The next few days past without event, but Flo saw, as they travelled along the East road that a large hill with a flat top was gradually drawing closer. It was seperated from the rest of the mountains and the road seemed to lead straight to it.
It looked like an old watchtower, but what remained of it lay in ruins in a ring around the rim of the flat top.
"Nalmalu, what is that place?'
'It is Weathertop, Amon Sul, it used to be a great watchtower for the men of old. We will rest there tonight.'
They carried on in silence and soon they were at the feet of Amon Sul. Flo stared up at it, and wondered if this was the place Old Master Samwise has talked about it certainly fitted his description: 'Weathertop has an old feel about it, it seemed many ages of man had passed since the watchtower stood high. But Mr. Frodo and I did not like that place, it felt well...eerie.'
'We will find a place higher up to rest tonight,' said Nalmalu breaking the silence.
'Yes, let's,' Flo replied.
Nalmalu led the way up, as the path was overgrown in most places she had to cut her way through with her sword. Flo followed closely behind, leading the horses, not wanting to be left at the bottom by herself.
Nalmalu carried on up, and then turning to the right and through some coarse bushes, they came to a deep hollow. Nalmalu sniffed the air then walked inside. Flo followed her in.
Nalmalu slinged the pack off her back and dropped it on the ground, it fell with a heavy thud, then she brought out of her pocket some flint and tinder and lit a fire. Nalmalu leant back against the wall and closed her eyes; after a while Flo began to think that she had fallen asleep, when suddenly her eyes opened and she looked at Flo and smiled.
'Do you want to hear a story, little one?'
'Yes I would,' said Flo with a smile.
'I once met a man,' Nalmalu began, 'He was old, very old, and his name was Corann. I wondered what he could be doing out in the wild all by himself, but I kept my mouth shut and offered him to share my camp for the night. He didn't refuse. We sat and talked for a while and he told me a story, a story about love and hate. It was his story.
'One day when he was young he was walking towards the Misty Mountains, for in those days the passage was safe for lone wanderes and he liked to walk, and breathe the fresh air. But as he neared the foot of one of the Misty Mountains he saw a fair lady come walking up to him.
'Where cometh thou?' he asked her.
'I cometh from hither,' she replied pointing north.
'What is thy name?'
'Someth call me Coranna and others...call me Herecus. Thou may call me Coranna.'
'That is strange,' Corann said to her, 'For mine name beith Corann.'
'Then we were meant to meet.'
'That night he offered her camp, as I had done and over the next few days they fell in love.
'Over the weeks after their meeting they travelled all along the feet of the Misty Mountains. But one night, in the month of June, Coranna was killed by the arrow of a Southron. They had been tracking them for days, believe Coranna to be a witch.
'Why do you spend your life in the wild Corann?' I asked him.
'The same reason you,' he replied, 'To seek revenge.'
'That is the end of the story, short yes, but what more can you say about a man who has lost his most beloved? I feel sorry for him.'
'Nalmalu...he said that the reason he wanders in the wild is to seek revenge and that you do also.'
Nalmalu had expected that, it was time Flo knew, she wasn't angry that time, but instead she told Flo what had happened, what felt to her, so many years ago.
'My parents and I used to travel with a wandering band of Easterlings. Easterlings are evil, bad. I told my parents so, but they would not listen. They plotted against us and killed my parents, but I escaped.
'One of the Easterlings followed me on horseback to a nearby cave. I killed him, with stone and dagger,' Nalmalu paused and sighed, 'That was a long time ago, things have changed, I am not the person I once was. I miss my parents much, still.'
Nalmalu stood up and walked to the edge of the hollow and peered out, then turned around and said sadly to Flo: 'Easterling must pay Flo. They must pay. Not until I am dead will I stop hunting them.'
Then Nalmalu sang.
The West wind comes walking and about the walls it goes.
'What news from the West, O wandering wind, do you bring me tonight?
Have you seen my mother, fair, by moon or twilight?'
I saw her ride over seven streams, over waters wide and grey,
I saw her walk in starlit lands until she passed away.'
Into the shadows of the North. I saw her then no more. The North wind may have heard the voice og Alexia over plain and moor.
'O Alexia! From the bounderies of the Southern lands I looked afar,
But you came not from the empty lands where no men are.'
'I sing not for my fahter, he was a valiant man but no song can describe him.'
Flo was silent. Now she understood. Why Nalmalu cried for her mother in her sleep and why she kept her past a secret. Yet, she could not help feel that Nalmalu hadn't told her everything...
Flo looked at Nalmalu as she fell silent. Nalmalu nodded and then turned over and fell asleep. Flo stayed awake, observing her companion. Pity filled her heart - but did Nalmalu deserve it that much? Flo knew she spoke the truth about her mother - but there was something else - something dark.
Flo, making sure Nalmalu was asleep, left the camp, pulling her cloak tightly around her. Shadows filled every last space. They moved off the piles of rocks. whispers could be heard in the wind.
She walked back to Nalmalu - however her thoughts were, she was glad Nalmalu was there with her on this dark, deserted place. She curled up as close to Nalmalu as she could and fell asleep.
'Nalmalu. Nalmalu Stonethrush.'
Nalmalu opened her eyes and shivered. Wind and rain were beating against her face. It was dark and the night had turned harsh.
She looked around - and caught sight of Flo and smiled. Flo was huddled up to her, wrapped in her cloak, heedless of the fact she was getting drenched in the rain.
Nalmalu carefully lifted Flo, cradling her in her arms. She layed her down further under the shelter, away from the rain and replaced Flo's cold drenched cloak with her own dry one.
Nalmalu sat beside her for a minute, sadness filling her heart. Then she heard it , the sound that had woken her.
'Nalmalu'
Nalmalu stood up listening carefully, all her senses alert. Was it just the win playing trics on her mind? A roar of thunder crashed over head.
'Nalmalu.'
It was closer this time. Nalmalu drew her sword, standing in front of Flo - protecting her from any harm that may arrive.
Whispers and a strange light filled the moorland - maybe it was the storm? Nalmalu followed the light. A hideuos cruel laugh filled her ears.
'Who's there?' she yelled, raising her sword above her shoulder. A glowing shadow came towards her.
'It is I - Dinius.'
Nalmalu froze.
'Dinius - I....'
'Your mind is weakening, Nalmalu. The halfling is overcoming your strength.'
Nalmalu put her arm down.
'The halfling? She means nothing to me.'
'Indeed.'
The glowing Shadow of Dinius circled Nalmalu and she turned on the spot, keeping her eyes on him.
'I see it in your eyes, Nalmalu. Hear it in your voice.'
'No - you know nothing about me. The halfling means nothing to me - I care not!'
Dinius smiled.
'If that is the case, I am glad - for my plans cannot go forth without it, Nalmalu - you know that.'
'Yes - and I will bring her to you in due course. Then my debt will be cleared.'
Dinius turned towards her and backed her against a wall of rock, fixing his cold eyes on her. Another glowing shadow formed in the air - this one of Flo. Nalmalu stared at it as Dinius took it under his control.
'But will you live with your guilt? Can you stand any more guilt? You have killed before-'
'He killed my parents - he deserved to die.'
Dinius played with Flo's shadow - Nalmalu heard it scream.
'There were others also Nalmalu...worthless maybe but... the halfing - it is helpless, Nalmalu - young and innocent. Could you see it die when the time comes for it? Could you live with the guilt - the guilt of murdering an innocent life is different to the guilt of murdering an evil life - but I will kill it - but I see affection in you for the little halfling.'
With a scream, Flo vanished into the air. Nalmalu gasped in horror.
'I - I have no affection for it! None at all! Leave me!'
With a flash of lightening the shadow was gone.
Nalmalu, breathing heavilly staggered slightly and fell. She looked up as the sky turned again to darkness and closed her eyes and knew no more.
