The travel southwards was tranquil.
Halbrand wanted to meet Calandir, something she wasn't looking forward to.
When they found his castle, it wasn't as they expected it to be.
It was in ruins.
Luthien walked closer to her companion as he strode into the building.

"Calandir?" he called, but only the echo of his voice came back.
"What happened?" she asked as they marched quickly away from the ruins "What does it mean?".
"That our travels didn't go unnoticed. He's been caught".
She froze "By the elves?".
"Most likely".
"But what did he do? Is it a crime to help us?".
He lowered his voice "I've persuaded him to seek the leaders of men and tell them that we need to unite our forcies against our main enemy".
"You're the King of the Southlands. Other kings should answer to you" she reasoned.
"That's my hope".
"So did the elves talk to those leaders?".
"I don't know. We need to find Calandir. To know what happened to him".
Many questions rose to her mouth, but she felt discouraged to ask them aloud.
How could they find him? Did they have to meet their enemies? What chances did they have against the elves?
Fighting against orcs seemed a lot easier than fighting immortal elves.

They turned westward, crossing a darker forest.
"The elves should have a watch tower around here" Halbrand said not looking bothered by the sinister place where they were wandering "If we are lucky, Calandir is hold here".
"If not, we need to go into the realm of elves?" she asked shivering.
His sigh confirmed her words "But I doubt that they want to take someone like Calandir in their precious cities. Stay close to me. This forest might hide more danger than you think".
Luthien was glad that she wasn't the only one having that bad feeling.
She walked closer to him so their arms touched, her hand grabbing the handle of her new sword.
"Is that the elves' tower?" she asked later when she spotted something beyond the trees.
The forest ended by the mountains and a stony building emerged in front of them.
Halbrand nodded weakly and slowed his pace "Be careful".
They moved quietly, but she had the feeling that eyes could already be stalking their movements.
She feared to hear the hiss of arrows flying against them.
Halbrand pulled out his sword, when suddenly a figure appeared in front of them.

"Who dares coming so deep into my forest?" a female voice asked, the coldness of her tone making the blood freeze into Luthien's veins "Two lost wanderers?".
Halbrand grabbed her arm, stepping in front of her in a protective way.
"We are looking for a friend" he said amicably "Maybe you can help us. Who holds that fortress?".
Luthien looked beyond his shoulder and saw the dark figure pulling back the hood to reveal a beautiful face crowned by wild dark hair.
Her predatory gaze didn't make her seem human, but not even elvish.
She had to be another strange creature dwelling in that wilderness.
She looked intrigued by Halbrand's lack of fear.
"Tall creatures with piked eyes" she moved dangerously close to him, inspecting his face and his ears with her icy blue eyes.
"I'm not an elf" he dismissed "Who did they imprisone in there?".
She kept inspecting him like he could become her next meal "Someone who can tell them of what's moving nations under the sun and under the mountains. What can you offer in exchange of so many answers?".
Halbrand tilted his head, growing annoyed by her behaviour "First, I need to check that your answers are accurate enough. The reward will be something you can only dream of".
She laughed wickedly "You're so brave to step in here. Or a fool who will never see the sun again" she stopped staring at him and crossed Luthien's eyes "Who's your scared companion?".
Halbrand moved to cover her from her unforgiving gaze "She's with me. Leave her alone".
The dark woman circled him to take a better look at Luthien, mocking her "What a pretty, scared girl. Is she your prisoner?".
"I said she's with me" Halbrand cut off harshly "Do you already envy how she looks?".
It attracted her attention back to him.
"Envy?" she scoffed "She can't do anything of what I can".
"Can you find us a safe way into the fortress, then?" he challenged her.

She pondered his request, then snickered.
"You'll end up both dead. Or drugged with elvish medicines. They are quite proud of their new toy. Is it worthy to put your lives at risk for a lonely fool?".
Luthien wondered if she was talking of Calandir. But was it worthy to risk that much to save him? What did he know that was so important to be wanted by the elves and by Halbrand?
"Let it be our decision" he said sternly "We'll owe you a favour, if you help us now".
She stared at him, like waiting for his confidence to falter. But as time passed and he just looked back at her, she surrendered.
"Elves are too pride to expect mice to sneak into that old fortress" she said with dispise "Their prisoner is in the dungeons. There are few dozens of guards stationing there, waiting for some of their leaders to arrive from the capital and question the fool".
"Thank you" Halbrand said trusting her words "So where do mice pass to sneak into the building?".
"I'll show you" she said like inviting them to an enjoyable journey, then looked at Luthien "You can leave your friend to me. She would be only a distraction in your mission".
Halbrand wrapped an arm around Luthien's shoulders, pulling her away from the creepy woman "I need her help. Now show us the way".
The wild woman grinned and preceded them, taking a path safe from the eyes of the tower that ended where the building melted with the mountain.
She left them there, snickering and shaking her head.
"I'll distract the guards" Halbrand said entering the dark, narrow tunnel that led them inside "You have to go in the dungeons to free Calandir. Use this to break locks and chains".
He placed into Luthien's hands a small bag with a dark powder, then searched through the empty rooms until he found a hammer and handed it to her.
She didn't know how to feel with her sword in her hand and a hammer in the other. She just wanted that mission to be over as soon as possible.
Halbrand accompanied her until they found the staircase that led underground, she went down while he waited there, but after some steps she heard sounds of clashing swords and she hurried to find the cells.
Nobody was guarding them and most of them were empty. Until finally she found one locked and inside she barely recognized a familiar face.
Calandir was chained and had a beard covering his face. He looked like he had been held there for years, not just some weeks.
"Luthien?" he called when he noticed her staring.
"Is that really you?" he stood up and grabbed the bars staring at her dreamily. He believed he was delirious and she was a vision.

"What have you done, Calandir? To be trapped like a mouse" she said, lowering her sword to hold the hammer with both her hands.
"You came to save me" he whispered incredulous.
"Annatar is distracting the guards. We need to hurry" she swung the hammer until she broke the lock "He said to add this powder...".
She examined the chains around his limbs and felt sick. How long had been chained like that?
"Yes. Do it" he said offering his cuffs, but she feared of breaking his wrists.
"I'll be alright. Do it! Now!" he urged.
She dropped a handful of powder on the cuffs, then swung the hammer again.
The explosion made her jump backwards.
"Freedom!" Calandir exclaimed with a wild face. He snatched the hammer from her hands and used it to destroy the other cuffs trapping him.
He wasn't affected by the explosion and the easiness of how he freed himself confused her. A normal man would be somehow traumatized.
"Are you a wizard?" she asked, her jaw falling.
He grinned "Your friend says I'm a fool who knows a bunch of tricks and is unaware of his potential. Let's go".
She grabbed her sword as he took her free hand and ran upstairs, where the sound of duelling still echoed.
Calandir raised his hands and all the flames died, bringing the place into the bitter darkness of night.
Luthien gasped, feeling blinded, but his hand found hers and guided her out of that place.
"Annatar!" he called and let the answers guide him until he found Halbrand, grabbed his hand and sprinted to the front doors, while voices of angry elves shouted all around.
Luthien gasped, inhaling deeply, when the doors opened and they were out of that hell.
Her eyes narrowed to get used to the sudden light of the day.
A dark figure was waiting for them.
The wild woman looked surprised. She just said "You must be kidding me".
Then she turned and fled into the dark forest.

"This way" Calandir guided them to where few horses were tied and freed a couple of them.
Halbrand made Luthien jump on one of them, climbing behind her, while Calandir took the other horse, and they galloped away.
They didn't go back to Calandir's castle. They rode eastward for a long time, until they found a camp of masked men.
Luthien felt like falling into a trap when the soldiers raised their lances against them, but Calandir intervened.
"We are allies" he said raising his hands and the soldiers dropped their weapon.
"These are Khamul's men" he said to Halbrand "He's quite interested in your offer and rode here with me. Sadly that attracted the attention of the elvish guardians and they found me".
"Who is Khamul?" Luthien asked, sure she never heard that name before.
"An easterling king" Halbrand replied, helping her to jump down from the horse.
She looked at him, the King of the Sounthlands, about to make an alliance with an easterling king, one from the lands of Rhun.
She felt so proud and excited.
Calandir stepped into their way and hugged Halbrand, catching him by surprise.
"Thank you, my friend" he said "I thought nobody cared to save me".
He turned to Luthien and grabbed her hand, kissing it fiercely "And you have my eternal devotion, my Lady".
"Did you tell anything?" Halbrand asked with urgency.
"Not a single word. Only lies. I swear it on my useless life. That's why they needed to call some older elves from Lindon. They were incapable of loosing my tongue".
"You're not useless" Halbrand comforted him, resting a heavy hand on his shoulder.
Calandir grinned and wrapped an arm around his shoulders, while Halbrand grabbed Luthien's hand.
They marched to the camp as a weird trio.

"Do you know that woman who stood out of that fortress?" she asked Calandir as they sat in a tent and were offered food and water. She couldn't get rid of the bad feelings that the stranger's unforgiving gaze gave her.
"Haeva" Calandir said grim "She's a friend of mine".
"She's a witch?" Halbrand asked.
"She's someone you don't want as your enemy" Calandir said uneasily "Let me deal with her. With her help, gathering the nations of men under your banner will be easier. Tribes fear her. They say even orcs run from her".
Luthien found it easy to believe. But she doubted she could feel comfortable in Haeva's company.
They were told that Khamul would meet them the following day.
In the meanwhile they retired for the night.
Calandir got another tent, while Halbrand insisted on sharing a tent with Luthien and she felt grateful for that.
She couldn't sleep alone in a camp of strangers.
Sleeping in a comfortable place was easier than she expected. She woke up in the morning when Halbrand shook her shoulder or she'd sleep for the whole day.
Calandir joined them for breakfast with his normal look, clean and shaved.
"How long have you been held captive? We saw your castle in ruins" she asked him ignoring his demand to comment on his look.
"It's my magic" he said softly leaning towards her "Those chains didn't allow me to use my magic, so everything linked to me fell to ruin. So it's better if I have my magic, don't you think?".
A small smile escaped her lips, then she straightened her back as some soldiers came to escort them to meet their king.
Khamul was waiting for them in his armor, wearing an intimidating dark mask that sent shivers down her spine.
Calandir introduced the new guests, then an awkward silence fell as the king examined them.
Then, as if he decided they were worthy, he removed his mask, revealing a young man with signs of wars also on his stern face.
He welcomed them to sit in his large tent and for hours he listened to Halbrand, planned and plotted.
Luthien wasn't surprised to see how quickly Halbrand won his attention and trust. They spoke as equals, although Halbrand didn't reveal that he was the King of the Sounthlands.
Halbrand obtained horses and supplies for a new mission he announced, to meet the other kings of dwarves and offer them power against their mutual enemy.
When the sun was setting, Khamul gathered his people to a banquet to celebrate the alliance.
When night fell and fires and torches were lit, some people started to play music and the soldiers gathered in the centre of the camp to dance.
Luthien crossed Calandir's eyes and he looked about to invite her to join the dance, but Halbrand touched her arm and she turned to him.

He smiled and nodded to the dancing.
His hand traveled down her arm to grab her hand and she smiled, following him.
The music was stranger and the rhythm was growing, but all she focused on was the man standing in front of her and his confident smile as he leaned closer to her.
For a moment she feared his intention, burning with a secret desire.
But then his lips didn't touch her, they aimed at her ear to whisper "Just like we are duelling".
His hands grabbed hers and made her spun, taking her in a firm grip as she momentarily lost her balance.
They danced and she felt so happy that her heart could explode with the feeling.
Also when she stumbled, it was okay. They would both laugh and keep dancing.
Her eyes couldn't leave his, but when they did, she spotted the easterling king staring at her from the banquet table.

Not so far from him also Calandir's eyes were fixed on her.
She ignored that and focused on Halbrand again. She wouldn't want to dance with anyone but him.
She wished to dance forever like that, but her legs grew weary and she stopped fearing of stumping his feet, leaning closer against him, almost hugging his chest.
He was enjoying that dance too, but suddenly her eyes spotted a dark figure amongst the viewers.
Haeva.
Fear clouded her happinees for a moment.
"Are you tired?" Halbrand leaned dangerously close to her and she forgot what scared her.
"No. I'm fine" she said smiling.
Another glimpse saw Calandir talking to Haeva, and then moments later the sinister witch appeared next to Luthien, stopping her dancing.
The witch bowed her head to Halbrand, who didn't look pleased of the rude interruption.
"My apologies, Lord Annatar. You owe me a favor and I want to offer my support in your noble mission".
Luthien feared that the witch wanted to replace her and dance with him. Even in her dark clothes, the witch was beautiful, pale skin with piercing blue eyes.
"This talk can wait, Haeva" he said pulling Luthien away so they left the witch alone in the middle of the dancing field.
Luthien felt his hands pulling her close, grabbing her waist to lift her in the air, surprising her, but it was fit with the rhythm of the music.
She pressed her hands on his shoulders as for a moment she towered him, then he lowered her down until her feet touched the ground again.
Her hands slipped down to his chest as his gaze was so intense that she felt fire running with her blood.
She didn't care if they were watched, she wished to drown in the feelings that she needed to expose, but Halbrand stepped back to stand by her side, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and guide her away from the crowd, stating that it was late and they needed to rest.
She leaned against him as they walked to their tent, the words she craved to tell him fading slowly into her throat.
They stood one more day at the camp, entertaining the king with the story of their adventures.
Calandir insisted on accompanying them.
They planned to leave early in the morning and when they day came, Luthien was surprised to spot Haeva talking to Halbrand.
The way she talked to him was quite indecent, leaning too close to him. She also laid a hand on his chest as she whispered things to him.
Luthien clenched her jaw and her fists, feeling an aching jealousy stinging her in a way she never felt before.
How could Halbrand resist to a witch? Even if he wasn't interested in her, she could bewitch him and make him hers.
Magic was something that was used to fascinate her, but now Luthien hated it.
He dismissed the witch quite sternly and spotted Luthien, hurrying to join her and accompany her to the ready horses.
The three of them rode northwards, for a faster journey through the realms under the mountains, handing power to the dwarf kings.

When they completed their mission, they reunited with some of Khamul's soldiers stationed in a fortress into the woods. And Haeva was with them.
She praised Halbrand for his work, looking like a greedy creature that craved to get a gift from him too.
Halbrand was working on the rings to hand to ten leaders of men, including himself.
Luthien doubted he would give one of them to a lonely witch like Haeva, who owned no army.
The two women didn't like each other and being confined in a fortress didn't help.
"What are you? Why someone as might as him would keep someone insignificant like you by his side?" the witch addressed to her once their paths met and Halbrand wasn't around.
Luthien gasped at her mocking tone.
"Why are you so obsessed with me? What did I do to you?".
Haeva's grin widened "You can keep Calandir, he is a hopeless fool. But you're next to someone who one day night reunite all nations and become the King of Kings. So you have to be someone special".
Luthien looked around, searching in vain for Halbrand. Thinking of him as not just the King of the Southlands, but as the King of Kings made her feel awfully hopeless.
Maybe that's why he never indulged her, guessing her feelings. She needed to avoid false hope.
She had been criticized for being too reckless for a lady, and it didn't help her attracting suitors.
Since she met Halbrand, she felt that men were looking at her in a different way, but she cared only of looking at Halbrand and having his attention.
"Do you want to become queen? Is it what you're worried about?" Luthien fired back.
"I want to serve the future King of Kings. I don't like competitions. And I don't like useless creatures around me".
Luthien clenched her fists to remind to herself not to raise her hands against someone that could beat her to the ground with just a look.
"If that's what you think of me, then just leave me alone. I don't want arrogant and jealous witches around" Luthien said walking passed her.
"Take care of that delicate neck. You might never know when it can break" Haeva said to her back.

Luthien strode trying to cool down her anger, unintentionally bumping against Calandir.
"Hey, what happened?".
She cursed herself for how her emotions were blinding her.
She was planning to jump on a horse and leave that place and that witch behind. She already missed the addictive feeling of flying as the horse galloped.
"Your friend enjoys insulting me" she said grumpily.
"Haeva is not my friend. We're just allies" he corrected.
She raised a doubtful look "But you were something more in the past?".
He sighed, disliking to bring it up "We learned to use and control our powers together. But we have different visions of the world. She's too ambitious and a difficult woman to deal with".
"She wishes my neck breaks" she snapped.
He shook his head with disapproval "She is used to sound even more crude. I'd bore you if I repeat you all the insults she told me through the years. I just don't listen to her anymore".
"Why is she so rude?".
He laid a weird look on her "You're what she never will be. You are fierce, but also kind. You're not too ambitious, you're selfless. You left your home for a greater good. And men are mesmerized by you, in a way she can only achieve if she abuses of her powers".
Her jaw dropped a bit. She just couldn't believe him.
"She can't be jealous of me. She's beautiful. She's powerful".
"She almost looks like you, if she's not rotting in all the darkness inside her. But it's our powers that makes us look better. While you are natural in your being a mere mortal. You are yourself".
"You must wash your eyes to see better. I was used to be a rat that nobody would notice".
"Until Annatar found you and took you with him?" he guessed.
She just nodded.
"How I wish I can be him for few minutes" he let out a dramatic sigh "Just to be looked at in the way you look at him. I'm jealous, you know".
She leaned dangerously close to him to hiss "I'll carve your eyes if you dare something like that. So you won't mind anymore of how people look at each other".
Calandir chuckled and rolled his eyes "Fierce".
She walked around him, tired of dealing with crazy wizards.
"You women will be the end of me" he commented and was about to go for his way when a horn blew above them.
They looked at each other.
Luthien felt goosebumps rising on her skin, although she wasn't sure about the meaning of the sound.
But seeing the expression on Calandir's face proved to her that something was wrong.
"It's an alarm" he said and guided her to the furnace where Halbrand was working.
"Could the smoke have attracted visitors?" he was asking to a couple of guards that were updating him.
"Not friendly visitors, I'm afraid. It's a small army. We spotted elves amongst the men" one of them said.
Halbrand's face darkened. He cut the distance to stand next to Luthien.
"How did they find us?" Calandir asked nervously "Our travellings didn't go unnoticed or someone betrayed us?".
"Or they had more spies than we expected. Is there a way to escape quickly?".
"You can ride away on a horse while I distract them" the wizard offered.
Halbrand shook his head "I'm afraid the same plan can't work. It seems we are already surrounded".
"Doesn't this building have access to underground passages? Don't we have the support of the dwarves?".
"We are caught by surprise. We thought we were safe here. Let's collect all the weapons we have".
"I can check this army's movements from the walls" Luthien intervened, greedy to be helpful somehow.
Halbrand looked at her hesitantly.
"I come with you" Haeva suggested, having silently joined the group. She gestured to the young woman to follow her and led the way upstairs.
Luthien grabbed a bow and a quiver on the way and once in the open air, she looked beyond the walls, struggling to spot anything through the trees. Then she saw some shadows moving.
"We are under siege" she said shivering as she inspected all around and saw soldiers approaching from every direction.
"We can stand against few elves. Leave the men to me" Haeva said suddenly, making Luthien startle. She didn't expect the witch to be following her so closely. And she didn't expect her feet to slip. Her hands dropped her bow and arrow to try to grab something, but her fingers felt only air.
She had dreamed of flying, of running away. But not in that way.
Not a flight that ended with a terrible crash on the ground.
Her back hit badly.
As the pain blinded her, Luthien stood still, catching her breath, fearing that something broke in that fall.
When her eyes cleared a bit, on the top of the wall she saw a shadow looking down to her.
Haeva's triumphant grin was the last thing she saw as darkness swallowed her.

A/N

Tuesday 20th December 2022

Competition can be so dangerous, when witches are involved. So never lower your guard when one of them is around 😈

Luthien wished to flee so she could be away from that witch, but she didn't plan to fly like that 💔

Will she survive the fall? Or will she be butchered in battle?

And will he be angry or just careless and move on with his plans?

I'm sorry to leave you with this cliffhanger, I don't know yet if I can update during the holidays, but the next one will be THE chapter and I'm pretty excited about it 🖤

I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year🎄🎆
stay safe and enjoy your time with your beloved ones...and take care of your neck 😉🧣❤