Eight - The Tombs of the Nine

We reached the edge of the forest and I got off my horse to examine the entrance. “It’s been twenty one years since I’ve been here,” I said. “Do not trust your memory of this place, Verena. It has changed since you left,” He warned. I nodded and turned to the Dwarves as Gandalf wandered down the trail. “Here is our path through Mirkwood,” Gandalf confirmed as they got off the ponies. 

“No sign of the Orcs. We have luck on our side,” Dwalin said as he got off of the pony. I looked over to the hill where Beorn stood in his bear form. “Set the ponies loose. They must return to their master,” I said. 

“This forest feels sick, as if a disease lies upon it. Is there no way around?” Bilbo asked me. “Not unless we go two hundred miles north, or four hundred south,” I answered and went back to my horse and took my bags off of him.

Just as I was about to set my horse loose, Gandalf stopped me. “Not our horses, we need them,” he stopped Nori from setting his loose and walked to me. “I will explain on the way,” he whispered and I looked at him in confusion. 

“Gandalf, what is it?” I asked. “You’re not leaving us, are you?” Bilbo walked over to us, worried. “I wouldn’t do this unless we had to,” he turned to Bilbo and talked to him as I put my things back on the horse. I mounted him and waited for Gandalf.

“We will be waiting for you at the overlook, before the slopes of Erebor. Keep the map and key safe. Do not enter that mountain without us,” Gandalf told Thorin and mounted his horse. 

“This is not the Greenwood of old, the air of the forest is heavy with illusion that will seek to enter your mind and lead you astray,” Gandalf warned them. “Lead us astray? What does that mean?” Bilbo panicked. 

“Stay on the path, do not leave it. If you do, you’ll never find it again,” I told him as Gandalf rode away. “No matter what, stay on the path!”

~~~

“I never thought I’d have to come here,” I told Gandalf as I looked up at the mountain. The High Fells where the nine were buried. Gandalf told me of a new mission with a different purpose; investigating the Necromancer.

We began to climb up the grass hill, then up the stairs of the stone mountain to the doorway of the tomb. 

I gasped and caught him when one of the stairs broke. “I’m alright,” he assured me. I looked into the dark cells where the bar doors had been broken “Someone has broken in,” I leered. “Or something broke out,” He corrected. I looked back into the darkness. “Wait here, I will go first,” he told me and I nodded and stood outside as he went in.

He yelled as he slid inside. “Gandalf!” I shouted. “It slides downward. Wait for me to tell you, then slide in carefully,” He warned. “Alright,” I responded and I saw him light his staff inside. “You can enter now,” I sat down and slid in, using my feet to keep me from sliding too quickly.

I stood up and looked to my left and he continued into the tomb. “These steps have not been walked on in a very long time and have become fragile,” he warned and I continued carefully. We walked into the first tomb and looked into the broken stone coffin. 

A bat flew out and we turned to see Radagast behind us. “Why am I here?” He asked “Trust me, my friend. We wouldn’t have called you here without good reason,” I answered. “This is not a nice place to meet,” he said with concern. “No, it is not,” Gandalf said coldly.

Radagast took a step out of the tomb and looked at the spell above the door. “These are dark spells. Old and full of hate. Who’s buried here?” He asked. “If he had a name, it’s long since been lost. He would’ve been known only as a servant of evil. One of a number,” Gandalf answered. “One of nine,” I finished as Gandalf shone the light down the hole in the middle to show. 

“Why now, Gandalf? I don’t understand,” Radagast said as we made our way back down the mountain. “The Ringwraiths have been summoned to Dol Guldur,” He answered “But it cannot be the Necromancer. A Human sorcerer could not summon such evil,” Radagast rules out the necromancer. 

“The nine only answer to one master and he is far from Human,” I reminded them. “We’ve been blind. And in our blindness, Sauron has returned. He’s summoning his servants, preparing for war,” I walked off with Gandalf just ahead.

“Where are you going?” Radagast asked. “To rejoin the others,” Gandalf answered. “Gandalf! Verena!” Radagast shouted. “I started this, I cannot forsake them. They are in grave danger,” Gandalf said. 

“If what you say is true, the world is in grave danger. The power in that fortress will only grow stronger,” Radagast reasoned. “You want me to cast my friends aside,” He looked out into the distance. 

“He’s right, Gandalf. As much as I care about the company, this is everyone in our world,” I sighed and he looked back at me. “So be it,”

~~~

“Dol Guldur. The Hill of Sorcery,” Gandalf announced as we stood in front of the bridge. “It looks completely abandoned,” Radagast reasoned. “It is meant to. A spell of concealment lies over it,” Gandalf said. “Our enemy is not yet ready to reveal himself. He has not regained his full strength,” He continued. 

Gandalf turned back to Radagast and I. “Radagast, I need you to carry a message to Lady Galadriel, and Verena you must go to Lord Elrond. Tell them, we must force his hand,” Gandalf ordered. 

“What do you mean?” Radagast is clueless as to what he is going to do. “You can’t go in there alone, Gandalf. Ready or not, he will kill you,” I warned. “I must. On no account came after me, Verena,” he put his hand on my shoulder and looked me in the eye. “Do I have your word?” he asked and I nodded.

He took his hand off of my shoulder and I walked back down the trail to the horse Beorn gave me. “I had no intention of keeping you this long, little one. I promise you will return to your master soon enough,” I told the horse. Radagast followed down the trail and to his sled. 

“This is where we part ways,” I told him. “Beware of the watchelves in the forest of Lorien. They do not take lightly to strangers,” I warned and rode away quickly.