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Child of the 7th Age · 07-10-2003, 12:16 AM

The company had readily made its way to the tiny ledge that lay at the base of the great outer walls of the cavern; the sheet cliffs rose straight up from here and loomed menacingly over their heads. This would be the difficult part. Thankfully, the rock was not completely smooth. Although perilously steep, the grey stone walls were dimpled and pocked with cracks and crevices that provided ample footholds for the climber. Yet even with these niches and clefts in the stone, the going had not been easy.

Elentari had made sure that everyone fastened knotted ropes about their waists to help keep them safe them in case they met any mishaps on the cliff. The Elf was the first to make the ascent, carefully testing each foothold and ledge before letting the others begin their long climb; Lenwe followed at the rear of the column making sure no one was left behind.

The Dwarves found the ascent especially difficult. Several times, Gràin and Perin could be heard muttering choice comments under their breath about the fact that Aule intended Dwarves to tunnel downward in the earth, not to soar upward like eagles. One time, in a particularly treacherous portion of the cliff, Callo's foot had slipped, his body threatening to plunge downward to what would be certain death; the man found himself hanging in mid-air, saved only by the fragile line about his waist. He dangled and twisted from the end of the rope high above the ledge until his companions managed to pull him back to safety.

Almost an hour had passed before they'd made it to the top of the cavern. Standing next to the great smoke hole, Lenwe peered curiously down into the depths of the cave. The Elf leaned over and wrenched off the grate, a crude affair of wire which took no more than one hard jerk to lift up and clear out their entryway. Elentari unwrapped the long spiral of rope she'd brought with her, first uncoiling it and snaking it downward through the hole a little at a time. Suddenly, the end of the rope scraped against the bottom. Elentari felt a welcoming tug as the line was firmly secured and held in place by several of the captives so climbing would be easier for those beginning their descent.

Lenwe and Elentari eyed each other jubilantly. Things were going even better than expected. One by one, the members of the company gripped the thick hemp coil and lowered their bodies down, carefully placing one hand beneath the other until they reached the floor of the cave. They felt welcoming pats on their backs and handshakes of greeting, although it was difficult to see anything in the dark and shadowed recesses. After taking his axe back from his brother, Vrain leaned over whispering into Lenwe's ear that he was going forward with Elentari's party to try and slay the dragon.

Lenwe looked over at the hostages and asked, "Is this it? Is everyone here?"

One of the Elves shook his head, "No, there are more of us than this. Some are back doing their chores in the other portions of the cavern. They had little choice for they must do the dragon's bidding if they wish to remain alive."

Lenwe nodded towards Ewinda, asking her to go with him to find the other captives.
Meanwhile, Elentari and the others slipped off towards the front of the cavern hoping to hide and wait for the dragon to return when they would pounce on him unexpectedly.

********************************************
Annunfuiniel's post:

Gráin loosened his grip of the rope and let himself fall freely the last five or six feet. He landed to the ground with a soft thud and a clang as the two axes on his back hit together. Immediately he swung around to get a general view of the surroundings. A deep sigh of relief escaped his lips as, beyond hope, he saw Vráin standing right next to him.

"So good to see you, alive!" Gráin embraced his brother and then drew forth the other axe. “And this, I believe, belongs to you."

Vráin smiled at his brother and took the weapon, weighing it in his hands. "Yes, and need I say how much I have missed this beauty?"

"Ah, looks like I’ve been totally forgotten in one night." Another soft thump accompanied the voice that spoke first from above the brothers’ heads and then descended on their level. Vráin smiled like the sun had just come down to him.

"Farin!" he jumped forward and grabbed her into his strong arms. Great sorrow and worry it was to his heart that Farin had to come to that dreadful place – and yet nothing could have kindled such new hope in him than seeing her beside him. They were together again; and together they would hold even if the very earth should quake and the blue sky was forever lost to them.

* * * * * * *

Orofaniel's post

Finally the whole company was in the cave. Ewinda was quite anxious because she thought that the chance of finding the captives alive had grown paler for tha last few days.

The cold air that filled the cave was making Ewinda shiver. Without a sound the company was walking around in the dark cave searching for the last of the captives. Elantari and Lenwe lead tham, and Selvren was the last one. Ewinda had to admit that she wasn't jealous of those positions.

Suddenly they heard sounds ahead of them, which she feared was the dragon who might have returned. But as they drew nearer they realised that it was the captives. They were close at hand, but where exactly they were, none of them could tell.

"I'll go and find them," Lenwe said sternly. "Who will follow me?" he asked.

"I am coming with you," Lostlondwen cried at Lenwe. He was just about to run for it. "Okey, come on, quickly!" Lenwe looked at her with wide eyes. "Follow me," he whispered.

Lenwe and Perin were in the front now and said in calm voices. "Be careful."

It was some minutes before they found the missing captives and led them back towards the rear of the caverns to the area where the great hole gaped open in the ceiling.

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

Child's post

Suddenly, from out of nowhere, a huge gust of wind swept through the twisted passages and tunnels of the caverns. Holding up a small firebrand that flickered and gutted, Lenwe looked over and saw masks of fear instantly slip down over the faces of the captives who were still standing beside him. One of the kidnapped Elves turned around to Lenwe, quivering with fear and a look of terror in his eyes. "He has returned. The wyrm has returned. It is the flapping of his wings in the front hall which creates such a windstorm in the maze of the cave."

Lenwe felt his heart lurch forward. His captives were still safe back in the bowels of the cavern. But Elentari and her group had already left for the front and, not having any of the captives with them, would have no idea what the strange wind meant. As if reading Lenwe's thoughts, Perin pushed forward and yelled, "I will go to them and warn them of the danger."

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

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

07-10-2003, 12:16 AM	#147
Child of the 7th Age Spirit of the Lonely Star Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 5,133	The company had readily made its way to the tiny ledge that lay at the base of the great outer walls of the cavern; the sheet cliffs rose straight up from here and loomed menacingly over their heads. This would be the difficult part. Thankfully, the rock was not completely smooth. Although perilously steep, the grey stone walls were dimpled and pocked with cracks and crevices that provided ample footholds for the climber. Yet even with these niches and clefts in the stone, the going had not been easy. Elentari had made sure that everyone fastened knotted ropes about their waists to help keep them safe them in case they met any mishaps on the cliff. The Elf was the first to make the ascent, carefully testing each foothold and ledge before letting the others begin their long climb; Lenwe followed at the rear of the column making sure no one was left behind. The Dwarves found the ascent especially difficult. Several times, Gràin and Perin could be heard muttering choice comments under their breath about the fact that Aule intended Dwarves to tunnel downward in the earth, not to soar upward like eagles. One time, in a particularly treacherous portion of the cliff, Callo's foot had slipped, his body threatening to plunge downward to what would be certain death; the man found himself hanging in mid-air, saved only by the fragile line about his waist. He dangled and twisted from the end of the rope high above the ledge until his companions managed to pull him back to safety. Almost an hour had passed before they'd made it to the top of the cavern. Standing next to the great smoke hole, Lenwe peered curiously down into the depths of the cave. The Elf leaned over and wrenched off the grate, a crude affair of wire which took no more than one hard jerk to lift up and clear out their entryway. Elentari unwrapped the long spiral of rope she'd brought with her, first uncoiling it and snaking it downward through the hole a little at a time. Suddenly, the end of the rope scraped against the bottom. Elentari felt a welcoming tug as the line was firmly secured and held in place by several of the captives so climbing would be easier for those beginning their descent. Lenwe and Elentari eyed each other jubilantly. Things were going even better than expected. One by one, the members of the company gripped the thick hemp coil and lowered their bodies down, carefully placing one hand beneath the other until they reached the floor of the cave. They felt welcoming pats on their backs and handshakes of greeting, although it was difficult to see anything in the dark and shadowed recesses. After taking his axe back from his brother, Vrain leaned over whispering into Lenwe's ear that he was going forward with Elentari's party to try and slay the dragon. Lenwe looked over at the hostages and asked, "Is this it? Is everyone here?" One of the Elves shook his head, "No, there are more of us than this. Some are back doing their chores in the other portions of the cavern. They had little choice for they must do the dragon's bidding if they wish to remain alive." Lenwe nodded towards Ewinda, asking her to go with him to find the other captives. Meanwhile, Elentari and the others slipped off towards the front of the cavern hoping to hide and wait for the dragon to return when they would pounce on him unexpectedly. ****************************************** Annunfuiniel's post:** Gráin loosened his grip of the rope and let himself fall freely the last five or six feet. He landed to the ground with a soft thud and a clang as the two axes on his back hit together. Immediately he swung around to get a general view of the surroundings. A deep sigh of relief escaped his lips as, beyond hope, he saw Vráin standing right next to him. "So good to see you, alive!" Gráin embraced his brother and then drew forth the other axe. “And this, I believe, belongs to you." Vráin smiled at his brother and took the weapon, weighing it in his hands. "Yes, and need I say how much I have missed this beauty?" "Ah, looks like I’ve been totally forgotten in one night." Another soft thump accompanied the voice that spoke first from above the brothers’ heads and then descended on their level. Vráin smiled like the sun had just come down to him. "Farin!" he jumped forward and grabbed her into his strong arms. Great sorrow and worry it was to his heart that Farin had to come to that dreadful place – and yet nothing could have kindled such new hope in him than seeing her beside him. They were together again; and together they would hold even if the very earth should quake and the blue sky was forever lost to them. * * * * * * * Orofaniel's post Finally the whole company was in the cave. Ewinda was quite anxious because she thought that the chance of finding the captives alive had grown paler for tha last few days. The cold air that filled the cave was making Ewinda shiver. Without a sound the company was walking around in the dark cave searching for the last of the captives. Elantari and Lenwe lead tham, and Selvren was the last one. Ewinda had to admit that she wasn't jealous of those positions. Suddenly they heard sounds ahead of them, which she feared was the dragon who might have returned. But as they drew nearer they realised that it was the captives. They were close at hand, but where exactly they were, none of them could tell. "I'll go and find them," Lenwe said sternly. "Who will follow me?" he asked. "I am coming with you," Lostlondwen cried at Lenwe. He was just about to run for it. "Okey, come on, quickly!" Lenwe looked at her with wide eyes. "Follow me," he whispered. Lenwe and Perin were in the front now and said in calm voices. "Be careful." It was some minutes before they found the missing captives and led them back towards the rear of the caverns to the area where the great hole gaped open in the ceiling. ******************************************* Child's post** Suddenly, from out of nowhere, a huge gust of wind swept through the twisted passages and tunnels of the caverns. Holding up a small firebrand that flickered and gutted, Lenwe looked over and saw masks of fear instantly slip down over the faces of the captives who were still standing beside him. One of the kidnapped Elves turned around to Lenwe, quivering with fear and a look of terror in his eyes. "He has returned. The wyrm has returned. It is the flapping of his wings in the front hall which creates such a windstorm in the maze of the cave." Lenwe felt his heart lurch forward. His captives were still safe back in the bowels of the cavern. But Elentari and her group had already left for the front and, not having any of the captives with them, would have no idea what the strange wind meant. As if reading Lenwe's thoughts, Perin pushed forward and yelled, "I will go to them and warn them of the danger." [ July 11, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ] [ July 11, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ] __________________ Multitasking women are never too busy to vote.