Chapter Two: Dark and Light
Gandalf led them in through the gates of their land. It seemed strange to Aragorn that there were no unfriendly looks cast upon them, nor halting that stopped them along the gate. Sturdy gold of Kings and Queens were mold on the doors. Even their faces imprinted seem to welcome them. Such welcoming signs did not let Legolas' doubts fade, "Look out Gimli, no allies of ours means allies of the enemy." Gimli nodded, but as soon as he did, his eyes wandered off into the fair land. After a quick moment, he exclaimed "Methril! It is the same kind that master Baggins bares on his chest!" Gandalf blocked Gimli with his staff, "Do not run off yet Master Gimli, not until our welcome is assured here." "I'm not so sure I would want to be welcomed in such a place" muttered Legolas under his breath. Gandalf led them up a winding cobblestone stairway that shows the way to a tower. Aragorn looked up; he wondered quietly still, why does this place seem so oddly familiar? They followed closely behind their guide, and into the mouth of the silver palace. Once inside, they saw a small man, hunched over his table, sitting upon a throne three sizes too big for him. As Gandalf and the Company went in, the small man said, "Welcome Gandalf my friend," without looking up ever from his work. "And what seems to busy you so dangerously that you do not even look up at my presence and see the brave Company that I have brought you." At these words he looked up, "I apologize for my behavior, but trouble marks me so, but never mind that now, and lets see what your companions look like." "Ahhh.. I see, welcome Aragorn, son of Arathorn, and Legolas, prince of northern Mirkwood, and last, but not least, Gimli, son of Gloin. I am Neokas, Lord of Simil." A small chubby energetic man he seemed to be. Measuring up to only Aragorn's shoulders, he doesn't look like he had ever skipped a meal in his life. "How unkindly of a host am I, all wrapped up in my work that I do not show you the luxuries you deserve. I do ask of your leave, just for a few hours, until the sun fails you for me to finish in my work today and find accommodations to suit you." Gandalf raised his staff, signaling a protest, his mouth opened wide. Neokas stopped him, "No I will not hear you, it's the best for my guest, even better for old friends, this simply would not do." Gandalf opened his mouth again, "Nay my friend, I cannot, I am here on urgent business, I need to counsel a bit as you might say." Neokas sighed, "Very well, but you must give me about two hours as opposed to four that I've asked for before." Gandalf agreed, and he led the Company out.
Roaming around with two hours to spare in this fair land does not seem enough. Gimli ran off freely in search of the methril that he saw before. "We must keep together" Gandalf warned, "it is not a dangerous place, but it is very big, one could get lost and not be found for a week." Gimli suddenly stopped, not because he heeded the words that Gandalf said, but of an explosion that sounded not too far away. Legolas and Gimli ran towards the site, a disturbance of peace seemed quite odd in this land. They first arrived, not knowing what to think, it happened all too quick. A being, cloaked in midnight black extended his arm in great force, and a ball of fire escaped from his hand. He cast it at a being cloaked in white lying on the floor. With great effort, the white one blocked and mirrored the move, he then, threw a ball of immense light at the black. Aragorn raised his sword, not knowing which to attack, but the black, reminded him of the Black Riders so his sword pointed in his direction. Gandalf stared bitterly at them, he raised his own staff, but held Aragorn back, "It is not your battle, and neither is this battle fit for a sword." He turned and to his dismay, Gimli and Legolas had their weapon drawn as well, he repeated his words to them and bid them to lower their weapons. Citizens of Simil crowded around, far enough not to be victimized, but drawing close, seeing that they are not the ones that the mysterious black cloaked one is after.
The attack of the light was not as it is to the eye. It held much power than one perceived. The ball threw back the hood of the black cloaked one and revealed that it is a she, not a he. The woman had long straight dark brown hair, big eyes and ruby red lips, which curled into a smile when she saw the challenge. "So, Ennia, you are revealed to me, how can I not guess that you would in order to protect a mere child." The White one stood up, and her voice appeared to be the identical as her. "Destiny, leave at once I warn you." Destiny laugh aloud, "how dare you still order me around sister?" she sneered. "I am no longer at your service, no longer is your slave." "You shall fall in the name of the Great One and your powers shall be mine." Ennia stayed calm and replied "Oh, so that's what he promised you? How are you so sure that he will not betray you as he did to father? How are you so sure that he will not kill you like so? And further more, how dare you measure yourself up to me little sister?" Fury grew in Destiny's eyes as soon as the last words escaped Ennia's lips, "I've come this far haven't I? Father was weak, He did not betray him, Father would have fall anyway, do not speak ill of the master. He gave me the chance to prove myself, and that I will do, your head shall be next to mine tonight, and yet your body will lie in the river of Anduin." Ennia's voice did not change, and she spoke steadily, "We shall see, we shall see."
With that, Destiny, threw a ball, this time, of lighting at Ennia, and Ennia threw a ball of fire. Another explosion took place, both were knocked into the air and thrown back several feet. Destiny stood up, blood spilling from her mouth, "So, you are stronger than I have remembered, Neokas finally allowed you to use magic?" Ennia stood up, wiping away the blood from her forehead, "Dark times call for greater measures, Destiny." Destiny paused, thinking over her next attack, but thought better of it. Her enemy had grown stronger, and if she doesn't retreat, she might get killed, or worse loose her powers. "This is not over Ennia, I will come one day, when you least expect it and you shall see." She then fled from sight, as quick as her lightning ball. Ennia was clutching her arm, it seemed to be cut pretty bad, from her shoulder down. Not uttering a word, she got up, and walked. People were staring at her, fearing her, pointing and whispering. Ennia ignored them all, walking as quick as possible.
Gandalf followed her, but Aragorn paused, "How do we know she is not dangerous?" Gandalf answered, "She is indeed, one of the most dangerous you could say, but how do you know she is dangerous of ill?" He soon left, following her and the rest fell in step behind.
AN: I already have chapters 3-5. But they need some heavy revising. I'll have them up so I can get to the plot soon enough.
Gandalf led them in through the gates of their land. It seemed strange to Aragorn that there were no unfriendly looks cast upon them, nor halting that stopped them along the gate. Sturdy gold of Kings and Queens were mold on the doors. Even their faces imprinted seem to welcome them. Such welcoming signs did not let Legolas' doubts fade, "Look out Gimli, no allies of ours means allies of the enemy." Gimli nodded, but as soon as he did, his eyes wandered off into the fair land. After a quick moment, he exclaimed "Methril! It is the same kind that master Baggins bares on his chest!" Gandalf blocked Gimli with his staff, "Do not run off yet Master Gimli, not until our welcome is assured here." "I'm not so sure I would want to be welcomed in such a place" muttered Legolas under his breath. Gandalf led them up a winding cobblestone stairway that shows the way to a tower. Aragorn looked up; he wondered quietly still, why does this place seem so oddly familiar? They followed closely behind their guide, and into the mouth of the silver palace. Once inside, they saw a small man, hunched over his table, sitting upon a throne three sizes too big for him. As Gandalf and the Company went in, the small man said, "Welcome Gandalf my friend," without looking up ever from his work. "And what seems to busy you so dangerously that you do not even look up at my presence and see the brave Company that I have brought you." At these words he looked up, "I apologize for my behavior, but trouble marks me so, but never mind that now, and lets see what your companions look like." "Ahhh.. I see, welcome Aragorn, son of Arathorn, and Legolas, prince of northern Mirkwood, and last, but not least, Gimli, son of Gloin. I am Neokas, Lord of Simil." A small chubby energetic man he seemed to be. Measuring up to only Aragorn's shoulders, he doesn't look like he had ever skipped a meal in his life. "How unkindly of a host am I, all wrapped up in my work that I do not show you the luxuries you deserve. I do ask of your leave, just for a few hours, until the sun fails you for me to finish in my work today and find accommodations to suit you." Gandalf raised his staff, signaling a protest, his mouth opened wide. Neokas stopped him, "No I will not hear you, it's the best for my guest, even better for old friends, this simply would not do." Gandalf opened his mouth again, "Nay my friend, I cannot, I am here on urgent business, I need to counsel a bit as you might say." Neokas sighed, "Very well, but you must give me about two hours as opposed to four that I've asked for before." Gandalf agreed, and he led the Company out.
Roaming around with two hours to spare in this fair land does not seem enough. Gimli ran off freely in search of the methril that he saw before. "We must keep together" Gandalf warned, "it is not a dangerous place, but it is very big, one could get lost and not be found for a week." Gimli suddenly stopped, not because he heeded the words that Gandalf said, but of an explosion that sounded not too far away. Legolas and Gimli ran towards the site, a disturbance of peace seemed quite odd in this land. They first arrived, not knowing what to think, it happened all too quick. A being, cloaked in midnight black extended his arm in great force, and a ball of fire escaped from his hand. He cast it at a being cloaked in white lying on the floor. With great effort, the white one blocked and mirrored the move, he then, threw a ball of immense light at the black. Aragorn raised his sword, not knowing which to attack, but the black, reminded him of the Black Riders so his sword pointed in his direction. Gandalf stared bitterly at them, he raised his own staff, but held Aragorn back, "It is not your battle, and neither is this battle fit for a sword." He turned and to his dismay, Gimli and Legolas had their weapon drawn as well, he repeated his words to them and bid them to lower their weapons. Citizens of Simil crowded around, far enough not to be victimized, but drawing close, seeing that they are not the ones that the mysterious black cloaked one is after.
The attack of the light was not as it is to the eye. It held much power than one perceived. The ball threw back the hood of the black cloaked one and revealed that it is a she, not a he. The woman had long straight dark brown hair, big eyes and ruby red lips, which curled into a smile when she saw the challenge. "So, Ennia, you are revealed to me, how can I not guess that you would in order to protect a mere child." The White one stood up, and her voice appeared to be the identical as her. "Destiny, leave at once I warn you." Destiny laugh aloud, "how dare you still order me around sister?" she sneered. "I am no longer at your service, no longer is your slave." "You shall fall in the name of the Great One and your powers shall be mine." Ennia stayed calm and replied "Oh, so that's what he promised you? How are you so sure that he will not betray you as he did to father? How are you so sure that he will not kill you like so? And further more, how dare you measure yourself up to me little sister?" Fury grew in Destiny's eyes as soon as the last words escaped Ennia's lips, "I've come this far haven't I? Father was weak, He did not betray him, Father would have fall anyway, do not speak ill of the master. He gave me the chance to prove myself, and that I will do, your head shall be next to mine tonight, and yet your body will lie in the river of Anduin." Ennia's voice did not change, and she spoke steadily, "We shall see, we shall see."
With that, Destiny, threw a ball, this time, of lighting at Ennia, and Ennia threw a ball of fire. Another explosion took place, both were knocked into the air and thrown back several feet. Destiny stood up, blood spilling from her mouth, "So, you are stronger than I have remembered, Neokas finally allowed you to use magic?" Ennia stood up, wiping away the blood from her forehead, "Dark times call for greater measures, Destiny." Destiny paused, thinking over her next attack, but thought better of it. Her enemy had grown stronger, and if she doesn't retreat, she might get killed, or worse loose her powers. "This is not over Ennia, I will come one day, when you least expect it and you shall see." She then fled from sight, as quick as her lightning ball. Ennia was clutching her arm, it seemed to be cut pretty bad, from her shoulder down. Not uttering a word, she got up, and walked. People were staring at her, fearing her, pointing and whispering. Ennia ignored them all, walking as quick as possible.
Gandalf followed her, but Aragorn paused, "How do we know she is not dangerous?" Gandalf answered, "She is indeed, one of the most dangerous you could say, but how do you know she is dangerous of ill?" He soon left, following her and the rest fell in step behind.
AN: I already have chapters 3-5. But they need some heavy revising. I'll have them up so I can get to the plot soon enough.