moment and quickly kill the two in front of them before they can react to what just happened.

All again goes quiet, except for the cries of the man with the bloody groin. Eradan and Beleg quickly check for more of the attackers, but find none. Elledan checks for more on his flank, and again finds nothing.

Lorwen has put her sword to the man's neck and demands to know who sent them and why. Not trying to negotiate, she simply says, "Tell me and I'll be merciful. Don't and you die."

Bleeding uncontrolably, the man utters one word, "Oldur," and dies.

"Who?" asks Lorwen.

"Oldur," replies Eradan. "These men are from Naman's clan. Oldur is their patron. A child of blood, a vampire spirit. And for some reason, she wants you, milady."

[dustin]

Act II, Scene I

The Company has arrived in the Grey Havens where Cirdan's fastest ship awaits them. There on the docks, they meet their captain, a Noldor called Aegnor, who gives them a tour of his ship. It is a small vessel built for speed. It measures only 81 feet at the keel and 24 feet at the beam with a mainmast amidships and two smaller, one jutting out from the forecastle and one just aft of the mainmast forward of the aftcastle. Stepping onto the deck from the gangway, it seems to be crowded with ropes, lines, and tackle running from the deck skyward into the riggings in what looks like a spider's web. Along the gunnels of the ship are long lockers, about 16 feet by 12 inches by 12 inches, in which more ropes, tackle, grappling hooks, hand axes and various pole arms and spears were stored. Below in the hold, hammocks have been suspended from the bulkheads in the forward and aft compartments. The center compartments, normally used to haul trade goods, was all but empty, except for a few barrels of fresh water and lembas bread, enough to last the crew of 30 for a six week voyage. Small stables had been erected for the Company's equestrian companions.

Setting out from the Grey Havens into the Gulf of Lune, the waters were clear and still. Aegnor explains that it will take about three days to clear the gulf and enter open sea. On the third evening, however, he orders the ship to drop anchor through the night to allow a storm from the south to pass the entrance into the gulf.

The next four days are passed peacefully sailing down the coast of Harlindon, the Blue Mountains barely visiable on the horizon. By day ten, the mouth of the Brandywine River could be seen in the distance and Eryn Vorn, the Black Wood, was visable on the opposite shore inside the borders of Cardolan.

The watch, stationed inthe crow's nest of the mainmast, signals that he has spotted something on the shoreline. With his keen elven eyes, he sees five men standing on the beach, waving frantically. Intrigued, Aegnor brings the ship to port to investigate. As he nears the shoreline, debris becomes visable drifting in the water. Upon on piece of driftwood, a banner is fixed bearing the symbol of a silver tree surmounted by a crescent of stars, a banner that everyone recognizes as the flag of Gondor. Dropping anchor 100 yards off shore, Aegnor launched two of his longboats to retrieve the survivors.

"Be wary," Aegnor warns, "those woods are dark. Bring those unfortunates aboard quickly. Sunset is in six hours, I want to be underway before then."

Act II, Scene II

Once ashore, the men explain to the Company that they are Gondorian merchant seamen on their way to the Grey Havens. Eight nights ago, their ship had been smashed during a fierce storm. They tell of how the rest of the crew had drowned in the sea, but that they and few others had managed to make it to safety. They had seen many ships pass by, but without a signal fire, none had seen them. They had tried to build a fire, but the five other men sent into the forest had never returned.

"We know that at least one still lives," explains the leader. "We can hear his screams every night, but with no weapons, we dared not mount a rescue. Now that you are here, maybe we could try." This last was more of a pleading request.

The Company agrees to attempt to find the missing men, but Elledan voices some concern about the wisdom of such a venture, exposing themselves to, what he feels is, an unnecessary risk.

The elven first-mate takes the survivors back to the ship with the first longboat, but warns the Company not to waste too much time in finding the others. "These woods are dangerous in the safety of day, they are evil in the cloak of night."

Venturing into the woods, the Company tracks what little signs there are of the survivors. Their footprints end after about an hour, then it appears that they have dragged off, deeper into the Black Wood. Another hour of searching find the Company verging on exhaustion but they spy something hanging from a nearby tree. A clicking sound is heard all around them; from the left, right, front, rear, and above.

They have found the missing men suspended from the tree in cocoons of spiders' webs. They quickly cut them down and rip open the silky tombs to find that they are too late. Four of the men had been dead for several days, their insides liquified and drained. The fifth man had lost all hope, his weak pulse giving out in Lorwen's arms.

Touting, "I told you so," Elledan urges the Company to make haste back to the ship. But their path is blocked--by a brood of giant spiders! Taking the Company by surprise, they are immediately surrounded and cut off from their escape route.

The first to strike is against Luinmir. She manages to avoid the worst of the attack, but caught off guard, her elven quickness does not spare her the agony of the spider's venomous bite. She counter attacks and kills the offending beast, but the poison begins to take its effect. Lorwen, dodging countless attacks by others, manages to reach the stricken elf maiden and stablizes her wound, staving off the worst of the venom's toxin.

Elledan, seeing that Luimir had been hurt, lashes out against the spiders in a mad fury. One after another, he kills, slaughters and hacks the foul creatures into small parts! Beleg and Eradan hold their own against the onslaught, killing almost at will, as the Company begins to fight their way out of the wood.

But it is not to be that easy, as another, even larger and meaner spider begins its attack on the small band. Elledan's feet are suddenly engangled by the new attacker's web. Falling to the ground, he curses his misfortune. Eradan comes to the ranger's assistance and begins helping him cut the sticky mass from his feet. Beleg and Luinmir keep the beast at bay with a shower of arrows. Once Elledan gains his feet, he and Beleg charge the hideous animal under the cover of Luinmir's bow, mercilessly cutting it down. They remain on their guard, exhausted from their fight, but the remaining spiders do not attack Instead, they begin feeding on their own dead and dying, allowing the Company to reach the beach and the safety of the ship without further molestation.

Act II, Scene III

Safely aboard the ship, Aegnor sets a southerly course. The Company uses the time to rest after their encounter in the Black Wood. Luinmir's wound quickly heals and, with Lorwen's skill, begins to quickly recover from the poison's effects.

The waters remain calm and the ship makes excellent progress, reaching the mouth of the Greyflood River by day twelve and the Isen two days later. By day seventeen, they are rounding the Cape of Andrast into the Bay of Belfalas. After passing the Leenui River on day nineteen, Aegnor sets course for Dol Amroth to replenish his stores and return the survivors to their families, but it is soon discovered that they are being pursued by the black sails of the Corsairs.

Knowing that his is not a ship of war, Aegnor decides to out run his pursuers. After two days of cat-and-mouse, the pirates break off their pursuit and change course to the north. Thanking his good fortune, Aegnor is violently sent crashing down on the deck.

Fearing that he had misjudged his course changes in evading the pirates and had run aground, he realizes that his fortune is indeed very bad and more than twenty huge, black tentacles begin encirling his ship. He now knows why the pirates had broken off their pursuit. Sea-kraken!!

Picking himself up, many of his crew are plucked off the deck by the writhing arms. Some break into the weapons lockers, but their attempts to fight back are largely in vain. The only ones to begin to have any measure of success are his passengers.

Elledan, the great elven warrior, begins to put his great axe to devastaing use. As if he were cutting wheat with a scythe, he begins to systematically severing one tentacle, then another, then another.

The rest of the Company begins to fight back as well. Luinmir, with her elven blade in hand, begins to parry, dodge and attack the flailing arms with deadly precision. Beleg takes his customary postion of defending Lady Lorwn, cutting down several of the tentacles. Eradan rushes to the aftcastle to help Elledan, who seems to be taking the brunt of the attack, when he is caught by surprise and sent flying across the length of the ship, landing hard on the deck next to the aft longboat station.

Lorwen, sensing that the rogue is hurt badly, comes to his aid and begins to mend his wounds as quickly as she can. Her work is interupted when Aegnor shouts a hurried warning. Looking up, she sees that the mainmast had been broken by one of the tentacles and was coming hard onto the deck below. Reacting quickly, she tries to shove Eredan out of the way, then jumps clear before it was too late. Cutting her feet out of the tangled rigging, she sees that Eradan is trapped beneath the starboard yardarm of the mainmast. Luckily, the boatstation took most of the punishment, breaking the yardarm into a small enough section that Lorwen could move it enough for Eradan to crawl out.

Fate had smiled upon the rogue, for his injuries were not as severe as Lorwen had feared and he was able to continue the fight. Hobbling over to Luinmir, he fished out one of the viles of poison from his haversack. Taking one of her arrows, he dipped the point into the poison.

Sustaining tremendous damage, the kraken made one last attempt to crush the ship. Gripping tightly with its tentacles, it began to pull the ship under, pulling itself out of the water slightly. Seeing an opportunity, Luinmir notched the poison-tipped arrow, took careful aim, and let fly, striking the beast just above the left eye.

The poison was a paralyzing potion, and the kraken began to slip under the waves and loosen its grip on the ship. But its grip wasn't loosening fast enough, and its weight began to pull the ship under. Aegnor gave the command to abandon ship.

Remembering the horses, Elledan ran below decks, freeing them just before the spine of the ship broke amidships. Everyone began jumping into the cold waters, discarding anything that may weigh them down and drag them under before they could swim the 150 yards to safety.

Luinmir, still a little weak from the spider bite, was helped to shore by the she-wolf, with only her bow, sword, and a few arrows in her grasp.
Elledan, grabbing his mount, made it to shore with his trusty and beloved axe still firmly in his hands. Beleg made landfall with only his battle ax and the clothes on his back. Lorwen reached safety with her sword and skin intact. Eradan kept a firm grasp on his sword, poisons, and lockpicking kit.

Rounding up their horses, the Company saw no other survivors on the beach. Guessing their location, they begin to gather what provisions they can from the flotsam and jetsam that had managed to wash ashore. They don't know exactly where they are. They just know they must go east.

[dustin]

Act III, Scene I

With their ship destroyed, no survivors apparent, and only a vague idea of where they are going, the Company gathers as much supplies from the wreckage that has washed up on shore. What they find is not much, but they figure it should be enough to get them to Minas Arnor: one hundred pound cask of lembas bread, a twenty-five gallon keg of fresh water, and about a dozen usuable bandages once they were dried out. Filling their canteens and haversacks with as much as they could carry, they didn't want to leave the rest to waste. Luinmir put forth the idea of a travoiw to carry the spare gear on. Some spars from the ship were fashioned into a triangle shape and a scrap of canvas from the sail was stretched over it, then the entire device was strapped to one of the elven horses to pull and the remainder of the gear was piled on.

At best guess, they were about 200 to 300 miles west of Pelargrir, a journey of about ten to fifteen days if they followed the coastline. With nothing to eat but lembas bread, supplemented by a few hares the she-wolf killed, the journey was tiresome, long, and boring. Not wanting to build a fire to attract undo attention, the cold nights made all but the elves uncomfortable and the nights passed restlessly.

The morning of the third day, Luinmir's she-wolf began to act very lively and excited. She kept running to the northeast a few paces, then back to the company, then to the northeast again. To everyone she seemed to be acting a little strange, but to Luinmir, it meant something else. She wanted the Company to follow.

ActIII, Scene II

The wolf led them to a small dune about five miles to the northeast. Above the dune, several columns of smoke could be seen rising skyward. Luinmir volunteered to scout ahead. Cresting the dune, she could see a small fishing village about five hundred yards beyond, many of the thatched roofs burning. Motioning the others to the top of the dune, she moved through the tall grass toward the village. At about one hundred paces, she began to hear voices; men yelling, women screaming and children crying.

Moving still closer, but remaining hidden in the grass, she saw an older man, she guessed about late fifties, running out of the main village square, his hands bound behind him. He got only a few steps before he was caught by another man, this one heavily armed. The second man forced his captive to his knees, looked behind him as if to say something, then promptly beheaded his prisoner. Laughter, and screams, came out of the village center.

Luinmir, wanting a better position, pulled her cloak about her and moved to the village out-buildings where she could see directly into the square. She counted five men. Two were less that ten paces from her, one armed with a spear, and the other three were another ten paces beyond, with about twenty to thirty women and children shackled together in between. She began to ready her lethal bow.

She knew that Elledan was directly behind her, she had heard a twig snap under his boot and hoped that no one else did. As she turned to scold him with a look, Elledan grabbed her by the collar and yanked her behind the building as a heavy spear thudded against the wall! Her surprise blown, she had no choice but to attack.

With two quick shots, she dropped one of the men as he was shouting an alarm with an arrow to the lung, and the second was felled with a shaft to the stomach. Elledan was fast behind the maiden's arrows and cleaved a third with his great ax as he came around the head of the column of prisoners. The last two men tried to flank around the rear of the column and Elledan knew they were too far away for him to catch.

As he was about to warn Luinmir and double back behind the out-building to cut them off, Beleg and Eradan sprang out of the shadows directly in front of the would-be slavers. Before either could react, Beleg had buried his battle ax in one's chest and Eradan had slit the other's throat in a most efficient manor.

One of the wounded slave-traders, an arrow in his gut, tried to gain his feet, but Elledan talked him out of such a course of action by splitting his skull. The last trader, mortally wounded in the lung, gasped for breath. Luinmir, recognizing him as the one that had beheaded the old man, stood over him, rage boiling in her, drew her bow back full and let loose at a range of less that two feet. The arrow had driven itself into the wet ground, only the fletching visable between the man's eyes.

Eradan, having saved his lockpicking kit, and Luinmir, finding a key on the leader, began freeing the women and children. Lorwen, who had arrived too late to fight, began consoling the freed captives and learned that the raiders had come early in the morning to pillage, plunder, and rape. Another party had left not a hour before with the men while this one had stayed behind and have another go with the women and where about to take them as well, that is, before their plans had drastically changed.

One of the women said that the men were Corsairs. Operating in ones and twos, their ships had managed to evade the mighty Gondorian Navy and raided the small villages along the coastline and rivers. Lorwen asked where these raiders had come from, and the woman said that they probably put ashore in a small inlet not too far from the village, to the east about ten miles.

Luinmir, not asking for counsel, decided the Company will destroy these murderers.

Act III, Scene III

Not willing to argue with an enraged elf, the Company set out to the east in search of the Corsairs' trail. It was not hard to find. With their captives shackled, their trail was ridiculously easy to track. After about an hour, they located the ship. It was anchored fifty yards out. On the beach, plunder from stolen ox-carts was being off-loaded into a couple of longboats that were transfering their cargo to the ship. It was a slow process that would take the rest of the day to complete. Counting twenty men on the beach, Luinmir and Elledan didn't want to risk a frontal assualt and decided to attack by surprise under the cover of darkness. Luinmir had an idea.

After night had fallen, Lorwen, Beleg, and Eradan crept up to the three nearest barrels. Uncovering them, they emptied the plunder, hid it in the tall grass and shrubs and climbed inside. The Corsairs were waiting on the beach for the longboats to return. Once they had, the last of the cargo was loaded and rowed out. Luinmir and Elledan quietly slipped into the water and made their way to the ship.

The ship, a bireme, had a surprisingly shallow draft, for the two rangers managed to make the fifty yards in water that was never deeper than four feet. This allowed them to practically walk the distance and Luinmir was able to keep the fletching of her arrows dry by holding them above the water. Elledan went toward the stern of the ship while Luinmir went to the bow. They waited until the cargo and the longboats were heaved aboard then began to climb; Luinmir up the anchor cable, and Elledan up the tiller ropes. The woman at the village had told them of the two giant crossbows at the bow and stern and the rangers wanted to secure these before they might be used.

Below decks, becoming impatient, Lorwen made the first move. Lifting the cover of her barrel, she could see one Corsair with his back to her and lunged at him as best she could, half falling out. She caught him by surprise and drove her short sword into his back. Hearing the commotion, Beleg and Eradan attacked. Beleg beheading one as he rushed past to attack Lorwen, and Eradan dispatching a third with his dagger through the heart. Climbing out of his barrel, Beleg blocked the narrow passageway on the starboard side of the hold, defeating all who dared to resist him. Lorwen, realizing she had bit off more than she could chew, dropped back into her barrel, out of sight. Eradan was almost out of his barrel when a vicious counter-attack caught him almost defenseless, sending him hard back into it. Regaining his senses, he used his weight to tip the barrel and rolled it into his assailant, knocking him to the deck. Using the lid as a shield, he gained his feet and lept into the battle.

Above on the top deck, Elledan used the distraction below and charged the two men manning the aft crossbow. Knocking the first off balance, he charged the second, killing him instantly. Seeing the first man coming after him, Elledan kicked the stock of the crossbow, sending it into the Corsair's mouth, knocking him to the deck with fewer teeth and broken jaw. Stunned into action by the attack on the aft deck, several Corsairs on the main deck began rushing toward Elledan. He crossed to the opposite side and blocked the ladder leading up to him. He parries one blow, then sends the man sprawling with his deadly ax. A second attacks, but he too is easily defeated. Catching a glimpse of the Corsair with the broken jaw standing up and being reinforced by another, Elledan notices the giant crossbow. He reaches out and squeezed the trigger, catching them, one behind the other, full in the chest with the huge grappling hook, sending both overboard in a spray of blood. Then he secured the aft deck and made his way to the aft ladder leading to the hold.

Meanwhile, Luinmir climbed up on the foredeck and quickly killed the two manning that crossbow while they were distracted by the fight at the stern. She was then rushed by another two coming from the maindeck on either side. She drove her sword through the neck of the first, then, reversing the blade in her hand, killed the second behind her with a thrust to the gut. With the foredeck cleared, she began a deadly rain of arrows, clearing the maindeck and anyone foolish enough to climb up the forward ladder from the hold.

Back below, Beleg, Lorwen and Eradan were quickly becoming overrun. Most of the crew had been below securing the cargo in the aft and forward holds and began a relentless assault on the middle compartment. With Elledan's arrival in the aft hold, the tide began to turn as he cut his way to his trapped companions, making the deck slick with blood. Eradan used this new attack to even the odds, quickly freeing the slaves on the port side that had been chained to the oars.

So determined was he to get to his companions, he did not see the large man, with the longsword, behind. Landing a huge blow, Elledan dropped to the deck from the shock. Beleg, seeing the ranger was in trouble, rushed to his aid. Helping the ranger to his feet and seeing that the big man was occupied by the sudden onrush of slaves, Beleg and Elledan charged. Blindsiding him and attacking together, their two axes made short work of the big Corsair, killing him before he had knew what was happening.

Then the fighting below suddenly stopped. Seeing that their captain had been so easily defeated, the remaining Corsairs surrendered. All totalled, eighteen of the forty Corsairs gave up the fight. Eradan finished freeing the rest of the slaves--200 in all--that had been chained to the oars. Lorwen treated Eradan's and Elledan's wounds as best she could and it was decided to let the newly freed slaves have the Corsairs' ship in compensation for their losses. In the captain's stateroom, a chest was found containing gold, silver, and copper coins and jewels totalling about five hundred gold pieces. In gratitude, the Company was allowed to keep the treasure.

Returning to the village, a great celebration was held in the Company's honor. They were allowed to rest and their wounds were tended to and allowed to heal properly. Two weeks the Company spent in the village, helping them to rebuild, when a Gondorian warship arrived. It was then decided that it was time to move on.

The Corsair prisoners were turned over to the ship's captain and secured in the brig. With many heartfelt thanks, the Company boarded the warship and set sail.

The journey was uneventful and they arrived outside Minas Arnor one week later, sure that more challenges awaited.

End of Chapter II

[dustin]

Act I, Scene I

These two weeks in Minas Arnor had been frustrating, for Lorwen at least. Tasked by King Arvedui of Arthedain to secure help and soldiers from Gondor, she had been blocked at every turn. Every time she had requested an audience with King Earnil, she was turned away by his court with the excuse of "His Masjesty has much on his mind and does not have time for the complaints of a young girl." Lorwen felt like kicking somebody. Anybody.

The rest of the Company, however, was enjoying their time in the great city and taking advantage of all it had to offer. All in the Company frequented the numerous shops and stores, bartering and trading for much needed supplies and gear, as well as many pints of ale and bales of pipeweed. Lorwen, feeling long deprived of her comfortable life, bought a new silk gown, justifying it by claiming that she could not go before a king dressed as a dirty commoner. She was also quite proud of how she had negotiated the price down by almost a quarter, until Luinmir pointed out the she, in fact, paid a full silver piece more than the merchant had originally agreed.

The time was also used to regroup and regain their strength. The long sea voyage, the battle with the Corsairs and the attack of the Sea Kraken had taken its toll on the Company. The brief respite in the village after defeating the pirates had been welcome and well deserved, but had not been enough. But now, with everyone rested and fully recovered, they began to get anxious about completing their mission and returning to Arthedain. Especially Beleg and Lorwen, for it was their dear friends and loved ones in the greatest danger.

Finally, after much patience and persistance, Lorwen was granted five minutes with the King to "make her complaint". Not wanting to face the King alone, she asked if Beleg and Luinmir would accompany her. She knew that Earnil would respect a veteran soldier and an elven ranger, but was not sure he would respond positively to a "scout". Eradan was politely asked to wait in the city, with Elledan keeping a close watch on the rogue, while the trio went before the King of Gondor.

Act I, Scene II

Entering the great hall of King Earnil, Lorwen was awestruck. She had seen the palace at Fornost, but it paled in comparison to this display of Gondor's power and prestige. Beleg, the protector, either took no notice or was simply not impressed. Luinmir simply remained focused on the task at hand.

"Sire," Lorwen began as she knealt, "I am Lorwen, a Dunedain of the North, and have been sent by my liege, King Arvedui of Arthedain, to beg of your aid. My kingdom is threatened by a servant of the Shadow, and my lord fears that the Enemy will soon strike. We are stretched thin and barely able to hold what we now possess. My lord fears that we cannot hold back a full scale assualt and asks of his cousin in the South, with all humbleness, to lend assistance."

There was a short silence as Lorwen waited for a response, but then a look of surprise and shock crossed her expression as Earnil said, "No."

Lorwen wasn't sure she had heard correctly. "Sire?"

"I said 'no', young girl. I haven't time to concern myself with saving a kingdom that is all but doomed already. The Witch-King would've already finished off Arnor if the Great Plague had not decimated his armies. No, girl, I have much larger concerns here."

"Sire," responded Lorwen, "How can you abandon your kindred in this greatest of peril? How can you..."

"How can I!?" roared Earnil, cutting Lorwen off before she could finish. "How can I abandon you? Why has the North abandoned us?"

"You, sire? I don't understand. I.."

"Where was Arnor," he growled, cutting her off again, "two thousand years ago when the Enemy was destroying our country? Gondor kept Sauron in check. For three long years while our 'cousins' in the North took their time coming to our aid."

"But we did come," Lorwen retorted.

"Better late than never I guess," scolded Earnil. "And speaking of never. Where was the great generousity of Arthedain when we were dying of the Plague? We were almost wiped out by that evil of the Enemy. Where were your soldiers when the Wainriders attacked from the East? And where were your archers?" This last was directed toward Luinmir. "Nowhere to be seen. Twice the Wainriders came, and twice we narrowly avoided total defeat. I fear our cousins in the North have begun to hear the calling of the sea and wish not to get involved in the affairs of others. Too much time spent with our elvish 'allies' I suspect. So tell me, Lady Lorwen, why should I weaken the defences of the one country that has kept the Enemy in check to defend another that already has one foot in the grave?"

Lorwen was silent. She searched for a response and could find none. She began to punish herself for not paying more attention to her lessons. She had always been told to tend her studies, but instead she chose to spend her days worrying about the theatre and listening to travelling minstrels that, in hindsight, weren't really all that good. She soon felt a tear welling up. She had failed, and she knew it.

"Sire!" a side door flew open and banged against the wall with a crash and in rushed a squire. "Sire! There has been another!"

Act I, Scene III

Out on the street, two levels down from the palace, a large crowd was gathering with an excited hush. Lorwen, Luinmir, and Beleg pushed their way through the crowd and found Elledan and Eradan.

"What happened?" "Who is it?" "Anyone important?" Thousands of questions and few answers shot through the crowd. The company strained to catch what conversations they could until Eradan suggested just asking one of the locals.

"A murder," responded one of the onlookers. "Fifth one this month."

Surely an occasional murder in a city of this size was not unusual, but the onlooker informed the Company otherwise. These weren't normal murders by any means. The five men that had been killed had just died suddenly. No arrow flew from a dark corner, no dagger in the back from a passer-by. They just dropped dead in their tracks. What was even more remarkable was that these men weren't just local merchants or ordinary citizens, but Captains of the Realm, great warriors and leaders of men.

Then, without warning, the crowd took a collective breath and went silent.

"What's happened," asked Lorwen. She could guess the victim had been identified, she could hear a name being repeated, but could not make it out. "Who is it?"

"Aramir," replied the onlooker. "The King's youngest son."

Eradan could see the victim lying prostrate on the cobblestone. No visable wounds and he looked perfectly healthy. Poison, he thought. A slow but potent poison.

"Assassin," he said aloud for the others to hear. "It's the work of a very clever assassin."

[dustin]

Act II, Scene I

After the death of the young prince, Lorwen knew she should pay her respects to the king, but after her verbal trouncing two days before, she was a bit nervous to face him again. It was her duty, as an emissary of Arthedain, to offer her condolences, so she screwed up enough courage to meet with him again. But this time, she would not go unprepared.

The two days following the assassination, the Company had been busy. Luinmir had suggested trying to find out what had happened by starting their own discreet investigation then offering their services to the king to track down the prince's killer. She cautioned Lorwen to offer whatever information they discover without asking anything in return, but simply to offer it in the name of justice. Maybe the king will be grateful and offer to help Arthedain on his own.

Their first job was to trace the last steps of the prince before he had collapsed in the street. They found the servant who had been with him at the time and discovered that they had met with a spymaster in a local tavern, the Bull's Head, just before coming to the palace.

The Bull's Head was just another nondescript tavern not unlike any other that could be found anywhere in Middle Earth. The tavern keeper was a big burly man that looked as if he may have been a soldier long ago in the service of Gondor. Not wanting to arouse any suspicion, the Company casually bellied up to the bar and struck up a conversation with the keeper, talking about such mundane things as the weather and where to find the best entertainment in the city.

When the conversation turned to the gossip and rumor floating around, Lorwen, Luinmir, and Elledan began innocently questioning the keeper about what had happened that morning in his establishment.

"The Young Prince was a grand man," bragged the barkeep. "Served with him, I did, on the eastern frontier. A strict, but fair, captain he was. Never gave punishment to any that didn't deserve it."

"Is that where he had just been," asked Lorwen, sipping her ale and trying to hide the sour look on her face. She was used to a much more refined drink.

"Aye," replied the old soldier. "Just returned from another long patrol, he did."

"How do you know that?" asked Luinmir.

"Always stop by here for a draught after a patrol, he does. Says he likes the atmosphere of the place."

"Was he with anyone?" Elledan already knew the answer, but wanted to see if the barkeep would continue to be cooperative.

"Just his usual company. His bodyguard and an associate."

"Associate?" Luinmir asked.

"His spymaster. A queer looking fellow, kinda small for someone who is supposed to be so dangerous. Everyone here calls him the Dark One on account of his always wearin' a dark cloak with the hood pulled o'er his face. Don't know his true name, but he is damned effective at his job."

"Where is this Dark One now?" Luinmir's interest was piqued.

"Only the Valar know that one, deary. Leaves here, he does, to go about more of his business. But the Prince and his bodyguard headed for the palace to make their report when the lad was struck down."

Act II, Scene II

The Company now had a suspect, but all inquiries into his where abouts turned up nothing. Everyone knew about the Dark One, but no one would dare keep track of him. And all efforts to pick up his trail within the city were to no avail. With no alternative, Lorwen readied herself for another audience with King Earnil.

Once again entering the throne room, she brought the entire Company with her to offer their services to Gondor.

"What need have I of your meager services?" grumbled Earnil. "I have my own inquiry into what happened."

Lorwen replied in her most respectful, yet forceful voice. "Lord Earnil, I offer services which are most unique. Here is Luimir and Elledan of the Elvish realm, both possessed of great ability in war and survival skills. Beleg of Arthedain, one of my liege's most courageous warrriors and cowers to no man. And here is Eradan of Cardolan. A rogue by nature and profession, but also a great tracker and possessor of certain 'traits' which you may not think true and honest and therefore overlook."

"And what traits are these?" Earnil looked distrustfully at Eradan.

"Certain abilities within his very nature," replied Lorwen, carefully choosing her next words, "that have saved this Company and more than one occasion."

"Such as," prompted Earnil.

"Such as his forked tongue," said Lorwen ruefully, "that saved us from capture by Angmar's army when searching for my kidnapped sister. Such as his lore of poisons that saved us from certain drowning during our battle with a sea-kraken. And such as his dreadful dagger which has saved the life of several of us with its deadly speed and accuracy in dark places."

"Poisons, eh?"

"Yes, sire. Poisons." Earnil was interested, and Lorwen knew it and was relieved.

"My healers," began Earnil, "suspect that my son was poisoned, but they cannot determine its origin. Maybe your shadowy friend can help."

"He would be most honored, Your Majesty," Lorwen volunteered.

"But how do I know it wasn't your companion that poisoned my son?" accussed Earnil.

"Because," Luinmir answered quickly. "Because he has never left our sight since our journey began. We have been in your city for over a fortnight and the Prince had only returned that morning from the east. We came from the north and west, sire."

After some tedious negotiating, Lorwen managed to secure permission to let Eradan inspect the prince's body, already being prepared for state funeral and burial.

In the prepartion room, Eradan very cautiously went over the body, taking note of every scar and wound. He found none that suggested that the poison had been introduced by an injury, but found evidence on the corner of his mouth that pointed to an ingested poison. He closely looked into the prince's eyes and found what he had feared. The whites of the eyes had a very faint yellowish color and there were signs that some blood vessels had burst. He immediately knew what had killed the prince and could accurately guess when it had been administered; two to three days before the prince had died, while he was still in the field!

"What did you find?" asked Earnil. "What killed him? Who killed him?"

"Poison," came the reply. "In a powder form. How they managed to refine it into a powder is a mystery. It must be the work of the Enemy."

"What is it?" demanded Earnil.

"Plague," answered Eradan. "The Enemy has somehow harnassed the plague and it using it as a poison. I suspect that all of the captains that have died mysteriously lately show the same signs."

"What signs? There were no boils on the skin. What is there to suggest plague?" Earnil was becoming impatient. "Answer, damn you, or I shall have your head."

"True, sire, there were no lesions or boils. But whoever looked at him earlier never checked his eyes. They are blood-shot and yellowish in color. He had even began to bleed from his ears. There was blood dried in them. Tell-tale signs of plague. When they saw no marks on the skin, they assumed there was no plague and didn't check for any further signs."

"Who?" was Earnil's only response.

"We think it was the one known as the Black One," responded Lorwen. "If he didn't do it, then he may know who did."

"A traitor?"

"Yes, sire, a traitor." Lorwen said plainly.

"And there may be more," Elledan suggested.

[dustin]

Act III, Scene I

After a couple of days of following up leads and trying to pick up a trail, the Company was having no success. The Dark One was an elusive prey who seemed to be nowhere and everywhere. When all progress seemingly was halted, the Company got lucky.

All of their nosing around must have done some good, for it seemed to stir the Dark One out of his hiding place. On the third day, he had been spotted on the lowest level near the main city gates. When one of the guards had tried to stop him, he had been beated severely and left for dead. The Company arrived a few minutes later where eyewitnesses had seen the Dark One riding hard to the east, toward Osgiliath. Mounting up, they immediately set out after him.

The Dark One's horse was swift, for he stayed ahead of the Company and they were not able to catch up to him before he had reached the nearly deserted city. Sensing an ambush, the Company picked their way carefully through the city center. None of the few remaining inhabitants dared make eye contact with any in the party. Rounding a corner into a small square, civillians began to scatter as an arrow smacked against a stone wall, narrowly missing Luinmir by a few inches.

Act III, Scene II

Reacting without thinking, Luimir leaped from her saddle and began immediately loosing one salvo after another. Much to her dread, she discovered that by firing so wildly, she had inflicted a number of casualties upon the civillians that had been trying to flee, killing two and wounding a third through the wrist. Elledan, as well, flew into a rage and began killing senselessly, hacking one innocent to pieces before regaining his composure. Seeing the horror they had wrought upon the civillians, the rangers began to reign themselves in and pick their targets more carefully, obviously sick to their stomachs.

Beleg and Eradan, slower to react than the elves, darted toward a building on the right side of the square. Beleg took cover while Eradan ventured inside. Surprising each other, he ran head long into one of his tormentors. Caught off-guard, Eradan parried the half-hearted attack then lunged, plunging his short sword into the assassins chest. Moving down the hallway, the rogue turned to his left and saw a second man cowering behind an upturned table, begging not to be harmed. Beleg, meanwhile, searched for targets across the square, taking care not to endanger anymore civillians. He spotted an archer in a second-story window and proceeded to lay down a barrage of arrows.

Lorwen, seeing what had happened with the rangers, managed to get Luinmir to stop firing, pointing out that some of the injured were not armed and were trying to simply get out of the way. Risking her own life, she ran to offer aid to those stricken by the elvish arrows, noting the look of horror on Luinmir's face.

Regaining their senses, the rangers began to slowly advance on their attackers. Beleg had called out the archer in the window and kept his head down while the rangers moved forward. To Luinmir's left, she took cover in an abandoned wharehouse. There she found an young woman cowering in the corner. Quickly scanning her, she found the girl to be no threat and continued through the building. Seeing fallen debris in the street, Luinmir thought it would make a good position to cover Elledan's advance up the right side of the square.

Elledan had started working up the right flank, trying to get into position across from the assassin in the window. Making his way into a small home, he quickly cleared it of any and all resistance, making short work with his great axe. Beleg, seeing that Elledan had secured a position across from the assassin's position, advanced to support.

All attention suddenly focused on Luinmir as she cried out in pain. An arrow had struck her in the right shoulder--fired from behind! Eradan, taking a quick look up from his pilfering of the dead, had seen where the arrow had come and dashed across the street to the wharehouse. Inside, he saw a young woman crouching in a window reloading another arrow and taking careful aim at Luinmir. Reacting quickly, Eradan drew an arrow tipped with a paralyzing posion and let fly. The girl saw the incoming dart too late, catching the poison across her cheek and fell, spinning, to the ground. Eradan, surprised at how beautiful the girl was, put the thought out of his mind when he realized she may have more money. He stood over the girl with his sword to her throat, admiring her for a brief moment, then set about robbing her blind!

Out in the street, Luinmir was in agony. The arrow that had hit her had been treated with a blinding potion. Her vision began to blur and go gray. Calling out to her constant companion, she grabbed the she-wolf's tail and was led to relative safety of the wharehouse. Lorwen treated her wound with Eradan's knowledge of posions. Eradan reassured Luinmir that the effects were only temporary and would wear off in a couple of days. But Luinmir was not worried what effect the poison would have on her, but had a bigger concern of what the poison may affect.

With their premier shooter wounded, everything was starting to look bleak for the Company when they got an unexpected surprise. The prince's bodyguard had followed the Company with three of his best men. They had come to help and to make sure the criminals were brought back to Minas Arnor alive. Seeing Beleg and Elledan, the squire and one man made for them, while the other two headed for the house Eradan had just left.

Finding Elledan, the squire asked for a situation report. The half-elf explained what had been happening and said he believed that the Dark One was cornered in the house across the street from him. About to offer his sword, the squire realed backwards. The other Gondorian soldier with him pulled a dagger from between the squire's ribs and gave a menacing grin to Elledan. Beleg quickly dispatched the grin when he severed the traitors head with a quick stroke of his axe.

"TRAITORS!!!" shouted Elledan across the square. "Don't trust the soldiers!" With all of his knowledge, and a huge amount of help from the Valar, Elledan frantically managed to stablize the squire and staunch his life from bleeding out.

At Elledan's warning, the last two soldiers burst out of the house across from Eradan, accompanied by the very man who had begged the rogue for his life. Luinmir, guided by the sound, loosed an arrow in their direction. Eradan, knowing the elf was a much better shot than he, began to verbally direct her fire. In a matter of a few seconds, the rogue and the elf dropped all three attackers, killing two and gravely wounding the third.

Elledan, deciding enough was enough, dashed across to the assassin's house and worked his way carefully through the structure, finding the archer in the window dead by his own hand. The battle was over.

Act III, Scene III

Gathering up their wounded and prisoners, the Company limped back to Minas Arnor. There, the two wounded assassins were turned over to King Earnil. In an effort to save his own skin, the wounded Gondorian soldier identified the young girl as the Dark One and began naming other traitors within the army's ranks. Unfortunately, before the girl could be questioned and tried, she took her own life with a hidden vial of arsenic.

Eradan, having helped himself to the girl's belongings, turned over several doses of potion she had been carrying in her haversack. Five of these were of various brews with varying effects, including the blinding one she had used on Luinmir. Two of the others were the type that had been used to kill the prince and other capains. Much to the relief of everyone, this poison only mimicked Plague but did not actually cause it.

The "Confessor" laid out all he knew, under the care some very persuasive individuals. The Black Numenorians were trying to cause a panic within Gondor by killing all of their leading warrriors with the "Plague." Then, when Gondor was at its weakest, launch a major attack from the east and south. Sympathizers within the army were to take control of many of the battalions and spread rumors of another plague, keeping these warriors from defending the realm.

King Earnil expressed the deepest of gratitude to the Company. Thankful for helping him weed out a conspiracy within his ranks, he was especially grateful for saving the life of his older son. Much to the surprise of Company, the prince's helpful bodyguard and squire was actually a prince himself.

Earnur, Prince of Gondor and heir to the throne, was mending nicely in the Healing Houses, recovering from his treacherous blow to the back. He promised that he would personally lead his most loyal and faithful troops to Arthedain's aid. He did caution, however, that it will take time to mass such an army and that spring would be the earliest he could arrive.

The Company knew in their hearts that the spring would be too late. It was already early autumn and the Witch King's armies would be marching soon. They had seen it massing along the border that spring and knew it was almost ready. They thanked Earnil and Earnur for their promise of assistance and knew it would soon be time to return home.

The Company stayed in Minas Arnor until Luinmir was well enough to travel again. They decided they would return to Rivendel first. Lorwen had not seen her sister in nearly four months and greatly missed her. Luinmir, too, was anxious to get back before winter set in. She wanted her new baby to be born within an Elvish realm, not among men.

End of Chapter III

[dustin]

Act I, Scene I

With his deepest gratitude, King Earnil has promise to coe to the aid of Arthedain, but cautions that it will take time to mass such an army. Knowing the help will certainly arrive too late, the Company keeps their doubts to themselves and readies to leave Gondor.

Given an escort of cavalry, the Company departs Minas Arnor, en route to Rivendell. It will be a long journey of nearly two months, but all are anxious to get moving. Lorwen misses her sister greatly and wishes to be reunited with her soon in Imaldris. Luinmir, too, is eager to get back. She does not want her child to be born in the corrupt world of men, but in the pure environment of her people. Beleg, perhaps realizing better that the others the looming danger, is especially in a hury to return and be at the side of his king, and his friend.

Exiting through the main gate of the city, the Company and their escort turn north toward the Rammas Echor surrounding the plain of Pelennor. Riding at an extended walk, , they cover the ten miles to the North Gate in a little less than three hours. By nightfall, they made camp twenty miles north of the Rammas Echor, east of the Druadan Forest.

The next few days were peaceful, but exhausting. Pushing hard to reach Rivendell before winter set in, they reached the Snowbourn River on the tenth day. Once across, the entered a land, called Rohan by their escort, that seemed to be largely deserted, only occasionally spotting a small farm or two. After six days and nights of riding through the desolate wilderness, the Company reaches an isolated outpost on the Isen River. Here, they will rest.

A stone-walled fortress, a mile diameter, stood over 100 feet tall and was impressive in its own right. At the center of the Great Ring was an ebony tower, at least five times higher. Isengard was the name of the fortress, and Orthanc was the tower. It was the westermost of Gondor's forts. Although the territory to the west of the Isen and north to the Greyflood was claimed by Gondor, its inhabitants were considered much to wild and left to their own devices. Occasional patrols were the only presence Gondor made in the land.

Act I, Scene II

After a couple of days, the Company presses on. Snow was creeping down the mountains, a sure sign that winter was close. The third day from Isengard, 21 since leaving Minas Arnor, began with a chill and a blood-red sunrise. If any of the Company noticed, they were too tired to say anything. Rivendell was only a few weeks away and all thoughts were on reaching the haven.

As they travelled further north, the weather grew colder. On Day 12 (33 from Minas Arnor), the she-wolf became excited at the cawing of ravens in a near-by wood. Game had been scarce in the open, but no one wanted to venture into any wood, not after their experience in Eryn Vorn that summer. The Company pressed on, becoming more exhausted every day.

Not wanting to take any chances in an unfamiliar land, Eradan was employed as a scout once again. Like he had done in Rhuduar the past spring, he rode ahead of the the Company and reported back on what he saw, guiding the Company around any settlements or potential hazards. On Day 20 (41 from Minas Arnor), the Swanfleet River was in sight. It was already beginning to freeze, with a thin sheet of ice covering it. A suitable ford was found, but it was deep, chest high on their horses. Not wanting to spend anymore time looking for a better place, they braced themselves for the shock, and crossed. Rivendell was still twelve days away.

Day 29 from Isengard, 50 since leaving Minas Arnor. Sensing the closeness of the Rivendell, morale began to rise in the Company, and the wearniness seemed to melt away for a time. Eradan will still employed in his scouting mission. Being close to Rivendell also meant they were close to Rhuduar and a vigilance must be kept.

The rogue would follow the same procedure as before, guiding the Company around any threat he may have seen. The next morning, he rode off and returned in a couple of hours. He had spotted a barbarian raiding party on their side of the Loudwater River and urged the Company to turn to the northeast in an attempt to out run them. Having guided them safely thus far, the Company turned northeast, hopeing to find and elvish patrol. Instead, they ran into an orc ambush! And were betrayed!

Act I, Scene III

Spurring forward to meet the attack, Elledan and Beleg charged into the orc ranks. Eradan stayed close to Lorwen. Luinmir began a hail of deadly darts, killing two orcs before Elledan and Beleg could even reach them.

As Luinmir steadied her mount for another bow shot, the she-wolf lept, knocking the elf's aim off and taking a bite out of her. Luinmir kept her seat, she had seen the wolf at the last second and narrowly missed the full brunt of the sudden assault, but she stared down at the animal trying to get a sense of what it was doing. The she-wolf had been a loyal companion until now and Luinmir could not understand the sudden attack. She could sense pure hatred in the animal, and it was directed at her. Then she saw Eradan suddenly strike at Lorwen, catching the noble off-guard and sending her crashing to the ground unconscious. Luinmir understood.

Drawing her sword, she parried the wolf's next attack. She did not want to do it, but was not given a choice. Lorwen was in trouble and Eradan was taking aim at Elledan. Luinmir checked her emotion and ran the wolf through with her blade as she let a tear escape down her cheek.

Eradan was in a craze. Shortly after the attack started, he took Lorwen by surprise and knocked her unconscious from the saddle. He saw Elledan kill two of the orcs with ease and was about to finish off a third when his prized great axe shattered in his hand. As Elledan turned in surprise and looked back, the rogue smiled at him. Enraged, the ranger charged at the rogue with his long dagger in hand. Eradan parried the first blow, but was cut by the backswing as he was out of position. As the ranger closed in again for another attack, Eradan dodged, grabbed Elledan tightly in a bear hug, and sunk his teeth into the ranger's neck, draining his blood. With the ranger weakened, Eradan turned his attention to Beleg.

The Arthedain soldier had been holding his own against the orcs, slaying one, then another, and another in quick succession. As he turned his horse about for another charge, he saw Elledan slump in his saddle and Eradan covered in the ranger's blood. He spurred toward Eradan, but the rogue saw him coming. As Beleg lifted his battle ax to swing, he was forced to dodge a fiery blast from Eradan, losing his weapon in the process.

Seeing Lorwen on the ground so near trampling horses, Luinmir pulled her to safety. Giving her some of her miruvor, Luinmir revived Lorwen enough to help her back on her horse and led her away. Beleg, unarmed and outmatched, grabbed the reins of Elledan's mount and went after Luinmir. The ranger was groggy, but still functioning. Rivendell was to the north, so that was the direction they went, riding as hard as they could. More orcs appeared before them, but there was no stopping now. They lowered what weapons they had and charged. The orcs seemed to disappear before their eyes as they rode through. These were nothing more than phantoms meant to check their retreat.

Once they were some distance away, they met an unexpected surprise. Their hopes had been right. It was only a matter of time before they ran into a friendly patrol. This one consisted of only two members, Glorfindel and an old man whom they did not recognize.

Two days later, they were in Rivendell.

[dustin]

Act II, Scene I

After reaching the safety of Rivendell, the remaining members of the Company had their wounds tended. Beyond exhaustion from their journey, they collapsed and slept for nearly a week.

When they awoke, they found Urr watching over them. Elrond and Arwen were there soon after, as well as the old man they had seen with Glorfindel.

"So," said Elrond to the old man, "do you think they will live, Mithrandir?"

"I believe so," he said with a smile and taking a puff of his long pipe. "But if it is to be a blessing remains to be seen. They have already caused much trouble."

"I do believe their number is short by one," says Urr. "Maybe we should remedy that, at least." He gave the Company a smile as Eradan was helped into the room by Elrohir, one of Elrond's sons.

There was a look of confusion, then anger. "Traitor!" shouted Elledan as he stepped toward Eradan. "I shall kill you!"

"Hold," commanded Elrond. The ranger checked himself. "He is no traitor, but you are a fool."

"He tried to kill us!" retorted Elledan. "And you let him in to Rivendell. You are the fool."

"You do not know the whole story," replied Mithrandir in a soft voice. "Learn the facts before you start spouting accusations."

Elledan was about to reply when Urr stopped him with a hand gesture. "Give him a chance to speak, my friend, and let him tell his tale."

The Company looked at Eradan with a mixture of curiosity and contempt as he recounted what happened.

"About ten days ago, when out on one of my scouting missions, I was ambushed by a group of Naman's men. I thought I was being followed, but guessed it was just because I was so tired, and a little paranoid. The wolf had followed me without my knowledge, and when I saw her, I relaxed. That's when they got me.

"I tried to fight back, but there were too many and they had caught me by surprise. They were led by the same lieutenant that was at the Arthedain border this past spring. He recognized who I was, as did his companion. A young girl, about fifteen or sixteen, with blonde hair. She ordered him to kill me, but his orders were to take me to Naman.

"There was something odd about the girl. Although small and frail, she was clearly in charge. She relented and let the hillmen take me to Naman. What was really odd about her is that she did not speak with a feminine voice, but with mine. As I gazed on her, she took my voice and my form before my very eyes. She then made her way back to you, with the wolf following her. Then everything went black." Eradan paused to let it all sink in, then continued.

"When I woke up, it was a dark night and I was locked in a cage sitting in an oxcart. They had stripped me of all my gear, except, they never looked inside my boot, where I kept my lock-picking tools. I managed to pick the lock and sneak into their shelter. After a sharp fight, I killed the six men guarding me, including the lieutenant." He saw the doubt on their faces and misread it. "I was greatly aided by the fact they were all drunk and were sleeping it off," he confessed. Seeing they still did not believe him, he continued anyway.

"I made my escape as best I could. Not knowing exactly where I was, I headed east, toward the mountains, hoping to catch sight of the Great Road. But after my battle, and our exertions from Minas Arnor, I couldn't go any further. The cold was too much and I had no provisions. I couldn't take any of theirs because it was tainted, by my own hands. When I finally gave up, that is when Urr found me and brought me here."

Eradan looked directly at Lorwen. "The girl, milady, was your sister."

Lorwen was shocked and anger by such an outrageous accusation. "Nonsense. Estelwen is here. With Elrond. Urr brought her here last spring. You are the traitor, rogue. You and no one else!" Her emotions were getting out of control. "You were the one who tried to kill us! Not my sister! Liar!" She couldn't fight it any longer and broke down. She knew, in her heart, he was telling the truth. Her sister was now a vampire called Oldur.

"How is this possible?" asked Luinmir. "It was him we saw attack us. Has he enchanted you, Master Elrond? Somehow?"

"He speaks the truth," said Urr. "I found him myself and brought him here the day before you arrived. It was impossible for him to attack you south of here, let me find him west of here and be in Rivendell a day before you."

Act II, Scene II

In the days that followed, the Company was allowed time to digest what they had learned. They were also told of Arthedain's defeat early that winter. When they would press for more information, they were simply told that they would learn what they need to know in due time, but for now they must rest and recouperate. Finally, the day came and they were told.

"How did my sister come to be Oldur?" asked Lorwen.

It was Urr that replied first. "Shortly before we rescued her. Didn't you think it strange that her trail, at first erratic, suddenly turned toward Angmar, joined by a company of orcs? They were not guarding her, but protecting her."

"How do you know this?" asked Beleg.

"When we found her," replied Urr, "she was running a fever and was cold to the touch. At night, she was restless. I had my doubts then, as did Luinmir, but I had no proof. I guessed her restlessness was due to her struggle against the vampire's spirit and thought of killing her then, while the spirit was preoccupied. That would've trapped the vampire and destroyed it at its most vulnerable."

"Why didn't you?" This was Luinmir.

"For the same reason you did not," said Urr. "Because Lorwen would not have allowed her sister's death, no matter the price. That is why Oldur chose her. The spirit was protected and would be allowed to carry out its mission."

"What mission?" asked Elledan, still not believing the whole story. "Why grab Estelwen in the first place, try to get to Angmar, then turn back to Fornost?"

Mithrandir answered. "The Enemy thinks that a great king will be born of Estelwen's family. His plan was to corrupt Estelwen into one of his servants. Any future king may pose a threat to him. If this king is corrupted, then he may not be an enemy, but an ally. This is why she was taken to begin with."

"What He did not know," continued Elrond, "was that there were two daughters. He grabbed the wrong one. When he became aware of Lorwen, He needed to be sure which was the threat to him. He used Estelwen to get close to Lorwen. But his every attempt, thus far, has failed."

"What do you mean, 'wrong one'?" asked Lorwen.

Elrond knew it was now time to tell Lorwen of her destiny. "When the Enemy took Estelwen, I knew what his intentions were. I had seen it in Galadriel's mirror. We knew there were two daughters, but did not know which one was the more important."

Urr continued, "When Lorwen began a relationship with Prince Aranarth, that is when I knew which daughter would give rise to the Great King. This is why I urged King Arvedui to send her to Gondor, where she would be safe. I then told Elledan and Luinmir to protect her from all dangers and not to let her fall into the hands of the Enemy, no matter the cost. My plan was to take Estelwen into the wilderness and kill her, away from Lorwen. Unfortunately, Oldur had also figured out which girl it was and managed to escape to Angmar to inform the Witch-King."

"Oldur's mission was not a complete failure, though," said Mithrandir. "By taking Estelwen into Fornost, you gave the Enemy important knowledge of Arthedain's defenses. This is why the kingdom fell so quickly."

"The Enemy tried to stop your mission to Gondor, as well," said Elrond. "He knew, as we did, that Arthedain was too weak to stop Angmar, but Gondor posed a serious threat. If they were able to send aid, Angmar would be defeated before he could consolidate his victory, destroy Grey Havens and Imaldris and have Gondor surrounded. He sent the assassins and corrupted Gondorian soldiers. If he could create a state of panic in Gondor, they would not aid Arthedain, allowing the Witch-King time to complete his victory."

"Bless the Valar," said Mithrandir with a slight chuckle. "You foiled that plan by pure accident."

"How did the Enemy know our every move?" asked Lorwen.

"The wolf," replied Luinmir with a heavy heart. "The wolf was an emissary and spy. She led our enemies to us and let them know where we were at all times." Then she realized, "The pups! The pups are in Grey Havens!"

"No longer, dear Luinmir," said Elrond. "Cirdan has taken care of that particular threat."

"You are not done yet," said Mithrandir. "You still have a dangerous task ahead. We cannot allow Oldur to roam free. This threat must be dealt with quickly."

"We believe," said Elrond, "that Oldur is a very ancient spirit, dating back to Morgoth's time. It is possible that she may even be Thuringwethil, the first of the vampires. We thought she had been destroyed when Beleriand was destroyed at the end of the First Age, but her spirit may have escaped her body's demise."

Mithrandir looked serious. "If it is indeed Thuringwethil, you must be especially careful. If she is not of the Maiar, she is most certainly very close in her power."

The mood was very stern as all of this began to take hold. Luinmir had begun to feel betrayed and Lorwen felt as if she had been played for a fool. All felt like pawns in a game they had no idea was being played.

Act II, Scene III

With winter in full fury, the Company spent the season preparing for a spring departure. They would track down and destroy Oldur, and hopefully live to tell the tale. Until then, they would begin reconditioning their bodies for the rigors of the coming campaign. Many hours of many days were spent sparring with swords, knives, axes, and fists. Many more were spent becoming more proficient with the bow. It was a grueling training schedule with few distractions, save one.

Early one morning, in mid-winter, Rivendell was shaken awake. Luinmir was yelling, or as close as an elf will come, at the top of her lungs. Many hours went by as healers and midwives rushed to and from Luinmir's chambers. By nightfall, her and Elledan were the proud parents of twins--one boy, Saelind, and one girl, Silivrien.

The other members of the Company were surprised by Elrond's attitude toward the new parents. Elves do not become intimate until married or they risk being ostracized. Elrond, however, bore no ill will toward them. Luinmir and Elledan later confessed to their companions that they had been married a few weeks before leaving to find Estelwen the previous spring.

After some celebration, it was back to training. Throughout the remainder of the winter, the Company concentrated on defeating Oldur. Then, in early spring, their chance came. A rider from the Grey Havens came with news of Gondor's arrival. Ships as far as the eye could see, filling three separte anchorages. Troops by the tens of thousands, infantry from Gondor and cavalry from Rhovanian.

Glorfindel will lead a battalion from Rivendell. He will march in three days time.

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Act III, Scene I

The Company has spent the past few days preparing to go to war. They decided to accompany Glorfindel and his battalion to Fornost. They reasoned that they could pick up on Oldur's trail there. Elledan and Beleg replaced their lost axes, Luinmir and Eradan refitted their Gondorian-made arrows with elvish arrowheads. All took advantage of Rivendell's armory and acquired as much chainmail as they could carry.

Glorfindel steps off along the Great East Road, giving the Trollshaws a wide bearth on the second day. He deploys a flank guard to keep watch, but nothing was sighted. If all of the Trollshaws inhabitants were gone, the Witch-King had a truly formidable host.

The battalion kept up a rigorous pace. Mainly composed of elves, Glorfindel only stopped two hours a day to rest his troops. Eradan, Beleg, and Lorwen had a tough time keeping such a pace, but three months of conditioning paid off.

They passed the ruins of Amon Sul on the fifth day of the march. Not wanting to risk his army being strung out through the hills, Glorfindel decided to continue to the west, passing by the Midgewater marshes and skirting the town of Bree to the northeast.

North of Bree, along the road to Fornost, on the seventh day, a rider approached the column. He was small in stature and mounted on a pony. Childlike in appearance, it was soon realized that this warrior, wearing the livery of Arthedain, was one of the Shire Archers, a hobbit. Elledan recognized him as one of the hobbits they encountered on their way from Fornost to Grey Havens. Milo was his name.

He came before Glorfindel and knealt. "Lord Glorfindel, my liege, Prince Aranarth, sends his greetings. The army has moved from Grey Havens en route to lay siege to Fornost. The army's commander, Prince Earnur of Gondor, bids that you deploy to the north of the city. The Enemy has come out of his defenses to challenge us. We shall meet him on the plains between Fornost and the Nenuil two days hence. General Earnur wishes you to cut off the Enemy's escape route to Angmar in the north, and if practicable, march to attack him from the rear."

Glorfindel thought for a few seconds and replied, "Tell your liege we shall make our deadline."

The Company approaches the young hobbit after making his report. They wish to know how he came to be one of the King's men.

"After that night in the woods, Hamfast and I answered the King's call. Although still considered young, we were allowed to join the archers. Needed every body, they did. We marched north to the capital and there we met Angmar's army.

"The battle was long and terrible. It seemed as if all of the Enemy's allies were there; orcs, hillmen, trolls, and even Khand soldiers from the East. Particularly nasty bunch, that lot. I have a special debt to repay them. They are the ones that killed Hamfast. Slaughtered him, they did, like an animal."

He begins to remember the loss as if it had happened yesterday. He grits his teeth and snarls, "I shall kill the lot of 'em for what they did to poor Hamfast."

He meant it, too. Milo was no longer the innoscent little hobbit that had been such a nuisance when they had last met him. He was not the jovial, half drunk soul that had been singing out of tune and forgotten most of the words. Now, he was a hardened, veteran warrior, older and wiser than his years would suggest.

"We fought as long as we could, but their numbers were too great. Aranarth led the retreat while King Arvedui held out in the North Downs until he was finally overrun. Aranarth led the survivors to safety in Lindon with the Enemy on our heals the whole way. They gave up the pursuit after what was left of us crossed the River Lune.

"We still do not know, for certain, of the King's fate, but are sure he died on the Downs buying us time to escape."

Milo remounts his pony and prepares to return to the army. "Now I must take my leave. There is to be a battle soon and I don't want to be late. I have a debt to settle." With that, he wheeled around and headed northwest, toward the army.

Act III, Scene II

Glorfindel immediately began moving his battalion north and northwest, angling toward Angmar's position. By midmorning the next day, the ruins of Fornost could be seen to the east, but Glorfindel quickly leaves them behind. No rear guard came out to harrass his column. Angmar had obviously taken his entire host out to meet Earnur.

After passing Fornost, the column began moving northwest. The next morning, on top of a low ridge, Glorfindel halted and deployed into line of battle. The clash had begun. The sounds of it could be heard for many miles, but the elves were the only ones that could see it. They took the time to explain what was happening to those who could not.

There were two huge clouds of dust on the western horizon, with a third to the north. Aranarth was leading the main infantry force directly into the massive, packed ranks of Angmar. The fighting there was ferocious, with both sides losing hundreds, if not thousands, of warriors. Men, hobbits, and elves from Lindon fell next to, and on top of, heaps of orcs, trolls, wargs, hillmen, and Easterlings, but they were gaining the advantage, slowly driving Angmar back.

As the Enemy's army was nearing its breaking point, the Rhovanion cavalry struck from the north, with Earnur at its head. They had circled behind Angmar and struck him from the rear. The expert horsemen cut a wide swathe through the Enemy's ranks, causing panic and fear, and finally breaking what was left of their morale. Even the Witch-King fled. Not able to rally his army for a counter-attack, he led the route personally.

"We stand here," declared Glorfindel. "The Enemy is coming to us."

Without being told, the entire battalion stood, dressed their ranks, and readied their weapons. The Enemy will be arriving soon.

Act III, Scene II

Up the ridge they came. They were a mix of races and troops, but they still formed a rough battle line and came at Glorfindel's battalion of elves, all that stood between them and escape.

Volley after volley the elves put into Angmar's ranks, mowing them down by the hundreds. They still kept coming. A cloud of deadly missles rained death and destruction upon the Enemy, but they still kept coming. One last volley at point blank range staggered the Enemy's formation to a halt. Then the elves charged.

The fighting was fierce and hand-to-hand. The long, two-handed swords of the elves cut down the orcs and hillmen and Easterlings like wheat, but elves fell too. The Company was in the thick of it.

Elledan waded into them, slaying dozens with his huge ax before losing count. Sever an arm, bash a skull, smash a face. On and on it went with no end in sight. Still they came.

Luinmir kept loosing arrows into the follow-on ranks, shooting down as many as possible before they could join the melee. Arrows to the heart, skull, legs, and arms slowed the horde, but did not stop it. Still they came.

The rogue Eradan fought with the heart of a warrior. He seemed to have been singled out by Naman's hillmen, but he fought on against the odds. A dagger to the throat, a sword to the back, a slash across the face and a thrust to the belly. Still they came.

Beleg, too, rushed into the horde with no regard for his own safety. He fought like a madman, possesed by a burning hatred for those that had destroyed his homeland and killed his King. He threw his spear into the face of an onrushing orc, swung his battle ax into the chest of an Easterling, and again into neck of a hillman, sending his head flying across the battlefield. Still they came.

Lorwen, not a warrior by nature, joined the fray. She shadowed Luinmir, protecting the elf's flank. She dispatched several of the Enemy with the skill of a professional. Through the chin of a hillman and into his brain, cutting the leg of an orc off at the knee, and running an Easterling through the lungs. Still they came.

Then, through the chaos of battle, Luinmir caught sight of Estelwen's form. The vampire was reveling in the slaughter of elves, piling many up before her. Remember what Urr had told her about the vampire being distracted, she carefully chose her truest arrow, and notched it onto her bowstring. Saying a little blessing to Orome as Lorwen cut down another barbarian with a quick sword thrust through his neck, Luinmir let fly.

Her aim was straight and true. Guided by the Valar, the missle found its mark in the vampire's eye as she turned to counter another elf's attack. Remaining upright for a second or two, Oldur fell backwards upon the corpes of those she had slain.

Eradan, too, was able to exact his revenge. As Oldur fell next to him, Naman was struck by a short arrow from Eradan's hunting bow. The wound was not lethal, it hit in his leg, but its effects were deadly. Eradan had tipped the arrow with some of the Dark One's paralyzing poison, the same she had used against Luinmir. Naman, great chief of the Eastern Tribes, took a step toward Eradan, ready to erradicate this nuisance from the earth, when he fell hard to the ground. Knowing the poison had taken the desired effect, Eradan drew his dagger and walked calmly over to Naman.

Smiling at the helpless barbarian, Eradan knealt down beside him. "Remember me," he whispered in Naman's ear. It was clear by his expression that the barbarian did. "Good." With two quick moves, Eradan's dagger slashed across Naman's throat, then he drove his sword through Naman's eyes.

They stopped coming.

Angmar's army was in full retreat. Earnur's cavalry and Aranarth's infantry had caught up to the Enemy. The Witch-King challenged Earnur to personal combat and was accepted. It was not to be, however. Earnur's horse ran away and the Captain of the Nazgul laughed. Glorfindel, mounted on his white horse, rode up and the Witch-King fled. When Earnur wanted to pursue, Glorfindel told him, "Do not pursue him! He will not return to this land. Far off yet is his doom, and not by the hand of a man will he fall."

Epilogue

So ended the Battle of Fornost. But it was not a easy victory. Arthedain, last realm of Arnor, was destroyed. Arvedui, it was learned, had escaped after his stand at the North Downs. He had fled to the Northern Lands, were he was cared for by the Lossoth during the long winter. Cirdan the Shipwright had sent a rescue vessel for him in the spring. But the vessel was destroyed upon the rocks of the Bay of Forochel, and the king drowned. Word came of the King's heirlooms being safeguarded by the Lossoth, and a plan was formed to retrieve them, but that is another story.

Earnur met his fate nearly a century later. Challenged by the Witch-King a third time, he accepted and rode toward Mordor and was never seen again. Not leaving an heir behind, Gondor had lost her last king and was ruled for the next thousand years by the House of the Steward.

Aranarth, not wanting to reclaim what was left of his shattered kingdom, went to live among the elves in Rivendell. There, he declared himself the first Chieftan of the Dunedain. He and Lorwen married the following spring and over the next millenium, their descendants would safeguard the North until the arrival of the Great King.

Luinmir and Elledan, as well as their children, would go on to serve Elrond faithfully. They would take part in many of the significant events of the next thousand years. Their children would even serve the Great King after his coronation.

Beleg would continue to serve Aranarth and Lorwen. He was a proud soldier and took his duty seriously. Given the charge of protecting Lady Lorwen by the King, and Aranarth never taking the title, he was never officially released from his duty. He protected his "spoiled brat" until he died in his sleep at the age of 75. He never married, but remained a faithful soldier to the end.

Eradan would go on the lead a properous life well into his sixties. Finally paid for his services by Lorwen, Aranarth rewarded him with a position as a spymaster in the North, putting the rogue's talents to good use. Secretive to his dying day, it was never known if Eradan married or fathered any children.

The Great King would reunite Gondor and Arnor into one. A new age of prosperity would take hold. He would come from the North, descended from a "line of destiny."

End.

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This concludes "The Fall of Arthedain." Hope you all enjoyed reading it. If anyone is interested, I will post the details of Eradan's escape from the hillmen. Until then, may the Valar bless and keep you.

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