The Misty Mountains were being raked by heavy winds and blowing snow as the large company made their way from the shelter of the tiny, warm Hrimbarg towards the dubious goal of the High Pass into the Vales. Their horses striving against the snow, the world seemed to be made up of little but howling wind and bitter cold as the group pressed on.
Leading the band, Xanderian took care to make the most of the storm, carefully avoiding both goblin patrols and hunting wargs by blending into the gale and using stealth to make the party simply disappear, wrapping her charges in a cloak of snowfall. When there was no choice a single arrow ensured that the unlucky sentry's remains would not be found until spring.
Finally, the company mounted the obscured path that would lead them through the pass high above. As they reached the final switchback, they looking down at the white cauldron of the valley they had just left. The knight Masin shrugged, nearly frozen within his metal shell, his voice slowed by chattering teeth. "Well, at least...that is over...now we need not worry....about the....weather any more, at least."
The Huntress nodded, smiling...relieved as well to have the snow behind them.
The downpour began soon after they crossed over the rocky High Pass from the Misty Mountains into the Vales of Anduin. It did not begin with a light shower, or a slowly building rainstorm...but rather the forest around them seemed to bleed a dense fog and then the heavy clouds simply opened as if they were standing beneath a waterfall.
The rain seemed to come down in heavy sheets, obscuring all around them like a thick veil, increasing the mounting anxiety felt my many of the company that nature itself was telling them they did not belong there. This feeling was made all the harsher as they were attacked by waves of mighty Vale Harts, their antlers grown thick and sharp through the long winter. The lack of visibility and their great strength made the usually docile animals just as deadly as the spears of the Orcs that the rain had driven into shelter.
The warrior Nethrida carefully levered her greatsword, Shrouded Glory, free from the carcass of yet another great beast, trying to wipe the rain and blood out of her eyes. "It is as if the rain has driven them mad, we must have slain enough venison on this trail to feed all of Dol Amroth..."
Xanderian stood back to back with her, her arrows seeking out those animals menacing weaker members of the company. All she could do was nod to Nethrida's comment as Addie moved closer to the pair and pointed into the treeline. where several good sized wyrms could be seen thrashing their way through the mud towards the company. "More beasts, drawn by all the blood! Now what shall we do?" the woman shouted over the drum of the rainfall, leaning on her staff from exhaustion.
Xanderian's whistled, and her horse trotted to her through the intensifying rain. Swinging up, she looked down at Addie. "We run!"
A flurry of frantic activity as the party all mounted again, battered and bedraggled, more angry deer being called by the cries of the dying, while the high whistling roar of the wyrms sounded over the tramping hooves. With a cry from Xanderian, the company formed up into a loose, double line and then rode at a breakneck speed down the path to the river and then along the banks, scarcely pausing until the golden trees of Lothlorien were visible through the fog and rain.
At long last, the rain still pouring down like a vengeful spirit, the company limped it's way through the forest of Haldirith and past the ruined arches into the ancient elven encampment of Thinglad. These picturesque remains were considered by Lothlorien to be the last bastion of the elves before civilization ended, and by the Riders to be the last redoubt of the witches menacing the lands of the Mark...herein lay the core of the strife of this region.
Calidis carefully slipped off her horse, curious and buoyed by the familiar looking ruins, but definitely shaken and traumatized by the harrowing ride. Her pendant blazed in the half light allowed by the cloudy sky.
Xanderian shook water out of her hair and patted the craftswoman's hand as she dismounted as well. "There my dear one, the worst is over."
Calidis looked up, clearly unconvinced as the elder Rhavanielle stared up at the sky, her enormous red hat utterly soaked. 'Will this bloody rain never end?' Calidis pulled off her hood, allowing the rain to soak her dark hair as if in answer, welcoming the cold sensation to get her mind off that ride.
Eduwiges swung off her horse shakily, helped by Nethrida who remained hooded, her legs trembling from the hard ride through to safety.
Xanderian smiled and hugged both Calidis and Eduwiges tenderly, working hard to keep her voice light and hopeful. "We are all unharmed and now unpursued.
Almost feeling sorry for the Huntress, Nethrida tried to help."Well, at least the rain is somewhat warmer than I recall it was in Anorien....'
A flash of lightning illuminated the open, broken walls and dour faced Thinglad Guardians around them and Calidis sucked in a deep breath before letting it all out slowly.
Rhavanielle snorted, looking around, 'You'd think they could at least throw up a shelter' then went off to make small talk with some of the Guardians. In her wake, Addie, Masin and Annabette winced under the hard, distrustful gaze of the locals.
Addie whispered to Anna, being very mindful of elven hearing and keeping her volume barely audible. "I do not think that our kind are very welcome here. I know of the tales and rumors of this place."
Leaning close, the tall Eduwiges looked at Addeila and spoke quietly. 'They have had a an invasion of orcs through the glens of Lorien. Something has disturbed the natural order and the Galadhrim are on high alert. They suspect a group of hunters from the Riddermark to be responsible. Rohan is not the only land in turmoil now." She looked at the guard's grim faces and tried to smile in a non threatening fashion as she approached them to speak. It was a worthy attempt.
As the group slowly recovered from the wild ride, Xanderian and Cyndwin saw to getting a fire going and a simple tent erected against the rain. Anna soon noticed and, taking charge, led the scattered, dispirited group to the cheery fire just as Xanderian had finished dressing the meat of a deer that had strayed too close to Haldirith while not being nearly as fearsome as the game of the Vales had been. She set a haunch over the fire to roast and smiled to her friends in welcome.
Eduwiges returned with a report just as everyone was getting as comfortable as possible. "All is well. There is nothing to fear. I know several of the guards. They are not upset with us. Several seem to know Xan or at least to know OF her, and I have explained our situation. They know we are not enemies. They are only concerned for the Yrch.. for now at least...'
And so the party settled, huddled against the rain to eat and speak in soft tones, far more subdued then they had been in Hrimbarg. No bottles were passed around here, under the tense watch of the elven guards, though as she tore off a bit of roast venison, Eduwiges muttered "A small revenge against your kind" to the laughter of the others.
Once the meal was done, Addie and Anna sat somewhat apart from the others with Nethrida and Rhavanielle, bringing them up to date on the news of Addie's Mother's visit and the disturbing reasons why she was traveling to Cliving. As they expressed their outrage, Eduwiges looked at the cloudy sky, wondering yet again if her father yet lived, and if she had waited too long to fly to him.
Calidis sat alone with Masin watching over her silently, focused and whispering over the gems she had found in Hrimbarg, attempting to seem at ease but terrified of what fresh horrors the next day's ride would bring and remembering Vandallan's vague warnings about Xanderian.
Still eating venison, Cyndwin moved away from the fire looking for the huntress, finally finding Xanderian standing in the rain, staring up at the clouds. She took the elleth's hand and kissed her cheek softly. "I know...but no one died, we are all safe and sound and hopefully wiser for the wear and tear....and Rohan is so close I can smell it. You are keeping your promise to me, and your promises to Eduwiges and to Addie. You are bringing us home, to settle scores and put fears to rest. Thank you for that."
Xanderian looked up at the Shieldmaiden and smiled..reaching up to dry the rain and tears on her face. "No, thank YOU my love...thank you for always knowing."
Cyndwin looked quizzical. "Knowing? Knowing what?"
"...Knowing what to say," Xanderian smiled and kissed her softly, the two hugging forever in the rain.
As the embrace ended Cyndwin looked up at the sky. "Look..." she said brightly..."the rain is easing. A good omen surely. Perhaps our troubles will be over when we reach Stangard tomorrow."
Their troubles were NOT over when they reached Stangard. In some ways they were just beginning.
