The Thieves of Tharbad by AliceNWonder000137  

---

The Tower of the Seer

The pursuit of the dog beast and the elven witch crosses into Arthdain, but is the party truly on friendly turf?

---

The Tower

Outside of the Tower – Narwain 21st, 5:45 PM

The Cardolani ranger, Amrith, made a cautious approach to the foot of the tower, covered by Baranor's bow. He spied the trolls and orcs that had accompanied the wagonload of books and crouched down out of their sight. Peering around a drift, he noticed that many of the books were not on the wagon and surmised that they must have gone in the tower with the two leaders of the band.

At the door, he drew his sword and checked around as the snow swirled about his form. On his signal, Haedorial and Aerin Eldanar moved up to join him. "Be on the watch for the orcs. They don't know we're here yet and I want to keep it that way while we figure out what's going on. If the seer is being held hostage here we need to keep quiet," Amrith told them and pointed off towards the orcs.

The ranger examined the large, ironbound doors and began to pick the lock. As he did so, the bard took careful notice of the step that they were on and cleared away some of the gathered snow.

"Amrith, hold a moment," Haedorial whispered amid the howl of the icy wind. He pointed down, where tiny holes were visible in the stone.

"By the Valar, I'm glad you've come along, bard," answered Amrith. The ranger nodded to Aerin, who extended her power into the door and the sound of tumblers rolling signified the opening of the door.

"I hate to waste my strength here, but the trap was rather nasty," the woman advised. "A hundred poison darts awaited us under this stair."

Haedorial gulped hard as Amrith blew out a long breath and then signaled the others to approach.

Cautiously, Baranor led the others to the tower, careful not to be seen by the evil horde. Arriving at the base of the observatory, Baranor had some of the men set up for a possible ambush against the orcs. He then pointed to Amrith and Valandil, indicating that they should enter the tower and explore it.

The ranger nodded and slid through the door followed by Valandil. They scanned the entry hall that contained a marble, spiral staircase with polished steel banisters. A large crystal sphere marked the beginning of the stairs.

Amrith motioned for Aerin and Mercatur to come forward and they crept onto the tiled floor, taking a second to notice the rich tapestries that lined the room.

"I think what we want is upstairs," Baranor whispered to his companions. The mercenary checked the crystal sphere and it began to move. He took a big breath as the sphere rotated into another position.

"I dunno what just happened, but it seems we're still alive," Mercatur added, and Amrith acknowledged it with a shrug.

Cautiously, they padded up the marble steps to the second-floor landing, which ended in a rich, piled carpet of blue and silver. Valandil looked down one of the long rows of wooden bookshelves that made up this grand library. They would need to go through this chamber to find what they were looking for.

Amrith crept out onto the thick carpet, occasionally peering through the numerous tomes to check the area around them. He held his breath for a moment, listening. He then looked back at his comrades and motioned them to remain still.

Three voices became clear.

"It was agreed…I would get my selection of the tomes prior to their final delivery. Do not forget, that I have the advantage here," a male voice spoke with some irritation.

A female voice answered, "You also forget that you owe your power to the King of the North. We are prepared to offer you three tomes of our choosing."

"Unacceptable!" responded the man.

"I suggest you find a way to accept them," cut in a voice that was not quite human. It was the dog beast and it was clearly a threat.

There was a sigh and then the sound of pacing. "Very well," spoke the man with resignation. "Follow me and we will hammer out the terms of the agreement." Footsteps on carpet could be heard followed by a door opening and closing.

Valandil narrowed his eyes and looked at Mercatur. The mercenary gave him a quizzical look in response. They moved quietly across the carpet to a double door made of the finest wood, with carvings of the constellations in the night sky.

At the door, Amrith heard the sounds of scuffling inside, followed by panicked shouts from the man. Without thinking, the ranger burst in to see a middle-aged seer wrestling with the dog beast that led the orcs. Behind them was a glass wall leading to a balcony.

"You've come just in time!" cried the seer. "Help me!"

Amrith blinked, noticing the elf woman standing nearby, and then charged at the wrestling pair.

Ulgarin, the elven woman, unleashed a flash of light from her hand, blinding Amrith momentarily. He turned aside as Mercatur fired a bolt from his crossbow. The quarrel leapt at the woman, but was deflected with a swing of her bluish trident.

By now, the sorcerer dog-beast, Ulduin had risen and howled a warning to his force below. With a snarl, he bared the fangs of his doglike snout and removed a chain hooked to three spiked balls from his belt.

Valandil bravely strode forward and stabbed at the sorcerer with the tip of his sword, which glanced along the metal plates covering the beast's arm. Ulduin swirled the spiked balls and landed them on Valandil's shield, smashing away bits of wood and metal from it.

The knight grunted, taking a step back and slashed the sorcerer across the jaw with a cut more desperate than lethal. A bolt then sank into the beast's side and it let out an unearthly howl.

At that, Ulgarin waved her trident and the glass wall shattered outward into the raging snow. In a flash, the two servants of the Witch King were gone. Snow blew into the now exposed room and Valandil stood, stunned by the ferocity of their departure. Only an inhuman howl could be heard over the wind now.

The man on the floor stood. "You have saved Ar-Elon. He thanks you for your timely arrival."

Aerin Eldanar gave the seer a funny look. "Ar-Elon…of the King's Seers? What were you doing with them?" she asked suspiciously.

Ar-Elon, also known as Malborn, took a defensive posture. "Knowing you were here, I was biding my time. It is thankful that you arrived when you did. Come, your friends are likely engaging the orcs outside. We must hurry," he stated and ushered them back into the library.

Together, they sprinted down the stairs and, at the entrance to the tower, the sounds of battle could be heard.

As Amrith bolted out the tower entrance, he saw Baranor leading the Cardolani Royal Guards in an attack on the trolls, while Ostomir Tinare and Falathar Girithlin drove back the orcs. With a shout, Amrith and the rest plodded through the snow to finish the assault, joined by a handful of Malborn's men.

Baranor dodged under a mighty swing of a troll's hammer and sprang back up, driving the point of his glassy blade deep into the monster's belly. Black blood flowed down the sword onto Baranor's gauntleted hands as he withdrew the weapon. The troll bellowed, but raised his arms for one last strike.

Seeing this, Valandil bounded through the snow drift and flayed the troll's leg open with a broad slash. On unsteady legs, the monster toppled over into the snow and was hacked several times by Cardolani warriors before it finally died. With the exception of a few fleeing orcs and the raging wind, the area was still and all fighting died away.

Baranor walked to the wagons left behind and lifted the canvas covers to reveal the tomes. Haedorial and Aerin breathed a sigh of relief – the most secret and powerful books of knowledge and lore in the North had been saved.

With a broad smile that seemed forced, Ar-Elon nodded to the group. "You have done King Araphor a great service," he declared in grandiose fashion, waving his arms about. "Come, let us bring the tomes inside and out of the weather. Ar-Elon will see to the return of the sacred texts." He pointed to the group. "Come now. Bring the tomes inside. Be quick about it. These are invaluable to the realm. Careful now, careful."

As they brought the books into the observatory, Ar-Elon described in elaborate detail how the minions of the Witch King had taken him unawares and forced him to cooperate. Seeing no alternative, he complied until help arrived. "It was so fortunate that you came just in time to save Ar-Elon. I will be sure to let King Araphor know of your valor and you shall be justly rewarded. Ar-Elon pledges this."

Mercatur leaned in closer to Valandil and whispered in his ear. "What's with this guy?" he asked, poking his thumb towards the seer. “Why does he refer to himself like that? That's just stupid."

Valandil chuckled. "He's obviously full of himself and he was the one who demeaned the Princess. I just don't get a good feeling with him. Something is up. Keep your eyes open."

Mercatur patted his axe in its sheath. "Oh, don't you worry about me. I already have a plan if this goes to shit."

Ar-Elon snapped his fingers and servants emerged from the tower, carrying food and drink. "For Ar-Elon's valiant friends. Ar-Elon will send out a rider to Fornost Erain to let the king know that we have recovered the tomes."

The mercenary gave a sour expression, one eye narrowed and the edge of his lip curled up. "We?" he whispered to Valandil. "I don't recall that joker being in Annuminas with us. I have more trust in Haedorial's fighting skills."

When they had finished moving the tomes into the foyer of the tower, Ar-Elon waved a hand and a fire burst into life in the grand fireplace, roaring and crackling. "Sit, my friends, sit. Make yourselves comfortable and enjoy the hospitality of Ar-Elon. You will find that friendship and loyalty with Ar-Elon to be most profitable. Ar-Elon defines loyalty."

In his long years, the tainted seer, Ar-Elon had learned that loyalty was a precarious thing. Regardless of who he was allied with, he would get what he wanted and now, it was delivered free of charge and he would also be a hero.

---

Chapter End Notes

I'm writing this portion with my aunt and we're not sure that a "no main POV" approach is the right one.