Unglak and the Stone

Of the Sarnim Stone

A poem that tells the story Of Orodruin's Folk and of Unglak, recounting the forging of armour 'unbreakable by man'; there are several poems, all part of the same saga, though separate they can be read as one.

Unglak and Orodruin in the halls of the Drow

Dim in dusk, dark fields and forests lay

Open, exposed to lengthening light.

Golden beams glinted on heads and helms

Silently slipping from forest fastness

Into open twilight

reaching the road

on the verge of night.

They were awaited: one in sable silk

Bowed gravely in greeting, held out his hand,

Wishing welcome to His Lady’s lands.

The riders reined in, their heavy helms

Revealing elvish eyes:

Sylvan, unyielding

Wary, yet wise.

Hunched on the heights, a castle crowned the crag:

In fading light it loomed stark and strong.

The cobblestones clattered; flaming torches flared

Shielding corners in shadows that dipped and danced.

They entered the hall:

bright gold, crystal

a fire-lined wall.

The master of his Hall sat in state

Tall as a tower, gaunt, with gleaming eyes.

Briefly they bowed, then stood silent, still

Like statues in a tyrant's tomb.

The tall lord smiled

as a hunter might

to something once wild.

'Welcome,' he said, 'And where is the smith,'

'Whose skill is famed near and far?'

One stirred and stepped forward; softly spoke:

'The smith stands before you, for Orodruin has come,'

'And would learn from your lips what price you would pay.'

And his face was cold

his voice polite

and utterly controlled.

'Have you skill sufficient,' said that master of Drow,

'Armour to make unbreakable by man?'

'No price may be paid for the perfect piece,'

'But gifts I may give, exchange priceless for perfect.'

Thus the grim lord

offered for armour

a choice from his hoard.

'If the metal is mithril,' the Half Gnome answered,

'My skill could shape it strong and sure.'

'But armour unbreakable? Only Powers could prove it,

'Or battering of battle, though the smith should strive'

'Armour to make unbreakable by man.'

'But what, great lord,'

might you have to offer

from the depths of your hoard?

Unglak and Orodruin first see the Stone

Deep they descended to a hidden hall

Locked with locks, secured with seals.

The narrow gate gaped, they walked within

Dazzled by dance of flickering flames

On diamond and mithril

serried arms and armour

jewels and precious metal.

Their bright brands glanced on stunning stone

Which flashed in the flame like a subterranean star:

And its rose-red ruby like a captive king

Lay enfolded in flowers of moulded mithril.

The Half-Gnome held his breath

at treasure long-lost

in ancient years of death.

He looked at the lord matching eye to eye

And slowly smiled as if to challenge with charm.

'If the mail I make can break the blows

Of your strongest soldier, O Master of Elves,

Would you call this stone an equal exchange?'

And so they agreed

one lustful for power,

the other, from need.

The high-roofed hall given to guests

Echoed with anger and whiplash of words.

Her face aflame, her eyes ablaze

Fèglin, his wedded wife

Spoke for them all

as they huddled close

in that alien hall.

'Make that murderer's armour? His promise to pay

'Is as constant as cobwebs and as safe as a storm!'

'And what can he offer but ill-gotten gains,'

'The pillage and plunder of countless halls?'

Then from her lips a wild cry burst

'Such utter folly

'This has been from the first!'

'That elf has Sarnim!' So Unglak cried

'That my father found and my mother bore!'

'That price will I pay, and risk what I must

'To ransom their relic from this house of dust!'

Fèhaglin sighed: 'And also strive,

'Gaining the treasure,

'to reach home alive.'

Shrouded in shadows that dipped and danced

The three softly spoke in their gnomish speech

Of cares, contingencies, methods, means,

Secrets, circumstances, purposes, plans:

Lest fear at night

should catch them aground

lacking wings for flight.

The Halls of the Sylvan Elves

The trumpet's call announced an arrival

Whom the grim lord greeted to his kingly court.

And courtiers crowded to meet the Lord

Sent to speak for the Watery Land.

Among the rest

the dark sea elves came

to become Sylvan guest.

The Marid smiled, benignly bowed,

Wishing them well with liquid voice.

Seuse, he noted, his Lady and liege,

Was friend to their folk since the sea faring Age.

His thin lips smiled

as a shark’s might that stalked

Prey in the wild.

Their talk soon turned by delicate degrees

To the mail to be made for the land's own lord.

That grim lord laughed and with braggart's boast

Said that they should be finest friends

Since both in their worth

worked to make him

the strongest on earth.

Their words wound on to meaningless matters

And soon they stopped when others arrived.

His evil eyes, though, caught Unglak’s face

And scanned and studied each feature and fault

As if there he read

with gruesome pleasure

ancient tales of dread.

Forging the Armour

The seasons spun with ponderous pace

From Summer to Spring, and the fiery forge

Roared red-hot in a hollow hall

Where metal's might was shaped by skill,

Where anvil sang

where bellows hissed

and heavy hammers rang.

And Fèglin, furtive, with soft-paced steps

Lurked where the Lord was wont to walk,

In sunlight strolling, head to head,

Closely consulting Seuse’s ambassador.

And her Gnomish ears

heard what they said

confirming her fears.

If our friendship is firm, we stand established,

strong and sure. My lord would ally

his crown to your cause, securing your strength

Should rivals arise. As sign and seal

Will he give you a gem

potent with power.

And one more thing

The ambassador added, with whispering words:

My lord by your leave, a matter to mark:

Lord Fringol has stated, and so it is certain:

That elf once escaped my Potentate's prisons;

His features remind him

Of unfinished business

He would put behind him.

The water lord grinned, his sharp teeth shining.

I need him now, nor would it be wise

To give a guest into hostile hands.

Yet robbers are rife; when he leaves my lands

Would any think it strange

Were he caught by ambush

Covertly arranged?

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.