[Annunfuiniel]

Selvren hopped lightly over a narrow fissure and then, instinctively, the thought of turning back to see if Gráin could manage the crack crossed his mind. But he knew the dwarf too well to err to do so; he knew Gráin would manage the leap and also that he wouldn’t appreciate his concern in such matters. So Selvren continued walking, slowing his pace a bit but without even a peek behind. There was a heavy thud and then the sound of hurried footsteps. Gráin gained on the elf and soon took his place beside him.

Selvren glimpsed at Gráin. The dwarf plodded on, staring down at his feet. Sweat oozed on his temples and run down in small trickles, drawing dirty stripes across his dusty face. Selvren frowned but said naught sensing that the time wasn’t ripe for conversation. Instead he steered his gaze forward, first to the backs of his companions and then up, up the impending slopes that seemed to close in on him.

The company trudged in a deep, sheer-walled ravine. On their left the frowning cliffs covered them: the last defence of the unfriendly mountains. For there, beyond sight, was the dreaded goal of their long, desperate journey: one of the highest peaks of the Mountains - and the dragon’s lair.
How are we ever supposed to get up there? Selvren mused, uncharacteristically darkly. Stony ground, walls and roof, stone everywhere he looked. The overwhelming weight of the mountain seemed to fall on him and he bend under it. But his spirit still fought back. No, he wouldn’t give in! Nor would he cower when they finally faced the dragon. I’ll slay that beast with my comrades and ride home with them – or perish in the attempt. Resolution overcame desperation and Selvren felt his heart lighten. Glimpsing up he saw a strip of pale blue sky ahead and suddenly, without any particular reason, – he laughed.

* * * * * * * * * *

Gráin was roused from his thoughts by the most unlikely sound he could think of in that time and place: a clear, heartfelt laughter. He stared at his elf friend at once with eyes wide open. Has he finally lost it? was the first and in itself quite absurd thought that came to his mind. He couldn’t hold his tongue but asked out loud: "Pray tell, what is so funny?"

"Well nothing, actually… And then again – everything. Don’t you see it?" Selvren answered. Gráin’s brow furrowed but then a smile spread to his face.

"Well, no…and then again, yes."

* * * * * * * * * *

Vráin walked with light heart; even the bare, inhospitable cleft couldn’t cast a shadow of worry over him. Let there be a dragon or a dozen dragons, he wouldn’t mind! Now that he was able to see again he felt unbeatable.

A bright laughter from behind him sounded only right in the dwarf’s ears. 'We should hear that sound more often, don’t you think?' Vráin was about to throw the challenge to Farin but her grave, strained expression halted him.

"Farin, what is wrong?" he asked, reaching for her hand. Seeing her anguish was a far greater sorrow to him than any thought of a dragon.

Farin didn’t raise her face but pressed Vráin’s hand tight. At length she spoke.

"I haven’t told this to anyone but…but my brother, Perin, he’s one of the captives…" Finally she forced herself to look up and Vráin nearly drew back seeing the sudden flame of rage in her eyes. "The damned beast took my brother!"

But the moment passed and Farin’s fury was quenched by doubt and despair. "I’m afraid, Vráin…" she whispered; "Not for myself but for my brother. My hope is failing…"

Farin fell silent and turned back to face the road, stubbornly trying to hide her tears. Helplessness and worry settled heavy on Vráin’s heart and dumbfounded him. For a fleeting moment the light of day was lost to him. I’m not going to this doom alone; the ones I love the most are walking with me. What if I lose Farin or Gráin? But despite the cloud hanging over him he didn’t waver:

"I will go with you till the end and should I perish on the way… then so be it. Don’t you see? There is no turning back – for any of us…"

His own words, spoken in despairing rage, came back to him. But now he rephrased the thought in his mind. There was no turning back for any of them – until the dragon was beaten! And he would take care that nothing would happen to his brother or his beloved.

This resolution made the cloud passed and Vráin’s tongue was freed. He turned to Farin and gently wiped off a glimmering tear from her cheek.

"Don’t hide your tears from me, my love; don’t hide anything from me. And despair not – for haven’t we seen that anything is possible?"

* * * * * * * * * *

Gráin saw Vráin and Farin walking ahead, just outside the reach of hearing. His brother’s comforting gesture didn’t go unnoticed to him and a sudden, inexplicable doubt crossed his mind and reflected on his face before he could hide it.

"You’re not going to lose your brother, not to the dragon - nor to Farin." Selvren’s voice broke the silence and the elf's keen eyes observed Gráin’s expressions, noting his embarrassment with some satisfaction.

"What…? How…?" Gráin stammered and nearly stumbled to a rock; "Do you read me now like an open book?" Selvren laughed again but Gráin was determined to get some answers out of him. "So you know about Farin?"

"Of course. I may be carefree but not stupid or blind. Even one word can tell a whole story - and I’ve had many talks with Farin, like with you and your brother. I can’t say I know everything about you but probably more than you’d guess."

Gráin pondered these words for a while before answering, with a grin:

"Well, Selvren the Seer! I’d sure like to learn your secret to such observation skills. Maybe then I could hope to follow my brother’s train of thought!"

Suddenly the silently laughing duo nearly bumped into Vráin and Farin who had halted without them noticing. All sounds ceased and an anticipating silence surrounded the company. They had reached the end of the ravine.

* * * * * * * * * *

To an unpractised eye the road seemed to arrive to a dead end; a sheer wall of rock. But Lenwe knew the ways of these mountains and he had not erred on their route. From the bottom of the gulch between huge boulders led a rocky, barely passable course up to the mountain top.

The ascent was exhausting. At times the travellers had to climb on all fours and haul themselves up the nearly vertical walls. Small and some larger rocks came loose under their feet or hands and fell off on the companions coming in the rear. Save for couple of 'Ouch's and 'Ai's no words were spoken during the last part of their journey.

Suddenly a whisper went through the company coming from the van down to Gráin and Selvren in the tail. "Final steps – the peak is near!"

And then, when no-one could have endured one more tread or push, they came to the top - in the hour of a blood-red sunset.

[ July 06, 2003: Message edited by: Annunfuiniel ]