The back porch of the Bree Orphanage looked out on a large yard where the children were often coaxed to “go outside and play!”. Much of the grass was kept trodden short by running feet, except at the edges, where wondering eyes examined flowers and insects. There were enough trees to climb, enough bushes to hide behind, and an abundance of collaborative imagination for creating heroic armies, powerful dragons, and supremely musical Balls graced by melodramatic princesses. On rainy days, everyone, adults and children, missed the Back Yard.
As the children romped in the gloaming, the adults sat on the stairs to watch them and commiserate on the day’s events. Caladna and Clay sat together on the top step, while their visitors, Cutch, Ardanion, and Teahesto, sat further down. After-dinner toothpicks wiggled, wine was sipped, and Clay smoked as much pipe as Caladna would tolerate.
“Remmorchant?”, Cutch asked as he read the short note Ardanion had handed to him and had received from his mother just that afternoon. “What is that?”. He looked at the others for any clues.
Only Teahesto had words to offer. “It is a dark place, my friends, home to an evil creature. I have heard of it only briefly. I understand it is located somewhere in Mordor.”
“What evil creature?” Caladna asked.
“Shelob”, the Elf answered in a lowered voice.
“You are saying Shelob is real?” Clay quietly asked, eyeing the children. He recalled fairy tales from his youth that featured the giant spider. Some parents would use the stories to warn their children away from doing bad things or going where they were forbidden.
“She is indeed or was, at one time”. Teahesto turned to Ardanion. “Your mother bids you to seek knowledge of the place?”
Ardanion nodded. “She thinks the libraries in Bree might have some mention of it.”
Cutch turned the note over several times as if searching for something which was not there. “Perhaps you can get him in?”, he asked Caladna as he pulled his gaze from the missive.
“Yes”, Caladna assured. “I still have some influence with the town’s scholars. Does she mention why she wants to know about the place.”
“Apparently”, Clay said darkly, “she intends to join an expedition there.” He examined the note again, shrugging at the lack of any other message.
“Perhaps I should return to the Falathlorn?” Teahesto asked.
Cutch nodded. “Yes, Captain. They may need your assistance in preparing for such an adventure. And you, Ardanion should stay here and investigate this Remmorchant while I continue to Esteldin.”
“You might find few facts in the libraries here”, Caladna commented, “on such a distant place and a creature so fabled. The next place you’d have to go is Imladris.”
Ardanion nodded his agreement, but added, “Let’s see what I find here first before I contemplate that journey.”
“You are to wait for me before going there, son”, Cutch interjected. “That is not a trek to be taken alone. Simply report back to your mother what you’ve learned here and wait. Agreed?”
Ardanion agreed.
On the following morning, Teahesto and Cutch set off on their different roads, and Caladna gave Ardanion a note of introduction for the Scholar’s Stair. In it, she assured Dalton Willow of Ardanion’s legitimate need and his skill as his mother’s student.
Following his aunt’s directions, Ardanion soon found himself in the Scholar’s Stair Archives, the more publicly known of Bree word-hoards. Master Willow looked up from a massive table strewn with maps as Ardanion entered, but the other scholars continued their various tasks among the shelves of books and scrolls.
“Welcome”, the master offered, looking the young man over.
“Thank you. Are you Dalton Willow?” Ardanion held out the note.
Willow took the note with a nod. With brow lifted in surprise he said, “Seregrian’s boy, eh? Well, we should be honored to accommodate you, Master Ardanion.” He offered a hand to shake. Ardanion took the hand, not expecting such a greeting. He’d no idea his mother’s reputation had such a welcomed place here.
“I greatly appreciate your welcome, Master Willow. It is, in fact, on my mother’s behalf that I am here. She is seeking information on a place called Remmorchant…? Shelob’s Lair?” The others stopped and turned to look. Ardanion glanced at them and then back at Master Willow hoping he had not made a misstep so soon in his first visit to Bree’s library.
“I would not think your mother would be that interested in the fairy tales of Mortals”, Willow commented respectfully through a playful grin.
“She is not, to be fair. Apparently, a place with that name truly exists, far to the east.” Ardanion was careful not to mention Mordor, not wanting to put the scholars off any more than he might have already. “It could be that some fairy tales have a tendril of truth in them…?”
Willow agreed, saying. “Yes, that is fair to say. The fairy tales can be found there…”, he pointed to a shelf of scrolls on a bottom shelf in a far corner. “Rarely are they pulled out, but you are welcomed to do so.” The master pointed to a small table with accompanying chair. “Be mindful as they may be a little dusty but make yourself comfortable and study. Please let one of us know if you need anything else.”
Ardanion took his first dive into the libraries of Bree.
Previous--> Brother Bear
Next--> Haunted Tales
