Disclaimer: I do not own a single thing in Arda
"Varilerin, is something bothering you?" Varilerin looked up at Ellain, looking at her terribly worried. She stopped sharpening her swords and raised her brow.
"No, I am fine," Varilerin answered as she slung her quiver and sheathed her weapons. Ellain didn't see any truth in her words and sighed, wondering what had happened last night when she and Ruindoldir were asleep. She had been quiet throughout the morning, busying herself in her already sharpened swords and arrows. Ruindoldir stood beside Ellain, folding his hands as if he was angry with his younger friend.
"I know you're not fine, and you better be finer because we need all the attentions we need in order to get Lady Arwen to safety," Ruindoldir added.
"Trust me, My Friends. Whatever matters that occupied my mind shall not disturb our mission," Varilerin said as she pulled her hood up. Ellain and Ruindoldir didn't look convinced and frowned. Varilerin shot their eyes with her sharp glance, pleaded them not to ask further uncomfortable questions."Now, let us go."
Ignoring her friends' concerns, she marched ahead with the other rangers towards the gates, where Arwen and her grandparents had been waiting for them. Varilerin slightly felt uncomfortable of leaving the safe haven, knowing that she must enter the rocky mountain terrains once more, yet didn't speak of it to her friends. Her mind, like what they had suggested, was occupied by the confusion over the fear she had last night, and the mirror. A single image from the mirror could shatter her composure in a split second, something she still couldn't comprehend even after a whole night of pondering.
The company found Arwen bidding farewell with Celeborn and Galadriel. Under the morning sun their faces looked ethereal and far wiser than the surrounding Elves. There was a vague resemblance between Arwen and Galadriel, Varilerin noticed, both in beauty and the charm they emanated.
"Farewell, My Child, may your journey be safe and sound," Celeborn said lastly after he embraced his granddaughter. Arwen smiled gently as she received him, not noticing the arrival of the rangers.
"And may we meet again in better circumstances," Galadriel added. Arwen didn't notice Galadriel glancing at Varilerin from the corner of her eyes, smiling in secret as she sent thoughts to her mind. Varilerin shuddered when she did so, glancing away from the Elven Lady hastily.
And I will be waiting for our next meeting as well, Daughter of Glorfindel.
"My Lady, it is time," Ellain politely informed Arwen. Arwen nodded in understanding and pulled up her hood. Varilerin approached her as she mounted her horse.
"She will return safe, My Lady, My Lord," Varilerin assured the both of them. Celeborn and Galadriel nodded, and the rangers bowed to them to thank them for their hospitality. They mounted their own horses and marched out of Lothlorien, down the path they had previously taken, quietly and carefully. Varilerin rode beside Arwen, flanking her along with Ellain and Ruindoldir.
"We will bring you home now, My Lady," Varilerin told Arwen when they finally reached the borders of Lorien.
"I know you will," Arwen said with a smile. Varilerin gave her the largest smile she could muster to her friend, who was finally returning home. Arwen's presence seemed to erase all her concerns regarding the mirror, and she spent the rest of the journey talking with her old friend. Not surprised, Arwen had grown in wisdom as well, a successful result of being mentored by the wisest beings on Arda. They saw in each other that they had grown in many ways, one being wiser and one being stronger. Sisters they seemed to the observing rangers, completing each other's flaws whenever they needed to. Ellain and Ruindoldir had not seen Varilerin so happy in a hundred years, and they were grateful for such cause.
In the afternoon they stopped briefly for a rest and food. Though they could have travelled further without resting, the rangers couldn't take dangerous risks in advancing without scouting the area first. Varilerin waited with Arwen as her comrades departed to watch the road ahead.
"So tell me, Varilerin, have you decided which race will you choose?" Arwen asked as she tended to her horse while keenly observing Varilerin preparing some herbs she had just picked up.
"No, not yet, though I think I will choose my closest kin," Varilerin answered. "But I will not decide until the time is dire, until I have seen the purpose of my life."
"You wait too much, aren't you?" Arwen said. Arwen suddenly stopped and smiled suspiciously, approaching the seating Varilerin and leaning down to whisper to her."Are you waiting to find love as well?"
Varilerin stopped moving and narrowed her eyes to Arwen. Not to Arwen's surprise, Varilerin remained calm and composed, although the subject was surely sensitive for all elleth. "Why are you asking that?" Varilerin accused Arwen.
"Because you've come of age, Varilerin. Isn't it general for you to find the soul that completes your heart?" Arwen asked gleefully when she realised it was also a sensitive matter for Varilerin. Varilerin glared at Arwen whilst her hand kept cutting some athelas.
"No, I have not even thought about it," she answered calmly. She was not lying, for she had not even thought about it before Arwen mentioned the matter. Several ellon back home must had taken interest in her whenever they saw glimpses of her figure among the rangers no doubt, but she cared not much. Several of the rangers must had noticed her as well, though she managed to announce indirectly that she didn't care for any matters of marital love or whatsoever. She was known as a warrior, not a lady who sought love. She would not let love disrupt her duties as a protector, not when it was one of the few things that kept her alive.
"What about you then? Any Lothlorien ellon that particularly interests you?" Varilerin asked sharply. Arwen merely let out a small laughter at her.
"Well, there are Haldir and his brothers," suddenly a voice came from behind Arwen before she could answer, revealed to be Ellain folding her arms together. She was smiling suspiciously, her eyes shining with joy. "Well, what about your answer, Lady Arwen?"
"No, none of them," Arwen answered surprisingly calmly. "Well, what about you Ellain? Any interest in Ruindoldir?"
Varilerin smirked along with Arwen, causing Ellain to snort out of annoyance. "Why, he is only an annoying brother to me, that's all. He troubles me too much to become a protective spouse…"
"I heard that!" Ruindoldir shouted from the distance. Arwen and Ellain laughed freely, annoying the ellon glaring sharply at them. Finally, Ellain coughed loudly to stop their laughters, having seen the other rangers returning from their watch.
"We are going to be leaving in a minute now, so prepare yourselves," Ellain told them. Varilerin nodded and put back all the herbs into her pouch. "We'll be stopping when the night descends, probably near a forest around the mountain."
"Come then, onto the horse you go," Varilerin instructed Arwen, who in turn didn't seem to be pleased at how Varilerin treated her like a child. She however, didn't speak further, and followed Varilerin's instructions accordingly. They travelled further with Arwen on her horse and the rangers on foot. Varilerin and Ellain constantly walked by Arwen's side, while the others scoured the area for any potential dangers.
"Should we take the same path?" Ellain asked Varilerin.
"It is safe so it will not be a matter," Varilerin said plainly. "Ah, a forest."
From afar they saw clusters of trees growing sparsely close to the mountain, like a shrub in a vast plain. Varilerin looked at the sky and saw that it was darkening, the sun descending to the horizon slowly and steadily. "We should rest here," she told Ellain. "I am going to scout the forest with Ruindoldir. Stay here with the rangers."
Ellain nodded in understanding and watched as Varilerin, Ruindoldir, and several other rangers entered the small forest. They scattered in the area and quietly observed the woods with their bows constantly drawn. Even the safest forest could bring unlimited dangers to them.
After confirming that the forest would be suitable for the night, Varilerin emerged and called the rest of the company over. The night had finally arrived, and the company settled in a clearing surrounded by tall, old trees. A fire was set in the middle, and rangers encircled the clearing like the trees that protected it.
"Sleep, My Lady, we will protect you," Arwen heard Varilerin muttering beside her.
"Are you not resting?" Arwen asked Varilerin when she saw that she was preparing herself for the watch. "I have heard from Ellain that you have not rested since last night."
"Well, she has quite the mouth, isn't she? Do not worry, My Lady, I have not rested for longer than this. My eyes and ears will be needed, especially in this estranged land."
"Then be careful," Arwen said to her. Varilerin bowed gratefully and then left Arwen safely in the clearing, approaching Ruindoldir who was standing cautiously not far.
"We are going to need some scouting outside the forest," Ruindoldir told her. "Can you do that?"
"Certainly," Varilerin answered surely as she observed the surroundings. "The night is quiet, too quiet I suppose." Ruindoldir nodded, having the same opinion about her. Forests were always quiet for them, but they had always met Orcs and other filthy creatures they needed to defeat. Undisturbed silence was strange for them, even though it was preferable when they were escorting someone.
"Not living in dangers is disturbing for you, isn't it?" Ruindoldir asked. "We rangers are all the same, but tonight such situation is preferable for Lady Arwen."
"I know. Farewell then, I will meet you in the morning," Varilerin said lastly before she left Ruindoldir to watch around the forest. She felt the warm presences of her comrades dissipating as she travelled farther to the borders, where she felt some rangers also standing guard. The night was quiet like they had discussed, though there was a certain uneasiness in the air. Varilerin constantly rubbed her bow, a gift from her master when she came of age, and constantly glanced into the shadows. Everything however, seemed calm and undisturbed.
Then a cold wind brushed her skin and she shuddered. Varilerin grabbed her bow and arrow, looking cautiously into the dark.
There was another presence, cold and dark.
What is it? Varilerin mused and looked around in panic. Her heart thumped loudly and her skin shivered. It is happening again, the vision.
She stopped moving when she saw ethereal Orcs killing her comrades in front of her. They screamed, yet their voices could not be heard on the physical plane. The evil creatures' evil blades pierced through the bodies of her kin, mercilessly and gleefully. Among them were Ruindoldir and Ellain, fighting off the enemies with all their might. Ellain shouted a battle cry to the Orcs, swinging her blade wildly whilst she protected Arwen behind her.
Kill them! The Orcs screamed to her.
Varilerin widened her eyes and, without watching her vision any longer, she turned back to the forest. The screams and painful screeches of the Orcs continued to pain her ears as she ran back to the encampment.
Why now, of all times? Why now when Arwen is with us?
Varilerin began hearing screams of her kin coming from the clearing where Arwen was waiting, and screeches of Orcs, exactly like the ones she had heard in her vision. Varilerin quickened her pace and pushed through the thorny bushes, ignoring her skin that was grazed by its spiny leaves. The screams became louder.
Please let me arrive in time!
A last scream was released to the air before Varilerin emerged to the clearing. A blade seemed to strike her heart when she saw Ellain standing in front of an Orc, her abdomen pierced by its evil sword mercilessly. Ellain coughed as she tried to push the Orc away, failing to do so with her depleting strength.
"Ellain!" Varilerin screamed when she arrived at the battlefield, and unleashed an arrow straight to the Orc's head, killing it immediately. Without glancing at her other fallen comrades and the bloodied ground, she leapt to Ellain's falling body and caught her.
"Ellain, endure Ellain!" Varilerin pleaded to her friend when she saw that her wound was bleeding more profusely than she had ever seen. Ellain didn't respond, her empty eyes staring far into the stars, and her body cold like the winter wind. Varilerin grimaced and closed Ellain's eyes, holding back the pain that was striking her as she turned to search for Arwen.
Arwen was fighting an Orc desperately with the small sword she was wielding. Without grieving further Varilerin released a deadly arrow to the Orc's neck and leapt in front of Arwen to protect her.
"Arwen, are you injured?" Varilerin stammered to Arwen, whose face had been marred by black blood of the enemies. Arwen nodded and felt Varilerin's hand pulling her towards her white steed not far. "We need to get you out now."
Not far from Arwen's steed was Ruindoldir, fighting alone against several Orcs. "Get on the horse!" Varilerin instructed Arwen as she fired another arrow to support Ruindoldir. Ruindoldir glanced at Varilerin, gaining Varilerin's support, and defeated the last of his enemies with the wild slashes of his blades.
"Ruindoldir!" Varilerin shouted to him when she saw that the enemies had dissipated. Ruindoldir nodded in understanding and ran towards Varilerin, who quickly leapt to any horse that still remained. Suddenly Ruindoldir stopped, hearing loud howls coming from the distance. Ruindoldir's face was filled with horror, and so were the remaining elleths.
"Wargs," Varilerin muttered fearfully. "Ruindoldir! We must get away now!"
Ruindoldir didn't respond to her plead and instead drew on of his arrows, turning his back away from Varilerin and Arwen. Varilerin gaped in realization that his friend had come to a horrifying decision.
"Ruindoldir!" Varilerin shouted, trying to prevent her friend from sacrificing himself.
"Go! I will cover you!" Ruindoldir shouted surely and unmoving. He looked back at Varilerin, his eyes filled with fear and sadness. Varilerin felt her heart being stabbed by hundreds of swords, and the time seemed to freeze under the grief she was experiencing.
"No," she muttered reluctantly.
Ruindoldir smiled at her, a smile so genuine that she knew she would never see it once more. "Who will accompany Lady Arwen when you die?"
"You cannot sacrifice yourself for my lowly soul!"
"YOU MUST GO OR THE LADY WILL DIE!" Ruindoldir shouted harshly. Varilerin shuddered, never before heard Ruindoldir screaming with his gentle voice. Ruindoldir didn't speak further and turned his face away from her. Varilerin closed her eyes and turned away from Ruindoldir, facing the incoming wargs that would certainly be his last battle.
"Go!" Varilerin told Arwen with a rigid voice. Arwen didn't dare to disobey her orders and paced her horse away from the battlefield. Varilerin drew an arrow and tried to deafen her ears from the growls of wargs assaulting her true friend behind her.
Farewell, My Friends, may your souls find their way to the Halls of Mandos.
Not long after, her ears couldn't catch any more sound, and she prayed for the loyal sacrifice of her friend. "Go, faster!" she urged Arwen. Arwen was a skilled rider, but in the night the evil beasts were faster than their steeds. Varilerin slowly heard the bushes rustling loudly behind her that signified the coming of the enemies.
Varilerin immediately turned her body and shot an arrow to a warg rider emerging from the bushes, striking the beast right on its head. Arwen glanced over her shoulder, seeing Varilerin drawing another arrow. Another warg rider tried to lunge on Varilerin, only to be taken down by her arrows.
"Varilerin!" Arwen shouted when she saw another emerging behind the warg rider she had just defeated. Unable to react in time, the warg struck Varilerin's horse hard and merciless. The Orc riding it tried to decapitate her head using his sword, only failing to do so as Varilerin jumped from her steed. She was thrown to the trees, her head hitting so hard that she felt her head splitting to pieces. For a moment she lost the sight of the world, but forced herself to wake once more and threw her arrow to the warg that had struck her ride. She leapt to the Orc riding it and decapitated her head with her dual swords.
She glanced at Arwen, who to her surprise and anger had stopped her horse. "Fool! Why do you stop? Go now! More are coming!" Varilerin scolded the elleth.
"I cannot leave you, Varilerin!" Arwen said. Varilerin didn't pay head to her pleads and heard the Orcs closing in.
"LEAVE ME! MY VOW WILL BE BROKEN IF YOU ARE TO DIE!" Varilerin shouted desperately. "LEAVE ME ARWEN, THIS IS MY LAST REQUEST!"
Arwen grimaced, not wanting to leave her long lost friend, but she reluctantly pulled the reigns and paced away from Varilerin. Arrows were now of no use, her quivers now empty, and she must rely on her blades alone to meet these beasts.
Several Orcs emerged from among the trees at once, growling and snickering at the lone elleth. Varilerin looked into their eyes sharply, her grip over her swords tight and without fear.
"You are overpowered, Elf. You shall die!" one of them growled in their disgusting speech. Varilerin merely smirked, surprising her enemies with her confidence, or desperation if correctly said.
"I do not fear you, nor I fear the power of numbers," she said before she leapt to one of the warg riders. Swiftly she decapitated its head with her sword and stabbed the other warg with the other. Its comrades tried to shoot an arrow to her head, only to fail miserably as Varilerin deflected the projectile. She jumped to the other and stabbed its chest with both of her swords. Before she could pull her weapons, the warg beneath her ran towards the trees in an effort to throw her to a tree trunk once more. Varilerin wouldn't repeat the same mistake and stabbed the warg powerfully with her medical knife, before jumping off from the beast.
"Die, filth!" the last Orc screamed, riding towards her. Varilerin lost the speed to react after she had struck the trees, letting the warg crash her back and threw her to the bushes. She lost her vision and when she opened her eyes, she saw the last enemy drawing its bow towards her. Varilerin couldn't move her body, only hearing the sound of the bowstring being pulled and the Orc breathing. The time slowed down, just like when she saw her friends dying.
If this is the end, so be it, she thought, closing her eyes and remembering Ellain and Ruindoldir. If this is how I will die, then it will be an honourable one.
She heard the arrow being unleashed and its tip splitting the air. She breathed slowly, reminiscing her painful life and the wonderful memories she had been spending with Arwen, who would be save because of her sacrifice.
But the arrow never hit her.
For it found not her body, but a presence in front of her.
Varilerin knew the presence too well, too well that her heart stopped beating when she opened her eyes.
Arwen Undomiel was standing tall before her, with an arrow piercing her chest.
"Arwen?"
A/N: Do you hear that? It is the sound of my heart melting in the heart of Mount Doom. Kill me if you want, because I've killed my own characters….
I am just going to sit here in the corner, weeping.
*thank you for reading btw. Please rate and review*
