NOTE TO READER: Please, we REALLY need reveiws on this...it is due in just a few weeks, and we were reluctant to place it on the internet in the first place. You wouldn't be able to beleive how badly we would just like to hear a few words of 'coming along great' or 'thats really terrible.' If you are reading it at least, you have our sincerest thank you, and please, just take a minute to leave your mark. Thanks again, Hannon Le.
They rode for a couple of hours and then set up camp. Jnían pulled out the scroll from her saddlebag. Though Amáteria had no saddle, the bags she could still use. She also removed a small piece of paper. She went to sit next to Andúin, who was poking at the fire.
"What's that?" she asked, referring to the piece of paper.
"It's the basis of Derellish. Just a simple alphabet so we can translate small words and phrases if needed. I copied it out of one of their encyclopedias. The elder tree Elf had it lying out."
A few minutes later Jnían proudly spoke the scrolls contents, glad to be done with the translation.
"'The finish of the first
war of the ring,
The remaining shards
of the sword of the king,
A scene forever frozen in time,
shows the way to the second sign.'"
Andúin concentrated. Jnían said it to herself over and over. "…the remaining shards of the sword of the king…it must be talking about Narsil," Jnían stated.
"You mean before it became Andúril?" Andúin inquired.
"Yes. I understand the sword part, but what boggles me is the last part. 'A scene forever frozen in time.'"
Andúin pulled out some bread for Jnían and herself, taking a bite. "Maybe it means a picture," she guessed.
"You're marvelous!" Jnían threw her arms around Andúin. "That's it! A picture! In Rivendell, Narsil as you know was kept in broken shards. Behind it on the wall is a picture of the ends of the first War of the Ring. Narsil is in the picture! We have to go to Rivendell to find our next clue."
"I can't believe it! We figured it out! We must be ahead of the delegates by now. I wonder where they are right now." Andúin exclaimed.
"Don't worry yourself, Andúin, they'll come to us," Jnían stated. "We should get some sleep, we have to leave early."
The next morning at the break of the dawn, Andúin and Jnían awoke ready for their new quest. When the girls reached Rivendell days later, they went straight to the House of Elrond, still called that out of respect for the great Elvin leader.
"Andúin, you can't go to the party in Minas Tirith armor," Jnían said.
"Well, I didn't exactly bring clothes to change into," Andúin replied, irritated.
"I know," Jnían swiftly walked down the corridor until they reached her room.
"Where are we going?" Andúin asked.
"My quarters," she answered, pushing the door open.
"You live here? I thought you lived in Lothlórien," Andúin stated.
"I do live there, but I'm the granddaughter of Elrond. More or less an Elvin princess. I'm considered a special guest, if you get my drift. I lived here until I was old enough, and skilled enough to care for Andúril, then I moved," Jnían explained.
"I see," Andúin said to herself, registering the information. The girls walked into a large room.
"Let's see," Jnían said, thinking aloud. She walked over to her closet and opened the door. "We're about the same size, so you can wear this, and a cape, and you can be my maidservant. You can't show your face or they'll know you are human. It's not that we don't like humans, but you weren't exactly invited." Jnían handed Andúin a peach colored gown and matching shoes. Then she began to pull out a gown for herself.
"Are you sure no one will recognize me?" Andúin worriedly asked.
"I'm sure. It's rude to question one another about their servants. No one at the party is about to be rude," Jnían reassured her.
The girls changed, washed up, and began to plan. "Okay, the picture is exactly fifty steps from the main hall, where the party will be taking place," Andúin reviewed.
"That's right," Jnían said, pulling a brush through her long blond hair.
Later on, the party began, and the girls made their way to the main hall. Once they reached the door they were stopped by Akanara. "It is good to see you, daughter," she said to Jnían.
"As with you, mother," Jnían replied.
"Who is this?" Akanara asked, motioning to Andúin, who pulled her shawl more tightly over her face, only her eyes revealed.
"Mother, it's my maidservant Catlín."
"I thought you never brought your maidservants here," Akanara said suspiciously.
"I need someone here with me, with Teleríus breathing down my neck," Jnían snapped.
"I don't see why you avoid him, dear. He's kind and handsome."
"Yes, and he knows he is. He's very conceited and arrogant," Jnían sighed. "Come, Catlín." Andúin silently followed her. Jnían paid her respects and said her hellos at the party.
"Alright," she whispered to Andúin. "Let us go." They nonchalantly stepped out of the room and into the vestibule. About a minute later they were standing before the historical picture.
"Now what?" Andúin shifted impatiently.
"There must be some hidden clue," Jnían guessed.
"What are you doing out here?" someone asked. Jnían jerked her head towards the voice.
"Who are you?" Andúin fired, forgetting that she was not to speak.
"I pose you with the same question," he replied.
"She's my maidservant, Catlín, Teleríus," Jnían interrupted.
"What are you doing?" he repeated.
"None of your business," Jnían shot out.
"I live here, there for it is my business," Teleríus replied.
"He's going to talk," Jnían prophesized. The girls walked over to Teleríus, and grabbed him by the arms. Jnían wrapped a cord in his mouth, and tied it around his head, while Andúin tied his arms and legs. They leaned him against the wall. He started to struggle, so Andúin knocked him unconscious with the hilt of her sword.
"It looks as if the picture is directing towards the statue," Jnían said. She motioned at the picture, and it did indeed seem as though the drawn Isiliadur was pointing the blade of his sword toward a nearby statue. Jnían approached it, studying it carefully. "This is where Narsil used to lay."
Andúin walked up to the statue, studying it as well. She looked at the platform once holding Narsil. "Now that I see it," she said to Jnían, "I begin to wonder if it was right to ever disturb Narsil. I mean, I know the story of its importance, but it was almost—I don't know," she broke off, staring at the spot.
"You shouldn't feel bad," Jnían said. "It was the right thing to do. Your grandmother, the Lady Arwen, believed so."
Andúin sighed. She drew Andúril, and out of respect she placed it on its old resting place. Suddenly, the statue made a creaking noise. The platform holding the sword and the statue's outstretched arms began to slide down.
"Good work, Andúin," Jnían exclaimed. Andúin remained frozen to the spot, shocked.
The statue revealed a gaping hole. Jnían reached past Andúin, still unmoving, and reached in. "There is another piece of parchment," she said, pulling out an old, wrinkled piece. "It's another clue."
"Can you read this one?" Jnían asked her, finally coming to.
"No," Jnían replied. "It is in Derellish also."
Suddenly they heard footsteps in the hallway. "They cannot see the statue like this!" Jnían exclaimed.
"Forget the statue," Andúin replied. "What will they think of Teleríus?" But she grabbed Andúril and the statue began to recluse. Jnían positioned herself in front of it and Andúin quickly moved to conceal Teleríus.
A lady came around the corner. "I heard raised voices, then more loud noises. Are you girls—"she trailed off, noticing Andúin. "By the Valor, Jnían, she means to kill you!"
Jnían looked at Andúin, and saw she had her sword drawn and poised with her face covered. Andúin noticed this herself, and immediately sheathed the sword.
"She didn't mean me any harm," Jnían said, keeping her voice calm.
"Then who is she, and what is she doing here?" the Elf demanded. Andúin quickly ran her fingers through her hair, concealing any remaining parts of her human ears.
"Catlín, my maidservant, was demonstrating a skill with the sword," Jnían swiftly answered.
"A maidservant with a sword?" the lady questioned.
"I think of her more as my friend, I don't need her to take care of me," Jnían replied.
"Very well, Jnían," the Elf replied, her voice heavy. "But be careful nevertheless." She shot a look at Andúin, and then walked from the room.
"That was close," Andúin sighed.
"Yes, almost too close," Jnían said with relief. "We have to do something with Teleríus."
"He's still unconscious," Andúin suggested, "Let's just put him to bed." Jnían winced at her, but agreed. They carried him to his chambers, untied him, and placed him in his bed.
"Sweet dreams," Jnían whispered while adjusting his head on the pillow. They tiptoed out of the room and back to Jnían's quarters.
"I'm exhausted," Andúin yawned.
"We should sleep here tonight. We should be safe, the delegates are far enough behind us that we shouldn't have to leave until tomorrow," Jnían said. "Besides, we still need to translate our next clue." Andúin and Jnían simultaneously threw themselves back on the extremely large bed.
"Ah, a bed," Andúin said, sinking deeply into the padding.
"After a while, even the ground feels soft," Jnían chuckled. The girls prepared for sleep and climbed into bed. Jnían pulled the woven gold cord releasing the canopy, protecting them from any peering eyes, just in case someone may intrude in the morning.
"If anyone finds out you're here, you'll go straight back home," Jnían predicted to Andúin.
"Mmm.." Andúin's eyes were falling shut.
"Goodnight," Jnían whispered, closing her own eyes.
The next morning Jnían blinked her eyes open at a knock on the door.
"Milady?" a voice asked.
"Hold on," Jnían answered. "I'm not decent." She turned her head. "Andúin?" she called. Andúin wasn't there. Jnían began to panic, again calling her name. She pulled open the canopy and retied the cord. On the bedside was a small note.
A Trade
The piece…or her life
-Lhach
'ANDÚIN!"' Jnían screamed in her mind. Finally the maid opened the door uninvited.
"Beautiful day, Milady," she said, smiling.
Jnían's eyes turned a dark blue. "It feels cloudy," she managed. Jnían flipped over the note and began to read the back.
"Please leave me," Jnían requested. The woman exited. The note told her to meet at the gates of Minas Tirith. Jnían walked to her balcony and let out a shrill whistle. Seconds later Aátrius was on her shoulder. "Find her, Aátrius, I have other things to attend to. Once you have found her, come and find me," she said to him. Aátrius flew off.
Jnían made her way from the House of Elrond and into the streets of Rivendell to find a blacksmith. Once she found one, she showed him the base of the Dáe staff.
"Can you make this out of gold?" she asked.
"Of course, if you have the money," he explained. She paid him.
"Give it as many imperfections as you can without changing the base features," she commanded.
"Alright, if that's what you want," he said, getting to work.
"Yes," Jnían said, then whispered more to herself, "Be safe, Andúin." She closed her eyes. A cat and dog began to fight near her, knocking over a bowl of fruit. A single orange rolled across the wooden floor until it bumped into Jnían's feet. She picked it up and began peeling it, hoping Andúin was alright.
Andúin awoke, her head throbbing. She felt sick to the stomach; and it didn't help that she was being jostled around like a rag doll. She opened her eyes to see the ground. It bounced unsteadily. She slowly became more aware, noting the horse's body she was on, and that a hand was placed on her back. She tried to turn herself over, but her hands and feet were tightly bound.
"Ah," she heard a voice say, "The lady awakens. And this time she is not at an advantage." Then another wave of dizziness overtook her, and everything went dark.
When she awoke again, she was feeling better. She had stopped moving, and night had fallen. She was in a clearing, and there was a fire nearby surrounded by men. One rose and approached her. "So you are feeling better?" he asked.
She immediately recognized Lhach. "I should have killed you when I had the chance," she spat.
"But you didn't!" he gloated. "And because of your stupidity, we shall soon have the piece from the Elf girl."
"She wouldn't risk the well being of everything good in Middle Earth just to save me," she replied.
"I wouldn't be so sure. But even if she doesn't, we shall still get something from this…situation. Fortunately, one of my men recognized you as King Eldarion's only child; which means he will do anything to get you back."
He continued to talk, but Andúin didn't listen. The situation was very bad, and she couldn't see any way out of it, at least not at the present moment.
"…and my guard found this armor with you, and figured it might be a very useful distraction when we get there, and you could easily and unsuspicious get us into the city."
She looked at him. "You actually believe I would do that for you?"
"I have a host of armed men at my call," Lhach said coldly. "And you are one woman. I believe that you will do as we ask, or much worse things can happen then being killed."
She glared at him, but he smiled. "Tathar," he summoned, and a man came up to him. "Keep sentry over her. Make sure she stays where she is."
"Yes, Captain," Tathar said, and he drew his sword.
"Here you are, Milady," the blacksmith handed over the replica of the piece. Jnían took back the original piece, rewrapping it. She put the forged piece in clean white wrappings.
"Thank you," she said and walked out. She mounted Amáteria and began her journey to Minas Tirith. On the seventh day she was in Rohan, making her way toward the Pebble Inn in the Westfold.
"What is it?" Meshía asked.
"I need you to keep this for me," Jnían replied. "My friend, she has been taken and I need to get her back." She handed Meshía the real piece of the staff.
"Stay the night here, Jnían, please," Meshía asked. "You look horrible and exhausted. You need some rest."
"Alright, but I leave at first light," Jnían surrendered. She ate a small bit of food, and then went to bed. All she could think about was Andúin.
A few days later Jnían was still going toward Gondor when she met Teleríus. "Ah, where are you headed, young lady?" he asked her.
"How did you get here?" she asked.
"I followed you," he replied. Jnían looked puzzled, so he continued. "Don't fret, my dear, we will go back home."
"I'm going nowhere with you," Jnían snapped.
"Oh but you are," he replied smugly. Guards from Rivendell and Lothlórien came and grabbed a hold of Amáteria. "You see, your mother has agreed for you to marry me. So we will be wed within the fortnight."
"I most certainly will not," was her simple reply.
"So sorry, darling, but you cannot stop me."
"That's what you think," she challenged silently, then followed their lead. At dusk the group stopped to water the horses, while Jnían and Amáteria were tied to a tree. Just then something came out of the forest. Jnían smiled; it was Hwesta.
"Here, mi'lady," he said softly as he cut the ropes.
"Hwesta, what are you doing here?" she whispered.
"Us tree elves have a task to complete before we can become a member of the council. Not that many elves are chosen to complete it. My task is to help you complete your ask. So I am at your service, my dear."
"Well, Andúin's been kidnapped, the delegates want the piece of the staff in exchange for her, and this man wants to marry me," Jnían sighed, filling him in.
"Sounds like you're rather busy," he chuckled as the two started off towards Minas Tirith.