Chapter Seven
The Trials
It was a beautiful autumn morning in Rivendell; the leaves were morphing into glorious shades of maroon and gold and the smell of this seasonal change hung about the air. The only odd thing was that nearly every set of eyes in the city were hovering around a single training ground, locked on the people that were standing at the edge of the grounds.
The wizard walked out into the arena a few paces and gazed up at the crowd looming above them; almost like vultures. A look of uneasiness passed over Gandalf's eyes, but he turned back to the other behind him. He his gaze immediately fell on Drifter, for he was set on giving her one last piece of advice before her trials began.
Gandalf's staff tapped against the dirt, sending up small puffs of dust as he walked. His eyes were already squinting under the morning sun. He let out a quick breath, "A test on swordsmanship is your first trial. To pass, you must force your opponent yield."
"Sounds simple enough." Drifter commented, taking a stride out towards the arena with her boots tapping along the ground as she walked. Along with the boots, she was now dressed in brown traveling pants and a forest green long-sleeved shirt. A protective layer of chainmail was draped over the shirt and clinked ever so slightly as she walked. A set of leather arm guards were also pressed against her forearms and a pair of fingerless leather gloves were strapped to her hands.
She pulled at the gloves and spoke, "Who's my opponent anyway?" She looked to Gandalf, whose mouth opened to answer, but another voice beat him to a response.
"That would be me, my Lady." Raven locks whipped around to see none other than her dear ranger friend walking towards her, his hand already resting on the hilt of his sword. He was adorned in simple traveling clothes much like she was, but this outfit wasn't as weathered as his last outfit. For the most part, his attire wasn't very different save for the addition of leather guards and chainmail. Even from the distance, she could see his white teeth smirking at her.
She dejectedly slumped her shoulders, bringing her palm to her forehead in exasperation. "Of course I'd be fighting you." She looked up, her eyes meeting his, "Why am I not surprised?" He only laughed, nodding her over towards the more open part of the training ground. She followed.
As they began to walk juxtapose, their boots left the soft grass in exchange for hard earth. The ranger spoke, "I'm glad to see you are well."
She laughed. "That's probably the nicest thing you've ever said to me."
The ranger rolled his eyes. "The little ones were getting antsy."
"Ah." She remarked, her eyes scanning their surroundings as they walked. As a whole, the space wasn't exceptionally large, but a still big enough to where a good number of people could train without getting in each other's way. There were also a large number of trees off to one side of the space, the size of them allowing an escape in the hot sun during warmer times of the year.
A shout suddenly called out to her from the audience. Her eyes filtered through the crowd until she saw a small hand waving down to her. She smiled to see Frodo waving excitedly down to her, Gandalf now having appeared behind them. Merry then leaned over the banister; cupping his hands over his mouth, "Don't be afraid to really give it to him!"
"Yeah, show him who's really better with a sword!" Pippin added. From below, Drifter stifled a laugh, and Strider shook his head. The Hobbits were already receiving a good number of looks from those around them. Gandalf hastily pulled them down to shush them.
Sam suddenly interjected, watching his two friends get hauled off the rail. "You realize we've never actually seen her use her sword." His face was deadpan, one of his eyebrows quirked up at Merry and Pippin as he came to stand between them, resting his arms on the banister.
The duo blinked at him for a moment before turning back to the oncoming battle. Pippin jumped back up onto the marble rail, "Be that as it may, I'm sure she'll kick his rear into next week."
"I'm not one to choose between them, but I do hope she beats him." Frodo added, standing on Merry's left, carefully watching his two companions down in the ring.
Below, the two stopped, now in the dead center of the arena. They turned towards one another. Drifter took note of grip the ranger had on his sword. She let out a curt laugh, "Getting a bit antsy yourself over there?"
Once again, he rolled his eyes at her. "I have been waiting for this for a long time."
She was horribly blunt with her words, hands on hips. "For what, the chance to run me through with your sword?"
"No." She rose an eyebrow rose at him. "The chance for a real fight. A fair fight." A gust of autumn wind blew between them, lifting the powdered earth at their feet.
She nodded casually, agreeing with him. "I suppose. Although, you were always the one picking the fight."
He countered, his jaw strained. "You know full well why. Someone had to do something, because what you did was—"
"What you think I did." Bitterly sharp words cut through her teeth at that comment, finding the need to bite back the urge to rant on. She changed the topic, forcing herself to calm down, "And for a renowned ranger you always picked the worst of places to fight: the middle of massive crowds or near groups of innocent people. Not the best of your ideas, ranger." A glare now marred her eyes.
"Be that as it may, now we shall settle this once and for all." His eyes showed that he was ready for the fight. "If I win, you turn yourself in."
"And if I win, you will give up on hunting me for a crime that I did not commit." She held her hand out to him. "Agreed?" For a moment, the ranger was silent. However, after a strained instant he locked eyes with her and nodded, grasping her hand and sealing the deal.
She smiled as their hands dropped back to their sides. "Excellent. And I for peace of mind, know that I never go back on my word." Their eyes were still looking at one another, and he could not help but believe her.
"Nor do I." He answered.
Suddenly, a voice hollered down to them, "The first trial will now begin. Competitors, ready your weapons!"
In two well-practiced motions, the duo drew their blades and fell into their fighting stances. Two broadswords were now glimmering in the autumn sun, hovering motionless in the air as they waited. A silence draped itself over the crowd as everyone waited for the announcer to speak. All eyes were locked on the pair below, as they stood unmoving under the autumn sun.
Crisp and clear, the word was spoken, "BEGIN!"
There was an immediate clash of metal on metal, causing some of the unprepared members of the audience of jump. After a moment, mouths and eyes began to gape at the dance that was taking place below them. Dust clouds were already floating from the ground as the ongoing waltz of blades danced on.
Drifter swiftly evaded a strike to the chest, using the momentum from her dodge to lift her blade far above her head. From the audiences view, the blade seemed float to perfectly above her in a show of well-practiced skill before it came down on the opposite side it had been raised from, crashing into the opposing blade, which was pushed back at the force.
In between blocking the attack, the ranger spoke out to her in broken words, "How is it that you are—" Sidestep. Lift. Downward swing. "Able to handle a broadsword?" Such massive double-handed blades were difficult weapons to yield, even by men's standards. So to see Drifter handling one so brilliantly left the ranger curious.
Between a set of quick breaths, she laughed, moving for another strike at him, "I had an excellent teacher—" She let out a sudden yell. For a few seconds, their swords met in a round of relentless attacks and counters and their blades seemed to sing against the other in a harmony of metal.
"It's thinner than most broadswords—" He breathed out, striking out at her again. Their swords pushed against each other for an instant before they both leapt back, falling into their defensive stances.
During the momentary pause, Drifter quickly answered him, "Less weight."
He rolled his eyes at her, "Obviously." She then charged him, swinging down towards his legs. He sidestepped and returned with an attack to her exposed shoulder. Just as the blade would have ripped through her flesh she pulled away, twisting around his blade while moving her own sword to ensure further protection against him.
From above, onlookers were also commenting on the difference between the opposing blades as well as the immense skill the wanderer was showing against the ranger. At this point, regardless of how the trial ended, it was apparent that she was far from an amateur with a sword.
As his eyes continued to assess her form, Boromir spoke, answering Pippin's question regarding his sister's blade, "Your guess as to the reasoning behind the thinness is correct: less metal, less weight. And she is petite to begin with, so it was a much needed adjustment for her." The swords clashed again, ringing out loudly in protest at the contact.
"But that would make it more susceptible to breaking." Merry stated, his eyes glowing in excitement. His eyes had yet to stray from the battle even as he voiced his question. He flinched ever so slightly to see one attack fall particularly close to Drifter, but relaxed to see her slither around the blade before attacking him back in return.
Boromir answered, "Not if you have the right material." During the discussion, all eyes remained fixed on the battling pair. "Her blade is made of a unique metal that is not only stronger against tough damage, but also lighter than the average broadsword." He couldn't help but slip a quiet smile. Seeing as how he was the one to teach her the art of the sword, Boromir knew he'd made a wise decision by crafting such a blade made distinctly for her. She was as elegant with that sword as she was deadly, and it showed.
"And just where did you find such an alloy?" The wizard suddenly inquired, his eyes daring to break from the fight.
Boromir did not meet his gaze. "When your father is the Steward of Gondor, such things are not hard to come by." The wizard knew he would get no further explanation from the man, so he returned his eyes to the battle below.
As Strider brought his blade down again, he wasn't surprised to see it blocked. Drifter then moved forward, and their blades suddenly locked in a pressure battle against one another. Their faces, merely inches apart, were both slightly flush, sweat beginning to trickle down their brows. Their eyes were electrified, not in rage but in excitement and adrenaline. In between breaths the man spoke, "Ready to end this?" He forced her to take a step back.
She smirked up at him, "Yes I am." Their blades parted, and the ranger made a move to strike at her. One, at a mid strike, two, at a low strike, and each one she countered beautifully. Two clashes for each count, and each time she took a step back. Both of his swings were preparing for a final attack on the fourth count. And just as the first two, on the third strike she moved back yet again, moving her blade up to counter his high falling strike from above.
But it was that counter that would prove to be fatal. It allowed him an opening to strike at her exposed side with her blade lifted high above her head in defense. And he took the opening and made the final swing. The larger broadsword came in somewhat low, swinging towards her ribs in an attempt to stun Drifter and force her to the ground. From there, she would inevitably be in a position that would require her to yield. A foolproof plan in his eyes, for it had yet to fail him.
But as the saying goes; there's always a first time for everything.
In a motion of pure agility and speed, she dropped, kneeling so low that she almost kissed the dirt. While she fell, she threw her blade aside and pulled something from her boot, waiting the split second it took for the broadsword to pass over her. The audience was now murmuring loudly. As the blade cleared from above her, eyes widened in astonishment as they watched what followed.
The instant the blade passed, she jumped, clearing the ground in a single leap while throwing all of her weight on the unsuspecting ranger. Halfway through the jump, she grabbed at his bottom wrist and slammed her knees into his stomach. The loss of grip in paired with jab to his abdomen forced the ranger to not only drop his sword, but also caused him to tumble backwards as well.
Soon, Strider was a victim to gravity as he plummeted backwards, landing hard on the dirt behind him with Drifter's knees still lodged in his gut. For a moment, he was winded and coughed violently, trying to catch his breath. As he coughed, the ranger then felt something sharp press against his jugular. His eyes snapped open to see Drifter hovering above him, a smirk on her face and a small blade glimmering in her hand. In between painful gasps, he gaped up at her, genuinely stunned.
She then asked him, "Do you yield?"
Between pants, he answered her, still trying to re-inflate his lungs. His reply was exceptionally raspy, but it was all she needed. "Yes."
And in a motion as swift as the last, she jumped up, standing beside him with the little blade still in her hand. Strider propped himself up on his elbows, trying better to restore oxygen to his lungs. As he raised his head, he saw a hand being presented to him. Looking up further, he saw Drifter offering him her hand. She was smiling down at him.
And he humbly smiled back, taking her hand as she helped him up. For a moment, their hands remained locked, as did their eyes in a moment of final truce. He nodded towards her, their hands finally unlocking, "Well played, my Lady. You have passed your first trial while also shaming me in front of a large audience." He jokingly bowed to her while she returned the hidden blade to her boot, "Congratulations."
From above, some crowd goers were shouting in disbelief, a few in joy and some were simply silent. But the once dueling pair paid them no mind for she could only continue to offer him a smile, "Thank you, but I do apologize for having embarrassed you."
He only shrugged at her, going to pick up his blade and returning it to its sheath. "If it was not you, it had to be me." The man glanced up towards the audience, "And perhaps now, Lord Elrond will finally understand that bringing you along is for the best."
Her eyes were perplexed as she did the same, "You agreed with Gandalf's idea?"
He nodded, beginning to walk towards the staircase that led towards the balconies. "While I do not agree with what you did—" She glared, walking in stride with him. The ranger corrected himself, "Er, what I think you did," the glare lessened, "to have you locked away would be of use to no one." He paused for a moment, "Besides, you have already proved your worth to me on our previous journey."
Her eyes stole over towards him. "You say 'worth' yet we both know that there is more than one meaning to that word." The ranger gestured in agreement, but decided not to comment further. She made no move to argue with him, and they both walked silently back up the staircase, one trailing behind the other.
As soon as they reached to top of the stairs they were bombarded by the Hobbits, all who were chattering about excitedly. Pippin's comment stuck out the most though. "I told you she'd beat him. I told you!"
"I don't think any of us were disagreeing with you Pip." Sam chimed in as Gandalf and Boromir arrived in tow behind them. "Not to say that you're a bad fighter Aragorn."
Drifter's eyes snapped over to the man beside her, "Aragorn?" She looked genuinely shocked at the news and gaped at the man standing beside her. "As in the Son of Arathorn?" The man nodded sheepishly, his eyes somewhat downcast.
Her eyes were wide, and the rest of the group turned silent for a moment, no one really knowing what to say. Judging from her reaction, she obviously knew who he was, but just trying to comprehend it was a bit overwhelming.
After a moment, the befuddled Drifter spoke, "Well, that was certainly a surprise." Drifter stated, having come to terms with this new piece of information. She clapped her hands together. "So now what?"
Everyone blinked, some heads turning towards one another. Gandalf spoke, "There is to be a small lunch break before the next trial, so if you'll follow me…" And so he led them down one of many pathways, the entire party trailing behind him.
As they walked, the ranger found himself in step with Drifter. He stole at glance at her out of the corner of his eye. She was pensive, eyes foggy with thought. After a moment she spoke, "My reaction surprised you." This was a statement.
He nodded. She continued, "While, learning the truth about who you really are was certainly unexpected, know this," She looked up to him, eyes now clear, "unlike most, I do not spite you for running from who you are." She let out a quiet laugh and looked ahead, "But you are lucky. I would simply like to know who I am."
Her expression was an odd one. She was smiling, but her demeanor seemed crestfallen. He made a move to speak, but he found himself interrupted. He looked around to see that they had arrived at a courtyard and a table of food had been prepared. Merry and Pippin all but pounced on the banquet with Sam and Frodo following close behind. After a few moments, everyone had a plateful of food and was sitting around enjoying their meal, some on the ground, others in elegant metal chairs.
Merry was juggling apples, the other half-lings hovering around in mirth. Pippin motioned to toss in a fourth, but as soon as he did, two of the apples fell on Pippin's head while the other two fell to the ground. They all laughed as Boromir picked up one the apples that had rolled away.
"Eat your food little ones." He amusingly glared at them, "Do not play with it." He bit into the apple, easily tearing its red flesh open.
From nearby, a soft voice laughed. "You would be one to scold them." Drifter was sitting behind him, popping a grape into her mouth. He chuckled along with her, returning to sit beside her on the bench they had taken up. The Hobbits continued to mingle and Aragorn and Gandalf were casually talking with one another. After a moment, Drifter leaned over, her head coming to rest against her brother's shoulder. She let out a sigh, eyes falling shut after as she tried to enjoy the calmness of the moment. Boromir lifted an arm, bringing it to rest on her shoulder in a comforting manner. For a while, neither of them said a word, content with the serenity the moment had to offer.
After a while, Drifter sat up and stretched, realizing that she must have dosed off at some point. Upon opening her eyes, she noticed that all of the food had been cleared away and her companions had all disappeared. She stood, dusted herself off, and then left, beginning to mosey her way around.
While she didn't have any idea where she was going, she wasn't worried. As long as the she remained in the city, she knew wasn't lost. And so, Drifter just let her feet take her wherever they pleased. She wound her way along the open corridors before her feet took her into one of the cities smaller courtyards.
The space was simple. There were no trees, but a hedge seemed to have overtaken one of the corners of the small space. The unkempt plant strangely had a cleanly cut top, and a few of the remaining white flowers clung to it rather than falling to the ground below. A single marble bench was standing near the overgrown corner and it took her no more than ten steps before she found herself sitting on the old raised stone.
From her seat, she looked about, vaguely noting a few small ground flowers trailing along the grass. She looked back to the spindly bush, bringing her hand up to one of its flowers. They were small things and their petals delicate as they strived to hold onto life. She watched a group of the white petals fall, failing to hold on against a sudden breeze. Her eyes followed them to the ground, landing near their curling brown companions.
But as she looked, she noticed something odd. There was a clean-cut sort of edge poking out just at the base of the shrub. Crouching down, she pulled back the hedge, its leathery leaves crumbling away at her touch.
It was wooden corner, but to what she could only guess. She looked around, fortunately finding no one. So, in her moment of curiosity, she started to pull apart the hedge to reveal whatever it was hiding. After a moment of tugging and pulling, the top of the hedge had been cleared away. But what it revealed to her sent a small wave of confusion through her.
The top had four cut beams of wood that formed a perfectly square rim, leaving a gaping hole in between them. It was obviously some sort of ancient well. She was practically dying of curiosity, and so she grabbed onto the nearest lip of the well, and peered down.
It was pitch dark and somewhat intimidating, but also strangely familiar. Glancing around, she picked up a nearby stone and dropped it into the well. For a moment, it was silent, until she heard the stone hit solid ground below. Unconsciously, she moved both of her hands onto the lip of the well, not noticing herself leaning forward. Then there was quiet noise, a rustling that came from the bottom of the well. Something had moved.
Then, without so much as a second thought, the flung herself over, and down into the well.
No sooner had she disappeared, was she enveloped in a familiar violet colored light. It seemed to almost hug her in recognition, joyous to see her again. But then the light pulsated, feeling almost nervous. But then, it got angry, seeming to grow heavy as if it was fighting something.
And then she saw them. Memories.
They erupted like a crack throughout her skull; images and long forgotten recollections began to unlock themselves all throughout her conscience mind. There was no sound, but she could suddenly see everything with frightening clarity. There was a faraway country, a family, a tree, a well, a monster, a boy, and a jewel…
Then there was pain. It was hot, aching, and desperately raw. It came from her side where a starburst shaped scar had always lingered. She clutched the old wound, its haunting pain returning at full force. And this, strangely enough, was followed by fear. Against what, she did not know, but she knew that it was a fear for her life.
And then, something happened. A spark reignited within her, as if sensing the danger she was in. At first it was small and fragile, but it swiftly began to grow. And as the spark grew into a great flame, the pain dissipated away to nothing. The light, pleased with the change, had lost its angry vigor and was now fading, as if knowing its task had been completed. And as it faded, she began to fall again. Looking down, she could finally see the ground below her. She braced herself for impact and…
With a rapid jolt, Drifter awoke, her eyes flashing open as she jumped off the bench, startling her brother who had also dosed off beside her. The others all turned to look, noticing the upset. She stood, eyes flashing from side to side as her breath came out in rapid pants.
Boromir instantly rose from his seat, bringing a steady hand to her shoulder. "What is it Eina?" He asked, obviously concerned.
Gandalf quickly strode over, standing in front of the dazed female and looked down into her fogged eyes. After a moment, he retracted, motioning Boromir to help his sister sit down. The man did as asked and Gandalf remained standing, still gazing down at her. After a tense moment, the wizard spoke, "I believe the first of her memories are beginning to return." To this proclamation, everyone stirred, moving closer to hear.
Again, Boromir spoke out to her, "Eina, what is it? What did you see?" She blinked a good number of times and seemed to return to them. Her eyes fell out of their panicked trance and looked to her brother. She then told the audience what she had seen, and retold it to the best of her abilities. After she had finished, it was silent.
"To be honest, that's not much to go off of." Pippin said blatantly.
Merry jabbed him in the side, eyes scolding for once, "Watch it, Pip!"
Gandalf shook his head, "No, he is right. It isn't. But at this stage, it is to be expected. For now, all we can do is wait until she has more pieces to the puzzle before we can truly begin to make any sense of it." Everyone seemed to except this answer and relaxed. "But now, I believe, we must be off. The second trial will be beginning shortly and I doubt Lord Elrond will be pleased if the guest of honor is late."
To that, Drifter snorted, rising up and beginning to follow the rest of the group out. Although still a bit shaken, Drifter managed to relax after a few moments, joining her companions in their lively conversations on their way to the next trial.
After a few moments, they arrived at the very heart of the city. The courtyard seemed to be an intersection of a large number of cobbled paths and there was an intricate white-marble fountain in the center, which quietly gurgled to them as they arrived. Elrond was already present, standing beside a curved table that was adorned in what appeared to be every sort of weapon imaginable.
Gandalf gestured towards the Elf Lord, to which Drifter nodded. "But first," she said, "I'd like to be rid of this." She quickly removed all of the chainmail and arm guards and handed it to her brother, who immediately looked uneasy. She offered him a smile, "I need all of the advantages I can get brother. Don't worry. I will keep a wary eye out." She then turned and strode over to the Elf Lord.
Boromir watched her move off, his eyes still unsure. "You really need to start having more faith in her." Gandalf said, earning a glance from the man.
"It is not that I do not have faith in her, it is that I do not have faith in her enemies to follow the fair rules of engagement." Boromir said, distaste clear in his voice.
"Are you implying that the trial is rigged?" Aragorn asked.
He nodded. "It is no secret that Lord Elrond wishes for her to fail. And after her last performance, I'm sure he will try and make things even more complicated."
"Well, at least this time she her choice at a weapon." Sam nodded towards Drifter, who was now perusing a large table that was covered with weapons of all sorts.
One of Pippin's eyebrows rose. "Is it just me, or does it look like she's looking for something?" Indeed, Drifter was quickly moving along the table, eyes obviously searching for something in particular. She then stopped, eyes immediately lighting up upon finding what she was searching for.
An even more confused and now somewhat anxious look crossed Boromir's face upon seeing her weapon of choice. "Just what is she up to?" He murmured something under his breath, watching his sister sling a bow and quiver over her shoulder before walking back to Lord Elrond.
The others looked at him quizzically, "Up to? What do you mean, 'up to'?" Merry inquired, his head snapping back and forth between Drifter and Boromir in confusion. But Boromir remained silent, eyes now perplexed but also tinted with a hint of concern. They watched another short exchange between the Elf Lord and Drifter, seeing him motion down a path that was dotted with red markers.
"Come along." Gandalf suddenly said, motioning everyone to follow him.
"Where are we going Gandalf?" Sam asked, following in tow behind the wizard, but not before glancing back at Drifter as she began to make her way down the trail.
"To where the final leg of this trial is to take place." After a moments walk, he stopped, coming to the edge of another white balcony.
"Not much of an audience this time 'round." Merry claimed, hopping up to the banisters rail, now looking out over a rather large garden.
The wizard went on, "There is really not much to see during this trial. This is, after all, a test of stealth. Her task is to remain illusive to her enemies. If we are to see anything, it would be here." The garden in itself was laden with trees, shrubs and what was left of the year's flowers and tall grasses, leaving the only cleared walking space to the marble paths that wove through of the garden. Off to the right below them was also an open corridor that had a number of marble archways behind it.
"She is to come through there." Aragorn gestured towards the open corridor, noticing the continuing trail of red markers flow out into the garden they now over looked.
Boromir interjected, "But she has more opponents this time, so it will be some time before she arrives to this place."
"Just how many opponents does she have?" Frodo asked, standing along the marble rail.
"Ten." Gandalf said simply.
The Hobbits' eyes nearly popped out of their heads. "Ten?" Merry yelled in vexation. "That's hardly fair at all!"
"As unfair as that may seem, this is a test of stealth." Aragorn said.
"And what does that mean specifically?" Merry asked, craving for the trials details.
Boromir answered him, now standing alongside the balcony's rail. "She must use her skills to keep from being captured." His expression turned somewhat sour, "And knowing Lord Elrond, if any of them so much as brush to end of her sleeve, she is forfeit."
Merry propped himself up onto his elbows to look over the marble rail, vaguely noting a few vines climbing along the white stone. "So how long do you think it'll take before she gets here?" The half-ling asked.
Gandalf supplied him with an answer; "She has until dark so it could minutes or hours. Given the current hour, I'd say that she has no more than three hours total. So if I were you, Hobbits, I would make myself comfortable. We may be here for a while." Gandalf then found himself a bench to sit on and closed his eyes; now, it was a waiting game.
Boromir strode off, muttering something about the chainmail while Frodo walked over to the wizard. His gaze was troubled. "Do you think she'll be able to do this Gandalf?" The wizard cracked an eye open, seeing the trepidation that was clearly marring the young half-ling's face.
The old wizard smiled gently, "Yes, I do. And after her last performance, I have a feeling that she will only continue to surprise us." Frodo seemed to accept this answer, and his disposition became a bit more relaxed. He then stood beside Merry along the banister, staring out across the garden in wait for their companion's arrival.
Some time had passed, for the sun was getting very low in the sky. After Boromir returned, he, along with Frodo and Merry, had not moved from the places along the banister. Sam had come to join them after a time while Pippin sat on the floor next to them, looking through the marble beams of the balconies rail. Gandalf remained in his seat and Aragorn he found himself a comfortable piece of wall to lean against.
The stillness of the scene was interrupted at the sound of approaching footsteps. All turned their heads to see Lord Elrond and Arwen appear. The beauty smiled towards Aragorn before walking over to the rail while her father strode towards Gandalf. The wizard and Elf Lord conversed quietly while Arwen's gaze joined in the search across the motionless garden.
The she-Elf sighed, "She has not yet arrived?"
"No," Came five simultaneous replies.
Pippin spoke, his face pressed in between two marble bars, "She must be getting close though. The sun is about to set soon."
As if on cue, a voice yelled out across the garden. And judging by the hot and evidently furious tone coming from the lower corridor, Drifter had arrived at the garden. "Tira ten' rashwe, tel' goth nevuva lle!" ("Be careful, the enemy nears you!")
Instantly, there was a rustle of footsteps as Aragorn, Gandalf and Elrond came to stand along the balcony's rail. Pippin had jumped up in an instant while everyone's eyes danced across the garden. Yet, as they looked out, all was still.
Without warning, Frodo's hand shot out, pointing far across the garden, "There! I saw her!"
With prying eyes, everyone scoured the landscape, missing whatever Frodo had seen. Merry looked accusingly at his fellow half-ling, "Maybe your eyes were playing tricks on you, because I didn't see anything."
"I saw her, I swear!" Frodo exclaimed, blue eyes glowing in excitement, "I'm certain of it!"
"Are you sure? Because it's getting hard to see much of anything." Pippin commented, with his eyes still plastered in a panning motion across the garden.
"But seeing as how the sun's going down, she'll have the shadows to her advantage again." Sam announced rather happily.
"Yes, she'll be able to do… well, whatever it is she does." Merry said simply, but happily.
"Not necessarily." Gandalf's voice was low, earning a few split-second looks of confusion. "That spell, while suppressing the dark magic, also suppresses her skills that come with it." The half-lings looked horrified.
Boromir looked just as displeased, running a hand across his face. "Then she won't be doing any shadow jumping." His face sank even further, letting out a strained sigh.
"Shadow jumping?" Frodo inquired.
Much to everyone's surprise, Aragorn spoke first, "If she falls into shadow, she can disappear through it and emerge from another shadow elsewhere. I'm sure by now, you all know of what I speak." The Hobbits all nodded, indeed knowing what Aragorn was talking about for they had all seen it before themselves. Now, the previously mysterious action had a name.
The Son of the Steward looked curiously at Aragorn, "You seem to know a lot about this subject ranger."
"Your sister and I have had our fair share of encounters." He said the phrase nonchalantly. Truthfully, he was putting it mildly. By this point, he had seen (and been tormented) enough by that outlandish ability of hers to know how to explain it. But he had no need to upset the already anxious man, so he decided to remain quiet.
"But could you ever catch her?" At this remark, the smallest of smiles made its way up Boromir's face.
The ranger moved to meet Boromir's eyes, "It's hard to track, let alone catch a shadow." Boromir's smile widened ever so slightly, and a temperate look fell over the ranger's face. The ranger went on. "But she no longer has that to her advantage."
"Unfortunately not." Gandalf stated, his face unhappy as well. "But I still have faith in her."
"Faith will only get one so far, Gandalf." Heads turned momentarily towards the Elf Lord, some with accusing stares, others an inquisitive gaze. "Her opponents were chosen specifically for this trial because they are all renowned for their skills in the art of stealth."
Pippin couldn't restrain himself from commenting. "Well, they can't be that great if she's passed nearly all of them." The statement was so horribly blunt that when combined with the serious expression on Pippin's face, a few others had to bite their tongues to keep from snickering.
There was a slight quiver to the Elrond's coy smile, "Be that as it may, nearly will not be enough to have her win this challenge." His eyes, along with the rest of the crowds', were now fixed on the garden below, each still searching for a new sign of movement.
A sudden rustle near one of the trees below sent heads snapping. "There! Did you see?" Merry yelled boisterously, "Something, well, blonde I guess; if that makes any sense." For a moment, everyone watched a nearly invisible and silent chase throughout the garden. The slightest rustle of leaves, a glimpse of black or yellow, and once, the scuttle of a tiny stone were the crowds only inclinations that there was anything worth while happening down in the garden.
Aragorn suddenly spoke up, "And who did you say her final opponent was my Lord?"
The dampened smile on the Elf Lord's face suddenly returned to life, "Legolas Greenleaf."
"I see." Aragorn's lips pursed together at the new bit of information. Arwen looked now exceptionally nervous and Gandalf let out a desolate sigh.
"He's quick." Boromir commented, barely catching another rustle of leaves among the darkening garden.
"He is one of the best." Elrond supplied. "He is the Prince of Mirkwood."
This time, Merry decided to provide a comment, "So that means he's got an arrogant, royal stick shoved up his—"
But before he could finish his shrewd remark, a bright eruption of violet light exploded from across the garden, immediately silencing everyone in utter astonishment. For an instant, the light flew towards a maple tree. Upon contact, the entire base of the yellowing maple was obliterated and the tree began to plummet towards the ground.
To everyone's surprise, a tall figure leapt from the falling tree.
As soon as the figure was air born, another stream of light burst through the ebbing darkness and it just barely slipped past the blonde hairs of its intended target. A few of the onlookers sighed in relief, happy that there were no broken skulls. However, everyone was soon concerned for their own well being, for the path of light was continuing straight towards them.
In a flutter of movement, they all rushed out of the path of the ray of light. And fortunately, all of their backs were turned as the light made an earsplitting crack as it plummeted into the wall behind them.
It took a moment for the group to regain their bearings. "And that," Boromir stated affirmatively, pulling himself up from the ground, "is why Eina is forbidden to use a bow."
Sam looked at him with a look akin to disbelief, "Wait; a bow, as in, bow and arrow? That was from a bow and arrow?" He picked himself up, blatantly shocked.
"He is right." Aragorn stated, walking up to the arrow that was now rooted into the wall. His expression suddenly turned puzzled, "But what's this doing here?" The others hurried around to see a large brown feather had been pinned beneath the arrow.
"That is impossible." Elrond's face was then contorted with astonishment as well as a hint of anger.
"Improbable, yes. But impossible, never." The voice of Drifter said from behind them. Everyone then turned to see her climbing over the banister. "All rumors aside, Lord Elrond; Elves aren't the only ones who are exceptionally skilled with a bow." A pleased smile was lighting up her face as she walked towards them. In an instant, the Hobbits had sprung over to her and were now yelling in mirth and awe.
The hand of her brother came to land on her shoulder. "While I am proud of your outstanding performance, I must ask as to what in heaven's name convinced you to pick up that bow?" A look of scolding hinted with worry had befallen the blonde man's face upon asking his question.
The eyes of his sister fell to the floor, her hands now twiddling with one another. "I'm sorry I disobeyed, but I had this feeling that it would different this time." Her eyes slunk upwards, her expression cheeky, "And you'll have to admit, it was."
"Now hold on just one minute!" Merry spoke out, his hand sticking far out to the side in proclamation, "You're talking like what happened is normal. How on earth can an exploding arrow be considered normal?"
"I think what he's asking for is an explanation." Pippin muttered. Frodo and Sam nodded.
"I would be happy to tell you Pippin," Eina said, which was followed by a look of devilry, "but first, I must ask the Prince to stop trying to hide under the cover of darkness and come forward. After all, the title 'Eavesdropper' is never an honorable one." Her smile only widened as everyone looked to see the Prince of Mirkwood step out from a nearby shadow.
"Your skills are extremely impressive." Through the darkness, a deep, yet smooth voice broke out as a blonde haired figure came to stand in place with the group. He was tall, lean, and as handsome as all Elves were. His voice carried on, "But might I suggest that we continue this conversation somewhere with a little more light? It is getting quite dark after all."
"An excellent idea Legolas." Gandalf agreed. "Master Elrond, I'm sure there is some place we can retire for the moment?" The Elf Lord nodded, not speaking as he led the group down a short series of corridors before coming to stop before the large doors that led to the main dining hall of the city.
As they walked in, Arwen spoke up, noticing that her father was not following them inside, "Are you coming father?"
"Unfortunately not, my daughter. With the circumstances being as they are, there are things in which I need to tend to. But I trust that you will inform me later of the story that is soon to be told?" Arwen's eyes narrowed, but nonetheless she nodded. Elrond smiled, but the action contained no true joy. "Excellent. I will bid you all goodnight then. Until tomorrow." With that, the door closed, and the remaining members of the group continued on through the expansive dinning hall.
The space was massive, and could easily seat a few hundred Elves comfortably. The high ceiling and tall windows gave the space a feeling of grandeur. A few other Elves were scattered sparsely about the space, and only spared them a glance before returning to their meals.
The group chose a table close to one of the rooms many fireplaces and sat down. Aragorn stood next to the fireplace while Gandalf took the chair on the opposite side of the mantle. Everyone else took a place at the table with Boromir and Drifter at one end sitting across from one another. The Prince, however, remained standing, somewhat off to the side and just as silent as before.
As soon as they sat down, Merry piped in, "So just what is all of this talk about Drifter not being able to use a bow?"
"It's not that she is unable, it is that she is not allowed." Boromir jumped in knowingly, his hands come to fold across his chest in a look of slight accusation. "And after seeing what just happened, I still stand by that claim."
Drifter looked desperately towards her sibling, "But something was different this time!" They all looked at her quizzically. She buried a hand in her hair, clearly perturbed, "Before, the magic—"
"Magic?" Frodo blurted out from his place on the table's bench. "Is that why the arrows were glowing?"
Drifter nodded, "Yes, my arrows have always had a magical quality to them. Why, I can't rightly say, but before, well... before the magic was different."
"How so?" Questioned Gandalf, an eyebrow piqued in interest.
"It was a different color, a much darker purple if I recall correctly, almost black. But it's been years since I last wielded a bow. And…" She trailed off, her hand now pulling a few stray strands of hair back behind her ear. She was clearly uneasy.
Boromir grabbed her hand that was still on the table, grasping it gently in a motion to comfort her. He continued for her, "Before, anything her arrows made contact with would be completely incinerated."
"But that's exactly what just happened. We all saw what happened to the tree and the wall. BOOM!" Merry made an exploding motion with his hands as he spoke, earning a few chuckles from others. "How is this any different?"
Drifter's mouth hung open for an instant, but another voice broke out before her. "She can now gauge how much magic to infuse into the arrows, which she could not do previously; am I correct in my assumption, Eina?" Gandalf sat from his place with a mutedly pleased smile turning up one of the corners of his mouth.
Drifter nodded, happy that someone finally understood what she was trying to get at. "Yes. That's it exactly."
"So you mean you meant to destroy that tree?" Pippin asked with a flabbergasted look on his face.
She nodded again, to which a previously silent voice echoed out, "If this is true, then what was your intention with the feather?" The Prince had scarcely moved, save for his lips as he asked his question.
Drifter looked to him and noticed for the first time, his silver eyes as they were shining against the firelight. She kept eye contact with him as she answered him, for she had never seen such a strange set of eyes. "To remove it from your hair and deliver it to Lord Elrond. That was, after all, my overall objective."
Merry interjected, throwing his hands up in objection, "Hold on; so not only did she have to sneak past all ten of those Elves, but she also had to retrieve that feather?" His tone was appalled. And after seeing no looks of objection, his eyes grew even wider, "How on earth is that fair?"
"It does not have to be." Legolas threw in. "These are Master Elrond's trials, therefore he sets the rules."
"And how can she even try and pass them if they're horribly unfair and nearly impossible to complete?" Merry bit back, beginning to rise up in opposition.
Aragorn stepped in, not wanting his future comrades to be on ends with each other before their journey even began. "While most of us agree with you Merry, Legolas is right; these are Lord Elrond's trials. He can delegate them however he desires." Merry's eyes were searing towards the Elf Prince, but a hand came to pull on his sleeve.
The hand belonged to Pippin, who helped ease his friend back into his seat. "Sit down Merry." Pippin said quietly, "Aragorn is right."
"Indeed." Gandalf murmured quietly, "And whether they are fair or not, it is refreshing to see our friend performing so brilliantly regardless of the dubiousness of her tasks." Drifter's eyes lit up, now looking embarrassed at the compliment.
The others couldn't help but smile as the wizard went on. "Now, I believe that is getting to be rather late, so we should all be off to bed." The half-lings all groaned, "Come now, up you get." He pulled Pippin gently at the back of his collar to help him get moving. After a few seconds, everyone was walking out of the hall and back towards their private sleeping quarters.
Everyone said their goodnights as they lessened in numbers, some coming to their rooms before others and parting ways for the evening. As Boromir closed the door to his sister's room, he looked back towards the wizard, along with Legolas and Aragorn, who had yet to part from the group.
As they all began to meander again, Gandalf spoke, "So, what did you think of her Legolas?"
The Elf was taken aback at this statement, one of his eyebrows shooting up in confusion. "I beg your pardon?"
Gandalf's eyes were all but dancing in the moonlight though none but him could notice. However, his tone remained just as nonchalant as before. He asked again, "What did you think of her? Her skills, and tactics; how did you feel she performed?" During this exchange, a new but well-controlled expression had overcome Boromir's face. Yet he remained silent, simply listening.
"As I said before; her skills are truly remarkable." He chuckled, "Although, Elladan and Elrohir were obviously displeased with her accomplishment."
The others laughed along with him, "Yes, they did seem rather displeased earlier." Boromir added, soon coming to stop in front his own room. He nodded, bidding them goodnight before disappearing behind the door.
As soon as the door clicked shut, a voice spoke, "I trust you two know your way about the city. With that being said; goodnight." Gandalf then turned down the hall and began to walk back in the direction from which they came. The Man and Elf watched him for a moment, listening to the playful tune that Gandalf was now whistling.
Aragorn glanced at his Elf friend, "He's up to something." The duo then turned, resuming their stride in the other direction.
"It would seem that he is always up to something." The Elf finished, walking in pace with his friend. "Although, what that may be exactly, we will probably never know." The ranger nodded in agreement. For a moment, all was silent save for the tapping of their boots as they walked.
Aragorn suddenly let out a laugh, earning a curious look from Legolas, "We have something else in common now."
"And what is that?"
A humorous smile broke out across the ranger's face, "We have both been shamed by the same woman." This comment earned quick laugh from the Prince, who shook his head at the ranger.
"At least my defeat was more subtle than yours." The conversation was far more joking than serious, livening their walk as they made their way along.
"But you are far older than I." The ranger mockingly retorted, "To have been defeated by someone as young as she should bring you more embarrassment."
The Elf laughed at this, a smile playing at his lips, "Be that as it may, I can always propose a rematch to regain my honor."
"True." Aragorn's face turned serious, "That is, if she can make it through tomorrow."
"Do not give up hope just yet, Estel." The Elf supplied, "She has already proven that she is not what she seems. I feel that tomorrow will be no different."
The ranger gave him a look of curiosity, "You know as well as I the darkness of her past. Yet you already speak so well of her."
The Prince was quick to reply. His words were honest, but far from cruel. "You are not one to chastise someone for the past, Estel. If you did, I would henceforth have to address you as a hypocrite." The Elf laughed under his breath, after seeing the flustered look on his friend's face. "Besides, the Hobbits already trust her without question."
"But they are naïve."
"As are all children." He paused for an instant, his eyes trailing upwards towards the stars, "While they see the world far differently than you and I, if you take the time to listen to them, you may come to find that children are actually the most brilliant of all beings."
The ranger was rendered silent at this comment, which he would later admit was truer than he could ever imagine. As the silence faded, the remainder of their walk was filled with other bits of small talk. At one point, the duo parted ways to their own rooms, knowing they would have to be up early again tomorrow.
In one of the many bedchambers across the city, laid a raven-haired beauty that had already fallen victim to sleep. In another was her brother, not in bed, but pacing, occasionally looking out into the night with his eyes lost to the far side of his thoughts. And in a third was a Hobbit, whose blue eyes were finally closing after all of the day's excitement. And in nearly all the rest were dreamers, each awaiting the event that awaited them the day ahead.
"You're almost there Drifter." Pippin said excitedly. It was morning, and the group had rendezvoused back at the arena where the first trial had taken place, which was to also be the place of the third and final trial. Everyone had gathered around the training grounds yet again with another large crowd already having congregated in the upper balcony.
Drifter, who was now wearing a new set of clothes, was also adorned in many pieces of chainmail and leather armor yet again; her broadsword was at her side yet again.
The group stood near the top of the steps down to the training grounds, everyone seeming to offer their own pieces of advice at once.
"This is a test of teamwork, so be sure to watch your companion's back as well as your own." Boromir suggested.
"Never let your guard down." Added Aragorn.
"And don't be afraid to use those peculiar arrows of yours." Legolas's face was calm, but his eyes were dancing with humor.
The raven shot him a mocking glare. "I would if I was allowed to use them." Much to everyone's dismay, Elrond had forbid her from using a bow in the final trial. Instead, she now had a small dagger at her side should she need it.
"Who needs magical arrows anyway?" Pippin suggested, "If you have to, take a few dirty shots. Sure, they'll probably hate you for it, but you're got to do what you've got to do to win." Everyone looked at him with yet another look of pure lunacy, to which he simply either ignored or was completely unaware of.
In the moment of stunned silence, Drifter managed to speak, "I appreciate all of your advice, but may I simply ask who my teammate is?" Upon asking this, a new and rather gruff voice spoke out.
"That would me, lass." Everyone looked behind Gandalf and Boromir to see a very short and squatty figure briskly (or as briskly as possible for one his size) walk towards their group. His beard was long and thick, not to mention a very noticeable vermillion color. With armor, a helmet, and a brutal looking ax in hand all while having a fierce look of determination on his face, he looked like a force to be reckoned with.
"A Dwarf?" Drifter immediately voiced, surprise evident in her voice and expression.
"No, actually, I'm a Gnome." He snorted, "Of course I'm a Dwarf!" His voice boomed loudly, causing some of the Hobbits to shrink away at the increased volume.
Drifter seemed un-phased by this, "I'm not questioning your race; I'm merely surprised at the fact that you are here, of all places."
"As am I." The Dwarf said gruffly, "But you've got to follow orders despite you own personal opinion."
She laughed for an instant, humored at his words, "This is true." She extended her hand out to him, "I am Eina."
The Dwarf, along with almost everyone else, seemed astonished at her humility. For an instant, he debated whether or not to take her gloved hand, but after a moment, he lifted his round fingers and grasped her hand in a firm hold.
"And I am Gimili." After the quick gesture, he carried on, "Introductions aside, I think it's time we get to the arena. Can't have my host thinking up yet another reason to toss me out." Eina stifled a laugh, but nodded, then smiled as she trailed after a figure half her size down the staircase and into the arena.
As they stepped out onto the flat training grounds below, a voice hollered out from above them, "You can do it Eina!" Looking up, they saw Pippin cheering loudly out into the midmorning sky, clearly excited for the event that was to come.
Gimili chuckled, "Lively bunch aren't?" She couldn't help but let a small laugh slip, nodding in agreement.
The Dwarf suddenly let out a guttural sound of obvious distaste, "Why am I not surprised?" He then muttered something about accursed Elves and cockroaches under his breath.
One of Eina's eyebrows rose in momentary confusion. That was, until she followed the eyes of her comrade to see the two figures that had appeared before them; a duo of what must have been brothers; both were tall, posed and handsome with dark brown hair, electric blue eyes and devilish smiles. Not to mention they were seemingly identical in appearance.
After a moment, Eina's eyes widened, "You two." She spoke with a tinge of uneasiness in her voice. She boots shifted against the dirt.
The one on the left spoke, his voice deep, "Today we hope to regain our honor, seeing as how you so elegantly managed take it from us yesterday."
She scoffed, eyes half lidded and un-amused, "I'm sorry having robbed you of it."
The Dwarf let out a loud outburst of laughter, "So you've already defeated them once before? Excellent." Gimili flexed his gloves, gripping his ax in anticipation.
"Do not be so hasty in your thinking Small One. She got lucky yesterday." The brother on the right had spoken, causing Gimili's face to turn flush and his hands flexed even more aggressively against his ax.
"You would do well, Elf, to watch your tongue." Gimili's rage was quickly beginning to boil. "Or my ax might just slip between your eyes."
"Don't worry Gimili," Eina cut in, hoping to kill some of the tension between the two quarrelling races. Her eyes were marred with dislike and a new sense of edge. "You'll have your chance to publically humiliate them; have patience." Her eyes shifted towards the once again massive crowd above them, listening as a new voice spoke.
From above, another voice rang out, "The third, and final trial will commence as follows: as a test of comradeship, the team that forces their enemy to yield will be pronounced the victor. You may begin!"
Without so much as taking a breath, the brothers leapt backwards, sending a shower of arrows towards Eina the Gimili who hardly had time to react. After a moment, the flying daggers stopped, allowing the he-she duo time to catch their breath.
"Wretched pointy-ears and their uncanny agility." The Dwarf's said loudly. Their enemy was now a good distance away, having run out of arrows, swiftly returning their bows to their shoulders. One brother then drew a sword, the other, a set of knives.
"Do not blame us for your lack of mobility, Small One." The brother with the sword reproached. Gimili growled.
Eina scoffed as she swiftly but elegantly drew her own blade from its sheath. Just as her companion took a step forward, she spoke, eyes still locked on their opponents. "Patience Gimili." Slowly, their enemy was pressing forwards, drifting silently across the dirt like ghosts. Her voice was hushed, glancing back at the trees behind them for an instant. "Let them attack first." Her eyes snapped forward again; they'd closed the distance between them by half, but they were still only slowing advancing towards them.
"It would be foolish to think we could out run them." She said, with her eyes still locked on the brothers.
The twin with the blades let out a laugh, "A wise choice on your part, Wethrinaer." This time, it was Eina whose knuckles turned white. Her boots halted against the dirt as she stopped in her retreat, eyes now glaring venomous daggers.
Gimili stopped beside her, his eyes noticing the look of fury in her eyes. Before his lips even parted to ask, she flew forward in a blur that rivaled even that of the Elves as she hurled herself at the twin who had spoken last.
He brought his blades on at the last possible instant, having to jump back in order to properly block her vicious assault. The other brother joined in, leaving Eina attacking and dodging both of the brothers at once.
"What happened to patience?" Gimili hollered, jogging forward to join the fight.
She never answered him. Instead, his ax joined in the clashing of metals that relentlessly proceeded to ring throughout the arena. The audience gasped every moment or so, thinking someone's head was surely going to fall with the ferociously the two teams were fighting at.
After a time, Gimili and Eina had been forced retreat to the trees surrounding the arena. Gimili was huffing loudly as they both hid behind two large tree trunks. "Give up." A voice hollered from behind them.
"You have no chance at defeating us." Another voice said, this time from in front of them. Startled, the duos' eyes scanned the trees, hoping to find just where the voice had been coming from. Yet the trapped pair saw no one. "There is no hope for you now." The voice in front of them had moved closer. A twig snapped, leaves rustled; they were taunting them now.
Gimili spoke, "Run for it lass."
She snapped her head towards him, eyes marred with an incredulous look. "What?"
He nodded swiftly a few times, "You heard me; run!" He spoke in between heavy breathes.
Her eyes fell back into the trees in front of them. Her gaze was set, "No."
"Listen to me!" He urged, "I may be slow, but I can still fight! If they stay and fight me, that'll give you some time to think of a counterattack and—"
"No!" Her voice was firm. She looked over to him, eyes serious. "You are my comrade and I won't leave you behind; we will fight together until the end."
"Then you have won." A precariously charming voice said into her ear.
On reflex, she swung around, her blade coming to slice a few long brown hairs before making contact with the bark of a tree. She dislodged her sword, swinging again at her opponent who countered with his blade. For an instant, there was a clash of metal and then and then an unexpected shout.
"Stop, lass!" Gimili hollered, following after her, "He's right; you've won." All sense of urgency had vanished from the Dwarf's voice and his face was calm.
"What?" Eina inquired, jumping back with her sword still in hand.
"The Dwarf is correct." The other twin appeared, returning his blades to their sheaths on his back as he stepped out from the trees. "While this was a test to see how well you worked with a teammate, that was not this trials true purpose; it was to see if you would stand by your comrade until the end, which you did."
"Thus, as I stated previously; you have won." Her opponent from seconds previously sheathed his own sword.
The other brother spoke out, "You have passed all of the trials. Well done." The twins bowed to her, but the look of shock and disbelief had yet to disappear from Eina's face.
That was, until a yelp of triumph came from above, "SHE'S DONE IT, HA-HAA!" Pippin had flung himself onto the rail in excitement the other members of the Fellowship applauding beside him. Sam whistled loudly, and soon the other Hobbits joined in the jubilant shouting. Her stance relaxed as she watched them.
As her eyes tore away from the ecstatic Hobbits, she couldn't help but ask, "So that's it? That's the end of the trial?" A piece of her almost expected them to unsheathe their weapons and attack her full force.
But they didn't.
One of the twins spoke, "It is. Unless you would care to have another?" She hastily declined.
The other laughed, "I'm sure father would take you up on your offer."
She blinked once, then twice before relaxing and returning her sword to its sheath. She did not move however, and kept her distance. A gruff, but entertained voice spoke from behind her, "Calm down lass; it really is over."
"Did you know about this Gimili?"
A tiny look of guilt crossed the Dwarf's face, "Aye; sorry lass. But it had to be done. Elrond's orders." The Dwarf began to walk back towards the staircase, with Eina at his side and the brothers walking ahead of them.
"This was father's last attempt at trying to show that you were unworthy; the ultimate test if you will."
"However, you managed to prove him wrong quite brilliantly." His tone sounded unusually pleased.
"And you two are happy about that?" Eina asked, raising an eyebrow at the twins.
His counterpart replied, "It's not everyday that someone manages to one-up our father."
The other brother bounced off his twin, "And what's more important is that you proved just how loyal you are to your companions."
"This was the ultimate test."
"And despite being unaware of its true purpose, you still passed with flying colors."
"Explanations aside, let us properly introduce ourselves."
The brothers stopped just at the bottom of the staircase as the other continued, "I am Elladan." He partnered the introduction was a dangerously charming smile before continuing up the stairs. Gimili was already making his was up before him.
"Aren't you going to stay for our introductions Master Dwarf?" Elladan inquired, his tone laced with a false sense of hurt and sarcasm.
Gimili snorted, not even bothering to look back, "I already know who you two hoodlums are." Without another word, the ax-baring Dwarf kept on his way.
"Now wait just one moment; we are not hoodlums." Elladan started after the Dwarf, still chattering after him as to how he and as brother were not, in fact, childish troublemakers.
The remaining twin laughed, shaking his head for a moment before turning back to Eina. "And I am Elrohir, my dear Lady." The other copied his brother with the smile, only going a step further by taking her hand and planting a delicate kiss on her knuckles. The faintest touch of blush came to Eina's cheeks as she tucked her chin towards her neck. Now that was certainly not expected.
He chuckled quietly at her reaction, gently releasing her hand. "Come. Much to father's dismay, there is to be a celebratory dinner in honor of your accomplishments."
"Really?" She laughed, "I'm flattered." The duo climbed the staircase and was greeted by a shower of jubilance. Pippin immediately flung his arms around her in a bear hug, Merry was doing a victory dance, and other words of praise lofted through the air upon her arrival.
To everyone's surprise, the voice of Elrond broke out among the crowd. "You have passed all of my trials." Everyone turned to see the Elf Lord; his face was calm, and his eyes sincere. "Despite my own beliefs, what matters is that you have earned the trust of your company. And you have." He looked to Eina, "Congratulations. You are now apart of the Fellowship of the Ring."
It's hard to track, let alone catch a shadow.
Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha or Lord of the Rings.
Ta-da! An unexpected update. And I have no idea how this chapter got so long… but anyway, if anyone's confused let me know. I'd be happy to clarify any confusion. And I hope the battle scenes weren't too horrible. I've never really written them before. But I hope you all enjoyed the update! Please let me know what you think.
Until later