Hello, guys! Sorry I took a long time to post a new chapter. Please read the author's note at the end of the chapter. Here is another chapter for you!
P.S: This chapter takes place the next night after the previous chapter.
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Chapter 14- Volunteers?
"Noruion, could you please describe what you saw when you were unconscious?"
Mithrandir questioned the Crown Prince. The children of Thranduil and Elrond, Jaimea and the wizard sat scattered around the Halls of Fire. The couples sat together while Aragorn and Jaimea tried to ease Legolas's discomfort who sat in the middle of a couch, trying to act as calm as possible. Though the shake in his arms made it evident that his attempt wasn't effective. Mithrandir and Norui were deep in conversation.
"Yes, Mithrandir. It was about the size of a man, but it did not look like one. The shape was like nothing I have ever seen before. It was hunched over and when it walked, I noticed the legs were bent in like a horse's and I think I saw a slight limp. On its hands, there were long, sharp claws."
"What did its face look like?"
"I know not. I could not see it for it wore a long, black robe showing only what I have just described."
"Anything else, Norui?" The prince nodded.
"Yes. It made strange noises. Sometimes it would seem to growl and hiss. Also, there was magic about it." Norui finished. Mithrandir took in all that had been said and searched in the depths of his mind, trying to find an answer to this problem.
"You say it had strange legs?" He repeated.
"Yes, much like a horse's. What of it?" Norui asked.
"But had long claws…" The wizard mused. He furrowed his brow in thought and pursed his lips.
"Mithrandir?"
The Maia then lifted his head, concern visible in his eyes.
"Norui, I believe what you have is one of the Muruién, Shape Shifters. But, by your description, it is wounded or near death." Norui leaned forward in his chair, as did Mithrandir. "Tell me, what magic did it perform?"
"A red shield. It kept me from getting near it."
"How did you get free?"
"I killed it." Norui stated proudly. Mithrandir pondered this, tapping his chin thoughtfully. Finally, he spoke up.
"Nay, you could not have killed it. There is only one way to kill a Muruién."
"And what is that?"
"You must destroy their king." Norui furrowed his brow.
"Well, how do you know that the one I killed wasn't the king?" He put emphasis on the word 'killed'. Mithrandir shook his head.
"The king does not possess the magic to create such a shield that you described."
Norui growled and said, "Well, then we should just kill their king! Simple as that!" Mithrandir shook his head, frowning.
"No, they are a peaceful race. They never harm anyone."
"Then why are they trying to kill our people?"
"I told you, young prince, it must be wounded. They are like wolves, or bears. They will leave us alone as long as we don't try to attack them. But is they are wounded, they will do anything to stay alive even if that means killing the people of Middle Earth." Norui slumped down in his chair.
"This sounds more like an animal then a person." He said. Mithrandir chuckled.
"No, Norui, it is a person. They can change into any being they choose. They hunt by getting inside their prey's mind, and then drive it mad until it eventually dies." Lothron shuddered in Elrohir's arms.
"That is sick." She spat. Mithrandir looked over at her and laughed.
"They have got to eat, milady."
"Yes, but can't they think of a more humane way?"
"Oh, that is not humane? Then tell me, what is humane, Lothron? It shooting them with an arrow and letting them die slowly and painfully more humane?" She didn't respond and rest her head against Elrohir's chest as he pulled her up closer. Melyanna then spoke up.
"Hold on a moment." Mithrandir turned his attention to her.
"Yes, Melyanna?"
"Does that mean that this is what is happening to Ada?" The four faces of the children of Thranduil, including Legolas, turned to face the wizard's grim one. He nodded once.
"That is correct, Melyanna. Unless something is done, your father will fall to the power of this Muruién." Silence and an uneasy aura filled the room. The four elves glanced from one another, hoping that each other would have an idea of what to do, but it never came. Norui ended it.
"Mithrandir, what are we to do?"
"Find it and destroy it."
"But it is in my father…and Glithiel…and so many other people!" Mithrandir shifted in his seat.
"I guess I forgot to mention that they can clone themselves." He said. Norui's jaw dropped.
"Yes, you did forget! How are we supposed to find it then! We don't even know where to look!" He shouted.
"They always stay in their land, never leaving it's area unless provoked." Mithrandir then smiled. "And I happen to know where this place is."
"How will we know which one it is?"
"There are two ways. One, it will look exactly like the one you saw. Two, it will know of our presence long before we know of it's. It will find us. All we will have to do is wait."
Norui rested his head in his hands, deep in thought. His siblings' gaze rested on him. In their minds, they made the decision to make him the one who decided ultimately what they would do and thought about their father. Worry grew steadily in their hearts. After a few moments of silence, Norui finally came out and spoke.
"Alright, we will go there. Mithrandir, I hope you will come along." The Maia nodded.
"Of course I will. Your father is a dear friend to me. I trust your sisters will come along as well?" Norui furrowed his brow.
"Yes, they will come, but you are forgetting my youngest brother, Legolas."
"Legolas? I have not yet met him." The spoken prince perked up at the sound of his name.
"Well, he is somewhat shy." Norui explained. Mithrandir laughed.
"A shy elf? And such a young one at that? That is impossible! I would like to meet him." He said, smiling and thinking that it was a ridiculous idea that an elf would be shy.
"Well, I, uh, don't know. He isn't very good around new people." Mithrandir gave him a confused look, causing Norui to sigh. "Fine." The wizard smiled.
"Legolas!" He shouted. "Come here!" Legolas locked eyes with the Maia and shuddered. Mithrandir chuckled and motioned for him to come over.
Not wanting to anger him, Legolas reluctantly obeyed and made his way slowly over to the wizard. He soon stood by his brother's side.
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Legolas." Mithrandir greeted and held out his hand. Legolas just stood and stared at the outstretched hand. Mithrandir ed his head and Norui nudged his brother. The youngest prince slowly held out his hand, but when they touched, he recoiled quickly. Norui growled and shoved his brother away.
"I am sorry, Mithrandir. He is very polite and nice if you get to know him. But yes, he will be joining us."
"I have seen a more timid elf! I can see great pain in his eyes. Norui, what has happened to him?"
"We are not sure, but shouldn't we be focusing on the bigger problem, this Muruién?"
"Yes, we should." Mithrandir then stood and gathered the attention of all in the room. "Who else will go?" He called out to them.
The twins looked at each other and grinned, then stood.
"We will join you in this mission!" They chimed in together. The two then looked toward Estel, giving him a 'puppy dog' look. He rolled his eyes at them and nodded.
"I will go also." He said, then added. "But only because those four are my friends." Arwen then popped up.
"As will I. I refuse to let Estel go alone and I can not trust Elladan and Elrohir to keep him safe." The twins grinned at her.
There was only one person left in the room that had not volunteered yet. They all looked to that one person.
"Jaimea? What about you?" Norui asked. She glanced up with a troubled look on her face.
"Well, I don't know." Every face turned to her and she glanced around at everyone in the room. They all stared at her intently, begging for an answer. She shifted uncomfortably under the scrutiny of their eyes when, finally, she nodded. "Yes, I will join you." Mithrandir stood.
"Good, that makes ten." He said, counting off on his fingers. "Get a good night's sleep, my young elves. We set out as soon as possible tomorrow morning." At hearing something similar to a dismissal, Elladan and Melyanna bolted out the door. The rest of them nodded and left.
As they filed out of the door, they noticed that Melyanna and Elladan had not gone to their rooms, but were right next to the door. The stood in shock at what they saw.
Melyanna was in Elladan's arms, engaged in a fiery kiss. She was pinned up against the wall with Elladan running his hands through her soft hair. Her arms flew up and down the Noldor elf's back.
"Hey, you two!" Lothron shouted at them, breaking them apart. "Now is not the time! Ada is in risk of being killed by this thing!"
"What do you mean it isn't the right time? Of course it is! We may never be able to do this again, Lothron!" Her eyes widened in realization, as did the other lovers' eyes.
"Perhaps you are right." Lothron began as a mischievous grin came upon Elrohir's lips. She grabbed his wrist and they flew off down the hallway. Arwen turned to face Estel.
"Well?" She asked playfully. He smiled and slowly pulled her into his room nearby, closing the door behind them. Melyanna and Elladan left in a flash to seek out some privacy. Norui, Legolas and Jaimea were left alone in the hallway. The Crown Prince sighed.
"I wonder if Glithiel is alright." Legolas smiled sympathetically at his brother and put has hand on his shoulder.
"You do not need to worry. She is very strong."
"I hope she is alright."
"Sleep, it will help to comfort you."
"Thank you." Norui said and turned to leave.
"Just imagine she is asleep by your side." Norui smiled.
"That is not a problem." He turned the corner and was gone. The two left then turned to each other in silence.
"Well, I guess I will see you tomorrow, Legolas." Jaimea said.
"Yea, I guess so." The prince then looked towards the ground, lost on what to say.
"Well, good night."
"Noro go hûl, bado go Eru." Jaimea smiled at that and bowed to him, then left down the hall for her room.
Legolas watched her fleeting back and smiled to himself. He turned on his heel, then made off down the opposite direction. Espenshade swooped out of the Halls of Fire and followed silently behind the elf.
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Noro go hûl, bado go Eru- Run with the wind, go with God
'Muruién' is not real elvish, by the way. It is just a tidbit of something I thought up. Has no meaning, just Muruién. Anywho…
What do you think of having a chapter in Espenshade's POV? I don't know about you, but I like Espenshade. She is my favorite character and will have a big part later on in the story. So just tell me what you think of that.
AUTHOR'S NOTE
I am going to wait at the most 2 weeks before I even start a new chapter. I am running out of things in my spiral notebook to post so I am going to force myself to write and write and write. So just hang in there and I will get a new chapter up when I can.
moonshine44- Thanks for reviewing and thanks for pointing that out. I must keep myself from straying down that disgusting trail. :shudders: I will try to correct that. If you can think of any, give me some ideas on how I could keep myself far from that evil lane of doom.
I hope it doesn't get too strange…or confusing…or anything similar to that. Feel free to tell me if there is something you don't get and I will do my best to straighten it out for you. I have a tendency to write strange things. Thanks again!
Until Next Time,
Manwathiel
