Disclaimer: I do NOT own lord of the rings
Chapter 9 - A Second Attempt
Nefaratoiel was asleep in her room. She tossed and turned in her sleep, uneasy in her rest. Someone was in her dreams and to Nefaratoiel's shock it was her mother. Her mother was dressed in a black dress similar to that of the one the elves of Lothlorien had given to her. Around her mother's head was the tiara that Nefaratoiel always wore. She looked at her mother questioningly. Her mother spoke, "Hello my daughter. I see you have discovered my identity. I am indeed Ariadiel, the Lady of the Night, sister of Galadriel and the second Lady of Lothlorien. It is both good and bad that you are more powerful than I was. It is good because perhaps you will be able to succeed where I failed. Yet in order to keep the balance between the light and the dark you will be unable to take my place as the Lady of the Night and must somehow come to terms with your reign as only the Daughter of the Night."
Nefaratoiel quickly absorbed all that her mother had just told her. She then questioned her mother, "Mother why did you keep all this from me?"
Ariadiel looked away before answering Nefaratoiel's question. "I did not wish to burden you. You were not happy as a child due to our past and I felt that if you knew what had been expected of you, you might never have found the strength to live from day to day. I wanted to protect what was left of the carefree child you had buried so deep within yourself. You didn't need to know who your father was, and I told none of the elves about you so that your fathers heritage could never come back to haunt you."
Nefaratoiel looked at her mother with sorrowful eyes, "So instead you leave me to wander in this world by myself. No heritage to tie me anywhere. No bonds to hold me back. And nothing to hold onto when I get swept about by the sorrows of this world."
"You endured child. You survived the hardships and became stronger because of it. You may have discovered your heritage but you are the same person you always were. Nothing can change that my child." Ariadiel said.
Nefaratoiel let the matter drop and instead asked, "You said that my being more powerful will allow me to succeed where you failed. Succeed doing what?"
Ariadiel covered her mouth with her hand quickly, signifying that she had not meant to say as much. She lowered her hand and took Nefaratoiel's hand in her own, "Daughter. I cannot tell you what you must do, I am sorry but that is how things are. What I can tell you is that in order for the world to continue, there must be a balance between light and dark. When the balance is disrupted so is the fabric of our world and it is at these times when evil is strongest. Even if the world were to tilt to the light, evil would be strengthened. It is in the balance that we endure. The balance is tipped, it has been for centuries and evil continues to thrive in your world. When the balance is restored then the creatures of evil that were made by the misery of others will become evil creatures no more. They can never be what they once were, but they can become a race that is pure at heart, like all others. Go now my child it is time for you to wake. Be careful, they are there for you."
Nefaratoiel was going to ask who was there, but she woke with a start instead. She looked about her room cautiously. There was no one except Silmaneero, who was now awake and looking at her mistress in concern. "Silmaneero your nose is better than mine. Tell me, do you smell something that could prove to be a threat?" Nefaratoiel asked Silmaneero in elven.
Silmaneero rose and walked out onto the balcony. She sat and pushed her nose up into the air sniffing. She stood up quickly and growled at the woods that surrounded Rivendell. Nefaratoiel quickly got out of bed and dressed in her tunic and breeches. She made sure her daggers would slide free easily and left her cloak on her bed. She walked out onto the balcony and crouched beside Silmaneero. She placed a hand on Silmaneero's snout signaling for her to be quiet. Nefaratoiel crept silently back into her room. 'So much for traveling' she thought to herself.
She opened the door of her room and waited a moment for Silmaneero to exit. She closed the door softly and crept down the hallway till she came to the front gardens. Once there, Nefaratoiel walked silently to the center of the garden where she froze to examine her surroundings. Nefaratoiel tilted her head to the side listening for any movement outside the walls that shielded Rivendell. Nefaratoiel turned as she heard someone come to the main garden. It was Lord Elrond. His sword was bare in his hand and was clad in armor vs. his normal robes. Legolas, Gimli, Aragorn, Glorfindel, Elladan, Elrohir, and Eomer followed behind him. Nefaratoiel heard the other elves of Rivendell taking up points all along the outer wall. Haldir and Celeborn, also ready for a fight, came to the front garden from the right. They all reconvened in the center where Nefaratoiel stood.
Elrond addressed Nefaratoiel, "You should be head to the heart of Rivendell with the other women and children."
Nefaratoiel raised her eyebrow as if to say 'What do you take me for?' She tilted her chin forward defiantly, "I will not run from whatever danger lies beyond these walls. I've faced danger before, and more often then not I've faced it alone. Do NOT presume that I need any of you to protect me."
Haldir fought the smile that crept upon his face. He only half succeeded and hid the little grin by turning his face away. Glorfindel, Celeborn, Elrond, Elladan, Elrohir, and Legolas were a little taken back. Eomer merely shook his head in exasperation, she was just like his sister. Aragorn stood there impassive. He nodded, "Very well then, take the south wall with Haldir and Celeborn."
Nefaratoiel narrowed her eyes but then conceded and nodded her agreement. They broke up into four groups, each group was going to help defend one wall. Elladan, Elrohir and Eomer were going to defend the North wall. Elrond and Glorfindel were going to defend the East wall. Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli were going to fight at the West wall and Haldir, Celeborn and Nefaratoiel would help to defend the South wall.
Haldir lead the way to the south wall, Celeborn and Nefaratoiel trailing behind. Nefaratoiel had sent Silmaneero to help defend the women and children. Mariel, Arwen, and Lhunrothien would be there defending the others and Rin was there because she did not know how to fight. When they came upon the south wall Nefaratoiel noticed the other elven guards that had taken up position there. They stood ready for whatever might attack.
Nefaratoiel stood a little bit away from the others. She knew that whatever was out there, was there for her. Haldir noticed that Nefaratoiel had yet to draw her daggers. Celeborn noted this too and they were about to comment when a horrible screech sounded just outside the wall. Nefaratoiel dropped to the ground and covered her ears. The moon tiara on her forehead began to glow softly as if in reply to that horrendous screech. Celeborn saw the glow and quickly realized that whatever was outside the walls of Rivendell had been trained as night hunters. Warriors born and bred for the sole purpose of hunting down those with the power of night.
"Haldir!" Celeborn called, "Get Nefaratoiel out of here now! They are night hunters!"
Haldir turned about shock on his face. He quickly ran over to Nefaratoiel as the battle began and placed his arm about her shoulders. She was still shaking with the effects of the screech. She allowed Haldir to pull her to her feet and lead her away from the wall only because she had no strength to fight him. They ran for the cover of the interior where the other women and children were. Lhunrothien and Galadriel met them. Galadriel put her arms around Nefaratoiel and lead her to a bench to rest a moment. Lhunrothien stood guard at the entrance to the interior and Haldir remained with Galadriel and Nefaratoiel.
Nefaratoiel overcame the effects but it took her 10 minutes to recover fully. By that time the defenders of Rivendell were almost back against the interior. Elrond stormed in with an injured elf. The elf had a deep gash down the side of his face. He would not die for it was not a mortal wound but he was in too much pain to stand and fight. Nefaratoiel looked about and saw many injured elves all about the dwelling. She saw the backs of the defenders and realized that even though no one had died they would not be able to win.
Nefaratoiel removed her moon tiara and pressed it into Galadriel's hands. "I will come back for this." She promised a confused Galadriel.
Haldir grabbed Nefaratoiel's shoulder, "I cannot allow this Lady. As the Marchwarden of Lothlorien it is my duty to protect you."
Nefaratoiel gently lifted his hand from her shoulder as she stood. "Yes Haldir it is your duty to protect me, but you must also protect Galadriel."
"Galadriel does not plan on drawing away the enemy." Haldir stated firmly.
Nefaratoiel smiled, "Do you honestly believe you can stop me?"
With that Nefaratoiel ran over to one of the exits of the protected dwelling, in the heart of Rivendell. Nefaratoiel jumped over the defenders and faced the many orcs that they were fighting. There were many orcs but it was not the orcs that Nefaratoiel was worried about. Along with the orcs there were misshapen creatures that hung back as if waiting for someone in particular. One orc tried to stab Nefaratoiel but she quickly dodged. She grabbed the orcs head and twisted, snapping his neck. It was time for a blood bath. Nefaratoiel was about to draw her daggers but then realized that those night hunters would be able to single her out if she used them. 'Oh well, it isn't like I've never fought without my daggers before.'
Nefaratoiel made quick work of throwing herself into the battle, she was unaware of the attention one of the night hunters was giving her. His gaze never left her as she fought to throw the orcs back. For a minute Nefaratoiel did. The orcs were steadily falling back now that Nefaratoiel was fighting, but then one of them managed to slash a deep cut in her right arm and Nefaratoiel was forced to fall back. The night hunters froze as Nefaratoiel's blood began to drip down her arm. They sniffed the air and in unison let out another horrible screech. Nefaratoiel screamed being so close to them. This time Nefaratoiel herself seemed to radiate in reaction of the screech. She dropped to the ground no longer able to support her own weight.
Celeborn saw this and made a valiant attempt to make it to Nefaratoiel's side. Elrond was approaching Nefaratoiel from the other side, while everyone else was trying to keep the orcs back. The elven defenses quickly fell as the night hunters joined the fight, making a beeline for Nefaratoiel. The night hunter that had been watching Nefaratoiel from the start reached Nefaratoiel just as Celeborn and Elrond made it to her.
Nefaratoiel threw off the effects of the screech and pushed herself up. She looked up at one of the hunters and realized they knew who she was. Nefaratoiel also noticed three hunters were trying to get in at the women and children, 'Rin!' Nefaratoiel thought alarmed. She ducked under the hunter and ran towards the dwelling but the hunter grabbed her right arm firmly. Nefaratoiel cried out in pain due to her gash. Celeborn raised his sword and such the creature a might blow. It had no effect. The hunter merely swept his arm throwing Celeborn back into the dwelling.
Nefaratoiel needed to warn Rin, who had a little bit of night powers. She then remembered a lesson her mother had given her, 'If ever you should come across someone with powers of night remember this. All with the power of night share a common bond. We can use this bond to speak telepathically with each other.' Nefaratoiel closed her eyes and concentrated. She could sense auras all about her but she focused on finding Rin's. Finally Nefaratoiel singled Rin's aura out and focused on sending her thoughts to the girl.
"Rin listen to me. It's Nefaratoiel. You MUST get to safety. You are no longer safe in that dwelling. The night hunters are aware of your presence and are seeking you out as they did me. I will distract them, get ready to run."
Nefaratoiel didn't have time to see if Rin could respond. Instead she opened her eyes and let out a flare of magic. Nefaratoiel's spell called to the element water, one of the elements governed by the night. Great water bubbles appeared about some of the orc's heads and they slowly drowned. The hunters that had been searching for Rin turned abruptly and focused their attention on Nefaratoiel. Rin took that opportunity to run into the mass of defenders. She quickly found Eomer and told him what was happening. He took Rin's hand and led her away from the battle.
The hunters were no longer able to sense her as she was not that powerful. They retreated with Nefaratoiel still in their grasp. The orcs followed suit; it seemed the only reason they had come was to get the hunters deep enough into Rivendell to find the Daughter of the Night.
In the aftermath of the battle Haldir, Celeborn, Galadriel, Arwen, Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, Glorfindel, Lhunrothien, Mariel and Elrond gathered in Elrond's study. There they decided what course of action would be taken in order to retrieve Nefaratoiel. As they had no idea where the night hunters were taking Nefaratoiel, it was decided that all kingdoms would be alert but a rescue party could not be formed. Aragorn and Arwen headed back to Gondor. Eomer was taking Rin back to Rohan with him. Lhunrothien and Glorfindel were going to visit the havens. Mariel would remain behind in Rivendell. Legolas and Gimli would be part of Galadriel and Celeborn's escort with Haldir. They would return to Lothlorien where extensive measures would be taken to find Nefaratoiel.
Chapter 9 - A Second Attempt
Nefaratoiel was asleep in her room. She tossed and turned in her sleep, uneasy in her rest. Someone was in her dreams and to Nefaratoiel's shock it was her mother. Her mother was dressed in a black dress similar to that of the one the elves of Lothlorien had given to her. Around her mother's head was the tiara that Nefaratoiel always wore. She looked at her mother questioningly. Her mother spoke, "Hello my daughter. I see you have discovered my identity. I am indeed Ariadiel, the Lady of the Night, sister of Galadriel and the second Lady of Lothlorien. It is both good and bad that you are more powerful than I was. It is good because perhaps you will be able to succeed where I failed. Yet in order to keep the balance between the light and the dark you will be unable to take my place as the Lady of the Night and must somehow come to terms with your reign as only the Daughter of the Night."
Nefaratoiel quickly absorbed all that her mother had just told her. She then questioned her mother, "Mother why did you keep all this from me?"
Ariadiel looked away before answering Nefaratoiel's question. "I did not wish to burden you. You were not happy as a child due to our past and I felt that if you knew what had been expected of you, you might never have found the strength to live from day to day. I wanted to protect what was left of the carefree child you had buried so deep within yourself. You didn't need to know who your father was, and I told none of the elves about you so that your fathers heritage could never come back to haunt you."
Nefaratoiel looked at her mother with sorrowful eyes, "So instead you leave me to wander in this world by myself. No heritage to tie me anywhere. No bonds to hold me back. And nothing to hold onto when I get swept about by the sorrows of this world."
"You endured child. You survived the hardships and became stronger because of it. You may have discovered your heritage but you are the same person you always were. Nothing can change that my child." Ariadiel said.
Nefaratoiel let the matter drop and instead asked, "You said that my being more powerful will allow me to succeed where you failed. Succeed doing what?"
Ariadiel covered her mouth with her hand quickly, signifying that she had not meant to say as much. She lowered her hand and took Nefaratoiel's hand in her own, "Daughter. I cannot tell you what you must do, I am sorry but that is how things are. What I can tell you is that in order for the world to continue, there must be a balance between light and dark. When the balance is disrupted so is the fabric of our world and it is at these times when evil is strongest. Even if the world were to tilt to the light, evil would be strengthened. It is in the balance that we endure. The balance is tipped, it has been for centuries and evil continues to thrive in your world. When the balance is restored then the creatures of evil that were made by the misery of others will become evil creatures no more. They can never be what they once were, but they can become a race that is pure at heart, like all others. Go now my child it is time for you to wake. Be careful, they are there for you."
Nefaratoiel was going to ask who was there, but she woke with a start instead. She looked about her room cautiously. There was no one except Silmaneero, who was now awake and looking at her mistress in concern. "Silmaneero your nose is better than mine. Tell me, do you smell something that could prove to be a threat?" Nefaratoiel asked Silmaneero in elven.
Silmaneero rose and walked out onto the balcony. She sat and pushed her nose up into the air sniffing. She stood up quickly and growled at the woods that surrounded Rivendell. Nefaratoiel quickly got out of bed and dressed in her tunic and breeches. She made sure her daggers would slide free easily and left her cloak on her bed. She walked out onto the balcony and crouched beside Silmaneero. She placed a hand on Silmaneero's snout signaling for her to be quiet. Nefaratoiel crept silently back into her room. 'So much for traveling' she thought to herself.
She opened the door of her room and waited a moment for Silmaneero to exit. She closed the door softly and crept down the hallway till she came to the front gardens. Once there, Nefaratoiel walked silently to the center of the garden where she froze to examine her surroundings. Nefaratoiel tilted her head to the side listening for any movement outside the walls that shielded Rivendell. Nefaratoiel turned as she heard someone come to the main garden. It was Lord Elrond. His sword was bare in his hand and was clad in armor vs. his normal robes. Legolas, Gimli, Aragorn, Glorfindel, Elladan, Elrohir, and Eomer followed behind him. Nefaratoiel heard the other elves of Rivendell taking up points all along the outer wall. Haldir and Celeborn, also ready for a fight, came to the front garden from the right. They all reconvened in the center where Nefaratoiel stood.
Elrond addressed Nefaratoiel, "You should be head to the heart of Rivendell with the other women and children."
Nefaratoiel raised her eyebrow as if to say 'What do you take me for?' She tilted her chin forward defiantly, "I will not run from whatever danger lies beyond these walls. I've faced danger before, and more often then not I've faced it alone. Do NOT presume that I need any of you to protect me."
Haldir fought the smile that crept upon his face. He only half succeeded and hid the little grin by turning his face away. Glorfindel, Celeborn, Elrond, Elladan, Elrohir, and Legolas were a little taken back. Eomer merely shook his head in exasperation, she was just like his sister. Aragorn stood there impassive. He nodded, "Very well then, take the south wall with Haldir and Celeborn."
Nefaratoiel narrowed her eyes but then conceded and nodded her agreement. They broke up into four groups, each group was going to help defend one wall. Elladan, Elrohir and Eomer were going to defend the North wall. Elrond and Glorfindel were going to defend the East wall. Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli were going to fight at the West wall and Haldir, Celeborn and Nefaratoiel would help to defend the South wall.
Haldir lead the way to the south wall, Celeborn and Nefaratoiel trailing behind. Nefaratoiel had sent Silmaneero to help defend the women and children. Mariel, Arwen, and Lhunrothien would be there defending the others and Rin was there because she did not know how to fight. When they came upon the south wall Nefaratoiel noticed the other elven guards that had taken up position there. They stood ready for whatever might attack.
Nefaratoiel stood a little bit away from the others. She knew that whatever was out there, was there for her. Haldir noticed that Nefaratoiel had yet to draw her daggers. Celeborn noted this too and they were about to comment when a horrible screech sounded just outside the wall. Nefaratoiel dropped to the ground and covered her ears. The moon tiara on her forehead began to glow softly as if in reply to that horrendous screech. Celeborn saw the glow and quickly realized that whatever was outside the walls of Rivendell had been trained as night hunters. Warriors born and bred for the sole purpose of hunting down those with the power of night.
"Haldir!" Celeborn called, "Get Nefaratoiel out of here now! They are night hunters!"
Haldir turned about shock on his face. He quickly ran over to Nefaratoiel as the battle began and placed his arm about her shoulders. She was still shaking with the effects of the screech. She allowed Haldir to pull her to her feet and lead her away from the wall only because she had no strength to fight him. They ran for the cover of the interior where the other women and children were. Lhunrothien and Galadriel met them. Galadriel put her arms around Nefaratoiel and lead her to a bench to rest a moment. Lhunrothien stood guard at the entrance to the interior and Haldir remained with Galadriel and Nefaratoiel.
Nefaratoiel overcame the effects but it took her 10 minutes to recover fully. By that time the defenders of Rivendell were almost back against the interior. Elrond stormed in with an injured elf. The elf had a deep gash down the side of his face. He would not die for it was not a mortal wound but he was in too much pain to stand and fight. Nefaratoiel looked about and saw many injured elves all about the dwelling. She saw the backs of the defenders and realized that even though no one had died they would not be able to win.
Nefaratoiel removed her moon tiara and pressed it into Galadriel's hands. "I will come back for this." She promised a confused Galadriel.
Haldir grabbed Nefaratoiel's shoulder, "I cannot allow this Lady. As the Marchwarden of Lothlorien it is my duty to protect you."
Nefaratoiel gently lifted his hand from her shoulder as she stood. "Yes Haldir it is your duty to protect me, but you must also protect Galadriel."
"Galadriel does not plan on drawing away the enemy." Haldir stated firmly.
Nefaratoiel smiled, "Do you honestly believe you can stop me?"
With that Nefaratoiel ran over to one of the exits of the protected dwelling, in the heart of Rivendell. Nefaratoiel jumped over the defenders and faced the many orcs that they were fighting. There were many orcs but it was not the orcs that Nefaratoiel was worried about. Along with the orcs there were misshapen creatures that hung back as if waiting for someone in particular. One orc tried to stab Nefaratoiel but she quickly dodged. She grabbed the orcs head and twisted, snapping his neck. It was time for a blood bath. Nefaratoiel was about to draw her daggers but then realized that those night hunters would be able to single her out if she used them. 'Oh well, it isn't like I've never fought without my daggers before.'
Nefaratoiel made quick work of throwing herself into the battle, she was unaware of the attention one of the night hunters was giving her. His gaze never left her as she fought to throw the orcs back. For a minute Nefaratoiel did. The orcs were steadily falling back now that Nefaratoiel was fighting, but then one of them managed to slash a deep cut in her right arm and Nefaratoiel was forced to fall back. The night hunters froze as Nefaratoiel's blood began to drip down her arm. They sniffed the air and in unison let out another horrible screech. Nefaratoiel screamed being so close to them. This time Nefaratoiel herself seemed to radiate in reaction of the screech. She dropped to the ground no longer able to support her own weight.
Celeborn saw this and made a valiant attempt to make it to Nefaratoiel's side. Elrond was approaching Nefaratoiel from the other side, while everyone else was trying to keep the orcs back. The elven defenses quickly fell as the night hunters joined the fight, making a beeline for Nefaratoiel. The night hunter that had been watching Nefaratoiel from the start reached Nefaratoiel just as Celeborn and Elrond made it to her.
Nefaratoiel threw off the effects of the screech and pushed herself up. She looked up at one of the hunters and realized they knew who she was. Nefaratoiel also noticed three hunters were trying to get in at the women and children, 'Rin!' Nefaratoiel thought alarmed. She ducked under the hunter and ran towards the dwelling but the hunter grabbed her right arm firmly. Nefaratoiel cried out in pain due to her gash. Celeborn raised his sword and such the creature a might blow. It had no effect. The hunter merely swept his arm throwing Celeborn back into the dwelling.
Nefaratoiel needed to warn Rin, who had a little bit of night powers. She then remembered a lesson her mother had given her, 'If ever you should come across someone with powers of night remember this. All with the power of night share a common bond. We can use this bond to speak telepathically with each other.' Nefaratoiel closed her eyes and concentrated. She could sense auras all about her but she focused on finding Rin's. Finally Nefaratoiel singled Rin's aura out and focused on sending her thoughts to the girl.
"Rin listen to me. It's Nefaratoiel. You MUST get to safety. You are no longer safe in that dwelling. The night hunters are aware of your presence and are seeking you out as they did me. I will distract them, get ready to run."
Nefaratoiel didn't have time to see if Rin could respond. Instead she opened her eyes and let out a flare of magic. Nefaratoiel's spell called to the element water, one of the elements governed by the night. Great water bubbles appeared about some of the orc's heads and they slowly drowned. The hunters that had been searching for Rin turned abruptly and focused their attention on Nefaratoiel. Rin took that opportunity to run into the mass of defenders. She quickly found Eomer and told him what was happening. He took Rin's hand and led her away from the battle.
The hunters were no longer able to sense her as she was not that powerful. They retreated with Nefaratoiel still in their grasp. The orcs followed suit; it seemed the only reason they had come was to get the hunters deep enough into Rivendell to find the Daughter of the Night.
In the aftermath of the battle Haldir, Celeborn, Galadriel, Arwen, Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, Glorfindel, Lhunrothien, Mariel and Elrond gathered in Elrond's study. There they decided what course of action would be taken in order to retrieve Nefaratoiel. As they had no idea where the night hunters were taking Nefaratoiel, it was decided that all kingdoms would be alert but a rescue party could not be formed. Aragorn and Arwen headed back to Gondor. Eomer was taking Rin back to Rohan with him. Lhunrothien and Glorfindel were going to visit the havens. Mariel would remain behind in Rivendell. Legolas and Gimli would be part of Galadriel and Celeborn's escort with Haldir. They would return to Lothlorien where extensive measures would be taken to find Nefaratoiel.