Note: This tale was written by a number of people, and compiled by Saber
and Blaze. We take no credit for the brilliance of this story (joke. Calm
down.) OK, we take a little credit, but only 1/12 of the credit apiece,
because there were quite a few authors. They were us, Saber (Elenna and
Glorfindel) and Blaze (Alatiriel), Cimmerian (Azruk), Amanaduial the Archer
(Amanaduial and Lindir), Arwen Baggins (Fëaelenawen), Celebmundoiel
(Celebmundoiel), Manelwen (Keldin, Sillothwen, Daelothwen), Nevtalathiel
(Thrakatburz), Rosa Baggins (Rosa Baggins), Daniel Telcontar (Aduchil)
Viking Thunder (Hogarth) and Alkerin (Therin).
None of us own Lord of the Rings, or make any claim to the LoTR empire. Nor are we saying JRR Tolkien had any input in this story. This is entirely extrapolation and imagination. Therefore, you have A) no right to sue us and B) No right to use the original characters without permission of the creators. Yes, we've taken liberties, but we consider them acceptable. R&R with comments, questions, complaints, whatever. But don't even bother to flame us. We won't respond.
Love, Saber and Blaze
ONE - Whispers of War
Elenna Starsong fought hard to sit still and failed. Nervously, she drummed her fingers on her knee and tapped her foot. Lord Elrond had summoned her to the Hall of Records for a private conference, but he had yet to arrive. What in the name of Elbereth, could he want to talk to me for? she asked herself.
But she didn't bother to contemplate an answer, because Lord Elrond himself suddenly entered the room. His blue robes were wrinkled and his hair, normally smooth, hung tangled around his face. Elenna looked at him in concern, and as his eyes met hers, she knew something was horribly wrong. His eyes, normally calm, were bright with emotion. Anger and fear ran rampant in them.
"My lord, what is wrong?" She couldn't quite conceal the tremor in her voice.
"Word has just come from Lorien. A host from Mordor has crossed the Nimrodel and is coming here."
"Are you sure?" The elf-maid's blue eyes clouded with anxiety. She had come to Rivendell to dwell ten years ago, and had already come to love it as a place of peace. Now war threatened its very walls.
"Completely sure. I have been up all night, trying to come up with some course of action to stem the tide of this evil."
"How many are there?"
"At least twenty thousand. Too great for the Galadhrim to even attempt to stall."
"And too great for the flooding of the Bruinen to deter, I suppose."
" Yes. We will have to fight. You, Elenna, will lead the forces of Rivendell into battle."
"Me? But I'm a maiden. And I'm so much younger than the rest of the warriors. I don't have nearly enough experience. Maybe Glorfindel."
"No. I have chosen you, and you will do this task."
"But why?"
"Many reasons. Do you remember when the Fellowship of the Ring was formed, and I refused to allow you to represent the Elves? It was because I had a premonition that you would be needed here."
Elenna interrupted. "And Glorfindel wouldn't let you send me."
The elf lord smiled wanly. "True. He would not thank me for sending you on such a dangerous quest. But what we do now may be as dangerous. You truly are the best choice. This is your destiny, Elenna Starsong. If you cannot save Rivendell, no one can and no one will." Elrond frowned. "And you have intimate knowledge of the orcs' commander."
Hot anger filled Elenna's heart. She reached over her shoulder and fingered her sword hilt. "Azruk," she muttered. Then, grasping the hilt, she drew the sword. Taking it in both hands, she knelt and presented it to Elrond. Pale sunlight shone on the curved blade, lighting one word carved on the silvery metal - Lalaith. "Command me, my lord Elrond. My blade and my life are forever pledged to you and Rivendell."
Elenna and Lord Elrond spent a few hours going over maps of Rivendell and the surrounding area, discussing weaknesses and strengths. Finally, the lord nodded at Elenna.
"I've kept you too long, child. It is nearly time for the noon meal, and Glorfindel will be wondering what is keeping you."
Elenna rose. "Do not worry, Lord Elrond. We won't allow anything to happen to this place. Now get some rest."
"There is one more thing, Elenna, one more reason Rivendell cannot be taken." Elrond glanced around nervously. "The Ring of Air, Vilya. If it were captured." he trailed off, and Elenna felt a new icy claw of fear grasp her heart. As if Rivendell itself weren't enough, now the fate of the world was in her hands. Glancing down, she saw the brown stripes of callus crossing her palm. I may not be a sorceress, nor a great commander, but I am a fighter. She looked up at Elrond again, all traces of fear gone from her face. Her jaw was set stubbornly, and a fierce fire burned in her eyes. The elf lord was surprised at the change, and a faint hope bloomed in his heart. Maybe, just maybe, they would succeed. Her words made him actually believe that Rivendell might survive.
"I swear to you, Rivendell will never fall while I have strength left." Then, turning, Elenna Starsong strode out of the chamber.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^
The snaga led Azruk a merry chase through the tunnels of Lugburz. "Hurry! Hurry!" the little orc whined as he scurried forward, his knuckles brushing the ground. "You have orders from High Up - mustn't be late!"
Azruk cursed under his breath, thinking of a thousand bloody ways he'd like to slice the snaga as he crouched to make it through a low doorway. It had been a year or two since he had been on any missions for the Eye, and he felt a burning desire to march, to fight, to conquer. And he had a feeling that he would be doing those things before long. A fierce grin on his face, he continued to follow the snaga.
After some time of running crouched through narrow tunnels, Azruk was finally brought to a large room with a high, vaulted ceiling. The air felt close and stuffy, and a foul stench permeated the room, disgusting even an orc.
"Wait here." The snaga glanced over his shoulder once and dashed off as if the very Nazgul were chasing him. Azruk stood nervously, wondering what was about to befall him.
Suddenly a chill wind blew into the room. Azruk shivered as it moved across his thick hide.
"Well, Azruk," a voice said. The Uruk-hai fell to his knees. He had heard this voice before only once - when he had been on Lugburz duty and had accidentally wandered into the top chamber. It was the voice of the Dark Lord. Powerful and deep as the fires that burned in Mount Doom, but reeking of pure evil, it whispered in Azruk's ear - a whisper more terrifying than a shout. "I have a task for you to perform." Azruk could only crouch lower and nod his head. "You are to lead a great host out of my lands and over the Misty Mountains. There, you are to conquer the House of Elrond, Rivendell."
Azruk raised his head. "I will kill all who dwell there!" he said fiercely, hoping against hope that the Dark Lord would be pleased.
"I care not. I only have one task for you - I have been told that the elf Elrond carries a Ring of Power. Bring it to me. And I believe there are some halflings at that house - bring them to me as well. And if you should fail." the voice, terrifying before, now became deathly cold. Azruk pressed his hands to his ears, trying to block it out.
"I shall not fail, my Lord."
None of us own Lord of the Rings, or make any claim to the LoTR empire. Nor are we saying JRR Tolkien had any input in this story. This is entirely extrapolation and imagination. Therefore, you have A) no right to sue us and B) No right to use the original characters without permission of the creators. Yes, we've taken liberties, but we consider them acceptable. R&R with comments, questions, complaints, whatever. But don't even bother to flame us. We won't respond.
Love, Saber and Blaze
ONE - Whispers of War
Elenna Starsong fought hard to sit still and failed. Nervously, she drummed her fingers on her knee and tapped her foot. Lord Elrond had summoned her to the Hall of Records for a private conference, but he had yet to arrive. What in the name of Elbereth, could he want to talk to me for? she asked herself.
But she didn't bother to contemplate an answer, because Lord Elrond himself suddenly entered the room. His blue robes were wrinkled and his hair, normally smooth, hung tangled around his face. Elenna looked at him in concern, and as his eyes met hers, she knew something was horribly wrong. His eyes, normally calm, were bright with emotion. Anger and fear ran rampant in them.
"My lord, what is wrong?" She couldn't quite conceal the tremor in her voice.
"Word has just come from Lorien. A host from Mordor has crossed the Nimrodel and is coming here."
"Are you sure?" The elf-maid's blue eyes clouded with anxiety. She had come to Rivendell to dwell ten years ago, and had already come to love it as a place of peace. Now war threatened its very walls.
"Completely sure. I have been up all night, trying to come up with some course of action to stem the tide of this evil."
"How many are there?"
"At least twenty thousand. Too great for the Galadhrim to even attempt to stall."
"And too great for the flooding of the Bruinen to deter, I suppose."
" Yes. We will have to fight. You, Elenna, will lead the forces of Rivendell into battle."
"Me? But I'm a maiden. And I'm so much younger than the rest of the warriors. I don't have nearly enough experience. Maybe Glorfindel."
"No. I have chosen you, and you will do this task."
"But why?"
"Many reasons. Do you remember when the Fellowship of the Ring was formed, and I refused to allow you to represent the Elves? It was because I had a premonition that you would be needed here."
Elenna interrupted. "And Glorfindel wouldn't let you send me."
The elf lord smiled wanly. "True. He would not thank me for sending you on such a dangerous quest. But what we do now may be as dangerous. You truly are the best choice. This is your destiny, Elenna Starsong. If you cannot save Rivendell, no one can and no one will." Elrond frowned. "And you have intimate knowledge of the orcs' commander."
Hot anger filled Elenna's heart. She reached over her shoulder and fingered her sword hilt. "Azruk," she muttered. Then, grasping the hilt, she drew the sword. Taking it in both hands, she knelt and presented it to Elrond. Pale sunlight shone on the curved blade, lighting one word carved on the silvery metal - Lalaith. "Command me, my lord Elrond. My blade and my life are forever pledged to you and Rivendell."
Elenna and Lord Elrond spent a few hours going over maps of Rivendell and the surrounding area, discussing weaknesses and strengths. Finally, the lord nodded at Elenna.
"I've kept you too long, child. It is nearly time for the noon meal, and Glorfindel will be wondering what is keeping you."
Elenna rose. "Do not worry, Lord Elrond. We won't allow anything to happen to this place. Now get some rest."
"There is one more thing, Elenna, one more reason Rivendell cannot be taken." Elrond glanced around nervously. "The Ring of Air, Vilya. If it were captured." he trailed off, and Elenna felt a new icy claw of fear grasp her heart. As if Rivendell itself weren't enough, now the fate of the world was in her hands. Glancing down, she saw the brown stripes of callus crossing her palm. I may not be a sorceress, nor a great commander, but I am a fighter. She looked up at Elrond again, all traces of fear gone from her face. Her jaw was set stubbornly, and a fierce fire burned in her eyes. The elf lord was surprised at the change, and a faint hope bloomed in his heart. Maybe, just maybe, they would succeed. Her words made him actually believe that Rivendell might survive.
"I swear to you, Rivendell will never fall while I have strength left." Then, turning, Elenna Starsong strode out of the chamber.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^
The snaga led Azruk a merry chase through the tunnels of Lugburz. "Hurry! Hurry!" the little orc whined as he scurried forward, his knuckles brushing the ground. "You have orders from High Up - mustn't be late!"
Azruk cursed under his breath, thinking of a thousand bloody ways he'd like to slice the snaga as he crouched to make it through a low doorway. It had been a year or two since he had been on any missions for the Eye, and he felt a burning desire to march, to fight, to conquer. And he had a feeling that he would be doing those things before long. A fierce grin on his face, he continued to follow the snaga.
After some time of running crouched through narrow tunnels, Azruk was finally brought to a large room with a high, vaulted ceiling. The air felt close and stuffy, and a foul stench permeated the room, disgusting even an orc.
"Wait here." The snaga glanced over his shoulder once and dashed off as if the very Nazgul were chasing him. Azruk stood nervously, wondering what was about to befall him.
Suddenly a chill wind blew into the room. Azruk shivered as it moved across his thick hide.
"Well, Azruk," a voice said. The Uruk-hai fell to his knees. He had heard this voice before only once - when he had been on Lugburz duty and had accidentally wandered into the top chamber. It was the voice of the Dark Lord. Powerful and deep as the fires that burned in Mount Doom, but reeking of pure evil, it whispered in Azruk's ear - a whisper more terrifying than a shout. "I have a task for you to perform." Azruk could only crouch lower and nod his head. "You are to lead a great host out of my lands and over the Misty Mountains. There, you are to conquer the House of Elrond, Rivendell."
Azruk raised his head. "I will kill all who dwell there!" he said fiercely, hoping against hope that the Dark Lord would be pleased.
"I care not. I only have one task for you - I have been told that the elf Elrond carries a Ring of Power. Bring it to me. And I believe there are some halflings at that house - bring them to me as well. And if you should fail." the voice, terrifying before, now became deathly cold. Azruk pressed his hands to his ears, trying to block it out.
"I shall not fail, my Lord."