A/N Hey peoples I am back, sorry if this one is a bit rough I got the
writers bug for a while last night and stayed up past 2 writing this ( and
I have the feeling if I look over it I'll start rampantly deleting things
anyways please enjoy. Flames are welcome, if you hate this just tell me. :p
After two weeks Esmiel had had more then she could bear. She had begged a favour of Adulómiel, a handsome high born elf maiden. It was just after the morning meal. At the door of the dining hall Esmiel looked over her should for a moment. Adulómiel was holding Elrohir's attention easily with her slivery laugh and shining eyes.
Elladan however, smiled politely when they attempted to engage him in their conversation and glanced over to where Esmiel had been sitting. Esmiel groaned and tried to edge away from the door before he looked up, but before she could take more then a half step backwards his eyes rose to meet hers.
The chase was on.
Esmiel hurried through the bustling hallway, careful not to push or shove excessively. As soon as possible she turned in to the twisting, maze-like hallways of Rivendell's main household. I quick glance over her shoulder showed Elladan wading through the crowd eyes fixed on her. She sighed and hurried towards one of the less populated corridors. Turning into a hallway that led to one of the summer amphitheaters overlooking the falls, she began to run, as quietly as possible. Few people came here at this time of year, especially at this hour of the morning.
Turning yet again she ducked in to secluded alcove and sank silently down on the settee in the far corner. A few moments later there came the sound of light running footsteps. Esmiel rolled her eyes, she should have known. Without fail he walked straight into her hiding place and sat down by her.
"Trying to escape today's exercises?" he asked raising his eyebrow, with a grin.
She grinned back, "Oh no I just thought that a lively run through the corridors would be a good way to warm up for the morning."
"What a splendid idea!" Elladan exclaim eyes alight with mock enthusiasm, "We must add this to your daily routine."
Esmiel gave a long suffering groan.
Elladan laughed, "Are we honestly that terrible?"
"No I suppose not... Just a little over enthusiastic sometimes." She said smiling. "Just one day of holiday?" she asked eyes wide and winsome. "Oh please Elladan?"
He threw back his head in laughter, "Oh I suppose so. If I said no you'd probably use your new training against me."
Esmiel suddenly became very serious, "I don't think I could Elladan, use this talent against you.. or anyone. Not to deliberately manipulate, not unless it was entirely necessary or to help. I simply do not think I would be able to."
"But what about when you made Elrohir believe that inconceivable story? Or the couple in the garden."
Esmiel furrowed her brow for a moment, "This may sound like pure sophistry but, the differences were there. When I was enhancing your story I knew that we would tell Elrohir straight afterwards, and the couple. Well," She smiled slightly, "They definitely wouldn't have been comfortable in that grove." She grimaced, "Now that I am thinking of it that may be one of the reasons why I tried to," Esmiel looked at him sideways, "Escape, this morning."
Elladan smiled, stood and bowed, "So then, My Lady, what wouldst thou do upon thine day of rest? An it please thee, I would be honoured to accompany thee on whatever leisurely activities thou shouldst wish to pursue. Or," he continued in a devastated voice, "An it please thee, I will make mineself scarce and become desolate at the knowledge that mine presence is unsavoury to thee." He said with a flourish, offering her his arm.
Esmiel stifled a laugh, "Kind Sir, thine presence could no more be unsavoury then could the stars fail to shine... unless of course you're coming up with exercises." She smiled softly, "I think what I really wish to do is ride out for the day, it has been such a long time since I left Rivendell. I would very much like to ride through the woods a way and maybe do some light hunting."
"Splendid," Elladan said, "Let us leave now before everyone has finished the morning meal and begun the day."
"What about Elrohir?" Esmiel was innately aware of the bond between the brothers, which in some ways was even more elemental then her own talents. The one was always aware of the others needs.
Elladan laughed, "The diversion you arranged is keeping him very well entertained."
Esmiel blushed thinking of the elegantly flirtatious Adulómiel, with her flaxen hair and startlingly blue eyes. Compared to which Esmiel found her own ash green eyes and rusty brown hair decidedly lacking.
Shaking her head Esmiel pushed such useless thoughts aside at the sound of footsteps. Her mind was suddenly assaulted with feelings of shock, terrible anxiety and, though she had rarely received it before, fear. Reflexively she grabbed Elladan's arm sending him sprawling back onto the seat almost right into her lap. She felt her fingers dig almost convulsively into his arm, weak in the grip of these powerful projections.
Elladan made as if to speak, but something in her face silenced him. Soon voices could be heard along with the footsteps.
"What do you mean by this Gandalf?" it was Lord Elrond. Elladan looked at her wide eyed, both knew they should not be listening, but neither could not. Esmiel knew this must be something momentous, for nothing else could unnerve Lord Elrond Halfelven so. She concentrated all her will on discerning the nature of his anxiety.
"My Lord Halfelven, we have all felt it, you, I and every member of the Council of the Wise. There is a darkness growing far to the East. Together we of the Wise were able to focus on and it is far more terrible then we could have imagined."
Esmiel was hit by fear like a knife in the back. Suddenly her mind was assailed with images, hundreds dying on the slopes of a mountain that spewed fire and molten rock. Men, Elves and Orcs all died cut down in the frenzy of battle.
Unconsciously she pressed her face into the front of Elladan's tunic, her fingers dug even deeper into his arm. She felt his free arm come around her shoulders and tighten sharply, vaguely she realised that she was unconsciously transmitting what she saw to him.
Words rang sharply through her mind, We cannot face this again. Then slowly the images dissipated, as he to whom they belonged struggled to get them under control.
She heard Elrond force out the words, "The old enemy is arisen?" Her senses still attuned she felt a terrible mixture, sorrow, relief, dread and uncertainty from Elrond's companion.
"No Elrond. This darkness is something new. Something we have no knowledge of. Something that could be worse then Sauron and all the evil he could muster." When the images came this time they were fainter, Elrond's companion seemed to have enormous control, yet still terrible a darkness seething and growing, far away yet but growing, growing.
And then they were gone, moving away along into a side passage and out of earshot. Esmiel was finally able to disentangle her mind from theirs. She realised that she had soaked the front of Elladan's tunic with tears and she felt a similar wetness where his head was buried in her hair.
But she could not move, not yet. Her mind was still full of images and words. These were older and sweeter then those of Elrond and his companion, yet no less terrible. Her mother had told her she would know her task and now she knew.
Slowly she released her death grip on Elladan's arm, but her energy was completely sapped, she could not bring herself to even lift her head from against his chest let alone move away from the supporting circle of his arm. With his now free arm, Elladan lifted her chin and made her look into his eyes.
"You are not going alone!"
After two weeks Esmiel had had more then she could bear. She had begged a favour of Adulómiel, a handsome high born elf maiden. It was just after the morning meal. At the door of the dining hall Esmiel looked over her should for a moment. Adulómiel was holding Elrohir's attention easily with her slivery laugh and shining eyes.
Elladan however, smiled politely when they attempted to engage him in their conversation and glanced over to where Esmiel had been sitting. Esmiel groaned and tried to edge away from the door before he looked up, but before she could take more then a half step backwards his eyes rose to meet hers.
The chase was on.
Esmiel hurried through the bustling hallway, careful not to push or shove excessively. As soon as possible she turned in to the twisting, maze-like hallways of Rivendell's main household. I quick glance over her shoulder showed Elladan wading through the crowd eyes fixed on her. She sighed and hurried towards one of the less populated corridors. Turning into a hallway that led to one of the summer amphitheaters overlooking the falls, she began to run, as quietly as possible. Few people came here at this time of year, especially at this hour of the morning.
Turning yet again she ducked in to secluded alcove and sank silently down on the settee in the far corner. A few moments later there came the sound of light running footsteps. Esmiel rolled her eyes, she should have known. Without fail he walked straight into her hiding place and sat down by her.
"Trying to escape today's exercises?" he asked raising his eyebrow, with a grin.
She grinned back, "Oh no I just thought that a lively run through the corridors would be a good way to warm up for the morning."
"What a splendid idea!" Elladan exclaim eyes alight with mock enthusiasm, "We must add this to your daily routine."
Esmiel gave a long suffering groan.
Elladan laughed, "Are we honestly that terrible?"
"No I suppose not... Just a little over enthusiastic sometimes." She said smiling. "Just one day of holiday?" she asked eyes wide and winsome. "Oh please Elladan?"
He threw back his head in laughter, "Oh I suppose so. If I said no you'd probably use your new training against me."
Esmiel suddenly became very serious, "I don't think I could Elladan, use this talent against you.. or anyone. Not to deliberately manipulate, not unless it was entirely necessary or to help. I simply do not think I would be able to."
"But what about when you made Elrohir believe that inconceivable story? Or the couple in the garden."
Esmiel furrowed her brow for a moment, "This may sound like pure sophistry but, the differences were there. When I was enhancing your story I knew that we would tell Elrohir straight afterwards, and the couple. Well," She smiled slightly, "They definitely wouldn't have been comfortable in that grove." She grimaced, "Now that I am thinking of it that may be one of the reasons why I tried to," Esmiel looked at him sideways, "Escape, this morning."
Elladan smiled, stood and bowed, "So then, My Lady, what wouldst thou do upon thine day of rest? An it please thee, I would be honoured to accompany thee on whatever leisurely activities thou shouldst wish to pursue. Or," he continued in a devastated voice, "An it please thee, I will make mineself scarce and become desolate at the knowledge that mine presence is unsavoury to thee." He said with a flourish, offering her his arm.
Esmiel stifled a laugh, "Kind Sir, thine presence could no more be unsavoury then could the stars fail to shine... unless of course you're coming up with exercises." She smiled softly, "I think what I really wish to do is ride out for the day, it has been such a long time since I left Rivendell. I would very much like to ride through the woods a way and maybe do some light hunting."
"Splendid," Elladan said, "Let us leave now before everyone has finished the morning meal and begun the day."
"What about Elrohir?" Esmiel was innately aware of the bond between the brothers, which in some ways was even more elemental then her own talents. The one was always aware of the others needs.
Elladan laughed, "The diversion you arranged is keeping him very well entertained."
Esmiel blushed thinking of the elegantly flirtatious Adulómiel, with her flaxen hair and startlingly blue eyes. Compared to which Esmiel found her own ash green eyes and rusty brown hair decidedly lacking.
Shaking her head Esmiel pushed such useless thoughts aside at the sound of footsteps. Her mind was suddenly assaulted with feelings of shock, terrible anxiety and, though she had rarely received it before, fear. Reflexively she grabbed Elladan's arm sending him sprawling back onto the seat almost right into her lap. She felt her fingers dig almost convulsively into his arm, weak in the grip of these powerful projections.
Elladan made as if to speak, but something in her face silenced him. Soon voices could be heard along with the footsteps.
"What do you mean by this Gandalf?" it was Lord Elrond. Elladan looked at her wide eyed, both knew they should not be listening, but neither could not. Esmiel knew this must be something momentous, for nothing else could unnerve Lord Elrond Halfelven so. She concentrated all her will on discerning the nature of his anxiety.
"My Lord Halfelven, we have all felt it, you, I and every member of the Council of the Wise. There is a darkness growing far to the East. Together we of the Wise were able to focus on and it is far more terrible then we could have imagined."
Esmiel was hit by fear like a knife in the back. Suddenly her mind was assailed with images, hundreds dying on the slopes of a mountain that spewed fire and molten rock. Men, Elves and Orcs all died cut down in the frenzy of battle.
Unconsciously she pressed her face into the front of Elladan's tunic, her fingers dug even deeper into his arm. She felt his free arm come around her shoulders and tighten sharply, vaguely she realised that she was unconsciously transmitting what she saw to him.
Words rang sharply through her mind, We cannot face this again. Then slowly the images dissipated, as he to whom they belonged struggled to get them under control.
She heard Elrond force out the words, "The old enemy is arisen?" Her senses still attuned she felt a terrible mixture, sorrow, relief, dread and uncertainty from Elrond's companion.
"No Elrond. This darkness is something new. Something we have no knowledge of. Something that could be worse then Sauron and all the evil he could muster." When the images came this time they were fainter, Elrond's companion seemed to have enormous control, yet still terrible a darkness seething and growing, far away yet but growing, growing.
And then they were gone, moving away along into a side passage and out of earshot. Esmiel was finally able to disentangle her mind from theirs. She realised that she had soaked the front of Elladan's tunic with tears and she felt a similar wetness where his head was buried in her hair.
But she could not move, not yet. Her mind was still full of images and words. These were older and sweeter then those of Elrond and his companion, yet no less terrible. Her mother had told her she would know her task and now she knew.
Slowly she released her death grip on Elladan's arm, but her energy was completely sapped, she could not bring herself to even lift her head from against his chest let alone move away from the supporting circle of his arm. With his now free arm, Elladan lifted her chin and made her look into his eyes.
"You are not going alone!"