CHAPTER 9 - Mountain Passage to Wilderland

[tomcat]

The remaing days of April passed while the Company resided with the Dunlenings, in the highlands of the Misty Mountain spur. Winter attempted to make a show of force during that time, dropping snow in the higher peaks and making for cold, foggy nights, but it was Spring's time and the earth began to bloom with colors and lush foliage.

The Company's hosts were mixed in how they treated the outsiders - some looked upon them in awe, some with questions, some as friends, and some with distrust. But still, the companions worked diligently to teach and heal - Edrahil most of all. The Sindar took little time for himself, instead spending it inside the healing house tending the sick and working alongside the nursemaids. When not helping the Elf, the others of the party tried to build stronger relations with the Dunlenders as best as communication could allow.

Only Seriand made a point to be away, scouting and hunting the surrounding lands for any sign of threats of the Enemy. The ancient ruins of his kin revealed the only evidence that the Enemy had once been here in force those centuries past. He did find some clues that Wargs and Orcs still prowled, and that Trolls still nested about but none of these showed themselves, and the Elf decided it unwise to pursue them, alone, into their lairs.  Eregion was, for the most part, quiet... and sad.

[More to come...]

[Palandil]

Fengel was glad that the Dunlenders bore no ill against he and his companions any longer.  He watched as Edrahil cared for the sick and taught the Dunlending healers how to use the flower for healing.  He saw Nain teaching some of his craft to these men, and even chuckled at times when the dwarf would get frustrated and begin to rant, when they could not understand him.  He was surprised however at the seeming friendship that Dirnhael had struck with Hurd.  Try as he did though, he could not get the warrior to let his guard down.  And so the tension between Fengel and Hurd remained.

Fengel spent most of his time caring for Heostor and the other horses.  He preferred their company anyway.  He did however spend some time with this newcomer, Galudir, in an effort to relax his own uneasiness about the man.

[tomcat]

On the thirteenth day of May, Seriand rode back into the Dunlending settlement after being gone for almost a week. Fengel jogged out to meet the Lorien Elf to hear any tales he may have had from his recent journey, but there was little to say. Seriand had ridden almost to the borders of where Ost-in-Edhil has once sat, but there was not to be found or seen... only empty land. The Dark Lord had worked great evil here and destroyed most of the beauty that the Elves had built.

Fengel had much to tell. First that he was glad that the Elf had returned for their time here was coming to an end. Edrahil had done all he could for the sick and had saved six, including Hurd's wife and daughter. The town was showing no other signs of illness and so Dirnhael felt that with Seriand's return the trek to Khazad-dum could continue. In fact, the Company was ready to ride and so they would now give the Elf a day to rest from the saddle, and then they would be off.

There were quite a number of the Dunlending that came to see off the Company, including the two elders and Hurd. To the travelers they brought a skewer of smoked fish and some other food needs. In response, to the elder that spoke his language, Edrahil opened his palm and laid in it a yellow blossom. "Protect it," he said, "and fear not the ghosts of the past."

The old man nodded, and Edrahil mounted. No words were spoken, just the exchange of handshakes and nods of thanks and then the Company rode away, east towards Khazad-dum. It would take them four days to reach the western doors of the Dwarven city and Nain beamed with anticipation.


OOC: Feel free to give me anymore dialogue regarding the Dunlending village or the next four days of travel to the western gates.

[Stefan]

As soon as the Dunlanders village was out of sight Nain began telling the stories that he'd heard about the beauties and wonders that awaited their eyes in the mines of Khazad-Dum.  To anyone who would listen or to no one in particular, his voice filled the silence of the ride.

"Tis a beautiful place, halls filled with mithril and gold.  The best smiths in the West"

[Nikitas]

"Ah, a people after my own heart those dwarfs" Galudir added after Nain's description of Khazad-Dum. The rogue relaxed into his saddle in expectation of a long journey along the roots of the mountains. He was away a long time from his band, but he knew their most common campsites so tracking them down would be an easy matter. Besides, it would be best to take some time away from them. His relations with the group have been somewhat strained since the happenings in Archet. But that was not on what concerned Galudir, the fresh morning air and the thought of a fuller purse were the only things that occupied the rogue's mind.

[GandalfOfBorg]

"Ah, a people after my own heart those dwarfs"

In the back of Durgil's mind, he didn't trust Galudir -- anyone who cared about wealth above all else had wavering loyalties and could possibly be bought.  He did know of the dwarves' love of the things they craft of metal and gem, but at least he could respect that being they are like their children, made by their own hand with love and devotion.

Durgil coughed some, shaking off the last remnants of the sickness, and he hoped that the village they'd just left could now find a measure of peace.  "Nain, what should we expect once we get to the doors of Moria or should we be expecting something before we arrive?"

[Stefan]

"The Hollin Gate is small, built for the elves of Hollin when they still travelled these lands.  The gates are wrought with dwarf carved stone and marked in Mithril.  The entry hall is lined with the statues of the kings who ruled under the mountain since Durin, the eldest of the 7, brought his clan here from Mount Gundabad.  The city is so vast that it rests under 3 mountains, a glorious sight to behold.  You will be thankful to see it, not many of the big folk e'er cross the gates into this land since the orcs have come back into the mountains."

[GandalfOfBorg]

Durgil chuckles -- leave it to a dwarf to expound about the finery of their craftmanship even above thoughts of danger.  "That's all well and good, but I meant patrols or possibly dangers between here and the gates to the realm.  I have a feeling that those orcs we encountered a few days ago aren't the only ones in these parts nor wouldn't I bet against not meeting them again either."  That thought made Durgil uneasy, so much so that he glanced a few times over his shoulders to make sure that they weren't be followed.

Observe (Spot) - 11*+3+2=16

[tomcat]

Three days went by as the Company moved east, using the three greatest peaks before them as their guide. They passed through hedgerows that had been growing here since the Elves made the land their home, until a tributary of the river Sirannon fenced the fertile fields. On the eastern side, the land began to rise sharply and become more rocky.

Along the river, the Company traveled and again found evidence of an Elven settlement - this one much larger than any other they had seen - they also found the remains of an old stone bridge. It was broken in places, but with careful riding the Company was able to cross over the swollen spring water and onto the very doorstep of Khazad-dum. The Dwarf realm's western gate was a little less than two days away.

Nain knew he had to find the old Hollin Road and the seven falls, called the Water-stairs - there the road would lead up to the Doors of Durin! The Company need only follow south along the tributary until it met up with the confluence of the Sirannon and from there turn again east - the Hollin Road ran parallel to the great river. The Dwarf craftsman began to look for signs of his kin, whether it be traveling merchants, patrols, or hidden guard posts.

Along with being rocky, the terrain rose in sheer outcroppings of red sandstone and quartz making confusing maze-like canyons that would at times lead to dead ends, or worse, stream-fed marshes. These fens became very common from the many spring melts that would pool and were just one more hindrance the Company faced in trying to get south and east.

The sun rose on the fourth day of travel, and the Company broke camp and prepared for another day's ride. In the far off distance, a low rumble could be heard echoing off of the sheer face of Silvertine, the mountain called Zirakzigil in the Dwarf tongue.

It took only four hours of riding before the wide rush of the Sirannon revealed itself. The great river had carved a sheer valley in which it roared and it was a natural barrier to the traveler's southern progress. They would need to turn east now and follow the northern bank up along its course towards the Water-stairs. Nain brimmed with even more excitement - they stood on the city's very door step.

On they went and the route proved even more difficult. Across the river could be seen an old road that looked like it still saw occasional use, but weeds had began to grow upon it. The Company wondered how they could ever get across to that side of the Sirannon, and then the path revealed itself. The river's great force had carved the valley in which it flowed, but before them it had bored right though the stone and created a natural arching bridge.

The companions all sat there, atop their mounts, and marveled at natures amazing power, but then one by one, they began to notice that there was a figure standing in the center of the span, looking south, away from them.


OOC: Actions - and/or - Dialogue?

[GandalfOfBorg]

OOC: Can we make out a description of what the person looks like?  Dwarf? Elf? Man? etc.

Durgil leans forward in his saddle, straining to see who this person might be.

[Stefan]

Nain nudges Jethro into a walk up to the north end of the bridge where he stops, attempting to judge the means of the creature before him.

[tomcat]

The figure that stood centered in the span had his back to the Company, but as they approached they could see his squat stature and broad shoulder. His link armor shimmered along with his hair, the former reflecting the sun, the latter also reflecting the sun from countless droplets of water that fell on him from the spray of the Sirannon's violent current.

Hearing the clatter of hooves over the river's roar, the Dwarf turned to face the Company. He had a long thick beard that was braided into four seperate strands, each with decorative gold wiring intertwined. In his hands was a large axe, not unlike Nain's but it looked heavier.

The Dwarf looked at the Company with suspicion in his eyes and called out a challenge, "You be here, upon the very doorstep of the realm of King Bain! What business do you have with the Dwarves of Khazad-dum?! Speak quickly, for in these dark times, trust is hard earned!"


OOC: Actions - and/or - Dialogue?

[Nikitas]

Galudir rode up from behind the group for a better look at the stranger in their path. Pondering on this odd guard at the border to the dwarf city, the rogue moved alongside Nain. "Friend of yours dwarf?" Galudir asked, with a bemused grin hanging on his face.

[sdrotar]

Dirnhael marveled at the visions that lay before them as they traveled.
The land was breathtaking; the sight of the magnificently cold peaks contrasted with the green land and the crisp, clean Sirannon made the Dunadan glad to be alive, and glad to travel with friends with whom he could share the experience.

Nain's enthusiasm was infectious, and Dirnhael began to hope that the Dwarven mountain kingdom was even half as grand as his friend has described. Durgil seemed to be no worse for wear, and Dirnhael's heart was glad - every time he saw the young noble, he was reminded of Durgil's sister, Ioreth, to whom Dirnhael's heart had been entrusted.

Even the newcomer, Thermon, seemed less... mercenary along the way, though he had not hidden his excitement about Khazad-dum's riches as well as he had probably hoped. Still, Dirnhael saw something in the man that he liked, though he could not put his finger upon it. It was obvious to him that Seriand had not yet seen the same, however, and Dirnhael was comforted by the fact that the vigilant Elf would watch Thermon closely, lest Dirnhael's sympathy for the man cloud his vision.

He often rode with his two oldest companions, Edrahil and Fengel, but the three of them had surprisingly little to say to one another. Perhaps, after all they had been through together, simply experiencing Middle-Earth's primordial beauty was enough.

It certainly was for Dirnhael.

***

The Dwarf who blocked their entry was firm in tone, but not overly aggressive in stance. Dirnhael thought it a rather measured response, given the circumstances, and hoped that Nain would be able to gain the stout Dwarf's trust.

He cleared his throat loudly after the Dwarf was finished speaking, and sidled his steed to the side so Nain could pass through the Company and speak to his kin.

[Stefan]

"I'm Nain Steelthews, Mastercraftsman from the Blue Mountains come to visit my kin in Khazad-Dum.  These men and elves are here to pay their respects for a fallen comrade by the name of Lunduf who travelled with their company and fell fighting a dragon in the north."