Mai-HiME at the Movies: The Lord of the Rings.
Part 1: The Fellowship
Nina had been saddened when her adoptive father, Sergay, vanished suddenly from the Shire one day on his birthday. He'd left her a decent inheritance, of course, including his home in the Shire, and a strange bauble, a ring.
The Ring, Nina was aware, was a magical item that Sergay had picked up on his travels many years before she'd even been born when he'd journeyed with a company of dwarves and Mai the Grey.
After Sergay's departure, Mai had instructed Nina to never wear or use the Ring, and to keep it secret, and safe.
Mai then departed from the Shire for a time. She was gone quite awhile, as was the way of the Wizards. They came and went about the land as they pleased, such as Ahn Lu the Blue, Graceburt the Brown, and Nagi the White.
So, it was some time later that Nina was once again graced by the presence of Mai the Grey, Keeper of the Secret Fire.
She told Nina of many things. Of the creature Tomoe, from whom Sergay had won the Ring in a contest of riddles, of how Tomoe had once been a creature much like an Otome, named Marguerite, and that she had slain her cousin, Miya, to lay claim to the Ring.
She told her how Tomoe had fled from her recesses in the Misty Mountains, in search of the Ring, of how she'd been found by a friend of Mai's leaving the land of Mordor on some errand of mischief, and how she was now a prisoner of the Elves of Mirkwood.
"She hisses and spits and bites and claws, save for one person, Thandruil's daughter, the lovely Shizuru of Wisteria. For her she is quiet and obedient."
And, upon inserting the Ring into the fire, Mai confirmed her worst suspicions, that the Ring was the ring forged by Kanzaki, the Obsidian Prince in the fires of Mount Doom.
It was at this point in the conversation that Mai casually reached out the window, striking down hard with her fist, and then pulling up another Otome, Nina's friend and gardner, Arika Yumemiya, who was now wincing and nursing a giant bump on her head.
"What did you hear?" Mai asked Arika, eyebrow twitching furiously.
"Well, I certainly didn't hear anything about Nina's Dad stealing magic rings, or dark lords planning to destroy the world. Nope. Not a word. Grandma taught me that it's rude to eavesdrop, after all."
"Okay," Mai sighed, "You've got to get the Ring to Imladris, while I go see the head of my order. And since this one can't be trusted to keep her mouth shut, you'd better take her along with you.
"Wait for me in Bree, at the Inn of the Prancing Pony. We'll reach Imladris from there."
"Nina! Road trip!" Arika embraced her friend with glee.
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"You realize that this is all your fault," Nina sighed to Arika as they walked along the road.
"Technically," Irina Woods stepped out of the woods at the entrance to Otomeville, "It's our fault. Your Father's magic Ring wasn't as secret as he thought it was. He was very careful, but we saw him use it once or twice before he vanished, and so we asked Arika to make sure that you were alright after he left."
"We?" Nina raised an inquisitive eyebrow, sighing inwardly as she guessed the answer before Erstine Ho stepped out to join Irina, her little fist closed near her mouth in concern and worry.
"You're our friend, Nina, so we wanted to make sure you were safe," Ers said timidly.
Mai had warned Nina about enemies that would pursue them, and to be wary of the Enemy's spies, that even the beasts of the woods couldn't necessarily be trusted. But Nina knew then, in her heart, that these three girls, all proud members of the Otome race, weren't her foes, and were, in fact, good friends. She sighed.
"Well, I guess four people travelling together is safer than just one or two," She relented, "But let's be careful, huh?"
It took several days to reach Bree, and they had signs, as they cut cross country, that there were indeed dark agents seeking them out. The roads, in particular, gave them a sense of unease.
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"That short person's been staring at you all night, Nina," Arika glared at the hooded figure in a dark corner. The barkeep had informed them that while they didn't know the person's real name, they went by Miroku in these parts.
"We're in the middle of a crowd, Arika," Nina whispered, "We should be fine. I doubt they'll make a move so openly. Just don't do anything stupid, and we should be fiiiiiiinnnnneeee," Nina slipped on a wet spot on the floor. The Ring flew up into the air, and then, as though possessed of a will of it's own, landed on Nina's finger.
She was confronted by a ghastly, horrifying image of a giant eye, lidless, wreathed in flame, with a serpentine pupil, advancing on her. There was a hoarse, frightful voice, and Nina backed away in terror, working the ring off her slender finger.
"Boy, are you an idiot," a voice chastised her, lifting her off the floor roughly.
The hooded figure dragged her off up the stairs, shoving her into one of the rooms, and then shutting the door.
The hooded figure was a dark-haired girl with long, thin braids, and carrying a sword as large as she was.
"Who are you?" Nina demanded.
"Are you frightened, little Otome?" the young woman asked.
Nina paused, then said, "Yes."
"Not nearly frightened enough. I know what hunts you."
The door slammed open, and Arika, Irina, and Erstine rushed into the room.
"Ladies shouldn't be dragged off to strange men's rooms! That's what Grandma always said," Arika held up her fists.
The dark-haired girl smiled, "It's fortunate then that I'm not a man, my stout-hearted Otome.
"You can't wait for Mai, anymore, Miss Wang. The Enemy is close."
That night, she was proven correct, as several hooded figures crept into the Otome's room and slashed at their beds with their swords, only to issue forth otherworldly shrieks.
"Wh-what are they?" Erstine asked from the safety of Miroku's room, where they watched in shadows.
"They were men once. Nine kings of men who sought power to govern their race. Kanzaki the deceiver tricked them, and one by one, they fell into shadow. We set out first thing in the morning."
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They once again cut across country, with the Ranger Miroku leading them through woods and marshes.
"We're going to Rivendell," Miroku informed them, "And stay close. There are many dangers, and we have to travel quickly and quietly. I only hope we have enough time for Elvensies. I already missed Second Breakfast."
"She has a bigger appetite than you do, Arika," Nina observed.
"I don't eat that much!" Arika protested.
"Come on. We're falling behind."
"I'm telling you, Nina, I don't!"
"Yeah, yeah. Fine."
"Mou!"
They came to rest at the Watchtower of Amon Sul. Miroku identified the ruins for them. It was there, late at night, that the Nazgul attacked. Nina was struck during the battle with the blade of a dagger.
Their Ranger companion managed to chase off the dread figures, but Nina was wounded.
"A Morgul blade," Miroku spat in disgust, "This requires Elvish medicine, although if we can find some Kingsfoil I can slow the spread of the poisons."
"Leave it to me!" Arika leapt into action, leaping down the steep hill in bounds, until she found a patch in the nearby woods of the plant in question. She then raced back up to Miroku and gave her the herb.
Miroku took to piggybacking Nina, running fast ahead of the other Otome. She was aware at all times of the Ring Wraiths at her heels.
But as fortune would have it, aid was nearby. Glorfindel of the Elves had ridden out to find them, and the power of an Elf Lord was enough to give their pursuers pause.
"Lucky for me you were here," Miroku informed him.
"I'm just glad to be of small aid," Glorfindel said, "Give the Otome to me, and I'll carry her to Imladris on my horse. They shall not cross the river, I promise you."
Nina fell into a dark sleep. She heard and saw no more for a good long while.
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"Where am I?" Nina asked, when she finally awoke.
"In bed," Mai the Grey informed her, "Guest of the House of Elrond. You gave us quite a scare."
"Mai? You weren't there, at Bree."
Mai gave her a sad smile, "I was…delayed. I'm just glad that you're safe."
"Nina!" Arika came running into the room, practically pouncing on her friend.
"Arika? You're here?"
"Arika has hardly left your side," Mai grinned, "There's much to discuss but for now…rest."
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Several days later, many guests arrived at Imladris. During that time, they had learned that Miroku was actually Mikoto Minagi, last descendant of Reito, who had cleaved the Ring from the Obsidian Lord's finger thousands of years ago. And Nina was reunited with her adoptive father, though he seemed to have aged a good deal since last they'd seen each other.
There was called a secret council, to which Nina was invited. There she saw Elrond, Elf Lord, his daughter Arwen, and another Elf with a serene smile and mischievous crimson eyes like the color of maple leaves in October. She was introduced as Shizuru of Wisteria. A beautiful Dwarf Maiden also joined them. She had eyes as resplendent as the emeralds her race might mine, and hair darker than the rich deposits of cobalt in the mountains. Her name was given as Natsuki, daughter of Saeko. And from the far south came the archer, Yukariko, representative of the White City of Minas Tirith. And Mikoto Minagi was there, too.
"Bring forth the Ring," Elrond commanded.
Nina carried it forward and set it on the table before them.
"It is a blessing! A blessing from the Lord!" Yukariko said, reaching out to touch it, "It will be our Salvation!"
Mai rose, and began to recite in a powerful voice, "Sorera subete o shihai suru hitotsunoyubiwa, sorera o mitsukeru hitotsu no kenri. Sorera subete o motarasu tame no hitotsunoyubiwa, soshite kurayaminonakade sorera o shibarimasu!"
Yukariko withdrew her hand in alarm.
"That may be the first time, Tokiha Mithrandir, that any have ever dared to utter the Black Speech in Imladris," Elrond voiced his displeasure.
"I do not beg your pardon, Master Elrond, for if we fail in our task, the language of Mordor may be heard everywhere."
"Look, if the damned thing is so dangerous, why don't we just destroy it here and now?" Natsuki drew a heavy battle-axe forged of the adamant metal Mithril, and brought it down with her considerable might.
The blade exploded in a shower of razor sharp metal, and it was only the spellcasting of Elrond and Arwen that kept the guests safe from the deadly shrapnel. Natsuki found herself in the hands of Shizuru of Wisteria, who smiled gently at her.
"Ara, ara, but Natsuki has the right idea. But perhaps let us explain more, for your safety, ne?"
"The Ring cannot be destroyed, Natsuki of the House of Kruger, daughter of Saeko, by any craft we here possess. Only in the fires of Ordruin, where it was forged, may it be destroyed," Elrond smiled at Natsuki, "Though never let it be said that the Dwarves will hesitate to do the right thing."
There was a great deal more arguing and debating. At one point, the wizened old Sergay even offered to carry the Ring to Mordor, saying that since he started the mess, Silly old Sergay ought to be the one to finish it. His compatriots among the Elves, Dwarves, and even Mai, smiled gently at him.
"This is hardly your fault, Sergay," Mai said, "This began ages ago, when the Ring was forged, and it was carried on further when Reito failed to destroy it nearly three thousand years prior."
There was more debate, some suggesting throwing the Ring into the depth of the Ocean, or carrying it out of Middle Earth to Valinor. All ideas were rejected, and again, it came back to finding a way to destroy it.
Nina sighed, "I will take it."
She had to repeat it several times to be heard. Mai, however, had heard her the first time, and looked crestfallen.
"Only," Nina sighed, "I do not know the way."
"I will guide you," Mai sighed, hoping that she could keep the Otome safe.
"I will come with you," Mikoto said, "I've got a sword, and swords are useful for these sorts of things. Besides, it might be fun. Oh, and I'll see to it that you're safe, too."
"And I will defend you with my bow," Shizuru said softly.
"And my axe!" Natsuki added.
"Fufufu," Shizuru said, "Don't you need to get a new one, first?"
Natsuki hefted an axe from a holster on her back, "Always carry a spare."
"Ara, but that is impressive. You are a very resourceful dwarf."
"I will also see to your safety," Yukariko rose.
"We're coming too!" Nina groaned inwardly as she heard Arika's voice, and saw her running out of concealment, followed by Irina and Erstine.
Elrond considered, "Very well.
To Be Continued...