A/N: A prompt challenge gift fic for UnfinishedProject! This is my first time writing in this fandom and I had to study a map to do it! Ha! I hope you enjoy my first step into Middle Earth…and with one more fic, I'll be the farthest away from my fandom I've ever been. HAHA!
Thanks for reading!
I hope you enjoy!
~oOo~
You would think that the sound of five hundred soldiers marching would be deafening.
That the ground would quake beneath their booted feet and the stench of so many bodies would leave a miasma in its wake. For any other creatures, those statements could be said with absolute certainty. However, for the elves from Lórien, they couldn't be further from the truth. They were armored shadows; leaving no trail and only a whisper of sound as they slipped cross the folds of Middle Earth. Orders from Galadriel sent them to assist the humans – they marched to Helm's Deep.
Except…their formation only consisted of four-hundred and ninety-eight.
Two elves were missing.
Qildor and his twin brother, Tamnaeth.
They had left Lórien mere hours ago, having missed the formation's departure, and were eager to catch up to their compatriots. While the brothers may have had the same facial features, high cheek bones and emerald eyes, they were night and day to one another.
Qildor, the eldest, had long black tresses that he wore lose around his shoulders. A stealthy hunter, he felt most at home creeping within the shadows than the Elvin city. A relatively stoic elf, he viewed the world with skepticism and utter contempt. He was a fine warrior and prided himself on his battle prowess – much unlike his brother.
Tamnaeth – lovingly called Tam by all – wore his golden hair in a high ponytail. He was a lover of song and poetry and much preferred to be within the comfort of the library than cast out into the fray. Although, his finesse with a quill was only seconded by his skill with a long-bow – both of which crafted masterful results.
The brothers currently found themselves on the crest of hilltop, surveying the lands.
"Which way should we go?" asked Tam with uncertainty.
Qildor scowled. "The fastest way would be to go through Fangorn."
"True, but Haldir led the unit through The Wold." He tipped his chin to the left, indicating the vast grassy plain. "Perhaps we should follow their path instead of traipsing through the forest. It seems like a terrible idea."
"We won't be traipsing, brother. We are Lórienian elves! We will skirt the forest wilds swiftly and meet up with Haldir in the Westemnet."
"What can I say to convince you otherwise? To change your mind?"
"Nothing – I don't 'change my mind.' Now come, let us be off."
Qildor took off with an easy lope to the right, where the grim forest loomed in the distance. Tam wiped a hand down his face with a sigh, before following after.
~oOo~
"I told you this was a bad idea!" shouted Tam, sprinting through the gnarled trees. A low-lying mist gave the already eerie forest, a wraithlike aura.
"Less talking, more running!" called Qildor over his shoulder.
The twisted trees seemed to grab for the two elves with gnarled fingers. They shifted and moved with thundering steps, while the dim light appeared to create mossy faces on their trunks. There was a crash behind them and a roar of displeasure. The elves wove between the trees and through the gloom as the horrible sounds became a booming accompaniment to their mad dash. Movement, to the left, had Qildor sliding beneath a massive, outstretched hand covered in bark. Tam yelped and threw himself backward to avoid its grasp.
"Qil! I think the trees are alive!" he screamed as he scrambled to right himself.
The enraged maple bellowed at having lost its victim and lurched with a shuddering gait. Dead leaves dropped from its knotted crown of branches.
"Truly? Whatever gave you that idea?" the midnight brother asked sarcastically.
"You know, I never did like your tone when you're frightened."
Qildor used a fallen log to somersault over the next graceless grasp. Tam used the opportunity to spirit himself away. With a glare at the offending appendage, his brother hurried along.
He caught up easily. "Ha! You think I'm frightened of some moving trees? What utter nonsense."
Tam slowed his pace with wide eyes. The ancient forest had quieted to a low thrum of anger. The atmosphere seemed to ooze malice, and the trees waited on bated breath for whatever was to happen next.
"Qil…Which way to the Westemnet?"
"To the right," he said confidently.
"Are you certain? I think we passed this outcropping before. See how the stones resemble a horse." The daylight brother pointed to the stones that vaguely resembled a horse – if one were to squint, and be blind in one eye.
Qildor shrugged. "Alright, then to the left."
"You can't just pick a random direction!" Tam turned in a circle, the mist at his feet swept with him. "Ohhhh, we're lost!" he moaned in horror. "We're going to die in this wretched forest! That's what I get for listening to you, brother!"
"Well, we wouldn't be in this situation if you would have woken up in time!"
"I had a late evening!"
"Doing what exactly? What could have been so important that you missed formation?"
Tam gave a sheepish grin. "I was reading." Qil gave him a flat look. "The book was quite good. It was a history of the Sea of Rhûn and –"
"Enough. If you finish that sentence, the trees will be the least of your concern."
Annoyed emerald eyes met its abashed mirror.
"You there!" came a booming voice from behind them. "What are you doing in my forest?"
A mighty tree opened its bark eyes to view them in confusion.
Qildor pulled the bow from his back and had an arrow notched before the tree could blink. He pointed it the tree's bearded face. Tam placed a gentle hand on his brother's shoulder.
"Calm," he whispered. Then, to the tree he said, "Oh noble guardian of the forest. My brother and I have lost our way in your magnificent wood. We are in search of the Westemnet, south of the Fangorn Forest. Would you by chance know the way?"
The great tree hummed and scratched his beard thoughtfully. "South is that way," he drawled, pointing to the right.
"See, I told you I knew where I was going," snarked Qil. Tam rolled his eyes.
"Thank you, guardian. We will leave immediately."
"So be it." The tree closed its eyes and settled back into its slumber.
~oOo~
"I see light!" shouted Tam, running to the tree line. He fell onto his knees and kissed the soil, glad to be free of the oppressing forest.
Qil let out a heavy sigh. "And I see Haldir."
The aristocratic commander gave the two of them a stern glare. "Tamnaeth! Qildor! What are you two doing out of formation? We are almost to Helm's Deep, and we do not have time for fanciful dalliances."
The brothers stood at attention. "Yes, sir!"
They hurried to join the others. As they fell into the back of the ranks, Tam whispered to his brother, "That's the last time I follow you anywhere. You got us lost!"
"We weren't lost…we were merely traipsing the forest."
Tam's eyes blew wide and his fists clenched at his sides. "What happened to 'We are Lórienian elves, we don't traipse?' "
Qil grinned and shrugged. "I changed my mind."
~oOo~
A/N: Thank you so much for the prompt! I hope you enjoyed the ficlet I made for you! I would love to know what you thought!
3FF