A/N: Hey thanks guys for reading!! I appreciate it a lot. Sorry this one
took me so long! Hopefully I'll be able to get them up more consistently,
maybe once a week.
Elessar*Lover- hehe I know, cliffhangers, just so much fun!
AkirasGurl- wow, I'm glad you enjoy it so much!!
Vani- thanks for helping me out with this one *wink
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Chapter three- The she-wolf
My muscles stiffened and the only movement I made was when I drew breath. I looked over to Alatriel who also stood motionless. Her head was upright, nostrils flaring and ears pricked forward.
I had only seen her once, when it had chanced that I looked back as Alatriel and I were leaving the forest. A she wolf had stood at the edge of the forest. She was a beautiful creature, an even gray from her muzzle to tail. You could see her muscles flex under her silvery cloak as she turned to flee from us. She seemed to have lost her pack; she was always alone when she came upon us. Sometimes at night I fancied I could hear her howl echoing over mount Mindolluin. But whenever I went to the window, the sound was always gone.
I sat still for nigh ten minutes before the feeling began to subside. The bumps on my back and arms began to disappear, and Alatriel began to stomp the ground. I had been told stories of how a wolf could snap a mans arm with a single bite. I shivered slightly despite of myself as I slowly stood up, stretching. I looked up though the branches at the sun. It was about midday. The day grew later, and in order to finish my chores, I would need to hurry home. I led my horse quickly through the forest until we came to its eaves. I mounted Alatriel and we no sooner seemed to come to the city's first gate.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
When Orodreth finally stood up it was much later than he had intended on staying. He took off his bloodied apron and put it in a basket to be washed. He took his cloak from a hook and slung it around his shoulders, taking one last look at his patients. Not all of them were going to make it. Some family would get the devastating news either tonight, or tomorrow. It saddened him that it was no longer in his hands. As he left the building he recognized a young general by the name of Valandil striding up the stairs. He had the standard Gondorian brown hair, and eyes to match. When he reached him they extended hands in greeting. "Orodreth, I hear there has been an attack," said Valandil, withdrawing. Orodreth nodded gravely.
"Yes, five scouts. They were attacked by orcs. Most of them will make it," Orodreth informed him. Valandil shook his head. "What is happening Valandil?" he asked.
"I cannot be sure," said Valandil, gazing out over the city. "I believe the peace in this country is going to be short lived." Valandil looked down at his fairly new uniform, signifying his rank as a general. Orodreth looked at the young man sadly.
Orodreth was about to wish him well and part when a thought came to his mind. "Valandil," he began. "How are you faring with your new position?" Valandil looked at him uncertainly.
"Well I should think," he paused briefly. "I don't have much time to keep a household running though," he said downcast. "Why do you ask?" Orodreth's mind was busy at work. And he did not bother to answer Valandil's question.
"Will you walk home with me?" Orodreth asked, already beginning down the stairs. Valandil could not resist his curiosity and agreed, abandoning his former task.
When the pair finally arrived at Orodreth's house, Tamuril was already waiting impatiently at the door. She was about to open her mouth and complain to her husband about taking so long when she realized he brought company. She opened the door politely and when they had all sat down in the sitting room she offered Valandil something to drink. "Yes, thank you," he had said as she rose from her seat and went to the kitchen.
"Will you excuse me for a moment?" asked Orodreth after a few moments of silence. Valandil nodded, occupying himself by looking through an old book. Orodreth joined his wife in the kitchen.
"What is he doing here Orodreth? I thought we were going to talk about Tari," she asked him with pleading eyes while pulling down a goblet from a cupboard
"That is exactly why I have brought him." As she poured some wine into the goblet, Orodreth told his wife of his growing thoughts in a rough whisper. When Tamuril emerged once more from the kitchen she brought a freshly sealed letter that was addressed to Valandil's father, and handed it to him. Valandil looked it over. "That is for your father; make sure he gets it as soon as he can." Orodreth said, and Valandil obediently tucked it into his breast pocket.
After he had drained his glass, they said their farewells, and Valandil left. Tamuril looked at her husband solemnly from across the room. "Do you really think this will solve anything?" she asked. Orodreth sat down next to her, letting her head rest on his shoulder and pulling her into an embrace. He brushed the hair out of her face.
"This is the only thing left to do; now she has a choice," he said sadly, rocking his wife back and fourth ever so slightly.
"I know," she whispered.
______________________
Please review!! Even if it's just one word!
Elessar*Lover- hehe I know, cliffhangers, just so much fun!
AkirasGurl- wow, I'm glad you enjoy it so much!!
Vani- thanks for helping me out with this one *wink
______________________________
Chapter three- The she-wolf
My muscles stiffened and the only movement I made was when I drew breath. I looked over to Alatriel who also stood motionless. Her head was upright, nostrils flaring and ears pricked forward.
I had only seen her once, when it had chanced that I looked back as Alatriel and I were leaving the forest. A she wolf had stood at the edge of the forest. She was a beautiful creature, an even gray from her muzzle to tail. You could see her muscles flex under her silvery cloak as she turned to flee from us. She seemed to have lost her pack; she was always alone when she came upon us. Sometimes at night I fancied I could hear her howl echoing over mount Mindolluin. But whenever I went to the window, the sound was always gone.
I sat still for nigh ten minutes before the feeling began to subside. The bumps on my back and arms began to disappear, and Alatriel began to stomp the ground. I had been told stories of how a wolf could snap a mans arm with a single bite. I shivered slightly despite of myself as I slowly stood up, stretching. I looked up though the branches at the sun. It was about midday. The day grew later, and in order to finish my chores, I would need to hurry home. I led my horse quickly through the forest until we came to its eaves. I mounted Alatriel and we no sooner seemed to come to the city's first gate.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
When Orodreth finally stood up it was much later than he had intended on staying. He took off his bloodied apron and put it in a basket to be washed. He took his cloak from a hook and slung it around his shoulders, taking one last look at his patients. Not all of them were going to make it. Some family would get the devastating news either tonight, or tomorrow. It saddened him that it was no longer in his hands. As he left the building he recognized a young general by the name of Valandil striding up the stairs. He had the standard Gondorian brown hair, and eyes to match. When he reached him they extended hands in greeting. "Orodreth, I hear there has been an attack," said Valandil, withdrawing. Orodreth nodded gravely.
"Yes, five scouts. They were attacked by orcs. Most of them will make it," Orodreth informed him. Valandil shook his head. "What is happening Valandil?" he asked.
"I cannot be sure," said Valandil, gazing out over the city. "I believe the peace in this country is going to be short lived." Valandil looked down at his fairly new uniform, signifying his rank as a general. Orodreth looked at the young man sadly.
Orodreth was about to wish him well and part when a thought came to his mind. "Valandil," he began. "How are you faring with your new position?" Valandil looked at him uncertainly.
"Well I should think," he paused briefly. "I don't have much time to keep a household running though," he said downcast. "Why do you ask?" Orodreth's mind was busy at work. And he did not bother to answer Valandil's question.
"Will you walk home with me?" Orodreth asked, already beginning down the stairs. Valandil could not resist his curiosity and agreed, abandoning his former task.
When the pair finally arrived at Orodreth's house, Tamuril was already waiting impatiently at the door. She was about to open her mouth and complain to her husband about taking so long when she realized he brought company. She opened the door politely and when they had all sat down in the sitting room she offered Valandil something to drink. "Yes, thank you," he had said as she rose from her seat and went to the kitchen.
"Will you excuse me for a moment?" asked Orodreth after a few moments of silence. Valandil nodded, occupying himself by looking through an old book. Orodreth joined his wife in the kitchen.
"What is he doing here Orodreth? I thought we were going to talk about Tari," she asked him with pleading eyes while pulling down a goblet from a cupboard
"That is exactly why I have brought him." As she poured some wine into the goblet, Orodreth told his wife of his growing thoughts in a rough whisper. When Tamuril emerged once more from the kitchen she brought a freshly sealed letter that was addressed to Valandil's father, and handed it to him. Valandil looked it over. "That is for your father; make sure he gets it as soon as he can." Orodreth said, and Valandil obediently tucked it into his breast pocket.
After he had drained his glass, they said their farewells, and Valandil left. Tamuril looked at her husband solemnly from across the room. "Do you really think this will solve anything?" she asked. Orodreth sat down next to her, letting her head rest on his shoulder and pulling her into an embrace. He brushed the hair out of her face.
"This is the only thing left to do; now she has a choice," he said sadly, rocking his wife back and fourth ever so slightly.
"I know," she whispered.
______________________
Please review!! Even if it's just one word!