Authors Note: I always wondered why these stories were so short – now I know - it's not easy writing drivel:) Of course it's much more fun writing this than doing my work I'm paid to do!
Thanks to everyone who has reviewed so far
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The Fourth of the Rings: Part ii
Awakening
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Though the canopy rendered the forest a perpetual dusk preventing all but moss of deepest green populating the woodland floor, Rhiannon Moonstarr was drawn to a bright light that shone from between the trees.
Perhaps it was the way of the forest path, perhaps it was the allure of the golden flecks of sunlight that fought through the thick green leaves above that drew her to that unlikely spot. Rhiannon paused to disentangle herself from the creeping bough that seemed to clutch at her gown. With a tug she pulled it free and she tumbled to her knees, grateful for the soft moss that cushioned her palms against the gnarled roots.
Had she possessed a strategically positioned mirror, Rhiannon would have been aware that the shoulder of her diaphanous robe had been torn by those terrible twigs revealing a tantalising glimpse of cleavage open to any elf or man who should wander into that glade and breath the heady air. We are fortunate indeed that no such mirror was available yet she managed admirable poise without its aid.
As she lowered her long thick lashes, Rhiannon´s gaze became fixed upon a flash of silver, bright against the green. Her long fingers reached out, carefully as though to avoid snagging a nail on a root.
Slowly, inexorably her fingers closed upon it, drawing Túch-ieze from its ancient resting place.
Rhiannon blinked, her eyes melting to an astonished shade of violet and to her utter amazement the heart of the jewel set within the ring that now lay in her open palm deepened to a matching hue.
Feeling the absence of dialogue, Rhiannon parted her sweet lips and muttered the obvious, "A ring?"
She twisted it round and around in her fingers. It was bright and shiny and as new as any ring of power that might have been dropped by a passing elf, not dark and mud encrusted like any normal ring that had spent millennia in the company of moles and worms.
A dry twing snapped in that exaggerated manner peculiar to dry twigs that exist to provede a warning of the approach of strangers.
Rhiannon´s eyes darkened to the shade of a storm cloud and if the ring hadn't been grasped so securely in her palm she might have noticed that the Túch-ieze stone was also the colour of a ravens wing in moonlight.
Unarmed and without time to get to her feet in a dignified manner Rhiannon chose to appear helpless and feminine. She tilted up her chin defiantly and the strategic tear in her gown fell to perfect effect.
"Who are you?" she demanded in a voice, quavering, yet indicating no fear yet the only reply that reached her barely pointed ears was that of the summer breeze moving the leaves and furling her tresses like a crimson sail about her brow. Only then did her gaze fall upon the strange company that lurked at the edge of the glade.
"Fair lady," said Aragorn (for it was he), "Why do you lie in this place?" he turned to his companion a little puzzled by the sudden change in his manner of speech.
Rhiannon´s eyes darted energetically between the pair, both tall, both handsome but in such very different ways their appearances so clear and established that she might have been staring at two well-known actors. Breathing deeply, causing her breast to swell, Rhiannon clutched her ring a little more tightly. Her bravado had made an exit with the imagination of the author leaving Rhiannon uncertain how to reply.
Anxiously she worked the ring in her hand and lo, it slipped onto the middle finger of her left hand – a perfect fit. And in that same moment an ancient force was awaken and set upon the lands of Middle Earth - a ripple raged, alliterating its way across the land - a zephyr, small but growing in power as it swept across field and hill. Its effects were many, but the most profound are recorded here.
"I am Rhiannon Moonstarr," she said defiantly tossing her head because the author had once read that one ought to combine speech with actions to make the scene more alive. But the words she spoke were not in English nor even Westron.
"Lady!" exclaimed Legolas agog that she spoke in clearest Sindarin…
Aragorn too was confused but his eyes were fixed upon the helpless figure on the ground – beside her all others were a pale light, even…
Not far away beyond the forest edge Frodo awoke and felt the urge to venture into the forest, though he saw that Aragorn and Legolas were missing the one ring felt light as if drawn to a force more powerful …
But further away mysteries happened too…
In Imladris Arwen stirred amidst an uneasy sleep…
A shoot broke through the scorched earth around Isengard…
The ancient beeches of Lorien shuddered as if woken from a centuries sleep…
On the plains, the roaming herds of Rohan stood still...
And far across middle earth, atop the tower of Barad-Dûr, the eye of Sauron widened as if surprised and for the first time and the last, appeared to flinch.