Though this be madness...

[Envin]

Aragorn had ridden from Angmar once his talks with Karasu had been completed, for the first intentions of his journey from Gondor now were complete. Ahead of his still in wait lay the more difficult of the twain as he knew now, though he had thought the earlier the more difficult when he left Minas Tirith.

As he rode forth from Carn Dum, he let fly a good eagle with a parchment in its beak, and high above the clouds the doughty bird soared southwards, and such was his speed that it reached the White City ere Aragon had reached his goal. The bird delivered its message to Saeros the Lord of Rivendell, who awaited Aragorn's summons. Saeros made himself ready to answer the call of his lord.

In the while, Aragorn had finally reached the country that Men called Hollin, the which to the Elves was Eregion of old, marked as such by the holly-bushes at its borders, which now were near withered and yellow. But Aragorn made camp behind the shelter of an overhanging rock that first evening, and changed his campsite every night for several weeks until Saeros arrived, keeping always a weather-eye toward the mountains and at any sound which might indicate movement. And he scouted out the lands thereabout, in this wise coming even nearer to unity with the country when his comrade arrived after much travail.

[Saeros]

Saeros had received the message when he was riding out at the Anduin and send the bird back with the message that he would arrive soon. He immediatly turned his steed and prepared in haste everything for his leaving at the Inn. In great haste he made for Eregion and arrived in the late evening of a day, a couple of weeks after his departure from Minas Tirith.

[Envin]

Aragorn was perched high upon a rocky tor that jutted out from one of the nearby hills, and espied from a distance Saeros' approach. He stayed crouched there upon the rock, but drew Anduril, and by the light of the rising moon he glinted the pale blade in Saeros' direction. The good elf saw the spark of light leap from the blade and turned his steed toward his comrade.

"Well, thou did indeed make good time, I must say," Aragorn greeted him as he threw him a skin of water that he had drawn earlier that day. He led the horse and rider back to the clif-face, where a little hollow made for a fine campsite, and sat himself upon a rock and poked at a small fire near the wall.

[Saeros]

Saeros catched the skin and took a large sip out of it. Then he grinned and said: "I couldn't let you wait here out in something of nowhere and run you out of your pipeweed." They went to the little hollow and Saeros took care of his horse before he acompanied Aragorn at the fire.

[Envin]

"I have been here several days and am beginning to run low," Aragorn grinned. "If thou brought none to refill my store, then I shall have to sent thee right back again." He laughed and three two rabbits that he had lately caught that afternoon on the fire. While they smoked and cooked he took out his pipe and lit it. "Well, I have scouted out much of this land," he said. "All that remains is for us to attempt to enter the city. High in the mountains nearby it is stormy often, but were we to venture up into the heights, if the snow would abate slightly, we would be able to see the great skylights high in the ceilings of Khazad-dum, and descend if we have enough rope."

[Saeros]

He shove a little leather bag over to Aragorn, not changing any expression of his face. Atself he put out his pipe and stuffed it thoughtfully. "Rope is no issue, I brought some with me." He looked at the rabbits. "Don't forget to turn them. I hate them half raw and half burned. Do they have nothing less skinny here, or does Garland hunt everything for his own table?" He chuckled.

[Garland]

-At the Hollin Gate-

A scout approached the guards, nodding a greeting to them. "I have news for the master." One of the guards tapped the stone gate with his spear, signaling it to be opened. The scout walked in, removing his hood as his eyes adjusted to the lower light of the mine. The gate slid shut behind him and the man hurried along to inform Garland that the 'guests' would be arriving soon.

[Envin]

"I did not wish to be seen, and all the fat ones ran in the open," Aragorn chuckled, sending wreaths of smoke into the air. He turned the hares every so often, and soon they were done. He took them from the fire and tossed one onto a wooden plate for Saeros, and spitted the other upon his knife for himself. For a few minutes they ate in silence, and when they neared the end of their meal, Aragorn said to Saeros: "Well, I suggest rest for this evening and night, and that we awake ere dawn and attempt to enter Khazad-dum."

[Saeros]

Saeros yawned. "Sounds good. I could need a nap, but I suggest also, one of us keeps an eye or at least half an eye open. We are close to Moria. Who knows what creatures stumble through the night." He pointed to the leather bag. "Don't forget to put your tobacco away." He twinkled and wrapped himself in a blanket.

[Envin]

Aragorn chuckled and nodded, taking up the bag and drawing the string tight about it. He settled himself against the cliff face and took the first watch, with his sword leaning onto the rock above him and his fingers running along the blade. Saeros had been long in the saddle, and Aragorn let him sleep for nearly six hours. Then he stood up and strode about, his nose to the wind, and was satisfied that for now at least, there were none that watched them. He walked over near Saeros and took up the water skin, drinking heartily, and gave his comrade a dig in the ribs. The elf awoke.

"Nearly dawn," said Aragorn, "We must be off after only a bite for breakfast.

[Saeros]

"Yes, I see." Saeros streched his limbs. He got quick up, rolled his blanket together and packed everything to a tight bundle. "Just a quick bite is quite fine. Where do we leave the horses? We can hardly pull them up the mountain slopes." He grinned and took an apple out of his pocket.

[Garland]

In the mines preperations were made for the guests. The gate guard was doubled at each post, scouts were sent to patrol the mountain passes and a vigilant watch as posted in Garland's tower atop the Redhorn; Garland would be well aware of when the pair reached the mines. In the upper levels, tens of thousands of soldiers went about their business as usuall, the only real difference was the lack of any gobblins or trolls among them. Garland had immeadiately had Minos summon those troops and lead them deep down in the mines and into the subterrainean tunnel that stretched westard towards his fortress in Mithlond, they would be well gone by now. The throne room of his true lord was well concealed in the mine, though for extra precaution the dwaves filled the only corridor leading to it in with rock. When Aragorn arrived all there would be to see in Khazad-Dum would be Dwarves busily mining and soldiers going about their business. Garland smiled as he walked back to his chambers, barking an order to the guard nearest him. "Escort our honored guests to my chambers when they arrive."

[Envin]

Aragorn and Saeros ate quickly, just a few peices of dried meat from the evening before, and then dashed out their fire with sand. They set out, climbing up higher into the hills rather than down into the valleys whence they might strike a more commonly employed pathway. Instead, they clomb by sheer strength of sinew and will high into the mountains, at times holding only on by pure nerve and fingertips, until after many hours of toil and cuts and tender bruises they neared the top. Of old there had been a watchtower upon the Redhorn Peak, and so they kept covering rock between them and its gaze, and made camp for a few hours in a small ravine many thousands of feet above the plains below.

[Saeros]

This time Saeros insisted to keep watch and let Aragorn take his rest. The elve sat silent, covered by the shadows and his shape merged with the rocks. His keen eyes were on guard and full awake.

[Envin]

Aragorn woke after only a short time of rest, his body readily responding to his orders to wake after a certain time - he was no stranger to the wild. He leapt up, and as they had lit no fire there was naught to be done save pack their gear and set out once more. Now that they were level with the upper halls and actually nearly above them, there was little climbing left for them, but rather it was much keeping low out of sight of the Redhorn and vaulting over treacherously wide gullies and chasms, until the came to many great pits into the moutains, as it seemed, whence came long draughts of air onto their faces, and they knew that these were the objects of their design.

They halted, and Aragorn stood watch while Saeros retrieved the long, long coils of rope from his pack and made them fast to an outcropping of rock hard by. Then Aragorn made the other end into a tight knot about his waist, and slapped Saeros on the back, at which the Elf began to lower Aragorn into the depths.