The Choices We Make
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Chapter 15 Sojourn
With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts.
- Eleanor Roosevelt
******
"Everyone back off and settle down for the day!" Nadina's voice broke into the silence.
Everyone stood transfixed staring at her aghast and didn't budge.
"Move it!" she yelled rising up above the prostrate ranger like a wrothful storm.*
At the sight of Nadina all of the orcs scrambled to the corners of the cave to settle down. She wheeled around on Grimnosh with a scowl.
"What do you think you are doing?"
"Err... calm downs. I wasn't going to kills the elf! Everything was under control until you broke in."
Nadina's eyes flared at the statement and Grimnosh took an unconscious step back.
"Under control? Everything was under control? I do not call you bashing the elf against the wall under control!"
"You!" Nadina wheeled around and pointed a delicate arm at Nakash, still shivering and picking himself up off the floor, which made him jump.
"Move the human over next to the elf."
Then she turned to Radoc and spoke loud enough for the rest in the orcs in the cave to hear her.
"Radoc stay here. You have my consent to eat anyone who even looks in the direction of the elf again."
Nadina turned back to Grimnosh.
"I thought you would at least know better, but apparently I was mistaken."
"Like I said, I wasn't goin' to kill the elf. We were just going over his behavior."
Nadina rolled her translucent eyes, but couldn't hold back the lopsided grin. She wasn't so sure that the orc would have stopped before he battered the elf into mush. Either way it didn't really matter as long as he got the message.
"Maybe, maybe not. I know how orcs detest elves, but that is not my problem. I do not care if you are rough with either of them or even if you like to harass them. They are your prisoners after all. But my master wants them both alive, so I do care if you kill either one of them!" Nadina hissed out the last part.
"Alrights, alrights, I understand."
"I hope that you do because I will not be so patient the next time."
Grimnosh gave Nadina a slight nod. The ghostly figure cast one more icy look at the orc and then melted away. 'That wasn't so bad.' Grimnosh had expected a much lengthier lecture. He glanced at the prisoners and Radoc. The warg had laid down right in front of the two and when Grimnosh looked at him he could swear the warg looked back through narrowed eyes. So he had taken up position as a 'guard dog.'
'I may not be able to kill either one of them,' he thought as an evil grin slowly spread over his face, 'but they might be surprised what you can live through.'
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The morning fog playfully caressed the trees of Mirkwood as it silently swayed around them. The sun was reaching its zenith and still the fog refused to abandon its nestled position amongst the trees giving the forest an eerie luster. The white mist danced and curled around the gates to an underground palace.
In the halls of that palace an elfmaid strolled lightly down the corridor where the royal chambers were located humming quietly to herself. Her golden hair shone like the rising sun and was pulled back into a single gentle braid that stretched down to her waist. In all appearance she matched the fair features of her Silvan kin down to her pale green dress, except for her eyes, which were different for one so light featured. Her eyes were of a deep brown and not the usual shade of blue. She rounded the corner and saw one of the servant girls carrying a tray heading her way from a side hall.
"'Quel amrun, Elenna,"* said the elfmaid brightly. //Good morning//
"Mae govannen, hirilamin," Elenna replied with a slight bow. //Well met, my lady//
The two elves continued on, one walking and one strolling.
"Lovely morning is it not? I just love misty mornings."
"It would be, my lady," Elenna sighed, "if it were not for my destination."
The golden-haired elf could easily guess Elenna's 'destination.' She was carrying a tray full of the King's favorite fruits, bread, and her keen nose caught the sent of one of Mirkwood's sweeter wines coming from the decanter.
"You sound as if you were heading to the chambers of the dark lord himself," she teased.
"If only I were so lucky," Elenna said with a twinkle in her eyes.
The two maids shared a giggle until Elenna turned series again.
"Your uncle has been pent up in his chamber all morning and has not come out at all."
The golden-haired maiden had a feeling she could make a good guess at what would make her uncle so irritable.
"What has befallen?"
The servant stopped to look around and the two women conspiratorially moved a little closer together. Elenna could always be counted on to have the latest gossip.
"Apparently the scouting party returned during the early morning hours and when they did one of them awoke the King. Three of the group even arrived back riding different horses. One of the stable hands said he is sure they are Rivendell mounts and that he recognized one of them as the Lord Elrohir's horse."
The golden-haired maid nodded her head at the news. Elves did not normally just swap horses unless it was urgent. Hmm, well, were there was one there was the other, so Elladan must have been one of the other three in such a hurry. Who was the third one? It obviously wasn't her cousin, because he has left for Rivendell on his own horse and the message he had sent out from there told that he would be traveling by foot, where ever he was going, with his human friend. Well, whatever was going on could not be good if it put her uncle in such an unpleasant mood that Elenna was reluctant to go to his chamber. 'What have you gotten yourself into now cousin,' she thought with a sigh.
She turned to her friend and smiled.
"Uuma dela mellonamin, ona ta a' amin," she said kindly has she held out her hands for the tray. //Don't worry my friend, give it to me//
Elenna smiled gratefully back and handed it over.
"Cormlle naa tanya tel' raa, lle sinta?" Elenna said playfully. //Your heart is that of the lion, you know?//
The golden-haired maid laughed and continued down the hall. Her uncle seemed to intimidate most of the palace residents, which she never quite understood. After all, the King had never before beheaded anyone who disturbed him. 'Yet,' she added with a wry smile.
*****
King Thranduil of Mirkwood stood staring out one of the windows in his chambers absentmindedly holding a small object in his left hand. 'So much as changed,' he lamented as he watched the fog roll around the trees. Around the forest of Mirkwood. So called for a little over a millennia now. With its abominable spiders and fouler thing prowling around the southern half ever trying to push northward. Thranduil sighed. The same darkness that made the once grand Greenwood the Great seem no longer fair to his wife. One of the reasons he was left to worry here alone waiting for word of his son. What drew his son to that ranger? After what happened to Celebrian it was obvious why Elrond's sons chose to travel with them, but why Legolas?
A gentle knock at the door brought Thranduil out of his speculations and he turned from the window.
"Mani?" he snapped.. //What?//
The door opened and he was surprised to see his niece enter with a tray. She walked over to one of the tables and sat it down smiling brightly the whole time. She silently walked over and stood next to Thranduil.
"Taking up chores now I see Nienor?"* he asked lifting an eyebrow in her direction.
"Someone must when you have all of the servants feeling like they are entering Mordor when they come to this section."
Thranduil knew that no one else besides her or Legolas had the nerve to remind him of his temper. For anyone else he probably would have gotten angry over such a statement, but he could not with Nienor. Besides the hair color she looked and acted, right down to her boldness and teasing humor, too much like Laurrina. She was his niece only by marriage and not by blood. The resemblances between the two women always calmed and saddened him at the same time.
Nienor knew what her uncle was thinking; she recognized that look. She saw it every time he thought about her father's sister. There was something else behind the sadness, though. For the second time that morning she asked herself what her cousin had gotten himself into. She was almost afraid to ask, but she needed to know. Even though Legolas was her cousin they were still childhood friends. As they were the only two children at the time, and still some would say, in the royal family. The smile dropped from her face and her expression turned series.
"Are Elrohir and Elladan going to Legolas or is that something else?"
Thranduil sighed again. He hadn't told anyone about the twins and Glorfindel riding to Legolas and Estel's aid, so naturally the entire palace probably knew about it.
"Ays, hen, they are. Glorfindel was with them as well." //yes, child//
Nienor's eyes widened a bit at that.
"What is going on?"
Thranduil turned back to face the window.
"I do not know. Apparently they ran across our scouts quite accidentally and they did not have time to explain. They were headed in the same direction as the large band of orcs and time was of the essences. Although it is not customary three of our warrior lent them their fresher horses to speed their journey. All I know is their destination is Angmar and they will reach the border today."
Nienor took her uncle's hand in hers and smiled as he turned to face her once more.
"Fate has already decided what is to happen. All we can do is wait as it unfolds, but we will wait together."
******
The wind was howling through the grass and around the base of the Hithaeglir Mountains as three travelers entered the land of Angmar.
Upon entering Angmar Glorfindel, Elladan, and Elrohir dismounted together and the twins rounded their horses to stand next to the older elf whom was staring to the north. Although none of them wanted to stop the horses needed a rest if they were expected to keep up such a pace. The Mirkwood horses were not overly thrilled to carry strange riders, but their masters wished them to carry the strange elves so they would do so. The horses sensed the urgency of their new riders and the whole situation made them somewhat skittish.
Elrohir wanted to get to Estel and Legolas as soon as possible, but he was grateful to have his feet on the ground if only for a little while. He was sure that the beast he was ridding hated him. He had never had a problem with a horse before and he was a very skilled rider. After all, his name had to deal with horses! A fact that gave Elladan much amusement as they rode. He had thought his brother was going to topple off of his horse with laughter at one point. He glanced at the older elf that had not turned to face them yet.
"What it is?" Elrohir spoke above the wind.
The fair-haired elf slowly tore his gaze back towards the two younger ones.
"I am sure you will feel it soon enough, but evil permeates from the north. I do not know if it radiates from something still there or if the land is simply scared from its time under the Nazgul."
"Or maybe both."
"Now that we are here where are we to go?" Elladan chimed in.
"Aragorn and Legolas were here to scout only, so I would guess they would follow the mountains northward, which is what we will do. If we spot no sign of them shortly they have probably been taken captive. Of old when the Witch-King ruled this land there was a strong hold at Carn Dum. If anyone still occupies this land it would be from there and that shall be our next destination."
Elladan and Elrohir nodded in consent trusting in their companion's judgement. They would ride all the way to the old capital if that were where Estel and Legolas were. None of then voiced the unspoken questions that ran through each of their thoughts. If Carn Dum was a stronghold still how were they supposed to get them out? And more importantly, what if Estel and Legolas were never taken prisoner?
"What about ada?" Elladan shouted over a gust of wind.
"I do not feel any watchful presence here, so not yet. Let us hope that it will not be needed at all for it might not work."
"Needed or not, work or not, I will still go all the way to Carn Dum if I must," Elladan said determinedly.
Glorfindel smiled at the younger elf. It looked like stubbornness ran in the family.
*****
"Where in Elbereth's name are we?" Aragorn mumbled to himself.
After coming to his senses once more he momentarily panicked that he had gone blind. Only to feel like a dolt when he realized he was simply lying in the dark. As Aragorn's eyes adjusted to the gloom he was fairly certain he was in a cave, but as dark as the forest had been one could never be too sure. He did know that his hands were bound, though. He attempted to bring them up to his face when they bumped into something. As he groped in the darkness his hands slid against the cool surface of stone. That settles it then. He was in a cave and facing the wall. No wonder he couldn't see anything. Forgetting the wall he finished bringing his hands up to his aching head and winced at the touch. Most of the left side of his face from the top of his forehead down past his cheek was warm. That could only mean one thing. The left side of his face was bruised.
How in Middle Earth did he accomplish that? Aragorn searched back through his memories. He remembered chasing Legolas through the dark and preparing to fight warg riders. With some effort he remembered seeing a human. That was it. One of the riders was a human and he had hesitated. He remembered being hauled through the air towards a tree and that was it. Considering how battered he felt he must have made contact with the tree.
Aragorn stifled a groan and slowly rolled over away from the wall. He had to briefly shut his eyes as a wave of nausea passed. Opening his eyes he noticed two things. One was a faint glow coming from the room's only light source and the other was an enormous warg lying right beyond that light source. The glow was coming from Legolas. The elf was lying on his stomach with his head turned toward Aragorn. Gritting his teeth Aragorn scooted closer to the elf. The warg's eyes snapped open and Aragorn froze. He was unsure what to do. The warg's eye was focused on him, but it made no sign of moving from its position. If his friend were conscious his sharp hearing would have no trouble hearing his quiet call.
"Legolas," he whispered.
Legolas did not stir and neither did the watchful warg.
"Legolas, can you hear me?" he whispered again.
Whispering to a friend with a sharp eye fixed on him Aragorn suddenly felt like a child trying to hold a conversation with another child during a lesson while trying not being caught. That, as was this, was impossible. 'Oh well.' Aragorn brought his bound hand underneath him a gingerly pushed himself up into a sitting position. When he rose so too did the warg's head. They both held still silently staring at each other. Not knowing if the thing would understand him or not Aragorn spoke quietly to the beast.
"I am not trying to escape. I merely wish to move closer to my friend."
The warg showed no sign of whether he understood, so Aragorn slowly and deliberately pulled himself closer to Legolas while watching the warg. The creature seemed to narrow his eyes at the ranger as he moved, but it held it place. Aragorn reached the elf's side and released the breath he was holding. The warg was still watching him, however, it seemed to be satisfied that the human wasn't going anywhere and it laid it's head back down on its paws while it kept vigil.
Aragorn bent over and with his bound hands swept Legolas' hair out of his face. Aragorn had to frown at what he saw. His friend looked as bad as he felt. Legolas eyes were closed and he was absolutely pallid. Aragorn winced when he saw the dark bruises on his friend's neck. His jaw clinched in anger as he noticed one of the sources. A rope was tied around the elf's neck, which Aragorn promptly removed. 'Loathsome creatures.' He couldn't examine his friend very well in the dark and so couldn't tell the extent of his injuries. What he could do was check his friend's pulse, which was surprisingly high, and when he laid his hand against his wrist he noticed his temperature was too low.
Aragorn couldn't remember being brought here, wherever here was, but he suspected it was day outside and that was why they were in a cave. They most likely settled in hear before the sun rose. Aragorn was getting extremely tired of the dark so it must be really getting to his elven companion by now. Legolas had very nearly snapped from it earlier. He really needed to get his friend outside even if only for a little while. Aragorn placed a hand to the elf's forehead and he couldn't keep the worry out of his eyes when Legolas cringed slightly at the touch. What dark thoughts were plaguing his friend's mind? They really needed to get out of here. He looked around and spotted sunlight trickling in across the far side of the chamber they were in. The cave entrance must be over there. The faint light pouring in from the unseen entrance lit the chamber just enough to see by and for Aragorn to notice all of the sleeping figures for the first time. Great, they were stuck in a cave with a bunch of orcs. He was never going to hear the end of it when Elladan found out about this.
He could at least make his friend more comfortable by turning him over. He would have to untie his hands first, though, and Aragorn wondered why Legolas' hands were bound behind his back while his was bound in front. 'Probably because I was not awake to cause trouble,' he thought with a slight smile. Apparently Legolas had been awake and they, whoever they were, had learned their lesson about tying an elf's hands in front. After he turned his friend over Aragorn planned to work on his own problem with the rope. The ranger had just touch the binding on Legolas hands when a throaty voice came out of nowhere making him jump.
"I do not think Grimnosh will agree with that, human."
Aragorn turned toward the source of the voice and nearly fell over at what he saw. There was a spirit of some source talking to him!
"Who...what, are you?"
Nadina gave the human a wry grin.
"That human you don't really need to know. What you should know is that the orc in charge of escorting you has a short temper and he will not be pleased if you untie your friend. He has already tried Grimnosh's patience once today. So unless you want to end up like your friend I would suggest that you stop."
On the inside Aragorn flared with anger towards this Grimnosh creature. He was most likely the one responsible for the bruises around the elf's neck and who know what else happened while the ranger was unconscious. Stubbornly Aragorn began to undo the rope around his friend's wrist.
"I care not whether such a foul creature as an orc would like it or not," he growled.
The warg beside of Aragorn picked its head up and Aragorn turned in the direction it was looking. He saw an orc scuffling in their direction. His eyes burned as he wondered if this particular orc was the leader. The orc approached the four and looked at the warg warily. He inched slowly closer while talking to the beast.
"Nice Radoc, good wargie. Nakash is only here's to gives the human this. Nakash is supposed to when theys wake up."
Nakash inched close to the prisoners and stopped a good distance away. These wargs hated him and he didn't want to give this particularly big one a reason to eat him. He tossed a flask to the ranger and Aragorn caught it on reflex.
"This's for you human."
Aragorn didn't move and only stared at the orc suspiciously. The orc looked back at him in annoyance.
"Drinks it. The both of yous."
"What is it?"
Before Nakash could answer Nadina spoke up.
"I believe it is the orc's sustaining draught. Go-ahead human, it will not hurt you. I hear it is especially foul tasting, but it will sustain you and bring you some strength."
Aragorn still did not move to drink any.
"Do not be so stubborn human. Grimnosh will force it down your throat later if you do not drink it now."
Upon Aragorn defiance Nadina floated in closer to him. He felt the cold radiating off of her and a shiver went down his spin. What was this thing in front of him? She reached out her arm and barely brushed his cheek with her hand. The touch was exceedingly cold and the longer it lasted the colder it got until it began to hurt. Aragorn felt like his entire face went numb. After a short while Nadina retracted her hand and Aragorn shivering and breathing hard unconsciously brought his hands up to his face.
"That was only a sample since we have not had the pleasure of coming into contact before."
Well, that wasn't entirely true she thought. She had touched him before, but she didn't know if he remembered it or not. The ranger looked up at her with pain filled and still defiant eyes. She gave him an evil lopsided grin and moved around him to the elf on the floor. With out a word she reached out and placed her hand on the elf's chest. Legolas did not wake up, but his face scrunched in pain and his breathing became forced.
"No! Stop! Alright I will do as you say. Just stop."
Nadina kept her hand in place and lifted an eyebrow at the ranger. Only after Aragorn took a long quaff of the foul stuff did Nadina remove her hand. The liquid burned all the way down and the ghost had been right, it was exceedingly foul. Aragorn couldn't help but to grimace at the taste of the stuff. As foul as it was, though, it was strangely satisfying and he did feel somewhat better.
Nakash watched the whole exchange with a big smile.
"O.K's human, now elfsies turn."
Nadina's eyes shut briefly and her head bowed. She opened her eyes back up and held out her hand at Nakash.
"No. The elf is not to have any."
"But boss said to gives it to both of thems."
"Quiet halfwit! His boss just said not to give it to the elf. You have done what you were here to do now be gone."
Nakash snorted and walked away muttering to himself.
Aragorn looked at Nadina curiously.
"The liquid was not made with elves in mind, human. The foul concoction would have poisoned him and these orcs do not have the necessary resources to treat such a thing. It most likely would have killed the elf."
"I am not knowledgeable in orc drinks and I admit I did not know that. Thank you."
Nadina smirked amusingly at Aragorn and looked at him with malicious eyes.
"Do not get your hopes up human. I am merely here to see that the two of you make it back to the tower alive. I am not here to protect you from anything else."
Then with one last frighteningly malevolent look Nadina's ghostly form melted away. Aragorn sighed. 'What is that thing anyway and sweet Eru what did Legolas and I get ourselves into this time?'
*******
TBC...
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Yes this chapter stopped a little abruptly, I know. Sorry folks, but I have to work on some things from RL now like papers and tests. :( Blah! Since the last couple of chapters I have left you with cliffhangers I decided to be nice for this one. Don't get to used to it though! :P Major angst coming up in the next chapter!!!!!!! Confused with all of the characters yet? I am! Let me see, Nadina is Voldermort's mother right? No. no. no..wrong book! Oh I know! Elladan is married to Jasmine. No that's not it either. What a minute, there's not even a Jasmine in this story!
******
* Yes wrothful not wrathful. Wroth is an old word for angry.
*Elenna - quenya for starwards
*Nienor - Mourning
ada - dad (daddy)
******
Karri - I found it kind of amusing as well, but I did wince every time I imagined it. Well at least one of them is up now. =) At least as long as Estel can keep his mouth shut. Oops, did I say that out loud? I love Thranduil also!! That's why I decided to enter him into the story. And I love you! You read and review both stories. You're so kind!
Sprout - Yeah, they could be in much worse shape. Don't worry though. Give them time. ;) Our boys don't have very good luck so its only a matter of time. Another Thranduil lover. Yea! I didn't realize there was so many. This will give you something to read before you have to work on your next paper. Sorry it wasn't angst ridden though. Have faith! The next one just might be. As a matter of fact I you can plan on it!! One last thing...sticky wicket? He, he, he, cute!
Tithen Min - Duh! *Says as smacks self in head* Where is my brain at? Don't answer that! It is 'Little one' in Sindarin. Don't worry, I'm only 5'4". *Hides from the angry glare* Sorry! I promise I'll keep him in relatively one piece. He just needs a little smacking around first! Thank you, thank you. *Blushes* You're so kind to me. I love you too! Of course you probably already knew that though, huh?
******
Chapter 15 Sojourn
With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts.
- Eleanor Roosevelt
******
"Everyone back off and settle down for the day!" Nadina's voice broke into the silence.
Everyone stood transfixed staring at her aghast and didn't budge.
"Move it!" she yelled rising up above the prostrate ranger like a wrothful storm.*
At the sight of Nadina all of the orcs scrambled to the corners of the cave to settle down. She wheeled around on Grimnosh with a scowl.
"What do you think you are doing?"
"Err... calm downs. I wasn't going to kills the elf! Everything was under control until you broke in."
Nadina's eyes flared at the statement and Grimnosh took an unconscious step back.
"Under control? Everything was under control? I do not call you bashing the elf against the wall under control!"
"You!" Nadina wheeled around and pointed a delicate arm at Nakash, still shivering and picking himself up off the floor, which made him jump.
"Move the human over next to the elf."
Then she turned to Radoc and spoke loud enough for the rest in the orcs in the cave to hear her.
"Radoc stay here. You have my consent to eat anyone who even looks in the direction of the elf again."
Nadina turned back to Grimnosh.
"I thought you would at least know better, but apparently I was mistaken."
"Like I said, I wasn't goin' to kill the elf. We were just going over his behavior."
Nadina rolled her translucent eyes, but couldn't hold back the lopsided grin. She wasn't so sure that the orc would have stopped before he battered the elf into mush. Either way it didn't really matter as long as he got the message.
"Maybe, maybe not. I know how orcs detest elves, but that is not my problem. I do not care if you are rough with either of them or even if you like to harass them. They are your prisoners after all. But my master wants them both alive, so I do care if you kill either one of them!" Nadina hissed out the last part.
"Alrights, alrights, I understand."
"I hope that you do because I will not be so patient the next time."
Grimnosh gave Nadina a slight nod. The ghostly figure cast one more icy look at the orc and then melted away. 'That wasn't so bad.' Grimnosh had expected a much lengthier lecture. He glanced at the prisoners and Radoc. The warg had laid down right in front of the two and when Grimnosh looked at him he could swear the warg looked back through narrowed eyes. So he had taken up position as a 'guard dog.'
'I may not be able to kill either one of them,' he thought as an evil grin slowly spread over his face, 'but they might be surprised what you can live through.'
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The morning fog playfully caressed the trees of Mirkwood as it silently swayed around them. The sun was reaching its zenith and still the fog refused to abandon its nestled position amongst the trees giving the forest an eerie luster. The white mist danced and curled around the gates to an underground palace.
In the halls of that palace an elfmaid strolled lightly down the corridor where the royal chambers were located humming quietly to herself. Her golden hair shone like the rising sun and was pulled back into a single gentle braid that stretched down to her waist. In all appearance she matched the fair features of her Silvan kin down to her pale green dress, except for her eyes, which were different for one so light featured. Her eyes were of a deep brown and not the usual shade of blue. She rounded the corner and saw one of the servant girls carrying a tray heading her way from a side hall.
"'Quel amrun, Elenna,"* said the elfmaid brightly. //Good morning//
"Mae govannen, hirilamin," Elenna replied with a slight bow. //Well met, my lady//
The two elves continued on, one walking and one strolling.
"Lovely morning is it not? I just love misty mornings."
"It would be, my lady," Elenna sighed, "if it were not for my destination."
The golden-haired elf could easily guess Elenna's 'destination.' She was carrying a tray full of the King's favorite fruits, bread, and her keen nose caught the sent of one of Mirkwood's sweeter wines coming from the decanter.
"You sound as if you were heading to the chambers of the dark lord himself," she teased.
"If only I were so lucky," Elenna said with a twinkle in her eyes.
The two maids shared a giggle until Elenna turned series again.
"Your uncle has been pent up in his chamber all morning and has not come out at all."
The golden-haired maiden had a feeling she could make a good guess at what would make her uncle so irritable.
"What has befallen?"
The servant stopped to look around and the two women conspiratorially moved a little closer together. Elenna could always be counted on to have the latest gossip.
"Apparently the scouting party returned during the early morning hours and when they did one of them awoke the King. Three of the group even arrived back riding different horses. One of the stable hands said he is sure they are Rivendell mounts and that he recognized one of them as the Lord Elrohir's horse."
The golden-haired maid nodded her head at the news. Elves did not normally just swap horses unless it was urgent. Hmm, well, were there was one there was the other, so Elladan must have been one of the other three in such a hurry. Who was the third one? It obviously wasn't her cousin, because he has left for Rivendell on his own horse and the message he had sent out from there told that he would be traveling by foot, where ever he was going, with his human friend. Well, whatever was going on could not be good if it put her uncle in such an unpleasant mood that Elenna was reluctant to go to his chamber. 'What have you gotten yourself into now cousin,' she thought with a sigh.
She turned to her friend and smiled.
"Uuma dela mellonamin, ona ta a' amin," she said kindly has she held out her hands for the tray. //Don't worry my friend, give it to me//
Elenna smiled gratefully back and handed it over.
"Cormlle naa tanya tel' raa, lle sinta?" Elenna said playfully. //Your heart is that of the lion, you know?//
The golden-haired maid laughed and continued down the hall. Her uncle seemed to intimidate most of the palace residents, which she never quite understood. After all, the King had never before beheaded anyone who disturbed him. 'Yet,' she added with a wry smile.
*****
King Thranduil of Mirkwood stood staring out one of the windows in his chambers absentmindedly holding a small object in his left hand. 'So much as changed,' he lamented as he watched the fog roll around the trees. Around the forest of Mirkwood. So called for a little over a millennia now. With its abominable spiders and fouler thing prowling around the southern half ever trying to push northward. Thranduil sighed. The same darkness that made the once grand Greenwood the Great seem no longer fair to his wife. One of the reasons he was left to worry here alone waiting for word of his son. What drew his son to that ranger? After what happened to Celebrian it was obvious why Elrond's sons chose to travel with them, but why Legolas?
A gentle knock at the door brought Thranduil out of his speculations and he turned from the window.
"Mani?" he snapped.. //What?//
The door opened and he was surprised to see his niece enter with a tray. She walked over to one of the tables and sat it down smiling brightly the whole time. She silently walked over and stood next to Thranduil.
"Taking up chores now I see Nienor?"* he asked lifting an eyebrow in her direction.
"Someone must when you have all of the servants feeling like they are entering Mordor when they come to this section."
Thranduil knew that no one else besides her or Legolas had the nerve to remind him of his temper. For anyone else he probably would have gotten angry over such a statement, but he could not with Nienor. Besides the hair color she looked and acted, right down to her boldness and teasing humor, too much like Laurrina. She was his niece only by marriage and not by blood. The resemblances between the two women always calmed and saddened him at the same time.
Nienor knew what her uncle was thinking; she recognized that look. She saw it every time he thought about her father's sister. There was something else behind the sadness, though. For the second time that morning she asked herself what her cousin had gotten himself into. She was almost afraid to ask, but she needed to know. Even though Legolas was her cousin they were still childhood friends. As they were the only two children at the time, and still some would say, in the royal family. The smile dropped from her face and her expression turned series.
"Are Elrohir and Elladan going to Legolas or is that something else?"
Thranduil sighed again. He hadn't told anyone about the twins and Glorfindel riding to Legolas and Estel's aid, so naturally the entire palace probably knew about it.
"Ays, hen, they are. Glorfindel was with them as well." //yes, child//
Nienor's eyes widened a bit at that.
"What is going on?"
Thranduil turned back to face the window.
"I do not know. Apparently they ran across our scouts quite accidentally and they did not have time to explain. They were headed in the same direction as the large band of orcs and time was of the essences. Although it is not customary three of our warrior lent them their fresher horses to speed their journey. All I know is their destination is Angmar and they will reach the border today."
Nienor took her uncle's hand in hers and smiled as he turned to face her once more.
"Fate has already decided what is to happen. All we can do is wait as it unfolds, but we will wait together."
******
The wind was howling through the grass and around the base of the Hithaeglir Mountains as three travelers entered the land of Angmar.
Upon entering Angmar Glorfindel, Elladan, and Elrohir dismounted together and the twins rounded their horses to stand next to the older elf whom was staring to the north. Although none of them wanted to stop the horses needed a rest if they were expected to keep up such a pace. The Mirkwood horses were not overly thrilled to carry strange riders, but their masters wished them to carry the strange elves so they would do so. The horses sensed the urgency of their new riders and the whole situation made them somewhat skittish.
Elrohir wanted to get to Estel and Legolas as soon as possible, but he was grateful to have his feet on the ground if only for a little while. He was sure that the beast he was ridding hated him. He had never had a problem with a horse before and he was a very skilled rider. After all, his name had to deal with horses! A fact that gave Elladan much amusement as they rode. He had thought his brother was going to topple off of his horse with laughter at one point. He glanced at the older elf that had not turned to face them yet.
"What it is?" Elrohir spoke above the wind.
The fair-haired elf slowly tore his gaze back towards the two younger ones.
"I am sure you will feel it soon enough, but evil permeates from the north. I do not know if it radiates from something still there or if the land is simply scared from its time under the Nazgul."
"Or maybe both."
"Now that we are here where are we to go?" Elladan chimed in.
"Aragorn and Legolas were here to scout only, so I would guess they would follow the mountains northward, which is what we will do. If we spot no sign of them shortly they have probably been taken captive. Of old when the Witch-King ruled this land there was a strong hold at Carn Dum. If anyone still occupies this land it would be from there and that shall be our next destination."
Elladan and Elrohir nodded in consent trusting in their companion's judgement. They would ride all the way to the old capital if that were where Estel and Legolas were. None of then voiced the unspoken questions that ran through each of their thoughts. If Carn Dum was a stronghold still how were they supposed to get them out? And more importantly, what if Estel and Legolas were never taken prisoner?
"What about ada?" Elladan shouted over a gust of wind.
"I do not feel any watchful presence here, so not yet. Let us hope that it will not be needed at all for it might not work."
"Needed or not, work or not, I will still go all the way to Carn Dum if I must," Elladan said determinedly.
Glorfindel smiled at the younger elf. It looked like stubbornness ran in the family.
*****
"Where in Elbereth's name are we?" Aragorn mumbled to himself.
After coming to his senses once more he momentarily panicked that he had gone blind. Only to feel like a dolt when he realized he was simply lying in the dark. As Aragorn's eyes adjusted to the gloom he was fairly certain he was in a cave, but as dark as the forest had been one could never be too sure. He did know that his hands were bound, though. He attempted to bring them up to his face when they bumped into something. As he groped in the darkness his hands slid against the cool surface of stone. That settles it then. He was in a cave and facing the wall. No wonder he couldn't see anything. Forgetting the wall he finished bringing his hands up to his aching head and winced at the touch. Most of the left side of his face from the top of his forehead down past his cheek was warm. That could only mean one thing. The left side of his face was bruised.
How in Middle Earth did he accomplish that? Aragorn searched back through his memories. He remembered chasing Legolas through the dark and preparing to fight warg riders. With some effort he remembered seeing a human. That was it. One of the riders was a human and he had hesitated. He remembered being hauled through the air towards a tree and that was it. Considering how battered he felt he must have made contact with the tree.
Aragorn stifled a groan and slowly rolled over away from the wall. He had to briefly shut his eyes as a wave of nausea passed. Opening his eyes he noticed two things. One was a faint glow coming from the room's only light source and the other was an enormous warg lying right beyond that light source. The glow was coming from Legolas. The elf was lying on his stomach with his head turned toward Aragorn. Gritting his teeth Aragorn scooted closer to the elf. The warg's eyes snapped open and Aragorn froze. He was unsure what to do. The warg's eye was focused on him, but it made no sign of moving from its position. If his friend were conscious his sharp hearing would have no trouble hearing his quiet call.
"Legolas," he whispered.
Legolas did not stir and neither did the watchful warg.
"Legolas, can you hear me?" he whispered again.
Whispering to a friend with a sharp eye fixed on him Aragorn suddenly felt like a child trying to hold a conversation with another child during a lesson while trying not being caught. That, as was this, was impossible. 'Oh well.' Aragorn brought his bound hand underneath him a gingerly pushed himself up into a sitting position. When he rose so too did the warg's head. They both held still silently staring at each other. Not knowing if the thing would understand him or not Aragorn spoke quietly to the beast.
"I am not trying to escape. I merely wish to move closer to my friend."
The warg showed no sign of whether he understood, so Aragorn slowly and deliberately pulled himself closer to Legolas while watching the warg. The creature seemed to narrow his eyes at the ranger as he moved, but it held it place. Aragorn reached the elf's side and released the breath he was holding. The warg was still watching him, however, it seemed to be satisfied that the human wasn't going anywhere and it laid it's head back down on its paws while it kept vigil.
Aragorn bent over and with his bound hands swept Legolas' hair out of his face. Aragorn had to frown at what he saw. His friend looked as bad as he felt. Legolas eyes were closed and he was absolutely pallid. Aragorn winced when he saw the dark bruises on his friend's neck. His jaw clinched in anger as he noticed one of the sources. A rope was tied around the elf's neck, which Aragorn promptly removed. 'Loathsome creatures.' He couldn't examine his friend very well in the dark and so couldn't tell the extent of his injuries. What he could do was check his friend's pulse, which was surprisingly high, and when he laid his hand against his wrist he noticed his temperature was too low.
Aragorn couldn't remember being brought here, wherever here was, but he suspected it was day outside and that was why they were in a cave. They most likely settled in hear before the sun rose. Aragorn was getting extremely tired of the dark so it must be really getting to his elven companion by now. Legolas had very nearly snapped from it earlier. He really needed to get his friend outside even if only for a little while. Aragorn placed a hand to the elf's forehead and he couldn't keep the worry out of his eyes when Legolas cringed slightly at the touch. What dark thoughts were plaguing his friend's mind? They really needed to get out of here. He looked around and spotted sunlight trickling in across the far side of the chamber they were in. The cave entrance must be over there. The faint light pouring in from the unseen entrance lit the chamber just enough to see by and for Aragorn to notice all of the sleeping figures for the first time. Great, they were stuck in a cave with a bunch of orcs. He was never going to hear the end of it when Elladan found out about this.
He could at least make his friend more comfortable by turning him over. He would have to untie his hands first, though, and Aragorn wondered why Legolas' hands were bound behind his back while his was bound in front. 'Probably because I was not awake to cause trouble,' he thought with a slight smile. Apparently Legolas had been awake and they, whoever they were, had learned their lesson about tying an elf's hands in front. After he turned his friend over Aragorn planned to work on his own problem with the rope. The ranger had just touch the binding on Legolas hands when a throaty voice came out of nowhere making him jump.
"I do not think Grimnosh will agree with that, human."
Aragorn turned toward the source of the voice and nearly fell over at what he saw. There was a spirit of some source talking to him!
"Who...what, are you?"
Nadina gave the human a wry grin.
"That human you don't really need to know. What you should know is that the orc in charge of escorting you has a short temper and he will not be pleased if you untie your friend. He has already tried Grimnosh's patience once today. So unless you want to end up like your friend I would suggest that you stop."
On the inside Aragorn flared with anger towards this Grimnosh creature. He was most likely the one responsible for the bruises around the elf's neck and who know what else happened while the ranger was unconscious. Stubbornly Aragorn began to undo the rope around his friend's wrist.
"I care not whether such a foul creature as an orc would like it or not," he growled.
The warg beside of Aragorn picked its head up and Aragorn turned in the direction it was looking. He saw an orc scuffling in their direction. His eyes burned as he wondered if this particular orc was the leader. The orc approached the four and looked at the warg warily. He inched slowly closer while talking to the beast.
"Nice Radoc, good wargie. Nakash is only here's to gives the human this. Nakash is supposed to when theys wake up."
Nakash inched close to the prisoners and stopped a good distance away. These wargs hated him and he didn't want to give this particularly big one a reason to eat him. He tossed a flask to the ranger and Aragorn caught it on reflex.
"This's for you human."
Aragorn didn't move and only stared at the orc suspiciously. The orc looked back at him in annoyance.
"Drinks it. The both of yous."
"What is it?"
Before Nakash could answer Nadina spoke up.
"I believe it is the orc's sustaining draught. Go-ahead human, it will not hurt you. I hear it is especially foul tasting, but it will sustain you and bring you some strength."
Aragorn still did not move to drink any.
"Do not be so stubborn human. Grimnosh will force it down your throat later if you do not drink it now."
Upon Aragorn defiance Nadina floated in closer to him. He felt the cold radiating off of her and a shiver went down his spin. What was this thing in front of him? She reached out her arm and barely brushed his cheek with her hand. The touch was exceedingly cold and the longer it lasted the colder it got until it began to hurt. Aragorn felt like his entire face went numb. After a short while Nadina retracted her hand and Aragorn shivering and breathing hard unconsciously brought his hands up to his face.
"That was only a sample since we have not had the pleasure of coming into contact before."
Well, that wasn't entirely true she thought. She had touched him before, but she didn't know if he remembered it or not. The ranger looked up at her with pain filled and still defiant eyes. She gave him an evil lopsided grin and moved around him to the elf on the floor. With out a word she reached out and placed her hand on the elf's chest. Legolas did not wake up, but his face scrunched in pain and his breathing became forced.
"No! Stop! Alright I will do as you say. Just stop."
Nadina kept her hand in place and lifted an eyebrow at the ranger. Only after Aragorn took a long quaff of the foul stuff did Nadina remove her hand. The liquid burned all the way down and the ghost had been right, it was exceedingly foul. Aragorn couldn't help but to grimace at the taste of the stuff. As foul as it was, though, it was strangely satisfying and he did feel somewhat better.
Nakash watched the whole exchange with a big smile.
"O.K's human, now elfsies turn."
Nadina's eyes shut briefly and her head bowed. She opened her eyes back up and held out her hand at Nakash.
"No. The elf is not to have any."
"But boss said to gives it to both of thems."
"Quiet halfwit! His boss just said not to give it to the elf. You have done what you were here to do now be gone."
Nakash snorted and walked away muttering to himself.
Aragorn looked at Nadina curiously.
"The liquid was not made with elves in mind, human. The foul concoction would have poisoned him and these orcs do not have the necessary resources to treat such a thing. It most likely would have killed the elf."
"I am not knowledgeable in orc drinks and I admit I did not know that. Thank you."
Nadina smirked amusingly at Aragorn and looked at him with malicious eyes.
"Do not get your hopes up human. I am merely here to see that the two of you make it back to the tower alive. I am not here to protect you from anything else."
Then with one last frighteningly malevolent look Nadina's ghostly form melted away. Aragorn sighed. 'What is that thing anyway and sweet Eru what did Legolas and I get ourselves into this time?'
*******
TBC...
******
Yes this chapter stopped a little abruptly, I know. Sorry folks, but I have to work on some things from RL now like papers and tests. :( Blah! Since the last couple of chapters I have left you with cliffhangers I decided to be nice for this one. Don't get to used to it though! :P Major angst coming up in the next chapter!!!!!!! Confused with all of the characters yet? I am! Let me see, Nadina is Voldermort's mother right? No. no. no..wrong book! Oh I know! Elladan is married to Jasmine. No that's not it either. What a minute, there's not even a Jasmine in this story!
******
* Yes wrothful not wrathful. Wroth is an old word for angry.
*Elenna - quenya for starwards
*Nienor - Mourning
ada - dad (daddy)
******
Karri - I found it kind of amusing as well, but I did wince every time I imagined it. Well at least one of them is up now. =) At least as long as Estel can keep his mouth shut. Oops, did I say that out loud? I love Thranduil also!! That's why I decided to enter him into the story. And I love you! You read and review both stories. You're so kind!
Sprout - Yeah, they could be in much worse shape. Don't worry though. Give them time. ;) Our boys don't have very good luck so its only a matter of time. Another Thranduil lover. Yea! I didn't realize there was so many. This will give you something to read before you have to work on your next paper. Sorry it wasn't angst ridden though. Have faith! The next one just might be. As a matter of fact I you can plan on it!! One last thing...sticky wicket? He, he, he, cute!
Tithen Min - Duh! *Says as smacks self in head* Where is my brain at? Don't answer that! It is 'Little one' in Sindarin. Don't worry, I'm only 5'4". *Hides from the angry glare* Sorry! I promise I'll keep him in relatively one piece. He just needs a little smacking around first! Thank you, thank you. *Blushes* You're so kind to me. I love you too! Of course you probably already knew that though, huh?