Chapter 7: In the Dark of the Night
"Relax your shoulders. The tenser you have them, the harder it will be to swing it fast."
"Right, keep my shoulders loose. Got it."
"And your wrists."
"But if I do that the sword will drop."
"Not if you're gripping it correctly, here."
Ariel felt her cheeks flush a little as Estel came over and gently took her hands.
They were in a large courtyard, under the shade of a great tree. The evening sun was hanging low in the sky, bathing both youths in its rich golden light as it began to dip below the horizon.
Estel smirked as he showed his pupil how to adjust her grip on her blunt training sword. She was better than he'd expected, primarily since she was a maid with little to no experience with swordplay.
She was good at anticipating his moves, even if she couldn't entirely block them as effectively. Whatever she lacked in strength, she made up for with determination, spirit and a surprising swiftness.
"You're holding your breath" his smirk widened after exchanging a couple of soft parries.
"Sorry" Ariel sighed the tip of her sword heavily dropping down to the ground "I guess …I-I just never thought there'd ever been a time I needed to use one of these."
"Quite honestly my Lady, I hope you never see such a time" Estel admitted quietly.
"Why? Because I'm such a Lady?" said lady snorted, and her fellow human chuckled.
"Nay, your gender does not denote your strength. I've met many an Elleth who can fight fiercely. I merely meant that I hope that no good decent person should ever have a need to fight for their lives against such evil."
"A bit too late for that already," Ariel muttered under her breath but was quick to raise her sword to block Estel's gentle blow.
"Well, amateur skills aside, you have fast reflexes. You just need to stop thinking so much," he smirked as he quickly made to thrust his sword forward in a forward jab.
Ariel was quick to jump out of the way, thrusting her own practice blade towards the opening he left on his side. He blocked it expertly but still smiled in pleasant surprise at her daring.
"Much better." He raised his sword and began to swiftly bring it towards her in several swings which she quickly blocked "See, the less you think, the more you can focus on what's in front of you."
Ariel smiled, her ears flushing a light pink as the lesson continued. It was nice to be able to be with someone her age, after being stuck with only dwarves and old wizards to talk to for a few weeks.
True Fili and Kili were closer to her in age, and Bilbo was always good company, but something was comforting about being able to talk to someone else of her own species that helped ease some of the tension of being the outsider. Plus, it didn't hurt that Estel was pretty easy on the eyes-
"AHEM!"
"Ow!" she winced as the flat of her partner's practice blade hit her side hard.
"I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to-" Estel apologised rushing towards her as she nursed her side.
"It's okay. I got distracted" Ariel gave him a small smile as he patted her down for injuries, only to flush pink as she realised his warm hand was around her waist. Estel noticed it too, and though he mastered his blush better, she could see the tips of his ears turn the lightest shade of pink as he quickly retracted his hands.
"Uh…" he gulped as they each took a step back from one another. "Sorry, that was rather forward of me."
"It's alright. Stuff happens" Ariel mumbled cursing her cheeks that had now gone as red as her hair.
Stuff happens? Real smooth Ariel.
She rolled her eyes only to jump as another cough pierced the air. A very familiar dwarven cough.
She and Estel both turned quickly to scowl at the source.
"Ah… It's only you, King Under the Mountain" He raised a cool eyebrow as the shadow moved out from where he stood by the nearby fountain.
"It's only you?" Insolent Elven pet.
Thorin Oakenshield glowered as he and the younger human male both squared one another up silently with their eyes, both not breaking contact till Ariel rolled her eyes and sighed.
And Gandalf's little she-devil is even more impudent
He now turned his glare upon said she-devil, only to find her gaze was like ice upon him as she spat:
"What do you want Thorin? I'm in the middle of training."
"So, I can see" Thorin grunted as he quickly spared Estel another glare "Dinner is almost ready at the house, and Gandalf's wants a word with you before you eat. So move it, it wouldn't do for an apprentice to keep her master waiting. So, come on!"
Ariel felt her cheeks flush hotly, though this time it was with anger, not bashfulness. She was used to the Dwarf King's angry growling grunts at her, but sometimes it really bugged her just how rude he could be.
I mean what does he think I am? A dog he can tell to go fetch?
"Okay, first off, Gandalf isn't my master. He's my mentor." She snapped folding her arms stubbornly "And secondly you might be the King of Dwarves but you ain't the king of me, so next time you want to ask me to do something you can do so politely or not speak to me at all and spare us both the pain of dealing with one another."
Why this little-No-No stay calm, she is just a petulant maiden not worth your temper.
Thorin gritted his teeth as he did his best to soothe his temper. Usually, he could keep himself composed as a king should be, but all that would go to pot when this witch entered his vision. He wasn't quite sure why it happened, she just made his stomach broil and distracted him every time she entered the room, though he blamed that entirely on her hair. It was always so unique amidst the usual sea of browns and dirty blondes. True Gloin's beard was just as fiery red, but for some reason Thorin's eyes always found themselves drawn to the darker rusty locks whenever they entered his field of vision.
He was fuming so hotly that he almost didn't catch Estel's next sentence.
"Perhaps it is wise we stop training for today. You've progressed well in a short space of time, and I have no doubt you'll be quite the swordswoman within a couple of weeks."
Thorin's stomach turned over as he saw the shy blush once again consume Ariel's face as she smiled and giggled awkwardly.
"Ah-ha-ha. That's sweet, but I think it's going to take a very, long time till I get as good as you or really, any normal person."
"Somehow I doubt that. But come. Gandalf is waiting, and if he must speak with you before a meal, it must be a very urgent matter indeed" Estel grabbed the two training swords in one hand and was about to take Ariel's arm in his other when Thorin swiftly stopped him.
"I'm afraid you'll have to escort lady Ariel another time boy. Your lord Elrond awaits you at his house."
"Very well then. Thank you for the message master dwarf." Estel forced a polite smile, his cold eyes only softening as he looked at Ariel.
"We continue our lessons same time tomorrow then?"
"Absolutely" Ariel smiled, doing her best to stifle another small giggle as the young human man kissed hand in gentlemanly fashion and bid her goodnight.
"Till tomorrow then my lady. Your majesty" he added to Thorin curtly as he let go of her hand.
When he was safely out of sight and out of earshot, Ariel rounded on Thorin, nostrils flaring.
"You always have to spoil everything don't you?" she hissed fiercely.
"I spoil everything?" Thorin growled, "Wasn't it Gandalf who once said that your kind is not allowed to form attachments to others?"
Ariel gritted her teeth. Yes, Gandalf had told her that before. In fact, it was one of the critical lessons he had been trying to drill into her head since the first day they met. And she had adhered to it…most of the time…
But right now it wasn't helping the mounting frustration that continued to build up inside her even as the dwarf king smirked at her.
It wasn't often that he won their arguments, but when he did it was oh-so-satisfying.
Petty woman
He rolled his eyes as with a huff Ariel stormed off away from the courtyard.
"So let me get this straight." Ariel bit her lip as she stood alone with Gandalf on a higher balcony of the Dwarves guest house "Lord Elrond has given us supplies for a journey, but only as long as we don't head for the Lonely Mountain?"
"To put it simply, yes" Gandalf nodded gravely as he looked out over the beautiful view stretched out before them of the Valley being bathed in rich orange-gold light.
"And let me guess you want to completely ignore him and go ahead to the mountain anyway" Ariel quirked a brow.
"And what makes you say this my dear?" Gandalf raised his own bushy eyebrows at her as she folded her arms and narrowed her eyes at him.
"Because you've got your little scheming face on."
"My little what?" Gandalf snorted at her and she rolled her eyes.
"Your scheming face; Your eyes get all twinkly and you get this little sneaky smirk."
Gandalf blinked at her for a moment, then chuckled softly.
"You truly are a chip of the old block" he patted her shoulder gently. "But yes you are right. It is still our plan to go on ahead to the Mountain, with or without the blessing of the Elves. Though I will still do what I can to change Lord Elrond's mind tonight. He has summoned me to hold Council after dinner. And speaking of Elrond,"
Ariel bristled uncomfortably as the blue eyes pierced straight through her.
"Thorin tells me that you've been spending a lot of time with the young Estel"
"Oh yeah? And what else has our dear King Under the Mountain told you?" Ariel pouted, cheeks flushing a little red despite herself.
"Ariel," Gandalf sighed "I've told you many times, forming friendships with others is one thing, but it is forbidden for those of our order to seek out relationships."
"He's just showing me around the Valley and teaching me how to use a sword" Ariel grumbled "Listen, Gandalf, I may like Estel, but I swear, there's nothing going on between us. The most he's done is kiss my hand and maybe flirt once or twice. Otherwise the two of us are just good friends, like how I am with Fili and Kili. Speaking of which, why are you so against Estel, I thought you liked him?"
"I'm not against him as a person at all. Merely concerned about the nature of his relationship with you, especially considering what you both are."
"What do you mean?" Ariel frowned in confusion.
Gandalf sighed again.
"What I mean is…Estel, isn't just Estel. His true name is Aragorn. Son of Arathorn and heir-"
"-to Isildur. The true King of Gondor" Ariel finished quietly, head falling into her hands.
Oh, how could she have been so STUPID! She knew the story of the Lord of the Rings like the back of her hand. How on Earth could she have forgotten this one important detail. Of course, Estel was Aragorn. Why else would a human be living in Rivendell? Aragorn was raised in Rivendell for his own protection, it would be logical that Elrond would've changed his name to something else to keep him hidden from Sauron's watchful gaze.
"I take it you know of whom I speak, from your future telling abilities" Gandalf's shoulders relaxed as she straightened up and ran a hand through her hair.
"You could say that. Damn! I can't believe I was so blind" she cursed herself, as the Old man chuckled softly.
"You may have many gifts Ariel, but you are still young and will make some mistakes. Do not worry, we shall work on them with time"
"I guess so." Ariel mumbled as she made to follow the wizard back into the house.
Ariel…
She paused at the threshold and looked over her shoulder.
There was nothing there save the balcony and the view of the sun starting to sink below the horizon line.
Yet she was sure she had heard a familiar voice calling.
Ariel
There it was again, coming from the edge of the railing.
That voice…it sounds just like…
She jumped as she felt an old wrinkled hand suddenly wrap around her shoulder in comfort.
"My dear…are you alright?" Gandalf was looking down on her, bushy eyebrows furrowed in deep concern.
"What?" she blinked then quickly shook her head "Oh it's okay. Sorry Gandalf I just zoned out there for a second. Probably just the wind."
"Well, you might want to get yourself back into the zone as you say. Dinner is ready and I'm sure you'd want to get stuck in quickly before Bofur devours everything" Gandalf smiled as he ushered her to walk before him, though once his back was turned he let himself frown thoughtfully.
Everything looked alright outside and yet…
Hmm…I wonder…
Just what is wrong with her today? She looks so down.
Bilbo watched with a worried frown as Ariel glumly nibbled at her food. She had been downcast ever since her talk with Gandalf just before dinner.
And so, he did what any hobbit would do to lift someone's mood.
"Here, try these, they're delicious." He offered a plate with some sweet meats to her.
"Huh? Oh, thanks Bilbo" Ariel gave the hobbit a small smile as she took some of the sweet meats onto her plate.
"Is everything alright? You look somewhat down" he asked her quietly as he took the plate from her and set it back down in its spot.
"Just thinking…about home" she murmured softly so that only he could hear. "I wonder what my parents are up to? If my brother's gotten any better"
"I'm sure they're all doing fine." Bilbo placed a gentle hand on her arm.
"I know…it's just…I can't help but wonder…" her voice fell away as she sighed. "Y'know what just forget it. I'm just tired. I'll feel better once I eat."
She forced a smile on her face as she took a large bite out of her food.
He wasn't the only one who noticed her dour mood. Thorin, like usual was watching her closely, however unlike the many other times he'd done so, he looked less crotchety and more anxious.
It wasn't like her to be so blue, especially around food. He wondered if it was because of their earlier altercation, yet she didn't seem to notice him as he offered gruffly passed her a sauce she was trying to reach for to drizzle over the meat.
She seemed…sad…truly and utterly miserable.
She claimed she was merely homesick and yet he couldn't help but notice the weight that seemed to have descended upon her shoulders. He knew that weight only too well, for he had worn it ever since he'd lost his kingdom. The weight of one having many tough decisions held in ones hands.
He said nothing to comfort her. For one thing he was afraid he'd botch whatever words came out of his mouth. For another, this was her personal trial and he knew this was something she had to learn to bear for herself.
He only hoped she was strong enough to bear the struggles that awaited her. If only for her own sake.
Little did he know of the voice she could hear, nudging at the back of her mind as if from a distance.
Ariel…Ariel…
Lord Elrond stared after the human youth that stormed away from the courtyard they'd been talking in, and back into the main house.
It had been a hard task to accomplish, but he had finally gotten around to it after all these years.
Telling Estel the truth.
No.
Telling Aragorn, son of Arathorn the truth. About himself and about Lady Ariel, or at least, what they knew about the young Istari, for Elrond himself was still quite unsure as to her true nature.
Just as he was unsure of what to do now.
Now he knows the truth. How he handles this will determine if he's truly ready to take his place amongst his people. I must be patient…
The elven lord sighed heavily as he stared over the sun as it dipped below the horizon.
He shivered a little, yet not because of the cold night air. He looked around. He was certain there was someone else there, lurking in the shadows of a tree.
No. It was impossible. His Ring of Power, Vilya, the Ring of Air, protected his valley from the darkness.
Unless it is a darkness one has brought in with them…But no…either Gandalf or I would've sensed it…
He shook his head slightly to clear it, straightening out the collar to his robes as he made to swiftly set off.
It was time he talked to the Grey Wizard.
"Ariel…Ariel…"
Ariel Brook's eyes opened slowly into the darkness of the high roof above her head.
Just a dream…Just the wind.
She sighed in exasperation as she rubbed at her eyes, looking about herself in confusion.
But that was odd…I could've sworn I heard someone calling me now…and then again earlier on the-
"Ariel…"
Ariel stiffened. There it was again.
That voice…
"Ariel"
She shivered.
It was as if someone had taken a snake's hissing slither and turned it into words.
"Ariel…" it whispered, almost as if in her ear, even though it was still so very distant, and yet it was strangely…familiar.
"Ian?" Ariel breathed. "I-Is that you?"
"Yes Airy I am here…"
"B-but…but…you can't be" Ariel stammered feeling her eyes heat up and burn as they watered over. "Y-You're still back h-home you're-"
"No Airy" Ian's voice turned gentle almost a comforting caress "I'm here…out here on the balcony outside…"
"But how-"
"Please Ariel" Ian's voice was almost now begging, pleading "Please…come to me…I need you…You're the only one who can help me…"
She barely could feel her feet as they swung over the edge of her bed, her brothers voice still whispering to her through the night.
"This way…hurry!"
"I'm coming Ian" Ariel whispered, her feet moving soundlessly over the smooth stone of the floor. She wasn't quite sure whether it was the relief and joy of hearing her brothers voice again, or if it was the fear of losing it, but she seemed to feel more like a passenger of her legs and body than a driver…and for some reason…she did not mind it…no…she did not feel anything.
Before she could even comprehend what, she was doing her legs had carried her to a large set of steps that stood high up in the open air.
"That's right Ariel just a few more steps" Ian's voice hissed gently in her ear as she took a step towards the edge of a small landing on the steps.
"Now stand up"
The entire staircase had low hand rails that only reached her hands as they fell limply over her sides so it wasn't difficult for her to step up onto them.
She looked down and was surprised to find that the great height at which she stood did not bother her…but like before it was not that she was comfortable with her predicament…she just didn't feel at all…at least not until Ian said.
"Now come to me"
"What?" she blinked and looked down. In her stomach she suddenly felt the drop of her gut.
She was more than four stories high off the ground and counting, her body thankfully balanced on the wide step beneath her feet, one step backwards and she'd be safe.
But as soon as she made to lean back Ian's voice hissed in her ear once more.
"Ariel …Come to me…"
"…B-but Ian…I-I-can't! I'll-I'll fall." Ariel stuttered as she tried to move her legs, to her horror she found that they were stuck in place as if invisible ropes had bound themselves about her ankles.
"Don't you want to see me?" Ian's voice snarled and she shuddered.
"Yes, yes I do but-"
"Ariel please…I'm begging you-"
"NO I can't! Ian stop! If I drop I'll die!" she cried out. Then suddenly she felt a burst of heat and saw to her horror a fiery red eye flashing angrily at her.
"I said COME!" a deep rumbling voice roared in her head, louder than any thunderclap and storm combined.
"COME TO ME!"
Ariel barely had time to scream as suddenly she felt the invisible rope around her legs tug her forwards so that she keeled over the edge.
"NO!"
Ariel's body suddenly lurched backwards as a pair of strong hands, grabbed her by material of her nightgown.
She squeaked with terror as she felt the slightly shorter form of a dwarf get squished beneath her as they both fell backwards onto the steps.
"Th-Th-Thorin?" Ariel blubbered as she sat up, looking down on the dwarf king who was still slightly dazed from his fall.
"Are you-ungh-are you alright?" he blinked once or twice to relieve himself of the stars that had begun to burst before his eyes, only to have them rekindled as he was pulled up and into a tight hold.
"He-he was there! H-h-he was…was there…"Ariel's arms about him were trembling violently as she buried her face into his shoulder.
Thorin reached up and patted a large hand over her head of russet hair. It was soft and smelled sweet, but he was quick to squash down these revelations as the young girl tremble in his arms.
"Easy there" he muttered gently, rocking her a little to ease her. "Easy Ariel…I got you…I got you…"
Ariel just sat there holding onto him for dear life as she sobbed.
"His voice…I thought…I thought-"
"Whose voice?" Thorin asked sharply as he pulled away from to look her directly in the eye. "because I didn't hear one at all"
"My…my brother...Ian's…"Ariel spluttered. "But it couldn't have been…he's back home…he's almost half dead…how can he be here if he's half dead?"
She burst out into loud sobs again. Whatever words Thorin had thought to say died in his throat. Instead he carefully brought his arms about her and gingerly patted her back in soothing circles, like one would give a child.
But then again, he thought to himself, in comparison to the rest of the company she was a child…technically barely older than Kili…
And speaking of his nephews…
There was the thundering of footsteps as Kili's voice called out in an aggravated puff.
"Seriously Fili if you can't keep up don't be such a sore loser about…it …"
The younger brother trailed off as he caught sight of the scene before him. He opened his mouth to speak but then suddenly there was the thundering of footsteps and soon Fili and Bilbo were in full view of the spectacle before them.
"Uncle! what happened?" Fili cried out, his face unusually pale, not that Bilbo could blame him. They'd all heard the screams from far down below and it had been enough to make the blood in the hobbits body chill like ice in an instant.
"Keep your voices down." Thorin growled still stroking a gentle hand over the terrified girl's head covering her ears as he whispered "I do not know how, but someone or something tried to push her off…a shadow…"
"What? Pushed?" Bilbo exclaimed in shock "but we were all downstairs and we saw no one come up here. Who could've pushed her?"
At this Kili strode forwards and quickly grabbed Ariel by the shoulders.
"Ariel, who did you see? Was there anyone here with you?"
"Kili don't, she's still in shock!" Bilbo tugged the dwarf's hands away from her.
The Dwarf Prince didn't look too pleased about being told what to do but even as he looked down at the girl on the floor he backed off.
Ariel was now staring ahead through streaming eyes, her entire body trembling from head to foot as she let Thorin gingerly pull her up to her feet.
"Bilbo, Fili quickly take her back to her room and stay with her until I get back. Kili you go fetch Gandalf and tell him what happened."
"And what about you?" Kili asked clearly reluctant to leave his uncle's side. However, Thorin fixed both him and his brother with a stern look.
"I'm going to scope out the area…see if I can find anything of whoever did this. If I don't return after an hour then come looking with the others. Now go all of you"
Thorin watched carefully as Kili ran off down the stairs at a sprint, slowly followed by both Bilbo and Fili who were each supporting Ariel by the sides as they gingerly helped manoeuvre her down the stairs.
Thorin's teeth gritted, as he looked about their surroundings.
Aside from their little group, the staircase was practically deserted. However, Thorin could not shake off the unnatural tingling on the base of his neck…almost as if someone were watching them in secret…hidden to his eyes…
Little was the Dwarf prince to know was that miles and miles away in the shadows of Dol Guldor two blazing orbs of orange lit up like two flames within a dark shadowy face...
…searing with blazing wrath.
So finally after a long hiatus, I've finally edited this chapter.
Took me a while to find the original document for this fic as it was buried amidst several other folders.
So anyways, Ariel's found out about Estel and has had a bit of a spook in the night from...well you all know who we're dealing with :P.
If work and life are both kind to me, I may finish remastering another chapter soon, but until then i hope you enjoyed and please keep reviewing for more.
Cheers
FuzzyBeta