Solitary Mortal

The first fall of winter has come and the land which was once green and good has now been desecrated by darkness that has covered the land.
There was no beauty left, no comfort in the heart of the woods of the once great Dorthonion for it is now a desolated wilderness the few would choose to venture.
The Beasts of the Field and the Birds of the air has now deserted their once proud home for food was scarce if there was infact any.

A lone shadow loomed over the treacherous ice in search for comfort in this frozen wasteland but to no avail, hunger and anxiety has made an alchemy
of despair that you would see in the once proud face of the Lord of men, a hunter he was until he became the prey that was still being hunted.
No rest for Beren son of Barahir as he looked in the mound where the remains of his father was laid, a tear of sadness rolled down his cheek from
eyes that shown a deep reservoir of feeling. He knelt down as he cleared the stone marking of his father's grave as he said his farewell...

A farewell, a lament to the land that he dimmed home...Farewell to all that was good and true for he dimmed it right to leave for something
in his heart told him to do so, a question remained though true the counsels of his heart are for he wished death might take him but it seems
as though more shall he play in this nightmare that started as a dream.

Looking up to the heavens, he opened his mouth as he gasped the cold air, his throat was parched due to lack of water. His eyes
then searched the sky as tears filled his eyes once more before he cried to Eru, a desparate cry for mercy...

"Eru, why hast abandon me...Is my heart not true and shall not my soul be free? Shall I ever run from those who pursue me, the wicked who
threaten me? Curse the day I was born into this world for doomed was my spirit ever to wander and hide! I fell not my hands nor my body for
the cold fill thee, the flame that I once cherished is gone from a heart who long suffereth pain and misery, fear has drove thee and thy purpose
forgotten. Hast not any regard for thine creation whom you so willed to live? shall we always suffer..." lamenting to his life, crying out to all who heed
for hope seemed lost and life...Disregarded. "Forsake me not blessed Eru as I leave this land to which my father died protecting, forsake not
your servant and strength be renewed...Sustain me, may thy grace protect me." after saying this he left the mound of his father with a heavy
heart, feeling like one who seeks a star in a night dimmed by ethereal darkness.

~o~

Holding the hilt of his sword, the smoothened handle cold to his hand as he warily journeyed south. His way was treacherous yet he hoped that he may not face any in battle for he so feared that he may be outnumbered and so be led into captivity, the one thing that he feared for being
at the mercy of one who has shown none seems hopeless. Hope is the only thing left that kept him alive, kept him breathing and fighting.

The land was silent, silent as though a strange pestilence has enveloped the air within. Beren tirelessly trekked the land without cease for fear of being discovered, leaving all that was not necessary he travelled swift and light. He dare not take any of the remaining fruits of the trees for
the land is was poisoned for the land has shown it, the trees waned and the vegetation withered and so did everything else.

"They were wise... Perhaps wiser than me..." he thought to himself as he remebered the last of the animals that left this lush forest as though they felt the winds change. Though the air seemed strangely dull during that time he never paid any heed to it until the earth seemed rather rough, the lush vegetation withered like a lone reed in a gushing river that was swept by the tide, bitter the water was to the taste as everything else seemed to fade.
Late did he realize that time was against him for as the forest died so did his chances of survival for the enemy drew near and he was the prey, orcs he could battle but werewolves were another thing especially now for Sauron, the deadliest servant of Morgoth led the hunt for him. Holding back this storm was a thing that no mortal man can do for it surely spelled one'e doom.

Rushing to the glade, hoping to fly unnoticed he slipped through the shadow of the great trees as he tried to once more look at his surroundings dare he not be caught by surprise... His eyes lurked, Keeping his gasp for air as mute as possible..."Was he alone? or was he followed? "this questions he asked himself though he answered not. He did not linger anymore than two heart beats thus rushing through the forest, "it was near, it was close..." as he rushed through the final column of trees that signalled the end of the narrow trails of Dorthonion.

He made it through for as the road began to rise so did it leave the arms of the forest "Farewell Dorthonion" he spoke in a silent tone as he moved stealthily and swift away from the place he had once called home. As breeze lingered in the air the sun had set and it's rays hit the steep and sharp rocks of the land that seemed undisturbed, a labyrinth of razor sharp rock that went for miles and miles... This was the path that no one dare tread for ancient was it's devilry, terror unspoken lay asleep in the vast nets of malice. A long breath he took before climbing to the high regions of Ered Gorgoroth. This was the path laid before him and so this he shall take for though thoughts darkened in his mind his courage failed him not for renewed strength within him, rekindled hope and spirit.