[Annunfuiniel]

Elentari’s command had been clear: they would cross the Old Ford and follow the Road that would lead them straight to the High Pass. The Elves, Men and their horses were ready for the crossing of the water. Gráin turned to Nalin

"You know these paths: how deep is the water?"

"Don’t worry. Even if it had rained for a week we could still cross the river here. The current is strong but the water shallow, though it deepens sharply on your left hand."

Vráin overheard this conversation and saw the relief on his brother’s face. That, of course, gave him a mischievous idea. Trying to conceal a grin he yelled

"I’ll go first!" and with that he spurted towards the stream but curved to the left.

"What?! NOOOO!! WAIT!" cried Gráin and was about to run after his brother. Just then Vráin halted right on the river bank and swung round –

"Fooled you!" he exclaimed and burst into laughter.

Gráin looked at first puzzled but recovered very quickly. Vráin made the mistake to think he was safe when there were other people around – surely his older brother would know how to behave in company. He bent over in laughter and – FHHIII- *thwock* – a fairly large pebble hit him right to his forehead! Vráin stumbled and – holding his head – fell on his back to the low water.

Nalin’s expression formed a question mark as he looked first at Gráin, then at his brother spattering in the stream, and then at Gráin again. The racket had by now aroused attention among the rest of the fellowship too. Gráin grinned

"See my brother here, he’s a really enthusiastic bather! There’s no pool or puddle to which he won’t dive in but he’s especially fond of strong streams."

Selvren Anion, who was familiar with the dwarf brothers’ earlier river-incident, was laughing already and others joined him soon. When Vráin finally managed to climb to the river bank he was quite a comical sight: water dripping from his soaking wet clothes formed small ponds around him, his hair had clued to his face and weeds hung from his tangled beard. Under the tan his face turned bright red as he first eyed his audience. But then he spluttered, coughed and called with laughing voice

"My, that was refreshing! I warmly recommend a bath to ya’ll!"

---------

The crossing of Anduin went without any further episodes. They had over 60 miles in front of them, from the Old Ford to the roots of the Misty Mountains. Haste drove them forth and though the dwarves had no ponies the company covered some thirty miles before the night came down on them on their first day beyond the Great River. Last miles they travelled in the deep shadow of the Misty Mountains before they camped for the night in a small pine wood right beside the road. Needles formed a dry soft mattress for the weary travellers to lie down.

The next morning dawned pale and chill. Breaths smoked and dwarves’ beards were still all frosty as the entourage was ready to set forth. In the light of the rising sun they saw the highlands in front of them and then the steep slopes of the mountains. The dwarves were excited and quickened their pace – after all the mountains were their 'home'. But others were worried and glanced at the dark walls suspiciously: they felt this would be no safe pass ahead of them.

That evening dusk found them early. Rocky waste lay around them; no trees grew this high and even the undergrowth was scrubby. The night was not as pleasant as the previous: few slept well on the hard ground when cold wind howled in the rock fissures and crept under their blankets. Many lay still, watching the twinkling stars, thinking about the next morning and the narrow mountain paths they would be taking.

"Queen of the Stars, guide our road..." one of the elves murmured in the darkness and then there was silence.

-----------

The morning came with a change in the weather. Grey clouds hang low on the mountain-sides and under the campsite world seemed like an endless sea of fog. Needless to say the atmosphere sank to the bottom.

"Just what I thought! We have been too lucky..." Gráin muttered, mainly to himself. Even Vráin looked disgruntled. Before they had finished their breakfast it started to rain fine drops in the windless air. Elentari called the group around her.

"From now on the road rises sheer and gets narrower the further we go. We must travel in line. Usually I would suggest we keep some distance between every traveller but now that the weather is like this... We must stay close to each other, otherwise we’ll soon get separated and lost in the mist." She eyed her companions with concern but then smiled encouragingly. "You all have steady feet and brave hearts! We will do just fine!"

Nalin led the group with Elentari right behind him leading her horse, Moon. She was in turn followed by Selvren Anion, Merenwen Taralon, Alcyaveiel and Lostlondwen, Callo walking protectively behind the she-elf. Ewinda and Rowan marched successively and last, after the elves, men and all their horses, came the other dwarves; Farin, Vráin and hindmost Gráin.

Their trudge progressed painfully slow. Everything was silent except the sound of rain humming in their ears. Thank gods Nalin is with us for else we would never get down from here! Gráin thought while pushing forward in Vráin’s footsteps. He loved rocks and mountains but rather he would have gone under them than tried to get over them.

Then all of a sudden, as is common so high up, the weather changed again. Wind came rushing down the slopes and drove the fog ahead of him. The rain changed too: now it came pouring down on them. Gráin had cursed the weather too early for this surely was far worse than the fog and soft rain.

Vanguard took a sharp turn as the path curved left and vanished behind a cliff. On their right side the brae slant steeply for about 35 feet and ended to another pass, a bit wider than the one they were trooping.

Who knows were they just unlucky or was it for some greater cause but just then and without a warning the mountain eased its grip of a heavy rock right over their heads. It came off silently, fell down with deadly force and crashed to the rocky path between two travellers!

The horses jumped up in terror. Vráin backed up as Farin bumped into him. He couldn’t see a thing but Gráin was in a corner from which he saw the horses bolting. Like in a nightmare he was unable to do anything but yell and watch as one of his fellow travellers staggered, fell and rolled down the cliff.

[ May 23, 2003: Message edited by: Annunfuiniel ]