*Five years ago*
A tall man was sitting alone by the fireplace in a small room, staring at something in his palm. His pale and gaunt face was without emotion, only his gray eyes looked somewhat alive, filled with sorrow and pain as he looked upon that white elven jewel in his hand. The jewel is shaped in a likeness of a tear, but it seems that it´s light had faded.
Man´s clothes are worn out, mostly in brown colour tones. Beside him, on a small table, lies a dagger and by it, several empty glasses of wine. A pale green cloak is thrown over a chair nearby, while there are a longsword and a bow carelessly thrown in the corner of the room.
Someone knocks on the door, a muffled voice asking for him. He didnt respond, since he had no desire for company. After a few seconds, the voice was gone. With a sad sigh, he put the neklace with the jewel back around his neck, safely hidden from prying eyes within his clothes. Then he took his cloak and put it on, making sure that it does not fall of by attaching it by a brooch in shape of a silver star, which had a small, faintly glowing blue gem embedded in it.
Then, without looking back, he left the room, moving down to the the big room with many tables in it. There were but a few visitors this morning, so the landlord was standing behind a counter, looking something over. Without a word, he approached that short fat man who wore an apron like always. When he noticed the newcomer, fat man looks at him with slight sign of fear in his eyes, and maybe even pity.
- Give me a drink, something strong. – again that look, but man did not seem to care.
- You should lay off a bit. You´ve done nothing but drinking since you came here a week a ago. - nonetheless, he still gave him his drink.
- What do you care Butterbur, if I pay well? - he asked back, drinking.
- But you rangers… - Barliman started, but Adunzil interuppted him, raising his glass.
- To rangers! May they always skulk and protect those who are not gratefull for it! -
- That´s enough Adunzil. - a man, worn out and dirty from the road, entered. He too had a silver star on his shoulder.
- Ah, Galathir! What brings you to Bree? - he raised his glass to the newcomer, trying to look impassive.
- Adunzil. - Galathir did not shy of using their names instead of nicknames they give them in these parts. Adunzil looked apatheticaly at him.
- Another one…? - poor barliman looked more nervous by the second.
- Don´t worry, we will be leaving shortly, so no trouble will come to you. - Galathir reassured him, which made him visibly happier. Then he turned to Adunzil.
- We need to go. - he said strictly.
- Nah, I don´t think I will. - Adunzil replied, drinking down whats left in his glass.
- Your duty… - Galathir started, but was interrupted before he finished.
- Valar take my duty. - Adunzil replied with a sour voice. Without a warning, Galathir grabbed him by the collar and had him thrown against the wall, where he pinned him down with one arm. Still, he made no reaction to that, except to focus his gray eyes on his friend.
- It has been 3 years already! Stop doing this to yourself, this is not you! Snap out of it. She would not want to see you like this. -
- What would you know! - he pushed Galathir away, glaring angrily at him. After a few moments, his eyes had that dead look in them again.
- I am your friend. Trust me, for this concerns you. –
He could see that Galathir would drag him if he had to, so he went along. He returned to his room, took his belongings and went to the stables, where their horses were already prepared for the road. Riding out on the fresh air, away from the small town of Bree which kept shrinking on the horizon made him a bit happier. His thoughts were clearer, but still ridden with darkness. After a while, he broke the silence, just as they were passing by the road to that horemasters land.
- So…why do you seek me out? - he stopped following. Galathir turned and gave him a long, hard look.
- Halion came to Esteldin. He is looking for you. He would not say why to Halbarad, but I can make a guess. Your life he desires. -
- So…Fate toys with me yet again… is he still there? - Adunzil muttered to himself, grimly smiling.
- When I left, he and his four companions decided to aid few of our brethren who were riding out to destroy an orc band near Fornost. That was a day ago. Surely they have returned to Esteldin by now. - his friend looked puzzled when he heard Adunzil laugh bittterly.
- Ah…how cruel is Fate to me. No, they have probably not returned. I will go to Fornost. You do what you will. - he just had a feeling that is how things will turn out.
He galloped by his astounded friend, dark thoughts again creeping in his head. Swiftly he rode through Trestlebridge and far across the old Greenway, till he reached the Fields of Fornost. There, on a hill nearby, he found a couple of rangers, to whom he gave his horse. They tried to dissuade him from going into the fields alone, but he paid no heed to their words.
Quietly he slipped into the shadows of those hills, with only stars to light his way. I wasn´t long before he found the tracks of those he is looking for. Maybe he wouldve found them even sooner, but his skills were rusty after three years of melancholy and drinking. With an uneasy feeling he continued, keeping low and out of sight. When he heard the orc screams and sound of weapons clashing, he knew he was too late. Unslinging his longbow and placing an arrow on the string, he came closer to the sounds which were getting really loud now. Undoubtably, other creatures will notice that too.
Luckily for him, there were just two orcs, who were fighting over belongings of one of his kin, who laid dead at their feet. Eight rangers laid dead there, along with four elves, along with at least three dozen orcs. One orc gutted another, turning then to an elf Adunzil did not notice at first, that laid in the shadow of a white tree. To his horror, he realised that was Halion, there was no mestaking that scar on that was going from his right cheek over his neck. Anger flared up in his heart when he saw that orc decided to toy with Halion, twiched a bit when the vile bastard poked him.
Arrow found its mark, and the orc dropped like a sack of wheat, arrow potruding from the back of his head. Slinging the bow back, Adunzil hurried across the small battlefield, looking around if there are any other survivors, but sadly, there were none. He called the elf by his name, but there was no response. Then he used his other name, Braichana. That had some effect, since the elf barely opened his eyes. Damning his luck, Adunzil helped him up, walking away from the place, fearing that more orcs would arrive soon.
They where close to the Amon Rath when Braichana quietly spoke.
- Enough… – his voice sounded so too tired. Carefull not to reopen his wounds, Adunzil laid him down in cower of an old tree, where they were somewhat hidden from sight, at least from the direction of Fornost.
- You came looking for me? - Adunzil looked at him warily, feeling cold. Light of the stars felt so cold and unforgiving now. Braichana opened his eyes, gazing into his for a few moments, which felt long as hours. Disgusted, he looked away, his breathing uneven.
- You are already dead… How can I kill a man like you, who has such look in his eyes…? -
- Let me see to your wounds. - he reached out but the elf stopped him.
- Leave it… - Braichanas eyes became unfocused for a moment when he spoke next, each word coming harder than the last one.
- Ah…I will never again walk under the roof of Lothlórien in the spring, nor will I see the lights of my city… - he paused, his eyes focusing again on Adunzil.
- I hate you Elenquelië. If it were not for you, my little sister would still be alive…she would´ve been safe…where she belonged… - He tried to sound angry, but his eyes were telling the truth, for there was no anger in them, only resignation. A small trail of blood came from the corner of his lips, but he continued nonetheless.
- My brother…lives up to his name…he said I would…not return. He waits for you at…Ost Barandor… -
- Elenquelië…I… - he was at his limit.
- I know… - grabbing his hand, Adunzil said that with a sad, tired voice, a grim look on his face.
That seemed to calm Braichana, who died shortly afterwards. And so died brother of fair Elneth, leaving Adunzil alone with his sorrow. They never were good friends after that fallout they had when Braichana fought Adunzil because of his dissaproval regarding the choice his sister made. Yet, his passing saddened the man even more, making him feel surrounded by darkness.
Now only Golwethor remains now…
It wasn´t an hour after Braichana˙s passing that Galathir arrived, with several others. They had Adunzils horse with them. His friend approached him, placing his hand on his shoulder in a comforting gesture. He shrugged it off, backing away from them in despair.
- Leave me be! Everything is shrouded in shadow now and I see no path ahead of me but one! - he cried our bitterly, moving away from them.
Saying that, he jumped on his horse and rode off, back the way he came, ignoring the calls of his friend.
He rode to his doom. At least that is what he had hoped.
Who better to be his judge than his old friend?
