Now the bright silver light still endured in the gorge, and there came, descending Awérung, a throng of Doitherúna. Astagant the good fellgiant led the way. He was followed by the three chiefs of the Gangri: Fúdrofûr the last living Fellgiant, who had stood aloof from the Giants’ Wars, Mivgâ, the last Stonegiant, and Dreygan, the Icesmith, the last of the Frostgiants. Each kept a wide distance from the other two, for there was little love between them.
Then came Berdumenarkon and Tezendirâgon, consuls of the Kabadri of Kalípo Kalhondrim, and Kimenarthon, chief of the Kabadri of Figrû Vomaddi, and Grekkonanaskhon, headman of the Minláka Kabadri of Onskabâ. And to the wonderment of the Hyûvandri, there came also Tithiánë, Queen of the Entellári of Féo Elesti, and Olverúno, King of the Entellári of Ailindâl, and the chiefs of the Thendâ and of the Silúna. Finally came Kerorkîn Melainen, Rákarë Zorthinen, and Tirakúre Bróvinen, swooping down into the midst.
The wain-drivers of the Vurwë Yamudúna made way for them, and with the Laukonardi fugitives they stood in awe as the Doitherúna entered the great space at the end of Awérung, and some Hyûvandri even knelt, covering their faces. All were assembled before the great red gates to arraign Melyúnas and assign him his doom.
But Slungandi was filled with resentment at the presence of his former master Dreygan, and with fear of the King and Queen, who would doubtless require of him the Talyoran, or might at least take Sporni the child of the Talyoran from him. Taking his foot from the neck of Negobith, and bowing low to Ingos, he hastened through the gates, darted behind a line of wains, and sped up the gorge, ascending Awérung till he was out of reach and out of sight of the assembly. Now that Sporni was gone, the bright white light gradually faded; but the Entellári had with them brightly burning lamps of many kinds.
When Slungandi had departed, Ingos came forth from the cavern of Ombros, and Negobith at once caused the gates to close upon himself. Time would not suffice to tell of the labours of the Doitherúna, assembled in judgement, to reason with him who had been Melyúnas and now proclaimed himself Negobith. The chiefs of Hyilavúna, Tithiánë and Olverúno, Fôyerestë of the Silúna, Simetra of the Thendâ, and Astagant the Good Fellgiant himself, came forward to speak with Negobith. But he answered naught.
Then the chiefs proclaimed aloud the crimes of Melyúnas, beginning with his theft of the secrets of the Deep by means of the Talyoran that was not his to hold. Next, the falsehoods that brought the Stonegiants and Entellári to the brink of battle, estranged Féo Êlesti from Ailindâl, kindled the Giants’ Wars, and destroyed the Gangri. Finally, his hatred of the Hyûvandri and the seduction of the Valkari into sorcery. To all these charges he made no answer.
Astagant the Good Giant brought forth his runestaff, the Moonbeam, and summoned the chiefs of the three tribes of the Gangri to lay their hands upon it, saying:
Now Dreygan, Mivgâ, you must make your peace,
Fúdrofur too, be friends once more.
To this hallowed staff stretch forth your hands
On runestaff riming runes of binding.
With your souls’ lifeblood now seal the knot
That shall keep Melyúnas captive always.
All three, cast Marûthénath Dagnedh!
Fúdrofûr the Fellgiant, who had stood aloof from the Giants’ Wars, showed but slight hesitation in grasping the runestaff. After some thought, Mivgâ too stepped up and laid his hand to it, knowing that Fúdrofûr had taken no part in the wars. But Dreygan, in his pride, was unwilling to join either with a Fellgiant, even though Fúdrofûr bore no guilt for the destruction of the Frostgiants, or with Mivgâ, in despite of his reception of Dreygan as lord of Kapgar Kûm. Then Astagant upbraided him with many strong words, of which these are only a few:
If this wretch, Dreygan, be not rightly bound
Nor Coldsword nor Coldworm will curb his hate.
His malice blighting Midworld’s peoples
Giants’ labours will be laid in dust.
At last he prevailed upon Dreygan, who grudgingly laid his hand to the runestaff. Together the four Gangri set upon Melyúnas the most powerful runes ever cast in Thrâyeldim, the Marûthénath Dagnedh, or Great Runes of Binding. The bond was sealed with the life-force of those three greatest Giants, Dreygan, Fúdrofûr, and Mivgâ, who now were almost the only living Gangri of their tribes. As long as these three lived, Negobith was confined to his deep realm, and could not work upon the outside world.
The assembled chiefs solemnly bound Negobith within his lair in Ombros. They declared every gate and door sealed, every shaft and fissure shut, by the power of the greater rune.
Then they departed to their realms and castles. The Lost Tribe conveyed the Laukonardi to a new settlement, and went on their way with the blessing of Ingos. And the Midworld had peace for many lives of Hyûvandri, and Ingos roamed up and down the Southlands, guiding and counselling.
But in Kapgar Kûm the Falakkazri and Uthêagilri built their strength, drawing on the Deep, against the time of Negobith’s return.
And Slungandi awaited his opportunity to avenge himself on Dreygan.
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