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).
Authors Note: Woo chapter 37, I like this chapter, it sets in motion a very mini (and I'm talking miniscule) sub-plot. Some of you now should realise what Amy and Moridin are off to do, and has anyone got any ideas what Amy is yet? Come on I've dropped enough hints, although you would probably have to read the books to understand (people reading the Silmarillion should defiantly get it). It is mentioned in the Fellowship of the ring and in the extended Return of the King films. Leave any ideas in a review, come on you gota guess it soon! Anyway just finished writing chapter 39 and as soon as forty is written you will get chapter 38. Remember to review, I love emails!
Chapter 37: Milky Blue Eyes
Not two days had passed since their departure from Dunharrow and already they neared their first destination. They had galloped north across the Snowbourn river, which involved Moridin taking delight in soaking his rider, then they had travelled hard and fast up the east side of the mighty Fangorn Forest. Following this they continued north and skirted around Lorien, much against Amy's wishes. Moridin insisted that they had no time to tarry, and in her heart Amy knew this as well.
"Amy we cannot tarry here. We must reach the great forest with all haste." The horse said.
Amy stared out over the golden wood and dropped her head. "I know Moridin, yet part of me wishes to see Galadriel one more time. I do not know if I will see her again, she will travel to the Undying Lands at the end of this age. I wish to see her before that."
Moridin snorted as he collected his stride up. Stretching his neck forward his forefeet left the ground as he soared over a stream. On landing his pace picked up and lengthened again. "She will see you again. She would not miss the coronation of Aragorn, and I swear to you he will be king."
Not bothering to consider how he knew this she leant forward as he jumped another small stream. "Galadriel will want to know I'm safe."
"Then send her a sign."
Amy nodded her head and raised herself off Moridin's neck, placing one hand on his withers, to balance herself at their break neck speed, she used her left hand to send up a shower of gold and red sparks over the golden forest. "She will know I've been here."
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Galadriel sat by her pool and idly traced the surface with a finger, watching the ripples spread to the edge and vanish. Amy had explained to her once why some ripples were bigger than others and why in some areas there were no ripples. Physics, yes that is what she had called it. Shaking her head slightly she lifted her eyes to the sky above her. Bright sparks of red and gold scoured the sky. She smiled. Yes, Amy was all right. And yes she was going to fulfil the task laid before her; the races were going to war. Smiling again the golden haired elf went back to playing with the water.
'Be safe my little one, and remember Thranduil loves his son more than his life.'
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Amy nodded as she heard the soft music of Galadriel's voice in her head. She hoped she would never have to use the king's family against him, yet she also knew how stubborn Legolas could be and she prayed he did not get this trait from his father.
They galloped for another hour before they broke for rest. The Gladden fields lay before them with the shadow of Mirkwood looming over to the east, yet that was their path and that was the way in which they would travel.
Amy gathered some berries and sat down to eat them as Moridin happily cropped grass by her side. The cold sweet water of the gladden river revived them of their thirst, yet what they needed more than anything was sleep. After consuming her berries Amy cast a quick ward and lay against the Mearas side before sleeping.
Moridin lay awake long after he felt the steady breathing of Amy in her sleep. Slowly he lay his head down and closed an eye, very slowly he closed his other eye and let himself go into an uneasy sleep, one ear always open to the sounds that could possibly hurt his master.
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Amy paid little heed to the darkening forest as she rode through the gloom. A golden ball of light lit the way in front of them, yet at its outer reaches shadows swarmed and writhed. Constantly she could hear the skittering and clicking of thousands of spiders, all offspring of Shelob, the last decedent of the once mighty Ungoliant. Ungoliant was the servant of the Vala Melkor or Morgoth as he was later known. Only darkness followed her as she tore down the great trees, it was only fitting that her final offspring tormented the beauty of the wood elves.
Pointed ears twitched as the clicking got louder and a giant spider flew out of a tree to their left. Before Amy could even comprehend what was happening Moridin spun and kicked out at the creature, killing it instantly with his steel strong hooves. Gripping onto the black horse's withers tightly Amy smiled and thanked him.
"You need not thank me; I was only doing my job, but please pay more attention. I would not like to dislodge you." Moridin said as he continued his swift canter.
Amy nodded and stroked his silky mane. Sitting up straighter she let her power rush into the ball in front of her until it was almost too bright to look at, spiders in the vicinity shied away and scuttled backwards into their dens and webs. For no evil creature could stand pure light. From then on one hand was always raised off the powerful withers with golden flames dancing at her fingertips.
They were at the borders of the elven kingdom now; Amy could feel eyes on her that were not malicious but wary and unsure. She was recognised as one of their own, but they could feel her power and knew she was different to them. Amy was all set to raise the dragon banner as they rode the rest of the way into the kingdom to proclaim herself, but Moridin stopped her.
An image flashed in her mind that was not hers and she recognised it to be from Moridin. What it showed made her cringe. It showed them galloping through the woods with the dragon banner unfurled then it showed her hanging from a tree as the banner got caught in one of the low branches and swept her off him. Amy grunted and decided against putting the banner up, although she could hear the gentle chuckling of the horse beneath her and wondered why she was cursed with a horse with a sadistic sense of humour.
"It's because you love me!" Came the reply to her thoughts as Moridin kicked out and Amy had to grab his mane to stop herself from flying off.
"Yeah, I love you, of course." She said back sarcastically.
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Just as they were within sight of the elvish settlement a group of the forest guards stopped in front of them with their arrows strung in their bows. Amy considered her options; she could blast them out the way, although that would not be too courteous. She could encourage Moridin to jump them, but that might involve them taking pot shots at them while they were air born. Or she could simply stop and listen to what they had to say, and then decided what to do. She decided on the last option and told Moridin to slow down. Much to her horror however, and that of the guards, Moridin picked up his speed before screeching to a halt and kicking up a shower of dirt and grit less than five meters before the guards.
She went bright red. "Sorry about that, he's not entirely trained yet." She said swatting the black horse on the neck.
Moridin snorted before stamping the ground. "I object to having arrows pointed at me!"
The guards jumped back at the sound of his voice. "He is one of the Mearas," one said.
"You do not say! I thought I was a dwarven pit pony for a minute!" Amy cringed although she could hear the humour in his voice.
"Enough!" The captain of the guards said. "Who are you and what brings you to our land. We have had trackers following you since your arrival. What is your business here?"
Amy swung one leg over Moridin's neck so she was sitting side saddle. "I wish to speak with your king. I have grave news for him, and an offer. I wish no harm on you, and I promise that my horse will behave."
The captain nodded to his guards and suddenly more appeared out of the trees surrounding them. "You are to dismount and walk beside your horses head. I see you are one of our own kind, yet like none I have ever seen before. Any sudden moves from either of you will result in your life being on the line. Do you comprehend? I do not trust you, but I will give you the benefit of the doubt for the moment."
Amy nodded and slid down Moridin's back and landed gently on the mosey floor. "I thank you for your courteousness but if I should want to, I could kill you without a second though." Within an instant she was filled with Air and dragged ever arrow that was pointing at her up to the sky as flames danced on her fingertips.
The captain did not reel in shock like his comrades and deftly placed a blade against her throat. It was only then that he realised how small she was, barely reaching his shoulder. He blinked as she did not even bat an eyelid and reached and placed her own blade at his throat. He was about to say something when he noticed the dragons coiled around the steel. Slowly he lowered his own blade and sheathed it. "It cannot be!"
Amy simply nodded before placing her own sword back in its scabbard.
The captain sunk to his knees in front of her and placed his hand across his chest, "I am sorry my Lady. I was wrong to judge you; will you forgive me for placing a blade at your throat?"
"Rise, I can forgive you, tell your guard to lower their weapons and I will walk with you to the king's quarters. Moridin follows me, you understand?" She said placing a hand on the elf's shoulder.
He nodded and made a sharp movement with his hand and all of the guard placed their arrows back in their quivers, yet their bows remained in hand and strung, for even this close to the elven realm there was still fear of Orcs and spiders.
BREAK
The walk to the kings' halls did not take long. Amy strode along at Moridin's head and held a hand on his black nose. She could feel his soft breath under her fingers and smiled, the huge animal could be so gentle when he chose. The elven captain walked to her left with the rest of the guard spread out behind them. The polite conversation from the captain held her amusement as she stared around at the buildings and dwellings around her. It was unlike Lorien really, except the houses were not built fathoms into the sky, but rather suspended from the ground on stilts, the space underneath the dwellings was used for stabling for horses and gentle brown cattle that Amy had never seen before.
"Tell me captain, what are these brown cattle called? For I have never seen such like them." Amy said turning back round to the elf at her side.
"They are veleven, brought from the undying lands in the first age. They are kept predominately for their milk and the soft wool that they produce. Their meat is unfavourable and so rarely eaten, although their milk is the sweetest on this earth."
Amy nodded to herself as she saw a small elven child carry a pail of milk up the steps into his house on stilts. The great gates of the palace loomed before them and the guards dropped back and stayed at a further distance.
"I will go and tell the king that you request his presence. Please stay here until I return." He said before making another gesture with his arm to make the gates open.
Amy sighed and leaned against Moridin she prayed that everything was going to go well with the king, and after this another challenge awaited her, that one she did not think would go well. She was taken out of her thoughts as a small elven boy walked shyly up to her. She noticed that the guards all had a hand behind their shoulders on their arrows and almost laughed at their stupidity, did they really think she would hurt a child!
"Excuse me my lady." The small boy said, his shoulder length blonde hair flopping in front of his eyes as he looked at his feet.
Amy smiled down at the child in front of her, there were no elven children in Lothlorien the youngest was bordering one hundred and fifty and so was well into his elven teen years. She guessed this boy was only just thirty. "Yes little master?" She said crouching down so she was eye level.
The little boy looked up and met her black eyes; his own eyes were a milky blue, not the crystalline blue of Legolas, but a blue as if someone had dropped dye in milk. "My name is Wing, and I was wondering whether the stories my mummy told me were true." He stopped and lowered his eyes again and looked at the sword at her hip. "Are you really the child of the dragon? I saw you and your sword from my horse's corral, and was wondering whether it was true. It's just that my horse is very sick and I wondered if you could help him."
Amy smiled fondly at the little boy before placing a hand on his head. "Well then Wing, my name is Amy, I am the daughter on Onlee. Show me to your horse little one and I shall see what I can do."
The smile that lit up the elven face could have melted any heart, his grin stretched from ear to ear. "Thank you, my lady Amy. I'll show you the way, and that is a fine horse you have there, he is one of the Mearas isn't he. I wish my horse would grow up big and strong like yours. He is only a yearling so far, but he is strong and playful, but he has not moved in days, the healers say he is lost. He can't be!"
Moridin listened to the young elf and then raised his neck over Amy's shoulder and snorted on the boys head, blowing his golden locks away from his eyes. "You are a horse speaker, I can see it in you. Come I will let you ride me to your home." Moridin said as he lowered himself to the ground.
Amy almost reeled in shock, Moridin never offered to let people ride him let alone people he did not know. He must have seen something special in the child, and if so Amy would do everything in her power to help him. "Take me to him Wing."
The boy nodded as he waited for Moridin to rise, he could barely get one leg either side of the huge back, yet he seemed to have a secure seat, and without seeming to think, Amy saw him squeeze gently with his legs encouraging the black horse to move forward. Turning back to the guards she said, "I am going to help this boy's horse, tell your captain I will return immediately. The child's name is Wing if the captain is curious."
Wing led Moridin and Amy though the rows of houses until eventually they came to one on the edge of a small clearing. He swung his leg over the black back and slid to the floor gracefully. He darted off underneath the dwelling and Amy and Moridin followed. Underneath the dwelling it had been blocked off at three walls and a bar and gate was covering the last wall. Soft moss and grass was the ground covering and there was a manger in the corner filled with grains. What Amy noticed first was the small form of Wing and a horse nearly covered in moss to keep it warm.
Running over she placed a hand on the horse and reached out with her power with weaves of Air and Spirit to see what was wrong. Then she saw it, a small mark in his shoulder with a black taint spreading out, only visible to her due to her power. Slowly, like she did with Aragorn, she drew the taint out of the wound, she was not as tired this time, her strength was growing each day, and she suspected she also drew strength out of her great war horse who was currently lying down next to the boy. "He'll be ok won't he?"
"Shhh, horse speaker, let her work her magic, your horse will be fine." Moridin said gently to the small boy who was curled up against his girth. Wing nodded and sighed as he stroked the black side.
Amy put aside the gentle voice of Moridin, and the stab of jealously it bought, he was hers, and no one else's! Shaking her head slightly to rid herself of these thoughts she went back to drawing out the black taint which was now running in rivulets down the shoulder of the horse. Finally no more taint would emerge and the small wound knit itself back together.
The horse let out a huge shudder before lifting its head for the first time in days and sniffing for the small form of its master.
Wing leapt up, elbowing Moridin in the ribs – Amy tried to suppress a snigger at the grunt she heard from her horse – and ran to his yearlings head. "Mellonin! You are awake mellonin!" He said pulling the head into his lap.
"Yes he is awake, and now it is time for him to rise." Moridin said directing his speech at the prone horse.
The horse pulled its head out of its master's lap and shakily placed its front legs on the ground before heaving itself up onto four legs. It stood not moving for a time, then slowly it bent each leg up and placed it back on the ground, before taking a step forward and then another one. With each step it grew in confidence until it trotted around the small corral.
Only once it was standing did Amy notice what she had not before. When it was lying down it was nearly covered in moss, now she realised that the horse was black and white, but unlike Chinky it was spotted. It was covered head to toe in black spots like it had been originally white but then someone had flicked it with a paintbrush covered in black paint. Smiling she stroked its nose as it barged into his chest. "What is his name Wing?"
"Asca." He said before placing a hand on the horse's withers. "Can I mount him, is he well enough?"
Amy smiled; Rushing as a name suited the child more than the horse. "He is still only a yearling remember, and although I can see his bones are strong and you are only small, do not over do it!"
Grinning the young elf vaulted onto the spotted horse and a smile lit his face. Amy looked solemn for a second, he looked like a king when mounted on that horse, and Amy could tell the horse would grow to be strong and powerful, just like his rider. Yet she wondered what would happen, his people would leave this land before he was fully grown. Shaking her head she looked at the young horse and rider, and for a second she could have sworn she saw Legolas in his milky blue eyes.
