The Sands of Rhun: A Middle Earth Story(Book 2)

Chapter 18: The Troll Escapade

Emyn Muil was a dismal place. Aside from our steady footfalls and those of our steeds, it was completely silent. On occasion a crow would give a lonely caw, and once I heard what I thought was a wolf, though it was far off. The silence was uncomfortable... Something felt wrong. Even Caledorn seemed on edge, and neither of us had spoken for a while. I think that we were both afraid to break the silence, lest some vile new evil waylay us from the rocks.

   Suddenly we came upon what appeared to be a drop into nothingness. There was no visible bottom to the chasm, though a ghost-grey mist hung in the air that would've made it difficult to see the bottom anyway. I picked up a rock and dropped it. One second, two seconds, three seconds. Finally I heard a crack as it hit the bottom. I turned to Caledorn.

"I suppose we aren't going that way," I said with a dejected shrug. 

The elf put a hand to his temple, as if he were calculating something in his head. After a long moment he spoke. "We took the wrong path, unless I'm mistaken and this chasm formed in the past five years. Unlikely." His eyebrow raised slightly and he looked to the east. "This path leads south though. If we can find a way across then perhaps it will keep us from having to find the right path." 

"Are you sure that's wise?" I countered. "There could be a dead end around the corner, or worse." Though I knew little about the Emyn Muil, the place seemed evil somehow, and I didn't want to know what sort of creatures made their abode in such a dreary, barren place.

"Or it could save us a day's walk. It's worth a try," Caledorn insisted.

"We'd have to leave the horses behind," I said, casting a sullen glance at Sirdal. She made a quiet nicker in response.

"Not necessarily. The chasm can't be more than a hundred feet deep, and it's most likely not even that. If we can find a way to get the horses down we can lead them up that incline on the other side," he explained as he pointed to it.

"But if we can't find a way up we'll have to come back, and that in itself will waste the whole day," I argued.

"Fine. But we will have to retrace our steps to find the Deadening Tree." Even the fact that he assumed that I knew what he was talking about was beginning to frustrate me.

"Where is that?" I asked, exasperation seeping into my voice. 

"I don't know where it is relative to us. But the Tree marks the southern pass through here." 

"We should split up. We'll find it faster that way." I suggested it partly because it would indeed be faster. But the larger part of me just wanted a moment of solitude.

Caledorn's eyes twinkled slightly. "For once I agree with you. If anything goes ill shoot an arrow into the sky, and use this." He handed me a strange whistle like object. 

"What is it?" I asked, flipping the cylindrical object in my hands. Swirling patterns adorned the length of it, and on either end, Elven letters were engraved in gold. It was strangely elegant for such a simple instrument. 

"It's an Elvish panflute. The sound of its music is said to drive away many dark creatures." 

I nodded in thanks and put the flute in my pouch. I didn't know it at the time, but the flute would save me many times.

   We both went down different paths, and involuntarily a shiver went down my spine. Something about this place was evil.

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   It had now been over an hour since Caledorn and I had separated. As the passages and crags of the Emyn Muil grew dark with the oncoming night, I began to question our decision. If one of us found the Tree, how would we even let the other know? I supposed that I'd shoot a flaming arrow into the air, but the chances of the elf seeing it from such a distance was unlikely.