Emyn Muil was a dismal place. Aside from our steady footfalls and those of our steeds, it was completely silent. On occasion a crow would give a lonely caw, and once I heard what I thought was a wolf, though it was far off. The silence was uncomfortable... Something felt wrong. Even Caledorn seemed on edge, and neither of us had spoken for a while. I think that we were both afraid to break the silence, lest some vile new evil waylay us from the rocks.

   Suddenly we came upon what appeared to be a drop into nothingness. There was no visible bottom to the chasm, though a ghost-grey mist hung in the air that would've made it difficult to see the bottom anyway. I picked up a rock and dropped it. One second, two seconds, three seconds. Finally I heard a crack as it hit the bottom. I turned to Caledorn.

"I suppose we aren't going that way," I said with a dejected shrug. 

The elf put a hand to his temple, as if he were calculating something in his head. After a long moment he spoke. "We took the wrong path, unless I'm mistaken and this chasm formed in the past five years. Unlikely." His eyebrow raised slightly and he looked to the east. "This path leads south though. If we can find a way across then perhaps it will keep us from having to find the right path." 

"Are you sure that's wise?" I countered. "There could be a dead end around the corner, or worse." Though I knew little about the Emyn Muil, the place seemed evil somehow, and I didn't want to know what sort of creatures made their abode in such a dreary, barren place.

"Or it could save us a day's walk. It's worth a try," Caledorn insisted.

"We'd have to leave the horses behind," I said, casting a sullen glance at Sirdal. She made a quiet nicker in response.

"Not necessarily. The chasm can't be more than a hundred feet deep, and it's most likely not even that. If we can find a way to get the horses down we can lead them up that incline on the other side," he explained as he pointed to it.

"But if we can't find a way up we'll have to come back, and that in itself will waste the whole day," I argued.

"Fine. But we will have to retrace our steps to find the Deadening Tree." Even the fact that he assumed that I knew what he was talking about was beginning to frustrate me.

"Where is that?" I asked, exasperation seeping into my voice. 

"I don't know where it is relative to us. But the Tree marks the southern pass through here." 

"We should split up. We'll find it faster that way." I suggested it partly because it would indeed be faster. But the larger part of me just wanted a moment of solitude.

Caledorn's eyes twinkled slightly. "For once I agree with you. If anything goes ill shoot an arrow into the sky, and use this." He handed me a strange whistle like object. 

"What is it?" I asked, flipping the cylindrical object in my hands. Swirling patterns adorned the length of it, and on either end, Elven letters were engraved in gold. It was strangely elegant for such a simple instrument. 

"It's an Elvish panflute. The sound of its music is said to drive away many dark creatures." 

I nodded in thanks and put the flute in my pouch. I didn't know it at the time, but the flute would save me many times.

   We both went down different paths, and involuntarily a shiver went down my spine. Something about this place was evil.

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   It had now been over an hour since Caledorn and I had separated. As the passages and crags of the Emyn Muil grew dark with the oncoming night, I began to question our decision. If one of us found the Tree, how would we even let the other know? I supposed that I'd shoot a flaming arrow into the air, but the chances of the elf seeing it from such a distance was unlikely.

   I was torn from my thoughts by the sound of pebbles falling. My gaze shifted back and forth, trying to see where it came from. I suddenly had the feeling that I wasn't alone.

  But I didn't see anything. If there was something else nearby, it was being quiet. I pulled out my bow and fit an arrow to the string. It felt natural in my hands; Back home, bows were frowned upon and considered a coward's tool. But I had practiced archery quite often in Lothlorien, and it was now one of my best skills. I had been given a shortbow made by the Elven fletchers there, and it was this bow that I held now.

   After several minutes of silence, I advanced forward slowly, keeping to the shadows. I felt as though I was being watched... Hunted.

  Suddenly and without warning, I felt strong arms push me forward into the brittle ground beneath me. The bow fell from my hands and landed a few feet from me, just out of reach. I reached for my dagger and at the same time rolled around, coming face to face with what appeared to be a troll. Or an Orc. It was very large for an Orc, but rather small for a troll. Its face was characteristic of a troll, but it had the long pointed ears of an Orc. 

At the moment though I didn't really care what it was; it was clearly trying to kill me. I quickly slashed with my dagger, eliciting a howl of pain from the creature as the blade made contact with its stomach. As it staggered back I leapt forward and knocked it to the ground, burying my weapon into its neck. To my surprise, the creature reached up and pulled the knife from its neck, growling and baring its rotten teeth. My mouth went slack in surprise and I drew my scimitar, swinging quickly at the creature. My blade connected with its neck, but at the same time an arrow imbedded itself into its head. I completed the slice, severing the head and sending it falling to the ground. I immediately dove behind a rock, unsure of who the archer who attempted to fell the creature was. 

"Rukil, it's me!" I looked out from behind the rock to see Caledorn leap from a nearby cliff ledge.
"Half trolls," he said disgustedly, prodding the dead creature with the tip of his bow. "I saw two more in the gorges to our south." 

I didn't need to ask what a half-troll was. Half orc and half troll, they were a rippling bulk of muscle and scaly green flesh that were frequently sent to fight in Rhun's arenas. I had never seen one myself, but I had heard stories. And the Troll-man I had fought in the Pit was similar, though this half troll was smaller than normal, possibly from malnourishment. 

I looked it over before meeting Caledorn's gaze.
"Did you find the Tree?"

Caledorn raised an eyebrow. "What kind of tracker do you think I am? Of course I did. But those half-trolls kept me from following the path further. I came to find you, for I believe that together we can take them on. They aren't as weak as this one was..." He prodded the dead half troll again. 

"Will this flute help?" I pulled the instrument from my supply bag hopefully.

He shook his head. "No, half-trolls are intelligent enough to determine that such an instrument alone poses no threat to them. The magic is only strong enough to sway feeble minded beasts." 

"Oh," I said and returned the flute to my bag. "I suppose our blades will have to be enough."

"No, we won't need them with any luck. I saw a pile of rocks on my way back that may be able to be moved. All we need is a distraction." At this his mouth turned up into what could almost be considered a smirk. "Which is why I needed your help."

"Oh, of course I have to be the distraction." I rolled my eyes. "What if the rocks don't budge, hmm? Have you thought of that?" 

"Yes I have. If they don't move... Run." 

"But..." It was too late. The elf had already turned around and was heading back the way he had come. 

"Grr... Elves." I mumbled under my breath as I reluctantly followed Caledorn up the ledge.

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I was now sitting cross-legged in the middle of the gorge, waiting for Caledorn's signal. The trolls were just around the corner, and as soon as they rounded it they'd(hopefully) be buried under a rain of heavy stones. 

Caledorn raised his hand and nodded, and I pulled out my flute. Though I didn't usually have a flair for the dramatic, I figured the flute would be more convincing than faked shouts of distress.
As soon as I put the instrument to my lips, I realized one thing: I had never played a flute in my life. 

Well, there's a first for everything, I thought with a shrug. I began to hesitantly play what sounded vaguely like a drinking song I had heard at a tavern many years ago. I was still unfamiliar with the flute, however, and it sounded creepily off-key and lilting as it echoed off the empty stones around me.

In answer, I heard a rough voice speak out down the path.
"Grr, what's that noise?"

"Sounds sumfin' like an instumenty to me," a rather daft sounding, but still deep voice replied.

"Shut yer trap Urg. Wha'eva it is'll hear ya!" I heard a thump, followed by a stifled howl of pain.

I continued playing, until a moment later I saw the vile head of a half-troll peep around the corner of a rock. After looking at me for a moment, the entire troll emerged. 

"What'd I tell ya Urg, it's food a'roight!" 

At this another smaller troll appeared behind the first one. I assumed that this one was named Urg.

I cheerfully waved at them both.

"Hello mates! Fancy seeing other folk in a place like this," I said as nonchalantly as possible. My demeanor seemed to confuse the larger half-troll.

"Ere, why're ya just, er, playin your instumenty in da middle uv nowhere?" He scratched his head.

"Merely passing the time my good... Troll." I said. "What brings you here?" 

The smaller troll grimaced in a sad attempt at a smile. "We're just ere lookin for menfolk ta eat, but alls we found is you." 

The other troll punched him in the gut. "Urg's roight. But woi aren't ya scared uv us? Most menfolk run at da soight uv us." 

I was beginning to enjoy myself. "Why run? You both seem like excellent fellows!" 

The bigger troll got a devious look on his face, and it was clear he thought they had fooled me. "Roight well, we are! Yessuree, we're excellent fellows, that we are! Aren't we?" He elbowed Urg in the gut, causing the smaller troll to squeal and let out a subdued "yessuree!" 

"Well I've got some lovely Elven bread here, there's plenty to share!" I pulled the bread from my bag and waved it in the air tantalizingly. I knew trolls didn't like anything except meat, but I wanted to see their response.

The bigger troll's face contorted in disgust, but he quickly tried to hide it. Unsuccessfully.
"Oi, me'n my lad here love Elven bread. Don't we?" Another elbow, followed by another squeal of agreement. 

"Here, come get it! Sit with me!" I patted a spot on the ground next to me, barely concealing my amusement. 

Both trolls quickly moved forward, most likely planning to grab me and eat me but hiding their true intentions with what they thought were good poker faces. 

Boom! A giant rock fell from the left ledge, right on top of the larger troll. The smaller one recoiled in fear, only to be buried under an avalanche of boulders.

Slow clapping echoed through the ravine. "You should consider a career in acting Rukil. That was a performance for the ages." Caledorn leapt down and walked over to me with a flourish of his cloak, barely hiding a smile.

"I think I did pretty well, considering those two looked like they'd love nothing more than to chop me up and throw me in a stew the whole time." 

"I'm sure they would have, if they had gotten the chance." Caledorn's mirthful expression faded away. "The path is clear now. It should take us little more than a couple of hours to reach the southern reaches of this place." 

"Good riddance," I said, looking at the rocky walls of the Emyn Muil with distaste as I followed Caledorn down the path.

Hey everyone! It's been a while since the last update, sorry! Hope you enjoy this chapter, it was more of just a fun chapter than anything else.