Atharann had left the safety of the valley not too long after arriving. On his way out he found Mildwynn along the road. With her he spoke briefly of matters and concerns and with her he left Nír, his loyal hawk, so she had a way to contact him. Now he truly was off alone again, in search of dark black stones of dread and terror. But fear them he does not for he is well equiped to deal with them. For the longest part of the day he searched the far regions of the Trollshaws to no avail and thus decided to travel eastwards ever more. It was here where he found Ryheric camped and decided to join him at his camp. There the two spoke and agreed to travel east together as far as their paths would allow then to. A good chance yo get to know one another a bit better. It was until Ost Guruth that Ryheric was at his side. But there they needed to part. For the ranger had dealings within Agamaur and Gath Agarwen. And so with a shake of the hand, they parted ways, hoping to all regroup soon as possible. Now he was alone again. Completely alone... For his old friend and trusty steed, Aronath, could not come with him. Atharann was protected against the stones as best he could,l but for Aronath there was no such protection. And thus he was left in the care of the Eglain as Atharann ventured forwards into the Red Pass and deeper into dangerous lands. He was sure of it. If the stones were ever to be found, then here it had to be. In the cursed red lands and woods of Agamaur.
After passing into the Red Pass and beyond into Agamaur, Atharann started his search for the black stones. First he spoke with the hunters of the Eglain that camped out near the Red Pass in defense of it. They had indeed good information for him as he learned that they had felt dreadful and fearful in the far regions of the swamps of Agamaur. With that he set off towards the North West. It would not be long till he started feeling the pressure, the presence he knew well enough. Thus he pulled his sword from its sheathe. The longsword glew a faint white in the red lands and as it started to glow more strongly. Thus so he saw it, a black stone within an ol courtyard of the ruins. It's feeling one of dread and fear. Atharann walked closer and took a deep breath once he was within striking distance of the stone. And raised his sword. And so he spoke.....
"(S) I am a son of Numenor. My line that of great men. Like my ancestors I shall stand against the darkness. Until my last day comes. For I am a son of Numenor."
After his chant is done, he plunges the sword downwards into the black stone striking deep into it an breaking it apart. But even though his warding do their work well, the ranger feels overwhelming dread. As he breaks the stone he focuses on his breathing to battle thoughts of fear overcoming him. It is now a battle of his willpower. Atharann would pull back the sword and with it the black stone breaks completely apart. Atharann drew a couple of deep breathes as the dread slowly faded away. He can feel the effects of exhaustion in his body but can not tarry yet. With a heavier body he continues on. For his search is nor yet done!
For another few hours Atharann strode though the ruins with heavy feet and arms. There was still the presence of unnatural things at work and he knew from his guts that there had to be another stone. After passing a broken gateway into an old alley that lead to a fallen tower, he felt it. A sharp pain came to his shoulder, almost like the wind. And with that same speed it disappeared again. Atharann looked for the arrow in his shoulder, but there was none...
"Strange" he murmured to himself before seeing it. Atop the fallen tower, among the stones of the building stood one large black stone. And upon seeing it the pain began to set in around his body. Cramping of muscles as of they were hit by unseen arrows. His chest tightened as he got closer and closer to the stone. His breathing became heavier and he felt much pain and suffering in that moment. Yet his wards still protected against worse as did his trusty sword. He gathered all he had and lifted the sword high. And so he spoke once more.
"(S) I am a son of Numenor. My line that of great man. Like my ancestors I shall stand the suffering. Untill my last day comes. For I am a son of Numenor"
And once more after he said his chant. He plunged his sword deep into the rock, cracking it appart with all he had. In that moment he felt an intense pain, greater then before, overcome him. Silently he screamed for his lungs felt crushed and his heart felt ripped out. As he pulled the sword from the stone, the stone shattered with once more a violent burst of pain to its destroyer. Atharann could not stand it and fell down to a knee. Quickly using his sword to keep some support. But his whole body trembled an ached. His muscles sore and tired . His breath far heavier then before and his hands not able to hold much of a grasp to his sword.
"Not yet Atharann...." He spoke to himself.
"One last presence... Towards those woods... One more you old fool."
So he stood up once again. Unbalanced he sought to regain his posture with the help of his sword. A moment he needed to breathe. His body felt broken beyond but he could not yet give in. Using some cloth for bindings, he would bind his hand to the hilt of his sword. Making sure it would not fall from his weakened grasp. He remembered the words spoken in Rivendell. Of how one of these stones nearly killed his friends. But it did not steer him towards despair. He took only a moments more to rest before he stumbled onwards and out of the ruins of the fallen city. There beyond the ruins lies the woods of Agamaur. Red, crooked trees peered at him from the marshes borders and there it was where the final presence was felt. With all he had he stumbled towards the woods edge, and into the woods.
''It hurts......'' ''It really hurts....'' And so said the ranger as he made his way through the thicket of the woods. His whole body sore from the last stone he took down. Yet the pain would not subside. The closer he got to the last stone, the more it would hurt him, the more it would tire him out. His sword dragged over the ground behind him. All of his strength used to keep on walking forwards. ''I have to destroy it.... I must make it back... I promised her I would'' So he encouraged himself. His iron will was not even slightly dented as he staggered on over branch and stone. Then... Ahead... A light between the red leaves and crooked wood around him. He felt it, a dark presence that made him sorrowful. ''There it is...'' He said as he entered the clearing within the woods. Red grass spurring from the ground in a small field in the middle of the woods. There at the center of it all stood the last stone. A foul purple glow coming from it. Once more Atharann's sword glew with a bright white glow as did the rune around his neck. But again it only provided little soothing to what he was going through. One more trial would await him with this stone. What sort of sorrows would he feel? It was clear that this last stone would try to sway his mind. With his strength and body already weakened severely, his mind was all he had to push through. That iron, so far, unbreakable will of his that so often was called ''Stubborness''. Atharann did not tarry. The stone had to go. It had to be destroyed so the others may find a more soothing passing by.
Slowly, Atharann crept closer to the stone. The tall grass waving in a cold breeze around him as he got closer and closer..... The pain was cruel. The strength in him fading... but he was so close. He closed his eyes only for a moment, in the hope to regain some more strength of his iron will. But when he opened it, his heart nearly stopped. All around the clearing were people now. Looking at him from beyond his reach. His eyes needed a moment to adjust to it all. For his tired eyes only saw vague shapes in the the beginning. Then, his eyes adjusted to sharpness again and it became instantly clear of whom the shapes were. His eyes widened as he looked around him at the dozens and dozens of people that were now all looking at him. Among them, those closest to him, he saw that which made his eyes tear up. His lip tremble with sadden words as he looked towards where the stone once was. ''M....Mother....? Father?... Ithrandir....? Felarann...? My family...? How...?'' He felt the cold tears streaming down his face. For before had he dealt with illusions but none hit as hard as this one. It felt so real. Beyond others he had experienced during his days in Angmar, and after. His sore body and weakened state had left him vulnerable to this. His swords dragged behind him as he walked closer. The faces around him became more apparent as well. Old friends that were long gone. Kinsmen that died fighting by his side all stood and watched him. He could not make any sense of it and just looked with lost eyes before setting upon his family again. ''How are you alive....? What happened....? Where are we?'' The figures of his mother reached out to him with a stretched hand and spoke is a familiar soft tone to him. One that brought much soothing to his ears. "Don't worry my beautiful little boy. Come to mother... All will be well. Come and join us all. We have missed you so very much.''
The ranger could not believe it to be true. His mind tried to find any form of explanation for what he was seeing. And eventually he found it. His eyes turned dark with anger once her realized it. He strode closer to where his family was awaiting him with now both hands on the hilt of his sword. His Iron will would not be broken here.....
''No.... All of you died in years long gone. You are not real. None of this is real! No sorcery has made me kneel yet! And nor shall this one do so!''
Once he got close to his mother, he raised the sword with all he had in him. His eyes with only the traces of his tears left now. He was certain. The stone was before him, even if he could not see it. It was now that he had to strike! Once more he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Trusting what he saw wasn't real. But when he opened them and looked towards where first the stone, then his mother were standing, he lost all grip on his sword. It now hang in the straps he used earlier, dangling at his side as the blade scraped over the ground he stood on.
''No.....'' He would simply mutter with his eyes once more overflowing with tears. More so then before.
Atharann looked up at where the stone once was. Around him the clearing had become as it was before. Those he lost all gone now. Though... Only one remained before him. A final effort of the stone to break his mind and prevent its own destruction. Before him stood those dark locks of long hair. Those beautiful gray eyes. A young face and a stoic ranger tunic. He could not hold himself up as he fell to both his knees in tears. Wanting to reach out at the girl before him.
''Ayliyn..... No.... No.. no...... Not you...''
The girl reached out to him and cupped his cheek to comfort him. Her voice came softly as ever and in soothing tone. It was like the sun to his ears, quickly followed by dark clouds and thunderous storms as he listened.
''Ooh Father. Don't cry. I am right here. Grandmother, Grandfather... everyone is waiting for you father. I am waiting for you. I have been for so long. Is this really worth it all? All this suffering? For what? Some Rohirric soother? A lost cursed girl? A Dale-man? A soldier of Gondor? That treasure hunter? The Bree-girl? The Ranger? Come now father. You have done this beyond count. Again and again. And all that ever came in the end was more sorrow. Isn't it time to rest father? Please... Don't make us wait any longer. We miss you. We need you here!''
Atharann broke out in sobs and gripped his chest. The pain of all this was unbearable to him. Of all those he had tried to save, and lost, Ayliyn's death still haunted him as his greatest failure.
''Ooh my beautiful daughter.... I am sorry. I am sorry you suffered. I am sorry I failed you. I tried to hard to get to you... but the fight was too fierce. And once I reached you... it was too late. Please forgive me. Forgive my failure as you father'' So he said sobbing and crying to the figure of his child.
The girl simply smiled with a warmth well felt as she looked down to her father again. Her eyes said it all. She did blame him for it, she hated that he had failed her. He saw it in her eyes... But none the less she spoke softly.
''You are forgiven. Now clean your tears and join us father. With such you will make up for everything. For all of us you could not safe''
Just like his mother before, a hand was reached out towards him to take. His eyes watery and his composure seemingly broken he looked up at it. He pondered to take the hand. He would finally be with all those he loved and lost once more. To speak with his father of his journey. To his brothers of his fights. To his mother of those he loved. To his daughter of all the wonders she brought and will bring him. It would all be over. All the suffering. And in that moment he had to decide his fate. Looking at the hand longingly. He saw peace and rest for him. Something he always wanted, something he always needed. Should he give it himself finally? After so many years? Why not? Why not take it? He had more then earned it did he not? He had always kept his promises. Always followed his words. Why not rest? What would those last few promises unfulfilled mean now?
The decision was made. With all the power he had within him Atharann stood up towards the hand. Slowly he saw more of his loved ones again behind his daughter. His eyes still in tears but a joyful smile on him. A calm look as he inced closer in an upwards movement towards his daughter. His tone now calm and soft as he looked at her and spoke. "I love you, Ayliyn. Oh daughter of mine. I love you so..'' Ayliyn's eyes widened in a gasp as he embraced her. But it was not in the way she had hoped. Into her chest he had planted his sword, which he had grasped onto as he moved upwards one last time. It cleaved right through the girl and left her gasping for air. Her upper chest pierced until the blade was all the way through. Atharann's eyes cried once more as he strengthen the grip he now had on the girl, pushing the swords further and further into her. The other forms of old friends and family had now left his sight. His daughter coughing blood into his shoulder in disbelieve. No more words were spoken by the girl but the ranger was not yet satisfied.
"I love you so much. But you are long gone. You are not her truly. She..... She is waiting... And she is proud that I keep going. I know this. As is mother.... As is father... As are they all. You are not real. Even though I wanted you to be. I love you Ayliyn.... I'll always do''
With that he stepped back, pulling the sword out of the girl. With that done the girl vanished from his sight and the broken stone appeared now. Bursting apart into pieces. Atharann had managed to survive the final trial. That of the mind. But it had taken its tol on his body and as he had pulled out the sword, he fell backwards into the grass. His sight became dark, his eyes closed and he no longer felt anything other then the soft touch of the ground below him.
Atharann had passed out from the trials and laid unconscious in the clearing. His sword still in his right hand. Stretched out in the grass.
