Rose that Blooms in Secret: Hopefully this chapter had enough cool stuff to make you forgive me from sticking to the movie paths. Are you going to write any more stories at all?
DDEC/DFC: I got a bone to pick with you girl. Two things are keeping me from chucking plasma grenades in your direction (I don't have any regrettably, and I like you) but so help me if you do not update soon I will find some way to make the Sharnorasian Empire's wrath on you felt in some way.
Xxchibitsukixx: Where's my chapter you? Hmm I can understand about Christmas but still update, or I'll poke you in WoW and through email with my katana tip
A/N Again I don't own this stuff, Tolkien and Wizards of the coast own the stuff I'm crossing over. Again Dragon Haunt's tech had made many things we have today to enjoy namely Iphones and Ipods :).
Again and I don't know how you other people cannot understand the term CROSSOVER, you cannot legitimately accuse me of writing a Mary-Sue if you have no idea about the other thing I am crossing over, so with all due respect, do you your research before bothering me with completely wrong accusations ok? You know I have seen HERMIONE from Harry potter paired with Legolas, is it cause she's an actual character? For the record I spend several MONTHS writing the entire story line for Darlana so it is in effect its own story, so understand a character from a crossover is not and I can't emphasise this enough NOT A MARY SUE.
Chapter 7: Gollum, the chase, Édoras, Helms deep, the black gate and a few special surprises.
"Gandalf!" Frodo called out jerking from a dream making Darlana who's on watch turn to him.
"You ok Frodo?" She asked.
"I am well, just a dream." He lay back down. The next day, Darlana Frodo and Sam climbed and flew over the rocky terrain of the Emen Muil with Darlana carrying them down and up rocky cliffs as need be to save time and rope. The group looked into the distance at the Mountain of Fire.
"Mordor. The one place in Middle-earth we don't want to see any closer, and the one place we're trying to get to. It's just where we can't get. Let's face it, Mr. Frodo and Miss Darlana, we're lost. I don't think Gandalf meant for us to came this way."
"No arguments from me, I flew up a couple of times and even I cannot tell where the hell we're going." Darlana said.
"Gandalf did not mean for many things to occur, but they happened none the less." Frodo gasped and staggered momentarily and Darlana sensing the magical backlash, winced and steadied the Hobbit.
"Mr. Frodo? It's the ring isn't it?"
"It's getting heavier." Frodo said, taking a sip from his water bottle.
"And more powerful, I felt that force and it made me wince." Darlana muttered, glowering at the ring under Frodo's shirt.
"What food do we still have?" Frodo asked.
"Well, let me see." Sam said, He took out a package of lembas bread from his pack. "Oh yes, lovely – Lembas bread. And look!" He said, somewhat sarcastically, digging deeper into his pack "More lembas bread." Sam showed another package. He then broke off a couple of pieces and tossed them to Frodo and Darlana, and munches on a piece himself."I don't usually hold with foreign food, but this Elvish stuff, it's not bad." Frodo and Darlana smiled.
"Nothing gets you down, huh, Sam?" Darlana asked, Sam glanced up and toward Mordor.
"Those rain clouds might."
"I got a cantrip to deal with that if need be." They continued trekking through difficult terrain, often huddling underneath their cloaks or in Darlana's case wings. Sam looked around.
"This looked strangely familiar." Darlana sniffed around as Frodo cried out in exasperation.
"It's because we've been here before! We're going in circles."
"Sniff, yep about thirty minutes ago, this is really so damn stupid, I feel like I'm in a never ending maze." Darlana cursed.
"Ah! What's that 'orrid stink? I'll warrant there's a nasty bog nearby. Can you smell it?" Darlana sniffed and gagged momentarily.
"By the demons below, that smells worse then my brother's socks after a day." Frodo smiled slightly at that.
"Yes. I can smell it." His voice dropped to a whisper, "We're not alone."
A few hours later Frodo and Sam were sleeping. Darlana was awake hiding under a greater invisibility spell when she noticed a dark shape as it appeared on top of the cliff. The creature Gollum had appeared and was making his way down to the hobbits.
"The thieves! The thieves! The filthy little thieves! Where is it? Where isss it? They stole it from us. my preciousss." Gollum hissed as he crept closer and closer. Curse them! We hates them! It's ours, it is... and we wantssss it!" Gollum reached out his hand toward the hobbits. Darlana used her telekinetic powers and yanked Gollum off the cliff to bash him against it hard three times.
Gollum recovered surprisingly faster than Darlana expected and charged Frodo only to get tazered by Darlana. Gollum, from the stress of being small and having 10,000 volts pass through his small body, laid there spasming in the after effects before Darlana shot Gollum with a tranq dart. Darlana bound Gollum with reinforced plastic ties while Sam tied a rope around Gollum's neck and they all went back to sleep.
Darlana was rudely awakened the next day by a howling Gollum, while Sam yanked Gollum, whose legs had been untied by the leash, while Darlana busily grinded her fangs trying not to pull out her Glock and silence the whining creature.
"It burns! It burns us! It freezes! Nasty Elves twisted it. Take it off us!"
"Quiet you!" Sam shouted, Gollum struggled but Sam tugged fiercely at the rope. Gollum cried out some more and collapsed onto his back. Sam turned to Frodo in dismay. "It's hopeless! Every Orc in Mordor's going to hear this racket! Let's just tie him up and leave him."
"I'm all for that, I swear if he does not shut up soon I'm gonna really give him something to whine about." Darlana snarled through gritted fangs.
"No! That would kill us! Kill us!" Gollum protested
"Don't tempt me." Darlana growled again.
Sam shouted at him "It's no more than you deserve!"
Gollum begged and pleaded and Frodo eventually said "You will lead us to the Black Gate." Gollum agreed and led the three off into the direction of Mordor.
The five hunters
In the meantime, Aragorn was lying with his eyes closed and ear pressed to the ground, listening for the sound of footsteps, when he heard Nathala say "Please tell me you're not sleeping there." Boromir snorted.
"Their pace had quickened. They must have caught our scent. Hurry" He broke into a steady run, ignoring Nathala's comment.
"Came on Gimli, we're gaining on them." Legolas called to Gimli and Gimli started huffing.
"No food. No rest. And no sign of our quarry but what bare rock can tell." Gimli followed.
The five hunters ran across rocks and plains, with Aragorn in the lead, followed by Legolas, Nathala, Boromir and finally Gimli. From time to time, Legolas looked back to make sure that Gimli was keeping up. Aragorn suddenly bent down to pick up an Elven brooch from the ground.
"Not idly do the leaves of Lorién fall." Murmured Aragorn as he picked up the cloak brooch.
"Less than a day ahead of us."
"They may yet be alive." There was a surprised howl from Gimli as he tripped and fell and rolled to the ground. With a groan, Nathala dropped back with Boromir to make sure Gimli was okay.
"Here Gimli I borrowed these from Darlana." Nathala handed a pair of boots to Gimli and a disbelieving snort from Boromir "okay, okay, more like borrowed without her knowing." Nathala clarified; Gimli decided the boots might help after all if Darlana was carrying them. They must have some magical effect. Gimli sighed and pulled on the boots which magically fit to his feet and soon, to the other's amazement, was running on par with them, his shorter legs pumping faster than what seemed possible.
Nathala drew up beside Aragorn, who gave her a questioning look. Nathala shook her head in a 'I'll tell you later' look. The group of five crossed over a hill and looked over the plains below.
"Rohan. Home of the horse-lords. There is something strange at work here. Some evil gives speed to these creatures sets its will against us" Aragorn stopped a little while later. "Legolas what do your Elf eyes see." He called to the elf.
"As opposed to which eyes? His Dragon eyes?" Nathala muttered sarcastically while Gimli and Boromir snorted.
"The Uruks turn northeast, they're taking the Hobbits to Isengard."
"Saruman." Aragorn growled. After a break, the five continued with their chase.
"They run as if the very whips of their masters were behind them." Legolas commented.
"Well pick up the pace then, came on, hurry." Nathala called out, panting now. She was exhausted from a lack of sleep and the fact her wings had nearly finished growing on the days they have been chasing the Uruk-Hai.
"Keep breathing! That's the key! Breathe!" Gimli panted running by Nathala and Boromir until they reached a small hill.
Soon the ground started shaking and the five moved into a bunch of rocks to avoid a group of horsemen that galloped right where they were standing, and the horsemen passed by the group without noticing. Aragorn left the cover of the rocks and called out "Riders of Rohan, what news from the mark." The leader raised his spear and the whole troop circled around to surround them with their spears.
"What business does two men, a child, an Elf and Dwarf have in the Riddemark?" He snarled. "speak quickly."
"Give me your name Horsemaster and I shall give you mine." Gimli decided to put in his two coppers, making Nathala groan and roll her eyes.
"I would cut off your head Dwarf, it if it stood a little higher than the ground." The man snapped.
"You would die before your stroke fell." Legolas warned, pointing his arrow at the man's head, while all the other mounted troops crowded in closer with their spears.
"I am Aragorn son of Arathorn, this is Gimli son of Gloin, Legolas of the woodland realm, Nathala Darkwielder, and Boromir of Gondor."
"You drag this slip of girl with you while you hunt Orcs?" Éomer said in disbelief at the males of the company. "What sorts of creatures are you?"
"I was not dragged anywhere, and they are not creatures, They are Human, Elf and Dwarf. And they are my friends. Understood?" Nathala growled as Éomer studied her for the first time and seemed both puzzled and slightly nervous.
"What are you?"
"In our tongue others like me are called silastrix, (1) that is all you need to know." Boromir entered the conversation.
"It had been awhile my old friend."
"We are friends of Rohan and of Théoden your king." Insisted Aragorn, then Éomer removed his helmet and his forces backed off. Eomer told them the news about King Theoden.
"Do you really think I would travel with spies Éomer?" Boromir asked and Éomer gave a wry smile.
"No Boromir, I suppose not."
"The Uruks were destroyed, we slaughtered them during the night." Gimli asked about Merry and Pippin before Aragorn added more some accurate descriptions. But Eomer said that his men did not find anyone of those descriptions and that they piled the carcasses and burned them.
"Hadufel, Arod, Bru." Éomer called for riderless horses "Farewell, look for your friends but do not came to hope it had forsaken these lands. We ride north" He yelled to his men and they rode off.
"Legolas and Nathala will take Arod, Boromir will take Bru and Gimli and I will share Hadufel."
The group mounted their horses and rode toward the smoking pile in the distance. Gimli dismounted and walked up to the smoking pile of bodies and used his axe to sift through the pile until he found a hobbit sized belt.
"It's one of their wee belts." Nathala turned from the head on the pike as her stomach violently protested and heaved a few times before she vomited. Legolas walked over and gently patted Nathala on the back while Aragorn kicked an Uruk helmet and yelled in rage. Soon enough, Aragorn spotted tracks and the other five hunters begin following him into Fangorn forest.
The Ringbearer
Following Gollum, the three reach the end of Ehern Muil and see that Mordor is now closer.
"See, see, we have led you out! Hurry, very lucky we find you." Gollum jumped on a rock.
Frodo walked past, Gollum shrank away as Sam and Darlana drew near. "Nice hobbit." Gollum followed Frodo trying to put some distance between him and primarily the considerably annoyed half-Dragon. "A swamp, yes, yes. Came, master. We will take you on safe paths through the mist. Came, hobbits, Dragon, came. We go quickly. I found it, I did. The way through the marshes. Orcs don't use it. Orcs don't know it. They go round for miles and miles. Came quickly. Swift and quick as shadows we must be."
The marsh stretched for miles, beyond even the long distance binoculars Darlana had brought out. Darlana sniffed and cast detect magic.
"Necromancy is very strong, it's aura is almost overpowering, there's some compulsion spell as well. Without more time I cannot tell what's supposed to do." Sam noticed that there were faces of dead people in the water.
"There are dead faces in the water!"
"All dead. All rotten. Elves and men and orcses. A great battle long ago. The Dead Marshes. Yes, yes that is their name. This way. Don't follow the lights." But Sam slipped slightly into the water as Darlana yanked him out.
"Careful Sam, the Necromancy radiates even stronger in the water." Gollum warned not to follow the lights.
"Frodo!" Frodo fell over into the water.
"Oh give me a break." Darlana groaned, running over and yanking the Halfling out with Gollum's help. Frodo coughed and Gollum just growled not to follow the lights again. A few hours later, Darlana and Sam were wakened by a screech of the Nazgul, the phantom servants of Sauron, the evil dark lord of this world.
"A wyvern? Where did one of those came from?" Darlana growled as she shoved Sam and a gasping and cringing Frodo under a bush. Darlana grabbed Frodo's hand as it reached for the ring, eventually the Nazgul flew off.
"Hurry, The Black Gate is very close." Three hours later, the four were climbing a high rock overlooking Morannon.
"The Black Gate of Mordor." Gollum hissed, while Darlana cursed rather fluently in Draconic as she looked over the defenses, and the oncoming marching army of Easterlings.
"Oh save us. My ol' Gaffer'd have a thing or two to say if he could see us now." Sam murmured.
"Master said to show him the way into Mordor, so good Sméagol does. Master said so."
"I don't think this is exactly what we had in mind." Darlana said with a sour look at Gollum.
"Look! The gate, it's opening! I can see a way down." As Sam moved to check, Darlana grabbed him by the back of his cloak.
"Don't be an idiot, that rock is unstable, I can see it easily enough, there is no way even on her own I could slip past that, I doubt even an avatar of Lloth or Bahamut could do it either." Darlana hissed in Sam's ear, Darlana whirled to Gollum "Is there another way into Mordor?"
"Yes, there's another way. More secret. A dark way."
"Why haven't you spoken of this before?" Sam demanded.
"Because Master did not ask!"
"Honestly must you take things so literally?" Darlana grumbled. "What is this other way?"
"Yes. There is a path, and some stairs, and then… a tunnel."
"He's led us this far, Sam, Darlana."
"He's up to something I can tell." Darlana warned.
"He had been true to his word." Darlana shook her head in exasperation while Sam protested.
"Lead the way, Sméagol." Darlana looked confused momentarily before she realized that must be Gollum's real name.
"Good Sméagol always helps."
The Five hunters
Back in Fangorn, Gimli walked up to a bush to figure out what that black substance was on the leaves. He tastes a bit, and spat it out "Pah, Orc blood."
"Probably tastes better than Darlana's cooking." Nathala snidely remarked.
"These are strange tracks." Aragorn said as Gimli spat out Orc blood.
"This forest is old, very old, full of memory and anger." Legolas said as the trees groaned and he explained how the Elves taught the trees to speak.
As the forest sways, the groaning noises began to get louder.
"Gimli put down your axe." Nathala ordered, walking over and pulling down on his arm.
"I could have done that herself little one." While Gimli was about to start bickering with Nathala, and Boromir standing nearby with an amused look on his face, Legolas spoke in Elvish.
"Aragorn, nad nâ ennas!" (2)
"Man cenich?." (3)
"Kindly speak common please.' Nathala snarked.
"The white wizard approaches." he whispered.
"Do not let him speak, he will put a spell on us." Aragorn warned, so Nathala quickly drew her Barrett, putting the stock to her shoulder while the others readied their weapons. "We must be quick, NOW." Aragorn yelled and they struck.
Legolas' arrow was knocked away, Gimli's axe was shattered by the wizard's staff, and Aragorn's and Boromir's sword visibly heated up causing him to drop it. But they had all forgotten about Nathala who swung around from behind a tree and fired the massive gun. The white wizard conjured a powerful shield but the explosive round destroyed the shield and knocked the wizard on his ass, while Nathala ran to the downed wizard with her Glock drawn.
When she sees the Wizard's face she fell back on her ass in surprise stuttering, utterly flabbergasted. Nathala extended her lower lip and taps it repeatedly going "bll bll bll… wha" By now the others have run up and have similar yet more mature reactions to Gandalf's reappearance.
"Gandalf? But how… you… the Balrog pulled you into the depths, you fell." Nathala stuttered "I thought people could not came back from the dead here."
"And they can where you are from?" Boromir asked in surprise.
"With a sufficiently powerful enough Cleric, yes. Darlana is powerful enough unless somebody more powerful than her did the killing. If an avatar of Lloth killed somebody Darlana could not bring them back."
"Ah." The party said.
"But yes, through fire and water, Nathala, I fought the Balrog all the way through Moria until I threw down my enemy and smote his ruin upon the mountain side. Darkness took me, and I strayed out of thought and time, then I was sent back until her task is done."
"Gandalf you're back!" Nathala said and smiled happily that none of the fellowship was lost now. Nathala, having been fond of Gandalf over the year and a half she knew him, ran up and hugged him. Gandalf returned it before they broke apart "Gandalf, yes, that was my name. Gandalf the grey."
The other members smile and Legolas apologized for shooting at Gandalf, having mistaken him for Saruman. "I am Saruman, or rather Saruman as he should have been… I am Gandalf the white, and I came back to you now at the turn of the tide." Gandalf then turned to leave and the five hunters followed him, Gandalf having put a grey robe over his white robes.
"One stage of your journey is over, another began. War had came to Rohan. We must ride to Edoras with all speed."
"Edoras that is no short distance."
"Yes, I heard that the king is mentally enslaved." Nathala said "or something like that."
"Yes and it will not be easily cured." Outside the forest, Gandalf whistled piercingly. Soon an answering neigh was heard and a white horse appeared from the plain, answering the call.
"That is one of the Mearas, unless her eyes are cheated by some spell." Nathala poked Legolas in the side.
"And that means what exactly?" The horse came round to stop in front of Gandalf.
"Shadowfax, he is the lord of all horses, and had been her friend through many dangers." The six riders on their respective mounts, the group rode toward the city of Edoras. The city was built on a hill protecting a great hall and hamlets with a long palisade wall surrounding the city. A flag had ripped off its post, and it came fluttering down toward the six riders as they pass through the gate, Aragorn stopped, rolled it up and handed it to a nearby guard. The six rode up to the hall where a guard came out to see them.
"Ah, Hama." Gandalf said looking happy.
"I cannot allow you to see king Théoden so armed Gandalf Greyhame, by order of…. Grima Wormtongue." Nathala saw by the way Hama said this Wormtongue's name that he did not like him at all. Gandalf nodded. Nathala began by unloading her Glock, stacking the magazines one on top of the other before she emptied the Glock's chamber then, unloaded her sniper rifle drawing more than a few stares from a few guards that gape openly at the massive 50. cal rounds sticking out of the top of the magazine. Gimli, Aragorn, Boromir and Legolas unload their axes, swords, daggers and bows. Nathala held her weapons out, and the man didn't even look at her. She had to thwack him on the shoulder with the hilts to get him to even look at her, and then he did a double-take, like he couldn't believe they had armed a woman.
"You going to take these or what?" Nathala asked, not caring at all if she sounded rude.
"You're a girl," He blurted.
"Wow congratulations, you are smart enough to know that" Nathala growled sarcastically.
"Who would allow a woman to fight, much less a young child such as yourself?" he asked incredulously.
"I'd rather have the young lass at her back then a lot of men I know," Gimli snarled.
Nathala grinned at him. "Thanks, Gimli." The guards seem VERY insulted at this "That's also called being sexist and it's illegal where I'm from." Nathala said.
"Your staff," Hama said to Gandalf. Then Nathala came up with a cute and innocent look, the same Legolas recognized as when she was about to pull a prank.
"Oh but he's old, he needs his walking stick. He's getting up there he is, approaching senility aren't we grandpa?" Gandalf stumbled making Nathala help to support him, still giving an almost pleading wide-eyed innocent look to the guard. The guard seemed almost confused but nodded and allowed them through.
"Evil, you are evil." Gandalf hissed to Nathala as they enter the hall.
"Happy to serve." Nathala said with a quiet giggle.
"The courtesy of your hall is lessened of late, Théoden, King," Gandalf said leaning on Aragorn.
"Good grief that guy looked like he rolled in a puddle of grease, and bathed in it instead of water." Nathala whispered to Legolas who immediately had to repress a snort.
"Why have you...came...Gandalf...Stormcrow?"
'How, the hell, do you NOT notice when your king looked like he died a couple of months ago?' Nathala asked herself as they walk forward.
"A just question, her liege," said Grima. He stood and started to walk toward Gandalf, trying to look threatening. "Lathspell I name you, Ill-news, for ill news is an ill guest, I say."
"Keep your forked tongue behind your teeth," Gandalf snapped. "I did not pass through fire and death to bandy crooked words with a witless worm!" Gandalf brandished his staff.
"His Staff." Grima said in shock " I told you to take the wizard's staff." Nathala jumped at a couple guards that went by and ignored her and she clapped her wings on the back of their heads hard, they went down unconscious.
Legolas and Aragorn continued smacking every enemy that came their way, Legolas smacked out a guy with a spectacular backhand. Nathala popped a guy in the nose after kicking his legs out from under him. Gimli ran over to Grima and knocked him back down, so Nathala went over and kicked him between the legs.
"Stay down Greasa." Gimli looked at Nathala questioningly "He looked really greasy." Nathala said and Gimli laughed.
"Hearken to me, I release you from the spell." Gandalf said and tried to break the spell but it did not seem to work before Saruman cackled.
"You have no power here Gandalf the grey. AHH." He screamed as Gandalf exposed his new robes and powers and began banishing Saruman.
"I will draw you Saruman as poison is drawn from a wound." Saruman screamed and rallied.
"If I go, Théoden dies." Gandalf added more power to his spell as Aragorn grabbed a woman in white to prevent her from reaching the king.
"Wait." He whispered.
"You did not kill me, you will not kill him. Be gone." Saruman gathered his last strength and lunged before Gandalf defeated Saruman. King Théoden started turning from a decrepit old man to a much younger man.
"I know your face, Éowyn… Éowyn." Théoden stepped forward "Gandalf?" He asked upon seeing the wizard.
"Breath the free air again her friend."
"Dark have been her dreams of late."
"Your fingers would best remember their strength if they grasped your sword." Hama went and returned with Théoden's sword who grabbed it and examined it, then he glared at Grima, Hama grinned as he and another man grabbed Grima, drag him outside the hall and throw him painfully down the steps.
Théoden followed looking quite intimidating and snarled at Grima's whimpering "Your leachcraft would have had me crawling on all fours like a beast." Grima snivelled more, then Théoden raised his sword to end the pathetic worm, but Aragorn grabbed it saying respectfully
"Enough blood had been spilled on his account." Aragorn reached down to help Grima up, but the man bit his hand before rising and fleeing toward the stable. "Hail Théoden king!" Aragorn called out. Théoden looked touched that his people would bow to him.
"We can't let Greasa get away." Nathala insisted after protesting once already.
"He had gone too far, we could not catch him even if we wished." Théoden said, but Nathala ran up to her 50. cal gun loaded a single round and aimed.
"Breath, aim, hold." Nathala held her breath to steady the gun then the massive roar and in the distance a gout of red could be seen. The casing popped out and clattered to the feet of the stunned king who picked it up, flinched at the heat of the still smoking adamantium shell casing.
"What is this sorcery?"
"No magic, just technology, technology at least 1500-2000 years ahead of your people. The round had a primer." Nathala pointed to the middle of the casing "which is struck by a hammer and the bullet is propelled by igniting a combination of chemicals, think very advanced alchemy, granted these names would mean nothing to you probably. By using the combined ignition of potassium nitrate, charcoal and sulphur is how these weapons function." The king now is in slight awe at the range Nathala popped off Grima in.
"Why did you kill him?" The king asked.
"My sister Darlana always said it's better the enemy is dead, for if he is dead, the odds of him telling our enemies what we are doing is none." The king nodded before he overlooked Nathala.
"What are you?"
"A friend of your people but I am silastrix." Nathala felt Legolas' hand on her shoulder.
"You are wise for your age little one." The king then realized that somebody is missing.
"Where is Théodred? Where is her son?"
Nathala realized that she did not want to be here at this point, so she went to find a corner to curl up in and play a few games on her Iphone. After an hour Nathala came to find her group.
"Hello." Nathala said, sitting down beside Legolas "What is happening?"
"The king is planning to retreat to the fortress of Helms Deep, we will leave in the morning after the village packs up what they need."
"Well I'm already packed."
"I have never seen you take anything out of that bag, what is in it?"
"Just what I need, spare clothes, ammo for her guns, and hopefully a grape fizzy drink I enjoy so much but have been saving."
"I see."
"What time is it?"
"Just after midday."
"Hmm… yawn… sorry I'm a little tired, I'm going to go take a nap, please wake me around supper time." Nathala said.
"As you wish Nathala, rest well."
"Don't moon about her sister too much, it's annoying." Legolas smiled and Gimli who was sitting nearby snickered at Legolas "Thanks Legolas, Gimli." Nathala nodded to him.
"Sleep well little lass." He said and went back to eating.
"Thanks Gimli. I hope I will… yawn." Nathala walked away and with Éowyn's help found an out-of-the-way couch. Casting some minor wards around it to warn her if anybody came near, Nathala removed her armour and weapons and slept for about six hours or so.
"Hello Legolas." Nathala yawned.
"How did you know it was me?"
"You know what I am, you think that my draconic heritage is purely for decoration?"
"What do I smell like then?"
"Like leaves and grass; essentially like the forests you call home." A pause "How old are you Legolas?"
"2,951."
"Well that's a bit older than Darlana."
"How old is she then?"
"She's playing hard to get isn't she?"
"Yes." Legolas sighed slightly annoyed at a question that had been vexing him since he and Darlana officially announced they were together.
"Sorry Legolas, I'm very tired."
"You have done very well for one so young, and on so little sleep as well. Sleep well."
"Thank you Legolas you should get some rest as well maybe you'll get to see Darlana in them." Nathala felt Legolas wrap his cloak around her and she burrowed into the pillow for a longer nap.
The next day saw plenty of activity around Edoras, Nathala realized that Gandalf had buggered off sometime during the previous day and just shrugged, knowing he probably had something very important to do. Nathala packed up and decided to ride with Aragorn this time to let Legolas daydream about a certain other female half-Dragon.
After a couple of hours the convoy was on the road to the fortress of Helms Deep. About an hour into the journey Gimli is explaining to Éowyn why people do not often notice Dwarf women.
Gimli's horse suddenly bucked him off, sending both him and his axe flying. The axe thankfully does not hit anyone. Snickering softly Nathala reclaimed it and helped Éowyn get him up over his horse; he protested that he meant to do that.
"If that was deliberate I'd hate to see an accident." Nathala joked, handing the axe over, and walked away laughing softly at Gimli's spluttering.
A little later, the caravan stops for the day. Éowyn is passing out stew, Nathala accepted, 'Éowyn's cooking is much better than Darlana's,' she thought to herself, 'if not for her pyromancer powers she would not even be able to boil water correctly.'
Nathala walked out to where Aragorn and the others were sitting. While Éowyn was talking to Aragorn, Nathala heard that Aragorn was eighty-seven years old. A bit after that Nathala ended up whacking Aragorn a couple times for flirting slightly with Éowyn a few times and hissing about how he was an idiot with Arwen.
A day and a half later, the group had reached the fortress and begin taking stock of the situation, it is not very heartening, barely five hundred guards including what came from Édoras, totalling the defence forces at slightly over nine hundred. Nathala immediately began scoping the area for a good sniper post.
Nathala knew she had a sniper/skirmisher role, unlike Darlana and Daniel who were people who specialized in heavy combat. Nathala staggered as Bahamut made contact with her.
"Young Nathala, I must warn you, since the original path of time in this world had changed, there are things you must tell Aragorn and Boromir, there are ten thousand Uruk-Hai coming and ten Drow priestesses. Reinforcements are coming soon for you, and your father himself will be there an hour after the battle has started. Good luck Nathala, brace yourself I am going to break the connection." Nathala stumbled and fell and Legolas caught her.
"What happened?"
"….Bahamut, spoke in my mind, I… am not as powerful as Darlana yet… at least and well a god's mind connected to my own… phew, there's quite a difference between us."
"Indeed, are you well?"
"Fine, there are ten thousand Uruk-Hai and ten Drow coming. We are supposed to get reinforcements soon , and my father will be here an hour after the battle began, which will be at nightfall." Nathala stood up straight as Boromir and Aragorn came up.
"What is wrong?"
Nathala rolled her eyes. "We're all about to be massacred. What could possibly be wrong about that?"
"That's a problem?"
"This is so idiotic." Nathala grumbled.
"How so?" Boromir put on a patronizing look.
"Don't you dare give me that look, I may only be a sniper but I still know when some one is being a moron or not. He had all the women locked back in the caves."
"Yes, What is your point?"
"Mothers whose children are in danger are a truly fierce thing," Legolas said.
"Women have no place in battle," Boromir said firmly. "It is their place to prepare for the return of their men."
"Watch it, you sack of crap, that's called being sexist and would get you in big trouble in my homelands. We treat men and women equal and I know for a fact that if Darlana were here and said that to her you'd be swallowing your teeth." Nathala snarled, bearing her fangs.
Legolas nodded in agreement, some Elf had tried to put Darlana in the place he viewed women as, odds were that elf who had tried to take advantage of Darlana was still in a coma. Boromir looked nervous now.
"We're going to fight about this, aren't we?" Nathala said getting really pissed off.
"Fight about what?"
"She wants to fight."
Gimli came up to the group. "What are you all talking about?"
"Nathala wants to fight in the upcoming battle," Legolas said again. He leaned back against the wall, looking tired.
"Good for her," Gimli said gruffly. "Be good to have the young lass at our backs, those Orcs will learn to fear her weapon."
"This is absurd, she's a woman, a young woman at that." Nathala growled.
"That's it." Nathala snarled. After her Draconic puberty had finished, Nathala had became stronger than humans, she, despite being only four foot five, reached up and dragged Boromir to her eye level. "Give me one good reason and I won't turn your hair hot pink, in case you forgot, I have magic and have no compunctions about using it on you, and if you want to keep you hair its normal color and on your head you'd better button your lips."
Nathala took the book The Zombie Survival Guide that she was reading, and whacksd Boromir over the head with it eliciting a yelp of pain from Boromir. Nathala then walked off to her sniper post on the Deeping wall.
"Nathala, please, I am just worried, there will no be anybody to watch your back and you may be killed." Boromir said following her.
"We will all watch over her, I'm more worried about us than her." Gimli said as the group walked to the armory. The king had tried to get Nathala to go to the caves but she had argued and was very disgusted by the king drafting boys younger than her, and the fact that Nathala was a better fighter than all these children and old men put together.
"Farmer, farriers, stable boys. These are no soldiers." Aragorn said in disgust tossing a bettered sword back onto the pile.
"Most have seen too many winters." Gimli commented.
"Or too few. Look at them. They're frightened. I can see it in their eyes." Everybody stopped and looked at Legolas while Nathala groaned in annoyance and whispered to Legolas
"You are NOT helping moral at all."
"Si beriathar hyn. Amar nâ ned Edoras." (4) Aragorn said to Legolas who just went on in Elvish complaining about how they were outnumbered more than ten to one and that everybody was going to die.
"Aragorn, men i ndagor. Hýn ú-... ortheri. Natha daged aen!" (5)
"Then I shall die as one them!" Aragorn yelled and stormed off, leaving a confused bunch behind him.
"What was that all about?" Nathala asked, but Legolas did not answer. Later on in the armoury Legolas handed Aragorn's sword to him
"We have trusted you this far. You have not led us astray. Forgive me. I was wrong to despair."
"There is nothing to forgive Legolas." Nathala looked over to see Gimli struggling with a human sized chain mail.
"If we had the time I would get this adjusted." Gimli grumbled to Legolas and Aragorn's restrained amusement, whereas Nathala just laughed gently at Gimli then a horn resounded out.
"That is no orc horn."
"Captain obvious." Nathala muttered under her breath.
"I heard that."
"Of course you did, I'm not surprised with those sonar dishes on the side of your head." Nathala snarked, Legolas getting the general gist of what Nathala meant just ruffled her hair to Nathala's indignant protest.
The four met up with Boromir and headed to the main gate to find a whole group of Elves, around six hundred commanded by Haldir who got pulled into a hug by Aragorn, Haldir seemed very awkward in the hug.
"You are most welcome Haldir."
An hour later, all the humans are arranged in the castle proper, while on and below the long wall are 601 Elves, one Human, one Dwarf and one half-Dragon. At the end of the vale the defenders could now see the huge army of Uruk-Hai stomping down toward them until they stop a bit before the wall and start pounding their spears in an intimidating manner.
Nathala then noticed the Drow, each of them priestesses and powerful, judging by the markings on their armour these were high ranked priestesses. Aragorn called out to the Elvish troops.
""A Eruchin, ú-dano i faelas a hyn, an uben tanatha le faelas." (6)
Nathala sighed as she points the barrel of her rifle out while Gimli said to her softly.
"Well lass, whatever luck you live by let's hope it lasts the night."
Aragorn came to Legolas, Gimli, Boromir and Nathala now that the orders were given.
"Your friends are with you Aragorn."
"Let's hope they last the night…OI." Nathala cuffed Gimli with her left wing.
"Clamp it, I've heard enough pessimist to last a month." Nathala grumbled as she put her finger on the trigger. By now Gimli is hopping, trying to see over the wall.
"What's happening out there?" Legolas replied with a grin.
"Shall I describe it to you? Or would you like me to find you a box?" Gimli laughed good-naturedly while Nathala conjured a floating disk.
"Stand on this, Gimli." Gimli patted her shoulder in thanks as now he could see over the wall.
Suddenly, an old man accidentally loosed an arrow as it shot into an Uruk's neck.
"Dartho." (7) Aragorn yelled.
"Oh great." Nathala groans as the Orcs roar several times then charged at the wall.
"Tángado hálad." (8) Aragorn called out as the Elves pointed their bows with strung arrows at the Orcs as something caught Nathala's eyes and she gently pushed Legolas a foot to the left then there was a whumpf noise and a slight blinding white light as a man 6'4 with gold eyes clad in black armor and wearing a crown with the Darkwielder symbol on it appeared.
"Daddy you're early." Nathala said pouncing on him as Legolas' eyes pop slightly as he realized this was Aurix's human form, and he had never really considered how intimidating the idea of having to ask permission to court and marry a Dragon's daughter. Nathala joined her father who is now holding a heavily modified P90 SMG and pointing it at the Orcs.
"Emperor Aurix Darkwielder." Legolas said with a respectful nod while Aruix's eyes flicked to him.
"Yes?"
"I need to speak to you about something after the battle."
"Worry about surviving the battle." Aurix replied.
'I'm more worried about your reaction to what I want to speak to you about after the battle.' Legolas thought and made sure his thoughts were locked behind his Elvish mental shields. By now the Uruks had charged at the wall.
"Leíthio í philinn!" (9) Aragorn yelled, the sounds of bows and one Barrett and one P90 open up on the horde. Aurix kept his eyes partially on the Drow he could see.
"Did they hit anything?" Gimli asked.
"Their Elves, what do you think." Nathala snarked back.
"Svaklar ui Darlana." (10) Aurix asked.
"Si tepoha thric ulhyrr." (11) Nathala answered, shooting through a line of Uruks due to over-penetration of the round as the Rohan troops added their arrows to the fight as well.
"Kwi majak ve vi jikmada." (12) Aurix exclaimed, seeing a couple of avatars of Lloth join the Drow.
"Jiil si siofme ui svern svent. Nathala svent wer jaleini." (13) Nathala answered by firing on both Avatars who conjure reinforced magical shields and waited for a chance to attack.
"Ladders." Aragorn yelled.
"Good." Gimli cheered as an Orc attempted to get over the wall and Gimli cleaved him down, then cut another down with a crotch shot.
"Yeesh." Aurix groaned.
"Legolas two already." Gimli boasted holding up two fingers.
"I'm on seventeen." He retorted firing two arrows "Nineteen." Ten minutes later Gimli was standing on the wall between Gimli was standing on the wall between as they came up.
"Seventeen! Eighteen! Nineteen! Twenty! Twenty-one! Twenty-two!"
"Lord Aurix, Nathala causeway." Aragorn called out, causing them to turn and open up on the Uruks advancing on the gate causing many to die, but the column kept advancing. In the meantime the king began boasting.
"Is this it? Is this all you can conjure, Saruman?" Lloth in the meantime focused her magic and slowly an explosive charge began to build up in the contained area making Aurix realize what Lloth was up to.
"Nathala SVENT JACIONIV, SVENT JACIONIV JAKA." (14) Aurix roared, his P90 not having the range to reach Lloth. But it was too late, an enormous explosion was set off, blowing away a large part of the wall.
As rock and people are thrown about, Aurix used his magic to catch and gently set down all the elves and Aragorn who had gotten blasted off the wall. Aurix dropped down and rallied the Elves to him, his voice calling out "Elves to me."
Using a slight mental probe to find out their names, he called out "Aragorn, Gimli come here."
Aurix levitated the arrows of the Elves except for the ones the Elves had on their bows "FIRE." Aurix bellowed and the Elves comply while Aurix fires the levitated arrows to decimate the oncoming ranks of Uruks.
"Charge." Aurix drew his Longsword and charged alongside Human, Elf, Dwarf and half-Dragon. Aurix smashed aside the spears and began killing the Uruks while keeping an eye on his daughter and her friends.
But it is only a small amount of time before Théoden called "Aragorn pull back to the keep, get your men out of there."
"Haldir run, I'll cover your retreat!" Nathala yelled to the Elf captain and his men. He nodded and pulled the men back as she shot down more Uruks, including one that was going for Haldir.
"Many thanks young one." Haldir said.
"Move it, it I'll finish up here." Aurix said and, he waited until the Elves that were still alive pull out then he took on his true form.
In the courtyard to the shock of Men, Elf and Uruk, a colossal gold Dragon reared up and allowed his breath down onto the Uruks turning many of them to ash. Aurix then reared up and took off flying over the keep to land in his human form near where Nathala had taken up a spot by Legolas while rocks were poured in front of the door from a trap above cutting off any pursuit. Aurix ran alongside Nathala to the main gate,
"Hold them." The king yelled.
"How much time you need?" Aurix asked.
"As much as you can give me Dragon."
"It will be done." Aurix leaped right out of the gate and began heaving down the Orcs, soon enough Gimli and Aragorn joined him in holding the causeway. Soon enough one of Lloth's avatars can be seen dueling on the top of the wall with Legolas. "Gimli, Aragorn, get Nathala and help Legolas, be warned look to your defenses, fight as you have never fought before. I'll hold here." They nod and withdrew up a rope that is tossed down.
"Well well well. The draconic emperor himself." Lloth sneered as her other avatar approached Aurix on the causeway after shoving off several Uruks from her path to their deaths. Lloth brought her blade up in an overhead swing which clashed with Aurix's blade. Aurix shoved Lloth back and lunged forward quicker than the fastest Drow could ever move tossed a flashbang grenade and sheltered himself in both a silencing spell and an orb of darkness.
Aurix saw Lloth stunned on the ground and decapitated her Avatar, leaving a large pile of dead spiders in her place. The other Avatar was dueling against Aragorn, Gimli, Legolas and Nathala, Lloth flicked her wrist sending a spear of magic at Nathala, when the air rippled in front of her stopping the spear in its tracks and causing it to dissipate on Nathala's magical shield.
Gimli swung out with his axe only to have Lloth parry it and knock him back a step. Legolas swung, a blade going toward Lloth's neck, the other for her leg, but Lloth twisted to avoid the blade to her leg and knocked aside the blade going toward her neck. Lloth yelled out in surprise as her chest plate is blown off by Nathala's 50. cal round at close range, before another two rounds kill the Avatar, leaving another pile of dead spiders. Aurix jumped up and landed on the top of the wall and slashed an Uruk from behind then Hama yelled out.
"Fall back! Fall back!" Then the King yelled.
"The castle is breached! Retreat!" Aurix rolled his eyes and joined the retreating Humans and Elves and gives cover with his P-90 as the Uruks drive the defenders into the keep. Half an hour later, the door is being beaten down while Legolas ransacks the keep for objects to barricade the door, while Aurix maintains reinforcing spells on the door.
"The fortress is taken," Théoden muttered, "it is over." Aurix raised an eyebrow.
"You know I've seen dying worms with more enthusiasm. We're down but not out, reinforcements are coming from her forces, a full army led by one of her grand marshals and her wife."
"Why would you allow your women to battle?"
"Why not? Your views are archaic and primitive; don't try to be condescending to me, I who have lived more than 3 million years. I have seen women equal or more capable than some men." Aurix snapped, Aurix hated sexist attitudes in all shapes and forms "oh just so you know, Drow society is ruled by the matriarchs. Like the spiders they worship Drow females are usually bigger, stronger and smarter than the males." Aurix said, narrowing his eyes warningly before a loud explosive noise catches their ears.
"Oh look reinforcements." Aurix said with a grin as the sounds of machine gun fire and cries of fear from the Uruks are audible as Aurix walked to the keep door and opening it and striding out to the top of the inner courtyard to see the 1st Draconic army led by Rommel and Bloom, supported by two thousand of Rohan's cavalry under Éomer slaughter the Uruks. The cries of victory soon echo out over the fortress as corpses are gathered and burnt in the case of the Uruks. Nathala joined her parents as they walk to where Legolas and Gimli were, Gimli was sitting on a dead Uruk with his axe in the Orc's head.
"Final count fifty-two." Legolas said.
"Fifty-two, that's not bad for a pointy eared Elvish princeling. I am sitting pretty on fifty-three." Legolas suddenly whipped out an arrow and shot the Orc Gimli was sitting on.
"Fifty-three." Legolas gloated.
"He was already dead." Gimli insisted.
"He was twitching." Legolas defended.
"Because he has my axe embedded in his central nervous system." Gimli jerked the axe causing the Orc to twitch. Aurix snorted.
"Now what was it you wanted to speak to me about Legolas?" Nathala seeing and knowing what Legolas is so nervous about piped up with an evil grin.
"He's Darlana's boyfriend and wants to marry her." Legolas shot a dirty look at Nathala before realizing her father had taken his true form and is stalking toward him.
"So, you wish to marry my daughter?" Aurix asked semi-rhetorically "Isn't it your people's custom to ask permission from the lady's father in order to court her, for her hand in marriage?" Aurix moved forward as Legolas tripped over a dead Uruk body and crawled backwards, Gimli is enjoying seeing his friend sweat under the glare of Darlana's father.
"I apologize, emperor, but perhaps take into consideration the situation…" Legolas said backing up.
"I have." Aurix suddenly withdrew his head from near Legolas and said "Be good to her, otherwise I'll roast whatever's leftover after she gets done with you." Legolas nodded and picked himself up off the ground.
"A pleasure to finally meet you lord Darkwielder." Legolas said formally "And you empress."
Bloom nodded then sat on one of Aurix's talons and waited until the decision was made to go to Isengard and confront Saruman.
The Ringbearer
In the meantime, back with Darlana, Gollum and the two hobbits, the group spent the rest of the night journeying across the apparently endless wasteland that surrounds Mordor. Gollum headed northwest, followed closely by Darlana, Frodo and Sam. By early morning they ended up abandoning the barren dunes that stand between the Dead Marshes and Mordor.
The terrain there was considerably less hostile, a few bushes and small leafless trees showing up here and there. A few days later Gollum surprised them by bringing a pair of dead rabbits, which sparked a small fight as Sam cooked them, which Gollum protested.
"This is great Sam." Darlana said as she ate with them.
"Thank you miss Darlana." Darlana sighed quietly to herself her mind on a certain blond Elf, then one of her wards sent a jolt warning her.
"Hide." Darlana hissed snuffing out the fire and diving into a bush with the Halflings to watch whatever is coming. A large row of huge animals, bigger than Elephants, stomp hard on the ground; their huge, thick legs just dropping to the soft earth as they marched majestically before the hidden group.
Archers were sitting high atop the gargantuan behemoths' head, marching east, toward Mordor; Sauron was still gathering all of his armies. Darlana hissed.
"Quiet Sam." Sensing his amazement but Sam said spoke, ignoring her.
"That's an Oliphant! Nobody at home will believe this." Sam noticed and wilted before Darlana's withering glare at him; the military procession was almost past their position and it would be tragic if the group ended up discovered due to Sam's loud mouth.
But at that exact moment, hundreds of arrows and the BRATT of full auto machine gun and assault rifle fire began raining on the unsuspecting army. Marching soldiers fall, riders are thrown off their mounts and the huge Oliphants just panicked and began to run wildly in all directions…all hell broke loose as body parts are flung around by the powerful weapons.
However, the skirmish is brief, the stealthy, cunning warriors responsible for the surprising attack dispose of their enemies very quickly and came out in the open. The men are cloaked, but Darlana does get a look at their heavy metal armor; these warriors were clad in identical mail coats than that of Boromir, but the others were dressed in the black and gold of the Draconic empire.
Darlana looked around to notice the Halflings are gone, and their position surrounded by thousands of Gondor and Draconic troops. Darlana looked out to see a man almost a clone of Boromir call out.
"Lower your weapon slowly and surrender without resistance, for there are thousands of us here and only one of you servant of Mordor." Darlana stood up to cries of shock from the Draconic forces as they all salute.
"Princess what are you doing here?" Boromir's look alike came up.
"Princess?" He asked.
"Yes crown princess Darlana Darkwielder, the 2nd in command of all Draconic armies." The female ranking officer of the Draconic troops said coming up.
"Who's in charge here?" Darlana asked, the officer who introduced Darlana spoke up.
"Me princess, colonel Drakefire of the 447th unattached." Sam gently tugged at Darlana's hand.
"Miss Darlana what does she mean?"
"It means she's the second in command or rather first in command of the 447 division, and the 447th is not part of any army, it's unattached." Darlana cleared her throat. "As of right now, I am in command. Under Draconic protocol alpha priority artifact control, this is an off the record mission. We, that is the Halflings and I were never here; you never assisted us. You will follow this protocol under the jurisdiction of the Darkwielder war crimes courts, violation will be considered treason understand?" The colonel blanched for a moment.
"Everybody understand?" She asked the troops, the Draconic troops nodded.
"What's going on?" Boromir's brother asked, Darlana guessed at the Gondorien troop leader's identity. The colonel explains.
"What that means if we talk about it to anybody with the wrong authorization, it means we'll either end up in a cell for a nice long time to think on our actions, or they'll just save the taxpayer's money and give us a 9 millimeter headache." At Boromir's brother's questioning look the colonel points at her handgun making him blanch slightly before nodding in understanding. "What are your orders, princess?"
"First what is the situation here?"
"Well after the general got her head taken off by the spider queen's sniper rifle, we have been supporting the Gondorien forces in this area, casualties, except for the general, have been minimal, as nobody else had been killed and we have successfully raided and destroyed three Drow divisions and salvaged and stolen all their artillery, ordinance and ammo."
"Excellent job, colonel." Darlana tapped at her lips in thought "I'm sorry I never caught your name; you are Boromir's brother right?" Darlana said apologetically to Boromir's brother.
"Yes, her name is Faramir, you know of Boromir?"
"Yes I traveled with him for a long time." Darlana smiled and Faramir arranges for food and lodging for the Halflings and psychological treatment for Gollum or Smeagol as his real name was. Darlana settled herself into the first real bed she had had in over a month and slept, dreaming of her favorite Elf.
A/N Well I'm done with this chapter, I apologize for taking so long to all, but I hope the size of her two chapters that I give make up for her absence. In her defense I had a ton of projects and tests to deal with so I had no time to write for quite awhile but I'm off school for about 3 weeks. Enjoy and review ok?
SE
Translations
1) Draconic: Half-Dragon
2) Elvish: Something is out there
3) Elvish: What do you see?
4) Elvish: They have more hope of defending themselves here than at Edoras
5) Elvish: Aragorn, we are warriors. They cannot win this fight. They are all going to die!
6) Elvish: Show them no mercy! For you shall receive none
7) Elvish: Hold
8) Elvish: Prepare to fire
9) Elvish: Hurl the arrows
10) Draconic: Where is…
11) Draconic: I have no idea
12) Draconic: Oh give me a break
13) Draconic: Two I think is overkill. Nathala kill the avatars.
14) Draconic: Kill her, Kill her now
