* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The horse trampled leaves and small trees, and ran along at an amazing speed. Its coat was gray with flecks of blue and white. Its mane and tail were ebony, snapping about in the breeze. Though its gait was smooth, the rider had to duck low, so as not to be scraped off the horse by low hanging branches. Eruan had awoken, bruised and bound, to find himself atop this horse. He was barely aware of his surroundings, and had no idea where he was being taken. He dimly watched as small animals and birds fled before the mighty steed, as it left behind in its wake a trail of swirling leaves and dust. It seemed like no time at all when they had reached the borders of Mirkwood. The rider stopped the horse, and dismounted. The only thing Eruan could see about the rider was his voluminous black cloak, which ran down past the rider's boots. Their hood was long also, and drawn down over their face. Eruan didn't have any time to wonder more on this stranger, for after dismounting, he circled around the horse and loosened the small amount of rope that had been holding Eruan to the horse. Then without hesitating he helped Eruan off the horse and drew a short dagger, cutting him loose of all his bounds. The rider then stood, watching Eruan as he rubbed his wrists, trying to circulate the blood once more.
"There is food and water on the horse, take them and ride west to Imladris. You will be taken care of there." The stranger said, speaking with a deep voice.
"Who are you?" Eruan asked, wondering who would risk their life for him.
"Someone who has seen the error of their ways," The rider began. "And also someone who has learned the true meaning of royalty."
With that last word, the rider's voice changed, and the sun suddenly broke through the dense treetops, lighting up the rider's face just enough for Eruan to see the gray eyes underneath, shining triumphantly.
"Thank you." Eruan whispered, his voice choked with emotion. The rider smiled warmly in return, and the two embraced.
"Go now on your journey, and may you reached your destination sound."
"I have learned much from you." Eruan whispered.
"And I you. Go, now! The archers will soon return to be sure of my deed." And with that, he tossed Eruan his old gray cloak, the one from the knot in the tree. He drew his small blade once more, and began to give himself small wounds.
"It must look like a struggle." The stranger said, reading the shocked look on Eruan's face. Then he looked Eruan in the eyes.
"Godspeed." He whispered, and disappeared into the foliage.
Brushing away a tear, Eruan mounted the horse.
"Noro lim! Noro lim!" (Ride fast, ride fast!)
The horse and Eruan sped off through a field. Eruan himself was amazed at the grace and heart the animal possessed, and named it Oron. As he was crossing the borders of Mirkwood, he stopped the horse and turned back. Looking behind him, Eruan crossed a small stream and gazed up to a ledge of rock that jutted out from the Earth. There, standing on the edge, was the rider, right hand held high in a gesture of farewell. His robes were billowed out behind him, dancing in the breeze. Eruan gave one last glance at him before turning back to his horse. His attention caught by something shining on the ground, he dismounted his horse and crept closer. He crouched down into the grass and brushed aside the weeds, revealing a short dagger. Eruan rubbed the dirt off it with cloak and tears alike, and then slid it insdie his tunic. As he turned, the sun caught the blade, and lit up the mark on the hilt. Two leaves, entwined. Eruan remounted his horse once more.
"Noro lim an Imladris!"
And with that, Eruan and Oron sped of towards the mountains, and hopefully a new life. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
From his lookout on the ledge, Prince Legolas watched as his brother rode, his heart filled with remorse and regret. There was nothing more he could do for Eruan. Gazing out at the sun, Legolas whispered a final blessing to the carrying winds.
"Farewell, brother."
The horse trampled leaves and small trees, and ran along at an amazing speed. Its coat was gray with flecks of blue and white. Its mane and tail were ebony, snapping about in the breeze. Though its gait was smooth, the rider had to duck low, so as not to be scraped off the horse by low hanging branches. Eruan had awoken, bruised and bound, to find himself atop this horse. He was barely aware of his surroundings, and had no idea where he was being taken. He dimly watched as small animals and birds fled before the mighty steed, as it left behind in its wake a trail of swirling leaves and dust. It seemed like no time at all when they had reached the borders of Mirkwood. The rider stopped the horse, and dismounted. The only thing Eruan could see about the rider was his voluminous black cloak, which ran down past the rider's boots. Their hood was long also, and drawn down over their face. Eruan didn't have any time to wonder more on this stranger, for after dismounting, he circled around the horse and loosened the small amount of rope that had been holding Eruan to the horse. Then without hesitating he helped Eruan off the horse and drew a short dagger, cutting him loose of all his bounds. The rider then stood, watching Eruan as he rubbed his wrists, trying to circulate the blood once more.
"There is food and water on the horse, take them and ride west to Imladris. You will be taken care of there." The stranger said, speaking with a deep voice.
"Who are you?" Eruan asked, wondering who would risk their life for him.
"Someone who has seen the error of their ways," The rider began. "And also someone who has learned the true meaning of royalty."
With that last word, the rider's voice changed, and the sun suddenly broke through the dense treetops, lighting up the rider's face just enough for Eruan to see the gray eyes underneath, shining triumphantly.
"Thank you." Eruan whispered, his voice choked with emotion. The rider smiled warmly in return, and the two embraced.
"Go now on your journey, and may you reached your destination sound."
"I have learned much from you." Eruan whispered.
"And I you. Go, now! The archers will soon return to be sure of my deed." And with that, he tossed Eruan his old gray cloak, the one from the knot in the tree. He drew his small blade once more, and began to give himself small wounds.
"It must look like a struggle." The stranger said, reading the shocked look on Eruan's face. Then he looked Eruan in the eyes.
"Godspeed." He whispered, and disappeared into the foliage.
Brushing away a tear, Eruan mounted the horse.
"Noro lim! Noro lim!" (Ride fast, ride fast!)
The horse and Eruan sped off through a field. Eruan himself was amazed at the grace and heart the animal possessed, and named it Oron. As he was crossing the borders of Mirkwood, he stopped the horse and turned back. Looking behind him, Eruan crossed a small stream and gazed up to a ledge of rock that jutted out from the Earth. There, standing on the edge, was the rider, right hand held high in a gesture of farewell. His robes were billowed out behind him, dancing in the breeze. Eruan gave one last glance at him before turning back to his horse. His attention caught by something shining on the ground, he dismounted his horse and crept closer. He crouched down into the grass and brushed aside the weeds, revealing a short dagger. Eruan rubbed the dirt off it with cloak and tears alike, and then slid it insdie his tunic. As he turned, the sun caught the blade, and lit up the mark on the hilt. Two leaves, entwined. Eruan remounted his horse once more.
"Noro lim an Imladris!"
And with that, Eruan and Oron sped of towards the mountains, and hopefully a new life. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
From his lookout on the ledge, Prince Legolas watched as his brother rode, his heart filled with remorse and regret. There was nothing more he could do for Eruan. Gazing out at the sun, Legolas whispered a final blessing to the carrying winds.
"Farewell, brother."
