The Misadventures of Caladriel and Rinnalaiss
By Ellie in ElfPajamas
Starring: Caladriel, Legolas, Thranduil, Rinnalaiss, Elladan, Elrohir, Arwen, Elrond, Glorfindel, Erestor, Halbarad, and an Elf named Faelon.
Okay, major no-no here, Rinnalaiss is an extra daughter to Elrond, Caladriel is Legolas' younger sister. Rinnalaiss might be adopted, I'm not real sure, but her older brothers Elladan and Elrohir dote on their tomboyish little sister. She's the baby of the family sort of, although older than Estel in years, she is still quite childish. Caladriel is not allowed to be the tomboy she wants to be, and is only Legolas' half sister. This is preLotR, Estel is only about thirty or forty. Why all this guessing? This is a transcribed dream, that's why. Oh, and a groom in this story is not a groom in the sense of bride and groom, a groom is actually someone who takes care of the horses.
And this switches from Third person to first, usually Caladriel's POV. I kinda dreamed it as an onlooker that they didn't see, but sometimes I was in her head. Couldn't think of Gondorian names, I have a list of Elvish names, but I wasn't able to locate a Gondorian and Numenorean name generator.
Chapter three: Missing Elves.
Elladan and Elrohir finally caught up with the Ranger band that had three nights ago been encamped just outside of Rivendell. But the twins were not looking for Calad and Faelon. A more distressing matter lay upon them. Calad and Faelon were just returning from a successful hunt with two other Rangers, when they noticed the twins speaking earnestly with Halbarad. Calad froze, were they looking for her? She saw the tears that stained Elrohir's cheeks and deduced that she was not the problem. She came closer.
"Halbarad, we have to find her! She could be in danger and father would be heartbroken if Rinn was killed!" Elrohir pleaded.
Calad ran up to the dark haired Elf.
"Elrohir, what's wrong? Is Rinnalaiss missing? Did she run away?" Calad asked, putting a comforting hand on the Elf's shoulder.
He nodded mutely.
"She muffled the horse's hooves. We can't find her trail, we confused it with yours." Elladan said.
"And then we lost it because she rode throught the river." Elrohir said flatly
"We'll help you look for her, Halbarad needn't trouble his men." Faelon offered.
The twins accepted his offer greatfuly.
"I can't see why Legolas hates you so." Elrohir said.
"What justification has he?" Elladan wondered out loud, swinging onto his horse's back. "Oh, Calad, he's not looking for you. He thinks you'll come back and beg forgiveness."
Faelon's eyes darkened at the assault on Calad's determination. He knew she wouldn't be begging her brother for anything.
Elrohir caught the dangerous fire in Faelon's eyes.
"Faelon, what is wrong?" he asked.
"He didn't appreciate the remark about Calad." Elladan said. "Just like you wouldn't appreciate the same remark being made about Arwen."
Faelon boosted Calad onto Mithy, having helped her adjust the quiver harness to fit and made sure she had all her weapons.
Their journey would take them to the tower of Orthanc.
After many days of riding, the party had tracked Rinn's horse to the gates of Isengard. That was odd, Rinn had no cause to call upon the White Wizard.
Faelon dismounted and walked his horse ahead. Under a tree near the tower, sat Rinnalaiss, clothed in splendid robes of silk and satin. Her brothers rushed to her side, exclaiming how happy they were to see her.
"We though you were in danger, Rinn!" Calad said.
"She was never in any danger. But you are in danger right this moment." said the gruff voice of Saruman. "Leave my ward be."
The wizard's voice was bewitching, Rinn was under its spell. Her brothers looked like they were falling under its spell too for a moment. But they shook it off. Faelon stared intently at the wizard. Calad was skeptical.
"Release her, Saruman." Faelon said softly. "Release Elrond's daughter now."
"Who are you to command a wizard?" Saruman said, incredulous.
"I? I am only a groom, but you can no longer have a hold over me, Saruman." Faelon said. "Your dominion is at an end."
Elladan and Elrohir were trying to get their sister to recognize them.
"Fool. I should have known it was you, you meddling, worthless half- elf." Saruman said, turning an icy gaze on Faelon.
Calad cringed, but Faelon didn't show any signs of noticing the wizard's displeasure.
"I am deaf to your voice, Saruman, impervious to your spells. You made me so, remember?" Faelon said. "I was only a child then, yet you cared not."
Calad looked at Faelon.
"Half Elf or full, you made a poor descision. I cannot be dominated by the wizard who slew my parents." Faelon said. "It was your own spell, you are the fool. Release the maid, now."
Saruman's eyes gleamed in silent rage. He hated to have so foolish a spell backfire. He'd though he had killed this upstart, but he had not been so lucky.
"And if I don't?" Saruman challenged.
"Then I will tell all of the Elves my story. They would be out for your blood in the blink of an eye." Faelon said calmly.
Saruman couldn't risk that quite yet, not all of his plans were finished.
"Fine."
Rinn came to herself, and screeched at the realization that she was wearing a dress.
"Come, we must fly. The White Wizard will not grant us a reprieve for long." Faelon said.
Even as they fled the sound of marching feet grew loud behind them.
Faelon threw Rinn onto his horse, and told the twins to take her to her father. That left Calad with Mithy and Faelon on foot. She ran alongside the horse with Faelon.
"Mount up!" Faelon screamed at her.
"No. I will not leave without you. There is nothing for me to go back to but disgrace without you." Calad said. "I can handle any disgrace, as long as I am disgraced by your side."
"Go or we'll both be killed!" Faelon said.
Calad let go of Mithy's reins, letting the frightened horse run.
Faelon looked at her in astonishment.
"You are a fool. Now your father will surely never allow me to visit Mirkwood. I might have gotten away on my own." Faelon said.
Calad knew that he would never have gotten away from the White Wizard, alone or accompanied by an army. He just hadn't wanted her there.
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Halbarad had had a gut feeling. He had just known that Faelon was in trouble. They were distant kin, he felt obligated to find out what was drawing him to follow the half Elf. He was now only an hour's journey from the tower of Orthanc. He hoped that Rinn had been found safe. A fair sized party of Rangers accompanied him, the rest had been left at camp. Dusk was falling, and that worried him.
Halbarad heard voices carried to him on the wind, and strained to hear what had been said. He had great difficulty doing so, he did not have the hearing of an Elf.
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Calad was unable to believe what she was looking at when she and Faelon turned to face the marching feet. Orcs! How had they come to live in the lands of the White Wizard? Faelon brought his bow to bear, nocking an arrow and aiming for a killing shot. He let the arrow wing its way through the air into the nearest Orc, whom it pierced and went through into the one behind. The Orcs froze in dumb shock for a moment. Their master hadn't told them they were fighting filthy Elves! While they stood indescisive, Calad dropped a few. Her brother had taught her to shoot, she was a fair shot, and at this range no self respecting Elf could miss. Faelon was not to be outdone by his lady, and shot some as well. He was not as good a bowman as he was with his knives, and close combat suited him, but he didn't want to risk Calad. She was much more effective at range, and he was not sure how well she could fight in close. He had never sparred with her to find out. There were more Orcs than he'd anticipated, and he knew he'd run out of arrows before he ran out of Orcs.
Calad looked surprisingly coolheaded for a she-Elf. Faelon felt a twinge of pride over that. He saw Orc archers move up in the rear. He hoped that they would never get a shot off. Calad moved close to Faelon.
"I wish I had been born a servant, then we could have had many more adventures." Calad whispered to Faelon. "It would not be too bad to be your equal."
Faelon was shocked.
"Calad, we are fighting for our lives. No more startling revelations, please?" he asked.
"Just one more."
"What?"
"I love you."
Faelon almost fell over.
The Orcs rushed them.
Calad shot until she ran out of arrows. Faelon shot until he felt the Orcs were too close, then resorted to using his knives. His curly head bobbed as he parried, ducked, and lunged. Calad was deadly with her short sword, beheading the Orcs who ventured too near. They cut their way through to the gates and started to run, their opponents' ranks thinned enough that they would be relatively unpursued. Orcs cannot travel so fast as Elves. Unfortunately, neither Calad nor Faelon had gotten a shot in at the archers. Faelon ran a little behind Calad, still adamant that no harm would come to her. He would not allow the princess of Mirkwood to fall to these Orcs. His Numenorean blood stirred within him, telling him that aid would come, his kin would not allow him to perish.
Mithy plunged toward his mistress and her groom, seeming ashamed to have run. Faelon grabbed Calad, seized the horse's mane, and pulled himself and the princess onto the horse's back. Mithy ran like the wind, but he was not so swift as an arrow. Calad felt Faelon jerk and looked over her shoulder. He never released his grip on her and Mithy's mane. Calad reached into Faelon's quiver and nocked one of his remaining arrows to her bow. She shot the arrow at the Orc archer who had come to the forefront, killing the foul beast.
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Halbarad recognized the silver horse galloping toward him, though its hunched riders he had trouble with. The Orcs in pursuit he had absolutely no problem recognizing, and he didn't even have to give his men the order before they attacked the loathsome creatures. The silver horse was reined down and wheeled to watch, and Halbarad recognized one of the riders as Caladriel. The other rider ever so slowly began to slip off of the horse. Calad apparantly felt it, and dismounted before the other Elf could hit the ground. Halbarad felt a thrill of fear shoot through his heart as he watched Calad catch Faelon. He hoped the half Elf was not dead. His men had the Orcs routed, so he spurred his horse toward Calad and Faelon.
Calad's hair was coming unbraided, and wafted around her and the half Elf she held tight. Faelon had blacked out. Halbarad was angered when he saw that Faelon had been shot in the back. He knew a mere arrow wound would not have caused Faelon to lose consciousness, there had to be poison involved. He sighed. This was not good timing. The timing was bad, the situation was bad, it was all bad. He knew that because Faelon was a half Elf he would hold out longer than a man, but the question was would they be able to reach Rivendell in time?
They could try to pass the mountains and head for Lorien, but that would probably get them nowhere. They'd all be shot, even Faelon, who looked less like an Elf and more like a man. No, Rivendell it would have to be. If only they could catch up with Elrond's sons, they could have been a help.
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The victorious party of Rangers rode into camp that night, unusually sombre. Halbarad's spirits lifted when he saw Elladan and Elrohir by the campfire. Calad rode right up to them, gently pulling Faelon down from the horse. Faelon groaned, his eyes murky, with a dazed look. Elladan jumped up.
"What happened?" he exclaimed.
"We should have thought before we gallopped off." Elrohir said softly.
Halbarad had removed the arrow, which he had wrapped in a cloth.
"An Orc shot him. I don't think there's any question as to whether or not the arrowhead was poisoned." Halbarad said, his voice toneless.
He took Faelon from Caladriel, who was still a she-Elf and thus unable to hold him up for long. Elladan and Elrohir followed close on his heels, as Calad stood motionless, holding on to Mithy's mane in the exact same place where Faelon had last gripped it. She willed herself not to cry in front of all these men. Strong as her will was, tears slipped down her face unbidden.
Rinn looked at her cousin, but didn't dare look at her outright, she didn't want to make eye contact. She was the one who had made Calad lonely enough to leave, and she was the one who had run away, causing Faelon to get injured. If Faelon died, she knew she would never have her cousin's trust again. Calad sank to the ground, overwhelmed. She buried her head in her hands to hide her tears, and the Rangers looked away, respecting the fact that she did not want them to watch her cry. Rinn was torn, should she try to comfort Calad, or would that only make things worse?
One of the younger Rangers pried the she-Elf's fingers from Mithy's reins so he could turn her horse loose. Mithy bit him in an unusual display of bad temper. Calad gathered her wits and apologized to the young man, unbridling the horse herself. She wandered around the camp aimlessly, her thoughts with Faelon.
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Elladan and Elrohir looked to Faelon, and then Halbarad, and back again. They were not amused, nor were they angry, but they were puzzled.
They'd just seen Faelon's ears, and they now knew for certain he was not an Elf. His ears were not pointed at all.
"Halbarad, how long have you known this and didn't tell us?" Elrohir asked.
"I thought you knew, my lords." Halbarad said. "I thought surely Elves such as yourselves would know right away he was only half your kin."
Elladan merely nodded, tending to the halfElf.
"We'd best not tell Caladriel." he said. "That would not be music to her ears. Perhaps the fact that Faelon is a half Elf was enough for Legolas to feel he had to hate him."
"That may be." Elrohir mused. "Then again, he might not know either."
Elladan sighed, pulling herbs from his knapsack.
"We can treat this to some extent Halbarad, but he has to be taken to our father. We cannot really heal him. We can keep him alive, but we can't heal him." Elladan said, beginning to make a mixture of herbs and water.
Elrohir knelt beside his brother, looking down at Faelon. The half Elf opened his eyes again and looked up. He saw Elladan and Elrohir, but he didn't see Calad. He panicked.
"Where's Calad?! I didn't lose Calad did I?! Where is she?!" Faelon exclaimed, starting to sit up.
Elrohir pushed him back down.
"Calm down, Calad is here, in camp, she is uninjured, unlike yourself." Elrohir said. "You did a wonderful job of protecting her, stubborn though she be. It is lucky that she was able to keep you on the horse."
Faelon sighed in relief. Elladan wordlessly held out a cup to him. Elrohir almost laughed at the half Elf's confused look.
"I think he's telling you to drink it." Elrohir offered.
"He's not telling me anything, but if he would I would very much appreciate it." Faelon said.
"Drink it then." Elladan said, realizing he'd confused Faelon a little.
Faelon was used to obeying Elf lords, and didn't break pattern this time. Ten minutes later the half Elf was out cold. Elladan and Elrohir checked for other injuries. Other than a few scratches and bruises, the arrow wound was his only injury. He was much unlike their beloved Estel in that respect, when Estel got hurt he did an unusually good job of it. The twins did what they could to reduce the danger of the poison, and then they loosely tucked a blanket around Faelon's shoulders.
Elladan went looking for Calad to tell her that Faelon was alive, and sleeping right now. He found her curled up on the ground in the midst of a dozen or so Rangers, who were all seated on the ground around her as though to protect her from unpleasant dreams while she slept. They'd quickly become attached to the kind, outgoing, tomboyish Elven princess, she grew on people. Elladan gently shook her awake. She looked up at him in surprise, fear of tidings she did not want to hear leaping into her eyes.
"Faelon is alive, Calad, don't worry yourself. He's asleep, and Elrohir's with him." Elladan said softly, not caring whether or not the Rangers could hear him or understand him.
The fear left her eyes and she relaxed.
"Will he live?" she asked quietly.
Elladan looked uncomfortable.
"Calad, I cannot make you any promises. We have to get him to Lord Elrond, then we'll know." he said.
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That night, Calad sat up beside Faelon watching him intently. She just started to sing, not paying much attention to the words at first.
"I want to change the world
Walk again amidst the waves
Don't be afraid, I'm with you
And we can fly away
If you can stay with me forever
Change my mind
Don't get lost
Keep your passions true
I'm gonna fly with you again
So you can spread your wings
And you will fly with me away
It's wonderland."
Calad was now fully aware of what she was singing, but somehow she felt like only Faelon could hear her, and no one else in the camp really mattered at the moment. Her heart was caught up in the words as she sang, it lifted her spirit. She looked down to Faelon as she continued, fingering his soft curls.
"I want to change the world
Walk again, fight against the wind
Don't be afraid to be true
Because now you have to bring
The power of your smile on your face
Change my mind
Keep on holding on your desire
You will get a shining love
That you can reach alone
If you go on to get your goal
It's wonderland."
(Change the World choruses, part of the opening theme for InuYasha)
Faelon stirred slightly. Caladriel stopped singing for a moment.
"Don't stop." Elrohir whispered. "I think we all like that one. You should see all the blubbering Rangers outside."
"What are you talking about?" she asked.
"They have ears, they can hear. They're all in tears, they like the song. Humans have strange ways of showing their emotions." Elrohir said.
Calad smiled softly, shaking her head.
"Tell them I'm done singing for the night." she said. "We'll see about tomorrow."
Elladan laid a hand on Calad's shoulder.
"How about you go to bed? We're starting early tomorrow, and you won't be able to hold him on Mithy if you fall asleep." Elladan said.
Calad looked full into the older twin's face.
"What? Is he really riding with me or are you trying to get me to go to bed so I'm out of your way?" she asked. "Don't you dare lie to me either, I'll see it in your eyes."
"I really mean it Calad. My horse isn't as young or powerful as Mithy, she's just my favorite mount. I don't want to over burden her. Mithy has good bone and is well muscled. He could carry Faelon's extra weight for days and never know he was there." Elladan said, drawing her into a brotherly hug. "Besides, Elrohir's taste in horseflesh is questionable. Where he dug up the artifact he rides I'll never know."
Elrohir looked offended.
"And Rinn has grown attached to Shadow, so I doubt we can peel her off and get her to ride either my horse or Elladan's nag." Elrohir shot back.
"Elladan, have you thought about what will happen to Faelon when we get him back to Imladris?" Calad asked quietly. "You know Legolas will do all he can to keep Faelon from getting the help he needs. Legolas will accuse him of kidnapping."
"Calad, let Elrohir and I worry about that. Glorfindel won't let Legolas get in the way. Erestor won't either." Elladan said.
Calad snorted in disbelief.
"I have faith in the Balrog Slayer, but what will Erestor do, hit him with a serving tray?" she scoffed.
Elrohir smiled.
"You don't know Erestor like we do. Erestor's wrath does not stop at blows with serving trays. He's a very quiet out of the way type of Elf, but don't think he can't be convincingly dangerous." Elrohir said. "He probably knows more about herbs than Legolas, which means Legolas could end up taking a very long nap."
"Very long." Elladan concurred. "As in two or three days."
"And nights." Elrohir put in.
"You know I meant nights, Roh." Elladan said. "Why do you always see the need to state the obvious?"
Elrohir shrugged.
"Someone has to." he said.
By Ellie in ElfPajamas
Starring: Caladriel, Legolas, Thranduil, Rinnalaiss, Elladan, Elrohir, Arwen, Elrond, Glorfindel, Erestor, Halbarad, and an Elf named Faelon.
Okay, major no-no here, Rinnalaiss is an extra daughter to Elrond, Caladriel is Legolas' younger sister. Rinnalaiss might be adopted, I'm not real sure, but her older brothers Elladan and Elrohir dote on their tomboyish little sister. She's the baby of the family sort of, although older than Estel in years, she is still quite childish. Caladriel is not allowed to be the tomboy she wants to be, and is only Legolas' half sister. This is preLotR, Estel is only about thirty or forty. Why all this guessing? This is a transcribed dream, that's why. Oh, and a groom in this story is not a groom in the sense of bride and groom, a groom is actually someone who takes care of the horses.
And this switches from Third person to first, usually Caladriel's POV. I kinda dreamed it as an onlooker that they didn't see, but sometimes I was in her head. Couldn't think of Gondorian names, I have a list of Elvish names, but I wasn't able to locate a Gondorian and Numenorean name generator.
Chapter three: Missing Elves.
Elladan and Elrohir finally caught up with the Ranger band that had three nights ago been encamped just outside of Rivendell. But the twins were not looking for Calad and Faelon. A more distressing matter lay upon them. Calad and Faelon were just returning from a successful hunt with two other Rangers, when they noticed the twins speaking earnestly with Halbarad. Calad froze, were they looking for her? She saw the tears that stained Elrohir's cheeks and deduced that she was not the problem. She came closer.
"Halbarad, we have to find her! She could be in danger and father would be heartbroken if Rinn was killed!" Elrohir pleaded.
Calad ran up to the dark haired Elf.
"Elrohir, what's wrong? Is Rinnalaiss missing? Did she run away?" Calad asked, putting a comforting hand on the Elf's shoulder.
He nodded mutely.
"She muffled the horse's hooves. We can't find her trail, we confused it with yours." Elladan said.
"And then we lost it because she rode throught the river." Elrohir said flatly
"We'll help you look for her, Halbarad needn't trouble his men." Faelon offered.
The twins accepted his offer greatfuly.
"I can't see why Legolas hates you so." Elrohir said.
"What justification has he?" Elladan wondered out loud, swinging onto his horse's back. "Oh, Calad, he's not looking for you. He thinks you'll come back and beg forgiveness."
Faelon's eyes darkened at the assault on Calad's determination. He knew she wouldn't be begging her brother for anything.
Elrohir caught the dangerous fire in Faelon's eyes.
"Faelon, what is wrong?" he asked.
"He didn't appreciate the remark about Calad." Elladan said. "Just like you wouldn't appreciate the same remark being made about Arwen."
Faelon boosted Calad onto Mithy, having helped her adjust the quiver harness to fit and made sure she had all her weapons.
Their journey would take them to the tower of Orthanc.
After many days of riding, the party had tracked Rinn's horse to the gates of Isengard. That was odd, Rinn had no cause to call upon the White Wizard.
Faelon dismounted and walked his horse ahead. Under a tree near the tower, sat Rinnalaiss, clothed in splendid robes of silk and satin. Her brothers rushed to her side, exclaiming how happy they were to see her.
"We though you were in danger, Rinn!" Calad said.
"She was never in any danger. But you are in danger right this moment." said the gruff voice of Saruman. "Leave my ward be."
The wizard's voice was bewitching, Rinn was under its spell. Her brothers looked like they were falling under its spell too for a moment. But they shook it off. Faelon stared intently at the wizard. Calad was skeptical.
"Release her, Saruman." Faelon said softly. "Release Elrond's daughter now."
"Who are you to command a wizard?" Saruman said, incredulous.
"I? I am only a groom, but you can no longer have a hold over me, Saruman." Faelon said. "Your dominion is at an end."
Elladan and Elrohir were trying to get their sister to recognize them.
"Fool. I should have known it was you, you meddling, worthless half- elf." Saruman said, turning an icy gaze on Faelon.
Calad cringed, but Faelon didn't show any signs of noticing the wizard's displeasure.
"I am deaf to your voice, Saruman, impervious to your spells. You made me so, remember?" Faelon said. "I was only a child then, yet you cared not."
Calad looked at Faelon.
"Half Elf or full, you made a poor descision. I cannot be dominated by the wizard who slew my parents." Faelon said. "It was your own spell, you are the fool. Release the maid, now."
Saruman's eyes gleamed in silent rage. He hated to have so foolish a spell backfire. He'd though he had killed this upstart, but he had not been so lucky.
"And if I don't?" Saruman challenged.
"Then I will tell all of the Elves my story. They would be out for your blood in the blink of an eye." Faelon said calmly.
Saruman couldn't risk that quite yet, not all of his plans were finished.
"Fine."
Rinn came to herself, and screeched at the realization that she was wearing a dress.
"Come, we must fly. The White Wizard will not grant us a reprieve for long." Faelon said.
Even as they fled the sound of marching feet grew loud behind them.
Faelon threw Rinn onto his horse, and told the twins to take her to her father. That left Calad with Mithy and Faelon on foot. She ran alongside the horse with Faelon.
"Mount up!" Faelon screamed at her.
"No. I will not leave without you. There is nothing for me to go back to but disgrace without you." Calad said. "I can handle any disgrace, as long as I am disgraced by your side."
"Go or we'll both be killed!" Faelon said.
Calad let go of Mithy's reins, letting the frightened horse run.
Faelon looked at her in astonishment.
"You are a fool. Now your father will surely never allow me to visit Mirkwood. I might have gotten away on my own." Faelon said.
Calad knew that he would never have gotten away from the White Wizard, alone or accompanied by an army. He just hadn't wanted her there.
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Halbarad had had a gut feeling. He had just known that Faelon was in trouble. They were distant kin, he felt obligated to find out what was drawing him to follow the half Elf. He was now only an hour's journey from the tower of Orthanc. He hoped that Rinn had been found safe. A fair sized party of Rangers accompanied him, the rest had been left at camp. Dusk was falling, and that worried him.
Halbarad heard voices carried to him on the wind, and strained to hear what had been said. He had great difficulty doing so, he did not have the hearing of an Elf.
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Calad was unable to believe what she was looking at when she and Faelon turned to face the marching feet. Orcs! How had they come to live in the lands of the White Wizard? Faelon brought his bow to bear, nocking an arrow and aiming for a killing shot. He let the arrow wing its way through the air into the nearest Orc, whom it pierced and went through into the one behind. The Orcs froze in dumb shock for a moment. Their master hadn't told them they were fighting filthy Elves! While they stood indescisive, Calad dropped a few. Her brother had taught her to shoot, she was a fair shot, and at this range no self respecting Elf could miss. Faelon was not to be outdone by his lady, and shot some as well. He was not as good a bowman as he was with his knives, and close combat suited him, but he didn't want to risk Calad. She was much more effective at range, and he was not sure how well she could fight in close. He had never sparred with her to find out. There were more Orcs than he'd anticipated, and he knew he'd run out of arrows before he ran out of Orcs.
Calad looked surprisingly coolheaded for a she-Elf. Faelon felt a twinge of pride over that. He saw Orc archers move up in the rear. He hoped that they would never get a shot off. Calad moved close to Faelon.
"I wish I had been born a servant, then we could have had many more adventures." Calad whispered to Faelon. "It would not be too bad to be your equal."
Faelon was shocked.
"Calad, we are fighting for our lives. No more startling revelations, please?" he asked.
"Just one more."
"What?"
"I love you."
Faelon almost fell over.
The Orcs rushed them.
Calad shot until she ran out of arrows. Faelon shot until he felt the Orcs were too close, then resorted to using his knives. His curly head bobbed as he parried, ducked, and lunged. Calad was deadly with her short sword, beheading the Orcs who ventured too near. They cut their way through to the gates and started to run, their opponents' ranks thinned enough that they would be relatively unpursued. Orcs cannot travel so fast as Elves. Unfortunately, neither Calad nor Faelon had gotten a shot in at the archers. Faelon ran a little behind Calad, still adamant that no harm would come to her. He would not allow the princess of Mirkwood to fall to these Orcs. His Numenorean blood stirred within him, telling him that aid would come, his kin would not allow him to perish.
Mithy plunged toward his mistress and her groom, seeming ashamed to have run. Faelon grabbed Calad, seized the horse's mane, and pulled himself and the princess onto the horse's back. Mithy ran like the wind, but he was not so swift as an arrow. Calad felt Faelon jerk and looked over her shoulder. He never released his grip on her and Mithy's mane. Calad reached into Faelon's quiver and nocked one of his remaining arrows to her bow. She shot the arrow at the Orc archer who had come to the forefront, killing the foul beast.
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Halbarad recognized the silver horse galloping toward him, though its hunched riders he had trouble with. The Orcs in pursuit he had absolutely no problem recognizing, and he didn't even have to give his men the order before they attacked the loathsome creatures. The silver horse was reined down and wheeled to watch, and Halbarad recognized one of the riders as Caladriel. The other rider ever so slowly began to slip off of the horse. Calad apparantly felt it, and dismounted before the other Elf could hit the ground. Halbarad felt a thrill of fear shoot through his heart as he watched Calad catch Faelon. He hoped the half Elf was not dead. His men had the Orcs routed, so he spurred his horse toward Calad and Faelon.
Calad's hair was coming unbraided, and wafted around her and the half Elf she held tight. Faelon had blacked out. Halbarad was angered when he saw that Faelon had been shot in the back. He knew a mere arrow wound would not have caused Faelon to lose consciousness, there had to be poison involved. He sighed. This was not good timing. The timing was bad, the situation was bad, it was all bad. He knew that because Faelon was a half Elf he would hold out longer than a man, but the question was would they be able to reach Rivendell in time?
They could try to pass the mountains and head for Lorien, but that would probably get them nowhere. They'd all be shot, even Faelon, who looked less like an Elf and more like a man. No, Rivendell it would have to be. If only they could catch up with Elrond's sons, they could have been a help.
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The victorious party of Rangers rode into camp that night, unusually sombre. Halbarad's spirits lifted when he saw Elladan and Elrohir by the campfire. Calad rode right up to them, gently pulling Faelon down from the horse. Faelon groaned, his eyes murky, with a dazed look. Elladan jumped up.
"What happened?" he exclaimed.
"We should have thought before we gallopped off." Elrohir said softly.
Halbarad had removed the arrow, which he had wrapped in a cloth.
"An Orc shot him. I don't think there's any question as to whether or not the arrowhead was poisoned." Halbarad said, his voice toneless.
He took Faelon from Caladriel, who was still a she-Elf and thus unable to hold him up for long. Elladan and Elrohir followed close on his heels, as Calad stood motionless, holding on to Mithy's mane in the exact same place where Faelon had last gripped it. She willed herself not to cry in front of all these men. Strong as her will was, tears slipped down her face unbidden.
Rinn looked at her cousin, but didn't dare look at her outright, she didn't want to make eye contact. She was the one who had made Calad lonely enough to leave, and she was the one who had run away, causing Faelon to get injured. If Faelon died, she knew she would never have her cousin's trust again. Calad sank to the ground, overwhelmed. She buried her head in her hands to hide her tears, and the Rangers looked away, respecting the fact that she did not want them to watch her cry. Rinn was torn, should she try to comfort Calad, or would that only make things worse?
One of the younger Rangers pried the she-Elf's fingers from Mithy's reins so he could turn her horse loose. Mithy bit him in an unusual display of bad temper. Calad gathered her wits and apologized to the young man, unbridling the horse herself. She wandered around the camp aimlessly, her thoughts with Faelon.
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Elladan and Elrohir looked to Faelon, and then Halbarad, and back again. They were not amused, nor were they angry, but they were puzzled.
They'd just seen Faelon's ears, and they now knew for certain he was not an Elf. His ears were not pointed at all.
"Halbarad, how long have you known this and didn't tell us?" Elrohir asked.
"I thought you knew, my lords." Halbarad said. "I thought surely Elves such as yourselves would know right away he was only half your kin."
Elladan merely nodded, tending to the halfElf.
"We'd best not tell Caladriel." he said. "That would not be music to her ears. Perhaps the fact that Faelon is a half Elf was enough for Legolas to feel he had to hate him."
"That may be." Elrohir mused. "Then again, he might not know either."
Elladan sighed, pulling herbs from his knapsack.
"We can treat this to some extent Halbarad, but he has to be taken to our father. We cannot really heal him. We can keep him alive, but we can't heal him." Elladan said, beginning to make a mixture of herbs and water.
Elrohir knelt beside his brother, looking down at Faelon. The half Elf opened his eyes again and looked up. He saw Elladan and Elrohir, but he didn't see Calad. He panicked.
"Where's Calad?! I didn't lose Calad did I?! Where is she?!" Faelon exclaimed, starting to sit up.
Elrohir pushed him back down.
"Calm down, Calad is here, in camp, she is uninjured, unlike yourself." Elrohir said. "You did a wonderful job of protecting her, stubborn though she be. It is lucky that she was able to keep you on the horse."
Faelon sighed in relief. Elladan wordlessly held out a cup to him. Elrohir almost laughed at the half Elf's confused look.
"I think he's telling you to drink it." Elrohir offered.
"He's not telling me anything, but if he would I would very much appreciate it." Faelon said.
"Drink it then." Elladan said, realizing he'd confused Faelon a little.
Faelon was used to obeying Elf lords, and didn't break pattern this time. Ten minutes later the half Elf was out cold. Elladan and Elrohir checked for other injuries. Other than a few scratches and bruises, the arrow wound was his only injury. He was much unlike their beloved Estel in that respect, when Estel got hurt he did an unusually good job of it. The twins did what they could to reduce the danger of the poison, and then they loosely tucked a blanket around Faelon's shoulders.
Elladan went looking for Calad to tell her that Faelon was alive, and sleeping right now. He found her curled up on the ground in the midst of a dozen or so Rangers, who were all seated on the ground around her as though to protect her from unpleasant dreams while she slept. They'd quickly become attached to the kind, outgoing, tomboyish Elven princess, she grew on people. Elladan gently shook her awake. She looked up at him in surprise, fear of tidings she did not want to hear leaping into her eyes.
"Faelon is alive, Calad, don't worry yourself. He's asleep, and Elrohir's with him." Elladan said softly, not caring whether or not the Rangers could hear him or understand him.
The fear left her eyes and she relaxed.
"Will he live?" she asked quietly.
Elladan looked uncomfortable.
"Calad, I cannot make you any promises. We have to get him to Lord Elrond, then we'll know." he said.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
That night, Calad sat up beside Faelon watching him intently. She just started to sing, not paying much attention to the words at first.
"I want to change the world
Walk again amidst the waves
Don't be afraid, I'm with you
And we can fly away
If you can stay with me forever
Change my mind
Don't get lost
Keep your passions true
I'm gonna fly with you again
So you can spread your wings
And you will fly with me away
It's wonderland."
Calad was now fully aware of what she was singing, but somehow she felt like only Faelon could hear her, and no one else in the camp really mattered at the moment. Her heart was caught up in the words as she sang, it lifted her spirit. She looked down to Faelon as she continued, fingering his soft curls.
"I want to change the world
Walk again, fight against the wind
Don't be afraid to be true
Because now you have to bring
The power of your smile on your face
Change my mind
Keep on holding on your desire
You will get a shining love
That you can reach alone
If you go on to get your goal
It's wonderland."
(Change the World choruses, part of the opening theme for InuYasha)
Faelon stirred slightly. Caladriel stopped singing for a moment.
"Don't stop." Elrohir whispered. "I think we all like that one. You should see all the blubbering Rangers outside."
"What are you talking about?" she asked.
"They have ears, they can hear. They're all in tears, they like the song. Humans have strange ways of showing their emotions." Elrohir said.
Calad smiled softly, shaking her head.
"Tell them I'm done singing for the night." she said. "We'll see about tomorrow."
Elladan laid a hand on Calad's shoulder.
"How about you go to bed? We're starting early tomorrow, and you won't be able to hold him on Mithy if you fall asleep." Elladan said.
Calad looked full into the older twin's face.
"What? Is he really riding with me or are you trying to get me to go to bed so I'm out of your way?" she asked. "Don't you dare lie to me either, I'll see it in your eyes."
"I really mean it Calad. My horse isn't as young or powerful as Mithy, she's just my favorite mount. I don't want to over burden her. Mithy has good bone and is well muscled. He could carry Faelon's extra weight for days and never know he was there." Elladan said, drawing her into a brotherly hug. "Besides, Elrohir's taste in horseflesh is questionable. Where he dug up the artifact he rides I'll never know."
Elrohir looked offended.
"And Rinn has grown attached to Shadow, so I doubt we can peel her off and get her to ride either my horse or Elladan's nag." Elrohir shot back.
"Elladan, have you thought about what will happen to Faelon when we get him back to Imladris?" Calad asked quietly. "You know Legolas will do all he can to keep Faelon from getting the help he needs. Legolas will accuse him of kidnapping."
"Calad, let Elrohir and I worry about that. Glorfindel won't let Legolas get in the way. Erestor won't either." Elladan said.
Calad snorted in disbelief.
"I have faith in the Balrog Slayer, but what will Erestor do, hit him with a serving tray?" she scoffed.
Elrohir smiled.
"You don't know Erestor like we do. Erestor's wrath does not stop at blows with serving trays. He's a very quiet out of the way type of Elf, but don't think he can't be convincingly dangerous." Elrohir said. "He probably knows more about herbs than Legolas, which means Legolas could end up taking a very long nap."
"Very long." Elladan concurred. "As in two or three days."
"And nights." Elrohir put in.
"You know I meant nights, Roh." Elladan said. "Why do you always see the need to state the obvious?"
Elrohir shrugged.
"Someone has to." he said.