Ronald groaned, and rolled over onto his back. Pain was lacing through his body, and half of his face was numb like it was injected with Novocain. The smell of pine needles and good clean dirt assailed his nose and he realized that he was lying in the forest.
Opening his eyes he looked around, it was night and the thick trees hide everything from him. The sound of cars flying by on the raised highway brought back the memory of the crash. Why wasn't he in the hospital? Where was the everyone else? What the heck was he doing in the forest?"
He struggled upright against the truck of a skinny pine and the action left him breathless. His arms hurt, his left leg wouldn't move and his was covered in burns. Vision blurring without his glasses he could barely make out his position to the highway. But the incline to the road was too steep for him to climb, with what he was beginning to think was a broken leg.
He tried yelling for help but that wasn't going to do any good. He was hoarse in a few minutes, he was thirsty and the pain was beginning to worsen. Blood and dirt cake his wounds and he was worried about infection.
"You God? Help would be nice about now." he called.
"Finally! I was wondering when you would think of me." a disembodied voice said.
"Um…is this God?" Ron asked not believing what he had just heard.
"You would prefer the Brooklyn dodgers?" the voice asked.
"Not really, I would like some medical attention, if it's not asking too much." Rona said, "look pal do you have a cell phone I could borrow?"
"I don't use cell phones, but medical aid? Can do." Maehsos stepped out of the shadows with Serena in tow.
"Where have you been?" Ron ejaculated angrily. Serena set her bag down and said, "It's great to see you too. Gosh! You look like…never mind, I promised red here that I was curb my language."
"We had to find you, we honestly didn't think you would be in so…obvious a place as this." Maehsos said. Serena snorted and began cleaning Ron's wounds.
"What exactly happened?' Ron gasped a Serena swiped away the blood and bits of glass from his face.
"You were almost killed in a smash up Ronny old boy." Serena said, "How did you manage to get down here?"
"Ouch! Watch it! Is…is the woman alright?" he asked dodging Serena's hands. Maehsos knelt and held Ron's arms away while Serena worked saying, "Se's fine Ronald, William is with her back at Serena's apartment. We had to come and find you though."
"We thought you were dead at first." Serena commented cheerfully. She was poking softly at the blistered burn on Ron's face. "This will take a while to heal and Ron unless you want a huge scar you need to get to a hospital for burn treatment."
"Just do what you can with this." Ron hissed he pointed down at his limp left leg. Serena swore and muttered, "Sorry, I forgot." as she surveyed his leg.
"Ronald we have to get away from here as soon as possible. If we set the leg do you think you could make it?" Maehsos asked. Ron looked at him to see if he was being serious, unfortunately he was.
"Why?"
"Because Sauron tried to kill you in the wreak and once he realizes you aren't dead you will become a target again. We could leave you here if you like but.."
"Set it!"
"I'm sorry?"
"Hurry up and set it before I change my mind." Ron said. He braced himself against the trunk of the pine and waited as Serena and Maehsos worked.
"You not so bad at this stuff are you?" she commented. "Have you done everything?"
"Pretty much." Maehsos grinned. "Alright Ron, one, two three!"
Ron never made more then a strangled yelp as his bone snapped into place. Serena , working like a whirlwind bandaged and braced his limb as fast as she could. Ron was sweating heavily by the time they finished and asked, "Where is the car? And don't say the highway, please don't say the highway because I can't get that far."
"We came down by a service road a mile from here." Maehsos said, "Can you make it that far?"
"Let's go." Ron said and smiled faintly. "But if I pass out, promise me you guys will catch me?"
Serena and Maehsos exchanged glances. "I think he back to normal." Serena chortled and they began the slow and painful trip back to the car, Ronald supported between them.
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"Welcome back sire, it has been too long since your last visit!" Arbellason greeted the slight, cloaked figure of Maglor Fëanorian. He had seemingly blown in with the wind, and his jet hair was a mess of tangled braids.
"Thanks you Arbellason, I think I remember now why I don't visit this place often. The wind is like to ear you apart today!" Maglor laughed. He pulled off the heavy cloak and handed it to the steward.
And where is my fine brother today? Not here to greet me at the door?" Maglor said looking down the long empty hall. A few maids went by and bowed a greeting and then hurried off to warn the housekeeper that another place was needed for a dinner and another room as well.
"I believe you will find him in the practice yard with one of his pupil's my Lord." Arbellason said, trying to hide a smile.
Maglor looked suspiciously at the steward, and headed for the yard following the sounds of weaponry clashing together.
Maedhros was in the attack position his staff raised high in a swirling onslaught. His opponent fought back bravely. Maglor shook his head, Maedhros was always toughest on the smaller soldiers because they needed almost more skill to defend themselves. This young man was uncommonly small, and Maglor wondered if it wasn't perhaps one of the Edain soldiers Maedhros trained with.
"Bring your right arm up! Up I said, not halfway to the ground! Yes, that's it, that's it!" Maedhros yelled instructions as they moved around the yard. "Now attack me!"
The other figure whirled forward with more speed and grace then Maglor had looked for. He slammed his staff down sharply on Maedhros's knee and almost brought the huge elf down. Maedhros laughed loudly and danced, stiffly, away saying, "Good, now try something deadly, not just disabling."
The helmeted figure peered at the elf watching him move, slowly they circled one another. Maglor found himself hoping the other would win if only to teach Maedhros a lesson. When the attack came it was silent and swift, a blur of staff and a resounding crack as Maedhros's staff shattered . The elf was forced to fall to the ground in order to avoid serious injury. The attacker whirled and laid the tip of the staff at the elf's unprotected throat.
"Bravo! Bravo! Wonderful work young man!" Maglor said, clapping as he came into the ring. Maedhros and the man snapped to attention , they had been unaware of him before. He leant over his prostrate brother and said, "Oh how the mighty have fallen, brother mine."
"You've no idea just how far." Maedhros muttered as Maglor hauled him to his feet. Maglor bowed slightly to the young warrior and held of his hand saying, "May I know the name of such a skilled warrior?"
"You may." A soft feminine voice returned. The helmet came off and Maglor was staring back as the sweat dampened face of Aeroniel of Hithlum. She bowed and said, "welcome my Lord, I trust you are well?"
"I…I…am speechless." Maglor said incoherently.
"And very surprised." Maedhros chortled. He dusted off his tunic and said, "Come brother, come inside of a bit of refreshment, Ronnie will you join us?"
Aeroniel looked from Maglor's shocked face to Maedhros's beaming one. She shook her head and said, "I think I should go and wash up before dinner. I'll see you this evening my lord." she bowed again and disappeared up a long winding stair.
Maglor turned to unleash his shock but Maedhros was already halfway across the grounds. Running to catch up with the taller elf he said, "I cannot believe…I have never in my life…how could you teach her…."
"I would answer your questions of you would finish asking them." Maedhros smirked. He poured himself as glass of water and dumped it over his head. "Ahhhhh, nothing like ice cold water to cool down with." He filled the glass again and drank it.
Maglor's face was an interesting shade of purple as he burst out, "I have never seen anything so ridiculous in my life! A full grown elf fighting a little human woman! I've never seen anything so…"
"Interesting? Amazing?" Maedhros supplied.
"Inappropriate!" Maglor finished with a snap, "You might have killed her!"
"Yes, but you see that I did not, and if you were watching closely , you will have seen that she nearly killed me." he paused, "Therefore she is quite able to handle a weapon and herself against someone who far out weighs her."
"You really are an idiot sometimes." Maglor concluded. The two brothers stood facing one another a moment and burst out laughing. "I will never let you forget this!" Maglor said. He hugged his brother and said, "How are you?"
"Very well thank you. What brings you here? Usually you shy away from the icy regions of my home for the warmer realm of the gap."
"Did you forget? We agreed to meet here five years ago." Maglor rolled his eyes, "You did forget."
"You mean all the boys will be here?" Maedhros asked, he looked worried.
"Of course and fairly soon I should think." Maglor said, as he watched Maedhros ring a bell. A lovely elleths appeared and said, "My lord?"
"Nessima, I have just receive the horrific news that my brothers will be arriving at any moment and will be staying for some weeks." He smiled slightly and said, "I think that their rooms should be near mine, please see that it is done. Oh and Nessima?"
"Yes, my lord?"
"See that the cooks are busy the twins eat more then I do. I hope we have enough." Nessima laughed and said, "We have enough, even if we must thin the soup with water, we will have a enough."
She curtsied and tripped lightly from the room, Maglor shook his hair head again. "I see you have everyone working for you, really! She shouldn't have to work!"
"She asked to work." Maedhros said, "Once Ronnie began doing all her own work Nessima needed something to do. Besides, I wanted her and Arbellason to have a reason to see more of each other."
"Oh, God." Maglor groaned, "My brother has turned matchmaker!"
Arbellason come into the room and announced, "My Lord, a small traveling party has been sighted." He smiled, "They are flying your standard."
Aeroniel brushed her hair quickly and tied it back into a long braid. She could hear the sounds of the arriving party and she knew that she would have to hurry to catch a look at them. Running down the corridor she looked over the stairs to see the first of the new arrivals stepping into the brilliant light of the hall.
He was taller then Maglor and powerful in his movement, removing his cloak a long cascade of golden hair fell to his shoulders. From this, Aeroniel knew that this was Celegorm the third oldest Fëanorian. Something about him made her withdraw with a feeling of distaste and…fear?
"Aeroniel? Aeroniel! Come and meet my family!" Maedhros's voice boomed through the hall. She came down and looked only at Maedhros and Maglor. She stood silently by and said nothing, thankfully no one seemed ready to handle introductions as yet. Two black haired elves deep in an argument came in next, they were like Maglor in shape and size, but one who Maedhros called Curufinwe, was wonderfully dark skinned.
They all embraced and spoke quickly in greeting, the dark elf glanced around the room as if becoming familiar with his new territory. His black eyes flickered over Aeroniel for a moment and he inclined his head toward her. The other, who wore a splendid jeweled tunic was more amiable and friendly, telling jokes and funny stories about the journey up the mountain.
Finally the doors burst open and two red haired ellons flew into the room with a cloud of snow and ice falling from their clothing . Whipping off their cloaks they attacked their brothers and any other person nearby in a hug. The taller of the two went around to each in turn saying things like, "Maedhros, still taller then me, Maglor, any more melancholy ballads? Celegorm! Oh, yes you don't like to be touched, Caranthir you look like a diamond mine in that tunic, Curufinwe as bad tempered as ever."
He wrapped his arms around Aeroniel, and said, "I have no idea who you are, but I'm so glad to see you looking so well!"
'Thank you my Lord, and I you." she returned. He pulled away and bowed saying, "I am Amras by the way. And that handsome devil over there is my brother Amrod." The other red head nodded and went on in his conversation with Maedhros.
Amras looped his arm through Aeroniel's and said, "So tell me all about this gloomy castle and how you live here."
Aeroniel felt cornered, she was afraid that Amras didn't realize her humanity and was trying to think of a way to mention subtly. However she was spared this when Amrod cuffed his brother and said,
"You idiot! Look this is a lovely human woman!"
What followed was what is often referred to as a strangled silence. Amras' eyes grew big and Celegorm's narrowed to slits.
"Well, don't I feel too stupid!" Amras took her hand a kissed it gently saying, "I am honored to meet one of your race. And a pretty one at that."
Maedhros shoved this twins brother's away and said, "Get along now the lot of you. You can talk and flatter Aeroniel later. We must hear all your news. Besides I think that you are probably all hungry?"
A chorus of agreement followed this comment and they headed for the dining room. Celegorm suddenly appeared at her elbow and offered his arm, with a few murmured words. As if against her will Aeroniel took it finding his touch oddly cold and disconnected.
"You have no reason to be afraid of me young lady." he said smoothly, "I have an interest in the Edain, your one of the first woman I've met living among my own people. Let alone my own brother."
"I see," Aeroniel swallowed and asked politely, "How was your journey?"
"Fair, the wind spooked the horses a little, but nothing that we couldn't handle." Celegorm grinned smuggily and flexed his free hand saying, "And we're all strong."
"I'm glad to hear it My Lord." she said, she slipped away from him as quickly s she could, he seemed pleased that she was uncomfortable around him. Fine, if he liked it she would leave him alone. Besides first impressions are usually bad.
She hoped.
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