Kennet woke up with back pain, and when he opened his eyes he realized why. He was not in his own bed in the house he inherited from his parents, but on a pallet on the floor in Ost Guruth. The young man was looking forward to Rivendell, but found himself wishing the elves had comfortable beds.
Meldanyel was no longer at his side, but as he turned on the pallet he could see that she was by the fire, preparing something for breakfast. That was a great encouragement to get up. The young man approached, smoothing his clothes and yawning. They greeted each other and sat around the fire.
-I prepared some breakfast. Are you hungry? -asked Meldanyel showing him the sausages she had just cooked.
-Yes -replied Kennet, taking some of them on a slice of bread. After some bites, the young man added: I think... I should make more adventures. It's good to eat your delicious meals!
Meldanyel laughed and said: You can come to my home any time and ask for a snack! I love preparing meals for my friends.
-I consider your offer seriously -added Kennet without a hint of irony.
-Of course you can come! -she laughed at her friend's words. Also, this way I can test with you some new ideas... And if you throw up, it's clear I can't sell it!
-I accept to be your meal tester... I'm sure it will give me more good than bad things! -he remarked as he licked his fingers so as not to let a drop of the oil released by the sausages escape.
Meldanyel laughed, although seconds later she changed the subject and his facial expression. Well, we should start our journey -she suggested, to which Kennet nodded. Yesterday the road was dangerous… And I prefer the daytime.
As the woman got up and began to gather her cooking utensils, Kennet added: I'd like to speak with someone who may tell us about the path ahead. Both agreed that Frideric was the ideal person. So after re-equipping Mildred and waving goodbye to those overseeing the accommodations, they both approached the leader of the Ost Guruth community.
If they expected to find a friendly and willing guide, they were both disappointed. As the visible head of the community, Frideric welcomed travelers who could trade with local craftsmen and even become integrated and make the community stronger. But when he heard that the two were going to travel east with no more protection than a simple axe, the leader was grumpy.
The pair found no reference to safe places to pass through, campsites where they could rest safely, or ways to deal with the dangers along the way. Instead, Frideric was discouraging them about their travel plans. If wargs were encountered on their way from Wheatertop, further east they would additionally encounter orcs who were colonizing other abandoned ruins in the Lone-Lands.
He added that Ost Guruth is under the watchful eye of these cursed creatures, waiting for the moment to raid them and finish them off. Without hesitation he offered them a comfortable tent to sleep in and food provided by the community if they would join the Ost Guruth watchmen; they needed more eyes and hands to protect them.
To Kennet's surprise, Meldanyel was a strong supporter of the expedition to Rivendell. Despite misgivings about the journey, his friend was fully supportive, so despite Frideric's attempts the pair decided to continue on their way. The leader disagreed with the idea, but he could not stop them from leaving. So he wished them luck and went off to his own chores.
Concerned by the conversation, Kennet and Meldanyel went down to the stables to fetch Hawthorne, accompanied by Kraven the raven. The horse was happy to see his master again, and Kennet did not hesitate to pay a few coins to the dwarf Unni for the fodder he had given his mount. The stable-master was less surly in conversation, and gave them only one piece of advice for crossing the Lone-Lands. He stated that the orcs hide in the thickets around the Great East Road and surround their victims by ambushing them. So, at the slightest presence of orcs around the road, he recommended them to ride as fast as possible to escape.
Both friends thanked Unni for his advice and on their mounts rode off at a slow pace towards the Great East Road. But Frideric was not exaggerating. They had not yet left Ost Guruth when, as they passed a grove of trees, a gangly, pale-skinned orc emerged from the bushes, brandishing his weapon at Meldanyel. The woman, already forewarned of the dangers, alighted from Mildred with alacrity and parried its first sword charge, blocking the creature's attacks. Kennet hesitated a few seconds before acting, frightened by the orc's presence, but then got off Hawthorne and went to her friend's aid in the face of danger. He took out his staff ready to give the evil being his comeuppance... and when he reached Meldanyel, his friend was pulling the axe out of the orc's dead skull. Kraven took the opportunity to perch on the enemy's corpse, pecking here and there on it.
-Damn orc! He'd learnt not to spy on us! -said Kennet, trying to sound brave but in a fearful voice.
Meldanyel glanced around as she cleaned her axe, asking: Should we ride? Or try to go slow so our horses are not tired?
-I'm not sure -Kennet admitted. But... I suggest riding fast when we see dangers.
The woman agreed and they both returned to their mounts, joining the Great East Road. But the ride was not as happy as the previous day's; both were vigilant and silent, looking for any sign of danger. For a little over an hour they were moving along with no more news than the occasional large crow flying away. Kennet liked to think that Kraven was keeping his airborne rivals at bay with his presence. But he feared that, hidden in the underbrush, terrestrial dangers were organizing. And his suspicions soon materialized as the road passed between raised walkways.
-Wait! -Kennet alerted in a low voice as he stopped his horse and pointed to a rise near the road ahead. A warg, over there...
Instinctively Meldanyel turned his gaze back and shouted: An orc! They are trying to surround us!
Without hesitation, both spurred their mounts and rode swiftly ahead. The warg began to run towards the road at full speed, but was not able to make it before the riders overtook him. More orcs appeared behind in the brush shouting at them and brandishing their weapons, but they soon lost them. And the warg chased the riders along the road for quite a while, but at some point it must have stopped as they ceased to see it. However, they did not slow their galloping pace until they finally reached the edge of the Lone-Lands: the Last Bridge over the Hoarwell River.
The horses were tired from the race. But from that place they could clearly see if anyone was approaching from the Lone-Lands. So they decided to take a break and get some rest. It was mid-morning, and they had had enough stress for the whole day, so they tried to relax without letting their guard down.
The Last Bridge was an impressive stone structure, solid enough to stand the test of time and keep the Great East Road open. For all Kennet knew, the bridge could have been built some millenniums ago. Over it he could glimpse both the dry lands of the Lone-Lands and the lush, colorful forest of Trollshaws.
But what most caught Kennet's attention were the remains of an ancient city or palace that stood on a ridge downstream. The young man had no idea what it was, but he did not hesitate to take out one of his blank parchments and draw it in charcoal. When he reached Rivendell he would have time to ask about its history. And, who knows, maybe he could go and explore it with Meldanyel....
Satisfied with his sketch, Kennet carefully stowed it in his pack and looked for Meldanyel. The woman was on the river bank, fishing with Mildred. She had landed a few fishes, as the river had plenty of them. The rest had lifted their spirits, so they set out much calmer and went deeper into Trollshaws.
Despite the ominous name, the beautiful forest seemed welcoming and harmless. There were no decaying ruins, old tombs or wastelands to be seen, but colorful vegetation and wild animals loitering undisturbed. This environment invited them to relax and chat in their slow jogging.
-From the Last Bridge I've seen an old beauty ruin far away, down the river -said Kennet excitedly. I don't know what it is.
-I think you like the past more than the present, Kennet -his friend warned him, causing him to laugh. She replied: How many young ladies have you met in Bree?
-I know all of them, Bree is not so big -the young man assured her.
-Have you talked to them? -asked the woman.
-Some of them… but where do you want to go with that question? -said Kennet, wondering about Meldanyel's intentions.
-But you showed no interest in them! -reproached his friend. Do you know Lara, the baker's daughter? The one with the red hair... At Kennet's affirmation, the woman continued speaking: Well, she told me she fancied you.
-Really? -Kennet exclaimed in surprise. That's not true!
-It's true! -she replied. She tried talking to you, but you were so busy visiting ruins... The answer left Kennet thoughtful, but Meldanyel gave him no respite. And then she met Gerald, her new boyfriend. So you missed that.
-Ah... she has a boyfriend now... Kennet seemed half sad, half relieved with this information.
-The point being you pay more attention to rocks than people -Meldanyel spat at him.
-There are people less interesting than some rocks! -Kennet defended himself, eliciting a sigh from his friend.
-You're a lost cause -said the woman, not wanting to talk about it any further.
During the rest of the morning they advanced without any setback, but also without encountering absolutely no one. Only the sound of forest animals and branches swaying in the wind. Which was pleasant, but also somewhat unsettling.
-Do you think elves are hidden around here? -asked Kennet after a while of silence.
-I hope not! -exclaimed the woman. I don't like the idea of being spied on.
-Oh, c'mon, Mel. Elves are our friends! -said the man.
-They are not! -she replied. They are complete strangers.
-Complete strangers that are going to adopt us in their majestic city! -replied Kennet.
-They are not going to adopt me! -protested Meldanyel. I'm returning to Bree once I know you're safe. I'll probably wait for a merchant caravan...
-Really? -the question sprang spontaneously from Kennet's lips, with a tone of sadness that he could not conceal. This caused Meldanyel to look away towards the forest, also saddening her mood a little.
-I have to take care of my crops... and my business! -the woman justified herself. I can't just go and live adventures.
-Well, you're doing it now -Kennet replied. And you said you would cook in Rivendell!
-Yeah… But I don't think they are going to enjoy my cooking. But talking about food, let's stop and eat! -suggested Meldanyel, who was quick to change the subject to chase away the feeling of sadness.
At an elevation near the road, from where they could see if any travelers crossed the forest, both friends stopped to eat. Meldanyel began to gut some of the fish obtained from the river to prepare a pie with them, while Kennet devoted himself to observing the quiet fauna of the surroundings accompanied by Kraven. During that time only the fleeting passage of two riders galloping eastward disturbed the stillness of the moment.
They both enjoyed their meal and a pleasant chat, hypothesizing about the reason for the immortality of the elves, the legends Meldanyel's father told her as a child and the benefits of studying the arts and history for everyday life. The communion with the environment was such that even some animals approached and prowled among them without fear.
But, despite the good time, neither wanted the night to catch up with them in Trollshaws. Being surrounded by trolls was far worse than an orc ambush. So they gathered their gear and set off again at a leisurely pace. And for a couple of hours they moved on without any encounters or mishaps... which began to worry Meldanyel.
-I wonder if master Frimsi goes along this road -Meldanyel wondered aloud.
-He told me there's no other way if you want to reach Rivendell in a reasonable time -Kennet assured him, recalling the conversation with the dwarf in The Prancing Pony.
-Well, we didn't meet any elf. Are you sure this is the way? -asked the woman, fearing that perhaps they had taken a wrong turn.
-We haven't crossed the Loudwater river yet -the man pointed out. Master Frimsi told me elves have camps in Trollshaws, but it's almost impossible to find them if they are hidden.
-So any elf could be spying on us right now? -said the woman somewhat annoyed. Her friend nodded his head, to which she replied: I don't like it...
Kennet replied smiling: It's better than being spied by ugly men in the Lone-lands!
-Well, maybe… -she admitted, although added annoyed: But it's being spied on anyway!
The afternoon continued to advance although the sun was still far from the horizon. The couple had been traveling east for a few hours when they caught a glimpse of some old crumbling stone buildings among the vegetation. And, sure enough, Kennet hurried to approach them to inspect them, followed by a resigned Meldanyel.
They were barely the crumbling remains of what appeared to be an immense wall, as well as a worn column still standing. Avoiding disturbing the bears that roamed the area, they both looked closely at the inscriptions on the ruins. From their position they could see in the distance what looked like a natural canyon and heard the faint murmur of a river.
-It seems there's a river there, maybe the Loudwater -Kennet said. Loudwater river was the eastern frontier of the Rhudaur kingdom. Maybe these ruins were the gates of the kingdom?
-A city here? With all those trees? -questioned Meldanyel. It seems impossible with that big forest surrounding everything.
-Perhaps there was only a fortified frontier, not a city -replied the young scholar.
-But then... Did elves allow humans to have a fortress so close to their lands? -the woman wondered.
Kennet shrugged and replied: I know a bit about history, but not about politics.
As the afternoon wore on, they began to get nervous about the prospect of nightfall in the middle of the camp, so they didn't dwell any longer on their ruminations.
Their assumptions were correct: there was a nearby river flowing placidly out of a canyon to the south. And when they reached the riverbank, Kennet was elated.
-This is the Loudwater river! It's as described! He jumped down from his horse and approached the bank, looking across. Now we have to cross it and climb up that mountain. And there we will be met by elves!
But Meldanyel didn't look so happy: There is no bridge! How are we going to cross?
-There's a ford to cross it -Kennet replied. Nothing we haven't suffered around Bree, Mel.
The woman's face showed some anger, and the cold temperature of the water did nothing to dampen her spirits. Walking and leading the horses by the reins, the two crossed carefully to the other side of the river. They had just left the Trollshaws behind to start climbing the High Moor, but it soon became clear the difference on either side of the river. The steep uphill slope was populated by menacing flies and hunting cats.
-There are some dangerous animals here -Meldanyel warned, stopping at one point on the ascent.
-Those flies are bigger than Marshes's ones -he said, referring to some flies hovering over some bushes.
-Let's try to ignore them, but if they attack us... what should we do? -asked the woman.
-Do you think they are aggressive? -asked the man, getting an affirmative response from his friend. I don't want to harm them... but keep your axe at hand in case troubles appear.
The two riders continued the slow march uphill, careful to avoid the numerous wild creatures that lurked in this place. Both agreed that the absence of hunters outside the boundaries of the ancient kingdoms was the cause of the large amount of wildlife.
But advancing on horseback was not the quietest method of travel, and one of the huge flies turned her attention to Meldanyel. The woman quickly drew her axe and was able to kill the creature, but not before it drove its stinger into her leg. They both climbed down from their mounts to examine the wound, but it soon became clear that they had to tend to the peck.
-I don't feel good... That fly stang me… -said Meldanyel, who watched as his wound grew redder and more painful.
-Wait -Kennet ordered, pulling a small pot and pouch from Hawthorne's saddlebags. Here, take this brew, it will help. And I'll put these leaves in your wound, it will calm the pain.
Meldanyel obeyed Kennet somewhat dizzily. The young man asked her to stop for a while until the remedies began to take effect. She complained that they should go on, it was already getting dark, but Kennet convinced her to stop for at least a few minutes. They both sat by the roadside, at a height from which they could see the hills and treetops of Trollshaws, as well as the flowing Loudwater downstream.
After a while the bandages were taking effect and Meldanyel looked better. Her wound still hurt, but the dizziness had passed, so they considered continuing their ascent. But a rustling of branches behind them caught their attention. Turning they were met by a huge, frightening bear that reared up on its hind legs and roared at them in fury.
Without time to think they both stood up and began to back away drawing their weapons. The bear began to stride towards them with aggressive intentions. Kennet tried to keep distance by pushing it away with his staff, but that didn't stop it. Meldanyel was ready to attack with her axe, but the beast's jaws were dangerous enough that she didn't decide to approach. And then Kraven appeared, who didn't hesitate to swoop down and try to drive his beak into the bear's eyes. The animal flailed angrily and reared up on its paws in an attempt to reach Kraven. Meldanyel seized the moment to deliver a deep slash to the animal's paw. The beast's reaction was immediate, launching a claw at the woman that impacted her armor and knocked her to the ground. Kraven continued to flutter and stung the bear in the head, which again confronted him. He launched a denticle that nearly caught it, tearing off a pair of black feathers, so the raven soared several feet to get away from the threat. Kennet took the opportunity to poke it in the face, so the bear planted its front paws back on the ground facing the man. Kennet didn't hesitate, and recklessly charged the bear with an accurate blow to the muzzle. The enraged and pained animal opened its jaws in rage to lunge at Kennet, but instead Meldanyel's axe sank deep into the back of its neck. Blood gushed onto the dirt floor, and Kraven took the opportunity to charge back and hit one of its eyes with his beak. The bear backed up violently a few steps, unaware that it was approaching the precipice. When its hind legs stayed in the air, it lost his balance and rolled down the embankment, emitting grunts of pain as it fell.
The three of them stared exhaustedly at the bear's fall for long seconds. But almost instantly they looked at each other, checking that they were all in one piece. And, without waiting a second longer, they mounted their horses to continue the climb. Frightened and nervous, with the sun getting closer and closer to the horizon, the couple continued on their way without exchanging a word. At that moment, Kennet's only wish was that an elf would appear to rescue them from that dangerous place.
And the wish came true. Almost magically, from behind a tree appeared a slender figure, dressed in light armor, with long black hair, pale skin and beak-like ears. His gaze conveyed peace and his dignified bearing captured the attention of the two travelers. Undoubtedly, he was an elf.
-These are not lands for a leisurely country stroll. What business brings you to these roads, travelers? -he asked in a slow, distant voice.
Kennet answered instantly, in nervous, desperate words: I am Kennet! Kennet... son of Cyril! I have an invitation to Rivendell... to the Scholar's Guild. Can you guide us there, please?
Kennet's altered mood contrasted with that of the elf, who answered him with parsimony: Be calm, Kennet son of Cyril. I am Canaddal, scout of Rivendell. We have been waiting for you. Follow us.
Then the elf turned and noiselessly began to wander through the forest. Meldanyel and Kennet got down from their mounts and advanced behind Canaddal, in a more clumsy way and leaving their tracks clearly on the ground. They had barely advanced a few dozen yards when, around a bend and well hidden from the path, they came upon a small group of elves sitting and watching their arrival with a calm gesture.
Kennet and Meldanyel looked at each other and breathed a sigh of relief. They had made it.
