The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum - View Single Post - The Lonely Star -- Chapter 4

piosenniel · 10-29-2002, 01:08 PM

When they were two hours from their destination, Pio sent Levanto ahead of the ship to give warning of their approach. An obscuring haze shrouded the advent of the small fleet. Night was dark about them, and only the weak rays of the brightest stars and the moon penetrated the mists which swirled round the ships. In fog shrouded silence the small fleet passed like mist woven wraiths up the river.

They were minutes from the place where they would dock when a great roar of anger pierced the enveloping stillness, and Angara raised her head in swift response, momentarily echoing the cry. Pio grabbed the rail before her, assaulted by the strength of the cry and the image which flashed before her mind. The nightly sacrifices were soon to begin, and Bird had risen, a great and terrible dragon presence, to call the servants of Sauron to their final accounting.

Aewdor! she cried, and would have fallen had not Mithadan put his arm about her waist to steady her. ‘We must keep silence on all fronts.’ he reminded her gently. ‘Our only hope is that afforded by what stealth with which we can approach the caverns and enter them.’ She nodded her head in agreement, and shut her mind against the strong emotions and scenes of horror which came from Bird. The awesome sense of that now great dragon’s wrath clung to her, and she wished her old friend the swift and satisfying completion of her task.

Angara paced restlessly, longing to take flight and join the other dragon. Pio put her forehead against the Wyrm’s and bade her stay. ‘At the end,’ she said, ‘then will there be the two great dragons who hold back the last of the Men as we complete the rescue. For my sake and for the sake of the Hobbits we have come to rescue, hold fast ‘til then.’ The dragon relented, then, but her great golden eyes whirled with a deep anger. Woe to all who stand against those whom I have vowed to protect! she said. I will smite them down. As does the fire when it rushes through a field of sere grass!

Now the first ship had reached the place where her small force would begin the assault. Silently the crew dropped anchor and furled the sail. Fallinelë bade them go with the blessing of Ilúvatar, and in silence they entered the water – the Hobbrim first, taking their weapons and the airbladders toward the waters where the escaping Hobbits would enter the river. Then Mithadan and Pio entered the water, followed by Kali, Khelek, and Angara. They made their way swiftly to the interior of the cavern, and awaited the arrival of the Noldor warriors with their spears and the Telerin bowmen.

Once inside the caverns, Mithadan and Pio broke the Elves into their assigned teams. Five Noldor, two with axes and three with spears, accompanied by four Telerin bowmen, would head east to secure the Guard quarters. To them, Pio gave three of the larger dragon-fires and five of the smaller, checking to see that they had remembered to bring the means to light them. Angara had agreed to go with this team, to hold the bulk of the guards within their quarters. In addition, four bowmen would accompany them and begin to secure the further eastern entrances - two to the New Tombs entrance and two to the New Mines entrance. They would meet there with Hobbits from the troops which held the smithy, and clear out any stragglers in that far easter section. They would then move south toward the Guards' and assist the Elves already there. Six Teleri would proceed up to the river to guarantee the safe exodus of the fleeing Hobbits through the tunnel.

The remainder of the landing party would be with Mithadan and Pio, traveling along the western perimeter road. Along this route would be stationed the Hobbits who would assist them in securing the western and northern entrances to the caverns. Among these defenders, Pio divided up her remaining store of Dragon-fire, keeping three large ones for herself, and seven smaller ones.

The Elf looked back one last time toward the ships. The fog still held them in its safe embrace. She did not feel as safe here, on land. In the dim light their meager forces were exposed, while shadow held the threat of hidden foes. Khelek nudged her from her dark thoughts, pushing her into motion. She turned and followed Mithadan down the dim corridor, blade in hand.

[ October 30, 2002: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

10-29-2002, 01:08 PM	#329
piosenniel Desultory Dwimmerlaik Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Pickin' flowers with Bill the Cat..... Posts: 7,779	When they were two hours from their destination, Pio sent Levanto ahead of the ship to give warning of their approach. An obscuring haze shrouded the advent of the small fleet. Night was dark about them, and only the weak rays of the brightest stars and the moon penetrated the mists which swirled round the ships. In fog shrouded silence the small fleet passed like mist woven wraiths up the river. They were minutes from the place where they would dock when a great roar of anger pierced the enveloping stillness, and Angara raised her head in swift response, momentarily echoing the cry. Pio grabbed the rail before her, assaulted by the strength of the cry and the image which flashed before her mind. The nightly sacrifices were soon to begin, and Bird had risen, a great and terrible dragon presence, to call the servants of Sauron to their final accounting. Aewdor! she cried, and would have fallen had not Mithadan put his arm about her waist to steady her. ‘We must keep silence on all fronts.’ he reminded her gently. ‘Our only hope is that afforded by what stealth with which we can approach the caverns and enter them.’ She nodded her head in agreement, and shut her mind against the strong emotions and scenes of horror which came from Bird. The awesome sense of that now great dragon’s wrath clung to her, and she wished her old friend the swift and satisfying completion of her task. Angara paced restlessly, longing to take flight and join the other dragon. Pio put her forehead against the Wyrm’s and bade her stay. ‘At the end,’ she said, ‘then will there be the two great dragons who hold back the last of the Men as we complete the rescue. For my sake and for the sake of the Hobbits we have come to rescue, hold fast ‘til then.’ The dragon relented, then, but her great golden eyes whirled with a deep anger. Woe to all who stand against those whom I have vowed to protect! she said. I will smite them down. As does the fire when it rushes through a field of sere grass! Now the first ship had reached the place where her small force would begin the assault. Silently the crew dropped anchor and furled the sail. Fallinelë bade them go with the blessing of Ilúvatar, and in silence they entered the water – the Hobbrim first, taking their weapons and the airbladders toward the waters where the escaping Hobbits would enter the river. Then Mithadan and Pio entered the water, followed by Kali, Khelek, and Angara. They made their way swiftly to the interior of the cavern, and awaited the arrival of the Noldor warriors with their spears and the Telerin bowmen. Once inside the caverns, Mithadan and Pio broke the Elves into their assigned teams. Five Noldor, two with axes and three with spears, accompanied by four Telerin bowmen, would head east to secure the Guard quarters. To them, Pio gave three of the larger dragon-fires and five of the smaller, checking to see that they had remembered to bring the means to light them. Angara had agreed to go with this team, to hold the bulk of the guards within their quarters. In addition, four bowmen would accompany them and begin to secure the further eastern entrances - two to the New Tombs entrance and two to the New Mines entrance. They would meet there with Hobbits from the troops which held the smithy, and clear out any stragglers in that far easter section. They would then move south toward the Guards' and assist the Elves already there. Six Teleri would proceed up to the river to guarantee the safe exodus of the fleeing Hobbits through the tunnel. The remainder of the landing party would be with Mithadan and Pio, traveling along the western perimeter road. Along this route would be stationed the Hobbits who would assist them in securing the western and northern entrances to the caverns. Among these defenders, Pio divided up her remaining store of Dragon-fire, keeping three large ones for herself, and seven smaller ones. The Elf looked back one last time toward the ships. The fog still held them in its safe embrace. She did not feel as safe here, on land. In the dim light their meager forces were exposed, while shadow held the threat of hidden foes. Khelek nudged her from her dark thoughts, pushing her into motion. She turned and followed Mithadan down the dim corridor, blade in hand. [ October 30, 2002: Message edited by: piosenniel ] __________________ Eldest, that’s what I am . . . I knew the dark under the stars when it was fearless - before the Dark Lord came from Outside.