The sun flecked the trees with gold and copper, and birds sang from the
branches as she walked through the forest. Deeper she went, seeking
solitude, every now and then caressing the rough bark of a tree. A sudden
shadow entered her mind and before she knew it she was knocked to the
ground.
Strong arms picked her up even as she struggled. A nauseating stench suffocated her, sweat and blood swarming up her nostrils and clouding her mind. Now recovering from her surprise she opened her mouth to scream for help, the pain in her side flaring, and cursed herself for leaving her sword in her room. A thick, dirty hand clamped onto her mouth and she choked on the foulness. Her captor slung her on his shoulder. Through her dimming eyes she could make out only one other creature. They resembled orcs, but were taller, and more muscular.
"Zg-ash?" The one who carried her snarled.
The other orc growled a guttural agreement. Blackness captured her vision, encompassing everything. She felt the orc take one step, and felt the blackness bring despair into her heart.
A clear voice sounded through the clearing, almost piercing the shroud of darkness on her mind. "Daro (Halt)! Put her down or you will be killed!" The blackness buffered her mind from sense, but she knew that that voice was the voice of a stranger.
There were defiant snarls from both the orcs and the screech of metal being readied for a fight. But immediately after their growls, there was a thunk of an arrow meeting flesh. His convulsions shook her along with him. With a last grunt he fell to the ground, releasing her.
Freedom was short lived however, and even as hope began to seep back within her, despair killed it. Uttering a savage cry, the second orc thrust her over his shoulder, and began to run. Just when she was about to surrender to darkness there was another thunk and, choking while clawing at the arrow in his throat, the orc also stumbled and fell, trapping her under its dead carcass.
Weakly she struggled, until she heard the light landing of feet nearby.
"Boe nin veriad lîn! Berio aniron (I need your help! Please help)!" He heaved the body off her and turned her round to face up. Kathryn could barely see, but light began to defeat the darkness, shining from the person leaning over her.
"Lady are you alright?" He asked gently. Seeing confusion in her eyes, he switched tongues. "Hiril - Ú-gostach si beriach aen (Lady - fear not, you are safe now)." She could see his face now. Kind, green eyes glistened in the sun with a life welcome after the ordeal. He was not an elf, but his cheer was such that she could not say he had no elven blood in his veins. He had unusually dark hair, almost black, cut short except at the very back a thin braid ran down to his shoulder blades. Sitting her up against a tree, he still looked curiously into her eyes.
"Awarthach i laeth a si celich (Leave the cares you bear now)." He touched a graze the orc had made on Kathryn's forehead; his hand soothing the wound.
Kathryn was breathless and slightly bewildered, her mind refusing to comprehend the ambush and even more a rescuer. She tried to get up, using the tree to prop her up. "Hennaid. Ú-garon trenari i-'ell nin egor i chennaid nin.na pethar (Thank you. I cannot express my joy or my thanks in words)! Dan i-heniach im bell dúnien (But understand I am not helpless)." Her next words were such a contradiction to her last proud statement that she laughed even as she spoke them. "- awarthon i vegil nin (I forgot my sword)."
They both laughed. "May that well be a lesson to you lady." The man said in the Common speech, grinning.
Realising neither knew the other, Kathryn introduced herself. "Im Kathryn Taurrandiriel."
The man nodded, "Istannen le nin. Im Turion, elen sila lumenn' omentielvo (You are known to me. I am Turion, a star shines on the hour of our meeting)!" Placing a supporting arm around her waist, he led her back to Rivendell.
As they walked, they got to know one another better.
"That is a strange name, Kathryn, to be bestowed upon an elf." Turion began.
Kathryn smiled. "An elf? Nay I am not an elf, Rivendell was not even my childhood dwelling, though I spent much of my later years here, studying the knowledge elves lovingly gift, in between travels." Finishing she looked at him, "So what is your history?"
"I journey alone or with the Rangers of the lands, helping where I can. Much like your Estel."
"Very much like."
"So you say you are no elf? But you have many of the attributes of their kind."
"I am half elven, my mother was an elf maiden with the gift of foresight, my father, a Ranger. And you? You cannot deny the elven blood in your veins."
Turion smiled, but did not look at her, instead gazing ahead beyond the path they followed. "My mother was one of the remnants of the Dunedain - as your father. My father was from Harad, his side of the family dwelt in Umbar before it was won back by the Corsairs. Is that sufficient?"
Kathryn sighed, "And now we are both in Rivendell. Is it not strange how paths cross, and how a doorstep becomes a path, becoming a road, taking your feet faster and faster until you are far from home?"
This time it was Turion's turn to sigh, "And yet that is our fate, our road, is it not?" They walked in silence for a while, until he cast away the shadow fallen over their hearts with a smile. "Fear not my lady, we are in a safe place where no evil may reside."
"You really think so?" She questioned him. "I fear the power in this place is weakening, if orcs may break its boundaries. Imladris is supposed to be invisible to the Enemy, even if he knows we are here somewhere."
Turion stopped walking, keeping his firm yet comforting hold on her hand so she was pulled back with him. He brought her up close and laid one finger upon her lips. "Hush. Do not speak of such things now! Be happy while there is a place for it. Be loved while pure love dwells. For the love of the world is now mingled with grief, at in the times that we walk alone we should remember the happiness and love so we do not falter."
"True words." She said softly.
Smiling at the teasing sparkle ignited within his green eyes as they stared into Kathryn's own, she pushed him away gently and started walking the path back to Rivendell again. However her knees were shaking after a few paces. Thankfully he followed her and soon scooped her up into his arms with a grin.
At the edge of the woods they met Legolas and Estel, both of which had worried frowns and alert eyes. Legolas spotted them first and ran lightly over.
"Kathryn! What happened? After yesterday you should not have been venturing out of the woods!" He lifted her out of Turion's arms and held her, eyes searching for damage. He touched her forehead, feeling curiously the graze.
"What happened?" Estel spoke from behind Legolas.
"There were orcs in the wood." Turion replied.
"Orcs?" Legolas exclaimed, caressing the graze more.
"What happened?" Estel repeated, looking grimmer.
Turion saved Kathryn from delving into memory by recounting the event quietly to Estel and Legolas, as she sat on a rock not far off.
"You have our thanks, Turion." Estel spoke after much thought. "And I invite you to stay in Imladris for as long as you will before the wilderness calls you again. A council is to be held tomorrow, and people such as you would be welcomed with much gratitude." Legolas remained silent, looking at the newcomer thoughtfully.
Strong arms picked her up even as she struggled. A nauseating stench suffocated her, sweat and blood swarming up her nostrils and clouding her mind. Now recovering from her surprise she opened her mouth to scream for help, the pain in her side flaring, and cursed herself for leaving her sword in her room. A thick, dirty hand clamped onto her mouth and she choked on the foulness. Her captor slung her on his shoulder. Through her dimming eyes she could make out only one other creature. They resembled orcs, but were taller, and more muscular.
"Zg-ash?" The one who carried her snarled.
The other orc growled a guttural agreement. Blackness captured her vision, encompassing everything. She felt the orc take one step, and felt the blackness bring despair into her heart.
A clear voice sounded through the clearing, almost piercing the shroud of darkness on her mind. "Daro (Halt)! Put her down or you will be killed!" The blackness buffered her mind from sense, but she knew that that voice was the voice of a stranger.
There were defiant snarls from both the orcs and the screech of metal being readied for a fight. But immediately after their growls, there was a thunk of an arrow meeting flesh. His convulsions shook her along with him. With a last grunt he fell to the ground, releasing her.
Freedom was short lived however, and even as hope began to seep back within her, despair killed it. Uttering a savage cry, the second orc thrust her over his shoulder, and began to run. Just when she was about to surrender to darkness there was another thunk and, choking while clawing at the arrow in his throat, the orc also stumbled and fell, trapping her under its dead carcass.
Weakly she struggled, until she heard the light landing of feet nearby.
"Boe nin veriad lîn! Berio aniron (I need your help! Please help)!" He heaved the body off her and turned her round to face up. Kathryn could barely see, but light began to defeat the darkness, shining from the person leaning over her.
"Lady are you alright?" He asked gently. Seeing confusion in her eyes, he switched tongues. "Hiril - Ú-gostach si beriach aen (Lady - fear not, you are safe now)." She could see his face now. Kind, green eyes glistened in the sun with a life welcome after the ordeal. He was not an elf, but his cheer was such that she could not say he had no elven blood in his veins. He had unusually dark hair, almost black, cut short except at the very back a thin braid ran down to his shoulder blades. Sitting her up against a tree, he still looked curiously into her eyes.
"Awarthach i laeth a si celich (Leave the cares you bear now)." He touched a graze the orc had made on Kathryn's forehead; his hand soothing the wound.
Kathryn was breathless and slightly bewildered, her mind refusing to comprehend the ambush and even more a rescuer. She tried to get up, using the tree to prop her up. "Hennaid. Ú-garon trenari i-'ell nin egor i chennaid nin.na pethar (Thank you. I cannot express my joy or my thanks in words)! Dan i-heniach im bell dúnien (But understand I am not helpless)." Her next words were such a contradiction to her last proud statement that she laughed even as she spoke them. "- awarthon i vegil nin (I forgot my sword)."
They both laughed. "May that well be a lesson to you lady." The man said in the Common speech, grinning.
Realising neither knew the other, Kathryn introduced herself. "Im Kathryn Taurrandiriel."
The man nodded, "Istannen le nin. Im Turion, elen sila lumenn' omentielvo (You are known to me. I am Turion, a star shines on the hour of our meeting)!" Placing a supporting arm around her waist, he led her back to Rivendell.
As they walked, they got to know one another better.
"That is a strange name, Kathryn, to be bestowed upon an elf." Turion began.
Kathryn smiled. "An elf? Nay I am not an elf, Rivendell was not even my childhood dwelling, though I spent much of my later years here, studying the knowledge elves lovingly gift, in between travels." Finishing she looked at him, "So what is your history?"
"I journey alone or with the Rangers of the lands, helping where I can. Much like your Estel."
"Very much like."
"So you say you are no elf? But you have many of the attributes of their kind."
"I am half elven, my mother was an elf maiden with the gift of foresight, my father, a Ranger. And you? You cannot deny the elven blood in your veins."
Turion smiled, but did not look at her, instead gazing ahead beyond the path they followed. "My mother was one of the remnants of the Dunedain - as your father. My father was from Harad, his side of the family dwelt in Umbar before it was won back by the Corsairs. Is that sufficient?"
Kathryn sighed, "And now we are both in Rivendell. Is it not strange how paths cross, and how a doorstep becomes a path, becoming a road, taking your feet faster and faster until you are far from home?"
This time it was Turion's turn to sigh, "And yet that is our fate, our road, is it not?" They walked in silence for a while, until he cast away the shadow fallen over their hearts with a smile. "Fear not my lady, we are in a safe place where no evil may reside."
"You really think so?" She questioned him. "I fear the power in this place is weakening, if orcs may break its boundaries. Imladris is supposed to be invisible to the Enemy, even if he knows we are here somewhere."
Turion stopped walking, keeping his firm yet comforting hold on her hand so she was pulled back with him. He brought her up close and laid one finger upon her lips. "Hush. Do not speak of such things now! Be happy while there is a place for it. Be loved while pure love dwells. For the love of the world is now mingled with grief, at in the times that we walk alone we should remember the happiness and love so we do not falter."
"True words." She said softly.
Smiling at the teasing sparkle ignited within his green eyes as they stared into Kathryn's own, she pushed him away gently and started walking the path back to Rivendell again. However her knees were shaking after a few paces. Thankfully he followed her and soon scooped her up into his arms with a grin.
At the edge of the woods they met Legolas and Estel, both of which had worried frowns and alert eyes. Legolas spotted them first and ran lightly over.
"Kathryn! What happened? After yesterday you should not have been venturing out of the woods!" He lifted her out of Turion's arms and held her, eyes searching for damage. He touched her forehead, feeling curiously the graze.
"What happened?" Estel spoke from behind Legolas.
"There were orcs in the wood." Turion replied.
"Orcs?" Legolas exclaimed, caressing the graze more.
"What happened?" Estel repeated, looking grimmer.
Turion saved Kathryn from delving into memory by recounting the event quietly to Estel and Legolas, as she sat on a rock not far off.
"You have our thanks, Turion." Estel spoke after much thought. "And I invite you to stay in Imladris for as long as you will before the wilderness calls you again. A council is to be held tomorrow, and people such as you would be welcomed with much gratitude." Legolas remained silent, looking at the newcomer thoughtfully.