NOTE: Okay, the technicalities are fixed. WOO! Well, the accent still isn't
working, so the accent mark over the second A in "Anarion" still isn't
there, and in many of the words I use, if there is an accent that's
supposed to be there, it most likely won't be there because different
symbols come up when I upload the file at FF.net. But other than that,
everything is A OK. Thanks so much to grandimagination for the two
reviews!! I'm so glad you love it! And thanks to klaw also! So happy you
like it! If there is anything else confusing just let me know what you want
to know and I'll clear it up. Sorry, I'll try to make it less confusing.
Maybe come out with a more detailed list or something if anyone wants to
see that as a special in-between-chapters thing. Thanks to anyone else who
reviewed! Hope you like this one!
EPIPHANY: 8
"Amdiriel........" the voice trailed off, the tone grand with a pure echo following. Amdiriel was back in the wood, back in the forest with few trees. The elf with golden hair such as her own was standing before her, expanding her pale hand to Amdiriel's cheek, as Amdiriel knelt to the ground at the first feel of the woman's touch, tears streaming.
"Tell me who you are, please. You come to me so naturally, yet I call you Celebrian and you do not answer. What do you want of me?"
"The time will come when you will understand why I come to you. Hope flows through your veins, and at times the journey will seem unbearable but if your spirit fails then the hope that has been kept alive all these years will fail with it. Amdiriel, you will come to know your place." Amdiriel knelt, speechless, longing to touch the hand that caressed her cheek so warmly, but her arms were frozen at her side, as she sealed her eyes feeling a wrench of pain in her stomach. She looked to see what was the matter, only to lift from her stomach her own bloodstained hand, as she looked up to find the elf gone.
"WAIT!" Amdiriel sat straight up, searching left and right for the mysterious golden-haired diviner, only to see trees all around her, and the cerulean eyed gentleman she had met the night before kneeling in front of her.
"You were dreaming," he stated simply. "I was deciding whether or not to seal your mouth with a cloth, for your shrieks were growing in volume," he claimed in a light tone, clearly joking with the young maiden.
"What did I say?"
"Nothing. You only called to someone, though I cannot say who, for I myself couldn't make out the name."
"Oh," was her only response, as she became more aware of her surroundings. A blanket had been draped over her, as she lay on the leaves that covered the grown. "Where are we?" she asked, rubbing her eyes lightly.
"West of Rohan. We're not too far from Gondor to tell you the truth."
"Well then what are we doing here? Take me back to Gondor! Or to Rohan even, Lord Eomer is a family friend he will give me shelter," she ruled, standing up to face Ewan in the face.
"I've come to grow a little tired of your dominating personality. Keep acting this way and I'll throw you in the River Isen, with a rag to shut that domineering mouth."
Amdiriel shot a fierce look at her male companion, eyes brows caved in illustrating her frustration. "Your sarcasm is something I've come to grow greatly tired of! Letting my sisters be taken off was something I objected highly to, but you assured me they would be okay, so I trusted you. I trusted that we were heading to Gondor, I trusted you to bring me home. Come to think of it, why do I trust you? I really do not know..." her tone annoyed lined with that overpowering sense that came so natural to her.
"Because I saved your life, and you can't help but trust me now. And I'm not taking you to Gondor because if I do, then you're more likely to put the rest of your family in danger, nor do I wish to take you to Rohan. AND, if it will ease your nagging just a bit, they didn't take both your sisters, they took the daughter of Amrothos, the idiots. But, they will not stop pursuing you Amdiriel. They are after you, essentially."
"Why? What do they want with me?"
"I hardly think this is the time to go into detail, come, we must go," he didn't wait for Amdiriel to show her consent. He headed off into the forest, expecting her to follow him, as she did, for she had no choice, constantly protesting under her breath.
NORTHERN WASTELANDS
"So, let me recapitulate our situation here. I send you and the now- dead Vurung to retrieve for me four things: a prince, a princess, a mute and a beauty. The prince you say, was last on your agenda, the princess escaped, and the only things you bring me are the mute and the beauty, who you now just realize is not even the daughter of Elessar because YOU TOOK THE WRONG ONE!" Ainik was pacing back and forth in front of Erurg, one of the leaders of the group he sent out the night before, as he was screaming at the top of his lungs, frustration bleeding from every crevice in his body.
"Master, send me out again and I will retrieve the boy, and find the girl. One word and I will hunt them within hours. Last night had too many distractions, too many mindless orcs in my way! I will bring them, I Erurg of the Uruk-hai!" he cried, pride shooting from his tone, as he raised his hands as if to say he had already triumphed.
Ainik only rolled his eyes, leaving the arrogant Uruk to flatter his own ego. He headed down the dark steps that lead to the dungeon that held what two assets he had to work with. Both were crept in the corner of the stone quad, apparently trying to keep away from the rats that crawled freely through the halls. He stood in front of the iron gate that enclosed them, hands behind his back, posture almost perfect to personify his power that they knew little of, but would soon find out about.
"What do you want with us?" Aeronel asked plainly, her voice cold with hate.
Ainik looked to the dark haired girl opposite from Aeronel, ignoring Aeronel's stare and chuckling aloud, as he spoke in a tenor was intentionally offending. "Do you wish to ask me the same question, Maethoriel daughter of Aragorn? Come now my dear, don't be shy. I will answer what ever questions you wish to speak of."
Maethoriel's glare was fired with hurt, and anger. He was taunting her, with the one subject she was truly sensitive to. Without thinking she leaped to the gate, pounding her fist to her kidnapper's face. Ainik only stepped back, laughing with taunt. Aeronel stood to hold her friend back, trying to calm her nerves, as Ainik began to ascend the steps, still laughing under his breath.
"They will come for us! And you will be maimed for what you are doing," Aeronel called to him, her words halting his footsteps dead in their tracks. He turned around and slowly walked back to stare Aeronel in the face, eyes burning through her soul.
"My dear, I've only just begun. You know nothing of what draws closer, so they will come yes, but do not get your hopes up too high. If all else fails, you two are the fortunate victims of death by my own hand. Sleep well tonight, Aeronel daughter of Amrothos." He ignored the scowl of Aeronel, as Maethoriel banged on the gate again to let her frustration be known, and returned to his chambers, satisfied that he had placed fear in their hearts.
GONDOR
Aragorn had finally reached his home, with Faramir and Amrothos close behind his steps as he ascended the great stairs to the entrance of the citadel. They had agreed that Elphir and Erchirion, the brothers of Amrothos, would stay to aid Eomer if anything happened incase the intention of splitting the men apart was another ruse to grab their attention from what was really going on, just as the small Orc war had been a ruse. The anxiety that shadowed Aragorn took hold of him, as he began running up the steps, wanting desperately to enter the citadel, to see what its walls had to show. He finally reached the entrance, entering to the great throne hall, a sense of fret coming over him as he dashed to climb the stairs to the quarters of his family. Without noticing if Faramir and Amrothos were even following anymore, he went straight to his room, eyeing the spots of blood that stained the carpet in his halls. He threw open the door, to see Arwen laying in bed, her back facing the door, scrunched in a position that made it look as if she was afraid.
"Arwen........" he called to her, but she didn't turn to look at him. She didn't move a single inch of her body, not even a twitch at the sound of her name. Aragorn dropped his cloak and sword, and rushed to her, going to the side of the bed where he could see her face. When he looked upon her, her expression was blank, staring at nothing, hands kept together placed under her cheek, tears flowing.
"Arwen, I am here, I'm here now," he whispered, cupping her cheeks in his hands, madly kissing her forehead and face to comfort her.
"You should have been here before. You should have been here when we needed you Aragorn!" she cried, wailing almost, her eyes cutting through Aragorn's like knives. She sat up, glaring at him anger coating her expression. She was tired, and frustrated, and aching it seemed.
"Arwen, Arwen!" but he could not contain her. She began pounding his chest with her fists, resentment visible with every blow, mumbling each time how she felt that he failed their family. Finally he held onto her shoulders forcefully, as she lowered her arms weeping. "They needed you Aragorn, they needed me and I couldn't come to them! I couldn't help them! My children Estel. my children," she trailed off into Aragorn's shoulder, as he held her tightly, wanting so desperately to rid her of despair.
"Arwen I swear to you I will find them. I will bring them back," he said firmly, still holding her in his arms, tears beginning to slide down his cheek.
"Eowyn........" Eowyn looked up from the chair she was sitting in, placed in front of a window in her chamber that brought the outside world in. Faramir had searched for her throughout the citadel, too frantic to think of stopping and ask a maid where she could have been, as he stood in the doorway. Eowyn didn't answer; she only got up from the chair as she ran to her husband. Faramir held her close, feeling her tears upon his shoulder. He caressed her golden hair, taking in her scent, hugging her tightly. He needn't ask the question where his children were, for the expression on Eowyn's face exposed her worry and fear, and he knew that they were gone.
"Anarion is a good fighter, a great one. He will not let anything happen to his sister, he will take care of her, Arodiel can almost watch out for herself if you think about it. Her strong spirit and all........" his voice trailing, trying to ease Eowyn's concern, trying to convince her their children will be all right, as he tried to convince himself, knowing he needed to be strong for Eowyn's sake, as he still held onto her. "They will return to us."
SOMEWHERE OUTSIDE OF GONDOR
"We have been walking for hours, and each time you say were are almost there, there is more trees lining our way. Admit it you are lost!" Amdiriel spoke, as she sat on the ground to get some rest, Ewan stopping to accommodate her, looking around for anyone who lurked, and more importantly for the way out of the maze of a forest.
"I am not lost," he lied "I am simply taking a safe way. Please keep your voice down, we don't know what is out here."
Amdiriel watched the young man as he surveyed the forest ahead, back faced to her, his hands on his hips shifting his head from left to right and back again. 'He seems so familiar. Like I've met him somewhere before, but his face brings back no memory,' she thought to herself. Ewan turned around at that moment to catch Amdiriel staring at him.
"What?" he asked confusingly. Amdiriel shook her head to release herself from the daze, and smiled.
"Nothing."
Ewan approached her and took a seat next to her on the ground. "Well, I'm tired as well, so maybe we can sit here and rest a bit until......."
".........until you figure out where we are," Amdiriel finished for him. Ewan looked at her, laughing playfully as she did. 'For once no sarcasm' she thought to herself, as she took notice of the comfort she sensed when he smiled.
"So, where are you from?" she asked looking down trying not to look at his eyes, fiddling with the leaves on the ground.
"I am from Rohan, originally," he said not looking at her, leaning back on his arms staring at the great trees that soared above the two escapees.
"Rohan?" she asked questioningly staring at him. "Then why did you not want to take me there? It is your home, is it not?"
"Yes, but ever since I left I've avoided the land altogether."
"Why?"
"A few years ago I had an argument with my father. He wanted me to become something I wasn't ready to become; he was preparing me, really. One day I asked what would happen if I didn't be what he wanted, and he told me I would disgrace our name. I haven't returned since."
Amdiriel nodded her head, not knowing really what to say. "He wanted you to be a rider, for the Mark no doubt?"
"No, a baker," he said smiling widely, as Amdiriel laughed along with him realizing his joke, feeling at ease for a moment for the first time since she was first taken from home. "Alright, come on it's time to go," he said, getting up and extending his palm to help her up.
"Do you know the way? What if we wander off and find something unwelcoming."
"Don't worry, there's nothing threatening here anym.........." but before Ewan could finish, he turned around to find the tip of a sword pointed right in his face.
TBC, Hope you guys liked it! Sorry if it's long. Don't forget to review!!
EPIPHANY: 8
"Amdiriel........" the voice trailed off, the tone grand with a pure echo following. Amdiriel was back in the wood, back in the forest with few trees. The elf with golden hair such as her own was standing before her, expanding her pale hand to Amdiriel's cheek, as Amdiriel knelt to the ground at the first feel of the woman's touch, tears streaming.
"Tell me who you are, please. You come to me so naturally, yet I call you Celebrian and you do not answer. What do you want of me?"
"The time will come when you will understand why I come to you. Hope flows through your veins, and at times the journey will seem unbearable but if your spirit fails then the hope that has been kept alive all these years will fail with it. Amdiriel, you will come to know your place." Amdiriel knelt, speechless, longing to touch the hand that caressed her cheek so warmly, but her arms were frozen at her side, as she sealed her eyes feeling a wrench of pain in her stomach. She looked to see what was the matter, only to lift from her stomach her own bloodstained hand, as she looked up to find the elf gone.
"WAIT!" Amdiriel sat straight up, searching left and right for the mysterious golden-haired diviner, only to see trees all around her, and the cerulean eyed gentleman she had met the night before kneeling in front of her.
"You were dreaming," he stated simply. "I was deciding whether or not to seal your mouth with a cloth, for your shrieks were growing in volume," he claimed in a light tone, clearly joking with the young maiden.
"What did I say?"
"Nothing. You only called to someone, though I cannot say who, for I myself couldn't make out the name."
"Oh," was her only response, as she became more aware of her surroundings. A blanket had been draped over her, as she lay on the leaves that covered the grown. "Where are we?" she asked, rubbing her eyes lightly.
"West of Rohan. We're not too far from Gondor to tell you the truth."
"Well then what are we doing here? Take me back to Gondor! Or to Rohan even, Lord Eomer is a family friend he will give me shelter," she ruled, standing up to face Ewan in the face.
"I've come to grow a little tired of your dominating personality. Keep acting this way and I'll throw you in the River Isen, with a rag to shut that domineering mouth."
Amdiriel shot a fierce look at her male companion, eyes brows caved in illustrating her frustration. "Your sarcasm is something I've come to grow greatly tired of! Letting my sisters be taken off was something I objected highly to, but you assured me they would be okay, so I trusted you. I trusted that we were heading to Gondor, I trusted you to bring me home. Come to think of it, why do I trust you? I really do not know..." her tone annoyed lined with that overpowering sense that came so natural to her.
"Because I saved your life, and you can't help but trust me now. And I'm not taking you to Gondor because if I do, then you're more likely to put the rest of your family in danger, nor do I wish to take you to Rohan. AND, if it will ease your nagging just a bit, they didn't take both your sisters, they took the daughter of Amrothos, the idiots. But, they will not stop pursuing you Amdiriel. They are after you, essentially."
"Why? What do they want with me?"
"I hardly think this is the time to go into detail, come, we must go," he didn't wait for Amdiriel to show her consent. He headed off into the forest, expecting her to follow him, as she did, for she had no choice, constantly protesting under her breath.
NORTHERN WASTELANDS
"So, let me recapitulate our situation here. I send you and the now- dead Vurung to retrieve for me four things: a prince, a princess, a mute and a beauty. The prince you say, was last on your agenda, the princess escaped, and the only things you bring me are the mute and the beauty, who you now just realize is not even the daughter of Elessar because YOU TOOK THE WRONG ONE!" Ainik was pacing back and forth in front of Erurg, one of the leaders of the group he sent out the night before, as he was screaming at the top of his lungs, frustration bleeding from every crevice in his body.
"Master, send me out again and I will retrieve the boy, and find the girl. One word and I will hunt them within hours. Last night had too many distractions, too many mindless orcs in my way! I will bring them, I Erurg of the Uruk-hai!" he cried, pride shooting from his tone, as he raised his hands as if to say he had already triumphed.
Ainik only rolled his eyes, leaving the arrogant Uruk to flatter his own ego. He headed down the dark steps that lead to the dungeon that held what two assets he had to work with. Both were crept in the corner of the stone quad, apparently trying to keep away from the rats that crawled freely through the halls. He stood in front of the iron gate that enclosed them, hands behind his back, posture almost perfect to personify his power that they knew little of, but would soon find out about.
"What do you want with us?" Aeronel asked plainly, her voice cold with hate.
Ainik looked to the dark haired girl opposite from Aeronel, ignoring Aeronel's stare and chuckling aloud, as he spoke in a tenor was intentionally offending. "Do you wish to ask me the same question, Maethoriel daughter of Aragorn? Come now my dear, don't be shy. I will answer what ever questions you wish to speak of."
Maethoriel's glare was fired with hurt, and anger. He was taunting her, with the one subject she was truly sensitive to. Without thinking she leaped to the gate, pounding her fist to her kidnapper's face. Ainik only stepped back, laughing with taunt. Aeronel stood to hold her friend back, trying to calm her nerves, as Ainik began to ascend the steps, still laughing under his breath.
"They will come for us! And you will be maimed for what you are doing," Aeronel called to him, her words halting his footsteps dead in their tracks. He turned around and slowly walked back to stare Aeronel in the face, eyes burning through her soul.
"My dear, I've only just begun. You know nothing of what draws closer, so they will come yes, but do not get your hopes up too high. If all else fails, you two are the fortunate victims of death by my own hand. Sleep well tonight, Aeronel daughter of Amrothos." He ignored the scowl of Aeronel, as Maethoriel banged on the gate again to let her frustration be known, and returned to his chambers, satisfied that he had placed fear in their hearts.
GONDOR
Aragorn had finally reached his home, with Faramir and Amrothos close behind his steps as he ascended the great stairs to the entrance of the citadel. They had agreed that Elphir and Erchirion, the brothers of Amrothos, would stay to aid Eomer if anything happened incase the intention of splitting the men apart was another ruse to grab their attention from what was really going on, just as the small Orc war had been a ruse. The anxiety that shadowed Aragorn took hold of him, as he began running up the steps, wanting desperately to enter the citadel, to see what its walls had to show. He finally reached the entrance, entering to the great throne hall, a sense of fret coming over him as he dashed to climb the stairs to the quarters of his family. Without noticing if Faramir and Amrothos were even following anymore, he went straight to his room, eyeing the spots of blood that stained the carpet in his halls. He threw open the door, to see Arwen laying in bed, her back facing the door, scrunched in a position that made it look as if she was afraid.
"Arwen........" he called to her, but she didn't turn to look at him. She didn't move a single inch of her body, not even a twitch at the sound of her name. Aragorn dropped his cloak and sword, and rushed to her, going to the side of the bed where he could see her face. When he looked upon her, her expression was blank, staring at nothing, hands kept together placed under her cheek, tears flowing.
"Arwen, I am here, I'm here now," he whispered, cupping her cheeks in his hands, madly kissing her forehead and face to comfort her.
"You should have been here before. You should have been here when we needed you Aragorn!" she cried, wailing almost, her eyes cutting through Aragorn's like knives. She sat up, glaring at him anger coating her expression. She was tired, and frustrated, and aching it seemed.
"Arwen, Arwen!" but he could not contain her. She began pounding his chest with her fists, resentment visible with every blow, mumbling each time how she felt that he failed their family. Finally he held onto her shoulders forcefully, as she lowered her arms weeping. "They needed you Aragorn, they needed me and I couldn't come to them! I couldn't help them! My children Estel. my children," she trailed off into Aragorn's shoulder, as he held her tightly, wanting so desperately to rid her of despair.
"Arwen I swear to you I will find them. I will bring them back," he said firmly, still holding her in his arms, tears beginning to slide down his cheek.
"Eowyn........" Eowyn looked up from the chair she was sitting in, placed in front of a window in her chamber that brought the outside world in. Faramir had searched for her throughout the citadel, too frantic to think of stopping and ask a maid where she could have been, as he stood in the doorway. Eowyn didn't answer; she only got up from the chair as she ran to her husband. Faramir held her close, feeling her tears upon his shoulder. He caressed her golden hair, taking in her scent, hugging her tightly. He needn't ask the question where his children were, for the expression on Eowyn's face exposed her worry and fear, and he knew that they were gone.
"Anarion is a good fighter, a great one. He will not let anything happen to his sister, he will take care of her, Arodiel can almost watch out for herself if you think about it. Her strong spirit and all........" his voice trailing, trying to ease Eowyn's concern, trying to convince her their children will be all right, as he tried to convince himself, knowing he needed to be strong for Eowyn's sake, as he still held onto her. "They will return to us."
SOMEWHERE OUTSIDE OF GONDOR
"We have been walking for hours, and each time you say were are almost there, there is more trees lining our way. Admit it you are lost!" Amdiriel spoke, as she sat on the ground to get some rest, Ewan stopping to accommodate her, looking around for anyone who lurked, and more importantly for the way out of the maze of a forest.
"I am not lost," he lied "I am simply taking a safe way. Please keep your voice down, we don't know what is out here."
Amdiriel watched the young man as he surveyed the forest ahead, back faced to her, his hands on his hips shifting his head from left to right and back again. 'He seems so familiar. Like I've met him somewhere before, but his face brings back no memory,' she thought to herself. Ewan turned around at that moment to catch Amdiriel staring at him.
"What?" he asked confusingly. Amdiriel shook her head to release herself from the daze, and smiled.
"Nothing."
Ewan approached her and took a seat next to her on the ground. "Well, I'm tired as well, so maybe we can sit here and rest a bit until......."
".........until you figure out where we are," Amdiriel finished for him. Ewan looked at her, laughing playfully as she did. 'For once no sarcasm' she thought to herself, as she took notice of the comfort she sensed when he smiled.
"So, where are you from?" she asked looking down trying not to look at his eyes, fiddling with the leaves on the ground.
"I am from Rohan, originally," he said not looking at her, leaning back on his arms staring at the great trees that soared above the two escapees.
"Rohan?" she asked questioningly staring at him. "Then why did you not want to take me there? It is your home, is it not?"
"Yes, but ever since I left I've avoided the land altogether."
"Why?"
"A few years ago I had an argument with my father. He wanted me to become something I wasn't ready to become; he was preparing me, really. One day I asked what would happen if I didn't be what he wanted, and he told me I would disgrace our name. I haven't returned since."
Amdiriel nodded her head, not knowing really what to say. "He wanted you to be a rider, for the Mark no doubt?"
"No, a baker," he said smiling widely, as Amdiriel laughed along with him realizing his joke, feeling at ease for a moment for the first time since she was first taken from home. "Alright, come on it's time to go," he said, getting up and extending his palm to help her up.
"Do you know the way? What if we wander off and find something unwelcoming."
"Don't worry, there's nothing threatening here anym.........." but before Ewan could finish, he turned around to find the tip of a sword pointed right in his face.
TBC, Hope you guys liked it! Sorry if it's long. Don't forget to review!!
