Legacy of the Ring
Echo the Nymph
Disclaimer: Why would I take credit for Tolkien's work? That's absurd! He is the Professor of professors! I am only a student.
Chapter 16
They gathered around the map Winter Serenity had set up. "The Dark Lord has his armies spread far. Each unit is at the most one-hundred-thousand strong. Elemental mages he cohered from the light command each unit." She gestured to a certain area on the map. "The Shire is still is surrounded, yet defended by huntresses." Her pointing finger traveled to a country near Gondor. "Rohan's capital city has fallen and their horses were stolen. The encampment nearest to this unit is here." Winter Serenity pointed to the edge of the great forest.
Phoenix gazed at the map, understanding the concept. Dark voiced reached her ears and she suppressed a shudder. "I heard them." She touched the marking representing a different enemy camp. Her declaration silenced them by pure shock. "This unit plans to intercept us here." Her finger traced a route to the point where the Riders of Rohan had intercepted the orcs and saved two hobbits. Gollum cocked his head to one side; she was so much like a friend he'd had before... If he could only remember who.
"That could destroy this unit!" Pippin yelped, his hand going, by reflex, to his sword.
The huntress gazed at her friend. Even in the flickering light of the candles, her gaze was soothing. "Relax, Pippin. If we go this way," she traced a very different route, "and capture the high ground behind them they won't know where we are. A trap could then be set." It was then that the startled expressions of her friends made their way into her consciousness. "Nanar? Huntresses don't go into battle blindfolded. We may use our unpredictability to our advantage, but we also make use of strategy."
Lord Elrond spoke up, partially to break the silence. "A very good suggestion, Phoenix. Perhaps if we could scout the area before hand, we can see how feasible it may be."
Talitha stood up on her hind legs and chirped. Phoenix laughed. "There's one volunteer." The dragoness fluttered over to the spirit sitting within the shadows before chirping.
~You says what?~ Talitha chirped again. ~Yess, I goeses with you.~ The duo vanished before anyone could stop them.
"That settled the scouting issue. Did they say when they would be moving?" Aragorn inquired, turning to Phoenix.
"A couple of weeks from now. With the speed Talitha and Gollum can sustain, we should know by later this afternoon if we will be able to do this."
Winter Serenity took over. "The Lonely Mountain is under siege and Dain, King Under the Mountain, is ill from an infected battle wound." Gimli drew in a sharp gasp. He'd known Dain for a good while, and they were on friendly terms. Unfazed, the mare continued with her briefing. "The Dale has been captured, yet the heirs escaped by the help of their lord. Lands south of Gondor are occupied. Many of the soldiers from the battle of Helm's Deep make their stand there once again. Sauron's dark generals ride ethereal dragon-like creatures."
Gimli continued to look troubled. "If Talitha hadn't left..." he broke off as Phoenix drew in a breath.
"Gimli, Talitha is only three years old. She can't bring more than two living beings between right now." The huntress looked up from the map. "To help the King Under the Mountain, one with healing hands is needed. The only lesser dragon that has been there and can take more than two between is Ember. Perhaps some of them will recognize Vixen."
It was quickly decided that Phoenix would go with Gimli and Vixen to the Lonely Mountain. The huntress quickly gathered up her herbs, placing them in a bag. Vixen stood ready with Ember and Gimli as Aragorn came up to Phoenix. He handed a bag of athelas to the filly. "Trust your instincts, little Tinuviel."
She nodded, too overcome with emotion to say anything. The cold, empty blackness of between composed her. Startled dwarfs cried out. Who would be coming by way of dragon at this time? Phoenix looked about the large room. Tapestries lined the walls, with intricately woven scenes from many a battle in the past. Even the Battle of the Five Armies was featured, right down to Thorin, King Under the Mountain's last meeting with Bilbo Baggins.
Gimli stepped forward, startling his father. "We heard, from Winter Serenity, that Dain, King Under the Mountain was ill." Phoenix lightly placed her hand on his shoulder, as much to comfort herself as to remind him of her presence. "This is the High Princess Phoenix, Huntress of the line of Fire. She has healing knowledge."
A very angry and battle weary dwarf cried out. "So you say! Since when would a huntress know anything about the arts of peace?!"
Phoenix glared at the speaker. "You know not of what you speak. Huntresses have other gifts than the abilities of their ancestress. I have the Gift of Healing; as my mother did before me. Look at Ember. He can smell illness as easily as any huntress could. We could very well force our way through, but we'd rather be sensible."
Gloin had enough of the attitude of the soldiers. "That's enough!" They silenced at his thunderous bellow. "My son would not bring someone here if they were not truly willing to help." He turned to them. "Please come with me." They followed him to Dain's chambers. "My King, someone came here to help you."
Echo the Nymph
Disclaimer: Why would I take credit for Tolkien's work? That's absurd! He is the Professor of professors! I am only a student.
Chapter 16
They gathered around the map Winter Serenity had set up. "The Dark Lord has his armies spread far. Each unit is at the most one-hundred-thousand strong. Elemental mages he cohered from the light command each unit." She gestured to a certain area on the map. "The Shire is still is surrounded, yet defended by huntresses." Her pointing finger traveled to a country near Gondor. "Rohan's capital city has fallen and their horses were stolen. The encampment nearest to this unit is here." Winter Serenity pointed to the edge of the great forest.
Phoenix gazed at the map, understanding the concept. Dark voiced reached her ears and she suppressed a shudder. "I heard them." She touched the marking representing a different enemy camp. Her declaration silenced them by pure shock. "This unit plans to intercept us here." Her finger traced a route to the point where the Riders of Rohan had intercepted the orcs and saved two hobbits. Gollum cocked his head to one side; she was so much like a friend he'd had before... If he could only remember who.
"That could destroy this unit!" Pippin yelped, his hand going, by reflex, to his sword.
The huntress gazed at her friend. Even in the flickering light of the candles, her gaze was soothing. "Relax, Pippin. If we go this way," she traced a very different route, "and capture the high ground behind them they won't know where we are. A trap could then be set." It was then that the startled expressions of her friends made their way into her consciousness. "Nanar? Huntresses don't go into battle blindfolded. We may use our unpredictability to our advantage, but we also make use of strategy."
Lord Elrond spoke up, partially to break the silence. "A very good suggestion, Phoenix. Perhaps if we could scout the area before hand, we can see how feasible it may be."
Talitha stood up on her hind legs and chirped. Phoenix laughed. "There's one volunteer." The dragoness fluttered over to the spirit sitting within the shadows before chirping.
~You says what?~ Talitha chirped again. ~Yess, I goeses with you.~ The duo vanished before anyone could stop them.
"That settled the scouting issue. Did they say when they would be moving?" Aragorn inquired, turning to Phoenix.
"A couple of weeks from now. With the speed Talitha and Gollum can sustain, we should know by later this afternoon if we will be able to do this."
Winter Serenity took over. "The Lonely Mountain is under siege and Dain, King Under the Mountain, is ill from an infected battle wound." Gimli drew in a sharp gasp. He'd known Dain for a good while, and they were on friendly terms. Unfazed, the mare continued with her briefing. "The Dale has been captured, yet the heirs escaped by the help of their lord. Lands south of Gondor are occupied. Many of the soldiers from the battle of Helm's Deep make their stand there once again. Sauron's dark generals ride ethereal dragon-like creatures."
Gimli continued to look troubled. "If Talitha hadn't left..." he broke off as Phoenix drew in a breath.
"Gimli, Talitha is only three years old. She can't bring more than two living beings between right now." The huntress looked up from the map. "To help the King Under the Mountain, one with healing hands is needed. The only lesser dragon that has been there and can take more than two between is Ember. Perhaps some of them will recognize Vixen."
It was quickly decided that Phoenix would go with Gimli and Vixen to the Lonely Mountain. The huntress quickly gathered up her herbs, placing them in a bag. Vixen stood ready with Ember and Gimli as Aragorn came up to Phoenix. He handed a bag of athelas to the filly. "Trust your instincts, little Tinuviel."
She nodded, too overcome with emotion to say anything. The cold, empty blackness of between composed her. Startled dwarfs cried out. Who would be coming by way of dragon at this time? Phoenix looked about the large room. Tapestries lined the walls, with intricately woven scenes from many a battle in the past. Even the Battle of the Five Armies was featured, right down to Thorin, King Under the Mountain's last meeting with Bilbo Baggins.
Gimli stepped forward, startling his father. "We heard, from Winter Serenity, that Dain, King Under the Mountain was ill." Phoenix lightly placed her hand on his shoulder, as much to comfort herself as to remind him of her presence. "This is the High Princess Phoenix, Huntress of the line of Fire. She has healing knowledge."
A very angry and battle weary dwarf cried out. "So you say! Since when would a huntress know anything about the arts of peace?!"
Phoenix glared at the speaker. "You know not of what you speak. Huntresses have other gifts than the abilities of their ancestress. I have the Gift of Healing; as my mother did before me. Look at Ember. He can smell illness as easily as any huntress could. We could very well force our way through, but we'd rather be sensible."
Gloin had enough of the attitude of the soldiers. "That's enough!" They silenced at his thunderous bellow. "My son would not bring someone here if they were not truly willing to help." He turned to them. "Please come with me." They followed him to Dain's chambers. "My King, someone came here to help you."