Many things happened in very short time.
We are now in Angmar. The way to the doors of Angmar was... mostly peaceful surprisingly enough.
The day after we arrived, Ancalasse found us at the campsite. But then we separated. Lord Belethoriel went to the settlement of men, Aughaire. The rest of us went to find water.
Well, we found water in a cave used by very strange creatures. I wonder what they are, but they weren't aggressive, they didn't attack us so we also left them alone. In any case, we filled our waterskins.
And we found an orc camp also. Of course, we just had to enter it and kill everything in sight. Though Ancalasse is more careful concerning my complete lack of skills in fighting that I believed he was at first. As I told him, I can always wave my dagger at anything coming close enough to me but...
Anyway, we found an elf there. Meathras his name was, one of lord Belethoriel's company.
He was seriously injured. I could treat him and used up all my water to do so, but we needed to move before other orcs came and found us where we were hiding. Well, I had time to treat his injuries and if we were careful, Meathras could survive.
Ancalasse left with Meathras, riding back to Gildor's camp. I hope he will be careful on the way, so that Meathras can survive the journey back.
The rest of us, Nellindiel, Celephindir, Dolthafaer, Sargiel and I went back to the road to Aughaire, hoping to find Belethoriel. We needed to inform him of what we learnt.
We were lucky for he came back almost as the same time we did. we informed him of the rescue of Meathras and the fact that two other of his company were still alive a few days ago when they were taken with the orc host that left the camp we found.
And as we were to camp there again that night, I asked to go and find water to wash. Not that I disliked having blood on me... Well, yes, in fact I mind it.
He who says that people become healers for they fear coming close to blood are sadly mistaken !
In any case, I needed to clean up. First, yes, it is disgusting to just go on like that. and second, if orcs smelled elven blood on me, I would be easily found however well we hide, and a target more than I currently am.
When we came back from the cave with the water, we settled for the night. I asked Dolthafaer... How to hold that dagger properly, so that, maybe, with some luck, no one would be able to take it from me. Well... Dolthafaer is a good teacher, but I... Fear that I am a bad student.
Oh I could imitate his movement well enough after he explained it to me, or at least I think, but... Well... It definitively feels too awkward.
We passed the night in that camp near the road. And the day after we went to Aughaire.
The men agreed to give us information, food and water if and only if we could help them. We would have all this if we could kill... A drake !
Nothing more normal isn't it ?
We followed Belethoriel out of Aughaire. To a place where his company hid supply... Armour and herbs...
Well, seeing the state of the herbs and considering it's been a few years... I am not sure anything can be done with it. Maybe, but I will have to test it first.
We stayed there and lord Belethoriel left to find another hidden box of gear and weapons.
He came back much later but at least he was unarmed.
He had armors for us all, and he gave me a shield and a sword.
I... Wouldn't have taken the sword. It is his and hold many memories. But he insisted and to be fair... In Angmar... Hunting drakes and who knows what later, with only a dagger for protection...
Not that I was so much better with a sword but at least a sword had bigger chances to hit whatever was attacking me from too close.
So I accepted it.
If we ever came back out of this place alive, did I mention we were preparing to hunt a drake, of all things ? I would give him back the sword, or give him the choice to take it back. I understand that he feels that I need a weapon, and I do, but this sword is his, or should be his.
We were to hunt the drakes. I kept my own armor instead of borrowing one from Belethoriel.
First of all... Metal against fire, fire usually win. Second, they were all heavy armors, how did he think I could wear it long enough to go with them to kill the drake and come back without falling flat on my face and possibly at the worst possible moment ? For lack of skill I never relied on my gear and always on my speed to survive. An armor so heavy, I couldn't help but see it as a trap for me.
He tried to insist but finally agreed that if I preferred to risk everyone's life I could go as I were.
Ah ! I know myself. If I was wearing that armor I would be risking everyone's life. So I used my own armor.
...
Surprisingly, we survived.
Lord Belethoriel, Dolthafaer and lady Sargiel have great skills, and I stayed far behind, hidden against a rock, with lady Nellindiel for safety (though if it came to the point she needed to protect me, we'd have been better off runing away from there, instead of fighting a battle we couldn't have possibly won...). I would only have created problems had I tried to help.
They cut off the head of the creature and we went back to Aughaire...
Where I discovered that Dolthafaer was hurt. Why did they all feel the need to hide their injuries ?! Ah, Dolthafaer has his place in the Hammer, that's for sure.
At least, once in Aughaire he agreed to let me see to him. He was burnt at the leg above the knee. Left leg. The burn is bad but not too bad. Now if he could be careful and not burst the blisters it would help greatly but I have no real hope that he will do so.
And I was proven right when we heard Ancalasse's voice shouting somewhere in the camp. Apparently... He found our trail leading to Aughaire and followed us. He was looking at the town when men saw him and captured him...
It is not funny... But thinking of it now... After the facts...
In a less funny note, we also discovered lord Belethoriel's sense of diplomacy : 'strangling the man first and ask questions later'... Right...
The man, Mathlad, took us to the 'spy' they caught in our absence... Yes. That was Ancalasse, no mistake about it.
And of course, Dolthafaer HAD to follow us and burst a blister along the way... What is so hard to understand in 'careful' ?
Anyway. We got Ancalasse back. Not without much discussion and bartering but we did get him back in the end. Oh and Meathras survived the journey back to Gildor's camp.
As promised we were given information and a place to stay the night, where I could finally treat Dolthafaer's injury. If he moves before we are ready to go I will... Tie him up to the tent post somehow !
And now Culufinnel joined us. Feeling better than I last saw him, apparently. Well... Good... Maybe...
About my supply... :
-Salve against burns is needed. I'll have to see about making more. I need water and a few other herbs. I still have enough for now I think but a burnt needs regular treatment and I need a minimum supply at hand just in case.
-Thread for stitches, bandages, athelas solution, all this needs to be replace. Athelas solution I have one that's being prepared already it still needs a day before it's usable but I have it in quantity so it shouldn't be a problem.
Well, alright I don't need to replace them all yet. I still have a quantity of this. but... Better safe than sorry.
Maybe trade is possible. I will see what I can do tomorrow.
Er... I will see on my own. I don't need Ancalasse or Valar forbid Culufinnel to anger someone before I can find what I need.
