Knowing that both Cyndwin and Fillegedhiel are safe and secure in the Forsaken Inn for the night, whatever small comfort that may be, I have gone out to greet the sunrise and collect my thoughts, making the long trek to the peak of Amon Sul.
Arranging myself on the ancient stones, I look out over three mighty kingdoms from the linchpin that joined them. Here on Amon Sul, the three pieces of Arnor met and the analogy to myself and the two sleeping beauties below makes me smile. Three parts that were really one whole. I pray to Elbereth our fate is brighter then that of tragic Arnor.
Thinking back on the events that unfolded before I journeyed here where Cyndwin and Fillegedhiel would be awaiting me, I can relate all too well to those embattled lords of Men, struggling to make the right choice against mounting odds. The words of Lomiphell today filled me with the same cautious dread that they must have felt....but I am getting ahead of myself.
Lomiphell, or so the Lady Ahmo told me she is called, had appeared unannounced in the hideaway of Addie and Nethrida just before I arrived, having avoided all sentries and wards posted to prevent such intrusions. As I entered, I did not bother to draw Lovelorn to face the black clad, hooded figure as the Lady Ahmo was already there and the noble Paramour had his hand on the hilt of his own weapon, ready to guard Addie with his body if need be. Feeling that this visitor was altogether different than the norm but sensing no malice, l opted to move to Nethrida's side, and waited to see what new developments were transpiring.
Though her mouth was covered by a mask, I could nearly see the smirk that marred her otherwise stone like expression. She spoke, her voice tempered by a lifetime whispering. "You can release your weapon, if I had wanted to harm any here I would have already done it before you would have even known I was here. No, I come to bring news."
I met the Lady Ahmo's eye, and she nodded almost imperceptibly. Masin had let his hand fall to his side and said, a bit peevishly, "What is this news?" while friend Addie slipped over to the edge of the bed, as if to stay far away from this newcomer and her news. I smiled to myself, noting Masin move closer to Addie but clearly repress his urge to put his hand on her head in comfort.
The Lady Ahmo spoke aloud to ease the concern in the room, "I know who she is...she calls herself Lomiphell. She is no friend, but neither is she a foe.'
At this Lomiphell glanced over to Ahmo for a moment and laughed coldly. "I also know who you are and what you have done." She then looked back to face the entire room, but her gaze settled on myself. "What you have all done. You have kicked a nest without first preparing or knowing what it is what your enemy seeks. Folly. And you have greatly endangered your lives."
I simply smiled. 'Which nest do you refer to? I can think of several.'
As I entered the discussion, the dark figure lifted her head insolently and looked me in the eyes. It was clear she had come to speak her piece to myself first and foremost. "You speak often of it, elf, to those that have no business of knowing or seeking it out. My question for you, how much do you really know?" She brought out a small wrapped item from her satchel and carefully unwrapped it, being notably careful to keep a cloth between her hand and the small purplish-black stone she was holding. With her free hand she gestured to Nethrida without ever taking her icy gaze from my eyes, "You question why she was truly taken, do you not?" She then gestured Addie. "And her. Any wise person would seek the answer to the question why they were harmed so. Here is the answer."
I continued to smile. "I can see the stone, stranger...Tell me what you know of it'
Lomiphell let out a little scoff of a laugh and wrapped the stone up again before continuing. "There is fell magic at work, experiments being commanded all the way from Minas Morgul." She looked over to Ahmo, her voice growing darker. "You recall the Great Plague do you not, ancient one?"
Ahmo raised an eyebrow, 'It would be hard to forget it. The memory of it is strong in Bree, though little memory of how it began. Only that it was attributed to Angmar's malice"
From behind me I had heard Nethrida suck in her breath as she looked at the stone and now she spoke, "That... Is like those stones... On the poisoned goods we were sent some days ago. The poisoned rose and the cakes."
Lomiphell looked up at the Gondorian warrior and then pulled out another stone from her pocket. She made a point of being not so careful with this one and held it without a cloth, as if flaunting secret knowledge. "You speak of this one, and it is very different. It also shows that you do not know your enemy, girl. However, I will explain that one in a moment." She turned back to Ahmo disdainfully, "There are benefits to a plague. It can infiltrate when other things cannot."
The Lady Ahmo scowled, 'The disadvantages speak for themselves. But you are right, if overly cynical.'
"For the innocent there are disadvantages; for the evil, it is not so." Lomiphell directed her cold gaze back to Nethrida. "You were to be shipped back to Gondor, were you not?"
Nethrida swallowed hard and I rested a hand on her shoulder, 'Yes... Likely to be tried for cowardice and betrayal... And hung...'
Lomiphell nodded impatiently as though she already knew the answer and did not need more than a confirmation. "And where in Gondor do you think they would have sent you?"
Nethrida tapped her chin for a moment. "I would assume either Linhir, my home town... Dol Amroth, if they wished to make it more public or the White City itself for the most attention..."
Lomiphell nodded again triumphantly, "And you would not have gone alone. That stone would have gone with you, hidden. You would not have been of your own mind, but controlled, suffering and spreading a plague of dread, not of sickness."
Nethrida 's eyes widened with shock as Masin raised a brow. The Lady Ahmo breathed softly as she began thinking deeply. "That is novel."
I locked eyes with Lomiphell and smiled slowly again, "And very...very instructive. This fits much of what we know, and tells us things that reach far beyond Breeland. For such a plan to be brought to the Dourhand means that the Stained One continues to be a power in the Black Land...and far more."
Our dark visitor nodded slowly 'And hopefully helps you to understand what you are actually dealing with. You have brought much attention to yourselves now.'
I smiled and cut her off. 'Of course we have, stranger....it was not accidental. We have been doing so since before your grandsire was born. The only accident was Addie and Nethrida being involved..due to the situation of the moment."
Lomiphell laughed unpleasantly, "For their sake then, I hope you have a plan." She then held up the stone that dear Nethrida referred to earlier, one of those delivered on the cakes some days previous. "For you have not much time."
Nethrida startled, looking up at me for a moment then back to our visitor, "Not much time? What do you mean?"
Holding up one of the apparently harmless stones, the woman spoke. "The dwarves have an ancient ritual, one still held by only the Dourhands today. These black stones can be found in one place, the Silver Deep Mines of Ered Luin. Each dwarf that is to attend the ritual brings a stone with him to show his loyalty and service... Twelve stones were given unto you, so twelve lords of the Dourhand wish to be present and are assembling...that is a vast number for such a thing. You have indeed been a thorn in their side for a long time and over many lands, elf...you and your thrice cursed sister."
Nethrida looked at her cast right arm, and then back to Lomiphell. "Do you know how long we have? My arm is still some weeks away from it's expected recovery"
Lomiphell shook her head, "That I do not. They would have to gather first before moving to come claim you again and this time, I do not think they would be content to take just you and the blonde girl."
Addie gasped and sweet Nethrida reached up to grip my hand upon her shoulder, quite without thinking. Lady Ahmo snorted, 'Well they've kicked over a hornet's nest of their own....'
Lomiphell glanced back over to the Lady Ahmo, seeming to be pleased with the answer, "Good, I would hope that you will prepare before they come. I can help you set traps if need be, but do not expect this to be an easy fight."
The Lady Ahmo sighed, seeming downhearted, 'It will be long before we have much in the way of real relief. Any of us.'
However, I chose that moment to speak again. "I beg to differ, esteemed one." All eyes turned to me. "First and foremost let us consider the Dourhand's goals in this...For them to undertake such a self-defeating plan means two things. First, as believed by the Lords of the West, the Stained One continues to vie to take firm hold over the the levers of control in Mordor."
I smiled. "Secondly, the Dourhand must be badly in need of ready cash. Otherwise, spreading a plague would never fit into their goals, it destroys Product and Profit. However clearly the Stained One is no longer directly involved in the scheme, which is very good as far as we are concerned. If she were, then her orders would be clear cut...find a new vehicle to bear the plague into Gondor..there must be several thousand possibilities"
The Lady Ahmo nodded and I continued. "For the Dourhand to continue this assault means they are in control now..they are acting from vengeance...and what's more, acting foolishly"
Lomiphell shook her head, "I believe that you misunderstand. This stone does not produce a plague of sickness as would Lara the Sweet, as she has so been called in tales; it allows for infiltration and control."
However I was not to be dissuaded as I saw the pieces falling into place in my mind. 'I do not misunderstand, it is simply a variation on her work....Indeed..it is her work, and she simply sends it forth by a different road."
The smirk can once again be seen behind Lomi's eyes, "It is always best to know your enemy, is it not? It can often be found that they have a signature style, a preferred method. If it does not follow line, there are more questions that need to be asked."
I nodded. 'Indeed...but there is no more skilled player in this game than the Stained one...she knows the value of the unexpected. She knows not to repeat a trap a second time, for them to come for these two again, it asks the question...who is truly in control now? This is now the Dourhand primarily I believe, with their sellsword allies and the Angmarim..and that is good. I have no desire to bring the wrath of the Gurzyul here to Breeland."
The Lady Ahmo spoke in hushed tones, 'If what we've pieced together is correct..and I believe it is...then the greater menace at work in this is....'
I sighed, my tone matching her own... 'Yes my Lady....Lhaereth the Stained, Queen of Seregoth, the Lady of Blight'
The Lady Ahmo nodded softly, 'If she plays a part...then there are veils over veils."
Lomiphell pushed herself up from the wall. "I have delivered my warning and there are other matters now that I must attend to. I hope that your own conceit over these matters does not prove to be folly." As she is about to walk out the door, she looks over to Nethrida, "Know your enemy, be prepared; do not take the hand that once struck you."
And with that, she was gone
Nethrida looked up at me, her eyes frustrated and afraid. "But I cannot prepare for battle in a state like this. Perhaps... There is something to learn from the Plague itself... I am assuming, the one mentioned is the same that ravaged Gondor many centuries past and led to the ruin of Osgiliath..."
I nodded, remembering well her interest in Arnor and tragic Fornost, where her ancestors hailed from. "It is, my sweet one...And there may be something to learn of this is vile Seregost. As the Lady Ahmo and our visitor noted...this plague is different...it seems to seek to subjugate, make those infected easy to control...it is interesting."
The Lady Ahmo looked sharply at me, 'Seregost is a name that has not been heard much outside the Ephel Duath in many a century."
I just smiled and dropped to one knee before her. "I have walked it's halls, my Lady...my sister has led several parties of Warriors to plunder it's secrets and bears a title and honors from those forces that besiege it. We shall go soon to see what we may discover there of this matter."
Addie's voice rose from where she had been slumped in thought, her concern and anxiety clearly evident. 'Who is this Lhaereth the stained and what role does she play in this? And more importantly.. What are we going to do to prepare for this coming attack?"
I smiled at her, in way I hoped would reassure her as the Lady Ahmo and Masin departed to alert our sentries of this new information, "The Stained one, she bears many names, each more vile than the last....she is powerful amongst the Gurzyul, the chief lieutenants of the enemy. She was the source of that ancient plague Nethrida spoke of. This plan would have been hers and she likely paid the Dourhand to put it in motion...Which means the Dourhand were more involved with your bounty hunters than we thought...'
Addiela nodded, "And they would have tainted Neth, hoping to deliver her to Minas Tirith so that they could control it from within with this disease? Then what of me? Was I to suffer the same fate?' Her eyes widened, "Do you think they knew of my bounty?"
Sadly I nodded. "I would expect yes. I had feared they may have from the start...And they would have then found occasion to turn you over to Edoras just as they would give Nethrida to Gondor."
Addiela started to panic. "Twelve stones, Xanderian.. twelve.. Are there twelve coming for us? And who are these twelve?"
"I do not know...and it may not mean that we face only twelve adversaries...but we will certainly be able to that ledger the Lady Ahmo plucked from the hand of Angmar to lessen the foes against us"
Addiela stared, 'What? Are we going to trade them the ledger for our safety?'
I nodded slowly. "We will certainly be able to convince at least some of them to step away from this matter in exchange for the ledger...and then use that fact to split their forces further...we are not without weapons they will not expect. This is not the first time my sister and I have faced the Dourhand arrayed against us so."
Nethrida pursed her lips and stared at the end of the bed before taking a deep breath. "I require a smaller blade... For the time being. I cannot wield my regular blade yet... But I can use my left arm, even if I am not as good with it as I am with my right."
I looked down at the concern and frustration in sweet Nethrida's face, with no trace of dread or fear, simply consternation at feeling as if she could not answer the call to battle. Without a second thought I slipped the long curved dagger from my belt, and handed it to her hilt first.
Her lips remain pursed as she took the dagger, confused. Her eyes widened as she felt that the balance was perfect, the weapon seeming almost weightless, and that I intended her to keep it for now. "Xan..I...I can't..."
I just smiled. "She is called Maur. Sorrow in the Westron tongue. She was once a sword, much like my Lovelorn."
Nethrida inspected the blade. "Broken? And then remade?" She asked with a curious tone.
I shook my head. "Xandilif snapped it in two. It was our Mother's sword. Xandilif had two daggers forged from the halves...she carries it's mate, named Iaew....Scorn in the Westron tongue.
Nethrida stopped to look at the blade again, the reverence of her kin for all things elvish clear. "Shouldn't you keep it then? I would not wish to part you of such an heirloom"
"Nay...I would have you wield it until you can bear your family's blade again." I stroked her hair. "If it gives you good service, then perhaps it will lighten our thoughts of she who first bore it. In the meantime we must speak with Inwis...it may be time for her to further speed your healing."
The Lady Ahmo returned. Hadhranel has been told, he will alert his people to this, They have vivid memories of "Sweet Lara" and her evils.
I continued to pet Nethrida as she gauged the blade in her hand and the way it seemed to dance. "There are many, many forces in play now...and Bree has gained new guardians as the Rangers have gone to war...Save of course for the dozens of Rangers lingering outside seeking to bed the two of you..."
The Lady Ahmo laughed, but Addie sighed harshly, "Not everyone seeks to bed us, Xanderian..." Just at that moment Masin reappeared in the doorway, and hearing friend Addie's outburst, opted to make himself scarce.
I raised an eyebrow. "Clearly you have not spent much time around Rangers, but their...obsessions can be quite charming, really...but that is for another time...'
Ahmo tried to sooth Addie's annoyance. "The young aspirants to that order have the passions of any young men. Strong Drink and a lady's bed. Be assured, their code is inflexible. To force a woman is unthinkable but seduction is quite on the menu"
I nodded. "I cannot say I have ever been forced by a Ranger to...well...as I said, this is for another time. Fear not dear ones, I shall protect you from the rage of the Dourhand as well as the ardor of young rangers."
Addie scowled and Nethrida changed the subject. "It's name is Sorrow you say? Your sword is Lovelorn and your bow, Heartbreaker..yet I never considered a name for my blade."
Addiela looked up, 'Hmm.. What would you name it?'
Nethrida pursed her lips and looked at her own sword which rested by the wall, sheathed and waiting for her hand. "What of... Tarnished Glory?'
I shook my head. "Your glory is more Hidden then Tarnished."
Nethrida tapped her chin and squeezed my hand. "Shrouded Glory then? I shall call it... Tarnished Glory for now... But once... The threat of these Dourhands is past... I shall rename it to Shrouded Glory..."
And so we left the subject and the women took their rest. Once I was certain all was secure and the Paramour and the good Uncle was on watch, I departed for the Lost Lands.
Looking out from Amon Sul, with dawn just lighting the distant horizon, I look deep within myself...I pray that I and my friends are more ready for the storm that comes then the kings that once sat upon this watchtower were. Too many of those I love depend upon it.
