Disclaimer.
Sorry, well you all know I am making no money whatsoever from my
story. Everything belongs to Tolkien
since he invented the world, and the characters. I own what I make up. Duh. Well I should give credit to him,
since he thought up the world and gave us the characters to work with, so
thanks! And I must give credit to David
Eddings- since I am going to use one of his ideas from the book The Ruby Knight.
Chapter 4
Sabina awoke to the sun shining bright in her window and a warm lump behind her. She shifted slightly and realized that an arm was around her waist and it pulled her close. She smiled slightly and rolled over to face him. "Good morning." She said. Haldir kissed her lightly on the lips and pulled back. "How are you?" he asked. She snuggled closer and sighed. "I am fine I suppose. Just shaken…"
"Can you now tell me of what happened?" he asked. She nodded and looked up at him.
"When I was younger, my parents and I lived out, alone on the edge of the Lothlorien woods. Our home was attacked by orcs, and they burned everything. They burned my mother's garden and our house even. If they were after something, they doubtlessly did not find it. It was all burnt. Everything is gone. They murdered my mother and father, and were going to kill me. But when I screamed, they all were killed on their own swords. I don't know why. Then the same thing happened here did it not?" she asked dreading the answer.
"Yes, I was there when it happened the first time. You were so young." He murmured the last part. Galadriel was walking up the spiral staircase and she knocked on the door. Haldir kissed Sabina's head and stood up walking over to the door. He opened it and admitted Galadriel. He bowed and Sabina tried to stand. "Sit!" Galadriel and Haldir told Sabina at the same time. Sabina sat. "My child, you should be resting," she chided gently, giving a pointed glance to the March Warden. He shrugged.
Galadriel rolled her eyes seeing that she would get no response from the March Warden. "Well. Do you know what happened?" she asked quietly. Sabina explained what she knew and the Lady nodded at the end. "I see. That explains some things I was wondering about." She mused.
"What do you mean?" inquired Sabina. Haldir looked at the lady in confusion as well. She explained. "It explains why I am not able to see in to your mind as I am able to others. You have a power that has not been used; therefore, we have no idea on what you are capable of. You were able to smite every one of the creatures that posed a threat to you or those close to you. I think, that if we can learn more of your power, I can help you use it so it does not exhaust you every time."
Sabina nodded thinking it over, it sounded good. "Yes I would appreciate it." Sabina said. She glanced at the silver haired March Warden and saw that he was lounging against the wall paying rapt attention to everything. He shot a warm smile to her before she turned her attention to her mother. "When should we begin?" asked Sabina.
"Not now, but as soon as you are better would be good." Galadriel briefly touched her cheek and smiled down comfortingly. "Stay in bed for at least a day. I do not want you to over exert yourself." She turned to Haldir. "I think that you can take a day off from your duties. I am sure that your brothers can handle that." She nodded and left the room gracefully.
"A DAY!" exclaimed Sabina in disbelief. She slumped back on the pillows. "You would think that I was dying or something drastic like that! This is ridicu-" Haldir pressed a long finger to her lips.
"Sabina." He said barely audible. "She is right. You can not leave this room for at least a day." His blue eyes watched with dry amusement as her mouth opened and closed making no sound. "Do you want anything to eat?" Haldir asked after a second. She nodded and shot him a withering glare. "I don't have to stay in bed." She said obstinately.
Haldir sat on the bed beside her and stared into her eyes. "Yes you do." Sabina ground her teeth together. "No… I don't. And you can't make me!" she crossed her arms and smirked inwardly. His infamous control was fraying and both of them knew it. "Sabina. I am asking you to stay in bed for one day. Just one. Not for the rest of your life, ONE DAY!" his voice was strained. "Haldir! I am telling you that I am not staying in this room for another minute than I want to! I don't need to and you can't make-" his hand covered her mouth. "Prove it." He said in a low voice.
She moved to get up and he did not stop her. She shot him a triumphant smile and he said. "Now take a step." She cocked her head and did as he said. Her legs crumpled and he bent and caught her an inch before the floor. The world spun around her she groaned. "Sabina?" his voice was far off sounding and concerned. Her head rested on his shoulder, her legs bent before her. "Sabina!" his voice was more worried now. Her vision went dark and for a second everything melted away.
"Well, young elf. So far you have managed to elude me, but I can sense where you are as of this moment. I am coming for you little one. Not the Lady of Light, nor that pathetic Guardian of the Forest can protect you." The voice was haunting and malicious. It laughed, a high-pitched scraping sound. Sabina covered her ears in hopes of blocking it, but with no avail. A bright red-cloaked figure appeared before her and she backed up in fear. It was a hooded and an aura of a burning flame around it. Suffocating heat enveloped her and soon it became too much to bear. She screamed in pain and agony, and the red figure faded. "I am coming for you child." It warned. She clasped her head between her hands and tried to block everything.
Visions of various things played on her closed eyelids.
*Her mother lying dead on the ground with the house smoking.
*The Golden Woods lay burning in ruin, with orcs running around. The lady's body lay sprawled, blood staining the ground.
*Tiamine lay on the ground unmoving, bloody, surrounded by bushes and grass.
*Sabina herself knelt on the ground clutching the still body of Haldir, his silvery blond hair forming a silky pool on the ground. She touched his serene face and gasped when she found it was cold.
"Sabina! Wake up! I am fine! Sabina!" Haldir desperately shook her already quaking form trying to wake her. Repeatedly she screamed things like, "No! Stop! Don't be dead! Tiamine! Please! Haldir, wake up!" Her body arched and then fell limp. "Sabina!" Haldir was pale and scared. She was breathing in short gasps, her eyes closed, her face contorted in fear and pain. When her body relaxed it did nothing to sooth his fears. He picked her up and laid her in the bed. Haldir was torn between going and fetching the Lady, or staying with her, to see if she was all right. The decision was made for him, as the door burst open. Galadriel ran to her foster daughter and none to gently pushed Haldir away.
"Sabina! Wake up!" she ordered. "Don't let him in." She placed a hand on her forehead and closed her eyes. Haldir stood shaken at the side, not knowing what to do. He had never been helpless before, and yet he knew that he did not like the feeling. The lady removed her hand and Sabina opened her eyes. "Is he gone?" she whispered through barely parted lips. Haldir froze- he thought she meant him. "I think so. What happened?" Galadriel looked at the elf behind her. "Haldir what happened?"
"I don't know. She was trying to demonstrate she was well enough to be up and about, when I told her to prove it. She stood and when she took a step, she collapsed on the floor. After a second she began to tremble and scream." Galadriel nodded grimly. "It is worse than I thought. Sabina, what did you see?"
"A giant red thing, creature." She answered softly. "It talked for a few moments and then it seemed like I was set on fire." Sabina shuddered as she remembered. "And then, I saw various things. I saw mother dead again. And then I saw Lothlorien in ruins, with everyone dead. Where is Tiamine?" Her golden eyes were afraid as she waited for an answer.
Galadriel shook her head. "I am sorry." grief was reflected in both of the she-elves eyes. "What else did you see?"
"I was in a grassy field, holding Haldir's body. You were dead." Horror was now in her eyes as she recalled. Haldir strode up and took her in to his arms. "I am fine. Look, I am real and right here with you." His voice was soothing, as he stroked her back. Galadriel watched as her daughter's hands fisted in his shirt trying to hold him closer. "Sabina, listen to me. If this ever happens again, promise that you will try to imagine a sort of "wall" that is protecting you. It may help to stop him before he tries to get you." The lady's eyes were serious as she watched her.
"That will help her?" asked Haldir. The lady nodded. "It should keep the creature at bay, until I can figure out a way to stop it. The things that you see are things like you would see in my mirror. You can see the past, the present and a collection of possible futures. Sabina, listen to me. You have to try to keep the creature at bay. If it is what I think it is than we could all be in danger, but you most of all. Haldir, stay with her." she knew that she did not have to add the last part but she did anyways. "I will return shortly, with something to eat for both of you."
She left with a glance at her daughter and the tall elf holding her close. As she walked she passed various elves that bowed or curtsied, she acknowledged them with a nod. When she reached the kitchen, she saw that Salma was wiping tears from her face. "I am sorry for your loss." The lady said. Salma looked up in surprise. "It is not your fault Lady. I should not have sent them out alone. It was foolish, and now my niece is dead, and Sabina was almost killed. How is she?"
"Fine." Lied the Lady. "Do you have some food to spare? Both Sabina and Haldir are hungry." Salma nodded. "I just made some fresh bread, and here is some soup." Salma set out a tray and laden it in bread, water skins, fresh fruit, and some soup. "Salma, I want you to take a few days off." Said Galadriel as she picked up the tray. "Find someone else to take your spot." Salma nodded and the lady walked out.
**
Haldir was sitting behind the golden eyed she elf his arms wrapped around her shoulders, lips pressed against her hair as she quietly talked. "I miss my mother, and father. Both of them were very kind and gentle. My mother always smelled like lavender, or wildflowers, the ones that she had liked to pick. Every day she would take me out and we would get the prettiest ones, for the table. My father tried to teach me how to wield a sword once, but my mother would have no part of it. She said that I had no need to learn how to use weapons, since we never had a reason to attack or be attacked by anyone. My father relented." Sabina smiled remembering.
"I am sorry that you are the one who has to bear this burden." Haldir sighed. "It is not fair to one as young as you."
Sabina smirked. "Nor to one as old as you!" she laughed and Haldir raised an eyebrow. This was the first time he had heard her laugh in a while. He held her closer to him and rested his cheek on her head. The door opened and revealed Galadriel came in. both turned to face her. "Here, Salma gave something for both of you. Sabina I want you to get as much as you can. Haldir make her eat." Galadriel then added in his mind. "Take care of her Haldir, keep her safe for me. I excuse you from your duties as March Warden, until Sabina is better. And Lord Celeborn told me to warn you, if you break her heart, he will do much worse." There was amusement in her voice was evident. Haldir inclined his head slightly and Sabina looked at her mother.
"What are you saying to him?" she asked tiredly. Galadriel shook her head, "Nothing my dear. Get some rest after you eat. Good bye." Galadriel smoothed back her daughter's hair and pressed a kiss to her cheek. "You too mother. Thank you. For everything." She shyly smiled and the lady left.
"You heard the lady. You have to eat." He said briskly. "What do you want?"
***
"It shall be as you command, master." Came the scratchy, rough voice from within a cloaked figure. It bowed and strode away. The red eye burned with pure malice and spite as it watched his minion, the Seeker, go and do his bidding. It would be a while before he could do the spell that he wanted. That dratted Galadriel would be gone for a while, to Rivendell and would be gone for at least a few weeks. It was then that he planned to make his move.
Since she had only just discovered her potential, and her powers, she would be easier to cast a spell on her, and she would never find out what it was. Once she was under his spell he would bring her there, to Mordor and use her powers to give him his true form and the powers to retake what was rightfully his… All Middle Earth.
**
Galadriel finished packing her things and strode out and set her packs on her horse, Nurothen. (Product of random typing.) A few elves that she trusted most were coming as well, including Rumil, Haldir's younger brother. Her horse was saddled and ready, there was only one thing to do. She walked to her daughter's room and quietly opened the door. Both of them lay exhausted on the bed wrapped in each other's embrace. She smiled and walked up to the edge of the bed where Sabina lay. She stroked her hair and kissed her cheek. Sabina murmured something and snuggled closer to Haldir. Galadriel then started to write a note to her. Once finished she lay it on the desk and with a final glance, she walked back out.
***
"Why did she not tell me earlier?" asked Sabina angrily brandishing the note that day. Lord Celeborn shook his head. "She did not have time. Something urgent had come up between herself and the lord of Rivendell. She will return before you know it."
Sabina rolled her eyes. "Fine. I am going down to the river, goodbye" Her foster father nodded and returned to his work. His daughter had recovered extremely well and one was not able to tell something so traumatic had happened to her. He smiled and began to write.
Sabina stood by the edge of the river throwing pebbles in and daydreaming. When the sky began to get dark she frowned; something was not right. She stiffened and her eyes closed. Something seemed to be prying at her skin, trying to get in. She shook her head trying to get rid of the feeling, but nothing helped. Her legs fell out from under her and she lost consciousness.
***
"It is done master, she will return to you shortly. Do you wish me to retrieve her?" the cloaked Seeker kept bent and waited for his master's answer. The red eye seemed to think before responding. "Yes, and I think that you should show your power- take a few elves as your own. But the girl and her lover I want them for myself. When you take her, make sure you leave a trail for that fool to follow. I want both of them together." His voice seemed more cheerful than it had been- if it was even possible of it being cheerful. The Seeker exited and began to prepare for his long journey. He could only travel at nighttime, so it made it a bit more difficult. But no matter, he would make his master proud.
**
Sabina awoke to a throbbing headache and slight nausea. 'This is getting old!' she thought as she stood up bracing herself on a nearby tree. When the dizziness faded she looked around. Seeing no one, she smiled. If no one saw her faint, then she was not about to tell anyone. Sabina walked to her flet, and changed for dinner. Her gown was a simple white one with gold interwoven with the design. She brushed her chestnut hair and let it hang down. Silently, as only an elf could, she walked down the path to her fathers study. Carefully she opened the door and walked in. "Hello father." She greeted.
Lord Celeborn looked up and smiled at her. "Hello, my daughter. Do you wish for some dinner? One of Salma's cooks brought me it, but I am not hungry." He motioned to a still steaming plate filled with bread, a bowl of salad, and some chicken. Beside that were two goblets of wine. "Are you sure? I can just ask one of the cooks for-" her father shook his head. "No, you go ahead. Besides I wanted to talk with you. Take a seat."
Sabina took the tray and set across from her father and took a sip of the wine. "What is it father?"
"Sabina, I want to know of your feelings for the March Warden." He said quietly. She looked up at him. "What do you mean?" Her father crossed his arms and watched her.
"I mean, how do you feel about him? You have been spending an excessive amount of time with him, and your mother said that he spent the night with you in your flet." He gauged her reaction and saw that she paled. "Relax daughter. I am not angry, nor forbidding you to stay with him. I am just curious."
Sabina relaxed slightly. "Father… I do not know. He makes me feel safe, especially when he holds me. Ai!" she gasped when she realized what she had said. Her face blushed a bright red and she found that her wine glass was really quite interesting. Her father chuckled. "Sabina, it is fine. You should say what you feel. Do you love him though?" His eyes watched her more carefully.
Sabina thought for a moment swirling her wine in her glass. "I… I think I do." She whispered. She smiled. "I do." Her father nodded. "Good. That is what I wanted to know. Go ahead and eat, then you may do what you wish." He returned to his work and they talked idly for the rest of the night, until Sabina excused herself. She kissed her father's cheek and left.
**
The Seeker walked silently to where the girl was. In it's slimy hand it gripped a dart that held a mixture that would render her, and her powers helpless, until they got to Mordor. It noiselessly opened the door and strode over to the peacefully sleeping elf. Her hair was spread out on the pillow and her breathing was even. The Seeker loomed over her and positioned the dart. Quickly he thrust it in to her neck and her body jolted. Her eyes opened for a minute and let out a soft cry of surprise and pain, and then numbing spread through her body.
Sabina's fists gripped the sheets, as she tried to fight off the poison. She could tell that she was loosing control of her body quickly and it scared her. A cloaked thing stood beside her bed and watched her writher in pain. "Haldir… Someone! Please help me." She whispered through cold lips. Her golden eyes fluttered and then she forced them open again. She could not afford to fall to this spell. "Haldir." She tried again, but her body was shutting down. When her eyes closed, she could not open them again. Her body stopped moving and her breathing became shallow.
The Seeker tossed the used dart on the floor and scooped the now unmoving body of the elf up. It flashed a dull green light and disappeared.
It reappeared a few feet from the blond march warden, who was standing watch. "I have what you want elf." It rasped. Haldir whirled around and loaded his bow in the flash of an eye. The Seeker stood motionless and revealed Sabina. "Come and get her if you wish." It taunted. Haldir gaped and then regained his composure. "Let her go!" he ordered. He aimed at the creature and when it laughed he let the arrow go. He smiled in relief when it thudded in to its hooded head. The smile faded when it began to laugh, a rough grating sound. "You can not kill me with your puny weapons. Say good-bye to your little wretch. The master wants her and I do not think that he wants to let her go." The arrow fell out and Haldir shot again.
"Let her go!" he ordered. The Seeker shifted her weight in his arms. Her head lolled against its shoulder and her chestnut curls fell across her pale face. "I do not think so. She is now ours." It laughed again and the dull green light came again, and it faded from sight. "Sabina!" Haldir cried in anguish. He whirled around and ran to Lord Celeborn's chambers. The doors were closed and he could hear voices.
"The lady says that she knows that she has been taken, and not to let anyone go after her. Not even the March Warden. It is what the creature wants. She says that the journey to Mordor is too dangerous, and once she returns, she will help."
"Good, we have to go after her once she returns then. Go to Haldir's flet and tell him, but make it clear that under no conditions is he to leave."
Haldir twisted around and headed to his flet to pack.
**
Sabina awoke slowly, her eyes adjusting to the bright eerie light coming from suspended lights. She sat up and looked around. She was in a room with a sparse bit of furniture, along with a dark cherry four-poster bed, with black silk sheets and blood red pillows, with a red veil hanging from the sides. She was wearing the same dressing gown as before and it was a small comfort. "You are awake." Came the observant voice of something from the shadows. A man with dark black hair and even darker brown eyes stepped out. (A/N. If you have seen Buffy, or Angel, since Ealdur looks almost like Angel.) His clothes were light, a white shirt and a pair of dark brown breeches. "The amount of sedative the Seeker gave you should have made you stay asleep for at least another day."
Sabina threw back the sheets and stood shakily. "Where am I?" she demanded. The man smirked. "Listen to me who ever you are, I have been kidnapped by something, I do not know what! Before that insane men wielding swords attacked me. Now- I am in a bedroom I do not recognize, with you! Now explain!"
"Ealdur is my name, and I already know yours, Sabina. You are in a hidden fortification, located in Mordor. You have been kidnapped, because the Master wants you. After that I do not know. All I know is that he wanted me to learn the extent of your power." Ealdur walked over to a dresser on the other side of the room and opened a drawer. Out came a dark green dress, a pair of slippers, and underclothes. He turned back to her and closed the drawer. "I am sorry that he has picked you, especially since you are so young." He murmured.
Sabina glared at him. "Do not give me that, you work for who ever took me, and you are helping him. You-"
"I would leave his service if I were able." Ealdur hissed in anger. His brown eyes flashed. "But certain precautions were taken so I would not be able to escape. I too am like you. That is why I am here. Do not dare to assume that I do this willingly." He thrust the clothes in to her arms and turned on his heel. "I will await you out side." He snapped back at her. The door slammed shut and she stood alone.
Sabina watched the door for a moment and then began to dress in the clothes, not bothering to wonder how they had gotten her size. As she thought about Ealdur, she tried to puzzle out what he had said. 'He is not able to escape? Does that mean that he is not a part of those who captured me? Or is it just a ploy?'
Once dressed, she ran her fingers though her hair. Carefully she took a step and wavered. Once she felt steady, she took another step when the door opened. Ealdur stood before her and caught her quickly as she fell. She sagged in his arms, and her vision darkened with black and red spots for a minute. 'I should not have made her get out of bed.' He thought angrily as he held her up. "Sabina!" he called.
She drew in a deep breath and he set he up right. "Are you okay?" he asked cautiously.
Sabina looked at him confusion and slight anger in her eyes. "Why are you being nice to me?" She asked softly. Her golden eyes surveyed his own chocolate eyes. She then looked at his ears. "You are an elf!" she gasped. Her fingers reached out as if she was going to touch one, but then pulled away. "I am sorry, I don't know what came over me." She murmured.
Ealdur stared at her golden eyes, mesmerized by them. Suddenly he snapped out of it. "It is fine. Can you walk?" His voice was brisk again. She nodded and took a hesitant step. When she did not fall he held out the door and they walked out. She looked around and immediately knew that she would not escape anytime soon. Random creatures roamed the halls. Sabina followed Ealdur to a room that had a large table set out with food and drink. She sat down and surveyed her food. "It is not poisoned, the Master took great pains to get you, and he will not kill you yet."
"Thank you so much. I feel so much better." She said dryly. "Why does this, Master, want me?" she asked. Ealdur froze and briefly looked up in to her eyes.
"Do you remember what I said? About us being the same? What I meant was that you and I have the same powers. Both of us can make things move with our mind, and see things. That is why he wants us. He wants to get our powers, so that we can give him a physical form. It may kill us, if we succeed. And we are not able to resist, since even without a physical form, he has more power."
Sabina began to eat and pondered what he had just said. "This is wonderful. Is there any way out?" the look on his face was enough. "Damn." She hissed.
The door opened and the cloaked figure strode in. "You are both to come with me." It said. I glanced at Ealdur. He nodded and we stood and followed.
I am alive!!! Please tell me what you all think! I worked really hard on this chapter! I will try to update sooner this time. Thank you! And I need a lot of reviews to get the chapter out sooner!
Goddess 2008
