To wonder in Darkness

Part – 10

Freyja the Lady

If you cannot convince them, confuse them

(Harry S. Truman)

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Faelwen poured tea for herself, her husband and Strider, the Ranger that had been brought to them for safe keeping. Strider had been surprised to find an Elvish family living so far from Imaldris, but upon explanation, only Faelwen was an elf, she had chosen to become mortal and die of old age rather than live forever and watch her husband and children leave her.

The fair lady had white hair the shone like starlight, her children shared this odd hair color as well. Her husband was just as scruffy and Strider had become, with dark blond hair and an eccentric Rohirim accent. The children, Alyan (12), Istuion (9) and Taurwen (age of 6 and the only girl) were greatly in love with Strider who taught them things. The family lived far from Bree, about ten miles into the wild, and though Strider did not dare be outside during the day, well, the night was a different story. He taught the three children of the stars.

"Eärendil sails the night sky in order to protect us of Middle Earth from Morgoth and the dragon Ancalagon," Strider said as he pointed at the star, behind him Faelwen sat in her rocker knitting a blanket and listening silently. Her children noted the star.

"Why is he up there?" Taurwen asked. Strider smiled.

"It is his pleasure to sail the stars with his wife Elwing, if it were not for them, we would not have such peace today," Strider explained.

"Will they ever come back?" Alyan asked.

"No, I do not think so," Strider shook his head.

"Where will you go after this?" Istuion asked, he looked up from the whittling of a horse in his hand.

"I do not know, I was thinking that after we have fixed things here in Bree that I might go on to Rohan and maybe Gondor," Strider replied honestly.

"Do you think that maybe one day we can be Rangers too?" Taurwen asked, her bright green eyes held such hope that Strider didn't dare tell her "nay". He looked at their mother, who was smiling, just a little.

"My little Wren, you may do whatever it is that you like," Faelwen said.

"Oh! hannon lee! Naneth!" Taurwen clapped her hands in joy. She turned back to Strider with the most serious of expressions on her face; "Will you have me?" she asked. Strider bowed his head.

"Tancave, and your brother also, if they wish," Strider replied, quite serious as well, if these children were trained right, they would make great Rangers. For, even not of the ancient line of Numenor, their spirits were bright with hope and love for others.

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Arwen arrived in Bree not more than four days since she left her father and brothers in Imaldris. It was raining; the streets were thick if refuse and now Arwen understood why her brothers and Legolas simply hated to dwell within any human township.

She also found the leering of men offensive and the odd urge to smite them where they stood was seated in her heart in such a way that she could not banish.

The Prancing Pony was the only Inn that Arwen had heard of her brothers speak and so she found it with only a bit of direction from a woman who schooled the local children. Addylynn Butterbur was the young wife of Master Butterbur who ran the Prancing Pony and so Arwen was shown a cleaned room with a washroom attached.

Arwen, under her pseudonym Freyja, bathed and changed in her chambers; while she was busy with such, Addylynn had left tea and a meal in the chambers. However, the man who awaited her was a site. He looked as if a human and a dwarf had mated, with a terrible consequence with such a son who sported a blading head and long beard. Like most humans of Bree and the wild (Arwen later found) he was unkempt and smell liked horses ass.

"What are you doing in my rooms uninvited?" Freyja challenged.

"My dear lady, I only wish to make your acquaintance," the man didn't bother to bow, but he did liberate a scone from the plates set on the small desk.

"Do you not know that it is rude and unwise to enter the rooms of a lady against her wishes?" Freyja asked. She was glad to have hidden her dagger in the lose britches she wore.

"My name is Nauggil and when I had heard of the fair beauty that graced us poor wretches with her pleasure, I had to see for myself," he licked his lips in such a way that Freyja's first instinct was to slit his throat and ask questions later.

"Well, now have seen. Get out of my site before I smite thee where thee stand," Freyja glared. Nauggil laughed as he stood, the scone gone and the lady next on the menu.

"Now, now, my lady, that is no way to greet your host…" Nauggil reached out, but the prick at his neck stopped his movements all together. Freyja had a dagger in her hand and anger in her eyes.

"You detest me with your vile and underhanded ideals. I shall thank you to leave my presence and if you show you black hearted and ugly visage in my presence again, though shalt find something….missing…" She warned him. Nauggil frowned but stepped back and held up his hands to mean no harm. He left with not a backwards glance.

Addylynn came rushing into the room; "My Lady! Please do not be offended with me or my house! We did not know that he had followed!" Addylynn was besides herself with tears.

"Peace, my friend Addylynn!"

Addylynn looked up into star blue eyes and the kind smile of Arwen Undomiel, "I bear no ill will towards you or your house. I would like to be truthful now, with you, if I may?" she asked.

"I shall keep any and all secrets," Addylynn replied.

"My true name is Arwen, the daughter of Elrond of Imaldris, the Elf Haven,"

"I knew you must have come from an old and honored blood line, if you do not mind my saying so," Addylynn bowed. Arwen took her by the elbow and they sat on the bed.

"I have need to find a dear friend of mine, I have had terrible visions,"

"My lady, I shall help you in anyway that I can,"

"Hannon Le, I need to find Strider, Ranger of the North,"

At this, Addylynn grew pale; "My Lady, we knew of him but alas, he has left Arda for the Halls of Mandos,"

"Low! You must be mistaken," Arwen gasped.

"I tell you that is not so, my lady, I shall bring to you those that were his friend under this house, yes?"

"Please,"

---

Addylynn had spent most of that evening finding Rhûndal and Lómgrad, the only known Twin Rangers. They swept into townships and left the people of the town with a disaster to clean up afterwards. However, they were loyal and how could Addylynn believe those two of such a terrible deed as to kill Strider, a kind and genteel man?

She found them smoking on the water barrels outside the bar: "Quick, the lady calls for you in regards of Strider," She exclaimed.

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A/N – I realized that it has taken me much too long to update. For those of you who love names Like I do, Freyja is an older form of Frey, from Old Norse, which means "Lady". I thought that if Aragorn had all of these aliases, that Arwen should have one as well. This would be the name she would travel under if no one was with her.