110: What the Storm Revealed

They remained in Formenos for only another day. Ingwë’s condition had improved enough that he felt he could travel. They began making plans for getting inside Vanaymar and confronting Ingoldo. If the others noticed Arafinwë being quieter than usual, they did not comment on it.

"The key is to know who our allies are within the city," Valandur said at one point in their discussion. "I would imagine that by now Ingoldo has been forced to open the city once again, so we should be able to ride right in, but we need to do it in a way that rallies the people to you, Ingwë. We cannot allow Ingoldo time to react."

"What about the royal family, though?" Eccaldamos asked, narrowing his eyes. "They are still in his power as far as we know. He can threaten to harm them and who among us would defy him then?"

"I would," Ingwë replied, a fire smoldering within him. "Whatever the cost, I will defy my brother. Elindis will understand."

"And your children?" Valandur retorted. "Will Indil and Ingalaurë understand as well?"

Ingwë gave a hesitant shrug. "I do not know, Valandur. I only know that I cannot afford to back down. Too much is at stake, more than just who will rule Vanyamar, and you know this. You all know this. That is why you are here."

"We need intelligence," Eccaldamos said. "I suggest we make our way to my parents’ farm and see what Tulcafindil and Marilla were able to find out. If the gates have been opened, they should have gotten into the city and contacted Lord Nolondur."

Ingwion nodded. "I think that would be best. Once we know what has been happening, then we can make better plans. I suspect, Atto, that you will have the backing of the farmers."

"And the people in the city," Intarion chimed, "once they know you’ve returned. I wonder, though, what tale my atar has spun to explain your absence?"

"I suspect he’s told them I have abdicated the crown to remain at the side of the Valar," Ingwë replied with a shrug. When the others gave him quizzical looks, he smiled. "Well, that’s what I would have said if I were Ingoldo."

"And since all of us know of your love for the Valar, many would find it a plausible explanation and think no further," Valandur acknowledged.

"Many, but not all," Arafinwë said, speaking for the first time. "Yet, even those who do not believe the lie will most likely go along with it as long as Ingoldo does nothing further to alienate them. He’s ambitious but he’s not stupid. He knows he must consolidate his position quickly and thoroughly if he is to keep the crown."

There were nods all around. After a moment or two of contemplating silence, Ingwë stirred. "Well, the first order of business is to get to Vanyamar and see what there is to see." The others agreed and set about preparing for their departure.

Ingwion remained with Ingwë while everyone else left. "Do you think Ammë and the others are all right, Atto?" he asked. "You don’t think he would... he would harm them, do you?"

Ingwë shook his head, putting a comforting arm around his son’s shoulders. "No, I don’t think he will harm them, but I do not wish for them to be in his hands any longer than necessary."

"I wonder what is happening to them, though," Ingwion said. "I wonder if they think they’ve been deserted by us... by me."

Ingwë kissed Ingwion on the brow. "I’m sure they do not believe that. Certainly your ammë won’t. Now, enough. Let us gather our things, such as they are, and get ourselves out of here." He rose and Ingwion rose with him. "It’s going to be well, yonya," the High King said firmly. "Soon we’ll all be together again, you’ll see."

Ingwion nodded but did not trust himself to speak, merely giving his atar a hug and a kiss, which was returned, and then he made his way to the stables to get the horses ready. An hour later they were all gathered in the courtyard, ready to leave. Arafinwë, Ingwë noted, kept his back to Finwë’s tomb at all times. The new Noldóran spoke a single name and Fionwë appeared, assuring them that he and his brethren would watch over the prisoners until Ingwë was ready to deal with them. Ingwë thanked the Maia and then they were on their way, riding across the valley of Formenos under the dispassionate gaze of the stars above, each lost in his own thoughts of what they hoped to find when they finally reached Vanyamar.

****

Ingalaurë looked up from the papers he was perusing when a knock came to the door of his study. "Enter," he called out and he smiled when the door opened to reveal Tamurilon standing there with a look of triumph.

"You found them!" Ingalaurë exclaimed, standing up excitedly, ignoring the papers scattering about him.

"Not quite, but we now know where they are not." Tamurilon stated.

"What do you mean?" Ingalaurë demanded.

"Peace, Ingil," Tamurilon replied. "I just came to tell you that the last room in the palace has been searched with no sign of them. Which means...."

"Which means they are somewhere in the city," Ingalaurë said, nodding. "Thanks, Tam. Has there been any news on that front?"

Tamurilon shook his head. "Nothing specific. At Nolondur’s suggestion we’ve cordoned off each district while the search continues and a curfew is in effect, thus limiting the number of people milling about. We don’t want whoever has them to slip away in the confusion."

Ingalaurë nodded, looking a little rueful. "Good idea. I should have thought of it myself."

"You can’t think of everything, hanno," Tamurilon said with a smile. "That’s why you have us around."

"Oh?" Ingalaurë responded with a raised eyebrow. "Is that so?"

"Do you honestly think that your atar thinks of everything?" Tamurilon shot back, all levity laid aside and Ingalaurë blinked, realizing the truth of the ellon’s words.

"You are right, hanno," he said with a lop-sided grin. "So, as long as you are here, why don’t you help me with these documents? I need to go through them to see what my uncle might have been planning or what he has already put into motion in case I need to deal with it now rather than later."

Tamurilon nodded, bending down to pick up one of the documents that had fallen to the floor. "I don’t think he had time to do too much damage."

"But that is not to say he didn’t have just enough time to do some damage," Ingalaurë retorted as he settled himself back in his seat with a shake of his head, gathering up some of the documents and reading them.

Tamurilon snorted as he sat across from him and silently began reading as well.

****

Ingalaurë and Tamurilon were still poring over the documents when they were interrupted by a pounding on the door. Before Ingalaurë could call out, the door flew open and Sérener was there, his face white.

"What is it?" Ingalaurë asked, a cold icy dread stealing over him, fearing that something might have happened.

"You must come, Highness," Sérener said. "You must see."

"See what?" Ingalaurë demanded, getting angry.

Tamurilon laid a steadying hand on Ingalaurë’s arm. "Why don’t we just go and look instead of standing here demanding answers?" he said quietly.

Ingalaurë had the grace to blush. "Your pardon, Sérener," he said. "Show us."

The guard nodded and led the way down the corridor until he reached the place where a wide balcony fronted the palace. Stained glass doors lead out onto the balcony where Ingwë was wont to address the citizens of Vanyamar. Sérener opened the door and stepped aside for Ingalaurë and Intarion to pass through. Ingalaurë stepped to the balustrade and looked down onto the empty courtyard, puzzled, for he could not see what had upset the guard so, but then he heard Tamurilon gasp and looked up to where the other ellon was pointing. He felt the blood drain from his face.

"Valar save us! What is that?" he cried out.

"It... it looks like a storm," Tamurilon answered somewhat hesitantly.

The two ellyn stared in horror at the oncoming storm front, the clouds massing upwards so that the heavens were blanked out. Lightning flashed in the distance and thunder boomed. The wind blew about them, whipping their hair and bending trees.

"We need to warn the people," Ingalaurë shouted as he and Tamurilon retreated into the palace, while Sérener shut the doors behind them, effectively blocking out the howling of the wind. "This is no ordinary storm, not even like the ones you sometimes see far in the mountains," Ingalaurë continued once he caught his breath. "Everyone needs to take cover."

"I’ll see to it," Sérener said and went off at a run, shouting out names of other guards to attend him.

"What can we do?" Tamurilon asked.

"Make sure everyone is safe," Ingalaurë responded. "To that end, I would like you to seek out the kichen staff and tell them to start brewing up poultices. Also find Healer Calamírë and make sure she and her people have all the supplies they need."

"Why?" Tamurilon asked, clearly puzzled.

Before Ingalaurë could answer, there was a blinding flare of light, thunder crashed directly above them, or so it seemed, and the glass from the doors blew out. The two of them jumped out of the way in surprise, managing not to be hit by flying glass, wind-driven rain puddling on the floor. "That’s why," Ingalaurë said. "The ferocity of the storm is going to cause damage and people may be injured. I want us prepared for the worst while we hope for the best."

"This is going to put pay to our searching for your ammë and Indil."

"Can’t be helped," Ingalaurë answered with a sigh, his expression one of worry.

Tamurilon gave him a sympathetic look. "I’ll go talk to the cooks. Besides the poultices, I’ll ask them to brew up some warm drinks and soup. I think we’ll need them."

"Thanks, Tam," Ingalaurë said, giving him a grateful smile. "See about having this mess cleared up as well. If anyone needs me, I’ll be in my study."

Tamurilon nodded and set off. Ingalaurë lingered for a moment longer, staring out at the storm raging outside. Several lightning bolts flashed and one of the higher towers of the palace was struck, sending stone and tiles raining down into the courtyard. Ingalaurë flinched, hoping no one had been hurt. He had to hold himself steady against the wall as the thunder that immediately followed set the palace shaking. When he was recovered enough, he stole another glance outside, suppressing a shudder. Then he made his way back to his study, mentally cataloguing all that would need to be done once the storm had passed.

****

Luckily, the storm, though violent, was brief and by the time it passed over the city, making its way southeast towards Tirion and the Calacirya, Ingalaurë had everyone attached to the palace organized into teams for search and rescue, directing them to bring any injured to the palace where Healer Calamírë and her team had everything ready. Others were recruited to begin the task of cleaning up the rubble and ascertaining the extent of the damage throughout the city. Lassezel agreed to supervise the clean-up crews while Lindórië and Almáriel looked to the wounded being brought in, directing the worst injured to Calamírë or one of the other healers while those only slightly hurt were tended by the ladies of the court. Castamir and Nolondur volunteered to go to the outlying farms and estates to see what damage had occurred there.

"If there are any injured, have them brought through the west gate," Ingalaurë told them. "I will keep that gate open for a time, but the other gates will remain closed."

The two lords nodded and left, speaking between themselves as they took turns suggesting one course of action or another. Ingalaurë turned to Tamurilon. "How far had the search for Ammë and Indil gotten before the storm hit?"

Tamurilon pulled out a roll of parchment that was tucked in his belt and spread it on Ingalaurë’s desk, placing a paperweight and some books on the corners to hold it down. Ingalaurë glanced at the parchment and saw an outline of the city, the street names clearly written. Heavy dark lines crisscrossed the page and it took him a moment to realize that they marked the boundaries between districts, each district neatly labeled. Some of the districts were colored with a wash of green ink.

"Those areas marked in green have been checked and cleared," Tamurilon explained. "As you can see, we still need to check this area to the north near the Ilmarin gate and then eastward."

"That covers three... no, four districts," Ingalaurë said as he perused the map, frowning. "It’s going to take forever to search, especially if we have to devote our efforts towards succoring the injured and cleaning up the city."

"As you said, it can’t be helped," Tamurilon replied sympathetically, "but it may not be as bad as it looks and we can quickly delegate some of the rescue teams to search through these districts. The people living there will help as well."

"Well, we had better get out there and see for ourselves what the damage is," Ingalaurë said, heading for the door.

Tamurilon nodded, joining him. "That’s a good idea. I have a feeling people will be panicking and there will be demands to open all the gates so people, whether within or without the city, can check to see if their loved ones are well."

"I know and I want to avoid that if possible," Ingaulaurë said as they made their way to the front of the palace. "I don’t want whoever has Ammë and Indil to use the confusion to escape with them."

"There’s no easy answer, however you look at it," Tamurilon said.

"Let’s just get out there and see what is happening before I make any further decisions," Ingalaurë rejoined. Tamurilon grunted in agreement, making no further comment.

****

The streets were a shambles. Most of the damage seemed to have been caused by the wind: trees that had stood for yéni upon yéni had been uprooted, or had their limbs shorn. Ingalaurë could hear the shocked and mournful songs of the trees and his heart nearly broke at the sound of it. Other damage appeared to have been caused by lightning strikes and there was rubble all over. Many people were simply standing around, staring at the destruction in shock. Ingalaurë felt sick himself at what had been done to his city, but he and Tamurilon took the time to speak quietly to whomever they came upon, gently encouraging them to help with the clean-up and rescue. The sight of their prince seemed to cheer most of the people and they shook off their shock and went about the business of cleaning up the city with a good will.

On one street that appeared to have been specially hard-hit by the storm an elleth stood before what had been her home with two elflings clutching her, their faces tear-stained. "Atto! Atto!" the younger child was crying over and over again. Ingalaurë took the scene in at a glance and immediately directed the guards who had accompanied him and Tamurilon to start digging through the rubble, while he went to the elleth to ascertain for himself that she and the little ones were unharmed. Neighbors were even now joining them and began helping to remove the stones.

"He pushed us outside," the elleth said in a blank tone, staring sightlessly, not even acknowledging Ingalaurë’s presence. "He pushed us outside... he pushed us outside."

Ingalaurë looked around helplessly, wondering what could be done for the elleth and her children, praying that her husband was alive if injured underneath all that rubble, though the Valar only knew how anyone could have survived such destruction. He noticed Tamurilon directing the rescuers, warning them not to move too quickly in case the stones collapsed even more.

"We will find him, lady," Ingalaurë said softly. "We will find your husband."

The elleth turned her head to stare at him, not recognizing him. "He pushed us outside," was all she said.

"I know," Ingalaurë replied with a nod. "A very brave thing for him to do."

That seemed to be the right thing to say, for the elleth suddenly began crying and Ingalaurë gathered her into his embrace and held her tightly through her tears. He looked down at the elflings, two ellith, the older one about fifteen and the younger only about seven, both of them staring in surprise at their ammë, their own tears forgotten. Ingalaurë hid a smile, realizing that the children had probably never seen their ammë cry before and were shocked by it.

"Your ammë will be all right, little maidens," he said, trying to reassure them. The children snuggled closer to the two adults and Ingalaurë put an arm around the older child to comfort her.

There was a shout and Ingalaurë turned to see Tamurilon waving at him. "He’s alive!" the ellon sang out. "Alive but trapped. It’s going to take some time to free him." Others around them began to cheer at the news.

"Did you hear, lady?" Ingalaurë said. "Your husband lives."

"He pushed us outside," she said, and started weeping even more. Ingalaurë was at a loss as to what to do next, feeling a bit exasperated, not to mention wet. He was saved from having to do anything by a couple of ellith, clearly neighbors of the one in his arms, coming over and indicating that they would look after her and the children.

"Come along, melda," one of them said soothingly. "It won’t do for your husband to see you so distraught. Let’s get you and the little ones cleaned up." Giving Ingalaurë knowing smiles, which he returned, they led the still weeping elleth and her daughters away. Ingalaurë was futilely wiping the tear stains from his tunic as Tamurilon joined him.

"The ellon is alive but he’s caught under a beam that fell on him," he told the prince. "It’ll take hours to remove everything so he can be freed. I’ve sent for a healer and some water. We’ll keep him hydrated. He’s awake and alert if in a great deal of pain."

Ingalaurë nodded. "Do you want to oversee this, or can you appoint someone to take over? I still have the rest of the city to see to."

"One of the neighbors is a member of the stonemasons’ guild," Tamurilon said. "He’s more capable than I in directing the rescue."

Ingalaurë nodded. "I need to find the Stonemason Masters and those in the Engineering Corps and discuss rescue operations. Others are no doubt trapped as well. I just hope no one has been so injured that... well, you know."

Tamurilon nodded grimly. "Let us hope that is not the case. I wonder why the Valar permitted this storm in the first place. Do you think they are... displeased with us?"

Ingalaurë stared at him in shock. "You mean, you think this was a punishment?"

Tamurilon shrugged. "You have to admit, the timing...."

What else he might have said went unheard as someone shouted and they both looked up to see the guard Meneldur running towards them. "Your Highness! You must come quickly."

"What is it, Meneldur?" Ingalaurë asked.

"We think we may have discovered where the Queen and the Lady Indil were taken," the guard explained, a huge smile on his face.

Ingalaurë gasped. "Show us," he demanded and without another word he and Tamurilon quickly followed the guard through the city, heading towards the northwest district which was where many of the lesser nobles had their homes.

"Wait!" Ingalaurë called out. "Was this area not searched before?"

"Yes," Tamurilon said, looking suddenly grim. "I do not understand myself."

"It is not something that any of us would have found if it hadn’t been for the storm," Meneldur told them.

Ingalaurë and Tamurilon exchanged puzzled glances and then Ingalaurë shrugged. "I guess we’ll understand when we see whatever you wish to show us?" he directed the question to the guard.

"It is better to show you, Highness," Meneldur agreed.

They had to detour several times around rescue crews and blocked streets but eventually they came into a residential area that seemed oddly serene. The townhouses belonging to the lesser nobles and wealthy guildmasters appeared to have been untouched by the storm, for there was no rubble, no downed trees.

"How odd," Ingalaurë commented. "Even the palace suffered damage but here it appears the storm never came through."

"And yet it did," Meneldur said with a grim smile. "In one particular place the storm made its presence felt, as if...." Here he paused, looking uncertain.

"As if what, Meneldur?" Ingalaurë demanded.

The guard gave him an uncomfortable look. "It is almost as if the storm knew just where to strike."

Both Ingalaurë and Tamurilon raised eyebrows in disbelief, but before either of them could comment, Meneldur led them through a set of gates and around the back of the house. They saw that the city wall marked the back of the property. Several ellyn, all palace guards, were there, digging through something.

"We were doing a house-to-house search to make sure no one was hurt and making note of which houses were damaged," Meneldur explained to them. "We wouldn’t have seen this except that the guards that were patrolling the walls alerted us."

By now they were in the midst of the activity and Ingalaurë looked to see what appeared to be a tunnel, one that was brick-lined. He frowned, trying to understand. "What alerted the guards?" he asked.

Meneldur pointed toward the wall where they saw the remains of a large tree. "That oak was uprooted by the wind. You can see that only a thin layer of ground covers the tunnel. The oak, when it fell, apparently struck with enough force to collapse the tunnel here."

"And from the wall, the guards could actually see it was indeed a tunnel?" Tamurilon asked.

"No," Meneldur replied. "They only knew that the tree had fallen and alerted one of the other guards. When we came back to investigate...."

"Wait," Ingalaurë said, holding up a hand. "Let’s start at the beginning."

Meneldur nodded. "We came here and enquired of the household if all was well, if there had been any damage to people or property and we were assured that nothing had been damaged."

"You did not check yourself?" Ingalaurë asked.

Meneldur gave them a sheepish look. "These are nobles, Highness. They would not have appreciated me and my people trampling through their estates."

"Yes, I understand," Ingalaurë said. "Continue."

"We went on our way to the next estate, but one of the guards from the wall came to us and told us about the tree."

"Why did he deem it so important?" Tamurilon asked as he stared down into the tunnel where the crew was still digging out the debris.

"Because the wall guards can see all the estates and not one of them suffered damage of any sort. Only here, and save for the fact that we even had guards patrolling the walls to help check for storm damage, we wouldn’t have known about it."

Ingalaurë stared down into the tunnel, then at the wall that was several feet away and then at the back of the house, a house that was dark where all others he could see were lit up with candlelight. "Whose house is this?" he finally asked.

"Ah, and that’s where it gets interesting, Highness," Meneldur said with a smirk. "It belongs to Lord Súlimondil."

It took a moment for Ingalaurë to understand the significance of the name and then he had it. "Uncle Ingoldo’s friend," he said.

Tamurilon gave him an appraising look. "You think....?"

"I don’t know what to think at the moment," Ingalaurë said. "Is Lord Súlimondil still here? Why is the house all dark?"

"We checked and found the house empty," Meneldur replied. "Between the time when we first came here and then returned, everyone in the house had disappeared."

"Not through the tunnel, though," Tamurilon pointed out. "It’s caved in at this end. They couldn’t get through to reach the outside."

"Find them," Ingalaurë commanded, his fury barely contained. "Find Súlimondil. He is a cousin of Lord Valacar. He might have gone to him."

"And when you’ve cleared the tunnel, follow it," Tamurilon added. "Let us see where it goes."

Ingalaurë nodded. "Good idea, Tam. Meneldur, you have your orders. This tunnel and finding Súlimondil take priority. We’ll assign others to continue with your survey of the damage. When you find Súlimondil bring him to the palace."

"Yes, Highness," Meneldur said, giving him a salute.

"Come, Tam. I want to speak with my uncle. I think it’s time we had a very serious chat."

Tamurilon gave him a sardonic grin but otherwise made no comment as he followed the prince back through the city towards the palace.