Sulaeke
Author's Note:
This is my first fan-fiction, and I am looking for some constructive criticism. Although I will ask you not to flame, your opinions are welcome.
My story is mainly focused on the characters that I created (all of whom are mentioned in the disclaimer), and although the characters from the book and the movie play certain parts in the plot, they are not the main characters.
As of right now, the story is not finished, and I am looking for motivation to keep writing. Please enjoy, and remember to review!
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. The only characters I own are Sulaeke, Aglaron, Sadaeth, Bariur, Wicaiven, and the obnoxious pig man. More characters will be added to my list as I create them. Thank you!
Chapter 1
Sulaeke hurried down the crowded streets of the third level of Minas Tirith, trying desperately to keep up with the quick paces of her 20 year old sister. Sulaeke was just as eager as Sadaeth was to meet their father and brother, who were just returning from a 3-week-long scouting trip with a part of Gondor's military force.
Pushing through the swarm of people gathering to meet the homecoming party, Sulaeke soon reached the front of the assembly, just in time to hear the trumpets blow, signaling the return of the soldiers. She composed herself as well as possible, pulling her long ash-blonde hair out of her face and hastily running her fingers through it.
The gates swung open, and the captain of their division trotted his horse through the opening, shortly followed by the higher ranking soldiers, and then the foot soldiers, including her father and elder brother. She could feel a smile creep up on her face as she saw her formerly absent family members approaching. She knew that she would not be able to speak with them until they were given leave by their captain, which would probably happen later that evening, but seeing them, and knowing that they were still alive was enough to raise her spirits considerably.
She watched them as her father blew a kiss in her direction, and then one in Sadaeth's, and as her brother gave them both smiles and nods. They continued to walk forward, and Sulaeke and Sadaeth, realizing there was no more to be done here, turned and headed for home, where they would wait patiently for the rest of their family to arrive.
"Will they be here soon, Sadaeth?" Sulaeke asked impatiently, unable to concentrate on the book of poetry she usually could not take her attention away from.
"In all your 18 years of life, Sulaeke, I have never seen you so anxious," Sadaeth answered, smirking slightly as she continued to sew a patch over a hole she had discovered recently in her cloak.
"How can I help it?" Sulaeke questioned in response. "I can hardly believe it has been 3 weeks! How did I survive?"
"3 weeks is not that long, Sulaeke, although I admit it has seemed longer." The front door opened suddenly.
Sulaeke squealed with delight. "They are here!" she exclaimed, springing from her chair and grabbing Sadaeth's arm to drag her to the door.
"Father!" Sulaeke embraced her father tightly, kissing him lightly on the cheek. "I missed you. I hope you do not leave us again for some time!" she said before moving on to her brother.
"You go into the living room and make yourselves comfortable. I will make us something to eat," Sadaeth offered, entering the kitchen through a door to the right of the entryway.
The rest of the family did as she said, and chose their favorite chairs; Sulaeke's being the small armchair next to the fireplace.
Sinking into the cushions, she asked, "So, how did your trip go?" Her father and brother exchanged a glance. "What? Did anything go wrong? Did someone get hurt?"
"No, no, nothing like that," her father assured her. "We spotted a company of orcs traveling across Gondor's land. We sent word back to Minas Tirith, hoping to receive permission from our steward -"
"You say his name with distaste," Sulaeke interrupted. Why is that?"
"Let me finish, Sulaeke, and you will find out. Anyway, the messenger left with haste, and returned in the same manner, although the news he brought with him was, well, not pleasing to the ears."
"What news was that?"
"We were told to report back to the city at once, and leave those insufferable hogs to trample our land. I know not what goes on in Lord Denethor's head, only that it makes no sense to me, or to many of the other soldiers. I say we should wipe out as many orcs as we can while we have the chance!"
"I agree with you father," Sulaeke stated.
Just then, Sadaeth entered the living room holding a tray, on top of which there were 4 cups and 4 bowls of soup. She handed one of each to her father, her brother, Aglaron, and Sulaeke, before sitting down to join the conversation.
"I hope I have not missed too much," she said, sipping her tea contentedly.
"Father has just told me of the scouting trip," Sulaeke informed her. "It appears that Lord Denethor has made a foolish decision."
"I am intrigued. If you would not mind, Father, I would appreciate to be told of the happenings of you expedition as well."
"Not at all, Sadaeth, although this time I will let Aglaron do the honors," he said, nodding his head toward his son.
And so the evening wore on, and one by one, they drifted off to their bedrooms, ready for a good night's sleep.
The next morning, Sulaeke awoke extra early, rushing into the kitchen to find Sadaeth. She found her more quickly than she had expected, swinging the kitchen door open and crashing right into her older sister.
"Whoa!" Sadaeth exclaimed, catching Sulaeke by the arm before she fell over. "Slow down!"
"Sorry, Sadaeth," Sulaeke apologized, grinning slightly. "Tell me, do you have any plans for this morning?"
"Not unless you have made some for me, little sister," Sadaeth teased.
"Have no doubts! I always come prepared."
"Alright then. What is your idea?"
"Aglaron and Father are still asleep, and I thought that, while we have the time, we could run to the market place and pick up a gift for them."
"That's a wonderful idea, Sulaeke!" Sadaeth exclaimed, clasping her sister on the shoulder. "Let me go get my cloak and we will be off. You had better put on something besides your nightgown as well," she pointed out.
Sulaeke smiled as she hurried back to her bedroom to change. She wanted to wear something that would look really nice on her, something that would turn heads while they walked.
Roughly pulling open her closet door, she rummaged through her dresses, pulling out a plain, but beautiful sky blue summer dress. She stood before her mirror and held it up in front of her, marveling for a moment at how perfectly it went with her eyes. She quickly jerked it over her head, and, pleased with her appearance, darted out of the room.
The third level of Minas Tirith really didn't look any different in the morning than it did any other time of the day, but the air certainly seemed fresher, and somewhat cleaner than usual.
Sulaeke and Sadaeth strolled past shops and stands, looking for a suitable gift. It was sometimes very difficult to come across anything appropriate for anyone, let alone for two soldiers.
Sadaeth continually reminded Sulaeke that they were not only 2 soldiers, but also dear family members. Her ranting only made Sulaeke more determined to find something spectacular.
Turning a corner, Sulaeke saw it – the perfect gift.
"Look there!" she pointed to a large stand, within which there were dozens of gleaming silver knives, each with a uniquely decorated sheath, some plain leather, others covered in delightfully sparkling jewels.
"Oh, we shall have to get them one of those!" Sadaeth cried with glee.
"And one for me as well?" Sulaeke questioned eagerly.
"No, Sulaeke, you do not need one. You can buy one when you have your own money."
Sulaeke sighed in defeat. "I suppose you are right sister. Let's buy what we need and be off." Marching up to the stand, Sulaeke and Sadaeth began to look through the stacks of knives for the perfect ones, feeling slightly out of place being the only women there.
Receiving several strange looks, Sulaeke unsheathed one of the knives, staring in awe at the beautiful craftsmanship. Something was carved into the metal, but Sulaeke suspected it was Elvish of some sort, for she could not read it. She was positive it translated into some inspirational phrase.
She contemplated asking the stand owner what it said, but decided to just give it to Sadaeth to buy for Aglaron, due to the fact that an uncomfortably large man was staring at her, unblinking, in a disturbing manner.
Sulaeke waited a few moments after handing the knife to her sister, before asking, "Sadaeth, can we go now?"
"Why? You seemed very eager to be here a few minutes ago."
Sulaeke nodded her head towards the strange, ever ogling man. "See what I mean?"
"Oh, don't worry about him, Sulaeke. He won't hurt you," Sadaeth said, giving the man a dirty look.
The man seemed to grow angry at this, taking a step toward them.
"You got a problem with us, big guy?" Sadaeth said with a tone that clearly said 'back off, or I will hurt you'.
"How dare you talk to me that way!" he roared.
"I'll talk to you any way I want to, you obnoxious pig!"
"Um, Sadaeth?" Sulaeke broke in. "Maybe we should just go."
"Sadaeth seemed to relax some, which was good. It saved the man a lot of unnecessary pain. Usually, Sadaeth acted calm and composed, but she had a short fuse, so to speak, and she could become very violent. She turned back to the stack of knives she had been rummaging through, and picked out the one she wanted. She quickly proceeded to pay for the blades, and, grabbing Sulaeke's arm, turned to leave.
The large man, however, was not so passive. Catching Sadaeth off guard, he snatched her arm and turned her around, twisting her wrist so that she cried out in agony.
"Excuse me, sir, but what do you think you are doing?" Someone protested, seizing the man's wrist and jerking it away from Sadaeth's. The newcomer shoved the man backwards, causing him to stumble, bumping into several onlookers on the way. Another man, with reddish-brown hair, gently hauled Sadaeth, who had fallen to the ground, back onto her feet, just as the other gentleman returned.
"Are you hurt badly?" the man supporting Sadaeth asked sympathetically.
"No, no, I will be fine," Sadaeth insisted.
"What is your name?" he queried.
She looked at him warily for a moment. "Sadaeth. And this is my younger sister, Sulaeke.
"I am Boromir, and this is my little brother, Faramir," he said, glancing back at the other man as if to identify him. Faramir nodded his head at her in greeting. "Honestly, Miss, you need to be more careful with whom you pick fights," Boromir concluded.
"I can pick fights with whoever I want to," Sadaeth remarked. "Thank you for your help. Good day, gentlemen." With that, she turned and left, leaving Sulaeke to follow.
"I'm sorry for my sister's behavior, sirs," she said blushing slightly as the younger one looked at her. He was very good looking; wavy, shoulder length blonde hair, and light blue eyes. Not that the older one wasn't handsome, what with his big brown eyes and muscular build, but Sulaeke decided that Faramir, being a younger sibling himself, could relate more easily to her. "Thank you very much," she repeated, before she too walked away.
"Those are definitely two of the more interesting women I have seen in Gondor lately," Boromir joked, slapping his brother on the shoulder.
"I agree completely. Let's just hope they get home before the 'obnoxious pig' comes back for revenge," Faramir said sarcastically, yet his face clearly displayed his concern.
"You worry too much, little brother," Boromir said cheerfully. "They'll be fine."
"Do I worry too much, or are you just too optimistic?"
Boromir laughed. "We had better get home before Father has a cow. We should have been back half an hour ago." Faramir's smile faded. "It'll be fine," Boromir added reassuringly. "I'll make sure he knows it was entirely my fault."
"But will he believe you?"
"I suppose you have a point there. But don't be bothered. Let's go." Boromir began the hike up the stairs to the fourth level, and Faramir hurried along beside him.