XXIX

Lithroleah peered out of the window of the tower, trying to see beyond the sleet that raged outside.

"They managed to get away," his companion snarled. "How did they find it? How did they know?"

Lithroleah did not answer, did not say that he had seen figures crouched outside the main entrance to the castle while his companion had been studying the open doors. At the time he had not said anything, for deep down, he was worried of what this companion might have done to the young Elves had he caught them. Now, doubt was starting to eat at him and the decision he had made.

"How do you know?" he said.

The figure shifted in the way which always indicated irritation.

"Why, are you questioning me? If it pleases you, I don't know. There was something in here that is essential to finding the jewel, and it is gone. I can still feel remnants of its power circling the room. It means the Prince is one step closer!"

"How are you so sure it was Legolas? He is not the only one who hunts it!"

His companion grew so quiet that Lithroleah thought he was going to strike out at him.

"Because he activated a magic. He used his powers and is fusing himself with the Makleni jewel every time he uses it. The waves are so powerful that anyone who is looking would have felt it in your beloved Eryn Galen. But, it is only the beginning. He tries to be brave, like his fool of a father, but he will cry when the time comes."

The cloaked figure reached out and tried to grasp at something. A moment later, a rush of power flowed through him, causing his cloak to flap about in a sudden wind.

***

Glorfindel and Elladan peered into the never-ending sleet. What was causing the bleak weather? Walking north for many days, facing the marshes, they had failed to locate the rest of the party despite searching for four days. It was as though they had been swallowed up by the hostile lands.

"We have to go through the marshes," Glorfindel said.

"It gets worse the further North we go," Elladan said.

"Then we must hasten so that the direction we take will be South," Glorfindel said, giving out a small smile.

Elladan tried to return it, but could not.

"We do not have Legolas or Esendri with us. How are we to destroy the gem?"

Glorfindel spotted something, and sprinted West. Elladan followed, to see an arrow snapped into half, embedded within the marshy ground.

"They are alive!" Elladan cried, tears threatening to spill over as he recognised it as belonging to Legolas.

Glorfindel's face too showed signs of relief. "It is more than I could have hoped for."

Already his eyes had started scanning the surroundings, and his eyes rested in a large shape in the distance.

"What is that?" Elladan said, squinting for a better look. "A castle?"

They picked their way through the marshes, and soon stood within the castle doors. Just as they were about to go further in, voices sounded through the giant hallway, and they ducked behind pillars and waited with baited breaths.

"Do you think they might be far ahead?"

Elladan threw a surprised look at Glorfindel -- Lithroleah!

The second voice was low and measured. "How should I know? It seems we have greatly underestimated his powers. He is far stronger than I thought. We must hurry to reach him."

The voices faded as the pair stepped back out into the sleet, but not before Glorfindel and Elladan caught a glimpse of a large hand reminiscent of a talon.

Elladan waited a long time before speaking.

"What was that? Who was that?"

"It seems like we have found our spy."

***

"Look at that!" Gallenon said as the party entered the village.

"The people have fled," Allanor said, examining the houses that stood peering back at them with desolate, broken windows and flames.

"Perhaps not," Yuvinel said, walking up to one of them.

"My Lady!" Gallenon cried, trying to stop her.

She dodged his outstretched hand and entered the house, emerging clutching a tiny bundle to her chest.

"They cannot have been gone long," she said. "Look, he is still sleeping."

A wail from the far end of the village sounded, a feral noise that caused all the members of the party to unsheathe their weapons. The Elves melted into the buildings instantly, leaving behind just Idril with the humans.

"Lessador my child! Lessador!"

A lady came flying down the main road, hair untied, clothes billowing. She was followed by a young soldier armed to the teeth. He reached her before she could fling herself at Yuvinel and caught her in his arms.

"Madame Niwen, please, keep a grip on yourself," he said, as he turned to seize up the strangers.

"That is my child!" Niwen shrieked pointing at Yuvinel. "Give him back to me!"

Yuvinel took a step forward, but Gallenon stopped her.

"Who are you?" the soldier said. "What are you doing in this village?"

"My name is Allanor and this is my brother Gallenon. We were passing by when we saw your empty village and decided to investigate."

The man let out a contemptuous snort.

"Passing by? Pray tell on your way to what? Death by dragons?"

"We do not have to stand for this, Allanor," Gallenon said, his own ire rising. "Come, let us leave."

"No, brother," Allanor said, before bowing to the fiery soldier. "Forgive his impertinence, but we have gone many days without food or rest. We were hoping to refill our supplies and be on your way, but it appears we should press on."

Before the man could answer, Niwen let out another cry, "Please, give my Lessador back to me!"

At Allanor's incline of the head, Yuvinel stepped forward and passed the child over.

Niwen let out a delighted whoop and started cooing to the still-slumbering infant.

"Niwen, please take Lessador and wait for me there," the solider said.

She walked away without acknowledging him.

"What was your purpose of this visit?" the soldier said.

"Together with the Lady Yuvinel and our servant Dissen, we were hoping that you could spare us some food."

A dark shadow flitted across the man's face.

"I would offer you some, but for us starving ourselves."

"In that case, we should go," Yuvinel said.

The soldier looked apologetic.

"I am not trying to make things difficult for you, but we are currently a people fighting for our very survival. My name is Tindor, and this is the village of the Guardians."

"What a name," Yuvinel said.

"Its origins hail back in time, before the dawn of this Age. But anyway, what brings strangers like you to a foreign land such as this?"

"Many things do," Gallenon said, letting out a long sigh.

"We were separated from our companions five days ago," Yuvinel said.

Tindor gave a start.

"We are waiting for news of them," Gallenon said.

"I would not hope," Tindor said, his face dark. "They went off to seek out the dragons."

"You saw them?" Yuvinel cried. "They are still alive!"

"I only saw them through the crack of an open door. They were with the Lady and her children."

"You say they were seeking out dragons? Why?"

"Because they sought what the dragons guard. Although it seems they have more power than we had first thought, for they did indeed kill the dragons."

"They killed dragons?" Idril, who had been listening intently all this while, let out a sudden exclamation. "Between the four of them?"

"There were only three."

"What did they look like?" Yuvinel cried.

"One was dark as a raven, another with hair that reflected splashes of the morning sun, while the last was fair and golden."

"He is alive, then!" Yuvinel said.

"I would not hope, my Lady. We do not think they survived the battle with the dragons."

"How do you know of the battle then?" Idril said.

A low moan from the distance, louder than the ones that pierced the air at sporadic intervals sounded.

"That is how," Tindor said. "The dragons have been exacting their revenge, for they hold us responsible for the deaths of their leader and his firstborn."

"I do not understand," Yuvinel said. "You claim Legolas killed them, but yet you think he is dead?"

"It is strange, and we were considering sending a scouting team in search of more details, but none will go into the dragon's lair, when all we can do to run and hide from them."

"I will go, for I fear no dragon," Idril said.

Tindor gave a start. "There is more to your maid than meets the eye. Why, she is an Elf like the three were!"

"I will go too," Allanor said.

"No," Gallenon said. "It is too dangerous."

"Stay behind with Yuvinel. She needs your protection," Allanor said, strapping on his weapons. "Tindor, I would be most grateful if you were to extend your hospitality and protection upon those we leave behind in exchange for the information we bring. There are more in our party, who will join us in good time, and I plead with you to offer them shelter."

"By my word, I will see to it that no harm befalls them," Tindor said.

Allanor and Idril asked for directions to the keep and left Yuvinel and Gallenon behind with their misgivings.

"There is more of your party?" Tindor said.

"Yes," Yuvinel said, staring at where Allanon and Idril had left. "We should search for them. Perhaps we can meet one of your men here at dusk?"

"it is dangerous for you to stay here for long," Tindor said.

Yuvinel's smile did not reach her eyes.

"Danger is something we are used to."

Tindor bowed. "Then I shall be here tonight. I need to bring Niwen back to the caves, for Lessador will be hungry."

"Thank you," Yuvinel said.

The Elves emerged slowly as they saw Tindor disappearing.

"Why was Idril so eager to go after the dragons?" Yuvinel said to Gallenon as Galaesslin joined them. "It is so unlike her to do so."

Galaesslin thought for a while as she watched Alesphail, a Captain under Glorfindel's command conversing with Thinwë out of the corner of her eye.

"I know not if I should say this, but Elrohir and Idril were quite inseparable growing up. Save for Elladan, she was the closest and dearest to him. For a while they courted and then were lovers --"

"Elrohir is bound?" Yuvinel cried in surprise.

"Nay. For the first-born, courtship and the taking of a lover can be achieved without surrendering oneself completely. No such thing occurred between Elrohir and Idril, even if they did find comfort in each other.

"But I digress. They quarrelled one day, the details of which none of us were privy to, and she left Imladris to spend time with Linden's nomadic colony. They speak only cordially now, but it is clear to me that they still care for each other in their own ways."

"I saw how she looked when Tindor told us not to hope."

A shadow passed over Gaelesslin's fair face. "I will hope."

"Maybe Glorfindel and Elladan will return with news. We should fill them in with what Tindor told us," Yuvinel said, thereupon she turned away from Gallenon and Gaelleslin, allowing her own thoughts to smother her as the rest of the group debated the latest turn of events and discussed their next course of action.

***

Hidden from view, Tindor and Niwen exchanged looks.

"You were right," Niwen said, a wide grin spreading across her prematurely wrinkled face. "There were more of them in hiding."

"I did not expect to be so many of them. They look trained and dangerous too, all of them."

"Nothing we cannot handle."

Tindor suppressed a shudder.

"We will have to be doubly vigilant. But I hope they bring the news from the dragons. A girl and a human to investigate, what a good idea!"

"We shall see," Niwen said, her smile widening further.