Note: Please remember that this story and 'Nariel the Red' Cross over at this point. Some chapters will be included in both stories and overlap, while others will not. In other words if you want the whole story it would be advantageous to read both. Also more details of Athriel's childhood with the twins can be found in 'Raising Athriel'. Also I have been informed that the link from before was removed by ff. The address is wwwdotfictionpressdotcom/u/787110. Please Read and Review.
Extra note: The flashback in this chapter is the third re-telling of these events from yet another perspective. I apologise if it comes across as too repetitive, but I couldn't get this section out of my head. A long time ago I realised that the only way to get rid of this stuff is to write it down so here it is.
Athrana (Wandering Shadow)
Chapter 51- Putting on a show
TA3019, March 6th
Athriel sat by the fire watching as Elladan and Elrohir teased Legolas. It had been good to see the prince again, had given her some hope. She had felt almost normal talking to him, and swapping stories with Nariel had done wonders for her moral. Now they were on their way to Rohan so that everyone could rest before they decided their next move.
The twins were also feeling refreshed. Seeing their old friend so happy with the wizard woman lifted their spirits considerably. They were happy for him. Even amongst all this darkness the prince of Mirkwood had found the one he was meant to be with and he was not letting her go. They were looking forward to getting to know Nariel. Although she had been in Rivendell not that long ago, they had not really spoken to her since the day they met. And then they had been more concerned with Estel's plan and making the wood elf jealous, although it had been harder than either of them had expected.
TA3018 October
They had been taken by surprise when seeing Estel standing there on the steps, as if he was waiting for them. But that was ridiculous, they were returning earlier than expected. ""Estel!"" They said as one gaining the man's attention. It seemed so long since they had last seen him, although it had only been a few weeks. "What are you doing out here on the front steps?" Elrohir asked. Elladan laughed seeing the smile on Estel's face. He was up to something, they could tell. "Surely you aren't here to greet us, we aren't expected back until tomorrow" The mischievous look the ranger now wore confirmed their suspicions, even before he spoke his mind. "No you are not expected, but I am pleased to see you none the less. I have a favour to ask"
They were in their rooms now. After agreeing to here Estel's proposal over a rather late lunch they had been allowed to depart to their rooms for a much needed rest. Finally clean and waiting for food to arrive they sat across from one another wondering what it was the man wanted to ask them. "What could he want?" Elrohir asked with a grin. "He is planning something" Elladan replied. It had been years since the three of them had had any opportunity to make some mischief. When Estel had been a child he had spent hours and hours trying to convince them to join him in his plans to torment the household, and eventually they had relented. Although it had been a bitter sweet experience for them, they had loved the childish time spent with their little brother. But they had not done anything like that in a long time. Not since the man had found out his true name, not since he had become Aragorn. The look on his face today had reminded them that deep down he was still Estel.
As if on cue there was a knock on their door. ""Come in"" Laden down with a tray full of goodies Estel stepped over the threshold. "I hope you're hungry" he said sitting the tray down in front. Without thinking the brethren moved so that they were now next to one another and Estel could sit across from them. In unison they leant forward to retrieve their plates, but stopped. Estel was looking at them with the strangest expression on his face, as if he was figuring something out for the first time, noticing something he had never seen before. "What is it Estel?" Elrohir asked furrowing his brow. "Are you well?" Elladan added. The man shook his head as if to clear it before he smiled the mischievous grin once again. "I am fine. I am just eager to tell you my plan."
They listened eagerly as he explained the situation to them, about Legolas and Nariel. It was a good plan, they had to admit, and they could see the woodland prince falling for it. It was about time the blonde settled down and the wizard could be just what he needed. They agreed to meet the man in the morning ready to woo the red head and infuriate their old friend.
Elladan looked down at the wine bottle he held. This felt so strange. He couldn't remember the last time they had done something like this. Could it really have been so long ago? "Not since before..." he shook his head. "Don't say it Roh" They were standing side by side but they didn't look at one another, they didn't have to. "Not since she died" Elladan flinched, even though he had known it was coming. "It can't have been that long" Elrohir shrugged. "I guess we just never felt the urge" That was a depressing thought in itself. They hadn't been doing anything except simply surviving for a long time. Simultaneously they stood up straight. But today they had to put on a show. Legolas deserved his happiness and if they could help him achieve that, they would do their best.
"You must be Nariel"
"Radagast's daughter"
"The bear woman"
They played up their duality, switching the conversation between the two of them. They could pull this off, as weird as it felt.
"Yes, I'm Nariel"
They sat down on either side of her and it felt like a betrayal. Not to Legolas, who they could tell was watching them, but to someone else. They never let anyone come between them, not anymore. But they didn't let any of that show.
"And you must be Lord Elrond's sons"
They grinned predatory grins as was expected of them and wished Legolas would hurry up and lose his temper already.
"Yes"
"We are"
"I'm Elladan"
"And I'm Elrohir"
"Have some wine with us"
Elladan revealed the bottle of wine he carried while Elrohir produced some glasses and attempted to engage her in conversation. They heard Legolas sit above their heads and breathed an inward sigh of relief. All the needed to do now was provoke him some more.
"So how come you don't lose your clothes when you change shape?"
"Good one Dan" Elrohir commented feeling the princes annoyed gaze. "Any other ideas would be greatly appreciated Roh"
"... And my bag only has one strap, which is wide enough to stay on when I change"
As Elladan produced another bottle they moved closer on either side of her. Come on Las. Elrohir lent in even closer knowing just how it would look from above. They tried hard not to grin as an arrow imbedded itself in the ground in front of them.
"Good morning prince" Nariel said, sounding completely unsurprised which made it much more difficult to keep their amusement in check. If they had ever any doubts that these two were right for each other it was gone with what happened next. Nariel leant back and whispered a couple of words convincing the tree to dispel a very annoyed wood-elf.
""Legolas?""
That had shocked them. Radagast the Brown, Nariel's father, was known for his animal communication and plant control. Obviously when it came to magic she had taken after him, it was quite a feat to convince any tree to drop a wood elf on his ass.
They grinned secretly at each other as Legolas dragged the Istari towards the dense trees. They watched the two argue as Estel walked towards them. "I am happy for them" Elrohir said as Elladan nodded. "As am I"
It seemed like an age ago now, that day. And to think Athriel could have been there, watching them all that time. In fact, wouldn't that explain Estel's odd behaviour that day? Instead of being ecstatic that his plan had worked, the man had acted as if he had failed. He would have known by then of Athriel's presence. That was still hard to take in, that he had known for so long. He had been the first to figure it out, even though he had never really known her. Maybe that was why. Maybe they were too close, why they had been the last to know the truth. Maybe they had just been unwilling to admit the truth to themselves. Erestor's words came back to them. "But you knew there was a chance" Yes they had known. They had known that there was a chance she had been captured alive, so why hadn't they done anything. Why hadn't they mounted a rescue party? Because they believed that they would have come too late? Or because there was a chance that they wouldn't?
Could that be the reason that they had kept it quiet for so long, convinced everyone else that they had seen her die, Tried to convince themselves that they really had. It wasn't just the guilt they felt, it was something else. They were selfish. They couldn't have faced seeing her like that. Chained up in that place, broken and bleeding begging them to kill her. They couldn't have done that. Now they didn't have to, she had made sure of that. Now she was back and they had something to fight for. They had something to aim towards. Their lives weren't an empty show anymore, day after day of doing what was expected without actually feeling alive. They had a purpose now; this war was going to bring her back completely. Once Sauron was gone, really gone, the darkness wouldn't have any pull over her. Then maybe life could get back to normal.
Athriel sat and thought about what a strange day it had been, one of the best since she had come home. She almost felt like her old self again and that gave her hope. This was what she had to do. Keep going, keep working, keep fighting, living her life until the darkness within her faded completely. It would take a long time, but it might just work. All she had to do was keep control and live one day at a time.
