Legacy of the Ring
Echo the Nymph
Disclaimer: I don't own Tolkien's characters. This feels like a broken record.
Chapter 18
Phoenix crouched upon the branch of a tree, hidden amid the foliage. She let off a series of low whistles, prompting Searching Owl to run back to camp. The huntress stayed silent watching the group Galadriel had sent. They halted, knowing that they were being watched. Phoenix leapt down right in front of them. "Anah corta." Soon after she'd greeted them, Lord Elrond and Gandalf walked up.
"Who are you?" Haldir inquired. His gaze was quite penetrating.
"I am the High Princess Phoenix, Huntress of the Line of Fire." she replied, stepping to one side. Raptor let out a predatory screech as he dove. By perching upon her shoulder, he marked her as one he trusted. A piping call floated through the trees, then Phoenix relayed it.
Searching Owl leapt into the tree with the ease of long practice. Before he settled upon the densely foliated branch, he spoke. "I have a feeling that they need you back at camp."
Her eyes twinkled mischievously. "I hope you didn't cause any trouble!" After that jibe, they silently walked back to the campsite that had been chosen. The group of elves was led into a tent in the center of the camp. There they found the rest of the Fellowship and Winter Serenity. They stood beside a map that was representing their local. All conversation within the candlelit tent ceased.
In their studies of it, the elven warriors found a few markings they were unfamiliar with. Aragorn approached and they subconsciously made room for him When he began to speak, their attention was instantly fastened onto him. "We are planning a trap for the unit that was going to ambush us. If we pull this off right, they won't know what hit them." This caused a few murmurs among the recent arrivals. Why was it that important to take them by surprise? Only Haldir understood the importance well.
Aragorn stepped aside, letting Phoenix take over their briefing. She lightly stepped up to the map, not a sound coming from her. "We know they were planning to ambush us, for I heard them." Her statement confused a few of the younger archers; those who not yet had the ability to know a shaman by sight. "The warning came in time for us to alter our strategy. The unit of the Dark Army will come through here," she pointed to the valley, "and will be flanked by stone, shrub and trees on both sides. The boulders here," the huntress pointed to them, "are loose enough to cause a rock slide. But we must not block the path until the unit has reached midway."
Phoenix drew a steadying breath. The confidence her friends had in her was one of long experience. They knew she could do this. "Small groups of archers will be hidden among the rocks and foliage. Once the orcs have calmed down, the battle will begin. Most of the unit must be taken out from a distance! If you can, kill the elemental mage that leads them. Some will most likely try to escape into the forest, but thanks to the efforts of Meriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrine Took, the ents will be waiting for them. It is imperative that not one survives to tell Sauron."
A few of the younger archers in the group looked surprised; centaurs rarely spoke with such force, even in their Golden Wood. Gandalf knew that they awaited an explanation. "Phoenix is the daughter of Distant Storm. She inherited his true shaman abilities and if the Dark Lord find out how strong they are he'll most likely try to kill her." Three piercing whistles flowed through the air. "They have stopped for the night."
They filed out of the tent and into the deepening twilight. Two lesser dragons shot down out of the star-studded sky. Talitha chirped happily as Phoenix stroked her. "I see you have been practicing. Could you show us?" An affirmative chirp came from both as they flapped back up into the sky.
The dragons seemed to be weaving an intricate dance among the stars and clouds in the vivid colors of sunset. Each spin, weave and dive was part of a code that only their unit knew. The last light of the dying sun flashed upon an iridescent green hide and a flaming red one as they flew back to their respective huntresses.
By now each warrior knew their positions, and they gathered up their weapons. A contingent of dwarves hiked to the vine-strewn, bouldered area and hid themselves with the skill that came from being a dwarf. Mixtures of men, elves, hobbits and dwarves hid themselves amid the foliage on the hillsides. Huntresses took cover in the trees, lightly balancing upon the wide branches of ancient trees. Trees that had seen the first two Wars of the Ring. Elves also took to those trees as they would need a good vantage point for firing their arrows. Men stayed upon the ground, in the shadows of the forest's edge. Sound of the Ents preparing for the battle were in the distance as birds flew to each soldier in the unit.
These tiny birds would wake them as dawn broke the horizon so they would be prepared for their enemy. Most quietly dropped off to the chirping of crickets under the stars. The Fellowship, plus one elemental mage knew that what would happen tomorrow would influence the future of all Middle Earth. Thus, sleep would not befriend them. Instead they fell into a trance that would see them refreshed by dawn's first light.
Above, the stars twinkled, offering hope to those who had none. They shone in the darkness, and darkness would all too soon threaten their homes and lives. As long as the stars shown, as long as light was within the hearts of those in positions of power, the war would not be in vain. This was their cry; that not one of their number would turn to darkness in the third War of the Ring.
Echo the Nymph
Disclaimer: I don't own Tolkien's characters. This feels like a broken record.
Chapter 18
Phoenix crouched upon the branch of a tree, hidden amid the foliage. She let off a series of low whistles, prompting Searching Owl to run back to camp. The huntress stayed silent watching the group Galadriel had sent. They halted, knowing that they were being watched. Phoenix leapt down right in front of them. "Anah corta." Soon after she'd greeted them, Lord Elrond and Gandalf walked up.
"Who are you?" Haldir inquired. His gaze was quite penetrating.
"I am the High Princess Phoenix, Huntress of the Line of Fire." she replied, stepping to one side. Raptor let out a predatory screech as he dove. By perching upon her shoulder, he marked her as one he trusted. A piping call floated through the trees, then Phoenix relayed it.
Searching Owl leapt into the tree with the ease of long practice. Before he settled upon the densely foliated branch, he spoke. "I have a feeling that they need you back at camp."
Her eyes twinkled mischievously. "I hope you didn't cause any trouble!" After that jibe, they silently walked back to the campsite that had been chosen. The group of elves was led into a tent in the center of the camp. There they found the rest of the Fellowship and Winter Serenity. They stood beside a map that was representing their local. All conversation within the candlelit tent ceased.
In their studies of it, the elven warriors found a few markings they were unfamiliar with. Aragorn approached and they subconsciously made room for him When he began to speak, their attention was instantly fastened onto him. "We are planning a trap for the unit that was going to ambush us. If we pull this off right, they won't know what hit them." This caused a few murmurs among the recent arrivals. Why was it that important to take them by surprise? Only Haldir understood the importance well.
Aragorn stepped aside, letting Phoenix take over their briefing. She lightly stepped up to the map, not a sound coming from her. "We know they were planning to ambush us, for I heard them." Her statement confused a few of the younger archers; those who not yet had the ability to know a shaman by sight. "The warning came in time for us to alter our strategy. The unit of the Dark Army will come through here," she pointed to the valley, "and will be flanked by stone, shrub and trees on both sides. The boulders here," the huntress pointed to them, "are loose enough to cause a rock slide. But we must not block the path until the unit has reached midway."
Phoenix drew a steadying breath. The confidence her friends had in her was one of long experience. They knew she could do this. "Small groups of archers will be hidden among the rocks and foliage. Once the orcs have calmed down, the battle will begin. Most of the unit must be taken out from a distance! If you can, kill the elemental mage that leads them. Some will most likely try to escape into the forest, but thanks to the efforts of Meriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrine Took, the ents will be waiting for them. It is imperative that not one survives to tell Sauron."
A few of the younger archers in the group looked surprised; centaurs rarely spoke with such force, even in their Golden Wood. Gandalf knew that they awaited an explanation. "Phoenix is the daughter of Distant Storm. She inherited his true shaman abilities and if the Dark Lord find out how strong they are he'll most likely try to kill her." Three piercing whistles flowed through the air. "They have stopped for the night."
They filed out of the tent and into the deepening twilight. Two lesser dragons shot down out of the star-studded sky. Talitha chirped happily as Phoenix stroked her. "I see you have been practicing. Could you show us?" An affirmative chirp came from both as they flapped back up into the sky.
The dragons seemed to be weaving an intricate dance among the stars and clouds in the vivid colors of sunset. Each spin, weave and dive was part of a code that only their unit knew. The last light of the dying sun flashed upon an iridescent green hide and a flaming red one as they flew back to their respective huntresses.
By now each warrior knew their positions, and they gathered up their weapons. A contingent of dwarves hiked to the vine-strewn, bouldered area and hid themselves with the skill that came from being a dwarf. Mixtures of men, elves, hobbits and dwarves hid themselves amid the foliage on the hillsides. Huntresses took cover in the trees, lightly balancing upon the wide branches of ancient trees. Trees that had seen the first two Wars of the Ring. Elves also took to those trees as they would need a good vantage point for firing their arrows. Men stayed upon the ground, in the shadows of the forest's edge. Sound of the Ents preparing for the battle were in the distance as birds flew to each soldier in the unit.
These tiny birds would wake them as dawn broke the horizon so they would be prepared for their enemy. Most quietly dropped off to the chirping of crickets under the stars. The Fellowship, plus one elemental mage knew that what would happen tomorrow would influence the future of all Middle Earth. Thus, sleep would not befriend them. Instead they fell into a trance that would see them refreshed by dawn's first light.
Above, the stars twinkled, offering hope to those who had none. They shone in the darkness, and darkness would all too soon threaten their homes and lives. As long as the stars shown, as long as light was within the hearts of those in positions of power, the war would not be in vain. This was their cry; that not one of their number would turn to darkness in the third War of the Ring.