Here is the second last chapter!
Legolas: you mean you can only torture us one more time after this?
No there is going to be a prologue.
Aragorn: Oh.
Elladan: But I am in this one right, pretty please, please, please, please…
OKAY! They get the point, your view point anyway. (Dumb pun intended)
Myliné: This is getting boring for your poor, patient readers, get a move on IT!
Cut to the chase-
Answering to the Threat
Chapter Thirteen: Noon to Twilight
The halls of Rivendell were somber in mood, but heavy in action. Warriors of Rivendell rushed around grabbing bags of rations, strapping weapons and calling for loved ones. It was hard not to be bustled over and stepped on in the midst of the action, so through trial and error, Myliné found safe haven in the corner of the room. She watched as nameless men, or elves, she supposed went over and kissed their wives and said farewells to friends. A surge of sorrow took her. She all had family, she didn't, Aeren, Mom, Dad, my brothers…
She leaned over onto the wall and a shifted her balance to take the pressure off the right side of her chest. Though it was well healed through elven care, the place were an orc's dagger pierced, her still stung and ground pain into her side. She now pitied the Man and Elf, who were going into battle to keep her and the other innocents safe. Myliné wished she could just forget her life and live in peace, here, alone. Every one who cared for her got hurt, or died. She felt her pain and new it was a fraction of what all the others knew.
Myliné decided to banish those dark thoughts for now and she forced a smile as she saw the two brave beings who had journeyed with her to this Imladris. Legolas had all of his supplies shouldered and Estel was swinging his bag up to rest on his back. "Myliné, stay and rest here, we will return once we find and intercept Elladan and Elrohir. We are also hoping to find the orcs and men in charge of these abominations. Don't worry for us though; we always manage to come home in less than four pieces." Legolas raised an eyebrow to her in jest.
"How reassuring, though I know Tinnu and Naur will keep you two safe." Myliné laughed at the two very blank, very vexed faces. "Remember our deal, I lie to my generous hosts who helped me and give me a beautiful place to relax in to cover for you so you can go off and fool around, and I get to name your horses. And go out with you two whenever I want. Ringa-any-bells."
Two slightly more relaxed and understanding faces nodded. "So Dusk and Fire, Tinnu being the elf's and Naur is the roan chestnut I ride." The young ranger's face nodded, "So what is your gelding's name? "Is it Lith, for ash or what? And who helped you with the elvish?"
"He's Roch. I asked the one young healer that comes once a day to check on me." Myliné glanced around seeing the hall starting to empty out to the courtyard.
"You named a horse 'Horse', how hum inventive, 'tis a first in the great stories and ballads of these halls." Legolas was looking at her with an incredulous glance, "You are serious, not bantering with us, right?"
"You don't like it? It thought you would laugh, or show some emotion." Myliné sighed, she could tell if he did not like it, or he was just mostly confused. He turned away shoulders shaking with silent laughter, "Oh, will you um keep them, the names..."
"We made a deal, right." Legolas turned back to face her, "So good bye, Myliné, and make sure that if the two Twins show up without us, you turn them back on their way."
Estel touched her shoulder, "We will be back soon enough, in the mean time, sleep in glorious beds, have warm baths, and eat what ever you desire. I will see you in a few weeks."
"Yes, I will be here relaxing, and you two, or actually just you, will be freezing to death outside again." Estel glared.
"Thanks for the sympathy." The two went out into the courtyard, and took their horses. Estel mounted and gave a quick wave out to her as Legolas gave out orders and briefed the warriors.
"We will ride east past the Ford, and stop for night. I'll send a scout out, as well as go myself to check out the area we will ride into tomorrow, these orcs have a grudgingly adequate ability to pull off ambushes, but they are now trying to fool a party of elves and rangers, they are fools and we will catch them. Remember, any humans, or captain orcs will be preferred alive. I'd like to have a chat with them." He laughed, "Let's ride!"
Myliné backed up to the porch watching them ride. She stumbled when she hit something solid and heard metal hit the floor. A steadying arm held her up; she turned around to see Lord Elrond. Her face colored with a blush as she meekly apologized. "Sorry, you really don't have to put up with people colliding with each other on a daily bases here, hey."
"No, not now, you should have seen Estel when he was young, or even the twins and Legolas." He gave her an appraising look and bent down to retrieve a black handled dagger that had dropped from her dress, still sheathed. "One of Legolas', one of his first, a gift from his mother, to protect himself one his first mission outside of the protected portions of Mirkwood. Do you have the other too?"
Myliné shrugged, and pulled it out to show him. The elven lord's smile increased, "You were given instruction on how to use them, correct." She nodded as he continued, "by the wood elves of Legolas' home, they are the only one's who carried concealed weapons where ever they are. I would not be astonished to find a dagger under Legolas' pillow in his own home."
"If I am not allowed to wear them, I will…" She blushed under his gaze, again. He almost sighed at her. "Estel said there are hot baths, hot springs I am told by others, will you show me where they are?"
"Child, do as you wish, I am told that the chefs are cooking pastry today, though I regret to tell you that I must take leave and go to a council meeting. You should rest your wound as well." He bowed to her and excused himself. His elven voice floated on the breeze, "The baths are to the right of the kitchens."
Myliné bowed to the elven lord, and turned her mind inwards, she did not want to stay here. She was alone, isolated, and she wanted to be with the two men who had helped her in her time of need. She could follow them, they should make some kind of trail, and she wasn't that far behind. Legolas would sense her and wait for her to catch up. If she rode fast, she would not let them get past the first camping spot. Estel, and Legolas, they would be mad, but with the horses, it was not like she couldn't defend herself completely.
Suddenly the muscles in her side spasm, a cruel reminder, that she was not immortal. Well even the elf she traveled with seemed to have a cruel bit of luck. That was her fault, he, they, no one would be getting hurt or dying if it was not for her. She could hear Estel's and Legolas' voices cutting into her thoughts telling her that nothing she could be expected to do would make events play out any differently. She wished that was true.
Walking purposefully to the kitchens, praying that her lie worked, it was not a lie exactly, just and extended suggestion, it she could catch up to the party of warriors. No one besides her would probably have gone to kitchens yet after the hunters left, with luck. She pushed aside the ordinate doors, and immediately grabbed a wrapped pastry and took a bite. One of the bakers smiled.
"Good to taste, lady?" The short, for an elf, cook looked on her with amusement. She grabbed a lock of her long mahogany hair and twirled it in her fingers and nodded at the pleased, gleaming pastry-cook. "You are the friend of Estel and the Prince of Mirkwood?"
"I am," was her simple response.
"I have an extra order of food to give them, lots of goodies and such, to celebrate with the twins should they meet. And I believe Estel never hates having extra rations. Add what you want for yourself on the way there to meet them. Hurry though, so you don't miss them leaving." The chef seemed unaware that they were gone. There was no real need to alter the truth at all. And the bonus of being given a ready to go food sack was nice. Now there was only need to pack some good stuff. Grabbing a couple loaves of bread, some dried meat, and fruit, she went 'hurrying on her way to give it to Estel.' She hoped not to get caught.
Myliné stole back to her rooms with the bulky traveling sack getting uncertain glances from those she passed. She crossed the threshold into the room and went straight to where the few herbs she was left with to control the pain of her injury were. Swallowing a single ground dose, she shuddered, horrible astringent taste. Packing the rest away, she also took fresh clothes, blankets and bandages and put them in another pack. If she did not hurry, she was the party would get to far away, or she was going to become discovered.
Shutting the straps to the two bags she was taking, she hoped to get down to the stables. Her side was beginning to send shot of pain down her stomach with every beat or her heart, and she wished that food wasn't so heavy. Or that she was not foolish enough to be content with what peace life offered her. The more elves she passed the more she hoped to get out of the elven city without being questioned on what she was doing. It she met one of the healers, or even the chef who gave her the food… Seeing one of the back doors to the horse she shot through it, again tackling over an elf, while this one was a woman.
"I am sorry child for getting in your way, though what great haste do you have?" She looked over the bags Myliné was carrying.
'At least none of the straps opened, that would have been, to quote Legolas, a bloody mess.' "I was," she cleared her throat scrambling for a decent lie, "going to a luncheon with my friend I came to see here. I was late, I am sorry for disturbing you." Myliné bowed her head to the elleth, she just learned the word, and said farewell. The she-elf, laughed, and parted through the door, Myliné had just eagerly ripped out of.
The human woman ducked into the unoccupied stable and looked around for Roch. Then a thought struck her, how was she supposed to saddle and bridle him. She had never even really watched the task done before in her entire life. 'Heh, heh, heh, oh for the love of the Valar.' Her expression betrayed her as an elf came into the stables, fortunately one of whom she had not met, she hoped.
"Hello, sir, do you know if you can help me?" The elf walked to her with a charming smile. Myliné smiled herself, knowing that the elf only had probably heard of her, and did not order her back right off.
"I can only respond in action if I knew what it is that you want me to assist you with." The younger looking elf stopped beside the horse of Mirkwood. Roch, snorted.
"Do you have time to uh saddle him for me? I want to go for a short ride," Myliné stopped talking when the elf's eyes went to her two packs, "To picnic with a friend. I'll be forever in your debt."
"Miss, you do not say forever in your debt to an elf, you will in fact live forever. I was told by my friend, I believe a common one to you, Estel, to help you with your horse should you feel the need to go for a short ride once and a while." He started to pulled tack off of shelves and worked with the slightly irate animal.
After a while, and after he had loaded her bags up, he grinned to her, "Do not be too long, it will be lunch soon, and the chef made pastry." He turned and left.
Myliné pulled herself into the saddle, sucking in sharp breaths from putting pressure into the aggravated wound and walked the horse across to the gates, to the bridge. She cantered the horse across it ignoring the one shout of, 'What are you doing?' playing it to deficient human hearing. The horse was being stubborn though, and wanted to go back, but he did not do anything to drastic to get his way. She followed the only path to the East noticing the well-trodden ground by many horse. At least forty horsemen left with Legolas, which was probably the right amount of feet. Not like she was a tracker.
Oh she hoped she would not get lost.
The trees did not whip around in frigid wind, nor did the sun's light place warmth to the world. The patches of light were faded now and it was gloomy in the floor of the forest. A few animals were around, most settled down to sleep, their biological clocks telling them to sleep. The night approached, the stars beginning to show through the sky, but they did nothing to shower light to aid the setting sun. The twilight silhouetted two riders jogging through the bush on tiring mounts.
Elladan glanced ahead on his horse, his sight barely able to discern the trees ahead. This night was exceptionally shadowed, and cold, it left him tense and apprehensive. Elladan did not even have to look to see that his twin, his equal in ability, was just as 'jumpy' as he was. They both knew individually that they were not just being paranoid. The shadowed sense of perception that every elf had a measure of was telling him there was something wrong, and it was west, right where they were going. What were the chances? He glanced around not seeing much of anything warranting attention in the fading light and truly wished to have the acute senses of his friend, Legolas, who where ever he was, could not help Elladan now.
"Elrohir, we are eventually going to meet up with some, say fun. A little ahead, to the west, do you notice the mood of the forest?" Stealing a momentary look to his brother, he saw a disgusted face.
His brother took a while to survey the land around them, knowing the moonless shady light held away most chance to discover trouble before it happened. "I do believe we are taking on some of Legolas' more unpleasant tendencies." Elrohir slowed his horse to a walk. "You know, if we stop now, we can probably make it to Rivendell by tomorrow night and come back with warriors to help us." Elladan decided to slow his seeing the logic in his brother's avowal. There was no point into rushing into a trap, without understanding how to get out of it, or, what it was.
"There is a chance that the orcs and wargs that were prancing around before are deciding to spring another trap for any one passing this way. It is a well known trail to the borders of our realm. Dignitaries and messengers from rangers and other men do often come through this way. Do you think-" Elladan stopped speaking to his brother as Elrohir started to head north away from the path they were riding on, cutting off into the heavier bush.
"Yes Elladan, it would be wise to get off the main road, and hope we are not walking into another misfortune. Personally I can not think of any major cliff faces around this area that would forgo travel unto them with horses." They both headed due north to make a distance between the road and themselves.
Elladan's sense grew increasingly agitated with the malevolent presences that traveled through the evening close to he and his kin. Their company was a hidden elusive danger that was uncertain, never knowing where it was. He felt like a deer, being stalked by a noisy lumbering, but silent hunter. Slowly it faded, he felt almost relieved as it started to move away from him. The ride through the darkening woods was still tense, and they kept themselves vigilant, often passing each other's horses, to keep a changing watch on the different areas of forest around them. The only thing to be heard was the quiet steps of the two weary horses, who had, by that time, lost their vigor, and just had enough liveliness to make themselves walk.
By the time it was black with night, they were sure of their safety, now at least a quarter of a day longer journey to Rivendell though less familiar ground. Elladan vaguely saw spot to camp for the night. Heading towards a clearing, the two men relaxed they would be able to get off the horses and sleep. The elf could already taste the honey bread that he stole from the kitchens when he was forced cook for disturbing his formerly ailing brother. Elrohir still walked with a very slight limp, it was nearly unnoticeable, but it reminded them that they were dealing with no fools. Elladan nodded his head, knowing that his brother would have faith to rest, that they were not going to be attacked that night.
The horses suddenly whinnied and started to shift their weight and pull away from the glade. They nearly reared and shied away from the spot. Acting fast the two Elves slid off the mounts and tried to quiet them. Elladan cupping his horse's throwing head in his left arm and drawing his sword with his right walked into the clearing. They smelt the dying fire and blood before they saw them.
The smell of battle and the sight was unexpected in what was to have been their encampment for the night. Two dead elves and one horse lay there, not more than two hours old. There was no sign of their murderers being near, so the two brothers dared to stay for a moment. The horse had its throat torn away; blood had started to clot before it died. The two elves lay far apart from each other on the clearing one probable fell from the dead horse before both died of arrow wounds, clearly of an orc's quiver. Tracks of a horse followed by three wargs led away farther west of the site.
"Elladan, we can not stay here and give them their farewells to the Halls of the Valar, we can come back to here with the party of soldiers, and take their bodies to our home. The longer we wait the more likely the second horse is to round back leading the orcs to us." Elrohir's face looked from the three dead bodies to the inky darkness. "We can not stay here." He repeated.
"I know, but what direction now? To go back east is a waste of time, and south to the road is just as dangerous as west." Elladan looked around and slipped back up to the unsteady mount and whispered encouragingly to the tired beast.
"I think I am too tired to have the ability to make rational decisions. Let's have us a mix of dangers, southwest it is. If we go any farther north, we will have to traipse over mountains to get back to our home, and I detest heights. Never got over what you did to me when we were elflings." Elrohir's face softened at the two dead people. "We will return for your bodies, brothers…"
Elladan stretched his sword arm and thrust the weapon back into its scabbard. Swinging back onto the calmer horse he whispered a warrior's prayer to the Valar for the two dead souls, and the horse that had born his rider to an unfortunate end.
The two elves rode in silence in the decide direction, trying to sneak through the woods to a spot were they could defend themselves, and rest their animals. They did not mourn for the elves' souls, as the twins could not afford to be caught dozing and be caught by the enemy again. The night was there, but the new moon, the black darkness reflect no light to help them. They were alone.
A noise carried over the din of the trees, the cool air, and now breezy conditions carried sounds for leagues. Loud laughter and hollering, with screams and snarls, echoed faintly through the din. A pain wracked yell was most clear, and it was cut short. Elladan could now tell with evident ability, the enemy was several leagues ahead, and they just killed another person, who was heading for them.
The man stood in the orc camp, disgusted with what he saw. Leering snarls, swearing creatures, the most hideous that the first dark master conformed, the stinking orcs. They were unintelligent, unskilled, and expendable forces, barely competent to use the gift his master had provided for a few of the tribes. His job was to oversee that the orcs had instruction on how to use their gift, those foul wolves, why was he so bleeding lucky. Breeding the wargs in secret with the witch of a master ordering him to take care of the oversized wolves was easier than commanding the stupid creatures with more misshapen flesh than brains.
The horse he had chased down was dead, as well as it's friend and masters. The bloody elves were just sight seeing where his scouts were patrolling, it would be pointless for the presumptuous elves to be alerted to their own slaughter before it was necessary.
One of the sentry orcs was walking towards him with a sneer. "See that pretty piece of brush just right back there." The orc pointed back into a thick copse of trees. "See me and the boys just noticed it appear there. We be betting there be a scout of the pretty little elves. What shall we do seeing as how you'd be claiming charge 'ere?"
The man became angry; the orc was talking loud enough for elves a mile or two away to here. "Shut up and kill the spy for one thing. Do not take it as a prisoner, as it might get away with your men's lack of ability to guard. Kill it cleanly and report to me with its head."
He saw the figure trying to move away, unseen. All it took was one arrow to end that, though the elf made a horrible scream.
Aragorn: You ended the story with an evil person's viewpoint? What the H!
Legolas: And, I was just on the first page!
Myliné: And, I finally got the longest viewpoint! Na Na Na Nah NA!
Elrohir: You humans certainly are acting your age today… (Sarcastically of course)
Elladan: Personally I do not find a quarrel with the authoress write now.
Oh, I will see about that…
Reviewer Responses:
Seiluvar: Thanks for your participation; I will send you the epilogue if you give me an email address, well after the last chapter of my story.
Mornflower: Always thank you, do not know what I would do anymore with out you watching my grammatical back. Don't worry about it if you thought you were late or something, I took forever to get the chapter to you, right! I had the flu too, ouch. Hope you are feeling better!
