Two days later the company entered the valley of Anglon. It was narrow and small, and the hills above were bare and grassy and rather small themselves. It was here that one could find the Hylian ruins of the Temple of Kariol, the shrine of the Hylian Gem.
The company set camp in what appeared to be an old barn near the ruined temple. As Saria settled down she looked at the ruins and could roughly make out what at one time it might looked like. Somewhat like the Temple of Time, back in Hyrule, though with round steeples, and a third rising from the back of the temple.
"There, over in that hill. Do you see them? The gem must be in those caves, right?" Asked Konra to Galandrim.
Galandrim looked up from what he was doing, "They are the only caves I see", He said looking in the direction the Zora was pointing.
"Speak of a silent valley. No wind, no birds, there is no sound in this place save our own voices", remarked Alagbor as he set up a fire. It was a sunny afternoon, the weather, finally, was fair and there was not a storm-cloud in sight.
The hills on the west side of the valley seemed to be little more than grassy hills the whole way up, which was only a few hundred feet. Elsewhere there were patches of trees here and there.
“Alagbor, perhaps we shouldn’t delay with the caves. It won’t benefit us in the future”, said Legolas looking over toward the caves.
“The three of them seem interested, we may as well let them go. I intended to set camp here for the night anyhow”, said Alagbor looking up.
Galandrim, Haseem and Konra wandered off across the narrow valley and in just a few minutes had made it to the caves. Galandrim carried a torch with him and signaled back to Alagbor at the campsite that they were heading in. soon they disappeared out of the six elves’ line of sight and into the caves.
Alagbor, still looking across the valley, spoke to Nilalkar, “I hope they come out alright”
“Hope?” Nilalkar asked, “I hope that your hope is enough to get them out alright”
“At least hope is always on our side”
“I’m having a pretty terrible feeling about this”, said Saria walking over. The other two Kokiri turned around.
“What?”
“Something’s coming”
Duradar raced through the caves with a torch lighting his way. He was searching desperately for his three companions that had entered the caverns just a few minutes earlier. As he ran through each of the small lairs he saw more and more recent footprints. He knew he was getting close.
Saria looked over the small precipice about two-hundred feet above the caves of Anglon on the grassy slopes of the hill that the caves were set on. Beneath her at the mouth of the caves was a large glade of trees. She looked out to the far end of the long, narrow valley. A small dark mass moved down the valley rather slowly. Saria gritted her teeth, her fairy hid under her cloak. This was going to be close.
Galandrim approached the alter and picked up the precious stone. It was beautiful and gleamed in the light of the torch. They were in a dark lair, with the small alter at the far end.
“It was that easy”, Said Konra in disbelief.
“And all those scientists couldn’t find it all this time”, said Haseem shaking his head in disgust. Galandrim suddenly spun around hearing footsteps. It was Duradar.
“Galandrim! It’s a trap! Hurry, We have to get out, now!” He cried.
Alagbor, Lossenisel, Nilalkar and Legolas, having put out the campfire now began to sneak their way across the valley towards the caves. Each had their weapons drawn taking fleeting glances over across the expanse at their oncoming foes. The sun was setting slowly and twilight crept down through the valley as they crossed the stream bound for the mouth of the caves.
Saria stood still atop the hill watching in horror as orcs and Moblins approached the entrance to the caverns. Suddenly their screeching and hooting ceased and they stood still, listening. From inside the hill Saria could hear Konra yell, “Here! The way out is here!”. Saria’s eyes grew wide, she stood there in despair, and disbelief looking out at the four other companions, who had stopped on the other side of the stream, unsure of what to do. Konra was walking right into a death-sentence.
Konra dashed out of the cave, then he turned and called to his companions, “Its clear, let’s go!” He turned to see a mass of Moblins facing him with readied bows pointed in his direction.
“Gracious”, he muttered, and all the bows were released. Konra staggered for a moment, blue blood drooled from his mouth, he fell to his knees as Saria let out a cry of despair. Then he collapsed, and lay lifeless upon the ground.
“Oh no”, muttered Duradar as he stepped out of the caves. He saw Konra’s body sprawled upon the ground, with numerous arrows embedded in his chest. He drew his sword, and Galandrim soon after. Haseem clenched his fists and squinted his eyes, trying to force back a tear. Suddenly on every side, orcs and Moblins charged out of the trees that surrounded the entrance to the caves and attacked. Duradar swept through the foul creatures slicing them while dodging their simplistic swings and thrusts. Galandrim fought a bit less gracefully, in his rage he struck his enmies down so hard that they died before they even began to fall. Haseem tried his best to hold off the orcs with furious punches but it was no use. He had already acquired many cuts and was constantly blocking his enemies’ blows with his hard back.
Alagbor, Lossenisel, Nilalkar and Legolas now sped toward the caves with all their strength. They hadn’t the slightest clue of what was happening through the trees, but the sound of clashing metal was all they needed to hear to know that their friends were in danger. Legolas drew an arrow as he ran and headed into the tree grove. The three Kokiri followed to help their friends.
Saria fell to her knees, her legs were weak and shaking. Tears streamed down her face. She stared down at the wooden staff that lay next to her and frowned. She scowled and took up the staff.
Haseem let out a cry of pain. Galandrim turned as saw his Goron friend clutching his chest. He bent over trying to catch his breath as an orc raised its weapon high in the air behind him.
Galandrim yelled, “Behind you!”. But it was too late. The weapon came crashing down into the back Haseem’s head. A sudden look of relief came over him, a white light enveloped his sight, everything seemed to stop in time. Duradar fighting his way toward him, Galandrim crying out in despair and Legolas and the other companions charging into the fray. All of his stress, his concern, and his pain left him. A whitish-blue hand appeared in front of him. He looked up to see Konra, surrounded somewhat by a blue haze, a warm smile on his face. He took his hand and all of his wounds vanished. He stood up and looked down as his body fell limp to the ground. Konra rested his hand on his shoulder and nodded toward a blue light. They walked toward it, Haseem looked back again and though of how beautiful life was.
Saria’s staff was enveloped with green fire as she stood in the center of the fray. She had raised above her head and it pulsed with energy. She drove it down into the ground and a wave of green fire shot in a circumference around her burning every enemy in the area. One by one they each fell limp to the ground. The fight was over. Galandrim dropped his sword and staggered backwards, a lost look on his face. He ran his hands through his hair. Duradar caught a devastated Saria in his arms and embraced her as she broke into tears. Alagbor and Nilalkar checked each of the bodies in vain while Lossenisel slowly and quietly gave to them each small Laments. Later they were buried in the peaceful valley near the ruins of the old temple, and on a nearby boulder the deeds of these brave heroes were inscribed in charcoal, for there was not more than ash for use.
"Here we stand upon the ruin of a Hylian kingdom. A ruined temple shrine, a lost gem, in the depths of a cave. And fallen heroes, in shallow graves, with tombstones of rock and coal. For little else here is not ash", said Alagbor quietly before their graves. Nilalkar and Galandrim stood next to him.
"This was not a scouting party", began Nilalkar, "They were hunting us", he continued turning toward his partner.
Alagbor frowned, "Then let the hunt begin", and they packed and left that valley.
