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Strong winds made the trees' boughs creak with movement as the two elleths ran past them, their giggling carrying like bells through the autumn breeze.
"Why do you make me chase you, heryn nin?" called the shorter elleth, her plain brown dress fluttering behind her in linen waves. The fabric was in no way luxurious, and instead bordered on utilitarian, being difficult to tear and stain. It seemed almost ugly compared to the silk gown worn by the elven Lady, who stopped to let her handmaiden catch up to her.
"You're inside so often, I though you would appreciate the exercise!" The pair laughed and sat down in the fine grass, still soft despite summer having passed and ended. "And what have I said about our time alone, Rae?"
"I am sorry, Arwen," the smaller elleth mumbled, a smile crossing her lips. She began rearranging their skirts so they would lie flat on the grass.
"None of that, muinthel nin, you have no duties with me!" Arwen exclaimed, taking Rae's hands in her own. Her eyes glittered with mirth as she moved to rumple the fabric around them, wrinkling the silk of her skirt in the process.
"Oh, you devil, I worked hard on that dress!" Rae's laughter rang out again and Arwen placed a kiss on the other elleth's pale forehead.
"Do not worry about my dress, muinthel nin." She moved to kneel behind Rae and began forming braids with her handmaiden's thick brown locks. Her hands moved dexterously, twisting and tugging the strands with ease and swiftness.
"Why do you call me that?" Rae whispered, loose hair flying gently around her face in the wind. It was comforting, having someone comb their fingers through her hair, pulling it into plaits like a mother would. Arwen leaned forward and gave her another kiss, this time on the cheek.
"What do you mean, muinthel nin?"
"Why do you call me your sister?" The sun had begun to touch the tops of the trees, signaling the day's coming end. Rae felt a twinge of guilt over the fact that she had neglected her archery practice and cleaning duties in favor of roaming Rivendell with her cousin. It was not often that they had the chance to spend time with only each other, though, and she forced the guilt to fade. Lord Elrond could not be angry at them for enjoying themselves.
"Why would I not?" Arwen asked, her voice light and cheery. "You are a sister in my eyes. Besides, Tindomiel was almost a second naneth to me, she would have liked us to be close."
Rae smiled again.
"Tell me a story about my naneth, Arwen," she said. She had so few memories of her mother and had learned all the stories Arwen and Elrond had to tell of her by heart.
"Oh, sweet elleth, I have told them all at least thrice now, how do you not grow bored of them?" Rae could hear the grin on her cousin's face, amusement lacing her voice. It was rare for Arwen to allow her emotions to show so blatantly in her words, and it made Rae happy to hear her cousin's content.
"That is perfectly fine with me," said Rae, poking Arwen's leg playfully.
Arwen began to tell of the time when Tindomiel had first come to Rivendell and how she would often use incorrect Sindarin phrases. While her Westron was impeccable, the woman found the Elven languages challenging, and once accidentally requested that her hair be cut short instead of braided. Though long hair was desired in women, Tindomiel decided that her new short locks were perfect for a mother-to-be, as children cannot tug at it as easily. Rae beamed as she listened.
Suddenly Arwen stopped speaking, her hands motionless. She stood and looked toward the woods, straightening her back with tension.
"What -"
"Hush!" The tall elleth held her hand up and cocked her head, as if listening for danger. Her nearly-black hair had begun to come loose, whipping around her shoulders with the heightening winds. Rae could only hear the rustling leaves; she climbed to her feet and attempted to focus like she had learned to do in her hunting lessons with Glorfindel. As Rae strained to listen, Arwen started to walk briskly back toward the city.
"Arwen, what did you hear?" Rae called after her cousin, adjusting her slipper that had come loose while she was sitting.
"I must meditate," shouted Arwen. Sighing with mild frustration, Rae followed her cousin. The setting sun fell further behind the swaying treetops, casting the clouds in dusty pink and orange.
XXXXX
"Adar, she is much too young to be talking about marriage!"
"Don't be silly, Arwen, she is 62, she is of age." Lord Elrond took another bite of his spinach-wrapped gelatin. "Betrothal is an experience best enjoyed when young."
Rae stared down at her plate, face burning. She had not wished for the discussion to turn to marriage; it was a conversation she had not expected to have for another hundred years.
"I am far past 2000 and I have never married," said Arwen, staring at her father with defiant irritation.
"That is because you are exceptionally stubborn," Elrond replied. "Rae is much more agreeable, and would make a fine companion for Dagoron. Besides, it was you who said she was unsuited for servant-work." He glanced up at Arwen, then to the embarrassed elleth seated next to her.
Rae had only ever cleaned arrows with the stoic Dagoron, and felt no attraction to him whatsoever. He was a rather dull elf, not at all someone Rae would wish to marry. She met his gaze for the split-second she dared to look up from her food, seeing the blank expression his face always held. Dagoron continued eating, contributing nothing to the conversation. His apathy was slightly annoying, and Rae turned her face back down to hide the scowl forming on her brow.
"Well, I have had quite enough," said Arwen, standing up and nudging Rae. "If you'll excuse me, I shall retire."
Rae took the hint and followed the Lady out to the hall, grateful for an excuse to leave the awkward conversation. At first she started toward Arwen's personal chambers, but stopped when she saw that her cousin was gliding off in the opposite direction. Moonlight made her skin glow ethereally, and she moved with the flawless grace that was characteristic of her people.
"Come along, Rae," Arwen whispered furtively, not turning around. Her gait was quick and with purpose. Rae rushed after, sparing a glance to the dining room doorway. They passed through many halls before Arwen stopped, opening the doors to a weapons store-room.
"Heryn nin, what are you doing?" said Rae as she checked to see if anyone had seen them enter the room. A clattering sound made her jump; Arwen had knocked over a small knife stand.
"Take these and go to the stables, I want Asfaloth and Paraghin to be ready to ride as swiftly as you can manage." Her expression was solemn, grey eyes hard with austerity and determination. She handed Rae a full quiver and short bow and pushed her toward the doorway. "Go!"
Rae nodded and ran out to the hall, pulling her skirt up with one hand to keep it out of the way. Swinging the quiver around her torso, she made her way to the stables as quietly as she could, scanning constantly for elves who might stop a servant.
"Cerelien!" The ginger elleth jolted awake, blinking away the open-eyed sleep she had been lost in. Rae pulled Asfaloth's tack from the shelf it sat on and threw it to the horses' caretaker. "Hurry!"
There were no questions, as Cerelien prided herself on efficiency. Both Asfaloth and Paraghin were dressed within minutes. Only when Arwen came in carrying two knapsacks and a sword did the stablehand question the other elleths' motivations.
"Lady Arwen -"
"Do not tell anyone that we've gone unless they ask," Arwen whispered, mounting Asfaloth and tying a knapsack to the saddle. Paraghin stood calmly as Rae struggled to mount with her skirt in the way, corners of her mouth downturned with frustration. She finally managed to settle in the saddle with the bow wrapped comfortably around her torso, her dress pooling around her in tan ripples.
"Do you have a cloak, Rae?" asked Cerelien, pulling a thick cloth off of the chair she had been resting in. Rae draped it over the saddle in front of her and gave a thankful nod. With that, she and Arwen left the stables, shimmering stars painted into the sky like glass eyes.
XXXXX
It was an hour before Arwen spoke. The two elleths had been riding in complete silence along the narrow path toward the forest, moving at a brisk walk, neither daring to look behind them. Rae had begun to tire and strained to keep from falling asleep.
"He is not alone," said Arwen, slowing Asfaloth so that she could look at Rae comfortably. "He has someone with him, perhaps more than one person. I cannot tell, the energy is faint."
"Who?" Rae clenched her jaw to prevent herself from yawning. Although she held endless love for Arwen in her heart, she could not help but be bothered by her cousin's secretive nature. Another moment of silence fell over them, allowing the songs of night creatures to fill their ears.
"Estel." Arwen's voice was soft when she finally spoke, delicate with affection. The name spilled from her lips in a veiled breath, dangling in the air like mist. Rae looked at her cousin, eyebrows knit with concern.
"Is he in danger?"
Arwen shook her head.
"I cannot know for certain. All I know is that we must find him soon, for there is a powerful presence passing through the forest." She closed her eyes for a moment, slowly breathing in the chilly autumn air. "Something draws near."
Rae felt a twinge of jealousy of her cousin's sensitive gift. Rarely did Rae ever have visions like the other elves often did, and they were often of events already past and irrelevant. Lord Elrond said that she had a spiritual block that made it difficult for her to connect with the vast universal energy surrounding them; he claimed it was a virtue, for it made her resistant to malevolent forces that could take advantage of others. Rae did not agree, and often wished that she too had a glimmer of clairvoyance, not a wall through which she could not see.
For another hour Rae kept herself awake, quietly trailing Arwen. Paraghil was a steady, intelligent horse, riding with such ease that Rae hardly ever moved the reins. Eventually Arwen told Rae to lean forward and sleep, for it could be days before they found Estel. Dreams of her naneth filled her mind for hours, only ending when the sun cast speckled light on her skin through the leaves overhead.
XXXXX
The following two days were colder than Rae had been prepared for. Whenever they stopped to rest, she would sit close to Arwen, nestling her head in the curve of her cousin's neck, shivering underneath the wool blanket. Occasionally Arwen would snap her head up, her eyes darting across the surrounding foliage; she suspected that they were being followed. After the sun had set on their second day out, fear had begun creeping into Rae's gut. Though she trusted Arwen, even she could feel the dark presence in the forest.
"Do you hear that?"
Arwen halted Asfaloth, her mouth held slightly open with alertness. Paraghin stopped parallel to Asfaloth, snorting with boredom. A rustling made Asfaloth flinch, and Arwen immediately dismounted.
"Your bow, Rae," she whispered. Rae slid the short bow over her head, dismounting as quietly as she could manage and pulling an arrow from her quiver. There was no sound as Arwen drew her sword from its sheath, stepping lightly toward the rustling sound. Rae could see a figure crouched between two trees, shuffling around in the vegetation, seemingly unaware of the two elleths watching. Arwen moved forward swiftly, soundlessly, placing the tip of her blade to the figure's chin.
"What's this? A Ranger, caught off his guard?"
The figure lifted its head, revealing the beginnings of a dark beard reaching over sharp, handsome features. Rae immediately recognized Estel, and she rushed forward, shoving the arrow back into her quiver. He stood, ripping a plant from the ground and turning his eyes to Arwen's.
"I need your help, heryn nin."
XXXXX
Only in depicted illustrations had Rae seen hobbits. The wounded one was the smallest of the four, his astoundingly blue eyes unfocused as he moaned with pain.
"He's not going to last, we must get him to my father," muttered Arwen. Estel lifted the hobbit and carried him to Asfaloth. "I've been looking for you for two days, there are five wraiths behind you -"
"Wraiths?!" Rae exclaimed, fear flooding her gut. "You said you didn't know what was in the forest!"
"I did not want to frighten you, muinthel nin," Arwen replied quietly as she pulled a strap tighter on Asfaloth's saddle.
"Dartho guin perian. Rych le ad tolthathon." Estel's voice was low, pained, his face nearly drained of color. Rae moved to Paraghin, preparing the horse to ride. Three hobbits watched and whispered to each other as Arwen attempted to convince Estel to let her take the smallest one, arguing that she would be faster.
"We do not fear them," said Rae as she mounted Paraghin, disguising well the blatant lie. Estel glanced at her, dark hair swinging around his weary face. He then turned back to Arwen, clasping her hand tightly in his own.
"Be iest lîn. Ride hard, don't look back."
The two elleths started off, moving at a canter as one of the hobbits shouted behind them. Asfaloth seemed unaware of the extra weight on his back, still swift as ever. Rae resisted the urge to glance over her shoulder, instead gazing ahead, her imagination running wild with visions of wraiths and venomous swords. The darkness blanketed her in silence that was broken only by pounding hooves and anxious breath.
heryn nin: my lady
muinthel nin: my sister
naneth: mother
Dartho guin perian. Rych le ad tolthathon. : Stay with the hobbits. I will send horses back for you.
Be iest lîn: As you wish.
