[Annunfuiniel]

"I need some help over here!"

Gráin heard a shout from behind and pulled his pony to a halt. Vráin on his left side did the same and at the same time reached for his axe. Gráin turned around and saw Ewinda’s horse bolting and then galloping off to the opposite direction. A black pit had opened to the ground.

"Someone has to go and fetch her horse," Elentari called out as she and Aravorn reached the edge of the ditch. The ranger had already a rope in his hands. Gráin was about to dismount to help him when he heard Vráin shout:

“I’ll go get the horse!” and with that he dashed off.

“Wait-…” Gráin tried to call after him - without avail. Here we go – again… he rolled his eyes and urged his steady steed into a surprisingly swift run. This is ridiculous! What if someone needs to get down to that pit? Who knows what caves there might be! And here we gallop; dwarves on ponies after a runaway horse! Madness, pure madness… Gráin continued to grumble as he rode on following his brother.

They were lucky; for Ewinda’s horse was wise enough to stay on the trail which they had made earlier while riding to meet the bandits. They needed not worry about new traps for the ground was already once tested. The horse had galloped off like thousand orcs were at its tail and soon it had disappeared from sight into the moonlit night. But by nature the beast was calm and quickly it cooled off. Its gallop settled down first to trot and then to a light pace before it stopped and tucked its muzzle to the dewy hay. And like that Vráin and Gráin finally found her.

“Here, Sparkle. Come now…easy, easy…” Vráin called warily. The horse couldn’t have cared less for his persuasions: it snorted and turned its tail on the dwarf. Vráin tried another trick and pursed his lips in an attempt to whistle like the elves when they call their steeds. Gráin found it most amusing to watch him puff and blow his face red however not succeeding to create a single note. Finally, when he had had his fun, Gráin dismounted his pony, walked casually to the grazing horse and grabbed her bridle. It whinnied and then followed him lightly.

“Can we go now?” Gráin inquired nonchalantly of his brother.

“Surely, brother horse-master,” came Vráin’s distinctly irritated answer. They rode back to the others in silence
save for a couple of Gráin’s short but clear whistles.

*********************************************

Vráin and Gráin had been on their 'hunt' for about a half an hour and returned now just in time to witness Elentari disappear into the pit.

“What is she doing?” Gráin wondered out loud. He hopped off his saddle and ran to the others, leaving the mounts to seek their companions on their own. Vráin had been sulky throughout the whole return ride but now he forgot all his annoyance. He swung himself down from his pony and soon followed Gráin.

“What is Elentari doing?” Vráin echoed his brother’s question; “Why didn’t she wait for me?”

“Look who’s talking. If it wasn’t for you we’d be on our way down right now!” Gráin spat out the words but they went to deaf ears. Vráin had rushed to Aravorn and was now asking him for details. Gráin turned to the others and saw Ewinda lying on the ground, her face twisted with pain. He aimed a questioning glance at Lostlondwen who answered with voice full of worry;

“It’s her back.”

“Well, the Elves are masters of healing arts but these kind of injuries we dwarves know quite well too. If she doesn’t cough blood everything should turn out fine. Most likely she has broken some ribs… Just wrap her in a nice and tight packet, that is all we can do. If you know an herb that will ease her pains then maybe she could even ride soon.” Gráin stepped to Ewinda and, feeling curiously coy, patted her shoulder;

“You will be just fine. These elves know what they are doing.”

*********************************************

In the meanwhile Vráin had been exhausting Aravorn with endless questions. And, in his ardour, he felt his answers unsatisfactory. Elentari had gone into a cave, probably an old mine, of which they had no more knowledge – other than that queer sounds were flowing in its air. Vráin could easily guess what Gráin would say of this matter and he had no intention to stay and listen to the words he already saw coming. From the corner of his eye he caught a glimpse of his older brother talking with Lostlondwen.

“Aravorn,” he whispered; “I will go down – now!”

Aravorn eyed the dwarf for a while before answering. “Let it be so. For I am worried: there has been no sign of Elentari since she found the entrance into the tunnels.”

Vráin needed no more encouragement not to mention his brother’s leave. He settled to the brink of the pit and grabbed the rope that Aravorn was now holding. Nimbly and silently he vanished to the darkness right before Gráin turned to speak to him again. Familiar curses streaming to Vráin’s ears told him his disappearance had not gone unnoticed.

“Vráin! Get out from there or wait for me!” he saw Gráin’s angry face against the dim light far up.

“Yes, yes…right after I have checked this tunnel!” And with that Vráin plunged through the narrow opening to the mine. A muffled “Vráin” rang behind him.

Vráin crept on all fours for some way before he felt the tunnel widen around him; cool air breathed over his face. He rose and hurried forward. The tunnel wound here and there but yet it didn’t branch. Something warned Vráin not to shout and for once he listened to the little voice inside him. It was too quiet for his liking.

Shortly Vráin’s fears proved true. In the darkness he stumbled to something which with further examination turned out to be a net. The ground was trampled. They have taken her, those filthy savages! Vráin raged and ran blindly forward.

Had Gráin been with him he could have warned Vráin that that sort of action comes with a prize. But undoubtedly things would have ended the same way in either case. So it was Vráin’s destiny to run into an opponent beyond his might: the stone wall!

For a while after the collision Vráin just sat in the ground holding his hurting head and hoping the little lights would stop scintillating in his eyes. When he finally risked to rise again the lights had gone out save for one persistent twinkler. By now Vráin’s keen eyes, used to look for gemstones in the deepest and darkest mines under the mountains, had seen that this gleaming light was no illusion. He reached for it and his hand met with something solid – a bright gem in a broken necklace. This is the way they used to retreat!

The pulsating bump in Vráin’s forehead had driven some sense into his head and now he stood in silence, listening eagerly. There was no sounds to be heard or light to be seen, neither ahead nor behind. But the fresh air flowing from the marked tunnel told Vráin that not far ahead was the way out. After a short moment of consideration Vráin spun round on his heels and jogged back to the others as swiftly as he could. Nearing the end of the tunnel he started to shout

“They have Elentari! They took her!”

Several heads shaded the opening of the pit from above as Vráin finally peered up.

“They attacked her. But I know where they went! If you still have the map then make use of it and look for a camp in the northwest. There you’ll find the villains’ lair!” Vráin paused to catch his breath. “Aravorn, should some of us ride there? Or will we all go through the tunnels?”

“I know the place you are talking about!” Aravorn exclaimed. “Rangers!” he called for his men and beckoned towards the horses. In a second they had mounted and were ready to leave. The moon was steadily westering and stars shone brighter; it was no more than two hours till the dawn.

“Who will come with me? Two or three more, with swiftest horses. The rest of you: follow Vráin!”

[ June 16, 2003: Message edited by: Annunfuiniel ]

[ June 16, 2003: Message edited by: Annunfuiniel ]