merrevail

           Seregrian awakens slowly, letting herself drift upwards from sleep to wakefulness.  She looks around at her surroundings in confusion, for this is not the place where she lay down to rest mere hours before.  She is standing in a high place, a platform within a vast open grotto.  As she turns slowly to take in the sight, she recognizes it: 

           The battle in the caverns of Tith-Maudhûl has been fought and won. Seregrían and the Iron Garrison rout the merrevail, bolts of energy flying from the tip of her staff, nipping at their retreating heels, pursuing them through the halls, the Elf-scholar fast outrunning her allies.

           As Seregrían becomes more accustomed to the company of the Dwarves of Durin’s Folk, and enamored of their hoarded lore and knowledge, the Dwarves in turn share a growing respect for the enigmatic Elf-scholar who wields arcane weapons at their side in battle. Hall by hall, deep by deep, the Iron Garrison plunges into the dark of the mansions of Durin, with the Blood-queen in the vanguard blazing their trail.

“Narmeleth! Well indeed do I remember her,” Seregrían says. “I knew her during the time I dwelt in Eregion before its fall. She was the Forge-maid, one of the Mirdain, but she fell into shadow herself and became Amarthiel!”

The negotiations between the Galadhrim and the Iron Garrison are in progress and are almost immediately agreed upon. Celeborn has readily pledged a contingent of Elven archers to return to the Mines of Moria with Bosi, along with stock and provision for a prolonged siege. Bosi in turn provides the Elves with tidings of the progress in the Mines, and every priceless piece of news regarding the foes within.

           Seregrían recalls that for three days and nights, she huddled near a fire fed only by scant wood and her staff’s power, watching over Gwathwethil as the wounded morroval healed herself from within. The she-bat slept a great deal, waking only to sate her hunger with the raw flesh of wolf and ice-drake that Seregrían provided.