New Shadow Rising and the Red Tree

Chapter 2 - 4

Chapter 2

     Caloharar was sitting at the table reading some of the material.  Old parchment, scrolls, books with fragile coverings defeated over time.  Some were notes on journal entries and personal correspondence with other people.  There was every possible language in Middle earth represented in the notes.  But the book next to the priest was closed and always within the old man's reach.  Cal switched to another item and asked Fuinor details about the journal entry he was reading.  The old man was looking at a map when Cal asked the question.  He looked up and saw what he was reading and opened his book.   He checked the notation on the journal. He flipped to a page that corresponds with the shorthand code and reads the details out loud, “That is a journal entry from Elrond to his son Elladan, written in 2509 of the third age.  It was saved from Rivendell to Lorien.  The entry discusses the Mirror of Galadriel was used originally to hold the Amon Sul Palantir at Weathertop.  The king of Arnor gave it to Elrond to protect, whom gave it to Galadriel.”  He finished and closed the book.  “You discovered the origin of the Mirror of Galadriel?” Cal asked a little surprised.  “Well, no.  This was known by the king of Arnor, Gondor, Elrond in Rivendell, and Lorien of course.  One of my predecessors made a note of that entry.  As High Priest of Melkor, I have access to stuff no one else has access to.  The parchment, THIS parchment!  This was noted during the start of the third age when Sauron’s slaves rebuilt Barad’Dur.  That parchment is a layout of that large tower.  The Chieftain of Nurn got it from the mouth of Sauron who gave it to the High Priest.  After I became the High Priest, this knowledge was passed on to me, and now to Astorial.” He said.  “When did all this start?” Cal asked using his hands to motion to all the paperwork.  “This?  This is just what I brought with me.  The core of my research is at the temple in Umbar.  Safe and protected for thousands of years.”  Fuinor answered.  “Did your dad start this?” Cal asked again.  He was trying to get his head wrapped around the old man's goal.  “Uhh, no.  He did get me started on this but by accident.”  He stopped what he was doing and started to remember.
     “As with most things, it all started with one question.  My father, the High Priest, took me on a tour of Minas Tirith when I was a child.  Your father helped get us in to see the king.  The city was magnificent and glorious.  The White Tree, the Hall of Kings, all of it was amazing for me as a kid who had just heard stories or read about it.  When we saw the Denethor Stone and the burning hands inside, I asked my father what was it made of?  He said, ‘No one is quite sure.  They were made by Feanor, it is said.  During the time of the trees.  Before he created the three Silmirils.’  I asked if the elves knew.  He said ‘he didn’t know.  And there aren’t any High Elves left to ask.’  So I started to research what I could about the Palantiri.  The stones, where they were, what they were used for.  Their history through the ages.  They are said to be indestructible.  If they were, then I could find one.  I looked for the Osgiliath stone first in the Anduin and along the banks.  No luck.  Then I came up with the plan to find the Ithil stone used in Barad’Dur.  I looked for years digging, searching, avoiding the Rangers of the Guard.  Then I became the High Priest in Umbar.  I kept searching and reading and looking for clues.  Then I found the layout of the tower.  That helped narrow down the search area.  Next, after hours of translating I got the marker I was looking for.  In the ruins, I found the location of the stone’s mount.  Few years later, we dug it up and kept it secret.  The stand was crafted in Barad’Dur but the materials needed came from mines in the Iron Hills and Rhun.  The upper levels of the towers of Barad’Dur were only visited by the dark lord's captains, the Nazgul, Black Numenoreans, the orc generals and a few servants.  The Mouth of Sauron gave this parchment to the Chieftain for delivery of the materials.  It is the only surviving piece of map that has a layout of the top of the tower.  Maps of the mines and holes under the tower survived.  The tower was well protected.  I searched for years for more maps but most were lost or destroyed.”  Fuinor said.  
     Cal processed this.  “Have you used the stone?” Cal asked.  Fuinor laughed for a second then went into a coughing fit.  He finally said, “NO! The king has one.  And as soon as I did I would be announcing the fact that I found one.  I’ve studied it in the middle of the night uncovered guessing the king wasn’t using his at that early hour.  I was going to Erech to study both the palantir and the Stone of Erech in the full moon light to see if anything would happen.”  Cal thought for a moment, “What were you hoping to happen?”  The old man huffed, “Glowing?! Vibrate, start to ring and swirl around the air?  I don’t know.  But they might do something.”  “What is the final goal, Fuinor?  What are you hoping to accomplish?” Caloharar got to his big question.  The old man sat back and prepared himself.  “Your relic.  My stone.  They are pieces to a puzzle to collect and find.  After researching the stones and reading about how they survived fires and weapon strikes.  The Amon Sul stone survived the destruction and fire of the tower.  King Arveleg I was slain defending the tower in 1409 of the third age.  His men saved the stone from the Witchkings attack and returned it to Fornost.  I found a log entry from the Captain of the Dunedain who returned it to the capital.  ‘We found our slain king with many enemies at his feet.  My lieutenant noticed a glimmer in the rubble so we cleared it away.  The stone was covered in several bricks but not a mark was left on the large stone.  The plate and stone were returned to Fornost on Dec 4th 1409 of the Third Age.”  If it could survive Weathertop's destruction, then it could survive Barad’Dur’s fall.  Indestructible.  You could find the missing stones if they are indestructible.”  Caloharar could see it now.  “It was destroyed when Sauron fell.  So no one can go looking for something that is destroyed.” Cal said realizing the plot.  Fuinor smiled, “Easy to defend something when no one is looking for it.  I studied the patrols, the guards, their shifts and promotions, everything, so I could look for it.  If I could find one. I could find more.  I want to find all of the lost stones but my searching days are over.  You and Astorial have to finish my work.  You have to get them together.  That is what your relic says.  Together the seven stones… and seven stars.  Some of the text is lost on the missing pieces.  If you could collect all the stones together, you could do something with them.  That’s what your relic is.  It’s a ritual or spell or something that activates something with the stones.  The effect will bring about a new age of the world.”  “You want me and Astorial to gather all the lost stones and do some ritual that you think will be the beginning of a new age?” Cal asks the priest.  “Yes.” He answers.  “Even if we could find more stones, it would take us years or lifetimes to find all of them.  Not to mention the Oliphant in the cottage, where the King of Gondor has Two of them!  He will not just hand them over you know.  After all that we also have to figure out how to use the stones in the ritual to do something we aren’t even sure about.  Fuinor, I do not think my mother, the Queen, will let me take on this task.  Some of the stones have been lost for over four thousand years!  You have been searching all your life and found one!  This theory of yours could be wrong.  I am sorry but I can not take on this task.  I am going to be king in a few years.  I have duties and obligations as king.  I am sorry, this is too much.  Maybe down the road this can be done but not now.”  Caloharar said.  “My life’s work and research produced the Palantir of Minas Ithil.  If I am right, my work will usher in a new age of the world.  Isn’t that enough?  If I find another stone, would that be proof enough?  What if dark forces find other ‘lost' items?  Can Gondor and the free people risk that from happening?”  the priest fired back.  “Sire.  A message has arrived for you.” An aid at the door said.  “Thank you, I will be right there.  We can talk after dinner to go over options.” Cal said and left the cottage.
     The High Priest being told no killed most of the conversation during and after dinner.  Prince Caloharar announced the departure of the group the next night when the ship would arrive.  Later that night the old man had an argument with Astorial. An hour after the yelling stopped, Cal decided it was safe to check on Astorial.  Cal knocked on the door to be polite. Ash answered the door with her dad studying the jar pieces one more time before it’s locked up in a vault.  The stone was in its box uncovered for the first time.  “Everything all right?”  Caloharar asked.  “Do you promise and give your word to look into this further?  Astorial says it’s too much for her to do alone.”  The old man insisted.  Ash sighs.  “Dad, really?”  Fuinor asked Caloharar again.  “Do you give your word?”  he repeated.  Caloharar walked over to the old priest.  He picked up his hand and knelt on one knee.  “Fuinor V, High Priest of Umbar, I swear my word to dedicate and oversee the continuation of your work and research.”  The old priest calmed down and let out a sigh of relief.  “Thank you your Majesty.  You really are wise and learned.  I will go tomorrow on the boat and home.  I can rest on this night of the full moon.” He said.  He asked for help to his bed to rest without any argument or fight.  Caloharar and Astorial stayed at the table to talk.