*Hi reader! This story is a jump from where my last story - "Hidden in
Imladris" left. I hit a block so I decided to write another interesting
part in the story, so if you're a little confused about the characters and
such like try that story first! (talk about promotion of one's story!)
Anyway so I've skipped from Bree to Rivendell but don't fear if you DO care
about this story cos I will sometime soon fill in the gap! Enjoy!*
*Oh and for those elvish fans out there I've tried to get the elvish as accurate as possible - trying to obey rules such as nasal mutation etc, etc but nobody's perfect but I've given it a try and it sounds pretty so that's what counts!*
*
Kathryn opened her eyes, and in her dazed thoughts wondered if the past long years had been but a dream. She lay for a moment looking at the ceiling, and the woodcarvings running across it, smiling at the light playing across it. Then she remembered, and sat up sharply, drawing a sharp pain to her side. Lying back down, she let herself cry silently, warm tears running into her ears. Then she realised how long it had been since she had last cried - she had always lacked the privacy, on her long journeys, and the last journey she had to show courage to keep the hobbits spirits up. And, she admitted to herself only, to prove to Estel that she was capable of surviving like him. Sadly, she also realised that no one was at her side to see if she was fully healed. Shaking her head, to rid herself of such depressing thoughts, she reminded herself that Frodo was in deeper peril.
"Frodo!" She swore, leaping from her bed, this time ignoring the pain. Her travel-worn clothes were gone, replaced by the red gown that lay on a chair. She growled - dresses were inappropriate for where she was needed - then discovered a light gold shirt with green tunic and breeches laid out beside the dress. She dressed quickly; donning also some soft brown leather boots, and ran along the halls. Her visits to Rivendell, although usually short, were frequent, and she certainly knew where the healing room was. After another quick search, she found her saddlebag, and snatching it, hurried out of the room.
There was an urgency in the air that she felt almost as soon as leaving her room. Now she ran along the corridor, shouting apologies over her shoulder to startled elves. She reached an open bridge-like corridor, at the end of which was a silver door, and went through. When she entered, there was a murmur of surprise; all eyes darted to her. Elrond raised a sharp eyebrow. There was extreme tension in the room. Around the bed that was raised on a dais were gathered Elrond, Estel and a few skilled elven lords. She passed them to reach Frodo and knelt down beside him.
An elf from the Grey Havens called Galdor spoke indignantly, "Why is she here? This woman should not belong here - she is not skilled, and I can clearly see that she has been trained in the opposite - arts of war."
Elrond spoke, "I am inclined to agree with Galdor, Kathryn. You should be resting, for your own wound is but barely healed, and was also deadly."
But Estel strode forward, defending her. "Frodo would be lying dead, if not for Kathryn's healing attempts, and that was achieved without the herbs and necessary help we have now."
Kathryn ignored their arguments, instead turning to Frodo. He lay pale under the coverlet. Tentatively, she drew it back to reveal the healed over scar on his shoulder. Closing her eyes and concentrating, she could feel the evil festering in it. Gently she touched the wound with a caressing hand. Frodo stirred a little from his deadly sleep; his face became less taut. But his shoulder was chillingly cold, and numb from what she could sense. She concentrated more on the spreading blackness within his wound, although it sickened her, her own wound throbbing in unison with his. She forced her mind to pierce deep, following the path the Morgul blade would have taken, and then further. Suddenly her mind struck something, and a spear of malice, hatred and death struck her, the spear fanned out into blackness, overcoming all.
The lords turned from their debate to find Estel holding Kathryn's limp body, with Elrond by her side.
"See?" One cried triumphantly. "She faints at the sight of a wound, there is no possibility that she is fit to aid us."
But Elrond furrowed his eyebrows and touched Kathryn's forehead, murmuring some soothing elvish. "Let us hear from her first." He said absently.
"Lasto beth nin, tolo dan ne ngalad. Eglo i-Dhúath, echo! (Hear my voice; come back to the light. Leave the Shadow, awaken!)" Elrond's words filtered softly like light into her darkened mind. She opened her eyes.
"Na cir caitar (There is a shard lying within)."
Elrond then spoke to them all, "It is as we feared, a splinter off the top of the blade remains deep within the wound, and I guess, burrows further inwards towards his heart." Kathryn flung herself at Frodo again, laying both her hands upon the small white scar, they then moved half towards his chest.
"Si (Here)!" She declared, then sank into a meditation that not even the shakings of Elrond could stir her from.
In her mind she formed a pure white flame of intense heat and love and let it flow through her hands, into his veins, banishing the coldness of death. Then she confronted the resisting evil of the Morgul blade, but instead of the solid blackness within Frodo, she found dark flame. An eye wreathed in flame. And it pierced her very essence, her very soul, casting away her light dismissively. Then realisation came to both beings. Kathryn went cold. It was Sauron, the Enemy of the Free Peoples of Middle Earth. Intense hatred bore down on her - he knew who she was - the person he feared had been born - an heir of Elendil. But resolve hardened within her, and she summoned her light, this time it appeared woven with grey mist and flecked with green elven light. The Eye shrank back: he was not yet strong enough to fight such strength.
"Leave this place, Sauron." She spat. "You are not yet powerful enough to infiltrate a place of love and peace." The Eye fled. But even in fleeing, it glanced back, weighing up this being of power and doubted. Assuring itself that a wizard must have been behind this woman's power, it left for now.
Warm, welcoming fire burned in front of her, reminding her of the place she belonged. "Elauriel Valorlindë tulo si! U-heniach i rodyn! Tulo! (Love- fire-daughter Power-golden-song return! You understand not the powers (you play with)! Come!)" It roared.
She opened her eyes, in front of her Frodo lay, but colour was returning to him, and he was breathing well. Touching his shoulder, she cried with joy, he was warming up again. Then she felt the two hands upon her shoulder blades. She turned slowly.
"Mithrandir!" She cried again with joy. "Ingon le nantach firn! (I thought you were dead!) Were you the fire?"
"Yes it was me." He lowered his voice. "I will speak to you more of that later." Then Kathryn remembered whom she had confronted, and shuddered, then reassured herself that her old friend Gandalf must have been aiding her.
"Do not think of such things, Kathryn, you are in the House of Elrond, and should have been resting!" Gandalf whirled her round to face him, his dark eyes piercing hers.
"I saved Frodo! While your so-called wise argue about frivolities such as a lady entering the room, the lady of your discussions does what you were set here to do!" Gandalf's face softened, and he chuckled.
"I see you have survived your encounter, I see no shadow within you." Then he laughed, for it was a time to be laughing. All was well, the hobbit and the heiress of Isildur were saved, and the Ringwraiths banished for the time being.
Elrond came over to them, smiling with firm belief. "Welcome once again to Rivendell, Kathryn." At the mention of her name, the elven lords started talking fervently, then they were silent.
Galdor stepped forward and took her hand, "Dear Kathryn, forgive me, the years of your absence has changed you," He smiled and murmured in a voice only she could hear. "For the better I hope." Then he spoke aloud. "This is Kathryn, daughter of Taurrandir, the great Ranger who confronted the Witch King. Praise her hands for they are skilled in both healing and hurt - a precious if dangerous gift. Always remember that you are forever welcome in this house." The rest of the elven lords raised their voices in joyful praise. Kathryn blushed for a moment, then realised that she had made herself worthy of such praise.
Then Galdor called for silence, taking Estel forward. "This is Estel, well known to this house, his father also rode in the wars against the terror of Angmar. Praise them both well." And he took himself by amazement as he looked upon both Estel and Kathryn; they stood tall side by side, proud and majestic. Then Kathryn turned to Estel, and warmth flowed into her heart, sparkling tears of happiness fell from her cheeks, and they embraced. All in that room saw them and could not help but be puzzled at the likeness in both of them, despite their difference in hair and eye colour.
"Now both of you." Elrond spoke, sharing a conspirital smile with Gandalf. "Rest. You are in Rivendell, and I will not see my work of healing undone."
"Yes, and I will tie you both to your beds if you do not!" Gandalf winked.
Estel and Kathryn exchanged looks of feigned despair. Disregarding their praise, neither of them could take on Elrond Half-Elven and Gandalf the Grey!
"Peace! We will do as you ask, save that you will tell me the moment Frodo awakens!" Kathryn negotiated.
"Very well. I will not be leaving his side either way, just in case." Gandalf agreed.
*Oh and for those elvish fans out there I've tried to get the elvish as accurate as possible - trying to obey rules such as nasal mutation etc, etc but nobody's perfect but I've given it a try and it sounds pretty so that's what counts!*
*
Kathryn opened her eyes, and in her dazed thoughts wondered if the past long years had been but a dream. She lay for a moment looking at the ceiling, and the woodcarvings running across it, smiling at the light playing across it. Then she remembered, and sat up sharply, drawing a sharp pain to her side. Lying back down, she let herself cry silently, warm tears running into her ears. Then she realised how long it had been since she had last cried - she had always lacked the privacy, on her long journeys, and the last journey she had to show courage to keep the hobbits spirits up. And, she admitted to herself only, to prove to Estel that she was capable of surviving like him. Sadly, she also realised that no one was at her side to see if she was fully healed. Shaking her head, to rid herself of such depressing thoughts, she reminded herself that Frodo was in deeper peril.
"Frodo!" She swore, leaping from her bed, this time ignoring the pain. Her travel-worn clothes were gone, replaced by the red gown that lay on a chair. She growled - dresses were inappropriate for where she was needed - then discovered a light gold shirt with green tunic and breeches laid out beside the dress. She dressed quickly; donning also some soft brown leather boots, and ran along the halls. Her visits to Rivendell, although usually short, were frequent, and she certainly knew where the healing room was. After another quick search, she found her saddlebag, and snatching it, hurried out of the room.
There was an urgency in the air that she felt almost as soon as leaving her room. Now she ran along the corridor, shouting apologies over her shoulder to startled elves. She reached an open bridge-like corridor, at the end of which was a silver door, and went through. When she entered, there was a murmur of surprise; all eyes darted to her. Elrond raised a sharp eyebrow. There was extreme tension in the room. Around the bed that was raised on a dais were gathered Elrond, Estel and a few skilled elven lords. She passed them to reach Frodo and knelt down beside him.
An elf from the Grey Havens called Galdor spoke indignantly, "Why is she here? This woman should not belong here - she is not skilled, and I can clearly see that she has been trained in the opposite - arts of war."
Elrond spoke, "I am inclined to agree with Galdor, Kathryn. You should be resting, for your own wound is but barely healed, and was also deadly."
But Estel strode forward, defending her. "Frodo would be lying dead, if not for Kathryn's healing attempts, and that was achieved without the herbs and necessary help we have now."
Kathryn ignored their arguments, instead turning to Frodo. He lay pale under the coverlet. Tentatively, she drew it back to reveal the healed over scar on his shoulder. Closing her eyes and concentrating, she could feel the evil festering in it. Gently she touched the wound with a caressing hand. Frodo stirred a little from his deadly sleep; his face became less taut. But his shoulder was chillingly cold, and numb from what she could sense. She concentrated more on the spreading blackness within his wound, although it sickened her, her own wound throbbing in unison with his. She forced her mind to pierce deep, following the path the Morgul blade would have taken, and then further. Suddenly her mind struck something, and a spear of malice, hatred and death struck her, the spear fanned out into blackness, overcoming all.
The lords turned from their debate to find Estel holding Kathryn's limp body, with Elrond by her side.
"See?" One cried triumphantly. "She faints at the sight of a wound, there is no possibility that she is fit to aid us."
But Elrond furrowed his eyebrows and touched Kathryn's forehead, murmuring some soothing elvish. "Let us hear from her first." He said absently.
"Lasto beth nin, tolo dan ne ngalad. Eglo i-Dhúath, echo! (Hear my voice; come back to the light. Leave the Shadow, awaken!)" Elrond's words filtered softly like light into her darkened mind. She opened her eyes.
"Na cir caitar (There is a shard lying within)."
Elrond then spoke to them all, "It is as we feared, a splinter off the top of the blade remains deep within the wound, and I guess, burrows further inwards towards his heart." Kathryn flung herself at Frodo again, laying both her hands upon the small white scar, they then moved half towards his chest.
"Si (Here)!" She declared, then sank into a meditation that not even the shakings of Elrond could stir her from.
In her mind she formed a pure white flame of intense heat and love and let it flow through her hands, into his veins, banishing the coldness of death. Then she confronted the resisting evil of the Morgul blade, but instead of the solid blackness within Frodo, she found dark flame. An eye wreathed in flame. And it pierced her very essence, her very soul, casting away her light dismissively. Then realisation came to both beings. Kathryn went cold. It was Sauron, the Enemy of the Free Peoples of Middle Earth. Intense hatred bore down on her - he knew who she was - the person he feared had been born - an heir of Elendil. But resolve hardened within her, and she summoned her light, this time it appeared woven with grey mist and flecked with green elven light. The Eye shrank back: he was not yet strong enough to fight such strength.
"Leave this place, Sauron." She spat. "You are not yet powerful enough to infiltrate a place of love and peace." The Eye fled. But even in fleeing, it glanced back, weighing up this being of power and doubted. Assuring itself that a wizard must have been behind this woman's power, it left for now.
Warm, welcoming fire burned in front of her, reminding her of the place she belonged. "Elauriel Valorlindë tulo si! U-heniach i rodyn! Tulo! (Love- fire-daughter Power-golden-song return! You understand not the powers (you play with)! Come!)" It roared.
She opened her eyes, in front of her Frodo lay, but colour was returning to him, and he was breathing well. Touching his shoulder, she cried with joy, he was warming up again. Then she felt the two hands upon her shoulder blades. She turned slowly.
"Mithrandir!" She cried again with joy. "Ingon le nantach firn! (I thought you were dead!) Were you the fire?"
"Yes it was me." He lowered his voice. "I will speak to you more of that later." Then Kathryn remembered whom she had confronted, and shuddered, then reassured herself that her old friend Gandalf must have been aiding her.
"Do not think of such things, Kathryn, you are in the House of Elrond, and should have been resting!" Gandalf whirled her round to face him, his dark eyes piercing hers.
"I saved Frodo! While your so-called wise argue about frivolities such as a lady entering the room, the lady of your discussions does what you were set here to do!" Gandalf's face softened, and he chuckled.
"I see you have survived your encounter, I see no shadow within you." Then he laughed, for it was a time to be laughing. All was well, the hobbit and the heiress of Isildur were saved, and the Ringwraiths banished for the time being.
Elrond came over to them, smiling with firm belief. "Welcome once again to Rivendell, Kathryn." At the mention of her name, the elven lords started talking fervently, then they were silent.
Galdor stepped forward and took her hand, "Dear Kathryn, forgive me, the years of your absence has changed you," He smiled and murmured in a voice only she could hear. "For the better I hope." Then he spoke aloud. "This is Kathryn, daughter of Taurrandir, the great Ranger who confronted the Witch King. Praise her hands for they are skilled in both healing and hurt - a precious if dangerous gift. Always remember that you are forever welcome in this house." The rest of the elven lords raised their voices in joyful praise. Kathryn blushed for a moment, then realised that she had made herself worthy of such praise.
Then Galdor called for silence, taking Estel forward. "This is Estel, well known to this house, his father also rode in the wars against the terror of Angmar. Praise them both well." And he took himself by amazement as he looked upon both Estel and Kathryn; they stood tall side by side, proud and majestic. Then Kathryn turned to Estel, and warmth flowed into her heart, sparkling tears of happiness fell from her cheeks, and they embraced. All in that room saw them and could not help but be puzzled at the likeness in both of them, despite their difference in hair and eye colour.
"Now both of you." Elrond spoke, sharing a conspirital smile with Gandalf. "Rest. You are in Rivendell, and I will not see my work of healing undone."
"Yes, and I will tie you both to your beds if you do not!" Gandalf winked.
Estel and Kathryn exchanged looks of feigned despair. Disregarding their praise, neither of them could take on Elrond Half-Elven and Gandalf the Grey!
"Peace! We will do as you ask, save that you will tell me the moment Frodo awakens!" Kathryn negotiated.
"Very well. I will not be leaving his side either way, just in case." Gandalf agreed.