I am attempting to redefine my story line- where it's going, how it will end, sub-plots, the like. I'm not sure how long this will take me... more then likely longer then you or I wish. So, I shall now post what I have finish of the next chapter. Enjoy, and I shall return soon.
It took Smith and Gradwin a while to find a cave entrance, and even longer to find the secret entrance into the tunnels inside the cave. But in the end, they did.
It was very dark inside the tunnels. If not for Gradwin's foresight in the matter, they would have been in total darkness. However, they were not, for Gradwin brought torches. Now, despite the light, Smith was not comfortable in these tunnels. He didn't feel safe, but rather felt as thought something was watching him from the shadows. He tried to tell these fears and feelings to Gradwin, but Gradwin waved them off. "Your fooling yourself, Smith. We won't come to the inhabited tunnels for a while yet. You have nothing to fear." Smith wasn't so sure.
For a long time, they continued on like this. Smith was no longer aware of the passing of time, for there was no way to tell inside the tunnels and caves. They had to stop and give Gradwin time to think at every fork in the path, for they did not want to find themselves in Goblin territory. That, needless to say, would not end well. Fortunately, they did not, for Gradwin had a remarkable memory, and he had visited the Dwarfs on occasion before.
After much wondering around, a wrong turn or two, and a few dead ends, Gradwin finally lead Smith to a very long, very straight hall. The walls were unnaturally smooth. This was obviously the work of Dwarf hands, as Goblins cared not for things such as smooth walls, and any natural tunnel like this would also have rough walls, unless there was a great amount of water running through here at some point in time, and if it was that, the source of the water was long since ether dried or clogged, for the tunnel walls were dry, and there was very little moister in the air.
They followed the tunnel for a long time, what felt like hours to Smith, and getting nowhere but farther away from the entrance, seemingly. And with the limited lighting, it was impossible to see very far ahead of you. So they did not see the trap they were walking into until it was sprung.
It was very dark inside the tunnels. If not for Gradwin's foresight in the matter, they would have been in total darkness. However, they were not, for Gradwin brought torches. Now, despite the light, Smith was not comfortable in these tunnels. He didn't feel safe, but rather felt as thought something was watching him from the shadows. He tried to tell these fears and feelings to Gradwin, but Gradwin waved them off. "Your fooling yourself, Smith. We won't come to the inhabited tunnels for a while yet. You have nothing to fear." Smith wasn't so sure.
For a long time, they continued on like this. Smith was no longer aware of the passing of time, for there was no way to tell inside the tunnels and caves. They had to stop and give Gradwin time to think at every fork in the path, for they did not want to find themselves in Goblin territory. That, needless to say, would not end well. Fortunately, they did not, for Gradwin had a remarkable memory, and he had visited the Dwarfs on occasion before.
After much wondering around, a wrong turn or two, and a few dead ends, Gradwin finally lead Smith to a very long, very straight hall. The walls were unnaturally smooth. This was obviously the work of Dwarf hands, as Goblins cared not for things such as smooth walls, and any natural tunnel like this would also have rough walls, unless there was a great amount of water running through here at some point in time, and if it was that, the source of the water was long since ether dried or clogged, for the tunnel walls were dry, and there was very little moister in the air.
They followed the tunnel for a long time, what felt like hours to Smith, and getting nowhere but farther away from the entrance, seemingly. And with the limited lighting, it was impossible to see very far ahead of you. So they did not see the trap they were walking into until it was sprung.
It was very sudden. Ether Smith or Gradwin, even they are not sure which, tripped a hided wire of some sort, and it sounded an alarm elsewhere. The hall was rigged with secret doors that could both open and close soundlessly, and they did, deploying a group of defending dwarfs into the long hall, both behind and in front of Smith and Gradwin. Both the party in front and the party behind were armed, and feeling none too friendly, for they did not like "topsiders", as they called anyone who lived outside the mountain.
They only let the two intruders continue on for a few more steps before stopping them.
"Hold, intruders! Who are you that you feel invited to walk our halls freely?" Said the lead dwarfs gruffly, for this particular dwarf had a special place in his his heart for topsiders.
"Stand down, Uliden. It is I, Gradwin."
The dwarf called Uliden frowned at this. "I know the name, though it is little more then a bad omen for me. Who is the child?" He asked, eying Smith. Smith did not like being called a child, but he had enough wits about him to know that an outburst would not be wise at this point, so he let Gradwin do all the talking.
"This is Smith Phillips. That is all you need know. Now, I have come to see Yonam. Would you take me to him?"
Again, Uliden frowned. Smith wondered if he ever smiled. "He is very busy. I doubt he will have time to-"
"All the same." Gradwin interrupted, giving Uliden a hard stare. A battle of wills took place, which Gradwin won. Uliden bowed his head and motioned for the two to follow him, then turned and stalked off without another word. Gradwin followed closely, tailed by Smith.
As it turns out, the hall came to a very sudden end. And a dead one. Smith looked around, startled. Where did Uliden go? There must be a secret door somewhere, but how do you open it? Then the wall opens, and Uliden pops his head out. "Aren't you coming?" He asked gruffly, though there is a glint of humor in his eyes. Gradwin frowns, and gave no response. After a moment, Uliden moved back through the door, disappearing into the darkness. Gradwin and Smith followed closely. The door lead to a ledge overlooking a grand and glorious sight.
"Behold, travelers," a dwarf behind Smith and Gradwin said proudly. "Hiden Formath, The City Beneath the Mountain!"
And indeed it was. Smith was amazed at the magnitude of what lay before him. Hiden Formath was a city in every sense of the word. It looked at thought the dwarfs had hallowed out a large part of the mountain, creating a huge cavern in which they built their city. And the city itself was no small feat, for the buildings were large and grand, built on a imposing scale. The city was lavishly decorated with gold and jewels from the dwarf mines, and all seemed very well organized. Everyone that Smith could see looked as if they knew where they were going.
Uliden lead them down a narrow path that connected the overlook to the ground level, where the city was built. They were forced to move in single file down the ledge, due to the narrowness of it. Smith quickly saw the benefits of this. Should Goblins ever find the entrance, they would have to move in single file to get to the city, and a troll, from what Smith had heard, would never fit on this path- it would be too big. And nothing would survive the drop from the overlook to the ground level. It was just too high.
Once inside the city, they were met with a great many curious glances, for it was not every day that men were allowed into The City Under the Mountain. As they moved toward the center of the city, it appeared to Smith that there was a portion of the city set aside for housing, a different portion for the blacksmiths, goldsmiths, and silversmiths, and yet another portion set aside for growing food and raising animals. There was a portion set aside for just about anything one could think of that would be needed to survive. And in the center of it all was a structure that was by far the most imposing of all... the Hall of the Dwarf King.
They stopped in front of the massive stone doors that lead into the Hall of the Dwarf King. Uliden shouted something in a language that Smith had never heard before. There was a shouted response in the same language, and Uliden shouted again, a bit angrier this time. Smith wasn't sure what was being said, but he was pretty sure that it wasn't going well. There was the sound of laughter, and more shouting. And the massive doors swung open.
The Hall of the Dwarf King was just that... a huge, long hall. It measured about seventy feet wide by one hundred fifty feet long. The first thing Smith noticed when he entered was two large statues, one on ether side of him, looking to be about seven feet high. Each was of a dwarf, though the two were different in more ways then one, obviously of different dwarfs.
Right next to ether statue was a huge stone column, stretching from floor to ceiling, which was fifty feet above them. Easily ten feet in diameter, the column had a great many jewels inlaid in an intricate pattern. The floors were like a giant mosaic, though the picture was difficult to make out at such a close range.
Uliden continued walking at a brisk past, obviously not planning on being a tour guide. They walked for another seventy-five feet or so before coming to a large empty space. Smith asked Gradwin what this was used for.
"This is the king's dining hall. The table is designed so that when not in use, it can be broken down and moved. Rather ingenious, really." Smith nodded his understanding, still a little in awe of the massive size of the hall.
They reached the end of the hall and came upon another set of doors, a little smaller then the great gates of the hall itself, but magnificent none the less. The guards posted there, snapped to attention when the group approached, and hurriedly went about opening the doors. Uliden walked through without even slowing down.
The inside of this room was apparently where the dwarfs had court, for there were nine dwarfs in the room (not counting the king and his queen), seated in a semi-circle. It also looked like it was the kings throne room, for sitting directly opposite of the door was the throne. "Must be both," Smith thought.
The Dwarf King was the first to speak. "Gradwin! This is... unexpected. And who is this with you?" The king stood in order to great his guest. The rest of the council stood with him. Only a dwarf sitting directly next to the king remained seated. His hair and beard were as black as night, and his eyes were a steely gray. There was a burning hatred in those eyes as he looked at Gradwin.
"A very urgent matter concerning the lives of several of our friends, and a possible act of war."
"Ha!" Scoffed the sitting dwarf, drawling the eyes of everyone in the room. "An act of war, says the wanderer. That's utter nonsense! Peace has held the land for several thousand years. There is no way-""Behold, travelers," a dwarf behind Smith and Gradwin said proudly. "Hiden Formath, The City Beneath the Mountain!"
And indeed it was. Smith was amazed at the magnitude of what lay before him. Hiden Formath was a city in every sense of the word. It looked at thought the dwarfs had hallowed out a large part of the mountain, creating a huge cavern in which they built their city. And the city itself was no small feat, for the buildings were large and grand, built on a imposing scale. The city was lavishly decorated with gold and jewels from the dwarf mines, and all seemed very well organized. Everyone that Smith could see looked as if they knew where they were going.
Uliden lead them down a narrow path that connected the overlook to the ground level, where the city was built. They were forced to move in single file down the ledge, due to the narrowness of it. Smith quickly saw the benefits of this. Should Goblins ever find the entrance, they would have to move in single file to get to the city, and a troll, from what Smith had heard, would never fit on this path- it would be too big. And nothing would survive the drop from the overlook to the ground level. It was just too high.
Once inside the city, they were met with a great many curious glances, for it was not every day that men were allowed into The City Under the Mountain. As they moved toward the center of the city, it appeared to Smith that there was a portion of the city set aside for housing, a different portion for the blacksmiths, goldsmiths, and silversmiths, and yet another portion set aside for growing food and raising animals. There was a portion set aside for just about anything one could think of that would be needed to survive. And in the center of it all was a structure that was by far the most imposing of all... the Hall of the Dwarf King.
They stopped in front of the massive stone doors that lead into the Hall of the Dwarf King. Uliden shouted something in a language that Smith had never heard before. There was a shouted response in the same language, and Uliden shouted again, a bit angrier this time. Smith wasn't sure what was being said, but he was pretty sure that it wasn't going well. There was the sound of laughter, and more shouting. And the massive doors swung open.
The Hall of the Dwarf King was just that... a huge, long hall. It measured about seventy feet wide by one hundred fifty feet long. The first thing Smith noticed when he entered was two large statues, one on ether side of him, looking to be about seven feet high. Each was of a dwarf, though the two were different in more ways then one, obviously of different dwarfs.
Right next to ether statue was a huge stone column, stretching from floor to ceiling, which was fifty feet above them. Easily ten feet in diameter, the column had a great many jewels inlaid in an intricate pattern. The floors were like a giant mosaic, though the picture was difficult to make out at such a close range.
Uliden continued walking at a brisk past, obviously not planning on being a tour guide. They walked for another seventy-five feet or so before coming to a large empty space. Smith asked Gradwin what this was used for.
"This is the king's dining hall. The table is designed so that when not in use, it can be broken down and moved. Rather ingenious, really." Smith nodded his understanding, still a little in awe of the massive size of the hall.
They reached the end of the hall and came upon another set of doors, a little smaller then the great gates of the hall itself, but magnificent none the less. The guards posted there, snapped to attention when the group approached, and hurriedly went about opening the doors. Uliden walked through without even slowing down.
The inside of this room was apparently where the dwarfs had court, for there were nine dwarfs in the room (not counting the king and his queen), seated in a semi-circle. It also looked like it was the kings throne room, for sitting directly opposite of the door was the throne. "Must be both," Smith thought.
The Dwarf King was the first to speak. "Gradwin! This is... unexpected. And who is this with you?" The king stood in order to great his guest. The rest of the council stood with him. Only a dwarf sitting directly next to the king remained seated. His hair and beard were as black as night, and his eyes were a steely gray. There was a burning hatred in those eyes as he looked at Gradwin.
"A very urgent matter concerning the lives of several of our friends, and a possible act of war."
"That's is enough, Molek. I would hear what Gradwin has to say." Interrupted a dwarf sitting to the right of Gradwin and Smith. Several other voiced their interest. The king let this go on until all in favor had voiced their opinion, then nodded at Gradwin.
"Thank you, good king. Here is the act- a group of Easterners have kidnapped a group of travelers in the Forest of Gorox and are headed this way-"
"Please." Again, Molek spoke out. "Easterners in the Forest of Gorox? Impossible. And even more unlikely is the idea that they would head in this direction!" Several other dwarfs nodded in agreement.
"Gradwin," Began the king, "did you see these Easterners?"
At this, Gradwin paused. "I have it from a very reliable source-"
"See?" Shouted Molek. "He has no proof! This is a second hand account. Hardly reliable."
Gradwin slammed his staff against the floor, and the result was a resounding crack against the floor that echoed in the chamber and caused Molek to flinch. "SILENCE!" Gradwin gave Molek a hard stare. "I will not be interrupted by the likes of you, Molek Dimok."
Several of the council members murmured among themselves at this. Only Gradwin would dare speak like that to the chief adviser of the king with such a tone. Molek seethed at being spoken to in such a manner, but remained silent. The king watch this with something between shock and amusement written on his face.
After a moment or two, Gradwin picked up where he left off. "That source, if any still wonder, is a forest-dweller I know, and with whom I would and have trusted my life with. His word is as good as mine."
The king looked thoughtful. After a moment of thought, he spoke up. "What would you have us do?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tina was about to collapse from exhaustion. Fit though she was, these Easterners seemed tireless, and they're leader the hardest of them all. Him being an elf, he did not tire as any man did. Safe to say, he could undoubtedly run longer then any of his men, who could seemingly run all day and all night with only a few hours sleep. What's more, he didn't seem to care about the condition of his men or prisoners- he just kept moving.
Finally, Tina could go no further, and her knees buckled beneath her. She fell, and did not have it in her to get up. Even when the whip of her driver found her back, she could not get up. Then had covered sixty miles in three days time, and that was with only four hours sleep each night and very little food. She was far beyond exhausted. Even to say that she was dead tired would have been an understatement.
After several more strokes of the whip, there was a shout. "Enough!" Tina raised her head just enough to see who came to her aid, and saw that it was the elf in charge of this company of solders. He was not looking at her, but rather at her driver, and there was something very close to rage in his eyes. He snatched the whip from the hands of Tina's driver, a huge brute of a man with tree trunks for legs and arms of steel. "They need to be kept whole! I cannot have you beating her senseless, you moron!" The threw the whip on the ground between them and then turned his attention toward Tina. Seeing her on her back, he look up at some solders standing nearby, watching him. "Raise her into sitting position." They hopped to the task, moving quickly. Once Tina had been rolled over and brought into a sitting position, the elf knelt as so to look her in the eye as he spoke. "What is your name, girl?"
Tina stared at him, not speaking. No amount of exhaustion could take down her defiance. He met her glare, and in fact returned it, though sending a different message then she. He won, in the end, and she responded softly. "Tina."
He nodded slowly. "I am called Myron, and despite what you may be inclined to believe, I'm not your enemy. I'm your friend." Tina smirked at this. "I know you don't believe me, but do not be so quick to swat my hand aside. You need a friend, if you are to make this journey with everything you began it with. These men can and would do far worse to you then simply beat you. Indeed, if they had their way, you already would have lost a great deal. I am all that stands between you and them."
As much as she hated to admit it, she knew Myron to be correct. Many had called her a beauty before, though she had a harden edge some found unappealing. These men, she thought, wouldn't really care about things like that. She looked nice.
"Now," continued Myron, "Do we understand each other?" Tina nodded, but the expression on her face made it clear that she by no means thought Myron a friend. And ally, perhaps, but not a friend. But that was enough for Myron. "Good. Now, can you get up?" In response she attempted just that, only to collapse again. Myron frowned, then looked toward Arcon. "You! Come over here." Arcon, his face stony, complied. Myron stood and removed a dagger from his belt. Then. with one smooth chop, he cut the ropes that bound Arcon's hands. He inclined his head toward Tina. "Can you carry her until she regains her strength?"
Arcon stared at Myron expressionlessly for a long moment, then looked toward Tina. He nodded slowly. With that, Myron gave to order to move out again, Arcon picked up Tina, and they carried on.
For the next four days it continued like this. Arcon, being an elf, did not at all mind carrying Tina; Earagorn used a endurance spell he knew to keep his strength up; Jalor, despite his age, did well, for he was used to long, hard runs like this. It was on the fifth day after Tina collapsed that she started running again. It was on that same day Myron saw a dragon.
It was noon, and the troop had stopped for a brief lunch. Myron had finished his meal before anyone else, but instead of hurrying his troops and their prisoners through the rest of their meal, he stared at the sky, deep in thought. At first the dragon had appeared only as a speck in the sky, easily mistaken as an eagle or some other large bird... if you didn't have eye's like that of an elf. Myron frowned at the sight, then hurried his troops through the remainder of their lunch and pushed them on.
All the way to the mountain, the dragon seemed to follow them, though always high enough up to be mistaken for a large bird to the human eye, and Myron never told his troops or prisoners what he saw. Then it disappeared. Myron thought little of it, thought he was wary entering the mountains.
He followed the pattern given to him by the Norgins to pass through the tunnels. Left, right, right, center, left, right, right, left, left, right, right, center... and then came to a sudden and unexpected halt. Here, according to the pattern given, he was to take the center path. But the center path was caved in. So was the right. This can't be good... Myron thought, puzzled and slightly worried. He recalled the words of the Norgin Commander who gave him the instructions... "If the pattern says's to go center, go center. Any turn you make could lead to your death." Myron ran through the turns he had been making. Yes, he had stayed to the pattern. A cave-in must have occurred, blocking the correct path. Myron spun on his heels and started barking orders. "Make yourselves useful, men! Let see if we can't clear the center path." And so it began.
For a great long while- no one is sure just how long they worked, for it was impossible to tell time in the caves- the Eastern soldiers labored at the rock wall, but seeing how that they had no digging tools, it was almost impossible going. Finally, after what felt like hours of futile digging, Myron ordered a stop, having only made a few inches of progress.
Posted by 
Posted by 
