The
Witch of Angmar
Legacy
of the Fellowship
Part
Thirteen
The Shadow of the Black Woods
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T
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here
are some parts of the world that are forsaken. To Rose Fairbairn, the northern reaches
of Arnor was one such place.
The
North Downs rolled on endlessly, and it took Rose, Peri and Salrean three long
days to cross them. They were exposed out on the downs, with nothing but
windswept grass and the odd stunted shrub to shield them from the elements. Out
here, it was possible to see for miles in every direction – something that Rose
was grateful for. At least here, they could see if any goblins approached.
For three days they saw no one. The North
Downs, a desolate spot indeed, appeared devoid of any life at all. They would
travel all day and make camp early, before lighting a small fire in one of the
shallow valleys between the hills. Then, they would take turns at keeping watch
through the long, chill night; hunched against the cutting wind, until the
first fingers of light crept in from the east. Tired and stiff, the three
travellers would then climb to their feet, douse the dying embers of last
night’s fire and continue on their way.
The North Downs eventually ended; not in an
abrupt fashion but more in a gradual ‘dying out’. The land gradually flattened
and they entered a vast plain that stretched to a hazy vanishing point in every
direction. Here, it was hard to believe that it was still early autumn further
south, for the sun held no warmth and the wind bit into the exposed skin of
their faces.
“What a miserable place,” Peri muttered as
he trudged alongside Rose. “Why would anyone choose to live this far north?”
“Not many do, Peri,” Salrean replied,
casting a grim smile over her shoulder at her companion. “Hence the fact that
we have not seen a soul since leaving Farnost. However, do not let the quiet
fool you. Many, who are not welcomed in the more populated areas of our world,
have found refuge here in the cold north. We must be ever watchful as we travel
north, as in places like these even the wind has ears.”
Rose supressed a shudder at Salrean’s words
before casting a nervous glance around her. The sky was a washed-out grey, from
one horizon to another. In fact, they had not seen blue sky since leaving
Farnost – and even there the world had been bleak.
The ranger’s words stayed with Rose for the
rest of the day, and she found herself jumping at shadows and glancing continually
over her shoulder. There was indeed a ‘watchful’ presence here; a stillness that
reminded Rose of an indrawn breath, waiting to exhale.
She did not like it.
***
On the fourth morning since leaving
Farnost, shortly after dawn, the travellers caught sight of a dark mass in the
distance.
“The Black Woods,” Salrean announced, her
expression hard. “It marks the border between Arnor and Angmar. We are about to
enter Morwyn’s domain.”
“So soon?” Peri asked in a cowed voice. “I
thought we’d have at least another few days’ travel before us before entering
Angmar.”
Salrean shook her head before giving Peri
an unexpected smile. “Farnost has always dwelt in the shadow of Angmar. Why do
you think my city is such a cheerless place?”
The hobbits had no response for that, and
so the three companions drew closer to the Black Woods in silence.
Even from afar, the woods appeared
intimidating to Rose. True to their name, the trees appeared almost black at a
distance, although as they came nearer, Rose saw that they were hardy pines and
spruce with a dark, dense foliage. The woods formed a dense carpet north, west
and east – and they began suddenly. One moment the companions were walking
through exposed grassland, and the next, they had stepped under the dark,
sheltering boughs.
The moment they stepped into the woods,
Rose felt as if she had entered another world. The air was heavy with the scent
of pine resin, moss and damp. The chill wind could not reach here, and it was
dark and shadowy now that the trees screened the grey sky. However, like the
grasslands, the Black Woods were eerily silent – and the sensation of being
watched grew ever stronger as they ventured further inside.
“How long will we have to spend in this
place?” Peri asked eventually. “We have another two days travel before reaching
the other side,” Salrean replied. “Truthfully, I don’t like this place any more
than you. Yet, to go around the Black Woods would take too long.”
“Why is it so quiet in here?” Rose asked,
stepping over a moss-covered log, her feet squelching on the thick leaf-mulch
underfoot. “In the Shire, you can hear things in woods.”
“The Black Woods isn’t welcoming to
strangers.” Salrean replied. “There are no paths through it; and many have lost
their way and never been seen again. Most probably they ran out of food and
water and died here.”
The two hobbits exchanged alarmed glances.
Salrean saw their faces and gave a wry
smile.
“Don’t trouble yourselves. We must be
careful, it’s true, but I have travelled these woods many times and know what
to look out for. I also know my way through it.”
“That’s good to hear,” Peri replied,
letting out the breath he had been holding. Rose too, felt herself relax
slightly at Salrean’s reassurance. The ranger was a strong, calming influence
on the hobbits. They had already been through much together, and Rose now
trusted Salrean at her word. She did not blame her for the dangerous quest,
they were know embarking upon. Salrean was as trapped by her father’s iron
will, as the hobbits were.
“Will we need to look out for goblins
here?” Rose asked Salrean as they continued on their way.
“On the fringes of the woods, yes,” Salrean
replied. “However, few venture into the heart of the Black Woods for fear of
never making it out again.”
***
Flames licked up at the damp night air and
flared as unwary moths fluttered too close. Rose watched the fire, mesmerised
by the golden warmth on such a cold, lonely night. She was taking the second
watch; the others lay huddled under blankets as close to the fire as they
dared. Apart from the whisper of their breathing, the Black Woods remained eerily
silent. Rose would have even welcomed the lonely call of an owl or the rustling
of rodents in the undergrowth; yet nothing but a deep silence echoed around
her.
Fatigue pulled down at Rose, and she
blinked rapidly in an attempt to keep herself awake. She still had a while to
go before Salrean would take her turn.
She rubbed her stinging eyes and turned her
attention from the fire for a moment, reaching over to their dwindling stack of
firewood for a few more sticks to feed the flames.
It was then that she caught a glimpse of
something in the darkness.
Two large green eyes with massively dilated
pupils were staring at her.
Rose froze – and for a moment they held
each other’s gaze.
Then, the eyes blinked, disappearing into
the night. Rose continued to stare at the spot where the eyes had been,
straining her own in an effort to make out her surroundings. Just a few feet
from the edge of their campfire, darkness swallowed the world. She remained
there, holding her breath as she listened for any sound. Yet nothing but a deep
silence greeted her.
Eventually, Rose slowly let out her breath.
Her senses were still on alert when she glanced back at the fire and cautiously
feed a few sticks to the flames. Her gaze shifted to where Salrean slept,
hidden under her blanket. She considered waking the ranger but decided against
it. The eyes had been unnerving. Yet, they could have belonged to a woodland
creature.
Whoever it was, had disappeared for the
moment. Rose decided she would tell Salrean about it in the morning. For now,
she would let the ranger sleep.
“You should have woken me.”
Dawn was breaking over the Black Woods as
Salrean packed away her blanket with deft precision. “There are few creatures
living in these woods – and those that do reside here must be handled with
care.”
“It stared at me and then disappeared,”
Rose replied, frowning. “Since it didn’t appear threatening, I didn’t want to
wake you.”
Salrean shook her head and fixed Rose in a
cool gaze.
“You had no idea of its intent. This far
north, the Witch’s servants are everywhere. They are her eyes and ears – and if
last night’s visitor was one, she will soon know of us.”
Rose went cold at this news. She glanced
over at Peri who was looking decidedly grim. He had paused, half-way through
eating an apple, and glanced nervously around at their surroundings.
“Do you really think it was one of her
servants?” Rose asked, her voice small.
Salrean shrugged. “Who knows? All I’m
saying is that in cases like that should always wake me. A mistake like that
could cost us our lives out here in the wild.”
And so, it was under this sombre warning
that the three companions continued their journey north, into the heart of the
Black Woods. A grey light filtered down from the cracks in the canopy above,
illuminating the lichen-encrusted trunks of the trees and the mossy forest
floor.
The damp seeped into Rose’s bones and made
her limbs ache. She clutched her heavy cloak to her as she followed at
Salrean’s heels. Her conversation with the ranger at dawn had unnerved her. She
was irritated with herself for not waking Salrean. After all they had been
through she should have known better. Salrean was right – they had to be
especially careful now they were in Morwyn’s domain. The witch would have
servants patrolling the borders of Angmar.
Mid-morning it began to drizzle. Sooner
after, a heavy grey blanket settled over the Black Woods, making the place even
gloomier than before. Wet, miserable and cold, the companions trudged on, while
around them the woods were silent and watchful. The only sound was the crunch
of twigs underfoot and the patter of the rain on wet leaves.
At midday, they stopped for a short while.
The rain had increased to a steady patter, and the travellers attempted to find
some shelter under an old, gnarled pine. Seated on a log, Salrean unwrapped
some cured sausage. They ate it with the last of their stale bread.
“How much food do we have left?” Peri asked
as he polished off the last of his lunch. “How will we cope now the bread is
gone?”
“Enough,” Salrean replied. “The bread was
never going to last long, but I have a batch of wafer bread wrapped in oiled
cloth – ‘tis a recipe from the elves, a version of their ‘Lembas’ bread. It
should keep us going for a while yet.”
The companions finished their meagre lunch
in silence before continuing on their way through the rain. They had not gone
far when Salrean slowed her pace, allowing Rose to draw level with her.
“Rose,” she said quietly. “We have a
shadow.”
Icy fear prickled down Rose’s spine. “Since
when?”
“This morning.”
“Last night’s visitor?” Rose’s voice rose
slightly.
“I think so, he’s been right behind us for
a while now.”
“What?”
“Keep your voice down,” Salrean hissed.
“Show me Sting?”
Confused, Rose threw Salrean a questioning
look before pushing aside her cloak and carefully drawing Sting out of its
scabbard.
The blade glowed blue.
Rose’s mouth went dry and her heart started
to race. “A goblin.”
Salrean nodded. Her face was as serious as
Rose had seen it. “Yes, and I think I know exactly who our foot-pad is.”
End of Part #13
Be back for Part #14
on 20 December!
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