And so it was agreed that they should keep moving. They organised themselves as Fingil had suggested, with the Noldorin Lamps dispersed throughout the group and the rest holding burning brands. For an hour they moved and no site or sound of the enemy could be heard. Fingil had begun to relax slightly, perhaps they would not attack?
But as it always is, the moment he relaxed, a great howl broke the silence.
"That was near!" cried Fingil, his sword already in his hand.
"Be careful," Elladan spoke calmly, "keep moving."
The group continued through the dark, their lights creating a tunnel of light in the night. As they walked, some thought they could feel eyes on them, and Fingil swore he had seen a shadow pass just beyond the range of the lamps. More than once, one of the group swung around to meet a non-existant attack. The tension was impossibly high. They all knew what was out there and they all knew what was coming, it was the waiting that was the worst part.
Fingil, who had offered to take the rear with Angore, was listening intently for the footfalls of the creatures, and it was this hearing that saved his life. As the dark shape leapt, Fingil swung around, dodging the beast and rolling. He was up in a second and cried out, "they attack."
The group halted and all faces turned outward. The first creature had disappeared back into the night but as the elves watched, a great circle of dark shapes appeared about them, encircling the group. Fingil could only just make them out, three larger bodies: the Wargs, and many smaller creatures, ordinary wolves by the look of them.
A baying set up and continued for some time as the two groups faced each other. Abruptly the harsh call stopped and the elves tensed. At a lope, which swiftly turned into a run, the Wargs advanced and the wolves followed.
"May the Valar protect us," Fingil muttered, as the first wolf closed
[ April 10, 2003: Message edited by: the real findorfin ]
|