[Ithaeliel]

It was in this moment, when Mattius slew the master of terror, that the world seemed to quiet. Not one of them spoke, there was no echo of wind across the mountains or the forest. Mattius lay breathless beside his sword, whose light, away from the heat of battle, was now diminishing. Looking at each of her companions, Ender saw the veil of fear and darkness lift from their eyes, and they saw. Even Calentoliel, who had fainted from the effort taken to produce her terrible song, seemed more at peace in her unconsciousness. Endereth's voice broke the deathlike silence.

"Our enemy is vanquished," she said, her voice breaking, "but it is what follows the fall of a mountain that I fear..." As she trailed off, her eyes turned westward. Yea, those slain by the wretched thing were not released from their bondage. All in the great halls of Mandos were quiet, their vision fixed east, where the battle had just ended. Ender saw in their faces that the war was not over.

Smiling, she shook her head. The war would never be over, not as long as there was a reason for rangers and warriors to be in existance in Arda. It would last through all three themes of Eru, until the seas drowned out the earth and the mountains crumbled into dust. There would always be fear in the world, but this company had helped to lessen it. Their names would go into history. They had destroyed the fear of the Blue Mountains.

[ February 16, 2003: Message edited by: Ithaeliel ]