Cast Out
"Your leaving?" Thalyin asked the dark haired elf standing in front of her.
"Yes. Don't worry, I'll be back in a few months." He looked at her with his bright blue eyes on her dark brown, which were filling with tears. He placed his hand on her face and caressed her cheek with his thumb. She sat up straighter and looked deeply into his eyes, silently begging him to stay. Instinctively she put her hand upon his face and stroked the scar on his left cheek, as she had done as a child.
"But I don't want you to leave, why do you have to?" She asked him sliding off the fallen tree on which she had been sitting and stood looking at him, taking in his appearance, just in case. He was taller then her by a head and a half, which wasn't a surprise as she was small for her age, he had long brown hair and his blue eyes were shaped like ovals, he had the perfect pale elven complection, his face was shaped like an oval with plump lips and high cheeks. He had three scars on his face: one striking through his right eyebrow, a deep scar on his left cheek, and one on his chin.
"I know, but I promise I'll be back soon. I feel that I should be somewhere else right now, I don't know where, but I have to go." He knew that she would not be satisfied with this answer but it was the only thing her could tell her, he wasn't sure why he was leaving himself.
"Very vague answer Anwanir.'' She said as she crossed her arms across her chest and looked as him sternly with her eyebrows low over her dark eyes that were reflection the light if the fire to their left. He sighed and looked over into the fire. His eyes showed the look of "why-does-she-have-to-be-so-stubborn", but underneath there was something else, something Thalyin couldn't place. "Your my best friend, can't I be worried about you?" She said, deciding to break the silence that had fallen between the two.
"Yes, of course you can. But I feel like this is something I have to do. You know my feelings have never been wrong." He stated looking into her eyes again.
"I know, but doesn't mean I want you to go." She said shoving his shoulder back with her hand lightly. He laughed and leaned forward quickly, planting his lips lightly on Thalyin's forehead and pulling back just as fast, "I be back soon, I promise you that Thal." She looked into his piercing blue eyes and pulled him into a hug, which he returned. "I know." She whispered into his pointy ear. He released her and walked into the hut in which he was standing in front of. Thalyin walked in behind him and asked if he wanted any help, he accepted and they packed various supplies and food. Once Thalyin had to remind Anwanir to bring his bow and arrows.
He walked out of the hut, supplied slung over his shoulder, and got onto his horse (a gift from before he was exiled, from his good friend Legolas). He spoke elvish it the horse, named Shadow Breaker, and it started running. Shadow Breaker started off slow, but got faster as he weaved in and out of the trees. Thalyin always noticed, and marveled at, how the two seemed to flow and relate so well, how Shadow Breaker would run as fast as Anwanir wanted him to, and how Anwanir could tell if Shadow Breaker was sick or in pain. They were almost out of sight getting steadily smaller, if Thalyin squinted slightly she could still see them, and now...
CRASH...
Thalyin sat up with a start instinctively grabbing the hilt of the sword at her side, she had been having the same dream she had been having for at least the last two weeks. She was angry at the sound that had awoken her, that memory was the only thing that gave her any hope Anwanir was still alive. He promised her that he would come back soon, and he never went back on his promises. For a split second she remembered the feeling of his lips on her forehead and how their warmth painfully contrasted to those of his fathers, when he had kissed her forehead seconds before his death.
She looked around the small cave she had made her temporary home. The front entrance was covered by a large tree, her supplies were sprawled around the cave floor, and in the back there was a small pool with a waterfall coming out from above the cave. She looked at her right arm, the scar given to her by Boarad shone against her already pale skin, her sleeve was at her elbow and she pulled it back down. She ran her hand through her black hair and a small amount of dust came out in a cloud.
Yawning heavily and covering her mouth with the back of one hand, she got off the ground and brushed the excess dirt off of her pants. She could hear voices outside, obviously the origin of the crash that had awaken her.
She stooped low and snatched up her weapons. She placed her two throwing knives in her boots, her bow and arrows slung over her back, and her short swords in the belt on her right side opposite the long sword.
Creeping carefully to the mouth of the cave, she debated the thought of taking the bow off of her back and preparing to use it, but decided not to. The voices outside sounded human enough, and she had quick enough reflexes that if need be she could arm herself with the bow and arrows. She stepped out from behind the tree and slid to a slightly smaller tree in front, that hid her completely. She stood with her back against the tree and held her breath, fearing she had been heard, as one of the people, or whatever they were, had stopped talking. The people seemed to shrug the sound off as an animal of some sort.
Thalyin looked around the tree and saw that had made such a large racket, one man, human by the look of him, and four short creatures that looked like children. She knew they were not dwarfs, as they had no beards, and she noticed that they had very rough, leathery feet covered in thick curly hair. She recognized them as hobbit's, a creature that Leyorlilan and Anwanir had told her about when she was a young child. One was covered in a large amount of dirt and holding a frying pan with several other cooking tools down near his feet, he had an innocent look of dimness about him (you know the one) while the other three, one in particular, gave him deeply reproachful looks, the man looked entertained and had a small smile on his face. The hobbit that had been giving the particularly reproachful look had started talking.
"I told you to be careful, Pip. I said we should have put those on the pony." He pointed to a small pony being lead by a fat hobbit with red hair. The other hobbit, apparently "Pip" mumbled something about he could carry it but he had just tripped on a tree root, while he picked up the kitchen utinsels.
"Pippin, please be reasonable. Bill can carry all of those things." The fat hobbit pleaded pulling at the pony's reigns.
It took about fifteen minutes of this kind of pursuation, with no help whatsoever from the man, to get the hobbit called Pippin to finally agree to put his heavy bag on the pony's back. 'Poor pony, wait I think his name was Bill. Whatever his name is that bag looks really heavy.' was what Thalyin thought first as the four hobbit's worked to get the bag on the pony and make sure that it wouldn't fall off. Thalyin, being naturally curious, wanted to know who these people, well man and four hobbit's, were. She silently removed her bow from her back, as well as an arrow, and placed the arrow on the bow, ready to strike.
She noticed that the man was walking forward with the hobbit's walking slowly behind him, this was her chance to get some answers. She aimed the arrow carefully, and released it. It hit the tree the man had been walking in front of, it was barely two inches from the tip of his nose and he looked quite startled and pulled a sword from his waist. She had the higher ground and wasn't sure if she wanted to give it up, but she wanted answers and she wouldn't get them hiding behind a tree.
She slid down the hill, dry leaves cracking under and around her feet. While she slid, she pulled out another arrow and placed it in the bow. She was now at level with the man, "Drop it." She stated shortly nodding towards the sword in the man's hand. He did so and held up his hands in surrender, "We don't want any trouble, we're just passing..." "Who are you and what are you doing here?" She asked starting in the man's eyes, showing no fear.
"I am Strider, these are my companions. Sam, Pippin, Merry, and Frodo of the Shire. If I may, your aim seems a little off." He said pointing to the arrow in the tree.
"I could have hit you if I had wanted to, this is not a time to make jokes." Something suddenly hit her, "Strider, I know that name." She looked at the man wondering where she knew his name from. She noticed he was looking from the tip of her arrow, to her face, and finally to the ring her mother had given her one year previously.
"You are a child of Gondor." He stated simply eyeing her ring.
"In a way, I suppose." Strider looked confused for a moment.
"If that is so, then we are allies." Thalyin noticed he was glancing back at her arrows tip. At that point she knew he really wanted her to put it down, and she did. Strider looked relieved at this.
"Allies, really? Well if that is so, then is it not customary to tell your allies where you are going." She asked, raising an eyebrow and looking Strider in the eye.
"We're making our way to Rivendell, we're going to see the Elves." Replied the fat hobbit that Strider had pointed out as Sam. Thalyin noticed her was very happy about seeing the elves.
"Really?" She placed the bow and arrow on her back again. "Lord Elrond still lives there then?"
"Yes, do you know Lord Elrond?" Strider asked sounding genuinely interested in her answer, which surprised her a little.
"My mother did. She mentioned him many times when I was young." Pippin was sitting on a tree root staring up a her looking slightly more confused, "She traveled a lot."
"Well, I think you should come with us to Rivendell and meet Lord Elrond with us." Pippin said looking up at her with eyes that reminded her of a puppy she had found in the forest while living with the elves.
"I wouldn't want to impose." She said looking down at the small hobbit, trying, and failing, to suppress a slight grin.
"I don't think you would be imposing on us if you came, and I think Lord Elrond would want to meet you as he knew your mother." Merry said backing up his friend.
"Well," She flicked her eyes to Strider who shrugged his left shoulder and lowly said that she should tell them her name as well, "Thalyin, and I guess I could.."
"Perfect!" Pippin said as he stood up to quickly and fell over, causing Thalyin to laugh, "I made her laugh." He said looking pleased with himself and standing a little straighter and taller.
T--------------T
They had been walking about and hour before the hobbit's stopped. Thalyin passed them and tapped Strider on the shoulder, when he looked at her she pointed her thumb over her shoulder at the hobbit's, who were pulling out pans, spoons, and plates.
"Gentleman, we do not stop until night fall."
"What about breakfast?" Pippin asked.
"You already had it." Strider said looking as though trying to figure out the logic of this hobbit.
"We've had one, yes. But what about second breakfast?" Pippin asked, looking like he second breakfast was something everybody knew about. Strider walked away without answering.
"I don't think he knows about second breakfast Pip." Merry said.
Pippin looked shocked, "What about elevensees? Luncheon? Afternoon tea? Dinner? Supper? He knows about those, doesn't he?"
"I wouldn't count on it." Merry said as an apple flew over Thalyin's head and he caught it, handing it to Pippin and walking away. Right away another apple flew and hit Pippin in the forehead. "Pippin!" At that moment Thalyin got a really bad feeling that she could place, but something big and bad was happening and soon.
T--------T
"This was the great watchtower of Amon Sul. We shall rest here tonight." At the sound of the word 'rest' the hobbit's collapsed onto the stone and Strider handed them each a sword "These are for you, keep them close. I'm going to have a look around. Stay here."
Thalyin leaned against a rock and watched the others for a while. Frodo fell asleep almost immediately. Sam, Pippin, and Merry talked in low voices, occasionally looking at Thalyin and quickly returning to their conversation. They were still talking when Thalyin fell asleep.
T-------T
A very appetizing smell hit Thalyin's nose. She opened her eyes, it was still dark, but there was a small fire surrounded by three hobbits. "Can I have some meat?" Pippin's voice asked.
'Okay. Want some tomatoes Sam?" Merry asked in the darkness, "Great tomatoes."
Frodo's frantic voice added it's self to the mix, "What are you doing!"
Merry pointed at the food in his plate, "Tomatoes, sausages, nice crispy bacon."
"Put it out, you fools. Put it out." Frodo exclaimed as he stamped on the fire.
"Nice ash on my tomatoes." Pippin said. Thalyin figured out what was so bad about the fire and sat up straighter, alarmed at the sound of the screeching of Nazgul. Strider had told her about them earlier while the hobbit's had been putting the pans, spoons, and plates back on to Bill. Frodo pointed up the stairs and yelled at the others to move. Thalyin went up the stairs after Frodo and pulled out her sword.
Five Nazgul surrounded them, Sam was acting very brave. He was banishing his sword and yelling "Back you devils." But a Nazgul threw him aside and he let go of his sword and flew at Thalyin. She ducked out of the way, but the sword cut her shoulder and she gripped it in pain. She saw Pippin and Merry try to protect Frodo, but two Nazgul picked them up and threw them aside. Frodo dropped his sword and fell on the ground. The tallest Nazgul saw something Thalyin couldn't and walked twords Frodo and drew his dagger. Thalyin raced between the two as Frodo crawled backwards and ran into a wall. The Nazgul tried to stab Thalyin and she blocked it. After several attempts the Nazgul stopped, held up it's hand and slapped her hard with the back. She fell over onto her side and saw a large black foot appear near her head, followed soon by another. She didn't see anything else but heared Frodo scream loudly.
She heared Sam run to Frodo and yell to Strider to help him. "He has been stabbed by a Morgul blade, this is beyond my skill to heal. He needs elvish medicine." Thalyin had looked up in time to see the blade disappear from the hilt. Strider said to hurry, Sam looked anxious and said that he would never make it and that they where six days from Rivendell. 'Six days. I've been in worse situations.' Thalyin thought trying hard to convince herself. True she had been in some sticky spots, but never like this.
Frodo was yelling for Gandalf, Strider had told her about him as well, and Thalyin got a feeling that Gandalf had heared him. Sam said Frodo was going cold and Pippin asked if Frodo was going to die. Strider said that Frodo was passing into the shadow world and would soon become a wraith. They heared the scream of a wrath and Merry stated that they where close.
"Sam, do you know the Athelas plant?" Strider asked.
"Athelas?"
"Kingsfoil." Strider and Thalyin said at the same time.
"Kingsfoil, ah thats a weed." Sam stated. Strider said that it would help slow the poison. Both Sam and Strider left in search for the plant, while Pippin and Merry watched over Frodo, and Thalyin tried not to move her arm while just noticing she had a large bleeding gash on her cheek. Sam came back empty handed looking distrught. Strider came back with a women and a small amount of kingsfoil. He chewed up the plant and placed it on Frodo's wound while the women spoke in elvish.
"Who is she?" Merry asked.
"She's an elf." Sam exclaimed
Thalyin understood everything the elf had said, including that her name was Arwen, Frodo wasn't going to last, and that she had been looking for them for two days.
Thalyin could no longer ignore the pain in her shoulder and cheek. She stopped listening to the conversations going on. As from a great distance Sam said, "What are you doing! Those wraiths are still out there!"
"Frodo will be safe soon, Sam. We have others that need tending to." He said turning to Thalyin.
"I'm fine, it's not a problem." She said in a shaky whispered
"No your not, your shaking all over." Strider said as he and the remaining hobbits got down to her level.
"I'm serious, I'm fine."
"Are you always this stubborn?" Strider asked furrowing his brow and breathing heavily out of his nose.
"My mother always said it was a part of my charm." She said as she looked into his eyes. He got up and walked away, returning five minutes later holding two kind of plants. He crushed one into a paste in his hand and rubbed it on her shoulder and cheek with his thumb. He gave the other, a large prickly leaf, to her and to her to eat it. "What? Why?"
"It will help." Strider said as she looked at the leaf. She chose not to argue, stuck it in her mouth, and chewed. It tasted bitter and didn't want to go down. Preferring to stick to the roof of her mouth and the inside of her cheeks. After it did go down Thalyin felt suddenly sleepy. She sank down need to the tree she was sitting against and heared, "Don't worry, it's a side effect." She closed her eyes and fell into a dreamless sleep.
