Thanks for the reviews! I received one that asked if Legolas still loved Anarion (one of many questions, mind you) and they made an excellent point: why did Legolas fall for her anyway? For example- she was never kind to him and they only met three times.
Hm. Very, very true. I happen to think my character Anarion was a bitch, and still is- as you can tell. She is always strict with her (sister's) children, and she seems very prejudice. A non-social butterfly if you will.
Please bare with me, people, I have this thing planned out (most of it anyway). I will say this about her: Anarion is a sensitive person as you have read in her records and even in the third-person sections. Her only defense of protecting her heart and sanity (she doesn't have much...hee hee) is to push away others from getting too close, save for the few people she actually trusts enough to care for (Elrohir, Arwen, Elrond, and the kids). It's not that she hates and fears love and Legolas, it is that she just doesn't trust the two put together.
So here me be...
Disclaimer: Don't own anything the Man-man has created in that brilliant head he had. God bless Tolkien.
Ch.9
oooooooooooos
S.R. 5039 Early Spring
The small band of Elves stopped to give their horses a rest and to eat a bit of waybread. The twins wished to give their horses some water in a nearby river, and so Anarion agreed. She decided to go with them, to get away from the others, but- unfortunately- they had an escort to follow.
Roquen, the self-appointed leader of their group, was never far from the family of three- especially the young aunt. He was the Elf who followed to the river to be sure the surrounding area had no danger.
Aratan scowled as they walked and looked behind to see Roquen gazing at the back of Anarion. Thank Eru auntie is wearing thatstrange, oldcloak, Aratan thought, or I would fear his eyes were moving lower than isproper...
The elfling huffed and continued walking his horse to the river, occasionally sending glares to Roquen. Once they got there, their escort left to search for the supposed dangers and left the family to themselves.
Aratan took watched the Elf disappear into the trees, then his eyes snapped to his aunt and sister. "I don't like him." he said, stiffly.
Aniron scoffed and rolled her eyes at her twin. "I do not understand why you dislike anyone who is curious about our aunt." Her eyes turned dreamy and she looked up at Anarion. "You need to find a husband, then those nosy fools like Roquen can disappear forever."
The harpist shook her head, and brushed her gray horse's shoulder. "Then what would my husband say about the care of you and your brother? Would he not want my time as well?"
"Of course, but I am willing to sacrifice for love." Aniron said, and pointed at her aunt. "You should too." That stung more than it should have.
"I happen to find my current marital status quite agreeable." Anarion said, trying to cover her unease at the advice.
Aniron sighed, as Aratan laughed. "Auntie I suppose we are a blessing in disguise, for if any man sees you, then sees us and our resemblance to you, they will stray far from your side."
"Or it is a curse." Aniron said, tightly, as her twin began to laugh even more. "I wonder if Aunt Nari has ever loved?" I was a question directed to the harpist, of course.
Anarion smiled and said, "Once. But nothing ever came from it. We- I was wrong for him."
Aniron's eyes widened, and she was about to speak, but Aratan interrupted by getting on his horse and spoke. "Auntie, may I go for a ride?" he asked. "I promise to be back in ten minutes."
The elder eyed him carefully. "You have your knife? Your bow? Then be back in exactly ten minutes."
"Will do, Auntie." he called over his shoulder, as his horse reared and bolted into the woods.
"He is such a pansy." Aniron said to her horse, hotley. The white beast snorted her agreement.
Oooooooooooo
An hour later neither Aratan nor Roquen returned. The sun was setting at great speed, and not even the other five Elves traveling with them appeared. The two she-Elves waited at the river for their companions, and as they waited, they felt the chills of disaster shooting up their spines; something was wrong.
Anarion grew beyond merely worried to absolutely terrified. With her patience gone, she told her niece to get on her horse; they were going to find Aratan.
Her nephew was many things, but he did not disobey his elders- especially his aunt- and that was likely why they feared for his well-being so.
The two rode around the surrounding forest until the last few minutes of light were fading. They circled back to the river, with the notion to set up camp, but they forgot that plan when they saw Aratan seated peacefully on a rock near the river.
"Aratan!" Aniron shouted as she and her aunt rode up. Anarion dismounted and stepped over to him. Anger was flashing in her eyes, and she felt terrible relief bursting in her blood, giving her the desire to empty her stomach.
"Where have you been? Do you know how much we worried?" She nearly shouted it. Anarion was shocked that her nephew did not shoot up and say some excuse; he merely sat completely still.
"Aratan, answer me right this..." Her voice faded as she saw how tightly he clutched his leg, shaking. Was that blood? No, no it must be water. "Aratan?" she said, quietly.
Aniron raced forward and shouted at her brother. "You great idiot! We searched high and low for you, but now you are just going to sit there and say nothing...?" She, too, stopped speaking.
In a voice that was not his own, Aratan spoke. "My horse was attacked. He is dead." Now he turned to his sister and aunt with eyes that scared them to their very bones. "They were too busy with my horse to chase me, but they will return. We have to leave."
Aniron found her voice first. "W-we are not leaving the others. And who killed your horse?" She may have sounded calm, but she didn't look it.
"Aniron," Anarion said, as she stepped up to inspect her nephew's leg. "Get my horse and mount your own."
"What? You are just going to leave the others here?"
"Now, Aniron!" Her aunt's tone was quick and frightened. The Elven-girl had never heard her aunt speak like that before, with such terror. It surely terrified Aniron.
With her niece fetching the two horses, Anarion wrapped Aratan's arm around her neck and helped him stand on his good leg. "Come, Niqui." she said, and her gray horse trotted forward and kneeled. As an Elven-bred horse, he knew many things, so when he saw the scene he did what his instincts told him: kneel to aid the injured.
With her nephew on her horse's back, she helped the beast get to his feet, and she readied to pull herself up. Aniron suddenly cried out from the back of her mare and Anarion turned to look at her niece who was pointing into the trees behind her.
Anarion followed her niece's finger and- in the bushes- she saw amber eyes glowing at them, like a wolf's. She felt like freezing as a deer might, but instead she pulled herself into the saddle, slowly, and wrapped her arms around Aratan to hold the reins; all the while she held the creature's gaze.
She didn't know many things about the wilds and the animals in it, but she did know one thing: never turn your back to a wild predator, and never be swift in your movements. Anarion was glad for their horse's intelligence, or they surely would have bolted and have them killed.
"Keep the horses turned towards the beast in the trees until the last possible moment, Aniron." Her niece looked like a petrified rabbit, but when she heard her aunt speak, she nodded and followed Anarion's instructions.
The creature was inching out of the bushes now, and it knew they were going to run; but that didn't matter, as long as they could make the flight.
The horses snorted to keep the creature at bay for several moments more, but it hardly helped. The night was dark, but thanks to their keen eyes the two she-Elves saw that the animal was almost as large as a man and was covered in fur; it was also crouching to attack.
"Run." Anarion whispered in Elvish, and the horses bolted into the trees.
Oooooooooooo
Uh-oh. Cliffie. I'll get the next chapter out as soon as possible, alright? Any questions, just write a review please. Any flames, good job's, or comments send them my way.
Thanks.
