- - CALINA - -
The days that followed their departure from Bree were interesting. While travel itself was uneventful, the initial tension between Calina and Strider was painfully apparent. However, true to their words Strider remained civil, and Calina supported the ranger as their guide. As the days passed, the strain between them lessened and finally began to shift to a faint resemblance of comradery.
Over time, the sullen marshland gave way to rough rocky country. On a dismal afternoon they came to a large ruin atop a hill, "This was the great watchtower of Amon Sûl." Strider explained, looking back at the rest of their party. "We will rest here for the night."
They climbed up the watchtower and set up camp beneath a rock overhang near the hill's summit. "I'm going to scout the area. Here," Strider pulled four Barrow-blades from his pack and handed one to each Half-ling. "You will need to learn how to protect yourselves. I will return soon." He then wandered off, set on his task.
The Half-lings inspected the weapons. The blades were shaped like thin leaves with fiery stones laid in their hilts. "Calina," Merry asked, setting his sword aside, "could we start a fire? A hot meal would be quite nice right about now."
"I'm sorry, but a fire would draw too much attention." She answered sympathetically, setting down her pack.
"Here." Sam offered, tossing a tomato at Merry.
He caught it and sighed, "I suppose one can't be too picky while on the road."
After they rested, Calina returned to her feet, hand on the hilt of her sword, "All right. Let's start with the basics." While there were a few grumbles of protest, the Hobbits stood and grabbed their blades, following along with Calina's introductory lesson on swordsmanship.
Despite being worn out from their day's travels, the Hobbits eventually piqued up at the thrill that came with wielding their own blades, and they practiced until the last viable rays of daylight faded away to the shadow of night. As darkness settled in around them, the Hobbits took out their blankets and huddled against the wall furthest from the overhang. Calina stood by the edge, keeping watch over the landscape.
As they began to settle, the topic of their final destination came up. "Calina," Sam began as he pulled his blanket closer to his chin, "What's Rivendell like?"
The cool autumn air tousled her hair, fondly remembering the city's beauty, "The city is high above a gorge, and there are thick pines and luscious shrubs everywhere. There's also a river with a handful of waterfalls, and the city is separated from the rest of the world by a great stone bridge that spans a massive chasm."
"It sounds wonderful. I can't wait to see it." Pippin commented, yawning.
"Soon enough. Now, all of you should get some sleep. We will leave as soon as the sun rises."
A cold burst of wind blew past, and the Hobbits shivered at its briskness. However, being huddled together kept them feeling horribly chilled. With the tiredness that came from the day's travel in addition to their sword lesson, the Half-lings were sound asleep in minutes.
Calina glanced back at them. They were all lined up in a neat row, each leaning against one another as they slept. She couldn't help but smile at the sight. It was undeniably cute. However, the endearing moment was unexpectedly ruined when a familiar cool sensation crept across her skin. Her eyes then snapped back out across the landscape, searching.
Strider returned, coming to stand beside her. The intensity of her stare and demeanor didn't go without his notice, "What do you see?" He asked.
Though still far off, she could clearly see a band of black horses rushing towards the watchtower, and they were tailed by a familiar ominous fog. Calina's blood ran cold, "The Wraiths. They've found us."
The ranger swore, running over to his pack and lighting a blazing torch, "We must go, quickly!" He ordered.
While his words had been enough to wake the Half-lings, they were very disoriented. "Follow Strider!" Calina urged as she guided the drowsy Hobbits after the ranger as he ascended the steps that went to the peak of the ruins. All too soon, the steps gave way to a landing, and they found themselves among a ring of broken stone pillars that opened up into the night sky. There was nowhere left to run.
Strider turned back around and drew his sword while Calina ushered the Hobbits back, making sure they were as far from the stairs as possible. When she looked back, she saw the fog had followed them and an icy chill had come along with it. Five Nazgûl floated up from the shadow of the steps with their swords drawn. Calina bolted back over to Strider, drawing her sword as she came to stand beside him.
"Give us the Half-ling!" One of Wraiths screeched as they all closed in on them.
"Never!" She yelled back.
The Wraith shrieked angrily and swung, set on removing her head.
"Calina!" The Hobbits shouted in horror.
With speed and agility they had not yet seen, Calina snaked out of the path of the blade, into the gloom of the nearest pillar, and vanished. The Rider's sword rang out angrily as it made contact with the stone. Her comrades gaped dumbstruck at having seen her shadow walk right before them.
They were knocked from their stupor when a second Wraith unleashed a violent shriek. The remaining riders scattered just enough to reveal Calina. She had appeared behind them and was pulling her sword out of the back of the unsuspecting Nazgûl. Her target, still screaming, retreated back down the steps. Another Wraith attempted to strike her but failed, for just as before, she vanished into the shadows before reappearing off to the side, striking her assailant across the chest. Like the first, this Wraith fled as well.
The remaining Nazgûl were so caught off guard by Calina's attacks they scattered further. Strider took the opportunity to move in, thrusting the torch into one of the Wraith's hoods, setting its head ablaze. The creature flailed before disappearing like the others, its wail echoing through the night. With the first three gone, only two remained. Calina and Strider now stood side by side, swords grasped with confidence.
"I'm winning." She boastfully challenged.
"Not for long." The man declared.
"Let's end this, shall we?"
"For once, we can agree."
The pair then rushed the two remaining Wraiths. However, at the last possible moment, their enemy shot apart to reveal a sixth Rider hiding behind its fellows, its sword already crashing down on them. Without thinking, she side checked the ranger before the blade could land its blow. "Calina!" Frodo yelled as the Half-lings all watched their comrades take a hard dive into the ground.
While Strider rose swiftly, Calina stayed down, clutching her upper arm as blood began to leak between her fingers. Knowing they had done damage, two of the Wraiths went to attack her simultaneously. However, Strider leapt forward, deflecting their blows.
'This is bad.' Calina thought and she scrambled to stand while Strider continued to fight them off. 'I can hardly lift my sword. Perhaps this will be more effective.' She then tossed her sword aside and drew her palms up and concentrated. Seconds later, the crackling violet magic manifested over her hands and began to lick across her skin.
The Riders advanced, but as they did, Calina leapt forward and thrust her palms into the center of their cloaks. Her aim was spot on, and the magic latched onto the Wraiths like maggots to flesh. The attack was so potent that they, like all the others, ran. In the chaos of her attack, Strider took the opportunity to plunge his sword into the hood of the last Wraith. Then, as suddenly as they had been bombarded, they were alone.
'I can't believe that worked.' Calina thought. Though her vision was blotched with spots, she managed a half grin as the others rushed towards her.
"Fool!" Strider said as he closed the distance between them. "I could've taken the blow."
"You and I both know you would've sliced in two." She argued, still clutching her arm. She forced her hand away, palm warm with blood. "I'll be fine. It'll heal in no... time..."
.
While she had only fainted for a split second, Strider still had to catch her before she collapsed entirely. They were both now kneeling as he kept her upright. Although she had regained consciousness, her eyes were leadened shut.
"Why won't she wake?" Pippin asked, his tone frantic.
"Shock. She may be immune to death, but she still feels pain." Strider then grabbed her by the shoulders and hoisted her upright, one hand coming to grab the side of her head to keep it from lolling around, "Calina. Calina, wake up. We must go. We cannot linger."
By power of will, she rolled her head out of his grasp and groaned, making it clear that she was coming to. "Steady." The ranger said as she made a move to stand. He guided her to her feet. Though she wobbled, she remained upright.
"Sorry." She murmured, still trying to shake the last of the unconsciousness away.
"Let's see it." Strider was already peeling back the blood soaked sleeve to assess her injury. All of them eyed the long slice that extended the upper half of her arm. Blood continued to trickle down her arm.
"I don't understand. Why won't it heal?" Sam asked.
"It was a Morgul-blade." Strider answered. Though his next words pained her to hear, Calina knew they were most likely true. "Her magic is similar to that of the Wraiths. So while she may not fall victim to the blade's poison, it has inhibited her ability to heal. Merry, the bandages."
"On it." The Hobbit ran to one of their packs and began to dig through it, returning seconds later with a roll of white cloth.
With skillful hands, Strider made quick work of dressing the wound. He tried a careful knot before fixing her with a stern glare. "Do not overexert yourself. Now, we must leave." Without a moment to spare, the group descended back down the steps, the Nazgûl's cries still fading off in the distance.
.
Two more days passed in a blur. They moved as quickly as they could, stopping only briefly for small rests and to eat in hopes of reaching Rivendell as fast as possible. All the while, the Wraiths continued to chase them. To their slight relief, they never came so close as they had the night at the watchtower.
During the second night they stopped in a forest for a break, and Pippin brought up the topic of Calina's wound. "How is your arm?" He inquired while gnawing on a piece of dried meat.
"It's still a bit tender." She admitted.
Strider narrowed his eyes. "Let's change the dressing." Without a word, Merry began to dig around in his pack for the white fabric. He pulled it out an instant later before tossing it to the ranger. Calina had begun to try and work out the little knot with her other hand but was having little success.
Watching her struggle, Sam came over, "Here, let me." He then carefully undid the knot and began to delicately remove the dressing.
"Thank you." She said with an appreciative smile. But upon reaching the final layer of bandage, Calina let out a sharp hiss.
Sam immediately snatched his hands away, throwing them up in apology, "Sorry, I'm sorry!"
"It's alright." She said, trying to ease his obvious guilt. Her brow furrowed, noticing that the bandage still hung in place and had refused to fall off her arm. "I don't understand. We changed it yesterday. Why's the blood dried to the bandage?"
"Bad luck." Strider said, walking over and assessing the cloth with more scrutiny. Sure enough, the wound had scabbed and fused to the cloth. A portion of its edge was bright red after having been agitated.
Calina and Strider shared a knowing look. "This will hurt." He stated. She grit her teeth while the ranger began to carefully break the bandage away from the scab.
After an agonized moment, Strider managed to separate the bandage from her arm. He tossed the bloodied cloth aside, "Sam, do you know lamb's ear?" Strider asked.
"Aye." The gardener answered, somewhat befuddled at the question.
"It can be used to help slow the bleeding." The ranger then handed Calina the fresh bandage, "Hold this in place. We'll return shortly." The pair each ran off in separate directions, hastily searching for the soft-leafed plant.
Despite her discomfort, Calina was alert for any sign of trouble. To her dismay, she began to sense the Wraiths approaching from the west. "Grab your things. We need to move, now! The riders are getting close." She said urgently, letting the bandage fall away as she began to hastily head eastward.
"But what about Strider and Sam?" Frodo asked as they began to hurry through the forest.
"The Wraiths are after the Ring, not them. Now let's go!" The little company then began to run, the screeches of the Nazgûl growing ever closer. Fortunately, the trees and shrubbery slowed their pursuers, but this advantage was abolished when the forest ended and an open plain spread out before them.
Calina cursed, 'They'll catch up to us in no time if we go out there.' Calina rapidly thought over their options before finally settling on a plan. "Stay in the woods. Keep out of sight, but don't go far. I'll hold them off." She then unsheathed her sword and moved further out of the forest.
"Like hell we will!" Merry yelled, taking out his blade.
"Yes, you will. I won't be able to protect you with this wound. But the forest will give you cover and will make it difficult for them to follow you if it comes to that." She stressed as she felt the presence of the Wraiths growing heavier.
Though the Half-lings didn't like her response, they couldn't argue it. "If things start to look bad, we will come to help!" Merry shouted as he, Pippin and Frodo ran back under the cover of the trees.
Hardly any time had passed before four Riders came bursting through the woods not far away. They wheeled their horses around, clearing searching for their quarry. When they finally saw her, they drove their horses forward, drawing their swords as they made their rapid approach.
Calina held her ground, but her arm protested at holding the sword. The exertion was causing blood to leak from the wound, but she gripped the hilt harder. 'I have to do my best until Strider catches up.'
By the time she finished the thought, the Riders were upon her. She ducked and struck the legs of one of the horses. It buckled instantly, flinging its rider forward out of the saddle and beneath its massive body as it slammed into the ground. With one Wraith pinned, the three remaining circled her and dismounted before promptly narrowing the distance between them all.
Her arm ached in effort to hold up her sword. 'This isn't good.' She thought, panting laboriously. One of the Wraiths moved slowly towards her. It attacked, and she parried the strike. She tried to push back, but was so overpowered that her sword was knocked from her hands. It swung at her head, but she ducked and dove out of the way. However, her dash sent her landing on her bad arm and she cried out in pain as she tried to get back up.
From behind the Wraiths, she saw the Half-lings emerge from the forest, swords in hand. 'No, no! Go back, go back!' To her utmost surprise, the Nazgûl paused in their attack and began to back away. Their swords even back to drop.
"Baggins." One of them said raspily.
"Not here." She retorted, coming to her feet.
"Lie!" Another cut back, stepping forward, sword hung in a motion to strike.
With what little control she had over the Wraiths gone, they charged. She tumbled out of the way again, this time managing to roll back up her feet. 'My arm is as good as useless. I'll have to try the magic again.' Calina threw her hands out in a hurry, focusing. As before, the magic sparked to life. She then rushed the nearest Wraith and pushed her palms into its gut. Though it wasn't nearly as potent of an attack from days prior, it was enough to drive the Wraith away. But as before, her vision began to spin with black clouds. She began to teeter, 'I'm running out of energy.'
There was a sudden crash of foliage nearby. The battling parties followed the sound and looked to see Strider burst through the trees. He pulled out his sword and darted towards the last two riders, managing to drive them off with an aggressive assault. He walked over to the last Wraith, which was still pinned beneath its horse, and sent his blade straight through its head. It let out another horrible wail and struggled for an instant before going completely still.
"I've never been so happy to see you." Calina said with a weak smile, once again clenching her arm as he hurried over.
"It would seem we are tied." He said as he helped her stand.
The duo then turned to the sound of Pippin yelling out to them, "You both were amazing! And look! We ran into someone who says she knows you Strider."
A horse as pale as the moon emerged from the forest, glowing like a beacon against the night. Its rider was a fair maiden with long dark hair, the light of stars in her bright gray eyes. 'I've met her before…' Calina mused. Upon the beauty's final approach did she see past the pain and fatigue that was clouding her senses and realized this was a She-Elf, for the prickle of her opposing light magic became apparent.
"Arwen." Strider proclaimed as they all came together.
"I've been tracking you for two days. I passed four of the Wraiths you drove away. Where the others are, I do not know." Arwen said urgently.
"You must go with her, Frodo." Strider hoisted the Half-ling up and into the front of the saddle.
"What? Why?" He asked, a shade frantic.
"Once we cross the river, the power of my people will protect you and the Ring from further pursuit." She answered, looking at the rest of them. "I will send horses for you."
Strider reached up and grabbed one of her hands in a way that was so tender that Calina had to keep her expression in check. 'Clearly they more than just "know" each other.' She surmised.
"Ride hard, Arwen. Don't look back." Aragorn said.
She nodded resolutely, "Ride fast, Asfaloth, ride fast!" Without any further hesitation, she urged the horse forward into a gallop, and the others were left watching as they began to fade from view.
"But the Wraiths are still out there!" Sam exclaimed.
"She is a fast rider. Now, let's have a look at that." Strider nodded to Calina's wound before walking back towards the trees. The others followed and soon they were back under the cover of the woods. "You have strained it further." Strider reprimanded. "Sam, the lamb's ear." The gardener dug into his pocket and passed the soft leaves over to the ranger, who began to carefully place them over the wound.
Fortunately, the velvety leaves worked as intended and stopped the bleeding. He then wrapped her arm in a fresh bandage, giving a stern look, "Keep a better eye on it. We carry on." The ranger then adjusted his pack and began to jog back out into the stoney field with the rest of their party in tow.
- - STRIDER - -
By now, night had gone and daylight had begun to eat its way across the land. All of them were exhausted, but none of them were willing to be the hindrance that forced the group to stop completely, so they carried on jogging across the countryside. Strider took the lead with Merry and Pippin behind him, leaving Sam and Calina to bring up the rear. But it was clear they were reaching their limits. Even Strider's breath was ragged as he ran ahead of them. 'We will stop for a short rest.' He finally decided, panting heavily.
As he stopped, he turned to look back at the rest of his company. Pippin and Merry were beside him shortly, grabbing at their knees at having finally been able to stop running. Sam trudged along, with Calina close behind. To the ranger's alarm, Calina suddenly lost her footing and she tumbled headfirst into the ground.
"Damn it." He muttered, running back to her. To the ranger's sudden proclamation, Merry and Pippin turned, following his gaze. Upon seeing their friend in a heap, they too began to rush back over to her. Sam was already kneeling beside her by the time Strider arrived. The gardener rolled her over. It was clear she was unconscious, and her face was contorted in agony.
Calina suddenly sprang upright, causing the others to jump in surprise. She had moved so violently that she managed to kick up clouds of dust as she rose. At first, they felt relief that she had regained consciousness so quickly. However, their solace was quick to crumble when they caught her gaze. From between her bangs, they could see that her eyes had turned as black as the richest tar. Though she sat before them, it was clear that Calina was no longer staring back.
'It is just as before.' Strider thought, his jaw now clenched. "Back away, now!" He commanded, already beginning to push the Hobbits away.
The severity of his words shocked the Half-lings, but because of it, they did not resist. As they did, Calina's eyes turned wide and a look of sorrowful horror appeared on her face. "No, no, no," she whispered endlessly.
"Calina?" Pippin asked quietly, daring to reach out towards her. She did not reply. She only kept muttering to herself, transfixed on whatever horrors rested behind the black canvas of her eyes.
Strider was quick to yank the Hobbit back, "Leave her. She has been consumed by the darkness." He commanded, pushing all of the Hobbits further away from her with haste.
From a safer distance, the group watched as anguished tears began to fall from Calina's eyes. Her hands came up to cover her face as she sobbed, words somehow managing to leak from her lips into tangible words.
"They've been washed away." She sobbed, tears trickling between her fingers and landing on the powdered earth in front of her.
She only paused to let out an enraged yell, slamming her fists into the ground. All her sorrow had been replaced with fury. "THAT WITCH!" They all leapt back at her outburst. "I'll kill her!" She then bolted upright, fists at her sides. Her expression was full of a rage and hatred so wild that they froze in their tracks.
Then, without so much as even acknowledging her companions, the Shadow Walker sprinted into the nearest patch of gloom of a withering tree and vanished. She had moved so quickly that none of them could've even stopped her if they tried. The only sign of her presence was the desiccated grass left in the place she'd fallen, for it was now shriveled and black with death.
- - SHADOW WALKER - -
'Find that witch. Find her. Kill her! She must pay.'The malevolent voice had returned and was wreaking havoc across her mind. It continued to scream these and similar thoughts to her, and drove her forward. She was a feral beast lost to rage, a shifting blur as she was driven by the voice, jumping from one shadow to the next to an extent her powers would normally never permit.
She eventually ceased shadow jumping, for the She-Elf's presence had crossed over the stoney banks of a river and into a realm of pure Elvin magic on the opposite shore. Her black eyes shot down the waterway, still lost to the madness of shadows.
'Find that witch!'The voice commanded relentlessly.'She brought them harm, now you will bring the same to her!' But the closer she stepped towards the river, the thicker the light magic became. And it began pushing back against the darkness. So much so, that the overpowering presence began to release its hold on her, and this was all the give she needed to fight back.
Calina's eyes screwed shut in resistance as she fought to regain control. But the voice of shadow would not relent, 'Avenge them! You cannot let her crime go unpunished.' It screamed over and over, trying to stomp back into a position of power. Her hands clutched her skull as she dropped to her knees, eyes flickering in color at her internal power struggle. To her rebellion, the air around her began to whirl, lifting her hair from her shoulders with its turbulence. Around her, a crackle overcame the air with light and dark energies snapping against each other angrily.
Then, as suddenly as the voice had appeared, it vanished, taking the winds that raged around her with it. Her eyes snapped open and she dropped to all fours, panting. Though her sclera were still dark, her irises had returned to their normal gray-blue.
But while she had banished the voice from her mind, the exertion had taken a heavy toll and she collapsed, breathing raggedly. Her arm had ripped open again, and the excessive shadow jumping had left her utterly spent. No sooner did her cheek hit the cool pebbles did the world become encased in the fog of unconsciousness.