Adult-FanFiction.org : Lord of the Rings

The fallen one	By : Nuredhel Category: +Third Age > AU - Alternate Universe Views: 1886 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Lord of the Rings, it belongs to Tolkien, and i do not earn any money from this work of fiction, it is solely written for entertainment and not for profit at all.I do not own Lord of the Rings, it belongs to Tolkien,

Chapter List
- 5
- 6
Chapter six: Let them fear my name

Use what you have been given
Let it be your undying flame
Let them see you cannot be broken
And let them once again
Fear thy name

Huna walked to the stables with a feeling of both anticipation and slight dread. He had no idea of how he would react to seeing those terrible men again and he was uncertain about his skills too. But he had to go, he had to put this behind him so he could go on with his life. The warriors who were to go on this mission had assembled and were readying their horses and Huna saw that Glorfindel stood there, holding the reins of his white stallion and a huge grey gelding. Huna hesitated for a second, was Glorfindel to join them too? He suddenly felt nervous, he didn’t want to disappoint his mentor or do mistakes. Glorfindel grinned and patted him on his back. “Good, we are ready to ride Huna, the raiders were last seen in a valley some days ride from here. It can take some days before we see any action but fear now, we will find them.”
Huna nodded and took the reins to the grey gelding. Glorfindel smiled. “His name is Cloud, he was among my favorite horses until I got Asfaloth here. He is rather calm but fast.”
Huna tried to smile. “That is nice, I am not that used to riding.”
Malagar came from the stable with a dun mare and mounted and Glorfindel took a look around. “Then we all are here, let’s go then for the faster we get there the faster we can rid the world of those bastards.”
He mounted and spurred his horse and Huna got in the saddle of the gelding and hoped that the
horse wouldn’t throw him off. They rode hard out of the valley and Huna admired the landscape. He felt rather relaxed and Glorfindel entertained him with stories of fights he had been in. Huna got familiar with the terrain, Glorfindel was pointing and describing the mountains and the rivers and Huna tried to remember as much as he could. They took a break in the middle of the day, they let their horses drink and rest and then they rode on. Before the night fell they turned abruptly towards the north and stopped in a small canyon where they would rest safely. Some were keeping watch and others gathered some firewood and prepared the campsite for the night. Glorfindel sat down and Huna joined him, they shared some lembas and a flask of wine and Glorfindel rolled out a map. “The raiders were spotted at this bend in the river, now, there has been many days since our scouts saw them but they told that they believed that the raiders had made themselves a sort of camp there. It is possible that they are lingering at this spot still.”
Huna stared at the map, he saw possibilities right away. “Then we should split up, it is possible for one group to enter from the north and the other from the south. We will trap them in the middle with no way out, the valley is very narrow there and I take it that the mountain sides are steep?”
Glorfindel sent him a content grin. “You are a strategic after all mellon, yes, they will be trapped.”
Huna pointed at the map. “We dismount and leave the horses here, make the last part of the journey on foot. They will not know we are there before it is too late for them.”
Glorfindel nodded and rolled the map up. “Then be it, if we ride hard and don’t meet any problems on the way we will be there in three days.”
Huna stared into the camp fire, his eyes glowing slightly in the dark and Glorfindel did notice that the darkness made the pupils of his friends eyes expand to abnormal size, the entire eye looked black and he knew that Huna indeed was created to be a perfect hunter, a creature born to roam the night and be the menace and terror of every evil being out there. Huna just laid down to sleep where he was and Glorfindel wondered what the ellon was thinking now. He knew that Huna had a great portion of pride within and he wouldn’t back down ever. It was his very being to fight to the end. Glorfindel was really looking forward to see what Huna could accomplish in battle, he had a sense of hope. He could bet that the raiders would face an opponent they never could have imagined.
The next day it was raining ever so slightly and the skies were dark but they rode hard still. The paths were dry underneath the trees and they let the horses run at they wanted. The mighty elven steeds were capable of holding that speed for days at an end and only needed to drink every now and then. The terrain changed, became more ragged and it rose towards the hills and mountains. Huna saw herds of deer and wild goats, he saw eagles and hawks soar above and he felt at peace when out there, in the wild. Yes, he would hunt alone, it was his destiny. The rivers were full of fish and the forests had plenty of berries and nuts and he felt a deep gratitude towards the maker for all of this. It was such a wonderful gift.
The day went fast, they rode along a rather big river for most of the day before they turned into a side valley and then into a narrow and steep canyon where they had to dismount and lead the horses after them. They camped in a huge cave and the next day they crossed a high plain before they descended into a new valley. They had started moving more slowly now, they didn’t ride as fast and kept their eyes open. They were getting close to the area where they should leave the horses now and the camp of the raiders were getting closer. Huna felt a knot in his stomach, the last night the memories had returned to haunt him, he remembered how that awful man had pinned him down, violated him in a most terrible way and the anger was yet again burning in his heart. These bandits had to be stopped before that happened to someone else, someone not as strong as Huna.
He had taken the two swords out of the scabbards that night, he had polished them and checked them for nicks and injuries. Glorfindel had left him alone, he knew that Huna needed time to sort out his feelings and thoughts. Huna had taken two long knives in addition to the swords and he also carried a short bow and a quiver of arrows. They all were heavily armed and they left the horses on a meadow and one elf was staying behind to guard them. The horses were trained so that none other than the elf who owned it would be able to ride it. Nobody would be able to steal their chargers.
Three elves left to scout and to see if the raiders still were there. The rest gathered and went through the plans again and Huna felt a shivering feeling in his chest, he was eager, more alert and alive than ever before. Glorfindel placed a hand on his shoulder. “Easy there mellon, you are trembling like a racehorse at the starting line. Battle nerves?”
Huna had to admit that yes, he felt nervous. He had no idea of what he could expect. Glorfindel grinned and he had a dangerous fire glowing in his gaze. “It is easy, everything that isn’t one of us is probably an enemy so just kill it. Got that?”
Huna nodded. “Think so!”
Glorfindel handed him a flask. “One sip mellon, it will ease your nerves.”
Huna took a mouthful and coughed. “Sweet Eru, what in hecks name is that?”
Glorfindel chuckled but his eyes were still hard. “A mix of Miruvor, dorwinion wine, brandy, dwarfish mead and what the humans call whiskey”
Huna had tears in his eyes and his throat felt as though it had been skinned. “Damn, that was…quite a drink!”
Glorfindel had a devilish grin on his face and he put the flask back. “I once gave a cup of that stuff to a fellow who was so scared before a battle he pissed himself. Afterwards he had killed more orcs than any other and he didn’t have a scratch on him.”
Huna had to snigger. “One more sip then.”
Glorfindel shook his head. “Nope, you have had enough mellon, you are a warrior, the fellow I mentioned was a minstrel damn it, the only sharp object he had ever wielded was a letter opener.”
Huna laughed. “Very well then so, afterwards?”
Glorfindel nodded. “Afterwards, to celebrate.”

The scouts returned, the raiders were still there, they had probably decided to make that place their home for the winter for it had once been a farm and the main building was still standing. They had fixed it and turned it into a sort of home and the scouts had counted twenty men in all. Huna had counted twelve when he was captured, he just hoped that this was the whole group and just not a part of it. The elves split in two groups and the group who was to attack from the north disappeared into the forest as silently as ghosts. Huna and Glorfindel was to join the group who would approach the camp from the south and Huna felt his hands tingle and he felt cold somehow. It was the excitement for sure. He did also feel a strange seething sensation in his chest, a sort of glow that was almost painful. He would have to face them again, and he didn’t really knew how he would react, all he knew was that he was going to kill Aegil.
The groups moved through the forest silently, spread out and communicated with sounds so low or high humans couldn’t hear them. Huna was focused only on the task ahead now, he was as sharpened as a razor and ice cold. Glorfindel was right beside him, the golden warrior carried one sword this day, and he looked as if he was enjoying the idea of using it. The river wasn’t that wide, more of a small brook really and it was easy to wade across it. Some of the elves were already on the other side of it to stop anyone from escaping that way. Huna peeked at the camp from beneath a tree, it was a rather large old house, the ruins of a barn and a stable lay right by it and smoke rose from a fire. Some hairy short legged horses were kept in a simple corral and he saw that two men were skinning a deer in front of the main entrance.
Some others were sitting by the well smoking and chatting and two more were busy sharpening weapons with an old wet stone. It was a peaceful scene but Huna could almost smell it, the depravity and evil of these humans. It was somehow visible as an aura around them, a hint of something wicked and mean. Whistles and chirps told them that everybody had gotten into position, they could start the attack. Some men were on the inside of the house and they feared that the would use it as a fortress so Glorfindel had come up with a cunning plan.
One of the archers had lit an arrow on fire and aimed for the roof. The arrow landed right by the hole where the smoke was being led out of the structure and since the grass on top of the roof was dry there was always the chance of sparks from the fire blow putting the roof ablaze. Suddenly there was a cry of alarm and the men started scurrying around, some tried to find a bucket so the fire could be put out while others were just confused. Glorfindel gave signal and arrows suddenly started to rain down over the men. Half of them fell immediately and the other half took cover. Some thought of running but stopped when they saw the elves who approached the camp from both direction. They were trapped.
Huna felt his heart thundering in his chest. He hadn’t seen Aegil there yet, and not the man who had been his second in command either. If that bastard wasn’t there then he would be very disappointed in deed. The elves went into full on attack now and the remaining men took up their arms and tried to fight but there was little point in it. A couple of handfuls of humans against a group of highly trained elven warriors were no match at all. After just a few minutes all the humans save two were dead and the two who were alive were so just because Glorfindel ordered it. They needed to interrogate someone and the two men were unceremoniously dragged forth and dropped down next to a tethering pole. Both had arrows stuck in their legs and cuts to their arms and they were helpless but shouting insults and accusations.
Huna felt a surge of cold rage rush through him, he left the group and went over to where the two sat and Glorfindel joined him. One of the men did in fact recognize the tall red head and gasped, he suddenly realized that they were dead men. Huna pulled out Thos and thrust the blade down through the man’s thigh, he screamed in agony and squirmed and Huna hissed. “Aegil, where is he?”
The man still had some fight left in him. “Go fuck yourself! Or let that pretty face there do it for you!”
Glorfindel hated being called things like that, the blue eyes were suddenly glowing and he snarled and bent down, grasped the other man by the throat and lifted him straight up, held him there while the human gargled and coughed was were slowly strangled in the elf’s deadly grip. “Tell us, or I will do this to you too!”
The man stared in disbelief, perhaps he had thought that humans and elves weren’t that different after all, that they just were prettier than humans. He didn’t think that now, he saw that these creatures in fact were far superior to any man and he made a mewling sound. “Aegil, Nanahs and two more men left four days ago, they were heading up towards the mountain pass near the high lake, some had seen dwarves there, and dwarves always carry treasure right?”
Glorfindel sighed. “He is probably already there. What now?”
Huna growled, the eyes were glowing. He cut the head of the man Glorfindel had strangled and sat down in front of the remaining human, the man was shivering now. “Did you violate me? Were you among those who used my body while I was passed out?”
The man shook his head, his eyes wide with fear. “No, I swear, I didn’t. It was the others, I never touched you!”
Huna pulled his hunting knife, felt the edge with an introverted grimace. “Know what? I know you are lying, I recognize your smell you bastard.”
He did a swift move and cut open the man’s pants. The man yelled and tried to pull back but Huna grasped the torn fabric and exposed the man’s groin area. Glorfindel just stood there, his face like a stone mask. He had no idea of what Huna intended to do but he wouldn’t interfere. Huna needed to avenge himself. The red haired elf stared straight into the humans eyes, his eyes almost aglow. “Do you know what happens to most elves if they get raped you filth?”
The man just gasped in fear and Huna’s voice became a menacing hiss. “They die! And I almost did, you bastards almost killed the very soul in me. So the punishment is mine to deliver and mine to decid
e. “
Huna did some very swift movements with the knife and the man shrieked, his eyes rolled in his head and the legs kicked a few times. Glorfindel didn’t move a muscle but he was a bit shocked. Huna had simply cut off the man’s genitalia with the razor sharp blade and the human groaned and shuddered in agony. “He will bleed out in a couple of minutes, let him. “
Huna got up and his face was cold and hard. “We have to get to the leader.”
Glorfindel nodded and he looked very determined. “Absolutely, if that devil is set on robbing dwarves it can get very nasty indeed. The dwarves are strong and proud and they don’t forgive it if anyone hurts any of their kin.”
Huna sheathed the knife again after having wiped it clean on some dry grass. “Do you think there really are a chance of him attacking dwarves.?”
Glorfindel nodded. “Humans tend to think that the dwarves are a wealthy bunch, in special after they reclaimed Erebor from that goddamn dragon some years ago. If there is a caravan crossing the mountains yes, there is a danger of an attack. Four men are not much of a force but if there aren’t too many warriors travelling with the merchants or travelers it could get very nasty.”
Huna bit his lower lip. “How long does it take to reach the pass?”
Glorfindel looked at the sun. “A days very hard ride.”
Huna took a deep breath. “You and me and Malagar, and we ride now!”
Glorfindel smiled slowly. “I really like your commitment Huna, you refuse to give up now don’t you? I am with you mellon.”
He turned around and called for Malagar to join them, then he talked to the second in command of the elven troop. “Take the others back home, tell Elrond that we killed everybody here but the leader has escaped and could possibly have attacked travelling dwarves in the high mountains. We go after him.”
The elf just nodded and gathered the warriors. Huna and Glorfindel and Malagar ran back to the horses and all three of them took an extra horse each. They would have to ride very hard and wouldn’t want to over exert their steeds. They rode off right away after having thrown some equipment into their saddlebags. Huna felt disappointed, he had looked forward to burying the ghosts of his past but the ghosts had somehow evaded him and he felt how the need for revenge was swelling inside of his heart until it became all consuming. The path they followed was very well made, it was used a lot by travelers and they could let the horses gallop and Huna swallowed a feeling of foreboding. He knew that they would encounter something bad now, something he would prefer not to see.
Glorfindel pressed his horse up next to Huna’s. “Remember this Huna, if we do encounter dwarves up there. Not all dwarves like elves and there has been much animosity between our races, be polite, be humble and keep your hands away from your weapons.”
Huna hadn’t read that much about the dwarves yet so Glorfindel had to explain everything to him while they rode. Malagar was sleeping in the saddle and at midnight they switched horses and let the ones they had ridden run free. The moon was rising over the mountains now, it made the snow cowered peaks glitter and Huna had barely ever seen anything more grand or wonderful. He just gasped in awe and the stars high above looked like diamonds someone had thrown out onto a blanket of deep dark velvet. It brought tears to his eyes and he stared as he rode. Glorfindel smiled, a soft smile. “No question about it, in your heart and soul you are truly an elf. Only one of the eldar would feel thus when seeing the stars in all their splendor. It was the first light our forefathers saw and for many the only light to show them the way and yet to this day it is sacred to us. “
Huna nodded, his throat thick with emotion. “I can clearly see why.”
They pushed their horses relentlessly as they rode into the morning and Glorfindel stared at the path ahead. The pass was just a couple of miles away now and he already knew that something wasn’t right. He saw a flock of big black birds hover over the narrow breach in the wall of rock that otherwise blocked the path to the north and Huna had seen them too. “Ravens?”
Glorfindel nodded, his eyes cold. Malagar put the string on his bow and moved his quiver, they slowed down the panting horses and Huna did start as a couple of wolves suddenly came running and disappeared down the mountainside among bushes and juniper trees. Glorfindel held his breath, he knew that the pass was a perfect place for an ambush, a narrow gateway through the mountain and the rock face was vertical. It was two miles long and filled with rocks and boulders that presented anyone with evil intent with perfect places to hide.
Malagar had knocked an arrow, he didn’t need to hold the reins at all since the horse was well trained and Huna had pulled his swords, his heart was thundering in his chest. They rode slowly, the horses were snorting and throwing their heads up and they were clearly nervous. The elves used their eyes and soon they saw the first signs of the tragedy that had taken place there. A dead horse lay in the middle of the road, it was a small stocky one and the wolves had devoured much of it. Glorfindel just hissed at the sight and pushed his steed on, they rounded some huge boulders and then they saw the whole thing. It had been a small group of traveling dwarves, probably a couple of families. A wagon stood there but the ponies that had pulled it were gone, probably stolen. The wagon had been ransacked and things thrown everywhere. Malagar growled. “Probably a tinker and his kin, not a smith or something fancy like that.”
Huna saw that the things left behind could indicate just that. Behind the wagon were corpses and a couple of ravens took flight and cawed with hoarse voices. Huna felt sick, it was that thing all over again, the attack on the family who had taken care of him. Three adult males lay on their backs in the middle of the path, they were muddy and bloody and the ravens had plucked out their eyes and all three of them were shot with arrows. The shafts were still protruding from their chests. A younger male lay underneath the wagon, his head almost cut off his neck, the eyes were staring into nothing with an expression of disbelief still.
In a group between two huge rocks lay five females, two were rather old and grey and the nice clothes and well made hair and beard told that these were well respected and regarded matrons. They looked very much alike and were probably sisters. Both had had their throats cut. The three remaining females were quite young and pretty, with soft shiny hair and beards and they lay with their hands and feet tied together at the wrists and ankles and they were naked. The bloody thighs and the blood on the ground told the whole story and Huna felt sick. He leaned over and retched, again and again. Glorfindel coughed, he felt tears burning in his eyes. .”There were children….”
He pointed at the back of the wagon. Two small girls were hanging from the back of it, their eyes bulging and blue tongues sticking out of their mouths, they had been hanged with their own hairbands and the sight was so terrible Huna did throw up. He continued until he felt the taste of bile in his mouth and were unable to get anything more up. Malagar was praying, his voice flat and empty and Glorfindel was cursing so bad it was a wonder he didn’t catch fire.
Then there was a sound, a rasping gasp that made them all whip their heads around. The sound came from behind a rock and the elves dismounted quickly and moved forth with their weapons drawn. It was another male, an old dwarf who looked terribly fragile and he was barely alive but awake. His legs appeared to have been crushed and Glorfindel moaned at the sight. It looked as if the wagon had rolled over his thighs and broken his legs completely. The stench of rotting flesh was already strong and the old dwarfs eyes feverish and glassy but he was there, he was seeing them. Glorfindel did kneel down, he took out his flask and held it to the old dwarfs lip and the poor creature drank greedily. He sighed with relief and some life returned to his face. “Three elven warriors here, I don’t think it is a coincidence now is it? Mahal burn me if it is.”
Glorfindel shook his head. “Four humans attacked you or what? And one was tall with golden hair and wearing a wolf skin coat?”
The dwarf nodded. “Yes, they ambushed us, shot the men and violated the women before they just bashed their heads in. Me they didn’t even bother with killing, they knew I was done for anyhow.”
Huna groaned and turned away, tears were streaming down his face. The dwarf coughed. “Tears for us? From an elf? I never thought I would see that day.”
Huna swallowed hard. “The children, the women, these men are beasts, no worse, spawn of Sauron!”
The dwarf stared at him. “Aye lad, true words. There is something about you lad, something different.”
Huna just stared down. “Maybe.”
Glorfindel let the dwarf have another sip of the flask and the old creature closed his eyes and coughed. “Mahal curse them, you will kill them I trust?”
Malagar had put down the bow. “Most certainly.”
The old dwarf nodded slowly. “They thought we had gold and jewels, but we are just humble toy makers and we do fix kettles or sharpen knives. We had nothing of value.”
Glorfindel had a sad grin on his face. “I bet that pissed them off.”
The dwarf grinned too. “Oh yes, it did. But they were such bastards, without honor I say, without remorse or compassion. They strangled my granddaughters and my wife and the other womenfolk had to watch and afterwards they had their way with them, all of them. I will never forget their screams. Young Feni had never been with a male before, they all took her, bled to death she did.”
Huna felt a burning wrath rush through the soul. “I will avenge them old one, trust me, I swear I will. I will make those men suffer and suffer again, and not even the Valar shall stop me.”
The dwarf chuckled. “Oh beware pretty one. One who looked a lot like you once swore an oath too, to not let even the Valar stop the vengeance he sought, and he ended up in a fiery pit, dead by his own choice. No pretty one, avenge us if you can, and if you can’t then at least remember us.”
Huna gasped. “I will, what is your name noble dwarf?”
The old dwarf grinned. “Noble dwarf, no that is a title I have never heard from the lips of my own people, such a sweet tongue you have fire head. My name is Gwhin son of Gwhan, and the three men were my sons, Garem, Ghur and Gwoin. The one under the wagon was my grandson Ghurel. Remember our names.”
Malagar had pulled a piece of parchment from his saddlebag and wrote all the names down as the old dwarf repeated them. He was getting weaker fast now and he was breathing hard. “The men rode east from the pass, the rocks were telling me that. And they rode hard too, I guess it was the disappointment.”
Glorfindel nodded and then he got up and went through the things that were thrown around, he found an axe and laid it in the old dwarfs lap, the dwarf grinned. “Oh you are a good lad aren’t you? You know us, no dwarf should die without his axe, thank you.”
He fastened his grip around the steel and there was an expression of peace on his face. “Now I might face my ancestors with pride when I arrive at Mahal’s great hall.”
Glorfindel’s voice was a bit thick. “I am sure you will Gwhin.”
Gwhin turned his head to Huna. “I have something for you pretty one, yes, I think I indeed do.”
Huna stared at the dwarf. “What? I don’t need anything, no.”
Gwhin smiled, blood had colored the white beard around his mouth a dark maroon color and he was wheezing with every breath, he was dying now. “Yes you do, you were willing to swear an oath to avenge us, and we do not take such things lightly. Take off the driver’s seat of the carriage, inside of one of the beams it is supported by there is a small room.”
Malagar went over to the wagon and hit the seat from underneath, it came off and he did twist the beam off and carried it back to the dwarf. He twisted it and it split in half, a small leather pouch fell out of it and the dwarf opened it and let the content fall into Huna’s open palm. It was a small rock, flat and seemingly very ordinary but a rune was carved into it and it appeared to shine with some sort of bluish glow. Huna swallowed. “What is this?”
Gwhin moaned and he was getting more pale by the minute. “A rune which will open any door in any dwarf city known to our folk, and if you show it to any of us they are obliged to help you in any way they can, the carrier of such a stone is a friend of our race and so they will never hinder you nor treat you with anything but respect.”
Huna bowed his head. “I am greatly honored old one, I will cherish it for the rest of my days.”
Gwhin grinned. “Yes, until eternity then. I hear them calling me, I have to leave now. Burn our bodies, there is oil in the wagon, several cags of it.”
Glorfindel swallowed and took the dwarfs hand. “We will, rest in peace old one, and may Mahal bless your memory.”
Gwhin smiled, an almost silly smile. “Yet more pretty words from an elf, again; that I should live to see the day.”
He took one last breath, breathed out slowly and the light in his eyes disappeared. Glorfindel closed his eyes and whispered a prayer and Malagar did the same. Huna just stared at the dead dwarf, tears were stinging his eyes and he felt nauseous. Glorfindel got up, he lifted the dead dwarf as carefully as he would lift a sleeping child and laid the corpse in the wagon very gently and with the outmost respect. Then they gathered the other dead and placed them around him and covered the corpses with the tarp from the wagon’s canopy before they poured oil all over it. The things the raiders had thrown around were put back in place and then Glorfindel lit a torch with his flint and steel and threw it onto the wagon. It burned fiercely and black smoke rose to the skies. Huna saw the hard cold glimpse in the balrog slayer’s eyes as he whistled for his horse. Huna jumped onto his own steed and Glorfindel almost sneered. “We ride again, and we do not stop until those beasts are dead.”
Huna just nodded, his eyes just as cold and determined. Malagar was almost growling and he did take the lead. The three rode through the pass and headed east as the column of smoke from the funeral pyre slowly dissipated, bringing the souls of the innocently slain back to their maker. The tracks were easy to follow and it was obvious that the men had felt confident and safe, they had ridden hard for a while but then they had slowed down and ridden at a slow trot and headed down from the mountains. Glorfindel sneered. “They are heading for the small settlement by the lake. It is an ale house there.”
Malagar nodded. “They are probably going to enjoy themselves and just relax.”
Glorfindel shrugged. “They must have been there for more than two days already, it is possible they already have left.”
Huna just stared ahead, he wasn’t going to let Aegil get away with it, not any of it. He would pursue that beast to the end of the world if he had to. They had to stop for a while to let the horses rest and Huna was very impatient but he did understand that they shouldn’t ride their horses to death. He was glad when they could ride on.
The next morning they reached the settlement and Malagar did sneak down to the small village to check if the men were still there. He returned with a stern face and nodded. “Three of them are there still, dead drunk and a nuisance to everybody. I listened to the talk of the men inside of the alehouse, they would kick them out but are too afraid to. The leader left this morning.”
Huna tensed up, he was breathing hard. “I have to go after him, now”
Glorfindel put a hand on his shoulder. “No Huna, your horse is too tired, we go down there, kill those three murderers and then we see if there are any available horses here we can borrow.”
Huna groaned in frustration but he didn’t question Glorfindel, after all, he was the most experienced among them. The three elves did walk down to the houses, the place was small, more like a small assembly of ragged houses gathered around the small central square and it did smell of fish, pigs and ale. There were nobody out since the sun just had started to rise and everything was quiet, Glorfindel stared at the other two. “We go in, kill the three bastards. The humans here will not dare to intervene and if they do it will be their funeral.”
Malagar grinned and Huna just nodded, they were three armed elven warriors and able to fend off a few humans. Glorfindel walked right up to the door and opened it, the room they entered was rather dark and smoke filled it, it smelled of old stale food and the straw on the floors was more or less rotten. This was a poor place and Huna saw that two women sat by the hearth while an elderly man with a profound limp tried to cut the last traces of meat of a ham. All three stared at the elves with eyes that got huge with shock and awe. Two more men sat by the window, their clothes revealed that they probably were hunters and they stared too, with a bit of fear but mostly with reverence.
Their targets more or less lay by one of the tables at the back of the room and two were snoring while the third was moving and mumbling something while he tried to get up. He was too drunk to control his limbs. Glorfindel motioned for the elderly man to come forth and the man limped forward, eyes to the floor. “Honored one, this house is not worthy of such guests as you and your companions.”
Glorfindel smiled gently. “We are here not to rest or drink my good man, we are here because of those three men in the corner over there. They have murdered a whole family of dwarfs and they have committed terrible crimes to others too. We are here to punish them and trust that none of you will try to interfere.”
The old man gasped. “No, oh no, we won’t, they are scum. The bastard who was leading them left just hours ago, took the horse of the man over there without paying or anything and that dark haired one there, who is snoring, almost raped my daughter in law. “
The two hunters bowed their heads too. “They have bragged about having raped dwarf women, and killing children. We have no weapons my lords, if we did we would have killed them ourselves.”
Glorfindel unsheathed his blade. He nodded to Malagar and Huna who did the same. “Then stand back, we will make sure that these sons of warg’s don’t hurt anyone again.”
The two men backed off and the old man shooed the women into a back room. The man who was conscious tried to focus and he blinked and shook his head. Huna recognized him as the second in command of the raiders and he growled and the man seemed to recognize him in spite of his intoxication. He made a strange grin and pouted his lips. “I..I remember you…I think. Nice…nice…tight ass! Best I’ve had.”
Glorfindel sneered. “He is yours.”
Huna took two long steps, grasped the man by his collar and hoisted him up before he shoved the blade of Achar up underneath the man’s breast bone and into his heart. The man gulped, coughed blood and shuddered and then he just collapsed and Huna threw the body out onto the floor. He spat at it. “Filth, keep Morgoth company in the void!”
Glorfindel and Malagar did a quick job with the other two, they used their hunting knives and thrust the blades into the base of the skull of each man, it was quick and clean and better than they deserved. The two hunters stared at the man Huna had killed and they understood that this human had done something horrible to the elf, the glow in those golden eyes told them so. The tallest of the two swallowed hard and hawked. “The leader took my horse my lords, but he will not get far. The horse is old and slow and he wasn’t rested.”
Huna stared at him. “Our animals are exhausted, are there any other horses here in the village, one I may borrow?”
The old man limped over, he made a grimace. “Ask the smith, he has a horse I think, but I don’t think it can be ridden.”
The second hunter shrugged. “I would have offered you my mare, but she is way too small for a tall ellon like you and not very strong, all of our animals are old I fear.”
Glorfindel smiled and threw some gold coins onto the table, the old man stared with tears in his eyes. “Here, to pay for the ale those swine drank and the insult against your women, and keep whatever they have in their pockets. Where are the smiths lodgings?”
The tall hunter gestured for them to follow and the old man fell to his knees, almost weeping with gratitude. With those money they could save themselves for the winter.
The elves followed the hunter to a smithy that was placed a bit off from the rest of the village, there were always the danger or fire and such buildings were always placed thus. The smith was already up, heating up the forge and he tilted his head and sucked on his lip when they told him about their problem. Huna knew that he would have to chase Aegil alone, but he didn’t mind. In fact, there was some justice in it. Something he found that he liked.
“I do have a horse yes, some fancy lord who passed by left him here last spring, couldn’t handle the thing at all. Said he had bought it from some guy from Rohan but I doubt it, I think it was stolen. Anyhow, I have kept it in case someone would want to buy the beast. It can still be used as a stud even though he is too wild to be ridden.”
Glorfindel raised an eyebrow. “Really? A horse of Rohan? Not a Mearas I guess?”
The smith just grinned, he was a short stocky guy with scars in his face from embers and pox and he had a sort of primitive energy to him that could be felt more than seen. “Oh, I don’t know. Here we have mountain ponies and sometimes palfreys from the coast. I have never seen a decent destrier here until that horse was left here. He has cost me a fortune in oats though, but he is nice to look at. “
The smith hung up his apron and they followed him to a stable that looked very solid and well built. The smith opened the door and they entered a room with four boxes, three of them were occupied by small hairy animals that looked more like dwarf ponies than horses and the last box was filled with compact darkness or so it seemed. The smith lit a lamp and the elves gasped and stared at the amazing animal in front of them. It was indeed a Mearas, a black one. Pitch black he was like a starless night and so tall the ears reached the floor. The smith sighed. “It is a shame to keep an animal like that in such a poor stable but what else can I do? “
Huna stared at the huge horse, he hadn’t even known that a horse could be that tall and Glorfindel whistled. “I bet you two would fit together. You both are big!”
Huna took a few steps forward and the stallion nickered and stomped his feet, stared at the elf with eyes that seemed to intelligent to be those of an animal. The smith hawked. “Ah be careful, he tends to bite”
Huna took a deep breath, then he walked over and touched the silky neck and the stallion just nickered and nodded its head. “I think he likes me.”
The smith opened the stable door. “Alright then, see if you can handle him.”
Huna walked out and the stallion followed his like a dog, he smiled. “I think he has been waiting for someone who will respect him.”
He tangled his hand into the thick silky mane and leapt onto the strong back. The horse didn’t move and the smith was staring. “By Orome, I have never….he is yours my lord, all yours.”
Glorfindel grasped the smiths hand and placed a very generous amount of coins into it, the smith just gasped. “Here, for the horse and the oats and everything.”
The golden warrior grinned to Huna, “You have a horse worthy of a warrior now mellon, one no other can outrun. What are you gonna call him?”
Huna felt how eagerly the stallion answered to his every signal and his grin was getting wider. “He is perfect Fin, strong as a storm and fast as lightening I am sure. I will name him Hûl, battlecry.”
Glorfindel just smiled. “A good name, and now, ride fast. Take your revenge and return here. We will await you.”
Huna just grinned and let Hûl feel his heels and the great black took off and thundered down the path. Glorfindel stared after them with a grim face. Huna would never let the enemy get away and now he had a horse that would allow him to pursue even the fastest of orc packs. Maybe Orome himself had placed this stallion in his path.
The man had left few hours before, on a tired and weak horse, Huna did anticipate to catch up with him within the hour and he let Hûl run as fast as he liked. The black Mearas was running so fast Huna had problems breathing and tears were running down his face as he clung onto the mane and tried to see the track ahead. Then he saw something in the distance, a man on a limping horse, cursing and swearing and whipping the animal to make it move faster. Huna unfastened his blades and Hûl slowed down a bit, it seemed to know what he wanted already.
Aegil had heard the sound of thundering hooves and he did sense that something was off, he wasn’t so stupid he didn’t realize that he could be in trouble so he dismounted and made a quick escape into the bushes. He ran to he met a cliff, there he stopped and waited, if it was just someone who were in a hurry they would probably ignore a loose horse grazing in the ditch and he held his breath. A giant black rider less horse trotted by and he frowned. Rider less?
He heard a sound behind him and spun around, blades pulled. On the cliff he could see someone staring down at him, black against the moon that still hadn’t disappeared beneath the horizon. He gasped, glowing eyes watched him with cold anger and hatred and he saw that this creature was both huge and not a human being.
Aegil had never been superstitious but now he suddenly was, he sensed how the cold hand of death brushed through his soul and he growled and lifted his swords in defiance. “Who are you, show yourself coward.”
The answer was a hiss and then the creature jumped down and Aegil gasped. He knew this elf, the red hair, the golden eyes. It was the ellon they had sold to that brothel and he suddenly realized that he had underestimated elves in general. He launched an attack, thrust his sword low while aiming high with the other one but he was parried with ease and a deep cut appeared across his abdomen. He stared down at the blood that dribbled down his body, strange, it didn’t hurt?
Huna snarled, another strike and a new cut. His blades were so sharp there was little pain and Aegil looked more confused than anything else. Huna parried another clumsy attack, Thos cut the man’s right hand off at the wrist and Aegil noticed the injury and screamed, tried to use his left hand and blade to cut the elf but he wasn’t fast enough. Huna just stared at the gasping man, he felt no pity and very little rage. This was just a despicable piece of meat. “I would pity a rabid dog, yes I would even pity a dying orc. You on the other hand I do not pity. I will leave you for the wolves, at least your flesh will do something good.”
Aegil was feeling light headed, dizzy. “Please, have mercy”
Huna snarled. “I will show you the same mercy you showed Shera, and Davo, and the rest of the family. The same mercy you showed those poor dwarves. Now, go to hell!”
He swung both blades and Aegil’s head tipped forward and fell to the ground before the body followed, spurting blood. It was writhing for a while and he just stared at it before he returned to Hûl and sheathed his blades. “Good boy, and now, back to the others.”
The stallion rubbed its nose against his chest and he grinned and petted it.
When he returned to the others they just stood there, calmly. They had no doubt that Huna could accomplish his goal and he nodded as he dismounted. “It is done, that filth will no longer bother this world.”
He turned to the smith. “The hunter’s horse is further down the road, have someone retrieve it. That son of an orc was whipping the poor thing.”
Glorfindel patted Huna on the back. “Now my friend, is it over?”
Huna smiled and nodded, his eyes a bit more merry than before. “It is, I can move forth now.”
Glorfindel grinned and hugged him. “That is great, for I am sure there are a lot of orcs out there just waiting to be massacred.”
Huna and the two others stayed for a few hours more, then they returned to Imladris and when they got there five days later everybody was relieved to see that they all were okay. Many were in awe of Hûl and Huna was very proud of the smart horse. Triwiel was specially glad he had returned unharmed, she knew she really liked Huna now and before long they did move in together and got a reputation for making a lot of noise at night, and sometimes at daytime too.
Glorfindel was right, Huna was a stealth warrior, one who fought best alone. He did follow the patrols for a while and then he started going out on his own. He was sometimes followed by Glorfindel but never anyone else and they did finish off quite a lot of the enemies minions. Huna would set up terrible traps, he would poison orcs or lure them over cliffs in the dark or into deep water. He would sneak up to their camps, assassinate their leaders or cripple them and he did it all with a sort of distanced cold passion.
After a few months he started leaving a mark on his victims, the runes carved into the scabbards were now also carved into the dead orcs or things in their surroundings and a rumor spread. The orcs started whispering about a ghost with a flaming head, riding a demon horse so fast it was just there and gone. And everybody who saw that ghost died. They called it Gurgaran, red death and the rumor spread and became a fear in the heart of every orc.
Just the sight of those marks were enough to make whole packs of orc cower together like frightened chickens and they had no idea of what it was that hunted them. They never saw their opponent, only his victims and they were often horribly mutilated. And yet not a sound was heard or anything seen.
War came once more, the one ring was found and had to be brought to Mordor and in secret Huna started a new and very important mission. The word of the terrible ghost had reached even the dark lord himself and he was both shaken and in disbelief, Huna started attacking orcs randomly, terrible bloody attacks that struck such fear into the orcs their leaders had to focus on that, and not on more important things. He managed to catch the attention of the dark lords troops so well few managed to discover the true reason why a small group of seemingly harmless hobbits, men and a dwarf and an elf left Imladris.
He fought from the shadows and was barely ever seen and he preferred it that way. The war ended, Sauron was beaten and peace returned. For some years he did hunt the surviving orcs, then there were none left. He went to Greenwood and killed spiders until there were no spiders left and when he started feeling as though he had no purpose left a new one presented itself. Triwiel could one day give him the unexpected but joyful news that he was a father to be. Huna did hang his swords on the wall and dedicated himself entirely to his family and it grew. He and Triwiel had five children in the end, three boys and two girls and of those one of the boys and one of the girls inherited their father’s colors.
Imladris was abandoned and he and his family did sail with the last of the elves to leave the hidden valley. They had brought everything with them, even four of Hûl’s offspring. The old stallion had fallen asleep underneath its favorite tree never to wake up again and he had been buried there.
Huna never got to know who or what he had been and he didn’t care, in Valinor he was just a family man and it was good that way, and after some years he and his sons started exploring the vast continent but that, that is a whole different story.
- 5
- 6
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The fallen one