Catrena led our company on a path through dead and dying tree groves, through a valley that ran across the land like a spear-stab, headed north-east, nearest I could see. All along the way, she told us gruesome stories of the land, what people and creatures were here – and all the while breathing this foul air which, according to her, came from a poisonous swamp and marsh that lay in our path. We skirted a ridge line at the end of the valley, and below us we saw, of all things, an entire town occupied by orcs!
“Once long ago, the men of these lands lived much like those in Bree or elsewhere,” Catrena said, “but they joined with Angmar. Why they did, who can say?”
“Look at this place, the ground’s been scorched!” Royzenberry said.
“And that chill in the air, most unnatural feeling,” I noted.
Catrena and Dwisen motioned the company over to the edge of the ridge, and all the Big Folk sank to one knee while the hobbits stood, all of us looking out in dreadful sick feelings. There before us lay a valley, steams and fumes wisping up from rocky pillars and mounds, the most unwholesome place I had ever seen.
“Imlad Balcorth,” was all Catrena said.
“What did Her Ladyship say about it – the Vale of the Walking Dead!?” I rasped, for the air dried out the throat.
“I feel sick,” Kortheod muttered, with many of us nodding all round.
“We can descend into the valley without being seen,” Catrena said as she and the Blackburrow folk began assembling a long rope-ladder. “Once at the bottom, we must have our swords spread out and guard the lore-seekers. My notes tell of a door leading to a treasure-trove within a large gallery; our best shot shall be there. Alright everyone,” she said as they cast the ladder over the side, “let’s go!”
One by one, we climbed down to the bottom of this deathly valley, the reek making bile rise in my mouth, but I was determined not to let anyone down. Out of the reek rose what I feared I might see: the walking dead! Happily I needn’t have worried, as Cutch, Kortheod and Iyenue made short work of anything that still moved. As we fanned out across what was once a small paved pavilion, Dwisen called out a discovery. True to a Dwarf’s nature, he found a recess in the rock that yielded to pushing, and a door opened in the side of the cliff, between two rough pillars of rock.
Upon walking through the door, we were greeted by an amazing sight. An entire library filled a chamber hidden inside the rock! Every wall was covered in shelves and nooks and crannies, reaching floor to ceiling, and filled with books, scrolls, tablets and boxes of every size and description. It was no wonder now, why both Seregrían and Catrena desired this expedition! Applecider’s knowledge of languages came in sharp handy right off, as she began pulling down books and scrolls, muttering as she read.
“Ugh, Morlam – the Black Speech… this one’s got Dwarf-writing on it, take a look, Master Dwisen… Lancey, lookit these, do these look like dispatches to ye? Like what ye’d get from the Shire-watch?”
“They do look like orders, or official-enough letters,” I said after staring at the papers, “though what they say, I can’t tell…”
“Every language I ever learned letters,” Kortheod muttered as he yanked down books, “but a lot I never knew – no wonder Her Ladyship wanted to come! She’d recognize these with one glance, I’d wager.”
What followed, as I looked around, was like a gang of tweens turned loose; everyone began emptying every shelf in reach, making piles on the floor. The Elves were trying to be slow and methodical, looking at each book and scroll. Cider and Berry just threw everything into piles of the same writing or tongue. Kortheod, Cutch and Dwisen looked at a piece, put it back and moved on to the next, but knocked a few things down to the floor as they reached higher. It was at that moment, when Kortheod dropped a huge book that fell open on the floor, that I got a close look – because this book had drawings as well as words. And what did I see??
“Cutch! CUTCH!!” I cried out as I hefted the book and showed the drawing to him.
“Lance, what have you found?” he said.
“It’s, erm… well, look!” And I showed the open page to everyone who now crowded round. The drawing was of a figure, or a creature – a woman, tall, with deformed feet like claws; her hands were clawed, but moreover, the fingers were impossibly long – like wings. “Is… is this what I think it is?”
Cutch looked at the drawing with a pale dread. “Merrevail…”
“It certainly isn’t a merry-vale,” Kortheod quipped nervously.
“Lance, where did you find this book?” Cutch said, “there might be more to this than just one!”
“It came from that shelf up there,” I pointed. “Kortheod knocked it out, I can’t reach it.”
“Shall I toss you?” Kortheod said, by way of trying to be light-hearted.
“We’ll boost you up, Kortheod help me,” Cutch said. The two men very nearly tossed me into the air, such was their strength – but I found what I was looking for: a second book, with a grey cover identical to the first one, so I thought. Reaching up and grabbing it, the men set me down and we looked it over.
“A second volume, same as the other,” Kortheod said. “Good eyes, Master Shirriff!”
“That’s what comes from being the Shire’s best sleuth,” Cutch said proudly.
Applecider and Dwisen had been busy, trying to organize the ransacked items into sensible piles. “Lookee here, we’ve got this stack of ‘Must Leave Today’, an’ this stack of ‘Take It If’n There be Room’, an’ this stack of ‘Can Wait Until Next Time’.”
“If there is a next time,” Aethalis said, “I deem only Her Ladyship would dare return here.” And so, we brought out of that foul-smelling chamber as much of the lore as each of us could carry; but all I brought out, at Cutch’s insistence, was the two grey-covered books I had discovered.
The road south to Esteldin from Angmar was much as the way north, with the company following Catrena’s sly track and avoiding all but the least of perils; happily, there was little for our guards to do. We arrived back at Lehma-koti and the giants of the Earth-kin, whom Catrena thanked for keeping our mounts in good health with reward brought out of Angmar. We rode through the pass and across the valley of Nan Amlug, arriving at Esteldin with the morning sun at our backs. There waiting for us, a scarlet vision atop the ramparts, was Seregrían, all smiles at our return.
But the smiles ended when the trove was brought forth…
