a bit of a longer chappie for you all... No no no no no, I can't do it. I'm making it a Haldir romance after all. I can't let you guys down. I won't change my mind again, I promise! Please please please review?
Jshaw0624: yes, he's going to have to work for it... *snickers* yup! It's already beginning...
Chapter 13
I groaned as my eyes slowly fluttered open. "Don't greet the floor." Came a familiar voice in my ear, sounding sleepy as well. I gave a sleepy glare nowhere in particular and turned, suddenly finding my face in something wet.
A tiny cry of shock escaped me, and I sat up, prying my eyes open, to see Drago holding his paw over his nose.
"Whad do you thingk you're doink?" He asked sourly in a nasal tone. I couldn't help my burst of laughter from escaping as I realized that I had smashed his nose in with my face when I had turned over.
"I'm sorry Drago! Serves you right for trying to share a bed with me, as big as you are!" I managed to say through laughter. He just glared, nursing his nose with his paw and going cross eyed to see it. I smirked and sat up, to see my weapons on the floor. I smiled and re-braided my hair so it was out of my way, then picked them up.
I picked up the double blades and saw the emblems on them. The blades themselves were seemingly plain, but when I looked closely, I saw that they had some runes etched on them. They were faint, though, and I saw that there were also decorative swirls near the hilt. The hilts were magnificent. Silver, with golden patterns, and small gems encrusted them. The hilt, I noticed, had grooves that looked decorative, but they would provide great grip for the wielder.
The sheaths were brown and green, and the name Tulkas was engraved on them in gold. I strapped them to me and went on to look at the bow and arrows.
The quiver was stocked well with arrows that had eagle feather fletchings, strong wooden shafts, and the metal tips were swirled with designs as well. The quiver itself had the same swirled designs in silver and the body was a strong wood.
The bow was long and slender, and when strapped to my back, the string held it firmly but comfortably against me. The bow was made of a type of metal that was flexible and yet strong, with a winged design. It was a dull golden color, and the tips resembled curled leaves. I strapped them to me as well, and then stood up. The belly of the bow had Tulkas' name on it in gold too.
I walked to the door and swung it open, after making sure everything in the room was in proper order. I turned to see Drago staring at me. "What?" I asked.
"Where did you get those?" He asked wonderingly. I grinned.
"Read the sheaths, wolfie." I replied, turning back around.
"Tulkas!?" He exclaimed.
"Surprised?" I asked dryly. He glared and followed me out of the door. I closed the door behind me and stood there for a moment, looking out of the window wistfully. Then with a sigh, I turned back around to see Haldir sitting at the table, staring at the weapons on me.
"Good morning." I said with an amused smile.
"Good morning." He replied, still staring at my weapons.
"Was that for me, or my friends?" I asked Drago in a loud stage whisper.
"Not sure." He replied with a snigger.
"Oh well." I shrugged, laughter in my voice.
"It was for you." Came the dry reply from Haldir. I laughed.
"I know. I was teasing you, 'Dir." I heaved a sigh. "Well, time for me to leave." I said morosely. "The adventure of a lifetime." I murmured.
Haldir stood and walked with me to the door. "Be safe, Eruanna." He said.
I turned and grinned at him. "Funny that you're telling your own guardian angel that."
He rolled his eyes. "It was meant kindly."
I rolled my eyes back. "Can you ever take a joke, 'Dir? You really need to laugh more! It won't hurt anything- besides, did you know that angels laugh a lot?" I asked amusedly.
"I didn't know. I will bear that in mind." He replied stoically. I sighed and shook my head, than stepped up and hugged him.
"I will miss you, Haldir. Be safe yourself." I said with a smile. He stiffened, then wrapped one arm around me awkwardly. Not noticing, I pulled away and then flew off of the porch, waiting for Drago to descend down the stairs. I didn't notice the odd look that crossed his face as he went back into the talan.
...
"How are we going to cross?" I asked aloud to no one in particular as Drago and I stood at the banks of the river. It wouldn't be a problem had it just been me, because I can fly, but Drago doesn't have wings.
"He can walk across water." Came the answer. Drago and I turned to see both the Lady and Lord Celeborn standing there. I bowed.
"Then that problem is solved." I said with a grateful smile. She nodded, a twinkle in her eye.
"I see that you are well equipped." She said with a small smile. I tilted my head in acknowledgement.
"I believe so, my lady, my lord." I replied.
"Then may the Valar guide you." Both of them said. I nodded.
"May the Caras Galadhon be under the Girdle of Melian in the days to come." I replied with a parting bow.
I turned and using my wings, stepped from one small wave to another on the river, Drago doing the same. We turned after crossing to see the lady's hand raised in farewell, and then we headed on, Drago running as fast as the wind across the water, and my shadow flying across the waves as we pursued the fellowship.
"I should have known that you could do such a thing." I told him.
"Yeah. After all, I do come from Valinor." He noted.
We finally arrived at the Argonath, and I stopped for a moment, admiring the great statues. Drago did as well, bobbing slightly as the river lifted his feet up and down on the crests of the waves.
"Aren't they magnificent, Drago?" I asked wonderingly.
"Quite so." He replied. Then we headed on. I flew along the shore now, looking for the fellowship or signs of them. Drago was now running along the shore as well.
"Something follows them." He called up to me.
"Uruk-hai." I replied. "I just hope we are not too late." I said, scanning the shore. Then I suddenly slowed down as I saw them on a sandy bank. "Here, Drago." I said, then flew towards it. Drago loped beside me as well. The fellowship stood as they saw us approaching on the water.
We came to a stop and I rested my wings. "Hello, friends. Have you had a safe journey?" I asked. They nodded briefly, but their faces were troubled.
"We can't find Frodo or Boromir." Merry blurted. My eyes widened. I rushed over and grabbed Boromir's shield.
"Hurry up then! Let's go!" I cried, heading off into the woods. Drago ran after me while the others split up into groups, heading off in their own directions.
"Sniff Boromir out, Drago." I commanded. He bounded out in front of me and took a whiff of air. Then he leaped out towards the thicket of trees. I followed and we finally arrived at the site where he was on the ground, head in his hands, and shoulders shaking with sobs. I motioned for Drago to stay, handing him the shield which he took in his jaws, and kept watch.
I approached the man, wings tucked behind my back firmly. "Boromir!" I called softly. His head whipped up and he saw me not far away. I approached and knelt next to him once he registered who I was.
"Don't." He said miserably. "I have failed you all. I tried to take it from him. I couldn't-" his voice broke. I drew him into a hug.
"All hope is not lost." I replied firmly, while he sobbed into my shoulder. "You have not completely marred your name, for it have you not held out this long? And now that you have tasted of failure, you will be stronger for it." I said softly, placing my hand on his hair.
"Now be strong, and redeem yourself, Boromir! For this journey is not over, and though there be a long ways to go, we need to keep up the fight and go on!" I coaxed. He took a deep breath, and then looked up.
"Thank you, Eruanna. I will redeem myself." He said determinedly. Then he stood. Drago trotted over, and Boromir took his shield, strapping it to his arm.
"Let us-" he was broken off by a shout from Merry and Pippin. We looked at each other, wide-eyed. "Go!" He shouted, and we leaped off, Drago leading the way by scent. I sent up a small prayer to the Valar, for this was to be my first battle. I grabbed my bow off of my back and ran with it in my hand, fingers curling around the cool metal.
We burst into a small clearing with a shout, and Boromir threw himself into the fight. Drago's eyes suddenly burned red and he charged at an orc. He suddenly grew to the size of a warg, and bounded on top of the orc with a snarl and snapped his jaws around its neck. I shook myself off and grabbed the bow in my left hand, grabbing an arrow and setting it to the bow.
My fingers, with seemingly practiced skill, wrapped snugly around the grip of the bow and the arrow was notched and held to my cheek almost without conscious awareness. I aimed and let it fly. It sank into the neck of an uruk-hai, and it fell with a gurgle.
I worked my way over to Boromir, in front of the hobbits, and stood back-to-back with him. Arrow after arrow flew, and his sword flashed brightly in the sunlight that streamed in ribbons across the clearing through the tree leaves. Black blood splattered at our feet, and I suddenly noticed an uruk-hai with a bow aiming for Boromir.
"Boromir!" I shouted. "Arrow alert on hill!" I yelled above the sounds of clashing steel and the twang of my bowstring. He gave a curt nod and raised his shield just as the first arrow came. It glanced off of the shield and I breathed in relief.
Boromir ripped his horn off and tossed it to Pippin. "Blow on it!" He yelled to the hobbits. Pippin looked at it, then raised it to his lips. The sound of it rang out through the woods in a clear call of help.
I was going strong, but there were still about twenty left, and they were crowding. I spun and shot one that was about to get through to Boromir, and it fell with a jerk. Drago was snarling enough to raise a storm, and his jaws did their work with frightening accuracy. His fur was splattered with blood, and his jaws were as well. His eyes shone a wild golden color, and his paws swiped, claws ripping and slashing.
Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli suddenly burst into the clearing just as the second arrow rasped off of Boromir's shield. "Aragorn!" I yelled. "Take him down!" That was all the encouragement needed. The black bow clattered to the ground, and Gimli's axe sank in its target with a sickening crunch. Legolas' bow was twanging just like mine, and he leaped down next to me.
"Nice to finally have you join, brother of mine!" I said with a gleeful laugh. I found myself relishing the thrum of battle and adrenaline through my veins.
He gave me a look like 'you enjoy this!?' And I laughed again. Then he smiled slightly.
"I am honored to have you consider me kin." He replied.
"Well, if you haven't noticed, my hair is very similar to your father's, and one of my eyes is almost exactly like yours in color, and the other one is very similar to King Thranduil's!" I retorted.
He had a slightly startled look, but then nodded. "I suppose so, onònë." (Sister) He replied.
But the orcs were now desperate, and with a roar, the rest of them charged in a wave. They broke through and grabbed Merry and Pippin, then ran off.
We finished off the rest of them, and Boromir flopped against the tree in relief, breathing hard. Aragorn leaned on his sword, and Gimli leaned on his ax as well. Legolas and I were the only ones who were alright, just breathing mildly. I strapped my bow to my back again grimly.
I ran my fingers through my tangled locks and blew out a breath. "Anybody hurt?" I asked wearily. Everyone shook their heads. Drago shrank down to his normal size and trotted over, sniffing everyone. He trotted back to me once he was satisfied, and I reached out to scratch his ears, then suddenly pulled back.
"Oh, no, you don't." I said firmly, making everyone else look at me. "I am not touching you until you wash off. Disgusting!" I shivered. In spite of everything, I managed to get everyone to laugh.
We returned to the river, and while Drago washed off, everyone else sat down. Legolas was at the boats. "Frodo and Sam will be on the far shore by now. If we hurry, we can catch them." He said. When he was met with nothing but morose silence, he turned to look at Aragorn.
"You mean not to follow them." He realized.
"Frodo and Sam are beyond us now." He stood and walked over to Legolas, clapping his hand on the elf's shoulder. "We will not let Merry and a Pippin be left to torture and suffering." Then he smiled slightly. "Let's hunt some orc!" He said, then turned and began packing.
"Leave everything behind that can be spared. We travel light." He instructed. I ran to help, grabbing Merry's pack and packing it with food and other things necessary for the rest.
I heard Gimli laugh with delight at the prospect and smiled. Boromir and Legolas rushed to pack as well. I feverishly stuffed in as much lembas bread as the bag would hold, as well as water from the canteens.
"Leave all of the lembas and water to me, and pack whatever else you need in your bags. I have nothing to carry, so let me carry the food." I said, closing the pack and swinging it over my shoulders. Aragorn suddenly turned to me.
"I thought you were assigned to Haldir." He said. I nodded in return.
"Yes, but I was given a choice. I could come and accompany you, or either stay with Haldir. I will meet him in the appointed time, and he is still my first priority, but in choosing to come here, I have also put you four under my watch." I said wearily, raking fingers through my hair and turning back to the river.
"Why?" Asked Boromir. "Surely that is tasking for you, and you barely know us. Why would you do such a deed for us? You saved my life there as well." He added. I sighed.
"That may be true, and I will be forced to my limits, but I do not regret it. You have become my family, and I have come to consider you my kin, all of you, particularly Aragorn, Legolas, and Boromir. You have become like brothers to me, and I will do all that I can to help you in this quest. I may not have been an original member, but I hope you will accept me as one now." I said with a smile.
They stood in shock for a moment, then swamped me with hugs. "So be it! You will be the tenth companion of the fellowship, and our sister-in-arms, Eruanna!" Aragorn declared. I smiled happily.
"Then let's go!" I cried, and Aragorn headed off into the woods. Boromir suddenly cried out. His horn had been broken in half, and it fell into the river while he was washing. I put my hand on his arm.
"I have a feeling you'll see it again sometime." I comforted. He sighed, and we headed off. Be safe, Merry and Pippin. We're coming!
phew! My first battle scene done. Was it good? I didn't want to make it too gory... A little words or a little sentence in the little box down in the little corner of the screen, please?