Disclaimer: The Lord of the Rings is property of Tolkien and there are many references throughout to Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series. I only own what you do not recognize. The character Chinky is not meant to cause offence and is named after a real horse whose name has been shortened from a Fiat Cinquecento (Chinky – Chento).
Chapter 30: The birth of Death
Amy gasped as she felt herself get pitched forwards, as the mare beneath her screamed and fell forwards.
Legolas shot another arrow and finally saw the last archer fall to the ground riddled with arrows. Automatically he checked their company for casualties; he muttered a quick prayer for the fallen scout, before searching the area for Amy. His mind wrenched as he heard the high-pitched scream of a horse in pain.
His heart quickened when he could not see her on horseback, fearing the worst he twisted frantically on Arod's back to try and see where the noise had originated; a group of the riders crowded round something on the floor. His stomach knotted as he jumped off Arod and pushed his way through the crowd of horses.
The sight that met him gripped his heart as he sank to his knees in front of the small form of Amy.
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Images passed through Amy's mind as she saw the heather rush up to meet her. Chinky's scream still rang in her ears, as the ground loomed ever closer. Moments before she hit the ground she instinctively twisted her body in order to land on her shoulder rather than her neck. She grunted loudly at the force of the impact.
Groggily opening her eyes, the world seemed to spin before her. She shook her head briskly and sat up. What happened? She had heard Chinky say sorry, then what? Once again the scream rang through her ears as her eyes widened in horror.
Ignoring the battle that was finishing around her, she turned quickly and what she saw made her heart crack painfully. Slowly but surely she pulled herself towards the broken form of the once mighty Mearas.
On approaching the horse she assessed the wounds, five arrows were imbedded deeply within the mare's broad chest. She drew on her power and searched in vain for what she found in Haldir, a hope; a spark. Her attempts did not end in success. She was dead; the five arrows would have killed seconds after impact. Despite what her brain was telling her, her heart didn't listen. She searched even harder, after one final search her heart gave in. She was dead.
Tears leaked from the corners of her eyes as she carefully removed the five arrows and healed and washed the wounds with flows of Water and Spirit. Sinking down beside Chinky's neck she pulled the dished face into her lap and gently stroked the mare's once glossy forelock. Her once glittering coat was gradually turning limp and lifeless and the soft hairs of her mane were growing coarse and dull. She gave a final sob as she gently pulled the mare's eyelids closed and allowed herself weep freely, completely oblivious to the crowd now surrounding her.
Legolas dropped to his knees beside Amy; he longed to take her in his arms to comfort her, yet he knew she had to grieve for her horse. So he settled for gently stroking her hair, and muttering to her in elvish.
After a few moments he noticed that her sobbing had subsided. Looking up he was met with the saddened gazes of the Rohirrim and Haldir's guard. Aragorn and Haldir gracefully jumped off their horses and came and knelt next to Amy.
"Amy, hush Little Warrior, listen to me." Aragorn said as he gently raised her chin.
Amy raised her eyes and looked at the ranger in front of her. His eyes were filled with sorrow, and slight confusion.
"What happened?"
Amy sobbed again before opening her mouth to speak.
"I know not, all that is clear is that Chinky must have seen the arrows coming as she apologised to me seconds before she fell." Amy said roughly wiping away tears that threatened to fall from her already swollen eyes.
Aragorn didn't question her further; instead he leant forward and pulled her into a hug, which she returned gratefully. He sighed into her hair as he saw both Haldir and Legolas lean forward to embrace her as well.
Amy's mind was still spinning, Chinky dead? Her heart was still not entirely excepting the fact that she would never see the large horse again, never see her buck or rear in joy, never hear her whinny in the morning, never hear her solid heartbeats as she slept against her stomach.
Mentally shaking herself she opened her eyes and was quite surprised to find herself in Aragorn's arms, not wanting to question anything she pulled away slightly and stood up.
"Amy, you can ride with me, Gimli shall ride with Damer." Legolas said as he too stood up and looked down upon the smaller elf, who appeared to be frowning at something.
"Yes of course," she said almost absentmindedly all tears forgotten from her eyes.
Amy stared hard at the lifeless form of Chinky. Something was wrong, despite the obvious fact that the horse was now dead, something did not seem right. She slowly walked away from Legolas and took a step towards the broken form of the once mighty horse. Something was fascinating her. Something looked wrong.
"Get back!" She yelled to the riders. "Get back you fools, get back!" She yelled again as she too took a stumbling pace away from the horse.
The riders took her warning and turned around away from her, the fear was evident in her voice. Now she knew what was wrong. Something was apparently rippling beneath the Mearas skin. Taking another step back she stared in morbid fascination as the rippling grew.
A cry escaped her lips as the rippling finally ceased and what appeared to be a huge shadow sprang from Chinky's back.
She could hear the others gasp in horror, as the shadow seemed to hover for a bit before solidifying. Whereas before she could see through the shadow, now it was becoming harder and harder. Quickly drawing on her power, she readied herself for a fight.
The shadowy form lowered itself to the ground before finally taking the solid shape of a huge black horse.
The shock made Amy release her power in an instant. Before her stood a huge black horse that must have been over seventeen hands high. A jet- black coat covered the body; strong muscles were clearly visible beneath the shimmering coat. Hard hooves pawed the ground angrily; as a sudden wind made a long black mane and tail whip out behind it. Amy gasped as she looked upon the horse's head, a dished face, which bared an uncanny resemblance to Chinky's, was held proud and high. Coal black eyes were lit from within with a red flame. The horse screamed and reared up to its full height, before crashing down to earth with a thunderous noise.
'Chinky's son.' Amy thought when the horse reared up.
"He is dangerous my lady, we should shoot him!" A guard yelled.
"What is it? It must be some demon sent from Sauron." Another yelled.
Amy turned round to face the shocked faces of the guards. "This is Chinky's son, my new mount!"
"It'll kill you my lady!" One shouted.
"Not if I kill his spirit first!" Amy shouted back, a grim light flickered in her eyes.
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Legolas and Aragorn stared at the horse in ewe and wonder. The power that threatened to break out of the horse was phenomenal. But could Amy tame him? That was the question that was running through their minds as the dragon lowered her head and turned her body to face the horse side on.
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Remembering what she had been taught decades ago about approaching new horses; she turned her body so that she was facing the horse side on, from what she remembered this was the most unthreatening way to stand. Carefully she stepped round Chinky, not looking at the dead mare, and took a step towards the horse.
"Come I will not hurt you." She said extending a hand towards the stallion.
The whole group gasped in shock as they heard the horse talk.
"Stay back." The horse said.
Aragorn gasped as he heard the horse speak, none of the Mearas had been able to talk in centuries until Chinky had come along, and now one was able to talk to mortals as well!
"Why do you fear me?" Amy said again, taking another step closer.
"I do not fear anything!" The horse replied.
"I am your new master, you shall bear me like you mother did." Amy said, starting to tire of the horse's boldness.
"I will bear no one, be it man, elf or dwarf." The horse said, this time taking a step towards Amy.
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Legolas wanted to shut his eyes; he didn't want to see what was going to happen. This horse could squash her flat! Images of her trampled corpse spread through his mind; he quickly pushed these thoughts to the back of his head.
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"I am neither!" Amy said, taking a step towards the horse. A flame suddenly appeared in her black eyes.
"I will suffer nothing upon my back."
Quickly turning so she faced the horse Amy threw her arms outwards, in doing so making her self seem bigger than she was. "You will suffer me!" She yelled.
The horse screamed and reared into the air before crashing down less than a meter from Amy.
Their coal black eyes met, a flame ignited in both. Time stood still as they held the contact neither blinking of glancing away. After what seemed like an age the horse screamed again and shied away spinning on his haunches. Quicker than the eye could see Amy ran and met him face on again. The horse spun again striking out with a forefoot as he did. Dodging the kick Amy met him once again when he landed. Just as he looked like he was about to spin again, Amy offered him her hand.
The horse looked at the hand, and then his eyes met with hers. Dropping his head he placed his ears to the side and started licking and chewing his bottom lip in defeat.
"You are worthy of my friendship, though I bid you, name me well, for a name I do not like I will not keep." The horse said, before blowing sharply out through its nose.
The riders looked on in wonder, as Amy calmly walked up to the horse and placed a hand on his nose.
"In death you were born and so death I shall call you. Son of Chinky and Snowmane. You shall bear the name Moridin, King of the Mearas, for death is in your mind and soul."
