Breath of Midnight
Please read and let me know what you think.

Smoke and Mirrors

I See blood.
Taste tears.
Breathe smoke.
All is bathed in ash.
I hold her seemingly lifeless body in my arms.
It was my fault.
Only hours before Rose had been her sweet self.
But now everything was different.
A dream from which I could not awake.
A nightmare that started under the old oak tree.

While all the others lay asleep in their beds I remained unsettled and unable to rest. The horrible image of Thuringwethil's mighty claws and wicked eyes tormented my thoughts still, and I had an overwhelming sense of unease rising within me.

I was a firm believer that every problem could be solved if given enough time and thought; but the more I thought the further a solution seemed to be.

I remained under the old tree until the sun set, and the moon rose again in the night sky. I was completely unaware of the passing of time, and yet I still did not know what I was going to do about Thuringwethil. This mad creature was out for blood, and hot on my trail. How long would it be before she found me? What would happen if she did? Would my friends find themselves caught in the crossfire? So many questions and not a single answer. On one hand I wanted to stay in the village. I could easily imagine carving out a pleasant existence with Aswin and Rose in this place. On the other hand, I knew I needed to report back to Lorien. If Lorien still stood, I needed to stand with her. I needed to inform anyone who might be left about this dark lady who seemed to lead the red army.

I wanted to stay, but in my heart I knew my journey was just beginning, and that my road must take me back to the Golden Wood.

I knew the right road is never the easy road...

I felt certain now of what I had to do. With my mind settled I looked up and saw the stars for the first time that night. I let their light cleanse my spirit and I praised the Valar for their providence.

I was just beginning to feel very centered and controlled, when suddenly I felt an unexpected firm hand grasp my shoulder.

For a moment my heart froze.

My hand grasped by blade.

"Feaestel, are you alright? We were growing worried."

I turned to see that the hand belonged to Rose, so I breathed a sigh and I let myself relax. She was looking at me with a concern that faded into a gentle smile when she realized how she had just startled me.

"Did you enjoy your journey? I don't know where you were just now, but I'm certain you were not here with me."

"I'm neither here nor there, this is my whole problem."

Her smile slowly melted back into that all too familiar look of concern, but she didn't inquire any more.

"Come back inside and have a drink with us. Aswin is telling tall tales in an attempt to charm some of the young women from town; you really must be a witness to this fine comedy."

"I can't… I'm sorry, but I can't. Maybe some other time?"

I didn't want to go inside. I had decided to leave, and I needed to go before I changed my mind. Already I felt my heart breaking, but I also felt a strange urgency setting in, and nothing I did seemed to settle it.

"You can't what?"

"I have to leave…I… I can't stay here any longer. I want to, believe me. You have all been so kind to me, but I need to go back ... I need to leave this place."

Rose was beginning to look angry and distressed.

"But why now! Why tonight! You can't just march through the perimeter Gondor has set in the North, and have you forgotten about Thurigwin…er…Thuringwibble..or whatever her name was? You need to stay here where it is safe!"

Her voice grew louder as she became more impassioned. I spoke to her with a cool even tone while I gently held her arms, and tried to hold her attention.

"Can't you see that is exactly why I need to leave? If I stay here she will find me, and all of you along with me. If I leave then there is nothing to draw the evil here. She is out there right now hunting, and who knows how long we have until she strikes. As for the army in the North, I don't know how long it will be until they are able to finally break through to Lorien. I need to get there before that can happen, no matter what the cost. They need to know what I know. Time is not on my side Rose."

I could have been mistaken, but in that moment, I thought I saw tears in her eyes as I spoke.

"Do you understand me?"

"I don't want you to go, but I think understand."

What was she crying about? She was such a strange mystery to me.

"But first, please go inside and tell the others what your plans are. It's the least you can do, and perhaps they can still be of some aid."

"I'm sorry but I can't. I don't know why, and I can't explain, but I don't want them to become any more involved than they already are. If I leave now perhaps it can be as if I were never here at all."

She did not argue, but instead wrapped her arms around me and held me tight. I was surprised, but I welcomed the comfort it brought me. She then motioned for me to follow her.

She led me far behind the barn to a stable that held all the horses, and beasts belonging to the village. Everything was silent except for the coarse breathing of the sleeping animals, and the musical chirping of a lone cricket. Rose quietly entered the stables and opened a large stall to reveal, out from amidst the shadows, a beautiful white mare.

She lovingly patted the animal's nose as she spoke.

"Her name is River. She if one of the Mearas, as I'm sure you can tell, and a more noble horse you shall never find. She is my gift to you friend. May she bare you hence only to bring you back once more."

She coaxed the animal out of the stall towards me. The horse whinnied and nuzzled her nose against my face.

"She has never been saddled, nor has she ever allowed a bridle or a bit near her. Elderich took her here to keep her safe after the murder of my father, and thus far I have been the only one she has allowed to ride her; but I think she will make an exception for you."

I was overwhelmed by the generosity of her gift. Such a horse was truly worthy of kings. Only the Lord of the Mark and his heirs had ever been permitted to mount one of the Mearas, with only one exception, Mithandir and the mighty Shadowfax.

Rose then left for a short while, but soon returned caring with her a small bag of supplies, and a long sword. I gratefully took them from her, but stopped short when she offered to return my bow and the remaining arrows.

"No, let them be my gift to you. I believe with you they will be put to far better aims than in my care."

And so with one last embrace I left.

With Rivers grace, I was allowed to climb onto her bare back and ride off into the night.

The air was cold against my face as I rode River across the green fields towards the mountains. I had become energized; my purpose renewed. I would soon see Lorien again. A sight I had feared would be forever lost to me. As I rode, the tiny image of Rose waiving farewell grew smaller and hazier in the dust. As much as I wanted to see Lorien again, I also hoped I would one day see her again; perhaps in happier times.

But for the moment I was free. Nothing but the wind in my hair and the road before me.

And soon nothing but the horror of distant screams.

River whinnied and raised herself up on her hind legs. I calmed her down, but her eyes remained wide with fear. The screams were coming from up the road behind us.

They were coming from the village.

I couldn't believe what I was hearing, but that fact made it none the less true.

I turned River around and made my way back as fast as I could.

This was my fault, I had waited too long to leave.

As I approached, all I could see was the glow of red flames. The smoke was moving in my direction blocking my vision and assaulting my senses. I may not have been able to see, but I could sill hear the frightened voices echoing through the night.

I had taken too long to decide, I had lingered when I should have moved on.

I had put them all in this danger.

Everywhere solders ran up and down the narrow streets searching and setting fire to every building they came across. I rode as quickly as I could toward the barn, where I last knew my friends to be, and did my best to remain unnoticed in the chaos. I arrived unseen, but only to find that the building was already aflame. The thatch roof had caught fire, and was slowly caving in on itself. River was beginning to spook, so I jumped off her back and used a cloth to cover the startled horse's eyes. I then ran for the door with sword raised, and began to hack my way through; all the while yelling in the hopes that someone was still alive. Yet no sign of life was anywhere to be found. It seemed even the solders were pulling out; their purpose at least for now complete.

I continued shouting;

"Amin tulien Melloneamin, I am coming, Amin tulien!!!"

From within the building several weak voices replied;

"We are in here, Feaestel!!!"

Those few words were the sweetest I had ever heard. They were still alive!!! Perhaps not all was lost!!! They must have had some warning, no matter how short, and had somehow managed to hide themselves before the solders arrived.

With all my strengthen I hacked away at the locked barn door until I found myself finally sheathing my sword, and forcing the splintered door apart with my shoulder. I rammed the door three times until it finally gave way. When I pushed through, I stumbled into the fiery furnace that was now the barn. Long gone was the friendly floury tables and smiley faces; all but the memory had been utterly consumed. I continued in through the kitchen but saw no sign of anyone. As I took one more step into the room, a section of ceiling over my head collapsed. I dove under the table to escape the rubble, but found myself trapped there seconds later.

(Over all, I would have to say this rescue wasn't going quite the way I had planned it, or hadn't planed it, as the case may be.)

I again used my sword to hack through the ruble. I crawled on my stomach to keep below the smoke in hopes of continuing my search, but still I saw no sign of my friends.

"Rose…Aswin…Eldritch…anyone?"

Then, out from the haze of smoke, two figures made their way into view.

"We are here Feaestel, we are here!!!"

My friends!!!….No, something was not right.

"We are here, but where are you? Come and save us Feaestel! Please come to us!"

There was something unnatural about their movements, and yet familiar about their faces.

They looked like two of Elderich's rangers, yet their voices were not their own, and their eyes and skin had gone milky white.

"Help us Feaestel, we thirst, come and give us a drink."

This was no doubt the evil of Thuringwethil.

I wrapped my sweaty hands around my sword while I silently I moved into a safe position and shouted;

"I have no quarrel with you friends, if you pursue this course the only thing you shall drink this night is your own blood."

My words went unheeded; as if no remnant of the brave rangers remained within them. They drew their swords in attack, while I drew my sword in defense. When all was said and done, I pulled my sword from their bodies, as one after the other they fell.

I was surprised to find that the blade somehow remained clean, and unsoiled despite the battle. These men were dead even before they meet my sword, and now no blood flowed from them at all. I had never heard of any evil that could drain men of mortal life, and then fill them with another.

These two men had been taken by Thuringwethil's darkness, and then wholly consumed.

One danger was now gone, but others still remained. The heat was becoming overwhelming, and there was no escape in sight. I lowered myself back down to the floor to try and see my way under the smoke, but the fire had grown to a point where even there visibility was limited. With my sword in my left hand I felt around the floor for a way out. Finally my right hand came across something solid and unburned. It was the ladder that lead up into the attic. I grabbed hold and began to climb my way up. I forced the door open and emerged into yet another flaming inferno. What was once a dimly lit windowless room was now alight in flame; the roof had burned away revealing the whole of the night sky. The fire was feeding on the last of the walls and begging to work on the floor. Soon the fire would weaken all the supports. I knew the floor would soon give way, so in order to evenly distribute my weight, I carefully crawled across it. When I made my way to the edge of the building I slowly stood back up. I could see I had a clear path to the ground below, and I knew it was my best chance for escape.

I was about to jump when I heard a moan in the room behind me. I looked back through the flame and smoke. All I saw was the shadow of someone outstretched on the floor, and that lone image filled me with hope. The first thing to catch my eye through the smoke was the outline of red hair; it was without doubt Rose. Suddenly all fear and caution left me as I ran to her aid.

I bent down and gathered her body up of the floor. Her eyes were closed, and she seemed cold and limp. The color was gone from her face and she felt clammy to the touch, yet life had not yet completely left her. Breath was still within her lips. As I brushed her singed hair away from her face, her eyes opened suddenly, and a smile stretched across her pale expression. Normally this would not have been cause for concern, but those eyes and that smile were not her own, and when she spoke it was her voice I heard, but not her spirit.

"Gurth goth lle Nwalmaer"

Red eyes shone as she reached her hands up and grabbed hold of my neck. I quickly grasped her vice like hands and freed myself from their harsh grip. When I released her she fell back down to the floor, but soon with a renewed hatred came to her feet and lunged forward; strange eyes fixed solely on me. Her garments were torn and hanging about her in an awkward fashion. Small sections of it even began to catch fire as she moved through the flames unaware and uncaring.

I feared that Rose had met the same fate as the two rangers, and that from this unnatural death there would be no return.

I feared that Rose had been wholly consumed by the darkness.

I drew my sword and readied it to defend myself. When she came at me again I hesitated, and sheathed by blade. She looked and felt just like Rose, and I didn't know if I could slay her, even in defense.

Again she grabbed at my throat and tried to push me to the ground. At this point I drew my sword out of pure instinct and cut straight into her side, but again I hesitated, and I was unable to follow through with a complete blow. She fell backward onto her knees and let out a mortally painful cry of fear. At that moment I looked down at her side, and saw an ever growing red stain permeating her gown.

She was bleeding.

She was not like the others after all.

She sat there on the ground looking up at me with heart wrenching tears in her eyes as she tried to speak.

"Feaestel, I'm so sorry…please, help me…please."

I dropped my sword in shock.

"What have I done?"

Then suddenly, as if a covering had been lifted from my eyes, I saw the image of Thuringwethil smiling at us; dimly veiled in a shroud of darkness and smoke.

"Leave her!!"

I commanded.

"Leave her!! You have no dominion here. Leave!!"

She laughed as her dark presence left the room. Rose's body became still, and the tormented expression left her face.

All I could do now was hold her as the blood continued to flow.

To be continued…

Sorry it's been such a long time since my last update. School and theater take up a lot of time…and so does writing…and they often conflict. Thanks for hanging in there.