Act III, part IV: Dark Deeds
As they entered the darkened entranceway, the walls uttered a faint chittering, as if countless of little voices heralded their coming. Much Tinnurion begrudged the state of his hall, where he had once sojourned in such comfort. A great black pit it now was, devoid of all belonging. Its doors broken, its walls chipped and choking in the silvery knitted cloaking of the spider. Indeed there was no token of there ever having housed anyone but the beast that lingered within, save for the statue of Eöl, which still stood unbroken, looming over the darkened chamber.
The silence appeared sickening to him, but confident still that the spider would keep her end of the bargain, he broke it by yelling loud and clear:
'I have come bearing that which I set out to retrieve.'
The chittering ceased and all turned silent, but no answer came from the black spot in the upper corner of the room. Meanwhile Gardbrand could only guess what would happen next, and though his eyes failed to see anything at all, he plotted his escape by the feel of the wind that followed him inside. But the blade of Tinnurion was still unwaveringly pressing him forward.
Then suddenly something to their left that had been standing still without the slightest movement crawled forward, and then something to their right. It were but the spider's great limbs, tall and menacing like raised halberds, surrounding them with ease. Her massive head floated towards them and she peered at her pray closely, studying Gardbrand with hatred in her eyes. Tinnurion had nigh forgotten her size and he withdrew his blade, though only by a little. Still, it was all Gardbrand needed to break free from the elf's grasp and set it to a running. But the spider belched out a thick webbing that pulled him backwards with great force, and she fell upon him and dragged him into the darkest corner of the room where all trace of him was lost.
Tinnurion now stood alone and stricken by the sudden fierceness of her attack, he said:
'I have held up my end of the bargain. I expect you to honour it also. You will grant me one of my companions in return, as was bargained for!'
'Bargained?', she asked with a hissing down her throat. 'Yes, bargained.' And as she spoke, she dropped Tinnurion's companions before his feet. And as he inspected them, he learned that one had already perished and the other was poisoned and close to death. At the seeing of this dreadful affair, Tinnurion was beside himself with rage. '
What is this treachery you foul creature?!'
The spider hissed teasingly and spoke:
'I do believe the bargain that thee struck with me was made knowing time were of the essence. Yet, thou bringest me what was promised on the eve of the new moon. I did warn thee that my hunger would grow quickly and surely. So, it appears thou hast failed thy friends. But my appetite thanks thee and for that, thou may choose one to take with you and do with it as thou willst. Wisdom be with thee if thou taketh this offer.'
All his thought turned to vengeance and dark was his longing. But he could not contend with the evil that had gathered about him. For she was not alone and her children were driven by hunger. Thus, with a heavy heart he picked up one of his dying friends and left the house beaten and humiliated, the sound of chittering and hissing pursuing him relentlessly.
When he thought he was far enough away from the spider's lair, he laid down his friend and could barely exchange parting words. Such was the sorrow of Tinnurion Turwath, that he should fall so low. Now he was alone, and left to wander in solitude. Indeed, it seemed to him now that the words of Curunir of long past resonated in the wind. He was doomed to walk alone, to wander without destination.
'How had it come to this?' , he thought as he strayed amidst the sullen trees.
