3. INTO THE KINGDOM OF THE ROHIRRIM

Lac heard Ceolwulf scream, "They are within the keep!" Turning to look down into the keep Lac saw two Gorrinvu warriors scurry across the courtyard "Elogart! ....... þú og helmingur þú mannskapur setja þinn skjöldur og fylgja mig! The hvíla verja the veggur!" ( Translation: Elogart! ..... you and half you men set your shields and follow me! The rest defend the wall !.) Lac and the chosen warriors then desended down into the courtyard and began a search for the Gorrinvu that had breached the keep.

It didn’t take the warriors long to discover where the Gorrinvul had disappeared to. From the pitch blackness near the stable, one of the bodies of the Gorrinvul came flying backwards and his head followed a few seconds later. From within the darkness the sounds of more fighting could be heard and as Jalisa disposed of the second, she caught a glimpse of Lac and the approaching warriors. Knowing she needed to think of something fast, she quickly picked up the first fallen Gorrinvul’s sword and retracted the small talons from her fingers as her eyes faded from glowing red to the strange blue everyone usually saw. Holding the blade menacingly, she ran forward as thought to charge the Rohirrim warriors and Lac. Stopping and blinking as though she just realized what she was doing, she nodded to Lac and the others.

”These bastards are quite cunning for the Walking Dead.”

If anyone were to take a closer look at the fallen Gorrinvul they would see that their wounds were not smooth slices made with a sword but that of something ripping their heads off. Jalisa appeared to be slightly winded and her shoulders heaved when she breathed. Hoping to all hope no one took the time to notice the condition of the bodies, the possibility of her fighting abilities being questioned was interrupted by the sound of Sighere calling her name.

As the Horse Warriors voice rose up above the others yelling “JALISA!” she snapped her attention to where she last saw him. He immediately pointed to three more Gorrinvul that had breeched the walls and landed in the bailey and were headed in their direction.

”Well, gentlemen, looks like we have our hands full here. Don’t we?”

Lac, gave a quick glance at the fallen Gorrinvul, then looked at Jalisa, his face not betraying his thoughts "It appears we do indeed." Lac said the softly so that only Jalisa could hear "There truely is much more to you than what appears." He then turned to the others, stepping forward, sword raised "Burt með þeirra heyrnartól þá a þrýsta þröstur the hjarta." (TRANSLATION: Off with their heads then a thrust thru the heart.)

Jalisa heard the soft spoken words of the half elf and smirked. If he only knew, she thought. Of course that was all she was able to do before the advancing Gorrinvul reached them. Fighting with metal blades was not her style but Jalisa had no choice but to follow through with her ruse now.

Parrying each thrust, blocking each jab, and defending herself with the blade she picked up was not impossible for her. While she lacked a little of the finesse the others had, she was able to hold her ground. Of course she let the Rohirrim and Lac do most of the work for her. Only when it seemed Lac was in danger did she actively engage in any sort of hand to hand with the disgusting beasts.

When Lac and the others finally defeated the three Gorrinvul, Jalisa placed her blade in the ground and leaned against it like a cane as she crossed her legs at the ankles and gave them all a brilliant smile.

”Well now….been quite a while since I was last able to engage in this sort of tom foolery.”

Lac looked at Jalisa and gave a faint smile, then turned to look grimly to the wall. and said "Don't worry little sister ....... there are more. ..........." He then started back to the wall as the sound of battle and cries of death drifted across the courtyard.

Jalisa’s smile brightened even more when Lac called her ‘little sister’. When the truth was exposed, for there was no way she would be able to get around NOT telling him….eventually, he would see just who the little one really was. Until then, she would have as much fun as she could in this serious situation. Giving the half elf a nod, she thumbed towards the wall.

”Well then, I suggest you and these fine gentlemen head back to the wall and try and prevent them from breeching it any more. I’ll handle them down here.”

Picking the blade up and twirling it as she tested the weight and balance once more, she looked over at Lac and actually winked.

”It’s all coming back to me now. I believe I’ll be able to take care of myself. If I need help, I’ll be sure to yell.”

Lac gave Jalisa a nod then turned and said "Elogart sonur af Heramiel Jalisa's öryggi er þinn ákæra. Dvöl og bardagi á hana hlið." (TRANSLATION: Elogart son of Heramiel, Jalisa's safety is your charge. Stay and fight at her side.) Lac then turned and with the remaining warriors, that had followed him to the courtyard, ran towards the wall. Once they reached the wall they began to climb back to the battlement and engage the enemy.

Jalisa went to protest Lac’s orders to the warrior but he was gone before she was able to utter one word. Glancing over at Elogart, Jalisa did her best to offer a smile but it was anything but sincere. It seemed the young man was just as thrilled about being her protector as she was he was to have him as her protector.

”I won’t say anything if you go join the others. As I said, I’m quite capable of taking care of myself.”

The Rohirrim warrior seemed to hesitate his answer and finally shook his head.

”I’ve been charged with your protection and I will remain at my post.”

Jalisa’s smile faded then and she grumbled under her breath. Turning on her heel, she walked back towards the shadows of the stable with Elogart on her heels. Her eyes turned form blue to red again when she turned from the young warrior and she once more whispered a strange word in that language again once they were out of sight of the others.

Vdri”

When she turned around quickly, her hand lifted and splayed out before his face. Drawing her extended fingers in and looking as though she were pulling something invisible from him, his eyes grew wide only to close once more. His body grew limp and Jalisa reached out to catch his fall as easily as though she were his equal in height and strength.

Carrying the unconscious warrior into the stables, she laid him down gently on some straw in a stall. Making sure the warrior was out of harms way, she touched the tips of her fingers to his forehead and spoke one more strange word.

”Jilinth”

When the young man awoke, he would have no recollection of what happened thus insuring he would not be able to tell the others what she had done to him. With one more check on him, she went back to guard her post, spying out at the others from her darkened vantage point. Her red eyes glowed as she saw how valiant the others were fighting to defend themselves. With any luck and good skills, they would defeat this raiding party before too long.

Brianna had just shot her last arrow when she heard Ceowulf bellow about the Gorrinvul breaching the walls. Damn!!! She watched as they clamored over the keep walls. Her brows furrowed as she saw how quick they moved and strategically to boot. She quickly shimmied down the ladder, drawing her sword as her feet hit the ground. These things had taken her beloved adopted parents from her along with her whole village. She was determined to take out as many as she could. She engaged in the first one, dodging away from it's weapon and long claw like nails. Swinging her sword, she nearly cut him in half not sticking around to watch him deompose as she turned to engage another, making her way over to where Jalisa, Sighere and Lac had been.

Brianna took out two more when Lac yelled to take off their heads. Apparantly that was the quickest way to kill them and she was all too happy to oblige them, swinging wide taking one's head and turning to block a swinging axe from another at her back.

Her arm was beginning to tire from pulling back the bow repeatedly and now swinging her sword non stop, but she ignored the ache beginning in her shoulder as she continued to defend the keep and herself. Cutting down the Gorrinvul she was engaging, she turned to see a young Rohirrim, maybe 17 or 18 years of age, defending himself against a large Gorrinvul and failing. She saw Lac scaling the wall out of the corner of her eye and lost sight of Sighere and Jalisa, when she saw the young warrior trip over a fallen body, landing on his back, the Gorrinvul preparing to strike him dead. Brianna let out a scream as she charged the Gorrinvul, leaping over the fallen boy, her sword blocking the downward swing of his broadsword, the blow sending pain up her arm and driving her to her knees.

"GET UP, BOY!!! FIGHT!!! TAKE HIS HEAD!!!"

The Gorrinvul raised his giant sword, giving Brianna a chance to regain her footing when he swung again. Brianna tumbled to the ground, rolling to the right and coming instantly to her feet to the side of the walking dead warrior. She wasn't counting on him lashing out with his claw like nails, holding his sword with the other hand. His claws raked across her right side, leaving deep furrows under her ribs. She screamed, the wounds burning as if laced with acid just as the young warrior who'd fallen swung his sword behind the dead warrior and took his head.

Brianna sank to her knees, her hand going to her side and coming away covered with blood. The young warrior was instantly to her side, helping her up.

"M'lady....are you alrigtht?!"

Brianna allowed him to help her stand, leaning on the hilt of her sword, breathing heavily.

"I am fine, young warrior. We must now allow a petty wound to slow us down...there are more to cut down!!"

Brianna ignored the burning in her side as she lunged at another Gorrinvul, screaming as she beheaded the thing. She was like a mad woman, carving a path in black blood determined as she was to have her vengeance on the creatures who had destroyed the only home she remembered and the people who'd raised her. The young warrior she'd given aide to was also taking out as many as he could, Brianna's words having given him hope and courage.

The Gorrinvul's numbers were dwindling and yet they fought on with no loss of moral. They who were dead, had no fear of death. Hack off their limbs and still they would not relent, they would not cease until the last of their black blood ebbed from their bodies and every last one of them were destroyed. For those that had fallen, their flesh was already decomposing at a fast rate and within the hour none would never know that they had been. The remains of the Gorrinvul, seeped back into the earth, back to their subterranean den where they would rise again. The oozing black liquid moved with intelligence finding its way back to their queen, the mother of all Gorrinvul and it was within her chamber that they gathered the bodies of their victims. Those that were not devoured were stored away, some were even bound and kept alive, for the black blood of the Gorrinvul required a fresh vessel to inhabit and the living kept longer than the dead. Once the ebon bile crept into the mouth of a corpse or was forced down the throat of the living it was only a matter of time before the Gorrinvul warrior lived and breathed once more.


The still bodies of the Gorrinvul laid at the feet of Sighere and his men. The ladder had been destroyed and the western wall was secure, but a few more of the agile undead warriors had slipped past them and into the interior of the keep. The lieutenant dispatched a few of his men to pursue them and give aid to those below and the rest stayed and hacked away the remaining Gorrinvul that yet clung to the walls. A few had been injured, but thankfully they had suffered no losses, unfortunately upon the eastern wall, three of the Rohirrim had fell in battle, thrown from the wall during the fray. Othargren had managed to save a fourth, reaching out with his powerful arm and snatching the man from certain death when the Gorrinvul charged and with a great bellowing cry and single handed gutted three of the creatures. All that remained now, was the battle that continued within the keep and at the gate. The druid's bramble spell, yet continued to ensnare those of the undead not wise enough to avoid them and those that survived the razor sharp thorns still clawed their way up the portcullis to the top of the wall. By all rights, the battle was won, but the Gorrinvul fought on. There was not a hint of self preservation from any of the raging monsters and so lord Ceolwulf remained vigilant and directed his warriors with care. They could not afford any more losses and he did not want any of his countrymen losing their lives to foolish mistakes at this point in the battle, so he ensured they fought as a unit when they dispatched the last of them.


Overseeing the battle, the commander and lord studied the Gorrinvul with a grim expression. This was but a scouting party they fought and now seeing first hand of what these creatures were capable of and how they fought knew they would not live through a night should the greater force descend upon them. They wash across the keep like a black wave and wipe them all out within an hour. It was a bitter sweet victory, but a triumph, nonetheless. Ceolwulf only prayed that the Drowess and Fair-One found the prophet and learned the secret of these vile creatures before they faced their entire army. Now that the scouting party had found them, they would be coming. In one of the nights to follow they would come with a great cloud of mist that would enshroud the entire keep, unlike the small carpet of fog that preceded the preliminary force. Before that night, however, they would rejoice! They would celebrate the passing of their friends in battle and sing songs of their loved ones that waited for them on the other side. The Rohirrim paid no heed to those that brooded over their fear of the future, their time one earth was a gift and they lived each day to the fullest.


Sorrelwind didn't like this idea one bit. Not a one! Though he did not verbally make his thoughts known, it was plainly evident that he was worried. A few times he even accidentally pushed at, Jin's back, urging her to move faster, spurred on by his disdain and fear of spiders which was inherent in all of his kind.

"The Deithir, hail from the Forest of Perpetual Night, beautifully bright beneath the starry sky and on moonlit evenings, but when clouds gathered so too did the shadows and with them came the 'nethads'," Explained Sorrelwind as they made their way through the webbing,"the 'ghost spiders'. They varied in size, covered in a pale carapace and nearly blind. So sensitive were they to light that they could only survive in pure darkness and thus we made sure that our lanterns burned brightly when the sky went black. All of my kind despises spiders."

As Tiphereth spoke he was completely focused. His black eyes wide. As their sanctuary moved through the webs, sealing them within one of the most horrid places the Deithir could imagine, he crouched as low as he possibly could putting the most distance possible between him and the deadly spiders.

Jalisa stood her ground and as each Gorrinvul approached the gate, she used her skills to take them down. As the Gorrinvul began to decay and decompose before her, she looked down at them curiously. Their thick, black blood was being absorbed into the ground, unlike other creatures whose blood remained visible for some time. But these creatures were not even leaving a stain in the earthen floor to show they spilled blood at all.

Of course she didn’t have a chance to think on what this meant for the Gorrinvul were living up to being the persistent plague they proved themselves to be. Daring to glance out at the walls of the keep, she saw that most of the fighting was slowing and it seemed now all that was left was the skirmishes taking place within the bailey now.

As some of the Rohirrim warriors came down off the wall to take on the Gorrinvul that had found their way within the keep, Jalisa cursed softly under her breath. She’d have to revert to using the blade to prevent anyone from suspecting she was doing something else.

As they approached her, Jalisa stepped out where they could see her and smiled brightly, nodding to the Rohirrim.

”Evening, gentlemen. Nice night for a fight, don’t you agree?”

They gave her a puzzling look thinking the woman had gone insane. Why would anyone think it was a good night for a fight and smile like she was smiling? Obviously she was a bit off her wagon.

Jin felt the shoves form the Deithir and each time she furrowed her brows. She was about to say something to him when he explained his kinds distaste for all spiders. Obviously the dislike of spiders was not something the surface world was exclusive to. Chuckling softly, Jin spoke quietly as they hurried through the tunnel of webs and deadly arachnids.

”Well, then, maybe it is a good thing we decided to make this journey together. I would hate to see what you would have done had you come across this on your own. I know you would not have turned away so I’m thinking you would have destroyed the perfect threads.”

When they finally reached the end of the spiders domain and stepped out into a web free tunnel, Jin dropped the spell and turned to look at Tiphereth. Furrowing her brows, she reached up to remove something from his shoulder. Seeing the look that crossed his face, she couldn’t help but laugh softly. Pulling a thin, white, wispy thread to where he could see it, she assured him it was nothing to be concerned about.

”It is merely a piece of spider web, Tiphereth. In our culture, this is a blessing. The spider considers you to be a friend and has graced you with the gift of their web.”

Seeing the look on his face still she shook her head and grinned and she released the webbing and watched it float away. Gesturing for the Pharie to follow again, she led the way further intot he dank world this Kallus called home.

Brianna and the young warrior could finally relax, albeit for only a short while. The fighting had all but stopped now and as she looked around her, she saw the bodies decomposing, mother earth taking back what was hers......or was she? She found that the way the Gorrinvul were decomposing odd as well as the black blood slithering into the ground instead of slowly seeping into it. She looked up and saw Jalisa, heading towards her.

"You fought well.....I am ashamed at my coldness towards you in the beginning. You have shown that you mean us no harm."

Brianna said no more as she walked away from the woman, her arm wrapped around her waist, her wounds causing her pain. She reached a wall of some sort and with her back leaning up against it, she slowly sank to the ground, resting a bit. The young warrior came up to her, his eyes showing concern and admiration for her.

"M'lady, you should have your wounds seen to before they fester. I will gather Sighere and the monk. Here is some honey mead for you to drink....to quench your thirst I am sure you acquired with the way you fought."

It was clear the boy was infatuated with her, probably due to the fact that she'd saved his life, but she pushed the thought from her mind as she grabbed the mead and drank deeply from it. She didn't know how many she'd cut down only that it didn't seem to be enough, the need for vengeance still burning within her.

She pulled her knees up to her chest, resting her forehead upon them while holding onto the horn of honey mead, grimacing at the pulling of the three gouges in her side. She knew they were deep but not so much that she would die from them, but by the Gods they burned like acid.

Suddenly, Brianna's head jerked up and she rose quickly, running for the stables, her side burning in protest. Once she reached them she headed straight for Ceowulf's great black stallion, sighing in relief when she heard him whinnying to the others. She reached his stall door and he stuck his great head over it, nodding to her. She smiled to him as she stroked his face.

"You and the others safe.....I was worried."

Resting her forehead against his, she opened the stall door and entered, making sure to close it behind her. The great black gently nudged her side where blood still seeped. She chuckled to him.

"It is nothing, m'lord. Just scratches. I simply need to rest."

Brianna sank down into the soft straw, leaning up against one of the walls of his stall as the horse stood sentry over her.

Only a few Gorrinvul remained and it appeared that they too would fight to their demise until the sound of a distant horn echoed from the north. Instantly, their savage faces and hate filled eyes softened and those that were able bid a hasty retreat. They scurried back down the walls like Goblins, straddled their mounts and rode into the night with the receding mist as if chasing it.

Ceolwulf stood upon the wall and with a look of defiance victoriously raised his sword high. Illuminated by the torchlight, the lord was beacon of inspiration to his men and to honor this they began to chant. "Raegenharr!", they cried over and over again, then the name began to change to that of their beloved home, "Ironglade."

The lord turned and surveyed the keep. "Search the keep!" he cried out, "Others may yet be hiding in the shadows!". The Rohirrim lord then began to make his way off the wall. Passing by the druid, he paused and bowed his head. "Will you see to the fallen?" Ceolwulf requested of him, "It is important that someone announces their travel to the other side. Would you do them this honour?"

The last of the Gorrinvul that had made it over the walls and into the inner bailey of the keep was sent reeling backwards from the dark shadows. His head was missing and the black blood oozed from his neck. A few seconds later, Jalisa walked out with sword in hand and gave the fallen dead a swift kick to the ribs as added measure.

”May you find eternal peace now, you blasphemous creature.”

When she saw the Rohirrim warriors searching the keep and coming her direction, she nodded and smiled to them like nothing happened.

”Well hello again, gentlemen. Nice to see you all again. I take it things have turned in our favor and the Gorrinvul have turned tail and run.”

It was more of a statement than a question and with a few curt nods from the Rohan fighters, they confirmed what she said. Her smile grew and she nodded her head again.

”Well…that’s fantastic news. Now all we have to do is hope they stay gone.”

The men began to look for others and eventually ended up on the stables coming across a slowly awakening Elogart. His fellow fighters quickly checked him for injuries and he shook his head stating he didn’t remember what happened. When they brought him out of the stables and announced they found him awakening, Jalisa furrowed her brows and shook her head.

”A nasty Gorrinvul tried to sneak up from behind on the young lad. Fortunately I happen to see what was getting ready to happen and I was able to stop the creature from following through. When the Gorrinvul went down he tripped the young man and sent him reeling. He bumped his head pretty good.”

After a few minutes of searching Hap located his collection of fishing lures, the Hobbit was kneeling on the ground as he emptied the small bag of shiny lures onto the dirt. There was a white seashell that sparkled like a pearl, a small bit of brass that glittered like real gold, a small worn silver coin and last but not least there was a large single earring in the shape of a dragon that appeared to be made of a yellow metal.

"Could you be real gold?' Hap said out loud as he held the dragon earring. The hobbit bit the piece, it was too hard to be made of gold, but what did hobbits know of exotic riches. The hobbit took care to tie the piece of jewelery to his fishing line, several small knots now held the thing to the end of his cane pole.

Hap looked over his shoulder, Fazz was nearby pushing his fuzzy brown snout along the muddy banks of the pond.

Hap swung his pole out in the direction of the pond, the earring broke the surface of the still water with a loud 'Gloosh'.
"Now to catch some breakfast."

Hap kept his pole up, his line was good and tight as he dragged the lure along the water. Where the earring had entered the water there was a circle of rings forming in the water as if someone had tossed a stone into the pond. The rings were growing, there were more of them, they spread out across the small pond. As the rings spread out a mist was forming on the surface of the lake, it hung just above the surface of the water like a low fog. The mist began to swirl as a breeze drifted over the pond picking up some of the white mist, small puffs of the fog broke away from the waters surface and began to float away like small clouds.

"Look at that Fazz, it's a tiny cloud."

The clouds drifted up from the water and slowly began to change shape. The clouds took the shapes of long necked and long tailed dragons, the small white puffy things flew at Hap. The hobbit shielded his face as the the shapes came at him, they faded away as they neared the hobbit doing him no harm. One of the dragon shaped clouds swooped at the hobbit's pig, the animal ran from the perceived threat, running almost to the other side of the lake. Soon the cloud faded from view but the animal still ran hard squealing in fear.

As the last small misty dragon cloud faded and Hap lowered his arms.
'The weather sure is grumpy in the morning at this spot Fazz, in fact it's down right rude."

There was a hint of real fear in the halfling's voice as he joked to his pig, he searched the surface of the lake for any more of the mist but it was all gone.

"Enchanted mists or not I am going to catch a fish this morning." Hap said as he prepared to cast his line into the water once again. The hobbit swung his pole over his head and readied himself to cast the line back into the lake but his lure broke free and flew into the grass and dirt behind him.

Hap got up and set his pole down and began to look for his prized lure. The hobbit came to a some sort of burrow in the dirt, he could see the lure glittering in the opening of the narrow but deep hole in the soil. Hap rolled up his sleeve and reached down into the burrow, his husky hobbit arm was tight in the burrow, Hap pushed his limb further in the dirt until he got his small hands on the lure.

"I have you now!" The hobbit shouted as he closed his hand around the earring. Just then the ground around him began to give way and fall in. The hobbit fell down into the opening as the ground caved in, revealing some kind of larger burrow or tunnel below.

Hap fell hard onto his side, chunks of dirt fell all around him, some pelted him as they fell. Hap got to his feet and looked up, he was 20 or more feet below the ground now, too far for the small halfling to climb.

Hap opened his dirt caked hand, he still had the earring. The hobbit looked to his sides, a dark and moist passage led away in either direction.

"I best pick a way and find a way out before the fish stop biting." The hobbit said quietly as he walked down the passage to his left. As the hobbit walked the passage became wider, soon the halfling's furry feet were walking on smooth stone.

Hap looked down at his feet as he walked, gray stone panels made up the floor of the passage up ahead was a smaller polished black stone laid into the more common gray stone.

"What's this all about?" Hap said as he placed his foot onto the shiny black stone.

Lunazul sat with her eyes closed and her legs crossed, before her was a rectangular trough of pitch black water, the Drowess opened her eyes and stared into the water. Dim light flickered in the dark water, images began to dance across the surface of the water. Lunazul stared at the trough of liquid, her eyes were wide as she scryed, they burned a deep red, the water reflected her eyes.

The dark elf watched the water for a while and then began to tire, as her magic poured out of her and into the water the images began to become clearer.

Lunazul saw a drow woman walking with a thin elfin being in almost total darkness, the elfin man's eyes were black and his hair was pale and fair. Lunazul began to question these images, perhaps she was seeing any two drow people traveling in Under Dark. As the images became clearer Lunazul studied the drow woman.

The dark elf released her magic and stood up and backed away from the water, the images were fading in the black trough.

"Pytha, sister come here please.'
A second drowess entered the large room.
"What have you seen my sister?"

"There are intruders nearby, I know every face that dwells in Under Dark here and I do not know these two travelers. One is like us, the other appears to be Phariekind."

As Lunazul spoke new images were stirring in the dark water, the white haired dark elf saw a small being this time, his tiny furry feet were walking on the ancient stones that had been carefully placed throughout the passages of Under Dark. This creature was very close to their home, the drow women were prepared to protect their home and they were always excited for a hunt.

Lunazul picked up her dagger belt and slipped it on, her sister was already wearing hers.
"Follow me little sister." The taller drowess said with a grin and dissappeared from sight.

"I'm coming." Pytha said and vanished from the walls of their cavernous home and traveled in an instant into the passages near their home.

Tiphereth brushed the web from his shoulder with disgust and gave his golden mane a shake. Even in the lightless world of the Under Dark, his hair shimmered as if it caught a ray of some non-existent light source.

"Let us away from this place." he said and urged the Drowess onward.

They moved swiftly through a winding tunnel. It twisted, turned and narrowed to the point that the tall Phaerie had to roll his meaty shoulders to squeeze through. Sorrelwind doubted he'd of made it through without, Jin's aid but clasping onto his wrists she managed to pop him out and together they descended to a ledge that ran along a shear wall extending beyond their sight, left and right. Before them the precipice was bottomless and Sorrelwind was sure that the vast pit lead to some other world from which there was no return.

At the center of the pit, beyond the range of Drow's eyes but yet visible to Deithir's far reaching sight he could see the faint outline of what appeared to be an island of rock. It hung in the air, suspended by enormous ropes anchored in place by giant metal rings, thrice the height of a man. Each massive rope was connected to the other adjacent to it by a strands of smaller ropes, creating the illusion of an enormous spider web.

One of the ropes was moored just below their feet, but by its shear size it was more of a bridge. Studying it's intricate weavings and smooth surface, Sorrelwind quickly realized that the great rope was comprised of webbing. Were the light to see them by he was convinced that they would have appeared a silvery white, but as it was in the darkness, he saw them as dull blue forms.

The Drowess had hardly stirred and though the rock island was not yet visible to her, Sorrelwind knew she was aware of it, so he did not mention it. This prophet, Kallus was a legend and a myth among her people, she would know the stories well and even now those very tales no doubt haunted her mind.

There were several ropes extending out toward the middle of the abyss, one no different than other. Crouching down, Sorrelwind could see that it was a mere ten foot fall down to great support below them. Measuring about six to seven feet across it would be easy to walk the rope to the suspended island.

"We can descend here and make our way to the center." Tiphereth said, awaiting the Drowess' advice. He saw no danger, but often that's where the deadliest of traps lurked and how foolish would he be to leap into a great web like some unsuspecting fly. The Deithir, however, did not suspect a giant spider to lurk in the web. The web had been crafted by magic and Elven hands, made to appear as a web to generate fear and perhaps in homage to their goddess. Something did lurk in the blackness, however, Sorrelwind could feel it but as to what it was he could not tell.

"It is beautiful." Tiphereth had to admit despite his disdain for spiders.

"The small creature is nearby, I can smell him." Lunazul said as she frowned, the smell of the surface dweller displeased her, the halfling smelled like a barnyard animal to her (little did she know she was smelling Fazz as well).

"The shinduago will soon regret entering our world." Lunazul said as she held her gray hand to her nose as if she could cease smelling the hobbit. Her sister Pytha walked behind her, the passage was pitch black, only the red eyes of the drow women could be seen in the darkness.

Lunazul was a tall woman, especially for the drow race, she was unusually thin too, she had suffered much teasing when she was younger but when her many and vast magic abilities began to manifest the other drow youths at her temple school soon gave up on the teasing. The Drow in this part of Under Dark respected her now, she was a high priestess and a powerful Black magician and no one could take that away from her.

Luna's sister was a talented woman as well, talented but different from her thin sister. Pytha was smaller and much more muscular, Pytha had some talent with magic as all Drow do but was not near as strong with it as her sister was. Pytha had chosen the path of the warrior, she was a deadly assassin and an unmatched hand to hand fighter.

Lunazul wore a long white tunic, again this was unusual for the drow, they preferred dark colors and light armor. Luna wore no armor, just the tunic, soft boots and the traditional daggers. Pytha wore a featherlight suit of thin black armor, it was heaviest about her torso, Pytha's hair was white streaked with black and she wore many silver earrings in her pointed ears.

The two women walked silently along the tunnels, up ahead something or someone was approaching.

Pytha crouched low and drew two daggers from her harness, her sister remained standing where she was and drew no weapons.

"Someone's coming sister." Lunazul said with a whisper.

"Vedui' dalininin. (greetings sisters)"
A voice said in the darkness, Pytha relaxed her stance and stood up.

"It is you cousin, we should have known, we sensed nothing as you approached."
Lunazul said as she greeted her kin.



"Are you not pleased to see me dear cousin? It has been an age since I have traveled here."
Verin said with a sly grin.

"You were barred from traveling here, it is not as if you left of your own free will.'
The tall drowess hissed.

"Well your parents have passed from this world and I can travel where I please now."
Verin retorted.

"True enough cousin." Pytha chimed in.

"Lunazul has seen a halfling intruder in these sacred passages, the small beast is nearby and we are set on destroying it." Lunazul shot Pytha a stern look, as if the younger woman had spoken out of turn.

"No need to trouble yourself with our small troubles Verin, you are free to stay at our abode, you know the way." Lunazul said defiantly.

"Nonsense cousin, I would be happy to go along with you on your hunt...a halfling you say?"

Verin smiled, a chill traveled up Luna's back. Pytha smiled wide.
"It is good to see you cousin." The younger woman said.

The battle was done. The last of the Gorrinvul had been called to retreat and the wounded were being tended to in a hall that served as a hospital. In total five, Rohirrim warriors had fallen, and their bodies had been gathered with care and taken to the main bailey and set upon a great dais at its center. A few men had begun to gather wood for a funeral pyre to send their brothers off to other world upon their blazing steeds.

Othargren, stood upon the rampart of the inner wall that separated the baileys and watched the men prepare the pyre. He felt responsible for their demise, at least three of them. Had he been more attentive as to how the creatures moved he might have been able to counter their attacks more effectively, but before he knew it, they had flanked them on the wall. "Where are their spirits laboring? Only the rocks know..." he muttered under his breath to honour the fallen warriors.

There had been no looks of blame, but the Dwarf could not be among the Rohirrim for the time being, but noting the many kegs that were being carried into the great hall his feelings of shame would not last long. They were preparing a celebration for those who had crossed over before them, and that night with the backsides of their enemy shown to them, there would be much drinking and eating. Songs would be sung and cherished memories shared.

The lord strode by and Othargren acknowledged him with a slight tilt of his head. His eyes focused ahead, lost in thought, it was apparent that Ceolwulf had much on his mind and the Dwarf knew better than to bother the man with idle chit-chat. Turning around, and looking between the crenulations he wondered how that leaping faerie was making out with that black skinned under dweller.

Augustine had stayed above looking out onto the battlefield before the gates of the keep, he was not a warrior like these horse masters and the others in his group but there was always something he could do. He watched with great interest as his spell had a great effect on the Gorrinvul, the deadly brambles had destroyed a half dozen of them and stopped many others from making it to the front of the keep.

Out front the druid could see a few Rohirrim walking along the edge of the mass of thorny plants, they were hacking and slashing at the Gorrinvul that were still held by the thorns. The blond haired men showed the creatures no mercy, they chopped the beasts into pieces and moved swiftly to the next one.

Augustine climbed down to ground level and decided to go out front, when he exited the gates and walked out the men were finishing off the last of trapped creatures. The Rohirrim dispatched the last of the undead things and began cleaning their blades.

The limbs and remains of the grotesque beasts began to dissolve and putrefy, the black ooze dribbled down the vines of the giant plant and drained down onto the dark soil.

The warriors acknowledged the druid as he came out of the keep, they finished up with the cleaning of their weapons and walked back into the keep.

Augustine walked along the sprawling plant, he could see no more of the creatures among the black thorns, they had all seemed to dissolve away into nothing, the oily black fluid seeped into the ground. The druid spoke quietly to the giant thorny mass and it began to shrink and withdraw. Faster and faster the vines reeled themselves in, anyone watching could see that there were several of the plants now, not just one massive one. As the vines shrank there was one remaining creature, it was hidden by the large plant but as it shrank now the creature was freed from the vines it began move.

The beast was struggling to get to it's feet as the vines withdrew all around it. The druid did not see the thing as it climbed over the brambles and began to rush at him. The beast threw itself at the druid knocking the robed man down, it was on top of Augustine it pulled at the druid's robes. Augustine could not see much as the beast pulled his hood down over his eyes. The creature was pummeling the druid with it's other fist, Augustine's chest began to ache from the blows.

The druid reached out to the plant again, it began to grow again, snaking it's way towards the gray skinned creature kneeling over the druid. A thick woody vine covered in long sharp thorns grabbed at the back of the Gorrinvul, it howled in anger not in pain as the plant tugged at it's flesh.

Augustine backed away from the beast, it lunged one last time and bit into flesh of the druid's forearm. At last the plant prevailed and tore the creature away from the druid, the vine twisted and turned and tore the horrid beast to bits as it flipped and flopped on the ground. As soon as the Gorrinvul was destroyed the plant began to shrink away again as the druid got back to his feet.

Augustine pulled his sleeve back and inspected the wound, it was small and bloody, the druid had seen worse. A strange burning sensation was traveling up the druid's arm as he looked the wound over, Augustine tore a small length of his white under shirt and tied his arm off in case the bite proved to be venomous.

A far as the druid could tell no one had seen any of this occur, the druid walked swiftly back to the keep to see about cleaning the wound.

Hap walked slowly along the dark passages, he was a good ways away from where he had entered and there was very little light. The halfling stumbled and fell several times in the Drow tunnels, he was good and lost now but the little person pressed on.

"Is anyone down here? I afraid I took a wrong turn. Hello?" The hobbit called into the dim corridor.

Hap was unaware that as he had traveled he had only gone deeper and deeper into Under Dark, the tunnels dropped subtly in elevation and an unwitting hobbit would not take notice.

"I hope I come across someone soon, and I hope they have some breakfast to share." The halfling sighed as he walked on.

Verin and the Drow females moved swiftly and silently along the familiar passages of their underground homeland. They had not traveled far when they heard the halfling calling out from a nearby junction.

"Shall I go and greet the small beast?" Pytha said with great excitement.

Lunazul nodded to her sibling and the drowess in the black armor slipped down the tunnel.



"Wait for me cousin, I will join you." Verin said quietly as he followed Pytha into the darkness.

They did not have to go far, just beyond the ancient junction of three tunnels and a few hundred paces into a passage that led up to the surface they saw the halfling.

The small being was sitting in the center of the passage, he was deep in the darkness now and could not even see his small hand in front of his face. Verin and Pytha could see that the hobbit was rubbing his small furry feet and catching his breath. The small creature's breathing was shallow and the drow could hear his heart beating fast as the darkness and gloom was beginning to take it's toll and fear was setting in.

"Pytha, there is no reason to rush things, he is in our world now and all shinduago should suffer before death for these trespasses."
Verin fiddled with the nine enchanted rings on his fingers as he spoke.

"You are right cousin, the smelly beast will learn of fear before we send him from this world."

Brianna stayed in the large black's stall for a little while longer, resting. For the life of her, she couldn't remember what his name was and as she wasn't a true Rhorrihm, she didn't have the talent to ask the horse. But, she definately appreciated his friendship and acceptance of her. His large head lowered and he nuzzled the side of her face, nickering softly.

Getting slowly to her feet, she wiped at the wetness on her cheeks and realized that she'd been crying sitting there. She'd been thinking about her adopted family and the horrors they must have gone through before they'd died. Shaking her head, she pushed those thoughts aside. There was no point in dwelling on it. It was done and they no longer suffered. Patting the horse's neck, she left his stall, her side feeling worse than it had before she'd entered the stall. It felt as if acid was burning it's way through and she stumbled a bit.

Reaching the stable doors, she walked out to see the druid coming back into the keep holding his arm. She cocked her head to one side and made her way towards him, but he was moving too quickly and she was too ill from the pain to move any faster. She looked around, looking for the young warrior. He'd said that he was going to go gather Augustine and Sighere to tend to her wounds but is was apparant that he'd not found Augustine as he'd been outside the keep. She drew her hand from her side seeing that it was coated with her blood. Burning suddenly raced through her side and she staggered. Righting herself, she looked for Lac then and didn't see him either. Looking up, she saw the dwarf atop the ramparts. Looking over at the ladder leading up to him, she took a breath and slowly made her way over to it. It seemed to take forever, but she finally made it to the top. She was a pale and her arm was still wrapped around her side.

"Orthargren.....you seem distracted. Do you see more of them out there?"

She stood next to him, leaning against the wall. A part of her hoped that there were more but another part of her knew that she was in no condition to do battle again this soon.