A/N: I completely rewrote the last chapter (I found myself agreeing with
Chibi Chingo) sorry but those who have been following this might want to go
back and read over it. *looks at Shaitan innocently* What? *Shaitan raises
eyebrow s.l.o.w.l.y.*
Disclaimer: Lotr is not mine, the book nor film. Damn.
Fine. *Growls at Shaitan* I was too lazy to do an "in a nutshell". Happy?
*Shaitan nods and points to Word Doc*
Fine! I'm starting, I'm starting!
PS. Happy Australia Day! And I'm going with Iluvion. It's the closest to Jluvien and it sounds the most like him, I think. Thanks to all those who put in the other names!
~Eep. That was nearly two weeks ago. It's been that long for me to start this? Damn.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Title: A Place Of Her Own
Chapter: A Waning Of Hope
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Completely canon, hopefully. I don't claim to be a Tolkien expert but I have read the book (albeit over many months on and off), so I'll try not to go into anything I know nothing about.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Moments later they came across a clearing. The entire party was quiet with the horses making no sound with their hooves among the leaves. Nat was unfazed. Iluvion seemed tense, as did most of the elves. Glorfindel alone reminded cool and relaxed.
Nat scoffed at the idea of these . . . orcs. Yeah, these elves were a little weird, granted. But these black skinned, mutated orcs? Please . . .
Nat stiffened as she heard some inhumane yowls that certainly would not have belonged to any animal she had heard of.
She looked ahead to Glorfindel who was silently directing half of his patrol to one side. She looked beyond into a deep gully. She recognised it as the one she had entered on her way to Rivendell, that first day when she had met Iluvion. As her eyes strained to break through the thick bush she saw movement. As her ears grew accustomed to the forest sounds she picked out a clear ring of metal. She shivered as she saw a glimpse of some dark, jagged looking armour.
All of a sudden, Glorfindel wheeled down the side, taking several of his remaining men with him. Three remained behind with Nat who tried to see what was happening below her.
At that moment, the other half of Glorfindel's patrol burst through the bushes from the southern entrance to the gully. There was a terrible scream and both groups disappeared into the bushes.
The leaves rustled, but revealed nothing as to what was happening below. Nat looked to Iluvion who seemed unruffled by the fray beneath.
A last screech was cut off swiftly and a birdcall emanated from the gully. The elves in front moved forward into the canopy and Nat's own horse followed them. Nat looked back at Iluvion fearfully, but he did not notice.
Coming down to meet Glorfindel, Nat saw the gruesome bodies spread on the ground. Their open mouths gaped up at her revealing rows of jagged and rotting teeth. Their hands were curled and gnarled, scrabbling . . . Their dark blood still oozed from their gaping wounds and their dirty mismatched armour struck fear in her heart.
Her horse passed one body that suddenly coughed, the creatures eyes looked up cruelly at her and its mouth broke into a cruel grin as his arm arched back and Nat saw the dagger it held.
A sudden arrow swept past her, thudding duly into the orcs neck. It gurgled and tried to make another half-hearted attempt before being hit with another arrow to the chest. It rolled back, the eyes staring blankly up at Nat, imploring.
Her horse had remained calm throughout and Nat twisted around to find Glorfindel coolly putting his quiver back in its place.
Nat gaped at him. She had never met a killer before. She had never seen death such as this. She had seen cruelty dealt but this was cold hearted and unfeeling. The elves were wandering through the clearing still, thrusting a spear into some of the bodies that littered the serene glade. They did it with some sort automatic movement. A quick pull back, jab hard through the chest, any movement warranting another thrust and then onto the next orc. Her eyes widened slowly as she took in the composed manner of the elves around her.
How could they kill so readily and swiftly? They had no fear or hate apparent. They just . . . killed.
Nat felt a wave of nausea overwhelm her as she fell forward and emptied her hasty breakfast over that last orc.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Dreams of her lost sister haunted her. Over and over she saw rather than she had heard, the little body being pushed under the water. She saw rather than felt the bubbles of air slowly disappearing.
She could see her drunken father and his thick fingers pushing her sister's head down into the cold reaches of the river.
She felt herself falling, and looking up she saw her father's face, not wrathful but full of sorrow and worry.
His features were worn and wrinkles had begun to shape his face to that of an old man. He seemed almost grandfatherly, looking down on her descent and actually caring. She jerked as she thought of that. Her father was a monster and a murderer she told herself.
A monster, a murderer, a monster, a murderer, a monster . . .
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
She woke to find herself back in her room and once more, she was tucked in tight. She squirmed and worked at the sheets until they slowly relinquished their grip.
She moved to sit up when a sudden pain from her chest stopped her. She winced as she prodded her body, checking for the bruises.
She thought back to . . . no, she did not want to remember. She couldn't.
Nat pushed that afternoon's events out of her mind into the closed off section of her memory that she liked to store the past. Forgotten and irretrievable, or so she preferred to think.
She gradually made her way to the wardrobe, and after getting dressed, went to the door and looked into the corridor.
For once, she did not find Iluvion waiting for her, either reading a book while leaning against a pillar or staring reproachably at her with his arms crossed and foot tapping impatiently.
Taken aback, she made her way down to the Hall. The entire House was seemingly deserted. Here and there she saw faceless elves scurry to and fro on nameless errands but she felt lost. She could not find her brother.
All at once afraid, she ran to Elrond's chambers and tried to open the doors. They were locked.
She banged on them anxiously until they suddenly opened.
"Yes?" asked Glorfindel, adamantly.
His huge bulk blocked the way into Lord Elrond's chambers. Nat found herself bouncing around trying to find a way in.
"What's going on? Where is everybody?" asked Nat, irritated by her behavior.
"We are holding an extremely important meeting, and if you will excuse me, I must return to it."
Glorfindel made to close the door in Nat's face, but she stubbornly put her foot in the gap. Glorfindel frowned.
"Do not try to hurt yourself."
"What is going on?" repeated Nat.
"We are having a meeting," replied Glorfindel again.
"About . . .?"
"The orcs, if you must know. It does not concern you so if you would please . . ." Glorfindel subtly slid her foot out of the doorway and closed the door in Nat's face.
Furious, Nat begun a tirade of words that really shouldn't belong in the Halls. She punctuated each sentence with a loud knock on the door. She was left ignored and rejected.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"The orcs are becoming increasingly bold, it will not be long before they begin their dangerous invasion of Eriador."
Elrond looked over his councilors, each weighed up their options, and how they were to produce their own opinions and advice to him. He saw indecision etched on each face . . . except for Glorfindel who had a hard and resolute air.
"They would not dare . . . not against the might of the elves," said Erestor.
"What might?" asked Glorfindel harshly, coming out of his reverie, "The hordes of Isengard are strong."
"Stronger than the elves?"
"I fear it."
Elrond watched them both and then turned to the men he had asked to join them.
"Boromir, you searched wide in your quest for Rivendell, did you come across the force of Saruman?"
Boromir considered this carefully, thinking over his words before he spoke.
"Aye, I saw. But did not know of their master. I wondered often at how they roamed so wide and free. Many a village I saw burned and forsaken on my journey here. They are no ordinary orc . . . I heard some call them the Uruk-hai."
Elrond nodded slowly.
"Yes . . . but what to do? We can let them simply run the land ravage."
"We can barely defend ourselves, my Lord," said Galdor, "The time of the elves wanes. Our strength leaves us. We cannot hope to defend the outer lands of Eriador."
"I would offer the help of Mirkwood, but I fear we too, are besieged with orcs from Mordor."
An argument ensued, involving Aragorn, in defense of the unprotected villages of the land and Galdor, who felt it better that they defend Rivendell.
"What of the Dunedain? We will defend Eriador," said Aragorn.
"You forget so quickly that you shall not be there to lead them, Estel. You have a greater task ahead of you," Elrond cut in.
"The Dunedain are a small force, you cannot hope that they can do what we elves cannot," countered Galdor.
"Enough, Galdor," snapped Elrond, "We are not able to defend all that are threatened, though it grieves me to admit. For a while, we will hold them back through quick raids and ambushes but no more. I have no wish to lose any more men."
"What I am more worried about," began Glorfindel, "Is how they came to that gully which leads to Rivendell. Several other patrols have met forces of orcs coming increasingly nearer to Rivendell. I have reason to believe that they will attack us here first, before going on to other regions of Eriador. Saruman will want to rid himself of any threat."
"The least he could do would be to cut us off from Lothlorien," shrugged Erestor.
"Yes, but so close to Rivendell? He is looking for entry into our Halls."
Elrond rubbed his temples, worried.
"All the more reason to keep the patrols close," said Galdor.
"All the more reason to spread them in hope of catching these patrols before they find us!" argued Aragorn, "If they find the patrols concentrated here, they will surely know where to find us!"
"Saruman already knows where we are!"
"But does he know the entrance?"
The squabble soon became quite heated with the two shouting at the top of their voices.
Glorfindel sighed and caught a sudden movement from the dresser in the corner. He moved towards it quickly, gaining some interest from Elrond.
Bending down he found Thom sitting under it, his hands over his eyes.
"Who is this?" asked Glorfindel, dragging the boy out from under the dresser, "Another of those hobbits, is it?"
"No," said Elrond calmly. He stepped towards Thom and took him out of Glorfindel's arms and sat the boy on a chair.
"This is Natalie's little brother, Thom," said Legolas, quietly.
The elves and men looked to Thom who squirmed in the chair.
"Don't hit me . . ." he pleaded quietly, "Please . .. I won't do it again . . I promise!"
"We will not harm you," Elrond said frowning. Thom slowly uncurled and faced the unsmiling adults.
"Go now, but do not speak of what you have heard," Glorfindel said coldly. Thom jumped off the chair and pushed through the group and rushed for the door, fumbling with the lock and rushing out of the room.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
He ran into the garden and immediately collided with his sister.
"Thom! Where have you been! I've been worried sick!" said Nat, but she soon stopped fussing and noticed Thom's pale face.
"Where have you been?"
"Umm . . ."
"You know you can tell me," Nat said, taking her brother's shoulders and looking into his eyes.
Thom was torn in indecision.
"The blond one said I wasn't to tell anyone . .."
"You can tell me though, right? I'm your sister."
Thom made his decision, his sister needed to know. She had to take care of him, how could she if she didn't know anything?
He told her everything he had heard and saw.
Nat was quiet for a moment.
"Nat?" he asked softly, "Was it ok to tell you?"
Nat nodded and told him to go find the hobbits.
Before he left, Thom gave Nat a quick hug.
"Don't worry, Nat," he said and went off.
Nat sat in silence a while longer, thinking over what she had just been told.
So the orcs were a real threat to this place and they couldn't help anyone else. Elves were supposed to be the protectors of this land, weren't they? Or at least, that's how Nat saw them. They looked over the people and the land, guiding them . . .
**The time of the elves wanes . . .**
Nat shivered.
Those words her brother remembered so strongly . . . she did not like to think that the elves were not as strong as these monsters. The elves were wise and powerful! Nothing could overcome them!
**I have no wish to lose any more men . . .**
Elrond had said that, her brother was sure. What would happen to her and her brother if they broke through? Where could they go since she could not stay here? She knew that she had to find her own kind. It would not be long before these elves grew tired of her. And Thom needed to go to school. Somehow.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
A/N: Okies, so how was that? Sorry it took so long, but it's just that . . . you know how you become so . . . procrastinator-y. I kept putting it off and . . . well. Thanks for being so patient, guys. :D
Disclaimer: Lotr is not mine, the book nor film. Damn.
Fine. *Growls at Shaitan* I was too lazy to do an "in a nutshell". Happy?
*Shaitan nods and points to Word Doc*
Fine! I'm starting, I'm starting!
PS. Happy Australia Day! And I'm going with Iluvion. It's the closest to Jluvien and it sounds the most like him, I think. Thanks to all those who put in the other names!
~Eep. That was nearly two weeks ago. It's been that long for me to start this? Damn.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Title: A Place Of Her Own
Chapter: A Waning Of Hope
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Completely canon, hopefully. I don't claim to be a Tolkien expert but I have read the book (albeit over many months on and off), so I'll try not to go into anything I know nothing about.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Moments later they came across a clearing. The entire party was quiet with the horses making no sound with their hooves among the leaves. Nat was unfazed. Iluvion seemed tense, as did most of the elves. Glorfindel alone reminded cool and relaxed.
Nat scoffed at the idea of these . . . orcs. Yeah, these elves were a little weird, granted. But these black skinned, mutated orcs? Please . . .
Nat stiffened as she heard some inhumane yowls that certainly would not have belonged to any animal she had heard of.
She looked ahead to Glorfindel who was silently directing half of his patrol to one side. She looked beyond into a deep gully. She recognised it as the one she had entered on her way to Rivendell, that first day when she had met Iluvion. As her eyes strained to break through the thick bush she saw movement. As her ears grew accustomed to the forest sounds she picked out a clear ring of metal. She shivered as she saw a glimpse of some dark, jagged looking armour.
All of a sudden, Glorfindel wheeled down the side, taking several of his remaining men with him. Three remained behind with Nat who tried to see what was happening below her.
At that moment, the other half of Glorfindel's patrol burst through the bushes from the southern entrance to the gully. There was a terrible scream and both groups disappeared into the bushes.
The leaves rustled, but revealed nothing as to what was happening below. Nat looked to Iluvion who seemed unruffled by the fray beneath.
A last screech was cut off swiftly and a birdcall emanated from the gully. The elves in front moved forward into the canopy and Nat's own horse followed them. Nat looked back at Iluvion fearfully, but he did not notice.
Coming down to meet Glorfindel, Nat saw the gruesome bodies spread on the ground. Their open mouths gaped up at her revealing rows of jagged and rotting teeth. Their hands were curled and gnarled, scrabbling . . . Their dark blood still oozed from their gaping wounds and their dirty mismatched armour struck fear in her heart.
Her horse passed one body that suddenly coughed, the creatures eyes looked up cruelly at her and its mouth broke into a cruel grin as his arm arched back and Nat saw the dagger it held.
A sudden arrow swept past her, thudding duly into the orcs neck. It gurgled and tried to make another half-hearted attempt before being hit with another arrow to the chest. It rolled back, the eyes staring blankly up at Nat, imploring.
Her horse had remained calm throughout and Nat twisted around to find Glorfindel coolly putting his quiver back in its place.
Nat gaped at him. She had never met a killer before. She had never seen death such as this. She had seen cruelty dealt but this was cold hearted and unfeeling. The elves were wandering through the clearing still, thrusting a spear into some of the bodies that littered the serene glade. They did it with some sort automatic movement. A quick pull back, jab hard through the chest, any movement warranting another thrust and then onto the next orc. Her eyes widened slowly as she took in the composed manner of the elves around her.
How could they kill so readily and swiftly? They had no fear or hate apparent. They just . . . killed.
Nat felt a wave of nausea overwhelm her as she fell forward and emptied her hasty breakfast over that last orc.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Dreams of her lost sister haunted her. Over and over she saw rather than she had heard, the little body being pushed under the water. She saw rather than felt the bubbles of air slowly disappearing.
She could see her drunken father and his thick fingers pushing her sister's head down into the cold reaches of the river.
She felt herself falling, and looking up she saw her father's face, not wrathful but full of sorrow and worry.
His features were worn and wrinkles had begun to shape his face to that of an old man. He seemed almost grandfatherly, looking down on her descent and actually caring. She jerked as she thought of that. Her father was a monster and a murderer she told herself.
A monster, a murderer, a monster, a murderer, a monster . . .
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
She woke to find herself back in her room and once more, she was tucked in tight. She squirmed and worked at the sheets until they slowly relinquished their grip.
She moved to sit up when a sudden pain from her chest stopped her. She winced as she prodded her body, checking for the bruises.
She thought back to . . . no, she did not want to remember. She couldn't.
Nat pushed that afternoon's events out of her mind into the closed off section of her memory that she liked to store the past. Forgotten and irretrievable, or so she preferred to think.
She gradually made her way to the wardrobe, and after getting dressed, went to the door and looked into the corridor.
For once, she did not find Iluvion waiting for her, either reading a book while leaning against a pillar or staring reproachably at her with his arms crossed and foot tapping impatiently.
Taken aback, she made her way down to the Hall. The entire House was seemingly deserted. Here and there she saw faceless elves scurry to and fro on nameless errands but she felt lost. She could not find her brother.
All at once afraid, she ran to Elrond's chambers and tried to open the doors. They were locked.
She banged on them anxiously until they suddenly opened.
"Yes?" asked Glorfindel, adamantly.
His huge bulk blocked the way into Lord Elrond's chambers. Nat found herself bouncing around trying to find a way in.
"What's going on? Where is everybody?" asked Nat, irritated by her behavior.
"We are holding an extremely important meeting, and if you will excuse me, I must return to it."
Glorfindel made to close the door in Nat's face, but she stubbornly put her foot in the gap. Glorfindel frowned.
"Do not try to hurt yourself."
"What is going on?" repeated Nat.
"We are having a meeting," replied Glorfindel again.
"About . . .?"
"The orcs, if you must know. It does not concern you so if you would please . . ." Glorfindel subtly slid her foot out of the doorway and closed the door in Nat's face.
Furious, Nat begun a tirade of words that really shouldn't belong in the Halls. She punctuated each sentence with a loud knock on the door. She was left ignored and rejected.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"The orcs are becoming increasingly bold, it will not be long before they begin their dangerous invasion of Eriador."
Elrond looked over his councilors, each weighed up their options, and how they were to produce their own opinions and advice to him. He saw indecision etched on each face . . . except for Glorfindel who had a hard and resolute air.
"They would not dare . . . not against the might of the elves," said Erestor.
"What might?" asked Glorfindel harshly, coming out of his reverie, "The hordes of Isengard are strong."
"Stronger than the elves?"
"I fear it."
Elrond watched them both and then turned to the men he had asked to join them.
"Boromir, you searched wide in your quest for Rivendell, did you come across the force of Saruman?"
Boromir considered this carefully, thinking over his words before he spoke.
"Aye, I saw. But did not know of their master. I wondered often at how they roamed so wide and free. Many a village I saw burned and forsaken on my journey here. They are no ordinary orc . . . I heard some call them the Uruk-hai."
Elrond nodded slowly.
"Yes . . . but what to do? We can let them simply run the land ravage."
"We can barely defend ourselves, my Lord," said Galdor, "The time of the elves wanes. Our strength leaves us. We cannot hope to defend the outer lands of Eriador."
"I would offer the help of Mirkwood, but I fear we too, are besieged with orcs from Mordor."
An argument ensued, involving Aragorn, in defense of the unprotected villages of the land and Galdor, who felt it better that they defend Rivendell.
"What of the Dunedain? We will defend Eriador," said Aragorn.
"You forget so quickly that you shall not be there to lead them, Estel. You have a greater task ahead of you," Elrond cut in.
"The Dunedain are a small force, you cannot hope that they can do what we elves cannot," countered Galdor.
"Enough, Galdor," snapped Elrond, "We are not able to defend all that are threatened, though it grieves me to admit. For a while, we will hold them back through quick raids and ambushes but no more. I have no wish to lose any more men."
"What I am more worried about," began Glorfindel, "Is how they came to that gully which leads to Rivendell. Several other patrols have met forces of orcs coming increasingly nearer to Rivendell. I have reason to believe that they will attack us here first, before going on to other regions of Eriador. Saruman will want to rid himself of any threat."
"The least he could do would be to cut us off from Lothlorien," shrugged Erestor.
"Yes, but so close to Rivendell? He is looking for entry into our Halls."
Elrond rubbed his temples, worried.
"All the more reason to keep the patrols close," said Galdor.
"All the more reason to spread them in hope of catching these patrols before they find us!" argued Aragorn, "If they find the patrols concentrated here, they will surely know where to find us!"
"Saruman already knows where we are!"
"But does he know the entrance?"
The squabble soon became quite heated with the two shouting at the top of their voices.
Glorfindel sighed and caught a sudden movement from the dresser in the corner. He moved towards it quickly, gaining some interest from Elrond.
Bending down he found Thom sitting under it, his hands over his eyes.
"Who is this?" asked Glorfindel, dragging the boy out from under the dresser, "Another of those hobbits, is it?"
"No," said Elrond calmly. He stepped towards Thom and took him out of Glorfindel's arms and sat the boy on a chair.
"This is Natalie's little brother, Thom," said Legolas, quietly.
The elves and men looked to Thom who squirmed in the chair.
"Don't hit me . . ." he pleaded quietly, "Please . .. I won't do it again . . I promise!"
"We will not harm you," Elrond said frowning. Thom slowly uncurled and faced the unsmiling adults.
"Go now, but do not speak of what you have heard," Glorfindel said coldly. Thom jumped off the chair and pushed through the group and rushed for the door, fumbling with the lock and rushing out of the room.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
He ran into the garden and immediately collided with his sister.
"Thom! Where have you been! I've been worried sick!" said Nat, but she soon stopped fussing and noticed Thom's pale face.
"Where have you been?"
"Umm . . ."
"You know you can tell me," Nat said, taking her brother's shoulders and looking into his eyes.
Thom was torn in indecision.
"The blond one said I wasn't to tell anyone . .."
"You can tell me though, right? I'm your sister."
Thom made his decision, his sister needed to know. She had to take care of him, how could she if she didn't know anything?
He told her everything he had heard and saw.
Nat was quiet for a moment.
"Nat?" he asked softly, "Was it ok to tell you?"
Nat nodded and told him to go find the hobbits.
Before he left, Thom gave Nat a quick hug.
"Don't worry, Nat," he said and went off.
Nat sat in silence a while longer, thinking over what she had just been told.
So the orcs were a real threat to this place and they couldn't help anyone else. Elves were supposed to be the protectors of this land, weren't they? Or at least, that's how Nat saw them. They looked over the people and the land, guiding them . . .
**The time of the elves wanes . . .**
Nat shivered.
Those words her brother remembered so strongly . . . she did not like to think that the elves were not as strong as these monsters. The elves were wise and powerful! Nothing could overcome them!
**I have no wish to lose any more men . . .**
Elrond had said that, her brother was sure. What would happen to her and her brother if they broke through? Where could they go since she could not stay here? She knew that she had to find her own kind. It would not be long before these elves grew tired of her. And Thom needed to go to school. Somehow.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
A/N: Okies, so how was that? Sorry it took so long, but it's just that . . . you know how you become so . . . procrastinator-y. I kept putting it off and . . . well. Thanks for being so patient, guys. :D