Chapter ten: Nightstalker
The rats in Myrith hand didn't look as horrible as he'd imagined. Thendryt was tied to a stone table in the middle of the room. The brand that Myrith had burned on his chest was starting to heal, though the rest of the cuts and open wounds were still as gruesome as ever. The bucket of salt in the corner of the room had been used frequently, so had the saws, clubs and small blades on the wall.
"Did you bring me food for once Myrith?" Thendryt said and let out a silent chuckle.
"For you? No." Myrith replied and smiled. He walked up to Thendryt and put the rats on his stomach. Thendryt didn't know what Myrith was going to do, but the Angmarim had that look in his eyes that meant that it was going to hurt. Badly.
He wanted the rats off him but even if he hadn't been tied down he wouldn't be able to grab them with his fingers broken. He watched Myrith empty the salt-bucket and walk over to him.
"Don't worry, this won't be over soon." Myrith placed the bucket on top of the rats and took some burning logs from the fire. He laid them on the bucket and grabbed the wooden handles on the side., pressing the bucket down.
The rats had started to move. Back and forth they walked, faster and faster. They needed to escape the heat, and all their exits were blocked. Except one.
Thendryt let out a scream as the rats started to gnaw their way out.
It was time to leave. Thendryt's mood was foul as he prepared his journey to Eregion. Odak might be setting a trap for him, but sending him all the way to Eregion would not be the way he'd go about it. And besides… The opportunity to locate Myrith was a bait Thendryt would bite without even a slight hint of a doubt.
He wasn't going unprepared. As he took a last look in the mirror in his way out he checked his armour one last time. Full plate, a set of armour that had been specially prepared for him. His sword, spear, bow, his daggers and knives. He was a walking war-arsenal. He put his hood and mask on and walked into the night.
He walked down to the stables to ready Bovad. By the time he got there the rain was pouring down. Fitting, he thought. It felt nostalgic, leaving Imladris again. He'd done it so many times, on many nights, just like this. He mounted his steed and Bovad started walking up, out of the Vale.
He got up to the top of the road, just before the Gates of Imladris, when he saw her under a tree.
"Faorie." He said, looking towards her and halting Bovad. He had hoped he wouldn't have to deal with Warband-members on his way out. He wasn't going to explain the situation, she'd insist on going with him.
"Thendryt." She replied. "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be within the valley?"
Thendryt glared at her. He needed to be on his way, not being interrogated by Faorie.
"I'm leaving for Eregion. I shouldn't be gone long." He said.
"Yes, I remember you asking Elisbeth to allow you to leave." She replied, carefully watching him. "If I may ask... What do you intend to find in Eregion?"
Thendryt had no interest in answering that question. He looked forward and continued on, without a word.
He passed the gates of Imladris, had a quick talk with the guards as he usually had and left the Vale.
He traveled for hours in the darkness. He knew these roads in the back of his head and needed little light to guide his way. When he reached the Bruinen he slowed down. He halted in the middle of the shallow river and dismounted. Bovad drank from the clear waters and then looked up. Thendryt took the reins and started to lead Bovad downstream. After some time of walking there came a shore, there he mounted and set off again. They rode for a few more hours until they arrived at the ruined prison of Delossad.
Thendryt dismounted and loosely tied Bovad to a tree near the entrance.
"Stay here." He said to the black horse. Bovad didn't seem to like being left alone in the rain and objected.
"No, you can't come with me. You know this. I'll give you something to eat when I get back." This seemed to calm the horse a bit and Thendryt stroke his mane a bit before going up the cursed stairs.
When he reached the top of the stairs he turned right, towards the second empty cell. He moved the usual rubble to the side and entered his hidden room. There he sat for a while, looking at his collection. The weapons, clothing and images that were the curse of his life, yet the reason for him to live. He let all his emotions flow for what must have been at least an hour until he felt satisfied and left.
Soon... He thought to himself. Soon...
He moved silently out of the prison and to the edge of the forest. There he looked into the endless darkness of night. His mind imagined what he would do to Myrith if he got his hands on him. The picture became more clear, more real. He found himself smiling while thinking about it. Lightning struck. His smile widened under his mask while his eyes grew darker.
Bovad seemed happier. Unusual, he though. Bovad usually hated to be alone in the rain.
"What are you so happy about?" He said, as he walked over to his horse and petted it. "I thought you hated rain?"
"Hungry?" He asked, as he took out a bag of grain. He let the horse eat his fill but something was wrong. Bovad only ate half of the grain.
It all made sense now. He cursed her in his mind. She must've followed him here. She wouldn't find his secret hall, that he was sure of. But it would make things harder for him if he didn't lose her.
"Good boy…" He said and mounted. He turned Bovad around and faced the edge of vegetation. He knew she was there. He knew she was watching. Lightning struck again as the rain poured down like never before. This was not going to be hard.
Bovad reared up and bolted off into the darkness. Now she would never find him.
Faorie's version of this story.
