Chapter 19: Old Secrets and New Crises

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The Companions hurriedly gathered their belongings and struck camp.  Whatever had attacked him will surely have allies nearby.  Finrod looked upon the body of his attacker, visibly shaken by the encounter.  Why would another Eldar attack him without provocation?  His mind raced with possible explanations, but none made any sense, save one.  This must be the curse the Noldor were warned would happen.  The Doom of Mandos was coming to pass.  He was only brought out of his trance by Taurensil's barking orders for him to make haste.

With all possible speed, the Companions rushed their charge away from the campsite.  The ford was only a few yards away.  Crossing it, Taurensil knew, would offer some protection against pursuit, for the Enemy's servants feared the purity of running water.  The ranger knew, however, that it would only slow them down, not stop them.  It was imperative to reach the caves of Nargothrond as quickly as possible.  The narrow approaches to the caves would negate any numerical advantage the enemy would have, giving them a chance to fight.

After crossing the ford, the Companions and Finrod began to run.  There was no order to do so, just an understood and shared impulse to do so.  Each began to pick up the pace, first into a fast walk, then a slow jog, and finally into a run.  It was hard to maintain such a pace for such a distance, but each bore the pain and continued without an utterance.

The caves of Nargothrond soon appeared above them, almost to their surprise.  Even more to their amazement, no foul creature pursued.  They were alone—and safe.  Finrod felt a renewed energy come over him and the small company made their way around the mountain, crossed the River Narog, and walked the narrow path up to the mouth of the cave. 

Entering the mountain, Finrod was amazed at its size.  His jawed dropped and his eyes opened as wide as a serving dish as he began to imagine how his new citadel would look.  His wonderment was obvious, even as he collected his bearing, and said to Taurensil, "This will do."

In the months that passed, Finrod made many journeys to Nargothrond to oversee construction of his citadel, always under the protection of the Companions.  With the help of Curucam, he secreted Dwarven masons to the caves and who began hewing the stone, slowly realizing his dream.  As his confidence in the Dwarven craftsman grew, Finrod's inspections became less frequent.  He knew that he mustn't be conspicuously absent from Tol Sirion, for that would draw the unwanted attention of the Enemy.

But he still kept up on the progress.  The Companions became his eyes and ears, making several journeys between Tol Sirion and Nargothrond, reporting to the king directly.  Over time, as work progressed, they began escorting some of the Eldar craftsman to the caves, but always in small numbers so as not to arouse suspicion. 

But avoiding that suspicion became impossible, as the Companions expected.  What they did not expect was the quarter from which that suspicion came—Eldar.  Being Sinda, Taurensil and Shaelina were being openly shunned by the Noldor, but, surprisingly, even Sindar shied away from them.  Each time they returned to make their report, Tol Sirion seemed more hostile toward them.  And this hostility soon erupted into open violence.

On one such reporting mission, the Companions entered the city as they had done on countless occasions, but this time, every eye was watching them.  As they made their way toward the Tower of the Guard, a young Noldo who was clearly irritated by the presence of the Companions, stepped into their path, refusing to let them pass.

Taurensil excused himself politely as he tried to step around the Noldo, but the young elf aggressively threw his shoulder into the ranger's and demanded that Taurensil watch where he was going.

Orc-bane apologized, and again tried to maneuver around, but this time was violently shoved as he passed, nearly sending him sprawling across the ground.  Curucam, knowing a fight was unavoidable, began to lift his axe.  Shaelina, too, began to slightly pull her blade free. 

"No!" shouted Taurensil, seeing what his friends were doing.  "There is no need for bloodshed."  He straightened his stance, standing fully upright, and looked the Noldo straight in the eye,  "It was clearly my mistake, and I humbly apologize."

"Apology not accepted, Cave-dweller," snarled the Noldo.  "Go back to your hole."

If Taurensil was shocked or offended by those words, he betrayed no sign of it, he simply tried one last time to step around the belligerent Noldo.  But the Noldo, now clearly angry at Taurensil's apologies and refusal to be baited, lashed out.  The ranger was clearly expecting it, and simply sidestepped the wild attack, laying a heavy fist across the Noldo's jaw, dropping him limp to the ground.

Almost as soon as the young Eldar fell, a squad of the king's guard appeared, having witnessed the entire episode.  The Companions knew immediately their purpose and surrendered their arms without incident.  They did not need any more trouble.

Finrod knew of the division emerging within his people, and it concerned him greatly.  Seeking the council e'Narmire, he departed for Doriath, for he knew that the Vanyar had a close kinship with Thingol Greycloak.   Finrod also wished to see his sister, Galadriel, who still dwelt there with Thingol, their mother's kinsman.  In this, he was joined by his brothers Orodreth, Angrod, and Aegnor. And that is when new troubles began.

The king returned to Tol Sirion with e'Narmire, only to find the Companions being held in his cells.  They had been excellent prisoners, causing no trouble, and waiting patiently for the entire situation to be sorted out, a fact that e'Narmire was most grateful as he convinced Finrod to release them into his custody.

With their weapons, e'Narmire hurried the Companions out of the city and across the river.  Once across, he returned their possessions.

"Make haste to the East," he began, "and take word to Maedhros.  Warn him not to stir against Doriath; else the brothers may face the armies of their cousins."

Confused by e'Narmire's urgency, Shaelina asked, "What is happening?  Why the haste?  Why the warning?"

"A kinslaying," e'Narmire said sternly.  "The Enemy knows why the Noldor have come to Beleriand.  He knows how they have come."  Shadow-bane paused, seeing that the Companions were beginning to understand.  "He knows of the treachery at Aqualonde."

Shaelina then spoke softly, almost unheard, "And now, Thingol knows."