Legacy of the Ring
Echo the Nymph
Disclaimer: I don't own the book.
Chapter 2
Phoenix rose to her hooves after a few minutes, glaring in the direction the members of her tribe had taken. The very trees seemed to tremble under her gaze. She was very angry, at what they hadn't a clue. They had felt the rejection of other peoples before, so what was this all about? "Phoenix, why was your grandfather so angry?" Frodo inquired, getting over his scare at last.
Her glare faded away and was replaced by a distant, sad expressoin. "Thunderbird puts all outsiders in the same catagory." A mournful sigh came from her before she continued. "He feels that all are ruthless barbarians, cold-blooded murderers that would turn on a cenatur at a moment's notice." Tears began flowing down her face, startling them. Sam gently placed his hand upon her golden foreleg in an attempt to calm her. Once her emotions were under her control, she continued. "All trust for the others that could have been in his being was shattered fourteen years ago, when orcs killed my parents. Grandpa chose," she spat, "to forget that I was with them. The orcs tried to kill me, but one of the Dunedain saved my life." A shudder ran through her, causing dust and dirt to fall from her coat.
They looked at eachother, startled. Phoenix had a difficult childhood from that moment on, but remembered the mercy showed to her and bestowed it upon others. Truly, she was a remarkable filly. Gandalf placed his hand upon her arm, further calming her. She wiped the tears from her face and composed herself. Finally, he spoke. "Phoenix, there is little you can do here. Long has the outside world forgotten about centaurs. Now your adventure begins." She met his gaze without fear.
Why would a huntress have need to fear a wizard? Phoenix followed them as they forded the river once more. Talitha flew next to her bound huntress, chirping softtly. "What are your people like?" Legolas inquired. He couldn't resist the urge to inquire that of her anymore.
A laugh came from her, a happy one. "Well, Sir Elf,"
"Call me Legolas." he declared.
"Legolas, my tribe is called Colora Riviera. Many believe the outward markings upon our coats is a manifestation of the spirt. We live in rhythm with nature and her seasons, respecting all life. Mostly, we avoid the other tribes because my grandfather feels that they would dilute our brilliant color." She shrugged. "I have yet to see that happen, even with those who associate with them. Great feasts are held at the beginning of each season to celebrate new life. Each season, we feel, is a new creation. Our stories of creation are in a ballad form, and are sung at the ceremonies and celebrations. Ballads are also the way our history is preserved for others." A cloud seemed to cross her face as they continued into the evening hours. "There is something you must know. When one who was part of my tribe, or a friend to one passes on, a single lock of tail hair is braided. This is done to let the spirit know that they are not forgotten, and are missed."
They stopped to make camp. Sam set down his packs with the rest of them as Phoenix started a fire. She carefully arranged the tinder in the center of a bare ring before striking her iron pyrite against a thick slab of flint. Once she blew the flame into life, the larger dead fall was added to keep it going. He shook his head in wonder.
A loud metallic sound made her spin in fright. Her tension melted away when she realized that Gimli had set down what he had been holding. She brushed the dirt from herself, casting her blue gaze about the camp. Legolas grew tense. "I feel eyes watching us." He placed his hand upon his bow, looking about to find the spy. Danger wasn't imminent, but in his travels he had learned to be careful. Phoenix looked over then approached him. Her hand was light on his shoulder, pausing his action.
She gazed forcefully out into the darkness. "Screech Owl, stop it!" Her voice bore the authority of her rank, and the force of her power. Apologetically, Phoenix turned to them. "He's a Watcher. I guess some of my people were more worried about me than my grandfather was."
Screech Owl appeared out of nowhere, startling the Fellowship. "Caladra Phoenix, sonya ria ne gorota viagora. Risha clela va sho rina." He sounded like a subordinate trying to persuade the commander to do something.
Phoenix's gaze grew hard. "Lu sho Veroandas ki'la remar coroco ali niya kindari, E kia." She cut him off with a single gesture. Her very bearing was angry, and he knew he was treading on thin ice. "E losha loatta sonya'ri debin varas loatta E ora sho inharia ali ah tilo shithra's auras. Shithra de verah thea ria dinare. Amakaiya amarheas sin las bi zerare fera periabin deya amadira. Screech Owl, di'la d'hera mey ahn artebin auia adventerosa. Lisha siy sho mela vazera navabin niyarisas."
A troubled expression came to his face, but he left. None of them saw the evil grin that spread its way over his face as he vanished into the darkness. Outside the fire's light, the long grasses of the plaines reflected cold moonlight.
"Phoenix," Gimli began, "what is a Watcher"
The huntress smiled and lay down near the fire. All awaited her explaination. "Veroandas, we call them. They are an ancient fellowship, Gimli. Their motions are as silent as the breeze and they easily avoid being seen. Most of them are elemental mages, like Screech Owl, son of Wise Owl. Some are huntresses who wished to see the outside world, and others, like my father, Distant Storm, were shaman. The fellowship keeps an eye on the outside world to protect all centaurs."
"What are the abilities of huntresses?" Frodo sounded very curious, as he had never heard of them before.
"All huntresses have certain abilities. During the light of day, we see as eagles do. Under the light of the moon, we see as owls do. Our hearing is very acute, we could hear the tiniest sneeze even if the person were ten miles away from our location. As you've seen, we leave no trace of our presence visible to eyes. Only rarely would one be found. We pick upon scents easily. I'd better warn you; the aim of a huntress is lethal. We rarely miss our target." She wasn't very uneasy about telling them this, as the hobbits had a very friendly feel about them. As a matter of fact, all of them felt like they were her friends. And all of this after only one afternoon of travel. "Oh, I almost forgot. Huntresses have a bit of a sixth sense about danger. We can feel it coming from a long way off."
"Not much could take you by surprise then. What a useful ability." Gimli declared.
"Only those who mean to harm, Gimli. If they mean no harm to anyone, the huntress won't percieve them as dangerous." Her clarification surprised them. "What? I don't want anyone to expect what I cannot do."
She settled down near the fire with the rest of them after they had finished their dinner. A large blanket was drapped over her and she voiced her gratitude. I so want to stay with them. They feel more like my family than my family does. Not even my brother treated me with such love and respect. Could this just be how they feel about a new person with them, or is it true friendship? Her eyes slid shut as sleep came over her. Her breathing steadied into a sleeping rhythm.
Sam turned to Gandalf. "I feel like I've known Phoenix for my entire life. How could that be?"
"She is a Huntress of the line of Fire. The fire of life knows its own; which is why you feel like you've known her for so long. As a matter of fact, I think we all feel that way." His reply made them think. It was true, when they had seen her, they had felt like a long-lost friend or even sister had been found. The Princess struck them as an elven spirit would, with a light that was unparalelled by any other living being in the world.
Frodo sighed. I know she has something to offer us. Phoenix was meant to come with us. Could this be what the spirit called Firestorm meant? He said that a daughter of fire would become one with the Fellowship of the Ring. Is she the one he meant? The hobbit didn't even realize that he was dozing off. The day had been hard on him as well. That, and the returning darkness was trying to get to him once more. The only way he could keep resisting was if he rested when he needed to. Sleepily, he reached for his blanket and wrapped it about himself. Within minutes he followed Phoenix into dreamland, a place where they were out of evil's reach.
Echo the Nymph
Disclaimer: I don't own the book.
Chapter 2
Phoenix rose to her hooves after a few minutes, glaring in the direction the members of her tribe had taken. The very trees seemed to tremble under her gaze. She was very angry, at what they hadn't a clue. They had felt the rejection of other peoples before, so what was this all about? "Phoenix, why was your grandfather so angry?" Frodo inquired, getting over his scare at last.
Her glare faded away and was replaced by a distant, sad expressoin. "Thunderbird puts all outsiders in the same catagory." A mournful sigh came from her before she continued. "He feels that all are ruthless barbarians, cold-blooded murderers that would turn on a cenatur at a moment's notice." Tears began flowing down her face, startling them. Sam gently placed his hand upon her golden foreleg in an attempt to calm her. Once her emotions were under her control, she continued. "All trust for the others that could have been in his being was shattered fourteen years ago, when orcs killed my parents. Grandpa chose," she spat, "to forget that I was with them. The orcs tried to kill me, but one of the Dunedain saved my life." A shudder ran through her, causing dust and dirt to fall from her coat.
They looked at eachother, startled. Phoenix had a difficult childhood from that moment on, but remembered the mercy showed to her and bestowed it upon others. Truly, she was a remarkable filly. Gandalf placed his hand upon her arm, further calming her. She wiped the tears from her face and composed herself. Finally, he spoke. "Phoenix, there is little you can do here. Long has the outside world forgotten about centaurs. Now your adventure begins." She met his gaze without fear.
Why would a huntress have need to fear a wizard? Phoenix followed them as they forded the river once more. Talitha flew next to her bound huntress, chirping softtly. "What are your people like?" Legolas inquired. He couldn't resist the urge to inquire that of her anymore.
A laugh came from her, a happy one. "Well, Sir Elf,"
"Call me Legolas." he declared.
"Legolas, my tribe is called Colora Riviera. Many believe the outward markings upon our coats is a manifestation of the spirt. We live in rhythm with nature and her seasons, respecting all life. Mostly, we avoid the other tribes because my grandfather feels that they would dilute our brilliant color." She shrugged. "I have yet to see that happen, even with those who associate with them. Great feasts are held at the beginning of each season to celebrate new life. Each season, we feel, is a new creation. Our stories of creation are in a ballad form, and are sung at the ceremonies and celebrations. Ballads are also the way our history is preserved for others." A cloud seemed to cross her face as they continued into the evening hours. "There is something you must know. When one who was part of my tribe, or a friend to one passes on, a single lock of tail hair is braided. This is done to let the spirit know that they are not forgotten, and are missed."
They stopped to make camp. Sam set down his packs with the rest of them as Phoenix started a fire. She carefully arranged the tinder in the center of a bare ring before striking her iron pyrite against a thick slab of flint. Once she blew the flame into life, the larger dead fall was added to keep it going. He shook his head in wonder.
A loud metallic sound made her spin in fright. Her tension melted away when she realized that Gimli had set down what he had been holding. She brushed the dirt from herself, casting her blue gaze about the camp. Legolas grew tense. "I feel eyes watching us." He placed his hand upon his bow, looking about to find the spy. Danger wasn't imminent, but in his travels he had learned to be careful. Phoenix looked over then approached him. Her hand was light on his shoulder, pausing his action.
She gazed forcefully out into the darkness. "Screech Owl, stop it!" Her voice bore the authority of her rank, and the force of her power. Apologetically, Phoenix turned to them. "He's a Watcher. I guess some of my people were more worried about me than my grandfather was."
Screech Owl appeared out of nowhere, startling the Fellowship. "Caladra Phoenix, sonya ria ne gorota viagora. Risha clela va sho rina." He sounded like a subordinate trying to persuade the commander to do something.
Phoenix's gaze grew hard. "Lu sho Veroandas ki'la remar coroco ali niya kindari, E kia." She cut him off with a single gesture. Her very bearing was angry, and he knew he was treading on thin ice. "E losha loatta sonya'ri debin varas loatta E ora sho inharia ali ah tilo shithra's auras. Shithra de verah thea ria dinare. Amakaiya amarheas sin las bi zerare fera periabin deya amadira. Screech Owl, di'la d'hera mey ahn artebin auia adventerosa. Lisha siy sho mela vazera navabin niyarisas."
A troubled expression came to his face, but he left. None of them saw the evil grin that spread its way over his face as he vanished into the darkness. Outside the fire's light, the long grasses of the plaines reflected cold moonlight.
"Phoenix," Gimli began, "what is a Watcher"
The huntress smiled and lay down near the fire. All awaited her explaination. "Veroandas, we call them. They are an ancient fellowship, Gimli. Their motions are as silent as the breeze and they easily avoid being seen. Most of them are elemental mages, like Screech Owl, son of Wise Owl. Some are huntresses who wished to see the outside world, and others, like my father, Distant Storm, were shaman. The fellowship keeps an eye on the outside world to protect all centaurs."
"What are the abilities of huntresses?" Frodo sounded very curious, as he had never heard of them before.
"All huntresses have certain abilities. During the light of day, we see as eagles do. Under the light of the moon, we see as owls do. Our hearing is very acute, we could hear the tiniest sneeze even if the person were ten miles away from our location. As you've seen, we leave no trace of our presence visible to eyes. Only rarely would one be found. We pick upon scents easily. I'd better warn you; the aim of a huntress is lethal. We rarely miss our target." She wasn't very uneasy about telling them this, as the hobbits had a very friendly feel about them. As a matter of fact, all of them felt like they were her friends. And all of this after only one afternoon of travel. "Oh, I almost forgot. Huntresses have a bit of a sixth sense about danger. We can feel it coming from a long way off."
"Not much could take you by surprise then. What a useful ability." Gimli declared.
"Only those who mean to harm, Gimli. If they mean no harm to anyone, the huntress won't percieve them as dangerous." Her clarification surprised them. "What? I don't want anyone to expect what I cannot do."
She settled down near the fire with the rest of them after they had finished their dinner. A large blanket was drapped over her and she voiced her gratitude. I so want to stay with them. They feel more like my family than my family does. Not even my brother treated me with such love and respect. Could this just be how they feel about a new person with them, or is it true friendship? Her eyes slid shut as sleep came over her. Her breathing steadied into a sleeping rhythm.
Sam turned to Gandalf. "I feel like I've known Phoenix for my entire life. How could that be?"
"She is a Huntress of the line of Fire. The fire of life knows its own; which is why you feel like you've known her for so long. As a matter of fact, I think we all feel that way." His reply made them think. It was true, when they had seen her, they had felt like a long-lost friend or even sister had been found. The Princess struck them as an elven spirit would, with a light that was unparalelled by any other living being in the world.
Frodo sighed. I know she has something to offer us. Phoenix was meant to come with us. Could this be what the spirit called Firestorm meant? He said that a daughter of fire would become one with the Fellowship of the Ring. Is she the one he meant? The hobbit didn't even realize that he was dozing off. The day had been hard on him as well. That, and the returning darkness was trying to get to him once more. The only way he could keep resisting was if he rested when he needed to. Sleepily, he reached for his blanket and wrapped it about himself. Within minutes he followed Phoenix into dreamland, a place where they were out of evil's reach.