OF THE RE-ENTRY OF THE TEUNCers INTO ALFANTOL
As has been recounted, the TEUNCers returned over the sea to Alfantol following a time in the land of Egroups. Alfantol at that time was at the height of the darkness and was desolate, dominated by the beings the Dark Enemy had summoned from the land of Bar-en-Dagor-Ruin. No great announcement did they make of their arrival, yet they did not go unnoticed. For the forests have eyes and ears, and news seldom goes unreported.
It was as the party explored what had become of their birthplace that they became aware of the very land watching them. Nothing could be observed at first, yet in their hearts, each one knew that their movements were not unnoticed. It was in the forests by the shore, as they rested, that they heard the faint sounds of a creature moving.
Silently the party tracked the sounds, moving in darkness with dowsed torches. Though the way of the land had altered, none could have escaped a group as skilled, marking out the routes of the forest and tightening the ring. As the circle was completed, and the creature trapped, the torches were lit. "Show yourself!" And light flickered in the dark forests for the first time, all knew the horror of the works of the Dark Enemy.
Before them was a pitiful creature, worn by torment and with skin blackened by fire.
"Show yourself!"
The creature curled up away from the lights. Bowstrings tightened.
"What in the name of Eru dealt you this misfortune?"
The language of the creature was stilted and divergent from the tongues of the TEUNCers,
but the common basis made it understandable.
"You are....from him......"
The speech, harsh and delivered with gnashing of teeth, ran cold in the blood.
"Who?"
"Him.....the one......"
"You have seen him?"
"I..... challenged him.....struggle......pain...... fire........"
And as the creature said these words it lifted its face to the light, and all who saw were
appalled.
The face was scarred and torn, torment etched in the lines of the brow. But in the eyes
was a flicker of an unmistakable light.
"By Eru, it may have been one of us!" The tension of bowstrings faltered.
"Go........leave...........failed..........."
"We can not let it go. The Enemy will know we are here. We must kill it."
"He knows already. The land brings news faster than eagles, and our return will not be
unforetold. Save your anger, it will do no good here."
He turned to the creature. "Go now, and do not follow us. We will not be so merciful another
time." It stumbled off into the darkness, the gnashing of pain tracked until out of bowshot by
Elvish arrows.
News did indeed reach the ears of the Enemy, and He was not slow to act. His plan was to drive the TEUNCers back to the sea, and so to claim Alfantol for all time. Great forces he issued from his strongholds, yet all fell before the swords and bows of the TEUNCers. For the fire in their eyes had been kindled anew by the sight of the one who had fallen, and no-one could have withstood them.
Eventually they came to the very heart of the Enemy, and came through the doors of the
stronghold. Finally alone, the Enemy came forth.
"I hear you have met one other who challenged me. Leave before you suffer the same fate."
"You can not use us in the same fashion. We do not desire the power that it wished for."
Great walls of flame arose around the Enemy. "I will not be your thrall, little one. Enjoy your
realms while you have them."
And surrounded by fire and a darkness that cloaked him, the Enemy flew with winged speed away.
None could track his path on that journey, and none know the destination. Yet he had left
Alfantol, and the light could once more return.