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

Chapter 27: Fortune and Misfortune

As we journeyed into Khand, I saw that it was a land far more beautiful than any I had traveled through thus far, save Lothlorien. I still longed to return there, with its swaying golden boughs, the scent of flowers strong in the air. But for now, I was content to be here. Every here and there, small white barked trees dotted the landscape, covered in blood-red flowers. Other trees stood beside them, their leaves red and yellow and an emerald green as bright as Caledorn's eyes.

   The calls of numerous small birds that were foreign to my ears and the sound of the wind softly touching the tall grass was soothing, and I could tell that all of the men were at ease here. Particularly the Bleak Riders, since for many of them this was a homecoming of sorts. Even Caledorn seemed at peace, which was a wonder in itself. He was always watchful and suspicious of his surroundings, but now he had discarded his stiff demeanor, and was almost smiling as the wind softly blew through his dark hair. Seeing him like this made me wonder what he was once like, before he became so cold and uncaring. It also made me consider what it would be like to be friends with the elf, and speak only of simple things and not the troubles of the world.

   Suddenly, as if he had noticed me watching him, he spoke. Quietly, in a voice altogether unusual for him. "Have you ever heard of Eregion, Rukil?"

   "In Lothlorien, yes. Your sister told me some about it," I replied, slightly surprised that he had brought it up.

   The Elven warrior smiled slightly. "It makes my heart glad to know that she remembers it. She was but a young girl when we left. It was a lovely place. Much like this, in fact."

   "Why did you leave?" I asked.

   "I take it Caledwen failed to mention that," he said, frowning slightly. "It is a long story..." He sighed. "But suffice it to say the town we lived in was destroyed, and the whole region soon after. Before that, however, it was a great Elven kingdom. The roads were lined with mithril, which was illuminated at night. It glowed like the moon itself. Those roads were busy, too. Dwarves and elves traded freely in those days, and both peoples benefited greatly. Beautiful trees bloomed there with vibrant red flowers, very similar to these trees. And the music... Such beauty has never been heard in the world since the fall of that enchanted land. You could hear it echoing across the fields wherever you were." He closed his eyes, as if remembering the place.

   "It sounds wonderful," I said with a smile.

   "It truly was. Alas that Sauron razed it with such fury... And because of one of our own no less."

   "Celebrimbor?" I asked. Caledwen had told me the tale of how Sauron had come to Celebrimbor, a great lord among the elves and the finest smith in all of Arda, in disguise and tricked him into making the Rings of Power.

   "Yes. I knew him, though I was but a child at the time. But that is for another time," He said, seeming to have come to a topic that he did not wish to discuss.

   "Indeed... Well I understand now why you seem at peace here," I said, changing the subject.

   "It reminds me of home," He said simply. Then abruptly, as if pulled from a trance, he suddenly was tense again and looked ahead into the distance.

   "Riders ahead!" He exclaimed. "Around ten of them, clad in heavy armor. Their horses are equipped for war as well."

   "Only ten? Have they seen us yet?" I asked, thinking them scouts for a larger force.

   "Yes. But they're continuing toward us," Caledorn said, peering into the distance.

   As I watched I could soon see them myself, tiny black dots on the winding road in the distance. But before long they transformed into the distinct shape of horsemen, one of whom bore a red and black banner.