74: To Santa’s Grotto

"They have ceased to move."

Glorfindel looked up at Finrod from where he’d been perusing a map of the area with Gilvegil and Barahir. By now, all the Elves, both of Wiseman and Valinor, were at the Grange Hall, including Amroth, who had disregarded Glorfindel’s orders and had come directly over once he heard about the kidnapping. Glorfindel had not been pleased by this, but Amroth gave him stare for stare and his kingly bearing was just enough to force Glorfindel to back down. Finrod was standing with Laurendil and Valandur by his side, both with their hands on the prince’s shoulder, lending him their strength as he sought to keep in contact with his son.

"Can you tell in which direction they are?" Glorfindel asked.

Valandur and Laurendil released their hold on Finrod as he turned slowly, stopping shortly and pointing. "They are in this direction. They were heading south, but then turned almost due west a short time ago."

Glorfindel stared at the map. "Given the length of time since the kidnapping, they must have at least passed Coldfoot, but that’s to the east. There’s nothing to the west until you reach the turn off to Evansville and Bettles, but that’s too far south. They couldn’t possibly have gotten there yet."

"The Steiner Farm," Gilvegil said, placing his finger on a particular spot.

Finrod walked over and glanced at the map, but said nothing, letting those who were more familiar with the area decide their next course. He only knew that his son was no longer moving and must assume the kidnappers had reached their destination.

"The timeframe is just about right," Elladan said, joining the conversation.

"What about Santa’s Grotto?" Amroth asked. "That’s closer."

"But not feasible for kidnappers who must secure several victims," Vorondur replied. "The Steiner Farm is the more logical choice. Fred and Ellen live alone. There are no other neighbors nearby to take note of strange men running around."

"I think you are correct," Glorfindel said with a sigh. "I only hope that no harm has come to them. They are good people."

"There’s only one way to find out," Elrohir said, looking grim. He and Ellen had struck up a warm friendship over the last two years, sharing hot chocolate recipes. And Fred had been a wealth of information about this part of Alaska, regaling the Elves with much lore about the land and dispensing home-grown wisdom garnered from nearly seventy years of living in this often forbidding and harsh environment. If anything happened to those two, Elrohir vowed he would exact punishment upon those responsible.

Glorfindel was nodding, already formulating a plan and was about to speak of it, when Beleg, who had stepped outside, came running back. "There is a storm coming," he announced.

"Storm?" Glorfindel exclaimed. "No storms are predicted for today, else we would’ve canceled the tours."

"Come see for yourself," Beleg said and they all trooped outside, gaping at the ominous purple-black clouds piling up far to the west barreling down the Brooks Mountain Range. After a moment, the Elves all went back inside.

"Well, this is just great," Glorfindel snarled. "Just what we need."

"I do not think this storm is natural," Beleg said. "I never sensed it coming."

"None of us did," Amroth said. "It has come up too quickly for it to be natural."

"The Valar... or the Enemy?" Barahir ventured.

"Who can say?" Vorondur replied with a shrug.

"No. The Enemy had nothing to do with this storm," Finrod said categorically, shaking his head. "Methinks the Valar are behind this."

"How can you be sure?" Amroth enquired.

Finrod flashed him a brief smile. "I have known the storms created by the Enemy. There is a... a flavor to such storms that cannot be mistaken for anything else. This does not have that particular flavor. No. I suspect the Valar, for reasons of their own, have brought this storm to pass."

"It’s still some way off," Elladan said with a frown. "I do not think it will reach us for some time yet. What about the tours? Should we recall them?"

"Yes, we’ll need to do that," Glorfindel admitted, "as soon as we’ve decided how we will attempt the rescue."

"Once the storm reaches Wiseman it could well hinder us," Elladan pointed out.

Glorfindel snorted with faint amusement. "It won’t be the first time we’ve rescued people in a blizzard."

"So what are we going to do, Captain?" Elrohir asked.

For a long moment, Glorfindel did not answer as he stared down at the map lying before him, idly tracing a route with a forefinger as he thought out a plan. Valandur started to speak, but Finrod shushed him, keeping his eyes on his gwador, who now looked up, locking his gaze on Finrod. The long years of separation between them seemed to disappear as they communicated silently, each basking in the warmth of their mental union and understanding flowed between them. Finrod gave a single nod of the head. Glorfindel looked about at the expectant looks on the faces of the other Elves. "We’ll do as we did before when Zach and his tour group went missing, head overland to the Steiners," he said.

"Weapons?" Elrohir asked.

Glorfindel hesitated, looking at Amroth, who of all of them had more experience in modern weaponry. "What do you think?"

"I could get into Alex’s trunk and grab whatever weapons he might have," Amroth said, "but there certainly wouldn’t be enough for all, and frankly, the thought of any of us carrying such weapons frightens me."

"Bows and arrows," Beleg spoke up, holding up his own bow which he had brought with him as a matter of course. "They are silent and can be shot at a distance that even these... uh... bullets?... yes, these bullets cannot achieve."

"He is correct," Vorondur said, "and most of us are fairly proficient in their use, more so than any Mortals, at least. I would do as Beleg suggests and arm ourselves with bows and arrows."

"And who will go on this rescue attempt?" Cennanion asked. "Certainly not all of us, though I suspect we all want to go."

"We draw lots," Finrod said. "Only Glorfindel and I will abstain, for we will go regardless. As to the number, I would say no more than twelve."

The others all nodded, well aware of the significance of that number for them. Glorfindel began tearing slips of paper into small pieces. He marked ten of them with an X and folded them. "Let’s have a show of hands as to who wants to go. Let’s just have those whom either Beleg or I can confidently speak of your proficiency with the bow."

There was a slight hesitation and then all the ellyn and several of the ellith raised their hands. Glorfindel counted, adding blank slips of paper to the pile until there was the same number as there were hands raised. Gilvegil, meanwhile, hunted around for something to put the slips of paper in and came back with a plastic grocery bag he had found in a cupboard. Glorfindel threw the slips of paper into the bag and closed it, shaking it several times before opening it again and holding it out for people to reach in. No one unfolded their slip until everyone had gotten one. Then there were sighs of relief or disappointment as everyone looked at their slips.

"Whoever’s going, come over to this side of the table," Glorfindel ordered. Immediately several people moved forward while the others stepped back a pace or two. Of the Wiseman Elves, Elrohir, Vorondur, Amroth and Serindë came forward, while the Valinórean Elves were represented by Aldarion, Mithlas, Laurendil, Prince Legolas, Beleg and his great-great granddaughter, Melyanna. At the last minute, Serindë stated that she would not go and offered Elladan her place, knowing that the Twins would want to fight together. Elrohir kissed her soundly on the lips, giving her a warm hug, much to everyone’s amusement. Then Melyanna offered to relinquish her place to Valandur. "For Elennen is your responsibility and I know you fear for him," she said to the spymaster.

Neither Glorfindel nor Finrod objected to the changes.

"We’ll go back to Edhellond and retrieve our bows and other supplies," Glorfindel said. "Barry, Gil, get a hold of Paul or one of the other rangers. Find out the extent of this storm, then start calling up all the resorts and make sure everyone is safe."

The two ellyn nodded with both of them pulling out their phones. Glorfindel turned to Finrod. "I assume you ran all the way here," he said. Finrod nodded. "Then let us run all the way back. It’ll be quicker anyway. Everyone else, you had best remain here and help out as you can. Some of the tours may try to make their way back here and I know people from the Academy as well as from the town will be here as soon as they can to find out if their friends are safe. There’s bound to be a slight panic, since this storm is so sudden."

There were nods all around and then Glorfindel and Finrod were leading the others outside, all of them flinching as the wind buffeted them. Already the leading edge of the storm was within a mile or so of the town with snow falling more and more rapidly with every passing minute. They got their bearings and headed off at a quick ground-eating lope through streets beginning to fill up with snow, ignoring the shouts of the Mortals who witnessed their passing.

****

"We’ll never make it," Derek screamed above the storm as Calandil moved up beside Findalaurë.

"We have to," Artemus shouted back. "We have no choice."

"Do you think Farrell is after us?"

"Maybe. I’m not sure," Artemus admitted. "I just hope he decides to hole up in the house and not go hunting for anyone. I don’t want him to find the Steiners. I’m hoping he will assume we all left together."

"Look!" Findalaurë exclaimed, pointing. "I see trees."

Both Artemus and Derek peered into the storm, but could see nothing but white. Calandil, however, nodded, and the pace of the Elves quickened.

"How’s Zach doing?" Artemus called out to Elennen as he came up on Findalaurë’s other side.

The Elf glanced back briefly, then gave Artemus an amused look. "He still sleeps. He will be sorry to have missed all the excitement."

Artemus chuckled at the levity and nodded. He strained to see through the blinding snow, hoping to see the trees Findalaurë insisted were right before them. He was beginning to feel extremely cold, for the coat he wore did not cover him as well as his own and the wind tore through them viciously. His hands were frozen and his face felt stiff. He’d long since stopped trying to shake the snow off.

"How much further?" he asked Findalaurë.

"It is not far," the Elf answered. "Can you not see them yet? They seem to run in an almost straight line across this field."

"It must be the road to the grotto," Artemus said. "It’s lined on either side by tall pines."

"Let’s hope there are people there who can help us," Derek said and Artemus nodded, but silently doubted anyone was there now, yet it would afford them shelter from the storm and that they needed more than anything.

Another five minutes or so and Artemus finally saw the trees and breathed a sigh of relief. Shortly thereafter, they were standing on the dirt road leading to the grotto. Artemus insisted he and Derek could walk, for the trees blocked much of the storm and they could see where they were going. Elennen released Zach, who yawned and blinked open his eyes, staring around him.

"Wh-where are we? How d-d-did we g-get here?" he asked.

Artemus wasn’t sure if the younger man was stuttering from fear or the cold and it hardly mattered. "How are you feeling?" he asked. "Can you manage on your own or should Alan carry you? We’re on the road to the grotto."

"Th-those men...."

"With luck they are still at the farm," Derek answered. "This storm came at a rather convenient time."

"Too convenient," Calandil whispered and the other two ellyn nodded, but none of them would elaborate and the Mortals let it go.

"At any rate, we need to keep moving," Artemus said, looking about him. To the left he could see the juncture with the other road a few hundred yards away, so he knew that they had some distance yet to travel to reach the grotto.

"What happened to the Steiners?" Zach asked.

"They’re safe, or at least they were when we left," Artemus assured him as they headed down the road.

"Man, it’s deja vu all over again," Zach exclaimed, huddling into his coat.

"What do you mean?" Derek asked.

"Two years ago, on the day I was doing my test tour, a storm similar to this came up. I wanted to stay at the resort where we happened to be at the time but the assessor insisted we try for Wiseman, only we never made it. The driver tried to get us to the Steiners but we ran off the road. Since we were closer to the grotto than the farm, the assessor insisted we make for it instead of staying with the van. We were on this road when it got so bad we couldn’t see our hands in front of our faces. I insisted we needed to make a shelter, especially for the children, and so we did. Loren and the others found us there and then we went on to the grotto where we had a very interesting encounter."

He paused, his eyes brightening with memory. "I wonder if...."

But whatever he was wondering remained unspoken for as they came around a curve in the road they found themselves before the path that led to the grotto, the Elf Path, as it was called, carefully hidden to make it more mysterious. They could see the luminaries lining the path, none of them lit. The road itself continued past this point and Artemus knew that it connected with the northern route leading toward Wiseman.

"Stay here while I scout ahead," Artemus whispered.

"Why?" Zach asked, looking puzzled.

"Just to be safe," Artemus replied. "I won’t be long." With that he slipped silently between the trees, keeping off the path itself as he made his way through the underbrush. The path was not long and he quickly reached the grotto entrance, crouching behind one of the holly bushes that had been planted on either side. He could see the torches, also unlit. Except for the howling of the wind and the falling snow, there was no other sound or movement. Keeping to a crouch, he returned to his friends. "It looks deserted, but I don’t know for sure," he told them.

"Well, we’ll have to risk it," Derek said, his arms wrapped around himself as he shivered. "You, Zach and I can’t stay out here much longer."

Artemus nodded. "Let’s go then."

They took the path and were soon before the grotto entrance. All of them hesitated. Artemus turned to the Elves. "Do you hear or sense anything?"

All three shook their heads and with a resigned sigh Artemus led the way inside, bending slightly to avoid hitting his head on the lintel. Even as he was straightening up, he heard an ominous click.

"Well, it took you long enough, Meriwether."

There was a gasp of dismay from Zach and Derek as they came inside. Someone turned up a lantern and they saw Farrell sitting casually on the ornate chair that was Santa’s throne, a gun pointed at them.

"No, don’t try to escape," Farrell warned them, and even as he spoke, the other three agents came out from behind the screen, all of them armed.

"How did you get here so quickly?" Artemus asked, taking in the situation at a glance, already calculating the odds of getting out of there alive. The odds didn’t look good, but he’d been in tighter situations than this before, except this time, he had others for whom he was responsible and could take no unnecessary risks.

"Thought you were clever letting the air out of the tires, didn’t you?" Farrell said with a sneer. "Only, you weren’t clever enough. In the barn was a pickup with a plow on the front. It was a tight squeeze for all of us, but it got us here."

"You knew we would come here?" Artemus asked in disbelief.

Farrell shrugged. "The only logical destination. You couldn’t get too far in this storm and you would need shelter. Now, where are the others?"

Artemus glanced around and then realized that none of the Elves had entered the grotto. He wasn’t sure why but suspected that as soon as they heard Farrell’s voice, they elected to remain outside. He kept the smile from his face, giving Farrell a shrug. "What others?" he asked.

Farrell leaped from the chair and came down the dais, his face set in a scowl, aiming his gun at Artemus’ forehead. "Don’t play games with me, boy," he snarled. "There were eight of you. Where did the others go?"

"We left the Steiners back at the farm in hiding," he answered readily enough, knowing that the agents wouldn’t bother with them now. "As for the other three...." He gave him a shrug. "We lost them in the storm. They were right beside us but with that white-out...." He shrugged again, allowing the rogue agent to come to his own conclusions.

Farrell stepped back, giving them a wicked grin. "Three less to deal with then," was all he said as he turned away and resumed his seat. "Armstrong, Grieve, take these two to the back and tie them up. Pegg, bring out a chair so Meriwether can sit in comfort while we have a little talk."

The orders were carried out quickly. Derek and Zach were tied up and taken behind the screen. Pegg brought out a straight back chair and shoved Artemus into it, tying his arms behind the chair then tying his legs before finishing up with a rope around his chest. Artemus gave an involuntary grunt when Pegg used unnecessary force to secure him. Then the agent stepped to one side as Farrell stared down at the bound agent.

"So now, perhaps you would be so kind as to tell me all about Elf Academy," he said.

"And what makes you think I will?" Artemus enquired then gasped as Pegg came over and punched him in the side of the head, and for a few seconds he saw nothing but stars. When his vision cleared, he sneered up at Farrell. "Do you really think torturing me will help?"

"No, but it won’t hurt," Farrell replied, "at least, it won’t hurt me. Armstrong," he called out and to Artemus’ horror he heard the sound of someone being beaten and Zach was crying out in pain.

"Leave him alone, you bastards!" Derek shouted and then, he too, cried out in pain and Zach actually screamed, a sound of mingled pain and terror.

"Stop it!" Artemus cried out, glaring at Farrell, who sat there smiling. "Leave them alone. This is between you and me, Farrell. They have nothing to do with it."

"But only if you’re willing to cooperate," Farrell said.

Artemus gritted his teeth. If it had only been himself, he would’ve endured whatever torture was planned for him, but he couldn’t let Derek and Zach suffer any more than necessary because of him. He gave a brief nod and Farrell called out, "Enough!"

The sound of the beatings ceased almost immediately. Artemus could hear his friends moaning and perhaps weeping. He did not think the less of them because of it, knowing that neither of them had ever suffered such a thing before.

"Clean them up, give them some water, and leave them be," Farrell continued with his orders, then focused on Artemus. "So, Mr. Meriwether, let us begin again. Tell me about this Elf Academy and why Ambrose Elwood is involved and don’t tell me he isn’t Elwood. I know differently."

"How?" Artemus asked.

"I just do," Farrell replied. "Now, unless you want Armstrong and Grieve to give your friends another beating, start talking."

Artemus sighed, closing his eyes in defeat. "What do you want to know?"

****

"We are almost there," Glorfindel assured Finrod as they and the others with them loped across the fields. He pointed at something before them, barely visible through the storm. "Beyond that hill lies the farm."

Finrod nodded but said nothing as they began to climb. In minutes they were standing on the top of the rise looking down. There was little to see except when the wind shifted the curtain of snow enough to give them a view.

"There’s no smoke coming out of the chimney," Elladan commented.

Glorfindel nodded. "We will approach with caution. I can see the resort van so they must still be there. Amroth, you, Vorondur, Aldarion, Mithlas, Beleg and Legolas circle to the right behind the barn. The rest of us will go straight down. Everyone remain wary."

They headed down, with half angling to the right. At the bottom of the hill, Glorfindel signaled for his group to remain where they were while he scouted ahead using the van to cover him as he approached the farmhouse. It was then that he noticed the flat tires. He signaled for the others to come to him, silently pointing to the tires.

Then, almost as one they began to string their bows, reaching for arrows as Glorfindel, using hand signals, ordered them to surround the house while he and Finrod checked the interior. Creeping silently up the steps to the porch, Glorfindel eased the front door open, then moved inside, noticing how dim it was without any lights on. He checked the front rooms to find them empty then made his way to the kitchen, straining to hear the sounds of voices or people moving about, but there was nothing. When he reached the kitchen he saw that it too was empty and he relaxed his stance.

"Upstairs?" Finrod whispered with barely a breath and Glorfindel nodded, but before they could retrace their steps to the front where the stairs were, the back door opened and Vorondur stepped in half carrying Ellen Steiner while behind him was Amroth helping Fred.

"We found them in the barn," Vorondur said as he placed Ellen in one of the chairs fronting the fireplace, wrapping her with a quilt. Amroth led Fred to another chair and then began laying a fire in the fireplace. The other Elves made their way in and Elrohir began putting together some tea. "There’s no one else," Vorondur continued giving his report. "Fred says that Zach and the others escaped into the storm hoping to reach the grotto. Farrell and his men hot-wired Fred’s pickup and drove off."

Glorfindel knelt before Fred. "Fred, how long ago did Zach and the others leave?"

"Not sure," the old man replied. "Maybe half an hour or so."

"Can you tell us what happened?" Glorfindel enquired.

"Well, Ellen and I were putting the finishing touches to the snacks we usually have on hand for the kiddies on the tours when there came a knock at the door. It was too early for anyone to be there but I didn’t think about it. Went to answer the door and four men waving guns pushed me back to the kitchen. Next thing I know we’re being tied and gagged and shoved into the old coal room in the cellar. Then after some time, the door opened and there were a couple of young men and three Elves. Apparently they were victims as well."

"Don’t forget Zach," Ellen reminded him as Elrohir handed her a cup of hot tea.

"Oh yeah," Fred said, rubbing his chin. "Zach was sleeping on a pile of laundry. Ellen wasn’t too pleased by that." He gave them a wink and a conspiratorial grin. Ellen just shook her head and rolled her eyes.

"Why was Zach sleeping on the laundry?" Glorfindel asked, his expression one of puzzlement.

"Seems those goons pumped him with some kind of drug," Fred replied. "Don’t know any of the details myself as we never had time to exchange information, being busy trying to escape and all."

"How did you escape?" Finrod asked.

"Up the coal chute," Fred answered. "By the time those goons figured out what was what, Ellen and I were hiding in the barn and the others were running off to the grotto."

"And Farrell has gone after them," Glorfindel said, rising.

"We don’t know that," Vorondur reminded him. "We only know that he and the other agents took Fred’s pickup and left."

"But it’s a logical assumption that they made their way to the grotto, no doubt in the hope of catching Alex and the others," Elladan retorted.

"I agree," Glorfindel said with a nod. "I think we should make our way to the grotto as quickly as we may. Fred, Ellen, I’m going to leave a couple of people here to help you and make sure you are well."

"Don’t bother," Fred said with a wave of his hand in dismissal. "Ellen and I can manage on our own. You may need all the help you can get. Don’t forget those goons are armed. Go, and rescue those young’uns. We’ll be fine, won’t we, dear?"

Ellen nodded. "Fred is right. You all get going. Those men are a dangerous lot. We’ll be fine now that the fire is going nicely. Go!"

Glorfindel gave Finrod an amused glance. "Do me a favor," he said to Fred. "See if you can raise Wiseman. Barry and Gil are manning the Grange Hall. Let them know what’s happened. Tell him if we can get backup from the police or sheriff’s department we would appreciate it."

"This storm is going to make it difficult for them to come out here," Fred said.

"The storm is lessening even as we speak," Finrod said with a finality that brooked no argument. "I suspect that in Wiseman the storm has already passed."

"Fine," Fred said. "I’ll try to get a hold of Barry or Gil and let them know. Now be off with you and rescue those children."

With that, the Elves exited out of the back door and gathered around Glorfindel. By now the snowfall had indeed slowed and the wind was dying down so it was easier to see. "We’ll continue overland to the grotto," Glorfindel said, pointing to the southeast. "Elladan, Elrohir, scout ahead. The rest of you follow as you will."

The Twins set off, swiftly running over the snow, while Glorfindel kept to a steadier pace as they headed for Santa’s Grotto. He prayed that they would find their friends safe and sound, but doubted that it would be that easy. He glanced at Finrod who ran beside him. "Can you still sense your son?" he asked.

Finrod shook his head. "I can sense nothing specific. There is much confusion and even fear, but why, I cannot say. I only know that Finda, at least, is still alive, but what the fates of the others are, I do not know."

"We’ll find out soon enough," Glorfindel said grimly. Finrod only nodded, for there was nothing that could be said and the Elves continued running silently across the snow-shrouded fields.