Who was the High King? by AndyC

Chapter 1

Herucalmo was breathing hard as he clambered up over the rocks.  It was undignified – so why was he doing it? 

The question had run through his mind several times in the past half hour.  He’d had to order his bodyguards very firmly to get them to stay behind so he could climb alone, and the more he thought about the entire situation, the more absurd it felt.

Just because of that flash of light.  He shook his head as he rounded an outcrop of rock.  But there was a cave mouth – in exactly the right place.  He allowed himself a brief, thin-lipped smile.  The ground from here to there was fairly level and covering it was straightforward enough.

I’m going to look really stupid if there’s a group of Umbarian pirates here, he thought.  On reflection, that wasn’t totally unlikely.  He’d sent away his bodyguards, headed out on a quixotic impulse to climb the seaward headland of Umbar, alone – just to chase after a glimpse of light that he’d seen as the Sun set on the previous evening.  Why had that light made him so obsessed with finding its source? 

At least I wasn’t so devoid of sense as to come climbing up here during the night. Although – was their any point now?  Whatever it was must surely be gone.

In any case, he could find his answer now – one way or another.  He came into the cave itself, with no attempt at stealth.  If there was a group of pirates here, he would meet his fate as befitted a nobleman of the Line of Elros.

Herucalmo’s eyes adjusted to the dimness inside the cave.  Initially, he thought it was empty, but as his es adjusted, he could make out what appeared to be a small table and rough bed deep inside.  Around a bend in the cave came a figure – a man!

The man – no, it was an Elf! – stopped in surprise and stared at Herucalmo.  He appeared unarmed, other than a long knife at his belt, and he showed no signs of reaching for it.