Seinomin kept firing arrows, some with bitter accuracy and others without grace, without target, that clattered to the floor in the centre of the muffled drumbeat. He watched the door to the corridor that Rhiennan had taken. In his mind's eye, he saw her fleeting silhouette replaying itself; the way she stooped, hesitated and ran, they way she seemed to know all and nothing at the same time. In the darkness, he had learnt, everything was a matter of trusting yourself.
Eventually, the pressure was too much. His arm was beginning to strain with the pointless repetition of firing arrows at an ever increasing orc-guard. They couldn't replace themselves fast enough. So far, no audible casualties.. Secretly, he knew that his position of healer had long since run out: orc poison differed for each pack, and who knows what toxins the foul creatures had found in the mines..
So he followed her. There were no ambiguous turnings to betray him. He watched her mirage flit lightly down the dark stairs, and knew in his heart that he was drawing nearer. It was like her valiance had left a trail of stars for him to follow, glistening like bright rain on the steps.
*My eyes must be deceiving me,* he thought, quietly.
/ And in the glade a light was seen
Of stars in shadow shimmering.
Tinúviel was dancing there
To music of a pipe unseen,
And light of stars was in her hair,
And in her raiment glimmering./
He recalled it to soothe his wearied mind, and, in part, it reminded him of Rhiennan, and what she would have looked like ere moonlight fell on her. Better. Prouder. More like an elf than-
Than this.
Her body lay collapsed on the chamebr floor. He had hardly realised where he was, and had had to almost stumble on her body.
"Rhiennan," he mumbled, turning her face up, searching for poisoned arrows. All the words of the song were lost now, and his mind strove to find something to cling to, some reasoning that would let them free, into the open air, into the gardens of Elrond..
"Rhiennan?" He tried to rouse her, gently at first, then pleading with her to wake.
Finally, he cried aloud,
Heri! Galadriel, natanto in giliath m'i morni:e! Talo galadhlya,
calyon, ar yeto yend:elya!Boe ammen veriad lîn..
"Lady! Galadriel, throw down the stars into the dark(ness)! Show your
light, illuminate me and look upon your daughter! We desire greatly your
protection..
Eventually, the pressure was too much. His arm was beginning to strain with the pointless repetition of firing arrows at an ever increasing orc-guard. They couldn't replace themselves fast enough. So far, no audible casualties.. Secretly, he knew that his position of healer had long since run out: orc poison differed for each pack, and who knows what toxins the foul creatures had found in the mines..
So he followed her. There were no ambiguous turnings to betray him. He watched her mirage flit lightly down the dark stairs, and knew in his heart that he was drawing nearer. It was like her valiance had left a trail of stars for him to follow, glistening like bright rain on the steps.
*My eyes must be deceiving me,* he thought, quietly.
/ And in the glade a light was seen
Of stars in shadow shimmering.
Tinúviel was dancing there
To music of a pipe unseen,
And light of stars was in her hair,
And in her raiment glimmering./
He recalled it to soothe his wearied mind, and, in part, it reminded him of Rhiennan, and what she would have looked like ere moonlight fell on her. Better. Prouder. More like an elf than-
Than this.
Her body lay collapsed on the chamebr floor. He had hardly realised where he was, and had had to almost stumble on her body.
"Rhiennan," he mumbled, turning her face up, searching for poisoned arrows. All the words of the song were lost now, and his mind strove to find something to cling to, some reasoning that would let them free, into the open air, into the gardens of Elrond..
"Rhiennan?" He tried to rouse her, gently at first, then pleading with her to wake.
Finally, he cried aloud,
Heri! Galadriel, natanto in giliath m'i morni:e! Talo galadhlya,
calyon, ar yeto yend:elya!Boe ammen veriad lîn..
"Lady! Galadriel, throw down the stars into the dark(ness)! Show your
light, illuminate me and look upon your daughter! We desire greatly your
protection..