Editing Unglak and the Stone (section)

== The Armour is Delivered ==

Argent the armour shone in the sun;

The grim lord grinned at its dazzling display.

A strong man stood with mighty mace;

Let fly such force the mace head burst.

The blows fell thick;

it still shone silver

without scratch or nick.


‘Such magnificent mail,' said that master of Drow

'Is well worth winning; the price I pay

'A pittance so paltry it beggars the brain.'

'Come! The stone is yours; then let us make mirth

'With as splendid a feast

as ever was served

in West or in East.


High that hall, and wide-spread its walls

Yet filled overflowing: all manner of men

Were gathered together with bounty before them,

Washing the wine down from flowing flagons.

Above all the rest

the Drow sat 

their grim host's guest. 


Unglak cracked jokes, laughing loud,

But his stare often strayed to the distant doors.

Fèhaglin fidgeted, her hasty hands

Flickering, fluttering with hummingbird's hovering.

Nearby, gleaming bright

Sarnim lay, glistening

with roseate light


At length it was late; the brands burning low

Spat and sputtered with flickering flames.

Some now slept, but many more

Muttered, murmured, drunk and dazed.

Then, her voice strong

Fèhaglin offered

to sing them a song.


Silence struck, and in that instant

Orodruin called from his flute a soothing song

That softly sounded through the eery air

Like a spirit singing of light and life

Undying over mortal lands

which it blew past crying.


Unglak followed with a song like the sea

Soothing yet surging as wild as the waves,

Echoing endlessly, rhythmically rocking,

Roaring, resounding, repeating, returning,

Foaming floods whose constant dashings,

wash all away

with lullaby crashings.


Heavy heads hung, dull eyes drooped,

Then one by one each dim face fell.

And last like a leaf the tall lord's gaze

Dropped faint and frail to face the floor.

Some snoring mutters

then all was still

as the last torch sputtered.


They stood with stealth, gently lifted the jewel,

And softly slipped from the hushing hall.

In silent slumber a kingdom slept

Unwarned of absence. They fled for freedom

Leading in quiet line

those of their folk

who had helped with the wine. 


A stair fell steep from the castle crag,

Its base abutting a quiet cove

Whose quay held craft both strong and swift.

Straight down the stair the three came

Then checked in fear.

Hatori’s ambassador softly smiled,

'What brings such nightbirds here?' 


The castle-crowned crag lay quiet, cold

With neither light nor lamp. But a mass of men

Two score in sum were placed to bar their path.

'The lord would not like to hear of your haste,'

'To borrow wings and fly.'

'Why, what a reaction!'

-'You'd surely die!'


The [[Marid]] eyed them with sinister smile.

'But need he know?' he suavely suggested.

'We can mend the matter to our own advantage.'

'Consider, Orodruin! My Potentate will pay you

'What you truly deserve:'

'Not trifles like he

'Whom you would no more serve.'


But savage and sudden Orodruin cried out

A wild cry of war last heard long ago

When [[Fithurin]]'s warriors, defiant, despairing,

Sallied in strength from besieged Amras Hall

And charged to their doom:

seeking others' escape

and they, the tomb.


The Drow above from the steps of the stairs

Drew aim in the dark with Elvish eyes

And let fly a flock of feathered fangs.

And Unglak came forth, defiant, determined

And slashed his axe

with leaping lunge

at that Marid lord.


But he stepped aside, and with mighty power

Swiftly aimed to cripple or kill.

Eluding, evading, they danced a dance

As light as lovers, as deadly as death.

But with lightning speed

the axe did the kissing

And Unglak the deed. 


That servant of Hatori slid from his axe

Lifeless and limp back to the river.

Then Fèhaglin found him, her spear stained with blood:

The three were alone but for Death and the dead.

So they swiftly embarked

the ambassador's boat

and were lost in the dark.


In far-off Balem, in a hidden hall

Fèhaglin faced him with unwilling eyes.

In his hands Orodruin held the gem,

His head tilting forward, his gaze to the ground,

His grey eyes glimmering

with sudden sheen,

with gem’s light shimmering.


'I will not bear it. It is bought with blood.'

Her words then wavered; by will they went on:

‘Many of our folk died to deliver it;'

'And how many more shall pay your price,'

'And fall at his hand

Because we have made

Armour unbreakable by man?' 


A sad smile sat on her lovely lips

But her face was firm with cold conviction.

Turning Unglak took the bright hard stone,

Laying it lovely in cushioned coffer,

Then closed the lid.

And there it lay,

deeply hid.


'There is more to be mended,' Unglak softly sighed.

'For dark years are dawning when Hel will seek

'A world bowed to her will, and our halls fastness

'Lies exposed in the East, no haven from hunters.'

‘There will come one in whom we trust’

‘To use this power and end’

‘The evils dominion a power hungry lust.’


'I have had dark dreams,' she suddenly said,

'But in shadows there shone a vision unveiled,'

'A city encircled by mighty mountains

'Whose white walls stood high strong

'In a high and significant place.'

Could we build such a city

To help shelter our race!' 


'I know of a mountain,' Orodruin answered at once,

'Whose crystalline crown covers cavernous caves.'

'And the sun shining down through the secret stones

'Diffuses like dawn through the hollow hills.'

'That is a high and significant place

safe for a city

that would shelter our race.' 


Her head held high, she held out her hand;

His hand met hers; they stood face to face.

'Let us dream this dream, and dare to defy

'The Servant of Shadows!' - so he softly said.

Their eyes were wild

like eagles untamed

And they suddenly smiled.