Author's note:
First of all thank you so much to those of you who reviewed; it's really nice when people take the time to do so. I hope you continue to enjoy my story.
Vilya: Glade to hear you're enjoying it so far. Don't worry the possibility of an Elrond/OC has not escaped me. I'm still toying with the idea and am really waiting to see where the story ends up taking me.
Angela: I'm happy that you enjoyed my little explanation of my Rocs. Just thought it would be nice to give you some background info instead of just launching into the story with the reader knowing nothing of what is going on in my mind.
I am also happy to announce that from now on there will be many characters from LOTR coming into the story.
I'll try and update as regularly as possible and if I do mange to I will most likely update on a Tuesday so check back then.
Disclaimer:
I do not own Lord of the Rings or any of the places, characters, items, etc associated with it. I am not making any money from this piece of fiction and am merely borrowing these places and characters to place in a new situation for you and my amassment.
However, the Rocs, the City of Cirus, Aquila, Pandion, Audax and any other characters, weapons, places, etc associated with the Rocs are my own creation and I lay full claim to them.
Two
Trouble
As dawn broke and the rising sun warmed Aquila's back the vast ocean before her caught the sun's rays and glittered. Warmth spread through her as she remembered days long lost to her. It had been a long time since she had seen the sea. However as the beach drew closer clouds drifted across the sun and coloured the scene a dull grey. A sense of foreboding crept through Aquila. Her keen eyes scanned the bleak shores and widened in horror. The beach was littered with carcasses, birds, fish, animals and some other creatures she did not recognize. Desperate to find out more she circled lower with every intention to land until one of the creatures started to move. She halted her decent and hovered as she watched this strange creature haul itself up the beach. It was covered with seaweed but she could clearly see that it's front feet, or hands, were webbed. She also noticed gills on its neck. Yet somehow the creature was gasping in air, almost as if it were learning to breath… The thought hung in Aquila's mind no longer than a few seconds before she flapped her wings and headed east. 'It can't be, it just can't. Who can I go to? I don't even know what allies we have left.' She thought to herself. Then her father's sturdy voice floated through her mind, accompanied with a memory from her childhood… Soft light flowed over the beautiful haven, built as if it had grown with the forest; gentle creeks and waterfalls soothed the soul. It was the most peaceful, yet somehow powerful place she had ever been too. She stood beside her father's strong frame, his hand on her shoulder as they awaited the arrival of their host. They did not have to wait long as one of the most beautiful but certainly wisest creatures she had ever seen glided gracefully towards them. He smiled warmly at her father before turning his grey blue eyes to her. She remembered seeing years long since gone in those eyes. Her father then held out a hand to the Elf before him and turned to look down at his daughter. "Aquila, this here is Elrond. He is Lord of Imladris and a very old and dear friend of mine, we have seen many years come and go." Elrond smiled warmly before Audax continued. "If you ever find yourself in danger you may go to him for assistance for he will forever be friend to our people." "Yes, my home is your home…" There was more but Elrond's voice faded along with the memory as she turned to head for Rivendell. 'I shall go to Elrond. If he won't help, no one will.' Even her thoughts were not sure of themselves though.
Aquila flew as fast as her wings could carry her, however the air current she was riding ended and she was forced to fly lower in order to catch a new one. As she flew the sun continued to climb ever higher in the sky and she knew time was against her. As she looked down upon the unfamiliar landscape flowing beneath her she noticed hunched dark figures, clumped in small groups heading towards what looked like a small village. As she looked from the village and its occupants back to the dark figures she realized they were significantly larger. She looked as confused as her eagle features allowed and swooped lower for a closer look.
'Funny, I could have sworn they were Orcs' she thought to herself and as she gazed harder her eyes widened. 'They are Orcs but that would mean…' She looked back at the tiny figures desperately trying to defend their village against the attack. Though to Aquila it didn't look like an attack, it was too disorganized and the Orcs seemed frantic. It was if they were trying to escape from something and were simply killing all in their path. 'Those villagers can be no more than children from their size. Where are all the adults?' she wondered. As she looked at the chaos below her the warrior in her took over and she swooped down to aid the villagers in their defense.
Frodo was lying in the sun outside his home when he first heard the cries.
"Orcs! Help! Orcs are attacking!"
"Orcs? What are Orcs doing out here?" Frodo wondered as he got to his feet. He hurriedly scrambled to the top of a nearby hill and turned in the direction of the cries. He couldn't see anything except for clouds of dust rising but he knew something was defiantly wrong.
"Mr. Frodo"
Frodo jumped at the unexpected addition of another voice but breathed a sigh of relief as he looked upon Sam.
"Sam," he smiled, "boy am I glade to see you"
"What's going on Frodo? Something bad is happening, isn't it?"
"I'm not sure Sam but I intend to find out." Frodo hurried down the hill in the direction of the commotion, Sam in tow. As soon as they reached the bottom and started down the path towards the cries he heard footfalls approaching from behind.
"Frodo!" The familiar voice of Pippin reached his ears. Frodo stopped and turned to see Merry and Pippin running down the path towards himself and Sam. He couldn't help but smile at the light of adventure present in their eyes.
"What's going on Frodo?" Merry asked, genuinely concerned.
"Yeah, we heard someone yelling about Orcs and then a whole bunch of Hobbits ran that way," Pippin pointed down the path behind him, "so we figured the danger must be this way." He pointed down the path before them, ending up with his arms crossed over each other. Frodo tried to hide his amusement at his friend's antics as Merry continued while Pippin untangled himself.
"Do you think there really could be Orcs in the Shire?"
"If there are I'll make them wish they'd never set foot here!" Sam added passionately.
"Now let's not run head long into anything here" Frodo said calmly while drawing Sting.
"You're right" Pippin added, also drawing his sword.
"Let's go see what's going on" Merry finished as both himself and Sam drew their swords.
The four Hobbits crept as quickly and quietly as possible down the path until they could clearly see what was causing the trouble. A group of ten or so Orcs were ransacking and slaughtering as they made their way up the same path the four friends were on. The Hobbits knew they were outnumbered but they also knew they had to defend the Shire. They charged down the path, swords raised as well as voices. The Orcs looked up from their disorganized mayhem and prepared to meet their attackers. The two parties met with a clash of swords and trading of blows. The Hobbits quickly realized just how outnumbered they were but they weren't about to give up. Merry and Pippin slew an Orc each before they were separated from Frodo and Sam. As Frodo raised Sting to finish off an Orc another one knocked him to the ground.
"Frodo!" Sam cried out as he ran to his side. Instinctively he knelt beside Frodo and covered him with his own body protectively.
"Sam!" Frodo protested but before he could get anything else out a blinding white light flashed before their eyes. Once the light had faded and their eyes had adjusted the two saw a strange sight indeed. What appeared to be a half human, half eagle creature was fighting off the Orcs.
"What…" Frodo started but couldn't find the words to finish.
"It's an angel. She's come to save us." Sam whispered excitedly. Frodo looked up at Sam then at the creature before him, completely baffled.
No sooner had Aquila reached a suitable height she transformed into her Half form, in a blaze of light, and dropped to the ground. She landed gracefully and drew Silmar from the scarf about her waist, all in one fluid motion. With one sweep she took out an Orc about to attack Sam and Frodo. She then spun around and swept Silmar in an arch, relieving two Orcs of their heads. Three more attacked her, she sent one flying, with some nasty gashes across its belly, with a swift kick. The second she clashed swords with and with a flick of her wrist sent the Orcs weapon flying. The Orc then threw a punch at her face, only to find she'd dodged it. A quick elbow to the stomach and a slice from her sword across the Orc's neck brought it to the ground; blood flowing from it's wound. The third she finished with a sword thrust to its gut, driving the blade deep before pulling it out. She then turned to see Merry and Pippin had finished off the last two Orcs in the bunch. A quick scan of the area produced no more Orcs so Aquila wiped her blade clean on the grass before thrusting it back into the scarf about her waist.
"Well that wasn't much of an attack," Merry muttered to Pippin.
"I don't think they were attacking with reason or purpose," Aquila said as she walked towards them. The two Hobbits raised their swords warningly and took a step back. Aquila stopped as she realized they were unnerved by her presence.
"I mean you no harm. You can put your swords away, I have done so with mine." She smiled warmly at them. Merry turned to Pippin. Pippin shrugged his shoulders and sheathed his sword, Merry followed suit.
"Sorry about the suspicion. It's not everyday someone such as yourself drops from the sky to help us out" Merry commented, looking her up and down.
"Who are you anyway?" Pippin questioned more bluntly. Before Aquila even had a chance to open her mouth Sam rushed forward.
"Can't you see? She's an angel, she came to save us." Sam gazed up at Aquila in wonderment. She chuckled lightly and smiled warmly down at him.
"I'm no angel. I just saw trouble and couldn't help myself."
"But you came from the sky and then there was a flash of bright light and…" Sam stopped, looking confused.
"I told you she wasn't an angel Sam" Frodo said, smiling as he walked over to them. He too looked up at Aquila with a profound wonderment but not for the same reason Sam had. "You're a Roc aren't you?" He whispered.
"How did you…?" confusion written all over her face. It quickly melted away and she smiled and nodded once. "I am. In fact I'm Aquila, Princess of the Rocs." She curtsied slightly in greeting, just as she'd been raised to do.
"Well it's an honor to meet you, I can think of a number of others who would love to be here to witness this. I'm Frodo Baggins and these are my friends Meriadock Brandybuck, Peregrin Took and Samwise Gamgee." He pointed each one out as he went.
"You can call me Merry for short." Merry said stepping forward.
"And all my friends call me Pippin so you can call me Pippin too" Pippin added swiftly, not to be left out.
"You may call me Sam, if you like" Sam added shyly.
Aquila smiled at their friendly enthusiasm.
"Well 'tis a pleasure to meet all of you. However," she turned her attention back to Frodo, "I can't help but wonder how you knew I was a Roc. You look far too young to have been around when we were and unless you're immortal…"
"I'm not immortal" Frodo cut her off, laughing merrily "I just have a hunger for stories. My Uncle Bilbo was in possession of several Elvin scripts and one of them spoke of the Rocs. It said very little about them but the idea of this lost race fascinated me. So when we traveled to Rivendell I took the time to ask the Elves about Rocs. They told me everything they knew and you just happened to fit their description."
Aquila looked impressed.
"Then you are neither humans, nor children are you?"
"Children? We're not children" Pippin said indignantly.
"Well it's just that…" Aquila managed before being cut-off.
"We're Hobbits thank you, Halflings if you prefer." Merry stated folding his arms across his chest.
"Well that would explain your stature but I'm afraid I've never heard of Hobbits" she shook her head in confusion.
"A lot of people haven't heard of Hobbits" Sam muttered, Aquila smiled at him and he blushed.
"What I don't understand is," Frodo began after a moments silence " I thought the Rocs left Middle Earth?"
"No. We never left. We said we were only to quell the anger of Men but we never truly left. We just hid ourselves away where no one would find us."
"Until now" Pippin said with a smirk.
"With all due respect, you did not find me. I found you." She smirked back.
"Good point" Merry muttered to Pippin and they both nodded.
"Speaking of which, why did you find us?" Frodo asked, intrigued.
"I didn't come here specifically to find you or any Hobbits for that matter. I was on my way to Rivendell when I saw you could use a hand so I flew down. I have already wasted so much time…" she was starting to sound anxious.
"Why are you off to Rivendell in such a hurry?" Frodo asked, concerned.
" I really have run out of time to explain but if you would like to come you'll find out when I discuss it with Lord Elrond…hopefully."
"A trip to Rivendell sounds great. What'd ya say Frodo?" Merry was nearly bursting with excitement.
"Well I'm not exactly busy and it would be nice to see Bilbo again…sure why not" a huge smile graced Frodo's lips. "Pippin? Sam?"
"Try and stop me," Pippin said excitedly.
"I shall have to tell Rosie where I'm to be headed but I'd most certainly like to take a more relaxed trip to Rivendell."
"It's settled then. I'll go get the ponies…" Merry began.
"Ponies?!" Aquila cried out in disbelief "We have no time for ponies, they'll only slow us down"
"Well it'll be faster than walking" Merry looked and sounded terribly confused.
"Who said anything about walking?" Aquila raised an eyebrow and cast her eyes over the four Hobbits "We're going to fly"
"Fly?" Pippin said in disbelief.
Frodo laughed with joy and excitement. "We're going to fly to Rivendell, all of us?"
"Sure are but let me lay down the ground rules before we take off because once in my Eagle form I won't be able to talk to you, only nod and shake my head."
All four Hobbits nodded in unison.
After ensuring the Hobbits of their safety, reminding them to hold on at all times and after Sam had said a quick farewell to Rosie they were ready to go.
"Alright once I transform, climb up on my back and hang on tight." She smiled briefly before a flash of white light enveloped her form and as it faded she was revealed in her Eagle form. The Hobbits all stared open mouthed as she lowered her body and motioned for them to climb onto her back. Merry was the first to make a move. He quickly scrambled up onto her back before leaning down to help Pippin up, who was close behind him. Frodo pulled himself up next, with Merry and Pippin's help. Finally an uneasy Sam was lifted up. He seated himself and gripped Aquila's feathers tightly.
"Hobbits weren't meant to fly you know" he said uneasily. Frodo chuckled and sat next to him, placing an arm about his shoulders.
"It'll be alright Sam"
After she had felt all four Hobbits settle themselves upon her back she flapped her wings a few times to stretch them. She then beat them hard and leapt into the air, her powerful wings lifting her body into the sky. She flew high and smiled to herself as she listened to the Hobbits chatting wildly about flying up so high. She then busied herself flying this way and that in search of an air current to take them to Rivendell. She dropped suddenly as she felt the presence of just the kind of current she wanted. Sam gripped her feathers tighter.
"What is she doing?" he protested. Merry turned to answer him.
"She's looking for an air current. Birds use them to travel huge distances using very little energy. Kind of like taking a boat down a river instead of walking along its bank. That's right isn't it?"
Aquila nodded as she slipped into the fast flowing air current.
"I think I like flying even less than I do boats." Sam grumbled.
Aquila spread her wings wide and the winds swept them off towards Rivendell.
To be continued…