Light at the Tunnel's End

The captain has known hardship in his travels — the elf can see it in his demeanour. As they await Harvonir's return from exploring the surroundings, Forvonir reveals that he has clashed with Dunlendings en route to the Gap of Rohan and, before his exile, the orcs that thronged Osgiliath and Pelargir.

Minnwen takes a deep breath, expressing understanding. "Yrch," she mutters distastefully in her own tongue. "After I left Rhovanion I was sent to serve Lord Círdan at the Grey Havens for a long while. But before this, in the north where he sent me, I saw the yrch - the orcs - spill out of the earth like - like maggots. So they are in Osgiliath and Pelargir too ... Truly the reach of the Shadow grows ..."

Forvonir nods and sighs, ''Osgiliath is the gateway between Mordor and Minas Tirith. The beauty of the city has been consumed by wars and campaigns. Pelargir, one of the greatest ports of Gondor, would be a great loss for my people, because then the Corsairs of Umbar could invade our lands, not to mention siege the trade and supply routes.''

Against such bleak thoughts the Rotting Cellar and its meagre dwarven repair- and watchmen can offer no reprieve. Harvonir's news, furthermore, is that the Water-Works contain nothing but strange creatures, broken walls and dank, murky depths. To the south is a tunnel from which a fierce heat emanates — perhaps the furnaces that these waters were designed to cool — if the dwarves have succeeded in firing up those forges once again.

The company decide to retrace their steps northwards to higher levels, this time heading north from the Dolven View. With the roar of waterfalls surrounding them, they cross the span leading through the Dwarf-Lords' Gate towards Durin's Way, checking the names off Forvonir's ancient map.

In many places, however, their surroundings look broken and ruined, vastly different from the grand sketches on the map. At last, they enter a large central vault with a crumbling statue in the middle, corridors branching from it and a side chamber that the dwarven expedition guards have occupied. Within is a large circular structure, its stone lip crumbling, gaping open to the ceiling.

Minnwen steps towards the well. "What is this? I wonder how deep this shaft goes?" She is tempted to toss a pebble into it.

Forvonir steps closer carefully. Harvonir warns him ''Careful, brother, you cannot be sure if these stones will keep you from falling.''

Forvonir looks down, then back at his companions ''I can't see the bottom, or any water, but I can smell that it is still connected to some kind of water source. I wonder if it leads down to the water-works...''

Minnwen leans closer to the broken stone. "Gurgling, and creaking, perhaps from large machinery. You may be right, Forvonir."

Forvonir steps away from the well.

Minnwen adds with a laugh, "And if so, we should refrain from drinking, even if there were a bucket still left to send down. Did you not see all manner of slimy creatures there, Harvonir? The miruvor will serve us far better."

Harvonir nods. ''Prefer miruvor over water-works liquid any time.''

The dwarves are quick to send the company on. Work is apparently proceeding at a bigger outpost, one they refer to as the Twenty-First Hall. They locate the road without much trouble, but it is not at all what they expect, paved underfoot yet hemmed in on both sides by bare, jagged rock for long stretches.

Forvonir says, "A long and dark road"

Minnwen takes the crystal shard broken off earlier and holds it aloft. A faint glow lights the tunnel, revealing craggy rock faces alternating with stone - and more stairs. "And again the road turns. I wonder why they built it thus, so much longer than it need be."

Forvonir says, "Maybe they found some obstacles and they had to go around."

At times, the crystal's glow reveals buttresses overhead, at other times intricately carved pillars, stone panels and cornices, even staircases leading nowhere, all half-merged into unformed rock, as if the mountain were reclaiming itself, swallowing up the work of generations of dwarvenfolk past.

After a long walk, the company feel a breeze from the east, and the walls fall away suddenly, opening out into an incredible vista.

Forvonir and Harvonir stop at the top of the stairs and peer into the distance with their jaws on the floor. ''By the house of Isildur...''

Minnwen hides her shard of crystal. "It is as I thought - light! But how - ?"

Forvonir looks around with an amazed expression. ''What kind of monumental pillars are these? If I did not see them I would not believe these things could exist.''

Minnwen swallows, impressed, then reasons, "Of course, my people build beneath stars and have no need for supports so hefty."

Forvonir looks around ''Is this a single Hall? It is as big as a whole city.''

Perhaps here, at the Twenty-First Hall, there will be quarters with more than empty wooden barrels in which to sleep. And to dream of mithril?

#DolvenView #DwarfLordsGate #DurinsWay #RottingCellar #TheWaterWorks #TwentyFirstHall #ChamberoftheCrossroads #well