Chapter Two: In Which All Get Their Due
The company pulled their horses up near the waterfall entrance to Henneth Annûn. They were greeted by a strange, tall man. Sellevorn blinked, rubbing her eyes. The man had very odd ears... and a strangely sparse beard. He was quite tall as well. Could this be one of the legendary Elves, unnatural creatures supposedly allied with Gondor? Yet she had always heard their teeth were pointed as well, to drink the life force of humans and fuel their immortal lives. She shrank back in fear. Was he an enemy?
Eyeing the strange maiden with a perplexed look, Ionedhûr walked over to Toldion, a brow cocked quizzically. Toldion motioned, his face weary, clearly meaning that he would speak of this later.
*************************************************
The returning party gathered around one fire that night with Ionedhûr and explained all of the morning's happenings. When the talk was done, Ionedhûr motioned them all away, save Aylus and the strange maiden. He would deal with her first.
My dear, what do you think you are doing? he asked her gently.
Fighting to help Gondor, she said in a small voice, looking down into her bowl of stew.
Ionedhûr sighed. You think one small maiden can protect and entire kingdom?
Well, no- Sellevorn started. Suddenly Aylus broke in.
Not only is she unable to help, she caused the death of Canron and Tolmir today! If I had not gone to aid her when she was overwhelmed, I might have saved them!
Sellevorn seemed to shrink, setting down her bowl. Ionedhûr said nothing.
If you were not a maiden, I believe I should hit you! Aylus cried furiously, fingers balled into tight fists at his side.
Sellevorn spoke inaudibly, then coughed and tried again, standing up shakily before the man, who towered above her, quivering in his anger.
So hit me, she said quietly.
The force with which he slammed his fist into her cheekbone surprised them all. Sellevorn fell to the ground, eyes watering in pain. Ionedhûr began to stand and make his way to Aylus, concerned.
Aylus backed up, turned and ran. He leaned against the stone of the cave for a moment, regaining his composure. He could not believe what he had just done. To hit a woman... ah, but she had caused the death of his friends by acting unlike a woman should. Still, he was sickened beyond belief at his actions.
After a time of standing in the dark in silence, he returned to the fire and Ionedhûr. Sellevorn had left, and he saw her sleeping in a corner away from the fires of the rangers.
They sat for a moment, companionably staring into the fire. Ionedhûr began to speak softly, expecting no answer from his reclusive young friend.
She did not know any better, Aylus, he said gently. She was reared in a small Rohan village. Why, she believed elves were a form of demon until I set her mind at rest! He gave a short chuckle, then continued. She is young, and she made a mistake. Pride is a harsh master, Aylus, and at some point in our lives it rules us all.
Aylus sighed and turned over. None of his mentor's kind words could ease the horror he had experienced, or lessen his loathing of the maiden who now slept, his bruise spreading over her eye. She deserved it.
*********************************************
In the depths of the night, Sellevorn roused herself with a groan. Her leg felt as though fire raced along its length, though the rest of her body felt very cold away from a fire in this dank cave. She thought in shock and horror of Aylus' earlier accusation. She had merely desired to aid the men in battle, and yet, nothing had gone as she wished. She had killed only two Uruk-Hai and been unromantically wounded. She shifted, easing her leg. No one had as yet even looked at the wound.
You wanted to be independent,' she thought bitterly.
She had wanted to help Gondor when her people would not. She had wanted so many things she could never have. She had never become an outstanding fighter, though she made up for her lack of skill, she thought, with courage and grace. Now she saw that these qualities were merely pride and bluster.
Unable to sleep, she rose quietly and limped to an open space within the caves. She began to go through the moves necessary to warm her body up for sword practice when she heard a noise behind her. Whirling around, she gave a blind strike with her blade out of sheer instinct.
Aylus fell back and quickly unsheathed his sword and brought it up, blocking the blow just in time. He had just gone to see where the maiden had gone, not liking the idea of sleeping whilst she wandered the caves, armed. It seemed his fears had not been unfounded. Eyes narrowed in rage, he swept his blade around to attack again, seeing her eyes widen in the darkness.
Sellevorn knew not why this man was attacking her, but seeing the naked anger in his face, she replied in kind, scowling at him past her black eye and raising her sword again to block his blow.
They sparred for a while in the dark cave, parrying and attacking. Sellevorn was frightened to discover her opponent was a far better swordsman that she. Trying to push an advantage she had momentarily gained, she began the circling flick of her blade which was meant to disarm her opponent. As she leaned forward, however, her injured leg slipped on a hidden patch of water and she fell, on her back and with the point of Aylus' sword pointing directly at the bridge of her nose.
Aylus began to relax, lifting his blade slightly. However, Sellevorn had been attacked without any reason and she felt he still owed her for the disgrace. Sweeping her good leg around behind Aylus' knees, she knocked him off his feet and he fell on top of her, sword clanging away into the darkness.
Immediately their hands were at each other's throats. They wrestled on the floor, seething with anger.
Ionedhûr's voice made him freeze. The man walked over to them, a stern expression on his face. You are fighting on the floor like a young child! For shame!
It was her fault! he exclaimed, pointing to a very bruised and dirty Sellevorn.
She let out a gasp. My fault? You started the fight to begin with!
No, you brought out your sword against me, as I recall!
You punched me!
You let me!
Ionedhûr roared, voice echoing in the caverns. Make peace between yourselves in an adult manner, if you please. Ranger. Lady. He gave them an ironic bow and left, yawning widely.
Aylus said flatly, tightening his lips.
Sellevorn agreed thickly past a bitten tongue.
Turning their eyes from each other, they went back to bed.
*************************************************
Ionedhûr sat up, eyes closed but ears open, listening as Sellevorn tentatively made her way to the fire and lay down as far from Aylus as she was able. He listened as first Aylus, then Sellevorn, drifted off to sleep, the sound of breathing becoming quieter in his ears. Sighing, he opened his eyes and took out his pipe, nearly lighting it before realizing the distinctive smell of the pipeweed might wake the others. He settled down, sucking on his unlit pipe. Sleep did not come easily these days. His dreams were haunted by memories, of sorrow and happiness.
To distract himself, he thought of Aylus. The young ranger had much still to learn, and Ionedhûr feared that the boy's life would not be easy. Words echoed in his head.
If I had not gone to aid her...
her fault...
You punched me! You let me...
He read the message under these words. Aylus blamed himself for the deaths, a common mistake among new rangers, but he was hiding from it, twisting his thoughts to escape the awful notion, and placing the blame on Sellevorn, who admittedly had played a part. Ionedhûr gave a deep sigh. He was going to have a long talk with Aylus when he awoke.
His thoughts on the matter of Aylus set at ease, as much as possible, he settled himself to wait for light to creep into the caves with the coming of daylight. Thoughts of Anoën crept into his mind as he sat silent, making him take in a breath as though an old wound twinged.
***************************************************
Aylus, a well-conditioned ranger, was up before the sun and ready with breakfast. He noticed that Sellevorn slept deeply, even when the smell of breakfast cooking began to spread through the caves. He focused very hard on the sausages sizzling over the fire, and the feeling of heat on his face and cold at his back, and the light creeping slowly into the caves. He did not think of Tolmir or Canron. He thought of Sellevorn, and her odd fighting style, wondering how she had retained such basic errors as feinting and never striking, or holding the blade at such a low height. And then the sausages were done, and he turned to prod Ionedhûr awake before noticing that both he and the maiden had gone while Aylus focused on cooking. Aylus shrugged to himself and sat down with a plate loaded with sausages and potatoes someone at the next fire had been frying. He sat alone, as he always did.
***************************************************
Out in the dim, watery sunlight of the new day, Ionedhûr sat with Sellevorn. When he had seen the state the maiden was in that morning, he had decided to speak with her and doctor some of her bruises before talking to Aylus. Measuring bandages, he glanced sidelong at the wounds Aylus had given Sellevorn. He winced at the deep purple bruise over her eye, and at the grit which had gotten into the cut on her leg. From the stiff way she sat, he knew she had taken a beating.
Why, Aylus?' part of him cried. A ranger should be a healer, not a destroyer! Why vent your rage on a helpless, misguided maiden?'
He had no answers. Once he finished binding the cut on her leg and bathing her black eye, Ionedhûr left Sellevorn to her breakfast, taken quietly from the fire while Aylus looked distractedly about the caves. He walked slowly through the caves and came up behind the young ranger, who characteristically sat alone by the small fire they had shared.
He nodded.
Yes, Captain Ionedhûr? Aylus said, looking at him with the blank expression of a soldier addressing his commander.
Aylus, do not be so with me!
Yes, sir.
Aylus! You will listen to me! Ionedhûr's patience was growing short, and he knew he was merely compounding the problem by ordering the boy around.
Yes, si-
Never mind, Aylus. Ionedhûr began to turn away, and then, seeing Aylus' shoulders suddenly slump in relief, seized his chance. Covering the boy's mouth with one hand, he used the other to force his chin upwards so that their gazes locked.
Aylus. You will now listen. I did not come here to scold you... Ionedhûr made as expressive a shrug as he could manage with both hands occupied, I came to talk to you. You must tell me why you were so upset last night, and then as a captain, I will have to see whether you are fit for combat. As a friend, I will try to help you. You do not have to be alone, Aylus.
Ionedhûr rocked back on his heels, wary. Can you speak to me, and look at me now? he asked, making as though to remove his hands. Aylus gave a slow nod, and Ionedhûr let him go and sat down on his heels, hands propped under his chin.
Aylus rubbed along his throat where Ionedhûr had held him, then looked up at the taller man.
I just didn't like that maiden, that's all. Women should not go out fighting when they only make more trouble and kil- Tolmir- and... I mean, that is all I have to say, he finished uncomfortably.
But if that is all you think, then why would you fight a maiden who you believe should not be fighting herself? I think, Aylus, that you are very upset about the death of your companions. That is all right, but you have to learn-
Learn what? Aylus asked, his face twisted into a grimace, Learn to be like you, who never stops mourning? I hear you at night, I see you grieving. Has it given you happiness or peace, Ionedhûr? His tone turned deliberately disrespectful, an ironic mockery of his former deference.
I am not the issue, Aylus! Ionedhûr thundered. When you have seen ten centuries on Middle Earth you will give me counsel!
Aylus turned to him in disgust. I thought you were my friend, he said softly, eyes narrowed to slits.
I am your friend, Aylus, Ionedhûr insisted, but I am also older and wiser than you and you must listen to my advice! His tone softened. Think of all the time you have known me. Have I not ever been a friend? He reached out to tousle the boy's hair in his familiar gesture.
Aylus swatted his hand aside and stood, spilling the remainder of his breakfast unto the stone floor of the cave. You are not the same person who was my friend! You know since when, Ionedhûr. With a final glance, the young man strode away, leaving Ionedhûr alone, his heart echoing with the answering vibration to Aylus' final accusation. Anoën... Putting his head in his hands, Ionedhûr sat with his eyes closed for a long time, tears leaking through his fingers.
**************************************************
Sellevorn looked up from her plate as Aylus stormed by.
What's the matter? she asked, trying to be friendly.
He brushed past past her with a glare, not even granting her a word in response.
Sellevorn sat in front of the caves, completely alone. No one had comforted her, Ionedhûr had merely tended to her wounds brusquely and then gone to speak with this ingrate. It obviously hadn't done him any good! She felt very, very lonely and forgotten. In sum, the experience was not proving itself at all similar to the heroic adventures her father had told her when she was younger. There were no valiant rescues or brave sacrifices, no magical blades or anything but an exceedingly introverted band of rangers who had not said more than five words to her at any given time. She did not even want to think of the rude brute who kept coming at her seemingly with the intention to kill.
Heaving a sigh, she walked off to where Faerloss stood grazing, hoping at least to find some comfort with her horse.
Disclaimer: I still own nothing Tolkien has ever written about. I know, it's hard to believe. Is it just me, or does one get rather bitter after having to write a certain number (3) of disclaimers all disclaiming the same thing? In my other stories the disclaimers are humorous, for that reason. You should read them! The stories, I mean. And the disclaimers, too.
