Dawn was already heralding his arrival when Kennet stepped through the stone gates of the Bree-land Homesteads, nervous and happy as a child on his name day waiting for presents from his parents. And there was Meldanyel, waiting for him with her mare Mildred loaded with gear for the journey. The woman greeted him upon his arrival, but the young man did not hesitate to get off his mount, Hawthorne, and give her a warm hug.
-Are you ready for the journey? Last chance to change your mind -said Meldanyel, in the vain hope that his friend would desist from the perilous journey.
-Ha! Change my mind... I've been waiting for this trip for a lot of days! -said Kennet excitedly, eliciting a sigh from his friend. Seeing her reaction, the young man put on his most innocent face and said: Thanks for coming, Mel. I know it wasn't in your plans... I appreciate that.
-I wasn't going to let you go alone to those dangerous places! -said the woman, with a hint of anger at being involved in this unwanted adventure. Then she added: But maybe we should start our journey... I don't like the idea of being outside at night. Meldanyel feared that she would have to be the cautious part of the expedition, knowing Kennet's usual recklessness, having never fallen victim to the dangers of the roads.
The pair mounted their horses and set off, intending to join the Great East Road and head for the Lone-Lands. The sun was already reflecting its light on the horizon, and in the distance they could hear Kraven's squawks accompanying them on their journey.
In those early hours Kennet and Meldanyel moved at a leisurely pace, chatting animatedly about various matters. The would-be scholar had brought practical but tasteless rations for the journey, while the cook brought an assortment of ingredients that would delight their palates and make them forget the rations at the bottom of the bundles. Likewise, to comment on the road that awaited them ahead. Meldanyel had travelled west as far as Thorin's Hall, but neither of them had ever gone east beyond The Forsaken Inn. Both Master Frimsi and farmer Ponto had warned Kennet of the dangers of this route: goblins, giant spiders, wargs... Meldanyel's face grew increasingly worried as she listened to these dangers.
It was mid-morning when they emerged from a grove of trees that surrounded the road and before them appeared on the horizon a large elevation with what looked like the remains of an ancient fortress. Curiosity got the better of Meldanyel, who had never seen such a site and asked Kennet if he knew what it was.
-That's Weathertop! -said Kennet, happy to answer his friend's question and show off his knowledge. It was an important castle in the past. It is said it was the point where three old kingdoms had the common frontier -he explained. A magnificent place with a lot of soldiers, nobles, scholarmen…
The woman frowned, admitting: Hmmm... I can't imagine that. It looks so sad now...
-Yes... When old kingdoms decayed, I suppose it was destroyed in some battle... -said Kennet.
But long before they reached Weathertop, following the Great East Road with their eyes, a large building was visible, damaged but still in use, judging by the smoke emanating from the chimney. It was The Forsaken Inn, the farthest east Kennet had ever traveled.
-The inn is open -said Meldanyel. Should we stop for directions?
-I have a route. All east until crossing the Loudwater River. And then, climb up the mountains... and we'll be intercepted by elves -Kennet assured her. But he didn't hesitate to ask his friend: Do you want to stop, or keep travelling?
Meldanyel thought about the answer for a few seconds, until she said: Hm, we can drink an ale there... And I can have a minute to put on my armour. The woman had heard of the dangers of the road and was worried about both of them. Kennet carried no armor and only his traveling staff for protection. She would have to be responsible for their safe arrival at their destination.
-Ok! You accepted to come, I have to please you -said Kennet happily, enjoying this journey in a very different way than Meldanyel and her precautions. So they both stopped at the inn's stable, left their mounts there and made their way inside, greeting several of the parishioners outside basking in the winter sun.
The Forsaken Inn's parlor was spacious and warm, despite the fact that one part of the ceiling was crumbling and showing no signs of being repaired. A large fireplace taller than a man gave warmth to the place, and the presence of many peasants and travelers helped. Undoubtedly, The Forsakenn Inn was the social and meeting place for many farmers from the surrounding area, and an atmosphere of conviviality and calm reigned there.
Kennet went to buy a couple of pints while Meldanyel asked a waitress for permission to change somewhere discreet. The man took a seat at a place near the fireplace, next to a table that must have been used by a group of travelers a short time ago, judging by the number of empty mugs and leftover food on the plates.
When Meldanyel reappeared in the hall, clad in metal armor and wielding a large battle axe, Kennet was shocked with surprise. He had never seen his childhood friend, the one who cooked and sold her wares in the markets of Bree-land and The Shire, looking so imposing and menacing. She looked like a real warrior!
-Uah... Mel... -said Kennet, stuttering a little. You look... impressive!
Meldanyel sat in the chair opposite, a little uncomfortable still wearing the armor: My grandad had this armour. I had to repair it before leaving Bree.
Although Mel's appearance was intimidating, her manner was less so. Wearing good armor didn't make her a rude barbarian, but she was still the caring, yet characterful cook she had always been. So Kennet made a toast with her for the trip, and for a while they both chatted about past anecdotes. Like the time they got drunk at Bree-town hunting lodge and ended up sleeping lying in the street, with Meldanyel waking up from being thrown into the boar fountain.
It was well past morning and they both decided not to delay their trip. So, somewhat affected by the strong beer, they went outside to get some air and clear their heads. While Meldanyel collected the mounts, Kennet was talking to the inn's constable. In a couple of minutes they were both on Mildred and Hawthorne ready to go.
-The constable says we should be careful on the road -Kennet warned, eyeing Meldanyel's axe.
-Yes, no more ale -she said in a serious tone, her eyes on the road.
-Well... one more in Rivendell! -said Kennet in his usual casual tone.
-I don't know if I'm going to drink elven ale -the woman assured him. Kennet asked her the reason for that, to which Meldanyel replied: Hm... maybe... maybe the elves put something on their drinks...
Kennet laughed and said: Nah... Don't be afraid. Elves are good people.
Meldanyel's response showed a bit of anger. Kennet was supposed to be the wise one of the group, yet he didn't show much common sense from her point of view: You shouldn't trust elves just because!
The young man noticed his friend's annoyed tone, and did not hesitate to respond in a calm and coherent tone: Hey, I understand people that don't study history may think elves are... weird. But they made a lot of good for this land.
I dont know, really -Meldanyel replied, knowing that Kennet would have a lot of arguments in this conversation that she could not refute. But I'm not going to trust them just because they look pretty. Anyway, we should go -she said, ending the conversation and moving on to Mildred.
Kennet sighed and silently spurred Hawthorne to move after her.
Master Frimsi was right. The Lone-Lands were clearly different from Bree-land. With much drier vegetation and numerous ruins visible from the Great East Road, they looked like a land left abandoned and uninhabited. Scattered farms and wildlife were no longer to be seen in the environment. Even the bridges over the streams collapsed, forcing travelers to cross over their mostly dry riverbeds. An uneasy stillness settled over the journey, but the young man did not hesitate to break that silence with his conversation.
-This road was the frontier between two old kingdoms -Kennet explained. It has been a very important road. But without those kingdoms... all seems old and broken.
-How many years had passed since the fall of those kingdoms? -asked Meldanyel curiously.
-I... I think some centuries... I'm sure -said Kennet, in a tone in which his friend easily detected that he did not know that information and was making it up.
This prompted the woman to pose the following question: And why are you so interested in something that took place so many years ago?
-It's part of what we are! -replied Kennet, happier to be able to talk about his passion. Our present is explained by our past.
But Meldanyel didn't seem convinced: Bah, I don't think so. Our present has nothing to do with castles and ruins. Bree looks nothing like this!
-Bree was an important village in the past -replied the young man. That's the reason today is the main city in the region...
As usual, Meldanyel had less knowledge to discuss Kennet's theories, so instead of talking further he suggested a break for lunch. They stopped under a small grove of trees near the foot of Weathertop, a place from which there was an exceptional view of the ruins overhead. So, while Kennet sketched on one of his scrolls the view of the ruins over the mountain, Meldanyel made a small fire ready to prepare something to eat.
Their actions were interrupted by the appearance of a huge black raven in the trees that, for no reason, swooped down on them. Startled, they both took cover to avoid its sharp beak. Kennet tried to chase it away with his traveling staff, while Meldanyel grabbed his axe to deal it a killing blow. But it was Kraven who appeared and lashed out at the sudden aggressor, forcing him to beat a retreat.
This tense moment changed the tone of the trip, putting both friends on guard about their surroundings. If one large aggressive crow had attacked them, there could be more. So they both ate the cook's delicious food around the campfire, but without losing sight of their surroundings. And that precaution was a wise decision, for the scent of the food attracted another beast, a hungry prowler that did not hesitate to confront them.
But this time Mel was ready, slashing the animal to its almost immediate death. Kennet had seen her friend cut through meat with alacrity in the kitchens, but never so expeditiously finish off a wild animal. He breathed a sigh of relief to have her along for the ride, though he said nothing.
-This land is dangerous! -Meldanyel exclaimed after finishing off the prowler.
-This is not a safe place, indeed -Kennet replied in an uneasy voice.
-Lets pack and go -Meldanyel ordered, and the young man nodded in agreement.
In a few minutes the fire was out and they were both mounted on their horses and on their way eastward. But now Kennet was no longer in the mood for conversation and kept his eyes on the road and the surroundings. He felt terribly helpless against the hazards of the road, a serious planning error he had made in the previous days. At least he was traveling with Kraven and Meldanyel, hoping that it would be enough to make it safely to their destination. And it reassured him to know that others were trying to make these lands safer, like a dwarf they spotted in the distance dedicated to hunting these huge, aggressive crows.
The pair left Weathertop behind, and in the distance ruins of ancient buildings could be glimpsed here and there. Kennet gazed at them in wonder, but far from indulging his natural impulse to approach to poke around and explore whatever treasures they might contain, the young man stuck to the road without straying for a moment. In fact, he spotted a figure hidden among the dry vegetation, looking in their direction.
-There's someone hidden there... -Kennet warned in whispers. Behind that tree. He has hidden after seeing us...
-Ah, yes -Meldanyel said after locating him. She looked concerned and touched her old axe with the tip of her fingers. Let's keep moving. He is spying us... probably a brigand -she guessed.
-Fortunately, this is a hard place to ambush -said Kennet, looking at the plains around the road.
-Yeah, but still... -Meldanyel started to say. But seconds later she spoke ironically to Kennet: Ah, I thought the roads were not dangerous. Or wasn't that what you said? -she reproached.
But Kennet was in no mood for jokes, so he didn't answer her question. Master Frimsy told me about a safe place, Ost Guruth. It mustn't be far from here.
-Yeah, we should rest there -she replied. But then she went on with his reproach to Kennet's initial plan: Wandering alone in those lands would have been an insane idea.
-Yes... there are a lot of ruins to explore. But...
A strange sound, like that of a rag being wrung out and dropping liquid, reached both their ears. The horses began to move restlessly on the road, turning towards the source of the sounds, some bushes beside the road. But Kennet had heard that before...in the depths of the Midgewater Marshes.
-A spider! -he warned Meldanyel, pulling out his traveling staff.
Meldanyel took her axe and prepared herself for the threat. And sure enough, a gigantic spider appeared from the undergrowth, with a yellowish color that camouflaged it among the dry vegetation. The creature approached Kennet's horse, which for a few seconds held it at bay by nudging it with its staff. Just long enough for Meldanyel to leap upon it and drive his axe blade into the middle of its body. With a bloodcurdling groan, the spider expired and its split body began to ooze a stinky, gelatinous liquid.
-That spider was enormous! -Meldanyel exclaimed, breathing fast from the tension of the moment, and staring wide-eyed at the dead creature. The woman had not explored the Marshes, and had never seen a spider of such dimensions.
But Kennet was not looking at the same place, for on the side of the road they had passed a few minutes before, a four-footed figure, much larger than a wolf, was staring directly at them.
-Hey! A warg behind you, far away -Kennet warned frightened.
Meldanyel turned with his axe raised and shouted: Where!? The woman saw the creature in the distance, beginning to move in her direction. There! -she cried out in fear. So she didn't hesitate and ran to Mildred to ride her.
But Kennet had spotted another one barely ten yards away, coming down from a rock onto the road. Another one! -he shouted, just before he pulled Hawthorne's reins and started galloping down the road heading east.
Meldanyel wasted no time and rode swiftly after him. He glanced back, watching as the two beasts chased them in the distance, emitting growls that frightened both friends. The woman did not lose sight of them, while the man led the way nervously watching for other dangers ahead of them.
The minutes that this pursuit lasted looked like an eternity, until Kennet spotted the ruins of an ancient city where wisps of smoke from bonfires and guards at lookout posts could be seen. Ost Guruth lay before them, and they sped off the road in the direction of the settlement.
As soon as they reached the foot of the high fortification, where a garrison with stables stood, they warned in alarm of the risk of the pursuing beasts. However, the guards reassured the newcomers. The wargs were not stupid beasts, and those that approached Ost Guruth were hunted without mercy, so they affirmed that their pursuers would have desisted as soon as they got out of the way. Kennet and Meldanyel looked back and verified that it was true, relaxing a little and letting out all the tension accumulated by this chase.
The dwarf who was acting as stable-master explained them about Ost Guruth. As a permanent settlement of the humans of this dangerous region, the people were hospitable and provided shelter to travelers in need, as they did. He encouraged them to introduce themselves to their leader, Frideric, who would give them all the necessary directions to be there. Already calmer after verifying that they were safe, Kennet left his mount in the stable but Meldanyel preferred not to separate from her mare. Both climbed the long stairs to the entrance of Ost Guruth, and the sight of the place once they passed through its gates amazed them.
The citadel was in ruins but from its solid broken walls, its large incomplete columns and the majestic ruined buildings one could sense that Ost Guruth was a great fortress in times past. Today all the remains were used by the inhabitants to live and make that place their own home. Tents, workshops and kitchens had been set up inside some of the buildings and outside for all to see. Tents in the open air and beds under the roof were the resting places for visitors and residents. The entrances through the old walls were guarded by watchmen, while farmers and gatherers went in and out of the compound to bring in food and other resources. An atmosphere of simplicity and camaraderie hung in the air, and the two friends stood rapt for a few long minutes watching this community, so different from the busy life of Bree.
The first thing they did was to introduce themselves to the leader, Frideric, who without pomp but with hospitality received and welcomed them. Although somewhat busy, Frideric took enough time to show them where they could rest, eat and trade, as well as the basic rules of coexistence in Ost Guruth. The friends thanked him for his hospitality, and then went to settle in the bunks in the building set up for visitors' lodging. There they drank some water and left some of their belongings next to the bunks.
-I have... an ale from The Forsaken Inn -said Kennet in a mischievous tone, once he felt completely safe and forgetting the tension of a few hours before.
-Well, what about we take a stroll in that city and then we drink that ale? -Meldanyel replied. And we rest a little.
Kennet nodded, leaving his hat, gloves and walking stick behind, but without leaving his own backpack as a precaution. They both went outside where the sky was already dusk, starting to walk around and admire the place.
-This place is impressive -Meldanyel admitted.
-Yes... It should have been a great city in the past -agreed Kennet. According to my studies, this city was in the Rhudaur Kingdom, the first to fall under evil influence.
-Roudar? -asked the woman looking at the carved columns. Why did they fall?
-Rhudaur, it's an adunaic name -Kennet corrected. Well... I'm not sure why it fell. But the land at the north of this kingdom was inhabited by evil forces. I suppose it was the first objective of the attacks.
The two spent a long time getting to know the place, browsing through the offerings of artisans and vendors, and chatting with the locals. When their hunger began to get the better of them, they went into the kitchens located inside a large stone hall. There Meldanyel set about preparing a simple but delicious dinner while Kennet talked and learned some tips for preparing dyes and other compounds from one of the local women. Then the two shared a seat around the campfire with other locals as they dined and chatted amicably. Meldanyel decided not to drink hardly any of the ale, exercising a bit of caution in that settlement far from Bree, so Kennet finished almost all of his drink.
This caused the young man to be a little tipsy and content, happy with the adventure he was living. Night had not yet fallen but the woman suggested going to rest, a proposal that the man accepted. Both said goodbye to those present and went outside, walking towards the place where they were staying.
-It has been a good first journey... but a bit dangerous -reflected Kennet aloud, walking along with his friend.
-I'm afraid that it will not change -Meldanyel replied without much encouragement.
Kennet stopped and put her hand on her friend's shoulder to make her stop and turn towards him. I must admit I'm very happy you're making the journey with me, Mel -he confessed sincerely, more uninhibited by the alcohol drunk during dinner.
Meldanyel smiled and nodded: I'm happy too. I was very afraid at the beginning. And I am still scared but... I don't know, I feel better going together.
Me too! -replied Kennet, throwing his arm around her shoulders and walking together.
Kennet's attention was once again focused on the structures of Ost Guruth before they both entered the lodging building. The woman approached her mare handing her some berries as Kennet removed his pack and plopped down on his bunk, exhausted and almost instantly asleep. Mel watched him smiling and shaking her head, to go to sleep on the bunk next to him soon after. The next day was another day of dangers, and she had to be prepared for whatever could happen...
