A.N. Once again I apologise for this taking so long - everything seemed to
drop on top of me last weekend. Half term next week so hopefully I should
be able to get a few more chapters done. This will have to do for now, even
though it's slightly short. Thanks for not complaining about me taking so
long. *big hugs to her reviewers* I would also like to say: THERE ARE NO
MARY-SUES IN THIS FIC! Rhachsell and Faroth should remain the *only* major
Original Characters and Legolas will not be meeting any mysterious elf
girl, falling madly in love and getting married to her, or any other
version of that scenario. Where possible I'll use a character from Tolkien,
if not then original characters will remain with small roles and NOT end up
saving Middle-earth or anything like that.
Thanks for your patience. Enjoy!
Cloudy
Disclaimer: See Chapter One.
Chapter Three - Illusions
The forest was silent once more, the hot, breathless air unmoving. A sense of anticipation almost seemed to drift among the dusty trees as a gleam of white shone inexplicably in mid air.
The unicorn materialised slowly, like a ghost fading into view. She walked slowly, picking her feet up high as if the sand was too hot to touch.
There was the tiniest creak of wood as the longbow as drawn tight, but it sounded like a shout in the breathless forest. The unicorn whirled on the spot, ears flat against her head.
A black arrow fletched with white feathers screamed through the air - and went right through the unicorn as if she really was a ghost. The horse-like creature reared up, her hooves sending up clouds of sand, which glittered like diamonds in the sun. As the mini-sandstorm cleared, it revealed a tall silhouette - of a shining woman. There was a strangled gasp and the archer turned to flee.
The woman was on him before he had taken two steps.
*
"Rhachsell!"
/"Oh what now?"/ Faroth asked, impatient to be on their way. Rhachsell hushed him as she turned to see her father leading his white stallion through the crowd towards them.
They had decided to leave at dawn. Unfortunately things were proving more complicated than expected and the sun was now approaching it's zenith, without the ever-growing party of men and elves having moved one step closer to Gondor.
"Are you positive that you've packed everything you'll need?" her father asked anxiously, halting by her side. Rhachsell took a deep breath to quell the scream of frustration rising in her throat. This was the fifth time he'd asked that question. She abandoned the scream and settled for sarcasm.
"Actually I don't think I have packed /everything/. I've left a speck of dust on the floor of my room. Oh horrors, thank the Valar you reminded me. How could I survive without emptying the final speck of dust out my room?!"
Legolas opened his mouth to snap back, then glanced at the ground, half smiling. "I'm sorry. Maybe I have been repeating myself."
Anira poked her head out from under his blond hair with a little chirp as if to say "Absolutely!" Legolas laughed.
"What about Faroth? Is he ready?"
"/"If I was any more ready then I would have left several hours ago,"/ Faroth replied, for once speaking directly to the elf king. Legolas sighed.
"I know. I'm impatient too. But I think we are almost ready now." As he spoke he glanced towards Gimli who was organising everyone at the other end of the crowd. The dwarf saw him looking and waved urgently.
"Gimli looks like he is having trouble," Legolas said with a sigh. "Don't worry Rhachsell, I'm sure we won't take much longer."
"We can't take any longer," Rhachsell muttered darkly as Legolas hurried off towards Gimli. "Or it will be time to come home again."
Faroth mischieviously snapped at the rump of Legolas' stallion as the elf led the horse away. The stallion snorted in terror and plunged forward, almost knocking the elf-king off his feet. The draconic equivalent of laughter echoed round Rhachsell's head as the stallion cast a furious glance back at them.
"Faroth, if you eat Legolas' horse he will be most displeased," a familiar voice remarked in amusement. Faroth swung his head round to look at Aragorn, the dragon's lightly whirling green eyes reflecting in the man's blue ones.
"Faroth wouldn't eat him," Rhachsell protested. "Take a little bite perhaps."
/"I wouldn't eat that horse,"/ Faroth replied. /"It is much more entertaining to annoy him."/
"What did he say?" Aragorn asked curiously. Rhachsell glanced at him, startled.
"How did you know Faroth was speaking to me?" she asked slowly. Aragorn grinned at her.
"You have this look, half-concentration, half-dazed." His expression turned roguish. "And your eyes cross."
Rhachsell blushed. "Oh."
Aragorn shook his head. "It really is too easy to tease you Rhachsell. Don't worry - I've only noticed because-"
"MOUNT UP!" came the cry from the head of the line. Arwen appeared through the crowd, pausing at Aragorn's side to help him up. He jumped to his feet, casting an apologetic look at Rhachsell.
"Sorry Rhachsell, I'm needed up front. We'll have to talk later."
"Of course," she replied, watching as he vanished into the crowd. Arwen cast a look back before Rhachsell lost sight of her, and for a moment elf-blue eyes met orc orange ones. Something ugly flashed through the depths of Arwen Undómiel's crystal blue eyes, enough to make Rhachsell flinch back. Faroth swung his head round in alarm to see what was the matter but Arwen was lost amidst the throng.
/"What happened?"/ her dragon demanded to know. Rhachsell shook her head, exhaling slowly.
"I'm not really sure."
Around them, men and elves were beginning to ride forward, following Legolas and Gimli at the head of the line. Rhachsell hurried to mount Faroth, scrambling over the bulging saddlebags strapped to his sides with some difficulty. She really had packed everything. Faroth looked like he had half the palace hanging off him.
/"You will be able to take off with all this extra weight won't you dear one?"/
/"I'm a dragon, not a mule,"/ was Faroth's disgusted reply. /"I could take off with twice this weight."/
"/"Whatever you say Faroth."/ Rhachsell let her mental tone sound sceptical. Her dragon replied with a snort, tiny puffs of smoke rising from his nostrils. The horses around him skittered nervously away, causing several riders to glare at him.
"Behave," Rhachsell muttered under her breath. Faroth rumbled with annoyance beneath her, but by this time the horses and riders were sufficiently far away not to notice. Crouching, the black dragon leapt upwards and brought down his wings. The blast of air raised by the movement sent clouds of dust billowing up around them but Faroth was already rising above the treetops, albeit slightly slower than usual due to the extra weight. Rhachsell watched the forest unfold beneath her, the horses and riders winding their way through the trees in a long line. The familiar excitement of flying was already rising in her chest.
From the ground, Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas watched the black dragon through the tree canopy as he spread his wings and glided above them. From Legolas' shoulder, Anira chirped softly, wistfully. There was undisguised admiration on Aragorn and Gimli's faces whereas Legolas looked as if he was lost in thought, back on Pern flying on a dragon.
Arwen Undómiel also watched. Her expression was a blank mask but cold hatred burned beneath.
Thanks for your patience. Enjoy!
Cloudy
Disclaimer: See Chapter One.
Chapter Three - Illusions
The forest was silent once more, the hot, breathless air unmoving. A sense of anticipation almost seemed to drift among the dusty trees as a gleam of white shone inexplicably in mid air.
The unicorn materialised slowly, like a ghost fading into view. She walked slowly, picking her feet up high as if the sand was too hot to touch.
There was the tiniest creak of wood as the longbow as drawn tight, but it sounded like a shout in the breathless forest. The unicorn whirled on the spot, ears flat against her head.
A black arrow fletched with white feathers screamed through the air - and went right through the unicorn as if she really was a ghost. The horse-like creature reared up, her hooves sending up clouds of sand, which glittered like diamonds in the sun. As the mini-sandstorm cleared, it revealed a tall silhouette - of a shining woman. There was a strangled gasp and the archer turned to flee.
The woman was on him before he had taken two steps.
*
"Rhachsell!"
/"Oh what now?"/ Faroth asked, impatient to be on their way. Rhachsell hushed him as she turned to see her father leading his white stallion through the crowd towards them.
They had decided to leave at dawn. Unfortunately things were proving more complicated than expected and the sun was now approaching it's zenith, without the ever-growing party of men and elves having moved one step closer to Gondor.
"Are you positive that you've packed everything you'll need?" her father asked anxiously, halting by her side. Rhachsell took a deep breath to quell the scream of frustration rising in her throat. This was the fifth time he'd asked that question. She abandoned the scream and settled for sarcasm.
"Actually I don't think I have packed /everything/. I've left a speck of dust on the floor of my room. Oh horrors, thank the Valar you reminded me. How could I survive without emptying the final speck of dust out my room?!"
Legolas opened his mouth to snap back, then glanced at the ground, half smiling. "I'm sorry. Maybe I have been repeating myself."
Anira poked her head out from under his blond hair with a little chirp as if to say "Absolutely!" Legolas laughed.
"What about Faroth? Is he ready?"
"/"If I was any more ready then I would have left several hours ago,"/ Faroth replied, for once speaking directly to the elf king. Legolas sighed.
"I know. I'm impatient too. But I think we are almost ready now." As he spoke he glanced towards Gimli who was organising everyone at the other end of the crowd. The dwarf saw him looking and waved urgently.
"Gimli looks like he is having trouble," Legolas said with a sigh. "Don't worry Rhachsell, I'm sure we won't take much longer."
"We can't take any longer," Rhachsell muttered darkly as Legolas hurried off towards Gimli. "Or it will be time to come home again."
Faroth mischieviously snapped at the rump of Legolas' stallion as the elf led the horse away. The stallion snorted in terror and plunged forward, almost knocking the elf-king off his feet. The draconic equivalent of laughter echoed round Rhachsell's head as the stallion cast a furious glance back at them.
"Faroth, if you eat Legolas' horse he will be most displeased," a familiar voice remarked in amusement. Faroth swung his head round to look at Aragorn, the dragon's lightly whirling green eyes reflecting in the man's blue ones.
"Faroth wouldn't eat him," Rhachsell protested. "Take a little bite perhaps."
/"I wouldn't eat that horse,"/ Faroth replied. /"It is much more entertaining to annoy him."/
"What did he say?" Aragorn asked curiously. Rhachsell glanced at him, startled.
"How did you know Faroth was speaking to me?" she asked slowly. Aragorn grinned at her.
"You have this look, half-concentration, half-dazed." His expression turned roguish. "And your eyes cross."
Rhachsell blushed. "Oh."
Aragorn shook his head. "It really is too easy to tease you Rhachsell. Don't worry - I've only noticed because-"
"MOUNT UP!" came the cry from the head of the line. Arwen appeared through the crowd, pausing at Aragorn's side to help him up. He jumped to his feet, casting an apologetic look at Rhachsell.
"Sorry Rhachsell, I'm needed up front. We'll have to talk later."
"Of course," she replied, watching as he vanished into the crowd. Arwen cast a look back before Rhachsell lost sight of her, and for a moment elf-blue eyes met orc orange ones. Something ugly flashed through the depths of Arwen Undómiel's crystal blue eyes, enough to make Rhachsell flinch back. Faroth swung his head round in alarm to see what was the matter but Arwen was lost amidst the throng.
/"What happened?"/ her dragon demanded to know. Rhachsell shook her head, exhaling slowly.
"I'm not really sure."
Around them, men and elves were beginning to ride forward, following Legolas and Gimli at the head of the line. Rhachsell hurried to mount Faroth, scrambling over the bulging saddlebags strapped to his sides with some difficulty. She really had packed everything. Faroth looked like he had half the palace hanging off him.
/"You will be able to take off with all this extra weight won't you dear one?"/
/"I'm a dragon, not a mule,"/ was Faroth's disgusted reply. /"I could take off with twice this weight."/
"/"Whatever you say Faroth."/ Rhachsell let her mental tone sound sceptical. Her dragon replied with a snort, tiny puffs of smoke rising from his nostrils. The horses around him skittered nervously away, causing several riders to glare at him.
"Behave," Rhachsell muttered under her breath. Faroth rumbled with annoyance beneath her, but by this time the horses and riders were sufficiently far away not to notice. Crouching, the black dragon leapt upwards and brought down his wings. The blast of air raised by the movement sent clouds of dust billowing up around them but Faroth was already rising above the treetops, albeit slightly slower than usual due to the extra weight. Rhachsell watched the forest unfold beneath her, the horses and riders winding their way through the trees in a long line. The familiar excitement of flying was already rising in her chest.
From the ground, Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas watched the black dragon through the tree canopy as he spread his wings and glided above them. From Legolas' shoulder, Anira chirped softly, wistfully. There was undisguised admiration on Aragorn and Gimli's faces whereas Legolas looked as if he was lost in thought, back on Pern flying on a dragon.
Arwen Undómiel also watched. Her expression was a blank mask but cold hatred burned beneath.
