A/N: I have not written for fanfiction in a good…nine years? Go easy on me. Just taking a stab at something new.
Disclaimer: I own nothing. J.R.R Tolkien owns this wonderful world and the characters within, except for Randiriel, Alassiel, Amras, and whatever else I manage to make up along with my own plot.
Chapter One
The sun darkened, leaving the ridges of the valley to resemble the curves of a slightly bruised peach. Rich in color, but ushering in the darkness all the same. A light breeze ruffled the tent flaps of the small group camping under a huddle of tall pines. The warm embers of a fire continued to burn and smolder in the ring of rocks hastily constructed the evening before.
The tent flap opened more, guided by a tentative hand. A tall, young woman unfolded herself from the depths of the tent and walked to the edge of the fire. She picked up the stick they had been using to stoke life back into the fire. She poked and prodded, becoming lost in the morphing wood covered by licking flames.
They had searched for several days and found no trace. Her slender hands remembered the feel of impressions in the dirt, searching for the deepest of prints suggestive that they carried more than average. It had been many, many nights of chasing and still no signs. She could smell it on the air. But there had been no visual aids to her quest. Their camp was low on supplies. Hope had drained from everyone's hearts and faces when she looked upon them. Their trail, once easy to follow and strong, had wasted to little more than a faint print or broken branch. She could barely discern a true sign from accidental animal track.
A hand weighed on her shoulder.
"It is still early," a low, melodic voice murmured from behind. "Try for more rest. You will need it come tomorrow."
"How can there be no signs?" she whispered. "They did not just disappear into thin air."
She turned around to face the owner of the supportive hand. Worried blue eyes, met tired, worried green eyes. Her lashes fluttered shut as she tried to form a memory of a face.
"We cannot extend the search much longer," her companion gently prompted.
Her green eyes turned stormy and she whirled back around to face the fire. Her dark hair slashing at his face. He caught a strand and let it slide through his fingers. One of the horses whickered from where it was tied.
"We move before the sun is fully risen," she spat. "Wake the others."
She rushed off to the horses, slowing only to gently run her hand against the velvet muzzle of a bright chestnut.
He watched, still as a statue by the remainder of the fire. He could see the worry and grief eating away at her. Her once bright, cheery face held no joy or warmth, not even with the heat of a glowing fire cast upon it.
Her sister had been taken captive over a month ago. Her trail had rapidly faded from the morning they had awoke and found her gone. He wanted to hold on to hope for her, but it was becoming an increasingly desperate quest.
The breeze shifted and he watched as she lifted her face, eyes closed, and let it fully envelop her. It seemed as though she would be carried away on a crest of the breeze. But she remained firmly routed beside her mount. Her deep eyes opened again and caught his. What he saw there was hollow, but at the bottom of the green well, he saw that a fire still burned. He shouldered his bow and gave a low whistle. They would continue on.
xXx
Randiriel brushed pine needles from her long cloak and looked toward the mountains once more. They were a long way from both Eryn Lasgalen and Ithilien, nearing Rohan and Edoras. She still could not understand how her sister had been so foolish, so unwise, to have wandered from their home in the earliest of hours. She left no note, no signs. She took her cloak and bow and disappeared.
Three plus years had passed since they had taken the journey to Ithilien with Legolas. Their father had fallen in the War of the Ring, deciding of his own volition to join the fight in Gondor. Their mother, desperate in her grief, had fled to the Havens, pleading with both her daughters to join her.
Randiriel could remember her mother's begging clear as day. The plea in her mournful gray eyes that her daughters follow her path and spare her continued heartache. But Randiriel had hope and love for her home, not ready to desert the forests where she had first learned to aim a bow and track through the darkness. She stayed. Now she ached for her mother and for the simple fact that she had never made the brash decision she had made. She swore under her breath. Her foolish little sister. Alassiel. The joy of her parent's life. Now gone. Randiriel balled her hands into a fist. Her mind flitted ironically to how fitting names could become. She bowed her head and caught sight of a snag of fabric on the ground.
"Legolas," she said, none too loud, only drawing his attention from their search party.
The blond elf rushed over to her. In the passing days, he had watched and been attuned to her emotions. He feared for her health, among other things.
"Her cloak," she whispered excitedly. "Here, near the plains of Rohan."
"Could she have been venturing back to Eryn Lasgalen?"
"What for?" Randiriel retorted. "Everything she wanted was in Ithilien. She chose to stay."
Legolas uttered not another word. Alassiel had chosen to stay. He had been grateful for the two sisters support when he had returned to Mirkwood to gather supplies and his kin. And while Randiriel had been reserved and quiet after her mother's departure, Alassiel had immediately offered her assistance to him. Both were well liked by many in their homeland. Alassiel seemed to thrive in the air of a new adventure and looked forward to a new life.
"We will find her," he quietly promised Randiriel.
She looked at him and her eyes searched his, trying to decipher if he was merely saying those words to bring her a hollow comfort or if he really meant it. This was not the Legolas she had known all her life when they had been young and carefree beneath the boughs of the trees. He had returned from the War with a changed demeanor. If possible, he was quieter, solemn, but not in a sad way. This was not the same ellon she had practiced archery with and escaped with books from the vast collection his father kept. Time and the hard reality of war had changed both of them.
Randiriel nodded stiffly and attempted a tight lipped smile.
"I trust that we will," she replied back.
The rest of their company had stopped farther ahead. Legolas could see a band of horsemen approaching their group. He could see by the banner that they hailed from Rohan, possibly riding from Edoras. Their lead rider pulled up his mount and they formed a line before the company.
"What business have you in these lands?" he asked, taking in the elves' garb and pointed ears.
Randiriel warily stepped forward.
"We search for my sister," she said softly. "She has been missing from our home for near five weeks."
The horseman removed his helmet and steadied his horse with a gentle hand upon his sweaty neck.
"We have seen none of your kind come through our lands," he replied in a tone equal to the gentle touch he had applied to his steed.
Randiriel was silent as Legolas stepped forward. He took the piece of cloak from her hand and reached to show the tattered cloth to the rider. He looked at it but for a brief moment before shaking his head.
"We have seen no one with a cloak of this Elvish make," he replied. "You can continue your search, but be wary. Goblins and stray Orc bands still manage to cause trouble in these lands."
"Your name, Rider of Rohan?" Randiriel asked, fixing him with an icy green glare. She knew well of what monsters still ran free in the lands.
"Deorwine."
She inclined her head in silent thanks before turning to pull herself back onto her bright chestnut's back.
"You have a lovely steed, my lady," Deorwine called to her.
Randiriel let a smile play upon her lips.
"My father was a great horse breeder before he left for war," she said, lovingly twisting her fingers through her mare's knotted mane. "She was one of his favorite foals and a present to me. Hwesta is her name."
Deorwine smiled back before turning his horse in a whirl of dirt and tiny stones. The company left them at the crest of the hill and Legolas watched them leave.
"That was not helpful in the slightest," he said as he stood level with Hwesta's withers.
"He's hiding something. I did not like his smile."
"You do not like anyone who smiles these days," he gently teased her.
She turned to try and glare at him, but felt a smirk pass her lips.
"It is difficult. I feel as though happiness would be like letting Alassiel slip into the past. It would be giving up."
Legolas frowned.
"It would not be giving up. We will still search. You should not forfeit yourself in the quest. Your sister would not want that."
Hoof beats caused them both to turn as Amras rode before them.
"My lady, shall we move on?"
Randiriel looked back over the company. Their cloaks were tattered and muddy. The horses' tails, matted and filled with burrs. The bags they carried wrinkled and blew in the breeze in their current state of half-emptiness. In all truth, she had not believed to be gone from home for so long. Alassiel was not one to enjoy the wilderness. Randiriel believed her to have been close.
"Give us a moment, Amras."
The elf nodded in agreement and walked back to the waiting group. Randiriel turned to Legolas, who was absently turning a knife in his hand. She watched him for a second before taking a breath.
"Return home to Ithilien with the group," she said.
Legolas replaced his name and let a most unbecoming snort escape his lips.
"That is not an option."
"We cannot keep them out here any longer. This is becoming hopeless. For one foolish girl. It is my problem to bear."
Legolas shook his head.
"Stay here," he commanded, fixing Randiriel with a look she was largely unaccustomed to seeing from him.
He trotted over to the company, keeping his back to Randiriel.
Amras raised an eyebrow and looked over Legolas to where Randiriel sat on
Hwesta, lost in thought.
"You are sure about this, my Lord?"
"Ithilien can manage without me for a few more weeks. I promised we would find her sister."
"Wouldn't it be best to leave just a guard with her?" Amras pried.
Amras had concern for his friend since he had settled into Ithilien. His duty could not have been an easy task. And he was often alone, staring off into the distance to some unknown places. Randiriel would do nothing to ease a mind that was already not restful. Amras saw her as impulsive and crude compared to other elliths from their home. Her skills gave her standing, but nothing else about her presence commanded him to respect her.
Legolas did not answer right away. Was this a selfish reason to leave Ithilien? Taking a break and just riding away? His heart was heavy, watching the daily grind of duties, the same tasks carried out day through day. The same pretty elliths who fluttered their eyelashes at him, knowing nothing of a deeper longing for the sea. This distraction was maybe just what he needed. Randiriel was not the easiest of company, but she was a momentary escape.
"Amras, ride home with the company. I am sure."
He thought quickly on his feet.
"Randiriel's father was a well-respected horse breeder to my father. He died an honorable man. Finding his daughter is as much a duty as keeping the peace at Ithilien."
Amras did not look convinced. A stiff breeze lifted his gelding's mane and the animal chomped on his bit, shifting his feet.
"Very well," he replied, somewhat stiffly.
Legolas followed him back to the rest of their riders and he quietly packed what was left of the provisions that the group would not need for their return journey. He affixed the newly filled and rounded packs to the saddle of his mount. He nodded to Amras before mounting and cantering back to Randiriel. Confused looks passed between the group, but Amras gave a sharp whistle and began galloping back across the plains.
Legolas slowed to a halt before a very confused and angry Randiriel.
"What are you doing?" she spat at him.
"I made a promise. I mean to keep it."
He pasted a very indifferent look upon his face. The sun was still high above the plain and he contentedly trotted his horse off, only looking back once to see if she followed.
Randiriel shook her head and trotted after him.
"Where do you propose we look, your highness?" she said, the last part dripping with sarcasm. She had meant to disappear for good, could she not find her sister.
"Are you not the tracker?" he replied innocently.
Randiriel pulled Hwesta up and dismounted.
"We were following Orc tracks before. I see none on this plain and we are nearly a mile from where I found her cloak. She could have gone anywhere."
"Do you believe she was picked up by Orcs?" Legolas asked with a frown.
"I do not know what to believe anymore. Her footprints disappeared and shortly after I found the Orc trail. I can only imagine she fell right into their hands."
She balled her hands into a fist, seething with frustration.
"Well, where could she have been heading?" A gentle hand was placed upon her back.
"I can only think she potentially went to Rivendell. Although none of our kin remain. She had grown restless lately. Muttering in her brief bouts of sleep."
"Elladan and Elrohir remain there," Legolas said thoughtfully. "She must know this and has made it."
Randiriel bit her lip. For her sister to have made it past the Misty Mountains by the Gap of Rohan by herself would be a large feat indeed. She did not trust herself to make it through unscathed. She would not admit it, but she was glad to have a companion, albeit it an elf she was not on comfortable terms with.
"Perhaps they will hold some comfort for us in Rivendell."
Legolas nodded and gave what he thought was a bracing smile for their journey. However, Randiriel looked pained and almost disgusted. He was not sure if it was because of him, her sister, or both. He muttered to himself under his breath as she swiftly mounted Hwesta and galloped away from him, making her way toward where she knew the Gap to be.
"Noro," he whispered to his mount.
Off they flew across the plains in pursuit of the dark haired rider ahead.
xXx
Just a couple side notes:
Randiriel - wandering maiden
Alassiel – Joyful
Hwesta – Breeze
