Liante Selde
Chapter 1: Spider of Mithril
Moon light filtered down through the knarled trees of Mirkwood. Bathing the forest floor in its pale light and illuminating the tawny haired figure below crouched beside a tree. The figure stood up slowly, revealing the slight curves of her body that marked her as female. She worn a silver tunic that softly hugged her body, soft brown breeches, matching boots that reached her knees and had silver weds decorating them. The sleeves of the tunic were short and capped, mithril bucklers rested on her pale forearms, a wide white choker rested on her throat. It was striking piece of jewelry, made from mithril with winter green gems inlaid the choker resembled a spider.
It's eight legs wrapped around the girls throat, the large gemstone abdomen nearly touched the dip in her collar bone, tiny gems lined the legs and formed the eyes of the spider. Tear drop shaped studs were the only adornment on the girls ears, they too were wintergreen in color. Her long tawny hair was tied back in a ponytail with a silver thread.
A cool breeze teased her hair, the girl narrowed her pale green eye's slightly before leaping into the nearest tree. Crouching on the branch she watched the wide path she had been standing on minutes ago. Three minutes passed before an elfish caravan passed below her, the girl watched them with soft eyes. The caravan had suffered recently. The way the guards limped and watched the woods around them told of an attack maybe two days ago. It was a small caravan consisting of three covered wagons, a handful of guardsmen, and women. A tiny cry rose up from the foremost caravan, the green eyed girl fought to stay put. There was a baby, an elfish baby in the caravan.
Hoof beats from up ahead jerked her gazed away from the wagons. An elk with massive horns leaped out of the brush. Behind it were several silver greenwood horses, all of these creatures bore riders. The one on the elk was easily the most majestic elf the girl had ever seen as he sat proud and tall on his elk, his eye's however were a bit too cold for her liking. Beside him on a handsome dapple gray stallion was almost a younger and slightly shorter version of the cold eyed elf. His eyes however were warmer and brighter, she liked him right away. She was debating on going down and introducing herself when a horrid hissing filled the forest. The mounted elves shared a look before spurring their mounts forward while the caravan below but their efforts were in vain.
Twenty massive spiders burst out of the darkness, dropping down on thick threads or racing around the trees. The elves around the caravan leaped into action, drawing swords and firing arrows. The spiders fell but not fast enough as they neared the caravan with a seemingly single minded focus. A cry torn through the air and the spiders goal became apparent, the elf babe. The elves mounted on their horses had reached the fight and were now aiding the caravan, still know but the tawny haired girl noticed a single young elf fighting five large spiders who had crowded around the cart where the babe was concealed. A snarl ripped through the tawny haired girls throat as the spiders started to subdue the elf, she could hear them whispering about how they would eat him and the babe.
With a vicious hiss she leaped from the tree, a brief pale glow encased her body as she took on the form of a giant spider. Unlike the foul creatures before her she was magnificent to behold. Her body was the color of mithril with light mint green markings, her eyes were a shade darker than her markings. Ivory fangs clacked angrily as she raced forward and with a screech slammed into a spider attacking the warm eyed elf. Four of her front legs grabbed the offending spider and proceeded to rip it apart while she sank her fangs into its head. The spider died with a brief cry before falling forever silent. The white spider raised up high on four rear legs and pawed the air with the front four as she screamed her war cry and made for the trapped elf.
Legolas stood frozen, blue eyes wide with shock as a spider as white as mithril tore apart the spider he'd been fighting then it screeched a war cry and raced off. Tearing through other spiders as it went with savage purpose.
"Legolas!" he turned at the sound of his name and saw his father racing over to him on his elk, "Are you alright Ion-nin?" Thranduil asked pulling Legolas on to the elk behind him.
"Yes Ada, where did that one come from?" Legolas asked turning his gaze back to the white spider. It had reached the cart that was surrounded by spiders and had begun to toss them aside as if they were no bigger than goblins.
"I do not know, nor do I trust it to still be on our side when this is over." Thranduil said with an icy glare at the spider. A desperate cry came from the center of the Mirkwood spiders around the cart, Legolas felt his blood freeze at the quenian cry for help. The white spider redoubled its efforts and started screeching, as if answering the cry for help.
"Ada! That was Daugion's son, Thorontur!" Legolas said, his chest growing tight with worry. Thranduil snarled and spurred his elk forward towards the fight, Thorontur was the second youngest son of one of his most trusted border guards and spiders be forever cursed if they thought they could take the young elf. Legolas leaped off the elk and raced towards the spiders but fate was not on his side. Thorontur was lifted into the air by a spider, limp, pale, and glassy eyed. His right arm bled sluggishly from a spiders bite. Another foul beast up in a tree took him and raced off hissing manically.
A screech ripped throughout the battle zone and soon the spiders around the caravan littered the ground as the white spider tore them apart, literally. Not wanting to face the same fate the rest of the spiders abandoned their mission and retreated. The pale spider screeched in fury as the spiders abandoned the caravan, it made a curious sound like a huff before carefully drawing back a curtain to peek inside the cart. It raised itself up and looked inside, the elves prepared to spring when the spider churred softly before bolting towards them. The spider raced towards the elves who leaped out of its way, only to be ignored as it ran up a tree and through the branches. Following the spiders that had taken the young elf.
Legolas watched as Daugion raced towards the cart and darted inside, he could hear relieved and saddened cries from the captain. He was glad that his baby and wife had been unharmed but the loss of Thorontur was still raw and painful. The tall brown haired elf stepped out of the cart as his daughter and oldest son disappeared inside.
"I am sorry Daugion, I could not reach Thorontur fast enough." Legolas said hanging his head. A strong hand clasped his shoulder and he lifted his gaze to meet the tear filled gaze of the border guard.
"It was not your fault Prince Legolas, Thorontur knew the risks and fought like a true sylvan warrior. He saved his younger brother and mother, I could not be prouder of him." Daugion said in a wavering but strong voice.
"I know it will not ease any of your pain Daugion, but know that I will not rest until I have recovered his body for an honorable burial fitting the warrior that he was." Thranduil said as he strode over to them. The elf king was furious over the loss of the young one. Daugion bowed his head in thanks and went back to his family. Thranduil mounted his elk and Legolas mounted his horse, the rest of their party followed suit. Half stayed to guard the caravan while the rest raced off to find the young elf.
The white spider's blood boiled as she tore through the trees, it was not hard to follow the spiders. They were careless and over confident, their threads told her where they were headed and the saliva told her how close she was. Hissing came from up ahead as well as faint whimpers of fear. Growling she picked up the pace, she found herself in the branches of a dimly lit clearing. There was one massive spider in the center that was circling a thin bundle of silk that whimpered every now and again. The spider cackled manaically, the pale spider gripped the branches almost hard enough to crack them, it was a horde Queen. A young one with little experience but still large enough to be a problem to any elf. The white spider was glad that she was currently not an elf.
The salivating spider began to descend upon the bound elf with sickening lust. The white spider sprang from her hiding place and rushed the young queen. She had the element of surprise on her side and used it well, she was larger than the queen and used her size to bowl the offending spider over. Knocking her away from the young elf and placing her large body between them. The young horde queen keened in pain as she was bowled onto her back, she barely managed to get to her feet again in time to see the pale spider attack her.
"What, is this?! How dare you attack me! You serve me!" the queen hissed harshly. The pale spider made a growling noise and held two of her long limbs in the air in a threatening gesture.
"I do not serve what I hunt, what I kill." She hissed back. The young queen flinched away from her. Behind her the elf moaned and gave a brief struggle in an attempt to escape but was quickly exhausted.
"Give me my prey!" the queen demanded having noticed the struggling elf, "I caught it, I eat it!" the white spider took notice of the desperation in the spider's voice. The queen must have nested nearby somewhere and was going to use the elf as a teasing treat for the soon to hatch young. The white spider raised another pair of her legs up and spread the four limbs in a blocking gesture that claimed the elf as her prey.
"Give it to me!" the queen screamed. The white spider just hissed in response. Screeching in rage the young queen attacked, charging straight at the white spider. With a hiss the white spider lunged forward and with a sweep of her four raised limbs batted the attacking spider away. The queen stumbled then lunged again, this time the white spider met her head on. She held her ground as the young queen rammed into her and tried to climb over the top of her. With a shriek the white spider whipped her body sideways flinging the queen off her back.
The queen landed on her back but this time there was no getting back up. The white spider quickly pinned her, easily fending off the flailing limbs off the younger spider. Hissing she dove downward and sank her fangs into the exposed underside of the queen. The spider gave an ear splitting scream before twitching and falling still. The white spider pulled her fangs out of the dead one now lying in a shriveled heap on the forest floor and turned her attention to the elf lying bound in threads.
The young elf started to shake as the white spider approached. Her heart ached at the fear in his hazel eyes, reaching out one limb she gently stroked it up and down his side in a comforting motion.
"Hush young one, I will not harm you but you must stay quiet if we are to get you back to your people safely." She whispered in quenya, her voice carrying a musical lilt. Hazel eyes widened in surprise, obviously the Mirkwood spiders were not gifted in any tongue other than their own barbaric speech.
"Yes young one, I speak your language and many others for that matter. Now hold still I am going to carry you away from here." The white spider carefully slipped a pair of her long pale limbs under the young elf's shoulders and behind his knees. Once he was gently an securely cradled in her arms the white spider quickly scurried out of the dark clearing. She traveled silently and swiftly until she reached the river. It was not the one that put anyone who touched it to sleep thank goodness but its waters were swift and violent. Carefully she crept along the bank until she found a small pool that was sheltered and calm.
"I am going to put you in the water now young one, it is the best way to get the webs off of you without tearing off skin." She told him. He stiffened at the mention of tearing off skin, "I will not do that to you, you silly thing. Now the water is very cold so brace yourself." With that she lowly lowered him into the water. Legs first until he was submerged up to his neck, Thorontur hissed at the touch of the cold water. The white spider churred apologetically and stretched out another limb to wash and coax the webs off the young elf. She also sent a pulse of magic into the puncture on his are, purging the venom from his system.
"W-w-who are you?" Thorontur asked softly. His teeth chattering from the cold water.
"A friend, a stranger, and someone who shares many common foes with your kin." She said in a teasing cryptic fashion. Thorontur scowled at her, the white spider chuckled and wiped a large piece of web off his torso freeing his arms. Thorontur rolled his shoulders and sighed in relief, "Is that better?" she asked.
"Much better, thank you." He sighed, then frowned.
"What?" she asked patiently.
"I am lying in cold river water, talking to, and being tended to by a giant white spider that speaks quenya." Thorontur stated.
"I prefer Sindar but yes I speak quenya, I also speak in westron, khuzdul, black speech, and the green tongue of the halflings." She told him lifting him out of the water now web free. Two of her legs held him up while a back pair worked curiously behind her for a moment before she produced a thick, fluffy, and very warm, towel and proceeded to dry off the young elf. She was also mending his clothing while she worked. Thorontur began to nod off under her gentle touch, he was no longer in pain, he was now warm, and very tired. The white spider chuffed good naturedly and wrapped him in a large silk blanket before placing him on her back.
"Now sleep young one, I will wake you when we reach your kin." The white spider said in a matronly tone. Thorontur did not need to be told twice, elves were sensitive to any kind of dark or evil in one's body and the white spider was as pure and gentle as they came. With a yawn Thorontur was out like a light, chuffing to herself the white spider set off for the Mirkwood palace.
Legolas and his party of six other elves rode in tense silence towards the gates of Mirkwood's kingdom, their horses hooves clattering on the stone bridge. The doors swept open ask Thranduil strode out to meet them. Legolas dismounted with a heavy heart.
"Did you find him?" Thranduil asked. Daugion was right behind him, eyes hopeful.
"No, Ada, we could not find him or the spider that took him." Legolas said hanging his head. Thranduil sighed and placed a comforting hand on his sons shoulder.
"I will send another patrol out to find him, you and your company are to come in and rest. You have done your best Ion-nin, I could not ask for more." Thranduil said gently.
"Nor could I, I am grateful that you are going to such lengths to find-" Daugion was cut off by several loud shrieks of quenya and a flurry of movement as guards swarmed around them in a protective ring.
"What is going on?" Thranduil demanded pushing to the front with his son and border guard. Legolas felt his heart hammer in panic and the blood drain from his face. Slowly crawling across the bridge in front of them was the white spider from the previous battle. "How did that beast find us?" Thranduil snarled. Legolas tensed as his father turned to order the guards to kill the spider, a strangled cry nearly made him jump out of his skin. Daugion ran past him and straight for the spider as fast as he could.
"Daugion! What are you doing?" Legolas cried. Daugion skidded to halt just in front of the spider, easily within range. His body shaking, fists clenched apprehensively by his sides.
"Give him to me!" came the hoarse request. Daugion sounded as if he were begging the spider, "Please, give him to me!"
"Calm yourself Master Elf, your young one is safe and whole. Just a little bit sleepy." The white spider said with a laughing chuff. Slowly, so as not to spook the tense elves, she roused Thorontur on her back and lifted him off and placed him on his feet. Thorontur rubbed his eyes and then looked up, shock and joy lighting his face.
"Ada." He said happily. Daugion cried out in joy and wrapped his son in a strong embrace. Legolas watched in shock, a spider had saved and returned a young elf? And appeared to be smiling!
"He has had a trying night Master Elf, I suggest that you take this young one into see his Naneth and then put him to bed." The spider advised. Legolas felt his eyebrows hit his hair line, it spoke and is knew elvish?! Daugion seemed just as surprised but nodded none the less, scooped up his son and trotted back inside.
"What do you want spider?" Thranduil asked. His cold voice cut the brief silence.
"I have accomplished what I have wanted for this evening, tomorrow is a different matter." The spider answered.
"Why did you return Thorontur? Why did you not eat him?" Legolas asked before he could stop himself. Thranduil gave him a look but said nothing.
"I will answer the second question first to shed light on the first question. My answer is, Yuck! I detest eating elves, men, dwarves, hobbits, or wizards for that matter. I eat what you like to eat, deer, fruit, vegetables, sweets when I can get them. Also to answer your first question, I have seen the pain caused by losing little ones or parents, I cannot stand it so I try and prevent it when I can." The spider answered politely.
"But you are a spider are you not? How can you not eat what is in your nature to eat?" Legolas pressed.
"Because I am not what I seem. I am not a spider therefore it is not, as you say, 'in my nature' to eat an elf." The spider answered, a glimmer in her mint green eyes.
"How are you not a spider?" Thranduil asked. The spider chuckled and then a fine, glowing mist cover her form briefly. When it disappeared there stood a tawny haired girl with mint green eyes, and a mithril spider choker around her neck.
"Because I am not a spider." She said with a spider. Legolas stared at her with wide blue eyes as the moonlight cast a gentle glow on her form, making her appear as ethereal as Mithril in starlight.
"What is your name?" he asked her.
"I have none, call me whatever you want." She told him.
"Mithril," Legolas said. The words tumbled out before he could stop them. His father gaped at him and some of the guards drew in a sharp breath, "I will call you Mithril." Mithrill smiled at him, a pure, genuine smile.
"Then I shall now be known as Mithril. It is getting late and the spiders are still ravenous, if you wish I will meet you both here tomorrow and tell you what I am here for." Mithril said.
"We will meet you here in the morning." Thranduil said stiffly.
"In the morning then." Mithril bowed, met Legolas' gaze for a moment, and then darted off with a silvery laugh. Legolas watched until she had disappeared, for some reason he could not wait until morning.
Idhrenion (Eeth-rehn-ee-on)-wise one