Chapter 8- A Fateful Ride
Ronyo's foot falls were silent as she slipped into the stables. He froze; all of the stable hands had been dismissed to enjoy the evening's festivities, but who else would use that entrance? Pulling up her hood, she climbed up to the loft to get a better look. A glimmer of silver as moonlight entered one of the many windows gave him away. A slight laugh revealed her as his warrior skills honed ages ago alerted him to her presence.
"Ronyo?"
"Aye. Celeborn?"
He nodded as she left the loft and smiled as she removed the hood. But it barely reached her eyes as he simply gestured for the tack room. There was little comfort words could offer either one of them tonight, though there was much to be said.
She went for her saddle, as her mare butted her gently in reassurance and soft whickers could be heard from the other inhabitants. Some how, even just a few moments in this place gave her more confidence and Ronyo knew that it was more than just this place. Tonight something whispered in her head and she smiled.
"What?" she asked Celeborn
"Nothing. No saddles; it's too much and I think you'll be fine. Just a bridle for our friends and we shall be as free as we can…even if it is only for a moment."
Kotumo and Maquissar snorted in agreement and for a second, a knowing look passed between them as if some agreement had been reach. Leading them out of the barn, Ronyo and Celeborn mounted and headed off into the woods. Giving the command for silence over speed to their mounts, Celeborn led them on some little used trails and in a half an hour he threw back his hood and asked Kotumo for a trot. Ronyo smiled and followed suit. Maquissar, reveling in the power the Lord of the Wood radiated on this moonlit night, flew into a canter, Ronyo weaving her in and out of the trees. Celeborn smiled and pressed close behind, amazed at the ease the maid showed in gliding right along with her mount she'd only ridden for the first time yesterday.
Laughing, they slowed their mounts. Ronyo looked around attempting to regain her bearings. Reading her unvoiced question in her eyes, Celeborn spoke up.
"Aye, we are close to the paths we trod on the day you first entered this realm. You were injured and on foot. I could not risk your recovery and it was good for I got a chance to earn your trust."
"My trust. It's funny that you would bring that up here. Now. I just wanted you to know the truth and…"
"Do not rush the words. They will come when the time comes as I have learned. Gandalf reminded me after I confronted him about you. I will find out the rest when I need. 'Patience' he said 'is a virtue not even the eldest of the Eldar have completely mastered I see.'"
"Thank you."
"I shouldn't have confronted him, especially like that, but I did."
"I know that you only did it because you care. But like you said, patience. How did we make it this far without the guards noticing?"
His eyes twinkled as Celeborn replied, "I am Lord of this place. I draw from the land and it from me. A gift that only two know of."
"What you mean Galadriel doesn't know?"
"No. I've been known to disappear for my private time as does she. We do not look for each other unless necessary. And she could not find me unless it was urgent."
Their conversation continued as they drifted further along the paths of that fateful day. Little did they know others followed the original trail and their paths would have collided much sooner if not for their mounts. Kotumo noticed it first and halted. Maquissar paused, taking a step forward, and then three quickly back. Celeborn requested them to stay there as he dismounted and continued forward on foot. Returning quickly he mounted and turned Kotumo, forcing Ronyo to stay in front of him. The horses moved silently, as was their power, but it was of no use. The orcs Celeborn had spotted in the area they were leaving had spread out in front of them. The forest cried a warning. They were surrounded and under attack.
"Run! Noro!" Celeborn cried as Orcs swarmed from the trees from all sides. Making for one of the sentry posts, he released a shrill whistle for help and several Galadhrim appeared. Seeing that they were out numbered, Celeborn turned and unsheathed a long knife. Kotumo reared to shake off the attacker that had jumped from one of the trees to unseat his master. Another group of Orcs had joined and it would be precious minutes before more sentries arrived.
Ronyo had slipped out of the fray as Celeborn's charged provided the diversion he intended, and she was quite a way into woods before she realized Celeborn was no longer with her. Pulling Maquissar to a halt with every ounce of her being, she debated what to do. Celeborn's cry was carried to her on the wind and she made to turn the mare, but Maquissar would have none of it. She was not a war horse, not in the slightest, only a riding horse trained to protect who ever rode her; riding into a battle was not protecting an unarmed untrained rider.
Once Ronyo managed to get the mare to turn around and run, Maquissar used the moment of relaxation Ronyo gave when she realized they were moving to seize the bit between her teeth. Pulling an incredibly sharp turn, Maquissar made for the nearest post at top speed. Ronyo had no choice but to hold on and hurl insults at the mare in anyway she could think of.
At the post, she met with Haldir and informed him of all she knew. A scout returned wounded, but with information. Celeborn had been taken as well as those that remained alive. Haldir sent a message to Galadriel and organized the small force that was with him into a rescue party.
"No."
"Haldir!"
"I said 'No' Ronyo, and I mean it. Lord Celeborn ordered you to run and now you are in my care. I will not let you put yourself in danger. You may stay here under the guard of the sentries that must hold this post or you may return to the city also under guard."
Ronyo muttered under her breath as the warden strode off and took Maquissar's bridle and left it with the post guards. Opting to stay where news would come first, she sat down and waited.
Sensing her mistress's distress, Maquissar nuzzled her gently. Ronyo patted the soft nose and sighed leaning into the large head. Both heads shot up at the sounds of hooves approaching from the direction Haldir had taken no more than 20 minutes ago.
"Kotumo! What are you doing here?" Realizing that the horse would not readily abandon his master, Ronyo knew he must have been sent. A guard dropped down from one of the trees.
" I'm sorry, my lady, but I must. I have my orders and cannot take any chances." The guard had barely begun to make a move to grab the stallion's reins when he reared and backed away, ears pinned and teeth ready.
"Kotumo, please. He's just doing his job." Ronyo said as she got up in an attempt to grab the horse. Maquissar chose that moment to grab the guard's bow and when he turned to see what happened to his beloved weapon leaning against the tree, Ronyo managed to get closer to Kotumo and grab part of his mane and one rein. Get On. Just get on. he shouted and before Ronyo knew it she was on Kotumo's back.
Once out of site of the post he slowed. I'm sorry, but I had no choice. Kotumo? How? Why? It's not important now, but I'll explain later. Come on we must find him Yeah, but I can't be seen and how will we Never mind. They're too intent on hunting orc to be looking for a horse and rider following them. And I won't be seen. Promise.
It was near dawn when Kotumo reached some caves at the edges of the forest. Dismount and remove my bridle, please. Doing as she was told, Ronyo looked for a place to hang it. In doing so she caught a glimpse of Haldir and his party. Ahh. That's better. Bits what a horrendous invention. What now? There is a back entrance that I cannot reach, but will take you as close as I can. They way should be clear from there. Are you sure? I am only a horse. I cannot walk up there, but Celeborn always comes back without any signs of strain when he comes here.
Ronyo decided that this was the best option if she wanted to do something. There was indeed a trail and she followed it to a narrow entrance. Bellying forward, the way widened slightly and the stench of orcs reached her nose. A whimper drew her attention to a lightly guarded area. The sentries were being held there and she was able to gather some general ideas of where Celeborn was being held. It wasn't much but the scent of vanilla, trees and everything that was Lothlorein entered her mind from Kotumo. Following her instincts she stole deeper into the caverns. Sounds of fighting drifted to her and Ronyo dodged into a crevice just in time to escape notice of some orcs going to help their fellows.
Feeling the wind shift, she managed to climb into an upper passage and make her way to where the whimpers and murmurs grew louder. The she-elf realized that she must still be on Golden Wood soil and it recognized her as a friend of its Lord because wind did not flow this deep in such a cavern.
The sight that greeted Ronyo's eyes left her frozen to her perch. Celeborn stood bloody and disheveled, tied between two posts in the center of the cavern. What she assumed must be the Orc's leader glared at him.
"Give me the she elf."
"No."
"Fine. Then if you won't do this the easy way then we, can do it the fun way. Well, fun for me that is." The orc grinned as he pulled a nasty looking whip from a pile on the floor. Celeborn's eyes screamed defiance as the orc approached him and raised his arm to strike the silver haired lord.
He never had the chance to bring it down for Ronyo, whether by luck or from help of the land, had found a sharp, dagger like stone and launched herself at the orc leader. Her hiding place had been behind him and when she landed on his back something feral took over as she tore into him. The make shift dagger was embedded into his shoulder.
Flinging her off, she landed and rolled to her feet into what could only be described as the crouch of a cornered animal on its last desperate attempt for freedom. Turning to grab his curved knife from the place on the floor, he presented the opportune moment; without rhyme, reason or coordination, Ronyo sprang for his throat, splitting it open with a bone shard she had found near her on the floor. At that moment Haldir raced in and was checked the look in her eyes as she turned to him, black blood soiling her hands, dress and floor as it pooled from the leader's throat.
TBC in Chapter 9