Guess, what? UPDATED AGAIN!
I know, I'm surprised too.
TheElegantFaerie: Thanks! I love snarky little battles of wit, and I can't wait either ;) There is much sass to be dealt in the coming chapters!
Jo: Yay! Thank you so much :D
Adrianna remained seated on Hasufel as the three others dismounted the horses, if you could call the tumble Gimli preformed a dismount, Silently the Fellowship members looked over the trampled ground, Adrianna racking her mind as mismatched eyes flicked over towards the Dwarf as he shuffled through the pile of charred remains.
"It's one of their wee belts…" Gimli mumbled to himself, slowly lifting the Hobbit sized belt into the air, the Elven design grimly familiar.
Adrianna jumped lightly, her gaze snapping towards Aragorn who let out a sudden angry shout, kicking a helmet harshly before dropping to his knees as Legolas quietly mumbled an Elven prayer to himself.
"So, it is true… We failed them."
"It doesn't make any sense." Adrianna commented, slowly sliding from the horse she walked across the battlefield, her brows knitted together, "We were here," she pointed towards the upturned earth, drawing Aragorn's attention, "When one of the Orcs was killed, the Uruks turned him into a meal, we tried to get away, while they were distracted." Adrianna's brows knitted together, "We were attacked by one of the Orcs, but I managed to stab him, I cut their ropes, and we got separated when the Rohirrim appeared… They couldn't have possibly been mistaken for Orcs..."
"Their binds…" Aragorn muttered, lifting the shredded rope from the grass his brows knitted together, gaze studying the ground carefully, sharp eyes taking in every indent and scratch, "These tracks lead away from the battle…." He mused, quickly jumping to his feet, "They lead…. Into Fangorn Forest."
"Fangorn? What madness drove them in there?" Gimli questioned, staring up at the great forest.
"A very rational madness of not wanting to be killed and eaten by Orcs, or stepped on by horses…" Adrianna drawled, mismatched eyes looking on the forest with an impassive frown. "Anyway." She adjusted her small pack, "Let's go. It's just a magical living forest. Don't give the trees a reason to want to kill you, and it might just respect your wishes to remain with the living." The woman patted Hasufel on the neck, whispering for them not to wonder too far before she walked nonchalantly into the angry shadows.
0.0
Adrianna's gaze studied the dense trees, blue and green eyes taking in every branch making up the thick forest ceiling, the air was tense, an underling anger causing her to frown, slowly she shifted her attention towards Gimli, a single brow arching high as he licked his fingers, quickly spitting out whatever it was he had put into his mouth.
"Orc Blood."
"Did you seriously just lick it? Why on earth would you do that? It's black, how many creatures do you know of that have black blood?"
"These tracks are strange." Aragorn commented, drawing the small group's attention towards the small crater in the earth.
"The air is so close in here," Gimli mused a few moments later, uneasily looking around the trees.
"This forest is old," Legolas commented, "Very old. Full of memory, and anger."
Adrianna returned her gaze to the canopy above, the groaning she and the Hobbit's heard the night before was louder, echoing around her. Frowning as the groaning increased, the rustling of leaves causing the Fellowship to tense.
"The trees are speaking to each other." Legolas stated,
"They probably wouldn't be so angry with us, if you weren't threateningly holding an Ax." Adrianna deadpanned, staring at the uncomfortable Dwarf with blunt eyes.
"Gimli! Lower your Ax!" Aragorn clarified,
"They have feelings, my friend." Legolas explained, trying to ease the Dwarf's stress. "The Elves began it. Waking up the trees, teaching them to speak."
"Talking trees." Gimli walking closer to the group. "What do trees have to talk about? Except the consistency of squirrel droppings."
"Considering the fact this forest is pissed off as it is, you may not want to insult them anymore. You're already on their hit list, being the only one with an Ax."
"Aragorn, nad na ennas!" 'Aragorn, something is out there!' Legolas suddenly exclaimed cutting off Gimli's retort, quickly the Elf moved forward, Aragorn a few steps behind as he looked around the forest warily
"Man cenich?" 'What do you see?' Aragorn asked him.
"The White Wizard approaches," Legolas whispered, gesturing over his shoulder with his eyes.
"Do not let him speak. He will put a spell on us," Aragorn warned in a whisper.
Legolas ran his hand over the end of a notched arrow, Gimli clutching his axe with a new found purpose, Adrianna frowned lightly, she couldn't sense anything ill-willed in the area, though the trees' anger spiked once more at the reappearance of the Ax.
"We must be quick," Aragorn ordered.
"Guys, I don't think-."
Adrianna was cut off with a yell, the men swinging around to attack the oncoming presence. Adrianna let out a hiss as the Wizard threw up his arms, a blinding white light causing the woman's eyes to burn. Gimli threw his Ax in the same instant that Legolas fired his arrow, both were easily deflected by a solid white staff. Adrianna's gaze shifted to Aragorn as the man let out a hiss, his sword glowing red hot before he threw it to the ground.
"You are tracking the footsteps of two young hobbits," the figure stated, not in the least bit questioning.
"Where are they?" Aragorn yelled, throwing an arm up in attempt to see beyond the light.
"They passed this way the day before yesterday… They met someone they did not expect. Does that comfort you?" the figure taunted.
"Who are you?" Aragorn asked quietly growing agitated with the silence his eyes narrow, "Show yourself!"
The light began to die away as the figure moved forward, the fading light revealing the Wizard's features. Adrianna smiled warmly at her lost friend, blue and green eyes scanning over the wizard's appearance, despite the fact he was bleached of most of his color, the pencil straight white beard and hair somehow made the ancient wizard seem much older than his previous grey self appeared, the spotless white robes looking cleaner than his old, the staff sturdier.
"It cannot be! You fell!" Aragorn exclaimed, staggering forward in surprise.
"Through fire and water," Gandalf spoke, his tone light. "From the lowest dungeon to the highest peak, I fought him, the Balrog of Morgoth. Until at last, I threw down my enemy and smote his ruin upon the mountainside… Darkness took me, and I strayed out of thought and time. Stars wheeled overhead and everyday was as long as a life age of the earth. But it was not the end… I felt life in me again," Adrianna smiled at the wizard once more, the ancient being turned towards her, offering his own smile before his attention shifted back to Aragorn, "I've been sent back until my task is done,"
"Gandalf," Aragorn breathed, happiness and relief flooding his words,
"Gandalf?" Gandalf asked confusion in his eyes, seemingly testing his own name. "Oh yes… That was what they used to call me… Gandalf the Grey. That was my name,"
"Gandalf!" Gimli exclaimed, his own happiness increasing his volume as he moved towards the wizard's side.
Adrianna watched as the wizard glanced over them offering a small smile, "I am Gandalf the White… And I come back to you now at the turn of the tide,"
"It's good to have you back, Gandalf." Adrianna spoke, surprising the old man with a hug, "I'm so very glad you decided to grace us with your presence once more."
"It's always a pleasure to see you, young Adria, and I have a surprise for you as well," The Wizard's teasing grin faded as he shifted his attention to the others as well, his face growing serious once more. "Come."
It was not a request.
The White Wizard started off back through the forest, not bothering to check back to see if the small group was keeping up with him. Adrianna blinked after the wizard, jogging forward to catch up with the males, mumbling to herself about the bipolar nature of Wizards.
"One stage of the journey is over another begins," Gandalf began as she reached them, "War has come to Rohan. We must ride to Edoras with all speed,"
"Edoras? That is no short distance," Gimli commented grumpily.
"We hear of trouble in Edoras. It goes ill with the king," Aragorn added, stormy eyes glancing over at a frowning Gandalf.
"Yes, it will not be easily cured," Gandalf commented.
"Then we have run all this way for nothing," Gimli muttered. "How we can leave those poor hobbits here, in this horrid, dark, dank, tree infested-" The Dwarf was cut off swiftly by the angry groaning of the trees, Gimli flinched, stuttering out an apology as he clutched at his ax, looking up towards the canopy above. "I mean charming, quite charming forest!" Adrianna laughed—loudly—at the Dwarf's discomfort, not at all disturbed by the trees herself, having made a few journeys through the forest in her travels.
"It was more than mere chance that brought Merry and Pippin to Fangorn. A great power has been sleeping here for many long years," Gandalf said stopping to look back at them. "The coming of Merry and Pippin will be like two small stones that start an avalanche in the mountains,"
"In one thing you have not changed, dear friend," Aragorn murmured, drawing the old man's attention
"Hm?"
"You still speak in riddles," The two chuckled quietly, Adrianna watching as the wizard's attention immediately shifted back to their Hobbit friends,
"A thing is about to happen, that has not happened since the elder days. The Ents are going to wake up, and find that they are strong," Gandalf explained, his gaze raising to look at the trees above.
"Strong?" Gimli murmurs. "Oh that's good,"
"So stop your fretting, Master Dwarf," Gandalf said pointing a finger at him before continuing to walk through the forest. "Merry and Pippin are quite safe. In fact, they are much safer than you are about to be,"
"The new Gandalf is more grumpy than the old one," Gimli muttered to himself,
"Actually, they're quite the same." Adrianna shrugged, blinking rapidly as her eyes adjusted to the bright sunlight of the plains.
Gandalf's whistle was piercing, the sound echoing around them as Aragorn and Legolas readied the horses for the long ride to Edoras. Adrianna's attention shifted back towards the wizard as a loud neigh answered him, a large white stallion raced across the hillside, ears perked forward. A wide smile spread across the woman's lips an almost giddy air surrounding her as duel colored eyes locked onto the navy grey stallion that appeared alongside the white, piercing blue eyes locked onto her as the stallion let out a high pitched scream, his legs pumping harder against the ground.
The white stallion slowed as he approached the wizard, ears perked forward and neck arched, a low nicker of greeting reaching them. The grey stallion, however, did not slow. Jumping over the crest of the hill the stallion raced towards Adrianna, who had begun jogging towards the stallion, the grin threatening to split her face. The massive stallion leaned back, his haunches nearly touching the ground as he slid to a stop in front of her, massive head nearly toppling her over as he nickered his own greeting, ears trained on the laughing woman.
"That is one of the Mearas, unless my eyes are cheated by some spell," Legolas murmured as he stopped and stared at the white stallion that had come to a stop next to Gandalf, seeming almost hypnotized.
"Shadowfax. He's the lord of all horses… and has been my friend through many dangers," Gandalf explained, half to himself and half to Legolas.
"I've never seen a horse like that…" Aragorn spoke, his attention trained on the massive ashy stallion that had not moved away from Adrianna, his face cradled in the woman's arms.
"That," Gandalf spoke, a fond smile pulling at his lips, "is Adria's stallion. The mighty Voltac. Much like his Mistress, there is more to him than meets the eye."
"Hey there old man." Adria murmured, ignoring the men she pressed her forehead to the stallion's charcoal face. Piercing blue eyes remained trained on the woman as he nickered again, lifting his head free he snuffed at the woman's hair, lightly pulling her bangs with his lips before blowing out a heavy breath in her face, causing the woman to laugh again, pale fingers lightly pulling on the stallion's forelock, causing the creature snort. Flicking his ear to the side the stallion dropped his head, lightly nipping at the woman's injured arm, his ears pinning to his neck briefly before his attention shifted back to her face.
"What a strange color… I've never seen anything like it." Legolas commented slowly, his brows furrowing in wonder and confusion.
Voltac was unlike any horse anyone of the men had ever seen before, not only was he a good hand(1) taller than Shadowfax, the stallion's soft coat was a deep navy grey. The blue ash color was unusual on its own, but the stallion's face was masked in coal black, piercing blue eyes standing out brilliantly against the dark features, rather than a normal dorsal stripe, the stallion had thick stripes running from his topline(2) down his shoulder and back, getting progressively smaller till a arrowhead rested above his tail. The same charcoal black ran up the stallion's feathered(3)legs, all four stockings faded into a striping near the elbows and stifles(4).
"He's not an ordinary horse." Gandalf states mysteriously, climbing onto Shadowfax's back slowly.
Adrianna grinned, moving quickly she threw herself over her stallion's back, the animal dipping his shoulder down to make it easier for her in her injured state she dug her fingers into the stallions thick black mane, mismatched eyes glowing as the stallion danced in place, tucking his chin into his chest as he flicked his long tail around behind him.
"Stop your starin' and get moving!" Adrianna snapped playfully, "This is not the first time I've gotten on a horse!"
0.0.0
"The veiling shadow that glowers in the east takes shape." Gandalf spoke, drawing Adrianna's attention from the stars and towards where he was standing with Aragorn, "Sauron will suffer no rival. From the summit of Barad-dur, his Eyes watches ceaselessly. But he is not so mighty yet that he is above fear. Doubt ever gnaws at him. The rumor has reached him. The heir of Numenor still lives. Sauron fears you, Aragorn. He fears at what you'll become. And so he'll strike hard and fast at the world of men."
Adrianna tilted her head, a frown pulling at her lips as she slowly pulled herself off the ground. Hearing the rustling Voltac nickered at his rider, black ears perked forward as the woman left his side. Shifting her attention back to him she placed her fingers to her lips silently shushing the stallion. Snorting at the quiet order the stallion tossed his head, ears and eyes still trained on the woman as she made her way towards the two men.
"He will use his puppet Saruman to destroy Rohan. War is coming. Rohan must defend itself, and therein lies our first challenge for Rohan is weak and ready to fall. The king's mind is enslaved, it's an old device of Saruman's. His hold over Théoden is now very strong. Sauron and Saruman are tightening the noose. But for all their cunning, we have two advantages."
The wizard turns to Adrianna, who stood on Aragorn's other side, briefly casting a glance at him as she felt his gaze on her features.
"You've by now come to realize you are not as average as you once thought. Sauron is worried, worried that your appearance here will change the course of his plan. You now realize it was by no accident that you were brought here…" Shifting his gaze back towards the east the wizard let out a tired sigh, "We also have the secrecy of the Ring. That it remains hidden. And that we should seek to destroy it has not yet entered their darkest dreams. And so the weapon of the enemy is moving towards Mordor in the hands of a Hobbit. Each day brings it closer to the fires of Mount Doom. We must trust now in Frodo, Everything depends upon speed and the secrecy of his quest."
Gandalf turned to Aragorn, noticing the guilt in the man's eyes he shook his head quietly, as Adrianna shouldered the guilt ridden ranger gently.
"Do not regret your decision to leave him. Frodo must finish this task alone."
"He's not alone." Adria mused quietly,
"Sam went with him." Aragorn concludes
"Did he, indeed? Good. Yes, very good."
Adrianna let out a snort, not at all aware that Voltac had walked up behind her, remarkably stealthy for a horse of his size, pushing against her back with his muzzle the stallion successfully toppled the woman, sending her face first into the dirt. Turning back around the woman glared, trying to open her mouth to lecture the creature she was quickly silenced as the stallion shoved his nose into her face, lips smacking and pulling at her bangs.
"Oh you old brute! Fine!" She snapped, "Geeze, I think I preferred it when you when you were gone."
The two men laugh openly as the great stallion knocked her back down, snuffing at her face as his hooves plat themselves in the dirt on either side of her shoulders, making it completely impossible for the woman to sit up.
"Oh get off!" The horse snorted, nibbling lovingly at her bangs once again. Adrianna let out a sigh, pushing his muzzle away again before fixing the still laughing men with a glare that held no heat. "Oh pride of the King's men you are. Allowing a woman to be attacked by a beast."
Turning her attention back to her stallion she was met with a pair of bright blue eyes, the stallion stared down at her, both ears perked forward attentively. Letting out another—defeated—sigh the woman dropped her head back to the dirt, reaching up she wrapped her arm around the stallion's neck, fingers buried in his thick mane just behind the back of his neck. Snorting Voltac lifted his head, pulling his rider up off the ground and into the air effortlessly.
"Grazie." She mutters, dusting herself off. "We're going to turn in." She mumblee, walking back to camp with the accomplished looking horse trotting slowly behind her, tail swishing proudly.
0.0.0
"I had the loveliest dream last night." Pippin's voice floated through her mind, "there was this large barrel, full of pipe-weed, and we smoked all of it. And then you were sick. I'd give anything for a whiff of Old Taby."
"Did you hear that?" Merry's voice questioned after a groaning tree drew his attention. If these weren't visions, and were some sort of projection, then Adrianna could safely say they were still within the forest. "There it is again…something's not right here. Not right at all."
A strange burp-like tree noise echoes, causing Adria to arch a brow, slowly turning around as though she would suddenly be able to see through the inky blackness around her.
"You just said something… Treeish."
"No, I didn't." Pippin answered quickly. "I was just stretching." Another groan.
"You're taller."
"Who?"
"You!"
"Than what?"
"Than me!"
"I've always been taller than you."
"Pippin, everyone knows I'm the tall one. You're the short one."
"Please, Merry. You're what? Three-foot-six? At the most? Whereas me, I'm pushing 3'7"." Another groan. "3'8"!"
"3'8"?" Merry squeaks. "You did something." There was a brief pause,
"Merry, Don't! Don't drink it! Merry! No, Treebeard said that you shouldn't have any!"
"I want some!"
"It could well be dangerous!"
"Give it back, Merry!"
0.0.0
Adrianna snorted quietly to herself, Pippin and Merry's argument still fresh in her mind as the five rode towards Edoras, only Hobbits—more particularly Pippin and Merry—would fight over magic water.
"Edoras, and the Golden Hall of Meduseld." Gandalf stated, drawing her out of her thoughts. "There dwells Théoden, King of Rohan, whose mind is overthrown. Saruman's hold over King Théoden is now very strong." Adrianna frowned, Voltac's ear flicked back towards her, his body tensing as he began to dance in place, sensing his rider's slight unease. "Be careful of what you say, do not look for welcome here."
Adrianna's eyes took in the quickly approaching city, she'd never been to Edoras, and although she'd heard countless stories the city was truly something unlike what she'd come across. It was modest, stone and wood buildings sat up on a lone cliff face, it was too small to be considered a mountain, but much to large to simply be a hill. A large wooden wall surrounded the small city, the familiar mounds of burial tombs sat just outside the barrier, small white flowers covering the grassy hills. The air seemed to grow colder as they approached the city gates, glancing towards the sky Adrianna watched as a torn flag fluttered through the air, narrowing her gaze she glanced to Aragorn, a frown pulling at her lips, the two sharing a similar look as they entered the city.
"You'd find more cheer in a graveyard." Gimli stated bluntly, Adrianna absentmindedly agreeing with him as she ran her fingers through Voltac's mane.
The air inside of the city was suffocating, the depression clung to everything around them, from the houses to the shops, even the stables seemed to leak the negative energy. Something was wrong, and whether the people knew it or not, their treasured home was at a far greater risk than they could possibly imagine.
Frowning Adrianna glanced around the streets as they moved, she wasn't expecting a warm welcome, even if Gandalf hadn't warned them, but she wasn't expecting the glares or cold sneers, she'd heard many stories about the golden haired people of Rohan, their shining personalities and simple way of living was out shone only by the love of their horses. But glancing around the streets and into the occasional pasture, all she saw were grey shadowed faces, and dull coated horses.
She had been more right than she originally thought.
Éomer had every right to be a so harsh and persistent.
He also had every reason to fret.
Adrianna slid off of Voltac as they stopped in front of the Golden Hall's steps, frowning at the burly men who moved towards the horses she turned her attention to her Stallion, lightly tugging on his mane. The stallion's attention shifted from the men, his blue eyes locking onto the small woman at his shoulder.
"Comportati bene…(5)" she ordered, lightly pushing him to follow after Shadowfax. Voltac snorted, lightly nudging at her shoulder-freshly freed from the sling, the stallion turned, trotting after the white stallion that had begun walking towards the stables, she lingered a few moments longer before turning her attention back towards the guards.
"I cannot allow you before Théoden King so armed, Gandalf Greyhame." A red haired man stated blocking the heavy gates. "By Order of… Grima Wormtounge."
Adrianna's brow arched, the man acted as though the name was souring on his tongue, glancing over to Gandalf the older man nodded, letting out a heavy sigh Adrianna followed the men's example, pulling out her weapons. Legolas relinquished his daggers, his bow and his quiver to the Soldier closest to him, Gimli looked at his Ax lovingly, before slowly handing it over. Aragorn released his sword, both his bow and quiver, and a small Elvish dagger.
Slowly their attention turned to Adrianna, their features lighting up in amusement at the astonished faces of the two soldiers standing in front of her, the woman had placed her katana and sais into the arms of the first man, next came her daggers and throwing knives, who holsters were strapped to her thys, the long Kunai were tossed unceremoniously into the man's arms, holster and all, next came the thin throwing knives strapped to the back of her pants, hidden beneath her cloak, lifting the back of her shirt she pulled the Elvish dagger gifted to her by Galadriel from its resting place, dropping it onto the growing pile. The men stared, wide eyed as the woman paused, silently opening her mouth as though she'd remembered something she lifted her leg, pulling the blocky boot knives away from both of her ankles, a frown pulling at her lips as she dropped them onto the second pile.
"Is that all?" A guard sarcastically spoke,
Adrianna paused, lifting her hand she silently counted off her personal armory, blinking she reached up, her hand sliding passed the collar of her shirt she pulled a face, the men stared, astonished as she pulled out a three pronged, serrated knife, the dangerous looking blade was placed in the man's shaking fingers, quietly she slid one arm behind her back, gripping it loosely with her free arm she chewed on her lip, brows arching as the men stared at her.
"That's it… I know exactly what I have." She began, "If I don't' have everything back when I leave, you and I are gonna have a problem in a big way." She warned,
"Your staff." The voice drew the Fellowship's attention towards Gandalf, who merely smiled innocently as he leaned against the offending object.
"You would not part an old man, from his walking stick." The man paused, a frown pulling at his lips before he nodded briefly, turning on a heel to lead them into the Hall.
"Did you bring all of the Armory with you?" Aragorn questioned in a whisper, lightly taking Adrianna's arm as they walked through the door behind Legolas and Gandalf.
Adrianna's lips pulled into a crooked grin.
"You should see what I left in the Shire."
And there is the latest chapter! Who knows, another couple days and we might have yet another update! I Really wanna get as far as I can before the 2nd...
Also, I might even be teaching you things! Who knew a fanfiction could be educational?
(1)A hand is what you use to measure a horse's height, and is 4 inches.
(2)A horse's topline is literally their top line. Top of their neck, down their spine, and the top of their butt,
(3)Feathers, I don't mean bird feathers, I mean horse feathers, which is just longer patches of hair on their feet, best example are the Clydesdales(think Budweiser) though Voltac's feet aren't That furry.
(4)Think of the Stifle like a hip, It's the joint at the highest point on a horse's leg, right where it connects to the body.
(5)Theoretically, it translates to "Behave yourself" I could be wrong, this one I got from a friend.
Fun Fact: The stifle is the longest joint in a horse's body.
