DISCLAIMER: See Prologue.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Finally, Chapter Two is up! I would like to take a moment to thank all my kind reviewers: Staran, Moonstone Tears, Deborah, Losseniaiel, Ringhuiniele, Feather, Natters, Psycho Goddess, Letanica and Sumone. THANK YOU!!!!!!! :-)
CHAPTER TWO: VISIONS...
* * * * * * * * * * *
On any other day, the White City would have been a perfect name for Minas Tirith - any day, but today. In preparation for the wedding of their new king, the chief city of Gondor was awash with vibrant colour. Banners billowed in the summer breeze. The locals were gathered in the streets in their finest attire, in anticipation of the celebrations.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
"WHAT?!" Elrond's voice echoed along the corridors, arousing even the heaviest sleepers.
Faramir trembled - he knew Elrond would be angry, but this fury surpassed all expectations. "King Elessar has been summoned away on urgent business."
The elf-lord slammed his fist upon the table. "On his wedding day? How could he do this to my daughter?" Muttering an elven curse under his breath, he rose from his seat in the throne room. "When I get my hands on that. mortal, he will regret this!" His expression softened. "Where is Arwen? She will no doubt be disappointed."
Faramir swallowed, and answered the elf before him, his voice a mere whisper. "She went with him."
* * * * * * * * * * *
The two riders called their horses to a halt as they reached a stream. The water trickled from the rocks overhead, glimmering in the morning sunlight. Aragorn climbed down from Roheryn, before gently lifting Arwen off her stallion's back. He brushed a kiss to her temple. "Not far now..."
She smiled uneasily. "Good."
He sighed. "Arwen, I do not think that we should have lied to Faramir and Eowyn."
"We had no choice!" She snapped. Then, her expression softened. "Faramir sees you as more than his king - you are his friend, and the last link to his brother. If he were to discover our true purpose, then he would insist on accompanying us. It is not right to involve him in this matter. We do not know what dangers we will be facing."
Suddenly, she stiffened. Her sapphire eyes glazed over, as she collapsed on the grass.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
She saw orcs - thousands of snarling orcs, adorned for battle. Like a plague of locus attacking crops, they swept over the villages. Children screamed, crying out for their mothers. Mothers cried in desperation, calling the names of their children.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Fire: fire was everywhere. An elderly man, trapped in his cottage, howled as the inferno swept through his home, engulfing him in the flames of death.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Swords clashed as the orc army were meet by an army of men, elves and dwarves. Battle cries filled the air, soon drowned out by the screams of the wounded. Arrows rained down on the bloodied field, slaying many. But it was a vain hope: the orcs were winning...
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Arwen!" Aragorn shook her shoulders. "Arwen!"
She gasped. Her fingers clutched his arms, nails digging into the tender flesh.
"Mani naa ta?" He asked urgently.
Tears meandered down her cheeks. "Oh, Estel!"
"Another vision?" He guessed
Arwen nodded as he gently brushed away a tear with his thumb. "They are becoming more frequent. And more vivid." She buried her face in his shoulder. "I am frightened, Estel."
"Hush..." Aragorn cradled her in his arms, and whispered consoling words to her. "Amin mela lle, nál ainunya. Lle varna." He began to hum the Lay of Lúthien, hoping that the song would comfort her. She began to sing softly to the tune, and he soon joined her.
"Do not fear, I will protect you." Aragorn nuzzled her hair lovingly. "Nothing will harm you will there is a breath in my lungs, blood in my veins, and a sword in my hand to prevent it."
Arwen did not answer, for she knew that he spoke the truth. He would give his life to save hers, and she feared that, on this quest, he might have to.
'You should not have told him of this...' she scolded herself. But, danger or not, Arwen could not deny that she was grateful to have Estel by her side.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
TRANSLATIONS:
Mani naa ta? = What is it?
Amin mela lle, nál ainunya = I love you, my angel
Lle varna = You are safe.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Finally, Chapter Two is up! I would like to take a moment to thank all my kind reviewers: Staran, Moonstone Tears, Deborah, Losseniaiel, Ringhuiniele, Feather, Natters, Psycho Goddess, Letanica and Sumone. THANK YOU!!!!!!! :-)
CHAPTER TWO: VISIONS...
* * * * * * * * * * *
On any other day, the White City would have been a perfect name for Minas Tirith - any day, but today. In preparation for the wedding of their new king, the chief city of Gondor was awash with vibrant colour. Banners billowed in the summer breeze. The locals were gathered in the streets in their finest attire, in anticipation of the celebrations.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
"WHAT?!" Elrond's voice echoed along the corridors, arousing even the heaviest sleepers.
Faramir trembled - he knew Elrond would be angry, but this fury surpassed all expectations. "King Elessar has been summoned away on urgent business."
The elf-lord slammed his fist upon the table. "On his wedding day? How could he do this to my daughter?" Muttering an elven curse under his breath, he rose from his seat in the throne room. "When I get my hands on that. mortal, he will regret this!" His expression softened. "Where is Arwen? She will no doubt be disappointed."
Faramir swallowed, and answered the elf before him, his voice a mere whisper. "She went with him."
* * * * * * * * * * *
The two riders called their horses to a halt as they reached a stream. The water trickled from the rocks overhead, glimmering in the morning sunlight. Aragorn climbed down from Roheryn, before gently lifting Arwen off her stallion's back. He brushed a kiss to her temple. "Not far now..."
She smiled uneasily. "Good."
He sighed. "Arwen, I do not think that we should have lied to Faramir and Eowyn."
"We had no choice!" She snapped. Then, her expression softened. "Faramir sees you as more than his king - you are his friend, and the last link to his brother. If he were to discover our true purpose, then he would insist on accompanying us. It is not right to involve him in this matter. We do not know what dangers we will be facing."
Suddenly, she stiffened. Her sapphire eyes glazed over, as she collapsed on the grass.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
She saw orcs - thousands of snarling orcs, adorned for battle. Like a plague of locus attacking crops, they swept over the villages. Children screamed, crying out for their mothers. Mothers cried in desperation, calling the names of their children.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Fire: fire was everywhere. An elderly man, trapped in his cottage, howled as the inferno swept through his home, engulfing him in the flames of death.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Swords clashed as the orc army were meet by an army of men, elves and dwarves. Battle cries filled the air, soon drowned out by the screams of the wounded. Arrows rained down on the bloodied field, slaying many. But it was a vain hope: the orcs were winning...
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Arwen!" Aragorn shook her shoulders. "Arwen!"
She gasped. Her fingers clutched his arms, nails digging into the tender flesh.
"Mani naa ta?" He asked urgently.
Tears meandered down her cheeks. "Oh, Estel!"
"Another vision?" He guessed
Arwen nodded as he gently brushed away a tear with his thumb. "They are becoming more frequent. And more vivid." She buried her face in his shoulder. "I am frightened, Estel."
"Hush..." Aragorn cradled her in his arms, and whispered consoling words to her. "Amin mela lle, nál ainunya. Lle varna." He began to hum the Lay of Lúthien, hoping that the song would comfort her. She began to sing softly to the tune, and he soon joined her.
"Do not fear, I will protect you." Aragorn nuzzled her hair lovingly. "Nothing will harm you will there is a breath in my lungs, blood in my veins, and a sword in my hand to prevent it."
Arwen did not answer, for she knew that he spoke the truth. He would give his life to save hers, and she feared that, on this quest, he might have to.
'You should not have told him of this...' she scolded herself. But, danger or not, Arwen could not deny that she was grateful to have Estel by her side.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
TRANSLATIONS:
Mani naa ta? = What is it?
Amin mela lle, nál ainunya = I love you, my angel
Lle varna = You are safe.