Jin moved over to where Alrick laid resting. The young wizard apprentice hadn’t moved since he laid down. With a gentle shake to his shoulder, she quietly called his name.

“Alrick. It is time to awaken. The sun has risen and we must be on our way once more.”

As he blinked his eyes open, Jin could see the confusion on his face and in his eyes. When he turned his head to look up at her, she saw the moment of fear cross his features at seeing the Drowess quickly replaced by recognition. She took the time to see the swelling of his jaw was not as pronounced now and she gave him a small smile.

“Today is going to be a good day, young apprentice.”

When she was done waking Alrick, she moved closer to Tiphereth and studied his features as he meditated. She’d never met one of the Phaerie world before. In fact, she wasn’t entirely sure it even existed. But now, as the truth was unveiled to her, she knew he was an extraordinary creature and his presence here was not merely coincidence. Reaching her hand out, she gently shook his shoulder as she had done Alricks.

“Tiphereth of Sorrelwind. The sun has risen and it is time for us move on.”

Alrick did feel much recovered after a few hours of sleep, but somehow when the drow smiled and said it was going to be a good day, he had his doubts. He groaned and patted the side of his jaw, which was barely swollen anymore, though he was sporting a colorful bruise. At least he could talk without sounding like he had a cheek full of chaw now. Further inspection of his condition revealed that the shallow lacerations on his hand were closed and scabbed, and his chest burn was still blistered over.

There was dew on the ground and the sky was a cold gray color, except in the east where a gold and peach-toned sunrise filtered up, glancing off the still waters of the lake. Alrick threw a couple of sticks on the fire to stoke it up, rubbed his hands in the welcome warmth as the flames blossomed again, then hauled himself into a nearby stand of trees to answer nature’s call. While he was there, he disturbed a nesting grouse: an angry ball of feathers erupting from the ground when he got too close. While the hen limped around feigning a broken wing, Alrick spotted three creamy, brown-speckled eggs in her nest of soft pine needles and leaves. Fending off several irate pecks and a lot of flapping, he snatched two eggs and hurried back to camp. The distressed hen didn’t follow him but a few paces.

Everyone was up when he got back, feeding and watering the horses, and packing away the few supplies that had been set up for their hasty camp. “Breakfast?” Alrick suggested, flashing the two eggs in his hand. He couldn’t be completely sure, but by the wobbly weight of them, he thought the eggs were still embryonic and suitable for cooking—since there were only three in the nest, the hen probably hadn’t started brooding on them yet. Grouse eggs taste similar to chicken eggs, and are close to the same size.

The general murmurs of assent encouraged Alrick to put some butter on one of Lac’s iron pans and mix up about a third of the small quantity of flour they had with the eggs, a little more butter, fresh water from the placid lake, salt and bicarbonate of soda. They wouldn’t be the tastiest flapjacks Alrick had ever made—they would have been better with a little sugar and lemon juice in the batter—but they would be hot and would stick to the traveler’s ribs until lunch time. He fried up a small pile, stacking them on a plate next to the fire to keep warm, and added a few strips of the smoked venison, browned in the pan, to complete the humble breakfast. Another pot was filled with fresh simmering water for tea.

“It would really be better if we had some maple syrup,” he apologized to his companions as they gathered round the fire to eat. He gave Tiphereth a furtive examination. “I don’t know if you care for such earthly fair,” he said to the faerie, his air that of a man trying to make lighthearted conversation at a funeral. “If you have any, you know, special dietary requirements, just let me know, Tiphereth. Just let me know,” he insisted.

He ignored what might have been hard looks from Lac and Jin and poked hopefully at the flapjack on his plate.

Tiphereth sat cross legged, eyes closed, his flute resting upon his lap. A vast desert of stretched out in all directions around him, the white sands joining a pale blue sky at the horizon. He watched himself, moving around his own form as he contemplated the journey before them, then Jin appeared.

He watched the black skinned Elf as she studied his features, observing the odd, smooth texture to his pale skin, so unlike a creature of flesh but more the cold surface of a porcelain doll. Her curiousity was natural, even in his own world, his kind were not as common as his companions were lead to believe. The realm of the Phaerie, had been pushed to the wayside to make room for the same physical plane in which they lived; the world of the Aethiad.

Her voice echoed through the desert of his mind, and his name when translated to the Eddren tongue, was a sorrowful song. Then she touched his cool form and he viewed the soft light of dawn through his own eyes. A warm smile formed upon his flawless features and he nodded a good morning to the Drow.

The scent of Alrick's cooking, was as delightful as the crispness of the morning air, a refreshing splash of cold that awoke his body. As attention slipped from his presence, so did his movements elude the eyes of his companions but for a moment and then he was crouched beside Alrick.

"You enjoy cookery." Tiphereth stated, and when he had Alrick's attention beckoned him watch, what was a common magic in his world.

He reached into his satchel, and took out a small ornate plate, and bags of various colours. He removed the silken ties of each and spilled some of their contents on the platter. Alrick was more curious than impressed at the point as what he was expecting to be rare and exotic reagents was just grains, corns and common herbs. Then, as if sensing his attention wane, Tiphereth raised a hand to hold it. He placed his hand over the concoction, and whispered some words in an unknown language and the ingredients began to cast a soft amber glow, then before Alrick's eyes the ingredients became a steak, and prime cut at that.

Tiphereth smiled at Alrick's amusement, then his face fell serious and he explained to the young apprentice, to all with range of his voice, "We do not hunt, at least not as you do here. The Aelaeydium grant us to change what grows from the earth to the flesh our semblance's are accustomed to consuming."

He plucked the plate off the ground and presented it to Alrick to cook. "Please. You'll find no difference in it's flavour from that which you are accustomed."

Tiphereth then moved over to sample the fare that had already been set out, and happily consumed a share of the food. He tried everything especially enjoying the smoked venison and he agreed that maple syrup would have been a treat.

Lac continued to saddle the horses as the aroma of Alricks cooking drifted on the cool morning air. As he adusted the saddle bags his gaze turned to the snow peaked mountains. Hopefully the high pass was still open, if not they had two choices. Climb higher and and traverse the snow covered peaks of Hyarmentir or take the caverns thru the mountain and the mines of Khazad-dum. Niether of which were to Lac's liking.

Beldegir

(Thanks to Tipereth)

Gathering his meager wares Beldegir heads out to speak with the guards of the rim to see what rumors might be of movement in the range. Knowing he has the trust of the guards for he has forged their weapons for many a decade there is no doubt in his mind that a small group approaches the foot hills this day.

It does not take an Elf to know magic will be battled with magic much to his dread. He also knows one strong wizard is always accompanied by many swords and it is these he hope to lay his devastation on.

On top his mighty Ram south he takes mostly in a daze thinking more of what he heads to meet them whom. The ram knows his way to the end of the safe passages; it is at the end of these that NAME comes out of his daze.

Carefully riding to the only passage over them mountains he sets camp to wait those who ascend from below. He does not hide but ensures he keeps careful watch for danger as he waits.

He knows the one coming if on mount should find him in half a day, always best to meet in a full sun.

As Jin watched everyone arise and greet the dawn in their own way, she couldn’t help but let her stomach remind her of how long it had been since last she had eaten. Of course the delightful scent of Alrick’s cooking was helping with that reminder too. As she watched Lac get the mounts ready for the days travels, she took a seat between Alrick and Tiphereth, helping herself to some of Alrick’s breakfast cakes, smoked venison and a bite of the eggs he cooked up for them.

While it wasn’t as tasteful as some breakfasts she’d had in the past, it was quite filling and would help them maintain their stamina so they could make it through their journey. When Tiphereth began working his magic once more, producing a slab of meat that was fit for…well…a king, Jin raised her brows. As much as she was willing to change, some things were going to take time and as she sat there looking at the food the new comer has produced, she got a devious smile on her face.

“Tiphereth…..would you happen to be able to conjure up a ham steak? I do so find that particular meat most appetizing to my pallet.”

Jin gave Alrick a glance and saw the look on his face. For some reason, she suddenly lost her appetite and the humor she saw in what she stated. Shaking her head, she looked back a the stranger.

“On second thought, never mind. Ham tends to be a little….tough, sometimes. I will pass on that meal today.”

Standing up, she brushed herself off and walked over to where Lac was finishing up saddling the horses.

“You need to eat, Ranger. If you do not, we will be picking you up off the ground when you fall from your saddle from hunger. We can spare the few moments it will take you to eat.”

Tiphereth was about to tell Jin that he would not be able to fulfill her wish. His supplies were low and it appeared that there was more than enough food, but as even as he searched for the proper words she rescinded the request. Curious, he thought to explain to her that the Aelaeydium's gift to conjure food was sacred and that none of his world were able to abuse it's power, it was simply forbidden. While 'incantors' of his world were common, the use of magic fell under the strict laws of the Greater Gods and none trifled with their 'Will', at least until now.

She left before he could speak, and so he remained seated by the young wizard and watched intently as he cooked up the meat. He had wished they had time to marinade the meat, but alas he figured it would taste fine just the same and he was anxious to find how it appealed to the palette of the cook. While he did not require as much sustenance as they, the energy of the red meat would give them all a little added strength for the climb ahead of them. He only wished he had enough grain to conjure meat for the wolves, but they would summon the 'hunt' would they not? Then he realized that they would most likely prey upon some unsuspecting creature trying to live in peace. Barbaric, but he reminded himself that was they way it was in this world, and his ways were not their ways.

Tiphereth shrugged away his alien morals and turned his attention back to Alrick, sitting cross legged by the fire with an almost child like expression on his cool, pale features. He found solace in the delight of others when performing tasks he found more amazing than the mastery of the fighting arts. For him the power to create, in any form was greater than the mastery of a weapon or spell, for to be humble and find peace in the world was everything one could hope to attain.

Alrick sluiced the steak Tiphereth had just created in a bowl of water with a dash of bicarbonate of soda. It was a little-known fact that the substance was not only a leavening agent, but could quickly tenderize even the stringiest meat. Then he flopped the beef onto the greasy pan and soon had it sizzling. A little salt, a little pepper. Slices of browning onion to add tangy sweetness.

When Jin made her comment about pork, Alrick’s face turned white as mist, and he didn’t say anything. Not a word. His tongue was thick as a sandbar in his mouth.

Then as she took her leave, he sighed and flashed an embarrassed smile at Tiphereth, trying to fling the gruesome touch of Jin’s words from his mind. He said, “That’s was a good trick, by the way; that was professional. Turning grains into the final product! That’s some first-class wizardry.” He didn’t mention it, but he wondered how the flavor and satiability of the magicked meat would hold up under ingestion. From his experience, conjured food was never as good as the real thing. But Tiphereth’s magic wasn’t exactly the same as the food spells he’d seen before.

“As for me,” he told the faerie, “I’d better not try anything like that. Almost poisoned everyone once, when I tried to turn cream into butter, and that’s a simple transformation.” He gave a laugh as fleeting and thin as a drop of blood in water. “I’ll just stick to old fashioned cookery. The last thing I need to do is kill someone. Again.” He looked at Tiphereth as if he expected him to say something critical, but when he didn’t, Alrick focused on prodding the steak.

Alrick was saved from the strangled feeling of the air closing in around him when Jin dragged Lac over so that the half-elf would remember to eat breakfast.

“Steak Tiphereth,” Alrick announced and sliced the slab of meat, still rosy in the center, into four portions. “It’s entirely thanks to him.”

When breakfast was finally and mercifully dispatched, the dishes washed and gear packed away, Lac erased signs of their passage. Alrick had little to nothing of his own to carry, but he found a sturdy piece of deadwood that would serve in a pinch as a staff and proceeded to tote it around as Lac, who appeared to be the only real equestrian in the area, saddled the horses.

“I won’t have to ride tied to you like a twin this time, at least,” Alrick remarked to Jin. When her odd eyes turned to regard him from under the shadow of her deep hood, he regretted having struck up a conversation with her. Her gaze was like spiders crawling on his skin. But she was friendly enough, he reminded himself, in her own fashion.

Much to his relief, it was decided that the best way to spare Jin’s gelding, Walnut, a dangerous amount of strain was for Alrick to ride him alone while Jin rode with Lac on the larger and more powerful stallion, Lightning, as they had done the day they first joined up. Tiphereth, meanwhile, took his place among the wolves. It was a relief to be moving, even if it was on the back of another animal—which still made Alrick a bit self-conscious. Walnut might have sensed a barnyard peer in Alrick, the way he snorted and tended not to listen when Alrick was talking to him.

Lac lead the way on Lightning, with Walnut—who Alrick started calling, ‘Wally’—following faithfully behind. The wolves and their faerie companion flanked them at enough of a distance to keep the horses from becoming distracted. Up they went, on a pebbly mountain road, stirring hanks of golden grass. A cold wind was blowing at their backs, but for now at least, they traveled in peace.

As they climbed high through a mountain pass , the air grew colder and snow began to lightly fall. Lac kept a watchful eye as he wrapped his cloak around Ssinjin. His expression never changed but in his mind, Lac cursed the falling snow and prayed the pass of Melenmarcar would be open.

When they reached the mountains, Tiphereth felt it wise to remain behind his mounted companions. The rocks of the passage that they followed were loose and he feared that the mare may not be able to keep up with Lac'Nala's more sure footed mount. Strong as he was, a struggling horse would be difficult to manage, but he felt he could steady the beast enough should she fall.

The lightly falling snow sang to him of wintery paths, but he could not determine from the whispering rumours of icy sprites what truly lied ahead. It was the instincts of their ranger and his knowledge of the mountain that would decide their course.

He paused for a moment looking back the way they came. Something followed them, a foul presence he had felt since the first light of dawn. His eyes, for the first time appearing almost Elf-like in the pale morning light fell upon JIn with a questioning look. Had she felt it as well and did she know what it was?

Tiphereth turned his attention back to the steep ascent and slowly skipped along behind the scrambling steeds.

Several times Alrick’s mount stumbled or slipped a step back on the treacherous path, but every time the gelding managed to regain himself without more harm than elevating Alrick’s pulse. Though Walnut could not move as swiftly or surely as the midnight-black Lightning, Lac held the stallion back to keep the horses together. But by the way the ranger frowned at the swirling snowflakes, Alrick suspected he wished they were moving much faster.

Alrick couldn’t be bothered to worry much about that fact, though; he was too busy staying in the saddle and marveling at the odd dynamic between the two elves astride the stallion. When he noticed Tiphereth jogging a few paces behind, he was tempted to make a remark to him, to observe the unusualness to the faerie and hear his reaction. He managed to resist this urge due to the fact that he would have had to speak loudly enough for the elves to hear him as well. So instead of gossiping about Lac and Jin, he made a series of solicitous but random comments to Tiphereth, each one like a small stitch to keep himself from unraveling.

“By the way,” he said at one point, “I meant what I said, that you can ask anything of me, Tiphereth. I really did mean it.” At another point he said, “You know, if you ever have any questions about anything around here, don’t hesitate to ask. I don’t mean here, in specific, of course, I mean here, in general. My perspective may be finite and unique, of course, but it is at your disposal nonetheless, Tiphereth. As am I. As am I.”

As the sun, cold and distant as a crown jewel, climbed to the apex of its journey, Alrick began to wonder if he was hungry, or was getting that indigestion feeling again… Before he could decide whether or not it was worth mentioning, Lac reined Lightning to a halt. Walnut staggered to a clumsy stop behind. An acidic splash of adrenaline coursed into Alrick’s blood as he saw what caused the elves to pull up.

Ahead on the next ridge, a short figure in glinting armor stood in plain view, as if guarding the mountain path. Though the stocky person was not hidden himself, he was positioned in such a way that he had not appeared in view until they themselves were in view as well, just as they rounded the bend. The stranger had the high ground and was roughly fifty yards removed.

“Is that a dwarf?” Alrick asked with audible surprise, leaning forward to peer past the shoulders of the elves. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d seen a dwarf.

* * *
Unbeknownst to the companions or the traveling dwarf, a party of orcs was even now closing in on them from upwind, hunching and loping amongst the rocks, nostrils quivering on the scent of hateful elves and dwarves.

Jin comfortably sat astride Lightning in front of Lac and as the stallion maneuvered his way up the steep slope, she would move her own body in tandem with Lac’s to make sure she put as little stress on the sure footed horse as possible. As unsure as she was of the animals before she started this journey, she had grown quite comfortable around and on them. A few times she had even glanced behind them to make sure Walnut was in good hands and that Alrick wasn’t being too restrictive on the geldings moves.

As the snow grew heavier the higher they climbed, Jin had a sensation of something nipping at her heels. She didn’t like this feeling and she knew it wasn’t a good omen. In fact, it felt as though there was a force holding them back, making the climbing a little more difficult than it should have been but she couldn’t say for certain without proper proof.

On the occasions when Jin glanced back at Alrick and Tiphereth, she would look beyond both of them to see if there was something that would either lay her suspicions to rest or confirm them. Each time she would hold her breath and not let it out until she was certain there was nothing physically back there to see. Of course that was doing nothing to help her feeling as though they were headed right into the mouth of the beast. Especially with the way the wind was beginning to whip the snow around them like a swirling scene in a snow globe.

When Lac caught sight of the figure at the mountain pass, Jin saw it at the same instance. Beneath her hood, she uttered a soft curse then spoke softly to the others as her eyes began to search all around, up and down. Lightning pawed at the ground and snorted impatiently and when Alrick drew Walnut up beside them, the gelding was acting anxious as well.

“Aye, young Alrick. It is a lone dwarf. Either he is gone mad or he is setting us up for a trap. That is the only things I can think of to draw him from his warm home deep within the mountain. I do not suppose you have another path we could take from here, do you, Ranger?”

Beldegir




Shaking his head in utter disgust he watches the group approach. Why on earth they close this dreadful pass he nary can fathom. He now wishes he had scouted more carefully for any signs of the orcs for this is a cavern of death.

He looks up and down the passage in hopes of being able to catch signs of any attack but knows there is little chance with this passage and snow blowing. Knowing he has been spotted he waves them onward and moves back to try and get more cover from the winds. Instinctively he ensures his weapons are at the ready should this be a poor encounter. Desiring greatly to pull his bow he refrains not wanting to seem threating since he is technically out numbered.

Was that an imp or some such miserable creating in the back bouncing like a rabbit? Cursing heavily he asks the gods why these could not be at least warriors and not creatures many Humans only consider to be a myth.

Again he glances about and thinks he he best look for a place to get a better look ahead before they continue the dreadful ascent. Oh how his heart dreams of heading through the mountain instead of over it.

A Dwarf so high? Tiphereth was curious and thought to get a better view of this guardian of the mountain. Leaping high above the mountain side the Phaerie took flight, or seemed to. Propelling himself into the air he became light and drifted upwards, soaring upon the winds like a kite but so fast had the winds become that he was forced to descend at full weight just managing to land on another ridge off to the side of his companions. The gusts would not allow him to hover so easily across the rocks and so, Tiphereth was forced to scramble slowly along the cliff side to meet up with the group that would soon cross paths with the Dwarf.

From his high vantage point, however, something caught his eye and the Deithir-Phaerie allowed his vision to gaze through the distracting snow, to force the elements from view and look upon the mountain as if it were a clear day. He could make them out then, foul and malicious creatures moving fast over the other side of the ridge upon which stood the Dwarf. He uttered his generic word for the vile creatures "Yulgrith", then spat the foulness from his mouth. He was unsure what they would be called in this world but what he was sure of was that they would be upon the others soon and they had yet to see them as they approached by cover of rock and snow.

Concentrating upon, Lac'Nala, Tiphereth summoned a 'long whisper' and cast the message, "Danger is upon you!" in soft haunting tones originating from the direction of the approaching Orcs.

Tiphereth then descended as quickly as he could without the use of his 'light-body' and feared that he would be too late to assist in the first wave of the attack.

Lac saw the dwarf at the same time and slid off the back of Lightning and whispered softly to him. Lac held his hand up in greeting to the Dwarf. He then stepped forward with his hands empty, held them open and out streched to his sides. It was then he percieved Tiphereth's words of warning in his mind. Lac looked at the Dwarf and said softly "There is danger ahead. My Faye friend senses it." Lac stepping to the Dwarf's side Lac looked forward and up the sides of the pass for any movement or passing shadow. "There just to the right of that outcropping." Lac nodded towards a rock outcropping just ahead as a dark face and large eyed Orc ducked down. Lac held his sword up in front of him and said "Curaothmirelda othnar yisothuthu forothuthulin stareldarenvalarthnartir othfor tirhilelda Daearthrenkarn Linothrendae. Curaothmirelda arthnardae daeoth yisothuthuren mirarthstartireldaren'star brinistadaedaeistanargil. Curaothmirelda arthnardae mireldaeldatir yisothuthuren daeothothmir. (Translation: Come on you foul servant of the Dark Lord. Come and do your master's bidding. Come and meet your doom.") Lac then held his sword up with the blade infront of his determined face, and stepped forward towards where the Orc were hiding.

Shape trotted up next to Lac and the wolves gathered on either side of the pass, standing on out cropping, their heads down low, snarling and growling.