Many thanks for the nice reviews. You have all been very generous,
especially considering I'm a rank beginner.
Arabella - Thanks all your encouragement and advice. It has really been fun writing this story, but your advice helps me keep on track too. Thanks.
Kalenniphredil - Well, here's another chapter. Thanks for reading. I hope you enjoy it.
amlugwen - Don't worry. Isilme gets better treatment later. Thanks for reading.
As usual, my characters are my own. Everything else belongs to Tolkien.
The Dream
Sareei's eyes flew open with a start. Oh, no. She hadn't meant to sleep so long. By now her adversary had already found a place of concealment. He was most likely already there now, blocking her path. Well, today would be the day. Today she would show him who was cock of the walk. He would regret ever unsheathing his sword. Today she would wipe that maddening smile right of off his face.
She tumbled out of bed and quickly dressed, the cold morning air sending shivers up her spine. She smiled as she pulled on her gloves. Let him set an ambush. She was ready for anything, she thought as she finished fastening her sword around her waist. She strutted out the door, ready for combat.
She had just rounded the corner to the courtyard when the ambush came. She felt the hair rise up on the back of her neck as she passed the last pillar. He was behind her! Snarling deep in her throat at her own carelessness, she whirled to meet her attacker, sword in hand. She barely had time to block the fierce blow that slammed down at her, the force making her stagger backwards. She glared at her opponent. There was that maddening smile again. It carried the assurance that once again, he would be the victor. This lit her anger like a firebrand. It always had. His sword swung again. The air swishing past her ribs as she barely jerked back in time to avoid injury.
"You're too slow. I almost gutted you that time.", he said sternly.
"You're too confident.", she retorted with a lightening swift strike at his face. He danced away, light as an elf. There was that smile again.
"Oh, the kitten has claws.", he taunted. "Still a little too slow to do you any good.", he smirked.
"I'm fast enough to beat you, old man.", Sareei came back.
The two danced around each other like butterflies, each looking for a weakness in the other's defense. Steel met steel with sharp rings like the tolling of frantic bells. As the man struck at Sareei, she would wait until the last second and then block the blow.
"That's a very dangerous game you are playing, missy. One that might get you killed.", he warned.
"Are you going to fight or just talk me to death, old man.", Sareei mocked as she blocked another blow and then dealt a deadly one of her own. Again the old man danced back, blocking the force of the blow with the hilt of his sword. Sareei dropped to the ground and swung her leg out in a deadly arc, trying to sweep her opponent's feet out from under him. He jumped lightly over her leg and landed a few feet away, sword at the ready.
"I'm afraid you'll have to do better than that to win this match." His piercing blue eyes danced with laughter.
Sareei laughed. "Why don't we just raise the stakes on this match?", she asked. She deftly stepped aside to avoid the fierce sword thrust that her opponent delivered. Then she turned and ran at the opposing wall. She ran a few feet up it to gain momentum and then flipped over his head in a graceful arc, landing behind him. His fierce blue eyes held the warm light of approval at the swiftness and grace of her movements. So she had been paying attention when he had tried to teach her that maneuver.
"How exactly do you intend to raise the stakes this time?", he wanted to know as he jumped aside just in time to avoid a sword stroke to the chest.
"Well,", said Sareei as she countered his next stroke, "Not only does the loser, meaning you, have to cook breakfast, but he has to do the dishes as well."
"I don't do dishes!", exclaimed her father, Astalder. With a sudden burst of speed and energy he leapt at Sareei, aiming a fierce blow at her head, taking her off balance and making her duck. Before she could recover, he pinned her sword to the wall with his own. His triumphant smile faded when she swiftly took her sword with her other hand and instantly laid it against his throat. It was replaced with a look of shock and then pride.
His radiant smile lit up his face was he looked at his daughter. She released him and stepped back with a smile, triumph shining in her eyes.
"You little minx. You've been holding back on me, haven't you?" Her father stood facing her with his hands on his hips. This time she had surprised even him. A lifetime spent training her to take care of herself had culminated to this one moment. She could hold her own with any war lord he could think of. His face was glowing with love and pride. He burst out laughing at her impertinent curtsey.
As she rose from her curtsey, she felt something land on the ground right behind her. It had landed as lightly as a bird. For a split second Sareei thought it was a bird, but the hair raising up on the back of her neck and the feeling of intense evil behind her told this was no bird. Her father's face changed from one of great joy to a cross between horror and rage. Without saying a word, he swiftly reached out and grabbed the front of Sareei's tunic, throwing her behind him as hard as he could. She landed several yards away from her father. As Sareei picked herself up, she looked around and saw what had caused her father's alarm.
Standing before her father was a grey warrior! It stood upright like a man. Some say it came from men who had sold their soul to the darkness. The creature was covered with smooth gray reptilian skin marred by numerous tattoos; curses and blasphemies, all written in the Black Speech. It's eye's were red slits, full of malice. Sareei knew they were servants of the dark powers. She knew that they were skilled warriors and deadly assassins who killed mercilessly at their dark lord's bidding. She never knew who they served. Her father would never tell her. He would only say that it was better for her not to know, and then would immediately change the subject. The thing glared at her father, angry to be robbed of his prey so quickly. It growled low in it's throat, snapping it's teeth in her father's face, as it raised it's own sword. That was too much for Sareei. Her father was her whole life. This repulsive intruder wasn't going to threaten her father and get away with it. She gripped her sword tightly and took a step towards the grey warrior, anger boiling in her heart.
"NO Sareei!" Her father put up a restraining hand. "Go get Ariel and get out of here as quickly as you can. Go to our favorite place. Stay there till I come for you." His tone left no room for argument. He firmly planted himself between his daughter and the deadly thing, his sword ready.
Anything she would have said was cut off by the hissing voice of the grey warrior. "The master has sent me for her. I am to take her to him immediately." The creature looked Sareei up and down in a leering manner that turned her stomach. He took a step toward her.
"Over my dead body!", came her father's heated reply. He leaped at the warrior, swinging his sword at it's head. The creature moved away with the fluidity of a snake recoiling and then struck out at her father with a lightening fast stroke. Astalder barely moved out of the way in time, blocking the blow with his own sword. He knew how their race fought, keeping out of it's opponent's way, wearing them down until they grew tired and made a mistake. He knew that he couldn't outlast it. No one had been able to. Their strength and endurance were far superior to a human's. They simply waited one out and then moved in for the kill. And the kill was usually slow and painful. Astalder had seen enough victims to know death at their hands would not be gentle or swift, but he had to buy some time for his daughter to get away.
The thing struck at him again, trying to slice him on the upper arm. Suddenly a sword blocked the blow, and a small fist smashed into the repulsive grey nose.
"You leave my father alone!", shouted Sareei as she aimed another blow at the ugly thing. It was caught off balance and stumbled backwards. Astalder shoved her back.
"Sareei, I told you to go. You can't help me here. Now go!" Panic rose in his heart for his only daughter. He knew why the dark lord had sent for her. The thought of it was unbearable. "I said, go!", he shouted at her.
"No!", she shouted back. "I'm not leaving you. We go together or we die together." Tears spilled down onto her cheeks at the thought of leaving her father to this evil beast. Her jaw took on the firm pout that her father knew so well. "I'm not going anywhere. Not without you." She choked back her tears and fixed him with a determined look.
Her father knew there was nothing to be gained in arguing with her. He knew that look well enough to know that her mind was set and that an earthquake couldn't shake it loose now.
"Alright, but stay behind me. And if I tell you to run, you'd better run. Understood.", he said sternly.
"Alright.", said Sareei. She smiled bravely at her father. "Don't worry Papa. We can take 'em." She tried to reassure her father with her smile. He smiled back. He had no choice now. He had to win or his daughter was doomed to a life of horror. The thought sent anger coursing through his veins like fire and he turned to face the now advancing warrior.
He could hear Ariel slamming himself against his stall door, trying to break out to defend his human family. The enraged stallion's screams distracted his opponent for a moment. Astalder took advantage of this and lunged at him with his sword. The warrior laughed and stepped aside, thinking to come back around and catch the human in the ribs with his sword. Astalder swiftly spun the other way and aimed a thrust at the evil thing's midsection. The warrior jumped back and the blow only managed to slice across his ribcage. He gave a howl of rage and lunged at the man intending to tear him apart. The old man leaped aside and cut at the thing's legs, trying to slow him down. As he did, he saw a flash of steel at the edge of his vision. He felt the warrior's sword slice through his back and looked down in shock at the tip protruding from his stomach. The grey warrior gave a sharp grunt as it jerked the sword upwards and out, letting the man slip off of the tip onto the ground. The last thing Astalder heard was his daughter's scream as he hit the ground, his blood swiftly pooling around him.
Sareei woke herself up with her own scream. It tore from her throat, carrying in it all the agony and grief she had carried with her all these years. She sat up in her bed, shaking and sobbing, trying to get her bearings. Her heart felt as though it were trying to pound it's way out of her chest. Where was she? She looked around the dark room, hearing the gentle wind in the trees. Then she remembered. Rivendell. She tried to stifle her sobs, hoping she hadn't disturbed anyone with her abrupt awakening. She should never have agreed to stay the night. But Lord Elrond had insisted that she couldn't be allowed to leave Rivendell with sunset so close at hand. She should have left anyway. She knew she had this dream every night. She knew this would happen. Why hadn't she just left. She laid her head on her knees and tried to stifle the racking sobs welling up in her throat.
Suddenly, her head jerked up. Someone was at the door. The knob turned quietly and a figure entered the room bearing a burning candle. It was Elrond. Sareei quickly wiped the tears from her face and tried to compose herself.
Elrond approached the bed, a look of concern on his fair features.
"I heard you cry out, Sareei. Are you alright?",he asked gently. He didn't miss the strained look on her face or the tear stained eyes. He set the candle down on the bedside table and sat on the side of the bed. This made matters worse for Sareei. Her father used to do the exact same thing whenever she had had a bad dream. The memory of her father sent more tears to her eyes. She turned her face away from Elrond, ashamed that he saw her in this condition. Elrond reached out and gently turned her face towards him. He quietly wiped the tears from her face, speaking gentle words that Sareei couldn't understand. The tears still flowed out of control and Elrond gently took her in his arms and rocked her like a small child, singing softly in her ear as he gently stroked her hair. The words were unfamiliar but somehow they comforted Sareei and slowly the tears subsided. Her heart slowed it's hammering. She lay against his shoulder and shivered. She heard his strong heartbeat against his hard chest. The dull ache of her grief was still there, but the tears had finally stopped. For now. At least this time, she didn't have to lay in the darkness by herself, crying until she finally fell asleep. When she was finally calm, Elrond gently laid her back on her pillow. He smiled at her as he covered her with her blankets and quickly left the room.
Well, at least he hadn't asked her about her dream, Sareei thought. She tried to settle down in her blankets and go back to sleep. Suddenly the door opened again and Elrond entered with a small glass of dark liquid in his hand. He sat down on the bed again and handed her the glass with a kind smile.
"I want you to drink all of this. It will help you rest." He waited for Sareei to take the glass.
"But I really don't need..", Sareei started to protest as she looked into those kind eyes. Then before she knew what she was doing she had taken the glass and downed all of it. Elrond watched her with a small smile on his lips. Why did she do that?, Sareei wondered as she handed him the glass. She hadn't intended to drink it at all.
Elrond reached out and laid her back against her pillow, covering her with her blankets again. He got up and moved towards the door. He stopped and turned towards Sareei as he reached the doorway.
"We can talk in the morning.", he told her. "For now, rest well. I promise the dream will not return." His gentle smile was reflected in his eyes. It warmed Sareei's heart.
Suddenly she was very sleepy. The last thing she remembered was seeing Elrond standing patiently in the doorway, as if he was waiting for something. Then she fell fast asleep.
Astalder -- Valiant one
Arabella - Thanks all your encouragement and advice. It has really been fun writing this story, but your advice helps me keep on track too. Thanks.
Kalenniphredil - Well, here's another chapter. Thanks for reading. I hope you enjoy it.
amlugwen - Don't worry. Isilme gets better treatment later. Thanks for reading.
As usual, my characters are my own. Everything else belongs to Tolkien.
The Dream
Sareei's eyes flew open with a start. Oh, no. She hadn't meant to sleep so long. By now her adversary had already found a place of concealment. He was most likely already there now, blocking her path. Well, today would be the day. Today she would show him who was cock of the walk. He would regret ever unsheathing his sword. Today she would wipe that maddening smile right of off his face.
She tumbled out of bed and quickly dressed, the cold morning air sending shivers up her spine. She smiled as she pulled on her gloves. Let him set an ambush. She was ready for anything, she thought as she finished fastening her sword around her waist. She strutted out the door, ready for combat.
She had just rounded the corner to the courtyard when the ambush came. She felt the hair rise up on the back of her neck as she passed the last pillar. He was behind her! Snarling deep in her throat at her own carelessness, she whirled to meet her attacker, sword in hand. She barely had time to block the fierce blow that slammed down at her, the force making her stagger backwards. She glared at her opponent. There was that maddening smile again. It carried the assurance that once again, he would be the victor. This lit her anger like a firebrand. It always had. His sword swung again. The air swishing past her ribs as she barely jerked back in time to avoid injury.
"You're too slow. I almost gutted you that time.", he said sternly.
"You're too confident.", she retorted with a lightening swift strike at his face. He danced away, light as an elf. There was that smile again.
"Oh, the kitten has claws.", he taunted. "Still a little too slow to do you any good.", he smirked.
"I'm fast enough to beat you, old man.", Sareei came back.
The two danced around each other like butterflies, each looking for a weakness in the other's defense. Steel met steel with sharp rings like the tolling of frantic bells. As the man struck at Sareei, she would wait until the last second and then block the blow.
"That's a very dangerous game you are playing, missy. One that might get you killed.", he warned.
"Are you going to fight or just talk me to death, old man.", Sareei mocked as she blocked another blow and then dealt a deadly one of her own. Again the old man danced back, blocking the force of the blow with the hilt of his sword. Sareei dropped to the ground and swung her leg out in a deadly arc, trying to sweep her opponent's feet out from under him. He jumped lightly over her leg and landed a few feet away, sword at the ready.
"I'm afraid you'll have to do better than that to win this match." His piercing blue eyes danced with laughter.
Sareei laughed. "Why don't we just raise the stakes on this match?", she asked. She deftly stepped aside to avoid the fierce sword thrust that her opponent delivered. Then she turned and ran at the opposing wall. She ran a few feet up it to gain momentum and then flipped over his head in a graceful arc, landing behind him. His fierce blue eyes held the warm light of approval at the swiftness and grace of her movements. So she had been paying attention when he had tried to teach her that maneuver.
"How exactly do you intend to raise the stakes this time?", he wanted to know as he jumped aside just in time to avoid a sword stroke to the chest.
"Well,", said Sareei as she countered his next stroke, "Not only does the loser, meaning you, have to cook breakfast, but he has to do the dishes as well."
"I don't do dishes!", exclaimed her father, Astalder. With a sudden burst of speed and energy he leapt at Sareei, aiming a fierce blow at her head, taking her off balance and making her duck. Before she could recover, he pinned her sword to the wall with his own. His triumphant smile faded when she swiftly took her sword with her other hand and instantly laid it against his throat. It was replaced with a look of shock and then pride.
His radiant smile lit up his face was he looked at his daughter. She released him and stepped back with a smile, triumph shining in her eyes.
"You little minx. You've been holding back on me, haven't you?" Her father stood facing her with his hands on his hips. This time she had surprised even him. A lifetime spent training her to take care of herself had culminated to this one moment. She could hold her own with any war lord he could think of. His face was glowing with love and pride. He burst out laughing at her impertinent curtsey.
As she rose from her curtsey, she felt something land on the ground right behind her. It had landed as lightly as a bird. For a split second Sareei thought it was a bird, but the hair raising up on the back of her neck and the feeling of intense evil behind her told this was no bird. Her father's face changed from one of great joy to a cross between horror and rage. Without saying a word, he swiftly reached out and grabbed the front of Sareei's tunic, throwing her behind him as hard as he could. She landed several yards away from her father. As Sareei picked herself up, she looked around and saw what had caused her father's alarm.
Standing before her father was a grey warrior! It stood upright like a man. Some say it came from men who had sold their soul to the darkness. The creature was covered with smooth gray reptilian skin marred by numerous tattoos; curses and blasphemies, all written in the Black Speech. It's eye's were red slits, full of malice. Sareei knew they were servants of the dark powers. She knew that they were skilled warriors and deadly assassins who killed mercilessly at their dark lord's bidding. She never knew who they served. Her father would never tell her. He would only say that it was better for her not to know, and then would immediately change the subject. The thing glared at her father, angry to be robbed of his prey so quickly. It growled low in it's throat, snapping it's teeth in her father's face, as it raised it's own sword. That was too much for Sareei. Her father was her whole life. This repulsive intruder wasn't going to threaten her father and get away with it. She gripped her sword tightly and took a step towards the grey warrior, anger boiling in her heart.
"NO Sareei!" Her father put up a restraining hand. "Go get Ariel and get out of here as quickly as you can. Go to our favorite place. Stay there till I come for you." His tone left no room for argument. He firmly planted himself between his daughter and the deadly thing, his sword ready.
Anything she would have said was cut off by the hissing voice of the grey warrior. "The master has sent me for her. I am to take her to him immediately." The creature looked Sareei up and down in a leering manner that turned her stomach. He took a step toward her.
"Over my dead body!", came her father's heated reply. He leaped at the warrior, swinging his sword at it's head. The creature moved away with the fluidity of a snake recoiling and then struck out at her father with a lightening fast stroke. Astalder barely moved out of the way in time, blocking the blow with his own sword. He knew how their race fought, keeping out of it's opponent's way, wearing them down until they grew tired and made a mistake. He knew that he couldn't outlast it. No one had been able to. Their strength and endurance were far superior to a human's. They simply waited one out and then moved in for the kill. And the kill was usually slow and painful. Astalder had seen enough victims to know death at their hands would not be gentle or swift, but he had to buy some time for his daughter to get away.
The thing struck at him again, trying to slice him on the upper arm. Suddenly a sword blocked the blow, and a small fist smashed into the repulsive grey nose.
"You leave my father alone!", shouted Sareei as she aimed another blow at the ugly thing. It was caught off balance and stumbled backwards. Astalder shoved her back.
"Sareei, I told you to go. You can't help me here. Now go!" Panic rose in his heart for his only daughter. He knew why the dark lord had sent for her. The thought of it was unbearable. "I said, go!", he shouted at her.
"No!", she shouted back. "I'm not leaving you. We go together or we die together." Tears spilled down onto her cheeks at the thought of leaving her father to this evil beast. Her jaw took on the firm pout that her father knew so well. "I'm not going anywhere. Not without you." She choked back her tears and fixed him with a determined look.
Her father knew there was nothing to be gained in arguing with her. He knew that look well enough to know that her mind was set and that an earthquake couldn't shake it loose now.
"Alright, but stay behind me. And if I tell you to run, you'd better run. Understood.", he said sternly.
"Alright.", said Sareei. She smiled bravely at her father. "Don't worry Papa. We can take 'em." She tried to reassure her father with her smile. He smiled back. He had no choice now. He had to win or his daughter was doomed to a life of horror. The thought sent anger coursing through his veins like fire and he turned to face the now advancing warrior.
He could hear Ariel slamming himself against his stall door, trying to break out to defend his human family. The enraged stallion's screams distracted his opponent for a moment. Astalder took advantage of this and lunged at him with his sword. The warrior laughed and stepped aside, thinking to come back around and catch the human in the ribs with his sword. Astalder swiftly spun the other way and aimed a thrust at the evil thing's midsection. The warrior jumped back and the blow only managed to slice across his ribcage. He gave a howl of rage and lunged at the man intending to tear him apart. The old man leaped aside and cut at the thing's legs, trying to slow him down. As he did, he saw a flash of steel at the edge of his vision. He felt the warrior's sword slice through his back and looked down in shock at the tip protruding from his stomach. The grey warrior gave a sharp grunt as it jerked the sword upwards and out, letting the man slip off of the tip onto the ground. The last thing Astalder heard was his daughter's scream as he hit the ground, his blood swiftly pooling around him.
Sareei woke herself up with her own scream. It tore from her throat, carrying in it all the agony and grief she had carried with her all these years. She sat up in her bed, shaking and sobbing, trying to get her bearings. Her heart felt as though it were trying to pound it's way out of her chest. Where was she? She looked around the dark room, hearing the gentle wind in the trees. Then she remembered. Rivendell. She tried to stifle her sobs, hoping she hadn't disturbed anyone with her abrupt awakening. She should never have agreed to stay the night. But Lord Elrond had insisted that she couldn't be allowed to leave Rivendell with sunset so close at hand. She should have left anyway. She knew she had this dream every night. She knew this would happen. Why hadn't she just left. She laid her head on her knees and tried to stifle the racking sobs welling up in her throat.
Suddenly, her head jerked up. Someone was at the door. The knob turned quietly and a figure entered the room bearing a burning candle. It was Elrond. Sareei quickly wiped the tears from her face and tried to compose herself.
Elrond approached the bed, a look of concern on his fair features.
"I heard you cry out, Sareei. Are you alright?",he asked gently. He didn't miss the strained look on her face or the tear stained eyes. He set the candle down on the bedside table and sat on the side of the bed. This made matters worse for Sareei. Her father used to do the exact same thing whenever she had had a bad dream. The memory of her father sent more tears to her eyes. She turned her face away from Elrond, ashamed that he saw her in this condition. Elrond reached out and gently turned her face towards him. He quietly wiped the tears from her face, speaking gentle words that Sareei couldn't understand. The tears still flowed out of control and Elrond gently took her in his arms and rocked her like a small child, singing softly in her ear as he gently stroked her hair. The words were unfamiliar but somehow they comforted Sareei and slowly the tears subsided. Her heart slowed it's hammering. She lay against his shoulder and shivered. She heard his strong heartbeat against his hard chest. The dull ache of her grief was still there, but the tears had finally stopped. For now. At least this time, she didn't have to lay in the darkness by herself, crying until she finally fell asleep. When she was finally calm, Elrond gently laid her back on her pillow. He smiled at her as he covered her with her blankets and quickly left the room.
Well, at least he hadn't asked her about her dream, Sareei thought. She tried to settle down in her blankets and go back to sleep. Suddenly the door opened again and Elrond entered with a small glass of dark liquid in his hand. He sat down on the bed again and handed her the glass with a kind smile.
"I want you to drink all of this. It will help you rest." He waited for Sareei to take the glass.
"But I really don't need..", Sareei started to protest as she looked into those kind eyes. Then before she knew what she was doing she had taken the glass and downed all of it. Elrond watched her with a small smile on his lips. Why did she do that?, Sareei wondered as she handed him the glass. She hadn't intended to drink it at all.
Elrond reached out and laid her back against her pillow, covering her with her blankets again. He got up and moved towards the door. He stopped and turned towards Sareei as he reached the doorway.
"We can talk in the morning.", he told her. "For now, rest well. I promise the dream will not return." His gentle smile was reflected in his eyes. It warmed Sareei's heart.
Suddenly she was very sleepy. The last thing she remembered was seeing Elrond standing patiently in the doorway, as if he was waiting for something. Then she fell fast asleep.
Astalder -- Valiant one