MoroTheWolfGod, this one is for you. Thank you!
Chapter 11
Flight to Rivendell
Anomen raced through the trees, leaping from branch to branch, from time to time pausing to study the ground intently for any sign of Arwen. The trees murmured encouragement, so he knew he was on the right track. Still, he was anxious to find the little elfling as quickly as possible. He had led the Orcs away from Arwen and he was sure that they had returned to their camp for the time being, but if they were indeed a raiding party, then they might be moving this way, toward Rivendell, as soon as the sun set. Ungainly creatures though they were, Orcs could move quickly. If Arwen were left too long on her own, they might overtake her. Anomen shuddered at the thought. He would not let that happen!
Arwen had taken Anomen's instructions to heart. Giggling, she scrambled as fast as she could through the undergrowth, glancing back over her shoulder from time to time to see whether her friend were catching up. At last she caught sight of him. Oh, no, Anomen was going to find her! Not wanting the game to end, Arwen looked about for a place to hide. A fallen tree lay across a hollow in the ground, leaving just enough space underneath for a small elfling. Into the hollow she crept.
Arwen was so light that Anomen had been frustrated in his search for her tracks. Thus, much to Arwen's delight, Anomen at first leapt right past her hiding place. Fortunately, the forest was taking a keen interest in his quest. As he jumped to a tree beyond the spot where Arwen lay hidden, it swung one of its limbs and batted him right off the branch he was balanced upon.
"Ooomph!" Anomen landed in a deep windrow of leaf litter, the breath knocked out from him but otherwise unhurt. Arwen could not contain herself. She laughed at the sight of Anomen raising his face from the pile of litter, leaves clinging to his hair, one dangling from an eyebrow. Anomen laughed, too—out of relief at finding her.
"Arwen, would you like a pick-a-back ride?"
"Yes, yes," Arwen answered gleefully.
"Climb on then." With Arwen clinging to his back, Anomen climbed back up into the vigilant tree, whose leaves softly brushed his hair by way of apology, and made off for Rivendell as fast as he possibly could.
In Rivendell, a general gloom was spreading. Both Anomen and Arwen had now been missing for the space of an entire night, and night was the time most to be feared. Not only was it cold at night during this season; it was after sundown that malevolent creatures walked abroad, searching for their victims. Imladris was well guarded and had magic of a sort, but not even that realm could be utterly immune to the dark forces that were tightening their grip on Middle Earth. With this in mind, Elrond had joined the search parties that were moving out from Rivendell in an ever-expanding circle.
"Shhh," Elrond ordered, reining his horse to a halt.
"What do you hear?" whispered Erestor, who had insisted upon accompanying his friend.
"Look over there. Do you not see those boughs swaying?"
"Yes, but a stiff breeze is blowing. Why should the boughs not sway?"
"Erestor," Elrond replied, both amused and impatient, "those boughs are not bending with the breeze. Something moves this way."
Erestor's eyes lit up. "And as Orcs do not commonly travel through the tree-tops, no doubt that something is an elfling."
Elrond allowed himself a smile for the first time since Anomen's disappearance.
"Aye, but let us stay perfectly still, so as to not frighten him off."
"Or frighten them off," said Erestor hopefully.
Elrond snorted. "I wish Arwen would be frightened sometimes. But hush."
Elrond and Erestor dismounted from their horses and watched as the shaking in the branches drew nearer and nearer. At last Elrond and Erestor could make out Anomen's figure. To Elrond's disappointment, Anomen did not hold Arwen in his arms—but, wait, was that Arwen clinging to his back? Elrond could wait no longer. He stepped out from his place of concealment.
"Ada," squealed Arwen. "I found Nomie!" In her excitement she let go of Anomen and tumbled upside down into the arms of her father, who quickly righted her.
"Ada," declared Arwen, "Nomie and I played a game! First Nomie was chased by ugly, ugly creatures. After Nomie was done playing with the creatures, he chased me. Wasn't Nomie nice to give me a head start? Then I hid from Nomie, but he found me and gave me an ever-so-long pick-a-back ride, much longer than Elladan or Elrohir ever do!"
"Anomen gave you a head start, did he? So he ran one way, with the creatures chasing him, and you ran the other way—is that the way it was?"
"Yes, Ada, and Nomie made such a great deal of noise and dropped bark on the creatures. He was very silly, wasn't he Ada?"
Elrond looked at Anomen and smiled. "Very silly, indeed."
"Lord Elrond, I need to talk with you privately for a moment," said Anomen softly. "Away from Arwen," he added, "so she won't be frightened."
"Frightening her might not be such a bad idea," Elrond replied a little dryly. Nevertheless, he turned to Erestor and said, "Mellon-amin, would you give Arwen a ride on your great stallion? Usually she only rides her little pony, but don't you think we should let her ride with you as a treat?"
"Yes, yes!" clamored Arwen. "I want to ride with Nuncle Erestor!"
Elrond winked at 'Nuncle' Erestor, who gave him a sour look but quietly consented, settling Arwen securely before him and turning his mount in the direction of Rivendell. As soon as they were out of hearing, Anomen swiftly described the Orcs, their number and equipage as well their location. Elrond nodded thoughtfully.
"You have observed well, ion-nîn."
Anomen looked at Elrond with astonishment. "My son" was not one of the names that he had expected to be called upon his return. Elrond noticed his expression and smiled to himself.
"Of course, there is another matter that we must discuss."
Anomen's face fell and he bowed his head.
"But that can wait until after you have eaten, bathed, and rested."
Anomen looked up with renewed hope. But just then he spied Glorfindel, alerted by Erestor, cantering toward them. The elfling's face fell again. Elrond, however, spoke up before Glorfindel had a chance to utter a word, informing the elf-warrior that a sortie must be mounted and led to the border at once and prompting Anomen to relay to Glorfindel all that he had seen. After hearing what the elfling had to say, Glorfindel, all business, wheeled his horse about and galloped back toward Rivendell. After he was out of sight, Anomen exhaled deeply. He had not realized that he had been holding his breath! Elrond laughed outright.
"Oh, I am sure that Glorfindel has something planned for you later, but don't fret. I believe it has something to do with polishing all the helmets and shields in the armory—nothing too tedious, right, Anomen?" Elrond lowered his voice conspiratorially. "Perhaps I can arrange to have Elladan and Elrohir keep you company. Rarely a day goes by that they do not deserve to be set to cleaning and scrubbing. I'm sure I can find some reason for them to join you in the armory." Elrond smiled and put his hand on the shoulder of the astonished elfling.
"Come; let us go home." The elf-lord turned and mounted his horse, then reached down to pull Anomen up behind him. Together they turned toward Rivendell—toward home.