The dawn was here. The company was stirring, though not as those risen from a restful sleep, rather as those rising from a restless bed to again to face an indomitable foe. Acurith leaned against the wooden fence around the camp, lost in thought and contemplation of the sight that stretched before her. Leothross had scarcely moved from the night before, and still sat near the edge of the cliff. Mariym alone was active. She practiced with her bow, carefully trying to hit a thick wooden pole from across the camp.
Eruthaiwen sat beside Leothross looking out over the valley. “Good morning, Leothross.”
He twisted around to look at her, “Good morning, and how was the night?” She did not look like she had slept much. His own wrinkles hid much of his weariness. “I suppose it was quiet enough for us all,” she replied. “And you have been here all night?” Leothross shrugged carelessly, “I did get a little sleep.”
Zargodon had walked over to Mariym, and gave her some pointers on her aim. He even demonstrated, planting an arrow in the center of the pole with a single natural movement. She imitated him carefully, and also pierced the pole. He smiled, “I need to go speak to the others. But you are doing well.”
Eruthaiwen was saying, “Then I guess we both-“ but stopped as Zargodon approached. She smiled up at him, and he squeezed he shoulder affectionately. “You should have gotten rest, Leothross. The road ahead is long, as you know yourself.”
Leothross pushed himself to his feet, “I did get some, but it was no use. I could have gotten no more even had I tried. Besides, I do not feel it.”
“I understand. This must be… strange for you being here in these lands. Yet, still, you have not told us much of what you hope to find, or where.”
Leothross shook his head and stared at the ground, “Partially it is because I do, or did, not know.” He looked up at Eruthaiwen, “You told me of a fear once, Eruthaiwen. I did not then really understand the way you explained it, but I think I do now. There is something about these lands that … bothers me.”
Zargodon nodded, “She carries within her more wisdom than meets the eye,” He smiled at her again, before striding off to speak to Acurith. Eruthaiwen blushed at the compliment.
Leothross glanced behind him at Malenhad and continued, not fully noticing that Zargodon left. “I … I am almost certain I have been here. And, there is a strange feeling of foreboding.”
She sighed, rubbed her temples gently, and stood up. She took a step closer to the edge. “Then let us hope that you truly wish to find what you seek.”
Acurith leaned against the coarse wood, lost in her own thoughts, looking out over Malenhad. Zargodon leaned beside her, “And, what do you see?” And then added with a sigh, “And please do not say you see slaughter or blood, or elven ears scattered amongst the lands… please?”
Acurith only muttered, as if in a trance, “I see little but hear and feel enough.”
“You are troubled.” He glanced at her, genuinely interested, “A rare sight indeed. What ails your heart?”
“The Stones sing my name. I could hear their voices all night long. They know me well by now. That’s what happens when you spend so much time spilling the blood of the servants of the Enemy. They seek to punish me for my so called insolence. But I have conquered my fear of them long ago.”
Zargodon glances briefly out over the plain toward the Stones. “I cannot help it, but I fear them.”
She raised her eyebrows, “Oh really? I thought elves were fearless creatures.”
He did not answer, but shoved himself away from the barrier and sighed. Finally he said, “Let’s get going.”
They joined the rest of the group and prepared to depart the camp. Of course, there was still one question.
“Do we have even the slightest idea as to where we are even going?” Acurith demanded.
Leothross knew his option. “Do you know Barad Gularan?”
Eruthaiwen visibly recoiled at the name. She recognized it. Acurith nodded, “I know the way if that’s what you meant.”
“Well, I doubt we want to get too close… but eventually, I would like to see if it is as active as they say it used to be.”
“Well,” Acurith cleared her throat, “I could take you all there, if you really want to see it. Needless to say, many unpleasant creatures patrol around.”
Leothross looked around at each of them, wondering if they would go that far. But it was still not that simple, “We do still have another obstacle if I am not mistaken. We are not through Malenhad yet.”
She hummed, thinking, “Yes… yes…. The Watching Stones. Indeed…”
“Is it even conceivable that we could pass them?”
She seemed surprised and uneasy, and finally managed, choosing her words carefully, “Well, the easiest way to get past them safely is a bit… unorthodox. It requires a prayer to Morgoth. I doubt any of you would willingly participate in such sermons.”
The reaction of everyone was enough to prove her right. Zargodon glared at her, “How dare you even suggest such a curse!”
“I said the easiest way. Not the way that we should undertake. You wanted an honest answer, you got it.”
“Seargildin,” Eruthaiwen said, “you speak as if she’s said it outright, we need not undertake it.”
He reluctantly lowered his glare and closed his eyes. “Yes, I am sorry. This trip has been troublesome and… her meaning might have been lost. But to even utter that name here, in the lands of the Witch King himself, would already not be wise.”
Leothross shuddered, “And the other options?”
Acurith seemed at a loss. “A blood sacrifice? An orc or goblin. Some sentient creature, anyway. Or, we can challenge a stone with the heart of a dead stone.”
Zargodon ventured, “You truly want to do this? To conjure up the name of the Enemy in his lands? Let him notice us here of all places.”
“Oh don’t give me that look. It’s not like you actually pledge yourself to the Dark Vala. It’s just a fancy way of asking him to allow you passage. But of course, you elves are always so self righteous.”
“Acurith,” Zargodon scoffed, “regardless of your notion of us elves, we do see the power of the ‘gods’ more clearly then you do. And now more evident than before. These are his lands! You should know better than anyone. What if the Witch King spies us; do you really think he’d let us leave? No, he’d want to use us as his toys.”
Leothross and Eruthaiwen both eased away from the argument, not wanting to get involved. Mariym listened, trying to keep up with the references to things she had never heard of before.
Acurith continued, “For your information, the Lord of the Nine isn’t even in Angmar now. But of course, you know a lot more than me about the Enemy so I should really keep my mouth shut when you start talking about the powers of darkness.” Her voice dripped with sarcasm.
Zargodon shook his head, “In the end does it matter where the Dread Lord finds himself, if even now you an hear his voice in your head. Of course it’s the standing stones. Though, in the end, does his power not flow just as strong along the land itself? It has eyes everywhere!”
“Elf, do not lecture me on the powers of Darkness. I know much more than you ever will! Enough of this! I’m not in the mood to quarrel. If anyone has a better idea, I am all ears.”
Eruthaiwen spoke up, “As for me, I do not feel comfortable with this notion of a blood sacrifice. I will trust myself to the Valar for their protection.”
Leothross glanced up at the sun which was well over the horizon. They had spent too much of the day in talk already. “How about we figure it out… as we get there. We should go.”
The stones loomed ahead of them. They were statues of twisted, unnatural figures, eyes glowing. They seemed to fill the area with their evil. As they neared them, Leothross dropped back, finally stopping well short of them.
“No. No, no… I don’t like this.”
He felt … them. He finally understood what Acurith had meant by their voices. They had been quiet and muffled before, in the camp. Now, it was as if the distance had been the only thing stopping them. Their voices came not as a whisper, but as a command. Or perhaps, an accusation. Guilt bore down on him. Guilt of what? He could not even guess – but he thought it must have to do with his past.
Mariym had quickly come back, when she had seen him stop. “What is it? You can’t stop now.”
“They know.”
“If we’re gonna cower away from a bunch of spirit infested stones then perhaps we should have stayed in Bree,” Acurith smirked, her composure clearly returned, “I was going to tell you about the Balrog from Nurz Ghashu.”
“Just give us a minute,” Mariym snapped, “Who? The statues? Know what?”
“I don’t know. I don’t- … I think they know me.”
Acurith noticed this, and approached him quickly. “What do they tell you? It’s important!” She said in a whisper.
He fumbled for words. What did they say? He could not understand it. “It, well. It accuses me. Of something… I don’t know. It’s a stone, this is nonsense. But it … felt like someone laid bare something awful. I think it was just a feeling.”
“You have been here before.”
Eruthaiwen approached now, “We are on the right track then, no? Does it not rather embolden your heart to stand against them, knowing you have done so before?”
Acurith continued, her face growing dark, “What did you do that the Stones had bothered to remember you? It must have caused great damage to the Enemy… Or maybe you were one of… them. And you don’t remember it. There are no other explanations. At least, none that I can think of.”
Leothross tried to understand all the possibilities, and steeled himself for another look at the stones. “If great damage, would I feel it with guilt? And… if I stood the stones before, how? And… well. Or that.” He whispered a prayer, it was as if his greatest fear had stared him in the face. But he had thought of it often, he could deal with it… right?
Mariym shook her head firmly, “That’s nonsense!” and Eruthaiwen laid her hand on his shoulder, “The man I know is not capable of such evil.”
In Acurith, however, did Leothross find strength. She had a look of unusual compassion that he could not understand, but greatly appreciated. “Even if so… it’s all right! You have changed, you’re a different man. Isn’t that what matters?” she asked.
Leothross answered in a dry whisper, “That’s what I have told myself. I believe it. I think.” How could one say what they believed, until that belief forced their hand. “And Eruthaiwen, even you do not know all about me.”
Mariym still agreed with Eruthaiwen, “Why assume the worst?” she challenged Acurith. Acurith face saddened and she turned away from them, as if disheartened. Mariym, continuing, turned to shake Leothross, frustrated, “Stop that!”
Leothross, surprised by her outburst, lay his hands on her shoulders gently, “Is it so outlandish? I must have done many things in my life, wouldn’t this be possible? And what about what Acurith just said. I have always said that it was the deeds of the present that define us, whether I truly believed it or not…”
Acurith looked back questioningly at Eruthaiwen and Mariym, “And would you push him away if that was indeed the case? - You would, wouldn’t you.” Eruthaiwen hugged her arms to herself silently for a few moments before she said, “No. I do not think I could.”
Mariym just looked accusingly at Acurith, “You put this idea in his head!”
He replied insistently, “Mariym, you know that is not true. Remember when we first met?”
“You always doubted such notions.”
“But they were always in my mind. How could they not be?”
Zargodon, who had been content to listen up to this point, finally spoke. “What he was is no concern to us now. What I see now before me is honesty and truth. Leothross, regardless of your past, we, you, need to find the truth behind it.”
Acurith seemed to appreciate his words, “The Elf is right. You cannot change the past, but can indeed control the present and the future.”
Mariym did not seem quite satisfied, but stood with her arms crossed as if to pout at the entire notion of it all. Zargodon softened strangely at Acurith’s support, he clearly did not expect that. “The past would be always a shroud in your mind, a constant ghost haunting your nightmares. I know what I speak of, my friend; the evenings, silent nights of musings and fretting about what might be. We have come to seek the truth.”
Leothross looked up at him finally, the fear fading from his face. “I think you have put into words all that I have been struggling with Zargodon. I need to know, but, and I hope on the Valar that you are right about this, that past does not affect my present.”
Mariym rolled her eyes. Leothross quickly said to her, “Look, we do not know if that is the case – but we cannot ignore the possibility… or anything else.”
“Well,” Zargodon urged, “There’s no use standing about. The longer we linger here, I fear, the better chance we will be discovered.”
“If we are to progress, we must move forward,” Eruthaiwen said with a nod, “You all may do what you think best to overcome the stones, but I will trust myself to the Valar.”
“I will follow your lead, Eruthaiwen,” Leothross nodded, taking a cautious step in the direction of the dreaded statues.
The time had come. Eruthaiwen led them, and came to a sudden stop a few yards from an invisible line between the stones. She grasped her locket and bowed her head in a silent prayer and began to push forward. Her steps were slow and laborious, as if she were wading through a mire. Leothross followed her lead. Not allowing himself to think, he closes his eyes and prays to every Valar that he can remember.
It felt like ages before he opened his eyes to find that he had gone well past the stones. He collapsed to his knees.
All finally reached the opposite side, though all were exhausted by the effort. All, except Acurith, it seemed. While they struggled to regain their legs and their bearings, she laughed, “Really, you are all a bunch of sissies. So whiny and fearful.”
Zargodon remained watchful and surveyed the path that they must take. Again he urged them, “The longer we stay here…”
“… the more likely we are to be found,” Leothross finished, “We should keep moving, I know. To the north then. Acurith?” He looked to her expectantly.
“If Barad Gularan is our destination, then yes, to the north.”
They remounted their horses, and pushed onwards. The mood had changed starkly from their earlier travels. Zargodon constantly peered over the landscape, his eye apparently drawn as a magnet to any movement. He only paused this vigil to cast a glare at Acurith – he had not recovered from her initial idea for crossing the stones. Mariym too glared at her, though perhaps for somewhat different reasons, and it was clear she did not necessarily trust her. It was also clear that the experience had worn heavily on her – she sat stiffly in her saddle and was strangely quiet. Of them all, Acurith was the only one seemingly unconcerned. She led on, showing no fear at the dangers that lay around them.
Through the broad columns the steamed with a sulfuric gas, a large lake finally came into view. The map marked it as Du Vulnen. The company found shelter in a vent that had, by all appearances, been dead for some time.
Leothross turned to Acurith, “Do you think this will be sufficient for tonight?”
She nodded, “Yes. It’s a rather secluded area. Few ever come this way.”
Meanwhile Zargodon continued to watch carefully around them. He beckoned to Acurith with a shrug, “Perhaps it’s nothing, but what do you see?”
“Enemies roam everywhere here. Nowhere is truly safe. But we should be fine here if we do not attract too much attention to ourselves.”
“I trust you are right. I’ve been seeing movement since we left our last camp.”
“Aye. Orcs, trolls, worms, and others of the kind.”
“I am thankful we have not had a run in with them yet,” Leothross said, shaking his head.
“Just you wait till we encounter the more friendly residents of the land: wights, Cargul, and fell spirits. Oh what a warm welcome we shall receive.” Acuirth smirked.
“We would be wise not to show ourselves above during the evening. Even the watchman. I am afraid we have been lax in keeping our presence here hidden.” Zargodon shook his head worriedly.
Leothross nodded, “You are right, Zargodon. I hope we have not given ourselves away already at the watchers.”
Mariym, though the day had clearly worn on her, was ever curious. She explored the area around the vent quietly. As she slipped back to the group she backed into Throssian. She jumped back, reaching for her weapons before realizing what it was she had bumped into. As for the great bear, a low growl, perhaps more like a grumble echoed in his chest and he regarded the girl steadily. Mariym apologetically lifted her hands and retreated awkwardly a few steps before flopping to the ground with a sigh.
They began to setup their camp for the night. Under the circumstances, this meant little more than unrolling bed rolls in places where they could sleep comfortably without rocks in their back. Zargodon again resumed his watchful gaze over Malenhad. Leothross came up behind him and gripped his shoulder. “Zargodon. Is everything alright? You seem disturbed.”
“No, I am fine, my friend. I just… need to make sure of something…”
“If you say so. Just…” Leothross lowered his voice, “She is for us – not withstanding her careless words. I can feel it.”
“I know, but she does have a strange and infuriating way of showing it, as well,” Zargodon sighed.
“True enough. But still….” He did not finish the thought.
“I just need to see something, if you do not mind. And I would like to do so alone. I will not be long.”
Acurith raised her eyebrows at him as he mounted his horse, “Try not to get yourself killed, Elf!”
“I need to know if we are being watched. If I do so alone there is more chance of not getting caught.”
Leothross frowned as he watched him disappear into the falling darkness. The foul clouds that seemed to eternally overhang this land grew darker and more menacing. The blackness was absolute. But in the shelter of the vent, the company caught what sleep they could. Even Mariym had fallen into a peaceful, child-like sleep. A half eaten apple resting in the palm of one hand, and her bow lying just in reach of the other.
