2: ACROSS THE PLAINS OF AZANULBIZAR

Jack slipped into the cave easily but stayed mostly in the dark away from the group. The presence of the crows had confirmed that he was in the right place. However, he had not anticipated that there would be a group. Was he meant to join with them? He would have to confer with those that had led him here to begin with. For now the ghostwalker remained silent.

Tiphereth sat along side Beldegir and reaching into his satchel procured a wad of cloth and even before he unfolded it the Dwarf could smell the strong spicy scent of dried meat.



"Ye be a strange Elf, carrying meat. Don't ye fellas usually carry that foul tasting bread." Grumbled Beldegir.

A slight smile curled one side of the Phaerie's mouth as he turned to the Dwarf, his blackened eyes revealed by the darkness about them casting their empty stare upon him. "I suppose I could be considered Elfin, Master Dwarf, but you'll not find another of my kind in these lands." he then tore off a chew of jerky, and as he bit down, his longer incisors were quite noticeable. That combined with menacing eyes, the Deithirin, as he called his kind, appeared quite sinister in the dark.

"I can see that." Uttered Beldegir, who was despite the oddness of his companion far more concerned with obtaining a piece of the jerky.

Tiphereth smiled broadly and happily offered the Dwarf a few strips.

"I thank ye lad." Said the Dwarf as he devoured the first strip whole, then between chews making sure to inform his Elfling companion that his meat was adequate but nothing in comparison to the way Dwarves prepared their jerky. It seemed then that once the Dwarf got on the topic of food, one could hardly get a word in, but Tiphereth did not mind and was actually quite entertained by Beldegir's culinary tales. It made his thoughts drift back to how Alrick so delighted in his cookery and Tiphereth was saddened that he and the Dwarf would never be able to share that passion.

When the Dwarf had for the moment exhausted his topic, Tiphereth took the opportunity to ask something that he had been curious of for many days. "Beldegir. I am a stranger in these lands but even in my distant home the fall of Sauron is well known. Does he live once more, or is this some new evil that stalks us?"

Beldegir turned sober, replying with silence and a glance to Lac'Nala who had overheard the name of the Dark Lord uttered in his presence.

Jin knelt next to Lac as he filled his water skin and looked at him with even more confusion in her gaze.

“I feel the strength you speak of, Lac’Nala, but that strength can also be our weakness. If it causes my disgusting brother to lose sleep, then I am glad. But to think it could somehow tear us apart and render us helpless…..that is what frightens me the most.”

Reaching out and placing her gloved hand on his forearm, Jin let it rest there a moment before she slowly removed it.

“My people need me now as well. I know that. And I know it sounds selfish of me right now, but by the Goddess, as much as I look to them and know they are depending upon me, I find myself looking as much if not more to you now. I cannot lose focus on what I must do and yet, the more I look upon you, the more clear things become to me. But…is it just for ME they are becoming clear? Or is it because I know the only way I can defeat this evil is with your and the others help?”

Jin searched Lac’s eyes as she knelt there looking at him and the desperation of what she was feeling was clearly visible within the depths of her softly glowing red eyes.

“What is the answer, Lac’Nala?”

Just then Jin heard the name of the one being she both feared and loathed more than anyone in the universe. Glancing over at Tiphereth and Beldigir, she felt another chill slide down the length of her spine. Turning to look over at Lac once more, she shook her head slightly then stood back up and walked over to where she had been sitting, pulling the hood of her cloak up over her white head.

Lac felt her hand on his forearm and looked into her eyes "Jin it will take all our help and the help of others we have not met yet. All the races must rise united agaist this great evil. Only then can we bring your people, my people, Brianna's people, Beldirger's people, the world of Tiphereth and all races to safety and peace."

Lac stood as he heard the name of Sauron and looked at Tiphereth.
"Sauron was defeated but not destroyed, even now his powers grow stronger. I fear he may now have one of the lost seeing stones. I fear with the fall of Alrick that stone has fallen into his hands. For it is my belief that when Alrick's master, the Wizard Fylendorf, fell he passed the stone to Alrick, unbeknownst to him. The others are safe for now, but Sauron is obsessed with them. His eye is always seeking them, he will not rest until he has them all and casts all the peoples of the worlds we know into darkness, slavery and his control." Lac said gravely. "I will die before I permit that to happen, Sauron knows this, that is why he hunts me and all who follow me. ........... Now we stand on the edge of a knife ...... I for one will continue on this path."

"So it is true then." Stated Tiphereth rising before Lac'Nala, his dark eyes troubled. "Since our paths crossed I have felt the evil that pursues us, but would not allow myself to believe that it was indeed, He, who shadowed our every move." Tiphereth then scanned the band of adventurers brought together by fate, to support one another in a common goal. "My own world has known the cruelty of Sauron's master and mentor, Morgoth. Long ago he plagued our own lands, indiscriminately ravaging the kingdoms while our supreme gods the Aelaeydium, bound by their own laws were powerless to stop him. We had to unite and set aside our differences in order to defeat him, and in the days that I have walked at your side have I seen the beginnings of that same solidarity." He then straightened his right arm and within his hand appeared his gleaming spear, shimmering even in the darkness. "If history is to repeat itself here. Then my spear shall stand by your sword, and the people of this realm shall know of the lands of Ranslath and the Deithirin people."




Beldegir quickly stood and strode over to where the group was amassing about Lac'Nala. "You know I be with ye to the end, Master Lac'Nala. I can't let this light footed Faerie, draw all the glory with his silvery tongue." He then hefted up his weapon, "You have my axe."

Jin watched the others gather around Lac after his proclamation and wondered if they were all fighting a loosing battle or were the on the verge of defeating this evil. Even while she knew it was dangerous to allow herself to get close to Lac or any of the others, she also knew there was no way they could defeat it without banding together.

Tiphereth’s words echoed in her ears and Jin knew this Dark Lord had an endless reach. If he could reach into the veil of the Phaerie, what would stop him from conquering the rest of their world if they didn’t stop him?

There was only one answer.

“I will give all that I have to defeat this evil presence. There will be no doubt this Dark Force will know it has angered the Drow for I shall bring down the wrath of my people upon him. And do so with vengeance.”

They would feel the cold wind again as Jack returned from the ethereal realm, stepping forward to join the group. "You do not know me and nor do you trust me as of yet but I would like to aid you in your quest. The spirits have led me here in my own journey against this evil. There must be a reason."

Tiphereth could no longer hear the caws of the crebain and stretching his senses beyond their dank refuge, nodded to Lac'Nala affirming their departure, and though he could have quickly stole out of their refuge and confirmed their parting, stood fast and offered not 'til the ranger provided counsel.

To pass time, Tiphereth rejoined Beldegir and engaged in quiet conversation, although the booming voice of the Dwarf tended to draw attention. He told the tale of the Battle of Azanulbizar also known as the Battle of Nanduhirion to the Sindar and Dimrill Dale to Men. It was the last battle in the War between Dwarves and the Orcs of the Misty Mountains. "Many great Dwarves fell in that, the greatest of all the battles." He recounted. Then went on to describe the legendary fight between Nain of the Iron Hills and the Orc leader, Azog, who felled him battle, but his son Dain Ironfoot, avenged his father and hewed off Azog's head with one fell blow from his red axe. This ended the battle and the war, and to commemorate their fallen, they were stripped to avoid being plundered and all the trees in the valley were felled with which were made funeral pyres for the dead. The Dwarves were unable to honour them with tombs of stone so they burned them and to this day not a single tree has ever grown again in the valley.

Upon hearing the story, Tiphereth wondered what the barren valley had in store for them, if anything at all.

Lac bowed his head to the others, brought his right fist to his heart and said "If it means the forfiture of my life, my sword and bow stands with each of you, in this task we undertake, the defeat of Sauron and his minions."

As the others moved off to their own counsel, Lac began to explore the underground cavern, following the shoreline of the aquaduct. The path began to rise slowly and Lac emerged just beyound the tree line. There before him lay a meadow with several deer grazing, Lac slowly knelt, drew his bow and notch an arrow. Just a large buck snorted and stomped his hoof, Lac loosed an arrow striking a small doe in the lungs. She fell instantly as the others ran off across the meadow. Lac, rose from his knee, walked over withdrew his arrow and said a prayer thanking the Gods and the doe for her sacrifice that he and his companions might have sustinance and strength to continue their journey. Lifting the doe on his shoulders Lac then returned to the others. He laid the doe down and said "Let us eat and regain our strength, I have found an easier way out and we have many leagues to travel yet before us. .... This noble animal as sacrificed its life that we may regain our strength and have means to carry supplies."

Tiphereth bowed his head to Lac'Nala to honor his effort for the provision, but within he wept for the fallen deer. "Such is not the way of my people, my lord. By the Aelaeydium I am forbidden to take from nature that which I am able to provide myself through magic and agriculture." He explained calmly with no derision or malice to his words. He then melted into the foliage of the grove, while the deer was butchered and cooked. As he moved through the trees, his hair, flesh and even clothes seemed to mimic the the plant life about his form, allowing one to discern his presence only by his movement. Tiphereth then leapt high into the air and floated to the top a tall tree. Balancing upon branches that could hardly support the weight of a squirrel he swayed in the breeze keeping watch for any intruders that may be lurking in the trees at the fringe of the barren valley.

Before taking to the solitary sentry position, the Deithir paused to hear out Brianna's directions to the berry bushes. He looked to where she pointed then turned the faerie-fire of his gaze upon her once more and remembered that unlike the others she had not witnessed the conjurations granted by the Aelaeydium. "Thank you." he told her if only to be polite, took a chew of his jerky then carried on his way.

Lac looked to the sky and said "Yes I think we have time to make jerky and prepare bags fron the skins to carry our food supplies and more water with us. Then we must make haste for we have many more leagues to travel before nightfall. We need to be off these plains and into the Lands of Rhovanion, before the sun sets."

In the meantime Jack stayed within the shadows just watching the group for the time being. It had been some time since he had worked with a group. Usually he was forced to take on challenges by himself. Kneeling down he began to trace his finger along the stones. Before long the man seemed to go into a bit of a trance.

From his high perch, Tiphereth could look out across the barren steppes of Azanulbizar. Were there an awaiting ambush they would be hard pressed to to remain hidden unless they buried themselves. Growing bored with the scenery then, the Phaerie watched the ghostwalker for a moment and felt time rushing through him as if he were delving into the past of something, but what he could not tell. His eyes then wandered down the stream, until he found himself observing Brianna as she washed in the cool waters, her thin under garments adhering to her form. She was strong and yet feminine, bearing the classic body of a warrior woman, not unlike those who he studied his style of fighting with long ago. He actually rather enjoyed watching her, Tiphereth had always been fascinating with the 'human' form, it was one thing that bound all the races together and none could deny that one similarity everyone shared.

Something else caught his attention then, something that he had near mistaken for large dark trees, but in fact were much more. Standing as still as stone, were two massive creatures their scaly skin as black as night. Their dull armour was dark as well, and each carried a great shield and enormous war hammers. Creatures, Tiphereth recognized as Trolls, but never had he seen such a species, since in fact they were Olog-hai or Black Trolls, bred by Sauron from lesser Troll stock to produce powerful servants that could withstand sunlight. Cunning and strong, these Trolls were superb warriors that knew no fear and thirsted for blood and victory.



Using a 'long-whisper', Tiphereth called to Lac'Nala, "Brianna is in danger." The Deithir then leapt from the tree top and into the winds, floating down to the stream where the Dunadan had already began to sense their presence. Landing nearby, Tiphereth had already conjured his spear, but hoped they would not attack until the others arrived.

While Brianna advanced, Tiphereth wisely stepped back from the hulking brute. The Troll was easily the height of three men and though his black scaly skin seemed tough enough to withstand a dull blade, he also wore heavy metal armour over his enormous body. His great shield was taller than, Tiphereth and weighed enough to smash their bones.

"Brianna." He hissed in a hushed tone so as not to startle the Troll, "This is foolish, let us fly."

La sprang toi his feet drawing ins sword and running towards Tiephereth and Brianna,. Seeing the Olog-hai, Lac raised his sword over his head cursing " Belyin anlorlis tinhinev Glinoldaysir wilhilarttae ethaviristilis isasil tilhaminstar tayhinartin Sataruthrelonnar hirarthasar branrayorglinhintil delothwynnar uthaeperothnir uthaysil? Im daeathminnar yilonuthay toros hinestlorlor alnaydae yorosunerel miransaytaeevraysat sayorunelay hamartasat weneldlirlae." ( Translation: By all the Gods what evil is this thai Suron has broght down upon us? I damn you to hell and your masters soul has well.)

Lac then swung and chopped down, across the forarm of the first Olog-hai, severing the forearm and hand that held his battle hammer. The Olog-hai roared in pain and frustration, kicking out at Lac with his armoured boot. The boot caught Lac in his left hip, causing him to be thrown backward and to the ground, as the OLog-hai took two strides forward and raised his boot to stomp Lac to jelly. Lac raised his sword and rolled to his right, driving his sword into the foot of the Olog-hai to the hilt. Lac then slashed out with his Elven Long Knife and severed the Olog-hai's achilles tendens. Lac pulled his word free and slashed across the back of the knees of the falling OLg-hai. Turning around and rising, Lac heard the last words of the second OLg-hai as he vanished into the wood. "Golrunuthgalgilothnir yaosune saehirallinlor nirestavineldrin arthagalathisanae dayrinarthwel delraearthuwin tilhinest bearlorolordil orrin bearrayinanelgil hurarthurelmae tiroth tynhiemeld pernethospanlineldasil ossafal taehalimsata welossaraelisdel othren astranaryisothtaehiletharel. Gulor arthnardel artwilalisator yorossauthurae morartasortareldaren istanir tarhilesta astribelyirsilsil." (TRANSLATION: Gruggon you shall never again draw draw the blood or bring harm to the peoples of this world or anyother. Go and await your master in the abyss. With that Lac drove his sword across the Ulog-hais throat nearly severeing hit head.