Taelen coughed as water trickled out of his mouth. His lungs burned, but his body felt frozen. With a rush, everything came back to him - the cold of the water, the strange spirit that appeared, and Rian suddenly appearing in the darkness with a glowing red light coming out of her chest. Taelen opened his eyes with a start, coughing again as he tried to take a deep breath.
"You're alive!" Hanna cried, trying to help Taelen sit up. He had a blanket around his shoulders, and his wet shirt was lying on the sand next to him. "Oh, I was so worried. Rian was drowning, but then Arien appeared and-"
"Arien? Arien is here?" Taelen's voice was strained, and he began to shiver violently.
Just past Hanna he could see the water slapping against the shore. A few yards from where the shallow water started he could see Arien's head bobbing up and down among the waves. She was moving slowly towards them as she dragged an unconscious Rian along with her.
"We- we have to help," he stammered, trying to push himself off the sand, but Hanna pushed him down gently before she ran out into the water. It was all Taelen could do to not fall asleep as he curled up on the sand, his teeth chattering, as Hanna waded through the water, pushing aside chunks of ice, to take Rian out of Arien's grasp. Arien stumbled onto the beach and grabbed a tinder box out of her bag. Hanna staggered out of the water a moment later and dropped Rian in the sand next to Taelen.
"P-p-p-pull off her cl-clothes," Arien instructed as she fumbled with the flint and steel. She couldn't get a spark to fly onto the kindling, and she swore as she started to tremble.
"I will get the fire going," Hanna said, taking the pieces out of Arien's hands. "You can help Rian."
Arien nodded and scooted herself over to Rian's unconscious form. Rian groaned, coughing up water like Taelen had when he'd come to. Taelen saw Arien fumble with the buttons on Rian's shirt. He inched closer, holding out an unsteady hand over Rian's body. He did the same thing he'd been doing the whole rainy trip and pulled the water out of her clothing, tossing it with a tired wave into the sea. He didn't have the strength to do the same to his clothing.
"Thank y-y-you," Arien said, turning Rian on her side. Rian's body jerked as she coughed up more water, but Taelen could feel relief fall over the group as they saw her take a deep breath.
Hanna had a fire started now, and she pulled out dry clothes for herself, Taelen, and Arien. Taelen struggled to change his pants, but eventually the three of them were dressed, and though Rian had not opened her eyes, she had stopped coughing up water. They were all safe- and they were not going to freeze.
"What happened?" Taelen asked, breaking the silence as he watched Rian's chest moving up and down.
"Rian was pulled in by a giant wave while she defended the Silmaril and us from a small group of strange spirits who claimed they were bound to the jewel," Hanna said flatly, pulling her blanket tighter around her shoulders. He could see her teeth chattering, though he knew it was not because of the cold as she was wearing more layers than he knew she had. "They pulled her under the water, and I-I cannot swim, so I thought she was going to die-"
Hanna stopped, trying to take a deep breath as she looked at Rian, and Arien cut in.
"That was when I arrived. I saw a flash in the water as I dove in, so I knew where to find Rian."
"How did you find us?" Hanna asked Arien. Taelen laid his head in Hanna's lap as he watched Arien procure a small violet bottle. She attempted to open it several times with shaking hands before she finally got the lid off, but when she did, she took only a small sip before passing it to Hanna.
"This is Miruvor, Lady Galadriel gave it to me when I left. It should help fend off the c-c-cold. And I found you because you went to the place I told you the Silmaril would be?"
Hanna drank and then helped Taelen place it to his lips, and as it traveled down his throat he felt a warmth spread through his chest. He passed the bottle back to Arien, who put a few drops on her fingers and spread it across Rain's forehead. He felt guilty he was not the one healing Rian, but he was unsure he had the energy to do so.
The three of them, plus the still unconscious Rian, sat quietly around the crackling fire as the dim sunlight faded and the clouds blocked out all starlight. Taelen kept checking to make sure Rian was breathing, and after eating their evening meal he felt up to checking her body for any ailments he could heal.
He sat down in the sand by Rian's head as Hanna and Arien discussed their journey north.
"We were lost after two days," Hanna chuckled. "How did you make it here without getting lost?"
Arien laughed, "Rian is not the only one who learned how to read a map. You got lost after two days?"
Taelen was glad to hear the two of them joking together, even if it was a distraction from thinking about the events of the day. It was hard to shake the feeling that they were being watched, or that something terrible was about to happen, but he tried to tell himself it was just the shock of nearly freezing to death. He took a deep breath, separating his fear from the forefront of his mind, he placed his hands on Rian's shoulders. Her breathing immediately eased, and Taelen smiled as her fingers twitched and felt his healing power surge before he heard Arien say,
"I am so glad Rian found you."
He looked up to see Hanna biting her lip, and Taelen took one hand off of Rian and reached out to Hannah. She had practiced what she was going to say to Arien many times. It usually began with "when I was alone in Mirkwood" and ended with, "and that is why rabbits and hedgehogs do not have successful friendships."
"We should not have left you," Hanna began, and Taelen took his other hand off of Rian in shock. "I am so sorry," Hanna finished.
"Oh," Arien looked up at Hanna with tears welling up in her eyes, "There are many things I could have done-"
"Better. We know," Rian said suddenly. Her eyes fluttered open and she coughed out one last mouthful of water.
"Rian!" Arien cried as she nearly fell into the fire as she rushed to hug Rian. Taelen was surprised by her physical energy- he still felt exhausted.
"Arien?" Rian asked with a scratchy voice. "Why are you here?"
"She pulled you out of the water- she saved you," Hanna said as she searched through Arien's pack. A moment later she opened the purple vial of Miruvor and passed it to Arien, who helped Rian take a drink.
"Thank- thank you." Rian shivered, despite the blankets piled on top of her. "How did you fend off the spirits?" she asked Arien.
"Spirits?" Arien looked from Rian to Taelen and Hanna.
"A spirit was guarding the Silmaril," Taelen answered, "he attacked me when I attempted to take it from the water."
"And he summoned several others after I refused to hand the Silmaril over to him," Hanna added with a shudder.
"You retrieved the Silmaril! And Maedhros was protecting it!" Arien's eyes lit up, and she looked like she was going to clap her hands together. "I-"
"Knew it, yes," Rian interrupted with another cough, "But if you did not get rid of them, who did?"
Arien shook her head. "I assumed it was you. I saw a flash of light from the water when I rode up, that is how I knew where to dive in to find you when Hanna told me you were drowning."
Rian looked at her palms and shook her head, but did not say anything more. Taelen wanted to ask her what she was thinking but stopped himself. He knew Rian would share if she thought it was important.
"Where is the Silmaril, Hanna? Can we see it?" he asked instead.
Hanna nodded and reached for her pack. She carefully removed a small blue velvet pouch and handed it to Taelen.
"Is that mine?" Arien asked.
Hanna's face flushed, "Er, yes. I took it from your stuff before we left Lothlorien. I knew you had one for each Silmaril."
Arien simply nodded, and Taelen went ahead and opened the pouch to pull out the jewel. It was just as brilliant as the one he'd pulled out of the Nimrodel, and his heart soared knowing they had achieved their goal this time. Each side of the Silmaril had been cut with extreme skill, and a nearly blinding white light shone from its center.
"That is one," Rian said, propping herself up on one elbow with some effort. "Now, to retrieve the other two."
"Arien," Hanna spoke softly, scooting closer to Taelen, "Rian told us you think you have a Silmaril inside you. Is that true?"
Arien nodded, "I am nearly convinced. I have read the story of Eärendil over and over, and the last known account of the third Silmaril was when he returned it to Manwë. Manwë and Varda supposedly hung the Silmaril in the sky as a star for all to see, but the ancient astrological charts I found show the star we claim to be Eärendil's existed before that time."
Taelen sat up, rubbing the back of his neck. "That star is sacred to many Elves. Why would the Valar have them believe it is the Silmaril when it is not?"
"I am not sure, but something may have been lost in translation through the years."
Hanna scooted closer to Taelen, handing him his shoes, which he was thrilled to find were warm from sitting by the fire, and said, "The longer we spend trying to interpret the Valar's purposes and plans, the more time we waste. No one on Middle Earth has had contact with them since the last time Melkor was defeated."
"Well, Rian-" Taelen started.
"I had a dream about my father." Rian interrupted. "I thought I spoke with him while in Lothlorien, but it was nothing but a dream."
"Do you think he sent you the dream?" Arien asked. Her face was concerned, and Taelen could see her aura turning a deep red. She was afraid, but of what?
Rian shrugged, "I am unsure. In my dream we simply spoke of Valinor and its beauty. I am anxious to see, myself."
Arien's fearful aura did not change but grew stronger as she began to rifle through her bag. She pulled out a small black book, and Taelen had an uneasy feeling about it. Arien's fingers were trembling, and it wasn't from the cold. She opened her mouth to say something, but Hanna spoke first.
"Rian, what did Maedhros's spirit mean when he said you had the same touch as Morgoth? Who is Morgoth?"
"That is the name Fëanor gave Melkor after he slew Fëanor's brother and robbed Fëanor's house of the Silmarils," Arien said, her face pale, "The majority of Elves know him by that name, but Lord Elrond taught me to use his ancient name. Did Maedhros really say you had the touch of Melkor?"
"It means nothing," Rian grumbled, "there is no way Melkor is my father. I would sooner die than discover that ulunn's blood runs through my veins."
Taelen nodded, but stopped as he watched Arien slowly put the book she had pulled out away.
"Ulunn?" Arien's voice cracked. "Is that not a little harsh?"
Taelen's jaw dropped, and Hanna looked aghast.
"Surely, this is not Arien sitting before me," Taelen said, trying to comprehend what had happened. "What have you done to the real Arien?"
"Arien," Rian looked like she was going to laugh genuinely for the first time Taelen could remember, "you have told me numerous times how Melkor is the source of all evil- and it takes you hours to get through the list of his evil deeds. I would say ulunn is a generous term to use."
"Hear, hear." Hanna raised the bottle of Miruvor in toast and took another swig. She hastily put the lid back on the bottle when Arien glared at her. Taelen was sympathetic with Arien- Miruvor was not given out in large quantities, and yet, he too wanted to take another sip of the sweet, warm elixir.
"I just think we could take a step back and, uh, know that any one of us would be lucky to have the blood of the most powerful Valar running-"
"Melkor is the most powerful Valar?" Hanna's face turned even paler than Arien's.
"Yes," Arien took a deep breath, "but that does not mean we cannot rise against him and-"
"We will be fine." Rian cut her off. "I am sure the Valar themselves will help us as much as they can."
Taelen looked at Rian in surprise, though he was almost more surprised at the look Arien was giving her. It was too close to how Hanna looked at him when he identified several different types of trees surrounding their campsite one night.
The conversation carried on a while longer before they decided to make camp and set up a watch in case Maedhros decided to resurface (though Taelen was still not clear on how Rian got rid of him in the first place). Taelen knew they would not have many other concerns. The north was barren of all wildlife, and the nearest settlement was a two days ride away.
Hanna took the watch and insisted the others sleep as long as they could in preparation for their departure early in the morning. It had typically been Rian who took the watch, but she happily conceded to Hanna with no debate.
Taelen had settled down onto his bedroll and was drifting asleep when he noticed Arien pouring over the black book she had pulled out earlier.
"Did you get that in Caras Galadhon?" he asked.
She jumped and closed it, faking a smile as she said, "I did not realize you were still awake."
"And I did not realize you were hiding something from us." He sat up with some effort, checking to see if Rian was asleep. Her eyes were shut, and she was breathing deeply.
"Please- no, I am not hiding-"
"It's alright," Taelen shook his head, "I do not blame you."
"What?"
"We left you behind- albeit foolishly. It is natural for you to be wary of trusting us."
Arien nodded thoughtfully, pulling her knees to her chest as she looked into the fire. Its faint light reflected in her eyes, and Taelen could see her aura begin to darken.
"I trust you more than you probably think," she answered. "I am simply researching something important to our mission- and I am wary of telling anyone before I have an explanation as to what has come to light."
"Your Silmaril." Taelen asked.
Arien relaxed, smiling softly. "I am not sure how we are supposed to retrieve it."
"Maybe we are not supposed to- maybe you are meant to have it so you can seal Melkor away."
"Perhaps…" she frowned, "but I am still unsure if we are supposed to seal him away in the Void again. If he can escape it now, what would stop him from doing so later?"
Taelen did not have a good answer, but tried to comfort Arien and ease them both to sleep, and for the first time on their journey, he dreamed. Dark shadows, not unlike the spirit of Maedhros, lurked in the corners of his mind. He tossed and turned, waking near dawn in a cold sweat. He was anxious to leave the dark sea.
A hazy sky greeted them in the morning, and Taelen had a hard time making out the mountains they were riding toward. Rian took the lead, and Arien was close behind her.
"Hanna, can we talk about what happened yesterday?" He asked as soon as Rian and Arien were out of earshot.
"If you are wanting an explanation as to my apology, I simply realized it was not worth trying to explain myself, and I was happy to see Arien again and wanted her to feel comfortable."
Taelen stammered, and Hanna followed up by saying,
"You are not the only one who can read emotions, Taelen. You did not hide your surprise very well yesterday."
Taelen stuck his nose in the air. "I do not believe in hiding emotions or reactions. It would be unfair to everyone else if I did, seeing as no one can hide their emotions from me."
The two of them continued to banter back and forth, and Taelen came close to forgetting the barren landscape they were surrounded by and the frightening events from the day before. Gradually they drew closer to the mountains, their white peaks showing through the haze. Rian ushered them forward, bringing them to the foothills where they broke off from their path to take a shortcut Rian said would bring them back to Lothlorien at least a day faster.
Taelen trusted Rian, but as they moved further into the mountains, the haze turned to dense fog, and out of the corner of his eye, he thought he saw shadows gathering around them, always just out of sight. Tall walls of dark rock surrounded them on both sides, and in the fog, they seemed to close in as they moved further into the mountains.
"I think we should hurry," he whispered, turning to Hanna, but Hanna was gone.
He could see nothing through the mist. He blindly led his horse a little further down the path, calling out to his companions in the hope they could hear him, but he was met with haunted silence. His heart was beating wildly, and he started to feel light-headed.
It's going to be okay, he thought, I just have to keep riding till I run into the others. Arien can make the fog go away.
But his heart stopped because why hadn't Arien already made the fog go away?
He turned once more, praying that he would see Hanna riding toward him, but there was nothing. Nothing but a looming shadow that was gradually moving closer. He began to panic, but then he heard Arien scream.