| Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 |
| Part 11 York-ie and another ten Dwarves went in search of a tree. A larger tree than before, so the fear of tipping into the water would not be a problem. Gordon plopped in the grass and ate a cake. He thought about the accident, pondering on Keiwick's words. His heart told him that York-ie had nothing to do with it, but his mind told him the truth he did not want to accept. For hours he sat in the grass, in deep thought. Dusk sank around him, the sun lowered behind the horizon, and the first star peeped down on the camp. Gordon fell into a light sleep, yet deep enough to have a dream, a dream that made no sense in any way. The sounding of thunderous horns then woke him from his dream that he did not remember. He passed it as only the arrival of York-ie and the Dwarves, but he suddenly leapt to his feet. He peered over the gold grass, he saw spears dancing on the hill alongside them. Nearly a hundred shadow-hidden figures with glinting armor trampled and crushed the weeds that infested the field. Gordon cried out his orders, commanding the entire Company to stand firm in the pathway of the marching figures. Black feathered arrows whistled onto their hill, pricking the ground at their feet. Keiwick replied to the attacks, striking the shadows, hearing them squeal before they vanished under the brush. They all stood watching and waiting for the attack… York-ie and some Dwarves walked quietly in the cool darkness, searching for a tall wide tree. Many stars twinkled above, the moon looked like a clipped toenail in the sky, which shone a pale blue. The Dwarves looked at York-ie with anger, hate, and a small dose of fear. They all had their weapons handy for quick release, and they stayed away from him the best they could. They moved quickly over the rolling hills, peering into the darkness with wide eyes. Once five miles from camp, they stumbled across a lush cluster of trees, standing high at the bottom of a hill. The Company looked up at the rustling leaves, and then they all took rest at their base. York-ie lay back and breathed deep. 'Ah, I had almost forgotten how much I love the cold night air, and how restful it is on the eyes to not squint from the sun's light,' said York-ie with a sudden change in voice. The Dwarves looked oddly at him, wondering what had happened to the hissing slithering speech he had. The Dwarf, Gonli looked at him sideways and cursed him under his breath, 'An Orc would prefer the dark; they would use it to slit someone's throat. That's all the night is good for, to an Orc anyway.' York-ie jumped to his feet and snarled at Gonli, 'I growss tired of the ssside remarkss you Dwarves make! I have done nothing to yous, sssso keep your hole shut,' said York-ie with his Orcish tone now returned. Gonli stood and looked at York-ie in a challenging way, then suddenly all the Dwarves pounced onto York-ie like vultures on a dead carcass. York-ie roared and threw the Dwarves from his back, but the strength of all ten was beyond his might. 'Whhatss are you doingsss?' shouted York-ie in a rage of anger. 'Unhand me's! Or I will kills you!' York-ie shouted out words that his heart did not mean to say, though his anger spoke for him. Gonli laughed. 'So you do still hold the Orc evil inside,' he said. 'Keiwick was right; you are nothing but a fake! By the orders of Keiwick, we are going to kill you.' They dragged York-ie from the trees and out into the open field. Gonli's axe was firmly placed in his hands. 'You piece of filth Dwarfsss! Cursse you! Curse you!' shouted York-ie as he fought to get away. Suddenly with great might, York-ie bit the hands of the Dwarves that held him, attacking with great strength! He hit and beat with his huge fists and arms, he roared with the power of a hundred war horns! He took the axe from a Dwarf's belt and swung it wide, smacking helms and breastplates, knocking the Dwarves to the ground. Then York-ie stopped and calmed his nerves so he might use his wits. He tossed the axe and ran into the thick of trees. The Dwarves scurried to their feet so they might follow, but Gonli stopped them. 'There is no need to chase him; he has faster legs than us. And besides, he will not come back to camp, not after the story we tell Gordon. And to Keiwick we will say he is dead, just as planned.' ************** back to top |
| Part 12 Gonli and the Dwarves walked back to camp with a tree stump on their shoulders, and the story to tell Gordon fresh in their minds. 'What if Gordon has too many questions that we can't answer?' asked Rimli. 'If you leave all the talking up to me, then we should pull it off, and I'm sure Keiwick won't leave us hanging,' said Gonli. 'I still don't think it's right,' said Rimli, 'what has that Orc ever done to us? Or to Keiwick?' 'He does not belong in our Company!' said Gonli,' Orcs are the enemy, no matter what they say. And don't let the Orc brainwash you, young Dwarf, you follow fellow Dwarves, they are the only people you can trust. Now where's the campfire? We should be in sight of it by now'… York-ie ran from the trees and through the fields, despite his wounds. He ran with speed so he might reach the campsite before Gonli and the others. If he could tell his story first, he might have a chance of convincing Gordon. His anger swelled inside him, hating Keiwick and the others more with each long stride. 'Were is the camps fire?' York-ie asked himself. 'I shouldss be able to sssee it now.' York-ie continued over the hills and finally reached the river's bank. He wandered the area, searching for camp, but he found no sign of it until his foot stepped into a pile of ash and charred wood inside a stone ring. He looked around realizing that the camp had been abandoned. Most all the supplies laid in the grass, along with bags and sacks. He searched further and found arrows pricked in the ground, and both weapons of Dwarf-made skill, and those of Goblins. York-ie wandered down the hill, and there he found Goblin bodies still warm, and to the left he spotted small dark bodies lying under the shadow. He took a closer look; he found that some of the Company had fallen in the battle. Sadness and fear gripped York-ies' heart. Sadness for those who had fallen, but yet fear for himself, that Keiwick and Gonli would blame the death of the Dwarves on him. He knew he must find Gordon quickly. He gathered weapons that had been left behind; he threw them in a pile. Most were chipped and broken in two or even three pieces. He took those that were in good condition and fastened them to his belt. He carried as many weapons as he could hold, ending up with ten knives of fair size and strength, three swords, and one axe that hung on his back. He scanned the area one last time so as not to miss anything, when suddenly voices were heard just over the dip of the hill. York-ie hid under the tall grass and peered out, waiting. Dark figures appeared, short and wide, they moved slowly to the top of the rise, they sometimes bent over and pick things up, only to toss them down again. At that moment one of the shapes turned to the side, and by the help of the moon-light York-ie saw a beard falling from the face of the figure, he knew it was Gonli's band. They searched the same places York-ie had seen, and they saw the bodies of their fellow Dwarves. York-ie could not see them, but he heard much weeping and threats of revenge. They all returned to York-ies' sight, and sifted through the pile of broken weapons, and then stood in a circle talking. From the best of York-ies' hearing, they said: 'Those Goblins from the Mountains! They have hunted us down!' cried a Dwarf. 'Yes, but where have they taken the Company? That is the real question,' said Rimli. 'I would think they are taking them back to the Misty Mountains, back into their caves and pits of darkness,' said Gonli. 'And that is where we will look for them, if they are still alive. We will not waste time here; we must leave now!' The ten ran off with their weapons close at hand. York-ie stood from hiding and watched them as they walked out of sight, into the night. 'Foolsss, they will nevers find them. They can'tss not track them down. Though I can- and I will.' York-ie bent down to spot the tracks, he followed them to the east. The Dwarves went more southeast thinking the Goblins are going straight home, though York-ie knew the Goblins must be at the Mountains by morning, so they may find shade from the sun. York-ie ran with swift speed to the Misty Mountains, in hope of saving his friends. ************** back to top |
| Part 13 York-ie ran with great speed, almost as fast as the days when he traveled with other Orcs, and he had a whip to his back to force him forward. He occasionally bent over to check the tracks, and then continued on. The stars twinkled like white chilly ice against a black sheet of silk, and the moon was in slumber, not to be seen in the young night sky. York-ie moved like a shadow slick and smooth, untripped by the uneven grounds. The night journeyed ever on, York-ie never knowing the time, only knowing there was still night left, so he must continue running. But soon enough a blue line appeared over the horizon, and the first sign of dawn showed itself. The shadows of night began to fade, revealing the Misty Mountains looking down on York-ie as an ant would be looked upon. The ground grew rocky, the fields filling with stones and leaps of rocky edges. York-ie halted and rested on the riverbank. He tried to stay near to it, so he knew he had not wandered off his eastern course. He cupped some cool water in his hand and drank quickly to sooth his harsh thirst. He sat on a rising piece of shore to rest his legs. He looked out over the river, seeing it split in two, glistening under the newly risen sun. He thought about Gordon and the others, how they were, if they were in good health. 'I can only hope for good health,' said York-ie aloud to himself.' I know their spirits are in poor condition, and the only hope for raising them lies on me. but what hope do I bring? Death to many with a sword? That's all I bring, a sword. But if this is the way to free them, then I must do it.' York-ie stood and began running once again. He found the tracks of trampled grass and followed it, but the grass soon died away, and became stone, where there was very light, or no track to follow at all. But York-ie then found something; he found crumbs, breadcrumbs. He bent over and tasted them. 'Cake, the pitiful cake they eat came in good use after all. Here I thought they would die from hunger from eating those distasteful things, but it just might save their lives,' said York-ie aloud. He continued on finding more cake along the way, the trail of morsels led closer to the Mountains. York-ie climbed up the slopes, trying to make his way up the puzzle of crumbling rock. Though for York-ie, it was easier than for any other creature. He climbed the rock walls and edges like a spider on a web, stretching his long arms and legs, crawling higher and higher. Suddenly he heard voices over the cliff above. He peered over it with his large eyes and saw three Goblins fighting over a fish. They argued and fought back and forth. 'I caught it, I should eat it!' said one with only one ear that came to a long point. 'Curse you!' said one. 'I have not eaten since our attack! I can't catch food with one arm you fool!' 'The fish is mine!' said the smallest of the three. 'I'm the one who saw the fish first! If it weren't for me, you would have never seen it you blind fool!' 'I see well enough to kill you!' said the one-eared Goblin. 'Then why don't you?' says the smallest. They suddenly attacked each other. The two battled on, beating their heads into a swollen mess, but while the two bickered, the other snuck the fish away in a cave not much bigger than a hobbit hole door way. York-ie crawled past them with ease; he crawled around the corner where he could not be seen, and then he went in search of the dwarves. ************** back to top |
| Part 14 York-ie crawled on the rock cliffs sometimes hiding in cracks and shadows, to cover himself from approaching Goblins. He kept a cautious ear out for the voices of his companions; he only heard vague rough voices echo off the stones, and by those he followed. Finally he found them, all chained together sitting on the ground. They looked beaten, and very tired. The first York-ie spotted was Gordon; his beard looked like it had been cut, it was not full and bushy like it had been, it looked dirt crusted, and singed by fire. York-ie stayed clung to the cliff, peering at the low-spirited dwarves. 'Whatsss can I do? How can I frees them, I wonder. Maybe fight? Yessss, fight.' York-ie crept above the guards' heads, looking down on their bred lock hair. They talked low, their speech was not clear enough to make out, but their words must have been of ill. York-ie hung quiet headfirst looking down on his prey. He waited for the perfect moment, not daring to attack hastily. He waited… suddenly falling onto their heads! He pulled two swords from his belt and slayed both guards! All the dwarves jumped to their feet like they sat on a thorn. 'York-ie? Why are you here?' said Gurwick nearly shouting. 'Ssssccs. Be quietss! You will bring more!' said York-ie. 'I can't believe you have come! Where's Gonli and the others?' asked Keiwick. 'Sss, perhaps looking to finish me off!' said York-ie. Keiwick changed his look at York-ie, from surprise to concern. York-ie searched the slain for keys to the bonds. He unhooked them from the guard's sash and unbound Gordon who stood speechless. 'You came for us,' said Gordon. 'Why did you come?' 'I musts sssay it was in parts for me. I need to tell you something, and no matter what they sssay, it is not true.' York-ie gave the rusted keys to Doc who began going down the line, unlocking all the chains. 'Listen to who? Who is "they"?' asked Gordon. 'Not now, we musst-,' suddenly York-ie's words were cut off by the cries of shrill evil creatures. 'York-ie, they are too many, we can't win,' said Gordon. 'We musstss try,' said York-ie. He gave Gordon the axe off his back, and gave Bordon his other sword; he also gave a knife to different Dwarves. They stood side by side, facing the direction of the cries. A slight thud and vibration rattled in the stone under their feet, and a great roar rolled off the cliffs. Suddenly, twenty Goblins charged around the corner, some on the ground, some crawling on the rock face! York-ie, Gordon and Bordon clashed their weapons into Goblin armor, staining the rock floor with black blood and severing limbs. York-ie threw daggers into their throats, and Gordon showed great skill with his weapon of might. Those dwarves without weapons stood back and locked sight on York-ie, watching his skilled fighting, as an elf he fought, quick and slick, almost prancing at times. Nearly ten Goblins were killed when all the dwarves attacked with stones and sharp edged rocks; they merely injured the beasts, so York-ie, Gordon, and Bordon could finish them. Five remained, Bordon suffered a wound to his shoulder, and another dwarf bled from the head. Suddenly, a great thunderous crash of toppling rubble and cracking stone sent the dwarves ducking their heads! ************** back to top |
| Part 15 Stones, and rocks rolled and tumbled to the ground! Half the column of stone that stood tall in front of York-ie was broken! Once the dust settled, York-ie saw a tall bent beast of great size! It held a mace in one hand, and a large stick, like a trunk of a tree in the other. 'A Troll!' shouted a dwarf from behind. At that moment the Troll lifted the heavy head of the mace over his shoulders and brought it down over the dwarves, missing them by inches! The stone floor that received the strike cracked, sending a rumble over the battle floor! The Troll then swung the trunk into a pile of fighting dwarves and Goblins, sending them rolling through the air. York-ie struck the Troll on the waist and leg many times, but the beast was unmoved; it only swung its mighty weapons, sending bodies barreling into the mountain walls! York-ie finally crawled high onto a rocky overhang and looked down on the battle. His swords were drawn; he snarled, and then leapt from the high perch, falling onto the back of the Troll! It roared with the might of a thunder blast! York-ie stabbed and dug into the neck of the creature, drawing its attention off the dwarves. A sudden whistle was heard, turning sharper and suddenly halting with a thud! Many more were heard, some halting, it seemed, right next to York-ies' head. York-ieHe then saw Keiwick shooting black arrows at the Troll. Where he got his bow, he could not tell, but his shots always pierced a tender spot on the wild beast. The goblins slowly fell, or fled, but some stayed and fought stubbornly. One of greater size held a long sword with a cruel end; he swung it wide, striking the dwarves' armor. Many times the dwarves struck him before he was finally killed; once the leader was taken down, the rest leapt and crawled in flight. The Troll tossed itself about, trying to sling York-ie from its back. It threw its body against the stone cliff, throwing throwing off York-ie's balance, making him fall on his back far below, from York-ies' view. All the dwarves shouted out with a war cry when they charged the beast, But the Troll only stamped away, crushing small rocks under his toeless feet. Gordon quickly ran to York-ie's aid. He lay on his back with blood trailing from his forehead, to his crooked, fang-disordered mouth. 'Are you ok?' asked Gordon. 'Sss, yess,' said York-ie. 'You don't look ok,' said Bordon, 'Come, if we get you out of here, then I will tend to those wounds.' 'I shall never want to hold a weapon of such filth again,' said Keiwick as he chucked the bow over the edge of the cliff. 'You saved us all York-ie, I suppose I must look upon you with thankfulness at least.' York-ie said nothing, he only stared into Keiwick's bright, but deceiving eyes. The newly united company climbed down from the death-covered platform, jumping and sliding from foot place, to stony edge, slowly descending the slopes, with a cautious eye. But the dwarves were weary, and were slow in their moving. 'Quickssly, move quickssly!' said York-ie hastily. 'They will be back, and withs more to fightsss. We will ressst on the bottom.' So they moved on, with York-ie pushing them; warning them of the coming Goblins. The heavy clouds above broke and revealed a blue sky, once the company reached the feet of the slopes. Though their dangers were far from past, the company sat and rested, panting and lying flat on their backs. York-ie did not cease in warning the dwarves of their danger, but he could also understand the fierce traveling they had to go through with the never-tiring Goblins. 'York-ie, how can I thank you for saving us? If it weren't for you, then we would be lost inside the endless, dark tunnels of the Goblins.' 'I only asks you to believe me,' said York-ie. 'Believe what?' said Gordon 'Not now, laters. Now we musst be gone, they will come backss!' York-ie lifted them all to their feet and guided them back into the fields, somewhere were they would be safe, for now. ************** back to top |
| Part 16 York-ie guided them through the fields warmed by the hot sun that he cursed under his breath. He then turned their course north, towards the river. It did not take them long to reach the shores of the glittering waterway. The dwarves knelt to the cool body of water and took a thirst quenching draught from their cupped hands. York-ie peered over the lightly rolling fields of gold, his eyes burned with a fire never seen before by any dwarf of the company. Once everyone had rested and drunk, York-ie sought Gordon. He looked down on his white hair with concern and dismay heavy in his cheeks. 'Gordon, you musst hears me, and believe my wordsss,' he said. Gordon saw the change in him at first glance. His face, for a moment, was no longer an ugly, distorted face of an Orc, but yet a face that was no different from any other life of good heart in Middle Earth. Suddenly Gordon was roused from this vision, and saw York-ie's true face, and heard his true voice. 'Gordon, you musst hear my tale!' said York-ie. 'You shall hear many thingsss from Gonli, but not anything you must lisssten to.' York-ie began his tale about the attempt to kill him from the order of Keiwick to Gonli, and all the words spoken that evening. With each moment of the tale told, Gordon grew with amazement and disbelief. Suddenly, Gordon's dwarfish temper burst out of him before York-ie finished all he had to say; Keiwick was called on with the harsh tone of Gordon's rage. 'What is this talk of you ordering Gonli to kill York-ie?' asked Gordon. 'I did nothing of the sort!' said Keiwick with his slick eyes piercing Gordon through like an arrow. 'I don't believe you!' shouted Gordon, 'You hate York-ie, and you will do anything to be rid of him.' 'Now you've done it,' said Keiwick, 'Even now you try to accuse me of things I didn't do. If anyone is trying to get rid someone, it's York-ie. He has just accused me of trying to kill him!' 'But you didss!' said York-ie. Gordon stood and took Keiwick away. They spoke many harsh words that changed their relationship forever. Keiwick walked away with his ponytail whipping behind him, and Gordon came back to York-ie. 'I believe you, York-ie,' he said, 'And I shall have a word with Gonli when we find him.' Gordon and York-ie paused in words for a long moment, but then Gordon spoke again. 'We should make our way back to camp. I want to give my fellow dwarves a decent burial, they should not remain to simply rot in a field.,' said Gordon. 'We should not return to campsss,' said York-ie If we makess haste then we can crosss the river under the shadow of the Mountainss.' 'It's dangerous, but I do suppose it is our fastest route for this hour. Though I hate the thought of my kin being eaten by buzzards!' said Gordon. 'We have yet another problem, we have no supplies. All our sacks and bags were taken from us, and all our weapons. We have nothing but what you have on your belt, and we still have two weeks to our journey yet to travel.' Dismay and hunger showed in York-ies' face, and was heard from the rumbling in his stomach. Suddenly all was quiet; York-ie did not reply to Gordon's worry, and Gordon did not repeat himself, they only sat, listening to the river flow. Gordon sent three Dwarves over the hills to find Gonli and the other nine, before the company set out again. It was not until after nightfall when they returned to find the company huddled around a fire, wrapped in their own arms, to take the chill from their chests. Behind the three scouts walked eight Dwarves, wobbling with weariness, and beards stained with black blood. The Dwarves expected to hear a horn blow with a thunderous boom for the arrival of their kin, but naught a sound was heard, for they had nothing, except their thin cord of hope, which truly lay in York-ie. ************** back to top |
| Part 17 Gonli and his band were given a draught from the river and a bite of cake for each. Cloths were wrapped on their bleeding wounds and only but a taste of medicine found at the bottom of Timlin's pack was given to those injured the fiercest. After a brief sleep, Gonli woke and had the energy to tell his tale. 'What has happened here?' said Gordon, with a hint of anger from the knowledge of Gonli's betrayal. Gonli took another drink and sat up despite the pain in his side. 'When we returned with supplies for the canoe, we discovered that you had been taken captive, so we then left to find you.' 'Your attempt seems to have failed,' said Gordon. 'Yes. We turned southwest and traveled to the knolls at the feet of the mountains, but all we found there was our doom. A band of Goblins appeared from cracks in the rocks and assaulted us from all sides, like warrior ants crawling from their holes and marching on a campaign. We lost two Dwarves: Mildun, and Rimli.' 'Rimli? T'was our youngest companion, sad tidings this is,' said Doc. 'We escaped only with luck; the Goblins suddenly scattered and ran to some urgent call that echoed off the cliffs. We quickly fled to the river, were we then found Huldon, Dale, and Wilgon walking over the hills.' 'At least you got away, without death at any rate,' said Gordon. Gonli quickly filled the void space of silence between them. 'What of your tale?' asked Gonli. 'We were captured, just as you thought,' said Gordon. 'We were then stripped of all our packs and supplies, and then bound in shackles to be slaves in their tunnels of stench and filth. Though they did not take us southwest, but straight west, along the river.' 'Thus the reason we found no tracks or signs of your presence.' 'Yes, and with the crushing march of their steel boots, I am surprised you did not see the tracks going west, as York-ie did.' 'York-ie? What part did he have to play?' asked Gonli. 'He played the role of saving our lives, and our mission, for when we rested for the first time in twelve hours at the feet of the mountains, then York-ie came, risking his life with few weapons against many enemies.' 'Truly?' said Gonli. 'Good tidings.' 'Yes, to York-ie we owe much,' said Gordon. 'Tell me Gonli, what is your report before you came back to camp, when you were scouting for a good tree?' There is a pause, but it did not last too long. 'We found a good tree trunk, of a good, strong size.' 'Surely there is more,' said Gordon. 'Not too much more, not unless you are interested in small talk,' said Gonli. 'No, no, I wish to hear none of that,' said Gordon as he moved closer to Gonli's ear. 'Tell me, what were the tidings of York-ie? Did he give you trouble of any kind?' 'Yes he did,' said Gonli. 'He made many threats, and drew his sword many times to strike fear into our hearts.' 'Oh, yes? I should have no more of that,' said Gordon, 'What do you propose I do with him?' 'What I think we should have done to him when we first saw his ugly face- kill him.' 'Oh yes, a clean death we could do too. Perhaps we can drown him, this way no mess lay on our hands,' said Gordon. He moved away from Gonli and turned his attitude from calm and gentle, like someone who has found relief, to angry and bitter, like someone who has found the truth to a swelling lie. 'You lying, deceiving Maggot!' cried Gordon in a rage. 'Curse you! I know the true tale of what happened on your scout, York-ie told me everything! After I ordered you to treat York-ie as our own, you cast my word away and tried to kill him!' Gonli lay groveling on the ground, trying to plead his case, but Gordon did not hear it. Gordon then turned to Keiwick with such a fire in his eyes that had never been witnessed by any dwarf standing in that field, nor any other told in tale or song. 'When have I ever given you the right to give orders to the other Dwarves of the company? And not only did you pose as captain, but you went against the true captain's orders!' 'Do you really believe this Orc's word over mine?' said Keiwick. 'Yes I do,' said Gordon, with no hesitations or faltering, 'Now leave my sight before I grow even more angry then I already am.' Keiwick walked away, toward the riverbank, and Gonli followed along with three Dwarves of Gonli's band. With this, no more words were spoken that night. Gordon took the watchman's post, for he could not sleep in peace, and York-ie slept well. ************** back to top |
| Part 18 The morning was cold and damp; heavy dew lay in the Dwarves' beards, misted on each hair in beads. They woke shivering and hungry. Gordon allowed no food until nightfall, which left the company in low spirits. York-ie and Gordon did not spend any time in vain; they moved the company out right away. They were led toward the mountains all that day, with little rest, and no food. Though they could drink to their hearts' content, with the river close at hand, but this did not please their rumbling stomachs. With the pace of their walk slowing from hunger, and weariness, they did not complete the length of flight that Gordon and York-ie had hoped. They only reached the mountains' feet at nightfall, and even then a hard journey still lay ahead. The fear of another attack from the goblins sat heavy on York-ie's heart, like an anvil in his breast pocket. For if he knew the evil way well enough, then he knew they would attack again, out of rage, and knowing that the company had no supplies to keep strong with, or fight with. Only hope could drive them on now, the hope that they can reach the house of Beorn before they starved. The next day the company woke hungry and tired, but they continued their voyage again. Now the slopes of the Misty Mountains frowned down on them, with a thick morning fog hiding the heads of the mountains, and slowly as the sun crawled over them, the mist rose and only lingered in small clouds. York-ie led the Dwarves now, for his knowledge of climbing and the way of scaling rocky faces was more so than the Dwarves. The rocky ground slanted upward at a steady pace, rising and rising above the river, until all the golden land, and path of the river was in view. Though the pines began to crowd around them, blocking their outlook, many gaps were still found to admire the beauty of Middle Earth. At last York-ie found a safe way to cross over to the other side of the river. While York-ie saw it as a safe way, the Dwarves looked at it as a perilous task. York-ie began crossing the thin edge, hanging over the babbling waters far below. At first he slid his back along the rocky wall, but his feet soon were free to open up and step with less caution. The Dwarves scurried along behind York-ie, who strode with ease; the fat, wobbling bodies of the Dwarves hugged the mountain, not daring to get any closer to the edge than was possible. The course that York-ie followed was thin, formed from thousands of years of water trickling over the edge, slowly wearing away, and growing closer to the mountain. It took nearly ten to twenty minutes to pass all the Dwarves over these fountains that slash down the mountain's side. Even Gordon the Brave had his difficulties on the cliff, for even as the stern, feared warrior that he was respected as, he whimpered like a wet dog with every glance down to the distant ground under him. By mid afternoon the company at last rested in an open deck of moss and stone. A waterfall crashed down upon the rocks behind them, falling through a hole that had been gnawed away by the years. A sunny land lay in front of them, glowing with a gold light as the fading green of Mirkwood filled in the background Northward. The river shimmered under the sun, running swiftly toward the Great River that lay flat, yet bold in its deep bed. ************** back to top |
| To be continued... |