Note: Okay, I would, first of all, like to thank everyone who's been reviewing. Thank you for all your nice compliments. :) I'm glad that you guys are pleased with how I'm portraying Rei and Usa. All you nice reviewers make me feel so good inside! Hehe… I give you all a GIGANTIC HUG for all of your kind words. ^.^ I'll try to keep up the good work so you guys don't lose faith in me.
Also, in the last chapter the inspector mentioned his sister-son, or nephew, Beorn. The Beorn in this chapter is someone completely different. You have to read the Hobbit to know. There might be some spoilers if you don't.
story
What day was it? Was it even day or was it now night? Narwende had no clue what so ever. She had started her search for Usagi- or rather Cunehina- ages ago, it seemed. She had been a guest of Elrond in Rivendell for two years, for she had become sick some time after she had left Strider in Bree and it had ended up taking her half a month to make it to Rivendell. She had been bedridden for the whole first year, for it had been a bad illness. While there, she had gotten to know many elves- most of them blonde and blue-eyed, with the occasional brunette- but she hadn't found a trace of anyone who knew Cunehina.
The reason why could perhaps lie with the fact that she had been asking them about a girl who stood 5' 3" with long, straight blonde hair and blue eyes. She had completely forgotten that since she looked so different that Cunehina probably would too. Also, she had forgotten where exactly Pluto had left her. She was now walking through a very dark and gloomy forest. There was no light anywhere, only black stretches of trees with red, yellow, and green glowing eyes. She had been walking for atleast a month or so now with no sign of this horrible forest ending. She had passed by a river, which after crossing, she had taken a drink from. Bad mistake- the water had knocked her out cold.
Deciding that all these gloomy thoughts wouldn't help her further, she thought of the other places she had gone. The Eagles she remembered the best. They were magestic beings with very high eryies. She had stayed with them for a year as well, for their nature and way of life had greatly intrigued her. She had learned much about the birds that lived here and had been taught quite a few things about stelth.
After that had been Beorn. He was a tall man with dark hair, but only sometimes. Most of the time he was actually a gigantic, black bear. She had also stayed with him for a year. He usually didn't except guests that long, but she greatly intrigued her with her stories of the years past of her journey, and the stories of her life as Hino Rei. She had become good friends with many of the Beorn-lings, his… sons, sort of, and had therefore learned much about the wild surrounding her.
Now she was here. No more wonderful meals prepared by Beorn's animals, no more relaxing high up in the eyries and gazing on the world surrounding them. At least she still had much of Beorn's honey and bread. She also had a few flasks worth of water, but spared both food and drink to a great extent. The result was that she was getting weaker and weaker by the day.
Once she had climbed up to the top of a tree and was met with the site of many trees and many black butterflies being chased by small spiders. But afterwards, she had ended up falling out of the tree and spending two days, possibly, just lying on the ground and eating even less than usually. After that she had started walking again. Now, maybe a week or so after the incident, she was still walking on the trail.
"Oh, what's the use?" Narwende cursed to herself, "I might as well eat and drink the rest of my food- this forest won't end anyways." And so, staying true to her word, she stumbled to the ground and ate what seemed a feast compared to last night's megear dinner. Afterwards, feeling considerably fuller and stronger, she started marching off again. The dinner had made her feel so good, infact, that she started to jog off. But after at least an hour her weakness hit her again. She would learn over the next few days just what it would mean to starve.
It had been a great mistake on her part to eat all of her food at once, and Narwende once again cursed herself as she continued. She had started stumbling along the path once more and found herself starting to nap on the road very often, maybe thrice a day. On this particular 'day' (or possibly night, she couldn't tell) she had been walking tiredly down the path. To her surprise something glowing seemed to come closer and closer to her. She didn't know what it was, but it had many glowing eyes. The could see the shadow of many legs as it passed through a small thread of oh so rare light.
It was a spider. Hadn't Beorn warned her about there being gigantic spiders in a forest called Mirkwood? Logic finally managed to get through the fog that was Narwende's starved mind and she realized something important. She was in Mirkwood, and Beorn had also said that most spiders where followed by their whole clan when moving around. Couldn't evil things smell fear? Would something that large possibly eat her? Similar thoughts wound through Narwende's foggy mind.
The spider pounced upon her and Narwende's half-dead body managed to give out one last strangled cry as the spider landed upon her. The last things she saw swum randomly throughout her vision. Thousands of glowing eyes. Fire. Arrows. Blood blacker than the surrounding wood. Faces. And so, after four days of starving, Narwende's body and mind went into a lasting sleep.
~*~
Theom caught his eyes wandering to Arden ever so often as they stood guard infront of the doors leading to Theoden King's throne room. He looked so much like Mamoru. He had the same black hair, deep blue eyes, and height. The face builds were near identical even, but Arden's fisique was completely different. She had, at first, found it unnerving, but now nearly endearing.
This would really be a test of Usagi's love for Mamoru. Theom started thinking. She truly wasn't Usagi anymore- not in body or mind, but perhaps in soul. There truly wasn't anything binding this body to Mamoru anymore. It had been so long since Pluto had brought Usagi and Rei across space. Theom nearly felt like crying. She wasn't Usagi anymore, not at all. Same hair or eye color maybe, but nothing like Usagi what so ever anymore. Different name, different track of thought, different body, different mind, and (she had to gulp when thinking this) even a different soul.
She had been Cunehina for 22 years now. She had been Usagi for merely 17 years, five less than she had been Cunehina. That meant, in a way, that she was more Cunehina than she had ever been Usagi. She sunk her head. Her thoughts had been going along like this for so long now. Always the same. Starting off ok, nice even. Sinking lower and lower until she ended up sinking into a near depression. She sighed deeply, a sudden sorrow filling her eyes. She slouched.
Arden looked to her in concern. "Little Theom, what has befallen your soul as of late. Your heart sinks deeper and deeper into sorrow and it shows in your eyes, my brother. What tortures you so that the sorrow in your eyes brings me to nearly cry in my fear for you?" Cunehina became Theom once more. "I… I'm afraid I cannot tell you, at least not here. But it is not just that one thing. My… my mother. I can feel her pain. She's getting thinner and sicklier. I fear she may soon die."
At that moment their replacements decided to show up. Arden softly grabbed Theom's arm and pulled his small body away from the doors. He guided Theom to his hut. "Come," Arden said softly, "we shall talk in here." Arden was being very serious, which was something Theom wasn't really used to. He was usually bouncing off of the walls every time they were done with guard duty, but today he was completely silent and serious.
This was the first time Theom had been in Arden's hut. It was really messy and there was a woman lying lopsided on the couch. She started screaming as Theom walked in and started ranting and raving on and on in what seemed to be her own language. Arden's face turned rather red and he gently picked up the woman and carried her hurridly to the next room. "Don't worry Ma," he said gently, "that's just Theom. He's a good lad, he won't do anything to you. Now, now Ma…" Theom looked slightly shocked. He hadn't expected Arden's mother to be like that.
Then again, this was the first time he had been in Arden's home for the past 4 years they had been friends. Arden came back to Theom with a slightly red face, "So, my friend, have a seat and please tell me what bothers you so." Theom couldn't hold it in any longer. He started crying and told Arden of how he had come from a far away land so that he could learn better fighting, how his age had been reversed, how 'he' had been separated from Rei, and how he had to disguise himself as a man so that he could provide for his mother.
Arden looked very thoughtful, "I believe you, little Theom. You must know, however, that I've known of your being a woman for the past three years. I'm more observant than many people think, believe, or know. You've been pretending to be a boy for the past 8 years now, or so you say. You pull of a very good male, let me tell you. But, if one was to see you without your typical coal smudges on your face, they would see just how feminine you face is. Also, only the sharpest eye could spy the slight swell of your breast under those rags you use to keep them back.
"A woman, when walking, naturally shakes her hips due to their hip build. You do that as well, but only when you think no one is looking." Theom looked at him in shock, "You knew and you never questioned me about it? You never told the commanders that a woman was in the King's guard?" Arden shook his head, "No, for I knew that your heart was in the right place and I felt that you wouldn't take well to someone knowing your secret. I have but one request of you now. What is your true name?"
Theom smiled at him, "My name is Cunehina. It was given to me by the woman who brought me here. Theom was the name of my adopted- no, of my father." Arden smiled at her, "Cunehina. Sounds elvish. Very beautiful name." Cunehina smiled at him, but then turned serious, "Why was your mother so frightened of me?" Arden's face turned dark. He gave a shakey sigh, "When I was still a young child, my father became very drunk every night. He lost his job soon and started beating us, meaning me and my mother.
"That's actually where I got all of the scars on my arm from. One night, when he was overly drunk, but he was being very nice that night. We needed firewood, and my arms were too bruised and hurt too much to go cut the wood, so he went. Some boys found him the next morning. He had tripped over a root and ended up stabbing himself in the stomach with an axe. My mother, despite his beatings, was over come with sorrow and then, slowly, with madness. I'm not embarrassed of her, but I'm frightened of what people might do to her if they should know how… she… she is." After this, Arden's face became slightly pale. He could feel the tears threaten to well up in his eyes.
The afternoon passed slowly, with the two beings holding each other in their sadness. At the come of evening, Cunehina kissed Arden on the cheek as a farewell, and walked off alone to her hut. She began thinking of Arden as a brother more and more. But, Arden started to fall in love with the woman that had been the man that was his best friend. This would cause problems, he knew, but he couldn't stop it. He didn't want to, but he let himself.
~*~
Narwende awoke slowly, feeling extreme pain. She sat up slowly, hoping that nothing was broken. She spied an elf in the corner. She knew it was an elf very well, for she had spent two years in the company of them. His hair was fair, as were his eyes and skin. He was clothed in dark greens and browns. "Hello," he said to her softly, "my name is Oroithil. You are in Mirkwood, in the palace of our great king Thranduil. You have slept for the past three days, ever since the spider attack. Come, I shall escort you to his chambers." She sat up slowly, and shot Oroithil a grateful look as he helped her slowly scuffle to said chamber.
Her eyes adjusted quickly to the dim light of torches on the stone walls. She could tell from the few stalagtites and stalagmites that she was in a cave. 'Hmm,' Narwende couldn't help but think, 'elves living in caves of all things. Interesting.' Soon she was brought to the king. He was very intimidating. His long hair was a blonde that could nearly pass off as a light brown and his blue eyes were very wise. A crown of leaves rested upon his head and a long, green and brown robe covered his body.
He peered down to her from his chair, "What business do you have taking this route through Mirkwood? This is the elven path, there are safer paths for humans further south." Narwende swallowed thickly, "Well, King Thranduil, I am searching for my friend. The last I saw of her was when I was about four. I forgot where she was brought to live, so I am searching everywhere I can for her. Perhaps she is among the people of your kingdom?"
Thranduil seemed to believe her, "I do not recall anyone being brought to my kingdom, but I will ask around. What does she look like?" Narwende looked relieved and thankful, "I thank you, great king Thranduil. She is maybe a head or so shorter than I am and she had long, straight blonde hair. Her eyes are also a dark blue." Thranduil nodded, and sent off his men to search among the people.
"In the meantime," Thranduil said with a smile, "you may join us in our feast. My son is going away to a council in Rivendell soon. Tonight we feast for his well being." Narwende nodded and was brought back to her chambers. There lay a lovely dress of green and brown on her bed. She quickly changed into it and quickly brushed out her messy hair. Soon she was done and her raven hair fell in soft waves to her knees. The waves must have come from the many years with her hair in a braid.
She heard a knock on her door. She quickly exited and smiled at Oroithil. He escorted her to the feast where she was quickly swept away by a very young elf. She didn't catch his name, but soon their dance was over. She sat at the far end of the table, neglecting to notice that Thranduil had saved her a seat upon his right side. His son, who Narwende also didn't notice, was on his left side and wondering who the king wanted to sit on the other side.
That evening Narwende managed to pull a nice meal under her belt and a few glasses of very good wine. She soon felt tired and walked back to her quarters. There she fell asleep immediately on the bed, dress and all. The next morning she awoke early and quickly changed back into her dark green, nearly black outfit. She left her pack in her room, and went off in search of Thranduil. She met him in the throne room saying a long farewell to a young, blonde elf. He left the throne room soon, sending Narwende a confused mind, and quickly departed from the cave.
Narwende looked to Thranduil, who smiled at her. "I expect you came to the feast last night, but didn't see your reserved seat next to me and my son. I had much hoped to introduce you two to eachother. Now, for the news. I'm afraid there is no one matching your description of your friend among my people." Narwende's face fell, "Alas, I must then quickly prepare for the rest of my journey." She quickly ran back to her quarters (the way she had memorized rather quickly) and grabbed her pack. She looked at the dress longingly, but quickly became serious again.
She ran back to the king to tell him farewell. She found him sitting in his high throne, just as when she had left him. "Thranduil, I have come back once more to bid you farewell and thanks for your hospitality." Narwende gave him a bow, a habit from Japan that had managed to stay with her for the whole time she had been there. The king smiled at her softly and motioned for someone to step forward. "You are a wonderful person," the king began, "and I feel you are destined for a joy and sorrow that could be matched by none but the elves of this land. I will give you a horse that you shall have for your own. I also shall give you some of the cram of the Lake-men. You may also have a flask of wine and two flasks of water. May this hold you for as long as it takes you to find another place where you can provide for yourself.
"I wish you much luck in your journey. Oroithil shall guide you to the edge of Mirkwood where you shall find your horse and supplies waiting for you." Narwende smiled at the king and followed Oroithil (who had been the person motioned forward by the king) out of the caves and back into the forest. They managed to make it out of the forest within two days. At the edge of the forest, as promised, Narwende found her horse and a light pack filled with the promised supplies. The horse was very beautiful, with a red-brown coat that outshone the sun and deep brown eyes that seemed to read your mind.
She bid Oroithil goodbye, and told him of her wishes to see him again once her friend was found. She rode off that day and decided to go to the Lonely Mountain and ask the dwarves if they knew of Usagi.
/story
Okay… that was majorly long. I guess this is a treat for all the Rei fans reading this story. Since this chapter featured so much Rei, the next will have more Usa.
loon