3. INTO THE KINGDOM OF THE ROHIRRIM

Jalisa nodded.

”Loki is very well. Concerned about you thus the reason I’m here and not back in Oron_D_Narr with him. But I understand. I’d most likely do the same thing if the talons were on the other foot.”

Glancing down at the hidden pendent once more, Jalisa looked back to Lac and nodded.

”Trust me, it wasn’t supposed to be revealed at all unless my life or yours was in jeopardy of being extinguished. Hopefully it won’t come to that. But I assure you, it will stay tucked away from prying eyes.”

Again Jalisa nodded when Lac suggested they return to the others. There was still a lot they had to do before the first light of dawn would insure they survived the night.

”There’s something about the Gorrinvul that bothers me, Lac’Nala. Have you noticed how their blood doesn’t stay on the ground long. In fact, if you look around, you won’t even be able to see where any of them fell. Not even a stain to recall they were even there. I’m not sure what this means, but something tells me it’s not good. and we haven’t seen the last of them.”

As Jalisa and Lac returned to the courtyard, she looked to Lac again.

”We need to build a pyre for the fallen. We need to make sure there is no body left. I don’t know why, all I can tell you is that it’s a piece of information from one of my ancestors letting me know this must be.”

Lac listened as Jalisa spoke... "Yes, I find that strange as well, and I am sure we have not seen the last of them." he said as they walked. ....... "It would be wise to listen to the voices of your ancestors. ..... We shall find Lord Ragenharr and inform him what must be done."

"I've never ignored what they have said to me yet. I just wish they would say more to me about these...Gorrinvul. I feel as though I'm missing a very important piece of information that is vital to these Rohirrim people. Needless to say, I'm very frustrated with the fact I'm having trouble recalling that piece of information. Perhaps it will come to me soon."

Jalisa glanced around and nodded to Lac.

"I'll move around and start making sure the fallen are brought to a centralized location for the pyre. And Lac'Nala..."

When Lac turned to look at her again, Jalisa had a hard look about her.

"If Lord Ragenharr doesn't want to do as we suggest, I'm afraid I'll have to insist. Please do all you can to convince him this is the way it must be....for all our sakes."

With anod, Jalis turned and started locating the fallen and speaking to the warriors telling them they needed to move the bodies to the center of the inner bailey. Again, surprisingly, the men did as Jalisa suggested without so much as a second guess or questioning her as to why.

"You should have never come here halfling." Pytha said to the dead hobbit. She still held him in her arms, he looked much like a human child. Pytha had never seen one close up, she studied his curly hair, his stout little body and his feet.

"Look at his feet cousin, these creatures do not wear boots!" Pytha said as she laid the hobbit on the floor of the chamber she then cleaned her dagger and clicked it back into her sash. The drowess stood over the deceased halfling for another minute as if she wanted to remember that moment forever.

"What shall we do with his remains?" Pytha asked looking at both Verin and her sister.

"Leave him to rot." Verin sneered.

"Leave him where he lays sister, there is nothing we can do with him." Lunazul said .

Lunazul walked over to the small being, she stared at his tear streaked face for a moment, a sense of sadness came over her but she pushed it away. This was the only way that trespassers were dealt with in Under Dark, it was unforgivable to pass through Drow colonies without permission or escort. The hobbit looked very much like a child, it tugged at Luna's heartstrings, again she pushed the pity away. Hobbits knew of the Drow and they most certainly should have more sense than to set out to explore within the borders of any Drow territories.

"I have heard that the halflings live in the ground much like we do." Lunazul said as she stood over the hobbit.

"It is not so, they make their homes in the earth but they are above ground, they come and go in sunlight like any of our many enemies." Verin snorted.

"I do not have 'many' enemies cousin, do you?" Lunazul snapped back without taking her eyes from the hobbit.

"Your time spent hunting your sister, her half elf mate and the druid have twisted your mind, you should seek to clear it, ask the goddess to take you back into her arms, she can mend your ills and cool your burning hatred." Luna looked at Verin this time, in fact she looked him right in the eye.

"You should not be surprised that I know these things, I see much in the waters. I did not ask to see this, I would not waste my time wondering after you." Lunazul turned back from Verin and stepped away from the dead hobbit.

"Come Pytha, let us return home, I am weary of these distractions." Lunazul said.

Verin walked closer to the hobbit, he straddled the small creature and crouched close to him.
"The gods made you to look like a child because you live like one, you and your kind are ignorant and foolish. It is fitting that you lie here and rot."

It was then that Verin saw the lure, a small ornate earring, it was crafted in the likeness of a dragon. Verin could see it for what it was, a powerful enchanted item, it's power thumped like a heartbeat to the drow male, one of his great talents was detecting and identifying items of magic and power. Verin could sense that it had been held by a dragon, it's power spoke to him, revealing many of it's secrets.

Verin picked it up, an image of a woman with sapphire blue eyes flashed in his head. The drow welcomed the information, he closed his eyes and waited for any more revelations. Verin saw a large dark outline of a dragon flying in a twilight sky, the image swooped past a full moon and vanished from his mind's eye.

"You are a tasty morsel." Verin said as he held the earring. He slipped it into a hidden pocket and turned to face his younger cousins.

"I would enjoy visiting with you longer, my dear cousins." He said sarcastically.

Pytha smiled wide and looked to her sibling.
Very well cousin, come and have a meal with us." Lunazul said through gritted teeth.

Pytha clapped her hands together in delight.
"I am pleased you are coming to dinner kaoveh (cousin)."

The deep blue skinned creatures were, Darklings. Subterranean humanoids that inhabited the blackest, most putrid corners of the Under Dark. Vicious in battle and a constant nuisance to the Drow. Many a time they had attempted to wipe them out, but in time they would once more ooze from the blackness like some amorphous thing that could not be killed. The Drow called them 'Renor Vlos', which literally translated to 'Black Blood', for they believed the creatures themselves were spawned from the 'black blood of the deep earth'. They even wielded weapons made of a black metal, found deep in the earth, but it was all for appearance. The black metal was weak, equal to if not softer than bronze but those who knew no better would indeed find the ebon blades menacing as Sorrelwind did.

The tall creatures were hard pressed to stand two astride the large bridge-like strand, but if required two could attack at once, if one swung from the behind. They were, however, not attacking, they stood their ground merely blocking the way, their bright red eyes flashing in the black as they slowly blinked and swiveled their heads about. They sniffed the air with their large flat noses, searching the dark for any other would be trespassers. Unknown to surface dwellers, the Darklings were stone deaf, but they possessed keen vision and an even greater sense of smell. Naturally they spoke a soundless language, using hand gestures to communicate to one another using signs that none but their own kind could understand for no Drow would ever lower themselves to studying the tongue of the inferior creatures.

Sorrelwind stood ready, his Deithirin dagger in his right hand, and the Elven long knife, 'Protector', gifted to him by Nevtherra and Galadriel of Lothlorien in his left. Transforming his dagger back to his sword-staff took time (a price he paid for convenience) so he planned to face the creatures with his shorter blades, although with the great length of their limbs they would have the advantage.

"They appear formidable. Have thee ever fought such creatures before?" Tiphereth whispered to the Drowess, then at that same moment, the Deithir winced and closed his eyes.

Tiphereth could feel the dragon earring strung round his neck grow warm against his chest and the bright blue eyes of Jalisa leapt into his mind. He was standing upon a mountain peak, the wind rushing through his hair. Dark storm clouds churned and thunder rumbled about him. A great shadow rushed across the clouds, the shape unmistakable as two massive wings spread out from its body, trailed by long tail. A might roar drowned the thunder, then darkness fell and black skinned face emerged in his mind, one that he had ever so briefly looked upon before.

"Verin." The Deithir softly spoke, then returning to reality instinctively looked up to the high ceiling of the great cavern to where Jin's brother would have been standing in that passage that was now the hobbit's tomb. He knew not why he saw the Dark Elf, or what the connection was between he and the earring he wore round his neck but for an ephemeral moment he was very aware of his presence and feared that he in turn might become aware of his.

Ceolwulf stopped before the funeral pyre in the main bailey and watched forlornly as his men carefully laid the bodies of their fallen comrades upon them. As soon as the Gorrinvul had cleared off, the lord had set some of his men to work in the construction of the pyre, even the Dwarf had offered a hand in carrying the wood after he had descended from the inner wall. Ceolwulf had taken note, however, that Orthagren had actually intended to assist in carrying the kegs of beer into the great hall, but his arms had been filled with would instead.

"My thanks little brother." he had said to the Dwarf as he dumped the final load of wood.

Soon they would set their brothers upon their fiery steeds and celebrate the passing in the great hall with drink and song. They recount the stories of their lives and exchange tales of battle until the sun rose and allowed them all to sleep with both eyes closed.

When Ceolwulf saw Jalisa and Lac'Nal approach, he slightly lowered his chin in greeting. "A good fight." he commended them both, "My thanks to you."

The lord turned to the pyre. "It is our way." he told them, "I have asked the druid to speak his words over our fallen brothers before they are sent on their journey. If only those of our village were so fortunate. Without their horses of flame they wander the wasteland, awaiting us to guide them to the plains of paradise. They who have died this night will go ahead and lead them for us so that they do not hunger or grow cold. This is a great night! You must join us in the great hall and share in our songs."

"There be no need in askin' me twice m' lord." Piped up the Dwarf who was leaning against the dais that supported the pyre, "Where's that man of the cloth anyway? Augustine!" Othargren called, "Ye be holdin' up the journey o' these fine lads and there's hole in me belly deep as the abyss itself."

Lunazul and Pytha turned away from the hobbit and began to walk back the way they had come, Verin was still standing by the hobbit's body. Just beyond the small corpse the Naut'kyn Ikal'daka paced and hissed, they were angry that they had been robbed of the kill.

"I am sorry for that my pets." Verin said to them with a whisper. The drow turned a ring on his finger and smoke began to smolder at the feet of three wolves, in an instant the animals vanished from sight. Verin's black smoke drifted down the corridor and dissipated.

He turned back towards his cousins and took a step to rejoin them, suddenly the earring in his clothes began to grow warm, to the drow the warmth was unsettling, Verin snatched the small piece from his pockets and held it in his hand. It glowed in his hand, Verin's eyes grew wide as he held the earring.

Again he saw the haunting blue eyes, the vision quickly clouded over, Verin saw the great wings of a dark dragon as it passed through a storm filled sky. The dragon soared past a mountain in the vision, Verin could sense that someone was standing at it's peak. His mind's eye drifted to the wind swept mountain, a tall figure with a slender waist but wide muscular shoulders and arms stood watching the dragon. The figure's long shimmering hair whipped about in the winds. Verin focused his mind, he struggled to see the face of the figure on the mountain. At last he saw what he desired, a pale face with black eyes looked out onto the flying dragon.

The earring was humming in Verin's hand, the drow had a desire to throw it to the ground but he held on.

"I see you Deithirin..." He stuttered as the earring affected him, causing a great deal of discomfort.
The earring was vibrating with power and vision, Verin's head began to ache, a second later the vision shattered and faded leaving the drow breathing heavy, a single bead of sweat was forming on Verin's brow.

His cousins did not witness any of this, they walked ahead of him in ignorance. The drow wiped the bead of moisture from his head, in all his life he had never produced a single bead of sweat. He still held the earring, it no longer glowed or burned, Verin slipped it back into his clothing and walked to catch his cousins.

"This day has been full with mystery..." He thought to himself.

"You black eyed errdegahr, what is the wisdom of these visions?"

Who was the blue eyed woman? What of these tagnik'zun(dragons)? What was the halfling's part in this?

Verin had few answers, this displeased him greatly but his lovely and tall cousin would help him sort these mysteries. What was family for? He would simply have Lunazul hold the earring the next time she sat before her scrying trough. Her powers were well honed before the reflecting pool, she would see more than he. If she refused he would put a blade to Pytha's throat, that would secure her support.

"I look forward to our dinner together kaovehen." He said loudly as he caught up to the women.

Lac bowed his head in respect as Ceolwulf spoke and gave his gratitude for their help. "Your men fought well, without their courage and skill, things would have turned out differently." Lac paused as he watched the Rohirians place the fallen upon the funeral pyre. Glancing at Jalisa he added "It is good to honor the valiant fallen in such a way." Lac paused again, then turning to the pyre, bowing his head and placing his right fist to his heart, said softly "Minartaya Starloryirvalkunesay Satatinrayolnaygalboronwel artnayda Daeastralay Estabranonnelwilimnordel sarpalethevdil tilhilestamor othnae tinhinevistrel jayossaunerennaeevyil taron tarhiemev neleldvenetharil ethnaedayistanaegal saehurorrelestsar." (TRANSLATION: May Slyvus Strongbow and Dal Ebonwind speed them on their journey to the never ending shores.)

In studied the Darklings with unmasked disgust on her features. These….creatures, were nothing more than deformed Drow infants that had been left to die in a lone part of the Under Dark. From time to time a child was born, always male, who had no hearing, their noses were flat and their hands deformed to have only three fingers. As she looked upon the Darklings now, she could only see Verin and hoped he had been one of these deformities sent to die.

For some reason, some of these infants were either found and raised by other creatures or somehow survived on their own and became a bane for the Drow. They had learned or had been taught, how to forge weapons but always from a weaker metal and therefore they were of not good in out right confrontation but the Darklings had learned to use guerilla tactics and attack unsuspecting Drow parties using quick, violent moves only to fade back into the darkness they had seemingly emerged from.

As Jin stood watching the sniffing guardians, she had to give Kallus credit for capitalizing on something no other Drow would dare consider. Obviously their loyalty to the Drowess was something worth having for it was clear to Jin they were prepared to protect the ancient one with their lives if need be.

As they stepped on the smaller stands of the web, Jin saw the elemental spider disappear and she could only imagine where it had gone. The Darklings had learned to communicate with the spider and put a double jeopardy on would be trespassers who had lived to make it this far.

When Jin heard Tiphereth’s whispered question, she nodded ever so slightly to prevent as much vibration as she could.

”Yes. They are completely unable to hear but their vision and sense of smell is unmatched by any other creature I have ever met. Their weapons are not strong, but lethal if they do strike you. Most often they surprise attack then melt back into the darkness. But these are not afraid to show their presence and in fact, are defending the floating island. I can only imagine wh….”

What ever Jin was going to say was cut short as a strong gust of wind knocked her down. The force was so strong that she went tumbling over the rope web and landed a little further down the web in a precarious position. If she moved to right herself, she would have to use one of the smaller ropes therefore drawing the spider to her. If she didn’t right herself, one of the Darklings was sure to reach her and kill her for already one of them broke off form the others and was headed in her direction at a rather alarming rate of speed. Obviously it had spent a great deal of time learning how to move on the ropes of the web. I

f she used a spell, she would draw the spiders attention yet again, however, there were some spells that just might work against the spider AND the Darkling. She just had to wait for the right moment. To make matters worse, she saw Tiphereth and it seemed as though he had gone into some sort of trance state. If ever Jin needed him to be alert, it was now. And just when she thought it couldn’t get any worse, the elemental spider seemed to be preparing for another strike, but as her subterranean sight looked, the spider seemed to be taking aim at the Deithir.

Finally, Jin knew she had to act or wind up a victim of the approaching Darkling. As Jin started chanting the approaching Darkling stopped suddenly, just a foot away from her, as though he were unable to move. Try as he may, he was caught in some sort of field that would not allow him to move anymore. As Jin started to struggle to right herself, the elemental spider that was taking aim on Tiphereth suddenly turned and seemed to disappear. Knowing what was coming, Jin cast another spell and in the blink of an eye she was gone. The Darkling, unfortunately, became the victim of the spider.

No sooner had Jin blinked out of the web when she appeared next to Tiphereth again. Reaching her hand out to steady herself as she fought for balance on the rope, she heard him utter a name she never wanted to hear, particularly right now. Noting the direction Tiphereth was looking, Jin glanced upward as well and growled softly. Finally she shook Tiphereth and furrowed her brows, hissing at him.

”Snap out of it, Tiphereth. We have to move. NOW!”

As Jalisa stood with the others as the fallen Rohirrim were gathered and placed on the pyre, she was saddened these strong, brave warriors lost their lives but she also knew there was no such thing as no casualties in war. Even the smallest skirmishes have consequences for the actions taken.

A sudden warmth engulfed Jalisa then as she stood there. Her eyes grew wide and she was suddenly thrust to a different place and time. The wind was rushing past her as she floated and soared on the air currents in the bright moonlight. Her wings were spread wide as she climbed higher and higher only to pull her wings tight against her then descend very rapidly towards the ground. When she was near crashing, she pulled her head up and spread her wings out once more to soar over a mountain top where alone figure stood watching her with eyes as black as night.

Golden colored hair whipped wildly about the face and the broad shoulders told her who the figure was. Panic filled her as Jalisa feared Tiphereth had just figured out what the trinket around his neck really was. What was he going to do now?

But the vision didn’t end there. Jalisa suddenly saw a pair of glowing red eyes focused at her with a smile on their face that was anything but welcoming. The red eyes were surrounded by dark skin and snow white hair fell around the face. At first Jalisa thought it was Jin but she had never felt such intense evil coming from the Drowess. Who ever this was, was somehow connected to the fact Tiphereth held her earring.

As the vision faded, Jalisa was left shaken so much that she dropped to her knees. When others tried to help her up she held her hand up and snapped at them.

”Leave me be!”

When she finally regained her strength, she forced herself to her feet and glanced around, she saw the look Lac was giving her and she furrowed her brows, shaking her head ever so slightly. When one of the Rohirrim warriors insisted she prove she had not been bitten anywhere, Jalisa turned a hard glare upon him.

”I have not been bitten by one of those….despicable…creatures. If I had, it would have taken much less time for me to show signs of it. I am tired and just need a moment to rest. If you wish, you can guard me to make sure. If you see I’m about to turn into some undead thing, you have my permission to remove my head.”

With that she turned on her heel and headed away from the pyre and away from the others seeking out a place where she could try and put all of this together and figure out what was happening.

As Jalisa moved off swiftly the young warrior Elogart, stepped to follow her. Lac reached out and gently laid his hand on Elogart's shoulder. Elogart stopped and looked a Lac'nala, Lac said softly and calmly "Let her go lad ..... let her be. You must tend to your people and homor those that have fallen to give you another day. ..... I give you my word Jalisa has not been bitten."

Brianna had left the stables long enough to stand outside of them and pay her respects to the fallen that were being put to fire. Tears streamed down her cheeks unchecked as she watched before turning to go back into the stables. She approached Raelayeg's stall and stepped into it, making sure to close the half door. She wanted so badly to go to the celebration of the fallen's travels on their fire steeds and yet she couldn't bring herself to do so. With her adopted parents gone, she wasn't sure if she was accepted as a Rohirrim anymore. They were the ones who made her feel wanted and loved. The others in her village......most tolerated her. She was dark where they were light. She couldn't speak to the horses the way they could. She knew she was being insecure and she didn't like it one bit, but she couldn't seem to help it.

Stroking Raelayeg's muzzle, she wrapped her arms around the massive neck and let her tears for her fallen parents, both sets, fall freely.

"Ah, Raelayeg......where do I belong now for I no longer know. I don't even know if any of my true kind are still wandering the world or if I'm the only one."

Once her tears were spent, she made a choice to join in the feasting inside the hall. It would be disrespectful of her not to and she knew this. Drying her eyes now that she'd basically cleansed herself, she have the horse another hug and headed for the doors to the stable. Raelayeg nickered to her then to the other horses. Before Brianna reached the open doors to the stables all of the horses let out one whinny together, letting her know that she did have a place and she did belong.

Augustine walked between the pyres, the horsemasters were just about to set them ablaze. The druid had a Rohirrim drinking horn in his hand as he walked in front of the gathered warriors. As the druid came forward they grew quiet.

"These are fine men that lay atop these pyres, good fighters and brave friends. It is difficult to lose a friend, to know that you will never look upon their faces again. But here in Rohan we are not saddened for long, it is said that a brave man dies only once and that a coward dies a thousand deaths, these men were truly the brave ones. Let us celebrate their strong spirits and remember that they died fighting to protect this fine land and all Rohirrim that dwell here."

Augustine held his drinking horn high.

"They will soon sit among those that have gone before them , where the brave tell their tales of victory in battle."

The druid drank deep from the horn, the sweet meade spilled onto his robes. He then turned to the pyres as the men set them on fire, in the firelight he could see many of the warriors drinking and cheering their fallen brethren.

Lord Ceolwulf nodded to Augustine as if to give thanks, the druid held his horn aloft again and toasted the Lord of the horsemasters.

When the druid approached, all grew quiet and bowed their heads respectfully. In the tradition of their kind all had filled the horns and goblets with mead and drank deep the elixir of their homeland after Augustine's fine words were sung.

Ceolwulf, bowed respectfully to the druid and met his toast, then bowed humbly to whom he considered to be a king of his own realm. "Through the fire our people ride to paradise. We do not mourn their passing, it is celebrated. We shall miss our brothers in this world but we envy them for rejoining the loved ones that have left us behind." he said to Lac'Nal.

The Rohirrim lord turned to the pyre once more, touched his forehead and reached toward it with an outstretched hand. "Flaming Mane be swift." he said in the old tongue of his lands and his fellow countrymen copied the gesture.

"Come my lord Lac'Nal," called Ceolwulf, "Please, join us in the great hall. We have much to celebrate. All of you are welcome."

The tall warrior lead the way in the hall where many of his men had gathered much food and drink. The fare was mainly dried goods as they had hardly the time to hunt for fresh meat, else they wanted to roast the Dwarf's great ram, which one warrior had brazenly expressed and then Othargren had somewhat seriously replied, "O'er ye dead body, horse master." That was pretty much the end of that.


The scent of dried meat, beer and mead hung heavy in the warm air of the great hall. The golden and deep orange hues of the flickering fire pit at its center danced along the dark wooden cross beams and across the smooth stone floor. The warriors had started to gather, and no sentries had been posted as it was not the custom of the Gorrinvul to attack twice in one night. All would be present for the celebration of their brother's passing and the remembrance of their loved ones who had crossed over before them.

Othargren, found himself a table nearest to the kegs, bit into a chew of dried of meat, followed by a hunk of bread and chased it down with a swallow of beer. Not partial to mead, the Dwarf stuck close to the beer and happily listened to the stories of the Rohirrim men as they took turns atop a table regaling all with their tales.

"Leave me be!"

The words echoed through Tiphereth's mind. The voice of the Dragon. The voice of Jalisa. They were one in the same! His mind mulled over the knowledge, slipping the pieces together, but the puzzle was shattered by Jin's shout.

His empty black eyes narrowed as the great elemental spider rushed past him, lifting one of the Darklings high into the air and throwing the creature beyond the web. The Darkling twisted and writhed in the air as it fell into the void below them, never to be seen again.

The Deithir quickly accessed the situation and staring out across the vast web he saw more of the Darklings appear upon the larger supporting stands. Some were already beginning to make their way across the webbing, and be upon them within minutes, more than enough time to dispatch of the five remaining guards that blocked their passing. The spider of wind, however, was another matter. It was apparent now, that the creature would not remain at bay so long as they remained upon the larger strand, it had only waited for them to travel closer to the center of the web, where there was no where to retreat. It's attack was the powerful gust of it's body, tossing a soul into the abyss, or in Tiphereth's case smashing him against the wall of the cavern.

Tiphereth knew what must be done. He looked down at Jin; she was so small and the Darklings who were much taller than he were like giants to her, but she would have to cut threw them while he tangled with the spider.

"Take care." he told the Drowess, placing a hand on her shoulder, "I shall see you upon the island."

The Deithir then leaped high into the air and the great wind spider drawn by his magic followed. It was as Tiphereth had hoped. By removing the air elemental from the equation, the Drowess would be able to maneuver freely. All she had to do was make it to the island, at least he hoped that would be the end of the test, if of course this was a test at all. There were so many of the Darklings. So many that one would question the validity of the Drow legend that these tall creatures were discarded aberrations. Indeed they seemed to be a race unto themselves and one might imagine that they were far more closely related to the Dark Elves wanted to accept.

Tiphereth did not like leaving, Jin to fight the Darklings alone but of the two of them he was more suited to deal with the elemental spider. The Drowess was familiar with the creatures and he prayed that her familiarity would give her an edge in battle while he lead the spider to the top of the cavern. Once their, he pushed off a large stalactite and wove his way through the maze of dripping spires, using them as shields against ghostly spider's high powered wind attack.

The moment Tiphereth realized what Jalisa was, she felt it. It was difficult to describe other than she felt a tightening around her entire being that told her freedom was something she wouldn’t be privy to for a while. The realization Tiphereth now held was a dangerous thing indeed. If he were swayed easily by the power he now wielded, it would be very easy for him to delve into the darker side of the world. Of course the fact Jalisa was a Black Dragon would make the dark arts very accessible to him. And it would be very easy for her to learn to enjoy that darkness.

As the funeral pyre began to rage, Jalisa stepped from the shadows and watched as the bodies began to burn. Her eyes took on a strange look as she watched the flames engulf everything they touched. How lovely a site to watch fire cleanse the world. It was a natural process. Ashes to ashes....was that not what the humans said?

As everyone began to file into the great hall to celebrate the passing of the dead, Jalisa remained with the pyre. Slowly walking around the raging flames, she seemed to grow closer and closer with each loop she made. The heat would have chased away all other humans but Jalisa wasn’t a normal human. In fact, she wasn’t human at all. So the heat of the fire didn’t bother her.

Her mission was in jeopardy now. She should have left the earrings but she’d never been without them since she had discovered them all those years ago. She didn’t think anything about them falling away from her at any time and now, they had. And the Pharie had her earring and understood what he possessed. Somehow, someway, she would have to get the earring away from him and have possession of it once more. It was the only way.

But that still didn’t explain the other, strange face with the red eyes she saw. Unless…..

Jalisa stopped walking as she stood staring at the flames. Why didn’t she realize this? The earrings came as a matched pair. The drow she saw must be in possession of the other one. And from what she felt from him he was a bigger threat than the Deithir. This would change everything.

Jin didn’t like being separated from Tiphereth but she knew they had to divide and concur if they were going to get past these guards. As Tiphereth took off to help keep the elemental spider busy, Jin faced the Darklings as they began heading her way. Thankful she decided to don her leather armor, she reached into the folds of her cloak and pulled out two nasty looking blades each with a slight curve to them. On the very tip was a hook that would be used for one thing; pulling back hard and pulling with it what ever the hook had grabbed a hold of.

Tiphereth was right about one thing, the Darklings did appear like giants to Jin. They were much taller and their limbs were much longer than hers. Their reach was almost three times her own. And the fact they were well versed in moving on the rope webbing was another disadvantage she had. She would have to rely strictly on her fighting skills due to the fact using magic would draw the elemental to her.

As the Darklings began to close in, Jin took a deep breath and let it out slowly then crouched like a cornered rat. Making sure her center of balance was low, she began to move. The Darklings were limber on the ropes but they weren’t as agile at fighting as Jin was. This was something she was trained in from a very young age and she was about to show why Drow were feared and revered for their fighting skills.

She rushed forward and her first two strikes were true. Slicing through the mid section of two Darklings, Jin sent them tumbling from the web rope and into the abyss below., Unfortunately, when they fell, they hit the ropes pretty hard and caused her to almost lose her balance. She had to move from rope to rope to try and maintain her balance. Of course that allowed some m ore of them to move in closer and take a few swings at her. One of the blades sliced into her upper arm and her tunic sleeve was quickly stained dark.

Jin gritted her teeth as she fought back against the Darklings. She was completely surrounded now and had to move in a tight circle to parry, block and strike with her own blades. The Darklings weapons, as Jin had stated, were not as strong as her own and a few of them were broken allowing her to go in for the kill. Of course with each Darkling that fell the rope web was jostled causing Jin to work on not only protecting and killing but maintaining her balance.

Several times she was able to duck the Darklings blows because of her smaller stature and in turn that allowed her to move in closer for her killing blows. When she finally had enough room to move, she began moving closer to the island in the center. When Jin got close enough to the island, she could practically see the landing she could climb upon. By now, she had been fighting for about 30 minutes and she was starting to tire. A few more Darklings she still had to fight off and as she grew near the island she quickly disposed of two of them which left only one for her to deal with.

The remaining Darkling was not going down without one hell of a fight and a few times he came close to landing killing blows on Jin but he made one fatal mistake and that was all Jin was looking for. He raised his hand high to make a chopping blow on her and Jin was able to quickly thrust forward burying her blade into his soft abdomen. The Darkling stopped moving and slowly lowered his arms, dropping his blade when his arms rested at his side. As Jin violently pulled her blade from his abdomen, his entrails spilled out and he coughed up a gurgle of black blood. The bad thing was that he fell forward and his large frame was too much for her to hold. As Jin and the dead Darkling fell backwards, one of the ropes snapped and Jin suddenly felt herself give way under the added weight.

At the last moment Jin was able to grab a hold of the rope and hold on with one had. As the dead Darkling fell away, Jin had to let go of her blade and grab hold with her other hand. Normally Jin would have been able to pull herself up but the fight she’d just went through and the fact her arm had been injured made it difficult for her to do anything but hang on for now. As she glanced around, she couldn’t see Tiphereth or the spider anywhere. Had he fallen to his death? Was she now on her own to try and get to Kallus? Was she even going to be able to get to the ancient Drowess?

Jin tried to pull herself up again and again only to realize her strength was waning. The most she was able to do lock her elbow around the rope and pray she somehow got out of this.

Augustine sipped the last of the warm meade in the long black drinking horn. The brew was strong, the druid could feel it's warmth washing over him. It had been an age since the druid had really enjoyed some strong drink, and he decided that tonight he would enjoy another horn or two.

Augustine entered the main hall, many large stout tables filled the open room, a huge fireplace roared with orange flames on the far side of the hall. Cheerful voices and shouted toasts filled the druid's ears as he navigated the crowded room.

A helmeted warrior bumped into Augustine as he crossed the room.
"My apologies Augustine, I am glad to see you drink with us!"
The man took his helmet off and poured some meade into Augustine's empty drinking horn, spilling quite a bit in the process.

"I am called Jorneff, my brother was taken in battle tonight."
The man drank deep from his horn, the honey colored meade dribbled down his yellow beard.
"I will miss you brother, if I am fortunate I will join you someday soon and we will hunt and ride with our father again!" Jorneff shouted loudly as if the departed could hear him.
Jorneff slapped the druid on his back as he drank the meade, there were shouts and hoots at Jorneff's words and many of the Rohirrim raised their drinks.

Jorneff stumbled away from Augustine allowing the druid to continue crossing the room. Augustine saw Orthagren sitting like a sentry near the brew kegs, the druid made his way there and sat near the dwarf.

"There is not much sadness to be found here tonight master dwarf." The druid said as he drank more of the meade.

The Deithirin bard had been watching the Drowess the entire time whilest playing his game of cat and mouse, or rather spider and fly with giant elemental. At one point he actually turned to fight, conjuring a blue fireball that engulfed the creature, casting a haunting glow on the web below. One would think that the fire would have merely burned the elemental up, but Tiphereth knew a thing or two about the greater of their kind. He knew that their reality differed from the physical world in that fire consumed air, the creature was very powerful and though he threw everything he possessed into the fire enchantment the air elemental was stronger still. So much so, that it's gusty push would crush a man like a grape against the cavern walls, so the Deithir was very respectful as he dodged to and fro.

Tiphereth's heart soared when he could see that Jin had made it to the island. She was so close all she had to do was leap to a landing of flat rock and she was there. As he had suspected, the island was haven. No Darklings walked upon it's surface, they seemed to be emerging from caverns within the floating island, which told him that it was more than likely that the prophet, Kallus lived upon the surface, probably within or upon the mountain of rock at it's center.

Jin had been dealing with those Darklings that had originally guarded the strand they had taken, but many others awaited to take their place. While the hordes that had collected upon the web could have swarmed the Drowess, they chose to stay back and watch their brethren fall one by one to the blades of the Dark Elfin warrior. Tiphereth did not know what to make of it, accept that perhaps, Kallus herself was orchestrating the melee and were that true then she was more powerful than he could have imagined.

One last Darkling. That's all that was standing between, Jin and sanctuary but as fate would have it, the last Darkling fought harder than the five that had preceded it and Sorrelwind gasped when he saw the Drowess fall. As he dodged another crushing attack, the elemental broke the stalactite and the giant mound of rock plummeted into the web, crashing through the smaller strands far away from Jin. The vibrations of the strike, however, would be felt by the Drowess as she held on for her life.

Slowly, the Darklings began to creep toward the prone Drowess. The staggered movements were deliberate as if they were struggling against a command the held them at bay, but still they approached like guard dogs testing the length of their leashes.

High above the web, the Deithir's battle had come to an end. The Deithir had fell with the rock the great spider had toppled and plummeted to the web, or at least that's he wanted the creature to believe. Far below the web, beyond the range of the elemental's magical detection he flew the rising fast below the Drowess. When he was near the hanging Dark Elf, he caught hold of the rope that broke away and climbed it to avoid the detection of the spider. He quickly pulled himself up and hung there beside, Jin, his breathing laboured. Avoiding the wind spider had been taxing and the Phaerie looked haggard. Even still, he reached over, grasped the small Drow by her belt and nearly tossed her back up to the web but then hesitated, considering that the wind spider was only lurking about invisible to the natural eye. He could see it though, moving with unnatural speed behind the Darklings. That's why the creatures did not attack, he figured. They feared the spider, and once Jin or he pulled themselves onto the web it would strike. The island, however, was only a stone's throw, or a Drow's throw for Tiphereth, away.

Tiphereth grabbed hold of the strand from which Jin was hanging and in one smooth motion pulled his knife with a free hand and sliced away the strand had used to climb. He caught it in the air, and sheathed his knife. The Deithir then looped it round the Drowess' belt and synched it tight.

"Jin, these Darklings, nor the spider of wind have touched upon the surface of the island. I believe it may be our only chance. You must reach within and find your strength. Trust me and let go of the rope."

Jin could feel that the Deithir had a hold of her belt. When she released her grasp, he supported her and his own weight with one arm, swung her under the web then back toward the island. He released her into the air, and JIn flew toward a ledge that was a thirty foot climb from the surface of the island. As she sailed toward the ledge, Tiphereth held fast to the rope and awaited her to make the landing before he would risk becoming light and relying upon her to pull him in, if of course she made the landing and the Darklings did not attack right away.

It was all Jin could do to hold fast to the rope webbing as Tiphereth and the elemental spider crashed into it. Still, she felt her grasp slip as she was jostled about like a rag doll and felt the rope slide through her hand. When she finally stopped moving, Jin was holding onto the rope with both hands, squeezing her eyes closed tight and holding her breath. When all movement finally ceased, she dared to open her eyes and see where she came to rest. And was instantly sorry she did.

As she saw the Darklings waiting to pounce, she looked down at her dangling feet before looking back up at the rope webbing. When Tiphereth appeared beside her, Jin couldn’t help but smile, even though her arms were burning from the ache of holding onto the rope so tight over her head. He was as winded as she was and for some reason she found a small bit of humor in that.

”Honestly, Tiphereth….we have to quit meeting like this.”

When he grabbed a hold of her belt and went to throw her, Jin let out a soft yelp of alarm in an effort to halt him but it seemed the Deithir already was thinking along the same lines as she. AS Tiphereth still held onto her belt, Jin held tight to the rope and turned to grin at the Pharie again.

”I do not mind being man handled as long as I get to have some fun being the handler as well.”

The time may not have been appropriate for her comments but it was Jin’s way of trying to take their minds off the morbid outcome should they each lose their grip. When Tiphereth used his knife to cut the rope then easily looped it around her belt, synching it tight, Jin quirked a delicate, white brow wondering what he was up to. When he let her know what he was planning on doing, she wasn’t sure he would have the strength, but for some reason, she trusted him to know what he was doing.

Hesitantly Jin released her hold on the rope and for a moment dangled precariously by the rope on her belt in Tiphereths hand. As he swung back to gather the strength needed to propel her up, Jin cast a spell on her that made her as light as a feather. With Tiphereth’s strength, Jin soared above the Darklings easily and as she began her descent, she guided herself to the ledges surface, tumbling in a roll as she landed upon it. The Darklings watched as she rose over them but never tried to reach the ledge she was on.

Thankful to have solid ground beneath her, Jin quickly glanced around to see if there was anything waiting to attack her. Seeing nothing right now, she quickly turned and flattened on her stomach and tugged on the rope Tiphereth still held onto that he looped around her belt. As she started pulling him up the Darklings started moving towards him and Jin uttered a curse under her breath. She was done toying with these things. Looking at the Darklings, Jin whispered words and the Darklings suddenly stopped and started convulsing before their bodies were dismembered. As they exploded Jin tugged with all her strength to haul Tiphereth up to the ledge with her hoping she was faster than the spider that was on the move once more because of the movement of the Darklings as their bodies erupted.

Brianna left the stables and headed for the main hall and the 'feast'. Upon entering, she saw Lac and Ceowulf together, Augustine and Orthagren sitting together near the beer kegs. She hadn't seen Jalisa standing near the funeral pyre as she'd walked by so naturally she didn't see her in here either. Still feeling rather lost now that the only link she had to the Rohirrims was gone, i.e. her adopted parents, she felt somewhat out of place. She smiled to herself, thinking how funny life was. When she was three, her parents were killed in front of her, leaving her alone and without a people. She was then adopted by her Rohirrim parents and raised in a loving home, albeit, teased mercilessly by most of the village children and tolerated by most of the adults only to return to the only home she'd ever known and it be gone. She was alone once more and her heart was heavy because of it.


She saw the monk looking at her and gave him a smile, aknowledging that she'd seen him. She wondered how Tiphereth and Jin were faring and hoped and prayed that they were safe. Walking over to the one of the honey mead barrels, she grabbed a horn and filled it, downing the sweet brew within seconds only to fill it up again. She did this three times in a matter of minutes and on the fourth, she found herself a dark corner and settled into the chair she'd put in it, sipping at the fourth horn of mead and feeling the blessed numbness of the first three filled horns begin to take effect. She didn't want to feel right now, in fact, she thought to herself that she'd just as soon not feel again. It was too painful.

As she sat there, her thoughts strayed back to when she was three and her natural parents being killed. She remembered that they were running from something or someone but she didn't know who or what. She wondered if it had anything to do with the birthmark on the inside of her left thigh. It was in the shape of mighty horse with flames around it, the color a beat red. It was only about 1 and a half inches long and half as wide and something that she kept hidden.

Sitting there, sipping her mead, she let the thought drift from her mind as her eyes began to glaze from the mead and she became more numb.

Tiphereth tossed the saucy Drowess, high into the air, through the hole in the web and up over the Darklings. The strand he had tied to, Jin's belt was far too short to span the distance she was traveling and so even before she landed upon the ledge he too had lightened his body and allowed her momentum to pull him along. His larger body, however, did not fly so easily through the web and the Deithir was indeed fortunate that the Drowess pulled on the rope when she did. Jin's tug literally catapulted him toward the ledge and he flew over the erupting bodies of those Darklings that had leaped onto or moved toward the wall of the rock island.

'A strange spell to be sure', pondered the bard who in fact was quite educated in the magical arts, but much of it was academic. Part of his studies involved magery and he had seen, but once, an incantor perform a similar spell but at that moment the name eluded him. Sorrelwind was more concerned with avoiding a collision with, Jin as he came flying toward her but thankfully she ducked at the last moment.

Springing off the wall, the Deithir landed just beside Jin and wasted little time throwing his arm around her and propelling them both upward as the great wind spider crashed into the rocks. They soared high into the air, then descended at an angle where Tiphereth lightly placed Jin on the ground and immediately surveyed their surroundings.

The surface of the island was nearly perfectly flat. A vast plain of stone larger than a colosseum, barren save for a mountain of rock at its center. The single stone spire reached upward to the cavern's ceiling, its tip nearly touching a massive stalactite so that the two formations appeared as a narrow hour glass.

Noting that the wind spider, nor the Darklings pursued them, Tiphereth gratefully nodded his head. "The guardians will not tread upon this surface." he said, "We have passed the second trial, I pray there is not a third."

The great spire of rock appeared to be no more than a ten minute walk, but as they started for it, the two quickly noticed that they did not seem to gaining any ground.

"Odd." Stated, Tiphereth blinking his black eyes and when they looked behind them, the edge of the island must have been at least a league away. "A distortion?" he mentioned to the Drowess.


"No, indeed there is not." The Dwarf replied to Augustine, followed by a deep rumbling belch to which Othargren roared with laughter.

"Ah, laddy, ye did well this night, yer magic is appreciated." he praised, holding his horn high toward the druid in a toast to his success in battle. "These are good people and this land has strong bones... worth fighten' fer."

The Dwarf's eyes settled upon the back of Jorneff as he made his way round the great fire pit at the center of the hall. The men were all in fine spirits and already the battle seemed as if it were days ago as opposed to a few hours. In another five, the sun would rise then they would all partake in some well earned rest but until then they would drink the night away.

"Rodreven!" Shouted a voice from a dark corner, then it was echoed by another, and another until the men were chanting the name in unison.

"Where is Brianna!" Called a Rohirrim warrior.

"A song, Brianna! Tell of us of ye kin! A song of Rodreven!" Shouted another.

The Dwarf spotted the dark haired woman whose name the Rohirrim called. She was hidden in a corner but many of the warriors were aware of her. While awaiting to see what would transpire next the Dwarf grabbed another hunk of bread and some cheese from a tray. He broke both and offered the druid the other halves.

"Eat up, lad." Said Othargren as he offered the food.

Brianna was completely startled as the men yelled for her to sing about her kin and for a few minutes sat there looking around her, stunned. She stood up and walked to the center of the room, thinking of the songs her father had taught her about his family and being one of the finest blacksmiths in the land, able to make shoes that carried the horses swiftly across the plains and swords that were sharp enough to shave with. She had loosened her hair while sitting in the corner and her long, dark locks spilled down her back to her waist in thick waves. She was still wearing her blood stained clothing and she had a smudge of dirt on her left cheek. Her dark green eyes looked around her at the blond heads and blue to gray eyes staring at her, waiting.

Her voice lifted in a ballad about a great blacksmith who had found his love delivering his wares to the neighboring village and how they'd found their child years later admist death and destruction, a dark haired lass with eyes the color of the grass and a special birthmark marking her as a child to be treasured. She sang about the blacksmith whose horse shoes were the most sought after in the lands and whose swords and daggers were known far and wide to be the best and sharpest anywhere, his armor that he made for the warriors almost indestructible. Her voice was husky with emotion and yet carried thoughout the great hall, as beautiful and wild as the woman who sang with it. She sang of the blacksmith and his heritage, his great, great, great-grandfather having been the blacksmith to the king of Rohan once upon a time and how his heart belonged to one of the king's nieces. They fought for their love to be allowed to come to fruition and finally won the blessings of the king after the blacksmith had made a sword of shining silver inlaid with bronze carvings of horses, which had been lost in the time of the great darkness during the dark lord's reign.

After almost an hour, Brianna could sing no more and smiling softly to the men who were as quiet as mice, she turned and walked back to her corner, refilling her horn with honey mead. Singing the songs her father had taught her had caused her to miss them as well as wonder about the sword she'd not thought of until she'd sung the songs.

Jin had not been a victim of this sort of trickery but she had heard of it and known a few colleagues that had. It was not something one wished to deal with and it was never ending. That is…..until….

Jin nodded her head and stood perfectly still. Looking around the flat plateau was eerily quiet with nothing but the breeze moving that ever flowed beneath the surface in these tunnels. Narrowing her red eyes, she looked tot eh spire before them and the ledge behind them. Finally she looked over at the Deithir.

”When you are in Drow territory, you either have to be escorted by a Drow or request permission to enter into their domain. You are already escorted by a Drow, but this is not my territory or those of my sisters. This is Kallus’ domain and we must first ask for permission to enter it before she will even think of entertaining us. Even then I have the feeling she will still toy with us. But at least she will acknowledge us and let us know she is well aware we are here.”

Looking around again, Jin let her gaze settle on the sire in the center of the plateau once more then looked to Tiphereth.

”I will talk for us but you must present yourself as though you are my slave. I apologize for the reference, Tiphereth, but it is the way of our race. The females are the dominate sex and we must prove our dominance over any male from any race at all times. Remain behind me with your eyes cast down and do not present yourself so proudly. Remember, you are not to like being owned by me. One wrong gesture or step and she will consider it to be an insult to her and most likely kill both of us. I give you my word, I will do only what I must to insure we survive but I must warn you….she may require me to do certain things. What ever they are, do not refuse them. It will be her way of testing us.”

Jin gave Tiphereth a small smile then touched his forearm gently.

”I have a feeling that will be her final test. Ready?”

When the Deithir nodded, Jin stepped in front of him and squared her shoulders as she stood proudly. Reverting to the language of the Drow, she requested permission for her and Tiphereth to have an audience with the ancient Drowess making sure her echoed loud enough all around them.

” Usstan, Ssinjin Dalhar K’Nyan joros ulu sultha wund l'thac'zil d'Kallus, l'jal bekea lu'zhaunl Ilythiiri” (I, Sweet Child of the house of K’Nyan, ask to enter into the land of Kallus, the wise and all knowing Drow.)

Tiphereth smiled warmly at, Jin and nodded compliantly. How different their societies were he considered. "There are no female, Deithir." he whispered and noting the confused look upon her face said, "I shall explain another time." The Drowess then spoke her words and the Deithir immediately assumed his role.

"Unboi alust dalharil d' K'Nyan." Boomed a mature female voice, echoing across the barren surface of the floating island and Jin understood that the ancient Drow dialect meant to 'step to the front' or 'come forward'.

Sorrelwind's eyes narrowed and focused on a cavern at the bast of the spire within which a soft red glow began to radiate. He began to move toward it, but then quickly remembered his role and recoiled from Jin's threatening back hand as he moved his foot before hers. He had thought for a moment that she was only go to raise her hand and menace him, but without hesitation she brought the back of her hand up and across his face. The slap was loud, and his cheek burned but he dared not to rub it, he only lowered his head and kept his eyes on the ground so as not to arouse any suspicions.