The ruins of Delossad were usually never completely quiet. Birds nesting in the forgotten halls, or the wind howling through narrow passages usually gave the darkness character. Not tonight. Tonight, Thendryt heard nothing, save from his own boots and breathing. Even though he was wearing chainmail, he was usually able to sneak in the darkness. At least to an extent. But the silence that surrounded him was treacherous, and each little chain in his mail seemed to make some kind of crackle.
But he knew he’d heard something. He felt it. Through the ache of his skin, shivers went up his spine. He was not alone.
“Get out.” Thendryt peered into the darkness as his words bounced back at him.
He heard something. A footstep? An inhale?
“Get out.” He repeated, sharper this time. The echoes made his cracked voice sound more menacing than he’d imagined. He liked it.
He found himself next to one of the main pillars near the courtyard. Walking around it, he heard someone land in the grass below.
Got you.
A shadow in the dark limped into the ruins beneath him.
Thendryt quickly moved towards the stairs. He heard a low groan.
He couldn’t help but chuckle.
“I will find you…”
As he slowly walked around the dark courtyard and the surrounding ruins, Thendryt listened.
After a few circles around the place, he head for the stairs again. He had most likely passed whoever it was at least once, and not noticed. Better get a higher vantage point.
It turned out to be the right decision. Thendryt spotted something once he got up, but froze when he heard several footsteps.
Damn it all. He thought, and glanced over towards the halls that lead deeper into the ruin. No one would likely find it, even if they searched the entire ruin. But still…
A voice pierced the silence. Elvish.
Three Elves walked into the courtyard. Out of the shadows came an Elf, half panicked.
It had to be Elves… Thendryt shifted his position to get a better look at the group. Silently, he crept along the second floor until the Elves were straight below him.
Thendryt felt his blood start to boil as he recognized the leading Elf. Dolthafaer. He recognized another Elf from the campaign in the Misty Mountains. Arrows of Vanimar.
Thendryt cursed his luck.
The Elf that had come out of hiding were desperately grabbing Dolthafaer’s arm, talking fast and quietly.
“GET OUT.” Thendryt’s voice rang through the ruins. Loud, sinister. He wanted them gone. If they’d just retreat he could find an alternate way out.
He watched the Elves. As Dolthafaer took a step towards the stairs it became clear that it would take more than a command to make the Elves leave. Thendryt took his bow in right right hand and drew it, making sure the Elves would hear the string being pulled.
“Get. Out.”
He had no arrows. Nor would he actually fire an arrow at an Elf, for obvious reasons. But if the sound would make them leave, it was worth the risk. For a moment it looked like they actually were going to retreat, but something was wrong. He could still hear hushed voices from below.
When one of the Elves sprinted out of the light and across the courtyard, Thendryt realized what they were doing. Thendryt laughed, loudly. They thought he’d fall for the bait, fire at the sprinting Elf and then he’d get a couple of arrows shot at him. He wouldn’t play their game. He retreated further into the shadows. It was now a game of hide and seek.
“Thendryt?” Dolthafaer’s voice reached him. “We thought you in the Coldfells, Elf-friend.”
Thendryt let the back of his head hit the wall behind him as he heard boots closing in. He wouldn’t have gotten arrows in him, their plan was to get up and take him on in melee.
“Elisbeth will be pleased to know you are still up to your old tricks, Thendryt.” Dolthafaer was closer now. “Terrorizing more of our kind.”
Thendryt clasped his fist. If he wouldn’t have had to go through a cleansing, he would have fought the Elf right then and there. But he could feel his body objecting to every movement. He needed a few days’ rest, before returning to full strength.
They had to be close. Thendryt took a couple of stones from the floor and threw one of them. He listened for a reaction. Holding the last stone close, he prepared himself.
Throw. Run. Stick to the shadows. Get outside. Get on Bovad. Ride north.
“Enough of this. Come out and it will go more easily for you.”
It was worth a shot. He threw the last stone in the opposite direction and took off as soon as he heard the stone hit the floor. He flew past an Elf, he didn’t know which one, and sprinted towards the shadows.
“Stay!” An Elf yelling in Westron caught his ear, but he wasn’t going to take the risk.
“THENDRYT!” He heard Dolthafaer somewhere behind him. “Stop!”
The third Elf appeared in front of him and he was forced into a halt.
Rage filled Thendryt as he slowly turned and set his gaze upon Dolthafaer.
Dolthafaer slowed down and approached him, wasting little time.
“This is far from the Coldfells, Elf-friend.” Thendryt drew his primary sword and pointed the tip towards the Elves. He imagined Dolthafaer would seek revenge for his loss up in the mountains, and one could never be too careful dealing with angry Elves.
“What are you doing here? What have you done to the Elf below?”
“Get out.” Thendryt words left him without him even realizing it.
"We cut down scouts, Thendryt. Spies. Men of the North. We searched for the rest of their company here -- and found you. Why am I not surprised?"
The mention of Angmarrim turned Thendryt’s mind on fire. Yet, calmly, he simply let his left hand grip the end of the hilt of his sword. He shifted his weight, Angmarrim would have to wait.
“Stand down. Now.” Dolthafaer said.
The forests of the bruinen will burn to the ground before I take orders from you. Thendryt thought. A memory flashed inside of him and he let his gaze travel from Dolthafaer to the two other Arrows.
“Something you don’t want to happen…” Thendryt took a step towards the stairs. Draw your blade and let’s get this over with, Elf.
“No.” Dolthafaer finally reacted. Before Thendryt could take another step his blades were in the Elf’s hands.
Thendryt locked Dolthafaer’s eyes in his. With what little strength he had in him, Thendryt swung at Dolthafaer’s blades. He knew he could never win. Had he been at full strength, he might have been able to put up a fight. But in his current state, just disarming the Elf would be enough. He might survive if he managed that.
But Dolthafaer was waiting for the swing. Thendryt’s sword was parried to the side and a blade thrust towards him. Thendryt dropped his sword and caught the Elven blade just in time to slow it down. In the end it didn’t pierce his chainmail, but his hands would need to be tended. No fingers would be lost, though.
Dolthafaer dropped a sword and swiftly swung his fist. Thendryt didn’t have time to react before the gauntlet made contact with his face. He felt his nose break and his face become numb. The sheer force of the blow forced him back, but he didn’t fall.
Thendryt exhaled slowly, loudly. Almost a growl. He didn’t feel any pain, but had to stop himself from launching at the Elf.
“Either get out of my way, Arrow, or punch harder.” Thendryt hissed, with hatred in his eyes.
“We’re on the same side, Man!” An Arrow shouted at him. “Why must you continue this useless tirade?”
“Then get out.” Thendryt cast her a hateful look. “Or get out of my way.”
“You are wounded, Thendryt.” Dothafaer said, his voice showing a hint of satisfaction. Must have wanted that punch. “We found you stalking and terrorizing this elf in the dark. Give me one reason why I should not apprehend you.”
“Going to apprehend me for walking in the dark?” Thendryt said, his voice had a hint of sarcasm.
“You!” Dolthafaer said in Sindarin and pointed at the frightened Elf, who was sitting and hiding behind one of the arrows. “Was this Man one of those who hurt you?”
“He would have if he could have, I can see it in his eyes! Long did he search for me. But I ran away! I got away from them all!” The Elf was clearly half mad at this point. Thendryt recognized the behavior. So some Elves don’t handle torture well either? He found this fact interesting.
“Why were you following him, Thendryt?” Dolthafaer looked back at him.
“Could have been anything for all I knew.” Thendryt replied. “I’m pretty disappointed it was an Elf.”
The mad Elf let out a sad laugh.
“Did the Men have similar appearance to this Man?” An Arrow asked. “Or did they seem different in garb? In voice?”
The mad Elf nodded hysterically. “I got away!”
Thendryt saw the struggle in Dolthafaer’s face. The mad Elf was clearly confused and not reliable, but the Elf seemed to consider finishing him off once and for all.
Several seconds went by before Dolthafaer lowered his blade. Thendryt picked up his own and sheathed it.
“This is twice now our blades have crossed, Thendryt. Pray to whatever Gods you Men believe in that there will not be a third time.”
Thendryt walked down the steps and headed out of Delossad.
