~Journey through the Dark~
When the musicians of Laurië Lassi arrived at the Forest Gate north and east of Beorn's Hall they were disappointed to find that their guide was not there to meet them as had been arranged.
'Venno, our guide through the Greenwood is not here. I hope no harm has befallen him!' Thibinoriel told her husband. Celebthondir, the most experienced traveller, leads the party on those rare occasions that they leave the Golden Wood. 'Fear not, vessë, while he may have been delayed by some unforeseen circumstance, I do not think it will be overlong,' Celebthondir replied. 'I have it on good authority that Thranduil's scouts are highly reliable.' Celebthondir, it seemed, was trying to convince himself as much as he was his spouse.
After a brief discussion among the members of the party, the musicians thought it best to continue their journey towards the Elvenking's Halls without their guide. Eregiel was the lone dissenter.
When learning of the delay Eregiel expressed her wish to return for their horses, an idea Thibinoriel immediately quashed. 'The horses could not be in better hands,' Thibinoriel reassured her sister.
'Do not leave the path for any reason whatsoever,' Celebthondir warned. 'If we become lost our guide may not be able to find us and, what is worse, we may never find our way out of the wood. Stay on the path!'
'Do not leave the path? I hope you are not looking at me!' said Calentauriel. Everyone laughed. Who knows where the ever-curious Calentauriel may wander if left to follow her whims?
Fortunately, the Elves from Lothlórien were not long on their way through the wood when their guide appeared.
'Greetings, musicians of the Golden Wood. I am Thorlind,' said the Wood-elf. 'I humbly apologise for my delay. Something arose that could not be avoided.'
'What might that have been?' asked Calentauriel. The others immediately asked her to be quiet.
Thorlind glanced briefly at Celebthondir before answering. 'It is best discussed after we reach our destination,' the Wood-elf said. Celebthondir gave him a nod of approval.
The Wood-elf walked at a very brisk pace. He said they must hurry as the wood would became dark very quickly after the sun set.
'After the sun sets?' said one of the sisters. probably Calentauriel. 'It is dark now!'
The Wood-elf halted. 'I am sorry,' he said. 'I am accustomed to the darkness but perhaps you are not.' He pulled two torches from his pack, skillfully lit them with flint and steel, then handed them to Celebthondir and Calentauriel. 'Let us now make haste!'
A short while later the Elves began to sense that they were being watched. Then they heard a sort of chittering. Thorlind, their guide, recognized the sound immediately. 'Ungol!' the Wood-elf cried out in alarm.
Celebthondir, knowing the danger, immediately went into action. 'Those of you with bows nock your arrows now. Be certain to aim for their eyes!' he instructed. At first sight of the spider he commanded, 'Ready...loose!'
The instant the arrows were released a loud cry went out from one of the Elves: 'Varda Elentári!' It was Thibinoriel's voice. A blinding white light streamed from her upraised hand. The spider screeched, turned, then fled as quickly as it had come.
'What was that, nésa?' Eregiel asked with amazement.
'Do you think I only read books of lore during our time in Ost-in-Edhil?' responded Thibinoriel with a wry grin.
'Apparently not, but you have not answered my question,' insisted Eregiel.
'It was a crystal that I created long ago. I always carry one when we venture out for just such an occasion,' Thibinoriel answered. It seems she had secretly learned some jewelcraft from the Mirdain.
'That's good to know!' said Eregiel with a laugh of relief. The others laughed, too.
'We must not tarry!' said Thorlind. 'Where there is one spider another is certain to follow.'
The Elves collected their things then began jogging at an even quicker pace than before.
'Thorlind,' said Celebthondir between breaths, 'was this the cause of your delay in meeting us?'
'Yes, I confess that it was,' the Wood-elf answered. 'I hope you are not angry, but King Thranduil made it clear that I was to bring you safely to his halls regardless of the circumstances.'
'Thank you for forthrightness,' replied Celebthondir. He chose to let the matter rest.
After awhile Thorlind finally indicated that it was safe to take a short break.
'What say you now, nésa? Do you still prefer the untamed wilderness to a lovely garden?' Thibinoriel teased Calentauriel.
'Nésa, I value your opinion now far more even than I did at the outset of our journey,' said Calentauriel with a sheepish grin.
'Hiril, we all value your opinion now much more than we did before we crossed the Anduin!' Thalinras joked. All the Elves laughed.
'Vessë, I have always valued your opinion very highly,' whispered Celebthondir in his wife's ear.
'I know that you have, venno,' said the smiling Thibinoriel.
