A Slow Start

The sun was warm as they wound up the steep path out of the Valley and the wind blew a gentle breeze in their faces. Somewhere back down from where they had started, singing could be heard and they company listened to it in silence for a while. Four of them there were; Rainith, Caun of the House of Vanimar, Parnard, Rainith's former servant, Belegos, hunter and guide for the journey, and Danel Istanis, lore-master and leader of the expedition. They had hoped that one other were to join them, but at their hour of departing, he had been absent, and with heavy hearts, Danel deemed they could wait no longer. They started out in the morning, their steeds bearing their supplies and weapons. The journey had been planned for weeks and Belegos had studiously poured over maps of Eriador and Rhovanion in order to decide which was the safest, and most secret, path for them to take. No paths were unwatched in those days, especially across the mountains. Belegos had hoped that Estarfin would have joined them for a few reasons, not the least because he was a mighty warrior, and the hunter had feared that they may have need of his spear on their way. Yet he had not come. Belegos forced the thoughts out of his head and realised that the sound of hooves behind him had stopped. He swung his horse, Celegsul, around to see the others. Danel had reigned up her mare so that she could take a last look over the home of Elrond. She was fond of the Valley, as were they all, yet Belegos thought she looked whistful, sad even. He knew what she was thinking, that this was maybe the last time she would see the waterfalls, or hear the rush of the Bruinen. Everything looked a little more beautiful to her at that moment, a little clearer. She did not speak, and Belegos did not press her. Eventually she turned to the others and smiled, but even that was tinged with sadness. "Let us be on our way," she said, "we have many miles to cover." Belegos lingered for a moment, he too looking out over Imladris. Unbidden, a memory came to his mind. There he was, injured and blackened by smoke. He stood atop a high mountain and behind him, his city burned. He was fond enough of the Valley. Fond enough to call it home, but he could never truly love it as he did his city. He thought that he could never feel truly at home anywhere again. He turned Celegsul and caught up to the others. It was a little while longer before they reached the point where the path led out of the Valley and into the Trollshaws. They walked through a cleft in the rock, tall and sheer on both sides, and at the mouth stood two sentries clad in leather armour. Both held spears. As they passed, Danel spoke hushed words with one of them. Belegos could not make out what she said, yet caught "...Giants Valley". He knew then that she was leaving instructions for Estarfin, if he were to ride after them. From here, it was Belegos' task to leads his friends through the wilderness, over the mountians into Lorien, and the from here across the Anduin to Mirkwood. He retraced the route he had chosen in his head and looked at the others, trying to determine how long it would take them to travel to their first campsite. They were in no great rush for they were still close to the valley and friendly eyes kept a vigilant watch in those lands. They would reach it by nightfall, he thought. He took a longer, searching look at Parnard. He was an elf of Mirkwood and had come along as Danel reckoned that he would be a boon to the company once under the boughs of the Greenwood. Belegos had not argued with her for the choice of who was to travel was not his to make, though he felt it unnecessary for Parnard to come along. He bore him no particular ill will, yet the elf had proven to other members of Vanimar what a burden he could be. He was not wise in the ways of the wild, or combat and had been known to make even the smallest of problems into undeserved dramas. Belegos was afraid he would end up getting himself killed, or worse, somebody else. Yet whilst he would have glady swapped him for Estarfin, he was here and Estarfin was not. The sun had climbed high above them, and after a few hours pleasant riding, the four elves arrived at the entrance to the Giants Valley. It was a rocky, uneven plain shaped like a bowl and surrounded by looming hills all around. It had earned its fearsome name because within lived huge, green drakes and slithering wyrms. Belegos had assured the group that they would make it though the valley unharmed, so long as they did not disturb them. Parnard's worries had not been assauged. The rumour was that an actual giant lived within those hills, yet none could prove it. They were to enter the valley from the North and head South-East for the path that lead to Eregion in the hope that it would be a trail less-watched. They stopped at the valley's opening as Belegos informed them of their next leg. Suddenly, the sound of a galloping horse was heard behind them. They all turned to see who it could be, startled they should come across anybody, even this close to Rivendell. In the distance, riding hard, they could make out a rider clad in black. He stooped low to the horse's neck and on his back could be seen a great spear. At once a wide smile broke on Belegos' face for he knew who the rider was, and his heart leaped. As he approached quickly, Danel too recognised the elf and grinned. He drew up his horse in front of the other four. Both mount and rider were out of breath, the horse's nostrils flaring wide. He touched his brow and half-bowed to Danel, who nodded back to him, but said nothing. He gave a sharp nod of greeting to Rainith and Parnard. The Caun smiled, but Parnard looked confused and positively nervous. Finally he turned to Belegos and said, "You left early, and without me!" But there was a hint of laughter in his voice, or so Belegos thought. It was Danel who spoke to the elf in black. "Early? Nay we left when I said we would, but it seems we did leave without you." "It matters not, here I am. The guard to the Valley informed me of the road you had taken," he said. "Then let us carry on now we are all together. Belegos?" Danel gestured at their guide to lead the way. As Belegos dug his heels into his horse and led the way, the newly-arrived elf trotted up alongside him, reached over and put his hand on his shoulder. "It's good that you have come," Belegos told him, "I am glad you have come." "Did I not say that if it were fated for you to go back to Dol Guldur, then I would stand with you?" Said the elf. Belegos just nodded and clasped his arm. It seemed Estarfin would join them after all, and the journey would be all the better for it, thought Belegos.