Elfhunter (61 page)

You won’t be needing that rope, you know. They are
not coming back. Your plan has gone awry, and the Elves have held
the mastery. She no doubt met companions on the road, and they have
dispatched your pathetic would-be abductors. You might as well turn
tail and go back to the rest of your rabble right now. Ha!

Gorgon did not want to turn around, for he knew what
he would see. "Go away, Èolo, for I do not wish to bandy words with
you tonight. I have nothing to say to you."

Gelmyr then appeared in front of Gorgon, forcing him
to look into his dead, rotting face.
No doubt, Dreaded Horror!
However, I have a few things to say to you. My people have proven
their superiority once again. Even with every advantage—the mirror
that allows you to know what they are planning, as well as large,
strong minions handpicked by the Black Flame—you cannot prevail
against one She-elf. This is the second time that she and her
friends have bested you, I believe. And here you are, alone, a
perfect target for their bows, and in one moment all of Wrothgar’s
well-laid plans could come to nothing! If that happens, you will
indeed be glad that they have killed you.

"What would you know about it? The Black Flame is
beyond anything in your experience. You Elves have no stomach for
the kind of dread power He wields. You are dead, Èolo, and you have
no power over me. Why do you torment me thus? Does it give you so
much pleasure that you will not rest?"

Indeed it does, O Fearsome Hand of Death! I appear
when you are in doubt of yourself, and rightly so, I might add. I
will not rest until you summon me no more.
Gelmyr paused, and
his blue glowing face twisted slightly into a vague, sardonic
smile.
By the way,
he said in a soft, rather menacing voice,
have you regretted killing me yet? If you had simply left me
alone that night by the Ambros, I would not be here tormenting you
right now
.

"That I most assuredly have
NOT!
" roared
Gorgon, as Gelmyr threw his head back and laughed aloud.

You know, ‘Elfhunter’, I would keep my voice lower
if I were you. The Elves of Greatwood have deadly aim, and they see
quite well in the dark. You are more than close enough to their
borders to risk being taken. Give up waiting for your toadies; they
were unwary and died without a struggle. Go back to your pathetic
army. You may find their confidence in your abilities somewhat
shaken, however. Most regrettable. I wonder how long before they
turn on you and murder you some dark night?

"They will never do such a thing, as Wrothgar will
have them, and they fear Him," said Gorgon. He had to admit that
going back to the Black Company in failure was not something he
looked forward to.

I expect you’ll simply lie to them, won’t you?
You’ll make up some story of your victory over the She-elf, alas
that your two minions were lost, but you certainly enjoyed
tormenting her. Isn’t that about right? You are so utterly
pathetic! You are an embarrassment to the name of Elves. Even your
father’s people would laugh if they could see and hear you right
now. Elfhunter, indeed!

Gelmyr’s laughter filled Gorgon’s senses, and Gorgon
wondered for a moment whether he was going mad. Then, mercifully,
the laughter faded. As Gelmyr slowly disappeared from view, he
spoke one last time:

So long as you continue to doubt yourself, I shall
be with you. It appears that I shall have little rest. Ha!
Farewell, pathetic underling of Wrothgar. Enjoy the rest of your
night alone…dawn is nearly upon you. Farewell.

In that moment, as Gelmyr faded at last from his
sight and hearing, Gorgon knew that the Elf was right. The Ulcas
would not return, as dawn was nearly breaking, and he would now
have to make his way alone to the Barrens. For a moment he
considered going after Nelwyn himself, but he dared not. Once
inside the Elf-realm he would be at great risk, and he did not know
what peril had taken the Ulcas. It was possible that a large
company of Elves lay waiting for him, and he could not risk being
killed, not before he had the chance to visit disaster upon
them.

No, Lord Wrothgar had placed this power at his
command, and it would not be wasted. He would await his chance to
lay them all low; it would come soon enough. He had escaped their
notice, and therefore their wrath, for all these ages. The She-elf
was not worth throwing all that caution away in one vengeful,
foolish moment. He would wait yet awhile, but if the Ulcas did not
appear he would continue back toward the Barrens, there to
rendezvous with Kharsh and his army. He already had a suitably
impressive response planned should Kharsh ask him what had befallen
the Ulcas. If Wrothgar had been privy to Gorgon’s thoughts then, he
would have rejoiced. His wayward creation was coming into maturity
at last.

Rogond, Galador and Gaelen had stopped for the night
to rest their horses, for they preferred traveling in the deep
forest while the sun was up. It was obvious that Nelwyn and Fima
had stopped in this very spot the previous evening, obvious to
Gaelen at any rate, for she could detect the signs, though they
were few. As they rested, they tried to imagine the purpose that
had driven Nelwyn and Fima to this place, and in particular, why
Nelwyn had felt it necessary to lie to Gaelen about it.

This was not Nelwyn’s habit, and Gaelen remarked to
the others that Nelwyn had lied easily and well, seeming quite in
earnest and not at all uncomfortable. This was perplexing, as
normally Nelwyn had a great deal of difficulty lying convincingly
to anyone. Rogond likewise could not imagine what Fima was doing
going off with Nelwyn on some unknown errand. Herb-lore did not
interest the dwarf, and he loathed traveling on horseback. Yet here
he was, riding for nearly three days with Nelwyn, to what end?
Galador’s distress was predictable, for he was both hurt and angry
that Nelwyn had gone off without even telling him.

"Don’t be angry with her, Galador," said Gaelen. "I’m
sure that Nelwyn has an innocent motive…perhaps she and Fima are
planning something to surprise you, and therefore kept it from
you." Galador looked at her with a jaundiced eye, and she looked
away, knowing how unlikely her argument sounded.

Galador had grown fond of Gaelen in recent weeks.
Now, like everyone else who knew her well, he perceived that she
was deeply troubled, and he relented. "Perhaps you’re right," he
said. "I pray that you are, for although it distresses me to admit
it, I am really more afraid than angry. I am thankful for your
reassurance…it is helpful."

Rogond had not been himself since the day before
Nelwyn had left with Fima. He had been seeking the dwarf, and had
finally found him that morning, but Fima had brushed him off,
saying that he had no time for any discussions then, but would find
Rogond later. Then he went off with Nelwyn unbeknownst to anyone
save Gaelen. It was obvious to Rogond that Fima was avoiding him,
but why? A deep gnawing dread was growing in his heart. Did Fima
already know something of Amandir’s revelation? He had seemed
rather grim and subdued for several days now, quite unlike his
usual demeanor, and this would be a reasonable explanation.

Gaelen had built a small fire, which Galador was now
tending. Rogond looked over his shoulder to observe her approaching
a nearby tree, then he heard the soft rustling of branches as she
climbed up to keep the watch. Rogond was suddenly overwhelmed with
the need to speak to her, as though he might never get another
chance. He did not especially relish joining her in the top of the
tall tree, but this he would do, for his need was great and would
not be suppressed.

He rose and bade Galador good night, making his way
to where Gaelen had gone, though he could not see her. Then her
soft voice drifted down, and she moved just enough that he could
see her among the middle branches.

"I would speak with you, Gaelen. Shall I come up, or
will you come down?"

"I will come down if it is an urgent matter, for it
will be no use keeping the watch from here if you join me, as you
will be both seen and heard. It’s not the best vantage point,
anyway." She dropped from her perch to land lightly beside him; he
had not even seen her climb down.

"Fima is right. You are quite the furtive one! No
wonder he complains so about your startling him constantly."

She ignored his comment. "I am here, Tuathan. What
would you say to me?" She was direct, as always.

Rogond’s resolve was beginning to waver, but he drew
a deep breath and steeled himself—it was time. "Gaelen, please sit
down, as this will be difficult for me to say, but I have long
wanted to say it. I don’t know why, but I must say it now…
tonight."

She appeared apprehensive and took both his hands in
her own, sinking down upon the ground before him. He then sat
beside her and reached up to stroke her hair, gazing into her
concerned face. Several long moments passed in silence ‘ere he
spoke, sometimes halting, sometimes very eloquent, but always
genuine. "Gaelen…I have struggled long with this matter, for all
have told me that my path leads only to sorrow, and that it is
folly. I am a mortal man and one day I must leave this world and go
to the place prepared for my kindred. There, you cannot follow. I
will never be with you again. All have warned me of the grief this
will bring, even Lady Ordath and Galador, but though I hear their
words, my heart does not. My heart…"

Here he paused, as his voice broke and his hands were
shaking slightly. He drew another deep breath, and looked once more
into her bright eyes.

"My heart is given, Gaelen. It is given forever, and
I will love no other. I cannot take back my choice even should I
wish to. All have admonished me that my hope is vain and my desire
is doomed, but I cannot undo them. Please understand that I love
you, that I will always love you, and that I will stay by your side
for as long as you will have me."

He watched her expression change from shock to
distress as her eyes filled with tears. She did not know what to
say to him, but sat before him in silence, her hands now limp in
his grasp.

"Gaelen, please do not be grieved at this knowledge.
You cannot know how difficult this has been for me to say, but I
cannot keep silent any longer. Things are happening, my love, and
our future is uncertain. I would have you know of my devotion, for
I sense you will have need of it." Gaelen stared at him in silence,
her face expressionless save for the tears that stood in her bright
eyes.

"Please, Gaelen, have you nothing to say?"

She closed her eyes then, as though collecting
herself, and a tear trickled slowly down her cheek. Rogond reached
up and gently wiped it away, despairing as she stiffened at his
touch. At last she spoke:

"I have been wondering about this since Cós-domhain,
but lacked the courage to speak of it. I do not wish to hurt you,
as I care for you deeply, but can you not see that Ordath and
Galador are right? This cannot be, though we might wish it. You…you
are the most wonderful person I know, the most caring and
steadfast. You deserve a love that will be given fully to you and
will follow you hereafter, until the ending of the world. You
deserve better than Gaelen of the Greatwood."

Rogond’s heart ached so much for her in that moment
that he could hardly bear it. There was no one better. There never
would be. Not for him. "Did you not hear? I will have no other. You
are my love, Gaelen, to whom my heart is given. I cannot retrieve
it even if I so wished. Do you not hear me? My heart is given. I am
doomed to spend my days in longing for you, and I don’t know if I
can bear it."

She truly wept then, tears flowing freely from her
eyes, and pulled her hands away from him with some difficulty. She
rose to her knees, reeling back from him as he tried to stay her.
"Rogond…I cannot sustain your heart. I do not know if I can ever
love anyone the way you would want me to. You deserve better. I am
not capable of giving my heart to anyone. Not now, not ever again.
You cannot understand!"

He gripped her upper arms then, gently but firmly.
"Stay and hear me, Gaelen, before you decide what you must do. I…I
know your heart was given."

She looked at him with wide eyes. She had not
expected this. "Gaelen, I know about Rain."

At the mention of Ri-Elathan, Rogond saw pain and
desperate longing flickering in the depths of her eyes, and he
despaired for her. "Who has told you of him? This is knowledge that
I have guarded even from my own kin. How did you learn of it?"

"It doesn’t matter. In truth, I have known for some
time, since Mountain-home. I know the whole tale, Gaelen, and I
know the grief of your heart. I only want the chance to aid you and
to love you with all my being for the duration of my days. I ask
nothing more. Give me only what you can, Gaelen. I am not
Ri-Elathan. I would never presume to take his place in your
heart."

"That is well, Rogond, for that you cannot do. What I
do not know is whether there is room in my heart to love anyone,
especially someone as deserving and worthy of love as you. I do
care for you, very deeply. I have despaired at the thought of your
leaving me, for my life would be so much less without you. But I do
not know whether I can love you the way you want me to. You must
give me time to consider your words. I shall then give you my
answer."

"That I will, beloved. But consider these words as
well: I have no choice left to me. I must either live for the days
of my life with the one I love and then part from her forever, or
live the days of my life in bitter disappointment, alone in longing
for her, and then part from her forever. Consider also your
choices, Gaelen. You can allow me to love you, to my great joy, for
the days allotted to us, and we can live happily until our parting.
Or you can remain as you have been, and live in grief and longing
until you are slain, or choose to give up your life. Your beloved,
who awaits you even now, what choice would he have you make? From
what I have heard of him, I cannot imagine that he would not have
you choose to open your heart and not live in grief for him as you
have done already for so many, many years. Tell me that is not
so!"