The Boat swayed serenely, making me feel slightly sick as I lay on the decks of the ship, restlessly fidgeting, watching the Dourhands warily, who were playing a game with Rune-rocks, or either drinking some beer. I retched in disgust as I grimaced over the foul stench and the dirty habits of the Dourhands. Luckily no one noticed what I was feeling - or that is to say, noticed me.
I was on the verge of falling asleep when I heard shouts, not jeering, coming up north. Commotion, madness. The Dourhands on the ship seemed not to notice. Suddenly, with a silent and swift twang, Arrows rained down on the ship, and the Dourhands yelled as the fiery arrows pierced them. Some fell dead, others were wounded. With about ten swift twangs, the remaining Dourhands fell. I was not hit by an arrow, but I realized that one had barely landed on my cloak.
Sarunniel, Taramthir, Luingil, Caleniel, Bregmegil, and Modthalion all came to the ship. I stood upright, smiling weakly.
"Daerundros, hiril! You are unscathed!" Caleniel said, I nodded.
"Indeed, it seems almost folly to have done this." I said in a low voice.
"This was your plan--?!" Taramthir said, with ice in his eyes. He was broken off by shouts and the clashing of swords.
"We have to go," Bregmegil said, in an unearthly tone, "Reinforcements are coming."
"We must make haste, lest they fall down upon us!" I hissed. We left swiftly, slaying any enemy that dared come upon us. We were outside Kheledul in moments, panting.
"We must find Starkath." I said angrily, "Spineless coward." I clenched my fists, moving forward. "He must be here somewhere."
"Where?" Taramthir asked warily, not wanting to go back inside. I moved slowly, hearing Dwarf chuckles, until Sarunniel sprung forward.
"There is a Naurgrim to the North." She said calmly, and ran off, bow in hand. Starkath was waiting for us, moving toward us with a dazed expression. We slew him without remorse, and his pet bear - or well, a bear that had joined the commotion. I grieved for the loss of the bear, but we rode back to Thrasi's Lodge. There I explained my purpose, and how the Dwarves mistook me for Tanes, and thought she was valuable for capture.
"They are searching for you." I told Taramthir to bring this warning to Tanes, wherever she may be.
Taramthir set off to find Tanes, and bring her this warning. I stared at him admiringly, my eyes shining. Unhappy as he was, he caught my glance before riding off with his horse.
I devised a plan to distract two Dourhand camps, and we stealthily came to battle, as I shouted, "Gurth 'ni chyth 'wîn!" and we ran towards them. However, I had lost my weapons during my capture, and I grieved to be left behind the frontlines.
We took a wrong turn, and I felt a foul stench of darkness and rot. We stumbled upon mounds, and with dread, I realized we had come to a wight-infested place.
"What madness is this?!" I said in horror, watching as the restless dead prowled on the mounds, in their sleepless trance, without noticing us. The Elves behind me stood in awe and horror, and we quickly retreated before any of the mound-wights saw us.
"Daerundros, we must go, this evil is too much for us now, we must leave the dead until next time." Sarunniel said. I nodded. We left the evil mounds and came to Ringdale, where we slew everything in sight, and later came back to the Sanctuary; Modthalion, however, left us and offered to patrol the roads between the two camps.
"Stay safe." I told him. He made off with his mount and went east.
During celebrations, I played some music, and we welcomed Caleniel to the Sanctuary, and thanked her for coming along. However, I was getting weary of Battle and captivity, and soon, I felt myself falling asleep during celebrations...
A bright flash, and I saw Tanes, openly weeping, clutching a letter she had gotten from someone. Tears stained the parchment, and Taramthir came to her, comforting her.
A Elbereth Gilthoniel
silivren penna míriel
o menel aglar elenath!
Na-chaered palan-díriel
o galadhremmin ennorath,
Fanuilos, le linnathon
nef aear, sí nef aearon!
A Elbereth Gilthoniel
o menel palan-díriel,
le nallon sí di'-nguruthos!
A tíro nin, Fanuilos!
A! Elbereth Gilthoniel!
silivren penna míriel
o menel aglar elenath,
Gilthoniel, A! Elbereth!
We still remember, we who dwell
In this far land beneath the trees
The starlight on the western seas.
