The three Maiar emissaries embarked on their journey to find a new home for the Noldor. The crystal portal was already a long ways behind them, shimmering with boundless colorful energy. After three days of adjusting to this new world, and regaining their strength after the strenuous journey through the portal, they were finally moving out to explore the world.
Mountains towered above them, and forested lands stretched for leagues, ending finally in distant mountains, crisp against the blue sky and capped with glittering snow. Smoke rose from what appeared to be a small village a short distance away. Alavon was silent, a terrible image of power before the world, his great blue cloak flowing like a banner of Valimar in the wind. The world was ahead.
They walked wearily through the forest, weaving around the largest trees, keeping low. The thick canopy created perpetual darkness under the glossy evergreen leaves, allowing the three Maiar to stay hidden. Alavon did not know what evils might be lurking in this world, but he was sure that this forest held at least some part of them. The very trees seemed to whisper the name Everfree as they tread lightly across the cold ground. Autumn embraced this part of the world; it would soon give way to a cold winter, if the seasons were anything at all like they were in Arda.
They passed in silence, walking as nimbly and gracefully as the Maiar were want to. Bird calls echoed around the forest, and Rius interpreted that they were calling each other by name, as the birds did in Arda. Almost no creatures in the woods took any notice to the three virtually invisible emissaries as they moved beneath the shadows. The forest itself was quiet, the trees thick and tall, belying a rich and ancient natural past. This world seemed very promising indeed.
At length, Alavon raised his hand in a gesture of halt. As they stopped, Rius noted that they were very near the village now, and his powerful eyes could perceive movements in the Realm of Shadows far ahead. All of the Maiar possessed the ability to see in both realms, but very few had the abilities of sight that Rius had, he being a former pupil of Mandos and bound to a seeing-stone gifted to him by the Noldor for his great works amongst them.
Alavon himself could also see far, especially in the physical world, he being taught of Manwe. His eyes could perceive things far and small, and his eyesight was like unto that of the Great Eagles who traveled the winds of Manwe on his errands.
Tirmanc was silent, waiting for further instructions from Alavon. He had come here at the behest of the Noldor, whom he loved and cared about above all other elves. They were as kin to him, and when they and their Maiar superiors came begging the Valar to let them use their beloved creation, and not destroy it, Tirmanc was first to interpose on their behalf. Because of this, the Valar had made the decision to send him through the portal, if he was willing, on behalf of the Noldor. He gladly accepted and, having bid farewell to his friends at the portal where fellow Maiar were keeping guard, he slowly thrust himself into a world with new sights, new sounds, and new smells. His journey through the portal had been wearisome, but he immediately found this world to be revitalizing and even somewhat empowering. It was very young, its sun bathing the world in precious light; and the moon was a beautiful sight to behold.
And now, after much waiting, they had finally begun their journey towards civilization. It had gone faster than Tirmanc had thought it would. All appeared safe, and nothing had delayed them so far.
Alavon looked to him as if he was about to speak, but then shut his mouth, glancing behind him at the small village. Rius and Tirmanc silently stared at him, knowing he had sensed something, engulfing him in waves of feeling, as the sea engulfs the drowned isles. His eyes closed for a moment. When they opened, he spoke to the dismay of his fellow emissaries: “Friends, we have been discovered. Or, rather, the rumor of our power that links us to the fabric of Arda has been sought out...and missed. Narrowly. We are not yet in peril, for none yet know where we are, but there are some in these lands who have discovered our presence in this world. I sensed no evil in our discoverers, but such things can be hidden. Rius, bring forth your seeing-stone.”
“How were we discovered so quickly?” Tirmanc interjected, surprise edging his voice. “We kept our ways quiet, and to none have we divulged our counsels. Our thoughts were contained. I believed we wouldn’t be found out for a little more than a few days, if at all.”
Rius responded by revealing his seeing-stone, holding the smooth black orb up with one hand, locking his gaze into it. He turned slowly, searching the land for leagues in every direction. The others waited silently, their thoughts troubled. They hadn’t expected such an event so soon; there were obviously individuals of significant power who held some form of control over this part of the world. And the three of them were being sought out by these figures, whose purpose was wholly unknown to them. It certainly did not bode well.
Rius lowered the small stone, and put it back in his cloak, all the while out of breath. “A brief watch, but I perceived much. But I am afraid I have spent some of my strength in using my stone. I shall not be able to defend against any sudden attack as ably as you might expect.”
He paused, pondering what he had seen. Some minutes later, after he had caught his breath, he sighed, and divulged what he had seen through his palantir: “I beheld small horse-like creatures. They had strange marks, symbols of achievement perhaps, on their flanks. There were many of them, throughout the village and in high places elsewhere. I perceived through my own sight that they were drawing energy from five unique horses, whose energy in turn derives from several relics scattered throughout these lands, and perhaps more across the world. These relics are reservoirs of pure energy, though I cannot guess where they derive their power.”
“Intelligent horses?” Tirmanc questioned doubtingly. The other information interested him greatly, especially the account of the relics, but he had heard nothing of sentient equines or marks of achievement or any such nonsense before now. He cringed at the thought of intelligent roccor; the very thought disturbed everything he understood about the world. Remember, this is a different universe, he counseled himself.
“Some had wings, some had horns, and most had neither. But the rulers of this land, of which there are four, had both wings and a horn. I saw these creatures using a variety of means, such as drawing upon the energy reserves of which I spoke and channeling it through the horn, to move objects and influence the physical world around them,” Rius replied, noting the flash of discontent in Tirmanc’s face. “But that is not the end of what I beheld. For I saw that the two chief rulers, one large, radiant as the sun, and a smaller one, less radiant but still powerful, are the ponies that sensed our presence. They are searching for us, even now. Just as Alavon spoke, they sought me out, and strove with me from afar; I won the battle, but only just so—I am worn out.”
Rius turned to Alavon. “What counsel is there to be had now, Alavon? Should we not return and report our findings, or, better yet, abandon this foolish mission altogether and return home?” Rius enjoyed this lush new world, but he was still sided with the Valar majority on this matter, and wanted to protect Valinor from any further intrusions. He did not want to risk bringing evil or war to the Blessed Realm, especially after what Melkor had done. He shuddered at the vile memory.
Alavon looked long at him, as if searching his mind, then said: “Our purpose here as tasked by the Valar is to go forth into this new world, seeking out the lands and discovering if it is safe enough to allow our friends, the Noldor, to live here under our protection. If these lands are already inhabited and ruled, then we must by obligation to the Valar speak with them and learn who they are, what threat they present, if any, and discuss the settlement of the Firstborn somewhere, preferably close to the portal. Therefore, whether we would go or not, we must, for it is our purpose at this time. Be not dismayed! Let us visit the village ahead, and see what we can learn of these creatures.”
Rius nodded, solemn in his respect to the greater Maia. Tirmanc nodded as well, but with less enthusiasm. His thoughts troubled him, and he was already in deep thought, thinking back to the time before the elves had come, to when Yavannah had crafted her horses…Yavannah, the wife of his master Valar, Aule, both of whom he respected and loved dearly. These creatures sound to my ears like a mockery of the creations of Yavannah. But we must see them first, and decide for ourselves what to make of them…I must decide for myself.
