Hidden Secrets
Disclaimer: I only own Aranwen/Wanderer, Beran, Aranwen's horse, and the plot.
Chapter Eleven: Attacked
T.A. 3015
Wanderer unsheathed the dagger at her side and she spun around to face her attacker. She was only fifteen and her life had been in danger for many years now. She had excellent hearing and reflexes. She had heard her attacker's soft footsteps. The element of surprise was on her side.
Her attacker was surprised and Wanderer placed an well-aimed kick at his abdomen, causing him to drop to his knees and loose his grip on his dagger. Wanderer placed her dagger to his throat and looked him straight in the eyes.
"Who sent you?" she demanded.
The Man laughed, "You already know the answer to that question, you knew it was only a matter of time before you were found."
"Tell me who sent you!" Wanderer demanded once more as she pressed her dagger tighter against his neck, drawing a small trickle of blood.
"You weren't supposed to have survived the first time. Little bitch!"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"You were supposed to die that day, three years ago. Gondor needs no one on the throne!"
"What are you talking about? What do I have to do with Gondor?" Wanderer demanded.
"It is not my job to tell stories. I'm only paid to kill. And my job was to kill you. I have failed at it, twice now. Bested by a young girl," he said disgusted.
"And what kind of people hire you to kill a young girl?"
"Gondorians."
"I've never been to Gondor, so why would someone there want me dead?" she hissed, her gray-blue eyes fierce and piercing.
"News travels fast about a strange girl in the countryside outside the city. Especially when she threatens their way of life."
"What are you talking about?"
"They fear the bearer of the Ring. They know what it means. They fear you and want you dead because of who you are. The Heir…" the Man said as his hand slipped down to grab his dagger out of the ground.
"The Heir?"
The Man's dagger sliced through the air and cut Wanderer's arm. With a cry, Wanderer slit the Man's throat before his dagger could stab her in the heart. The Man fell to the floor, dead. Wanderer fell backwards and stumbled away from the body. She had killed someone with her own hands. Not an Orc, but a Man.
She was a murderer.
T.A. 3018
Aranwen froze as she felt a sharp dagger at her throat. She gulped and her eyes flashed towards her sword, lying on the bed.
"Just out of reach, huh?" hissed the voice of the intruder.
"Beran!" she cried in surprise and the dagger tightened against her throat. "You slimy bastard! I thought I killed you!"
"Is that anyway to greet me?"
"Go to hell!" she hissed.
"No, I don't think I will," he said, turning Aranwen around to face him. His face was dangerously close to hers.
"Ti tallbe Orch!" she screamed at him.
"Come back to me, Wanderer, and I'll allow you to live."
"Never! I'll die before I do! I don't love you anymore, Beran and I never will!"
"Then you'll die!" he cried, drawing blood with the dagger.
A knock at the door kept Beran from slitting Aranwen's throat.
"Aranwen? Are you okay? Ada and Estel were worried about you," said Elladan from the other side of the door.
"I'm fine," she croaked out.
"Are you sure?" Elrohir asked.
"I'm sure," she replied and listened as she heard them step away from the door.
Beran stared into her eyes and tightened his grip on his dagger. "Any last words?" he asked Aranwen.
"Tancave, gwanno ereb nin, Beran!" she screamed.
"Stupid bitch!" Beran cried as he hit Aranwen on the back of the head with the hilt of his dagger and disappeared.
The door flew open as Elladan and Elrohir burst in, bows drawn and arrows knocked. Aranwen was nowhere in their line of sight, nor was Beran.
"Aranwen?" Elrohir called.
Elladan and Elrohir carefully stepped inside and walked around. They finally came across a still body dressed in velvet on the other side of the bed on the ground. It was Aranwen and she was bleeding from a head wound and from a slice on her neck.
"Ada! Estel! Arwen!" Elladan cried as he put down his bow to check Aranwen's pulse.
Author's Notes:
A nice and evil cliffie for everyone! Next chapter soon! And soon Elrond's motives will be revealed as will how Beran got into Rivendell.
Elvish Translations:
Ti tallbe Orch! – Go kiss an Orc!
Tancave, gwanno ereb nin, Beran! – Yes, leave me alone, Beran!
Reviewers!
IwishChan – There is a reason why Elrond is acting funny and it will soon be revealed.
ArwenFairTinuviel – I'm glad that you like it so much! I'm going to try to update more often because I love writing it!