Days 18-23
We lost track of the company for a while - and I could not bring myself to write.
Eithilien, my new friend among the scouts of Gwingris, said there was some kind of disturbance in the camp; and shortly afterwards, something caused an avalanche on the slopes of the Misty Mountains, not far from “Caradhras” (Redhorn on my maps) - which even I could hear, from many leagues distant. Eithilien said that mountain was guarded by a spirit, with a singularly ill disposition towards those who strayed onto its paths.
But even Elf-eyes cannot pierce through hills and dense forests: we could only guess what had happened, and ride as we might, could not get a clear view.
The next day, the packs of wargs patrolling the woods and plains seemed to have doubled. Eithilien would not let us go closer to investigate, due to the risk of being cut off by the wargs. A group of them almost came upon us in the woods at one point, but we managed to lose them on horseback (Rhudewin, Lheuwen’s travelworn mare from Dunland, whom she must have pushed quite hard to catch up with us in the Trollshaws, seems to have been given a new lease of life by just a few days of Elven hospitality, with only a little extra care from me: she kept pace wonderfully with Eithilien’s fine steed). Thus we made it back to the relative safety of Glad Ereg, where the Elves, too, had doubled their patrols.
Safely back in Gwingris, but with no news of the company, the following two days felt like some of the longest in my life. I feared the worst for the members of the company who had gone undercover - and the dreams were not good. Late on the second day, a scout reported that an unusually large pack of wargs seemed to have gathered, not far from the borders of Glad Ereg; and several riders went out to shadow it overnight.
It was as well that they did, for the wargs had at last picked up the trail of Fiontann, Blodflaed, Morfryn and Lheuwen, and were closing in on them. Knowing that they were being hunted - but also that they were drawing near to lands protected by the Elves - the company pressed on northwards through the night, as the evil howling began to encircle them - first from behind, to the south; then, catching up with them rapidly, from the east and west.
It must have been very close. In the late watches, they must have realised that they would not be able to outrun the wargs, and would not make it to the border. Exhausted from running all night, and despite being half-blind in the dark, the company must have turned to make their final stand.
For that was how we found them: a tiny ring of four warriors facing outwards, battling the wargs closing in on every side - still fighting northwards, inch by inch. A small band of Elven cavalry broke through the encircling wargs, momentarily scattering them in fear - just long enough to bundle the weary warriors onto spare horses, and hie them away with all speed to Gwingris. A few riders with bows remained as a rearguard, to deter any wargs foolish enough to follow - I should probably record that I was among them; and I know some of my arrows found their marks - though I did not make as much of a difference as even the weakest of the Elven horse-archers.
As the sun rose, on the third day, we all made it back to Gwingris in safety. The mission to rescue Fion had been a success - I am not sure I have ever been so relieved to see anyone alive. He even seemed a little pleased to see me, in his gruff way. We sat up for much of the morning, catching up - before sleep finally overtook most of us, around midday.
I must admit that, in all the excitement, I took in very little. I shall have to go through everything again with each of them to be sure of doing justice to all their exploits since we were parted. I know that they blew their cover to rescue Fion, and were forced to flee into the mountains, triggering the avalanche; and that they were rescued from the snows by a mixed band of orc and brigand deserters, whom they then tried to persuade to rejoin the fight against the Warband, with little success.
I do not know what we are going to do next. Deserters or no deserters, the Warband is still at large - Blodflaed estimated five hundred fighters at least - and we know it has the ability to reach far afield.
But, just for the moment... I cannot bring myself to begin worrying about that. Everyone is safe - and it feels like that is all that matters right now.
