Read part 2 here.
Just north of Oatbarton the air that surrounded them became cooler, especially when the wind gained in strength. The two dwarfs were getting miserable and weary, feeding on rations and water they often thought back of their halls. And when you can’t eat decent food, the only thing that’s left is simply talk about it. At a green hill Hilfar suddenly stopped, he saw the last ingredient on the list growing in abundance: Goatweed. He quickly gathered a great amount in abundle and winded them up in a cloth. Based on the report of Khlosi they avoided Dwaling and went around for miles. They suddenly stopped when the green hills disappeared and were replaced by bright white sand that lay close to the Baranduin river.
They decided to follow the river north over the white sand. Traveling through the sand was slow, especially because the pony’s slipped away in the lush sand every now and then. Hours passed and the day crept by slowly as they ploughed through the sand. They passed strange insect crawlers who were digging in the sand. As the sun started to fall they found a road leading to hard soil again with trees growing in the lush vegetation. With the darkness a fog emerged out of nowhere, their sight grew dim. When they dragged themselves to this new road they suddenly halted. Some enormous lizard was facing them, it made hissing sounds and slowly walked in their direction. Ullfar loaded his crossbow and Hilfar grabbed his weapons. Suddenly the lizard made odd sounds as if he was about to throw up. A great beam of flame emerged out of his mouth, both dwarfs jumped aside right in time as the heat of the sudden fire passed in between them. The lizard was hissing again, both dwarfs tried to crawl up out of the sand again. Hilfar wished he just had one bottle of fire-oil left to throw. Then something unexpected happened.
A volley of arrows rained down from the tree edge piercing the lizard before it could spit any more flames. Peering in the fog they could not make out who shot the beast "Show yourself, friend or foe?!" Ullfar bellowed. A dozen hooded men walked down to them and surrounded them with drawn bows. Hilfar and Ullfar stood back to back facing many arrow tips. One of them spoke calm but determined "no sudden movements if you wish to live". Hilfar tossed his weapons on the ground, after a long uneasy pauze, Ullfar did the same. Their leader started to question them, where they came from, where they are going and why they are here travelling at night. The weary dwarfs cooperated and told them what they wanted to know. Their bows lowered and the men relaxed their posture, the captain of the group removed his hood and introduced himself as Sigfread, captain of this host of rangers. Hilfar sighed with relief that these men were not some band of brigands. Hilfar managed to put up a smile and ask if they could accompany them should they be heading north. The captain agreed to this and the company followed the host of rangers north to a exceptional large statue they called Kings crossing. Below the large statue was an opening that was used by the rangers as an outpost. Finally they found a place to rest their weary bones. They had some time for a nap, a simple meal and some time to process all that had happened.
Hilfar turned to Sigfread and asked for an escort to Ost Forod, Sigfread agreed to accompany them himself. They left at dawn dragging the pony’s with them again, who clearly had seen better days. After a steep climb the dwarfs set eyes on lake Evendim for the first time. The early sun was glittering on the cold water surface and shapes of ruins of an old kingdom raised on the horizon. They enjoyed the view while Sigfread told them a bit of the old cities of Arnor and how they were now lost to the Angmarim. It was a beautiful sight, yet there was also a cold and deserted feel over these lands that sends shivers up your spine. The struggle of the rangers over this old kingdom felt like a lost cause to Hilfar, but he kept that for himself.
All went well as they passed over the hills, Ost Forod was drawing close. Up until they reached a crossing of roads where a large statue of knights of old were still standing guard. A group of four brigands showed themselves and boldly started demanding their surrender and give up our wares. Both dwarfs sighed as yet another bump in the road revealed itself. Sigfread did not feel like negotiating and went in for the attack, something that must have been his daily routine. Everything went rather fast after that. The bow wielding brigands were killed fast by quick bladework of Sigfread, while Ullfar was already clashing blades with another. Hilfar was not so fast but managed to draw his mace. More brigands showed up and soon everyone was fighting. Hilfar smacked his mace up to one of them breaking his jaw, he ran up to his father to support him. The battle turned in our favor, when enough men lay either dead or crawling on the ground, the brigands fled the field. Weary of travel and constant struggle the dwarfs under the lead of Sigfread started on the last miles, a climb that would lead them to their destination. They both frowned as they expected to arrive at a fortress, but all they saw was a ruin….
Read the last part here..
