I'm back with a new chapter. I know...took me long enough. I'm sorry about
that, but right now I have tons of work to do for university and addition
to that a school class to teach next Friday, so all this nasty stuff will
unfortunately prolong the interval between my posts :( I would much rather
write -seriously I love this, but.....hell, you know how it is.
A big thanks to Musicgrl and JB. You guys just rock! I would also like to thank my others readers, I am so happy you put up with my scribbling and I'd be extremely happy to hear from you as well (Yes, I am extremely greedy for reviews. So please please please pleeeeeeeease hit the review button and drop me a few lines, okay? Great!) Enough said, I'll stop babbling now and on we go with the story! Enjoy!
Chapter 9: A question of forgiveness
Sauda was facing the direction of Gondor, her turquoise blue eyes fixed on some point in the distance. They sparkled like polished gems, beautiful, cold and hard as rocks. She was frightening and flawless beauty, an abomination in the face of the world's imperfect life filled business.
The witch knew now that her daughter was well, the certainty of it grew gradually the closer she got to her. She hadn't even needed to perform a spell, she knew just like every mother knew instinctively. So she grimly continued her way. She set high up on a black steed, her gray cloak pillowing around her swaying from side to side with each movement the horse made. Her beautiful face was filled with an expression of absolute determination. Her shining jet black hair was flattering freely in the wind like a black flame as she rode quickly across plains, through valleys and forests.
Sauda traveled alone, she didn't need neither protection nor help to accomplish her task. She didn't fear the wild beasts of the forest or the stray groups of Orcs that roamed the country. Anybody who was foolish enough to attack her would pay his misjudgment dearly. She was angry, but looking at her nobody would have suspected her to be, because she looked completely calm on the outside. Her rage was cold, but it had the sweet taste of vengeance to it. She reveled in that feeling, it had encouraged her to go on over the years and nourished her constantly like a mother her child. Now she was just days away from the moment she had dreamed of all this time and she was filled with delightful anticipation.
Arnaya had failed and disappointed her, but nevertheless she would always love her. That was why she had to save her from Gandalf's evil clutches, keeping her from being manipulated and brainwashed by his continuous persuasion. The only one who was to blame for all this was the old wizard himself. He had captured her daughter and he was the reason she was on that crusade that's foundation was laid many centuries ago in the folly of youth in the first place. The thought of finally being able to punish him for the pain he had caused her was more than exquisite.
The horse suddenly became agitated, its ears nervously twitching from side to side. Its behavior was the proof of what Sauda already knew for more than an hour. They had company. A cruel smile of anticipation and excitement flitted over her face. She was looking forward to this. It would give her the possibility to release some of her anger, so that she would go into the final battle with a clear head.
The loud trampling of heavy feet and deep grunts announced the arrival of a group of Orcs. With a loud and blood chilling roar they broke through the tree line like a horde of boars - almost twenty of them, their heavy bodies radiating unreleased anger and raw, brutal force. Everything that stood in their way was trampled under foot or smashed into tiny pieces. They froze in tracks when they laid eyes on the woman who was sitting on her horse in front of them, motionless and with regal grace, seemingly unfazed by their sudden entrance. The vicious creatures were staring at her in fascination. She was to them much like a tasty piece of meat lying on a plate in front of a man that had been starving for days. They licked their disgusting lips, letting their glittering red eyes roam over her body imagining the delicious taste of her sweet flesh that lured them with its milky white skin. Then suddenly the spell was broken and they stormed forward like one man.
Sauda opened her arms in a gesture with which you would greet your lover. "Puzg /stop/!", her voice that was as sweet as honey even managed to let the disgusting sounds of the dark language sound appealing, but there was also an icy under current to it which made clear that she would not tolerate any disobedience. It was clearly audible over the clattering of armour and the growling of the Orcs. They stopped following her order out of reflex; after all they had done nothing else but obeying orders for all their life, and looked at her expectantly. She jumped off her horse in one fluent movement, accompanied only by the soft rustle of the fabric of her clothes.
The scene was almost surreal: a tight circle of those vicious creatures had formed around her and was closing in on her like a dangerous pack of wolves waiting for the right moment to strike. Sauda stepped up to one of them, stopping only inches away from him, unimpressed by his bared teeth and the fact that the Orc towered over her threateningly.
"So strong and yet so utterly stupid," she shook her head, watching the creature interestedly.
A pair of hideous eyes was fixed on her following her every move. His face was a perverted mirror image of the human countenance, the only expression with which it was familiar with was either a grimace of hate or disgust. The Orc's pointed teeth were rotten and ready to sink themselves into her flesh in order to feast on her. His smelly breath, filled with the unsupportable stench of death caressed her face and she wrinkled her nose in disgust. Spit was dripping down the Orc's fangs, over his lips and chin, while it stretched out his filthy claws to reach for her, his gesture filled with almost agonising desire, "Ûndûrz aaps. Maath aaps. /Fresh meat. Sweet meat. /," its vicious voice said longingly.
The others responded him immediately. "Gîl ! /Mealtime! /", they chanted in unison. One Orc standing next to her suddenly jumped forward and tried to grab her, but he never even got as far as laying a finger on her. He suddenly discovered that he was unable to move, hanging in the air frozen in mid movement like an insect enclosed in amber. His eyes widened comically in an expression of utter surprise. Sauda only smiled coldly at him and with a tiny flick of her wrist the stunned creature flew through the air like a rag doll. He crashed violently into a tree trunk with a bone smashing thud and sunk to the floor in an unconscious heap, perhaps he was even dead. The other Orcs had by this time realized that they made a deadly mistake in assuming that this woman would be easy prey, but by the time their slow brains, that were only able to focused completely on the task of fighting, killing and maiming, had even begun to grasp that thought it was already too late - there was no escape for them.
"Mirz kul lat? /Who are you?/", another Orc hissed taking a few steps back, experiencing for the first time the feeling all his victims had felt briefly before he had killed them.
"Kul nûl. Gathroku mat. /I am pain. Prepare to die/," the woman announced with a smile and that was the last thing he was ever to hear or to see in his life.
~
It was Midsummer - a day to go down in history. Somehow Arnaya felt that today's happenings would be remembered for years and maybe even centuries to come. The warm summer breeze carried the happy cheers of the crowd up to her window and a thousand lights were sparkling in the darkness of the night. Minas-Tirith was bathed in a warm shine of flickering torches and filled with a magical atmosphere. The terrors of the war that had swept over the land were forgotten as a new age began. It was the age of mankind and the parlor of the old world gleamed desperately for one last time only to then fade away gradually. Men, elves, hobbits and dwarves were united for today's special occasion that each of them would remember for the rest of their days. Some of them had traveled great distances and undertaken perilous adventures just to be a part of this, whereas she had chosen to isolate herself from the cheerful happiness of the masses that was almost unsupportable, because she felt that destiny didn't hold a pleasant future in store for her.
Though she had spent the day alone in her room all by herself, she knew that outside people were celebrating, that the air was filled with the serene laughter and soft music. Today King Elessar and Arwen Undomiel had been wed and even more importantly officially crowned. The whole city had held its breath in excitement, as they watched the ceremony unfold before their very eyes, moved by the beauty of their new queen and the deep love the couple shared. Everyone had been there to witness this special event, everyone but her. Arnaya was the only one left behind. She knew that she would have been an unwanted guest at the festivities and felt no desire whatsoever to witness them. It was highly doubtable that anybody would miss the company of the woman who had a few days ago tried to assassinate King Elessar.
She decided to take a stroll through the palace to keep herself occupied and chase away the boredom that had seized her after long hours of idleness. The corridors of the palace were completely empty, because apparently everybody seemed to have gathered in the dinning hall. Arnaya enjoyed the solitude and the quiet peacefulness of her surroundings that allowed her troubled mind to rest. From far away the faint ghost of music resounded in the lonely corridor and she hummed softly to the sad melody of the song. The slivery blue shine of the moon light fell in through the windows and created a melancholic, yet enchanting atmosphere. Arnaya stopped walking and closed her eyes, concentrating on the beautiful music that tenderly caressed her ears that were eagerly listening to each single note. She swayed slowly to the song's rhythm, being completely oblivious to her surroundings.
"It is even more beautiful when you are inside," the melodic and soft voice of a woman said and let Arnaya suck in her breath in surprise. She immediately opened her eyes and turned around quickly.
Her senses were almost overwhelmed by the sight of a beautiful she-elf that was clad in a white dressed made of a skillfully woven and exquisite fabric that sparkled brightly in the twilight of the corridor. But her gown was at best a mediocre accessory in comparison to the splendid laughter of her smile and the breathtaking loveliness of her features. The young witch stood there completely at a loss of words, not only because she was captured by the sight of the elf standing in front of her, but because she realized who that person that had addressed her only moments before was - the queen herself.
Many wise men have lost words about how happiness and love manage to increase a woman's beauty, but they would have never been able to capture the splendor of Arwen Undomiel. This day was her happiest hour in which her light was shining the brightest, doing her title "Evenstar" all honor.
Arnaya slowly regained her ability to speak and a faint blush crept up her cheeks. "Then why are you here?" her voice was not impolite, just curious.
"I just needed to take a breath of fresh air, stop to enjoy and honor this beautiful night that will fade away all too soon....," a melancholic expression flitted briefly over her fair features to be shortly after chased away again by the serene glow of her smile, that came to her as naturally as breathing on this evening, given the events of today.
"Will you join me on my way back?"
"I fear I'm not wanted there," Arnaya replied hesitantly.
"Why should you not be wanted? This is a day of happiness and laughter. Friends and strangers are welcomed with open arms alike," Arwen responded with open friendliness in her voice.
"You don't know who I am," the young witch said sadly, not being able to look her vis-à-vis in the eye anymore out of shame.
"Who knows. Maybe I do."
Arnaya had shot up and she looked at the queen questioningly, her eyes wide open in astonishment.
"This is day of new beginnings, of chances that open doors to possibilities that have not existed before, a day to believe in the power of forgiveness. Maybe we can change a whole life by reaching out to a person, lost and alone. Sometimes a simple gesture can alter the course of another person's fate," said the queen and the wisdom of centuries shone in her blue eyes that looked at the young witch knowingly.
"Come with me," she said to her and there was a soft, yet commanding tone to her voice.
Arnaya slowly nodded and tried hard not to show how much Arwen's kindness had moved her. That this she-elf, of all people, was willing to forgive her, yes even give her a second chance was far more than she deserved after what she had done. She felt a deep and sincere respect blossom inside of her for the newly crowned Queen of Gondor.
She stepped forward to follow her on her way to the dinning hall, but as she did so she became aware of a tiny yet significant detail. Arwen stopped, her dress pillowing around her rustling softly, and looked back at her questioningly.
"I believe I should change before we go inside," she indicated her worn out and faded clothes with a gesture of her hand and the she-elf nodded at her in understanding.
"I will send you a chamber maiden to bring you a dress and help you get ready."
"Thank you for your kindness, my lady," Arnaya lowered her head respectfully and executed a rather clumsy curtsy, the first one in her entire life.
A big thanks to Musicgrl and JB. You guys just rock! I would also like to thank my others readers, I am so happy you put up with my scribbling and I'd be extremely happy to hear from you as well (Yes, I am extremely greedy for reviews. So please please please pleeeeeeeease hit the review button and drop me a few lines, okay? Great!) Enough said, I'll stop babbling now and on we go with the story! Enjoy!
Chapter 9: A question of forgiveness
Sauda was facing the direction of Gondor, her turquoise blue eyes fixed on some point in the distance. They sparkled like polished gems, beautiful, cold and hard as rocks. She was frightening and flawless beauty, an abomination in the face of the world's imperfect life filled business.
The witch knew now that her daughter was well, the certainty of it grew gradually the closer she got to her. She hadn't even needed to perform a spell, she knew just like every mother knew instinctively. So she grimly continued her way. She set high up on a black steed, her gray cloak pillowing around her swaying from side to side with each movement the horse made. Her beautiful face was filled with an expression of absolute determination. Her shining jet black hair was flattering freely in the wind like a black flame as she rode quickly across plains, through valleys and forests.
Sauda traveled alone, she didn't need neither protection nor help to accomplish her task. She didn't fear the wild beasts of the forest or the stray groups of Orcs that roamed the country. Anybody who was foolish enough to attack her would pay his misjudgment dearly. She was angry, but looking at her nobody would have suspected her to be, because she looked completely calm on the outside. Her rage was cold, but it had the sweet taste of vengeance to it. She reveled in that feeling, it had encouraged her to go on over the years and nourished her constantly like a mother her child. Now she was just days away from the moment she had dreamed of all this time and she was filled with delightful anticipation.
Arnaya had failed and disappointed her, but nevertheless she would always love her. That was why she had to save her from Gandalf's evil clutches, keeping her from being manipulated and brainwashed by his continuous persuasion. The only one who was to blame for all this was the old wizard himself. He had captured her daughter and he was the reason she was on that crusade that's foundation was laid many centuries ago in the folly of youth in the first place. The thought of finally being able to punish him for the pain he had caused her was more than exquisite.
The horse suddenly became agitated, its ears nervously twitching from side to side. Its behavior was the proof of what Sauda already knew for more than an hour. They had company. A cruel smile of anticipation and excitement flitted over her face. She was looking forward to this. It would give her the possibility to release some of her anger, so that she would go into the final battle with a clear head.
The loud trampling of heavy feet and deep grunts announced the arrival of a group of Orcs. With a loud and blood chilling roar they broke through the tree line like a horde of boars - almost twenty of them, their heavy bodies radiating unreleased anger and raw, brutal force. Everything that stood in their way was trampled under foot or smashed into tiny pieces. They froze in tracks when they laid eyes on the woman who was sitting on her horse in front of them, motionless and with regal grace, seemingly unfazed by their sudden entrance. The vicious creatures were staring at her in fascination. She was to them much like a tasty piece of meat lying on a plate in front of a man that had been starving for days. They licked their disgusting lips, letting their glittering red eyes roam over her body imagining the delicious taste of her sweet flesh that lured them with its milky white skin. Then suddenly the spell was broken and they stormed forward like one man.
Sauda opened her arms in a gesture with which you would greet your lover. "Puzg /stop/!", her voice that was as sweet as honey even managed to let the disgusting sounds of the dark language sound appealing, but there was also an icy under current to it which made clear that she would not tolerate any disobedience. It was clearly audible over the clattering of armour and the growling of the Orcs. They stopped following her order out of reflex; after all they had done nothing else but obeying orders for all their life, and looked at her expectantly. She jumped off her horse in one fluent movement, accompanied only by the soft rustle of the fabric of her clothes.
The scene was almost surreal: a tight circle of those vicious creatures had formed around her and was closing in on her like a dangerous pack of wolves waiting for the right moment to strike. Sauda stepped up to one of them, stopping only inches away from him, unimpressed by his bared teeth and the fact that the Orc towered over her threateningly.
"So strong and yet so utterly stupid," she shook her head, watching the creature interestedly.
A pair of hideous eyes was fixed on her following her every move. His face was a perverted mirror image of the human countenance, the only expression with which it was familiar with was either a grimace of hate or disgust. The Orc's pointed teeth were rotten and ready to sink themselves into her flesh in order to feast on her. His smelly breath, filled with the unsupportable stench of death caressed her face and she wrinkled her nose in disgust. Spit was dripping down the Orc's fangs, over his lips and chin, while it stretched out his filthy claws to reach for her, his gesture filled with almost agonising desire, "Ûndûrz aaps. Maath aaps. /Fresh meat. Sweet meat. /," its vicious voice said longingly.
The others responded him immediately. "Gîl ! /Mealtime! /", they chanted in unison. One Orc standing next to her suddenly jumped forward and tried to grab her, but he never even got as far as laying a finger on her. He suddenly discovered that he was unable to move, hanging in the air frozen in mid movement like an insect enclosed in amber. His eyes widened comically in an expression of utter surprise. Sauda only smiled coldly at him and with a tiny flick of her wrist the stunned creature flew through the air like a rag doll. He crashed violently into a tree trunk with a bone smashing thud and sunk to the floor in an unconscious heap, perhaps he was even dead. The other Orcs had by this time realized that they made a deadly mistake in assuming that this woman would be easy prey, but by the time their slow brains, that were only able to focused completely on the task of fighting, killing and maiming, had even begun to grasp that thought it was already too late - there was no escape for them.
"Mirz kul lat? /Who are you?/", another Orc hissed taking a few steps back, experiencing for the first time the feeling all his victims had felt briefly before he had killed them.
"Kul nûl. Gathroku mat. /I am pain. Prepare to die/," the woman announced with a smile and that was the last thing he was ever to hear or to see in his life.
~
It was Midsummer - a day to go down in history. Somehow Arnaya felt that today's happenings would be remembered for years and maybe even centuries to come. The warm summer breeze carried the happy cheers of the crowd up to her window and a thousand lights were sparkling in the darkness of the night. Minas-Tirith was bathed in a warm shine of flickering torches and filled with a magical atmosphere. The terrors of the war that had swept over the land were forgotten as a new age began. It was the age of mankind and the parlor of the old world gleamed desperately for one last time only to then fade away gradually. Men, elves, hobbits and dwarves were united for today's special occasion that each of them would remember for the rest of their days. Some of them had traveled great distances and undertaken perilous adventures just to be a part of this, whereas she had chosen to isolate herself from the cheerful happiness of the masses that was almost unsupportable, because she felt that destiny didn't hold a pleasant future in store for her.
Though she had spent the day alone in her room all by herself, she knew that outside people were celebrating, that the air was filled with the serene laughter and soft music. Today King Elessar and Arwen Undomiel had been wed and even more importantly officially crowned. The whole city had held its breath in excitement, as they watched the ceremony unfold before their very eyes, moved by the beauty of their new queen and the deep love the couple shared. Everyone had been there to witness this special event, everyone but her. Arnaya was the only one left behind. She knew that she would have been an unwanted guest at the festivities and felt no desire whatsoever to witness them. It was highly doubtable that anybody would miss the company of the woman who had a few days ago tried to assassinate King Elessar.
She decided to take a stroll through the palace to keep herself occupied and chase away the boredom that had seized her after long hours of idleness. The corridors of the palace were completely empty, because apparently everybody seemed to have gathered in the dinning hall. Arnaya enjoyed the solitude and the quiet peacefulness of her surroundings that allowed her troubled mind to rest. From far away the faint ghost of music resounded in the lonely corridor and she hummed softly to the sad melody of the song. The slivery blue shine of the moon light fell in through the windows and created a melancholic, yet enchanting atmosphere. Arnaya stopped walking and closed her eyes, concentrating on the beautiful music that tenderly caressed her ears that were eagerly listening to each single note. She swayed slowly to the song's rhythm, being completely oblivious to her surroundings.
"It is even more beautiful when you are inside," the melodic and soft voice of a woman said and let Arnaya suck in her breath in surprise. She immediately opened her eyes and turned around quickly.
Her senses were almost overwhelmed by the sight of a beautiful she-elf that was clad in a white dressed made of a skillfully woven and exquisite fabric that sparkled brightly in the twilight of the corridor. But her gown was at best a mediocre accessory in comparison to the splendid laughter of her smile and the breathtaking loveliness of her features. The young witch stood there completely at a loss of words, not only because she was captured by the sight of the elf standing in front of her, but because she realized who that person that had addressed her only moments before was - the queen herself.
Many wise men have lost words about how happiness and love manage to increase a woman's beauty, but they would have never been able to capture the splendor of Arwen Undomiel. This day was her happiest hour in which her light was shining the brightest, doing her title "Evenstar" all honor.
Arnaya slowly regained her ability to speak and a faint blush crept up her cheeks. "Then why are you here?" her voice was not impolite, just curious.
"I just needed to take a breath of fresh air, stop to enjoy and honor this beautiful night that will fade away all too soon....," a melancholic expression flitted briefly over her fair features to be shortly after chased away again by the serene glow of her smile, that came to her as naturally as breathing on this evening, given the events of today.
"Will you join me on my way back?"
"I fear I'm not wanted there," Arnaya replied hesitantly.
"Why should you not be wanted? This is a day of happiness and laughter. Friends and strangers are welcomed with open arms alike," Arwen responded with open friendliness in her voice.
"You don't know who I am," the young witch said sadly, not being able to look her vis-à-vis in the eye anymore out of shame.
"Who knows. Maybe I do."
Arnaya had shot up and she looked at the queen questioningly, her eyes wide open in astonishment.
"This is day of new beginnings, of chances that open doors to possibilities that have not existed before, a day to believe in the power of forgiveness. Maybe we can change a whole life by reaching out to a person, lost and alone. Sometimes a simple gesture can alter the course of another person's fate," said the queen and the wisdom of centuries shone in her blue eyes that looked at the young witch knowingly.
"Come with me," she said to her and there was a soft, yet commanding tone to her voice.
Arnaya slowly nodded and tried hard not to show how much Arwen's kindness had moved her. That this she-elf, of all people, was willing to forgive her, yes even give her a second chance was far more than she deserved after what she had done. She felt a deep and sincere respect blossom inside of her for the newly crowned Queen of Gondor.
She stepped forward to follow her on her way to the dinning hall, but as she did so she became aware of a tiny yet significant detail. Arwen stopped, her dress pillowing around her rustling softly, and looked back at her questioningly.
"I believe I should change before we go inside," she indicated her worn out and faded clothes with a gesture of her hand and the she-elf nodded at her in understanding.
"I will send you a chamber maiden to bring you a dress and help you get ready."
"Thank you for your kindness, my lady," Arnaya lowered her head respectfully and executed a rather clumsy curtsy, the first one in her entire life.