Dreothorn opened the door with one hand and threw the hooded man outside the Prancing Pony, Binras complained about one thing and another but slowly understood and mounted up his black horse. Dreothorn mounted Byreoh and head to the Western gate followed by Binras.
The rode took a day to follow, from Bree-Land to North Downs, and from North Downs to Evendim to finally reach Forochel, where Thayalengir was waiting them in a camp. They all stood around the warm fire and spoke. Of what Thayalengir spoke was of a man, a Lossoth to be exact. He was sleeping right in the tent near them, so they spoke whispering to not wake him up.
Binras had a cart full of furs near their spot, so they went to search for it, leaving Thayalengir behind to protect the camp. As they advanced the harsh mountains of Forochel the horses became more and more useless. They reached the cart and Binras attached it to his horse while Dreothorn patrolled for wolves and other animals. When they were back at the camp Thayalengir decided to leave the Lossoth to rest and venture deeper into Forochel. They tied the horses and left walking, since they only slowed their pace. Minutes later the wolves were already over them, the hunter shot his barbed arrows with haste, the warrior savagely slashed his claymore through the meat and the rouge swiftly pierced their hearts with his daggers. For the moment they arrived to a save spot, Binras was already confused and worried. They kept walking and opening their way through hordes of wolves every five or ten minutes. Even an auroch was encountered but taken down swiftly.
They arrived at a cave, a dark and moisty cave. Dreothorn didn't liked the look of it, and neither did Binras, but Thayalengir was eager to enter... so they followed. As they walked through the icy hallways Dreothorn thought about his past. Yes, his friend had left, but the truth was clear as water. He didn't left because of treason but because of Anarr who forced him into Bree, and Dreothorn was more than sure the money that they had earned was taken by Anarr himself and not by him. Of course he trusted him, if not he wouldn't had swore the oath to protect him from any damage...
It was cold, really cold. The ice monsters roamed around and Binras was growing uneasy every step they walked. Thayalengir saw some steaming crevices and he stayed inspecting them. Dreothorn and Binras went to look around the cave for some exit.
The hallways, who were decreasing their size with every step they moved suddently oppened wide to give birth to a bright white sky. Binras hurried to the exit but Dreothorn wasn't so sure about that, it was just too perfect. He stopped Binras and told him to hide behind a massive ice rock, then he sheathed his claymore and pulled out of his boot a small dagger. While going nearer to what appeared to be a man his shape started to sketch. The man was covered in wolf fur and he was the biggest man Dreothorn ever saw, for sure they weren't friendly. He stepped closer and came out of the shadows. The massive man charged, using blades shaped like claws in his hand to attack. Dreothorn dodged the attacks and sended a quick stab on his head. There was a yell, a second one was coming. Dreothorn was about to fend off his attacker when two daggers came flying and thrusted in the other man. It was Binras who stood to protect him. They headed back to Thayalengir with the dire news of the cave exit.
Thayalengir was nowhere to be seen. They searched all the cave until they heard a mad laugh comming from a strangely blue-glowing cave. As they walked near they heard Thay speak and mumble. Suddlenty ice-ents came out from the cave. As they fought them off, or "attempted" to fight them off, Thayalengir's arrows flew through all the cave filling the ents with strange steam. Suddlently all came quiet, the leader the people who are Sworn to the North was lying unconcious on the cold ground. Dreothorn told Binras to go plan a flag in front of the cave and head back to the camp, and so he did.
Dreothorn pulled Thayalengir over his shoulder and dropped him near a rock, he was still holding his claymore in his right hand and the dagger in the other... and then Thayalengir spoke with a non-human voice:
"You don't know what you've done." he made a strange grin on his face.
"It's just you and me now." Said Dreothorn walking around the cave, dragging his greatsword behind him.
"You don't know who am I!"
"Most probably an ent possesing a man's body" Dreothorn had already stopped walking around and now his face resembled decition.
"Ha-ha!" Said a childish but demonic voice, "The idiotic thinks you a normal!"
"Indeed I do."
"You know what you have to do Dreothorn Fehngarn! Feeehngarn, that raped-born last name! YOU HAVE TO KILL ME DREOTHORN FEHNGARN! OR I'LL KILL YOU MYSELF!"
Said the ent inside Thayalengir, who had already drawn his sword. Dreothorn felt anger inside him, but it wasn't against Thayalengir but against the ent possesing his body. How much suffering was he causing his friend? He had to end this, but he had to try not to kill him. He made a strange grin too, a mad grin. As he stood closer to the possesed man who was already kneeling in front of him with a smirk on its face, waiting to be beheaded.
"No, at least not yet." Dreothorn said and aimed a kick for his friend's face. He grabbed the feet on the air and tried to crush Dreothorn's leg with an abnormal strength. He was still holding the greatsword and raised it with an outstanding strength to hit with the hilt Thayalengir's head in an attempt to knock him down, but again, he was too quick. As he dodged the pommel and pushed Dreothorn's leg, who tripped and fell to the floor. He was doomed, he knew it. Still holding the dagger he made his last stand and charged at Thayalengir, this time it was effective and he managed to drop him to the floor. He used his body to stop Thayalengir from moving and pointed the dagger at his neck. He didn't wanted to, but if needed he would...
"What are you doing?!? OATH BREAKER! I SHOULD KILL YOU RIGHT NOW AND FEED YOU TO THE DOGS DREOTHORN!" Said the real Thayalengir, Dreothorn was glad he came back to his senses, but then realized how his friend called him and raged again.
"Oh aye, I'm an oath breaker. The one that never stands for you! The one that was never there! THE ONE THAT FOLLOWED YOU EVERYWHERE AND ASKED NO RECOGNIZION FOR HIS ACTIONS! I AM AN OATH BREAKER BECAUSE I TRIED TO SAVE YOUR LIFE!"
Suddently he was being dragged by Thayalengir to one of the geisers. And there he knelt, being held by his friend against the boiling steam. "You tried to kill me!" He kept yelling.
"Here our friendships burns! As your face!"
A horrible pain, he couldn't even yell. His face was really burning, his old scar opened again and blood dripped. And then all of a sudden cold again. Thayalengir was already far ahead.
"Go back to the camp when you come back to your senses."
"You're just leaving me here, after burning my face?! You're nothing but a worthless animal Theodane! I tried to save your damn life and you pay me with fire! YOU DON'T DESERVE TO BE CALLED A HUMAN..."
Darkness...
