A/N: I know this has taken awhile to those who know of this tale's existence. And it is finally up on the ever wonderful fanfiction.net so read and reviews. This is my first 'Lord of the Rings' fanfiction so please, I shall only ask one thing of the reviews: please be brutally honest in the reviews. And feel free to e-mail me and let me know your thoughts and opinions. Completely inane flames will be passed around and laughed at by the Tribunal of Fates.
Prologue
A gentle breeze moved through the serene garden, stirring the hair of the figures below; the two with the long hair of age and wisdom, the other two innocent and baby soft despite their teetering figures. The lady bent with a smile and outstretched arms as the man did the same, encouraging the children to walk. Tiny hesitant steps came slowly before a soft patter of steps thudded across the grass, followed by more sedate ones.
"Very good." the lady murmured softly, rising with the dark-haired child in her arms. "You didn't trip at all this time. Neither did Arlonniel."
The man chuckled. "Arlonniel is very sure-footed and quick. A bit too quick perhaps. Not like Carardaiel; she is more the cautious one. " he picked up his flame-haired child, poking her nose gently. "But Arlonniel does have a brave heart."
"Bravery Celeborn does not mean escaping from her crib and climbing out into the trees to play; she could fall and hurt herself."
"Galadriel," he paused as Arlonniel started playing with his hair. "They are Elves and children nonetheless; it is only natural for them to want to become acquainted with the forest at an early age as well as explore."
"Still Celeborn…so few Elven children are born…especially in these precarious times."
"I know Galadriel." he smiled, seeing Carardaiel play with her mother's necklace. "They will be safe here in Lórien; do not fret so."
Galadriel gave a wistful sort of smile, looking at the necklace on her daughter's neck; it was there for her protection as was the one on Arlonniel's neck; two halves of a whole.
"Children should not have to grow up in such times as these. They should have peace and free run; not confined to the palace."
"As all children should; but we cannot control time itself Galadriel. We must do the best we can in the time we are in." he paused looking at the door then her. "Are you coming in? Galadriel, what is wrong?" he asked seeing the look on her face.
"Something…" she whispered, clutching Carardaiel closer to her. "I am not too sure what though…but I sense it."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes…it was like a transparent fog…I do not think it is much though."
"Come Galadriel. Perhaps you are worrying about the Orcs to the north too much."
"You are right Celeborn. I should rest for once and enjoy the brief moment of tranquility."
"We'll put Arlonniel and Carardaiel down for their afternoon naps; then we shall have some time for ourselves." he smiled at her as they headed in. "You can continue on with your book."
"I should like that very much." she murmured. "And it would be welcome to see these two not racing around for once; especially Arlonniel."
"Then it is settled." he chuckled as they entered the nursery. "An afternoon of quiet."
Darkness; it was all around, tightening like a noose ever slowly, ever closer upon the mote of light that was Lórien. Then the light was gone, the dark extinguishing it along with the echoing cries of battle and the fallen. But above all the clamor she heard two sounds that made her heart freeze with immeasurable fear; the high-pitched screams of terror that cut through all the others; the screams of Arlonniel and Carardaiel's tiny voices.
"Galadriel! Galadriel!"
The insistent voice along with the hands on her shoulders melted away the terrible screams echoing around inside her head. Blinking she looked up to see Celeborn with an anxious look on his face; the sky behind him was dark and star laden.
"I had no intention of falling asleep. I did not even realize I fell asleep. For how long?"
"Not long…less than half the afternoon. What is wrong Galadriel? You were muttering in your sleep…in a panic. Did you see something?"
"The fog…it became darkness; a darkness that engulfed Lórien completely Celeborn. And then the screams…I heard-"
The warm night silence was shattered by the shrill cry from the nursery that sent Galadriel and Celeborn running. Entering, they saw Arlonniel and Carardaiel clutching at the bars with their chubby toddler hands, screaming their faces off.
Anxious, Galadriel picked up Arlonniel, trying to soothe her cries and angry red face. Celeborn was very successful in getting Carardaiel to calm down; why was Arlonniel still screaming as if the world was ending?
'Could they feel it as well?' she smoothed back her daughter's rare red hair from her small face. Looking up at Celeborn, she saw the same look in his eyes.
"I think it wise Galadriel, to have-"
"Lord Celeborn! Lord Celeborn!" a messenger burst in to the room, short of breath. "Saranawen… is…Saranawen…"
"Saranawen is dead." Galadriel said voicing the dread words aloud.
"Yes. . ." the messenger managed as they tried to catch their breath.
"How?" Celeborn asked. "How could an Elf wizard die?"
"She was ambushed my Lord. They were too many; they overwhelmed her in sheer numbers."
Galadriel closed her eyes, the dream flashing before her again. She held Arlonniel closer. "By whom?"
"We are trying to discover who my Lady." the messenger paused. "The Orcs are on the move. From sunset they started traveling; towards Lórien."
"Then they will be here soon enough." Celeborn murmured as he glanced out of the window. "Go and find Forobas and bring him here."
The messenger promptly bowed and disappeared into the hallway leaving them alone. Celeborn looked over at Galadriel to see a distant worried look on her face, one of fear almost. Walking over to her side, he placed a hand on her shoulder.
"I heard their screams Celeborn. Our children were screaming." she paused. "Nothing can happen to them Celeborn. They have to live through this no matter what."
"If anyone knows how to protect them better than us, it is Forobas. He has been Saranawen's apprentice for the past four hundred years and is as wise as her. He should have an answer." he saw her glance at the amulet on Arlonniel's neck. "The amulets will do their part; let Forobas do his."
She nodded, knowing that his words were to comfort her. They were the truth but she couldn't stop the almost mocking screams from echoing around in her head that foreboded otherwise. Her head snapped up suddenly hearing a knock on the door before she shook it slightly to clear it; she was more jumpy than she had thought.
"My Lord, you wished to see me?" an Elf walked into the room with a slight hesitancy. "I have heard that Orcs are coming towards Lórien; how may I be of service?"
Celeborn shut the door before turning to face the young wizard with a serious expression. "Take care of our children no matter what; even if you must take them to the Undying Lands themselves."
"Yes my Lord." Forobas replied quietly.
Celeborn nodded his head, not replying as he wrapped Carardaiel in a blanket before giving her to Forobas. Galadriel moved to do the same, managing to put some speed into her movements before Arlonniel was swaddled and ready to go. Forobas took the children carefully, placing them in a sling made from his cloak.
"Do not fear my Lady. I shall protect them with my very life."
She nodded before she pressed a kiss to each of their brows, Celeborn doing the same. Already the children had sensed something off that made them reach back towards their parents, eyes pleading. Galadriel felt her heart wrench painfully as she watched her children call out for her and Celeborn with the words of 'Mother' and 'Father'. Stepping up she took their hands in hers.
"Go with Forobas and be silent tonight; always listen to him for your lives depend on it." she whispered, stilling the children's cries. "Do you understand?"
No response greeted her as Arlonniel and Carardaiel watched their mother with bright fearful eyes, grasping Forobas' shirt closer in their small hands. Galadriel fell back to Celeborn's side with a blank resolute face. With a brief nod from Celeborn, Forobas bowed slightly before walking out and vanishing silently. Celeborn gave a heavy sigh as the last glimpse of his children was cut off by the door; he had felt his heart break just as Galadriel's had.
"They are all we have left Celeborn. If they should become separated-"
"That shall not happen; and if it does they shall always find their way back to one another. They are linked by the ties of blood. They shall come back to us Galadriel, no matter what. Now come; we must prepare to do battle and evacuate the city if need be."
Galadriel nodded before taking a steadying breath. "You are right Celeborn. They shall come back to us no matter what."
Steadily Forobas moved through the upper reaches of the palace halls, hearing the stirring calls to battle echo around. The back halls were rarely used anymore and would provide a safe enough route out of the palace; the less who knew of what was going on with the royal children, the better. Suddenly a sharp yank on his hair made him look down to see Arlonniel gazing up at him with attentively.
"Yes?" he asked; there was nothing wrong that he could see. "What is-" he stopped, ears picking up the tramping of feet.
Quickly he ducked into a shadowed alcove, watching carefully out of the shadows with bated breath. The footsteps came closer and closer, making him retreat in further. A few seconds later a troop of Elvish soldiers came passing through, the bows gleaming softly in the dim light.
"That was close." he breathed a sigh of relief. "We'll take the flets to the river and go downstream from there. The battle will be centered near the palace I believe."
Arlonniel gave a soft gurgle of delight which earned a scowl from Carardaiel. Forobas repressed his own laugh to give them a gentle frown. "You two must be silent. Not a single word from you two tonight."
Wraithlike he moved through the now silent levels, reaching the thick old tree whose upper branches swept against the railing of the hallway. With the surety and ease of a trained Elf he darted out onto the branches, moving from tree to tree with swiftness. 'We're almost at the river. We're almost halfway there.' He could smell the water of the Anduin's tributary. Soon enough, the thin sliver of silver was visible as he crouched in a fork. Slowly, his eyes looked around sweeping over the area searching for ambushers. Nothing; not even the reek of Orcs filled the air. Jumping down with a gentle thud, he started to wade into the river.
"The sooner we reach the other side, the sooner we can be on our way." he whispered giving them a smile.
They didn't say anything simply giving him back the same smile. Slowly he made his way to the opposite bank, glad to see the firm earth; he hadn't really been one for water. Suddenly he stopped, a foul stench assaulting his sensitized smell.
"Orcs." he muttered under his breath.
Quickly he waded over to the thick clump of reeds just a few steps away, keeping low to the water was he watched the trees down by the gentle path to the water, the tall plants screening. Soon enough, the loud tramping reached his ears as the loud creatures came crashing from the forest and plunged into the water madly, onwards towards Lórien. Forobas watched like a hawk as they passed by, not noticing the gentle plants that swayed with their movements. He felt a temporary wave of relief wash over him as the silence returned. Then a cry echoed out over the water, loud and insistent. Looking down, he saw the edge of the cloak had dipped in and the cold water was traveling up and soaking Arlonniel. Hastily he picked the edge up out of the water and held them closer, hoping that the Orcs hadn't heard. He watched the other side again, face tense from fear.
Rustlings gave way to the dull gleam of bloodied metal over pallid black skin, the unearthly green eyes glowing, bright and luminescent as they sensed something to kill. The maces and barbed clubs moved restlessly as their eyes darted around in some sort of message. Forobas barely had time to realize what they were doing before the bludgeons came crashing down in the hiding spot, making him duck out, hunched over the children. Triumphant cries filled the riverbank as the Orcs splashed in after him, eyes filled with avidity. He whirled around to face them, holding Arlonniel and Carardaiel in one arm. With a low mutter he sent fire dancing across the surface of the water at them in a sweep that went from bank to bank. The cries of fear followed him as he sloshed out from the water and up into the forest, leaving a wet trail. Soon he could hear the faint sounds of the Orcs giving chase after their quarry.
Over tree stumps and large chunks of rocks, Forobas moved like the wind outdistancing his pursuers easily. Eventually he found himself deep in the forest, the old shrine to ancient forgotten gods just ahead in the distance. Walking to the large rock he sat down and looked at the children in his arms.
"Sorry about that dip. This cloak is old but it does keep you warm doesn't it?"
Carardaiel gurgled along with her sister, both grasping at the wispy strands of his brown hair. Forobas gave a low chuckle as he let them play with his hair. 'We shall have to get moving soon enough. I have lingered enough already.' He rose slowly looking around. 'Perhaps if I took the trees and backtracked the Orcs would have trouble finding me; the longer they are confused the better for us.'
With a last thought he started walking to the tree, making sure that nothing was in sight or lurking around. After securing the sling, he climbed up quickly pausing to get his bearings. Slowly he made his way through the leafy canopy, pausing every once in awhile when the sounds of booted feet reached his ears. He had made it halfway back when Carardaiel started screaming again, the silence broken once more.
"No no; hush please. You must be quiet. Please hush." Forobas begged in a whisper.
Carardaiel subdued her cries but still whimpered and sniffled, burrowing her face into his shirt. Forobas held the closer as he looked around trying to see what disturbed her. Arlonniel made a small happy sound causing her sister to squirm in an effort to get closer to him before they both fell silent. It was the sudden snort of a horse that made him look down to see the black steed saddled by a Nazgûl. That was enough to make him freeze, eyes watching the rider carefully for any signs of attack or movement. Moments seemed to pass away like water, rushing on and on before the Nazgûl slowly looked up revealing a black pit of a face to Forobas. Arlonniel gave a happy crow and started to squirm free from Forobas. A piercing screech filled the air as the Nazgûl drew its sword and leapt from the horse's back to climb up, the clawed gauntlets digging into the tree. Forobas grabbed Arlonniel and Carardaiel closer as he took off back through the treetops. The sound of the Nazgûl behind him made him run faster and faster until he slipped up on a branch, plummeting to the ground.
"I'm having a great day." he muttered as he picked himself up. He had managed to turn at the last minute so his back slammed into the ground. "Are you all right Arlonniel?" he got a responsive laugh. "I think you're enjoying this. How are you Carardaiel?"
No response greeted him making peer in the dark to only see Arlonniel in the sling. Quelling the sense of panic inside, he started looking around carefully. "Carardaiel? Carardaiel?" he hissed looking around. Suddenly he spotted her lying a few feet away, tears running down her face as her cries started to fill the forest. "Carardaiel!" he started forward, as relief washed over him.
Then the Nazgûl burst through the thick brush behind charging towards Carardaiel. Forobas came to a halt, knowing that he couldn't reach her in time. Quickly he cast a spell that sent a protective bubble to encase Carardaiel. The blue sphere had barely formed when the horse thundered over her, the hooves slipping over the force field. As the Nazgûl turned his horse sharply, Forobas ran forward and grabbed Carardaiel and took off, the Nazgûl right behind him. Racing back to the small shrine, he ducked into the chapel and slammed the door shut. 'That should buy some time. What can I use to fight a Nazgûl of all creatures?' He looked down at the children, wondering if there was someway to get them out of this intact. Already he could see Carardaiel trembling from fright and fear. Yet Arlonniel was looking around eagerly as if she couldn't wait to see what happened next. A slight chill went up his spine as he thought more of Arlonniel's reaction. 'The sooner she's away from this the better for her, Carardaiel and me.'
Arlonniel gave a crowing laugh that made Forobas look down sharply. Suddenly sharp pain went lancing down his leg making him lurch away from the door with a restrained grunt.
"What?" he looked down to see an arrow shaft in his leg, coming through the door.
With a twist of his leg, he broke it and limped off as fast as he could. The poison from the projectile was starting to work through him; he could feel the evil seeping through him. Before he could even make it to the altar, the door fell open with a single stroke of a blade, the Nazgûl illuminated by the filtering strains of moonlight. Forobas struggled to the altar, resting against it heavily; the poison was working faster than he had ever though possible. The slow crunch of footsteps came with the creature's advance, as the cruel fingers gripped the hilt harder in anticipation.
"Play!"
Forobas looked down seeing Arlonniel clapping and laughing. 'She likes this. The princess likes this. . .'
The Nazgûl paused for a moment seemingly lost before it reached out a hand. Arlonniel reached back out laughing all the while.
"No!" Forobas moved, pulling Arlonniel away from its grasp.
The Nazgûl twirled the blade around easily before sending it through Forobas' midsection. He started with a bloody gasp as the blade was drawn back out and he fell to the floor. The Nazgûl started forward again inexorably. He managed to drag himself back towards the wall and leaving a bloody smear along the floor. Closing his eyes against the sight of his death, Forobas quietly started to say words in between his last gasps. He wasn't sure what he was saying but all he knew that it could at least save his charges.
Just as the Nazgûl reached out for Arlonniel again, she vanished away with Carardaiel. His arms fell limply to the side as the Nazgûl uttered a high pitched sound of frustration. In anger, it whirled around and slammed the sword into the altar before it before striding out and leaving on its mount in a rage. Forobas went perfectly still as he felt and saw everything go dim. 'I failed. I failed them all.'