**To all those who reviewed: thanks!!! You guys don't know how much
happiness you brought into my life. I'm trying to update as soon as
possible.
*** To la reine lauren...gimme five! Fifteen's the best age to be!!! grin
Whoa, that's a HUGE compliment, and I mean HUGE. I never did any of this
stuff before. Just got inspired by the movie and the books, I guess. :)
Checked out your story....Veeeeeeewy NICEEEE! :) I got classmates in the
band and they play the violin...oops, getting out of topic. Thanks again!
***All suggestions, corrections and comments welcome. Tell me what you
think. Story line suggstions welcome as well! :)
Chapter Four
Safe in the privacy of their private chambers, the tale poured out of Mikhaella. Arwen listened in silence, eyes widening only upon the utterance of the word Nazgul. When the princess of Imladriel was done, Arwen stood and went to her closet. Mikhaella looked on in astonishment as Arwen brought out her weapons of choice---two sharp knives---and wrapped them securely in cloth. Bringing out several blankets and two cloaks, Arwen then proceeded to pack them compactly inside a small sack, her movements swift and efficient, using economy of space.
Waiting for an explanation that she realized would not be volunteered, Mikhaella asked, "What do you think you're doing?"
"What does it look like I'm doing?" Arwen finished packing, throwing her dark-green cloak around her shoulders,"I'm going after them."
"Are you mad?" Mikhaella exclaimed in astonishment, "By yourself? Arwen, listen to me....the Black Riders are out there... near Rivendell! It's not safe to venture outside the elfhome! Elrond would never permit---"
"My father is now holding council, you say. I know what he plans to do. He's sending all the warriors that can be spared into the hunt for the one who the Black Riders are seeking," Arwen interrupted her, leaving their quarters. Mikhaella made an impatient noise and followed her outside. The two strode quickly down the hallway. "He'll send them to comb through the perimeter near where they were originally sighted...to the north, south, east and west of the Bruinen territory. But there are few who would dare ride out against the Nine, and it would cost us time...time that we do not have. I shall be assisting him, Mikhaella."
"What is the rush? As long as they don't breach the elfhome's defenses, we don't have anything to worry about. I know their presence is threatening, but really---what have we to fear? They would not dare try to invade our home---"
"It's not just that," Arwen said quietly. They'd reached the courtyard. "There is something far more important at stake."
"Important enough for you to risk your life? Arwen, you needn't do this." Mikhaella touched Arwen's arm and made her pause. Her worry for her friend was evident in her emerald eyes. But Arwen's gray ones were calm and firm,"I must, Mikhaella. You see, my beloved is out there too."
For a moment Mikhaella was speechless. Then she whispered, "Aragorn? How?"
"You were told the Black Riders were hunting for someone. Aragorn is with him, doing his best to ensure his survival and that he reaches Rivendell. Once he reaches us he is safe from the clutches of Sauron." At the mention of the dark lord's name Mikhaella shuddered and involuntarily murmured a counter-curse. She turned to Arwen,"Sauron? The Dark Lord himself is involved in this? Why?"
"I cannot tell you now," Arwen looked up at the darkening sky, "We have not the time." Her steps took her in the direction of the trees where the horses of the Elven nobility were tied.
Mikhaella nodded. "Alright." She strode forward, grabbed the reins of her horse, Telumendil, and brought the mare forward. "You can tell me on the way."
"What do you think you are doing?" Arwen demanded in a parody of what Mikhaella had asked her just a short while ago.
"I'm going with you." Mikhaella stated simply. "Do you think I would face the Lord Elrond alone and tell him that I let his daughter run off into this mad quest all by herself? No, I would not!" She finished readying her horse and with one agile movement swung herself onto its back. She looked down at Arwen, her brow raised and her expression expectant, "Well?"
Arwen held her hand and squeezed it. "Thank you."
Mikhaella smiled. "Come. We must hurry, you said."
The two rode out of the gates and into the valley, then eventually they rode out of Rivendell. The guards made no move to stop them since they rode almost everyday, and so they thought naught of it. It was almost sunset when the presences of the princesses were missed, and their absence discovered. But by then it was too late. The elves were just ready to mobilize their scouts. There was nothing for the Lord Elrond to do but to send a prayer to the heavens that the Valar would keep them safe.
****
The two who had set out crossed the gates, then the bridge, and then out of the valley of Rivendell. The sky had darkened considerably since that morning, but there was still sufficient light to highlight the lush green landscape that lay before them. The mountain peaks of the Misty Mountains loomed over the valley of Rivendell like sentinels. The elvenhome itself seemed to glow and sparkle with amber and golden hues, sheltered in the emerald arms of the valley. Suddenly this pure dwelling-place seemed to Mikhaella all the more precious as she turned around once to gaze upon it. It was hard to imagine that the forces of Mordor lurked so near...
Arwen, being true to her word, then explained to Mikhaella just how dire their situation was. It took one sentence, and then Mikhaella realized with dawning horror the predicament they faced. "The Nazgul's presence so close to Rivendell could mean only one thing: the Ring is nearby, and they are searching for it." Arwen said quietly as they rode west, in the direction of the Bruinen.
Nazgul. The Ring. Words Mikhaella had heard in myths and legends, in stories handed down from generation to generation. All Elves knew of the Legend of the One Ring, Sauron's Creation and the holder of his essence. They knew of the Doom that came along with the coming of the One Ring as well. And this was why the Black Riders were abroad...
"Eru preserve us." Mikhaella whispered, comprehension dawning in her eyes. "The One Ring is abroad...Evil stalks it..."
"And the Ringbearer, who Aragorn has sworn to protect." Arwen further explained. "We must assist him and the Ringbearer. The Ring MUST stay out of Sauron's hands. Rivendell is the only safe place we can bring him to. To entrust this task to anyone else is folly, for many have already fallen prey to the Dark Lord's manipulation."
Nodding, Mikhaella absorbed all this. Though she hadn't known the danger she was inviting when she decided to go with Arwen, now she did...and did not wish to be anyplace else. She wouldn't leave Arwen alone to face this. Nor would Arwen, if the situation was reversed. They were almost as close as sisters.
"We can make it to the area where the Nine were last spotted in one and a half day, but it will be a hard ride." said Arwen, scanning the landscape before them. "But if we decide to be careful and take it slow, it'll take two."
They sprang away, riding swiftly in the direction of the Bruinen. Their elf- horses, swifter than the steeds of men, did justice to their kind, speeding on like the wind on hooves that barely left marks on the trail.
Deer, rabbits, and other animals sped out of their way. Mikhaella looked up at the trees as they travelled beneath their shade, wondering if she was just imagining it, that the forest seemed darker somehow. More shadows, less sunlight; more still, uncomfortable periods of silence when not even an animal called; and the forest air devoid of the music of the birds.
"The darkness grows," Mikhaella said softly. Telumendil snorted beneath her and glanced about uneasily, sensing the difference more acutely than her rider, perhaps.
But Arwen sensed it too. "They're not too far off. Hurry." In the elf- tongue she called to her steed: "Noro lim, Asfaloth." Hearing its rider call, the elf-horse gave a leap and quickened the pace. The two sped on.
Chapter Four
Safe in the privacy of their private chambers, the tale poured out of Mikhaella. Arwen listened in silence, eyes widening only upon the utterance of the word Nazgul. When the princess of Imladriel was done, Arwen stood and went to her closet. Mikhaella looked on in astonishment as Arwen brought out her weapons of choice---two sharp knives---and wrapped them securely in cloth. Bringing out several blankets and two cloaks, Arwen then proceeded to pack them compactly inside a small sack, her movements swift and efficient, using economy of space.
Waiting for an explanation that she realized would not be volunteered, Mikhaella asked, "What do you think you're doing?"
"What does it look like I'm doing?" Arwen finished packing, throwing her dark-green cloak around her shoulders,"I'm going after them."
"Are you mad?" Mikhaella exclaimed in astonishment, "By yourself? Arwen, listen to me....the Black Riders are out there... near Rivendell! It's not safe to venture outside the elfhome! Elrond would never permit---"
"My father is now holding council, you say. I know what he plans to do. He's sending all the warriors that can be spared into the hunt for the one who the Black Riders are seeking," Arwen interrupted her, leaving their quarters. Mikhaella made an impatient noise and followed her outside. The two strode quickly down the hallway. "He'll send them to comb through the perimeter near where they were originally sighted...to the north, south, east and west of the Bruinen territory. But there are few who would dare ride out against the Nine, and it would cost us time...time that we do not have. I shall be assisting him, Mikhaella."
"What is the rush? As long as they don't breach the elfhome's defenses, we don't have anything to worry about. I know their presence is threatening, but really---what have we to fear? They would not dare try to invade our home---"
"It's not just that," Arwen said quietly. They'd reached the courtyard. "There is something far more important at stake."
"Important enough for you to risk your life? Arwen, you needn't do this." Mikhaella touched Arwen's arm and made her pause. Her worry for her friend was evident in her emerald eyes. But Arwen's gray ones were calm and firm,"I must, Mikhaella. You see, my beloved is out there too."
For a moment Mikhaella was speechless. Then she whispered, "Aragorn? How?"
"You were told the Black Riders were hunting for someone. Aragorn is with him, doing his best to ensure his survival and that he reaches Rivendell. Once he reaches us he is safe from the clutches of Sauron." At the mention of the dark lord's name Mikhaella shuddered and involuntarily murmured a counter-curse. She turned to Arwen,"Sauron? The Dark Lord himself is involved in this? Why?"
"I cannot tell you now," Arwen looked up at the darkening sky, "We have not the time." Her steps took her in the direction of the trees where the horses of the Elven nobility were tied.
Mikhaella nodded. "Alright." She strode forward, grabbed the reins of her horse, Telumendil, and brought the mare forward. "You can tell me on the way."
"What do you think you are doing?" Arwen demanded in a parody of what Mikhaella had asked her just a short while ago.
"I'm going with you." Mikhaella stated simply. "Do you think I would face the Lord Elrond alone and tell him that I let his daughter run off into this mad quest all by herself? No, I would not!" She finished readying her horse and with one agile movement swung herself onto its back. She looked down at Arwen, her brow raised and her expression expectant, "Well?"
Arwen held her hand and squeezed it. "Thank you."
Mikhaella smiled. "Come. We must hurry, you said."
The two rode out of the gates and into the valley, then eventually they rode out of Rivendell. The guards made no move to stop them since they rode almost everyday, and so they thought naught of it. It was almost sunset when the presences of the princesses were missed, and their absence discovered. But by then it was too late. The elves were just ready to mobilize their scouts. There was nothing for the Lord Elrond to do but to send a prayer to the heavens that the Valar would keep them safe.
****
The two who had set out crossed the gates, then the bridge, and then out of the valley of Rivendell. The sky had darkened considerably since that morning, but there was still sufficient light to highlight the lush green landscape that lay before them. The mountain peaks of the Misty Mountains loomed over the valley of Rivendell like sentinels. The elvenhome itself seemed to glow and sparkle with amber and golden hues, sheltered in the emerald arms of the valley. Suddenly this pure dwelling-place seemed to Mikhaella all the more precious as she turned around once to gaze upon it. It was hard to imagine that the forces of Mordor lurked so near...
Arwen, being true to her word, then explained to Mikhaella just how dire their situation was. It took one sentence, and then Mikhaella realized with dawning horror the predicament they faced. "The Nazgul's presence so close to Rivendell could mean only one thing: the Ring is nearby, and they are searching for it." Arwen said quietly as they rode west, in the direction of the Bruinen.
Nazgul. The Ring. Words Mikhaella had heard in myths and legends, in stories handed down from generation to generation. All Elves knew of the Legend of the One Ring, Sauron's Creation and the holder of his essence. They knew of the Doom that came along with the coming of the One Ring as well. And this was why the Black Riders were abroad...
"Eru preserve us." Mikhaella whispered, comprehension dawning in her eyes. "The One Ring is abroad...Evil stalks it..."
"And the Ringbearer, who Aragorn has sworn to protect." Arwen further explained. "We must assist him and the Ringbearer. The Ring MUST stay out of Sauron's hands. Rivendell is the only safe place we can bring him to. To entrust this task to anyone else is folly, for many have already fallen prey to the Dark Lord's manipulation."
Nodding, Mikhaella absorbed all this. Though she hadn't known the danger she was inviting when she decided to go with Arwen, now she did...and did not wish to be anyplace else. She wouldn't leave Arwen alone to face this. Nor would Arwen, if the situation was reversed. They were almost as close as sisters.
"We can make it to the area where the Nine were last spotted in one and a half day, but it will be a hard ride." said Arwen, scanning the landscape before them. "But if we decide to be careful and take it slow, it'll take two."
They sprang away, riding swiftly in the direction of the Bruinen. Their elf- horses, swifter than the steeds of men, did justice to their kind, speeding on like the wind on hooves that barely left marks on the trail.
Deer, rabbits, and other animals sped out of their way. Mikhaella looked up at the trees as they travelled beneath their shade, wondering if she was just imagining it, that the forest seemed darker somehow. More shadows, less sunlight; more still, uncomfortable periods of silence when not even an animal called; and the forest air devoid of the music of the birds.
"The darkness grows," Mikhaella said softly. Telumendil snorted beneath her and glanced about uneasily, sensing the difference more acutely than her rider, perhaps.
But Arwen sensed it too. "They're not too far off. Hurry." In the elf- tongue she called to her steed: "Noro lim, Asfaloth." Hearing its rider call, the elf-horse gave a leap and quickened the pace. The two sped on.