IX OF THE RESCUE OF ÍRIMË

Írimë was of the House of Gil-Galad and she had once woven his banner of shining cloth. As has been told, Thranduil declared there would be a hunt for the White Stag of Mirkwood, and though Írimë did not partake in hunting, she had wished to see one of Thranduil’s hunts, and to wander through Northern Mirkwood.

Yet she knew not that Tyulquin wandered too in those parts at that time, and Tyulquin wove dark webs, and these webs drew a great unlight down upon Írimë, who was soon bound up within those webs, and delivered to Dol Guldur.

Few orcs yet dared to enter Dol Guldur and those that dared enter rarely lingered long without fear of a master to drive them. And so, Írimë was chained in Dol Guldur that she might be questioned and was instead forgotten.

It was at this time that Beren told Radagast of the Fellowship’s encounter with Tyulquin, and Radagast was greatly troubled. He wondered what would drive the spiders of Mirkwood to venture so far north and wished to know if aught yet remained in Dol Guldur that might drive such acts.

He summoned therefore the Fellowship to Woodmen-Town, where they came upon the sight of Radagast standing as the captain of a boat carved in the shape of a bird, with low flanks swept back like wooden wings. The Fellowship all alighted then, for Radagast spoke of adventure, and as soon as their feet trod upon that boat, it set sail, driven by naught but the will of Radagast. It was then that Radagast revealed that his purpose was to tread into Dol Guldur and explore its dark secrets, and the Fellowship quaked with fear.

Yet their thoughts of dread were put off for a little while, for beneath the bubbling water of the Dusky River there swam a river-maiden, and she was Sunshadow. Dark was her hair, and light was her smile, for ever she loved to make merry with men who sailed upon her waters. She spoke then with Irminsul, and marvelled at Liosring, his sword which was wrought by Dwarves and encrusted with bright gems.

Ubar meanwhile called for his raven Corax, and the raven spoke for some time with Radagast, although it is not known what was said between them.

The boat stopped then at the shores of the Black Tarn, and Radagast spoke with Duskwater, who was eldest of the River-maidens of the Black Tarn, and once more Radagast spoke in secrecy. He would only tell the Fellowship that she had confirmed his suspicions.

They camped then on the lake’s shores, and at night Sunshadow slipped into Irminsul’s tent, and Irminsul accepted her favour.

The next day they set off for Dol Guldur, and passed at first beneath the shadow of Amon Bauglir, and then of Fenbridge Castle, and both times they crept by with stealth and were seen not.

Yet Southern Mirkwood contains many dangers beyond that of simple enemies, and the air itself in the dark and noisome marshes through which they passed seemed thick and harsh, and many of the Fellowship despaired, and began to feel shadow creep into their heart. Yet Caranthiel gained more comfort from the presence of Radagast, and in fact felt the grip of Shadow lift from her.

Halfdan saw the sap that ran from the dark and twisted trees, and this sap contained all the ire and malice of those trees. He dipped the points of his arrows in that sap, for after his encounter with Tyulquin, he was much scared of death, and would do all he could to prepare, if needs must to fight so great and so wicked a creature again. Yet Radagast recoiled at this, for poison was the work of the Enemy, and not of decent folk. Halfdan tried to make light of the situation and jested about how the men of Dale and of Esgaroth would shoot at each other, and Radagast thought this to be true, and to be barbarous indeed. Had it not been for the intervention of Beren, Radagast would have left then, and returned to Rhosgobel, believing he had seen enough of the evils of Southern Mirkwood. Yet Beren’s words swayed him, and he remained with the Fellowship.

They continued then, and came upon a Dwarf, long since dead, though they know not why a lone Dwarf would have walked so far into Mirkwood. Upon him they found old maps, and it seemed perhaps this had been some old prospector perhaps, mapping the forest. Valin and Ubar buried him then and spoke words of honour in their own tongue. They would allow the rest of the Fellowship to hear these words not, which displeased Beren, for he still disliked secrets.

In time they passed too through a scene of great battle, laden with endless mud and gore, in which orcs had fallen upon each other in wild barbarism. Radagast told them then that his spies had reported that Gorgol, the dread son of Bolg, waged war against a would-be usurper named Pushkrimp, who was sneakiest of all the orcs.

They escaped from that foul field of slaughter and came to a place even yet more foul and twisted. They knew not what time of day it was, for light shined but reluctantly upon that place. They had come to Dol Guldur.

They entered through those gates with great wariness for fear of being attacked. They saw no orcs, nor any sign of servants of the Enemy, but great snails they saw in the marshes below, which had grown large and fearsome consuming the bodies of men and orcs alike.

Radagast announced then he would ascend the Stairs of Woe, which led to what had once been the inner-most sanctum of the Necromancer. He had climbed those steps once before, when the White Council had assailed Dol Guldur, although he had stumbled then, seeing a darkness through which even Saruman’s light could not pierce. He bade the Fellowship instead to explore the Lower Keep, where there should be a little less danger.

They travelled through the deep shadows of the keep, and came at first upon an orc, slain by an Elven dagger, and soon afterwards they came upon a man, dressed as one of Esgaroth, who had been slain by an orcish axe. This man carried coins minted in the Woodland Realm, and besides his body they found detailed records of the guards of the Woodland Realm and of Esgaroth, with all their numbers and their paths of patrol.

Ubar found too a locked treasure chest, which he picked and gained access to that hoard. Inside was a cloak-pin of finest silver and enamel, fashioned in the form of a bird, and the eyes of that bird glinted as if with some sharp glance. It was of Elven craftsmanship, such as had not been seen since the days of Beleriand, for it had once belonged to Maeglin, and some of his wicked cunning still lingered upon it. Ubar took it then in sly manner, such that none might see his taking it.

Beren found a shard of the axe Wolf-Biter, and thought to bring it back to the Woodmen, while Irminsul took much gold from that hoard. Yet the hoard had long lain amongst the Shadow and had been tainted by it.

They journeyed yet deeper into the keep, and came upon the dungeons, wherein Írimë had been chained. She was filled with fear at first, believing the Fellowship to be apparitions or some other deception, until Caranthiel laid healing hands upon her, and brought her mind to order.

Írimë could say little though of what had happened, for she had fallen into Tyulquin’s trap and both webs and spells had been woven tight around her, and she remembered little of how she was dragged from Northern Mirkwood to Dol Guldur’s dungeons. She knew only that she had been left in the dungeons but knew not why.

Most of the Fellowship wished then to leave, for they had discovered much that was troubling, and they had rescued Írimë. Yet Caranthiel wished to push on, for she felt the lure of all the secrets which Dol Guldur held. She soon changed her mind, for they saw in those dungeons loathsome vermin with endless crawling legs, and they would fight such monsters not.

When they emerged from the keep they saw Radagast, pale and shaken and much weakened, though he would not speak not of what he had seen when he climbed the Steps of Woe. He greeted Írimë but briefly, and encouraged the Fellowship onwards, to leave that accursed place as soon as they could.

In time, they emerged from the forest, at which point Ubar had become quite miserable, ere Caranthiel spoke to the trees and to the grass of the East Nether Vales, and found a fine camping spot, where they all recovered greatly.

Írimë sang of Beleriand, and all marvelled to hear her voice. Ubar and Valin too marvelled to see her bracelets of Ithildin, gifted to her long ago in Khazad-dûm in the days of Durin the Third. The Fellowship showed much hospitality to Írimë, and Ubar gave her drink and Beren gave her food.

Yet as Radagast departed for Rhosgobel, he gave to Beren a leather bag which contained a storm, and Beren opened it at once, unleashing that storm upon that campsite, though it had been a clear Summer’s day. Radagast left then, shaking his head in despair.

Once the storm was subsided, Írimë told the Fellowship that she had seen too much evil, and grown weary, and that she wished to travel west to join her people. She asked that the Fellowship would escort her to the High Pass, and that she would make arrangements then to meet Elves of Rivendell there.

The Fellowship agreed readily to escort her there, and Beren swore to Írimë then that ere she left Middle-Earth she would see yet one more sight at which she might marvel, for he meant to stop at the Easterly Inn, and hoped she knew yet naught of Hobbits.