Disclaimer : I do not claim ownership of any of Tolkien's characters other
than the characters I have created myself.
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An Echo of Tears - Outcasted Shadow
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Chapter VI : Truth and Lies
"Well? Why did you do that? Worse than anything your friends could have said! You have put your foot in it! Or should I say your finger?"
Strider's tone was tense and firm. In a matter of moments, the hobbit looked quite alarmed and frightened. Aeryn felt her heart reach out to him. Poor guy, he was under so much pressure and seemed so vulnerable.
"I don't know what you mean."
"Oh yes, you do. But we had better wait until the uproar has died down. Then, if you please, Mr. Baggins, I should like a quiet word with you." Baggins? But wasn't his sire name supposedly Underhill? Aeryn was getting utterly lost in the dark. She waited only seconds after the Hobbit and Strider had stopped debating until she grabbed the sleeve of Strider's cloak and whispered.
"You lost me a few sentences back. Could you please explain what is going on here?" Strider looked at her from underneath his hood, gray eyes intense.
"Later. Later you will understand everything."
"I better."
*******************
The parlour was tight and airy, the shadows dancing across the floorboards. Now, why was she sitting here in a rusty chair drearily waiting for a hobbit? No thanks to Strider no doubt. The sudden sounds of footfalls caused Aeryn to stiffen and cease her restless thoughts. Could it be the hobbits? Someone else? There was chatter amidst the short figures making their way towards them. Ah, so it was the hobbits. She watched as the little men puffed up the embers into a blaze, the fire crackling with energy. Then, one of them looked up and noticed herself and Strider sitting by the door.
"Hallo! Who are you and what do you want?"
Before Aeryn could open her mouth to scold the Hobbit of his rudeness, Strider answered in a monotone. "I am called Strider and here beside me is my friend, Swift. He may not remember it but your friend over there promised to have a quiet talk with me afterwards."
Raising an eyebrow, Aeryn got up and left the two to argue and debate amongst them. She would hear the explanation afterwards when she was alone with Strider. With quick precise steps Aeryn hurried out of the parlour and outside of the Prancing Pony. How she dreaded that place! Leaning against the walls, Aeryn breathed in the faint wisp of nature. How she missed Mirkwood and its greenery! A sudden gust of cool air knocked her hood back so that her long sable hair tumbled out in waves to her waist. Forgetting her need to disguise herself for a minute, Aeryn closed her eyes and let the wind caress her face.
"Now there, what's a beauty like you standing out here all alone?"
Stiffening, Aeryn opened her eyes and turned around to face a man grinning at her, the stench of his breath overpowering. Obviously, this man had had too much butterbeer to drink.
"To enjoy the scenery of course."
The laugh burst out, his voice deep and rumbling. "Ah, laddie. There ain't no pretty scenery here. Not after those Orcs started coming from Mordor. Filthy little creatures. Unless of course, you were talking about yourself. With you standing against this dump, it sure becomes a nice piece of scenery." The gold winked from his tooth as he wiggled his eyebrows at her, his stomach bouncing over his belt.
Was it just her imagination, or was he inching closer to her with every passing minute? And where was Strider? Their little talk should be finished by now and he should be looking for her. Not that she couldn't handle this brute by herself.
"If you will excuse me sir, I would like to go back inside." Giving a polite smile, Aeryn tried discreetly to creep past him.
"Oh no, not yet. If you don't mind, I'd like to have some company."
Company? As in what kind? Well, whatever he meant, it must not be very pleasant.
"I do mind."
"Well then, what's there to be afraid of? Me?" The jolly laugh came from deep inside his throat. The man must be insane. "Your eyes are a mighty odd color they are. Plenty beautiful of course. Like you are laddie."
Her eyes! She'd forgotten to put her hood back up. No wonder he'd noticed her. Her eyes were never very subtle for their unusual coloring. Decidedly ignoring his streaming questions, Aeryn once again stepped away from him, carefully covering herself up with the hood.
"Excuse me sir. I would like to go back inside if you please." The words were firm and demanding. Either the man didn't hear and word of what she said or was purposely ignoring her.
"Think you would be interested in sharing a bed? A couch? Anything would do!" Joyously, the man took another look swig of his bottle.
The light suddenly seemed to dawn on her. He wanted her to sleep with him! What did he think she was? A prostitute, whore? The nerve of him! Grinding her teeth together, Aeryn glared at the man through furious eyes.
"I am absolutely not interested in sharing anything with you. I should not even be talking to you right now! Now, if you will excuse me, I have someone to speak to. Move aside or I will make you wish you were never born." The threat hung in the air, fed the tension.
"Now now, if you were that impatient, why didn't you tell good ol' Curtly? I wouldn't have wasted so much time talking." He reached out for her, arms swinging for an embrace.
Impatient? When hell freezes over, snarled Aeryn. That was the last straw, ladylike or not, she was going to send him a good solid kick below the belt.
"Ahoy, Swift? You out there?" Strider's voice pierced through Aeryn's thoughts. Oh, now he comes when I'm about to beat this man up good. This Ranger has the worst timing.
"Over here." Giving the tippy man one last menacing glare, she stalked back over to Strider's awaiting form.
"Where were you? I was looking all over." Strider lifted one eyebrow at the drunken man outside.
Reading his thoughts, Aeryn sniffed. "It was nothing like that! He just comes out with a bottle and the smell of man. Disgusting jerk. Now, explain to me what is going on here. Now."
*******************
"So this is what is happening. Such horror." The murmur escaped from her mouth before she realized it. Grimly, Strider nodded in agreement.
"So you are Aragorn, son of Arathorn?" Aeryn repeated the name Strider had spoken of, rolling the word around her tongue. Certainly, the Man's tongue was quite different from the Elven Tongue. Thankfully, being a bookworm as a child and all, she'd learned how to speak and listen to Man's tongue fluently.
"That is correct."
"And we are being chased by these so called Black Riders."
Aragorn mumbled a response. "Now that we have found the Ringbearer, we must guide him safely to Rivendell where all is awaiting his arrival."
Aeryn's ear perked up. "We? You mean, me and you?"
"Of course. Who else?"
"But I don't have any weapons!"
Strider gave an easy smile. "Yes you do. They were tied up with your horse along with clean clothes and other sorts of things. Or do you forget what you have packed before you met me?"
Oh yeah, her mare. "I simply forgot for a moment. Where are the Hobbits?"
"They are in the room I rented upstairs. Come, we must rest now and prepare ourselves for the journey ahead."
Wearily, Aeryn let Strider take her arm and guide her upstairs.
*******************
Aeryn sat up in bed, senses alert and racing. There seemed to be hoofbeats and the chilling noise of wind battering against the houses of Bree. She picked up the shrill cry of a whinny and the faint tinkling sound of reins. Black Riders? She wasn't frightened. Not really since she had never heard of or seen such creatures as horrible as the others described. Glancing around, Aeryn let her gaze sweep over the four snoring Hobbits. Since Aragorn had filled her in with the slightest details, she would no doubt know their names by now. Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin. Such odd names and so different from the names of Elves in Mirkwood. It took only the quick catch of her eye in the dark to see the Hobbit, Frodo, shift around in the crickety bed, blue eyes glowing in the shadows of the room. It was then that their eyes made contact. Aeryn could feel the Hobbit's shock at her oddly colored eyes. Hopefully, the feminine colors wouldn't give away her gender. It could be dangerous if they knew of her as a female. Who knows if they'll try to take advantage of such a thing?
Aeryn was silent as Frodo's eyes broke contact with hers and looked over to where Strider sat, wide awake. With a quiet sigh, Aeryn once again escaped into dreamless sleep.
*******************
The cold air crawled along her skin, brushing against it. Shivering, Aeryn awoke to find herself in the middle of a shadowed room. The panic rushed in first. Where was she? Who were these people that slept close to her? The thoughts zoomed in until her head felt queasy. In answer, Aeryn clutched her head with both hands. The memories came back to her in a rush. Black Riders. Mordor. Sauron. Rivendell. She had to get to Rivendell to reunite with Legolas and Rathien. Blindly, Aeryn got out of bed and reached around for her mare. Where was her ride? How was she going to get to Rivendell without a ride? Unaware of her still unfocused state, Aeryn tripped over the side of a bed and tumbled onto a snoring figure. Well, he wasn't snoring anymore.
"What do you think you're doing?" Sam Gamgee glared at her, blond hair in a mass of confusion on his head. Eyes clearing, Aeryn awoke from her dreamlike state and stifled a laugh at the appearance of the young Hobbit. Boy, did he look ruffled.
"Apologies sir. I was merely sleepwalking."
Grinning inwardly in her cloak, Aeryn untangled herself from Sam and stretched. Unknowingly, her hood had slipped off once again during the night and her hair was already raining down upon her back.
"Why, who are you? You are not only an elf, but a female one also!"
Gasping, Aeryn whirled around to find her hair in strands down her back. This is going to be trouble. How was she going to explain this one? By now, Frodo, Merry, and Pippin were staring at her, eyes wide in shock.
*******************
Writer's Note: So, how did you find this chapter? Please review to tell me! The next chapter will be out soon!
Preview of Chapter VII:
Strider burst in the room, just in the nick of time to see Aeryn standing in the middle of the room, hair straight as rain tumbling down her back. In the light, it seemed almost exactly like polished ebony. Raven black. If it weren't for Arwen, love of his life, mused Aragorn, he would certainly consider this one as quite attractive. Very attractive.
"The Black Riders have been searching for us. We must move swiftly and quickly. I have already gone down to the stables. The horses are missing. We must travel by foot."
*******************
An Echo of Tears - Outcasted Shadow
*******************
Chapter VI : Truth and Lies
"Well? Why did you do that? Worse than anything your friends could have said! You have put your foot in it! Or should I say your finger?"
Strider's tone was tense and firm. In a matter of moments, the hobbit looked quite alarmed and frightened. Aeryn felt her heart reach out to him. Poor guy, he was under so much pressure and seemed so vulnerable.
"I don't know what you mean."
"Oh yes, you do. But we had better wait until the uproar has died down. Then, if you please, Mr. Baggins, I should like a quiet word with you." Baggins? But wasn't his sire name supposedly Underhill? Aeryn was getting utterly lost in the dark. She waited only seconds after the Hobbit and Strider had stopped debating until she grabbed the sleeve of Strider's cloak and whispered.
"You lost me a few sentences back. Could you please explain what is going on here?" Strider looked at her from underneath his hood, gray eyes intense.
"Later. Later you will understand everything."
"I better."
*******************
The parlour was tight and airy, the shadows dancing across the floorboards. Now, why was she sitting here in a rusty chair drearily waiting for a hobbit? No thanks to Strider no doubt. The sudden sounds of footfalls caused Aeryn to stiffen and cease her restless thoughts. Could it be the hobbits? Someone else? There was chatter amidst the short figures making their way towards them. Ah, so it was the hobbits. She watched as the little men puffed up the embers into a blaze, the fire crackling with energy. Then, one of them looked up and noticed herself and Strider sitting by the door.
"Hallo! Who are you and what do you want?"
Before Aeryn could open her mouth to scold the Hobbit of his rudeness, Strider answered in a monotone. "I am called Strider and here beside me is my friend, Swift. He may not remember it but your friend over there promised to have a quiet talk with me afterwards."
Raising an eyebrow, Aeryn got up and left the two to argue and debate amongst them. She would hear the explanation afterwards when she was alone with Strider. With quick precise steps Aeryn hurried out of the parlour and outside of the Prancing Pony. How she dreaded that place! Leaning against the walls, Aeryn breathed in the faint wisp of nature. How she missed Mirkwood and its greenery! A sudden gust of cool air knocked her hood back so that her long sable hair tumbled out in waves to her waist. Forgetting her need to disguise herself for a minute, Aeryn closed her eyes and let the wind caress her face.
"Now there, what's a beauty like you standing out here all alone?"
Stiffening, Aeryn opened her eyes and turned around to face a man grinning at her, the stench of his breath overpowering. Obviously, this man had had too much butterbeer to drink.
"To enjoy the scenery of course."
The laugh burst out, his voice deep and rumbling. "Ah, laddie. There ain't no pretty scenery here. Not after those Orcs started coming from Mordor. Filthy little creatures. Unless of course, you were talking about yourself. With you standing against this dump, it sure becomes a nice piece of scenery." The gold winked from his tooth as he wiggled his eyebrows at her, his stomach bouncing over his belt.
Was it just her imagination, or was he inching closer to her with every passing minute? And where was Strider? Their little talk should be finished by now and he should be looking for her. Not that she couldn't handle this brute by herself.
"If you will excuse me sir, I would like to go back inside." Giving a polite smile, Aeryn tried discreetly to creep past him.
"Oh no, not yet. If you don't mind, I'd like to have some company."
Company? As in what kind? Well, whatever he meant, it must not be very pleasant.
"I do mind."
"Well then, what's there to be afraid of? Me?" The jolly laugh came from deep inside his throat. The man must be insane. "Your eyes are a mighty odd color they are. Plenty beautiful of course. Like you are laddie."
Her eyes! She'd forgotten to put her hood back up. No wonder he'd noticed her. Her eyes were never very subtle for their unusual coloring. Decidedly ignoring his streaming questions, Aeryn once again stepped away from him, carefully covering herself up with the hood.
"Excuse me sir. I would like to go back inside if you please." The words were firm and demanding. Either the man didn't hear and word of what she said or was purposely ignoring her.
"Think you would be interested in sharing a bed? A couch? Anything would do!" Joyously, the man took another look swig of his bottle.
The light suddenly seemed to dawn on her. He wanted her to sleep with him! What did he think she was? A prostitute, whore? The nerve of him! Grinding her teeth together, Aeryn glared at the man through furious eyes.
"I am absolutely not interested in sharing anything with you. I should not even be talking to you right now! Now, if you will excuse me, I have someone to speak to. Move aside or I will make you wish you were never born." The threat hung in the air, fed the tension.
"Now now, if you were that impatient, why didn't you tell good ol' Curtly? I wouldn't have wasted so much time talking." He reached out for her, arms swinging for an embrace.
Impatient? When hell freezes over, snarled Aeryn. That was the last straw, ladylike or not, she was going to send him a good solid kick below the belt.
"Ahoy, Swift? You out there?" Strider's voice pierced through Aeryn's thoughts. Oh, now he comes when I'm about to beat this man up good. This Ranger has the worst timing.
"Over here." Giving the tippy man one last menacing glare, she stalked back over to Strider's awaiting form.
"Where were you? I was looking all over." Strider lifted one eyebrow at the drunken man outside.
Reading his thoughts, Aeryn sniffed. "It was nothing like that! He just comes out with a bottle and the smell of man. Disgusting jerk. Now, explain to me what is going on here. Now."
*******************
"So this is what is happening. Such horror." The murmur escaped from her mouth before she realized it. Grimly, Strider nodded in agreement.
"So you are Aragorn, son of Arathorn?" Aeryn repeated the name Strider had spoken of, rolling the word around her tongue. Certainly, the Man's tongue was quite different from the Elven Tongue. Thankfully, being a bookworm as a child and all, she'd learned how to speak and listen to Man's tongue fluently.
"That is correct."
"And we are being chased by these so called Black Riders."
Aragorn mumbled a response. "Now that we have found the Ringbearer, we must guide him safely to Rivendell where all is awaiting his arrival."
Aeryn's ear perked up. "We? You mean, me and you?"
"Of course. Who else?"
"But I don't have any weapons!"
Strider gave an easy smile. "Yes you do. They were tied up with your horse along with clean clothes and other sorts of things. Or do you forget what you have packed before you met me?"
Oh yeah, her mare. "I simply forgot for a moment. Where are the Hobbits?"
"They are in the room I rented upstairs. Come, we must rest now and prepare ourselves for the journey ahead."
Wearily, Aeryn let Strider take her arm and guide her upstairs.
*******************
Aeryn sat up in bed, senses alert and racing. There seemed to be hoofbeats and the chilling noise of wind battering against the houses of Bree. She picked up the shrill cry of a whinny and the faint tinkling sound of reins. Black Riders? She wasn't frightened. Not really since she had never heard of or seen such creatures as horrible as the others described. Glancing around, Aeryn let her gaze sweep over the four snoring Hobbits. Since Aragorn had filled her in with the slightest details, she would no doubt know their names by now. Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin. Such odd names and so different from the names of Elves in Mirkwood. It took only the quick catch of her eye in the dark to see the Hobbit, Frodo, shift around in the crickety bed, blue eyes glowing in the shadows of the room. It was then that their eyes made contact. Aeryn could feel the Hobbit's shock at her oddly colored eyes. Hopefully, the feminine colors wouldn't give away her gender. It could be dangerous if they knew of her as a female. Who knows if they'll try to take advantage of such a thing?
Aeryn was silent as Frodo's eyes broke contact with hers and looked over to where Strider sat, wide awake. With a quiet sigh, Aeryn once again escaped into dreamless sleep.
*******************
The cold air crawled along her skin, brushing against it. Shivering, Aeryn awoke to find herself in the middle of a shadowed room. The panic rushed in first. Where was she? Who were these people that slept close to her? The thoughts zoomed in until her head felt queasy. In answer, Aeryn clutched her head with both hands. The memories came back to her in a rush. Black Riders. Mordor. Sauron. Rivendell. She had to get to Rivendell to reunite with Legolas and Rathien. Blindly, Aeryn got out of bed and reached around for her mare. Where was her ride? How was she going to get to Rivendell without a ride? Unaware of her still unfocused state, Aeryn tripped over the side of a bed and tumbled onto a snoring figure. Well, he wasn't snoring anymore.
"What do you think you're doing?" Sam Gamgee glared at her, blond hair in a mass of confusion on his head. Eyes clearing, Aeryn awoke from her dreamlike state and stifled a laugh at the appearance of the young Hobbit. Boy, did he look ruffled.
"Apologies sir. I was merely sleepwalking."
Grinning inwardly in her cloak, Aeryn untangled herself from Sam and stretched. Unknowingly, her hood had slipped off once again during the night and her hair was already raining down upon her back.
"Why, who are you? You are not only an elf, but a female one also!"
Gasping, Aeryn whirled around to find her hair in strands down her back. This is going to be trouble. How was she going to explain this one? By now, Frodo, Merry, and Pippin were staring at her, eyes wide in shock.
*******************
Writer's Note: So, how did you find this chapter? Please review to tell me! The next chapter will be out soon!
Preview of Chapter VII:
Strider burst in the room, just in the nick of time to see Aeryn standing in the middle of the room, hair straight as rain tumbling down her back. In the light, it seemed almost exactly like polished ebony. Raven black. If it weren't for Arwen, love of his life, mused Aragorn, he would certainly consider this one as quite attractive. Very attractive.
"The Black Riders have been searching for us. We must move swiftly and quickly. I have already gone down to the stables. The horses are missing. We must travel by foot."