CONTENT WARNING: Rated M for: strong language.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own anything created by Tolkein and Middle-Earth. This is for entertainment only. I do not own the song "O Blessed Child" by The Brothers Bright
A/N: Happy New Year, readers! I hope you guys are enjoying so far. Please Read & Review! I would love to know I'm on the right track with this story!
Chapter 3 - Traditions Upheld & Places Revealed
Memorial Day Weekend - Crescent City, CA
Augustus and Aurora were awake before the sun rose; wanting to finish packing and get on the road before all the other traffic hit.
As long as the twins could remember; every Memorial Day weekend; their parents took them camping in the deepest part of the forest. They would take Odin & Egg up the canyon and make the ride to Merek Cave. The cave wasn't officially named after their family; but as far as they could tell they had never seen anyone else in the cave; so they had claimed it in the name of Merek.
After loading up the horses and getting all of their tack into the trailer; they set out on the hour long drive to the trail head.
For most of the day; everything was uneventful. The only concern that came up was how dark the sky was getting the closer they got to the trail head. The twins rode in a safe silence for the majority of the drive. Both silently reflecting on how much this trip had meant to them over the only was it how her parents had kicked off the warmer months; but it had always brought them peace and something to reflect on when times were bad.
Aurora reflected on how her father had shown her different wildflowers to use for medicinal purposes. How she would sometimes find plants or trees that were sick and she would be able to help them heal. All the songs her father sang and fairy tales he told her of Elves that lived in the woods to keep them safe. There was a time that Aurora didn't think she would ever see these woods again and relished in the moments she got to spend riding through the trees on Egg.
Augustus reflected more on the time spent with his mom. Learning how to build temporary shelter; create a fire without the use of matches or a lighter. How to navigate by the sun or stars. They had even spent a whole summer with him learning mounted archery after he got Odin. Augustus never took for granted that he still had this time to spend with his baby sister. After the events of 2 years ago; he wasn't sure if he would ever go on an adventure with her again; or if he would even see her alive again…
They were both brought out of their silent reflections as they pulled into the parking lot where they would leave the truck and trailer for the weekend. After unloading the horses; saddling them and attaching their saddle bags they were on the trail. Cantering swiftly up their favorite trails and racing to the tops of some of the trees while the horses took a break; it was starting out to be another perfect camping trip.
Just before sunset; they reached the mouth of Merek cave. After they unsaddled the horses; Aurora got their small camp set up while Augustus gathered firewood. Soon it was dark and they were finishing up dinner. As Aurora opened the bottle of wine she had brought along; Augusts pulled out his guitar and gently started strumming. After a few minutes of the soft melody, Augustus started to sing softly:
O Blessed Child; be not afraid.
The light will keep you still
And shall the view from the cursed dark by love, your heart will heal.
Aurora sipped her wine; enjoying the sound of her brothers soft voice. Quietly she began to sing the rest of the song with her. Knowing the melody all too well. Her parents had taught the song to them on one of their first trips to Merek cave.
O Blessed Child; with thy sun eclipsed;
does not the darkness reign?
But vengeance falls on blackened souls
The light will shine again.
In a breath of innocence; we shall walk the seas.
Rest your heart on providence and know
that captors kingdom shall be burned for all to see.
and thy flash and be alone.
O Blessed Child; for the light has said:
"Whoever shall harm thee; Tis better to be tied to stone;
and drowned in darkened seas."
"Tis Better to be tied to stone; and drowned in darkened seas."
As the song lilted to an end, Aurora glanced over the fire to see Odin and Egg silently nodding off to sleep and realized how tired she truly was. Taking a cue from the horses; she gave her brother a kiss on the cheek and climbed into her sleeping bag.
"Good night, loser." Aurora breathed as she wrapped a second blanket around her shoulders.
"Sweet dreams, stupid." Augustus whispered softly to his sister.
The Forests Around Rivendell
The trio of elves had made camp just before the sun set behind the trees. With the envoys of nobility arriving shortly, there had been an increase of rumors surrounding less than reputable bands of men in the area.
The sons of Lord Elrond had climbed up into separate trees for a better vantage point of the surrounding area; agreeing that sleeping in shifts would be the best course of action should an ambush befall them. Quietly; the third of the group extinguished the fire below them and made ready to sleep for a few hours until it was his turn to be on the watch.
He removed his heavier cloak and rolled it into a makeshift pillow. Elves didn't need sleep to the extent of other races; however comfort was always appreciated. Particularly when ones bed was not the hard ground and not the comforts of a large bed in his talan back home.
Berio din, Haldir
The Marchwarden's eyes shot open at the sound of His Lady's voice in his head. He shook his head in confusion and whispered quietly, "What do you speak of, my Lady?"
Her voice filled his head once more; softer than a lullaby
The twins will need to know they are safe.
"Safe?" Haldir spoke with more urgency in his voice, "What is to befall them, my Lady?"
Silently he waited with no reply to calm his troubled thoughts. It would seem that he would not get the rest he had planned for this night.
Aurora woke up with the earliest rays of sunlight warming her face. She stretched and looked into the canopy of trees that she had slept under. Augustus had opted for sleeping just inside the cave; but Aurora had already found peace sleeping among the trees.
After checking on the horses to make sure they hadn't run off while they were sleeping; Aurora quickly rekindled the fire they had from the previous evening and began cooking breakfast. After an hour of quiet she heard the steady snoring within the cave fade away and her brother soon stumbled out and took his spot next to her by the fire.
"For all the good in the world," he sleepily groaned, "please tell me the coffee is ready."
Aurora chuckled softly and handed him a cup full of coffee, "You know that wine was supposed to last the whole weekend, right?" She jerked her head towards the empty bottle next to the guitar. Augustus didn't respond just closed his eyes as the first sip of coffee brought his soul back to life.
"Eat this, you'll feel better." Aurora set a plate and fork in her brother's lap and picked up her own food.
Augustus suspiciously opened one of his eyes to investigate the warm plate, "Trying to poison me so early in the trip?"
"You poisoned yourself enough; I am simply making you feel better." Aurora took another sip of her coffee and a quick bite of her own breakfast, "Eggs with mushroom, spinach and feta cheese."
Augustus would have cried had he not been so hungover, "You do love me."
"No. You are just a drama queen when you're hungover. This is not sentiment. It is strategic."
The twins ate the remainder of their breakfast in silence; the birds singing softly. As Augustus finished the last of his eggs; Aurora gathered the horses and gave them each half an apple. She looked up just in time to see Augustus picking up his guitar and walking back into the cave; the soft chords singing into the morning air.
Lost in the serenity of the moment; Aurora didn't notice when all the birds flew from the trees and the horses began to shift in discomfort. The first lightning strike blinded her. Odin and Egg both rearing up and bolting to the safety of the cave.
Aurora looked around in confusion as she regained her sense. When had the storm arrived? The air around her suddenly felt electric with an unsettling energy and she made for the cave just as Augustus came running out to see if she was alright.
"What the fuck was-"
He didn't have a chance to finish as the first jolt shook the ground beneath them; knocking them off balance. She heard the rumble before she looked up. The topmost stones of the cave entrance had dislodged and were now careening down towards them. Augustus shoved Aurora into the cave moments before the large stones struck the ground; causing a wall of stone that blocked their view to the outside of the cave. Not only were they now blocked inside the cave; they had to maneuver around their panicked horses so more damage was not done.
After several minutes the shaking stopped. Neither of them knew how long that stood in silence; the heavy breathing of the horses behind them. Aftershocks were almost guaranteed with earthquakes; but how were they supposed to get out of this cave before that happened?
Cracks of light began to shine through the rocks now blocking their way to freedom. Augustus was the first to move towards the wall of stone. He carefully stepped on several of the stones to see if he could dislodge the top stones without collapsing the whole wall.
"Augs…" Aurora spoke with terror rising in her voice, "... Augs be careful." She joined her brother and started to move the rocks around to see if there would be a way out.
They heard it at the same time. The slow, rhythmic footfalls on the other side of the stone wall and hope rose between them.
"Hello?!" They shouted in unison.
"Is someone there?" A strong voice replied.
"Yes!" Aurora sighed loudly, someone was actually in the area who could help. "The earthquake triggered a rockslide and we are trapped! Are you able to move the rocks from out there? We don't have much room in her and our horses are terrified."
They felt the stone shifting around and more pockets of light began to appear.
"Stand back," The voice called once more.
Not needing to be told twice, the twins stepped backward, Odin & Egg nuzzling into the shoulders of their owners. They watched in amazement as the large stone were lifted and moved to clear a path for them. Relief gave way to confusion as Aurora stepped towards the opening of the cave once more.
Everything looked different.
No longer was the cave surrounded by Redwood trees; but it sat atop a great hill that overlooked a forest and valley below them. Any remnants of the camp they had made was gone and left with a serene landscape.
As they made their way out the cave; closely followed by their horses; they looked around for the man who had helped clear the stones but they could not see anyone.
"By the Valar…" They heard the voice speak in shock with behind them and they abruptly turned.
Both had the urge to scream but were silenced in terror at what they saw. Sitting gracefully atop the cave they had just left… was an eagle. But an eagle unlike either of them had ever seen. The horses had seen the massive beast and bolted quickly down the hill; but neither Augustus or Aurora made a move to chase after them. The sheer size alone was enough to strike fear into their very core; his height could easily have been 15 feet tall if not more. But what scared them more than the sight of the massive beard; was when it opened its large beak … and spoke.
"The children of Kinarus returned." The eagle jumped down gracefully and bowed its head.
Augustus was the first to clear his throat and croak out a response, "The children of… What?"
"All will be explained in time, children." The eagle stretched his wings and looked skyward, "Too long have you been away. But your light is already felt. Even if you cannot sense it yet."
"Oh… O-kay…" Aurora stammered.
The bird met the gaze of the twins and this gesture somehow calmed the two, "I cannot linger; but your safety is ensured. Your presence brings hope to Arda." As the eagle spoke these final words; he looked upwards once more and took to the sky.
Augustus and Aurora stood in silence for what felt like hours. Their eyes still raised to where the great bird once stood.
"Uummm…." Augustus breathed, "Auri?"
Aurora didn't look to her brother; her eyes fixed on the sky. "Yeah, Augs?"
Augustus finally looked down to his little sister, confusion etched into every line of his face, "What kind of mushrooms did you put in our fucking breakfast?!"
Translations:
Berio din - Protect them
