Chapter 25
"What game are you playing at?" Elladan demanded as he stormed into her tent, startling her from where she sat on the cot, rummaging through her clothes.
"What are you talking about?" She questioned, confused by the anger she saw in her brother's eyes. A small course of fear rose in her stomach. Other than her arrival at the battle, Elladan and Elrohir had never been angry towards her, and what she saw reflected in his eyes now put that anger to shame. Evelyn stood to match him.
"You push me away, will not let me help you in your grief, yet you accept the presence of the Prince of Mirkwood with no qualms, after all the pain and suffering he put you through!" He exclaimed inches from her face. Evelyn flinched away, but his grip on her arm prevented her from fleeing.
"I only meant to offer him comfort, he just lost his friend!" Evelyn defended herself, struggling to pull her arm free.
"And so have I!" He seethed. "You let your feelings cloud your judgement. This is why women do not belong on the battlefield."
Opening and closing her mouth, she had no reply to offer. She stared at him helplessly. It was true, she had not thought about the loses he had faced, elves had died today along with the men of Gondor, many, if not all, he would have known. Not once did such a thought cross her mind. How could she have been so blinded?
"I am sorry, Elladan, please forgive me brother." Evelyn pleaded, tears building in her eyes.
"Am I your brother?" He seethed, dropping her arm with enough force to cause her to stagger backwards. Turning from her, he stormed out of the tent, leaving her alone and speechless. Cupping a hand to her mouth, she stifled a sob, collapsing to the ground.
Strong arms caught her before she hit the hard ground. "Shh, do not cry. Do not let our brother's words pain you. He is hurting, and has never been one to handle the emotion well." Elrohir's voiced soothed her as her stroked her hair. Evelyn sniffled.
"He was correct though, I never thought of the grief you must be feeling, many elves were lost today."
"And Elladan did not think of the loss you faced when Lord Beriadan passed."
Evelyn looked into his grey eyes, "I do not understand why I angered him so."
"He remembers well the pain you suffered from whatever discord occurred between you and Legolas, much more than I. He fears you traveling down the same path again."
"That is not something I plan to do."
"Good, now dry those tears, we have preparations to make."
…
After many hours of tossing and turning, Evelyn was finally able to drift off into a fitful sleep. She dreamed of Ireland, of her parents. She dreamed of how things used to be and what they could have been. She was standing in her old horse pasture, the green rolling hills of Ireland stretching before her, she closed her eyes and listened to the old familiar sounds of the birds and the wind rushing through the grass. The sweet smell of the spring flowers wafted through the air, filling her nose, she could not help but smile.
Then the breeze changed, it was no longer the cool brisk breeze of her homeland, it was warm and humid, birds chirped, but they were different, not the sparrows and wrens singing only moment before. Opening her eyes, she realized she was back in Middle Earth, near the secret entrance to Rivendell. The tall wheat grass whistled in the breeze, the sparse trees swayed gently to and fro. She turned around, no quite sure how she got here, then suddenly Evelyn was pulled away, the landscape disappearing in a swirl of blackness as a new landscape developed and she looked onto the rolling plains or Rohan, Edoras sitting hill upon the hill overlooking the country. She saw Gondor, Dale, Erebor, what she thought had to be Mirkwood and then time seemed to stand still.
Spinning, she looked about in confusion. The ground crunched beneath her feet, she looked down. The earth was black and barren, the vegetation burned and charred, trees laid upon the ground scorched and broken. Remnants of a village littered the hills around, chimneys and random walls still stood among the rubble of what used to be someone's home. Screeching filled her ears, Evelyn jumped, turning to face the sound. Orcs and Uruk-hai marched across the plain, laughing and bantering in their harsh guttural language.
"My Lord," one spoke, spit shooting from his mouth and from between his teeth, "The West is yours."
Evelyn turned, looking for whom the Uruk spoke. She saw the figure in the distance, his features she was unable to make out, a haze of smoke billowed around him, obscuring her vision. She did not need to see more to know who he was, the fire at his feet and the destruction around her told her enough. The man's face lifted, eyes locking on her, their bright flames clear through the smoke. He knew she was there, he could see her just as she could see him.
"I have waited a long time for this day. This is the land I have created for us." His voice was soft, lyrical, as he spoke to her, spreading his arms wide, gesturing to the ruined land. "We can rule together, you and I. Together, no one can stop us."
"I would rather die." She spat, hatred filling her heart and fear creeping up her spine.
He sneered, Evelyn could not see it, but she felt it, "To stand against me, is to die." His voice no longer inviting, it was deep, haunting, and full of evil.
"So be it." She went to attack, the power already building within her, when suddenly she was pushed out of the dream, slamming back into reality, gasping for breath. Evelyn clutched her head against the pain coursing through it. The dream was not a good portent she feared, though she did not have long to dwell on it as the alarm horns rang out. The enemy was here.
…
Scrambling to her feet, Evelyn pushed thoughts of the dream away. Quickly she tucked her undershirt into her breeches and pulled on her vest and tunic. Her boots came next, her fingers fumbling with the laces. She stopped a starred at her armor. "Damn."
"Hurry and put it on, I will lace you up." Lindir called from the tent flap, causing Evelyn to let out another curse damning the quietness of elves, but she did as instructed. In no time, she was ready, braiding her hair as she ran towards Granat and the other horses.
Aragorn arrived with Legolas and the others as Lindir helped her on the stallion's back. "The enemy marches on us from the south, a great host. Riders of Gondor, Elves of Rivendell, my kin. We stand here together on the edge of battle, to fight for our freedom and that of our family, for the freedom of our world. There may be a day when our courage fails, but it is not this day. This day we fight! My brothers!"
The war cry went up around them after his address, the horses whinnying and rearing from the adrenaline surging through their riders. Evelyn pushed Granat after their king, keeping in line with Lindir and Elrohir. Neither Elladan nor Legolas had acknowledged her since their last meeting and she deemed she would not be the first to speak after the events of that day, even with the battle looming above them.
It did not take long for the drums to reach their ears, nor the marching cries of the enemy. As they crested the next hill, the enemy stood before them—hordes of orcs and uruks on wargs, and Haradrim with their mûmakil. Her heart sank at the sheer numbers that they faced, she could clearly see they were outnumbered. There was no time to gather thoughts and prepare a battle strategy, as soon as the enemy spotted them, they charged, leaving them no other option but to gallop full on and meet them. Evelyn knew what she must do and focused on finding the fire wielder. Their only hope would be to stop him.
Evelyn fought through the enemy, ever vigilant for the magical fire, but she had seen no signs of their leader, only his monstrous army. She used her ice as a blade across Granat's chest, so that it cut through the enemy as he ploughed them down, black blood covered the white stallions front as well as her own. The blood was warm as she felt it streak across her face and down her neck.
A shock wave hit her, the force of it stealing her breath. Then the sound reached her, a tremendous roar. From her right a bright blazing ball of fire rose in the air. She understood then what it was…a bomb. By the time the force hit her, there was nothing she could do to prepare for the blast. Evelyn heard Granat scream, her own lost in her throat as she was thrown from his back and tossed several feet away. Hitting the ground, she blacked out momentarily. She opened her eyes carefully, hearing her name echoing from a great distance. Only, however, the sound came from Legolas who was crouched over her, yelling her name. Her ears ringing from the blast, causing transient deafness. Slowly, the world quit spinning and she could understand the words the elf was yelling at her.
"Yes, yes, I'm alright." She spoke, reaching to sit up, and Legolas pulled her to her feet, giving her a quick once over, to make sure she spoke true. Looking past his shoulder, Evelyn quickly yanked him to the side, sending a flash of ice into an oncoming orc ready to skewer them both. As he hit the ground, a smoking black ball rolled from his hand. A bomb. Realizing what it was, Legolas pulled her after him, slinging her to the ground when he felt the shock wave, covering her body with his own. The explosion covered them both with stinging embers, debris, and various other body parts that she did not want to contemplate now.
Evelyn felt the warmth rising through her body from his being pressed to hers, and it had nothing to do with the heat of the fires now spreading across the ground. She gulped, forcing her mind back to the battle at hand. Wiggling, she was able to move herself from under his torso, and give him a breathless thank you, but she could not meet his eyes.
"I need to find the source of the fire, or we have no chance of winning this battle, can you cover me?" She asked making herself gaze into his blue eyes as he knelt beside her. Legolas watched her closely for what seemed many long seconds. Evelyn knew he was debating internally over his decision, but finally he nodded as a voice spoke over them, "Aye, you will have cover."
It was Elladan, looking none too pleased, with Lindir and Elrohir close behind. Lord Glorfindel and Celeborn were not far away. Evelyn sighed, this was not the time for a testosterone battle.
"Good." Was all she said as she bounded to her feet and rushed away, leaving them no choice but to watch her back.
She quickly spotted another bomb sailing from the air. There was no way for her to know if her ice could entrap it, but she had to try. Stopping where she was, she sent forth the magic, visualizing the ice encircling the fire, extinguishing it. The fuse hit the iron. Evelyn focused all her energy on trapping the fire. Jerking with the force of the explosion, she noticed, no one else felt the force, it had worked! But she saw the magic still in the air, angry, a mix of ice and fire, she could not control it for much longer. The Mûmakil in the distance caught her eye, giving her an idea, forcing the ball away from her she sent it straight for the giant beast, hitting two. They instantly went up in flames before freezing in place. Evelyn staggered from the drain.
"Nice work, sister. How did you know that would work?" Elrohir asked, slapping her on the shoulder.
"I didn't." she replied, cutting him a glance.
"Comforting."
She could not help but snort in response. And so, they all worked together, the ellons protecting her as she worked to find the grenades, destroying them before they could hit their forces and sending them back into the enemy. The tides began turning in their directions, the orcs and Haradrim, fleeing as she came near them, only the uruks stood their ground, but they too fell to the swords of her comrades. Then a searing pain shot up Evelyn's arm and she gave a startled scream as she flew across the ground. Quickly she extinguished the flames encasing her arm, but not before they left her arm blistered and raw. Finally, he had come.
"I have been waiting for you for a long-time daughter." It was the sweet melodious voice of her dream, a voice she knew and recognized all too well.
Evelyn looked up into the fiery eyes burning into her own, red hair framing a handsomely pale and angular face that had not age a day since she last laid eyes upon it. The pain and shock that course through her, rendered her frozen. A part of her had known since the dreams began who the figure on the hills had been, she had prepared herself for this, but it did little good. She had known who the new leader the evil of Middle Earth followed. However, that did not ease the pain and fear she felt at facing him after almost sixty years. Pushing against the ground she lifted herself to her feet, dusting herself off, icy eyes, never leaving his.
"Father."
Ignoring the respective gasps from those closest, she stood tall and proud before the man that raised her and then left her.
"Have you rethought our previous discussion?" He questioned, circling her like a cat cornering its prey. Her friends shot each other questioning glances as the battle around them ceased, all eyes focused on the spectacle before them. Evelyn repressed a shiver.
"That was only a dream."
"A dream of my creation. Just for you my darling." He ran his fingers across her cheek and down her braid. Her skin burning where he touched, she did not move.
"No." She stated, though it was no more than a whisper. Fear bubbled in her heart. She had loved him once, a part of her still did love the father he had been. Would she have the strength to stand against him?
"No?" He questioned, stopping behind her.
What choice did she have? Joining with him would only bring death and destruction to Middle Earth. This beautiful place would suffer and perish, everything green would burn. Orcs and Uruk-hai would pillage, burn, rape, and kill all the good people left in the world. Closing her eyes, she pictured the peaceful halls of Rivendell burning, the elves lying dead, staining the white stone with tides of red. She saw the hobbit's shire in ruins, she saw them in chains, watched as they were whipped and tortured. The innocent children starred at her through lifeless eyes. Giant spiders took over the great caverns of Mirkwood, their webs reaching far to the east and south. Elves, dwarves, and mortals alike dangled from their traps, petrified until they were next in line for dinner. Her brothers, Aragorn, Arwen…Legolas. Oh Valar, Legolas. They dangled from the highest precipice of Gondor, their heads on spikes welcoming all into the city. Evelyn opened her eyes that glowed with her hatred and rising power, she turned to face her father, who took an involuntary step back seeing her eyes as the ice crept over her face and down her arms.
"As I told you before, I shall tell you again. I would rather die."
"So be it."
He never got the chance to attack, Evelyn anticipating him and power already coursing through her veins sent enough energy to send him flying and into the gathered orcs behind him. Though he recovered quickly, shooting bolts of fire at her chest, which she barely had time to dodge. The heat still burned her face. And so they danced, for longer than Evelyn could guess. Each dodging blows and blasting the other in turn, becoming more and more sloppy as the time wore on. Then Evelyn stumbled, a bolt of fire catching her in the shoulder, she screamed in agony. By the time she struggled to her knees, her father was already towering over her, a sword of flames at her throat. She heard the cries of Legolas and her brother's simultaneously, and watched as the others held them back their faces unreadable. Elladan and Legolas broke through, racing towards her, but she raised a wall of ice they could not cross. She would not let them die to save her. But she had no intention to die today.
"What happened to you?" She asked, voice broken and dejected, looking for any emotion in those red eyes. She found none. What she saw was an endless void of evil and malice and the greed for power.
"I will show you."
Instantly her mind exploded in pain images and visions filled her head of her father's last sixty years, his path unfolding in her mind. She gasped, falling back to the ground, coughing as the dirt filled her mouth and nose, her eyes burning.
"Hence you see now the glory I have found, the power. Surely you see why you must join me, together—father and daughter, we can rule Middle Earth!"
Looking at the ground she answered meekly, "I see now father, exactly what I must do." He smiled triumphantly, reaching down for her hand, but not before he reeled back in alarm, the spears of ice piercing his shoulder and abdomen. He faltered, staggering to his knees, his screech ripping through the still air. His fire worked to melt the ice protruding from his flesh as he fled back to his army, uttering harsh commands in the language of Mordor. In a flurry they fled, dragging their master with them. Evelyn's ice wall fell, soaking the ground and those closest as she collapsed on the ground, her eyes focused on the hazy sky.
She saw a mix of blonde and black hair dangling in her face, worried grey eyes and distraught blue ones boring into her own, each trying to get her attention and get her up.
"Stop." She said quietly, and both ellon instantly obeyed. "If you keep this up you will break me in half." She scolded, her humor lost on them as they frowned at her. Evelyn sighed, she did not even have the energy to lose it, though she truly wished to. She wanted nothing better than to run far away and let herself fall apart. "I just need a moment."
"Your energy will not return that quick and you know it." Elladan retorted, pulling her up despite her protest, catching her under the arm as Elrohir caught the other, pushing an angered Legolas to the side. Evelyn caught his eye.
"Legolas." She called, forcing his stare away from the twins, "Find Granat, find my horse."
They led her away, towards camp. As exhausted as she was she did not miss the soldiers parting as they approached, giving her a wide birth. Many of the stares she received were not friendly. The men feared her and her power, the years living in Gondor had done little to alleviate it, though they formed an uneasy tolerance that was now broken. To them she was now as much a threat as her father and his armies. What worried her more was how her family took the news. Those closest to her seemed unfazed, but she had not missed the unreadable faces of Lindir, Glorfindel, Celeborn, and some of the other elves. She sighed and watched the ground pass under her feet as she struggled to walk with the support of Elladan and Elrohir. She hardly noticed as they placed her in a tent nor as they stood guard at the opening. Evelyn drifted off into a healing sleep.