Lusseriel was speaking with dwarves in the camp just next to the cave they had taken refuge in, before she went back within the cave, her bag on her shoulder. She let her bag fall to the floor next to a barrel and near Threnduil's cot.
The man didn't seem ready to awaken anytime soon. Good.
She opened her bag and picked up her journal, pen and ink bottle.
She looked tired, but felt too manic to rest.
She opened her journal on a new page and started to write:
"For the record, if anyone asks me, the Moria should be closed indefinitely.
This morning, if morning it was, I can't tell down here. It's annoying, but I can't tell. Anyway, this morning started... Well. Somewhat.
Candath was gone, and left Threnduil with us, and... Well, that alone was interesting.
Tindollion brought in someone else to help us and well, we really needed the help, though considering I'm not sure I'd have dared to ask another of my kind to come down here and help. But. And. Well, it turned out for the best. Aireliniel was very good to have on our side.
As Erndis said : "the more help we can find, the better."
Threnduil looked... somewhat shy. And worried about Candath's reactions. I'm not sure what to think of that, to be fair.
I wonder if I should have a word with Candath about it or if I should consider it's not my problem and keep out of it altogether.
I guess I'll see.
We had elf-stones to place at nearby Abyss cracks. I agree with them, having those open for any creature to come through so close to our camp wouldn't fill me with confidence.
The stones were easy to place and the cracks were somewhat easy to find.
Upon our return to the cave, Threnduil managed to drop his sword to the floor, which begs the questions:
1) What was he doing with his sword while in a relatively safe haven? Is he trying to create an accident?
And 2) Does he even know how to use one? Because as far as I've seen, swords don't generally fight people for their freedom from grabby hands. That he would drop his weapon like that doesn't fill me with much confidence in his abilities, I'll be honest.
Anyway, upon our return to the cave, we also learnt that an elf of the company, Magor, apparently disappeared, and that someone thinks that Mithrandir may be less dead than is rumoured.
We were sent to look for traces of both of them. And I dearly hope that by "traces", we meant something living, breathing and in one piece, because...
Anyway.
And as we were leaving Threnduil told us that usually Candath gives him his daily ration about that time of the day and that he was starving. I was starting to wonder if on top of feeding him and ordering him around Candath also watered him and took him for daily walks.
Isn't he old enough to get food for himself at least? How did he manage in the absence of Candath while they were separated on their way to Lothlorien?
I know I don't generally mingle much with humans but I could have sworn he was far past the age when one can act independently.
Erndis has far more patience than I do with fully dependant people at least and gave him honey cake to eat. Not sure it's what I'd call a healthy meal, but whatever, I'm not concerned with his health or lack of thereof.
He seemed to enjoy it a lot. As he said : "I'm only used to stale biscuits and maggoty bread!"
Which... What?
I really hope it's an exaggeration on Threnduil's part and not the truth.
If it is the truth and the rest isn't an exaggeration on Threnduil's part I may have just to play on the fact that he's still healing to meddle in that.
But I guess that'll be proven or not in the future at least when we get back to Lothlorien. Threnduil wouldn't be the first to embellish or exaggerate something after all and wouldn't be the last either, and we don't know what happened to him before we met again in Lorien so for all we know any bruise he still sport may come from that.
We went back down the deeper part of the Moria, toward the black lake. Not a place I appreciated though the sight might have been interesting in any other circumstance. Of course, Threnduil had to trip and fall into the black water... And he didn't know how to swim.
Several of us went after him including me, which was stupid on my part, I'll admit to that. Erndis transformed into a bear and, well, kept Threnduil from drowning.
As we were already drenched, we decided to swim to the ruins we could see in the middle of the lake.
That’s where Threnduil found Mithrandir's hat.
Seeing that there was no other sign of him, we went next to try to find the stairs that he might have used to get out of here if he survived and didn't just fell into the lake where we can't see anything.
The deeps of Moria are inhabited with pests. Horrific spiders, orcs, trolls. Creatures that I would be unable to name.
And in the middle of the Endless Stairs, burnt stones, the probable traces of a Balrog.
At that point, I was starting to think of turning back and finally sailing.
Moving to Valinor, visiting, see if some of the friends and family I lost over the years have been return to life, however unlikely it may be. Far away from creatures surviving from the first age. If there's one thing I didn't miss from that time, it was those kind of creatures. Balrogs and unnamed nightmarish creatures.
Well, at least that Balrog is dead. And let's hope there was only one left in these depths.
We went back to the cave without further incident, and we learnt news of Magor (our missing elf).
Funnily enough, one more letter and he'd bear the name of my first leader and the prince my parents swore themselves to...
It’s terrible; the past has a strong grip on my mind today. Moria's dark influence probably. Well, I'm lucky at least it's not downright hallucinations I guess.
We separated by group of two and went in search of Magor. I went with Tindollion. And thankfully she is far more proficient than me with a sword. I get by, but if we were to fight against one another, I'd lose epically.
Anyway, we found a cave: a dark gloomy place where I could just feel evil in the air, and where nightmares of the first age were apparently living. Tindollion said she never saw such things before.
I never saw those specifically, but similar beings I did once long ago.
We went deeper into the cave. I dare say we survived mostly due to Tindollion's skills.
We found Magor who seemed to be suffering from a complete absence of survival instinct. Like most of the dwarves I’ve met in Moria come to think of it. Is that a contagious state of mind I wonder...
If it is I want out, right now!!!
Magor and we arrived to an open passage in front of which stood two of the ancient beings. One of flame and one of darkness and I'm afraid they may have found me the weaker one of our group for they targeted me several times, taking turn fighting us and Tindollion had to distract them.
There's a reason why healers and messengers don't go in front of an army, and I was keenly aware of my troubles here. I just hope Tindollion didn't mind too much.
I'm good enough to survive mostly on my own, but not quite *that* good, I fear.
Anyway, we managed and we continued on the path, though perhaps we should have waited for Magor to come back with reinforcement first.
We found a creature that was far, far bigger than the others we met until now, and an assembly of orcs. I was thinking we would both die there, perhaps an influence of the darkness I could feel in the air in that cave...
But the creature killed the orcs. I'll admit the fact it did so filled me with even less confidence in our survival.
But hey, great news, we did survive!
And Magor arrived upon our victory with reinforcement. Late. I'm sure we were very glad to see them though. Somewhere. Deep down.
And Magor, that I was starting to regret helping, said: "Well done, indeed. I am impressed that such a deed was accomplished by the likes of you."
Excuse-you?! The "likes of us"? Did we, or did we not save his life? I'm starting to develop an allergy to those elves. Haldir who asks us to prove we're allies to his people before we can enter the golden wood, him who treat us like he's surprised we were able to survive without him around... I think the message I bear will end up delivering itself and I'll be going back to Imladris shall it continue.
Bless Tindollion, she's far nicer than I can be and far more tactful: "the help is always appreciated- even if it is late"
Sure, let's appreciate the thought that those people would have been in time to find our bodies if we had needed their help to actually survive.
We went back to the cave, the camp that is, safely enough, and we were the first ones here. Ilthirian and Aireliniel arrived soon after, and Ilthirian looked somewhat shocked and as grateful for Aireliniel as I was for Tindollion's presence. It looked like we found entrances to the same cave, only, to different sections of the same cave, with similar creatures.
Now I was starting to worry about Erndis and Threnduil.
With reason.
When Erndis and Threnduil joined us finally, Threnduil was injured. He had a deep gash on his arm, the bandage was seeping blood. Erndis placed Threnduil on the floor where he laid down. Tindollion asked if I would be able to help him.
I could at least check it over. I opened my bag and then got rid of the old bandage, and... The cut went very deep, down to the bone. I used a tincture to clean the wound, but Threnduil started to shout in pain. So I may have done something that's frowned upon by moral but highly effective. I gave him alcohol. Strong alcohol. Not an invigorating wine, no, just cheap and strong alcohol.
That did the trick beautifully. He drained the bottle in one go, I didn't even know that was possible. I hope he won't die of alcohol poisoning though, but for now at least he's blessed with unconsciousness and I could stitch his wound close.
I applied a salve over the cut once it was stitched up and bandaged it again. Hopefully it'll keep it from infection. Though perhaps I'll suggest him to see a healer in Lothlorien. Surely they wouldn't begrudge us the blessing of a healer!
Why did I ever thought I was made to be a healer in my youth? I mean... Stupidity? Arrogance perhaps? I should have become a book keeper, or a sword maker. Or something. A cook. Cooking is nice. Cooking is good. It's annoying and a loss of time and I don't care about which herb goes with what but at least a cook doesn't end up having to sew up people they meet on their travel.
I’m afraid I was rather rude to Ilthirian when she told that “you're the healer”.
DID I LOOK LIKE A HEALER?!
I'm a messenger. A Messenger! Those people who bear messages from a point A to a point B. Someone who has a travel bag in which there's a written message, that is going to be given to someone else as soon as I can find said someone else.
I'll owe her a real apology once we're out of here and everything stops getting on my nerves. I'm afraid that I was quite rude in my answer to her and that if I try to apologize now, I'll end up saying something I shouldn't. Again.
I'll have to check Threnduil's arm again soon, or ensure a more competent healer sees to Threnduil's arm soon, at least to ensure it heals properly without infection, humans are so fragile on that point, but for now at least he rests somewhat peacefully.
I should rest too, but I'm afraid I'll be unable to do so until we're out of here. I went to check with the dwarves and the company of elves here, and... They had bandages they allowed me to take, and the dwarves accepted to sell me some alcohol, but any salve and tincture and herbs I'll need to replace, I'll need to see to it myself once we're out of the mine."
Lusseriel breathed out at that, clearly annoyed. She shook her head trying to dispel her annoyance at... Well, everything, and closed the book. She put it back in her backpack, and then checked over her healing supplies.
Her yarrow salve would need to be replenished. At least it helped control the bleeding on Threnduil's arm. She could make the salve herself if she found the material and space to make it, and eventually if she found Yarrow again.
And her calendula tincture was all but gone.
Her cream for bruises was still 3/4 full; perhaps she could spare some for Threnduil? Her threads supply was almost gone, she already got new bandages and a new alcohol bottle. And her two needles were cleaned and reusable.
And perhaps she needed to keep that bag of remedies at the ready on top of her backpack until at least she left the group...
She tilted her head, considering the question and put her kit back in her backpack, on top of it.
A look at her food supply had her turn green though.
Why did she keep dried meat?
With visions of Threnduil's injury and blood on her hand dancing before her eyes, she took the pack of dried meat and considered what she could do with it. Perhaps leaving it to Threnduil. Or giving it to the elves here. Surely someone would want it.
She, for one, didn't.
She put the small pack of dried meat next to her bag, she really didn't want to find it again later on *in* her bag. If she saw it at the wrong moment, all it'd do would be making her sick.
When she was healing someone, there was no good moment to find meat in her pack. Even dried meat.
She had lembas and... That would be it. Well, lembas would be good enough for her for the time being. More so since they would be going back to Lothlorien when they were all rested.
She just hoped everyone would be fit for travel. Or at least fit to be carted around while they travelled.
