My Past: Clues

Early morning came and with it the start of the day's tasks. I was seated in the mess hall eating my breakfast. This was really a room with several long tables in it that attached to the kitchen. It was where the residence normally took their meals. The Great hall was only used for special occasions.

Today I sat near the end on the table with some bread, eggs and cheese. I watched the skin-changers come and go. Exchanging greetings with those I recognized. And also talking with the non changers. At the moment I was alone eating a piece of bread when the space beside me was filled with Roch's beaming face.

"Elrohir! You have to see this!"

I jumped and nearly choked on my bread at the start he gave me. "Roch, please don't sneak up on me like that!" I took a drink of the juice to clear my throat.

He looked a bit sheepish at that. His eyes scanned the room but continued to return and linger on me as he spoke. "I'm sorry, Elrohir. I didn't mean to scare you. But you should really see this, it's amazing, I've never seen anything like it before. Just the sizeit's brilliant!"

I continued to eat. "What is it Roch?"

"An army of Orc! It's massive! The numbers and the size of them, they're just sitting there all in lines, it's like a black seait's amazing, you must come and see it!"

Once again I stopped eating. "An army of Orc? Where?"

Roch was grinning at me. "I can show you! Come on!" He grabbed my arm and was pulling me down the hallway and out of the Keep before my own feet managed to touch ground and maintain the pace themselves. The day was dark and overcast. A shadow hanging over the sun and darkening the land as we ran. I still had a piece of bread in my hand and finished it as I was being taken back into the mountains. We climbed through until I was thoroughly lost. Then we were out of the rock and standing on a plateau. Roch got down on his stomach and crawled forward to the edge. Motioning for me to do likewise. I got down and followed him to peer down at the empty, scared land below.

Only it wasn't.

I stared in wonder as the land rolled and moved beneath us. Waves of twisted limbs and the gleam of metal overwhelmed my eyes. I had never seen so many orcs festering and swarming in one place. I could feel my mouth run dry and my heart pounding in fear. We must not be seen. So many so close to the Keep. If we tipped them off and they sent a scout Dinrogion would be hard pressed to raise the defenses.

From this distance I could see their jerky movements as they moved about below. Weapons and armor at the ready as they stood in battle formation. I scanned over their lines. Their red and black banners snaking in the wind at the front of their formation. Why were there so many ready to fight here? What was going on in Mordor that so many of Sauron's creatures were to be moving through the pass?

I crawled back from the edge into the protection of the mountains when my eyes had taken their fill. I remained seated against the rock as my mind tried to come to grips with the thought of so many of thosecreatures below.

Roch seemed to be having no difficulty with the idea. In fact, he seemed enchanted by their numbers, instead of frightened. He remained lying on the rock staring down at them. I opened my mouth to ask him to return and guide me back to the Keep when a hand clamped over it silencing me.

I was startled and began to struggle when lips brushed against my ear whispering. A shiver ran through my body.

"Don't say anything. The echo shall carry down to them." The voice was barely audible even to my elven ears. More of a breath than words. It was raspy and I knew it. But I could not bring a name to the voice. I nodded and the hand released. I turned my head to spy Vitalo squatting on the rock behind me. Grinning in a way that matched his favored form. The rat.

I nodded in greeting. He tilted his head in my direction and then indicated the path back. I glanced at Roch who was still transfixed with the army below. I turned and found Vitalo already disappearing into the rocks. I rose on silent feet and followed after. He stopped further down the path we had taken to the outcropping and waited for me to catch up.

"We're far enough in to talk. What are you two doing up here from the Keep?" His eyes sparkled. "Should you not be insideon a day like this?"

I had spoken with Vitalo once before. While I was first walking with Shassma in my recovery through the Keep halls. He was friendly and eerily silent in his movements. I was told, by Shassma, that he was another of Dinrogion's messengers and that he was often away for long periods of time.

"Roch wanted to show me this. Is Dinrogion aware of them passing so close? Do you know why such a large body of orcs is coming through Mordor?" I asked in concern.

"Yes Dinrogion is aware, little elf, but your guess is as good as mine what they are up to. Which is why I'm stuck up here on this rotten day. Watching the Eru forsaken go by to see where they end up. When I would by far prefer to be indoors by a fire."

"There is a chill mood to the air this day." I commented as I did in fact feel cold.

"Aye, and it best be that you and Roch return to the hall so that only one of us needs to freeze."

"Are you sure you would not enjoy the company?" I asked as I eyed the heavy clouds overhead. I could feel the air pressure shift in the coolness and knew rain was on its way.

"Nah, I'll be fine as I'm used to solitary travels. Though I admit company is something I enjoy. But not in this situation as I tend to talk and lose my focusah, Roch, nice of you to join us lad."

I turned to see Roch approaching from behind me. He gave Vitalo a slightly annoyed look as he came to stand beside me.

"You should guide Price Elrohir back to the Keep and not go spying on a group of orcs, lad. Or Heru Draug will be giving my job to you. Which would leave me looking rather the fool now, wouldn't it?" Vitalo spoke jovially.

"I suppose it wouldbut I just wanted Elrohir to see the orcs, aren't they splendid? All the weapons and the number of them it's amazing! I wonder how many there are and how long it takes to make weapons for an army that size, what do you think they eat? I wonder if"As Roch spoke a few drops of rain spilled from the clouds to splash on our faces and the surrounding rocks.

Splendid was not the word I would use to describe what was scuttling below us. I thought loathsome, horrid or despised were more accurate. My hatred of orcs for what they had done to my mother remained. Perhaps I may have pitted the creatures once. Being tortured and turned so foul from something beautiful. The first had been elves. Lost and captured. But now their blood had lost all that had made them elven and had been filled with hatred. My pity was overshadowed by their lack of mercy. How could I find something splendid about a race that had taken my mother from me and shown no mercy in her care.

The copious raindrops splattered on my head and shoulders as I stood on the pathway. Unconsciously I had clenched my fists and my nails were digging into the skin of my palms. It was when I noticed Vitalo glance at my hands did I realize what I was doing and relax them.

"Roch, lad, I'm sure if you were to go ask Gragmilion about the orcs he'd be happy to answer your questions. After you take Prince Elrohir back to the Keep."

Roch looked a bit crestfallen and indignant. "But I-"

"Roch." Vitalo flashed him a dangerous look and hissed something not even my ears could catch.

"Are you positive you do not wish for company in your watch?" I inquired in hopes of easing their argument.

Vitalo looked back at me. His usual jovial facial expression returned. "Nay, that is quite fine."

Roch folded his arms against his chest as the rain started to fall more thickly upon us. "C'mon Elrohir, let's go back before I get soaked."

I nodded and waved in parting to Vitalo as Roch began to make his way down the path. Vitalo winked and waved in turn then vanished into the rock. I blinked and did a double take. I was not used to having my elven eyes fooled so. I scanned the rock for a moment but he was hidden well. Finally I turned and started after Roch on the path. The rain was falling around us rather intensely now. The sheets of it hammered on my exposed skin and soaked my tunic through. My dark hair was being plastered to my head and I kept needing to push a few strands aside. I raised one hand over my eyes to protect them and found my footing difficult on the slick rocks.

But years of practice and elven agility kept my feet sure and I picked my way over the path. Roch was not so lucky however. As we came to the slope leading back to the Keep I watched as Roch skidded on a wet rock, grasped out desperately with his hands but found no hold, and began to tumble down the slope.

"Roch!" I ran forward in fear as I watched his body twist, roll and bounce down to the bottom of the slope. I scrambled after him as quickly as my feet would carry me safely down the slick rocks. It still felt like a great deal of time passed before I reached his side. "Roch! Can you answer me?" I fell to me knees and my hands began to feel for broken bones.

He groaned unhappily and gazed up at me from under a mop of plastered hair. "Ow."

I cringed as my fingers delicately inspected his limbs in fear of a break. The rain continued to pour down over us as I searched. To my relief all the bones seemed in tact. But there was a great deal of bleeding and a few gashes that would require stitches. "Rochcan you walk? I need to get you inside to see Shassma."

He groaned in pain and clutched his head. "My head."

I reached out and touched his face gently and found a rather painful looking bruise on his temple. "Just do not close your eyes and sleep." I glanced around but saw nothing that would help me. I then reached down and began to tear strips off my tunic and tie them around the worst of his gashes. "Roch? Will you please talk to me?"

He looked at me with unfocused eyes as I shielded his face from the hard raindrops with my own. He smiled and reached up to touch my hair. ".the rain." Then his eyes closed and his body went limp.

"Roch!' I shook him gently but there was no sign of consciousness. I felt for a pulse and breath and was relieved beyond measure to find those strong. I decided to go against my better judgement and move him to safety. I gathered him in my arms and took to my feet hoisting his heavy body awkwardly. It seemed to me that Skin-changers were built rather solidly. I presumed it was muscle to aide in their form changing. Starting out towards the Keep it was twice as difficult to maintain my footing with my burden. But I finally reached the doors and slipped into a walled garden and eventually a dry hallway.

I was greeted by a changer in human form who looked worried. She grabbed my elbow and guided me through the Keep. We passed several halls and doorways. Including one that had a rather large dark wood door. I had asked what was beyond it of Shassma one day in our walks. She had told me that Skin-changers were a very private race and liked to have some secrets from those like myself. She asked me not to venture down there out of respect for them. And I have never, nor plan to, break that trust. But I admit to being greatly curious as to what was behind it every time I walked past.

At last we reached what seemed to be a healing wing. There were several rooms with beds set up and a few with tables and an assortment of bandages, ointments and salves. I set Roch down on one of the beds as Shassma rushed in followed by two light blue clad assistants.

"What happened to the poor thing?" She asked of me.

"We were in the mountainsreturning to the Keep and he slipped on the rocks and fell down the slope. I did everything I could for him. He has no broken bones. But there is a bruise on his temple, I fear concussion."

Shassma looked Roch over critically. "Hmmm, my dear, I believe his head far too hard for that."

I was just opening my mouth to question her when a familiar voice demanded from directly behind my ear. "Why were you in the mountains in such weather?"

Turning I found myself nose to nose with Dinrogion. "greetings." Our eyes locked for a moment and I found myself longing to close the space between us. But my voice managed to find itself before I made myself seem an even greater fool. "Roch wanted to show me something. He took me up while I was at breakfast and we looked down on the Orcs. He seemed rather excited. I do not think he understands the threat they pose to the Keep."

Dinrogion's sharp eyes narrowed. "He took you up to see the Orcs? What did he tell you of them? Were you seen?"

"Yeshe was excited about seeing so many in one place. He was asking me questionsI don't think he understands the danger of such an army or Orcs. We were not detected. Though I met Vitalo up there scouting and he insisted we return here before the weather turned worse." I stepped close to him and touched his arm in concern. "Dinrogion," my voice was soft and at a level for his ears only. "Can you defend the Keep? I could send word to Rivendellbut if they discovered you I doubt help would come in time."

He studied my face for a time and an odd expression crossed his features. I was at a loss to describe it exactly. He seemed to be wearing an expression of amusement, relief and concern in one. His hand reached up and paused before my face. Then gently he reached forward and removed a lock of wet hair that had attached itself to my forehead.

"Do not concern yourself Elrohir, the Keep is safe from the Orcs. We are protected here from outsiders who we do not wish to find us. Should a mistake occur and we were to be discovered. I assure you we can defend ourselves without help from the outside. We are skin-changers. What is an army of Orc to thirty dragons?" He smiled warmly at my embarrassment.

"I did not think of thatI justI was worried"

He nodded in understanding. "You were concerned for our safety. Which I find most touching and kind. Do you fear Orcs a great deal Elrohir?"

I looked at him and realized my hand was still resting on his arm and his hand still held the lock of my hair. "Noand yesI hate them more than I fear them."

He looked quizzically at me. "What causes such hatred from you?"

"They took my mother from me."

Dinrogion frowned and was opening his mouth to reply to that when Shassma called to him.

"Draug, stop making the boy stand there shaking in wet cloths. Let the poor dear go warm up and change."

And indeed I was shaking with cold. But I had not noticed. I stepped away from Dinrogion letting my hand slip from his arm and my hair from his fingers. What an appealing sight I must offer him. I thought sarcastically. An outsider elf who just proved his stupidity by implying a clan of skin-changers were defenseless. To top it off I was soaked through and my clothing was torn and covered in dirt as well as Roch's blood. "I shall go wash and change with your leave." I bowed my head to Dinrogion.

He looked oddly at me and then smiled with what I took as affection. "I grant it to you. Though I admit to enjoying your presence and not wishing its loss. You may take your leave until this evening. When I shall claim you to my side once again."