THREE - Of Disasters and Sorcery
Amanaduial Tuarcuar sat alone on Rivendell's roof. In her mind, she reviewed the conversation she had had with Elenna after the evening meal.
"The orcs are camped here," Elenna had said, pointing to a map. The spot was a few miles to the southeast. "Our scouts sent to investigate have not returned. What information we have is incredibly scanty."
"Who is leading these orcs?" Aman asked.
"Azruk." Elenna's voice grew sharp as a sword when she said the name. Aman knew her reasons for hating the Uruk-hai general. Elenna and Aman had talked for a few hours, and then Elenna had left. Now, Aman was formulating her own plan. She knew how much the lack of information about the enemy worried Elenna, and she knew how deadly it could be if the elves were not prepared for their enemies' attack.
Standing suddenly, the red-haired elf witch stood. Throwing out her arms, she began to chant. ""Bela ed' templa. Atost en' entula orme." Aman's vision went dark for a few seconds. When it cleared again, she found herself standing outside a black tent. Good. The spell worked. I am in the orc camp. she thought to herself. Behind her, she heard a gasp. Whirling around, she saw a crook-legged orc staring at her in surprise. He moved to shout for help, but Aman leapt forward and grabbed him by the throat. "Nai turamin!" she whispered. The captured orc stood perfectly still as Amanaduial Tuarcuar melted into him. The orc/Aman grinned fiercely. Now she could easily walk through Azruk's camp without detection, in the form of one of his own servants.
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Celebmundoiel sat on her balcony, frustrated and angry at this turn of events. Elenna Starsong in command of Rivendell's army? she thought incredulously. She has no experience! How can Lord Elrond expect a maiden, and a young one at that, to be able to save Rivendell? The blonde elf stared out at the main building of Rivendell, wondering what she should do. Abruptly, something caught her eye. It was a flash of red hair. It must be that witch. What is she doing on the roof? The next thing Celebmundoiel knew, the witch had vanished.
"What in Elbereth's name?" she thought. "Does Elrond know of this?" Fearing that the witch had done some harm, she grabbed her bow and quiver and went to find Elrond herself, and woe betide any who got in her way.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Elenna sat on a stool in the stables, sharpening her sword, Lalaith.
"Soon, Celebdae. Soon we will have to fight. Any day now, I expect. Menelhach and Nolvennion have been captured and killed. I don't dare send any more scouts. We shall have to fight to protect the rest of our folk, especially Lord Elrond. He must not be taken." She didn't dare to tell even her horse why Lord Elrond's capture would be the most terrible thing that could possibly happen. After all, walls have rats, even in Rivendell, and rats have ears.
Standing quickly, Elenna sheathed her sword and walked back into the House, hoping to find Keldin, the fletcher. Instead, she came face to face with the tall blonde maiden, who was carrying a strung bow. Celebmundoiel tossed her hair and looked at Elenna as many people would look at a large piece of something vile stuck to the bottom of their shoe.
"May I help you?" Elenna asked, irritated by Celebmundoiel's expression.
"No. I wish only to speak to Lord Elrond."
"He is indisposed."
The blonde maiden made an aggravated noise. "I am Celebmundoiel, the niece of Galadriel. You have no right to prevent me from seeing Lord Elrond, girl. Do not get in my way."
"It would be wise not to threaten me. Your name means nothing here, Celebmundoiel niece of Galadriel. I am the commander of Rivendell's forces. If you have a question, comment, or complaint, you may address them to me."
Suddenly, Fëaelenawen dashed through the door, sobbing hysterically. Elenna caught her by the shoulders.
"Fëa! What in Manwe's name is the matter?"
"My father! He's been taken prisoner!" Elenna couldn't quite stifle a gasp.
"What? How did it happen? Where?"
"Well, we were out riding along the Bruinen. I was watering Condelia, and my father rode ahead. When I caught up, he was gone!"
"How do you know he wasn't just looking around?" Elenna asked, not wanting to believe what she was hearing.
"Does a person usually struggle wildly while just looking around? There were bits of his robes scattered everywhere, some bloody. The grass was ripped and flattened in places. I know he was captured!"
"Well, Elenna? It seems to me that you have allowed this to happen!" Celebmundoiel snarled.
"Celeb!" Fea interrupted. "That isn't fair! You may be my cousin, but that isn't right at all! Elenna isn't responsible for this!"
"Yes, I am," Elenna said softly. "I should have gone with you two, or at least done something like that. I shouldn't have let him go. Why would he?"
Fea smiled grimly. "His house is threatened by a terrible enemy. In truth, we weren't merely riding. We were scouting. Do you think my father would just stand back and watch as the forces of Mordor overcome Rivendell?"
"Tell me, commander of all Rivendell's forces, how do you propose to rescue Lord Elrond?" Celebmundoiel asked haughtily.
"I don't know, but I shall think of something. I swear it."
"What's there to think about? You ride to the orc camp, grab the Lord, and ride out again. If any orcs get in your way, you kill them. Was that so difficult, o fearless leader? It sounds to me like you're afraid."
Elenna clenched her fist to prevent herself from drawing the sword at her belt. "That is a brilliant suggestion, if your aim is to divide our army and sacrifice a few dozen lives needlessly. This isn't the time to be a hero. You follow my orders to the letter and we may have a chance of getting him back alive." Then, pivoting on her heel, she strode out of the room, her fist still clenched tight.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Amanaduial walked through the camp alone, her orc disguise easily covering her. She hoped she was acting appropriately, though she did not know the standards of behavior for orcs.
As she walked, she sensed a change in the atmosphere of the camp. Silence. She could see the shadowy shape of a woman open the flap of a tent and enter. Aman snuck closer and peered into the cloth tent. The stench of burning animal fat hit her, and she nearly gagged. Fighting through the nausea, she could see the form of the woman kicking something that lay on the floor. It let out a loud groan, and the elf, yes, it was an elf, Aman could see, stepped away. It was then that Amanaduial Tuarcuar could see what it was that had groaned.
On the floor, his elegant robes bloody and torn, lay Elrond Halfelven. His face was bruised and swollen, and he didn't seem to be conscious. "No." gasped Aman. There was nothing she could do to help him, except one thing. She shucked the orc disguise and sprinted out of the enemy camp. Elenna must hear of this.
Amanaduial Tuarcuar sat alone on Rivendell's roof. In her mind, she reviewed the conversation she had had with Elenna after the evening meal.
"The orcs are camped here," Elenna had said, pointing to a map. The spot was a few miles to the southeast. "Our scouts sent to investigate have not returned. What information we have is incredibly scanty."
"Who is leading these orcs?" Aman asked.
"Azruk." Elenna's voice grew sharp as a sword when she said the name. Aman knew her reasons for hating the Uruk-hai general. Elenna and Aman had talked for a few hours, and then Elenna had left. Now, Aman was formulating her own plan. She knew how much the lack of information about the enemy worried Elenna, and she knew how deadly it could be if the elves were not prepared for their enemies' attack.
Standing suddenly, the red-haired elf witch stood. Throwing out her arms, she began to chant. ""Bela ed' templa. Atost en' entula orme." Aman's vision went dark for a few seconds. When it cleared again, she found herself standing outside a black tent. Good. The spell worked. I am in the orc camp. she thought to herself. Behind her, she heard a gasp. Whirling around, she saw a crook-legged orc staring at her in surprise. He moved to shout for help, but Aman leapt forward and grabbed him by the throat. "Nai turamin!" she whispered. The captured orc stood perfectly still as Amanaduial Tuarcuar melted into him. The orc/Aman grinned fiercely. Now she could easily walk through Azruk's camp without detection, in the form of one of his own servants.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Celebmundoiel sat on her balcony, frustrated and angry at this turn of events. Elenna Starsong in command of Rivendell's army? she thought incredulously. She has no experience! How can Lord Elrond expect a maiden, and a young one at that, to be able to save Rivendell? The blonde elf stared out at the main building of Rivendell, wondering what she should do. Abruptly, something caught her eye. It was a flash of red hair. It must be that witch. What is she doing on the roof? The next thing Celebmundoiel knew, the witch had vanished.
"What in Elbereth's name?" she thought. "Does Elrond know of this?" Fearing that the witch had done some harm, she grabbed her bow and quiver and went to find Elrond herself, and woe betide any who got in her way.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Elenna sat on a stool in the stables, sharpening her sword, Lalaith.
"Soon, Celebdae. Soon we will have to fight. Any day now, I expect. Menelhach and Nolvennion have been captured and killed. I don't dare send any more scouts. We shall have to fight to protect the rest of our folk, especially Lord Elrond. He must not be taken." She didn't dare to tell even her horse why Lord Elrond's capture would be the most terrible thing that could possibly happen. After all, walls have rats, even in Rivendell, and rats have ears.
Standing quickly, Elenna sheathed her sword and walked back into the House, hoping to find Keldin, the fletcher. Instead, she came face to face with the tall blonde maiden, who was carrying a strung bow. Celebmundoiel tossed her hair and looked at Elenna as many people would look at a large piece of something vile stuck to the bottom of their shoe.
"May I help you?" Elenna asked, irritated by Celebmundoiel's expression.
"No. I wish only to speak to Lord Elrond."
"He is indisposed."
The blonde maiden made an aggravated noise. "I am Celebmundoiel, the niece of Galadriel. You have no right to prevent me from seeing Lord Elrond, girl. Do not get in my way."
"It would be wise not to threaten me. Your name means nothing here, Celebmundoiel niece of Galadriel. I am the commander of Rivendell's forces. If you have a question, comment, or complaint, you may address them to me."
Suddenly, Fëaelenawen dashed through the door, sobbing hysterically. Elenna caught her by the shoulders.
"Fëa! What in Manwe's name is the matter?"
"My father! He's been taken prisoner!" Elenna couldn't quite stifle a gasp.
"What? How did it happen? Where?"
"Well, we were out riding along the Bruinen. I was watering Condelia, and my father rode ahead. When I caught up, he was gone!"
"How do you know he wasn't just looking around?" Elenna asked, not wanting to believe what she was hearing.
"Does a person usually struggle wildly while just looking around? There were bits of his robes scattered everywhere, some bloody. The grass was ripped and flattened in places. I know he was captured!"
"Well, Elenna? It seems to me that you have allowed this to happen!" Celebmundoiel snarled.
"Celeb!" Fea interrupted. "That isn't fair! You may be my cousin, but that isn't right at all! Elenna isn't responsible for this!"
"Yes, I am," Elenna said softly. "I should have gone with you two, or at least done something like that. I shouldn't have let him go. Why would he?"
Fea smiled grimly. "His house is threatened by a terrible enemy. In truth, we weren't merely riding. We were scouting. Do you think my father would just stand back and watch as the forces of Mordor overcome Rivendell?"
"Tell me, commander of all Rivendell's forces, how do you propose to rescue Lord Elrond?" Celebmundoiel asked haughtily.
"I don't know, but I shall think of something. I swear it."
"What's there to think about? You ride to the orc camp, grab the Lord, and ride out again. If any orcs get in your way, you kill them. Was that so difficult, o fearless leader? It sounds to me like you're afraid."
Elenna clenched her fist to prevent herself from drawing the sword at her belt. "That is a brilliant suggestion, if your aim is to divide our army and sacrifice a few dozen lives needlessly. This isn't the time to be a hero. You follow my orders to the letter and we may have a chance of getting him back alive." Then, pivoting on her heel, she strode out of the room, her fist still clenched tight.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Amanaduial walked through the camp alone, her orc disguise easily covering her. She hoped she was acting appropriately, though she did not know the standards of behavior for orcs.
As she walked, she sensed a change in the atmosphere of the camp. Silence. She could see the shadowy shape of a woman open the flap of a tent and enter. Aman snuck closer and peered into the cloth tent. The stench of burning animal fat hit her, and she nearly gagged. Fighting through the nausea, she could see the form of the woman kicking something that lay on the floor. It let out a loud groan, and the elf, yes, it was an elf, Aman could see, stepped away. It was then that Amanaduial Tuarcuar could see what it was that had groaned.
On the floor, his elegant robes bloody and torn, lay Elrond Halfelven. His face was bruised and swollen, and he didn't seem to be conscious. "No." gasped Aman. There was nothing she could do to help him, except one thing. She shucked the orc disguise and sprinted out of the enemy camp. Elenna must hear of this.