Chapter four: Through fire and ice

Celeborn didn't sleep much that night, he had a constant feeling of being alert, ready to fight and he couldn't calm down. When he finally did sleep he did dream of Artanis and he was running after her through the woods and yet he couldn't reach her at all. It was as if something was blocking him, stopping him from touching her.

He woke up to the sound of an alarm clock going off somewhere in the house and he heard the sound of water in the pipes, it had to be Kirsten who got ready for school. Johanna got up to and left for the stable and he didn't want to look like a lazy person so he got out of bed and put on his clothes. Johanna was letting the horses out before she mucked out the boxes and he helped her, it felt good doing something physical and he wondered whether or not he should tell her of the person he had seen outside of the house the day before. He didn't want to cause her fear and worries and yet he couldn't help it, he felt that she ought to know. He waited until they had finished the work and returned to the house for some breakfast. Johanna stared at him with huge eyes and she turned pale. "Oh no, what are we to do?"

Celeborn frowned. "I have no idea honestly, I heard an engine but it wasn't a car, it didn't sound like that car Roger used yesterday"

He was stunned by how fast he had managed to learn the language, now he could already speak although with an accent thick as porridge.

Johanna swallowed. "An ATV, a sort of four wheeled bike, many use them for you can drive them having only an ordinary drivers license. Fuck! He has got friends, some losers who look up to him as if he was God himself, it could have been one of them"

Celeborn nodded, he did understand. "Get Vidar"

Johanna nodded and found the telephone, it was yet another miracle of this world Celeborn didn't understand but apparently it let you speak with people who were far away. It reminded him of a sort of Osanwè, but a technical one. She spoke with Vidar for a few minutes and then she hung up and turned around. "He is coming, and he is going to alert some of the other farmers in the area that somebody is up to no good. They will keep their eyes open for sure"

Celeborn felt worried still, a deep gnawing feeling eating at his heart, they were in danger, and he knew it. He just didn't know how! This realm had dangers he couldn't even begin to understand and he took a deep breath and tried to calm down and think logically. If this had been a place he was to defend it would have been an awful position. It was isolated, there were woods close by and the open areas in front of the farm had ditches and mounds which could allow an enemy to approach unseen. Oh Eru, what were they to do?

Johanna tried to smile. "It may not be that bad, it could be that this person just tried to see if there were people present, we have had some problems with thieves lately. Some houses have been broken into and all things valuable stolen."

Celeborn sort of sneered, he took a deep breath. " I don't think that was a thief, I could sense it. The person was filled with anger, and hatred. No thief acts thus. It was personal"

Johanna nodded and grasped the phone again. She dialed a number and Celeborn could hear that a rather deep male voice answered, she explained the situation and there was a moment of silence before the person answered. Celeborn didn't understand the dialect of the person speaking to her, it was so odd and he did understand that the person was swearing a lot. He tilted his head and stared at her when she hung up. "What does –jaevla hæstkuk-mean?"

Johanna blushed up to her hairline. "Oh, that…uh, it is cussing, it means goddamn horsecock. It was the sheriff I spoke to, he is from the north and has a very…artistic language"

Celeborn gaped. "Your sheriff? And he speaks thus?"

Johanna just shrugged. "Yes, that was a mild curse, you wouldn't want to hear the words he will use if he is really pissed off. He is gonna send one of his deputies up here, to keep an eye on us"

Celeborn had to grin, a protector of the law who used such profanities could be a person people probably wouldn't want to mess with. Johanna cleared the table and smiled. "Today the farrier is coming, he is to put new shoes on the horses. He is the best farrier in this area, originally from Iceland and very skilled."

Celeborn just nodded and Johanna left him with some books while she did some house work. The house was warm due to this electricity and he found it rather wondrous. The books had images from different places in this world and before long he was immersed in it. Johanna had to explain a few things and then the farrier showed up and she gave him a cap to hide his ears. Yet the farrier did send him some rather odd glances and there was something about the man which told Celeborn that he for some reason did know that this "cousin" wasn't a human being. Afterwards Johanna started making dinner and Kirsten returned from school, they had a short day today and were allowed to return home after lunch. Kirsten told of an experiment they had done in the biology class which had gone terribly wrong and the school had smelled like something very dead and very decomposing for hours. They almost had to evacuate. And one of her girlfriends had apparently gotten a new boyfriend and that wasn't fair so now they weren't friends anymore.

Johanna grinned and Celeborn had to smile too, apparently youngsters were the same whether they were elves or human beings. The deputy did show up as they sat down to eat, it was a young man who looked fit and sharp and he was polite and asked a lot of questions.

Apparently he was new to this area and didn't know that much about Roger and his vendetta towards Johanna. She had to explain to him and Celeborn sat there and felt like a dimwit for Johanna had pulled his hair back into a sort of pony tail so it covered his ears and the deputy was constantly staring at him with an expression of mixed shock and admiration. Celeborn did suspect that this law worker did favor men and even though he had no problems accepting such things it was obvious that the deputy was trying to hide it.

The deputy agreed to stay in the barn during the night and he hid the car in one of the garages. Johanna felt a bit more at ease now since the deputy was armed and allowed to use his gun if the situation called for it. Celeborn did not feel more relaxed at all, and he went to the stable to spend some time with Rochiril. The mare was nervous, he could see it. She sensed something too and he petted the soft silky hide, she nickered and tossed her head and Wotan too looked upset. Celeborn bit his lower lip, he had to do something so he took the bow and the quiver and put it in his room. The deputy got some food to and hid in the hayloft where he could see the entire farm from the windows and Vidar too came and occupied the other guestroom. They spent the evening in the living room watching more TV and Celeborn felt as if his nerves were stuck on the outside of his body. It was very annoying to say the least. Vidar had brought his shot gun and Kirsten had realized that something was off, she was scared and Johanna had a hard time calming the girl down. If they had known of this before Johanna would have called the mom of one of the other girls in Kirsten's class and asked if Kirsten could stay there but she hadn't thought that far. Now they could only hope that Roger wasn't so stupid he did something for real.

Celeborn hesitated before he went to bed, he didn't want to sleep but he was feeling tired so he had to rest. He didn't remove his clothes, just his shoes and he laid there staring at the roof for a long time. Was she missing him? Did she think of him? He could only pray that they would meet again. His mind drifted off into reverie and he relaxed, hoping that nothing bad would happen this night.

Artanis woke with a start, she had felt terrible for the last days, they hadn't managed to find him and she felt that her hope of seeing him again was crumbling. She had wept a lot and the hollow feeling within her chest just grew and left her lethargic and weak. The word was already spreading that she was fading, and fast. She had never realized how serious her feelings were, how deep they ran. Now she couldn't deny it anymore, without him she was like a ship in a storm, without a rudder.

She sat up in bed, her heart beating so very fast and she felt dizzy and throughout her very Fëa she felt a horrible urge to get up and get away. Danger! He is in danger! She just knew it, wherever he was, she had to do something, now! She whimpered, panic surging through her and she tossed a cloak over her nightgown and just ran. She had to find Melian, now! She ran barefoot through the city and the guards stared after her in astonished admiration, her long golden hair flying and her bare feet made no sound against the rock. She rushed into the royal apartment, the guards didn't stop her at all and she saw that Melian sat by her weave and worked on an image of a white stag and an owl. The maia got up when she saw her and Artanis collapsed onto the floor. "He is in danger, I can feel it! Please, do something!"

Melian reached out and frowned, was something changing her plan? Yes, something had come up, something new, potentially disastrous. She nodded. "I will help you dear child, of course I will. It will demand a lot of me but something can be done."

Artanis sobbed. "Oh Eru, I have to see him again, or else…"

Melian smiled, a somewhat sad smile. "Or else you will fade, I know. I can send you to him, wherever he is. But be warned, it may be very dangerous"

Artanis looked up, hope shimmering in those lovely blue eyes. "Yes, do it, send me to him. I don't care about danger, I can fight"

Melian nodded and helped her get up. "You are not going in a flimsy nightgown and not unarmed. "

The maia snapped her fingers and some of her maids came running, she shouted some orders and they ran off, returning with clothes, or rather, a guards uniform with a thick cloak and high boots. "Get it on, hurry"

Artanis did as she was told to do, it felt odd standing there in pants and what she would consider light armor but if it was needed then be it. Melian gave her a short sword and a dagger. "I want you to find him and when ready I can get both of you back, but not before two days have passed. This takes a lot of my strength, I have to recover before I use that much power again"

Melian smiled to herself, two days ought to be enough. If they didn't do what was needed during that time they probably wouldn't at all. A little danger can jumpstart things and she hoped that her feelings about the young prince were right. He wouldn't hesitate if he got his beloved tossed straight into his arms like this. Artanis swallowed, she felt terrified but the overwhelming sensation of fear and alarm was still strong and she just knew that she would sacrifice everything just to know that he was safe and alive. Melian grasped her by the shoulders. "Listen, do not be afraid. Do not let anything throw you out of balance, you are stronger than you think, and if you do this well I am sure your future will be a glorious one."

Artanis didn't have time to think of what the maia was saying, a mild light surrounded her and she felt dizzy, she barely had time to let out a startled gasp before the world seemed to fall out from underneath her and everything went black.

Celeborn awoke with a gasp, he blinked and felt his eyes burn, and he had problems breathing. The room was dark but he could feel an abnormal heat and there was an acrid smell in the air. Oh Eru, the house was burning! He got up, found his shoes and got them on, grasped the bow in instinct and reached out to open the door. The doorknob was hot, it was flames on the other side of the door, he swore and turned to the window. He could see the flickering light of flames on the snow and his heart did drop as he saw several shadows which ran around, Roger had apparently brought all of his friends. Where was that deputy? He didn't have to wonder for long, one of the men out there dragged something out of the stable, it had to be the deputy and he was either dead or knocked out.

Celeborn felt cold, if they were ruthless enough to harm a servant of the law then they had no problems burning Johanna and her family with the house. He had to get to them, now! He bit his lower lip, then he ran into the bathroom, it was filled with smoke too and he was coughing but he found some towels and wetted them, tossed them over his head before he gathered all his courage and kicked the door open. He had never feared death but dying in a fire? That was not the way he wanted to go. The hallway was burning all over, and he ran across it and kicked open the door to Vidar's room. The man was unconscious but Celeborn managed to shake the farmer into life. Vidar blinked and coughed and his eyes went wide. "God, Johanna!"

They heard a scream coming from the second floor and Vidar threw some clothes on before they both ran up the stairs. Flames were reaching for them and Celeborn felt an odd chemical scent which made him nauseous. Vidar coughed. "Petrol, they must have thrown a Molotov cocktail through the front door"

They saw that the second floor was filled with smoke and Vidar crouched down. "Stay low, it is air left by the floor."

The heat was intense and Vidar kicked up the door to Kirsten's room. The girl was coughing and wheezing and she wore only a thin nightgown and some odd looking tights but Vidar threw a blanket around her and carried her off. Johanna's room was on the other side of the house, the front side where the fire had started and her door didn't budge. The heat had already managed to twist the walls and Celeborn cussed in Sindarin and delivered a violent kick to the door which broke in half with a bang. He felt anger raging through his body, this was a cowards deed, burning people in their own home.

Johanna laid on the floor, gasping for air and Celeborn grasped her and dragged her with him, he was way stronger than a human being and now that was a good thing. Vidar wheezed for air. "There is no way out, the front door is blocked by flames and those goddamn idiots are out there!"

Celeborn sneered. "The garage and the storage, it has a door doesn't it?"

Vidar fought for breath and Kirsten was trembling, her eyes huge and she was pale as paper. Vidar nodded. "Yes, but they will wait for us there, it is the only way out of the house beside the front door."

They could hear the sound of windows cracking in the heat and the smoke was getting thicker, Johanna couldn't speak and Celeborn knew that they all were in mortal danger now. "Vidar, I will create a diversion, there is a loft here yes? With a window?"

Vidar nodded. "Yes, but by God, you cannot…"

Celeborn sneered, grasped the bow. "I can, and I will. Don't worry, I am not human, I can survive things you cannot even imagine"

Vidar managed to nod. "I know, you should have been a pop sickle after that bath of yours!"

Celeborn shook Johanna, "Listen, get out and head uphill, into the woods behind the house. Hide there, don't let them catch you"

Johanna gasped. "Celeborn I…"

He nodded. "I know, just get out of here while you still can!"

Vidar coughed. "The hatch is in the roof outside of the kitchen, just pull it down"

Celeborn nodded and threw a swift glance at the small group of humans. He had come to care for them over these days and his life wasn't worth more than theirs now. He had his honor, the debt he had to them had to be repaid, they had saved him so now he had to save them. It was just fair.

He found the hatch by feeling his way along the roof and pried it open, jumped up. The loft wasn't that filled with smoke yet, it had dense walls and there were no openings between it and the rest of the building. It was cold and filled with all sorts of stuff and Celeborn ran over to the small window. It was not large but large enough and he managed to open it without a sound. On impulse he grasped a sheet from a cardboard box and tore a hole in it, pulled it over his head and against the snow it would provide him with some camouflage. He slid through the opening and heard the men laugh and shout, they hadn't noticed him for they were staring at the front door and the door leading from the garage and storage rooms. It was at least seven there and Celeborn felt that the cold air helped him focus, he had to fight well now. Vidar had explained these so called guns to him and he realized that even an elf can die if he gets shot with such a weapon.

Celeborn used the shadow thrown by the roof to his advantage, he got down from the roof easily and ran crouched down over to the small shed where they kept the fire wood. From that it was perhaps twenty meters to the building where they kept the tractors and other farming equipment and he waited for the right moment to strike. It came when some more windows exploded and he ran through the snow with a speed no human could hope to copy. He was behind the wall and nobody had seen him and he got a grim expression upon his face as he lifted the bow. He had to get as many of them as possible, fast!

Artanis gasped as she suddenly opened her eyes again, she was inside of a room of some sorts and it was filled with straw and some odd looking tack hanging from hooks. It smelled of horse and smoke and she heard horses whinnying, the sound told her they were terrified. She got up, confused and frightened and she pushed the door open, it was made from wood but looked so strange and she didn't recognize any of the things she did see. What was this? Where was she? She swallowed and saw that smoke was filling the air, the building was burning! Oh Eru, the horses! She couldn't let animals burn to death and she got out into the stable room. It wasn't like any stable she had ever seen but she did see one thing she did recognize, Rochiril!

Celeborn had to be there since his mare was there and she felt her heart leap in her chest. She heard voices outside, they sounded excited and a cold feeling seeped into her. Instinct told her that these were bad humans, they weren't trying to save the horses so maybe they had lit the stable on fire? She took a quick peek out through a strange window and saw another building and it was on fire too. It looked like a place where people lives and she realized that she had landed right smack in the middle of something very bad indeed. Where was he? She was so afraid and all made her feel utterly confused but she had to do something. There was a door at the back of the stable and it was not locked, she opened it, it was leading out into wide fields. There were nobody there so she was thinking fast and ran over, she tried to push open the box doors until she realized that they had to be slid to the side and she opened them all. There were three strange but cute horses there and a huge black horse beside Rochiril and she grasped the mare by the forelock and dragged her out of the box. "Run, take the others with you, run to the woods"

Rochiril neighed and the other horses did leave their boxes, even the great stallion. The animals rushed out past her and she shut the door so they wouldn't try to return to the stable. She ran along the wall of the stable, the wood along the roof and one wall seemed to be ablaze and soon it would be engulfed in flames. She crouched down beside a sort of barrel and stared at the men gathered in front of the buildings, oh Eru, she couldn't have come too late! Then one man fell with a scream, an arrow protruding from his shoulder and a few seconds later another one too jerked and fell, the arrow through his thigh. He is here! She felt her heart sing, he was alive!

Celeborn tried to neutralize the men without killing, but he had no idea of whether or not it was enough. He shot two and prepared to send off another arrow when there was a snapping sound and he felt the hard impact of a broken bowstring against his arm. Fuck! The bow was worthless now and he didn't have a spare string, the string had to have become too old and brittle and he tossed the ruined weapon into the snow. The men were shouting and some ran towards the building he was hiding behind, not good!

He just hoped that Vidar got Johanna and Kirsten out, they didn't have much time left before the men would shift their focus yet again. Celeborn loosened the knife he wore and bared his teeth. He jumped up and hid among the thick beams holding the roof of the building, few humans think that they ought to look up. Two men came running and they didn't look as if they expected any real resistance. They did stink of alcohol and he suspected that they had ingested some sort of drug as well. "Be careful, Geir said the guy was huge!"

So the spy had been a man named Geir, not Roger himself. Celeborn saw that they had lit the stable on fire and he swore to himself, how was he to save the horses too? Were these men insane? Surely the punishment for arson was severe even here? The two guys stopped, stared down at the bow in the snow and both looked too intoxicated to really be able to think. Celeborn took a deep breath and dropped down onto them, he knocked one out with a well-placed kick and the other one sort of roared and reached out to grasp him but he spun around and planted his knee in the man's groin. He fell like a log and his eyes were bulging. There was a loud bang and the sound of something whistling by and Celeborn spun around and sprinted along the wall, they were shooting and he didn't have that much cover now.

Artanis saw that two men ran towards the building from which the arrows had been fired and she got nervous, did he only have two arrows? Was something wrong? The two wounded men were shouting and yelling and laying there writhing and the two running guys were obviously very angry. Two of the remaining men had some sort of weapon and they seemed to aim for where Celeborn was. It had to be something very dangerous and she knew that she had to do something, but what? Her mind was spinning and in the smoke she thought she saw some figures sneaking out of the burning house, the men didn't notice it, they were focused on the building where Celeborn was hiding. He was drawing their attention away from someone who tried to escape the fire and she felt proud of his courage but also scared to the bone. The weapons made loud bangs and she saw a rock explode in the foundation of the building. Oh Eru, what to do?

Then she remembered her lessons with Melian, how the maia tried to teach her things she previously had believed to be impossible. These were humans, their minds were weak, they could be deceived easily. She took a deep breath, this was it. She would save him or die trying. With a gasp and a shiver she released every ounce of power she owned, forced it into a very powerful vision and sent it to the humans out there. The three men standing screamed, then they started shooting like mad, at things that weren't even there and bullets flew everywhere until they ran out of ammo. The men were yelling and screaming and Artanis was panting with fatigue. She had made them see a whole army of orc's and she had added a few balrogs and trolls, just to spice it up. Her heart was hammering and she felt how her head was hurting. She had never done something like that to so many people at once but she had removed the greatest threat to him.

The two wounded men seemed to have passed out and the three standing there looked utterly confused and also absolutely pissed off. She heard one shouting something about "Bad trip" and "wrong pills" and she grinned. She had in fact done something few others were capable of doing. She shouted. "I am here"

The answer came immediately, Celeborn shot out from beneath the house and he was moving with the grace and power of a huge cat. The men were out of ammo and gathered to protect themselves but it was not very efficient. They had never fought an elf before, that was more than obvious for he was simply playing with them. One of them took off to run and Artanis ran out from her hiding place and gave the stunned man an uppercut which made him hover in the air for a few seconds before gravity got the better of him and he fell down like a sack of potatoes. The men were knocked out and harmless and Celeborn came running over to her, embracing her so hard she feared her ribs would break but she held him just as hard and sobbed with relief. "Celeborn, amin mela lle, don't ever leave me again"

He gasped and kissed her brow, rocking her in his arms. "Never!"

They were interrupted by a scream from the woods and Celeborn got pale. "Oh Eru, that shithead isn't here among the others, fuck!"

Artanis looked confused and he tried to smile. "Listen, the people who live here saved me, and now they are in danger"

Artanis nodded. "Let's go rescue them"

They ran up by the burning house and into the woods and Celeborn gasped. Vidar lay on the ground with a huge gash in his head and he was deathly pale and Johanna sat in the snow next to him, she was clasping her stomach and blood was seeping through her clothes. Kirsten was nowhere to be seen. Celeborn fell to his knees next to her, the shaft of a knife could be seen between her hands and she was trembling all over. "Please, he took her, he took my baby"

Artanis did understand that a very wicked person had taken this woman's child and anger rose in her. Celeborn looked as if he was ready to explode with rage. "What happened?"

Johanna moaned." He was waiting behind a tree, he must have guessed that we would seek refuge in the woods, and he knocked Vidar over the head. And then he stabbed me and grasped Kirsten."

Celeborn swore and his eyes were dark. " I will go after him, Artanis, try to help them"

Johanna tried to smile. "Your girlfriend?"

Celeborn got up. "My fiancée, trust me, I will get Kirsten back"

Artanis had to blush, his fiancée. He hadn't asked her and perhaps she ought to feel a bit angry since he sort of took it for granted that she wanted to marry him but she did, so she just felt an odd bubbly feeling in her chest. Yes, she wanted this, more than anything. "I got the horses out"

Celeborn smiled, a warm and relieved smile. "Wonderful."

He put two fingers into his mouth and whistled and before long they heard hooves and Rochiril came trotting. He got up onto her back with an elegant jump and spurred the mare. Artanis swallowed, the woman was severely injured and she wasn't a healer but she could at least try. She smiled at the shivering woman and put her hands onto her belly. "Don't be afraid, I will try to heal the wound, just don't move!"

Johanna whimpered. "Vidar, you have to help him too!"

Artanis nodded. "I will, but you are the one with the most severe injury."

She closed her eyes, started to chant one of the healing songs Melian had taught her and she could feel how the woman's hröa did absorb the energy she called forth. She forgot about everything else, and kept chanting. She trusted that Celeborn would catch the despicable human responsible for this. She pulled the knife out and Johanna screamed in agony but the would did close itself up now and Artanis poured all of her strength into the healing once again.

Celeborn saw the tracks in the snow and Rochiril ran very fast, she had no problems dealing with the snow here since it was just powder and he had his sword ready. The horse made very little sound in the snow and he leaned forth and made sure that she followed the tracks. Roger couldn't have gotten far and soon he heard someone screaming and some angry roars. He already knew what that creep wanted, and he would rather die than to watch that sweet girl being violated by such a creature. Rochiril ran into a clearing just as Roger raised his arm to knock Kirsten out. He was trying to get her clothes off but luckily she wore a pair of very tight tights and she was squirming like mad. Roger didn't even have time to blink before the huge grey mare quite literally flew over him, knocking him over with her front hooves. The man hit the snow with a grunt and got up again, red faced and wild eyed and he saw that the rider carried a bloody sword and looked as if he was ready to slay anyone in his way so he used the little brains he had and ran. Celeborn was about to turn the horse to follow him but Kirsten wailed. "Please, don't leave me!"

He hesitated for a second, then he realized that the girl needed his help now, that son of an orc could be caught later on. He got down from the horse and embraced the trembling teenager and saw that Roger disappeared into the deep woods. If there was any justice in the world there were wargs in there!

Kirsten was in shock, coughing and wheezing and terrified and he got back onto the mare with the girl in his arms and rode back to the others. When he arrived Johanna sat on the snow, seemingly alright and Artanis was busy healing Vidar. Johanna let out a sob and grasped Kirsten, rocked her in her arms. "She is alright, the beast didn't have time to harm her physically"

Artanis swayed. "He will be alright too, he is strong."

Johanna gasped. "We all need a more help, the men down there, the sheriff has to take care of them, and we have inhaled smoke."

Celeborn tilted his head. "Surely your neighbors have seen the smoke?"

Johanna coughed again. "I hope so, the bastards cut the phone lines, I tried to call before I passed out. I bet they have disabled the cell phone tower too"

Celeborn nodded, they had planned this well and he wished that he knew what had triggered the attack but he had a suspicion. That Geir fellow had seen him there and perhaps Roger had believed that Johanna had gotten a new man, someone way better than he ever could become. They waited until Vidar woke up, he was swearing like a sailor and had a terrible headache but he was not in any danger now. Artanis was feeling very shaken, she did yet not understand anything and Celeborn explained to her as they walked back to the farm. She felt a deep gratitude to these people, they had saved her beloved and for that she would always honor them.

When they reached the farm the house was burned down almost to the foundations, the stable was just partially burned and there were plenty of people there carrying buckets, hauling hoses and just doing what they could to save at least some of the buildings there. A car with some striking colors stood by the garage and some men in uniform had handcuffed Roger's comrades. They all looked more or less like drowned cats for someone had chosen to hose them down to extinguish the flames of anger that had burned in them. A very large man with a huge beard and a hat stood there writing something down and the deputy laid on a stretcher, he was alive but probably rather severely injured. A car with very bright yellow colors stood there and some men in red and white were busy helping him. Celeborn realized that they were healers and some saw them and shouted.

Celeborn made sure that Artanis hair was covering her ears as they approached the crowd, she was breathing fast, scared by the cars and the sounds and all the humans but he held her hand, reassuring her that nobody there wanted to harm her in any way.

Johanna was barely able to stand and one of the healers rushed forth. "You are bleeding!"

She just waved her hand. "Uh, not anymore, it was just a scratch anyway. Don't worry."

She sat down and held Kirsten who were sobbing still and the sheriff came over, he did look very angry and Celeborn saw that the other men in the same uniform all carried weapons. "It was Roger wasn't it?"

Johanna nodded. "Yes, he…he tried to kidnap Kirsten, and rape her. My…cousin here managed to stop him"

The sheriff stared at Celeborn with narrow eyes, he did see a very tall and extremely handsome man who obviously were able to fight. "Where is he now, Roger I mean?"

Celeborn shrugged. "I scared him off, he was heading into the woods the last time I saw him. I hope he freeze to death!"

The sheriff grunted. "Yes, that would save the lawyers some work for sure. I spoke to one of the bastards just now, he said that Roger wanted the whole family dead, because Geir had seen you sir. If Roger couldn't get Johanna nobody else should either, that man is a giant turd if you ask me"

Artanis didn't understand the language, she just understood that they were speaking about the man responsible for this and she didn't let go of Celeborn's hand at all. It was warm and safe. The healers were a bit shocked. "You should have damage to your lungs, all of you should have problems breathing but your lungs are clear?"

Vidar was thinking very fast. "Yes, we got out fast, and we used some old gasmasks left from when Oddgrim was in the army. I think we dropped them in the woods though"

The sheriff was eying Artanis and Celeborn and then he winked. "Right, you know, my mother was from Ireland, and she did teach me quite a lot of their beliefs. We just say that you got away unscathed but these seven pieces of shit will face some serious charges anyhow. Arson is just the start of it, I think I can find some laws for just about everything they have done here, including lighting the stable on fire."

Johanna nodded. "Thank goodness we have insurance."

The sheriff nodded . "And thank goodness your "cousin" here can fight, he did a brilliant job"

Celeborn smiled and caressed Artanis hand. " My fiancée did also knock out one of them. And she saved the horses"

The sheriff bowed his head. "I take my hat off for that, well done"

Vidar stared at the stable, the damage wasn't that large for it had been built to be fire proof but there was some burned wood by the doors and along the edge of the roof. "That is easily fixed, some fresh air and a wash and the stable can be used again. The house on the other hand…"

One of the other people there came forth. "We will help you rebuild, that goddamn idiot has been a thorn in our eyes for years and Johanna has always been there for us when we needed help."

Johanna could only sob and one of the healers made a gesture. "I think you all better get indoors. Kirsten will need some counselling for sure and I bet that is the case for the rest of you as well."

Vidar nodded. "I have spare rooms back home. Let's go"

And so Celeborn and Artanis shared their first ever trip in a car in an ambulance and she was clinging to him trembling like a leaf until they stopped outside of Vidar's house. The neighbors would take care of everything, the horses included and it felt wonderful getting into a warm house. Some of the ladies of the area had showed up preparing food and getting the bedrooms ready and someone had called the school counsellor and the county psychiatrist to talk to Kirsten. She would have to get the experience out of her system fast, before it caused too many traumas. At the moment she was just angry and confused and they helped her vent those feelings in a safe manner.

There were two bathrooms in Vidar's house, it was originally made to house at least two families and so it was almost like two separate apartments with just a door between them. Artanis and Celeborn got one of them and she trembled and tried to comprehend everything she had been through. The bathroom was large, with a massive tub and a shower and it even had a small sauna connected to it. Artanis had to turn taps and push buttons everywhere and as soon as she got over her fear of new things she did feel an almost childlike joy exploring it all. And she felt relief, relief like never before. He was alive, and they were together and they were safe. She didn't care where they were, all that mattered was that he was there.

She got rid of the wet clothing and stepped into the warm bath, it felt wonderful and the soaps they had there did smell like summer flowers and she realized that these people had a lot of stuff which was even better than what they had back home. She was dozing when he entered the bathroom, wearing only a bathrobe which looked absolutely ridiculous since it was too short, pink and had two cute bunnies on the front. She had to giggle and he walked over and winked at her. "So you are laughing ha? Perhaps you should be wearing this awful garment?"

Artanis suddenly felt oddly bold, she took a deep breath. She had made a choice, now she would have to stand by it too. She stood up, completely naked and she saw that his jaw dropped and his eyes turned dark. They slid over her naked form and he swallowed hard. " I think I prefer wearing naught my love, at least when I am with you"

He let out a growl. Then the robe went flying and she was suddenly lifted off the floor and she was being kissed like never before. She eagerly answered it, clinging to him and he dropped her onto the bed and gasped. "You are so beautiful, so wonderful. I love you my Galadriel"

She grinned, laid her arms around his neck and played with locks of silky silvery hair. "And I love you my tall silver tree. I was so afraid I never would see you again!"

Feeling him this close felt rather overwhelming but she didn't care, it felt right and she remembered what Melian had said about not hesitating. He nodded. "Eru how I have missed you!"

He kissed her again, slowly this time, with a sort of languid joy and she let her hands slide down his body, felt how hard muscle and silky skin made her own body tingle in a very exciting new way. He gasped and closed his eyes. "Love, if we do this…there will be no way back, no way out of it. I hope you understand that?"

She nodded. "I know, I wouldn't want it any other way, I am yours"

He chuckled and she frowned. "What is so funny?"

He sent her a wry grin. "Imagine the scandal we will cause when we return, I have married a noldorin elleth, a relative of the kinslayers"

She just hummed and reached up, licked along the edge of his ear, slowly and deliberately and he hissed and tensed up. "You haven't married me yet"

He swallowed. "Galadriel, do you truly want me?"

She rolled her eyes, felt how ready he was and yes, she was a bit nervous but that had never stopped her before. "Do you think I would allow this if I didn't? Do it love, make us complete"

He kissed her gently, got into position and she wrapped her legs around him, feeling him push against her very core. "Oh my golden one, my light"

In the woods Roger had been running for a while, it was getting dark, and cold and he was furious. That huge blonde fuck toy of hers had stopped him and he was not going to let that pass him by. He would return and then he would kill that overly pretty asshole and do it slowly. A good thing Johanna was done for, she couldn't survive being stabbed thus. He walked on through the snow, his anger and madness seething within him and he didn't really care where he went as long as he got away from the farm. He had walked for quite a while now, the cops would probably send up a chopper and he wanted to hide before they got it in the air. There had to be somewhere he could use, a cabin or something. He was considering changing course when he suddenly saw someone moving up ahead. It was a woman wearing some blood stained clothes and by everything holy, it was Johanna!

How could the bitch still be alive? Shit, she was probably looking for him, well, he didn't want her back now, that was for sure. He growled and started to run after her and she obviously saw him for she started to run too. Roger was in horrible shape, before long he was panting and he was sweating like a stuck pig. But he didn't give up, he kept going and his beady eyes were fixed upon the running woman in front of him. He was so fixated that he didn't realize that he no longer was running through snow until she suddenly stopped and turned around. It was summer around him, damn it, what had happened? The forest didn't look like anything he had ever seen before and he felt insecure. In his case insecurity immediately sparked aggression and he snarled. "Did you do this you cunt? Just you wait and see, I am gonna get you for sure this time."

He pulled another knife from his belt and prepared to charge at her but then she changed. Suddenly she got a lot taller, and more slender. Her hair got long and black and she was paler than before and way more pretty. Her dress did look like one of those things those geeks who attended to renaissance fairs would use, and she did look majestic. Still she was only a woman and he licked his lips, a very beautiful woman, worthy of him. She smiled, a very cold smile.

"Welcome to my realm human, enjoy your stay for as long as it lasts. You are outside of my girdle now but never mind, this area is filled with people just like you, I bet they will find you delightful, and delicious"

She turned her back to him and simply disappeared and Roger stood there, gaping. What sort of hocus pocus was this? Some special effect maybe? He ran forwards but seemed to hit some invisible wall and he bounced back and growled. "Goddamn it, cocksucking cunt!"

He was about to try again when he heard the sound of something moving and he whipped his head around just to see that something had surrounded him. It looked as if some movie director was shooting a horror movie for these people were ugly! They wore nasty armor and had some terrible weapons and he felt a ghastly smell of rotten meat and feces coming from them. "Goddamn it guys, don't you ever bathe?"

One of them shouted something in a guttural language and rushed towards him and Roger had time to doubt his first assumption and lift the knife before a long black blade skewered him through the middle. He screamed once before he was down and he did have time to feel himself being literally torn apart like a piece of chicken heading for a salad before his soul left for whatever suitable place it was called to. Melian watched from behind the girdle, her eyes had an ominous glow and she smiled. "Regard this as a small wedding present my dears"

The room was dark now, and both lay there dozing in each other's arms. Their vows had been spoken, they had joined their bodies and now they were wed. Nobody could separate them now and Artanis sighed with joy and caressed the wide chest she was leaning up against. She felt sore, and a bit tender but that would pass. It had been both wonderful and a bit frightening to be that close to him and the connection formed allowed her to feel his emotions on a whole new level. He was as happy as her and that made her feel like the most lucky person alive. She just knew that they would have a very long life together and see both joy and taste great sorrow but their bond would be unbreakable. It was such a great feeling of safety in that. She dozed off and he followed her into the world of dreams, this night neither feared to sleep.

The next morning they were awakened by Vidar who banged on the door and they got dressed and went to have breakfast. Celeborn had to tell her what everything was, and she was hungry so she ate a lot. Johanna seemed to understand that something had happened between them and Celeborn blushed and took Artanis hand. "Uh, as of tonight she is no longer my fiancée, but my wife"

Johanna had to grin. "How wonderful, at least something good came from this malady"

Vidar was on the phone with a lot of people, some came to repair the phone lines, the cell phone tower had been toppled using dynamite and had to be rebuilt and the farm house had burned completely to the ground. Johanna wept when she spoke of it and Artanis felt so terribly sad for her. Every memory she had of her late husband had gone up in ashes and even to an elleth the obvious distress this caused was understandable. Kirsten was still in shock but she was recovering well and she gave Celeborn a long hug and thanked him for saving her. She was very strong that one, and would get over it pretty soon.

Late in the evening Vidar got the call he had been waiting for, from the insurance company. Since the farm had been lit on fire by arsonists they did get the money they needed to rebuild and then some and Johanna was yet again weeping. Before long they would have a home again. Celeborn and Artanis went for a long walk and he told her of everything which had happened and she told him of the happenings back home and both suspected that Melian had something to do with his disappearance in the first place.

When they got back they had dinner and Artanis was introduced to a dish called Lutefisk which was a local delicacy and both she and Celeborn discretely emptied their plates onto the floor where Vidar's dog with enthusiastic joy ate it all and licked the floor clean afterwards. Artanis declared that she never would eat anything like it again, it smelled like shit, looked like snot and had the consistency of a dead jellyfish and Celeborn had to grin and agree to all three claims.

That night they slept tight together and when the morning sun rose Artanis felt that they soon would be called back home. She felt the magic tingling in the air and they gathered their things and felt that they really didn't want to say goodbye to these kind people. Celeborn had saddled Rochiril and Artanis held the mare as Celeborn hugged Vidar and bid him farewell. Kirsten too hugged them both and smuggled a small bottle of a very expensive perfume into Artanis pocket and Celeborn wondered where Johanna was until she emerged from the stable leading Wotan by the reins. She walked over to them and smiled, tears in her eyes. "Celeborn, I know you aren't human, and you will live on when we are just dust and memories but you did save my daughter, and you did save me and Vidar too. You have been a friend to us, and that is so valuable. So as a sign of my gratitude do accept this gift!"

She handed over the reins and Celeborn gaped. "Johanna? You cannot, this horse is yours? You raised him!"

She nodded. "Yes, I did. But he isn't suited for this life, to be stabled every day and to be trained only when I have time to ride him, which I more and more rarely do. With you he will be happy, he will be cherished and admired and loved and that is what I want for him."

Celeborn had to swallow. "It is a royal gift you are giving me Johanna, and one I will treasure for as long as he shall live"

She stepped forth, hugged him. "That is all that I can ask for my friend. Please remember us"

He nodded, eyes feeling watery and Artanis was sniffing a bit, even if she hadn't had time to get to know them that well. "We will, do not doubt that"

Celeborn got up onto Wotan and Artanis mounted Rochiril and now a soft golden light seemed to spread around them. Vidar waved at them and so did Kirsten and Johanna and then there was a flash and they were gone.

Celeborn blinked and grasped onto the long black mane and he saw that they were in the woods close to the entrance to the city. Some guards did see them and shouts were heard, filled with disbelief. He did look at her, eyes soft and filled with love. "Are you ready meleth?"

She nodded. "I am ready as ever. Tell them all that I now am your spouse"

They rode forth and Mablung came running, he stopped and stared with huge eyes. "Celeborn, where in Eru's name did you get that horse?"

Celeborn slid down and patted his friend across the back. "That my friend is a long story, best told by the fire with a glass of wine and a plate of stew. Now, allow me to introduce my wife!"

Mablung was gaping and Artanis had to laugh at the flabbergasted expression upon his face. He did look ridiculous and she giggled and offered her husband her arm.

That evening a huge feast was thrown to celebrate Celeborn's return to them, Thingol first blew a fuse hearing of the wedding, then he reconsidered and welcomed her into the family with a bear hug that left Artanis breathless and Melian stood there and looked smug the whole time. Nobody should ever try to convince them that she didn't have anything to do with it. Some were very negative at first but slowly most sort of accepted that the love between the two was real and there were few elves causing problems. Her brother was a bit shocked to say the least but he did send his congratulations and some gifts and so did the rest of her family. Celeborn did ride Wotan when he was out on patrol and the horse did smell orc miles away and warned his rider, he even fought like Celeborn did and the orcs they encountered soon believed the huge black horse to be a demon of some sort and they feared it like the very plague itself.

Some scouts came across the remains of a human being just outside of the girdle, it had some odd boots on but they didn't bother with burying a skeleton and it did stink so they just left it there for nature to reclaim it. Some mice ate the bones to get calcium and so Roger at the end did do something good.

Celeborn often thought of the days he spent in that other world, and the miracles and horrors he had seen there and somehow it had made him less haughty, more humble. It did definitely turn him into a more considerate and patient person and Melian just knew that when the day come it would benefit him, it all would. Her plan had worked so far, she just hoped that she by creating this union years ahead of time would accomplish what she wanted. To save their people from the disasters which were bound to come, but only time could tell and as of yet that was something of which they had plenty. In the years to come their union would solidify and become unbreakable, it would be needed, yes, it would be more than needed.

Melian watched the two sitting by one of the fountains, quietly discussing something and she smiled, a thin and pleased smile. Galadriel, the golden one. It was such a suiting name, and she would never know how much of herself Melian allowed the young and brave elleth to absorb when they were training. She would protect and stand up against evil when Melian no longer would be there, and in the end all would be well. The maia turned around, disappeared into the shadows without a sound and left the two lovers alone, soon their time would come.