If he knew what awaited for him in the Middle Earth, he would have returned sooner.
Halbrand is a man with a dark past, but where will his choices lead him?
He starts to crave for light in his life when he finds the peace in the eyes of a mysterious...
Leaving behind the burned lands made the march more enjoyable. In front of them there were landscapes that Luthien had never seen before.
"So, what are you planning?" she asked as they camped around a small fire after the sun set. "I think that if we can imitate what the elves did, giving power to men and dwarves, we have a chance to win". She frowned, puzzled "How do we give power?". "By making the rings that will contain that power, a power unseen in this world, but that the elves managed to find". She struggled to understand how it could work "And how can we do that?". Halbrand smiled at her confusion "Don't worry, we need to persuade the leaders to support us. I know enough of smithery and I caught enough details to understand how it works when I was in Lindon". She looked at him with surprise "Were you a smith?". "Yes. Can you imagine the wonder when you melt metals and create weapons and jewels?" he picked her sword and made it gleam by the fire. It looked like it was alive. She smiled, hypnotized by the passion transpiring from his words "That's fascinating". He placed the sword on the ground. "And imagine combining different ores, making alloys. Each ore has unique qualities. Combining them can amplify those qualities" he grabbed her hand and entwined their fingers gently "Without forcing them, they are drawn together. And it creates real power". "It's beautiful" she said simply, his innocent touch making her hyperventilate. They were isolated from the world, he was taking care of her and she just wished to be in his embrace. But his hand left hers and he seemed haunted by other thoughts to notice her unspoken needs. "It really is. You will see" he sighed "And there's something I need to think of. My name and my title are too dangerous now. I need a false name". "Do you have anything in mind?". "Since I'll offer power to people, what about the Lord of Gifts? Annatar?" he smirked. "Sounds nice" she repeated the name to herself, although he would be forever Halbrand to her and she risked to bring trouble to his disguise "Do I need a nickname too?". "No. I don't think your name is dangerous" he smiled "You're weary. Take some sleep. Don't be afraid of the night". She looked around and laid down, trying to find a comfortable position facing the fire "You need some sleep too". "I fear I do. But I'm used to keep an eye open, so if something menacing approaches us, I'll wake you up". He wrapped her fingers around the handle of her sword, then laid down. Gripping the sword, the noises of the night lulled her to sleep.
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When she woke and stood up, it was dawning and the first sunlight caressed the hills. The view was something so beautiful that it felt sacred, so she avoided speaking. Also Halbrand was in awe. He noticed her staring at him and smiled, his hand searching for hers. "The beginning of a new adventure". She returned the smile and after packing, they wandered in those inhabitanted fields.
"Is it true that these lands are home to strange creatures?" she asked after a break to harvest some wild berries. He shrugged "I think I haven't met them yet. We need to make contact with the dwarves realms". "Does it mean we'll have to go.. underground?" she shuddered at the idea. "If dwarves can live and prosper underground, we have nothing to fear" he assured her "Their realms are hidden to common wanderers like us. We need to guess where are the entrances to their dominions". She walked with less confidence, imagining the complex world that was hidden under her feet. "The elves would know how to find them. Dwarves are not friendly with men" she recalled bitterly. "Not friendly if you have nothing to offer that might catch their interest" he corrected her "Don't tell me you'd rather deal with orcs than seeking the dwarves". Luthien looked around with uneasiness "I don't know. Don't you have the feeling that there are orcs around us ready to attack us?". He glanced at the trees and bushes, but didn't seem bothered "I'm grateful it's a sunny day and not a cloudy one". They walked until suddenly the ground opened to a deep ravine. "There's a bridge over there to get to the other side" Halbrand pointed to the scariest bridge she had ever seen. "Are you scared of heights?" he asked her, seeing her hesitation and offering her a hand. "I just never walked an a bridge like that" she grabbed his hand, finding some comfort in his confident grip. They paused in front of the rope bridge. She wondered how it could take the weight of two people when it seemed good only for the wild animals. Halbrand was braver than her and led the way. "Focus on walking. We will reach the other side in the blink of an eye". She walked behind him, his hand still holding hers. The unstable bridge made her feel dizzy. "I wish I can walk blindfolded then". He looked back at her, still healthy and courageous, while she was getting pale and sick. "You know that I wouldn't take you somewhere dangerous if I'm not sure that we can reach the other side, right?". She thought back of their adventures. They survived monsters and hell. They saw the world burning and got out of that in one piece. Walking on an old rope bridge seemed a joke in comparison. She nodded and tried to stop staring at the emptiness beneath her feet and the sharp rocks on the bottom of the ravine.
