Note: Updated and corrected April2017 PT
Nariel the Red
Chapter 29: The Bear
Aragorn watched Legolas walk with his shoulders slumped. They had a close call on Caradhras but that wasn't what was bothering the elf. Ever since they had left Rivendell Legolas had been watching the horizon, looking for signs that they were being followed. He had asked the trees for any news, checked the ground for the slightest hint of tracks and each time he had found nothing. Now they had retreated through the snow after being beaten by the mountain and the Prince had given up. If Nariel had intended to follow them she would have caught up with them by now.
Aragorn wondered then why the realisation that she was not following depressed the elf so. Surely it was a good thing that Nariel had gone home like she had promised. She was out of danger. That's why he had released Arwen from her promises, telling her to sail. Now she would be safe. They both would.
Legolas barely registered the man sitting down next to him as they stopped to rest.
"Why are you so surprised my friend? You told her not to come."
The Prince took a breath watching the horizon and Aragorn could see that he was playing with a braid of red hair tied to his belt.
"I'm surprised because this would be the first time she has ever actually listened"
He could hardly believe what had happened in the last few days, or at least what hadn't happened. Even in the snow there had been no sign of her.
"Do I know her so badly Aragorn? I cannot imagine her going quietly home."
Aragorn laughed.
"I can't imagine Nariel quietly doing anything. She is not one to keep her opinions to herself"
Legolas smiled at that but then his face fell.
"She wouldn't just go home, and yet she isn't here. I keep wondering what else could have happened. The only other explanation I can come up with is that she's hurt somewhere and I can do nothing about it."
Meanwhile Nariel followed the Fellowship's tracks as best as she could. She had waited a week before following after them. Long enough to put a distance between them, but not long enough for their scent to fade completely. She followed them to the base of Caradhras and grinned, as much as a bear could grin anyway. They had started to climb the mountain but had turned back. She was catching up fast. A little further on she stopped and sniffed the air. There was something else on the wind. Wargs were moving nearby. She wasn't the only one tracking them.
As she got closer to their camp Nariel caught the smell of fire. Standing up into her woman-form she tiptoed towards the circle of trees just as they caught alight with unnatural fire. Wizard's fire. The wolves were closing around the huddled group as they themselves encircled a great bonfire. They had no need for another Wizard, but perhaps they could use a bear. Nariel was a Beorning after all. Changing back into a bear mid leap she charged forward on all fours and as she fought she thought of her Grandfather's words after the battle of five armies.
I recall little else after the rage took me except the stench of the enemy and the taste of blood.
She ran back and forth destroying as many of the creatures as she could with her powerful jaws. This was a new experience for her. Back home she would come across spiders, orcs or wargs from time to time. But they were dispatched quickly and easily with a shot of flame, a knife, or an arrow from Legolas' bow. She had never fought like this before, ripping apart these creatures with her teeth. Feeling their life slip away with their blood on her tongue. This is how her Grandfather had fought on the plains of Erebor, this was how her mother had fought, how her uncle fought. This was how the Beornings fought. She had spent so long learning to be a wizard; she had almost forgotten what it meant to be a bear, to give yourself over to your animal side. She enjoyed it more than she probably should have.
