Xena vs. The Lord of the Rings
Part 6: Defection
6.1: The Trap
The women lay on a ridge, peering over Anduin at a tip of a cape on the other side, called Tongue. The Tongue was spit of land where Silverlode ran into Anduin, being the outermost part of Lorien, and right now, two small boats similar to the one the Elves had given to Xena and Gabrielle, slid out, and started their journey down the Great River. In the boats there were eight people; an Elf, a Dwarf, four Hobbits, and finally, two humans who Xena recognized as her good friend Thorongil, also known as Strider, and Boromir of Minas Tirith, another friend of hers and a great warrior.
They watched the boats drift by, and Gabrielle shook her head. "This was a mistake. A big mistake," she mumbled bitterly with hardly audible voice.
"Why's that," Xena asked with a voice that told that she really wasn't listening.
"The Ring goes there if I'm not mistaken. You already got over it, I know, but now I fear you'll become tempted by it again. Something must have stalled them, otherwise they'd have been past this place by far already."
"Yes, the Ring. I've been thinking about it, you know."
The bard started, and stared her friend sharply. "Stop it right there, Xena. Not another word!"
"Now wait a minute! I'm not under its influence or anything. I just have a plan that happens to concern the Ring, and I'll explain it to you if you care to listen."
Gabrielle was a bit dubious about what to expect, but she let Xena go on.
"It's obvious nobody is going to use the Ring against Sauron," the warrior continued.
"Yes, and for a good reason," the bard retorted, "Galadriel said the Ring can corrupt anyone, and turn them evil."
"But I've been fighting the evil inside me for many years. Maybe I could fight and master the Ring. If you help me, then I'm sure I can."
"And what if you can't? You'd become something just like Sauron."
"It wouldn't go that far. When Sauron's defeated, we will destroy the Ring. Think, Gabrielle, and you'll see I'm right. This is the only way."
"No! There's got to be another one."
"Yes, a war that could last decades and which we might lose. Okay, think of the worst case, that I'd become one like Sauron. Don't you think I'd be easier to slay than him, if necessary? I may have many skills, but immortality is not one of them."
"But that would mean I'd lose you. You would die."
"But the rest of the world survives. For the greater good, Gabrielle. What do you say?"
The bard sighed. Looking into Xena's pleading, honest eyes she was unable to find a weak spot in her reasoning. Giving in she weakly uttered, "Let's do it."
"Good," said the warrior. "Now hurry before they get too far." She stood up as did the bard who took a few steps heading down the slope, but Xena stopped her, saying, "Where are you going, Gabrielle?"
The answer came with confusion; "To go get a boat from the Elves. We need one to catch them."
"We don't want to catch them. We want to get ahead of them, and that doesn't work with a boat. I have another idea."
----
A day later, two cloaked women climbed up Amon Lanc, 'Naked Hill', upon which stood the powerful fortress of Dol Guldur. Its dark towers cast a threatening appearance to them, which didn't seem to bother Xena, though, as she knocked on the gates a little later. To Gabrielle her plan seemed foolhardy and extremely dangerous. At the same time, it was so crazy it might actually work. Gabrielle trusted Xena's judgment that hadn't failed them so far, yet this time her faith was put into a real test when she listened Xena calling the Orcs of Dol Guldur, using their own black language.
At first, there was no answer. It was as if the place was dead, abandoned. "Let's go away, Xena," begged the bard, but her friend ignored her, and banged the door even more.
"What do you want?" yelled a guard finally from the guard tower.
"I don't speak with menials. Get the one in charge, and be quick unless you wish to be beheaded," Xena said loudly. She knew the key into an Orc mind; fear.
The tower became silent. In a minute, a peek window in the door was opened, and a pair of red eyes looked out at the visitors. "I'm Naltzik. I run this place. What do you want?"
"To serve," said Xena, and bowed slightly as she put her hood down. "My name is Xena. You know my reputation. Give me two horses and twenty of your warriors, and you will be rewarded in the end."
"Human," spat the Orc. "Why should I trust you?"
"I didn't ask you to trust me!" Xena fumed, "I just asked for a few warriors and transportation. But if you don't want to be the one to return the Ring to to your Master, well, it's your funeral!"
It seemed to awake his interest. "What do you know about the Ring?"
"It's going down the Great River at the moment, carried by a Halfling. They left Lorien by boats yesterday."
The window was slammed shut, and there was silence again. Then the door opened slowly, and a monstrously large Uruk walked out. A cunning sparkle flashed in the Orc chieftain's eyes. "Stupid human. Now that you've told me where they are, I can catch them myself."
"And what do you think will happen when you attack? The halfling will put the Ring on and turn invisible, and you'll lose him. No, it won't work. If I need you to catch his party, you need my skills to catch him."
The Orc thought about it for a while. Then he said, "I tell you what, human. I'll give you forty wolfriders. And I'm coming with you in person to guarantee you speak the truth, and I'll personally tear your limbs off if you lie." Then he turned on his heels, and returned to the fort to give a few commands.
"What's happening," asked Gabrielle who didn't understand a word of the discussion full of rude intonations.
"He's smarter than I thought," Xena answered, grinning.
"Is that a problem?"
"Nothing we can't handle. The plan goes better than I dared to hope. Oh, yes, darling."
The Orcs were incredibly quick to organize a pursuit party. In less than fifteen minutes they were already on the road to south. There were no horses in Dol Guldur, though, but according to Xena they got something better: wolves. She was given a large, pitch black male whom she tamed with a couple of determined slams in his side, before mounting him like she had ridden wolves all her life. Gabrielle's steed was gray haired and a little smaller, but 'small' has a relative meaning -- its eyes were on the same level with hers. One look in those eyes, and both of them had known which one was the master.
"I'm to ride this? I can't ride a wolf. I'd rather walk," she had stated.
"Don't be a chicken, Gabrielle," had Xena answered.
"Tell it to the wolf," the bard had said, and then she had whispered to the wolf; "We'll make a deal, shall we? You don't harm me, and Xena lets you live." The wolf had barked, and checked Xena who had raised an eyebrow. Soon after that, they were on the way.
The young woman clung to the wolf's fur with all her strength, until she learned to go with its rhythm; use her own muscles to adjust to its moves, and the journey turned a little less unpleasant. Still, be it a horse, she thought, anything for a horse, but she had to admit these beasts were fast and very endurant. Her hands clenching the hair under the beast's chest, her legs pressing against its sides, and her body being one with its back, she could feel its every muscle bulge, and sense its amazing strength. It frightened her, yet she felt strangely attracted to it at the same time. With a sweaty fume evaporating from the wolf's skin filling her senses, she forgot to be scared and fell asleep on the back of a speeding wolf; something she couldn't have imagined to be possible in her wildest dreams.
Hours later, a rough landing awoke Gabrielle, as the wolf stopped and shook her off his back. Instinctively she looked around for Xena, but the warrior was not nearby. Only a pack of wolves lay on the ground, cooling out with their tongues out of their mouths, and their riders were gathering up a little aside. The Orcs paid little attention to her, which suited her well.
In the east she could see a new day dawning. They had left in the sundown, travelled through the night, and now it was morning again. But unlike what she had expected, she soon learned that the sun wasn't a stranger to these Orcs. Obviously they didn't like it as they eagerly sought a shadowy place when ever not on a move, and some of them showed hostile expression at it, but at least they could bear it.
After a few hours rest, she saw a small group of wolfriders joining them from the south-east, and Xena was among them. The bard was about to go to talk to her, and ask where she had been, but before she could, they set out again, now travelling in daylight. She tried to steer her steed closer to Xena, but the wolf had a different idea, and it refused to go anywhere she wanted. When they weren't riding, Xena seemed to have forgotten her, though Gabrielle saw her throwing thoughtful glances at her time to time. The bard felt miserable, and wanted to believe it was for her own protection, and that Xena had a very good reason to avoid contact.
In the fourth day their scouts arrived to tell them that two small boats had been seen on the river, and that they had nearly reached their prey. However, the time and place was unsuitable for an ambush, so they used another night and day to get ahead of them. At the beginning of the rapids of Sarn Gebir the trap was set. Xena calculated that once the boats would come this far, they would see the rapids and come ashore in order to avoid them. The banks were high on both sides of the river, but the east bank was easier and as such the more logical choice. Once on land they would be an easy catch.
The Orcs sent the wolves away, and spread out. A group of four left to swim across the river in order to invade the opposite side, but the thought was quickly rejected when the river drowned two of them. So, they formed up a line on the east bank only, hiding themselves, and started waiting. Once again, the bard was totally forgotten. Xena hadn't been seen for a whole day, and the Orcs were lousy company. Not only did they speak an unknown language, but they also despised humans, and seemed to despise her in particular, and she quickly learned to keep her hood on and stay out of their way.
It was nearly midnight when two boats finally appeared from the north. They floated in the center of the river, the travelers lazily using their paddles, but when they came further they were caught by a stronger current which carried them closer to the eastern shore. Gabrielle thought she heard Strider's tense voice over the rapids, yelling to paddle upstream, but at the same time her gaze accidentally caught movement on her right. There was a high ridge reaching out over the water, and up there a dark figure was rising up. She wouldn't have seen it unless it hadn't covered the stars in the sky behind. As she peered into darkness she could see it string a bow, and to her horror, shoot at the first boat where the foremost hobbit yelped, and nearly fell off. Right after that the Orcs started shooting as well, screaming their war cries.
On the ridge, Xena cursed. Her shot had been perfect, and the arrow had hit its target exactly where aimed, but unknown to Xena, the hobbit was wearing the finest armor under his cloak, and her arrow had just bounced off. She strung the bow another time, and waited patiently, muttering to herself, "Soon, darling, soon you'll be mine." The crews of the two boats paddled desperately against the current, trying to get away from the Orcs, but that actually brought them closer to Xena. She recognized her moment, and aimed, slowly and steadily pulling the string back. When she was ready to let the arrow go, cold, blunt metal was pressed against her neck. "Go away, Gabrielle," she said, not turning, not lowering her bow.
"Just shoot, and you'll find my spear through your neck. It won't kill you but you may never fight again." The young woman's voice was more determined than ever.
"You don't have the guts," Xena answered after a pause.
"I've learned a lot since Galadriel gave me this weapon. It's not all just how to handle it. It's a whole new way of thinking. So, the question is; do you dare to call my bluff?"
Xena let her aim follow the boats as they slid before her and away, until she lost them into the darkness. Then she slowly put down her bow, and Gabrielle pulled back as well. The warrior stood up, and turned at her companion. "Well," she said, and shrugged, "we'll get another chance, won't we, darling?"
"No, Xena. Not any more. You were about to commit a murder. A cold-blooded murder. This isn't you. I should have known it all along. It's the Ring that's talking! Everything you've done since we left Rhosgobel was because of the Ring. You must fight it, Xena. Believe me, and fight it!"
A crooked grin took over Xena's face, and she said, "So, you finally figured it out. It won't make a difference, though. I thought you'd help us get the darling, but I guess we must do it alone from now on. You made a mistake not using your spear at my neck when you had a chance." And she drew her sword, and got ready for a fight against her best friend.
"So, this is it," stated the bard, and fenced off the first, exploratory hits. "We end up fighting until only one of us is left standing. Please, don't do this. I know the good Xena is still there somewhere. I want that Xena to fight the Ring. Remember who you are."
"It's too late, peasant girl. That Xena has taken a long hike, and she's not coming back."
"That's a lie! Don't worry, Xena, if you can still hear me. You'll get better in time. I'll tie you in ropes if I have to, until you come into your senses again."
"And just how do you think you can do that?"
"I've bested you once already. Or have you forgotten it? A fair fight; you said it yourself. Since then I've learned to use this spear even better."
Xena didn't seem impressed. "Just one thing," she replied, "I.. I..." Suddenly her face twisted into a grimace of pain, and she fell down to her knees, throwing her sword away. "Help me, Gabrielle," she howled. "You were right, it is the Ring."
"Xena...? What, what do I do?" the bard asked, and let her guard down just for a moment, and then the warrior struck, punching her unconscious with an uppercut.
"Just one thing," the warrior continued as she straightened up. "It was a fair fight, but know this; I don't fight fair all the time." She glared at her opponent disdainfully, picked up her sword, and prepared to give the fatal blow. Then she frowned and tilted her head, when confusion and doubt stepped in. "This can't be right, darling. She was good to me," she talked to herself. She sheathed her sword, and hoisted Gabrielle's limp body up to her shoulders, and began descending down from the cliff.
Under the hill the Orcs were having an argument. "Let's feed her to the wolves," one said. "No!" said another, "Let's eat her by ourselves."
"Eat her, feed her, kill her. It that all you can think of?" asked Naltzik, their leader. "Fools! We could sell her for a high price to Haradrim, or Easterlings, who ever will pay better."
The argument grew louder and weapons were drawn when Xena came down. She heard them speak and decided to go around them, but unfortunately, she was spotted. Suddenly, all the Orcs gathered around her, and blocked her way. "What's going on, Naltzik?" she asked.
"Your plan didn't work," said the Orc chieftain. "We make our own plans from now on. Plans that work."
"Come on, Naltzik. It was just one setback. I'll catch them tomorrow."
"No. The Orcs don't need Humans' help no longer."
Xena sensed it coming beforehand, but as she was still carrying Gabrielle she was unable to react fast enough. Whatever it was, it came from behind and hit her in her temple, and she lost her consciousness.
Xena vs. The Lord of the Rings
Part 6: Defection
6.2: The Pit
Xena woke up with a legion of dwarves mining mithril inside her skull. She shook her head to shrug them off, and they made her see stars. When the stars finally disappeared, she looked up and saw more stars. And she knew it was night time.
She tried moving just to find herself being bound with a rope to something warm behind, leaning on her back. The rope was not tight, as it wasn't meant to hold her at all, and it was an easy job to hastily take it off, and turn around to take care of her best friend.
"Oh, Gabrielle! What have I done?" the warrior cried, as she laid the bard tenderly down to the ground. The young woman was breathing, which was a good sign, and Xena was unable to find any wounds, but it was dark and she might be missing something. To her relief, Gabrielle soon responded to her attempts to awaken her, and opened her eyes. "Are you alright?" Xena asked.
But Gabrielle pushed Xena away, and shrank back terrified. "No! Go away!" she yelled, as the warrior tried to touch her.
"Please, Gabrielle. I won't hurt you any more. I promise," Xena pleaded, but the bard still drew away until a stone wall stopped her. Then Xena realized that it was not her that Gabrielle was so scared of. Instead of looking at Xena, the girl looked through her, and when she turned around to follow her gaze, Xena saw it too. It was like a dark shadow that glided across the sky, coming from east. "What in Mordor is that?" she yelped.
"Nazgul," the bard answered with trembling voice, and let Xena come near. The women held each other tightly, and watched the shadow pass. It was very high above them when it suddenly stopped, and then started to fall down. They could see it wriggle, and soon they heard its scream that made them press together even more tightly.
It came down very close to them, and they heard the thud and the screaming stopped. It was dead silent around them. Normally Xena would have gone to inspect it immediately, but this time she was afraid and lost, and that thought didn't come to her mind at all. She just hoped it would go away by itself.
----
In the morning they both snapped awake at the same time. They were still lying tightly together in the same position as late in the evening, and it took them a while to realize it and let go of one another. Then Gabrielle looked sharply at Xena, and there was a serious question in her gaze. She wanted to see a change in Xena compared to yesterday, and she feared that she could only discover the madness. Xena saw the inquiry, and even though she was trying to cover it, the younger woman saw among other things that she was deeply ashamed of herself. Gabrielle had found what she had hoped for, and a great weight was lifted from her heart, and she smiled, knowing that Xena would be fine, at least for the time being.
They had a quick look around, finding out that they had spent the night by an outer wall of a kettle-shaped valley. It was perfectly round, about a hundred yards in diameter, and its precipitous wall was barren and clean and so high that in this time of the year, when the sun was low, it only barely managed to reach to the bottom of this pit. In the very center there was a rocky hill, rising nearly half as high as was the wall. And then there was the wailing.
"Xena, what is it?" asked Gabrielle, and grasped Xena's arm. "Is it the Nazgul?"
"Are you scared?" Xena replied with a counter question.
"A little."
"Then it's not a Nazgul. Come, let's go check it out." Xena groped for her weapons, but they had been taken from her, with the exception of her breast dagger. The Orcs had probably missed it. Also, her armor had been regarded as useless by the Orcs, as she was still wearing it. So Xena picked up a sturdy stick, waved it around a few times to get to know it, and then they started to round the hill towards the sound.
It lay in the shadows of the eastern wall. Its dark, hairless skin camouflaged it well, so that the women walked very near by before Xena noticed it. It was a strange creature, nothing like they had ever seen. It looked like a bird, as it had wings, claws, and a beak. Then again, not having any feathers at all made it look very un-birdlike. It had wings of leather, a little like those of a bat, and a long tail which ended with four sharp spikes. One more thing; it was big. It was as large as the largest of the Eagles who lived over the peaks of Misty Mountains.
The creature was weak and tired, and its wings lay flat beside it. When Xena went closer to see it better, it surprised her by suddenly lifting its head and reaching out for her. She barely managed to pull back in time, and the big beak full of sharp teeth snapped shut just an inch away from her face.
"Sheesh!" yelped the bard. "Are you all right"?
"Yes, I'm fine. That was close."
"Tell me about it! Let's not approach that thing again, okay?"
"Where's the rider?"
"What?"
"That... thing has a saddle and reins. Someone was riding it when it came down."
"The Nazgul," said Gabrielle shivering. "But... there's no body."
Xena raised her eyebrows, and the bard immediately understood. They glanced around, and then they left to separate directions. While Xena started to round the valley clockwise, keeping on its very bottom, Gabrielle climbed halfway up the hill where she could see the area ahead of Xena, and so that they could also keep an eye of each other.
Then Xena saw something dark on the ground a few yards away, straight ahead. She halted suspiciously before realizing what it was. She called the bard, and the younger woman ran to her.
"What is it?" Gabrielle asked.
"I think you can relax. We're alone down here. Look at this?" Xena said, and used her stick to lift a piece of black cloth up from the ground. "This is his robe, I believe."
"For Ainur's sake! Put it away," the bard yelped, and retreated while her friend examined her finding with interest, but not touching it with her bare hands, though.
"Take it easy, Gabrielle. It's just a cloth. By being here it proves that who ever wore it is gone by now. Or would you rather believe that a Ringwraith would be running around barebutt naked?" She laughed dryly, and tossed the rag away. Then they went on with exploring the valley.
The place was what Xena had already expected. The walls of the valley were high, and smooth like glass, so no escape that way. It seemed like the Orcs had wanted to keep them alive for some reason, and this was a perfect prison. It was a formation from a much older time, a product of unimaginable energy, maybe of an ancient doomsday weapon, or an experiment gone too far. Countless years had not been enough to make a single crack on the walls. Fortunately, the winds had brought down tonnes of dirt and dust, and now grass and stout little plants were trying to make the place a little less depressing.
The women stood on top of the center hill, and looked helplessly around. "Xena, what do we do now?" asked Gabrielle.
"I don't know, Gabrielle," said Xena. "The Orcs must have had a reason to leave us here alive and I'm quite sure we don't want to be here once they come back to carry out their plan. Getting out seems to be a little tricky, though. Hmm. Well, at least we won't starve."
"What do you mean?" the bard asked, and Xena nodded at the creature suffering by the wall. "I can't eat that! Who knows what diseases it carries. Coming from Mordor it may even be venomous."
"You have a better idea? No? Hungry? So am I. Think about it as a large chicken. Besides, I've still got to find a way out of here, and I think much better with full stomach, so I suggest you start looking for firewood."
Gabrielle agreed reluctantly, and warned her friend to watch that beak. Xena descended down from the hill, held her large stick up, and approached the beast.
The creature lay still, but its eyes watched Xena's actions attentively. When she was about five yards away, it suddenly sprang up, and attacked her, but Xena was ready. She hit its beak with her stick, and it pulled back, but it had made it clear that it wasn't going to be an easy dinner. It raised itself onto its feet, and hopped forth and back, flapping its good wing. Occasionally it tried to snap a bite of its opponent, or turn about and spear her with the spiky tail. Each time Xena parried it, and her strikes hit the target accurately.
Finally, the beast was tiring, and Xena aimed a mighty blow right at its skull, which knocked it down. "Gabrielle, go get the rope!" she yelled at the bard who had watched the fight with fearful excitement.
"The rope?"
"Yes, yes! The rope they lowered us down with. Quickly, before it awakes."
Gabrielle did as she was told, unable to understand why Xena wouldn't just kill the monster, as she had planned to. They used the rope to tie the beast up so that it couldn't harm them. Xena took the saddle down from the beast's back, and then detached the leather straps that held the bridle. Carefully she pulled the beak open, and took the bit out of its mouth, and saw that it was badly wounded and scarred all over. One look at the mouth piece of the bridle explained the damage, as it was equipped with sharp iron spikes. "Who would do this to an animal," she said, feeling both anger and pity.
"Don't let it fool you," said Gabrielle, either unable or unwilling to feel sympathy. "It's probably too wild to be controlled otherwise. Why didn't you kill it anyway?"
Xena turned her attention to the arrow still in one of its wing muscles, and explained what had made her change up her mind. "I've figured out how to get out of this place. We'll fly!" She said in excitement.
It took a while for the bard to realize Xena's plan. Then she just said nothing. She had thought eating this funny looking bird had been an unbelievable idea, and that Xena had gone mad, again, but this topped it all. So, she just raised her hands up, and said nothing as Xena pulled out the arrow, just in time before the beast came back to its senses, and they had to retreat out of its reach.
Later in the evening they sat by a campfire, chewing tough roots fried over an open fire. Boiling would have been a better alternative, but they didn't have a pot to boil water, not that they would have had enough water to boil anything. The meal was hardly enough to fulfill their hunger, and they lay down with groaning stomachs, only ten yards away from the furious beast. Xena liked it better that way because she wanted to keep an eye with it, and that wouldn't work if they camped on the other side of the valley.
----
When Gabrielle awoke in the following morning, she saw Xena already up and meditating with her legs crossed. But something was going on with the warrior, as she was not her controlled, usual self. Her head was a little tilted, her facial muscles were twitching nervously, and her eyes were rapidly moving behind her closed eyelids. When Xena sensed that her friend was awake, she sighed deeply, and turned to look at her.
"I can still feel it, Gabrielle," Xena answered to the question unasked.
"Feel what?"
"The Ring. I can feel it calling for me."
"You can?" Gabrielle asked, and a cold thrill went through her.
"Yes, but I can now isolate its voice, and turn it away. How blind have I been! You were right all along; it is evil in the purest form."
"Do you still crave it?"
"No, but I don't know if I could resist it if it was in my hands."
"I don't know if anyone could for long. So let's make sure you won't be tested with it, and keep away from that thing. That should be easy if we don't soon get out of here. Talking of which, what were you going to do about it? Still planning to fly?"
Xena turned her gaze at the creature in in the shadows, and squinted her eyes. "Yes," she said, "but that won't work if that beast doesn't co-operate. I must teach it to recognize its new masters. There are two ways to do that; the fast way and the right way. I don't think we have time for the latter." She jumped up, took the stick she had kept ready over nighttime, and started walking towards the beast, saying, "Think you can find us something to eat?"
"I'd rather watch," Gabrielle answered.
"I don't think you would," Xena said grimly, "but do what you like."
It turned out that Xena was right once more. Only for a few minutes was the bard able to watch the 'education' before she started to have feelings about the beast, and how Xena was treating it. She quickly ran away, but its wailing reached her even on the other side of the valley. She convinced herself that the evil creature had deserved all that torture, but more than that she was hurt by the fact that Xena was still capable of doing such things.
It seemed to last forever, and at last she couldn't take it any longer, so she returned to their camp site with her findings. She saw that the beast lay down at Xena's feet, and Xena just stood there. When the warrior realized that her friend had returned, she broke off and came to sit next to her by the fire. Gabrielle could see that she was ashamed of herself, ashamed and angry, as she avoided any eye contact up to the point when Gabrielle offered her a skewer of fried mushrooms.
"The worst part is over now. I wish I won't have to do that ever again!" Xena said, and angrily tossed her wooden mace away.
"And I wish I won't have to watch that ever again," Gabrielle added quietly. "Was it any good, anyway?"
"It was... necessary," Xena assured. "But I have some good news, too. He's not as badly injured as I assumed at first. The arrow wound wasn't severe, but the arrow itself was Elven made, so the pure shock when it hit must have been what dropped him down. The left wing is merely sprained on the falling."
"That's great news," said the bard, but she actually was upset. She hadn't missed how Xena had spoken of the beast in third person. This would not end well, she just knew it.
From there on, the days crawled slowly, one after another. The beast got stronger, and Xena was tirelessly building trust between them. That left Gabrielle the job to find them something to eat, which proved to be more and more difficult every day. The mushrooms had run out on the third day, after that they had to make it with only roots, spiders, roaches, and larvae, fried over open fire. The young woman was glad that the winged beast had been well fed in the past, as it would have been utterly impossible to feed it under these circumstances. And still, when she sometimes woke up in the middle of the night, she was sure she could see it stare at her with hungry eyes gleaming through darkness. Xena, of course, told her that it was only her imagination.
However, all things come to an end sometimes. Now it happened to the food before anything else. The frustrated bard returned to their campsite with only half of the amount she had had on previous days. She expected to find Xena training with the beast, but instead she saw the beast lying down beside the wall in its place, and Xena by their fire, meditating, or that was what it looked like.
"Xena? What are you doing?" the bard asked.
The warrior opened her eyes, and looked at her. "I can't feel it any more. I tried, but maybe it's moved too far. It's finally over, and I'm glad."
"But?" asked the bard observantly.
"I can't help it. It feels... empty. Sort of."
"It's better this way, just believe it. But how come you're not playing with that weird bird?"
"I was, but now Nightchild is tired," Xena said.
"Night... You gave it a name?! You actually named that thing!"
"Uh-huh. Why the fuss?" Xena asked, unable to see why her friend was so upset about it.
"And 'Nightchild'! Nightmare, if you ask me."
"Nnnn-no. Mare's no good since he's a male. I thought you didn't wanna give him a name," Xena stated, now amused at Gabrielle's fuming. "Come on, calm down. You've got a job to do, and there's no better time than this."
"A job? I do?"
"Yeah. We've to let Nightchild to know you a bit better. Come here." Xena took Gabrielle's hand and lead her closer to the beast. He let his head lie against the ground, but his other eye keenly observed the women. "Now," Xena continued, "I want you to go near to him, and look him into eyes. Let him have your scent."
"And what if it chops my head off?"
"He won't unless you show fear. Do that, and he will never respect you."
"It would be much easier to teach respect if I only had my spear. The spear given me by Lady Galadriel. It makes me very sad that I lost it."
"You'll get it back."
"But how?"
"Easy. It's in the same place with my chakram, my sword, and my whip, and I'm sure gonna find them! You can count on that. Now you just have to get along without it. Go on. I'll be right here."
Gabrielle got slowly closer, and the beast raised his head, and grunted. He watched her suspiciously, head swaying from side to side. Before she realized what was happening, he reached out and poked her lightly into her chest. It may have been a light touch for the beast, nevertheless it put Gabrielle out of balance, and she flew down on her back. The beast towered over her, looking very big and frightening.
Xena reacted quickly. "Catch this," she shouted, and threw something at the bard who caught it instinctively. Immediately the beast twitched, pulled back, and started to whine again with its head lingering near the ground level.
"Stupid turkey!" Gabrielle yelled while standing up, and held up the thing in her hand. "That will teach you. Yeah!" And only then she realized what she was holding; it was the spiky bridle. She looked at Xena, who smiled a dry, satisfied smile. Gabrielle walked to her friend, and said, "You knew this would happen, didn't you?"
"Yes," Xena admitted, "He's afraid of only two things; his old masters in Mordor, and this bridle. And now, whoever has the control of the bridle, can control the beast."
"Nifty," said the bard, "but will it allow you to put those back into its mouth?"
"I wouldn't wanna do that. The poor animal has suffered enough. That's why I've made these," Xena answered, and held a clumsy device made of ropes tied with a strong, foot and a half stick that wouldn't hurt his mouth. "But that must wait for tomorrow. Now we all must rest. It will be a big day."
"If we succeed, that is," said Gabrielle skeptically. Xena didn't comment about that, as she had enough doubts of her own.
The next morning, however, the warrior approached the beast, and although he gave a few hostile grunts, he surprised them all with the ease of harnessing him. Maybe he understood that unless he behaved nicely, Xena would use the iron bridle of Mordor. And when Xena cut the ropes restraining him, and mounted, he lifted his head proudly, yet standing still like a trained war horse.
"Okay, Gabrielle," Xena said to her friend watching her from safe distance. "Come over here, and then we can get out of this hole."
Warily the younger woman came closer, but stayed down beside Nightchild's side. "How do you even know if you can ride that thing?" she asked.
"Can't be that much different from a horse," came Xena's laconical answer.
"Yeah, well, I'm not going to do that! If people were meant to fly, they'd have been equipped with wings. Lower me a rope or something when you get up."
"Aren't you afraid that I'll leave you here alone and fly away after the Ring?"
The bard glared at her friend sharply. She knew the warrior was only joking, but this joke was not funny. Then she grunted, and jumped behind Xena, wrapping her arms tightly around the waist of the taller woman, and closed her eyes. She just wanted to get out, she didn't wanna see, how it happened. It reminded her a lot of of the time when she was sitting behind Xena on Argo's back a few years ago. She had been so young, and so afraid. Holding onto Xena had given her the needed security, just like it did this time. And when the beast finally opened his wings, took off, and started to gain altitude, flying around the valley in circles, she was much more comfortable with it than she was with Argo the first time. But she wouldn't take any risks, so she kept her eyes tightly shut.
After four circles they came out of the pit, but they didn't stop there. Nightchild was in the mood of flying, and Xena became intoxicated by the height, speed, and freedom, and so they kept raising higher and higher, in ever widening circles despite Gabrielle's objections.
"Look, Gabrielle! There's the Great River," Xena yelled with excitement, and pulled the reins for the first time, piloting towards the river. Nightchild responded obediently, just like she had always ridden the flying beast.
Xena vs. The Lord of the Rings
Part 6: Defection
6.3: Return of the Queen
Xena steered Nightchild down at place where she had ambushed Strider's company. The women jumped off, and Xena bound the beast tightly to a dead tree before they went to examine the tracks. They found lots of them, and also something neither of them expected. At the place where Xena had fought Gabrielle, in the short grass there was something thin, tall, and white. Xena found it, but it was Gabrielle who bolted there first to pick it up.
"The Spear, Xena!" she yelled, "It's the Spear of Alatariel. How come the Orcs didn't take it with them?"
Xena shook her head, not answering, and continued searching with the hope of finding her own weapons, too. She didn't find them. The hunger was distracting her thoughts, though, and the obvious solution was to go fishing. Using Gabrielle's spear Xena quickly caught a sufficient amount of fish for them as well as for the flying beast. Nightchild swallowed his share raw and without bothering to chew, but the women made a fire, and fried five trout on it. It seemed that no meal had ever tasted so good to them.
"I know why they didn't touch your weapon," said Xena suddenly while lying down and picking her teeth with a fish bone. "It must be because of the Elven magic. The Orcs and other evil beings can't bear it long. It burns their skin, and poisons their blood."
"I've heard of that", said Gabrielle, and continued, "What about your chakram then? I thought it was of Elven origin, too."
"Galadriel explained that it's more complex than that. Or maybe the Orcs have it in a pouch. I don't know. It's not here, anyhow."
"Well," said Gabrielle, "Now what? Back to Lorien after the original plan, or after the Orcs to reclaim your chakram?"
"I'd really love to see Solan," Xena mused, and made her decision. "We'll go to Lorien, but we could fly there by the road going from Mordor to Dol Guldur, and if we're lucky, maybe we can spot Naltzik returning home, and then get my weapons back."
"Fly!" Gabrielle yelped. "You're going to keep flying with that.. thing?"
"Why not? Nightchild is much faster than a horse, and we don't have even a horse. I can control him, and I'm planning to fly him for a while. Starting now, as we can't stay here. I know you don't like him any more than high places, but you'll just have to bear it now. This is enemy territory, and our fire may have been seen."
Once again the bard had to yield. She tied her spear securely to the saddle on the beast's back, as she didn't want to risk accidentally dropping it, and soon they took off. But they didn't get far before her uneasiness started to grow, and she asked, "Xena, do you feel it?" The warrior glanced her casually over her shoulder, but didn't respond, and the bard continued, "We're not alone, I think. Something dark, something very evil is coming this way."
"I don't feel a thing," Xena said, but when Nightchild suddenly screamed, she believed that something really was wrong. In a second her eyes caught a black shadow flying west towards them, and it was too late to try to avoid it. It was a Nazgul riding another winged beast, and he had seen them. Its horrible shriek filled the air and froze their blood, but most of all it seemed to affect their steed. Nightchild turned around in order to escape, and Xena had great trouble trying to control him.
They flew fast, much faster than before, and the Nazgul was on their tail. He had a quicker steed which had less weight to carry, thus he quickly caught up with them. In a short time they had left Emyn Muil behind, and were over Nindalf, or Wetwang as was its name in common language. The mountains of Mordor grew before them, black and terrible.
"Gabrielle, hold on tight. I'm going to try something," Xena yelled, and pulled Nightchild's reins to turn him right, and then down into a steep plunge. The move gave them great speed, but the Nazgul still followed, and after a while he was by their side, a little higher, though, and so close that they could clearly see his horrible, faceless face. Suddenly he stood up on his stirrups, and there was a weapon in his hand; a long, black knife, cursed without a doubt, which he threw at them.
Xena pulled the reins, and Nightchild turned up, up, up, still rising, until he was upside down in the air, and then started to descent, making a full, vertical circle. The maneuver was enough to evade the lethal blade, but not the Ringwraith, who soon was on their tail again. Xena made some sharp curves, and he followed, until he once again was upon them. Xena saw him raising on his stirrups again, and steered away, but being a much more experienced flier he anticipated her move, and so he got even closer, much closer than before. And then he hit, throwing two darts at them, and this time Xena didn't have a chance to dodge them, nor fend them away, as she had both hands holding the reins.
But the darts never hit their intended target. They both rebounded off the Spear of Alatariel held by Gabrielle's hand. Xena glanced her friend in surprise, but the younger woman only looked scared, and equally surprised. The Ringwraith shrieked one more time, and then he turned around, flew east, and didn't look back.
"Why did he leave?" Gabrielle asked, not that she wasn't happy that he did.
"Maybe he was on an errand that couldn't wait no longer," Xena answered, "Or maybe he ran out of weapons. But that was a neat thing you did. It saved us."
"It wasn't me, Xena."
"What do you mean? The spear was in your hands."
"I saw that it was slipping from its holder, and I barely caught it before it fell. When I pulled it up, something hit it, twice, and I didn't even see what they were."
"Well, they were darts, and I'm just glad they didn't hit. But that Nazgul has driven us too far for us to think of flying to Lorien today. We need a safe place for the night."
"Are you thinking of Minas Tirith?" said the bard hopefully.
"Yes, I am. At our current speed we should reach it before the nightfall. Unfortunately, I can feel how tired Nightchild is. He still isn't fully recovered from his wound, I suppose, and I wouldn't want to push him more than necessary. That loop was nearly too much."
"How about that island then?" asked the bard, pointing out to a large island in Anduin.
"It's Cair Andros, if I'm not mistaken. There's a Gondor fort at the south end. It should be safe unless the Orcs have taken it already. I think we can get there."
They neared the island from the north, flying low near the water, and landed at the outmost tip into a young and dense forest. Nightchild was tied to a tree once more, and after a brief look around, the women dared to put up a fire on a small opening, but only to cook their food. Barely had they gotten the fish on a pole, when Xena sprang up, alerted, and instinctively groping for her weapons which weren't there.
"Halt, woman, or die," said a voice from the darkness of the woods, and suddenly they were surrounded by masked bowmen, rising up behind the bushes around the opening.
"Have the men of Gondor become so afraid of women that they assault them in the dark?" Xena said.
"Yes, if that woman is as dangerous as Xena," said a different voice, and a figure in green and brown clothing stepped in the middle of the opening, and removed his mask.
"Faramir," Xena said smiling warmly, and clasped his hand.
"Faramir!" yelped Gabrielle, rushing in and hugging him. The son of the Steward of Gondor was also her good friend.
"Hello, Xena. Gabrielle," the tall man greeted. "Aren't I glad to see you! Before we go on, though, I must warn you. A while ago I saw a foul creature landing here, and we're to slay it dead."
"Don't worry about that. We came by that creature," said Xena flatly.
Faramir's face was worth seeing. "You just don't stop astonishing me, Xena," he said. "What spell did you use to keep that beast under your control? You do know it's the same kind that the Nazgul utilize?"
"Of course I do," Xena replied, "That's how I got him; from a Nazgul. Don't worry, Nightchild's no more evil than a bear or a badger." Gabrielle grunted and frowned, but Xena ignored her. "He was only misguided and tortured. But tell me, what's new in Minas Tirith? How's Lord Denethor?"
"Oh well, you know my father. Always afraid of the Dark Lord. He has been making great preparations, as Minas Tirith will soon be at full war. Lots and lots of warriors are arriving there. I also bring you sad news, as Boromir, your friend and my brother, died only days ago under unclear circumstances. But even if you're keen to know more of his death, let's talk about you two first. What are you doing here? On a way to Minas Tirith, I hope."
"Actually," Xena answered, "we were going up north to see... one of my family, when we got attacked. I'll let Gabrielle fill you in with the details, if you'll join us for supper."
"No, that won't do," Faramir said, "I can see you've had a rough day, and you need a good rest before you can go on. Let my men take care of everything and be my guests instead. I can't offer you much, but a warm meal and a safe place for the night you shall have."
The women gladly took his offer, and they followed him to his camp. On the south end of the island there was the fortress, but Faramir was on an errand, and his camp was a few miles north, not far from the place where Xena had landed. They also wanted to keep fires burning all around to lead the enemy into thinking that a great army was occupying the island.
In the darkening evening Gabrielle told Faramir about the taming of Nightchild, up to the point when they had been attacked by the Nazgul. The man obviously enjoyed their company, and also a number of his men had gathered around to listen to a great story. However, the events of the story also kept their minds on the threat from the east, and the conversation quickly turned to the war. The first battles had already been fought, but Faramir could easily tell that so far the Enemy had been holding back his greatest forces. He had been scouting movements of the enemy troops, and told that he expected the main attack in a week, or two at most.
After hearing what Faramir had found out, Xena agreed, saying, "You are right, my friend. They are ready to take the war to the next level. All that weaponry on the yard in Dol Guldur supports that, too."
"Where do you think they'll strike?" Gabrielle asked.
"Everywhere," Faramir answered. "I think this is it. This is the final assault Sauron has been preparing all along, and I fear that we're not strong enough. Yet Minas Tirith is the key. Would she fall, so would Gondor. And with Gondor falls the hope."
"If that's true, then you're gonna need all the help you can get."
"We sure do. I'd wish that you, Xena, would come to fight with us."
"I guess I can postpone my trip to north once more. Yes, I will help you. I'm sorry that I can't bring an army with me this time. But I know someone who might." She threw a glance at Gabrielle.
"Xena, what are you thinking?" said the young woman dumbfoundedly.
"Okay, you like riddles, now let me ask you one," Xena said. "What group of people dwells only a few days march from Minas Tirith, and whose queen rides a winged monster?"
----
Early in the morning, Gabrielle didn't need to be told twice to mount Nightchild, as the thought of going to see her tribe welled her up with excitement. Faramir and his men had already left earlier silently, as they had work to do in North Ithilien. Before that he had given them some needed supplies, a new sword for Xena, and sharp knives for both of them.
They took off, and followed the river south, flying over the ruins of Osgiliath, and from there to the mountains Emyn Arnen. There the river wound towards Minas Tirith, but Xena estimated that going that way would take them too far west, so they took another route, leaving the river, and starting to follow the Harad Road as it passed through South Ithilien. The time was barely past noon when they crossed River Poros, and turned south-west towards the Amazon land.
In South Gondor there was an old forest, though not nearly as old as Mirkwood or Fangorn in the north, that lay south from river Poros and the Mouth of Anduin, and east from the Bay of Belfalas. It was no longer in one piece, being mostly cut down by the people from the south, but still there were vast islands of untouched forest left.
The Amazon territory was in the middle of one of those islands. This piece of forest lay right on the edge of the Sea, yet it reached out fifty miles inland. The Amazons were not numerous enough to guard the whole forest, but much superstition lay over those woods, and that kept most people from entering.
At the rim of this forest Xena now landed, and Gabrielle dropped off. "This is as far as I'll take you," the warrior said. She thought that the Amazons might panic and shoot them down if they saw Nightchild flying at them.
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" asked the bard. "I mean, Galadriel said that we shouldn't split up."
"What she said was that we must do this together. Don't think about it like we're splitting up. We're still working together, we just do it in separate places for a while. Come on, cheer up! I promise I won't get into trouble while you're not watching."
"And I'll be surprised if you won't," said Gabrielle, forcing a little smile. "But I'll do as you say. I won't do it with a happy heart, but I'll bring my tribe to the battle, and with any luck, we'll be in time."
"You do that. Explain to them that unless they fight now, they may later be alone against the Enemy. But I must fly. They have great fighters and great tacticians in Minas Tirith, but maybe they'll still welcome one more. See you in a week!" Xena bent down, and hugged Gabrielle, and then she ordered Nightchild to take off.
Gabrielle followed the warrior with her gaze until she finally couldn't see the flying beast any more. Then she turned about, and stepped into the woods. This was the place where the rim of the forest was closest to the Amazon village, but the forest was big and the village was deep in there. It would take her hours to get there, so she should start walking.
She had walked only a mile or two when she was intercepted with an arrow shot at her feet. It was a warning shot only, and so she stopped, raised her hands above her head, and held them together. It was quiet for a while, and then two masked women lowered themselves down with ropes. They were the Amazons' first line of defense.
"Who are you, and how do you know our greeting?" asked the shorter one who came down first.
"My name is Gabrielle," the bard answered, and lowered her hands. At the same time, her cloak opened a little in the front, uncovering a simple pendant on her neck. The first woman recognized it, as she immediately put down her weapons, and pulled her mask up, revealing a face of a blonde girl in the verge of womanhood.
"It's the Queen!" she said to her companion, before turning to Gabrielle. Her words came quickly and they were many. "I'm sorry, my Queen, I didn't recognize you right away. I was so young when you became the queen. And then I was hunting during your last visit. It's good to see you've returned. I'm sure you can put things in order. It's such a mess. But I don't blame Ephiny, these are hard times, and she's doing her best, and I do like her most of the time. I don't have to agree with all of her decisions, and I think this may be way beyond her leadership. Hey, wanna see our tree hut? It's up there."
"Okay, now wait a minute," Gabrielle interrupted, trying to hold back her laughter. "What's your name?"
"Oh, I'm sorry, my Queen, I was just so excited to meet you in person. I'm so honored," she maundered until Gabrielle cleared her throat. "I'm babbling again, am I? My name is Neela, and this is Oruro." The other guard, a tall, skinny brunette, lifted her mask as well, and she turned out to be no older than her friend.
"And you can call me Gabrielle. Not a queen, just plain Gabrielle."
"Yes, my Queen. I mean, Gabrielle."
"Thank you. Now, where are the other guards?"
"Others?" The Amazons looked at each other.
"Yes. Surely Ephiny wouldn't put two teenagers here alone in guard."
"Hey, I'm a competent fighter! And so is Oruro!" Neela yelled, as her pride was hurt.
"I'm sure you are, sorry I said that," Gabrielle answered, and the girl calmed down.
"There are only the two of us at this point. The others are needed on the other side where all the action is. I could... we both could do so much more on the other side. But we have our orders, and an Amazon won't complain," she continued proudly, if unsatisfied.
"Good. You'll be a fine Amazon, Neela, I've no doubt of it," Gabrielle assured smiling, and held Neela's arm kindly. "But that's all the more reason I have to go to the village as soon as possible.
"Okay. I will take you there," Neela said.
"No!" Gabrielle yelped a little too quickly, and startled the young women. "I mean, I know the way."
"But it's not safe in the forest," Oruro warned.
"I can take care of myself," said Gabrielle. Better than you think, she added in her mind, and continued convincingly, "You can't leave your duty just for me. I wouldn't be a proper queen if I let you."
"Of course, my Queen," said Neela, "you're right. I hope we'll meet soon again."
"I'm sure we will," the bard said, and left, shaking her head at their young enthusiasm. Ephiny had done wisely to assign them to this border where whey would cause less trouble for everyone. Some day they would learn. And that day may come sooner than expected.
The forest ruled by the Amazons was large, and Gabrielle hadn't been in this part before. She had a pretty good idea of the location of the village though, and she walked with a quick pace on a direct course. After three hours of walking she arrived at a ravine, and started to follow it south, reckoning it was the same ravine that later would change to a glen near the Amazon village. Finding it made her so happy that she began to sing a little song, but after only a few notes she stopped it. It wouldn't be wise to make noise if there really was a danger in these woods like Oruro had warned. She changed the Spear of Alatariel to her right hand, and recognized a familiar hill top a little ahead. The village would be right there on the other side.
She ran up to the hill top, and stopped. All she could see was more trees. No village of any kind. The hill itself didn't look so familiar any more, either. She looked around, and realized that she didn't have a slightest clue of where she was. While following the ravine she had forgotten to keep her thoughts on directions. Now her only choices would be to continue following the ravine, or re-tracing her steps back, and humbly ask Neela and Oruro for guidance. Her pride wouldn't allow the latter, and so she went on. The sun was setting, and the forest started to make funny noises that frightened her, and suddenly she was clenching her staff with both hands. The choice of returning started to feel much more tempting, but she knew she wouldn't make it before the nightfall.
Suddenly, six figures surprised her, as they came down from the trees, one of then landing right in front of her. She reacted by instinct, and used her staff to trip the warrior down. Then she twisted it to make it a spear, and pointed the sharp head at her opponent's throat.
"You've learned some new moves," said the fallen warrior, and slowly took her mask off.
"Ephiny!" the bard yelped, pulling the acting leader of the Amazons up and to her embrace.
"Gabrielle! It's so good to see you're back. Where's Xena? We could really use her skills."
"Xena had other things to do, she couldn't make it. What's going on?"
"We're in a war."
"Tell me about it. You too, huh? It has spread everywhere!"
It turned out that the village was very near. Gabrielle had been right with the ravine, only her faith had been tested. Ephiny briefed her while walking. "You know how our forest is limited by the ocean in the west. A week ago, a few pirate ships arrived at the bay of Belfalas. Large ships. I'm not familiar with ships, but even I recognize the Umbar design. It's not all clear what happened, but one day our guards at the watch point near the shore were found dead. The tracks showed that they had taken many Corsairs with them."
"That's terrible."
"It gets worse. The Corsairs obviously decided to avenge their dead shipmates as they attacked us directly the following day. This time we were ready and waiting for them. None of them survived. The next day, more ships arrived. Now they've got a bloody armada there! That was the day before yesterday, and I'm sure they won't leave it there."
"So that's why the village is in full alarm. With that many ships they can easily outnumber us. But surely the Corsairs didn't come after the Amazons on purpose. They were on a way somewhere. Or do you know another reason why they're mooring at the bay?"
"No, I don't, but it can't be anything good. That's why we took one of them as a captive, but I can't get him to speak."
"Good job, Ephiny! Maybe I can loosen his tongue."
"Oh, you can, can you? Has Xena taught you the Pinch?"
"No, I've got something better. Ever heard of the good guard and the bad guard strategy?"
"What's that?"
"My dear Ephiny, 'that' is a little word..."
End of part 6.
July 31, 2002, Man of Void (mov@iki.fi)
Updated: August 26, 2003.