----------Chapter 3: Shadows and Discoveries----------
"Quickly!" Aragorn hissed, "We have to get you inside. I cannot help but feel that you are still in danger from whomever it was who killed your mother."
"But that was in my world-" I protested
Aragorn cut me off, "that does not matter. If you could get here there is no reason why he could not."
I still did not want to leave there was something about that shape on the other shore that drew me inexplicably to it. It was odd, but although I knew the thing on the other shore may have been my mother's murderer for some reason I wanted to meet him, talk to him. Aragorn had begun walking back towards House when he realized I wasn't following him.
"Ánwë!" he exclaimed, "What are you doing? We need to get inside- why are you going over there?" Aragorn looked thoroughly confused now. "Aragorn help me!" I said faintly, "Something is drawing me to the other shore, I cannot fight it alone it is too strong!"
He rushed to my side in concern and, picking me up, he ran with me back to the House. When he set me down inside all urges I had to go to whatever it was that was lurking on the other shore left me and I was completely exhausted from the struggle. I sat down in one of the many chairs that were placed around the main hall. Aragorn looked at me with worry bright in his eyes.
"What happened out there Ánwë?" he exclaimed, "Why couldn't you follow me?"
I sighed, "I don't know, there was this- this pull I guess or urge to go to the other shore and find out what was there. I didn't want to, but at the same time I did want to. It was really frightening!"
"I think we need to tell Elrond about this, and quickly before anything else happens."
We hurried to Elrond's study hoping we would find him there, but when we knocked there was no answer. After that we began scouring the whole of Rivendell in search of him. We finally ended up back in the Hall; I sank into a chair in defeat,
"We'll never find him at this rate!" I exclaimed, "And that- that Thing is still wandering around doing who knows what."
"Do not despair Ánwë we will find him, come let us look in his study again-"
I cut him off, "We have looked there at least five times already, there must be some other place he could be that we have not looked in yet."
"There is not!" Aragorn snapped "Do you not think that I, having grown up here, would know all the places of Rivendell better than you?"
"Well fine!" I shouted, "If you are going to be snappish then I'll just look without you." I stood up and began to leave the room. Aragorn hung his head and looking embarrassed, "Please forgive me Ánwë, I spoke without thinking. I should not have snapped at you. We will look together, let us start at Elrond's study again and move out from there." "Alright," I agreed, "We will start from his study."
We walked back up to Elrond's study and knocked again, there was a long pause and I had just given up and was about to turn away when Elrond's light elvish voice called out,
"Come in."
????
After we had told him the whole story, Elrond looked very grave.
"This is serious indeed," he said, frowning a little, "Even more serious than I thought."
"But who- or what is it?" Aragorn asked anxiously. "What can we do about it?"
Elrond sighed, "There is nothing we can do about it- at least not at present we must leave it be and Ánwë, you must never go outside alone. Do you understand me?'
"But-" I started and stopped immediately as Elrond frowned at me, "Alright, fine I promise I won't go anywhere, outside, alone."
"Thank you, I think that will make us all feel much better about this." Elrond smiled thinly.
Aragorn and I left soon after and wandered slowly back to my room where we sat in silence for some time. Finally I could not stand the silence anymore so asked him if he knew what the thing was.
"I- I have some idea." He sighed, "But I swore to Elrond that I would not tell you about any of this because he does not want you to be frightened."
"There is no need to worry about me, I'm already frightened, and I am a firm believer of 'the faceless enemy is the most frightening'. My mother always used to say that and she would tell me to put a face on my enemy and it would be easier to face him."
"Your mother must have been a very smart woman." Aragorn said quietly, "I would have liked to meet her."
"Yes I wish you could have met her, you would have liked her, I think." Aragorn smiled and we sat in silence again. As we sat I tried to think of reasons for my mother's death and tried to imagine the type of person or people who could have wanted to kill her. Then I remembered that Aragorn had steered effectively around my question about what was across the pool from us.
"Aragorn?" I ventured finally.
"Yes?"
"You never answered my question; what was that thing out there by the pool?" He looked away from me and didn't answer for a moment. I was about to get angry and snap at him when he sighed;
"I should not be telling you this and you must breathe a word of it to no one. It could put us all in grave danger, especially you. That thing across the water was a- a wraith-"
"Like the Nazgul?" I interrupted frightened but intrigued.
Aragorn glanced at me sharply, "How do you- never mind; that is of no importance. These wraiths are not unlike the Nazgul, but they do no lust after a ring. Elrond believes that they may be able to travel between worlds and that it was on of them that killed your mother."
"But why? Why go to the trouble of traveling between worlds to kill someone; there are plenty of people here are there not?" I cried.
"Yes, that is the question. You see we have decided that you have something that they want, what it is and how you came to have it is beyond me and even Elrond. but no matter, do you have anything that has been in the family as long as you can remember? Any trinkets or jewelry of any kind?"
"No." I said, "But my mother always used to say that there was something special about me, of course she was my mother. but every once in a while when I was angry or upset- things would happen. One time I was crying after school because the girls had been snubbing me, when I felt a something warm and comforting envelope me. I didn't think about it then, but now I realize how odd it was. But- why would they want power that comforts? That thing did not feel like he would want to comfort anyone."
"I think," Aragorn said softly, "that your power does not only comfort but can also destroy."
His last words hung in the air like a death sentence. No! I thought, no! Why would I have the power to destroy? I don't want to destroy or kill- or anything!
I leapt up, "I do not- I do not have the power to destroy! Why would I have the power to destroy?" I screamed, panicking. "No! I don't- I won't!" I sank back down on the bed weeping.
"Ánwë," Aragorn said quietly, stroking my hair, "please do not weep, no one here is going to force you to use your power in any way, never mind killing. We will do everything in our power to help you not to hurt you." I calmed down after a little and Aragorn offered to introduce me to Legolas and some of the other elves who were living in Rivendell. I accepted the offer and we went searching for them.
????
After quite a while we finally found Legolas coming back up from the stables, with a couple of his friends, all of whom looked sweaty and dirty.
Aragorn grinned, "They have been horse racing again." He whispered to me, "The two with him are Áthoden; the fair one, and Qélas; the darker one." Just after he finished speaking the three elves arrived at the top of the steps that led into the House.
"Ah, Aragorn, as thoughtful as ever; always introduce the beautiful ladies when we look, and smell, awful." Qésar complained, jokingly.
Aragorn laughed, "Do not flatter her too much, Qésar; it might go to her head."
"Thanks ever so much." I muttered so only he could hear. He laughed again.
"So, Aragorn are you going to introduce us to this mysterious lady with whom you have come to meet us?" Legolas demanded.
"Yes, yes. I was getting to that." He replied. "Legolas, Qésar, Áthoden, this is Ánwë. She lives here now. I hope you gentlemen will not be overly irritating to her."
"Welcome to Rivendell, Ánwë." Said Áthoden, who seemed to be the quietest of the three.
"Thank you." I replied
"Well" said Aragorn, "now that the introductions are over what shall we do?"
"Well I for on am going to bathe." Legolas announced
"I am also." Agreed Qésar.
"Oh well I suppose I had better go too." Áthoden grinned shyly, "We will find you later on my lady. It was very nice to meet you."
I curtsied, "And you my lords." I replied graciously.
They all trooped off together, arguing heatedly about who had won each race and who ought to get the prize for winner of the most races (not that there probably was any prize). I watched them as the walked away and, although I may have imagined it, I thought I saw Áthoden glance back at me. But when he saw me looking he blushed a little and turned away again.
"Hhhm, I think someone is a little smitten with a certain lady." Aragorn whispered slyly in my ear.
Then it was my turn to blush, "Oh be quiet!" I said, quite embarrassed.
Aragorn just laughed, turned and began to walk away still laughing to himself. I hurried after him thoroughly annoyed by his quick assumptions.
For the rest of the day, before we ate supper, Aragorn and I wandered around the halls of Rivendell having completely forgotten about that morning's fright; that is until supper came 'round. For supper that evening we had a guest; a man from the far off country of Gondor, and for some reason any time he looked at me the same fear and longing that I had felt that morning swept over me, it was not quite as strong but it was quite definitely there. I knew that he couldn't be a wraith though so how was it that he had the same effect on me as the wraith had? Was it possible that Elrond was wrong? I couldn't imagine that he was ever wrong, but- then why did I feel the way I did? As I was pondering this I noticed that his eyes were resting on me and they were full of a puzzling mixture of malice and longing. I became so frightened by this gaze that I abruptly excused myself from the table and hurried from the hall. Soon after, just as I had expected I was followed by Aragorn.
"Anwë, what is the matter? You look as though you have just seen a ghost."
"I- I don't know." I faltered. "It's just that, that man from Gondor, he- he was looking at me and as he did I felt a wave of that same fear and longing that came over me early today when we saw whatever it was on the other shore of the pool this morning. It wasn't quite as strong but it was certainly there. And when our eyes met his were full of malice- and- and some form of longing also. I can't help but wonder if maybe Elrond is wrong and the danger comes from a living human being, this man."
Aragorn was staring at me, finally he whispered, almost to himself, "This is not good this is definitely not good. I will go speak with Elrond right now, stay here and do not move."
"Wait!" I cried, "Do not leave me here! When he sees you come back in I'm sure he will find a way to slip out unnoticed. Please." I said almost crying now, "do not leave me alone."
"Of course not." He said, "I will send Legolas and the other out here, but you will have to tell them the whole thing so they will understand why they have to stand watch over you."
"That is perfectly fine, I do not mind." Satisfied Aragorn left but before he had been gone for more than about twenty seconds someone stepped out of the shadows, it was the man from Gondor. He was smiling evilly showing his perfectly white teeth.
"Come now dearest, no noise we will just do it quietly and it will be over before you know it."
I was doing my best to stay calm and buy myself time so that the Legolas and the others could get here. "Just tell me one thing; why?"
"Because I was sworn to kill your family- your real family-"
"What do you mean my 'real family'?"
"Just what I said, and I managed to kill your parents but Elrond saved you, at least for a while, he sent you to a different time and place hoping to preserve your life, and it worked, for a little until I learned how to cross between worlds. Then I killed your new parents, but once again you managed to evade me and I had to come after you."
"But why were you sworn to kill my family?"
"Because your father was and elf and he stole my beloved Éorá for his bride, he came one day to our city and stole her heart away and when he left she went with him as his wife. The day they married I swore on our lost love that someday I would kill your father and any children they had. But when I came to kill the two of you your mother got in the way of my sword and before I could kill her husband I killed her in one accidental yet fatal stroke. Then just as I killed Qendár you disappeared and I have been searching for you ever since then until now. How much you do look like your mother." He sighed for once almost looking normal, the crazed light that had been in his eyes had gone out. "But that is of no matter you are still related to Qendár and therefore I must kill you." He drew out his sword. Legolas, Qésar, Áthoden I thought where are you? What is taking so long? Oh please, please come! But still they did not come. Oh where oh where were they? It was too late now though, he had raised his sword and just as I though that maybe I ought to run or scream or something the sword came down slicing down across my right shoulder. I cried out in pain and fell to the ground swamped by a stifling blackness that filled everything, I gave up finally, I thought if I was going to die there was no point in fighting it.
"Quickly!" Aragorn hissed, "We have to get you inside. I cannot help but feel that you are still in danger from whomever it was who killed your mother."
"But that was in my world-" I protested
Aragorn cut me off, "that does not matter. If you could get here there is no reason why he could not."
I still did not want to leave there was something about that shape on the other shore that drew me inexplicably to it. It was odd, but although I knew the thing on the other shore may have been my mother's murderer for some reason I wanted to meet him, talk to him. Aragorn had begun walking back towards House when he realized I wasn't following him.
"Ánwë!" he exclaimed, "What are you doing? We need to get inside- why are you going over there?" Aragorn looked thoroughly confused now. "Aragorn help me!" I said faintly, "Something is drawing me to the other shore, I cannot fight it alone it is too strong!"
He rushed to my side in concern and, picking me up, he ran with me back to the House. When he set me down inside all urges I had to go to whatever it was that was lurking on the other shore left me and I was completely exhausted from the struggle. I sat down in one of the many chairs that were placed around the main hall. Aragorn looked at me with worry bright in his eyes.
"What happened out there Ánwë?" he exclaimed, "Why couldn't you follow me?"
I sighed, "I don't know, there was this- this pull I guess or urge to go to the other shore and find out what was there. I didn't want to, but at the same time I did want to. It was really frightening!"
"I think we need to tell Elrond about this, and quickly before anything else happens."
We hurried to Elrond's study hoping we would find him there, but when we knocked there was no answer. After that we began scouring the whole of Rivendell in search of him. We finally ended up back in the Hall; I sank into a chair in defeat,
"We'll never find him at this rate!" I exclaimed, "And that- that Thing is still wandering around doing who knows what."
"Do not despair Ánwë we will find him, come let us look in his study again-"
I cut him off, "We have looked there at least five times already, there must be some other place he could be that we have not looked in yet."
"There is not!" Aragorn snapped "Do you not think that I, having grown up here, would know all the places of Rivendell better than you?"
"Well fine!" I shouted, "If you are going to be snappish then I'll just look without you." I stood up and began to leave the room. Aragorn hung his head and looking embarrassed, "Please forgive me Ánwë, I spoke without thinking. I should not have snapped at you. We will look together, let us start at Elrond's study again and move out from there." "Alright," I agreed, "We will start from his study."
We walked back up to Elrond's study and knocked again, there was a long pause and I had just given up and was about to turn away when Elrond's light elvish voice called out,
"Come in."
????
After we had told him the whole story, Elrond looked very grave.
"This is serious indeed," he said, frowning a little, "Even more serious than I thought."
"But who- or what is it?" Aragorn asked anxiously. "What can we do about it?"
Elrond sighed, "There is nothing we can do about it- at least not at present we must leave it be and Ánwë, you must never go outside alone. Do you understand me?'
"But-" I started and stopped immediately as Elrond frowned at me, "Alright, fine I promise I won't go anywhere, outside, alone."
"Thank you, I think that will make us all feel much better about this." Elrond smiled thinly.
Aragorn and I left soon after and wandered slowly back to my room where we sat in silence for some time. Finally I could not stand the silence anymore so asked him if he knew what the thing was.
"I- I have some idea." He sighed, "But I swore to Elrond that I would not tell you about any of this because he does not want you to be frightened."
"There is no need to worry about me, I'm already frightened, and I am a firm believer of 'the faceless enemy is the most frightening'. My mother always used to say that and she would tell me to put a face on my enemy and it would be easier to face him."
"Your mother must have been a very smart woman." Aragorn said quietly, "I would have liked to meet her."
"Yes I wish you could have met her, you would have liked her, I think." Aragorn smiled and we sat in silence again. As we sat I tried to think of reasons for my mother's death and tried to imagine the type of person or people who could have wanted to kill her. Then I remembered that Aragorn had steered effectively around my question about what was across the pool from us.
"Aragorn?" I ventured finally.
"Yes?"
"You never answered my question; what was that thing out there by the pool?" He looked away from me and didn't answer for a moment. I was about to get angry and snap at him when he sighed;
"I should not be telling you this and you must breathe a word of it to no one. It could put us all in grave danger, especially you. That thing across the water was a- a wraith-"
"Like the Nazgul?" I interrupted frightened but intrigued.
Aragorn glanced at me sharply, "How do you- never mind; that is of no importance. These wraiths are not unlike the Nazgul, but they do no lust after a ring. Elrond believes that they may be able to travel between worlds and that it was on of them that killed your mother."
"But why? Why go to the trouble of traveling between worlds to kill someone; there are plenty of people here are there not?" I cried.
"Yes, that is the question. You see we have decided that you have something that they want, what it is and how you came to have it is beyond me and even Elrond. but no matter, do you have anything that has been in the family as long as you can remember? Any trinkets or jewelry of any kind?"
"No." I said, "But my mother always used to say that there was something special about me, of course she was my mother. but every once in a while when I was angry or upset- things would happen. One time I was crying after school because the girls had been snubbing me, when I felt a something warm and comforting envelope me. I didn't think about it then, but now I realize how odd it was. But- why would they want power that comforts? That thing did not feel like he would want to comfort anyone."
"I think," Aragorn said softly, "that your power does not only comfort but can also destroy."
His last words hung in the air like a death sentence. No! I thought, no! Why would I have the power to destroy? I don't want to destroy or kill- or anything!
I leapt up, "I do not- I do not have the power to destroy! Why would I have the power to destroy?" I screamed, panicking. "No! I don't- I won't!" I sank back down on the bed weeping.
"Ánwë," Aragorn said quietly, stroking my hair, "please do not weep, no one here is going to force you to use your power in any way, never mind killing. We will do everything in our power to help you not to hurt you." I calmed down after a little and Aragorn offered to introduce me to Legolas and some of the other elves who were living in Rivendell. I accepted the offer and we went searching for them.
????
After quite a while we finally found Legolas coming back up from the stables, with a couple of his friends, all of whom looked sweaty and dirty.
Aragorn grinned, "They have been horse racing again." He whispered to me, "The two with him are Áthoden; the fair one, and Qélas; the darker one." Just after he finished speaking the three elves arrived at the top of the steps that led into the House.
"Ah, Aragorn, as thoughtful as ever; always introduce the beautiful ladies when we look, and smell, awful." Qésar complained, jokingly.
Aragorn laughed, "Do not flatter her too much, Qésar; it might go to her head."
"Thanks ever so much." I muttered so only he could hear. He laughed again.
"So, Aragorn are you going to introduce us to this mysterious lady with whom you have come to meet us?" Legolas demanded.
"Yes, yes. I was getting to that." He replied. "Legolas, Qésar, Áthoden, this is Ánwë. She lives here now. I hope you gentlemen will not be overly irritating to her."
"Welcome to Rivendell, Ánwë." Said Áthoden, who seemed to be the quietest of the three.
"Thank you." I replied
"Well" said Aragorn, "now that the introductions are over what shall we do?"
"Well I for on am going to bathe." Legolas announced
"I am also." Agreed Qésar.
"Oh well I suppose I had better go too." Áthoden grinned shyly, "We will find you later on my lady. It was very nice to meet you."
I curtsied, "And you my lords." I replied graciously.
They all trooped off together, arguing heatedly about who had won each race and who ought to get the prize for winner of the most races (not that there probably was any prize). I watched them as the walked away and, although I may have imagined it, I thought I saw Áthoden glance back at me. But when he saw me looking he blushed a little and turned away again.
"Hhhm, I think someone is a little smitten with a certain lady." Aragorn whispered slyly in my ear.
Then it was my turn to blush, "Oh be quiet!" I said, quite embarrassed.
Aragorn just laughed, turned and began to walk away still laughing to himself. I hurried after him thoroughly annoyed by his quick assumptions.
For the rest of the day, before we ate supper, Aragorn and I wandered around the halls of Rivendell having completely forgotten about that morning's fright; that is until supper came 'round. For supper that evening we had a guest; a man from the far off country of Gondor, and for some reason any time he looked at me the same fear and longing that I had felt that morning swept over me, it was not quite as strong but it was quite definitely there. I knew that he couldn't be a wraith though so how was it that he had the same effect on me as the wraith had? Was it possible that Elrond was wrong? I couldn't imagine that he was ever wrong, but- then why did I feel the way I did? As I was pondering this I noticed that his eyes were resting on me and they were full of a puzzling mixture of malice and longing. I became so frightened by this gaze that I abruptly excused myself from the table and hurried from the hall. Soon after, just as I had expected I was followed by Aragorn.
"Anwë, what is the matter? You look as though you have just seen a ghost."
"I- I don't know." I faltered. "It's just that, that man from Gondor, he- he was looking at me and as he did I felt a wave of that same fear and longing that came over me early today when we saw whatever it was on the other shore of the pool this morning. It wasn't quite as strong but it was certainly there. And when our eyes met his were full of malice- and- and some form of longing also. I can't help but wonder if maybe Elrond is wrong and the danger comes from a living human being, this man."
Aragorn was staring at me, finally he whispered, almost to himself, "This is not good this is definitely not good. I will go speak with Elrond right now, stay here and do not move."
"Wait!" I cried, "Do not leave me here! When he sees you come back in I'm sure he will find a way to slip out unnoticed. Please." I said almost crying now, "do not leave me alone."
"Of course not." He said, "I will send Legolas and the other out here, but you will have to tell them the whole thing so they will understand why they have to stand watch over you."
"That is perfectly fine, I do not mind." Satisfied Aragorn left but before he had been gone for more than about twenty seconds someone stepped out of the shadows, it was the man from Gondor. He was smiling evilly showing his perfectly white teeth.
"Come now dearest, no noise we will just do it quietly and it will be over before you know it."
I was doing my best to stay calm and buy myself time so that the Legolas and the others could get here. "Just tell me one thing; why?"
"Because I was sworn to kill your family- your real family-"
"What do you mean my 'real family'?"
"Just what I said, and I managed to kill your parents but Elrond saved you, at least for a while, he sent you to a different time and place hoping to preserve your life, and it worked, for a little until I learned how to cross between worlds. Then I killed your new parents, but once again you managed to evade me and I had to come after you."
"But why were you sworn to kill my family?"
"Because your father was and elf and he stole my beloved Éorá for his bride, he came one day to our city and stole her heart away and when he left she went with him as his wife. The day they married I swore on our lost love that someday I would kill your father and any children they had. But when I came to kill the two of you your mother got in the way of my sword and before I could kill her husband I killed her in one accidental yet fatal stroke. Then just as I killed Qendár you disappeared and I have been searching for you ever since then until now. How much you do look like your mother." He sighed for once almost looking normal, the crazed light that had been in his eyes had gone out. "But that is of no matter you are still related to Qendár and therefore I must kill you." He drew out his sword. Legolas, Qésar, Áthoden I thought where are you? What is taking so long? Oh please, please come! But still they did not come. Oh where oh where were they? It was too late now though, he had raised his sword and just as I though that maybe I ought to run or scream or something the sword came down slicing down across my right shoulder. I cried out in pain and fell to the ground swamped by a stifling blackness that filled everything, I gave up finally, I thought if I was going to die there was no point in fighting it.
