At midnight, the patrol halted. They were now in a sparse woodland, and the moon gleamed on the bark and leaves of the few thin trees. The Brown Lands had almost disappeared behind them, and the forests of the Elves lay ahead. They decided to stop in this area and spread out across the area of a mile, and lie in wait. Rough rocks to the west and cliffs to the north created a natural funnel which would likely force the Elves through the pass which they now guarded. They lit no torches.
From here, the patrol could warn those back at the cavern if there was an attack from the north-west. Also, once the army arrived, they would be provided with important details regarding the terrain ahead, and they would be able to navigate more swiftly to the city of the Elves. Handorth sent out some scouts in the night to examine the lands ahead. The rest of the patrol took its place among the high trees and column-like rocks.
After a few hours in this darkness, the forms of Easterling fighters and Orcs blended into the scenery, and they became like lumpy rocks in the half-light, and soon they were invisible as the moon disappeared behind great sweeping clouds. Handorth leaped up to the lowest branches of a silvery tree and clambered up as far as his weight could be supported. Others were perched in other trees as lookouts, and the rest huddled somewhere in the blackness below. Handorth braced himself against the trunk and waited for his scouts to return...
__________________
Where is the horse and the rider? Where is the horn that was blowing? They have passed like rain on the mountains. Like wind in the meadow. The days have gone down in the west. Behind the hills, into shadow.
How did it come to this?
|