Chapter 4 - a chat with the King
Every dream an infernal beeping followed me. Always in the background. Limbs still unresponsive. Odd sensations here and there.
And I was still trapped.
It wasn't a dream. Any images I saw were conjured by myself. Memories clear as crystal. Familiar places and friendly faces, and voices of anger…
'Are you accusing me.'
'No' Even in this strange state my chest trembled. 'It was just an observation.'
Muffled voices that did not belong in my memories interrupted that train of thought. Air rushed past, tickling my cheek. Suddenly my eyes opened one after the other and a bright light flashed across my blurred vision. It stung so much I was thankful when I returned to the darkness.
"She's barely responsive."
Beep… Beep….
'Hey, you weren't in practice today, is everything alright?'
'Yeah I'm fine I was…'
'With Anne-Katrine.'
I'm past this. I told myself firmly. This does not affect me anymore.
Deep inside a voice purred.
Liar…
x x x
I was jolted from my rest by an agonised scream that was not my own. Beside me somebody trembled violently. After a moment of gathering my thoughts and looking around, I realised who it was.
"Kimbela!"
I shot to my knees, ignoring a bolt of pain in my back as I knelt over her.
"Kimbela!"
I gripped her shoulders to try and stop her convulsing. She shrieked, arching her spine and trying to push me off.
Across the room Glenys started awake with an equally strangled scream, her hand clasping her throat, dark eyes wild.
"Are you okay?" I called, still fighting with Kimbela and trying not to get wrestled off the bed.
Glenys looked around, disorientated, unnerved and searching for something familiar. Until her eyes locked on Kimbela.
"Roll her into recovery position, now."
The authority in her voice was inescapable and I nodded without a jot of knowledge on what the recovery position was.
"On her left side, right hand under her head and bring the right leg up." Glenys promptly got Kimbela to calm down.
I knelt beside the bed, rubbing Kimbela's arm and making soothing sounds.
The door thudded heavily and swung open. Three bodies jumped inside, two ready to draw arrows.
"~What's happened? Are you alright?~" Haldir asked, stepping closer and casting a worried glance over Kimbela.
"~I think we'll be fine.~" I answered as Kimbela's eye fluttered open, startled to find several figures above her.
"Hej," I smiled sympathetically. "Bad dream again?"
Kimbela frowned at nothing in particular and shook her head, clutching her chest. "Yeah…just a really bad dream."
"~Is this normal?~" Haldir asked Vanya who stood behind the wardens.
She nodded. "~They haven't had a good night's sleep since they got here.~"
Rumil grimaced, then checked the room over before giving his brother the all clear. Vanya fussed over us getting a drink of water before she left, and Haldir stayed until Kimbela had promised him she was feeling more herself and that she would let him know how she faired after breakfast.
Haldir's dark eyes glittered, a slight smile tugging his mouth as he shut the door slowly.
I sat beside Kimbela, arms wrapped around her reassuringly, prepared to remain like that until her body stopped trembling. Glenys sat at the end, gazing vacantly at the wall. She looked unusually pale in the dim light.
"You okay?" I asked. "Looked like you were having a rough night too."
She gave a slow nod, still away with the fairies. "What are we doing here?"
Glenys didn't sound like herself. Gone was the fire and mistrust, revealing a glimmer of her. I wasn't sure how to answer her without her walls slamming up again, or perhaps hurting her more.
"I wish I'd never gone to Sweden now."
I blinked, taken aback by her confession. Guilt twinged in my gut, because If I was honest with myself, I was torn between wishing my family had stayed at home and wishing to explore Middle-earth. The objective was to get home, but not as swiftly as Glenys might have wanted.
"I'm sorry." I reached out a hand to her, knowing she'd ignore it.
"Don't be. My life's not much better at home." She muttered, getting up and heading back to bed.
"I need air." A quiet voice rasped into my chest.
I agreed and got out of bed, fumbling in the dim light for some clothing. It was close to dawn and the sun would break the curtain of darkness soon.
"Glenys, we're going out for a walk. Want to join us?" I asked, handing Kimbela a long tunic Vanya had sourced for her.
Glenys, already back in bed, rubbed her face groggily and swung her legs over the edge of her bed, then came to a complete stand still.
"Nope, not now. I'll join you in a bit." She sighed and slithered back under her sheets.
I sighed softly, nodding, and continued getting dressed.
x
Kimbela and I wandered through the trees like semi lost souls looking for the gates to the afterlife, neither uttering a word. We took in the intricate details of the elves handicraft and architecture, how it melted into nature.
It was wonderfully relaxing to just float through the silence of the damp forest, feeling the caress of the crisp morning breeze on my neck and face, brushing my hair back. We came to the end of the taller trees that stood on the hill that was Lorinand's capital. Beyond was the vast forests surrounding Caras Galadhon. The light storm had passed over the land quickly, but left its calling card in the light that gleamed on every surface it touched.
"Are you feeling better now?" Kimbela broke the silence, noticing my hand constantly reach for my back.
"Yeah, just twinges from time to time." I shrugged, smiling at her to hide the fact the dull ache had never left. Kimbela too seemed in pain, her hand had come up to massage between her breasts, an uncomfortable expression crossing her face.
"How about you?" I asked quietly, like I was afraid my voice would carry over all of Arda. She gave me a weak looking smile but her eyes sparkled with a serene happiness.
"Alive and happy about it!" She chirped, her smile brightening as we turned our gazes to the rising sun.
Soon the grey veil lifted from the earth and nature returned to green grass, colourful flowers and the silver of the trees bark.
"Gunda, do you hear a constant beeping in your dreams?"
Kimbela's quiet voice and the subject of her question caught me completely off guard. I floundered, searching for an answer in the mush that two moments ago had been my brain.
"Yes." I breathed. I slowly turned my head to find her blue eyes overcast with an unusual look of panic.
"Have you dreamt that something is shocking you in the chest?" She probed carefully but curiously.
"No," I shook my head. "I've had lights flashed in my eyes, and my throat feels tight…like-"
"A tube down your throat." Kimbela went silent. Falling into deep thought.
A sick, panicky feeling crawled up my spine. Its cold, clammy hand gripping me in a way that made me squirm under my skin.
The three of us had landed in a fictional world, by some stroke of luck or misfortune, and I was certain all three of us were having these strange dreams. We all had a blank in our memories. And I couldn't help but feel there was something more to our conversation on names from the night before. Kimbela's talisman certainly had my attention.
The idea of being in a coma crossed my mind, but I quickly vetoed that. This was too complex, and Kimbela and Glenys were too individualistic to be a figment of my imagination.
I'm not going to question the existence of the only other normal people here.
Bright light fell through the canopy, and with it came warmth and the chirping of birds. A single ray of sunshine fell on us, warming my skin and setting Kimbela's chestnut hair on fire.
Kimbela beat her palm against her chest, maybe to dislodge the discomfort, but it created a nice rhythm. Without thinking I clapped my hands and snapped my fingers in another rhythm that complimented the beat she had given me. She looked at me slightly bewildered but quickly turned her straight line lips into a big smile and continued to drum out a constant beat. My smile broadened, following her lead with my own rhythm.
We got into a comfortable swing, and I couldn't contain myself. Bursting into song in my mother tongue.
To my surprise, Kimbela joined me, humming in harmony.
So together we sang the lullaby that ushered in the delights of the seasons. The midsummer parties, the berries in late summer and autumn, white winters which turned to the flowers and warmth of spring.
The song released happiness in us. We stood smiling like a pair of idiots by the end. Kimbela asked where it came from and I sheepishly explained it was the first tune I'd learned on the fiddle, and how I'd tortured the poor instrument with screeching notes and wolf tones.
"Sweet. I've always wanted to play War Drums, but I'm not too bad on the regular ones." She grinned.
Just then I detected something faint on the breeze. Something I had only heard of, and it sent a pleasant shiver down my spine as I realised what it was.
"Listen!" I shook Kimbela's hand excitedly, pressing a finger to my lips.
We listened intently, still as statues until it came again. It was the sound of a breeze blowing through a cave mixed with the whispers of the swell of the sea, and on that sound that brushed against my ears was the faintest, most gentle song.
I let out a disbelieving breath. "The trees…they're singing."
Kimbela's eyes went wide and she shut them immediately, listening.
It was a voice, but not, and appeared to mimic words, or sounds. A lullaby, soothing and dream-like. I felt tired all of a sudden and my body began to sway a little.
This sounds familiar…
The song stopped. It didn't fade out, it simply stopped. My brows knitted together. It was so abrupt that I felt it too suspicious to just ignore. I opened my eyes and found ash grey orbs staring right back at mine intently.
My heart jumped into my throat, but I didn't alert Kimbela.
I just stared back at the King, shocked and a tad embarrassed at having been caught standing in his forest like some enchanted muppet.
I gulped nervously, feeling my manners promptly desert me.
"Good—good morning your Majesty." I stammered, managing a half decent curtsy.
His eyes didn't leave my own and his expression remained calm, expressionless, which was extremely un-nerving because I couldn't figure out what mood he was in.
"I was told I might find you here. You were absent for breakfast." He spoke with as much emotion as was present on his features.
From beside me a quiet voice spoke. "Your Majesty."
King Amdír, dressed in white trousers, a lemon yellow tunic and a green over robe which matched the grass, cast his gaze to Kimbela and nodded at her once before returning his ashen grey eyes to me.
My stomach twisted into a double knot. This king was on a mission this morning, and I had a pretty good idea of what that mission may be.
I averted my gaze and stared at the ground.
"Morning Haldir!" Kimbela chirped, waving avidly at a figure in the distance.
Her infectious happiness made me smile, and I wondered if she was aware of the effects she had on others.
"~Lady Gunda, if I may, I would much appreciate if we finished that conversation from last night.~" The King said dryly, and to my utter consternation, he offered me his arm.
I tried not to look hesitant as I politely answered, "~Of course.~"
Suppressing the unwanted desire to faint, I linked my arm with his and he began walking us further out into the woods.
"Kimbela! Gunda! I-" Glenys burst out from behind a tree and looked as surprised as I felt to see me on the King's arm, but the flash of anger in her eyes didn't escape my notice.
"Oh. He found you." Her tone fell flat as a bike tyre that had cycled the tour de France track covered in glass.
"Yes." The King's voice sounded just as flat as hers, which is when it clicked. Had they been at breakfast together? What had happened?!
"Ladies Kimbela and Glenys," Lord Celeborn's unmistakable voice was crystal clear on the morning air. "Come, walk with us please."
I could see him smile kindly where he, Haldir and Orophin waited further down the path. I was immeasurably thankful that Celeborn was there. We were just that small bit safer with his watchful eyes on us.
I was pulled ahead with no small amount of haste, setting my heart thundering in my chest.
We were a good distance from the group, out of earshot too, when King Amdír spoke.
"~I trust you are feeling better this morning, Lady Gunda.~" He sounded much more pleasant. No doubt intended to make me feel at ease, however it only made me wonder what had transpired between him and Glenys that morning. Or had he a more pressing incentive for being nice to me?
Niggling suspicion bubbled in the pit of my stomach.
"~I am, thank you your Majesty. I am sorry Kimbela and I missed breakfast. It was not intentional.~"
Better to apologise for any possible transgressions than leave it to chance.
"~Both your presences were sorely missed. But let us not linger on trivial matters.~"
That uncomfortable suspicion began to bubble furiously.
My mouth dried and my throat tightened.
"~So my Lady, what have you seen.~" He asked. The calm in his voice was hair-raising.
What would I—could I tell him?
"~Let me rephrase this. What does your sight encompass?~"
My eyes went wide and I looked at him. "~Your Majesty?~"
"~I have reason to believe your sight is unique.~" He replied, an air of authority lacing his voice. His piercing gaze unrelenting. It made my skin prickle. "~You arrived three days ago from beyond the stars, and you have found your bearings quickly. Aside from your language skills, you appeared to be unfazed when you met Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel. Lady Glenys indicated that you 'know' things. And you know of my son, whom no-one has mentioned in your presence.~"
My brain stalled and I stopped functioning aside from keeping pace with him. Blood stilled in my veins and the world around me went out of focus, then zoomed back in.
How careless had I been? Or were the elves just bloody good at noticing small things like that?
"~I have simply tried to make the best of an unusual circumstance your Majesty.~"
He ignored me. "~What have you seen.~"
I opened my mouth, but made no sound. I was still processing his words and devising a plan on how to evade answering him. Whatever I said, the choice and consequences would be mine to bare, Galadriel had warned me.
"~What have you seen of the High-King.~"
His commands bared down on me like one ton of bricks after another. I felt my palm grow sweaty.
"~I'm not sure. It's a…blur.~"
I thoroughly wished to face-palm myself.
Jeez! Way to put your foot in it!
I hadn't meant to lie.
Yet telling him the truth mightn't serve us well either. They are wary of us enough as it is.
"~I mean…it's difficult to explain.~" I added when he regarded me with disbelieving.
A book suddenly jumping to life. Yeah, difficult to explain is an understatement…
I forced down the tremble that spider walked up my spine. I knew I had opened a can of worms that I didn't want to open.
The consequences are mine. No matter how I wish otherwise.
'I see a king, his sword is sharp his lance is keen, the stars in heavens-' No, that didn't sound right, and I shouldn't have considered telling him anyway.
"~Why do you wish to know?~"
The King let out a patient sigh, resting his hand over mine which nestled in the crook of his elbow.
"~As I have already mentioned, you have implied you know something about the High-King of the Eldar, dangerous or not. Which puts you in a tricky position. I could help you.~"
My head whipped up. Lord Celeborn hadn't told him everything? And he was using the High-King as his bargaining chip.
"~Why? You don't sound like you particularly like him.~"
Sweet as his voice was, there had been a touch of strain therein. The King's face tightened, silver eyes puzzling over whether I knew of his dislike, or had figured it out.
"~As my superior I am bound by duty to inform him. And by withholding the information, you may well find yourself held accountable for anything that happens.~"
"~Have you informed him?~" I couldn't hide the tremble in my voice. The idea that news of this ruddy 'foresight' of mine was spreading sent an arctic shiver through me.
I received no answer, so took it as a 'yes'.
With a small sigh I answered, "~The matter of someones future is personal. I wouldn't hand it out to just anyone.~"
I hoped that would stop his questions.
But it proved to be the wrong thing to say.
The voice that spoke next was filled with ice—sharp as a blade.
"~And who would you divulge their future too.~" He slowed his pace and the world seemingly honed in on me along with his pinhole gaze. "~With whom does your allegiance reside? You have proved reluctant to comply with my reasonable request. If you will not comply with us then I am left to wonder if your loyalty lies elsewh-~"
"~NO!~" My voice rose in desperation and I tried to step away from the King, but he held me fast. "~I would never betray anything I know to the enemy!~"
"~And who is your enemy?~" His eyes hardened, resembling the gleam on steel daggers.
"~I…I…~" Air refused to enter my lungs, as though they were being squeezed by a vice. I was teetering on the edge of friend-or-foe. The hand that rested on mine pressed down hard and squeezed my fingers, a warning.
A mental image of peering out of metal bars from the confines of a cold stone cell flashed before my eyes, worse yet, an executioners block slick with blood.
Don't be dramatic, elves don't DO that!
I still made a pathetically small, scared noise.
"~I dare not speak their names. He will be known as the Dark Lord.~" Sweat trickled down my back. "~My Lord my word is my bond, I would never serve them!~" The fear coursing through my veins had worked me into a blinding panic.
I let out a startled yelp, shuddering as phantom talons combed—no, ripped through me. I clutched my chest, checking for blood but found none.
"~Do you know what they are capable of.~" The King's voice was dark, ominous. My legs turned hollow and I stumbled slightly. King Amdír held me up.
"~Do not mistake them for some kind of village ruffian. These are Orcs. Immorality is a sport to them. Celebrimbor of Eregion found himself speared on a pike and displayed as a banner for all to see their cruelty and malice.~"
I bit back the 'I know' threatening to slip forth. Clenching my jaw I straightened my back and held his silvery gaze, but before I could answer he spoke again.
"~You are not without weakness Lady Gunda.~" King Amdír's eyes slid back the way.
Cold dread pounded my gut as my gaze found my earthly companions.
Kimbela happy as a clam chatting to the brothers and Glenys, arms crossed, on the verge of becoming a thundercloud again.
They might be used against me?
I could not tell if the King intended to use them against me. I could only hope and trust in my vague understanding of Eldarin temperament that he would not, just as I hoped I was not allowing my past to repeat itself by caring for Kimbela and Glenys as much as I did. My apprehension, however, was challenged by a deep routed source that fuelled the wildfire in my spirit, refusing to allow anything to happen to them.
"~I know.~" Was all I could say.
"~We live in a time of borrowed peace. The enemy's minions still roam the lands, though not as rife as they once were. Should they learn of you, a seer, you will find a target on your back, one you shall never escape.~"
I digested his words. The dreamy visions of exploring Middle-earth vanishing in a snap of reality. This was real, the fantasy, the magic, the danger…
"~Should you aid us, however, we can offer you protection.~" The King smiled with self satisfaction at having the upper hand, having something we needed now that I'd revealed where my favour in allies lay.
He patted my, now sore, hand gently. "~Think on it. Consider your position carefully. And consider my offer. It shall not come again.~"
Swallowing the lump in my throat, I nodded.
"~If you wish to talk to me of anything, do not look ahead. Use your knowledge of what has already happened to decide what you do today. For what you do today will decide the future.~" I spoke with finality and locked my gaze ahead of me.
The waving shades of green grass, the colourful patches of crocuses, a pleasant—if minor—distraction from the bombshell I'd just received.
The King exhaled softly, loosening up beside me. "~Tis beautiful this time of year.~"
"~Tis,~" I looked up at the speckles of golden rimmed light breaking through the leaves. "~It vaguely reminds me of the forest behind my house. My parents and I would forage wild blueberries in the summer.~"
A memory stirred, a young girl only just able to walk wading through moss and dried pine needles and wild blueberry plants that stretched through the forest as far as the eye could see. Her legs unsteady and still pudgy, a mop of bouncy light curls and startling golden brown eyes sparkling as she shrieked with delight at the fat juicy berries she bent down to pick.
I smiled sadly.
"~You have a kind heart, Lady Gunda. Take comfort in the fact that some have sensed it, and are standing by to support you.~"
I blinked in surprise. Resting my hand atop his I smiled with thanks, willing to understand his position and forgive the gruelling conversation.
The silence that fell between us was interrupted by none other than Glenys who sounded utterly bored or put out, maybe both.
"Um, hate to break your tête à tête, but how much longer are ye going to be chattin'? It's boring as fuuuuck with these two love birds."
Both the King and I turned to look at her in surprise. Myself because I heard a definite Scottish twang coming out in her accent, and the King probably due to her tone. I hoped he didn't know what the word meant, or that it was rude—though her tone suggested as much.
Haldir stood beside Glenys looking utterly confused, and Kimbela looked like she could kill the grumpy woman right there and then. I let out an exasperated sigh.
"We have just finished, Lady Glenys. Why don't you two come and join us. I have a question for all of you."
I turned rigid. What else could he want to know?
Glenys' face lit up and she skipped up to us, her dress fluttering behind her and she glided in-between the King and I and latched onto his arm.
I quickly averted my gaze to hide my uneasy expression.
That would explain the tension between them…
To my surprise and humour, the king peeled her arms off his like her hands were some nasty gloop that had fallen on his sleeve and he clasped his hands behind his back and looked at her with utmost discontent. I pressed my lips into a line, trying not to laugh. Glenys' face fell from cheery and hopeful to a storm cloud. She really knew how to pout.
Kimbela joined us shortly after, glancing over her shoulder every so often.
"Fear not Lady Kimbela. They shall not be far behind." King Amdír assured her, looking back at the Lord and the wardens who followed.
I wondered offhandedly if they were for the King's protection, or for us all.
Kimbela chuckled softly to herself and grinned giddily as she jogged to my side.
We wandered on a little further in awkward silence.
The King moved so gracefully it was as if he was gliding over the surface of the grass. Glenys was becoming more of a thunder cloud with every passing second and Kimbela and I gave each other nervous looks.
The quietness grew in tension to the point it got uncomfortable, and to add to the atmosphere, the sun vanished behind a cloud, leaving us in dim half-light.
"Your Majesty," Kimbela started cautiously.
King Amdír stopped dead in his tracks. The rapid change in his movement so sudden we held our collective breaths.
He turned slowly, looking at the three of us with an unnerving calm demeanour.
"It was brought to my attention that you all possess magic. Would you care to expand on this comment."
I frowned, then raised an eyebrow while looking at my companions.
Where in the sweet name of the Gods did that question come fro-
It clicked the moment Kimbela tensed and Glenys stared at the King as though he had grown an extra head.
Amdír looked at each of us in turn, waiting for an answer.
"Forgive our confusion. What magic?" I asked when no-one else made a move to do the same.
King Amdír raised a suspicious brow, glancing behind to Celeborn and Haldir, and I quickly noticed my mistake.
"I am referring to your weapons which you seemingly produced out of nothing and nowhere. Do you deny this?"
"No, but-"
"Then you acknowledge that you possess magic." He sounded very serious, and in that lay an undertone of danger.
I squared my shoulders. "Your Majesty, please, I assure you those weapons are a mystery to us too."
"So you cannot simply conjure them forth?"
"We have not tried." Kimbela interjected, drawing the King's attention to her for a moment.
The shadow of relief fell over me, and I could breathe again.
The King's gaze fixed on Kimbela for an intense moment before he added; "You mentioned your father is military trained-"
"Was, your Majesty." Kimbela corrected pluckily. Something uncomfortable settled in my chest at her words.
"Did he instil his knowledge in any of you?" He eyed Kimbela as the most likely target.
"I use my brain your Majesty. Does it require specific training to wave a weapon about when instinct demands you survive by any means possible?"
Amdír hummed to himself, neither approving nor dissatisfied, before turning to continue on his walk.
I took a deep breath, making to follow him when I noticed Glenys rub her left arm.
"Glenys?" I reached for her, but she flinched away.
"It's nothing."
"No it's not." Kimbela gritted out, clutching her chest, expression twisting in pain. She looked ahead to where the King now watched us with curiosity.
"Your Majesty!" I called, my senses screaming, but at what I couldn't understand.
Glenys growled, clasping her upper arm which is when I wrenched her hand away.
My jaw dropped and Kimbela cursed under her breath.
"What the fuck?!" Glenys protested.
Beneath her skin, something shimmered. It swirled for a moment, then settled into…
"Fan!" I swore, inhaling sharply.
My heart beat in my ears. Raw energy engulfed me like a giant impulse emanating from my lower back, snapping my shoulders back and clenching my fists.
Something moved…I sensed it, a dark shadow, my head moved in the direction where the sharp tingling intensified.
I counted my heart beats. A coolness breezed through me for a moment, and I knew with crystal clarity where the enemy was. As my heart sped up, the clarity and reason took a back seat.
They were over a hundred meters away. But they were coming.
x x x
The King of Lorinand watched with mixed fascination and alarm.
The daughters from beyond the stars turned their heads in unison to face the expanse of trees. Kimbela uttering something to Gunda who nodded.
"~On guard!~"
Amdír drew his sword and returned to their side, joined by Lord Celeborn and the Wardens, arrows drawn.
"~What is this?~" Amdír demanded, but none could give him an answer.
The daughters of men remained silent, peering into the woods.
"~Get behind us your Majesty.~" Gunda warned, taking a wide stance as though readying herself to run.
Amdír cast her an incredulous look. The Lady must have been mad to think she stood a chance against whatever it was they thought they saw—and to command him too.
The look in Gunda's eyes didn't change. The burning golden orbs like molten amber remained focused. There was little left in that face of the well mannered young woman he had come to know since the night before.
Amdír didn't move quickly enough for Gunda's liking, for she turned, grabbing the Kings arm and pulled him towards her urgently.
A black arrow shot past them, missing them by an inch and landing in a tree behind where the King had stood.
Haldir and Orophin fired into the trees, taking out two crouching figures.
"I count no more than thirty." Kimbela stated, an ornate spear poised towards the shadows that came charging at them.
"We can handle them." Haldir spoke resolutely, firing and hitting his mark. "Get back to the city."
"Not a chance." Kimbela cut him off.
"They out number you." Glenys added, a pair of dirks gripped tightly in her hands so her knuckles were white.
Amdír spoke determinedly. "You will retreat to safety!"
The daughters remained in their line. Kimbela, Glenys and Gunda. Confrontational defiance written across their faces.
Amdír held his breath, as did Celeborn, when a pair of axes burst into existence in a flurry of golden light on Gunda's back.
x x x
I grasped the shafts as they materialised. A rage was building up inside me and I felt more focused than I ever had in my life.
I watched the swarm of bodies intently. The more I counted, the more I wanted to fight. I wanted to slay those creatures where they stood.
A voice bellowed a command in a tongue not meant to grace innocent ears. The sound was grating and painful, like thousands of needles had jabbed my inner ear and brain.
"Now!" Kimbela ordered, and we moved, making first contact a safe distance within the forest line.
"Aim for the legs!" I shouted, ducking under the swipe of a blade.
Wielding the axes felt more natural this time. The blades sliced through flesh like butter. Metal clanged all around me. Spinning out of one Orc's reach and hacking my axe into its back. I glanced around quickly.
Glenys held her own, spinning and ducking, landing deadly blows as she went. No Orc got within a foot of Kimbela and her stick of doom—wielded with ease and precision. Orophin took out the enemies further behind. Arrows flying one after another. Haldir had pulled forth his knives and joined the fray, and Celeborn and the King moved as though the fight were a dance. Elegantly manoeuvring to dispatch the few Orcs who got beyond us.
A wall of metal slammed into me as I turned back to the oncoming enemy.
I stumbled back, nearly losing my balance. My vision turned monochrome for a second before I shook it off.
"Elf filth." The Orc spat, keeping its shield in front of it, sword ready to strike at any moment.
He swung for me and I jumped back, searching for an opening, a weak spot. The Orc swung his sword back and forth wildly, forcing me back with every swing, the tip of his sword aimed for my belly.
My heart jumped into my throat. Fear coiled in my gut which turned to unbridled rage, and I saw red.
A moment later the Orc lay dead at my feet and I was roaring at the top of my lungs. Loud and feral, it released the tangle of emotions that warred inside of me, that both frightened me, and pushed me on. I felt in that moment like I could have shaken Barad-dûr to its foundations with the magnitude of discharged tension I shed like an avalanche clearing the side of a mountain. The smell of blood and waste didn't faze me, though I wrinkled my nose. My tunic and trousers were spattered with dark liquid and my hands gripped my axes harder, wanting more.
I wanted more.
The thought shocked me and I gasped—almost throwing the axes away.
Whatever fuelled me had begun to dissipating.
"~Archer!~"
"Gunda look out!"
A hand grabbed my shoulder, pulling me back sharply. My eyes found the arrow shooting straight for me, fired no more than twenty yards away.
I let out a yelp.
A sword sliced through the air and the arrow fell to the ground in two pieces. I shuddered violently. The hand on my shoulder gripped me tighter.
"Are you alright?" Lord Celeborn asked, grey eyes relieved when I nodded.
The Orc turned to run.
'Should they learn of you… you will find a target on your back'
I stepped forward, shifting my grip to the end of the shaft and threw it.
The Orc fell as axe, dagger, spear and white tailed arrow hit their target.
Silence fell.
I trudged towards Kimbela and Glenys. All out of breath and each as shell-shocked as the other.
I looked around at the carnage that stained the once pristine landscape. Blood soaked the ground and bodies lay scattered among the tufts of grass and trees. My hands trembled, adrenaline gone from my system, as I reached for Kimbela and Glenys.
"Are you two okay?" I almost hiccuped as they fell into my arms.
They nodded, Glenys near tears and whimpering about how I'd almost got shot.
"The fuck don't do that to us you fucking moron."
I smiled and rubbed her back reassuringly.
"Kimbela!" A worried voice rang through the air as Haldir rushed forwards and pulled Kimbela into a hug. She wrap her arms around him without hesitation, Haldir running his fingers through her hair.
"~Please, do not be so reckless!~" He huffed.
"English please?" Kimbela chuckled breathlessly.
Glenys moved abruptly in the direction of the King like a blood hound on a scent.
"What the HELL was THAT!" Glenys yelled. "Did you mean to test us!"
"SILENCE CHILD! Do not test my patience and goodwill, I have half a mind to lock you up for your insolence." The King snapped back at her.
She jumped, recoiling at his words and ripping her hands from mine when I tried to comfort her.
"~Haldir, how did this happen. What happened to the south patrol?~" Amdír was not a happy ellon.
Orophin moved to defend his brother. "~My Lord, I know not how this happened-~"
"~I was not speaking to you Orophin. Did you not assign a patrol to the South boarders? You are responsible for putting us all in danger, do you understand!~" Amdír's demeaning tone made me cringe. I couldn't imagine how Haldir felt, but he stood tall and took it before moving to explain himself.
"~Orelion and his troop were assigned the Southern patrol yesterday morning. I shall scout it out immediately-~"
Listening to Haldir get taken to task by the King was so unpleasant I had to distract myself, which is when I noticed Lord Celeborn standing over an Orc's corpse.
"~Thank you for saving my life my Lord.~" I said, stepping beside him.
He held a knife in his hand, stained with black and red blood and certainly not of orcish make.
"~What is that?~"
"~A trophy.~"
I covered my mouth, sickened at the harrowing idea that something awful had happened.
"~My Lord,~" Celeborn called, silencing the heated conversation between Amdír and Haldir. Celeborn held up the knife. "~This is Orelion's. We need to send a rescue party to the South boarder.~"
A wide eyed Haldir nodded, stepping forth and taking the dagger in his hand. Kimbela stayed close to him, her brows knitting together with sadness.
"~I'll go.~" I wasn't sure why I'd offered. A reflex to the mix of emotions crashing around inside me.
Amdír's eyes narrowed.
"~I'd advise against that, Lady Gunda. Do not test the King's patience at present.~" Lord Celeborn spoke in a low voice, and Haldir nodded.
"~Orophin, gather the wardens. We scout the South borders immediately.~" Haldir said, looking at the blade in utter disbelief—and the beginnings of heartbreak. "~I will run ahead. Meet me there.~"
Orophin left without delay and worry washed over Kimbela's paling face.
"Please don't go!" She begged, reaching out and grabbing the material of his cloak. Haldir turned to her with sorrowful eyes.
"I must. As Marchwarden it is my duty to do this. And Orelion is a dear friend of mine. I cannot delay." His voice flooded with pain, and without a word Kimbela pulled him close and placed a kiss on his cheek before whispering something to him. He answered with a nod, picked up his bow and disappeared into the trees.
"He will be alright Kimbela." Celeborn consoled her with a gentle touch on her shoulder. "He may be young, but he is efficient and sharp."
Kimbela swallowed a lump in her throat but nodded.
King Amdír kept his gaze fixed on us. Irked by his behaviour, I raised an eyebrow as my axe disappeared from my grasp, disintegrating into faint shimmering dust.
"~So it is true.~"
I looked at the King who's eyes shone with wonder at what he had just witnessed.
"We should get back." I huffed, really not in the mood for any more surprises or mishaps.
I cuddled Kimbela into my side. Her expression remained a mix between sadness and worry but she nodded and touched the pendant around her neck. I glanced around for Glenys, but saw no sign of her.
"Glenys?!" I called out, a shot of panic lancing through me.
Where in Hell is she?
"She ran back to Caras Galadhon." Amdír said blithely. "She needs to learn to control her tongue. My patience only goes so far."
I nodded my head in acknowledgement while making a mental note to tell Glenys of that warning.
The walk home was silent and uncomfortable. Celeborn stayed by our side, a protective shadow, but like the King, said nothing of what they had witnessed.
We reached Caras Galadhon and Kimbela and I returned to our rooms. Kimbela still casting glances over her shoulder.
"I will speak with my wife. Perhaps you would like to join us for the evening meal." Celeborn said, pausing before he walked away. "Ladies, I think it would be in your best interests if you keep a low profile. Until we know what has happened. If you need anything, come to me directly."
"Why?" I asked curiously. It seemed too generous, not that I believed the Lord to be otherwise.
He looked in need of a cup of tea and a change of clothes, but his expression spoke of a swift change into something suitable to go and follow Haldir. He looked us square in the faces before answering.
"Because you three are officially my charges. Unless the King decides otherwise. Let us hope he does not."
"Why not?" I pushed, stepping after him as he made to vanish in the opposite direction.
"He will not take no for an answer from you if he does, Lady Gunda."
I swallowed nervously, bowing before heading to our rooms.
Standing in front of our door was a fair haired elf.
"~My Lady, is everything alright?~" I asked, wondering what Galadriel could want with us. It was impossible for Celeborn to have spoken with her already.
She turned to face us and she had all the bearings of Galadriel; gentle features, smooth skin and hair like a river of silver gold, but possessed eyes akin to Celeborn's.
"~A star shines upon the hour of our meeting.~" She spoke with a melodious voice that would make an angel fall from heaven with jealousy. "~Your sister has been weeping for a while and refuses company.~"
I bowed my head and offered an apology. "~We have had a rather stressful morning my Lady.~"
She returned my friendly smile, only hers was far more ethereal.
"I am Celebrían. Daughter of Celeborn and Galadriel." She said, switching to common tongue. Kimbela perked up, smiling cheerily when she didn't have to struggle to understand the words being exchanged.
"It's nice to meet you Celebrían. I'm Kimbela, this is Gunda," She indicated to me and I bowed my head again. "And our 'sister' is Glenys."
Celebrían gave a nod of her head.
"I am sorry for intruding. I heard someone in distress and went to see if I could be of help."
"We are most grateful for your concern Lady Celebrían, but she may not be very gracious around…elves…at the moment." I cringed internally, thinking just how rude that must have sounded.
"I can understand. Arriving in a strange place and with strange people is a great strain on anyone. You are indeed brave." Celebrían's compliment took both of us by surprise.
"I will let you go to your sister. I hope she will be well enough to join us for the evening meal mother has been planning. May our paths cross again soon."
"I certainly hope so!" Kimbela beamed at her and I politely bid her farewell.
Celebrían turned and floated down the path.
I was left slightly stunned.
Oh my gods that was Arwen's mum!
Exciting as it was, I was in no mood to celebrate. We could hear Glenys crying from our side of the door.
Just as Celebrían had said, we found Glenys curled up on her bed weeping into her pillow.
Exchanging glances, Kimbela and I didn't bother changing out of our dirty clothing and cuddled her until she stopped crying.
x x x
Glenys fled back to Caras Galadhon without looking back.
The Kings words frightened her immensely and she feared what he might do if she had stayed longer.
She flew past elves, some she knew to look at, most were strangers, but they all bore the same puzzled and disproving looks. She almost crashed into some tall female with long silvery hair. Glenys cried an 'I'm sorry' and darted into her room and slammed the door, finding to her dismay that there was no lock on the door.
This place had a significant lack of privacy in her opinion, one couldn't lock the door to have an undisturbed crying session where you could come out in an hour or two feeling better and being able to compose ones' self to an acceptable level.
She flopped onto her bed and let the tears soak her pillow.
There was a knock on the door but Glenys ignored it. She shivered, not from feeling cold, but from fear. Pure and utter fear.
Glenys knew she'd opted to play a dangerous game, and that accusing the King of setting up an attack was the worst thing she could have done. Letting her anger get the better of her had never served her well. She was smart, she knew this, but seeing the King hover over Gunda like some vulture…
"I hate this." She sobbed into her pillow. "I hate this. I hate this. I don't know this place and I hate it!"
Glenys wondered how Gunda and Kimbela managed. How they seemed to fit in.
Gunda was so proper and kind—perhaps raised in a fancy home. Kimbela was so chill it was frustrating. Going with the flow of what happened around her. And here she was. Out of place and unsure of how to handle it.
She was so very out of place.
This Middle-earth was real so far, and she had acted too proud and felt too ashamed to ask Gunda for help, to ask if Gunda could perhaps…reach out that hand again so she might take it. Ask about how to act in Middle-earth. Glenys had always done things her way, yet it was clear 'her way' was not 'the done thing' here.
She missed home, even though there was nothing much to miss, she missed the sense of security, of knowing where she might have fitted in and how.
It was not long before Gunda and Kimbela came in looking for her. They said nothing as they lay either side of her, and sandwiched her in a hug.
Glenys thought her heart might implode with undeserved solace.
She hugged Gunda tightly, despite the stink of blood.
"I'm sorry. I hadn't meant to piss him off."
"We get it. Today was shit. But we're here for you." They reassured her.
They remained in their embrace for some time before going to get washed up. Gunda stripping the bed for Vanya before they left.
They spent the rest of the day distracting themselves. Gunda got hold of an instrument that closely resembled a guitar, stating she would play music to calm herself back at home.
Glenys, who sat on the floor hugging a pillow, tilted her head. "I thought you played the fiddle?"
Gunda shrugged. "Bit of guitar and piano on the side. You pick things up as you go."
"Cool," Glenys smiled, feeling placid. "Know anything upbeat?"
Gunda turned to Kimbela, grinning. "Think you can drum along?"
"Already ahead of you girl." Kimbela replied, beating her chest in triumph.
A few tunes later and Glenys felt her worries melting away into a haze of laughs and story swapping—if only her arm would stop bothering her.
Her left upper arm no longer burned as it had before those creatures attacked them, but it still felt irritated.
"May we see your arm?"
Glenys nodded and let them inspect her. They shared puzzled looks before informing her of a 'golden marking' which had appeared.
"Really?" Glenys tried to twist her arm to get a good look. There was indeed something there, but what exactly she couldn't tell. "What does it look like?"
Kimbela reached into her tunic and pulled out a small golden pendant.
"Like this."
Thanks for reading!