As u kno I was pretty Gung-Ho 2 start this group read, but, truth be told, I left off somewhere b4 Morinmoss and haven't read any futher since. So it was somewhat theraputic, and will cause me 2 go DIRECTLY back 2 where I left off, 2 dive straight in2 these chapters as if nothing happened...
Chapter 24: The Calling of the Fire Lions
What As if nothing happened! I think not Lord Foul has essentialy been nuetralized but his aftershocks r pretty damm fierce! Warriors, Servants and TC r stunned, Prothall is totally drained-crap even Cavewrights pause in Foul's wake! Leave it up 2 that ol' spoilsport Mhoram 2 let Foul have it and get the company moving again, Cause it ain't over folks, not by a long shot!
Prothall and Mhoram carve a path through the Cavewrights and the company enters a tunnel. Ur-Viles appear, the loremaster is awesome! They never say a word! Fighting 2 the brink of xhaustion Mhoram makes TC fake at the Ur-viles with the ring as he and Prothall build a "Wall of Forbiding" that will never hold. Funny and dire at the same time! They're off!Coughing as if he were about to heave up his heart, he gasped, "The Staff. You do not know. Cannot use it. Fools.
No escape. None. I have armies. I have the Stone." With a savage effort, he made himself heard through the laughter. "Illearth Stone. Power and power. I will crush. Crush!'
If not 4 Manetrall Lithe's soul-conviction that she knows the way through though Kiril Threndor 2 the sun and sky the company really wouldn't know which way they're heading. Considering the sheer xhaustion of the company at this point, escape looks akin 2 scaling Mt. Everest! Up and onward they go, through twists and turns, incredibly narrow spaces, possible ambushes at every turn, catacombs and strange cave-spaces w/a million tunnels going in every direction...Man 4 a closet (hahaha ) claustrophobic like me getting through this was damm tough...
All the things that happen in this chapter r just so intense, vivid and breathtaking! A number of times they really didn't think they could make it. Even Lithe has her moment of doubt and pain.They were buoyed along by the hope that their pursuers would not guess what they were doing, and so would neither cut them off or follow them directly. But in the universal darkness and silence they had no assurances. Their way met no branchings, but it wavered as if it were tracing a vein in the mountian. Finally it opened into a vast impression of blank space, and began to climb a steep, serrated rock through a series of switchbacks. Now the company had to toil upward.
They hear the Ur-Viles behind them they go straight up a spiral staircase w/horrible winds raging all about them and finally pop though 2They felt weak with failure, as if they were moving only because Mhoram's blue flame pulled them forward...
the wasted red dawn above the Sarangrave. There is nothing left of High Lord Prothall, they had 2 pry Covenant off the landing, and now they have 2 make a huge descent down a ravenously treacherous ravine. So many things happen at once!: A black flood of Ur-Viles pour down upon them, Drool appears in the cavern opening shining the sick-green Illearth Stone in the bloody dawn against the impenaturable backdrop of Mt Thunder. All is lost, unless BOOOOOOOOOOM THERE IS something felt of High Lord Prothall, and Bannor and Covenant's ring, unwillingly, touches the Staff of Law and the Fire Lions crash down the mountian devouring everything in sight.
This is xactly what Covenant didn't want 2 happen...Is Foul's plan actually fufilled? Is there 2 much blood on his hands? Is there no escape 4 the company, In desperation TC whistles 4 the Raynhyn. Is Drool dead? Is there no end 2 all this Earthpower coursing all around? What is happening 2 TC? Fade 2 gray...
I'm sorry I didn't even begin 2 do justice 2 this nailbiting/minblowing chapter. The Imagery is so vivid, it's ultraviolet, it's mindnumbing. There just is SO much going on. The company is byond valiant, Mhoram is already a super-hero, Covenant is left /the same paradox, Prothall is amazing! Im 2 xhausted by even trying 2 come w/some grips w/this astounding conclusion!!! (I think I'll wait 4 some other posts b4 I even discuss "Survived") (**faint**)