Elfhunter (56 page)

"Did you not say that you wished to carve a cradle
for our son? As meticulous as you are, he will be here before you
finish it, so get to work! I will be back before the sun rises to
its full height. Now, don’t worry. And I am not going alone…Aureth
is going with me."

He had laughed then.

"Oh, I see! You wish to go off with Aureth so that
you may discuss matters of female importance. My company would not
be sufficiently enlightening. Well, so be it, but I beg you, take
care. You know that I worry so when you venture from the
island."

She had given him her promise of caution, then turned
and left him forever. Her fate remained unknown for many years,
though they found Aureth cruelly slain, apparently while trying to
protect Brinneal. When the Elves finally learned of Brinneal’s
terrible fate, Amandir was nearly destroyed by grief and horror at
the thought of it. He hoped desperately that the vile experiment
would go awry, that Gorgon would not survive, or that Wrothgar
would not be pleased with him and would destroy him ‘ere he could
mature. Now those hopes were dashed, and he, Amandir, was set upon
a path that would destroy Gorgon, the last child of Brinneal.

Amandir had not known it, but a part of him had gone
into the creation of Gorgon as well. It would not have altered
Amandir’s resolve, however, for though Gorgon may once have been
innocent, he was now a hateful, murderous monster, beyond hope of
redemption. For the sake of his beloved Brinneal, Amandir would see
Gorgon destroyed, and his memory erased from reckoning. Amandir
raised his eyes, which were red from weeping, and beheld the stars,
reaching out even as Gaelen had done, but Brinneal, like Farahin,
could not answer.

The Company lingered at the junction of the River
Artan for days, camped on the banks of the Ambros. This was the
rendezvous point where the Elves of Tal-sithian expected to be
reunited with those who had been set to track and slay the Ulcas.
Yet their comrades did not appear, and the Company wondered whether
they had been ill-fated, or whether perhaps the Ulcas had turned
from their course, deciding to go beneath the mountains. But if
that were so, their trackers would still have made the rendezvous,
as they had been instructed to break off pursuit should the Ulcas
turn from the Company. Everyone grew restless, for they had not
anticipated this delay.

Rogond approached Oryan in the late afternoon of the
fourth day, suggesting that the Company would move on slowly,
allowing the Elves of Tal-sithian to catch up once they had been
reunited with their friends.

"I am troubled, Tuathan," said Oryan, and his face
was grave. "It is not like the Elves of Tal-sithian to fail in such
a task, for we are more than able to defeat a small host of
ordinary Ulcas, even if we are outnumbered. Is it possible that the
Ulcas were joined by more of their fellows, or even by something
darker and more powerful than they? My brother was one of the Elves
set to track them, and I do not sense his presence any more; in
fact I have not for some time. This is an unhappy riddle!"

Rogond placed a hand on Oryan’s shoulder, and the Elf
stiffened beneath it, for he was clearly distressed.

"The Company must move on," Rogond said, "though we
would also like to know the solution to this riddle, for it no
doubt concerns us all. But we must continue toward the Greatwood.
Each delay provides opportunity for our enemy. Gaelen will leave on
her own ‘ere long if we do not make ready. I’m sure you have taken
notice of her restive nature."

They had all taken notice, as Gaelen hadn’t exactly
been subtle about her desire to keep moving. Oryan turned and
looked at Rogond, then asked a difficult question of him.

"I’m worried for you and your quest. Amandir has
indicated that trust in Gaelen is ill-advised, that we should
reveal nothing of our plans in front of her. This both confounds
and distresses me, Tuathan. Can you shed any light on it? It is
obvious that she is a trusted and worthy member of your Company,
yet there is a Darkness that seems ever to stalk her and surround
her. I mean no disrespect," he added, seeing the ominous look
forming on Rogond’s face.

"Perhaps not, Oryan, but nevertheless I am becoming
very weary of Amandir’s continual undermining of Gaelen. He somehow
thinks her to be in league with Gorgon, which tells me that his
mind is addled. Either that, or he has been listening to one
mysterious prophecy too many. I shall have words with him before
long."

Oryan shook his head. "You cannot know what Amandir
has endured, or what drives him. You are young and have seen
nothing like the long years of pain he has borne. I would pay
attention to Amandir if I were you; he has looked into the Stone,
which has set him now upon this path. He is not deluded. You, on
the other hand, are blinded to any thoughts of evil things being
associated with Gaelen, who is your beloved. Don’t think we have
not taken notice."

Rogond sighed. "I freely admit that I love her,
Oryan. Will you now lecture me as to my folly? Do not trouble
yourself; I have heard such advice from Greatwood to Mountain-home!
Even my closest friend lectures me. It will make no difference in
my resolve, nor dampen my desire, so save your breath."

Oryan smiled. "Peace, Tuathan. The Lady is aware of
your heart’s desire, and she has blessed it. Believe me, that is
blessing enough for the Elves of Tal-sithian. I merely point out
that we are aware of your bias concerning Gaelen. I would never
presume to lecture you, for I sense that you are possessed of a
ready mind and are more than capable of assessing your own
folly."

At this, Rogond smiled back at him. "That I am,
Oryan. And should I fail to assess my folly adequately, I pray that
there will always be one of your folk nearby to remind me of it."
They chuckled amiably, the tension broken between them.

"We will linger for one more day," said Oryan. "If
you would leave, by all means do so, but look for us to catch you
by noon five days from now. I will send our best scouts back to try
and find what has happened. They will then make all haste to rejoin
us. We may then learn the answer to the riddle. Yet I would counsel
you to speak gently with Amandir. He may have some enlightenment to
share that concerns your Company quite closely. Remember that his
pain is very great, and treat him with compassion. He is not your
enemy."

The Company left the next morning, and the two scouts
were sent back to look for the Elves. Amandir, of course, went with
the Company, his face set in its usual grim expression as he sat
astride his tall horse. Gaelen’s arm had nearly healed already, to
the wonder of Rogond. There would be no scar from such a blade.
Rogond shuddered as he considered the nature of the wound that had
left the mark upon her shoulder. What sort of blade had left such a
scar upon the flesh of Elves? He hoped never to know.

Gaelen and Nelwyn rode together, and the closer they
drew to the Greatwood, the lighter their spirits became. Rogond
knew how they felt; it was difficult to be away from one’s home for
so many months on such a difficult road.

Suddenly the cousins both reined their horses in as
though of one mind, halting and staring into the edge of the forest
on the opposite side of the river. The rest of the Company followed
suit, and some drew their weapons in the belief that Gaelen and
Nelwyn had spotted enemies lurking among the trees. Rogond rode up
beside them, with Fima balanced precariously in front of him.

"What have you seen?" Rogond asked, scanning the
forest in vain. Nelwyn pointed into the tree-tops, and after a few
moments Rogond chuckled.

"Ah! I see," he said, shaking his head. "Do not fear,
my friends. We shall no doubt be stopping in this very spot for the
night. Am I correct?" He looked over at Gaelen, who nodded and
swung down from her mount. She and Nelwyn were already making plans
as to how they were going to spend their evening, for they had a
task before them. Galador rode up beside Rogond, confused until
Rogond pointed out the bole of the tall oak that grew beside the
water, with the small, dark hole about twenty feet from the ground.
Galador smiled and set about gathering firewood. Fima could not
make it out until he borrowed Thorndil’s glass; then he saw them,
tiny dark shapes buzzing in and out of the hole. After the spring
flowering, the combs would be so full of honey that the temptation
to the Wood- elves was irresistible.

The tree was inconveniently on the wrong side of the
Ambros, but luckily the weather had been very dry, hence the river
was quieter and the current less swift than usual. The span was not
as broad as in some areas, still the Elves remembered that it grew
even narrower about a quarter mile to the south of them, and Gaelen
and Nelwyn headed for the spot as night fell, accompanied by a
curious Rogond, Thorndil, and Fima. Galador and Amandir remained
behind to watch the horses and tend the fire. The Elves drew nigh
to the narrows of the river, and Rogond wondered as to the wisdom
of crossing it, for wherever a river grows narrow, it grows deep
and swift. He pointed this out to Gaelen, who shrugged.

"It is our intention to cross without wetting
ourselves in the water. Watch and learn!"

She strung her bow and sent a slender rope across
into the trees, where it lodged obligingly. Then she tied the
opposite end around the stout limb of a tall tree. Slinging a
leather pack across her back, she swung hand over hand across the
narrow span. This was much easier than the crossing had been when
she had attempted the rescue of Nelwyn so many months ago, for then
she had lowered herself into the water, and the current had been
both swift and cold. She smiled at the memory. She had not yet
become acquainted with Rogond, but would soon meet him and tend to
him in his illness. She blessed the day she came to him, for she
could no longer imagine traveling without him. She threw a wry
smile back over her shoulder just before she dropped lightly down
upon the far bank with Nelwyn close behind her. Then the two of
them made their way to the honey-tree.

Fima was frustrated as he could not see what they
were doing, especially now that darkness had fallen. He stood with
Galador and Rogond on the riverbank, eyes trained on the two
Wood-elves, who were experts in the extraction of honey and
certainly would not be denied now. The oak was not suitable for
climbing, but its brother that stood next to it was perfect. Gaelen
and Nelwyn scrambled up like squirrels, each carrying a smoldering
green branch with them. Rogond knew the purpose of it; he had seen
the Elves use this trick before. The darkness and the smoke would
confuse and stupefy the bees, rendering them virtually
defenseless.

They could hear the Elves laughing then speaking to
one another in serious tones as they drew near to their goal. Then,
they heard Gaelen singing as she reached into the hive and
reverently withdrew six large slabs of honeycomb while Nelwyn waved
the green wood- smoke into the hole. It must have been a
honey-gathering song, for it praised the bees for their industry,
thanked them for their gift, and assured them that there would be
plenty of time to rebuild the winter stores. Fima chuckled. Only an
Elf would sing to a bunch of bees!

Carefully, the two Elves withdrew from the hive then
climbed back down and doused the green branches in the river. They
traveled back south to the crossing, where Gaelen returned first,
carrying the honey-pack. Fima sighed.

"A shame to lose a good rope, though I suppose you
think it was worth it," he said to Gaelen.

"Lose the rope, not to mention a perfectly
serviceable arrow? What an absurd thought! Now you shall see why we
tied it so high and over such a narrows. No one does this as well
as Nelwyn—watch her!" Nelwyn appeared in the tall tree on the other
side, Gaelen’s arrow in her hand. She crept out to the end of the
largest branch that overhung the water, coiling the rope as she
went. Then she gripped it with both hands, secured the coiled end
to her belt, and swung gracefully across to join them while rapidly
climbing the rope. Gaelen cheered as Nelwyn just missed wetting her
feet in the churning water, landing unceremoniously on the bank
between Rogond and a very suitably impressed Fima.

The two Wood-elves held the honey pack aloft in
triumph as they embraced each other. From the look of that pack it
appeared that the evening was going to be very merry indeed! It
would be the first of several merry evenings, such as they had not
known in a long, long time. A good thing, for when Oryan and the
Elves of Tal-sithian finally rejoined them there were but six, and
their news would put all thoughts of merriment aside.

They appeared nearly a full day after they had
promised, and their horses had been ridden hard and long. Rogond
knew from the first that they would bear grim news, for there were
but six of them, and two he recognized as the scouts that had been
sent back. What had befallen the ones who were missing? They would
all soon find out, as the Company gathered to hear the news. The
horses were tended as the two scouts and Oryan sat upon the ground
with Rogond, Thorndil, Gaelen, and Fima. Nelwyn and Galador stood
together, and Amandir, as always, stood alone. The two missing
Elves had been sent back to the Lake-realm with grim tidings, and
the scouts warned the Company that their news would be hard to
bear.

They described in broken voices that which they had
seen when their comrades were found at last. They were drawn to
them by carrion-birds, cresting a hilltop to view a horrible sight
in the valley below: nearly thirty of the worthy Elves of
Tal-sithian lay dead, and six had been tortured horribly and left
to die. Nelwyn wept aloud as the scouts described them, imagining
the suffering of their last hours. Gaelen stared ahead in stony
silence, for she now knew the cause of that suffering. She looked
up at Amandir, who was staring hard at her with an expression of
loathing on his face. She turned to the scouts. "I am now certain
that Gorgon Elfhunter was responsible for their deaths, for this is
the way he deals with unlucky captives. Gelmyr was left in similar
fashion, though we believe Gorgon killed him before leaving his
body for us to find. These apparently were not deemed worthy of
such merciful consideration."