A/N: Hi everyone, so so so so sorry to be away for so long. I don't know what I was thinking, but I hope you can forgive me. I know it's been a while. Anyways...here is chapter 21, the all-important filler chapter that I tried to make as interesting as possible. That being said, there is a PG-13 warning for hinted rape (again, sorry) and this is where things start to get a little bit more violent. The next chapter will be a lot more violent.
Also, a few side notes: I don't know if unicorns existed in Tolkien's world, but I really wanted to add them to this story just to add some magic to it. Even if they don't exist in his world, I thought they would be the perfect addition to this story and a good way to end Urelais' story arc. Secondly, I know Eorl doesn't have any siblings, but for this story, I needed him to have siblings so that there would be a reason that Tordag and Eafled would know him personally. Sorry to upset anyone out there that thinks I should stick to the literature 100%, but I will point out this is fanfiction and subject to slight changes. Look on the bright side though, I stay as close to the literature as possible and keep things as accurate as possible.
I think that's it for now, the next chapter will be up I have no idea when. Until then please read, review, and enjoy. Please thank a frontline worker whenever you see them, they deserve it and so much more. Good luck to you and stay safe out there!
A few days after the celebration of spring, a lone rider astride a silver mare cantered through the forest. He was dressed for travel and his mare was arrayed in saddle and bridle. They went quickly through the forest, heading straight for a trap. Ahead of them, waiting eagerly and knowing they were coming, were hunters. The woman was excited, finally, her prey had left his little valley.
The hunt could begin once again.
Finally, the horse and rider arrived at the clearing where the trap had been laid, and the rider slowed the horse to a halt. He looked around, taking in the shadows the trees cast and the movement of the wind before saying, "I know you are there. Are we really going to play this game again?"
At first, nothing happened. But then, after several long minutes men appeared, surrounding him. He glanced around, unconcerned, before he faced forward again, already knowing what he would see. Sure enough, the woman was there, looking him over and taking stock of his strength.
This elf was fully healthy once more.
A shame it wouldn't last long.
She smiled, "You took your time. Don't you know it is impolite to keep a lady waiting?"
Elrond shrugged, "I was not aware my life revolved around your satisfaction. I belong to myself alone, no other."
The woman's face contorted in fury, "Yes, it does revolve around me if you want that she-elf to live."
The half-elf's remained carefully blank, no emotion to be seen anywhere, and the woman turned her attention to Veryafion. The woman could still recognize powerful horses when she saw them, and this one was likely the most powerful she had ever seen.
She would last a long time on the hunt.
"That mare certainly is impressive; I always thought so," the woman said, "She will last a long time on the hunt. Who knows? She may outlast even you."
Veryafion pinned her ears back and clacked her teeth, but calmed when Elrond lay a hand on her neck. He did so without taking his eyes off the woman, saying slowly, "I am not going back. You've taken enough from me."
"We'll see about that," the woman said before turning to her second, motioning him forward. The man gave the signal, but at the same time Elrond whistled and the clearing erupted into chaos and sound. Elves appeared from everywhere, and it quickly became a fight to the last. The hunters fought hard and long, knowing the consequence of capture, but they were soon overwhelmed by sheer numbers.
The woman and her son had drawn their weapons, but they were no match for such skilled opponents. In the end, the woman decided to make a break for it, but she had not gone far when she suddenly fell to the ground with a cry of pain, an arrow in her shoulder.
Her son wasn't so fortunate. In his fear and panic, he ran straight into the long knife of an elven warrior before the elf could react. The boy fell to the ground, already dead, and the elf could only stare in shock for several minutes before the blade of a hunter trying to separate his head from his body caught his attention and focus.
The boy lay where he had fallen, while the woman again tried to get away, tried to ignore the agony in her shoulder.
But the fighting was over, and the elves were taking stock of the clearing: tending their wounded and checking the fallen for any that were still living. Sadly none of the hunters had survived, but fortunately, there were only minor wounds and no fatalities on behalf of the elves. Looking around Elrond nodded, pleased with what they had accomplished.
The elves led by Feren and Elros had given the exact location of the hunters, and then a combined group from Rivendell and the Greenwood had followed Elrond at such a distance none ahead or watching him would notice. As he distracted the hunters the elves had approached so quietly that none of the humans had noticed.
The traps had been theirs, not the hunters.
Thranduil and Glorfindel approached as Elrond dismounted, Thranduil saying, "That went much better than I thought it would."
Glorfindel nodded in agreement, and just then Elladan and Elrohir approached. Elladan bowed before saying, "The hunters are all dead, my lords. We have no deaths on our side to report."
"Good," Glorfindel said, turning to Elrond, "This went better than I expected."
Elrond nodded before turning to the twins, "All the hunters are dead?"
Elladan smiled slightly, "Not all of them, my lord," looking behind himself as he said this. The three lords looked with him, and Elrond smiled slightly.
He had hoped for this outcome, he realized as he walked towards the woman; still on the ground and trying to crawl away. She was fast losing the battle for consciousness though, the blood loss slowing her down considerably. Several elves were watching her, unwilling to help her until they were absolutely told to. He stopped near her; Glorfindel, Thranduil, and the twins crowding close as he watched for a moment before stepping forward just as she collapsed on her side, her strength finally gone.
Elrond crouched down and gently turned her on her side, watching her eyes slowly close as consciousness left her.
As for the woman, as her vision dimmed and failed, all she saw, in the end, was the half-elf she had thought to break crouching next to her and reaching out a hand towards her.
"No..." was all she whispered as consciousness left her, praying that death would come for her now.
Anything was better than being a prisoner of elves.
Consciousness returned slowly, and the woman didn't want it to. She had hoped she had died, but that was clearly not the case as a dull ache made itself known in her shoulder. She lay completely still, trying to understand where she was.
An instant later she knew, as the sound of Elven speech became understandable to her ears: she was in Rivendell! And judging by the smell of herbs, she was in Rivendell's famed healing wing, where it was rumored all ills and wounds of the body could be healed, no matter the severity. She opened her eyes then, closing them for a moment against the bright sunshine before opening them again and looking around.
She was alone from what she could tell, lying in a narrow yet comfortable bed in a long hall next to many other empty beds. Elves moved about quietly, ignoring her and not paying her any mind. She looked in the other direction and saw a set of double doors leading to the outside. A plan began to form in her mind, but it came to a screeching halt when she saw an elf approach her bed out of the corner of her eye.
An elf she knew all too well and followed by another that was clearly a son. She shut her eyes then, why hadn't they let her die?
She said as much before Elrond was even seated: "You should have let me die," opening her eyes to see him sit down in the chair next to her bed. He was no longer dressed for travel; now he wore long, trailing robes of purple and dark blue, as well as a silver circlet and several rings. His hair was elegantly braided and his expression was curious.
He did not quite understand her. That was okay, no one had ever understood her.
The elf behind him shifted slightly, and she glanced at him before returning her attention to Elrond. That young one was not worth her attention.
Elrond had been waiting for her to turn her attention back to him, then said, "It is not in my nature to allow someone to die if I can prevent it. You forget, Lady Bregoleth, I am a healer first and foremost. The warrior came later and out of necessity," the woman looked at him with surprise and he continued, "Yes, we know who you are. I told you I knew you from somewhere, and I meant it. The Steward was kind enough to confirm it, although he couldn't quite believe it right away. He trusted you."
Bregoleth scoffed, "He was a fool to trust so quickly. He trusted my husband as well, and he was the one that started this business. But he has been gone for a long time, and I lead the hunters now," she turned to him, "You think just because you killed those with me that is the last of them? They will watch and wait for an opportunity to strike, and then I will be free and will make that she-elf pay. And this time I will kill her myself."
Elrond's face remained blank, while his son looked angered. Elrond's voice was calm and carefully flat when he spoke next, "All those that you thought had their loyalty are dead now. All of them fought to the last and refused to be captured. The few groups that had separated from yours are dead as well. The trap you thought to set for me instead was always meant to trap you. I know how you think, Bregoleth, it was not difficult to deceive you. As for Avorneth, we intercepted several of your messages sent by dove. She will be safe for a while longer."
Bregoleth nodded thoughtfully, "Perhaps, perhaps not," she smiled then, a maddening, crazy smile, "But there is one in my home that is not the ally you thought he was and has made it his life's mission to see her broken. He is certainly inventive and will definitely succeed. It will be interesting to see what's left of her when you find the place. Not that you can," she added boastfully, "none know where it is."
Elrond leaned forward then, face still carefully blank, "You're wrong, Bregoleth, I do know where your fortress is. I've always known, ever since I woke up in that cell."
Bregoleth looked surprised, but then shrugged as best as she could, "It doesn't matter. You will never be able to get in."
"We shall see," Elrond said as he rose from the chair, "I like our odds."
She laughed, "Yes, I suppose you would," she looked at her shoulder before asking, "Now what? Are you going to try me for my crimes? Your idea of justice may be a little soft."
Elrond shook his head, "You are a citizen of Gondor. You will be returned to Gondor and tried for your crimes there. The Steward has already asked."
"Whatever," Bregoleth said, "I doubt he will ever try me. I doubt I will live to see Minas Tirith. I have every intention of not leaving this hunt alive, no matter what you say or do. My life is empty without the hunt. Not even my son can fill that void."
"Your son is dead," the younger elf said quietly, speaking for the first time.
Bregoleth shook her head, no grief to be seen, "He was always weak, just like his father. Neither of them was as smart as me, neither could survive a hunt."
The young elf, Elrohir, stared at her in shock before saying, "You're insane."
She turned to him slowly, her eyes cold and dead, "Yes, I am. I'm also a thousand times smarter than any of you. No matter what happens or what you do to me, that she-elf will not survive. And neither will I," turning away from them, effectively ending the conversation.
Elrond only said, "We leave in a few days. Your wound is deep but does not prevent you from traveling. The healers will tend you and do not think to try and escape, from here or anywhere else. It is impossible."
She smiled, "Nothing is impossible until it is proven to be possible," she turned to him again then, "Otherwise you would have found a way to escape from me. But you didn't," her voice became soft, almost tender, "Is it because you wanted more than to play this game?"
Elrohir needed to be restrained by his father, while Elrond only said, "You are mad to think so, Bregoleth. You are also mad if you think that what you have done to me and so many others will go unpunished. Even if the Steward does not punish you, there will be no peace in death for you. You will face a thousand torments a day, and will never know peace. And never will you be spared from me. Always will I haunt you."
Elrohir looked at his father then, seeing that Prophecy was strong in him right now, and smiled inwardly. If what his father predicted was true, this woman would suffer in the depths of the Void for eternity.
Or longer.
Elrond left then, followed by Elrohir. Once they were gone two guards appeared and took up posts near the outer doors of the healing wing. An obstacle, definitely, but not impossible to get around. She moved her arm just then and noticed something she hadn't before.
She was tied to the bed with a strong rope, the knots too complex for her to try and untie on her own.
She smiled to herself, "Clever elf," she said softly before staring off into the distance, that smile still on her face and giving anyone who saw it deep chills.
Later in the day, all met in the conference room to discuss plans. Elrond opened the meeting, "Part one of this plan was successful. Now we need to continue with part two. It is time to march on that fortress."
"We are all ready, my lord," Glorfindel said, "Just let us know when to leave."
"Four days," Elrond said promptly, "She will be healed enough by then and we can get her to Gondor. I don't think we should leave her alone, anywhere."
"I agree," Cirion said, "From what you described, my lord, Bregoleth has no sanity or regard for life. She may attack someone unprepared for her."
Everyone agreed, then Gandalf asked, "But what are we to do if we are attacked on the road? Even if the hunt in her main pleasure in life, money was another goal. Someone could pay to set her free on the road."
Thranduil said it best, "That is a risk we must take. If worse comes to worst, her wound will kill her if she is freed. She is no healer."
Gandalf nodded grumpily while Galadriel said, "Edhelvain and a few others will want to come along. Should we allow it?"
"It is her right, and theirs, Galadriel," Elrond said softly, "She needs to be there. Three years is long enough. It's too long."
Galadriel bowed her head and was silent, and then Círdan asked a question that many wanted to know the answer to: "Where is the fortress?"
All turned to Elrond, who smiled slightly before saying, "It is deep in the mountains of Mordor, but it is not impossible to get to. We will just need to observe it for a few days when we arrive to find a way inside."
Círdan shook his head in exasperation before saying, "We already know that, but where is it specifically?"
Elrond's eyes became pained suddenly as he said, "A little closer to old memories than I would like."
Círdan immediately knew what he meant by that and was silent, anger in his eyes as he thought about how the hunters came so close, every day, to defiling sacred ground. Cendar didn't understand right away, but then he remembered the grave covered in Simbelmynë. The fortress must be near to it.
The meeting moved on then to the usual planning of long journeys with a lot of warriors: how to feed them and their horses, the amount of healing supplies that may be needed, and how many healers they would need when all was said and done.
Finally, the meeting drew to a close, and everyone left to begin individual preparations and start getting their warriors ready to move out. It would be a long journey, as well as a dangerous one. It was impossible to know what dangers would haunt their every step south.
Far away, a fist slammed down on a table as the one it belonged to glared at the trembling messenger before him.
"You are saying she was captured?" he said much too calmly.
The messenger nodded, eyes wide with fear.
The man nodded slowly, then yelled suddenly, "Leave! NOW!"
The messenger was only too happy to obey and the man watched him go before thinking long and hard. He would have to find another way to finish off the half-elf, but also he needed to do something about that woman. Even if she was too afraid of him to admit anything about him, others around the half-elf might figure it out.
He would need to take action in some way, very soon.
No one and nothing would interfere with his plans.
Especially Elrond Peredhil.
Two days before the troops left Rivendell to begin the long journey south, Elrond slipped down to the stables in the early morning, leaving a few minutes later with Urelais and Nortaro. The groom knew what was going to happen and wanted to be there for one last good-bye.
Eventually, they came to the place where Elrond turned Veryafion free: an outlook of the valley that allowed anyone up there to see the valley in all its splendor.
Nortaro didn't notice. His attention was on Urelais, who seemed to know what was about to happen and was prancing in place. Elrond smiled slightly at his expression, "He may come back, Nortaro. But the decision to stay needs to be his alone."
Nortaro nodded sadly, "That does not make it any easier, my lord."
Elrond smiled gently, "I know, but this needs to be done. He had no freedom for so long, it is time to give it to him. Some horses..." Nortaro looked at him and the smile became sad, "Some horses are meant to always be free. It is by their own will whether they are or not. Urelais is one of those horses."
"I know, my lord," Nortaro said, "I know," eyes and hands going back to Urelais. The stallion only snorted and pawed the ground. He was ready and eager, and Nortaro sighed before looking at Elrond and nodding. Elrond smiled again before reaching up and taking the halter off.
He and Nortaro stepped back, but Urelais did nothing at first. He stood there, head tall and ears forward, and wasn't until Nortaro whispered, "Follow your heart, Urelais," that he moved. He turned to Elrond and nuzzled him before walking to Nortaro and pushing him gently up against his neck in a horse embrace, which Nortaro returned. They stayed there for several minutes until Urelais stepped back. Nortaro reluctantly let him go, running a hand over his hide as the stallion walked away.
A few paces away the stallion stopped and looked back, looking at the two elves before trotting forward. He wheeled around suddenly and reared high, whinnying hoarsely as he had always done, before pivoting on his rear legs and lunging forward. He raced away, following the wind and the smell of freedom.
He would always stay close to Rivendell, and he may return sometimes, but his heart belonged to the wilds now.
Elrond said as much as they watched him run, "He belongs to the wind now," turning back the way they had come and walking back to the House and all those that awaited him to lead them.
Nortaro nodded as he fell into step beside his lord, "And now he will be free, just as he always should be."
Elrond glanced sidelong at him, "He may return Nortaro, but you must always remember he is not yours to command or force. He is a part of the wilds of Middle-Earth now. A part that was never broken or tamed."
"I know my lord," Nortaro said, "And I will be glad for every glimpse and moment with him. There has never been a horse quite like him in Middle-Earth."
Elrond agreed silently with a nod, and the walk back to the House was made in silence. When they arrived back at the stables Laeron said nothing, only looking at them knowingly before walking away. He knew what would happen and had said farewell to Urelais the day before, just as many as the other grooms had.
They would all miss the stallion.
And deep in the forest Urelais raced down a trail, invisible and unknown to all but the horses of the world, coming eventually to a cave. He went inside and disappeared, eventually exiting at the end of a long tunnel. A jump over a large gap and through a waterfall allowed him to reach something hidden and wonderful.
A lush paradise was there, waterfalls and lake and river, trees and shrubs and grass, and a herd of horses. All looked up when he entered, nickering excitedly as he whinnied a greeting. He even recognized one: Lady Celebrían's stallion was there, covered in scars from the orc attack that had taken his lady away and desperately needing the safety and secrecy the Hidden Valley of the Mystics offered.
For indeed, these horses were of mystical backgrounds, not just Mearas. Not all were Mearas though. Some were horses that had felt the call of freedom and answered it, as Veryafion did occasionally, while others were a bit more...mystical.
Urelais turned then as the lead stallion came forward, bowing his head and closing his eyes, waiting for the stallion's permission or refusal to let him stay.
The stallion regarded him kindly and wisely before bowing his head as well.
A sudden flash of pain in Urelais' knee and leg caught his attention and he opened his eyes in time to see the stallion walking away, his approval clear.
Urelais looked down at his knees and saw that the scars were still there, but the ache in his bad leg was gone. He whinnied a thank you to the stallion, which he returned by turning his head and nickering, the horn on his forehead glowing a faint silver. The unicorn walked back to his sentry post after that, and Urelais turned to the herd, waiting for them to finish greeting him.
They came forward then, mares and stallions, geldings and foals and ponies, unicorn and Mearas and Elven and normal horses. All came to greet him and welcome him, and it was then that Urelais knew he was home.
And nothing would separate him from here, ever.
Above them, the unicorn stallion watched and saw all. Just as Elrond Half-elven provided sanctuary and healing in his hidden valley, so too did the unicorn stallion and his kin provide healing to all horses and ponies that found their way to them and the Hidden Valley.
Such was his task and purpose, since the Beginning of All Days when he and his kin had first come to the Hither Lands and seen the healing that needed to be done for the horses of Middle-Earth. Never would they err or halt in their mission, not until the End of All Days.
And that was how it would be until all was said and done in the world of Elves and Men.
Far away, Magron smiled to himself as he and some hunters finished chaining the she-elf by herself in a cell that not even Goliath knew about. So well hidden it was that only a few knew where it was.
And those few were more afraid of Magron than Goliath. They would say nothing when asked.
Inside the cell, Avorneth trembled slightly in the dark. There was only one torch in the cell and no windows, and it was dank and cold. She stood as best as she could, the chains restricting her movement, and moved as far as she could away from the back wall to which she was chained. The door was set in the middle of the wall opposite her, with plenty of space on either side to lie in ambush.
This wasn't a new torment she would have to endure alone.
This was a trap.
She could only pray no one would fall victim to it.
All of sudden she wondered about the Rangers she had been separated from. She hoped they were fine, she realized as she sat on the ground. Hopefully, Goliath would help them, and her when he found her.
Assuming he knew about this cell, a voice in the back of her mind whispered which she tried to ignore. It wouldn't do her any good and wouldn't help her present situation. She needed to stay strong and wait for an opportunity to escape. They would not keep her for much longer, this she knew.
And Faelher would be glad to have her back, and so would her sister.
Then nothing would ever come between them again, because she was seriously considering moving to Rivendell. She could be closer to her sister and would be able to see a new place all at the same time. And Faelher would like a new home to explore, she thought as she glanced around the cell once more for any weaknesses in the walls. There were none, and her spirits fell slightly before she forced them back up.
She just needed to be strong.
Someone would come for her, she knew it. And she would be ready to run free once more.
Not even two days later, a large troop left Rivendell, the largest to leave the valley in recent memory. Over a hundred warriors from Rivendell, led by Lord Elrond and his sons, along with Glorfindel were in the lead. Heledhon, Belegon, Idhrenor, and Gilornor were only a few of the officers accompanying them. Gandalf was with them as well, staff at the ready and a sword on his belt. Elladan smiled to himself as he rode, thinking of their leaving in the morning, when he and his brother were getting ready to ride…
"And what do you think you are doing?" their father had asked as they started walking to the two geldings they now rode.
The twins had looked at each other, thoroughly confused, then Elrohir had answered hesitantly, "Getting our horses ready to leave. It is a long way to Gondor. Unless you would like us to walk the entire way?"
Elrond's eyes had twinkled slightly at his son's humor, and he chuckled a bit as he said, "While that would be interesting, that is not what I had in mind. Follow me."
The twins looked at each other and followed their father a few stalls down to where two mares were already tacked up and ready to go. All that was missing were their rider's saddlebags. The mares turned to look at the twins at the same time, and it was then that they recognized who the mares were. It became even clearer when their father stopped and turned to them, saying to Elladan, "You remember when I said I had a surprise for you, but it was not ready yet?"
Elladan nodded, and his father continued, "This is the surprise I meant. You two need horses that match your skill and personalities. They are young, but they are strong. They have much to still learn, but that is something only you can teach them. They will both serve you well."
Elladan and Elrohir had stared at their father for many long moments, almost unable to believe that their father was giving them two of Veryafion's foals. It was rare that they were given away, as they were of such strong breeding and Veryafion didn't have foals very often, and they were of such strong stock that they were very difficult to manage. For Elrond to give his sons the two mares was a rare gift and a show of true faith in them.
Elrond had been watching them for several long minutes, trying to gauge their reactions to this gift, and he was more than ready when they almost threw themselves at him, hugging him at the exact same time. After a few moments, they pulled back, with Elladan saying, "Thank you, adar, for such an amazing gift."
Elrohir echoed his words, "Thank you, adar, I'm sure they will serve us well," going to the mare that had always drawn him, the younger of the two fillies. She nickered and nudged his hand, asking for a petting. He obliged and she closed her eyes, enjoying the attention of her new rider. Elladan also walked to his new mare, the elder one who stamped the ground for a minute and snorted, a fiery personality under the gentle nature.
These mares would be fierce warhorses, like their parents.
Elrond smiled when he said, "I am glad you like them, and I hope they serve you well. They will definitely keep you busy. They are trained in combat, but they are inexperienced. It will be your responsibility to train and teach them the rest of what they must know. I have done all I can, but I will not do all the work for you."
"Of course, ada, we understand," Elrohir said, "We will teach them well."
"Good," Elrond replied, turning to head back to Veryafion and get her ready, "Now...get them ready to go, and learn about them before we head out. You don't want any surprises from them because you don't understand them. We leave in an hour."
The twins bowed and turned to their new horses, already thinking of names, while Elrond went to Veryafion's stall. When he arrived Veryafion whinnied and snorted, and he asked, "You approve?"
She bobbed her head, and Elrond smiled at her antics. If nothing else, the twin daughters of Veryafion will give his sons plenty of headaches and more than enough trouble while they adjusted to each other, but that was how things were supposed to be when it came to making new friends sometimes. A middle ground always needed to be found, and that is what the twins were going to have to do. He looked around, taking in the general chaos of the stables with everyone trying to the same thing at once, and then looked at an elven horse that was rather infamous for his stubbornness and calm demeanor. An idea began to form in his mind, and he walked quickly over to the groom leading the horse, hoping that his idea wasn't too far-fetched.
Around him the chaos continued, everyone getting ready to ride out and begin the long journey south. All who had come to the valley in the beginning were getting ready to leave it on the exact same day, and it was general chaos and confusion that followed everyone around until they were ready to go and out of the stables to give the next group room to get their horses and get them ready...
A hundred elves from the Gray Havens followed behind the elves of Rivendell, led by Círdan the Shipwright and his lieutenant Galdor. Behind them came the wood-elves of the Greenwood, one hundred and twenty of the best archers and hunters of the Eldar, led by Thranduil and Legolas. Tauriel and Galion, Elros and Feren, were only a few of the officers there. Behind them came a hundred of the elves of the Golden Wood, led by Galadriel and Celeborn. Faelher and Dimethor were there, along with Haldir, Orophin, and Rúmil.
And finally, the twenty or so Dúnedain led by Arahad and the Rangers of Gondor led by Cirion. Never, before or since, did the Rangers of the North and South fight together, at least not until the War of the Ring. Cendar rode with them, ready to fight in defense of his home once more. Famir was there too, riding side-by-side with Cendar and Haedirn.
Accompanying the troop was those that refused to stay behind: Edhelvain and Arwen, Hithaer and Reineth, Tordag and Eafled. Tordag was astride Gledswith, her foal keeping pace with her easily, while Eafled rode her mare Layfeld.
And being carefully guarded every single moment was Bregoleth. She said nothing and did nothing, her hands tied securely to the saddle horn. The Elven horse she rode had his ears pinned back. He knew what that woman had done to so many horses and men, and Lord Elrond. But he had agreed to this when Lord Elrond had asked, and so it would be done.
She would not escape because of him, for she would not be able to force him away from the troop with a kick.
And accompanying the troops were the healers Mistaro, Hadlathon, Faneth, and a few others. It was not the first time they had ridden to war, and so they were prepared. No matter what may happen they were ready. And with Lord Elrond, the most skilled healer in Middle-Earth, they were ready for anything.
Once the troop arrived at the stronghold they would take stock of its defenses and the men that guarded it. None were sure of exact numbers, and so they had brought all who wanted to fight. This would take the strength and cooperation of all if they were to succeed and they all knew they had to.
This cruelty could not be allowed to endure.
And so, they continued their march south.
Goliath cursed quietly to himself as he watched the mercenaries his lady had hired arrive. They were there to fight and defend the fortress, and there were over two hundred of them. With the one hundred or so hunters already there, when the elves came it would not be an easy fight.
It could end very badly, and Goliath knew he would need to work harder than ever to even the odds. He wanted to get every prisoner there to fight like their lives depended on it, because they did, but there was a problem. The majority of the prisoners were women and children, and the elderly, so it would be difficult for them to fight. The only ones that could fight were the half dozen or so Rangers, and it was clear they were more than ready and a bit angry. It was also clear where the majority of that anger was directed at: Magron. The man was more than willing to and enjoyed tormenting them, especially his brother, and it angered them beyond belief.
That thought led him to another unpleasant fact: he could not find the she-elf. The Rangers she had shared a cell with for so long could only say that Magron had taken her away and not brought her back, and that worried Goliath.
He could not help her if he couldn't find her.
And so, he was left in the difficult position of trying to get prisoners ready to fight while also keeping those mercenaries in line. It would not be easy in any respect, and Goliath knew that he would have to help from the inside.
Just how he was going to do that, he had not quite figured out.
But he would, or would die trying. He would see this ended by any means necessary.
A few weeks of steady travel south and the troop had arrived at the borders of Rohan. They had just crossed the River Isen and passed through the Gap of Rohan. On unspoken agreement they bypassed Isengard completely, knowing Saruman would not be of much help to them.
Even Gandalf thought it would be useless, and he could not quite shake the unease he felt when he thought of the head of his Order. Something not right was happening in the tower of Orthanc, yet he could not put his finger on why or what, and now was not the time to figure out what it was.
The travel had been smooth and safe for so long that the entire troop was on edge and ready for a fight. Even Bregoleth seemed slightly perturbed, but in a way that made those guarding her very uneasy.
Something bad was happening in that twisted mind of hers, and it worried them.
That was the state of things when they crossed the border and started making camp. No sooner had they drawn to a halt though were they suddenly attacked. A horn call of warning went up, and suddenly men on horses were there, trying to break through their defenses.
Their intent became clear soon enough: they focused their attack on the group guarding Bregoleth. Seeing this Elrond bellowed: "Don't let them take Bregoleth!" as he ducked a blow that would have taken his head.
Many heard and obeyed, reinforcing the line, but it was almost too late: two of the men broke through the line and cut the bonds around her wrists, one of them handing her a knife that she tucked into her boot to save for later. She smiled cruelly then, calling over the din of battle: "Your timing is perfect!" as she gathered the reins, "I was getting tired of waiting!"
The two men said nothing, not that she expected them to. They were paid for literal silence, not figurative. Not that it mattered; she was a free woman now, and with the chaos of battle none would be able to stop her from leaving. She looked at Elrond, but he was busy fighting two men at once and was unable to stop her. No one else was able to stop her. She smiled at the half-elf when his attention was drawn to her, and she waved. He frowned and opened his mouth to yell, but was cut off by one of the men swinging his blade at his head. He could only duck and parry the blow.
She kicked the horse she was riding, already anticipating freedom, and was completely surprised when the horse did not move. He just stood there quietly, not the least bit interested in moving. She kicked him again, saying through gritted teeth, "Come on! Let's go!" kicking him again.
He only looked over his shoulder at her and chewed his bit, ears still pinned, before facing forward and still refusing to move. She looked at the two men, but they seemed as lost as she. One came over and pulled on the horse's reins while the other swatted his rear with his reins.
The horse still refused to budge.
Of a sudden, there was the sound of whistling, and the two hunters fell dead to the ground, arrows in their chests. Following the paths of the arrows revealed a young blond elf who had risked quite a bit with those shots, likely knowing he may hit friends when he did so but feeling it was a risk worth taking.
A second later there was a piercing whistle and the hunters withdrew, unable to free Bregoleth and unable to stay any longer. Their lady would have to find her own way to freedom. As they retreated a few elves followed while the rest took stock of the wounded.
The only dead were those that attacked them.
As this was happening Bregoleth was again surrounded and her hands tied again, none noticing the knife hidden in her boot. Lord Elrond came to her then and said, "It seems this escape attempt was a failure," when she only glared at him he said, "You ride an Elven horse, Bregoleth. He would not have gone anywhere, no matter what you think. He is well-known for staying calm in battle and not racing away. Nothing can move him."
Bregoleth only said, "Nothing yet," smiling slightly as she thought of the knife hidden in her boot. She would hide it until she could use it.
Elrond raised an eyebrow before continuing on his way, and only then did the horse move, following those guarding the woman to where they had decided to make camp.
Once the camp had been made and all had settled for the night, Elrond went to seek out Cirion.
They had things to discuss.
Elrond found Cirion supervising the building of his people's camp, as well as checking them over for wounds and offering words of encouragement. Elrond smiled inwardly; the Steward was a good man who cared for all under his protection.
The Steward turned just then and saw Elrond. He nodded at the half-elf, acknowledging that he wanted to speak to him, before finishing his conversation with a Ranger. Elrond waited patiently, knowing the Steward would come to him when he was done.
Sure enough, he did, walking over to the half-elf and saying, "My lord, is there something I can do for you?"
Elrond smiled slightly as he led the Steward a small distance away from the bustling camp, "No, I don't think so. I was just wondering if you can help me with something I am trying to understand."
"I will do my best," Cirion said, wondering how an elf as wise and intelligent as Lord Elrond could be confused about anything. It seemed impossible.
Elrond continued, "I want to know everything you know about Bregoleth. Even if you think it is inconsequential, I would like to know."
Cirion sighed, "I'm afraid I can't really help you there, my lord. I don't know where she is from or much about her. All I know is that she married her husband, then a few years after the birth of their son he died during a hunting accident that I now realize was her hunting him to death. The whole family was very secretive. I only met Bregoleth once, and that was when she brought her son to be one of my aides for a time. I'm afraid I don't know much about her."
Elrond nodded thoughtfully, "I thought as much, but wanted to ask anyway. I thought there might be something we could use against her in her background. She maintained her secrets too well it seems."
"Aye, she did," Cirion agreed, but then said more firmly, "But we will stop this secret from continuing unseen. I know it."
Elrond smiled faintly, "I just hope the price will not be too high," walking away after those words and leaving Cirion to wonder and dread what those words meant.
The man stared out one of the windows of his home, trying to decide on his next move. He couldn't send more men to attack the troop, and the woman was becoming a liability. Even if she was too afraid of him to say anything, eventually she would if she thought it would save her own skin.
He needed a more permanent solution for her, and after a few moments thought he hit upon an idea that would work.
And none would be the wiser about it.
Two weeks later and a few hours away from Aldburg, the troop was again in a pitched battle.
This time against orcs.
The orcs had attacked a troop ready for them, as every single elf had sensed them coming. The women and children that couldn't fight had been forced into the center of the group, near Bregoleth, while everyone else took up defensive positions and was soon ready for the attack.
The fighting was close and brutal. Orcs attacked more violently than the men from before, and so a few elves and men fell before the archers could get into place. The orcs even tried to drag away an elf of the Havens, but Elrond and Círdan were able to fight their way to him and rescue him before the orcs could take him very far.
There weren't enough orcs to overwhelm the troop, but there were enough to weaken it. That seemed to be their intent, but that intent changed to escape when there was a horn call and the sound of charging hooves.
Elrond was able to spare a quick glance and smiled at what he saw: Riders of Rohan, led by Eorl the Young, were charging into the fray.
Within moments the orcs were gone, a combined party of Elves and Men leaving to run them down, led by the twins and Cendar.
As they did so the troop took stock of their wounded and dead. Two Rangers and an elf of Lothlórien had died, and many more had wounds. As their people gathered to mourn them, Elrond and Thranduil went to speak with Eorl, who was sending his men to pile the orc corpses and burn them.
He bowed over his saddle horn as they approached, "My lords, may I welcome you to Rohan? I apologize for the impolite greeting. We were unaware of this horde until it was too late. I am sorry for your losses."
Elrond smiled slightly, "Your timing was perfect, my lord. May I introduce Thranduil, King of the Woodland Realm?"
"An honor, Your Majesty," Eorl said, bowing again. When he had straightened he said, "I hope you will stay in Aldburg, at least to let your wounded rest?"
"I think we will," Elrond agreed, while Thranduil asked, "If I may, King of the Mark, but have you heard tell of any strange happenings along your borders?"
Eorl nodded, "I do have a strange tale that concerns those whom you seek. Perhaps all those that care to listen can sit with me for dinner?"
The two elves nodded, while Eorl scanned the troop, his eyes almost instantly going to Tordag and Eafled. That he knew them became clear, especially when he called to them in their language. Both looked at him, the other riders of the Mark unable to believe their eyes, then Tordag called joyfully, "Uncle!" urging Gledswith over as quickly as he could, Eafled on Layfeld right behind them.
When they got there Eorl and Tordag embraced as best as they could while still mounted, Eafled eagerly waiting her turn and chattering eagerly with the other Riders nearby, who listened with interest. Eorl and Tordag spoke for many long minutes in Rohirric as other Riders came over to see them and welcome them home.
As they did so many of those that knew Tordag and Eafled watched in surprise, with Edhelvain saying it best, "It seems those two kept many secrets from us."
Eafled turned in her direction then, looking sheepish, "I'm sorry Edhelvain, but our parents said never to tell anyone. They said we could be used against the king if anyone knew."
"Understandable," Celeborn said from next to Galadriel.
Eorl and Tordag had finished speaking by then and Eafled came forward to greet her uncle, unable to give him a hug because Layfeld was not tall enough to reach. Once they were finished Eorl turned back to Elrond and the others, "Thank you, for finding them and keeping them safe. My brother and his wife will be so relieved. They have been missing for so long."
"It was a joy to do," Galadriel said, "Eafled was quite the troublemaker, in the best way possible," she added with a smile.
"I am glad that they are back, and the timing is perfect," Eorl said, "Their parents and siblings are in Aldburg right now."
The siblings immediately looked excited, and a little scared at the idea, but Gandalf said gruffly, "We shouldn't keep them waiting then," but there was a twinkle in his eyes as he said this.
"No, we shouldn't," Elrond agreed, and everyone went back to work tending the wounded and dead and burning the orc corpses, the group that had gone after the orcs coming back with the report that the orcs had been run down and killed. Their corpses were burning as well.
Finally, the troop was able to move on, with Tordag and Eafled listening and speaking with the Riders that they knew while Eorl spoke with Elrond and a few others.
"I am relieved you were found, my lord," he said softly, "I should have provided you with an escort, and for that, I apologize."
"It is not your fault, Your Majesty," Elrond countered, "She may have had your men killed to get to me either way," nodding at Bregoleth who was being heavily guarded, "I hold no fault over you."
"Thank you, my lord," Eorl said quietly, then asked, "What of Urelais my lord? Is he well?"
Elrond smiled, "He is. He was turned loose before we left. He was not meant to stay tame."
"I know," Eorl said, "He was like that when he was a foal. I did not think he would stay tame."
"But he did leave behind a keepsake," Elrond said with a smile, nodding at the foal trailing Gledswith.
Eorl smiled then, "I was wondering about him. That foal will be powerful when he is grown, just like his parents," he turned to look over Veryafion then, "And your mare is breathtaking, my lord, a true mare of the Undying Lands and a horse of power and might."
Veryafion pranced a bit when she heard this and Elrond patted her neck but said nothing. The journey was made in relative silence then, and in no time at all, they were in Aldburg and going up the main thoroughfare to the palace there. Edoras and the Golden Hall of Meduseld were still under construction, and the capital of Rohan would not be complete in even Eorl's lifetime.
The city of Aldburg was composed of many homes and shops and stables, and the palace was simple. But it all seemed very comfortable, and they would all be comfortable there until it was time to move on. They were nearly at the palace steps, the warriors and their officers already knowing where to go and taking Bregoleth with them when there was a cry of "Tordag! Eafled!" from nearby.
All turned in time to see the two nearly throw themselves from their horses into the arms of a woman who had come running at the sight of them, tears in her eyes. Right behind her was a man who was so similar in appearance to Eorl he must have been a brother. Several other children were there as well, clearly siblings to the two.
The man was nearly crying as well as he held his daughter close and embraced his son, not at all caring who was watching. Rohirric flowed quickly between all of them, and none could truly grasp what was being said. Finally, though, the man was able to look at the elves gathered there and say, "Thank you, my lords, for keeping them safe, and returning them home."
"Your welcome, Eforhild," Elrond said warmly, "We have all enjoyed their company."
Eforhild nodded, holding his daughter even closer, while his wife said, "You have our thanks for the rest of our days. Should there be anything you need from us, ask and it shall be done to the best of our abilities."
"There are no debts between friends, my lady," Elrond said, "We will never ask for anything. Their friendship was something different and refreshing. In the end, all I will ask for is the continued friendship between our peoples."
Aldwyn nodded slowly, while Eforhild said, "That is easily arranged, my lord. We will be grateful for friendship with all our neighbors, no matter how distant they are."
Elrond smiled at that, and they were just about to continue on their way when Aldwyn asked, "What of the mare, my lord? Do you want her returned?" glancing at Layfeld.
Galadriel answered, "She is a gift to Eafled for the rest of her days. She is faithful and loyal, and an excellent companion. She will serve Eafled well."
Aldwyn bowed her head, "Thank you, my lady, for such a gift. I am sure Eafled will treasure her," to which Eafled said, "I already do," walking over to the mare and wrapping an arm around her. Layfeld snorted and pawed the ground, eager to explore her new home.
Galadriel smiled softly before the group left, leaving Tordag and Eafled to full reunite with their family without an audience. Once they arrived at the palace they saw to their horses and comfortable lodging was found for the night.
As evening fell, all the lords, kings, Steward, and a wizard gathered in the Great Hall to feast. After they had eaten their fill of mutton, potatoes, and greens, and the ale had been poured, Eorl said somberly, "I promised you a story earlier, my lords, about the hunters. It is not my story to tell though," nodding at a young Rider that had come in just then and was trying not to stare at all those gathered around. It was clear he had never seen so many of the Fair Folk in one place before. He even did a double-take when he saw Círdan and his beard.
"Ordstan has a tale to tell that may be of interest to you, my lords, my ladies," his king's voice caught his attention and he quickly bowed to Eorl before straightening and trying not to be intimidated by all those staring at him. He looked at Eorl, who only said, "Tell what you saw, Ordstan."
Ordstan nodded, staring only at his king as he began his tale, knowing if he looked anywhere else he wouldn't be able to continue, "I was riding a lone scout one day, last year before winter when I saw a lone rider on a black horse galloping as fast as they could. They were being pursued by several others on horseback. They were close to outrunning the group when suddenly the black horse went down. I think they darted her with a powerful drug. The rider stayed with her for a few moments before taking off running. I have never seen anyone run that fast," Galadriel and Celeborn looked at each other, immediately knowing it was Avorneth. She was the only one they knew who could run that swiftly. Edhelvain and Faelher were also listening extremely closely.
The young man continued, "As she got closer I was able to see she was an elf. You had told all Riders to be on the lookout for her, my lord, so I guessed who she was. Before I could do anything she was run down by one of the group and recaptured, and then tied up and taken away. I could not follow because my horse had lost a shoe and needed to be walked home, and that group was moving too quickly," finishing his tale.
There was silence for a few moments, then Galadriel asked, "How did she seem, young one? Was she well?"
Ordstan actually smiled a little, "I was close enough to hear the swearing when she was captured, my lady. I never would have guessed she knew such foul language. And she fought them with everything she had. A few of those men were a bit bloody as well. She had a knife and used it well. Somebody helped her escape," laughing a bit when he said that.
Galadriel nodded, but then Eorl was addressing his Rider, "Thank you Ordstan for the tale. I will let you know if there are any more questions."
The young man bowed and left. Once he was gone Eorl said, "There is one part of the tale I asked Ordstan not to tell, deciding it would be better if I was the one who told it."
"And that part would be what?" Celeborn asked softly.
Eorl sighed, "Years ago when my people were starting to settle here, reports came to me of strange men along our border. At the time I couldn't send many to investigate, so I decided to send one of my most trusted captains to look into these men, and determine their motivations. His name was Sewine, and he still has not returned. I mention him now because he was the one that led the groups to capture Lady Avorneth last year," the surprise was easily seen and felt on every face in the room, and Eorl continued, "I don't know what Sewine is doing, or if he has joined those men completely. He has been away for a long time. I don't know if he has sold himself out to those men or not."
"You said nothing of your suspicions to Ordstan? He might have some suggestions about all this," Círdan asked.
"Ordstan is his son," Eorl said quietly, "I didn't want to say anything until I had solid proof of his father's betrayal."
"It would seem obvious to me," Thranduil said bluntly, "So why do you have doubts?"
Eorl sighed, "Before he left, Sewine and I agreed that a broken horseshoe, carved with the Rohirric letter "S", would be the sign that all was well. He left such a sign that day, and now I am not certain what to think. Could there have been other signs that were left and got lost? Is it a misdirect to lull me into a false sense of security? Has he truly betrayed us for money? These are questions I cannot answer, and that is why I hesitate to say anything."
There was silence for a few moments, then Cendar asked, "What does Sewine look like, Your Majesty?"
Eorl answered, "He has dark hair, a rarity among my people, but it seemed like a good way for him to hide amongst those men. He is a very large man, broad-shouldered and strong, and tall. In our youth, we joked he must have had some troll blood in him because of his size. Why do you ask?" Eorl seemed genuinely confused as he looked at the ranger.
Cendar only whispered, "Goliath," before saying more loudly, "If he is putting on a show for the hunters, he is doing a very good job. He acted as worse as them in all my interactions with him."
Eorl stared at him thoughtfully before saying, "I am even more confused now, but I will help in whatever way I can. Just let me know what, and it will be done. I want these people dealt with. They took my niece and nephew; I can only imagine there are others we don't know about still trapped there."
"There are," Elrond, who had been silent the entire time, said suddenly, "And they are counting on us. Even if your captain has betrayed you, we still need to act. This cannot go on."
All agreed to his words, knowing it was time to end the hunt once and for all.
Later in the night, Elrond stood alone on the palace steps, deep in thought. He didn't notice immediately when Celeborn joined him, but he knew he was there.
He hadn't survived as long as he had by letting people surprise him.
As for Celeborn, he was content to wait for Elrond to begin the conversation. He knew better than to push his son-in-law into a conversation when something was bothering him.
That only made him shut down even more.
Finally, Elrond said, "Ordstan and Eorl told quite an interesting tale."
Celeborn raised an eyebrow, "And you believed it?"
Elrond continued to stare straight ahead, "I believe what I sensed when dealing with Sewine. Deception, although I could not tell who he was deceiving. Loathing, that was not directed at me but at what he was ordered to do," he looked at Celeborn then, "I think there is truth in that story, and I think Sewine is likely an ally in this. What that does for us, I am not entirely sure about."
Celeborn was silent for many long moments as he thought over what Elrond had said. Granted, the story had seemed too abstract to believe, but then again Bregoleth had unknowingly confirmed it before she was captured. And Celeborn was more inclined to believe Eorl then Bregoleth on principle. But that did not negate the fact that Sewine had been extremely cruel to his son-in-law and that was something Celeborn was unwilling to forgive so easily.
He had promised himself to look after Thingol's heir as best he could, and he hadn't been too successful in recent years.
Next to him, Elrond sighed, and Celeborn decided to change the topic to something equally unpleasant.
"Is Bregoleth still under heavy guard?" he asked.
Elrond nodded, "I just returned from checking on her and her guards. She was asleep and the guards are watching her like hawks supervising a chick's first flight. They are not lowering their guard for a moment."
Celeborn nodded, then added thoughtfully, "I never would have thought that it was a woman that had done all this. Oh…I know what Galadriel saw in the Mirror," he said quickly when Elrond turned to him in surprise, "but I don't think I fully believed until Bregoleth sent that note after you were found. Maybe I'm a little too old-fashioned to think a woman could have done all this when she clearly could."
Elrond was thoughtful for a few moments, then said, "Glorfindel mentioned that letter to me, in passing, when I had first woke up but still blind. I completely forgot about it while I was healing and regaining my strength."
"I have it," Celeborn said suddenly, surprising Elrond, "I have been meaning to give it to the Steward, but I keep forgetting."
"May I see it?" Elrond asked quietly, "I want to see it," he added when Celeborn looked at him skeptically.
Celeborn stared at him a moment before slowly nodding. He reached into a pocket and withdrew the letter, holding it for Elrond to take. He took it, opening it and reading the contents, face carefully blank. Once finished he folded it again, staring straight ahead as his long fingers folded it.
After a few minutes, he said, "She truly is insane."
"Yes, she is," Celeborn agreed, "But we found her and stopped her, and soon this entire business will be done and Avorneth will be home where she belongs, along with everyone else held prisoner there."
"Let's just hope at not too high a price," Elrond said as he turned and left, leaving Celeborn to wonder and dread what his words meant.
Far away Goliath, or Sewine, cursed under his breath as he searched the keep for Avorneth. She had disappeared completely, and Magron would not say where she was.
And no amount of threats had convinced him to say anything.
In the end, Sewine had resorted to searching the entire keep himself for her. It was made harder by the fact he had to make it look like he wasn't looking for her, otherwise, those mercenaries would get suspicious.
He just hoped he could find her before the elves arrived so that she could be safely outside the keep when they attacked and would be safe.
And she would be safe from Magron as well.
With that unpleasant thought in his head, he continued his search of the keep, hoping he would not be too late in finding Avorneth.
And hidden deep in the keep, Avorneth prayed for help to come as Magron entered the cell maliciously, an anticipatory gleam in his eye, clearly not expecting the fight she was about to give him.
She was not broken yet, and he would soon know it, in the most unpleasant way possible.
Translations:
Simbelmynë – flowers that grew notably on the grave mounds of the Kings of Rohan
adar/ada – father/daddy