Elfhunter (66 page)

"He will agree," said Wellyn, his jaw set, face
determined. "Do not fear, my good dwarf. You shall wait no longer."
He strode to the doors of the council chamber and, after a brief
exchange with the guards, was admitted. Rogond, Fima, and Galador
were escorted into the presence of the King almost immediately,
which was of no surprise. Wellyn had looked quite resolute.

Ri-Aruin received them graciously, inviting them to
sit before him. "My apologies for keeping you waiting, but I sensed
that your errand will keep you here for some time, and so I was
dispensing with some important but easily completed tasks. Please
make yourselves comfortable, for I would hear both your tale and
your plan."

As the others settled themselves in
beautifully-carved wooden chairs, Rogond stood before Ri-Aruin and
began to tell him all that he could of Gorgon and the mirror. When
Rogond came to Nelwyn’s vision in the Stone of Léir, the King
closed his eyes as though pained at the very thought. Wellyn stood
beside the throne of his father, his young face impassive. He had
heard most of the story already. After he had finished, Rogond drew
a deep breath.

"That is the tale as I can best relate it, my Lord
Ri-Aruin. Now I would ask you to hear of a plan I have devised to
trap the creature, for I will need your aid. Will you hear me?"

Ri-Aruin nodded. They certainly would need to do
something, and he had perceived that the Tuathan was highly
intelligent and had taken the folk of the Greatwood to his heart.
His plan was no doubt worth hearing. When Rogond had finished
describing it, the King was no longer certain; the plan was very
risky, and if the creature was as clever as they believed, it would
be very difficult to set the trap without alerting him. Gaelen was
a prime player in the plan, and Ri-Aruin wondered whether she would
have the strength to stand under the pressure, and see it through
to its completion. He muttered under his breath, forgetting for the
moment that his son stood by and had heard every word.

"She’ll manage, father. She will not fail in this
task—I know it. Having set herself against this enemy, she will not
rest until he is brought low."

Ri-Aruin nodded, then turned to his son and smiled.
"You have such faith in her, my son. Let us hope that it is well
placed." He addressed Rogond and his friends. "I shall need time to
consider your plan. In the meantime, rest and recover your
strength, for this ordeal has been difficult. I will summon you
after I have considered."

When they had left the King’s chambers Fima stopped
Rogond in the corridor. "That was one of the most harebrained ideas
I have ever heard. What are you thinking? One slip and we are all
dead!"

"Then we must make certain that we do not slip," said
Wellyn. "Tell me how I may be helpful, Aridan." The more Rogond
came to know Wellyn, the better he liked him.

"If you have some time now, I would seek aid in
refining the plan. What do you know of the Barrens? Are you
familiar with their design?" Wellyn nodded.

"Then let us speak further, my friends," said Rogond.
"We shall need to work this out quickly, for our enemy is gathering
strength." Wellyn led them to a quiet chamber, where they spent the
next several hours in planning. Rogond hoped that Gaelen was well,
and that Nelwyn would not run out of tales to tell her.

Nelwyn had brought Gaelen food and drink, and then
told her the story of how the magical realm of Monadh-talam came to
be. She told of Shandor the Asarla, and Liathwyn, who was said to
have been the most beautiful of all the Èolar. The story was
perhaps not the best choice, as it ended in tragedy, and Nelwyn’s
tale faltered as she described Shandor’s terrible, consuming grief.
She looked into the eyes of her friend Gaelen, those deep, honest
eyes reflecting a spirit that had never failed her, and imagined
Gorgon looking through them. Nelwyn’s face reflected her horror at
this notion for only a moment, but it was enough for Gaelen to
notice. She turned away, and her eyes were filled with tears.

"Go on, Nelwyn, aren’t you going to finish your tale?
This is the part where Shandor goes mad." Gaelen’s voice betrayed
her anxiety, and Nelwyn knew that she was terribly afraid of going
mad herself. "Gaelen, you are not Shandor. You have already endured
the loss of your beloved, and your sanity overcame your grief. You
will not stray down the same path."

Still, Gaelen wept as Nelwyn tried to calm her.
Gaelen was afraid to say anything about her fears, lest Gorgon be
listening. This was going to be incredibly difficult, as she didn’t
know how long she could keep everything locked inside. Her crying
intensified as Nelwyn tried to comfort her.

"It will be all right, Gaelen. I should not have told
you of Liathwyn…it always makes you weep."

But Gaelen did not weep for Liathwyn, or for Shandor;
she wept at that moment for Belegund, and the dwarves, and the lost
Elves of Tal-sithian. And she wept for herself, because she knew
she would not be able to bear the burden of one more death.

Nelwyn knew she had to distract her, and she did so
with a question that, though she knew it was incredibly bold, had
been weighing on her mind.

"Gaelen…you died that day by the river. There was no
doubt in my mind or my heart that you were dead. Tell me, how is it
that you were allowed to return to us? Was it like to the time when
you and I walked together in the Spirit Realm?"

Gaelen stopped crying and turned to face her. "No,
Nelwyn, the circumstances were different, as you well know. You
wanted to live. You were fighting to live. I was fighting to
die."

Nelwyn was abashed, for of course Gaelen’s words were
true, and they no doubt pained her. Nelwyn need not have worried,
for Gaelen did not hold it against her, and she continued though
her eyes were haunted at the memory.

"I was sent back. I can say no more of that, only…"
Here she paused, and her voice was small and distant. "…Only that
Rain came to me, and spoke to me, though we could not touch. He
could not hold me; he could only send me back. I was on the shores
of the waters that lead to the Eternal Realm, but there was no ship
to bear me…only Rain. He left me again, Nelwyn, though he did not
wish it. And I could not prevent it. I had to come back."

Nelwyn was overcome by this revelation, and she bent
down and hugged Gaelen, who stared straight ahead, trying not to
cry again. They remained so for several moments in silent
affirmation of their bond of friendship, knowing that each would
support the other, no matter what. Then Nelwyn spoke again. The
words had been in her mind to say for many, many years, and it was
finally the time to say them.

"Gaelen, perhaps you should open your heart, and
consider that you might not wish to live the rest of your life
grieving for Farahin. There is one who loves you, one who would
ease your burden and share your pain. Rogond is true of heart, and
he is utterly devoted to you. You need him at your side to aid you.
You cannot face this alone."

"Are you going somewhere?" asked Gaelen.

Nelwyn scowled at her. "You know I would never leave
you, but I cannot fill this emptiness in your heart. He can." Then
she made one final effort to convince her cousin. "What did
Ri-Elathan say to you? Did he say anything that might help in
guiding your heart? You do not have to repeat it to me, but I would
urge you to consider well his words. He was very wise, I’m
told."

Gaelen did not reply, as Rogond chose that particular
moment to return. Galador and Fima were with him. Nelwyn sighed.
Ri-Elathan’s words to Gaelen would remain unknown, but she could
tell from the look on her cousin’s face that it had been a wise
course to remind her of them. Only Ri-Elathan could release her
from the bonds of grief, only he could help her to see that the joy
of her heart would be fulfilled by the one who stood now before
her. For although Rogond was mortal, his love for Gaelen would be
eternal, though it would endure for an eternity that they could not
share.

Ri-Aruin summoned the Company to his private chambers
on the following day. He looked careworn as he sat before them; it
was obvious that he had not rested and that his mind and heart were
troubled. He bade Rogond, Fima, Nelwyn, Galador, Thorndil, and
Wellyn to make themselves comfortable, for this would be a war-
council and would likely take much of the afternoon. He sent for
food and drink so that they might be content, for once closed, the
doors to the chamber would remain so except in dire emergency. The
King first addressed Rogond, using the common tongue in
consideration of Fima and Thorndil, unwittingly offending Fima.

"Let me first summarize the plan as I have understood
it, Tuathan, as I must make certain that we are all in agreement
before we begin. Through Gaelen, Gorgon will be fed false
information that will lure him and his army into a trap. Our people
will then attack and finish them, hopefully killing Gorgon and
releasing Gaelen from the power of the mirror."

It sounded like an idea that could work, until one
began to examine it. The success of the plan depended upon an
intricately woven series of events that would entice Gorgon beyond
his ability to resist. As Fima had said, one slip and they were all
dead, as Gorgon was very clever and wary. He would not hesitate to
turn events to his advantage if he grew wise to their
deception.

Together with Fima, Galador, and Wellyn, Rogond had
put together an irresistible scenario to tempt Gorgon within reach.
It would require elaborate staging to lure him in, but it could be
done. Gorgon would be allowed to learn that a secret council was
being planned to discuss the growing threat of his Black Command
and what should be done about it. This council would include two of
the most influential Elves in all of Alterra: Ri-Aruin, the King of
the Woodland Realm, and Magra, the powerful Èolarin Elf-lord,
emissary to Lady Ordath.

Gorgon was probably already aware of the contingent
of Elves from Tal-sithian, but Rogond suggested that they represent
Oryan as being a person of great importance, emissary to Lord
Airan.

Neither Ri-Aruin nor Magra would actually be present
at the staging of the "council". Ri-Aruin would be impersonated
ably by his son, Wellyn; Magra would be portrayed by Amandir of
Tal-sithian, for he resembled Magra to an extent. Not that it
really mattered, as they all doubted that Gorgon had ever seen
Magra before. He would no doubt be familiar with the appearance of
Ri-Aruin however, as they would have to make certain he "overheard"
the goings-on of the King’s court.

When Gorgon and his army appeared they would expect
to come upon the Elves unaware, for Gorgon would expect that the
council would be minimally defended. After all, it was secret, and
the Elves would have no reason to plan otherwise.

Now the question was where and how to stage the
council. Ri-Aruin at first suggested the Greatwood, for it would be
easy to vanquish Gorgon within the confines of the Forest Realm.
"That is where Gorgon will expect the council to be," said the
King.

"True enough, my lord," said Rogond, "but remember
that he will not attack such an easily defended location without a
very mighty army. He will not be lured in unless he is certain of
victory. With all due respect, we must make ourselves more
vulnerable. The plan will not succeed unless we can prod him into
attacking quickly, before he has the chance to amass a great force.
I sense that time is against us, and he is gathering strength even
now."

His gaze was drawn to Galador, who had placed a
concerned hand upon Nelwyn, as she was obviously disquieted. Her
beautiful eyes were wide as she recalled her terrible vision, and
she knew that, whatever happened, the conflict must
not
take
place in the Greatwood Realm. She rose abruptly to her feet and
looked around at all her friends, then spoke to the King in an
impassioned voice.

"This cannot happen here…it must not! That creature
cannot be allowed anywhere near this fortress. Another way will
have to be found!" She was trembling at the memory of her
premonition, and Galador rose to his feet, standing beside her.

"Tell them, my love. Tell them of your vision. It’s
time to make matters plain."

Nelwyn drew a deep breath and told the assembly what
she had seen in the Stone. When she finished, those who had not
heard the tale before were white-faced and grim.

Galador then addressed the King and the Company, and
his words chilled them all.

"Now you know that Nelwyn is right. Much depends upon
our ability to coordinate this very elaborate deception. If we fail
we must make certain that the realm is secure. We must lure Gorgon
to a place where, if we are not victorious, only the few will be
lost. We cannot risk the safety of the Elven-hold."

Then he looked Rogond in the eye and spoke the most
chilling words of all. "Have any of you considered that Gorgon may
already have guessed our plan? Do we know for certain that he has
not? What if he witnessed the events with Gaelen in the forest, or
overheard Fima accidentally revealing the mirror to her? Do we know
that he did not? She tried to take her own life! If he knows this,
then he is most certainly suspicious. In that event, we are all
planning our own deaths right now." He looked hard at Rogond. "Can
you tell me with certainty that Gaelen will not reveal this to him,
even unwittingly? So much rests on her shoulders, and they are not
as broad as they might be. All she has to do is slip once—look in
the wrong direction or say the wrong thing at the wrong time, and
we are vanquished."

Rogond’s strong jaw was set, and his body was rigid
as he regarded his closest friend. "These are words I would have
expected from Amandir, not from you," he said. "But of course, you
are right…what, then, shall we do? This creature will not relent
until he has worked his evil upon your people—your people, Galador,
not mine. So shall we stand aside and allow him to gather strength
for a massive attack because we are uncertain?"