The 6th Istari
Chapter 5: Three Pursuers
Note: I may have gotten some facts wrong, and if I did, and you notice, please tell me and I will try to change it asap.
Thoughts are in Italics. Thoughts spoken to each other are "in italics". If they are speaking in elvish, *elvish*, if dwarvish, dwarvish, if they are speaking normally, "It will be normal."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As they loped away, Twe could feel the adrenaline pumping through her body, she would need it for later, she calmed her thoughts down and the adrenaline stopped. She then sent calming thoughts to Heidi. She was sure Heidi had adrenaline in her body too. Heidi would definitely need it later. As they loped away and into a forest of trees, Raph stopped them every once in a while to check and make sure that they were on the right path. When they stopped, Raph and Twe would be breathing slightly harder but Heidi would be puffing.
Finally, Raph told Twe in a tight thought that didn't include Heidi, "We can't go on like this, Heidi won't last and we can't just leave her here! Besides, she has a right to the orcs too, she swore also." He quickly added before Twe could place any contradictory arguments. Twe thought for a second then sent Raph a picture in her head It was Heidi on Raph's back and Raph was only putting out some more effort, but the thoughts coming from him were extremely pleased. Raph smiled, embarrassed, and Twe toothily grinned back. They told Heidi what they thought; she didn't look displeased at the new arrangements either. She knew how strong Raph was and that she would be hardly a burden to him.
They set off again, this time with Twe checking the tracks and sending pictures of what she saw to Raph if she wasn't sure. He would correct her if she was wrong and show her why. They continued onwards. They were heading up into the mountains. As the air grew thinner and colder, they drew on the extra clothes and gave Heidi all 3 cloaks, she was shivering, but her being carried on Raph it made it easier. The half elves could run lightly across the snow and the wind blew away their slight imprints in the snow. If Heidi had been walking she would have sunk in the snow and it would have delayed their band, something none of them wanted right now, pride could wait.
When they got to solid ground, Heidi would run some more, for her sake as well as Raph's, pride was still an important thing, and then she would get back on Raph's back. They continued on. The air was crystal clear and the mornings were beautiful in an cold clear and deadly sort of way. The afternoon sun sparkled on the snow and sent bright rays of light reflections everywhere. In the bone chilling evenings the stars would come out and guided the band while the moon came out and shone its' light on them. The moon was slowly waxing, increasing from a thin sliver to a full circle in the sky.
They passed over Ered Mithrin and continued on. They were getting closer to the orcs, and their fury easily rose again. The bitter pain of loss and death was their constant companion. The twins would wake up in the night to find Heidi crying and Raph would comfort her until she fell asleep, while Twe watched, knowing that Raph could give her more comfort than Twe could. Raph had always been the more open and likely to show his feelings; he would gladly stop a practice drill with weapons to marvel at a bird or he would prefer talking to taking actions. Twe had been the stoic warrior, never crying, and never asking for help, even when she was hurt, and pushing herself to her utmost limits to learn and become the best of the best. But the release of pain that would come with crying would not come to either of the half elves.
They came to the Greenwood, very rightly named; it was bright and green and peaceful; and persistently trotted on into it. The path got easier. Twe was good at talking and listening to trees but not at following tracks. Although, if she had learned anything on this quest; it would most definitely be tracking. As she rested against a tree, her eyes closed and her hands palm downwards on the rough bark, she whispered to the tree. It had taken a while for her to figure out how to talk to them but she could now, it helped if she had as much contact with the tree as possible. So she pressed her cheek, hands, and body against it. She whispered to the tree, with thought as well as voicing words, "Tell me, grandfather, what do you know of orcs?" The trees told her about the orcs; there were 40, they were mean and tore down many branches to feed their fires, and didn't care it the sparks got lose and set the forest in a blaze. And most importantly, that they had gone southeast. And the trees also told her of something else that made her nervous. Other bands were in the woods, amazing amounts of orcs roamed the woods, more than any of the trees had ever seen, and they were hundreds of years old.
They soon realized that if they hurried for the rest of today, they would reach them tonight. They raced through the woods. Jumping over fallen trees and branches, leaping over brooks, and dodging tree limbs, they raced through the day. Their hearts pounded and their shirts stuck to their bodies with sweat. Their muscles ached with the strain but kept going; sweat matted their hair and skin. Yet they sped forwards in pursuit, stopping less, they were close, and the band would not escape.
Finally, night came on. The coolness was a blessing against their hot bodies. The cold sweat would have started to chill them if they hadn't been going so fast, but even still, as they slowed down every so often to preserve their strength, the cold nipped at them. Their breathing came in gasps; they were going full out, running like whirlwinds, swift as whirlwind at full speed, quick as a fire flaming into the sky, fluid as water on a calm day, and as sturdy as the trees they sped by, leaving no traces except a few light foot steps.
The moon had risen earlier; it was now a full moon. They all blessed fate for this good luck, they could attack at night, and some odds would be with them. Orcs like the night and the dark. The moon would give the threesome light to see by and yet leave enough darkness to hide in.
They finally caught up. The orcs were resting by a stream, arguing, as usual. Twe, Raph, and Heidi cooled off using a small tributary of the stream while they collected their thoughts. That was when Heidi started to have second thoughts. Maybe we shouldn't do this, none of us have ever killed before, and, and.well. "Now is not the time to be getting cold feet." Twe told Heidi.
"It's not cold feet!" Heidi angrily defended herself. "Shhhhhhhhhh! You want them to hear you?" Raph clapped a hand over Heidi's mouth to stifle her protests, and glared at each of them in turn. "Don't enrage her!" he hissed in a tight thought at Twe, she told him back, equally tight but in a deceivingly calm voice, "She needs the rage. She will need all the adrenaline she can pump in her body!" Raph could barely sense the turmoil hidden beneath it, and only because they were so close could he sense it, others might call his sister cold hearted but he knew her feelings. Already fire was pumping its way through her veins. She could feel the anger, bitterness, sorrow, grief, and loneliness roll itself together; it called for revenge, her sword and arrows were thirsty and they needed to be satisfied. And she would make sure they were.
She sent memories to the other two. First happy ones; memories of them playing, arguing, and talking to Peranell, then she sent a memory of Peranell's body and last moments. She then lowered her shield with great difficulty, and showed them what she felt now. Raph was shocked and Heidi was dumbfounded, Twe had always been then stone-faced one, one whom any emotion was rarely seen. Her feelings were deep, vivid, and brilliant in their intensity; it was amazing that she was able to keep them down. Raph felt like his feelings were mere small puddles of pastel colors next to Twe's immense sea of vibrant and glowing colors. But slowly her vibrant feeling flowing into the other two, she had more than enough anger to last them all. Fire started to burn in all of them. The three stood grim-faced and angry, three judges coming for justice.
So what's the plan? Heidi asked, Raph proposed one he had been mulling over for some time now. "What if Twe shoots until she has no more arrows or she risks hitting us. Meanwhile, Heidi and I will charge in as soon as Twe starts shooting. Once Twe stops shooting, she can swordfight with us. If we need to retreat, I will call it." They agreed on it and started to prepare.
They took off all their extra garments, cloaks, and outer layers, and put them under a bush. They then loosened their swords and tightened their sword belts. They stuck the extra arrows in the ground at Twe's feet. She would go through the extras first, then her quiver, which contained her arrows plus Raph's and Heidi's. They sent some prayers off that they would survive and fulfill their vengeance. Then stood up, a lord and two ladies, ready to fight.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DUN, DUN, DUN! The plot thickens, heck, just click chapter 6 if you can't stand it, but r/r first please!
~Kit ;)
Chapter 5: Three Pursuers
Note: I may have gotten some facts wrong, and if I did, and you notice, please tell me and I will try to change it asap.
Thoughts are in Italics. Thoughts spoken to each other are "in italics". If they are speaking in elvish, *elvish*, if dwarvish, dwarvish, if they are speaking normally, "It will be normal."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As they loped away, Twe could feel the adrenaline pumping through her body, she would need it for later, she calmed her thoughts down and the adrenaline stopped. She then sent calming thoughts to Heidi. She was sure Heidi had adrenaline in her body too. Heidi would definitely need it later. As they loped away and into a forest of trees, Raph stopped them every once in a while to check and make sure that they were on the right path. When they stopped, Raph and Twe would be breathing slightly harder but Heidi would be puffing.
Finally, Raph told Twe in a tight thought that didn't include Heidi, "We can't go on like this, Heidi won't last and we can't just leave her here! Besides, she has a right to the orcs too, she swore also." He quickly added before Twe could place any contradictory arguments. Twe thought for a second then sent Raph a picture in her head It was Heidi on Raph's back and Raph was only putting out some more effort, but the thoughts coming from him were extremely pleased. Raph smiled, embarrassed, and Twe toothily grinned back. They told Heidi what they thought; she didn't look displeased at the new arrangements either. She knew how strong Raph was and that she would be hardly a burden to him.
They set off again, this time with Twe checking the tracks and sending pictures of what she saw to Raph if she wasn't sure. He would correct her if she was wrong and show her why. They continued onwards. They were heading up into the mountains. As the air grew thinner and colder, they drew on the extra clothes and gave Heidi all 3 cloaks, she was shivering, but her being carried on Raph it made it easier. The half elves could run lightly across the snow and the wind blew away their slight imprints in the snow. If Heidi had been walking she would have sunk in the snow and it would have delayed their band, something none of them wanted right now, pride could wait.
When they got to solid ground, Heidi would run some more, for her sake as well as Raph's, pride was still an important thing, and then she would get back on Raph's back. They continued on. The air was crystal clear and the mornings were beautiful in an cold clear and deadly sort of way. The afternoon sun sparkled on the snow and sent bright rays of light reflections everywhere. In the bone chilling evenings the stars would come out and guided the band while the moon came out and shone its' light on them. The moon was slowly waxing, increasing from a thin sliver to a full circle in the sky.
They passed over Ered Mithrin and continued on. They were getting closer to the orcs, and their fury easily rose again. The bitter pain of loss and death was their constant companion. The twins would wake up in the night to find Heidi crying and Raph would comfort her until she fell asleep, while Twe watched, knowing that Raph could give her more comfort than Twe could. Raph had always been the more open and likely to show his feelings; he would gladly stop a practice drill with weapons to marvel at a bird or he would prefer talking to taking actions. Twe had been the stoic warrior, never crying, and never asking for help, even when she was hurt, and pushing herself to her utmost limits to learn and become the best of the best. But the release of pain that would come with crying would not come to either of the half elves.
They came to the Greenwood, very rightly named; it was bright and green and peaceful; and persistently trotted on into it. The path got easier. Twe was good at talking and listening to trees but not at following tracks. Although, if she had learned anything on this quest; it would most definitely be tracking. As she rested against a tree, her eyes closed and her hands palm downwards on the rough bark, she whispered to the tree. It had taken a while for her to figure out how to talk to them but she could now, it helped if she had as much contact with the tree as possible. So she pressed her cheek, hands, and body against it. She whispered to the tree, with thought as well as voicing words, "Tell me, grandfather, what do you know of orcs?" The trees told her about the orcs; there were 40, they were mean and tore down many branches to feed their fires, and didn't care it the sparks got lose and set the forest in a blaze. And most importantly, that they had gone southeast. And the trees also told her of something else that made her nervous. Other bands were in the woods, amazing amounts of orcs roamed the woods, more than any of the trees had ever seen, and they were hundreds of years old.
They soon realized that if they hurried for the rest of today, they would reach them tonight. They raced through the woods. Jumping over fallen trees and branches, leaping over brooks, and dodging tree limbs, they raced through the day. Their hearts pounded and their shirts stuck to their bodies with sweat. Their muscles ached with the strain but kept going; sweat matted their hair and skin. Yet they sped forwards in pursuit, stopping less, they were close, and the band would not escape.
Finally, night came on. The coolness was a blessing against their hot bodies. The cold sweat would have started to chill them if they hadn't been going so fast, but even still, as they slowed down every so often to preserve their strength, the cold nipped at them. Their breathing came in gasps; they were going full out, running like whirlwinds, swift as whirlwind at full speed, quick as a fire flaming into the sky, fluid as water on a calm day, and as sturdy as the trees they sped by, leaving no traces except a few light foot steps.
The moon had risen earlier; it was now a full moon. They all blessed fate for this good luck, they could attack at night, and some odds would be with them. Orcs like the night and the dark. The moon would give the threesome light to see by and yet leave enough darkness to hide in.
They finally caught up. The orcs were resting by a stream, arguing, as usual. Twe, Raph, and Heidi cooled off using a small tributary of the stream while they collected their thoughts. That was when Heidi started to have second thoughts. Maybe we shouldn't do this, none of us have ever killed before, and, and.well. "Now is not the time to be getting cold feet." Twe told Heidi.
"It's not cold feet!" Heidi angrily defended herself. "Shhhhhhhhhh! You want them to hear you?" Raph clapped a hand over Heidi's mouth to stifle her protests, and glared at each of them in turn. "Don't enrage her!" he hissed in a tight thought at Twe, she told him back, equally tight but in a deceivingly calm voice, "She needs the rage. She will need all the adrenaline she can pump in her body!" Raph could barely sense the turmoil hidden beneath it, and only because they were so close could he sense it, others might call his sister cold hearted but he knew her feelings. Already fire was pumping its way through her veins. She could feel the anger, bitterness, sorrow, grief, and loneliness roll itself together; it called for revenge, her sword and arrows were thirsty and they needed to be satisfied. And she would make sure they were.
She sent memories to the other two. First happy ones; memories of them playing, arguing, and talking to Peranell, then she sent a memory of Peranell's body and last moments. She then lowered her shield with great difficulty, and showed them what she felt now. Raph was shocked and Heidi was dumbfounded, Twe had always been then stone-faced one, one whom any emotion was rarely seen. Her feelings were deep, vivid, and brilliant in their intensity; it was amazing that she was able to keep them down. Raph felt like his feelings were mere small puddles of pastel colors next to Twe's immense sea of vibrant and glowing colors. But slowly her vibrant feeling flowing into the other two, she had more than enough anger to last them all. Fire started to burn in all of them. The three stood grim-faced and angry, three judges coming for justice.
So what's the plan? Heidi asked, Raph proposed one he had been mulling over for some time now. "What if Twe shoots until she has no more arrows or she risks hitting us. Meanwhile, Heidi and I will charge in as soon as Twe starts shooting. Once Twe stops shooting, she can swordfight with us. If we need to retreat, I will call it." They agreed on it and started to prepare.
They took off all their extra garments, cloaks, and outer layers, and put them under a bush. They then loosened their swords and tightened their sword belts. They stuck the extra arrows in the ground at Twe's feet. She would go through the extras first, then her quiver, which contained her arrows plus Raph's and Heidi's. They sent some prayers off that they would survive and fulfill their vengeance. Then stood up, a lord and two ladies, ready to fight.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DUN, DUN, DUN! The plot thickens, heck, just click chapter 6 if you can't stand it, but r/r first please!
~Kit ;)
