Chapter 23
Rin sat by the fire reading a book of the history of the Elves; it had everything, including how to speak some of the languages. She had received it as a gift from Arwen before leaving when she expressed her interest in them to her friend.........
"I think elves are so amazing. I wish I could stay here longer and learn more of them." She said quietly to Arwen as they strolled through the long quite halls. Arwen smiled brightly at the young woman before her.
"Perhaps you could still learn." Arwen took Rins hand a pulled her quickly down the hall passing many doors and rooms, after running for a few moments both stopped at a rather large and ominous door. "Come with me, I believe I may have found an answer to your problem."
They entered the room quietly; Rin let her eyes adjust to the dark and then gasped at the sight before her. Books, thousands of them lined neatly along the great walls of the room; most of the books seemed to be fairly unused for many of them carried dust. Arwen smiled, "It is the library, and my Father and I are the only ones who visit here."
Arwen walked along the shelves apparently looking for a book in particular, while Rin just gazed around curiously. At last Rin heard Arwen call her over, by then Arwen had made her way completely across the room and was now holding a rather thick and beautifully designed book.
"This book is the History of my people. It has all you could wish to know about the Elves. I apologize for its dustiness, I'm afraid we only read the Elvish version. The common tongue version was never a popular book for those who could not speak the language." Arwen laughed, her melodious laugh echoing throughout the room.
"May this book help take your mind off of what is to come." Arwen said giving Rin the book and hugging her new friend tightly. Rin smiled, "Thank You."
Rin smiled to herself, 'Perhaps we will meet again.'
"Rin. Aragorn wishes to speak to you." Rin smiled up at Legolas. "Thank you Legolas. Could you help me up please? My feet seem to have fallen asleep." Legolas smiled and took her hands pulling her up.
"Your mind seems to be somewhere else? Do you want to tell me where?" Rin looked at her elf friend and smirked. "Somehow, I think you most likely already know Legobutt." Rin laughed and ran up ahead to find Aragorn.
"Legobutt?" Legolas questioned to himself and walked back to the fire, a look of pure confusion and mirth across his features.
Eomer stared wide-eyed at Steph as the thick, blue mist cleared. There, before him stood not Steph, but Estaphanie. Her hair was no longer shoulder length, poofy, and dye damaged. It was now down to her back in long shining golden waves. Her eyes no longer held all the grief, hurt and despair like before, but were a sharp blue full of wisdom, love and strength much like what he had seen in Rin the night she was transformed.
Her outfit was not anything glorious due to the fact like in the past she was always riding Esiar, therefore she could not were a dress. Instead, she wore black breeches that flared out to look like a dress and a silver blue tunic and a silver belt that had silver and gold stars hanging from it.
"Do not trouble yourself with words Eomer." She said quietly with a soft smile. " Come, my sister needs you. She will be meeting with Jake soon. And I fear unless we are there she will not win." Eomer smiled and nodded walking quickly but still with caution towards her and Esiar.
"Fear not, As long as you mean myself and Rin no threat, Esiar will bid you no harm and honour our friendship." Steph said seriously and climbed upon the birds' back. "Come on then, don't be a chicken shit!" Steph called down to him holding back her laughter.
Eomer frowned and climbed on behind Steph. "I am no 'chicken shit' and do not think I haven't heard that expression before. Your sister used it often."
Steph burst out laughing and shook her head, "Alright hold on tight! His take offs never were smooth, alright!" Steph closed her eyes and began to chant, "'Wil Esiar! Wil na mel onoone! Wil na Rinbelethwen!"(Fly Esiar! Fly to my sister!! Fly to Rinbelethwen!)
Esiar screeched in response began to flap his large, dark, powerful wings. Eomer felt sick from the movement, this was not something he was used to. Sucking up his pride he held onto the young woman in front of him for dear life as the hawk took off into the night sky.
From afar an old but wise man and wizard smiled, "It's high time they returned. Hopefully it did not happen too late."
Rin walked over to Aragorn and put her hands over his eyes, "Guess who?"
Aragorn chuckled, "Gimli?" Rin gasped in mock insult, "Do you honestly think I sound like a dwarf? And do you honestly think Gimli could reach that high up?"
Gimli grunted at the insult, "I could so reach!" Legolas came up behind him chuckling, "As long as there is a box nearby you could."
Everyone around the fire roared with laughter at Gimlis expense. Nefaratoiel smiled at the sight, never before had she seen Elves, Human and Dwarfs interact so kindly with each other, it was nice.
Haldir came up behind her and placed a hand on her shoulder, "What keeps your mind Nefaratoiel?"
Nefaratoiel looked up from her seat on the log, "I think of nothing March warden, only of what is too come." Haldir frowned at her use of his title but said nothing.
"Aragorn where does our path lead tomorrow?" Haldir questioned walking away from Nefaratoiel.
Aragorn sighed, "It is Rin who will lead us, for it is only she who knows where this man or beast lay. We are only here for support and protection."
Everyone's gaze turned to Rin who sighed as well, "Something inside me tells me to continue East towards the SilverMoon Temple, it is there that my heart tells me Jake awaits us."
Aragorn and Legolas both frowned at the name, "I know of the place in which you speak, it is but a half days walk from here." Aragorn spoke, though sounding seemingly nervous about the subject.
Legolas gazed into the fire; "It is no place for you or our company. The earth beneath it is said to be cursed with the blood of the Lady of the Night and those who tread on it do not get much father than the Temple's entrance before they are put to join her. Rin, we cannot go there, it is certain death for us all!"
Rin shook with fear, so that was where her other sister lay? Which means she would never meet her. Rin felt anger boil inside her, she would not stand back and let this man continue living, she would fight to the death if needed be!
"I am sorry Legolas but I must. I did not ask for you or the others to follow me and I will not allow Jake to roam this land killing freely at will. I'll not be stopped, those who dared to visit SilverMoon Temple were not the Lady of the Nights own blood, perhaps the Lady will spare her sister and her sisters companions if I ask it of her." Legolas shook his head in frustration and stalked off. Rin rolled her eyes and faced the remaining people,
"If you all agree with him and do not wish to follow me, say it now. Avath and I will go without you all, I'll not ask you to follow me and I wont hold it against you."
She scanned the crowd and landed upon Gimli and Haldir who looked a bit nervous. Gimli spoke up, "I hate to say it lass but I agree with the elf. I also heard terrible things about that place and I...." Rin put a hand up to stop him, "So be it, you are staying with Legolas." Gimli put his head down and walked off towards the same direction Legolas did along with Haldir who merely mumbled an apology on the way by.
Rin looked back at the two remaining people with a questioning gaze, Aragorn smiled and embraced her. "I'm not leaving you to go there alone little one. I will follow you until death takes me." Rin smiled at his loyalty and returned the embrace.
"As will I." Spoke Nefaratoiel from behind them.
"Thanks, you guys are truly the greatest people I have ever met. Aragorn I don't know what I would do without you. You have been like a father to me and I could never thank you enough. And Nefaratoiel, you have been such a great friend and you have given me Avath and for that I will forever be in your debt. Without you guys I don't know what would have become of me."
Nefaratoiel raised an eyebrow and smiled slightly, "Think nothing of it...friend."
Rins face turned serious as she gazed into the fire, "I only wish Eomer were here. I feel horrible, I may never see him again and I never even got to say goodbye to him." Tears cascaded from Rins eyes and Avath noticing his mistress distress wiped her tears away with his tail and then wrapped it around her hand in order to comfort her.
"He knows your duty, and he understood. You will see him again Rin, I am sure of it." Nefaratoiel spoke as Aragorn unrolled her bedroll.
"Rin lay down and sleep, all will be better in the morning." Aragorn spoke leading Rin to her bed. Rin nodded and lay down, Avath doing the same close beside her.
Aragorn smiled at the young girl as she slept and thought back to Legolas' comments, he was right in some aspects but his abandonment was not to be tolerated. How could he, Gimli and Haldir just walk away from Rin, and the rest of them like that? Aragorn whipped around to face Nefaratoiel who was sitting nearby on a rock sharpening her blades.
"Why did they leave like that?! Do they have no faith in our leader? No faith in their companions or themselves?!"
Nefaratoiel looked up in surprise at Aragorns sudden outburst of anger. "Aragorn...they did what they thought was right. They were only looking out for themselves, which is smart but also very selfish. She does not need them. You well know she doesn't even need US."
Aragorn nodded and looked down at the small form covered by a larger one, his facial expression softened "I know, but that still does not make abandoning her right. She is young, inexperience and alone. She cannot survive the journey without help even with Avath. As a panther he can only do so much to protect her."
Nefaratoiel nodded, not missing how his expression softened when he looked at her. "Aragorn, mani naa lle umien? (What are you doing?)
Aragorn looked at her in confusion but did not reply so Nefaratoiel continued, "Re naa nlye tinu Aragorn! Lle sinta sina! Mankoi lle nwalma llie? (She is not your daughter Aragorn! Why do you torment yourself? )
Aragorn waited patiently for her to finish and then calmly spoke, "Because she loves me like one, and I promised to care and protect her like a Father should, something she has not known. You of all people should know what she is going through."
Nefaratoiel put her head down and spoke softly but loud enough for him to hear, "My situation was much different. But you are right, I do. And I hold a soft spot in my heart for her. But you know as well as I do...she will not be staying in Middle Earth. Once she has done what she has come to do, she will probably go back to from where she once came."
Aragorn rubbed his hands over his face and frustration and walked away to keep first watch. Nefaratoiel shook her head and lay on her bedroll letting sleep overcome her.
Morning came sooner than Rin wanted. Aragorn tried to get her up so they could leave, but she would have none of it. Finally Avath came and picked her up. He then put her on his back and carried her for about an hour as they travelled until she was awake enough to walk herself.
"I don't think I can do this." Rin said sitting cross-legged on Avaths back. Aragorn looked at her oddly then spoke, "Of course you can. He has no chance against you."
Rin rolled her eyes and hissed in annoyance, "I don't even know how to use my powers Aragorn! How the hell am I supposed to best someone with utmost experience, it's impossible!"
Aragorn shook his head and sped up his walking pace so he would be ahead. Nefaratoiel frowned and looked at Rin who was pouting with her arms crossed, this angered Nefaratoiel.
"We have not risked our lives and traveled across Middle Earth to follow a child into certain death. If you will act like you are now when it comes time to fight, then yes it will be impossible for you to win! But whining and pouting about it will get you nowhere. Now get off that cat and give him a break, start walking and start thinking more positively or I will leave you to fight alone as well!"
Rin gaped at Nefaratoiel words and meekly slid off Avath. Nefaratoiel was right; she was being childish and whiny. "I am sorry Aragorn, Nefaratoiel. I don't know what came over me... I-I am just scared. The more we travel to the Temple, the closer this strange vibe pulses within me. We are close...too close for my own comfort and I...I don't know how I'm going to be able to do this."
Aragorn slowed and turned around taking the now very upset girl in his arms. "You will do fine, you must only believe in yourself and you will beat him. I have faith in you and so does Nefaratoiel, you must only have faith in yourself."
Rin looked up at Aragorn and laughed earning a frown in return, "Well that was, I think, the wisest thing that's ever come out of your mouth since we met."
Aragorn frowned while Nefaratoiel and Rin both laughed. "I-I ...Oh curse both you women and your infernal jokes!"
Rin fell to the ground in hysterics as Aragorn stood there and pouted, "You...Hahaha! You should see your...Hahaha...face right (wheeze) now!!"
Aragorn had no time to respond as Avath began to growl at the sky. Rin sobered up immediately and followed his gaze to what looked like a bird.
"Oh c'mon Avath it's only a bird." She said and began to walk away.
"Rin...tis no normal bird, look!" called Nefaratoiel. Rin looked up and saw that it was now closer and a hell of a lot bigger.
"OH-MY-BUDDAH!" She said slowly as the bird set itself to land. Dirt and grass flew up and then came to a rest as the bird stopped its large wings. The bird looked at all the faces and stopped on Rins.
"SCREECH!!!" Rin did not run or scream, for some reason she knew this bird, or at least she felt like she knew it. Slowly Rin crept up to it.
"Rin stop! That is a Night Hawk, they are dangerous!" Aragorn called from afar.
"Esiar would not hurt his second master." Came a voice from behind the bird. Rin gasped as Steph emerged from behind Esiars wing followed by Eomer.
"Oh my...what are you doing here?" she asked pulling Steph into a hug completely forgetting the fight.
"Rin, you will never believe this but..." Steph went on to tell Rin about her being Estaphanie her sister and story of how Rin came to be on Earth. By the time she was done, everyone was awestruck except for Eomer and Steph.
"And Nefaratoiel is also our sister, though she has been lost for some time." Nefaratoiel blinked in confusion.
"I am?" she asked
"Ai, when myself and Rin were transported to Earth you were hit with the remnants of the spell and lost your memory. You ended up wandering out into the woods and got lost. Thank the Valar that couple found. They then raised you as their own since you still very young, even for an elf and they had no clue of your identity."
Nefaratoiel placed her hand in front of her mouth in shock. "I can't believe this...I mean I do, but it's so difficult to take in. And it's so sudden and unexpected."
Steph smiled and hugged the now shaken she-elf "You should have seen me!" Nefaratoiel and Steph laughed and looked at Rin was now staring at something or rather someone behind Steph.
"Hello Eomer." She said quietly tears forming in her eyes. Eomer smiled and held out his arms to her. Rin let out a sob and ran into Eomers open arms and began crying into his chest.
"I'm so sorry Eomer, I never meant to leave without saying goodbye or leave at all! I never wanted to leave you, I've missed you so much...oh god say you'll forgive my stupidity?"
Eomer pulled her at arms length and looked at her seriously, "Would I be here if I did not forgive you? I was never angry with you in the first place."
Rin smiled and hugged him again. " I hate to break up this little mushy reunion but there is a matter of killing an evil beast at hand. " called a gruff voice from nearby.
"Gimli!!!" Rin cried running over to him and enveloping the Dwarf into a hug. Gimli blushed and grunted slightly, "There, there lass. Nice to see you too."
"But why? I thought you did not want to go near the SilverMoon Temple? Why did you come back?"
"Well we realized that...it wouldn't be much fun without us and uh...." Gimli started but was interrupted.
"And that we were being cowards and horrible friends. Rin, we are all sorry for being so selfish and disloyal. It is our hope and greatest wish that we would earn your forgiveness." Haldir spoke and went down to one knee along with Legolas and Gimli.
Rin smiled, "Get up you dorks, of course I forgive you. I knew you'd come back!" she laughed pulling them into a group hug.
"Well now that that's over with how about we get going so we can kill that dirty bastard and go home!" yelled Steph. Everyone cheered in agreement and started up again.
"So they think they can beat me eh? That little bitch won't know what hit her once she gets here. She doesn't stand a chance against me." A deep, scratchy voice rose from the darkness of the temple. The only light was that of the Palandir, hiding the owner of the voice.
"Her happiness will be short lived. As will her life."
A/N:Ok guys! Here it is guys! Only a few more chapters left and then the story is done!!! Yay!!!
Review or no updates!!
