Elfhunter (76 page)

Weeks ago he had found this place, when the words of
Gelmyr had brought to his mind the vivid image of being murdered by
one of his own Ulcas in the dark of night. He had decided then to
find a secret place in which he could rest undisturbed, and none of
his minions had known of it. He searched with the fingers of his
right hand and located the cleft in the rocks, barely large enough
for him to slip through. But slip through he did, and he sat upon
the cool, damp stone inside the narrow cavern, tears of pain still
glistening on his dark, scarred face. He roused himself for one
final effort, and groping blindly he found what he was seeking—a
stone large enough to block the entrance so that it could not be
seen.

Rogond looked up at Galador, who was shaking his head
in frustration. "He has not left us much to go on, has he, my
friend?" "Indeed not. For such a large being he can be incredibly
light- footed. And now we must contend with this mist, which makes
tracking nearly impossible even when there is sign to find. I fear
we may have lost him."

Rogond’s shoulders dropped as he spoke, for he was
dispirited. He did not wish to disappoint Gaelen, but his hope of
finding Gorgon was fading.

Galador reassured him. "Don’t be dismayed. The people
of Ri- Aruin are many and vigilant. Gorgon will not escape their
nets. Have hope in your heart, for we have only to await the news
that he has fallen to them. Do not fear. Gaelen will understand;
she knows what it is to lose his trail."

"If only the wind moved in our favor! I might track
him by scent," said Rogond, who was not yet ready to give up the
chase.

Galador peered into the mist, clearly uneasy. The
thought of an enraged, wounded Gorgon leaping upon them from a
place of concealment was unsettling.

"I am not comfortable with this; he could so easily
come on us unaware. And though I believe we could prevail, he might
inflict grievous hurt on at least one of us. Are you sure that you
can find no sign?

Rogond rose to his feet and shook his head. This left
them with little choice, as Galador knew that Rogond was an
accomplished tracker. If he could find no sign, then there was none
to find. Gorgon had eluded them for now, and there was nothing to
do but return to Gaelen and Nelwyn. Though he despaired at having
to tell Gaelen that Gorgon still walked free, Rogond brightened a
little as he remembered that he could also inform her that her dear
friend Fima still lived. He was looking forward to that moment very
much indeed.

Kharsh despaired as he cowered among the rocks,
hoping not to be noticed. The Wood-elves had arrived and routed
what remained of Gorgon’s forces utterly. Now Kharsh hoped for
escape, but he knew in his old, dark heart that this was unlikely.
He had survived many battles in his long life, but never before had
he faced the wrath of the Shadowmancer, and he wondered whether it
might be better to face death here, where the Elves would take his
life quickly. It could have been worse, he thought. Gorgon’s
methods for dealing with captured enemies, for example, were far
less merciful. The Elves did not take captives; they would simply
dispatch him with efficiency and add his carcass to the large pile
they had amassed in the center of the plateau. The smoke from the
fire set to the pile of dead Ulcas might even be seen as far away
as Tûr Dorcha, but Kharsh doubted it. Still, the Shadowmancer had
many ways of gathering information, and He was probably already
aware of the disastrous outcome of the battle.

Kharsh wondered, for a moment, what had befallen
Gorgon. His powerful commander probably would not escape the fate
the Elves had planned for him, and that was well, for Kharsh knew
that Wrothgar would not have treated His wayward creation kindly;
not after a failure of this magnitude. Kharsh’s ugly, grey face
twisted into an expression of resolve, and he drew a final, deep
breath as he prepared to charge, a battle-cry on his lips, his
curved scimitar in hand. He would end his life as a fearsome
warrior, not cringing before the Shadowmancer. He managed to send
three of the surprised Elves to their deaths before they took him
down.

Gaelen had been taken to the place where the wounded
were tended, and Nelwyn had stayed by her side, for Gaelen was
exhausted, and did not stir. Galador and Rogond returned not long
after with the somewhat disappointing news that they had lost
Gorgon’s trail, and though they all knew Gaelen would be
disheartened, they also knew that she would understand. Ri-Aruin’s
folk would surely find him; he was blind, wounded, and fairly
helpless. Yet he was still crafty enough to elude them, and would
be dangerous if cornered. The Elves had best be very, very
cautious.

Rogond looked down upon his beloved, who appeared to
be at peace for the first time in a long reckoning. She was free of
the mirror now, and much of the burden had been lifted from her.
The taste of her vengeance had been painful, but sweet. Rogond
stroked her hair with a gentle hand as the healers tended her, and
then he went in search of Fima.

The old dwarf was giving the healers some trouble, as
he was simply bursting with the desire for news and would not
remain quiet. He was still a bit muddled and could not yet stand on
his legs, but Rogond noticed that his eyes were bright in his lined
face.

"What news, Rogond? What of Gaelen and the enemy? You
must tell me, for otherwise I cannot rest. Where is our little
Wood-elf ?" He closed his eyes, for the effort of such an outburst
had wearied him.

Rogond sat beside him. "She is being tended…she
fought Gorgon in single combat and managed to cut off his left
hand…and the mirror with it! He was clutching it for some reason. I
have it here." He drew forth the wrapped hand as Fima beheld it in
wonderment. "Hmmm…it must be that he wanted to see himself through
Gaelen’s eyes—how very morbid! A terrible sight it must have been…I
trust it was worth it to him. She still managed to fight him off by
herself!" He shook his head. "She is incredibly quick and fairly
strong of late; still, he could surely have killed her quickly, but
for his own pride and twisted curiosity." He paused, looking
sidelong at Rogond. "Both curses of his Elven heritage, you know.
Ever have pride and curiosity been the downfall of the Elàni. But
now we have the mirror, and so she is free of it. Please tell me
that she used my axe to accomplish her victory—I noticed it was
missing."

"She did, Master Fima," Rogond chuckled. "And you
will be happy to hear that it has been recovered. I wondered why
she had shown such an interest in learning the use of it of late. A
good thing she did, otherwise she would not have prevailed. Her
strength was completely spent."

Fima grew solemn as Rogond then described the events
that followed, including the lighting of the maglos. The dwarf
would not rest until Rogond had taken him to see Gaelen, who still
had not stirred; it would be nearly a day and a night before she
would regain her senses.

Fima sat by her side, chanting softly in the
dwarf-tongue for nearly an hour before returning to his place of
healing, where he rested at last. Rogond had assured him that
Gorgon would be brought to bay by the folk of Ri-Aruin, even as he
prayed it would be so.

Rogond, Fima, and Gaelen would not be the only ones
who would be disappointed should Gorgon evade them. Wellyn, son of
Ri-Aruin, requested that Rogond be brought to his side as he lay
with the rest of the wounded. He was still weak, but would heal
quickly, for the ancient lines ran strong within him. He was
relieved to learn of the recovery of the mirror.

"So, she is free. That is well, for I don’t know how
much longer she could have borne that burden," he said, looking
earnestly at Rogond. "And what of the remainder of the
Company?"

Rogond then recounted the fate of the travelers.
Thorndil, Nelwyn, and Galador had survived with only minor wounds.
Fima and Gaelen would require healing, but they would recover
quickly, for both were made of strong fiber. Only Amandir and
Oriana had left them forever. Wellyn turned his pale face away for
a moment, an expression of sorrow in his eyes.

"Tuathan, you must come and tell me when the creature
has been found and slain. Will you do that for me?"

Rogond nodded. "Of course I will, but I will leave
you to rest now, son of Ri-Aruin. I must see to Gaelen, for when
she awakens I would be beside her, even though she will not be able
to see my face. Rest well, my friend."

Wellyn nodded and closed his eyes. By the time Rogond
had risen from beside him and turned to leave, he was asleep.
Regrettably, though Rogond had promised to inform Wellyn of the
slaying of Gorgon Elfhunter, he never did so, for Ri-Aruin’s folk
found no trace of him, and they did not know whether he was alive
or dead.

As soon as they were strong enough, the wounded were
taken back to the Woodland stronghold along with the bodies of the
dead. All who had died would be borne with honor, for they had
fought valiantly in defense of their homes. Gaelen had given
Turantil back to Halrodin’s kin, who had stormed the hill with
Ri-Aruin. They took the sword reverently as Gaelen wept, partly in
lingering grief for the loss of her friend, but mostly with relief
that the quest to recover Turantil was finally achieved. She had
taken the news that Gorgon had eluded capture surprisingly well.
Rogond held her to him, expecting her to weep in frustration, yet
she merely sighed and shook her head. She alone knew of the
involvement of the Shadowmancer, and that at the last Gorgon had
been directed by a power whose evil was vastly deeper than his own.
She had sensed Gorgon’s fear of Wrothgar when he had first
approached the archers on the hill, and, like Kharsh, she thought
death in battle might have been preferable.

The King himself escorted Gaelen, Wellyn, and the
rest of the Company as they traveled back through the forest under
heavy guard. He had been quite impressed with his two hunter-scouts
and had given each of them a gift. To Nelwyn he gave a beautiful
emerald ring, and he presented Gaelen with a fine new set of
knives, for hers had been notched in the battle and had lost their
perfect throwing-balance. "I would wait, Gaelen, until your sight
returns before you try them out, however," he said in a deadly
serious tone that did not quite conceal the humor behind it.

He drew Rogond aside. "Aridan, you must not be
discouraged. Though the creature has not yet fallen, I have little
doubt that he is at least weakened to the point that he will not
emerge for a long while. Our people are now aware of him, and they
will hunt him throughout the lands of Alterra. His power is broken.
Your plan was a successful one."

Rogond bowed in respect as he walked beside the King.
"I still would have seen his head on a spike, my lord," he muttered
under his breath.

Ri-Aruin placed a hand upon his arm. "Stop for a
moment and face me," he said gently. "My son has told me much of
your heart, Tuathan, at least as he perceives it. I know that I
have not welcomed your attentions to Gaelen, for it is not our
custom to welcome such unions. However, my son has also informed me
that our hunter- scout’s heart is closed to Elven-kind and that it
will never again be given but to one such as yourself. It is
ironic, as I have spent considerable effort keeping her from
Wellyn, for I approved even less of a union between Gaelen and my
son. It seems I need not have feared. Our worthy Nelwyn has told me
that you possess a stone, a gift from the Lady of the Lake. Do you
have it with you?"

"Yes, my lord, I carry it always, though it is very
small and I am ever-fearful of losing it." Rogond drew forth the
stone and handed it to the King, who examined it closely.

"Interesting," said he. "When we return to our
stronghold, we will set this in gold for you, that you might never
be fearful of losing it. It shall be our gift to you for your
aid."

Rogond started to say that, though Ri-Aruin was
generous, he needed no thanks from him, but the King held up his
hand, and Rogond was silent. "It shall also be a symbol of our
acceptance and blessing of the friendship between you and our
hunter-scout. Perhaps this will please you?"

Rogond smiled. "The potential fate of that friendship
is uncertain, my lord. Yet I welcome your blessing."

"My son has said that her heart was given long ago,
yet he does not know the identity of her beloved. I would know of
it, if you can enlighten me. I give my word to guard the secret
well."

Rogond considered for a moment. It was really not his
place to reveal Gaelen’s past to anyone, not even the Elven-king.
Yet, he thought, it might ease Ri-Aruin’s mind, and he knew that
the King would be true to his word. He nodded, then reached deep
under his tunic and drew forth the banner of Ri-Elathan. The King’s
eyes grew wide as he beheld it. Rogond smiled a sort of wry smile,
and Ri-Aruin drew in a sharp breath, then a moment later his solemn
face brightened, and he threw his head back and laughed aloud.

"And I thought she was unworthy of the Prince of the
Greatwood Realm! This has been a bit humbling, my friend Rogond.
Ah, well, it is said that the Èolar were sometimes lacking in
common sense. I shall view her somewhat differently after this
day." He smiled at Rogond, who chuckled and shook his head, then
grew serious.

"You should view her differently, my lord, but for
that which she has accomplished, not because she was chosen by the
High King. She has earned your respect, I believe."

Ri-Aruin bowed. "She and Nelwyn have ever had it,
Rogond. Yet I still did not want Wellyn consorting with her.
Forgive a father’s protectiveness of his son."

"Somehow, I do not believe Wellyn would need
protection from Gaelen," said Rogond.