Chapter 3
Even the Most Alert Falter

Lord Elrond had deemed it necessary to send out scouts before the departure of the Fellowship of the Ring to ensure the safety of its travelers. He told the Fellowship to take advantage of this time and rest, for it would be many days and nights before they would again rest peacefully.

Already a month had the Fellowship stayed in Rivendell without sign from the scouts. Aragorn and Legolas had set out just three days before to scout the area around Rivendell. At that time, Auranor, being the elf she was, demanded that she be allowed to go out as a scout. Elrond told her that it was best for her to stay in Rivendell. But Auranor would have none of it. She knew she would soon have the opportunity to begin avenging her parent's deaths, but was far too eager for her own good to begin the task. She stubbornly insisted on going, and Elrond finally gave in.

Elrond, however, was a wise elf, and thought it possible that Auranor may realize her fault in leaving. Through his gift of foresight, he knew that there was a risk, but hoped no harm would befall her, Nonetheless, he thought she could use a lesson in the danger of being too eager. So, Auranor went. She said that she would not stray too far from Rivendell, and would return in a few days time. Lord Elrond watched as she departed, hoping she would return safely with a new respect for and understanding of taking vengeance. He sighed and turned back to his study as Auranor disappeared from his vision.

The she-elf rode hard into the wilderness on her brown stallion Moragil. Her sword and knife were secured in their sheathes, and some lembas bread was stowed in a small pouch on her belt. She journeyed west towards the Weathered Hills, hoping to make her way to the only forests where the athelas plant was known to grow. She knew Nestellon needed to refill his stock and thought it wouldn't be a bad idea to gather some extra for the journey ahead. Of course, all the while, she would be watching for spies of the enemy.

Auranor was four days out from Rivendell, and nearing her destination. Moragil was one of the fastest horses she had ever ridden, and it felt as if she was flying through the forest on his back. The trip should have taken six days by foot but the speed of the strong horse got the elf to her destination much faster. Moragil brought Auranor south of the Weathered Hills and the East-West Road to a patch of woods. It was November, and the trees were almost naked of leaves. She dismounted the horse and stood before the wilderness. Within those woods lay the plant that she searched for, but the growth was too thick for Moragil to follow.

She turned to her horse and patted his head. "Well, my friend, I must go where you cannot follow. It is far too thick in there for you to go. I must go alone." The horse looked at his master with understanding eyes. "You should not stay here though, for you may be caught. Go where you please, but meet me back here in three hours time. If something was to happen and I do not return by then, return to Rivendell." Auranor grabbed a small leather pouch from the saddle bag and tucked it in her boot. She stroked Moragil's mane a final time, then sent him off. Auranor stood with the great woods before her. She took a deep breathe and entered the brush.

On she walked, through the undergrowth. With each step she took, the trees grew in thicker around her, and the world became dark. Auranor drew her sword, Dinenumarth, and began hacking at the jagged bushes. The plants seemed to know her intentions with the sword, and fought back, clinging and grabbing a hold of her skin with their thorns. But she did not care, and fought back harder. On and on she went through the darkness, not knowing if and where she would emerge.

Just when she thought she would give up and turn back, she caught a glimpse of light through a bush in front of her. Auranor made her way toward the light, hacking and chopping as she went. Finally, she sliced through the last bush, and walked out into the light. She entered a large clearing, encompassed by the little light that the dismal, cloudy day would allow. She stopped there and was quiet. She could feel the spirits of nature around her. It was as if they were warning her of something, but she knew not what. She looked up at the dark gray clouds and could smell rain on the air. Ignoring the warning, she went on quickly to find what she sought.

She walked quietly into the clearing, searching for the athelas plant. She turned her head to the left, and a few feet in front of her, she spied a small cluster of white flowers. "At last," she thought, "the athelas." She made her way to where the weeds lay rooted into the ground. Auranor knelt down beside the plant and drew her knife, Torhathol. She grasped the plant at its base, and sliced it from its roots. She then removed a leather pouch from her boot and took from it, a small, slightly oiled leather cloth. Carefully, she wrapped the athelas in the cloth, and replaced it in the pouch. She continued to do this for each athelas plant she saw surrounding the first. At one point, she stopped to listen. She thought she heard someone breathing and the crunch of footsteps on the ground. She looked around and, seeing nothing, continued on with her work.

As she bent over to remove the last plant from the ground, she heard the sound again, only closer. She sat there, bent over, listening. Suddenly, a large foot stepped down on top of the plant she was tending to, crushing it and almost her hand. Auranor raised her hear to look at the owner of the foot. Standing before her was a small battalion of twelve orcs.

"Well, well boys, what do we have here?" said the orc who almost crushed her hand. She could tell he was the leader by his authoritative attitude and overwhelming ugliness.

"Heh, heh, heh…looks like a she-elf to me Boss, and one that we caught off guard," said one of the orcs. He looked like a wagon had run over the center of his face, and his eyes were deformed.

"No, Shagog, it's a Halfling," said the leader sarcastically. "Of course it's a she-elf!" he bellowed. The other orcs looked at Shagog and laughed hysterically. "Now the question is what shall we do with her…or rather…to her?"

"I say we hang her by her neck and cut off each of her fingers and toes one by one," suggested a one eyed orc with a sneer as he stared Auranor in the eye. The rest of the orcs jabbered in approval.

Then an orc with melted looking skin over one eye and a missing ear proposed another idea. "No, no. We should grease her up and hang her out for the wargs." Again, the rest of the orcs nod and ramble in agreement.

All the while, Auranor sat hunched up against a large oak tree behind her, trembling and pondering her odds of survival. She observed the orcs as they argued over her torture and demise. There were ten of them, but they all seemed to be as dimwitted as trolls, except the leader. He seemed to have at least half a brain unlike the rest of them who had no brain at all. Auranor knew that she need to do something, fast.

"…But why feed her to the wargs when we can just eat her ourselves?" asked one of the orcs. "Aye! Fresh food!" cried all of the orcs in jubilation. "Meat is back on the menu boys!" the leader exclaimed.

"I couldn't agree better myself!" Auranor cried as she jumped up, drew her sword, and swiftly sliced off the head of the orc standing closest to her. She stood there, ready to fight with her sword poised between her and the enemy, as the orc's head rolled to the ground and the body crumpled into a heap upon the grass. The rest of the orcs eyes stared from Auranor to there fallen comrade and back to her again. The entire clearing was silent. Auranor could see the rage building in the eyes of the remaining orcs. They started to breathe heavier and their faces contorted with anger.

"I do not fear you," she coaxed them. "Come and get me." Auranor smirked at them and dashed around the tree. The entire assembly of orcs charged after her with a thunderous war cry. She ran swiftly, constantly changing her direction, and having no problem splitting up the orcs. Once she had thoroughly confused all of them, she doubled back, retracing her steps to find them one by one.

The first orc she encountered was entirely confused. It circled around in place, expecting something to attack it from every direction, and jumping at every slight noise it heard. Auranor grinned at the sight. "This one will be easy," she muttered to herself. She stealthily snuck up on it, using the trees for cover as she made her way. She stooped behind a small maple tree about ten feet away from the orc. The elf placed her hand on the ground to keep her balance, and felt a small stone lying under her palm. She grasped it in her hand, picking it up to look at. A large smirk appeared across her mouth as she looked from the rock to her still confused victim. 'I can at least have a little fun,' she thought to herself.

Auranor hurled the rock at the orc, and it hit it right on top of its bald head. It sprung into the air in shock and fear. Rubbing its head with one hand and holding its sword in a death grip with the other, it circled around faster, peering off into the woods around him.

"Wh-… who… who's there?" it shakily inquired. She could hear the panic in its voice.

"Your worst nightmare!" the elf bellowed as she revealed herself from hiding. She charged the terrified orc, sword at the ready, and with one strong hack, the orc was sprawled upon the ground, dead before he knew what was happening.

"You never had a chance," Auranor said with a laugh as she stared down at his dead corpse, shaking her head at him in disappointment. She then traveled on, searching for the next orc. Before long, five more orcs lay slain in a similar way, not one of them prepared for the surprise attack.

Feeling pretty confident, Auranor slyly continue on to find the remaining six orcs. She knew she was a good fighter, but was not arrogant about it. However, when the need called, she could get the job done quickly and correctly.

Before long, she heard voices not too far ahead of her. Auranor could tell it was the enemy by their gruff, frustrated tone. She could hear them walking in her direction, so she crouched down behind a tree, as she had done before. Auranor waited there silently for them to appear. She knew that all six of the remaining orcs had found each other and kept in their group because she could hear six pairs of feet tramping heavily on the dirt towards her.

Finally, she could see them nearing her hiding spot. All six of them were walking very cautiously with their battle worn swords drawn. Auranor knew this time was not going to be as easy as the others.

"Where is that wretch Grazgor? I want to rip her to pieces!" Shagog declared to the leader.

"Be quiet you moron or she will hear you!" harped Grazgor. Auranor smiled to herself, knowing the irony in his statement.

"I need a breather Boss. We have been on the run forever," grumbled an orc with a huge, crudely mended scar slice down the left side of his face. "My legs are tired. I could use some food too."

"Us too," agreed the rest of the orc company.

"Fine then, you get five minutes, and five minutes only. We are sitting targets if we stop. So if you see her, sound the alarm and kill her on the spot," Grazgor agreed, reluctantly, yet thankfully, seeming as if he could also use a break.

One orc with a half upturned nose and one eye sewn shut started walking toward the tree Auranor was hiding behind. She took a deep, silent breath, preparing to attack if it caught sight of her, but it turned its back on the tree as he approached and sat on the ground, leaning against it. Silently she let out that breath, thankful that the orc didn't attack. Then, an idea occurred to her. She smiled slyly to herself and made ready to carry out her plan. Auranor quietly drew Torhathol, and ran her thumb across the edge of the blade. She took a deep breath and peaked around the side of the tree.

The five other orcs were occupied searching for a small woodland creature they could make a fast meal out of, but the one who sat at the tree was still there. Opportunity had knocked on her door, and Auranor took it. She stealthily moved out from behind the tree. Elves could walk more silently than the most cautious of deer. She glided around the tree and was in clear reach of the resting orc. With a lightning fast jump, she landed behind the orc, and with her hand over its mouth so that its scream couldn't be heard, Auranor sliced a wide, cavernous gash through its throat, then stabbed the long, bloodstained blade of Torhathol through the gap of skin between the collar bone and shoulder blade. The orc's fate was grim and horrific: to bleed to death, slowly and painfully. Auranor removed her hand from its mouth, and resumed her hiding, but high within the branches of a different tree. She could hear the dying orc gurgle as it struggled to obtain the attention of the other orcs, but expired before it could succeed. Only seconds after its last breath, the other orcs learned of his fate.

"Where is that scum? Ashgazmog?" yells one of them. "Hey, Morgul Rat…Ashgazmog…" The inquiring orc turned to see why his companion hadn't answered, and with anger and vengeance emitted a bellowing roar upon seeing the fate of Ashgazmog.

"What?" asked Grazgor as he turned to face the angered orc.

"Ashgazmog is dead, slain he is. Slashed across the throat," was the reply. Grazgor turned to face the tree where the dead orc lay, and was astonished and furious at the sight.

"That she-elf!" it roared. "When I get my hands on her, I'll make her suffer like…like…AAAGGGGGGHHHHHH! Where is she!" And with that, the remaining five orcs drew their swords, and together, let out their war cry. That was it, and she knew it. Auranor knew that she had to be fast and deadly accurate. One mistake and she would be done. Five against one, sure she had done it in the past, but not against five orcs who's rage was worse than that of all of her past enemies combined.

The five stalked through the nearby trees, ready to kill the elf at first sight. She was still hiding high up in the tree, waiting for one to get close enough to drop on top of. She didn't have to wait long. An orc with crater holes all over its face and a deformed lump of flesh on the top of its head walked directly under her tree; a perfect set up directly under her. It paused to look around, and Auranor instantly dropped onto its shoulders. With a swift snap and twist, she broke its neck, and it dropped to the ground. One down, four to go.

Grazgor saw her, and with rage flowing like a crested river through its veins, ran the short distance to where she had landed. Auranor heard it, but could not turn around to face it quickly enough. She felt a hard, solid blow on the back of her head. It began to throb instantly, and her vision became blurred. Auranor tried to shake off the hit, but the last thing she remembered was watching the trees turn sideways as she collapsed to the ground and hearing a violent growl from Grazgor. Then everything was dark.

Response to Reviews

Eathiln- I'm glad you like it! I tried to mix up movie and book to keep it interesting. I've written up to where they enter Moria, but it needs revised because it is pretty boring. Nothing much happens beyond what is written in the book. I need to come up with some new, unique situations that utilize the characters better, but stay true to the original story. I think I'm failing miserably, but we'll see after I post it. Auranor probably wouldn't be accepted there, as many other people have pointed out. I'm still trying to come up with a decent excuse for that, but it's not working too well. For now, I'm going to leave it that it shall be explained later on in the story, as many other confusing and inaccurate things shall. I never thought of Gimli being the only representative for the Dwarves. That is an interesting point. Maybe I'll add another Dwarf later on. I'll have to do some major thinking on that. Dwarves were fickle, and would take that personally. Aragorn would indeed keep an eye on Auranor, but I see him as a vary level-headed character that understands that she can take care of herself and has a great respect for her fighting abilities. He may joke aroundand pick on her like any sibling would, saying that he will have to baby-sit her, but he knows otherwise. They are an equal match, as seen in their friendly combat in Ch. 1. She has just as much skill as he. As for choosing the movie version of the Counsil rather than the book, I know that it took me more than one reading session to finish that chapter because it was so long, boring, and drawn out. I didn't want to do that to the readers, but still wanted to hit the important points, so the movie was the best alternative.Don't worry, you aren't the only one who lives with the book while reading fan fiction. I often look up things to see how accurate they are because I'm a bit of a stickler for the accuracy, except in the case ofadding awoman to theFellowship of course. Al least I'm not the only one who caught on late. Wow! You are certainly a multilingual person! That is something to be proud of. I know English, of course, Latin, a little Spanish and Sindarian, and a few wordsin Italian and French. I'm taking Japanese nextyear, but mind you, I don't know much in any of the languages past Latin. As for Auranor being a great warrior, she isgoodwith sword fighting, but she knows squat about archery, as you will learn later. I'm planningon using that situation for some romantic fuel (oops! that was a peak at what is to come!) I'm gladyour review was long. It gave me some insight.Wow, my response was really long though.Hope you enjoy! Keep reading!

Crecy-Yeah, I tend to write long responses. I'm flattered that people are interested in my story, and want to keep them, interested. I enjoy hearing what people have to say and am more than happy to respond, so I get carried away sometimes. I figure that if they took time to review it, it is only right that I take time to respond. Nestellon wasn't meant to be a harsh character, but it wasn't acceptable for a woman, let alone an elf woman, to be so outgoing, especially in manly subjects such as battle. Many people have pointed that out to me, and I knew that before I started writing, but thought it would be interesting anyway. Don't worry, he isn't really a bad character, and may come to be much more acceptable later on. I'm glad you like Auranor. She is based a lot on myself, as many Mary-Sueish stories are about the author. Keep reading!

PrincessofRain - Hey! I'm glad you continued reading, as well as enjoying! Oh boy, criticizers in packs. Well, I guess I'll just have to dish out stuff better than them. I know now that there are people out there that enjoy what i am writing, so that gave me quite a confidence boost. As long as I know that my story isn't a waste of time, I think I can ignore the criticizers. If they get exceedingly bad, I'll just have to hop through the computer and serve up a nice fresh dish of butt kicking. Yeah, Einstein was definitely a walking brain. He gives me hope because we share the similar problem of failing math class. I find it baffling that he could fail, yet still succeed as he did. But that makes me feel likeI still have a chance to do what I want regardless of my math grades.Tolkien is definitely up there with Einstein. Thanks andkeep reading!