The sky was finally clear and blue. The strong wind had subsided, and the sun was rising for a new day to begin. Angelnarth gently removed the bandage off his left arm and inspected the cut caused during his fight less than two days ago. It was looking good, the wound was healing quickly and there seemed to be no signs of infection. He got on his feet, carefully folded his thick, wool cloak and climbed out of the crevasse he used for shelter during the past night.
His eyes turned to the south. He was close to the point of the Misty Mountains, the Valley named Nan Curunir since the older days, but now widely known to men and elves alike as Isengard. The monstrous shadow of the tower was visible to him, even from such a distance. Angelnarth knew that these lands would show him no welcome. He cared not, he would carry out his duty no matter the cost.
He saddled his horse and rode south, hoping to reach the lands of the men known as Dunlendings before midday.Some time has passed, and he had already left behind of him a few thousands of yards. The weather was ideal for traveling, and the road seemed to be more safe than ever since his departure from Imladris. Yet, something odd was troubling the man's thoughts. He gently pulled his horse's reins to slow down, and then he turned around the way he came from. He stopped. He tried to listen..
A brief moment later, he was certain. Someone was riding towards him. The horse's gallop was but a very slight sound, subtle, and yet it was getting louder and louder as time went by. The man wasted no time. He led his horse behind a few thick bushes by the roadside and tied the reins on a tree.He hid there, waiting for his new potential threat to show its face. The distant galloping came closer and closer as time went by, and soon enough reached Angelnarth's position. The stranger slowed down, and then stopped in exactly the same place Angelnarth did a few moments earlier. He came down from his horse and kneeled. It would seem like he was trying to examine the tracks from Angelnarth's horse. But he couldn't be sure if that was the case, or if it was merely a traveller whose horse suffered an unfortunate injury, and he was examining its legs. His injured eyes would not serve him this time. He had to wait.
The stranger suddenly turned his gaze over to Angelnarth's hideout, and started to slowly walk that way. He reached the bushes and moved the branches out of his way carefully, but only to find the Dunedain's horse tied to the tree. And then, he felt the cold steel of Angelnarth's blade touching his back.
"This is far enough, my friend.", Angelnarth said, while disarming the stranger of the dagger sheathed on his leather belt. "Now, why are you following my tracks? State your business!". His voice came out of his mouth, strict and frigid, nothing like his usual way of conduct.
The stranger turned slowly to face him, and then lowered the hood and visor covering her face. "I was sent here to find you, mortal amongst elves, Angelnarth. I bring word from your liege."
Angelnarth seemed confused. He took a sole moment and examined his most unexpected visitor. She was tall, at least compared to most mortal women. Her facial skin was fair, and had a light brown tan, with a pair of big beautiful, brown eyes looking deep into his own. Her hair was black, curly and long, reaching down to the middle of her back. She was, without a doubt, a beautiful woman in the prime of her youth.
"My liege, you say?" Angelnarth responded. "And who might that be, if i may ask?"
The young lady laughed. "Are you testing me now, Angelnarth? Your one and only liege, lord Elrond of Rivendell."
Angelnarth crossed his arms in front of his chest. He was obviously not convinced. "It is true, that lord Elrond has a few mortals in his personal service. Eight, including myself, to be exact. And you are not one of them. I cannot trust you, young lady."
"Indeed i am not, lord Angelnarth. But do not misjudge me only because of my..looks. I know the westerners mistrust us, from the East. Hate us, even. But you have met good, honorable easterners. Men like my late brother, Gulzar...Gulzar the brave, as they called him back home."
The young woman seemed sad, lowering her gaze and distancing herself slightly.
Angelnarth pondered for a single moment, and then sighed deeply, offering a face of compassion to her, placing his hand gently on her shoulder for a few moments. "Forgive me, Halza...i did not mean ill to you, or your brother's memory. He was a good friend, and a man for everyone to look up to. We fought and bled together countless times...too bad i was not there when he fell, maybe i could protect him."
"I know you two were friends for years, both in the service of this elven haven, Rivendell. The least i could do to honor his memory...was to carry this message to you. Your mission has changed, you need to travel immediately to Harwick, located to the area called the Wold of Rohan."
Angelnarth nodded slowly, saying "The Wold...that would make sense. Could you please go and bring me my horse? I need to check for my supplies, i hid them in a shallow crevasse close by. We will ride until dusk, and then we can rest until the first light."
The young woman agreed, and turned her back to reach for the horse's reins. As soon as she did, Angelnarth stepped right in front of her with such speed that gave her no time to act or even think about it, grabbing her by the throat and pushing her with force strong enough for her back to meet the tree's trunk behind her.
"Next time be sure to stab me with one of these, before exploiting my late friend's memory to make a fool out of me" the Dunedain said with an unprecedented for himself tone in his voice, stabbing the dagger he earlier took from the woman deep into the tree's trunk, and just next to where her head was lying."Halza always troubled Gulzar, beautiful as she was...she was perfect to him. His little sister. If only, her eyes could see the world like the rest of us do...". Angelnarth looked at the impostor with abhorrence.
The woman momentarily showed nothing but innocence on her face, but then her eyes looked into his with nothing but hatred. "Maybe you're more than muscle...westerner", the woman talked back to him, an insincere, vengeful voice coming out of her mouth. Angelnarth was first only holding her, but now he was actually strengthening his grip, almost trying to strangle her.
"Do not think that i will not kill you, woman. I respect a life, but nothing gets between me and my mission. Not even another man's life, for i will take it if i absolutely have to."
With these words, Angelnarth let her go, pushing her to his right and making her fall to the ground, coughing from his strong grip.
"Go now.Tell your masters they picked the wrong mortal this time.."
The easterling got up on her feet and turned to him again as she hid her face inside her hood. "You are a fool, Angelnarth. Next time we meet, it will be the day you will regret those ideals you so eagerly follow."
Angelnarth turned his back. "If that day ever comes, maybe i will not be the one to regret it..".
