[Annunfuiniel]

Farin wandered a while on the gentler slopes of the mountain, just a short way to the south from the campsite. She needed to be alone or otherwise… innocent people might get hurt! Farin didn’t wish to shed her bitter words on anyone else’s but Vráin’s shoulders. Calling me a fool! And threatening to reveal my secret! That’s low!

An endless flow of other similar exclamations poured to the tip of her tongue but she swallowed them quickly. Oh yes; we got enough attention already with Vráin shouting like that to me… But she clenched her teeth and her eyes flamed as she paced fiercely back and forth. The ponies had deemed it better to step aside and presently they were quite content with the green grass-patch they had found.

Eventually Farin calmed down a little, enough so that she decided to head back to the camp. The night had rolled its deepest, darkest shadows over her and now, as she was again able to concentrate on what was going on around her, the whispering darkness made her shiver. Quickly she grabbed the ponies by their reins and walked them to the other beasts. Then she sighed deep and steered her steps towards the camp, preparing herself to face the questioning glances of her companions. But Vráin… That mister had better have a pretty apology ready!

Rowan was the first whom Farin met back at the campsite.

"Are you all right? All have been wondering about your disappearance."

Farin rushed to answer the man before he had a chance to question her on more tender issues.

"I’m fine, Rowan; thank you. I just needed to be alone for a while. Being so near to the dragon’s lair and not to be able to do anything but wait… That just got on my nerves."

By then Alcyávëiel had also reached them and listened eagerly to what Farin had to say. As she paused the elf nodded in agreement;

"I know that feeling. My husband is up there, no more than an hour’s walk away – and yet unreachable." She lowered her head and looked to the ground. But the vision she beheld didn’t come from that place or time but moved behind her eyes: a treasure she cherished, the memory of Iarlhach’s face as he smiled at her and called her name.

A silence fell between those three. Farin glanced around the camp absent-mindedly, though secretly hoping she would soon see Vráin coming towards her. She noticed that their packs still lay on the ground just a few paces away. But there was something strange with that setting: a dark bundle amid Vráin’s other gear. A sudden foreboding forced her to step pass Rowan and take a closer look at their belongings.

Suppressing her craving to run she walked stiffly to her gear. There was her bag and Vráin’s too with her axe and their helmets… But Vráin’s axe was gone. And instead of his weapon there was that bundle: Vráin’s skilfully wrought chain-mail.

"Why has he taken this off?" Farin asked, mainly from herself.

"Where is Vráin?" she then turned and questioned her companions.

"Farin," came Gráin’s voice from behind her. And as she turned again she saw the dwarf coming towards their group with Selvren by his side; "He has left."

"Where to?" Farin continued stubbornly, though she already knew the answer.

"Lenwe and Elentari came back," It was Selvren’s turn to speak up and he nodded towards the mountain; "and they needed someone to go up there and do some scouting. Vráin just announced that he would go and everything was settled. He left some time ago and should soon be at the peak."

All five of them looked towards the looming mountain as if their eyes could pierce the darkness and they would indeed see Vráin climbing up, reaching his goal. Wind had nearly died away; all was silent. But the deeper the silence became around them the louder did her own rash words rang in Farin’s head:

"Fine, go then! And I hope the dragon likes his prey stupid, stubborn and uptight! Go to him and get yourself killed! Who’s the fool then?!"

"Go to him and get yourself killed! Go to him and get yourself killed…get yourself killed…"

No! Vráin, come back!!

* * * * * * *

Perin rolled down the last fifty feet of the slope. Maybe not the most dignified descent but he didn't heed to it as haste drove him forth. He had just crawled back to his feet when suddenly there was a fair voice calling:

"Vrain, is that you? Thank goodness you've returned. We've all been worrying what happened to you." And Perin saw how a tall, slender figure parted from the shadows and rushed forth towards him.

Perin was confused; a sensation that had become only too familiar to him that evening. And, knowing not what to say, he remained silent. The elf reached him and put an arm around his shoulder, leading him firmly towards the camp. Then he let out another clear call.

"Come all! Come and listen! Vráin has returned!"

The whole camp seemed to stir though it was clear to Perin that none had actually been sleeping. A choir of glad and relieved greetings flooded over him. And still he had spoken no word.

Suddenly one voice rose above the others, a shout full of disbelief, trembling and then failing:

"Perin? Perin..."

"Farin? Yes, it's me!"

A dark figure rushed from behind the tall elves and men nearly pushing them over. And then it stood before him, still hesitating for a one more second. In the dim light Perin saw his sister's dear, familiar face. There and then, in the middle of all the horrors, his heart was pierced with joy and he called for her.

"Farin...sister! Come here, I have missed you so much..."

And Farin came, leaping the last few steps to him. Her hiding was over, everyone knew her secret now - and she was relieved. All the suppressed emotions run over her and she wept with joy, safe in her brother's loving arms.

"Are you all right? How... I still can't believe it's really you! How did you escape?" Countless questions circulated in her mind and she was obviously going to ask them all at once. Perin had to hush her by putting his palm over her mouth.

"All in due time! Actually I am hurt..." Farin's face turned pale though no-one could tell that in the darkness. Perin grinned; "Yes, I just toppled down that slope and my knee's aching."

Perin ducked Farin's slap and there were many who thought that Perin and Vráin were quite alike in other ways too than just by their looks.

This similarity didn't go unnoticed to Gráin who had at once, like Farin, perceived that the newcomer wasn't Vráin. He was of course happy for Farin and her brother but presently worry over his own brother was first thing in his mind. Vráin hadn't come back. Gráin was just about to speak his anxiety out loud when suddenly the same reality dawned to Farin and she turned grave;

"Perin, did you meet another dwarf up there? Tell me if you can; where is Vráin?"

"Yes," came Perin's solemn answer; "Yes, I met Vráin - the bravest dwarf I've ever seen. He virtually forced me to come down here... And he went inside instead."

For a fleeing moment there was a dead silence as all understood what Perin had just said. Then Farin and Gráin gasped simultaneously;

"What was he thinking?"

Perin sighed; "My words exactly! But he was so determined and finally I gave in. But he has a plan that might actually work - at least I sure hope so. He took my tunic and gave me his...and this too."

With that Perin took Vráin's axe from his back and extended it to Gráin. "Hail and well met, Gráin son of Thráin! Perin son of Furin at your and your family's service. I believe this is rightfully yours to keep till you can give it back to your brother."

Gráin took the axe and bowed low but said naught. He had prepared for some great evil but still the stroke was bitter.

"And to you, my dear sister, I have something too." Perin leaned over to Farin ans whispered in her ear; "'Tell Farin that I’m sorry. That is all I have words for, the rest she’ll know in her heart…'" Farin clutched to Perin's blue tunic that, when she last had seen it, had been over Vráin. She veiled her face in the cloth and wept now with the torment of her heart.

* * * * * * *

The rest of the night passed as Perin answered all the many questions asked from him about the dragon and his lair. Before the hour of dawn all were weary but more knowing of their peril. And now more than ever they were ready to plunge right in and slay the dragon.

* * * * * * *

Vráin stepped into the warm gloom of the tunnel. He tried to concentrate wholly on his mission but uninvited images and thoughts circled in his mind. I did the right thing! She needs her brother more than she needs me... Deep in his thoughts Vráin stumbled to a small crack in the ground and fell cursing on his knees. Some logs rolled down from the high pile he just managed to balance in his lap. Already sweating he scrambled up leaving the strayed pieces wherever they ended. Concentrate! If you ever want to see any of them again you’ll need to pay a little more attention – or the dragon will know you’re a fraud before you have time to say 'fi…'

Vráin’s musings were interrupted as he came to the first parting of the ways. And here indeed burned a small fire, a torch on the wall on his right hand. And in the next corner of the path, someway ahead in the tunnel on the same side, there glimmered another faint flame. The ceaseless beat of the hammers grew steadily louder as Vráin trudged on, still climbing gently upwards. The sound echoed like hundred drums in the the majestic halls which roof hung in immeasurable heights.

It was a stiff walk, turn after another towards the inmost cave of the vast network of devious paths, smaller caverns and dead-ends. The air became the more suffocating the closer Vráin got to his destination, though ever and anon a cooler breeze blew past him, down from whence he had come.
The last stage of his journey was again lightless save for a dim red glow flickering on the walls. From what had previously sounded like an unisonous hammering Vráin’s experienced ear could now descry at least five or six different tones. The great forging was nearly finished but not yet; the dragon pressed his slaves hard, maybe driven by restlessness over some shadow on the edge of his consciousness or then purely because of his greed and impatience.

While pondering these notions Vráin reached a sharp turn. The path bend first left and then cut back to the right. Suddenly Vráin was blinded by the great bonfire that now blazed straight in front of him. The heat felt at first unbearable. Vráin stood and blinked, unable to continue forth but loath to turn back now at his journey’s end. And then he had no chance to do so anyway as the most dreadful voice he had ever heard rose above the hammer-beat and spoke to him.

"Master Perin!" it thundered; "Had you come but a second later one of your friends would have met an evil end. I had already picked my prey - him." And the beast pointed to a bent elf with his huge, hook-like talon. "What do you say about my choice?"

Vráin shivered though the heat of the fire scorched him. 'Do not look into his eyes!' Perin’s words rang in his head and he kept his gaze on the ground. All he could see of the dragon were his great forelimbs and the bronze scales of his belly. Slowly he laid down his burden and then stood up, ready to carry out the perilous plan.

* * * * * * *

Child’s post:

Vráin breathed deep the hot air and then spoke out:

"Master Dragon, in another day your great and wondrous suit will be finished. It is indeed the finest coat of chain mail in all of Middle earth. No weapon can pierce it. You will be invincible."

In his triumph and joy, a terrible sound came flooding out from Glawr's throat, a sound that contained hints of all the shadows and evil that were now extending their wicked fingers over Arda. It was then that Vráin spoke out, saying exactly what Perin had told him.

"Great master, I am indeed happy for you. But one thing is missing. This chain mail shirt is indeed very effective in protecting your body, but it is also dull and bland. It hides your wondrous scales of bronze. When men see you in this suit, they may indeed laugh for they will judge it to be some old metal thing that has been tossed aside by a blacksmith. Your own bronze scales which glow in the sunlight are a far more beauteous thing."

Glawr extended out his talons and drummed them on the ground, "Why do you tell me this, Master Perin? Do you not fear to say such things to me? Perhaps I will decide to beat your head into the ground. You have created a wondrous suit of mail, but it lacks the sheen and luster of my own scales. That is a serious fault. How do you intend to remedy this?"

"Ah, but that is the fine and wondrous thing. I know exactly how we may fix this sad state of affairs so that you will gleam like the sun and all Men, Dwarves, and Elves will bow down before you. Within your horde, there is much fine gold. Several of us in the cavern are indeed experts in the shaping and decorating of this metal. We could easily create a lovely coat of gold, complete with fine engravings, in order to slip over the dull grey armor so you would sparkle like the sun."

"Go then," ordered Glawr. "Go and do this thing at once."

"Of course, Sir. But there is just one small problem.

Glawr turned back and fixed a jaundiced eye on Vráin, "Yes, what is wrong now? Can you do nothing right?"

"Nothing is wrong. Only this......we must douse the giant fire that now burns in the hearth. For that fire is fed with the logs of many scrub and pine trees, that are really quite soft and unsuitable. Everyone knows that a smith cannot work with gold and engrave it with fine decorations unless there is a fire fed with the hard wood that comes from trees that grow lower down the mountain."

Glawr stared at him with contempt, "Alright, Master Perin. Have the captives douse the fire tonight. Before the dawn I will fly down to the foothills and bring you all the hardwood that you need. But see that you have both my armor and suit of gold ready to wear by tomorrow night."

Vráin shook his head, trying to hide the smile which kept threatening to break out on his face. "Yes, Sir. Certainly. We will do that at once." Then he turned and left.

[ July 11, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

[ July 11, 2003: Message edited by: Annunfuiniel ]