and yet another chapter is out. I hope you all have been enjoying the past few, I'm so glad to see all of your comments. As always, thank you for all of the follows, faves, and reviews. I do like to see them. XD I've been having some problems recently in writing, since I can't really figure out what to do with the blank spots between major plot scenes, but I'm getting there. Slowly but surely. ;)
WARNING: one small scene in here today that is a memory. Contains some disturbing imagery. Read at your own risk- you have been warned.
I forgot to mention last chapter. Níssi means female in general, and Nerí means male in general.
Chapter 9
Another three weeks, all mainly consisting of rigorous training and practicing for hours on end.
Ciaran had been pushing, and he knew it. He knew that Eruanna knew it. But neither of them complained. They knew that it was necessary, and both were willing to face the consequences.
Eruanna was slowly becoming even more dexterous and reflexive in her movements, and her tracking skills were exceptional for a child. Although, as Ciaran noted with humored irony, her size is just what gave her that particular skill. She was small and therefore good at going undetected.
She could tell orc track from human or elven tracks, if there were any of the latter. She could hide at a moments notice. He had beaten into her the knowledge to always assess every possible exit in a room or any place that she entered. Always note possible weapons. Gauge every situation. Take as little time as possible.
She was still working on it, but he was satisfied so far. Her record was forty seconds for pointing out every possible exit, and twenty for every possible weapon. He could do both in twenty. She was getting there, slowly but surely.
Next they had moved on to people. How to determine the mood of each person, how to touch their minds ever so briefly so that they never knew, how to notice any suspicious persons by their actions. That had taken more time, and even now after a month and a half, she was only half-way to the goal he had set for her, which, as even he admitted, was high. But she had been working hard, and he was proud.
Eruanna, on the other hand, was putting her whole heart into her new task. It had been too long since she had had a purpose, and she was happy to have something to give her full attention to. She had asked Ciaran to teach her, and he had gone so far as to become her master. She was grateful, and would not for Arda disappoint him by giving less then her all.
Of course, there had been the one time that she had thrown a fit, but nerves had been high and she had apologized a day later, suitably chagrined and all the better for it.
She was working her very hardest to become a worthy member of the Sereg'wethrin guild. She would not fail Ciaran. She would carry on his legacy through the ages. If only she knew what she was truly to become.
But in the meantime, it was all one big game. Hide-and-seek for tracking skills. Catch-me for escape practices. And of course, Glorfindel and the Balrog for empty-handed defense. Ciaran had taught her pressure-points, and she could rattle them all off, show them all, and use that knowledge very well. When push came to shove, she could do it all.
But at the same time, she was also learning how to use an actual weapon. It had taken Ciaran an entire month to think of the proper one and then actually custom-make it with the proper materials and in the way he liked it.
It was a whip. A pair of whips made of elven rope, hithlum, consisting of a leather handle for stiffness and grip, and one long, thin strand of rope attached to it. Because it was made of hithlum, it could be folded and tucked into the smallest of pockets without being too noticeable, but also be flexible enough to pull out within a moment's notice.
He had been teaching her how to use it to grasp objects at a distance and bring them to herself, how to flick them in just the correct manner to wrap it around the desired object, how to judge distances, and then bring it all together to give her the perfect means of defense.
She could whip a sword away from anyone with a yank hard enough, render them helpless by bringing out their legs from underneath them, and then use pressure points to buy enough time for escape, of course using the whips to pull herself into trees and escape that way.
They had already gotten to the point where she could extinguish two candles at a short distance with her whips.
Such poetic justice. She had been tortured and mutilated, darkened and oppressed with the very same weapon with which she would defeat her enemies and exact her revenge. Though he wasn't sure that was the proper word. It was more like... Well, he wasn't sure what it was exactly, but he was pretty sure that she wouldn't want it to be called revenge.
He had been thinking for a while about the other issue as well. After making the decision, he had asked himself the most important question: when? Should he tell her? No, no, that would never do. But then when?
He carried it on him at all times, now. It never left him, not even in the evening when he slept. It was too precious to be carelessly handled. It was valuable beyond measure, and should it ever fall into the wrong hands... The whole world might come to an end.
When? The opportunity would present himself, he was sure. He shouldn't worry. If it was meant to be passed down to her, then the perfect opportunity would arise. He would just bide his time. It would happen.
The countdown was coming up. The countdown for the final showdown of the War of the Ring, and the countdown for the rise of the greatest in the guild of the Sereg'wethrin. The countdown for the Awakening.
Activation day.
LOTRLOTRLOTR
It has been two months. I am rapidly progressing in my training. Master has said that I can practice on my own if needs be, now, and he has been teaching me some tricks with my lashes.
It takes me thirty seconds to gauge every possible exit and weapon. I can now pull out my lashes at a moment's notice. I can even track master around the halls now without him knowing.
I can gauge every person's reactions pretty accurately and predict any possible trouble. I can touch their minds so fleetingly that they do not feel it as I pick up on any negative emotions that they may have. I can be absolutely unreadable, mind, aura, and face.
Master says that I am not yet ready to enter the guild yet, however. I am not too disappointed. I know I'm not as good as he is. But he says that I will be, and I trust master. I will try my best, for his sake. It is more than I have asked for, more than I ever wanted, but I cannot go back now.
I can't even tell where this all started to become so serious. I only wanted to learn how to defend myself, and now I am training to become a member of the Sereg'wethrin. Where did this all go astray? I do not complain, for I see that I am meant to do this... But now I have to agree with Muindor, though not in the same words, that I do not appreciate the Valar's manipulation.
Maybe I am just speaking from pique, and will regret that statement later, but it seems as though the Valar really do manipulate my life. It makes me feel... Used. I am not sure what to think anymore.
And why is master acting so strangely lately? It is unlike him.
Eruanna sat back, the quill dropping to the table as she laid her head on the journal and sighed, quiet tears spattering the smooth wood. A tree, branches close to the window where she sat, began to sing softly, mirroring her silent grief.
The days were drawing to a close when her two dear brothers would leave on a mission that was not guaranteed to be successful. It was not even sure that they would survive. The very thought made her feel ill, her stomach churning and threatening to heave.
Every time she thought about it, she was back in Gondolin, watching elf after elf fall in front of her, behind her, next to her, in her very face. Crawling over the bodies of nameless faces that were her people. Crying over every single one of them.
Begging Mandos to have mercy on their souls even as she saw their open, glassy, unseeing eyes, mouths parted and blood. Blood everywhere. Broken bodies. Empty shells, mere husks of what they were meant to be. Unhoused and uninhabited.
She shook herself, forcing the images out of her mind and turning back to the journal, wiping away her tears. She closed the book, smoothing the cover and sighing. It was nearly time for her lessons, and she did not want to miss them or be late.
She had made sure not to be late every day, for which Ciaran had praised her, to her pride. But she knew, and she knew that he knew, that their time was running short. For that very reason they had been pushing, working furiously to cram in as much as they could and perfecting it.
The hourglass in the back of all their minds was coming close to running out, and she was expecting it any moment. It was not a pleasant thought.
Their time was coming to a close, and she needed to be ready by then. She had a feeling that today's lesson was not going to be the same.
LOTRLOTRLOTR
Ciaran was meditating when Eruanna arrived. She sat in front of him without a sound, closing her eyes and stretching her senses outward, tendrils of thought moving around the room.
Nothing was different from what it had been yesterday. All the crates were in the same place. Nothing was misplaced or changed. It was quiet. A mouse scuttled across the floor, the almost inaudible sounds of its claws scratching across the stone the only thing telling them of its existence.
In the unseen realm, the shadows danced about, and Ciaran's aura was muted, a noncommittal grey that told Eruanna nothing of his allegiances. She was the same, two anomalies in the world of both shadow and light.
*Time is up.* Ciaran's voice echoed softly in her head.
There was a heavy pause. *Yes.* Was her quiet reply. *It is.* She said nothing more.
Their eyes opened to find their eyes locked. Understanding passed wordlessly between them. They just sat there for another moment, one last session of peace before the world was plunged into war and chaos.
Then Ciaran sighed, breaking the moment. "You know that this is most likely our last lesson." He said. She nodded solemnly.
He studied her. "I cannot guarantee I will ever teach you again. Never do we know where fate will lead us." He said quietly. Her eyes revealed pain. He looked down, unable to see the amount of suffering she revealed at the thought of it.
"This is why mortals do not become close to elves." He murmured.
*I do not care. I have given my heart to two mortals, and I am all the better for it. I have suffered much, what is a thousand more griefs?* She asked, a pained smile crossing her face. *I do not regret it.* She added with quiet conviction.
He reached out, fingers hovering over her hand. She reached back, small hands clutching his large fingers in hers. His fingers unconsciously curled around hers, feeling the soft yet calloused texture of her hands. His were rough and calloused, yet kind and gentle. It was hard to believe that they were so stained. But never with innocent blood, to his credit.
"I thank you." He said gently, with feeling. "You have been the daughter I never had and the apprentice I have always wanted." He added.
Eruanna smiled. Ciaran never showed his soft side. She was honored to see it, but didn't show it. *I never forget you, master.* She said frankly. *Never. No matter what.* She promised. *I think you will survive.* She confided, patting his cheek comfortingly.
He looked into her eyes and saw a glimpse of the age and wisdom that lay there. He forced his head away. He could not look. It was too much for his mind to comprehend. Her sorrows, her past, her griefs, her experiences- just her age was enough to make him turn white. And he well remembered the first time he had navigated one of her mind labyrinths created from her memories. He did not wish to relive it.
"Then I will put my hope in that." He declared with a quick smile, pulling his hands away and standing. "Well, come. I wish to show you one last thing that I believe will be useful." He said, and she stood with a polite bow.
*I heed your words, master.* She said formally, and they began. Their very possibly last lesson.
LOTRLOTRLOTR
It was evening and elves, men, dwarves, and halflings alike were gathered to eat. Eruanna smiled to herself as she looked around, pleased with what she saw. One last gathering of all free people before their paths branched as the war split them.
It had been announced that the paths were clear, and the fellowship would be leaving the next evening. Eruanna had been busy all afternoon, helping her brothers to pack and many other errands she was given to do.
After the meal, lord Elrond had called his councillors and family to the council chambers to discuss several matters of importance. Glorfindel had taken Eruanna with him, though she thoroughly expected herself to be properly bored.
Of course, the first lap she sat in was Erestor's. It had become a tendency for the council to use her as a sort of worry string, passing her down to each other and fingering her hair, or whatever helped them to keep themselves focused and calm. It was jested about in all of Imladris.
Eruanna didn't care. She was more than happy to be cuddled by nearly any elf in Imladris. There were a few she didn't like, but they were few and far between and all of those in the royal palace were familiar with the little elfling that was so young yet old.
As Glorfindel had noted, she would never really fully grow up. And as she had pointed out, it seemed to be hereditary. He had sighed but agreed, to lord Elrond's immense amusement. As Glorfindel said, 'once a reborn, always a reborn.'
She would always remain an elfling at heart, and so would he. Glorfindel was a warrior and would always be, and he could be serious when needed. But otherwise, he was an elfling through and through. She was a candidate for the Sereg'wethrin, but she would always be an elfling as well, through and through.
"I wish to go to Lothlòrien and remain with my parents." Lady Celébrian suddenly spoke up softly, ripping Eruanna away from her musings where she sat in Erestor's lap. Silence settled. Elrond's lips thinned in thought.
"It would be a wise idea." Lindir spoke. "This will be the last chance for anyone to travel before it becomes too dangerous. All of the last of our people who go to the West are leaving within the week. Any others who wish to go to Lothlòrien until the war is over should take such an opportunity." He pointed out.
Elrond's eyes darkened. Eruanna paid attention, eyes at half-mast and playing with Erestor's hair. But her gaze flitted to Glorfindel, whose eyes also turned to her.
*Wise.* They agreed with each other.
"And what of Arwen?" He asked quietly. Celébrian looked down.
"It is her choice." Was her soft reply. "I cannot do otherwise, and I will not stop her. She must remain here, as is her fate." She looked back up. "But I will go to my parents and stay there until the time comes when I must say my last farewell." She said firmly.
Elrond slumped slightly in his chair, and Eruanna pitied him. She may be a good three thousand years older than him, but she could still see him as a figure to look up to for his life's accomplishments.
The councillors remained silent in respect for their lord's decision. He sighed. "As you wish. Perhaps Lothlòrien will be safer than Imladris." He conceded. "Lord Glorfindel, you will head the guards that will go with the group." He paused and then stood, turning to face the valley.
"I believe that now is the time to act. If Imladris is emptied, the enemy will have no reason to attack us. But Lothlòrien will need help, for they shall certainly be targeted if not attacked. I will send our best to them in case of necessity." He turned back to them.
"Only a few need remain here in Imladris." He finished quietly. Erestor and Lindir nodded, understanding that their lord was depending on them. Erestor was an ancient elf as well, older then Elrond but younger than Glorfindel. Lindir was younger.
Glorfindel nodded. "As you wish, hîr nîn." He said formally. Eruanna was now passed to lady Celébrian, who was running her fingers through the elfling's hair. Celébrian passed her to Elrond as he sat. He stared down at her for a moment with a blink, then cracked a small smile as she patted his cheek comfortingly.
So it was settled. They would leave in two days time. Glorfindel and Eruanna exchanged looks. It had begun.
Peregrin Took the Falcon: yay! So glad you like it. And yes, you will. *wiggles eyebrows*
Kmartz95: *snicker* I do, don't I? Me too! And yes, I hope you are ready... Lots of feels in the making!
WoodElfJedi: sure! Of course! Yes, I know, and I expected that reaction. Sorry, but it's necessary. And hahaha, I told you so! *blows raspberry* but don't worry! you're not the only one who's a little put out by the Valar. You'll see who, in future chapters... ;) *To the Valar* I told you I'd reform her! Oh dear, disaster alert. 0_0
FandomFangirl100: I did that on purpose. XP
Jesus' girl 4ever: I know, right? XD hmm, and yes, we shall find out soon. ;)
Gwestiel: yes, it is, isn't it? XD well, unfortunately it seems Eruanna always seems to have something happening.. Oh dear.