Disclaimer: As my friend would say I would be making Tolkien turn in his grave with all the liberties I take. As before sadly, I only own who I own.
ArwenEvenstar83: I'm glad you're enjoying the story so far; hope you'll enjoy this chapter to.
Madrone: We shall see how long it takes for Tysan to strike, if she is, we shall see.
Chapter 7
And they're off
Tysan's pov
We're walking. And still walking. And still walking. And the same thing we were doing two minutes ago. Yes we're walking. You can probably guess that by now. Okay it's simple right, walking, you just put one foot in front of the other. Technically I'm not walking; I'm hovering a few inches off the ground, so my feet tend not to find the few small roots that just happen to be sticking out of the ground. Of course Legolas is fine, he's a wood elf, and I don't like him.
Flashback
Tysan was sitting quietly in the gardens embroidering something. Truth be told she actually liked sewing; she just wouldn't let anyone know that, least of all her brothers and sister. Her sister would just say I told you so, and her brothers, well they would never let her live it down. Her keen elven hearing picked up laughter before she smelt…
Burning. Yelping she jumped to her feet, and decided to look for the nearest water source. While she was looking around her burning head caught her sewing, setting it alight. She finally found a fountain to dip her hair in, but her sewing was ruined. As she turned around she caught a flash of green and blonde hair as the culprit ran off.
"Legolas." Tysan murmured murder in her voice.
End flashback
Now I'm paying attention to the trees. Look, there's one. And another one. And yet another one. Oh look over there, yet another tree. Don't ask me to name them all, I don't have a clue what they're called. So hey, I just happen to be paying attention to trees does not certify me as mad, just as bored. I still haven't forgiven Legolas. Perhaps I should burn his bow to get even, but then again it might get him killed, and I think he'll be more use alive.
My eyes drift to Boromir. He definitely creeps me out. It gives me shivers to see the way he looks at me. I don't know if that's my problem, or his, but it still gives me the creeps. I wonder if I should acquire some signs that say, no Boromir within this barrier and stick them in a ten foot radius all around me. That might just work. I think, though that there's one reason that he creeps me out most of all, apart from the obvious he creeps me out.
Flashback
Tysan had her mask on the bench next to her as she looked up into the night sky, trying to clear her troubled mind. She knew that the fellowship would leave on the morrow, and she wondered what part in it she would play. She felt insignificant, as if she meant nothing to anyone.
She spun and froze as she realised she was not alone. Looking she saw the oldest son of the Steward of Gondor was staring at her, with rapt amazement clear on his face. She did not know how to react, so she reacted in the only way she knew how. She snatched at her mask and turned away as she placed it back where it belonged.
"These are private gardens, you should not be here." Tysan spoke angrily when she spun around again.
"You are beautiful, why must you hide behind a mask?" Boromir asked.
"I will not repeat my words, now go." Tysan's anger was laced through her voice.
"I will not go until you answer me." Boromir stood defiantly.
"Foolish mortal, none can understand. Now leave." Tysan had the desired effect, as Boromir left her alone to her thoughts.
End flashback
A bush and a smaller bush. Look there, there's another bush the same size as the first. And there's another smaller one. There's a clump of different sized bushes right about there. And there's another clump, and another. And there's a few scattered on their own, awww they must be lonely. But seriously, how many people have been planting bloody shrubs on the ground. It looks like there's thousands. It's an invasion of the shrubbery!
My eyes travel to Aragorn, who seems unconcerned by the sudden outburst of shrubbery. Perhaps I should warn him about the invasion, behind which could be hiding servants of, well anyone in particular. But the ambushers would have to be small enough to hide behind bushes. Damn it, will think about something else, okay how about that time when I first met Aragorn?
Flashback
An arrow came flying through the air and embedded itself in the rabbit that had just happened to creep along to examine the silent, dark figure who had sat there for hours now, hardly moving. The figure moved now, plucking the arrow out of the rabbit before going to sit back down and waiting. She knew someone would be along to collect the arrow soon; it was just a matter of waiting.
"I saw it come this way." A male voice shouted from a few metres off.
"Well go on then, we'll be right behind you." A voice recognisable as Elladan's shouted back, mirth evident in his voice.
A few moments later a man came into the clearing. He had long and what looked like unkempt hair, and stubble on his face, which made Tysan shiver, she liked men who shaved better. He seemed to be staring at her pale hand, which clutched at the arrow. Looking Tysan saw blood on the tip. Looking up again she connected it with the worried look on the man's face.
"Don't worry, it's not mine." Tysan added, flicking away her dress to reveal a rabbit.
"Aragorn, you hit Tysan!" Elrohir sounded shocked as he ran into the clearing with his brother.
"He's a much better shot than that brother." Tysan smiled behind her mask, holding out the arrow.
"Oh good, so you shot us dinner then?" Elladan quipped as he saw the rabbit.
"So you're my sister?" Aragorn asked, ignoring the twins.
"Are you a Son of Elrond?" Tysan asked.
"Not quite, I've been adopted." Aragorn admitted.
"How nice for you. I'm your new sister Tysan." Tysan added, shaking Aragorn's hand before wandering off.
"Does she always do that?" Aragorn asked the others.
"Pretty much." The twins answered in unison.
End Flashback
I've not exactly been on the best of terms with Aragorn since then. Well we talk when we see each other; we can manage to be quite civil to each other, no problems there. To be quite honest I hardly ever see him, he travels his road and I travel down mine. To be honest, I think he seems to have made most of the right decisions in his life, apart from one. Well, based on my opinion it was a bad move, and yet who else could say?
Flashback
"Aragorn and I are going to get married." Arwen announced as she walked into Tysan's rooms.
"You are supposed to knock, and why?" Tysan asked.
"Because we love each other." Arwen declared breezily.
"Well good luck to you both." Tysan said stoically.
"Are you not going to tell father?" Arwen exploded.
"Of course not, that's your job." Tysan replied.
"You just don't get it." Arwen walked out the room, slamming the door behind her to emphasise her point.
Tysan still sat where she was, thinking. She wished Aragorn and Arwen all the best in the heart, even as her head told her it was wrong, and that she should be upset. Tysan firmly reminded herself that she had no reason to be unhappy, and that she had every reason to be happy for her sister and her foster brother. So why was her head telling her that nothing good would come of it, and that it was destined for something other than what the plans were for it.
End flashback
I end up looking around at Gandalf, anyone, to stop myself looking at Aragorn, and thinking up a thousand and one reasons why their marriage wouldn't work. That's because you know there would be no chance for them. The little voice in the back of my head is quickly shut up, lest it spread mutinous rumours around the rest of my brain. Well here we are, looking at Gandalf. Think of something relating to him…
Flashback
A young Tysan sat watching the firework display going off, awe clearly written on her unmasked face (A/N: this is before Tysan got her mask). She smiled and clapped enthusiastically after the end of each one, an amazement that seemed to never wane throughout the whole performance. At the end the young girl ran through the crowds to find Gandalf, the wizard who had made all this girl's dreams come true.
"Thank you Gandalf." Tysan said politely when she caught up with the wizard.
"I take it you enjoyed them?" Gandalf asked.
"I did, and I think I shall always enjoy fireworks." The little Tysan exclaimed excitedly, "Especially your ones." She added after a pause.
"I'm glad you enjoyed them." Gandalf smiled down at the little child.
End Flashback
I did keep my promise, I answer in my head, still with that sad little voice of the lost girl. I still love fireworks. Of course I don't let anyone know that, it would ruin what they've come to see me as. But if there was one chance that I could be what I was then, be something different now, then I wouldn't hesitate, I would be it. There is another path you could take though. The voice answers me in my head, but again I shoo it away.
I glance over to the Hobbits. I bet they still like fireworks, and aren't afraid to show it, I tell myself. Yes, but you aren't them, my other half argues back. They have an innocence you will never have the small voice breaks in yet again. To be quite honest, I don't care, I like them I don't care what anyone else thinks, I tell myself hoping to shut the other voices up. I would fight and die to protect these small beings, these seeming bastions of innocence against the evil of the world. I vowed then to protect them, although still wondering how innocent little things like them got mixed up in a thing like this.
My eyes catch the coppery red head of my half-sister. She had beautiful hair, although it does remind me very much of fire… Stop that. I tell myself. Thinking about that will not help things at all. Aleyna seems… different… somehow to most other people I've met. She has this strange innocence about her that is strangely endearing. I like her to say the least, perhaps I feel called upon by the blood that ties us. She is another whom I would be willing to lay my life down for, even if it were only to be able to look and see her smiling face.
I wonder if I would be able to protect her from everything, perhaps even sometimes herself. I had vowed to do that for someone else, and yet had failed. It was my fault I failed her, I should have been with her that day, she told me she would be fine. I should have known what they would have done; she was different, not like them. And the foolish mortals whom she walked right into the middle of couldn't understand her, couldn't even try to understand. I am reminded of it when I look at my sister's hair, glinting in the sun.
Flashback
The stake stood ready with the woman tied to it. Her blonde hair was caught up in a simple yet elegant style. She was dressed in a white dress, which seemed too fine for it to have been a villager's. She stood calmly and tall, not a word passing her lips. She seemed to be waiting for her fate, which was in the hand of the lead villager. In his hand was a brand, which was tipped with a hungry flame.
As it was placed against the kindling the flames jumped hungrily onto it, devouring it with its pure fury. It soon caught at the hem of the dress, and soon the woman herself was no more than a burning torch, who had uttered not a sound throughout this whole ordeal. She just turned her eyes to the heavens, even as the red flames engulfed the crown of her head, obscuring her vision.
Tysan stood viewing the scene from behind her mask. Her hood was pulled up, obscuring the villagers' views of her. Pure anger and malice burnt in her eyes as she watched the spectacle. That was her friend on the stake. She cursed the village even as she turned and walked out. She left the village to its fate, content to never see it again. She would be happy if it soon sank into oblivion.
Flashback
You failed your friend then, so why should you not fail your sister now? The voice that I have now come to recognise as my father whispers. I won't fail her, I won't make the same mistake twice, I told my father harshly. And I suppose now you will be going back to examining your surroundings, my father tells me scathingly. Actually, that's quite a good idea, I answer, before looking around at something to focus on.
There's a rock. And another rock. And yet another rock. God I am so bored. I am actually counting the rocks. Well they do say idle brains will find work, even if the work is as boring as noticing small things. You're mad, my father buts in. Well better mad than working for you, I reply rather too sharply for my father's liking. You may soon, we shall see, he adds cryptically. Oh, and by the way you're insane to even be attempting whatever it is your little party is attempting, my father adds.
"I am not insane. And you don't know what we're doing, so ha." I tell my father, before freezing as everyone is the fellowship is looking at me.
"I didn't say that out loud did I?" I asked embarrassed.
"You did, and don't worry you're perfectly sane." Aleyna answers, smiling friendly at me.
"Do you want to take a vote on that?" Boromir mockingly asked my sister.
I growled at that statement, and I wasn't the only one in the group. I realised that Star, Aleyna's familiar must have come along, even though Aleyna had begged her not to. She seems to be very attached to that dog, and personally I wouldn't like to be the one to see what happens if the dog dies. Okay the dog and me have reached a truce. I won't even dream of hurting Aleyna, and she leaves me alone, or lets me pet her from time to time. A win, win situation for both of us.
"Come on Tysan, its time to go." Aleyna gently breaks into my thoughts.
We walk for a long while, and then a halt is called. I'm glad of that. I was getting a tad bored of counting trees, bushes and rocks, as well as arguing with the voice in the back of my head. We all settle down and almost immediately nearly all of the heads snap around to face Aleyna. She smiles before beginning her tale. We have an agreement that when we rest she will tell us tales from her world before we all sleep.
This tale is all about vampires and werewolves, in this case called lycans. They've been carrying on a war, which will soon draw to a close. The lycan rebel leader, believed to be dead is still very much alive. A vampire death dealer locked in the war falls for a human, who ends up becoming a hybrid. At the end there is no foregone conclusion, and that leaves us all with a sense of suspense. (A/N: Underworld's the story if anyone is remotely interested). The whole tale was about forbidden love, and secrets that run so deep that once discovered the consequences ring out through the ages.
"What happens afterwards?" Pippin enquires, the ending obviously not enough for him.
"I don't know. I would like to think that they found peace, but I don't know." Aleyna answers shaking her head sadly.
"I hope they get to live peacefully." Frodo answered sadly.
"They must have found some peace of their own." Legolas answers, with his elf like wisdom.
After that the watches were sorted out and everyone settled down to sleep, myself included. Aleyna had volunteered to keep the first watch. The last sight I got was of her sitting staring out, the small fire at her back. Her knees were hugged to her chest, and her chin was resting on top of them. Her thoughts were obviously sad and solemn, obviously about her home. I wished I had somebody or someplace who would miss me, I wished wistfully before I fell asleep.
Author's note: Well here we are. I hope there wasn't too long a wait for this chapter. Hopefully this chapter will tell you all a little bit more about Tysan. Beware, Tysan's path is going to be very hard, but hopefully I will manage to inject some humour along the way. Please read and review people.