Legacy of the Ring
Echo the Nymph
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Chapter 14
Phoenix placed a jar of water next to the fire so it would heat. Talitha vanished and returned with a leather pouch. While they were waiting, Aragorn began his explanation. "The Wraiths were once men. Great kings of men. Each received a Ring of Power from Sauron the Deceiver. At first, each man used his ring for good, then the power of the Master Ring asserted itself. They fell under its power and now are neither living nor dead, and serve the will of the Lord of the Rings."
"Nine for mortal men doomed to die." Phoenix quoted in a whisper. Her eyes were strangely unfocused as she stared into the light of the fire. The leaping flames only accented what seemed to be a situation that they wanted to get her out of. "My parents ran into them when the sought the ring during the time Bilbo held it. If Raptor hadn't shown up, they could've been killed." Steam billowed from the water jar. She added the herbs Talitha had brought and set it aside to steep. The farseeing look was still in her eyes. Something had to be wrong, but what?
The dragoness chirped, letting them know the tea was done. Each person poured themselves a cup, yet the huntress stared at the reddish-amber liquid she held in her cup. No movement came from her as the rest of the Fellowship met by the fireside. "Phoenix, what's wrong?" Gandalf inquired. She met his gaze, a troubled look in her sapphire blue eyes.
The sun finished rising over the horizon, bathing the land in its golden glow. This glow seemed to free her ability to speak. "Another vision came to me last night. From 'where the shadows lie'. Screech Owl has lost his color, as the punishment for betrayal dictates. Yet, He Who's Name Should Not be Said will be using him and other elemental mages in his armies." Her expression became more troubled. "He has a centaur daughter. The Dark Huntress is known as Dark Star. She will try to turn our peoples against us, and keep them from fighting." Phoenix took in a deep breath.
The filly gracefully rose to her hooves and silently walked into the forest. Aragorn nearly let out a startled cry. That faint scar along her leg... Is she little Tinuviel? Fourteen years ago, her mother told me to save her, saying that she'd 'rise from the ashes of this tragedy'. He got to his feet as well, then fell when Merry and Pippin tackled him. They would not let him leave without breakfast. Hobbits.
Phoenix plunged through the forest silently, her galloping strides taking her away from camp. The rough-barked trees were not worth paying attention to unless they were directly in her path. The crystalline tinkling of a stream brought her out of the grip of bolting. She curled up her golden legs and lay on the bank. Why did the vision disturb me so much and why did Aragorn's description of the Wraith's past frighten me? She pushed back a stray lock of her raven black hair and lifted some water in her cupped hands. After splashing it on her face, she felt an immense peace come over her. I am not as they were. A centaur never possessed a ring of power. We were never Sauron's targets for control. Phoenix noticed how tangled her hair and tail were. With a grimace, she unbraided her hair, combed then rebraided it. Her tail, she also combed to release the snarls.
Pungent forest scents flooded her senses. The rich smell of moist earth was most prevalent. Soft sounds of the wind blowing through the trees made gentle sounds as the green leaves rustled over head. Green moss was underneath her, a little slippery in texture. Dappled sunlight came through the canopy, giving the scene a peaceful, sleepy feeling. Finally, she rose to her hooves. A steady cantering stride brought her back to the camp she had so recently fled from. She was much more composed than she had been. "Sorry about that. I usually don't get so emotional over visions." And other information.
The huntress settled down next to the fire again, accepting the breakfast Sam offered her. Pippin slyly reached over and snatched something from Merry's plate. The fork slapped his hand before he could pull it back. Those around the fire laughed when Pippin cried out in protest. When Phoenix finally got herself under control, she spoke. "Pippin, as my father said: 'If you step on a viper, you're going to get bitten.' Don't steal food from others. You'd only be inviting trouble."
Phoenix rose to her hooves after a while and went to join the huntresses. They knew she spoke true, so no questions were asked about her little episode. Huntresses split off into groups of two and three, away from the encampment as well as away from the paths units took to their battles. With them having such powerful blows, this was their precaution against hurting any of their allies.
Phoenix sank into an instinctive guard as she watched Vixen. The raven black filly sank into hers, one of her white forelegs extended slightly. It became a contest of patience between them. Finally, Vixen could stand it no longer and lunged. Her blow was skillfully blocked, then Phoenix used the force of it against Vixen.
The huntress blinked, surprised to find herself on the ground. She shot back to her hooves, unconsciously leaving an opening in her guard. Phoenix thread a punch through, causing her opponent to stumble back. Vixen lashed out with a kick that was blocked, yet her other foreleg came up and scored a blow.
The Princess leapt away, slipping into a guard yet again. The flurry of punches and kicks that followed were powerful. When they stopped a good three hours later, neither of them bore so much as a scratch.
Phoenix and Vixen burst out laughing, as though someone had told them a joke. Two flashes of color, one green, the other red, flew over to them. Talitha settled upon her huntress's back. The red glowered at her before landing on Vixen. Greeting chirps punctuated their laughter as it died away. Phoenix walked back over to her comrades, her eyes sparkling happily. It was a relief to see that she was herself again. They hoped that she would never act as she had this morning again.
Echo the Nymph
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Chapter 14
Phoenix placed a jar of water next to the fire so it would heat. Talitha vanished and returned with a leather pouch. While they were waiting, Aragorn began his explanation. "The Wraiths were once men. Great kings of men. Each received a Ring of Power from Sauron the Deceiver. At first, each man used his ring for good, then the power of the Master Ring asserted itself. They fell under its power and now are neither living nor dead, and serve the will of the Lord of the Rings."
"Nine for mortal men doomed to die." Phoenix quoted in a whisper. Her eyes were strangely unfocused as she stared into the light of the fire. The leaping flames only accented what seemed to be a situation that they wanted to get her out of. "My parents ran into them when the sought the ring during the time Bilbo held it. If Raptor hadn't shown up, they could've been killed." Steam billowed from the water jar. She added the herbs Talitha had brought and set it aside to steep. The farseeing look was still in her eyes. Something had to be wrong, but what?
The dragoness chirped, letting them know the tea was done. Each person poured themselves a cup, yet the huntress stared at the reddish-amber liquid she held in her cup. No movement came from her as the rest of the Fellowship met by the fireside. "Phoenix, what's wrong?" Gandalf inquired. She met his gaze, a troubled look in her sapphire blue eyes.
The sun finished rising over the horizon, bathing the land in its golden glow. This glow seemed to free her ability to speak. "Another vision came to me last night. From 'where the shadows lie'. Screech Owl has lost his color, as the punishment for betrayal dictates. Yet, He Who's Name Should Not be Said will be using him and other elemental mages in his armies." Her expression became more troubled. "He has a centaur daughter. The Dark Huntress is known as Dark Star. She will try to turn our peoples against us, and keep them from fighting." Phoenix took in a deep breath.
The filly gracefully rose to her hooves and silently walked into the forest. Aragorn nearly let out a startled cry. That faint scar along her leg... Is she little Tinuviel? Fourteen years ago, her mother told me to save her, saying that she'd 'rise from the ashes of this tragedy'. He got to his feet as well, then fell when Merry and Pippin tackled him. They would not let him leave without breakfast. Hobbits.
Phoenix plunged through the forest silently, her galloping strides taking her away from camp. The rough-barked trees were not worth paying attention to unless they were directly in her path. The crystalline tinkling of a stream brought her out of the grip of bolting. She curled up her golden legs and lay on the bank. Why did the vision disturb me so much and why did Aragorn's description of the Wraith's past frighten me? She pushed back a stray lock of her raven black hair and lifted some water in her cupped hands. After splashing it on her face, she felt an immense peace come over her. I am not as they were. A centaur never possessed a ring of power. We were never Sauron's targets for control. Phoenix noticed how tangled her hair and tail were. With a grimace, she unbraided her hair, combed then rebraided it. Her tail, she also combed to release the snarls.
Pungent forest scents flooded her senses. The rich smell of moist earth was most prevalent. Soft sounds of the wind blowing through the trees made gentle sounds as the green leaves rustled over head. Green moss was underneath her, a little slippery in texture. Dappled sunlight came through the canopy, giving the scene a peaceful, sleepy feeling. Finally, she rose to her hooves. A steady cantering stride brought her back to the camp she had so recently fled from. She was much more composed than she had been. "Sorry about that. I usually don't get so emotional over visions." And other information.
The huntress settled down next to the fire again, accepting the breakfast Sam offered her. Pippin slyly reached over and snatched something from Merry's plate. The fork slapped his hand before he could pull it back. Those around the fire laughed when Pippin cried out in protest. When Phoenix finally got herself under control, she spoke. "Pippin, as my father said: 'If you step on a viper, you're going to get bitten.' Don't steal food from others. You'd only be inviting trouble."
Phoenix rose to her hooves after a while and went to join the huntresses. They knew she spoke true, so no questions were asked about her little episode. Huntresses split off into groups of two and three, away from the encampment as well as away from the paths units took to their battles. With them having such powerful blows, this was their precaution against hurting any of their allies.
Phoenix sank into an instinctive guard as she watched Vixen. The raven black filly sank into hers, one of her white forelegs extended slightly. It became a contest of patience between them. Finally, Vixen could stand it no longer and lunged. Her blow was skillfully blocked, then Phoenix used the force of it against Vixen.
The huntress blinked, surprised to find herself on the ground. She shot back to her hooves, unconsciously leaving an opening in her guard. Phoenix thread a punch through, causing her opponent to stumble back. Vixen lashed out with a kick that was blocked, yet her other foreleg came up and scored a blow.
The Princess leapt away, slipping into a guard yet again. The flurry of punches and kicks that followed were powerful. When they stopped a good three hours later, neither of them bore so much as a scratch.
Phoenix and Vixen burst out laughing, as though someone had told them a joke. Two flashes of color, one green, the other red, flew over to them. Talitha settled upon her huntress's back. The red glowered at her before landing on Vixen. Greeting chirps punctuated their laughter as it died away. Phoenix walked back over to her comrades, her eyes sparkling happily. It was a relief to see that she was herself again. They hoped that she would never act as she had this morning again.