Disclaimer..Yea, I probably should have put this thing on the first chapter
but....oh well. This story isn't really involved with Lord of the Rings,
however it does take place some thousand years after the war...SO, Im using
the places and stuff from LOTR. Most of these charecters are made from my
imagination, save a few like Thranduil and the people from Lothlorien.
Plus, I own most of the places, 'cept for the ones you find...in LOTR.
SOO...without further ado...here's chapter 2. (rhymed..)
Chapter 3
~~ "Do NOT rest until you find those wenches! We can not afford to lose anyone!" Orion flinched at his Lord's orders. He wanted nothing but to let Reagan and her friend have their freedom, but he had to do as he was told. "My Lord, they were but two slaves." "Two slaves that cost us over their worth. I want them back. And I want them untouched, unspoiled and unharmed!" Orion sighed and signaled to his men to load the horses. "We leave right away. If you find them, kill their kidnapper." The group of 14 men nodded and mounted their horses behind Orion before riding off into the night...
~~ "Where are you from Mattox?" Julia asked, her mouthful of meat from the boar Mattox had killed earlier. "Dont talk with your mouthful." He answered, sipping his canteen of water. Julia rolled her eyes and swallowed the food. "Where are you from I asked."
"No where. I was born in a feild and my parents were vagabonds. I killed them when I was ten." I blinked and shifted away from him uncomfortably. He laughed Maniacally before throwing the bare meat bone into the fire.
"You two are too serious. I did not kill them. They left me in the forest. Never seen them again." He smiled through his pain. Julia made an 'oh' sound and continued to eat hungrily. When I was finished eating, I stood up and threw a bone into the raging fire. "I'll be washing my hands." I informed them before walking toward the river side to wash off.
The moonlight guided my way to the river and shown down on the water making me smile. I dipped my hands in the cool liquid and brought it up to wash my face. Not a cloud was seen and the stars twinkled brightly. I sighed remembering the nights when I was younger and at home. "Stupid war.." I muttered, splashing the water away before standing up. Mattox was leaned up against a tree looking at me.
"I don't trust Elves..." I said, walking past him. "Too sneaky and too vain."
"I do not believe you are in a position to be judging me. Did I not save your friend and your life only a few hours ago?"
"Yes, but you took us away from a chance of having a home too. What if we wanted to be slaves? Have you ever thought about that?" Mattox grinned and stepped closer to me. The light from the fire barely reaching us. Julia was curled up and asleep by the log she sat upon earlier.
"Say the word and I will take you back. If you didn't want freedom, then why did you beg for me to take you along?"
"Twas for Julia's sake. I could not stand to see her in anymore trouble. She has already lost her parents, why take away everything else from her." I started to walk away, but he grasped my arm at the bend of my elbow and held me where I was.
"But, what has she got to do with YOU staying here?" I jerked my arm free to turn an face him. I stared into his slate blue eyes and fired back at him. "It's like I said. I do not trust the Elves. Part, half or full. If I left her with you, I would never forgive myself." He straightened his broad shoulders and let me pass. By the fire, I layed down and fell asleep, listening to the wood crackling quietly in the night.
The next few mornings were semi peaceful. We had went all the way around the mountains and were making our way back up to Mirkwood, coming close to the remains of Isengard. I had heard tales of the last great war and until I saw Isengard with my own eyes, I never knew the truth of it. The ground was scorched to a black crisp and nothing grew here now. We passed it fast. Mattox gained my trust a degree more at his taking care of us.
Julia blosomed some in the days, feeling the affects of freedom and independance take its toll. On the fifth morn, a horn blasted through the foggy land making Mattox jump up and gather our things. "Why?! Whats going on?" I demanded, pulling Julia up on the stallion before he joined us. "The Paranuils. They have picked up on our trail. They will kill us if they find us." The fog hid our tracks, but not for long. Ahead of us, the forests of Mirkwood were approaching. "We will hid in the trees! No one dares enter Mirkwood unless familiar with it."
"Are you?" Julia asked as we ran into the thick trees. "Somewhat." I gulped, not satisfied by his answer. The shadows scared me the most. I didn't know if it were Elves...Or something worse. My gut instinct told me we weren't out of the clear just yet.
The horns faded out in the distance as we rode on. But, the farther we went into the darkness of the woods, the closer danger came to us. Mattox reached around and pulled something out of the pack the horse held at the horses side. He held something silver up to Julia. "If you see anything, defend the best you can." Julia took it, her eyes reflecting the shiney metal into the blue depths.
"I dont know how." She said quietly. Mattox opened his mouth to speak but, I interupted. "Just, hold it like this and swing at anything that isnt a human, or anything that poses a threat. Dont stab, slice. Unless there is a clear view of the throat, then you can stab, slice, or swing however you see fit." I looked behind me with a smug smile thinking I was bigger for showing off. The young girl started practicing above the horses head as I grinned at the Elf's not so quick tongue.
"You have the pride of an Elf."
"And yet, I am a woman." He scoffed and pulled the reigns to slow the stallion down. Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted Julia slicing a peice of grey and black hair from the mane of the horse with her dagger. She gasped at how easily it cut the hair.
"A woman? Since when is 17 and helpless a woman?" I turned and glared at him through my green eyes and felt his arms pull closer to my side. The sound of a twig snapping pulled our heads in the direction. Mattox quickly placed the reigns in my hand.
"If Im not back in twenty minutes...Leave without me. Head East. If you are caught by Elves...tell them I sent you." He looked in my eyes and kissed my knuckles gently. "Twenty minutes." I nodded and sat there, gazing at the spot he walked through the trees for almost an hour. "Reagan please...Something has happened. We must go and find the forest road and stay on it East!" Julia tugged on my tattered blue skirt but I didnt look at her.
"Maybe he got lost...MATTOX!"I shouted blindly into the darkness of the forest. A couple of crows flew from the dark trees but nothing answered. I sighed louldy. "Lets go.." I pulled the reigns and nudged the horse in the sides only getting him to step back. "I...think hes s-spooked Reagan.." We backed up all the way into a log where we were looking out at what scared the horse. A pair of red eyes shown in the shadows, followed by a pair of dripping fangs.
I didnt need to see anymore. I pulled the reigns to the right and kicked the horse in its hips, making it rear up and run down a dusty, leaf covered trail heading East. Julia held her dagger tightly and the sattle horn just as tight. I could hear the shriek of the arachnid as it ran next to us. Easily, it could have jumped out and attacked. The horse under us snorted and pounded the forest floor harder until an arrow wizzed right by us. A shriek rang out louder than before and a thud told us the beast was dead. "Steady your horse stranger!" I pulled the reigns back and stopped. Julia held her dagger as if it were protecting her very soul. "W-We travel with M..Mattox."
"Mattox?!" A blonde one roared, passing the other Elves to stand before me. "Then why didn't you say so." He smiled with charm I have never seen a man use. Julia let out a sigh of relief as more Elves walked lightly to help us down. "Wait...Mattox, he's still in the woods somewhere. We lost him." They all looked at me strangely as if what I told thim was folly. "He strayed from the horse? That seems unlikely of him.." "It is true. There was a noise and he told us to leave after twenty minutes if he didn't come back. We waited for hours..."
"Keep your voice down human...we are capable of hearing just as well as you." As I looked around the crowd, I noticed how most of the Elves were blonde with pale skin and blue eyes. Another reason to hate them. They hold all the world's beauty for themselves.
"Bind them.." The one in charge said before four came after us and tied our hands behind our backs. The put a chain around my neck that was connected to Julias while she was being dragged by an Elf up front. "This seems very violent to just be walking." Julia whispered back to me. I gasped as the one pulling us grabbed her neck and lifted her up off the ground by a foot.
"Would you rather be eaten by a beast?" The girl gasped for breath and clawed at his hands. Her feet were kicking and I felt an urge to rip the Elf's head off but I could go no where for the shackels on my feet. Soon she was dropped, and sent crumpling to the ground.
"THIS IS UNNECESSARY!! You can NOT treat us like that!!" I pulled the chain at my feet but it would not budge. The charming elf came to the back where we were and stared me in the eyes thinking I would back down. I lifted my chin higher and stamped my foot onto his. He yelled in pain and grabbed his toe I had just smashed under my heel.
"I am a princess! And NO BODY, Elf, man, dwarf, woman will treat me like this!" I spun on my heel, grabbed my dagger from my boot and wrapped the chain about his neck, holding the blade inches away from his temple.
"Now...Unlock these chains and no blood will be shed.." I growled in his ear and to every other one around. They stared in awe at how quick I was, but they were unaware that I had been trained all of my life to know the tricks of Elves. "Release them.." He whispered. I smiled but never released him. "Take us to the edge of your easternmost woods and let us go.." I bargained. "Or your captain will be killed." I jerked the chains to my side and put them around the Elves neck and legs and using Julia's I chained his wrists together. The dagger never left his temple as we walked on. "There are six against two. You will never win." The one said that choked Julia. "What are your names?" I asked, changing the subject. "Vedurion, captain of the army of Mirkwood." The one I was holding said.
"Bethridon, son of--" "I dont want to know your title...Just your names." I said. "Vildervin." "Ethuriul." "Eludin." "Farinior." I nodded and released the dagger from Vedurion's head. "I am Reagan of Senhul, and this is Julia. We--"
"What in God's name is going on here!?" A voice sounded from the trees behind us. "I told you to seek their help, not try and kill them." Mattox walked out of the trees and grabbed the chains from my head. Julia smiled seeing him not hurt. I hid my smile and my urge to hug him which disgusted me. "Vedurion, They are under my leige and I am responsible for their actions." He scowled at me and released him. "Your slave has is very quick."
"I AM NO SLAVE!" Mattox put his hand on my chest as I came forward to strike the stupid elf. I pushed on his hand but he kept me where I was. Only a moment later, I realized how close his hand was to the gaping of my dress. I pushed his hand away angrily and glared at Julia as she giggled. "I beg your pardon my lady. I was under the impression that a woman dressed like you failed to be anything more than a filthy slave." I smiled, mocking him before I dove at him.
Mattox caught my waist in mid air and held me back as I tried to punch him, only finding myself too far away. Vedurion laughed, mocking me this time. With a grin, I kicked him in the groin and watched him double over in pain. "REAGAN!" Mattox roared over Julia's giggling. "He deserved it!! He has insulted me AND chained us when all we did was ask for help! That one over there even choked Julia for whispering to me! Now you see why I hate them!?"I asked pointing to Farinior who glared at us.
"Is this true Vedurion?"
"The Elves trust neither man nor woman in these times. We did what we had to." I sighed and picked up a blanket that fell off of Mattox's horse. Julia walked to me and rubbed her bruised neck. "I never had a problem with the Elves until now. Im beginning to not like them either." I sat down angrily against a tree as our 'master' and the elves talked the situation over.
I did not understand alot of what they were saying, but I did know a few things. Vedurion asked if I was Mattox's wench. But, whatever Mattox replied shut the cocky elf up immediatly. It wasn't for another hour before Mattox came back to speak with us. "He said if you agree to not abuse them anymore, we can go to the castle and rest." He smiled and helped us up.
"No more chains...NOR ANYMORE ABUSE FROM THEM!" I shouted loud enough for them to hear. Mattox covered my mouth and stared me in my eyes. He cast a glance back at Julia before smiling faintly at me. "No more yelling either." The corners of my mouth tugged at a smile, but I refused to let it show. With a sigh, I picked up my dagger from the ground and followed behind Mattox as we traveled onto the Elven city.
Chapter 3
~~ "Do NOT rest until you find those wenches! We can not afford to lose anyone!" Orion flinched at his Lord's orders. He wanted nothing but to let Reagan and her friend have their freedom, but he had to do as he was told. "My Lord, they were but two slaves." "Two slaves that cost us over their worth. I want them back. And I want them untouched, unspoiled and unharmed!" Orion sighed and signaled to his men to load the horses. "We leave right away. If you find them, kill their kidnapper." The group of 14 men nodded and mounted their horses behind Orion before riding off into the night...
~~ "Where are you from Mattox?" Julia asked, her mouthful of meat from the boar Mattox had killed earlier. "Dont talk with your mouthful." He answered, sipping his canteen of water. Julia rolled her eyes and swallowed the food. "Where are you from I asked."
"No where. I was born in a feild and my parents were vagabonds. I killed them when I was ten." I blinked and shifted away from him uncomfortably. He laughed Maniacally before throwing the bare meat bone into the fire.
"You two are too serious. I did not kill them. They left me in the forest. Never seen them again." He smiled through his pain. Julia made an 'oh' sound and continued to eat hungrily. When I was finished eating, I stood up and threw a bone into the raging fire. "I'll be washing my hands." I informed them before walking toward the river side to wash off.
The moonlight guided my way to the river and shown down on the water making me smile. I dipped my hands in the cool liquid and brought it up to wash my face. Not a cloud was seen and the stars twinkled brightly. I sighed remembering the nights when I was younger and at home. "Stupid war.." I muttered, splashing the water away before standing up. Mattox was leaned up against a tree looking at me.
"I don't trust Elves..." I said, walking past him. "Too sneaky and too vain."
"I do not believe you are in a position to be judging me. Did I not save your friend and your life only a few hours ago?"
"Yes, but you took us away from a chance of having a home too. What if we wanted to be slaves? Have you ever thought about that?" Mattox grinned and stepped closer to me. The light from the fire barely reaching us. Julia was curled up and asleep by the log she sat upon earlier.
"Say the word and I will take you back. If you didn't want freedom, then why did you beg for me to take you along?"
"Twas for Julia's sake. I could not stand to see her in anymore trouble. She has already lost her parents, why take away everything else from her." I started to walk away, but he grasped my arm at the bend of my elbow and held me where I was.
"But, what has she got to do with YOU staying here?" I jerked my arm free to turn an face him. I stared into his slate blue eyes and fired back at him. "It's like I said. I do not trust the Elves. Part, half or full. If I left her with you, I would never forgive myself." He straightened his broad shoulders and let me pass. By the fire, I layed down and fell asleep, listening to the wood crackling quietly in the night.
The next few mornings were semi peaceful. We had went all the way around the mountains and were making our way back up to Mirkwood, coming close to the remains of Isengard. I had heard tales of the last great war and until I saw Isengard with my own eyes, I never knew the truth of it. The ground was scorched to a black crisp and nothing grew here now. We passed it fast. Mattox gained my trust a degree more at his taking care of us.
Julia blosomed some in the days, feeling the affects of freedom and independance take its toll. On the fifth morn, a horn blasted through the foggy land making Mattox jump up and gather our things. "Why?! Whats going on?" I demanded, pulling Julia up on the stallion before he joined us. "The Paranuils. They have picked up on our trail. They will kill us if they find us." The fog hid our tracks, but not for long. Ahead of us, the forests of Mirkwood were approaching. "We will hid in the trees! No one dares enter Mirkwood unless familiar with it."
"Are you?" Julia asked as we ran into the thick trees. "Somewhat." I gulped, not satisfied by his answer. The shadows scared me the most. I didn't know if it were Elves...Or something worse. My gut instinct told me we weren't out of the clear just yet.
The horns faded out in the distance as we rode on. But, the farther we went into the darkness of the woods, the closer danger came to us. Mattox reached around and pulled something out of the pack the horse held at the horses side. He held something silver up to Julia. "If you see anything, defend the best you can." Julia took it, her eyes reflecting the shiney metal into the blue depths.
"I dont know how." She said quietly. Mattox opened his mouth to speak but, I interupted. "Just, hold it like this and swing at anything that isnt a human, or anything that poses a threat. Dont stab, slice. Unless there is a clear view of the throat, then you can stab, slice, or swing however you see fit." I looked behind me with a smug smile thinking I was bigger for showing off. The young girl started practicing above the horses head as I grinned at the Elf's not so quick tongue.
"You have the pride of an Elf."
"And yet, I am a woman." He scoffed and pulled the reigns to slow the stallion down. Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted Julia slicing a peice of grey and black hair from the mane of the horse with her dagger. She gasped at how easily it cut the hair.
"A woman? Since when is 17 and helpless a woman?" I turned and glared at him through my green eyes and felt his arms pull closer to my side. The sound of a twig snapping pulled our heads in the direction. Mattox quickly placed the reigns in my hand.
"If Im not back in twenty minutes...Leave without me. Head East. If you are caught by Elves...tell them I sent you." He looked in my eyes and kissed my knuckles gently. "Twenty minutes." I nodded and sat there, gazing at the spot he walked through the trees for almost an hour. "Reagan please...Something has happened. We must go and find the forest road and stay on it East!" Julia tugged on my tattered blue skirt but I didnt look at her.
"Maybe he got lost...MATTOX!"I shouted blindly into the darkness of the forest. A couple of crows flew from the dark trees but nothing answered. I sighed louldy. "Lets go.." I pulled the reigns and nudged the horse in the sides only getting him to step back. "I...think hes s-spooked Reagan.." We backed up all the way into a log where we were looking out at what scared the horse. A pair of red eyes shown in the shadows, followed by a pair of dripping fangs.
I didnt need to see anymore. I pulled the reigns to the right and kicked the horse in its hips, making it rear up and run down a dusty, leaf covered trail heading East. Julia held her dagger tightly and the sattle horn just as tight. I could hear the shriek of the arachnid as it ran next to us. Easily, it could have jumped out and attacked. The horse under us snorted and pounded the forest floor harder until an arrow wizzed right by us. A shriek rang out louder than before and a thud told us the beast was dead. "Steady your horse stranger!" I pulled the reigns back and stopped. Julia held her dagger as if it were protecting her very soul. "W-We travel with M..Mattox."
"Mattox?!" A blonde one roared, passing the other Elves to stand before me. "Then why didn't you say so." He smiled with charm I have never seen a man use. Julia let out a sigh of relief as more Elves walked lightly to help us down. "Wait...Mattox, he's still in the woods somewhere. We lost him." They all looked at me strangely as if what I told thim was folly. "He strayed from the horse? That seems unlikely of him.." "It is true. There was a noise and he told us to leave after twenty minutes if he didn't come back. We waited for hours..."
"Keep your voice down human...we are capable of hearing just as well as you." As I looked around the crowd, I noticed how most of the Elves were blonde with pale skin and blue eyes. Another reason to hate them. They hold all the world's beauty for themselves.
"Bind them.." The one in charge said before four came after us and tied our hands behind our backs. The put a chain around my neck that was connected to Julias while she was being dragged by an Elf up front. "This seems very violent to just be walking." Julia whispered back to me. I gasped as the one pulling us grabbed her neck and lifted her up off the ground by a foot.
"Would you rather be eaten by a beast?" The girl gasped for breath and clawed at his hands. Her feet were kicking and I felt an urge to rip the Elf's head off but I could go no where for the shackels on my feet. Soon she was dropped, and sent crumpling to the ground.
"THIS IS UNNECESSARY!! You can NOT treat us like that!!" I pulled the chain at my feet but it would not budge. The charming elf came to the back where we were and stared me in the eyes thinking I would back down. I lifted my chin higher and stamped my foot onto his. He yelled in pain and grabbed his toe I had just smashed under my heel.
"I am a princess! And NO BODY, Elf, man, dwarf, woman will treat me like this!" I spun on my heel, grabbed my dagger from my boot and wrapped the chain about his neck, holding the blade inches away from his temple.
"Now...Unlock these chains and no blood will be shed.." I growled in his ear and to every other one around. They stared in awe at how quick I was, but they were unaware that I had been trained all of my life to know the tricks of Elves. "Release them.." He whispered. I smiled but never released him. "Take us to the edge of your easternmost woods and let us go.." I bargained. "Or your captain will be killed." I jerked the chains to my side and put them around the Elves neck and legs and using Julia's I chained his wrists together. The dagger never left his temple as we walked on. "There are six against two. You will never win." The one said that choked Julia. "What are your names?" I asked, changing the subject. "Vedurion, captain of the army of Mirkwood." The one I was holding said.
"Bethridon, son of--" "I dont want to know your title...Just your names." I said. "Vildervin." "Ethuriul." "Eludin." "Farinior." I nodded and released the dagger from Vedurion's head. "I am Reagan of Senhul, and this is Julia. We--"
"What in God's name is going on here!?" A voice sounded from the trees behind us. "I told you to seek their help, not try and kill them." Mattox walked out of the trees and grabbed the chains from my head. Julia smiled seeing him not hurt. I hid my smile and my urge to hug him which disgusted me. "Vedurion, They are under my leige and I am responsible for their actions." He scowled at me and released him. "Your slave has is very quick."
"I AM NO SLAVE!" Mattox put his hand on my chest as I came forward to strike the stupid elf. I pushed on his hand but he kept me where I was. Only a moment later, I realized how close his hand was to the gaping of my dress. I pushed his hand away angrily and glared at Julia as she giggled. "I beg your pardon my lady. I was under the impression that a woman dressed like you failed to be anything more than a filthy slave." I smiled, mocking him before I dove at him.
Mattox caught my waist in mid air and held me back as I tried to punch him, only finding myself too far away. Vedurion laughed, mocking me this time. With a grin, I kicked him in the groin and watched him double over in pain. "REAGAN!" Mattox roared over Julia's giggling. "He deserved it!! He has insulted me AND chained us when all we did was ask for help! That one over there even choked Julia for whispering to me! Now you see why I hate them!?"I asked pointing to Farinior who glared at us.
"Is this true Vedurion?"
"The Elves trust neither man nor woman in these times. We did what we had to." I sighed and picked up a blanket that fell off of Mattox's horse. Julia walked to me and rubbed her bruised neck. "I never had a problem with the Elves until now. Im beginning to not like them either." I sat down angrily against a tree as our 'master' and the elves talked the situation over.
I did not understand alot of what they were saying, but I did know a few things. Vedurion asked if I was Mattox's wench. But, whatever Mattox replied shut the cocky elf up immediatly. It wasn't for another hour before Mattox came back to speak with us. "He said if you agree to not abuse them anymore, we can go to the castle and rest." He smiled and helped us up.
"No more chains...NOR ANYMORE ABUSE FROM THEM!" I shouted loud enough for them to hear. Mattox covered my mouth and stared me in my eyes. He cast a glance back at Julia before smiling faintly at me. "No more yelling either." The corners of my mouth tugged at a smile, but I refused to let it show. With a sigh, I picked up my dagger from the ground and followed behind Mattox as we traveled onto the Elven city.