When the tertiary path they followed gave way to the main road those rough stones became something else entirely, smooth and polished but no less jagged for all of that. It was enough to make Ilúvatar wonder why they bothered with paths at all, when it seemed so easy to dismiss them as another comfort that no one truly needed. Perhaps they had wagons, he reasoned, and they needed the paths for the wheels. But if there was a wagon he could not recall seeing it. At least, none here. Strange to think that he would have needed an army to break the walls of a temple of Lorien, but here there was nothing. Was there security inside? Or was it simply that no one dared to try such a thing? They would dare because they had to, not because they wanted to. And certainly not because they desired the status of a hero.
One of the Drow who was lurking about the outside of the temple, poised near the jagged hole in the side of the structure that served as an opening and a gateway, gave all of them a second and third glance. Obviously he saw nothing more than a priestess of Lolth traveling with her coterie of followers. Obvious because he did not retain his interest - merely returned to staring at the torch burning outside the entrance.
If the entire affair were that easy...
...once they crossed the threshold, he could not help but stare. Stare, and be amazed. The tower was build with stairs that led to nothing except empty platforms, which in turn had stairs leading to other platforms. Many of the platforms were decorated with shelves, but the temple itself was a strangely disorganized hodgepodge of stairs and doorways walled over. Entire paths that led nowhere. Staring at his feet yielded little solace. There was bone jutting out of the floor, perhapos a small glimpse of white here or there. And with no torches between one platform and another it was only excellent senses that allowed them to find their way. He could see the path, but it was not clear. And now he was beginning to wonder if they would lose themselves in this place. Ilúvatar was not the only one feeling a touch of trepidation set in, suddenly and with grievous clarity.
"Do you know which direction to choose?" Eibhear asked Aeotha, in a voice too low to carry.
Movement. Other Drow were on the move. Other? They were not Drow. But perhaps it was better to think of themselves that way, for now.