RATING: PG-13
DISCLAIMER: The characters from Lord of the Rings and their wonderful world are borrowed from J.R.R. Tolkien. The plotline and all other characters are copyright 2002 Emily (emi_kins@yahoo.com)
43.
Raion was the first to step forward to dispute the Sword's decision. "As second in command of our armies, I must protest. There must be some mistake. The very idea is absurd. It's not only impossible, but dangerous as well."
Elenath herself was in shock at the words the Sword had spoken. Her young friends also exchanged wide-eyed glances with each other and Pastor Mike. None of them dared speak.
King Thranduil turned with disbelief to Lord Elrond who simply shrugged. "The Sword has spoken," he said.
The Sword had spoken. Elenath's mind reeled, trying to grasp what it had said. She went over the whole scene again, wondering if perhaps she had misheard. Her weapon had spoken her own name first, followed by ten others: each one of the teenagers who had come to Mirkwood with Pastor Mike. What did it mean? Why were these innocent young Men and Women being drawn into this? Shaking her head she stuttered, "I don't understand. Eleven people cannot bear one sword."
"Of course not," said Elrond. "You will bear Calmakil, just as I will bear my weapon, the Lady Galadriel will bear hers, and Thranduil will bear his. An honor guard made up of ten of our best warriors will attend each of us. At least, that is always the way it was in the past."
The princess shifted her weight uneasily. "What, exactly, does this honor guard do?"
"They are your protectors," replied Elrond, "and the protectors of your weapon. They ride in a circle or semi-circle around you at all times. That way if you are stricken down, one of the honor guard can pick up the weapon and continue the fight."
Her heart was filled suddenly with protectiveness. "We cannot ask such a thing of them, Grandfather. You know how dangerous this mission will be. Those who have been chosen as my 'honor guard' stand upon the very threshold of their lives. Would you take that from them? Because I cannot."
"Of course not," he said. "They will be given the option to serve or not to serve. Whichever they wish."
Thranduil was taken aback so much that he stuttered. "How can you take this seriously, Elrond? They are children! Ten children cannot guard our princess! It's ridiculous and I cannot believe you would even consider permitting it to happen."
"Indeed they are young," said Legolas to his father, "but children they most certainly are not. We would not allow a child to sit on Mirkwood's war council." He motioned toward Marcus.
"You forget, King Thranduil, that this Sword can speak only truth. We would do well to heed its advice," said Elrond.
Thranduil shook his head and slumped slightly on his throne. "I cannot believe this. Absolutely insane…."
Elenath turned to face the group who stood behind Marcus and Susan, and watched as, one-by-one, they stepped forward to pledge their service to her. "We are warriors, after all," said Susan, "Even if we do not have the support of King Thranduil or the Elves of Mirkwood. Even if we have no physical weapons. We've had the feeling for a long time that we would not sit idle during this battle and we are all ready to fight and die if necessary. After all, if God is for us, then who can be against us?"
While the Elves seemed to take this as naïve glory-seeking, Elenath practically begged the kids to reconsider. "You don't realize how dangerous this is, you guys. You could all be killed. Dragons breathe fire, and believe me, I've seen my share of burn victims and it is not a fun way to die. It is excruciatingly painful."
They deliberated among themselves about this for a long moment while the Elves argued among themselves if they could really allow their princess to be guarded by mere human beings who, to their knowledge, had never shot an arrow or held a sword.
"No." Legolas stepped forward. "No. Absolutely not. This is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. What point will there be in sending these ten into battle with my pregnant wife? All twelve will die. I will not have it. Over my dead body will these humans be her honor guard!"
"Do not be so quick to make your decision, Prince Legolas" came a booming voice from the back of the room. "For there is more at work here than can be seen even with Elvish eyes."
Everyone turned with a start toward the voice and Elenath looked toward it as well, seeing that it came from a slightly bent figure in the doorway – an old man who she regarded with curiosity. He wore flowing gray robes and a tall pointed hat. A thick, unruly white beard and bushy eyebrows obscured most of his face.
The entire gathering seemed to look back and forth between the two of them, as if he was a very important person and they were wondering if she remembered him. At first she did not, but after a moment of looking into his eyes, a smile began to tug at the corners of her mouth. How could she ever forget Gandalf and the journeys she had shared with him? It took only a few seconds for her to fly to him with open arms. "Gandalf! How did you get here? We are surrounded by orcs!"
The Wizard chuckled. "There are advantages to being a Wizard, my dear."
DISCLAIMER: The characters from Lord of the Rings and their wonderful world are borrowed from J.R.R. Tolkien. The plotline and all other characters are copyright 2002 Emily (emi_kins@yahoo.com)
43.
Raion was the first to step forward to dispute the Sword's decision. "As second in command of our armies, I must protest. There must be some mistake. The very idea is absurd. It's not only impossible, but dangerous as well."
Elenath herself was in shock at the words the Sword had spoken. Her young friends also exchanged wide-eyed glances with each other and Pastor Mike. None of them dared speak.
King Thranduil turned with disbelief to Lord Elrond who simply shrugged. "The Sword has spoken," he said.
The Sword had spoken. Elenath's mind reeled, trying to grasp what it had said. She went over the whole scene again, wondering if perhaps she had misheard. Her weapon had spoken her own name first, followed by ten others: each one of the teenagers who had come to Mirkwood with Pastor Mike. What did it mean? Why were these innocent young Men and Women being drawn into this? Shaking her head she stuttered, "I don't understand. Eleven people cannot bear one sword."
"Of course not," said Elrond. "You will bear Calmakil, just as I will bear my weapon, the Lady Galadriel will bear hers, and Thranduil will bear his. An honor guard made up of ten of our best warriors will attend each of us. At least, that is always the way it was in the past."
The princess shifted her weight uneasily. "What, exactly, does this honor guard do?"
"They are your protectors," replied Elrond, "and the protectors of your weapon. They ride in a circle or semi-circle around you at all times. That way if you are stricken down, one of the honor guard can pick up the weapon and continue the fight."
Her heart was filled suddenly with protectiveness. "We cannot ask such a thing of them, Grandfather. You know how dangerous this mission will be. Those who have been chosen as my 'honor guard' stand upon the very threshold of their lives. Would you take that from them? Because I cannot."
"Of course not," he said. "They will be given the option to serve or not to serve. Whichever they wish."
Thranduil was taken aback so much that he stuttered. "How can you take this seriously, Elrond? They are children! Ten children cannot guard our princess! It's ridiculous and I cannot believe you would even consider permitting it to happen."
"Indeed they are young," said Legolas to his father, "but children they most certainly are not. We would not allow a child to sit on Mirkwood's war council." He motioned toward Marcus.
"You forget, King Thranduil, that this Sword can speak only truth. We would do well to heed its advice," said Elrond.
Thranduil shook his head and slumped slightly on his throne. "I cannot believe this. Absolutely insane…."
Elenath turned to face the group who stood behind Marcus and Susan, and watched as, one-by-one, they stepped forward to pledge their service to her. "We are warriors, after all," said Susan, "Even if we do not have the support of King Thranduil or the Elves of Mirkwood. Even if we have no physical weapons. We've had the feeling for a long time that we would not sit idle during this battle and we are all ready to fight and die if necessary. After all, if God is for us, then who can be against us?"
While the Elves seemed to take this as naïve glory-seeking, Elenath practically begged the kids to reconsider. "You don't realize how dangerous this is, you guys. You could all be killed. Dragons breathe fire, and believe me, I've seen my share of burn victims and it is not a fun way to die. It is excruciatingly painful."
They deliberated among themselves about this for a long moment while the Elves argued among themselves if they could really allow their princess to be guarded by mere human beings who, to their knowledge, had never shot an arrow or held a sword.
"No." Legolas stepped forward. "No. Absolutely not. This is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. What point will there be in sending these ten into battle with my pregnant wife? All twelve will die. I will not have it. Over my dead body will these humans be her honor guard!"
"Do not be so quick to make your decision, Prince Legolas" came a booming voice from the back of the room. "For there is more at work here than can be seen even with Elvish eyes."
Everyone turned with a start toward the voice and Elenath looked toward it as well, seeing that it came from a slightly bent figure in the doorway – an old man who she regarded with curiosity. He wore flowing gray robes and a tall pointed hat. A thick, unruly white beard and bushy eyebrows obscured most of his face.
The entire gathering seemed to look back and forth between the two of them, as if he was a very important person and they were wondering if she remembered him. At first she did not, but after a moment of looking into his eyes, a smile began to tug at the corners of her mouth. How could she ever forget Gandalf and the journeys she had shared with him? It took only a few seconds for her to fly to him with open arms. "Gandalf! How did you get here? We are surrounded by orcs!"
The Wizard chuckled. "There are advantages to being a Wizard, my dear."