They set out on steeds from Rivendell to Mirkwood. They were to cross the hills, the plains & enter the woodlands surrounding the home of elves. As Lord Elrond & his daughter, princess Arwen sent them off to the gates, Lord Elrond said,
"Beware of the orcs, Aldermund, for these times are not the times to travel lightly."
"Yes, my lord. I will pass your biddings to my father Thranduil."
answered Aldermund.
As a parting gift, Arwen had given Anarawen a sword, both fair and light, yet strong and sharp as any other elvish sword, wrought with the lighest metals by elven blacksmiths, after she learnt that Anarawen was taught to fend herself by means of combat as well.
They drove their steeds east towards the misty mountains. They were to cross the path between the feet of mountains, across the plains where Eyries guard from the skies for orcs. Then they were to cross Anduin, the river east of misty mountains. When the misty mountains were near, from their keen elven eyes, the elves could see and sense that nothing was amiss and they could pass safely, thus they went towards of the hill path.
As they went into the vaguely surrounding filled with mist and cold, their cloaks had changed into the shades that had blended them with nature. They went on, cautiously yet swiftly, as they wished to cross this path between the mountains before nightfall, the gallops of their horses were echoing in the mists, turning the day even more wearisome. Out of a sudden, an eyrie shrieked in high shrills, and Anarawen said,
"Orcs!.. Orcs!.. North of the moutains.. Be quick! The eyrie had seen us as well.."
They raced towards Anduin river, and the orcs were behind. They were able to slain quite a few from afar with the aim of elves. Their arrows did nothing to deter them, and the orcs went after them until they were far in the plains, and near Anduin, as if the orcs were afraid of the plains and the light that made them vulnerably visible to attack.
They crossed Anduin where it gave way to a daughter branch to Misty Mountains; the water was low, flowing seamlessly over the stones making a kind of harmony that was of earthly tranquility. They reached the forest gates that trailed into Mirkwood, where the elf path began, and Aldermund said,
"Trod closely.. as the path is near to the homes of ungols.. those who touch their webs never could leave, by the binds and the poison.. The webs are strong as the dwarf metals and could not be untangled once caught.."
Anarawen said nothing but nodded, as the quiet and the gloomy appearance of the Mirkwoods, under what was left of sunlight, had caused her to be weary. They took the path slowly holding their elven glows in the night that showed their ways, first to the east, and then to the north towards the forest river, which they would have to cross to get to King Thranduil's halls. So they went. Ungols were seen often on the side of the elven path but never did they disturb the elves, as the path was guarded by elven templa.
They crossed the forest river in the night because they wished not to stay in the forest at night where ungols could ambush them and poison them with ease. They reached the King's halls after midnight, when the moon was shining brightly amidst the silky sky. They crossed the bridge towards the stone doors of King Thranduil's and Aldermund put his right hand on the wall where a circle in a star is curved out and whispered,
"Amin aaye heru amin.."
The stone high doors gave way to let the company in, and they walked in with the steeds on their sides, into the halls of King Thranduil, the King of wood elves in the Kingdom of Mirkwood. As Anarawen walked along side the elves, her heart was pounding and she desperately wanted to do a spell to slow it down. She had yet to find out what would unfold next and though she would deny if asked, she wanted to be in Helcaraxë at that moment.
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