Into the Shadow

By The Last Evenstar

A/N: I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry. I'm a terrible author for taking so long to update, I know. But you can't have any idea how busy I am unless you've been in an EXTREMELY high-maintenance production yourself. I've had virtually no free time the past two weeks. But guess what? The play is about to be OVER, and I'LL HAVE TIME TO WRITE AGAIN! So I promise, I PROMISE that there will be at least two more updates this week.

Thank you all so much for your kind reviews. And now, listen up, because I have a question. My friend Helen said the other day that I was turning Arwen into a Mary-Sue. Not because she falls in love with a canon character (obviously, she IS a canon character), but because she fights. I argued that this was true to the character of Movie Arwen at least, though I try to base most things off of the books. So – what do YOU think? Is Arwen in danger of becoming a Sue? Is the plotline not working out? Tell me in a review!

ME132 – I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm not worthy! *grovels* I promise quicker updates in the future! Now get your head out from under that rock and read my story. Or go write an epic of your own, that's a good idea. But you're right, if you delay the CWAC reunion any longer we'll have to kill you. Wait, then it wouldn't happen at all . . .

Girl Tree - I didn't stop here! See, it's an update! BTW, you are very schizophrenic.

Padme the 2nd - Yay! I'm glad you have reviews. And now that this chapter is up, you'll finally be able to forgive me for being so evil. Sorry it took so long.

mata - Thank you! Fighting Arwen rocks, in my opinion.

ArwenSolo - I'm glad my humble story meets your standards. Thank you for the kind words!

Queen Arwen - Uh oh, the last thing we want to do is feed your violent streak. I fear for the people out in California.

Alasse-Calmacil - Sorry it took me so long to update THIS time. I'm so glad you like it!

Cerridwen-Evereven - You like that twist? Wait until this one! Wait, no, don't scroll to the end of the chapter NOW . . .

Kekelina - Oh, I bet you hate me now, don't you? But I promise to start updating very, very quickly.

b-witched83uk - Sorry Sadie, no fluff in this chapter. I know, I know, I'm an awful person. But you just keep picturing the wet naked Aragorn, and you'll be fine.

Tammy - Here's your update! I'm glad you like it!

juliet's rose - And here's some more action, thank you very much!

galadriel evenstar - Oh, a drunk Haldir is heading my way? Excellent, excellent . . .

And now, ladies and gentlemen, elves of all ages!

Journey Update: Fifty miles South of Rivendell on the outskirts of the Misty Mountains.

Chapter Five: Close Encounters of the Orc Kind

Everyone walked differently after the attack. Their footsteps were more cautious, and every few seconds you could see at least one person darting their eyes this way and that, peering about them for a sign of danger.

Glorfindel had puzzled and puzzled over it, but to no avail. They had left no sign of their going from Rivendell, and he had been careful to mask their camps at night. There was no way anyone could have known they were coming.

Was there?

He paced alone in the dark. Everyone else slept fitfully, with one eye open. Except for the rangers, of course. And – he peered closer – except for Arwen.

She had both of her eyes clamped shut, and was tossing and turning inside her bedroll. Beads of sweat poured from her forehead and she trembled, as if some unknown evil came after her in the night.

"Arwen!" He reached down and shook her shoulder gently. "Arwen, wake up!"

Elrohir's eyes snapped open, and he looked over at his non-respondent sister with a sudden fear. "What's going on?"

Glorfindel shook his head helplessly. "She will not wake. Not sleep, but some demon of the night has taken her!"

Arwen let out a low moan. Her brother jumped up and began shaking her frantically. "Arwen! Ettula i-mournie! Tula n'alaquel a' amin! [Come out of the darkness! Come back to me!]"

"Estel!" she cried, reaching out blindly. "Don't go! Estel!" She opened her eyes, and collapsed, sobbing, into Elrohir's arms.

He looked up helplessly. "What happened?"

Glorfindel shook his head. "You brought her back. I do not know what she has seen, for never before has the like of this crossed my path."

"Arwen?" He lifted her chin and gasped. Glorfindel, too, saw the heavy shadows under her eyes. "What happened?"

She swallowed her tears. "He – he was there again. Only this time it was darker. Much darker." And with that, she was weeping again.

~~~~~~~

Elladan bit his lip, thinking, as he stuffed his arrows into their quiver. He didn't like having to think about an enemy; it gave them the advantage. For years it had just been shoot, kill, shoot, kill, and never look back. It had been revenge, pure and simple, for what they had done to his mother.

But this time it was different. This time there was something more, an element he could not yet recognize. There was something terribly wrong with his little sister.

And so help them if they hurt her too, he thought grimly, stuffing an arrow in harder than he had intended.

Arwen had been quiet and withdrawn since the episode last night – that is, more quiet and withdrawn than usual. Her eyes were heavy and leaden, like the face of a phantom had sunken into her lovely features.

Far away, he thought he heard a sort of rhythmic pounding. He paused, listening.

His brother walked up quietly behind him. "It was a mistake."

He turned and nodded. "I know."

"Should we turn back?"

"We could leave her in Lórien."

"Lórien is still weeks away. She needs assistance beyond what we can do for her."

Elladan looked at his sister's pale, pale face and nodded slowly. "I fear for her, Elrohir. And I would trust no one more than Nanethra [grandmother] with her care."

Elrohir sighed. "She will not be happy."

"We're her grandsons. She'll have to forgive us."

"I was talking about Arwen." Elrohir grimaced. "Thank you for bringing THAT up."

"You're welcome." Elladan frowned. The sound was growing closer. "Do you hear that?"

His brother cocked his head and suddenly jumped. "Orcs!"

The camp went up in alarm. Swords were drawn and arrows notched as the horde got closer and closer.

Glorfindel's face was taut with fear. "How did they find us?"

He had no answer to his question, as at that moment a party of what had to be fifty burst into the sheltered glade. Elladan loosed his first arrow, and it found itself imbedded in an Orcish chest. He let another fly, and hit one in the neck.

Halbarad and his rangers flew forth, barging into the fray with unstoppable momentum. Elladan unsheathed his long, curved blade and ran towards them, letting out a fierce cry.

He slashed diagonally across two foes, then into the shoulder of another with a sickening crunch. He kicked the creature back and wrenched his sword out, spinning catlike into another attack.

Two more rushed at him, and he ducked swiftly, sending them plunging into each other. He kicked them off and went after another, parrying skillfully against its huge swinging blade.

He lunged, and felt his sword catch metal. He yanked it back and swung around to avoid a quick decapitation. The Orc's mace caught him on the arm, leaving a stinging sensation and a small gash. He lunged in for a repost and got the foul creature in neck. It fell to the ground with a horrible thud.

This is better, he thought, knifing another one in the stomach. Just kill the evil creatures, no worries about greater things.

He glanced back where Arwen had been sitting. She had her bow raised, but seemed to weak to enter the fray. Glorfindel circled her madly, keeping off the steady influx of attackers with almost impossible skill.

He heard the yell of a dying Dúnadan and forced his mind back to the battle. This time they had almost matched the enemy in numbers, and the fight was over more quickly than before.

As the last of the Orcs fled back into the woods, chased by angry rangers, Elladan rushed over to his sister. "Are you all right?" he asked, ignoring the pain in his arm.

She looked up at him, and it took a moment for a spark of recognition to light up in her dull eyes. "I'm fine, toror nin. Glorfindel didn't let them touch me."

The elf in question wiped his brow and swept his long golden hair back from his face. "How did we fare?"

Halbarad grimaced as he cleaned out a nasty cut on his side. "I lost sixteen of my rangers. No elves went down." He paused. "The casualties from last time bring our number down to forty. You did not tell me this journey would be so hazardous."

Elrohir, bandaging his hand, sighed. "I did not know myself. I had intended to travel by secret route, but it appears that a secret is hard to keep in these times."

Halbarad glared. "I assure you, no one else could have known of this pass. Not even the Misty Mountain Orcs have bothered us here before."

Elrohir only looked more unhappy. "Then how did they find us?"

~~~~~~~

She was in the Shadow again, as she knew it would be. Every night it was the same – it just grew darker.

Like her life.

"Estel?" she called, not daring to hope. "Please! Aragorn!"

A sunken face appeared through the gloom. "You didn't turn back. Why didn't you turn back?"

She stood where she was, a cold tear trickling down her cheek. "I told you, we're not turning back. We're going to save you."

His eyes were hard, colder than she remembered. "You can't save me, Arwen! I'm lost to you forever. Accept that!"

She gasped at the tone of his voice. Inside her chest, she could feel her heart breaking. "Estel, what are you saying? If there was no chance, why do still haunt me?"

His face was sad and fearful. "You want to know? You want to know why you get these visions?" His eyes clouded over. "HE sends them, Arwen. HE gives them to you. He WANTS you to come after me." He looked up at her sadly. "You're riding into a trap."