WASSUUUUP?! Hey guys. Here is the heavily re-awesome-ized chapter 4, with a ton more improvement! I hope you guys like it better than the earlier one! And sorry for the slow update, yeah? Schoolwork been piling up. On a completely unrelated note, I have just recently got myself addicted to Doctor Who, the 2005 reboot. It's fantastic, absolutely fantastic. As I was saying, totally unrelated.
So, enjoy the chapter, kay? And Sherlock fans, can you spot that tiny reference I squeezed in there?
Allons-y!On with the tale!
=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=
Arwen Evenstar
Arwen Evenstar was riding like a demon. Speed was of the essence. Frodo had already started to fade and there were Ringwraiths behind her. She was getting nearer to her destination now, the river was near. Soon she would be over the river and in her father's home. She risked a quick glance behind her, and realized the wraiths were closer than she thought. She cursed and whispered into her Asfaloth's ear, spurring him on. "Noro lim, Asfaloth! Noro lim!"
Close now…very close. Behind her a delirious Frodo gave a gasp. She whirled and saw that one of the wraiths was almost close enough to touch. She gave an involuntary scream and lashed out with her sword. The Ringwraith fell back, shrieking angrily. The fell noise resounded in her ears. She couldn't lose them, no matter how hard she tried. Only last night she had been sent out to find Estel and bring him back to Rivendell. She had never expected finding him with a dying Ringbearer. Her meeting with her loved one had to be cut short, as she did what she could for Frodo. She had slowed the fade, but if the wraiths had him, there would be no saving him. Her eyes desperately scanned ahead, looking for the river that marked the borders of the hidden valley. There! Some yards away, the river flowed swiftly. If only she could make it there in time.
Her horse was getting tired. She could feel it through how her horse breathed and its chest was heaving with exhaustion. She looked forward. The river was still a couple of yards ahead, and the Ringwraiths were gaining rapidly. She wasn't going to make it. Slowing slightly, she reached for her sword, Hadfahang. She whispered more words into her horse's ear, instructing it to make for her father's house and prepared to alight. The closest Ring wraith unsheathed its sword and reached forward…
…and shrieked in pain. Arwen gasped. There was a silver arrow protruding from the wraiths arm. Another arrow streaked past her ear and hit the wraith behind her. The wraith screamed as the arrow actually contacted with its body, wounding its essence. "Hey, look Nick! Dementors from your dad's realm!" A girl's voice called from the bushes. Arwen nearly fell off her horse in surprise. That voice sounded like a voice of a human girl! A youth! What was a girl doing here?
"Shut up and shoot, lightning bug!" A younger boy's voice retorted. Two more silver arrows streaked past her. The distance between Arwen and the wraiths started to lengthen. She could actually make it!
"Would you two stop bickering and focus? Annabeth, do you have any idea what they are?"Another voice commanded.
"I've no idea, Percy, but we've got to help that girl! On three?" A girl replied. Arwen almost felt insulted. The voice sounded hardly fifteen or sixteen winters old, and she was calling her a girl? She risked another glance backwards. The Ringwraiths were slowly catching up.
Suddenly from behind a thicket, four human youths charged out, but they were like no youths she had ever seen. The leader was a raven-haired boy with striking sea-green eyes. He looked no more than 16 winters, but he was wielding with deadly expertise a deadly-looking leaf-shaped sword that seemed to give off a slight glow. He was also carrying a shield made of the same material, which strange designs hammered onto the surface. Beside him was a girl who also looked 16, with golden hair and storm grey eyes. Instead of a sword, she carried a long knife and a shield. The girl behind her was even stranger, with a long spear that seemed to crackle with electricity and a shield with a most horrifying design. Even seen from a distance, it made Arwen want to turn and run. The girl had electric blue eyes and a really strange hairstyle. A silver tiara was on her head. The last figure was dressed all in black. He looked younger than the others, probably 14. He wielded a sword seemingly made from pure shadow, black as nightmare, and a shield woven from the same material. Together, despite their seeming youth, they made a formidable group.
As one, they charged the Ringwraiths. Arwen turned Asfaloth, torn between having to get Frodo to safety and protecting these children, but the leader turned to her. "Go! We've got this!" she nodded her thanks and continued riding.
Once in the river, she felt safe. She was in her father's territory now. She looked back and stopped temporarily, amazed at the display before her. The youths were actually managing to hold their own against the wraiths! She saw the boys brandishing their swords with surprising skill for their age, while the girls danced around the wraiths, distracting them. One of the girls suddenly spun around and thrust her spear towards one of the wraiths' horses, and a bright flash of lightning lanced through the horse's body, felling it. She fell back, looking winded, while the other girl snatched up the spear and held the wraiths back. Once they saw she was in the river, they fell back and charged for the water.
This time, it was Arwen's turn to cover them as she fired arrows towards the wraiths to allow the youths time to reach the river. Finally, the lead wraith walked up, his horse slain. Waves of anger and malevolence flowed off him. "You will pay for your insolence." It hissed.
"Children, get out of the water! I shall drive them away!" Arwen warned them. The four of them got out of the river on the other side, weapons still outstretched. Arwen smiled at the wraith, then concentrated and called upon the River Bruinen, commanding it. " Nin o Chithaeglir, lasto beth daer, Rimmo nin Bruinen, dan in Ulair! Nin o Chithaeglir, lasto beth daer, Rimmo nin Bruinen, dan in Ulair!(Waters of the Misty Mountains, Listen to my Word. Flow, waters of the Bruinen against the Ringwraiths!)"
The waters rose. The current grew swifter. From the mountains, waters flowed down. The waves grew stronger. The Ringwraiths started to look uncertain, but they stepped into the water. Arwen smiled. Suddenly, a huge wave sprang up from the source, rising, flowing straight for the wraiths.
A laugh sounded from behind her. "Hey Perce, looks like you have a half sister." The boy in black chortled.
The other boy mocked smacked him, then turned back into the river. A grin appeared on his face. "Well, this will be fun." He closed his eyes and made a thrusting motion with his hands. To Arwen's shock, the river responded to him. Two arms made of water rose up. The boy smiled and thrust out with his fist. A gigantic fist of water slammed into the wraith. Another wraith was grabbed from his horse and flung to the ground…hard. Grinning fiercely, he made a grabbing motion, and two watery arms grabbed two more wraiths, smashed their heads together, and slammed them on the ground. The last wraith, who had hung back for most of the battle, wisely decided to make a run for it, only to be zapped by a bolt of lightning from the black-haired girl's spear. To cap it off, he raised his arms again, creating a wave that swept the wraiths far far away. The four teenagers relaxed and slapped their hands together, laughing.
"You didn't have to do the lightning thing, lieutenant Pinecone, I would have got him," laughed the tallest boy.
"And let you get all the fun? Not a chance, Kelp Head." She retorted.
The black haired boy laughed. "You both did awesome, alright?"
The golden-haired girl chuckled. "Show-offs" she chided laughingly. The obvious friendship and closeness of these youths made her smile. This kind of bond could only have been forged by total trust, trusting each other with their lives.
She turned to them. "Thank you so much for helping me. For now, I must leave you. I have to bring this sick hobbit to my father. You are welcome to come with me though. You would be welcome."
They appeared to consider it, having a whispered discussion among themselves. Arwen suddenly realized that their weapons were nowhere to be seen, except for the golden-haired girl's knife and shield. She wondered where the weapons had disappeared to. Who were these people, and where had they come from? Finally, the leader turned to her, smiling. "We would be honored to."
Arwen nodded, smiling gratefully. "Follow me." She led them down a long winding passage through the hidden valley. Along the way, they had another round of whispered arguments/bickering, and then they were in the Rivendell. Arwen chuckled. She could almost hear the sound of four jaws hitting the floor at once. The sight of her home never failed to bring the same reaction to outsiders.
"Oh. My. Gods." The black haired girl breathed, summing up what she saw.
Arwen put a hand over her mouth to cover her smile. "Welcome to Rivendell."
"Oh my gods! Look at that architecture! It's lovely! Look Percy! Isn't it amazing how they incorporated all that nature into the building? Wow!" The golden haired girl gushed as she took in the buildings, then she took hold of the older boy and dragged him off to take a further look.
The remaining two snickered at the sight, then wandered off into the houses to take a look around. Arwen gave them directions into the house, then picked up Frodo and ran to her father, who was standing on a balcony, watching with slight bemusement as the girl dragged her friend all over the place, giving a commentary on every single feature of the elvish architecture."Father, I found them. However, the Ringbearer has been wounded with a Morgul blade. He needs your healing quickly."
Elrond took Frodo into his arms, rewarding her with a gentle smile. "Well done, my daughter. Now, you had best attend to those youths. I, of course, am waiting to hear your story." He carried Frodo off into the rooms of healing. "Now, why don't you take some rest. I will meet you at the dinner table later."
=o=o=o=o=o=o==o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o
Percy
Rivendell
Percy wondered if there was a glazed look in his eyes. There probably was. Annabeth was still pulling him around, chattering about the wonderful sweeping Gothic style arches, the amazingly delicate designs carved everywhere, the way nature and the buildings coexisted perfectly, bla bla bla. When he looked at Annabeth, he saw her lips moving constantly, but he couldn't seem to hear anything. He loved Annabeth to death, of course, so he put up with it, keeping a smile on his face and nodding and agreeing whenever she turned to him.
Among their explorations, they came across the waterfall. Annabeth was right. The way that nature was side by side with the buildings, each complementing each other, was simply marvelous. "it's beautiful." He murmured, putting his hand through the waterfall and feeling that familiar surge of energy.
Annabeth turned to him, faintly amused. "oh? I thought you didn't care about this stuff, Seaweed Brain. You were barely listening, I could tell."
Busted. Percy chuckled lightly, running a hand through his hair. "Doesn't mean I can't appreciate it." Annabeth smiled back at him, putting her hand in his. For a moment, everything was peaceful as they took in the valley.
"OI! Kelp Head! Annie! You coming in or not?!" Thalia yelled from the balcony of the main hall. "We're going to start dinner without you!" Percy and Annabeth rolled their eyes simultaneously, then ran for the building.
=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=
They had dinner in a courtyard, lounging around a table piled up with fruits, vegetables, and bread, but no meat, to all but Annabeth's dismay. Around them, some women were playing instruments. Percy thought he saw a lyre and a flute, but the others were unidentifiable. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Nico trying to sneak a sip out of a goblet of wine, only to have Thalia smack his arm. Nico pulled a face, and went for water instead.
The food tasted okay and not that different from home, except that everything seemed a lot fresher and more delicious in this world. The fruits were juicy, and the bread was still hot from the oven. There was also a thick broth of vegetables that tasted quite good. There were even some blueberries, which Percy surreptitiously squeezed over a piece of bread, staining it blue. Only Annabeth noticed, but she kept it quiet. Around the table were also several other people eating, but they mostly kept to themselves, talking quietly in musical tones.
Percy didn't know what to think of the people here. They were…different. They seemed taller, more refined and more graceful than normal people, moving with the sort of grace he associated with nymphs or something. Their faces were unlined, but that didn't fool Percy much. Their eyes gave their age away. Some kind of immortals, maybe? He decided they reminded him of the nymphs from Camp Half Blood the most, with their love of nature and their gracefulness. The woman they had helped earlier was sitting with her father at the head of the table, some ways off.
Munching idly on an apple, he turned to check on the rest of his team. Thalia held up a piece of celery and glared at it, then chewed it down slowly, muttering something under her breath that caused Nico to burst into snickers. Probably some comment about not liking green food. Nico was eating a fruit salad piece by piece, extremely slowly. Annabeth had already finished her food and had her laptop on her knees, using its programs to recreate a rough rendering of the architecture around them.
"Psst. Kelp Head. What say you we go hunt some rabbits and stew them later?" Thalia questioned, stringing her huntress bow. "I'm not a vegetarian."
Percy was about to answer when the woman gave a low laugh. "Is the food not to your liking, huntress?"
Thalia started and tried to stow away her bow, her face growing an interesting shade of red. "Uh…No! I mean…Yes! Uh…wait, how did you hear that?"
The lady laughed again. "I'm sorry if I'm intruding, but I could not help overhearing your conversation." Her face grew sober, as she stood up and walked over to them. "At the river…what you did, it bought me the time I needed to get Frodo to safety and healing. Without you, I think I would not have made it in time. I had not the time to thank you properly just now, so…Thank you." She curtseyed. "I am in your debt."
Annabeth gave a sharp, low gasp and nudged Percy, gesturing subtly to her ears. Percy's eyes widened as well. When the lady had bowed, her hair had shifted, revealing long pointed ears.
"Indeed." The leader of the elves, a tall, noble-looking…person with a silver circlet on his head agreed. His face looked really young, but his eyes were old, much older than some of the other people here. He gave off an aura of command and respect. "Thank you for lending your aid in our time of need. Dark times are upon us, it is true, but it gives us much hope that there are still people untainted by the darkness, who's first instinct is to help others."
"I…I'm sorry." Annabeth asked hesitantly. "But…What are you? Are you a race of nature spirits? I have never heard of you before."
The man looked surprised and confused. He frowned slightly. "You have never heard of the Firstborn? That is impossible! It is true that we are secluded now, but surely men still sing of Gil Galad and Elendil! Surely we have not been forgotten!"
"Well, we aren't exactly from these parts of the land." Percy explained. Annabeth shot him a grateful look.
The lady touched her pointed ears. "I should have thought it obvious. I am an elf."
The four demigods exchanged a utterly shocked look.
The lady continued. "My name is Arwen Evenstar, and this is my father Lord Elrond of Rivendell. And now, may I know the names of my helpers?"
Percy turned to his team, and they had a quick discussion using only their eyes. Eventually, he nodded and turned back to Arwen. "My name is Perseus Jackson."
Annabeth curtseyed slightly. "Annabeth Chase."
"Nico Di Angelo."
"Thalia." Annabeth and Percy turned to her questioningly. Thalia struggled with something, then sighed. "Grace. Thalia Grace."
"Interesting names indeed." Elrond commented. "may I ask what are you? My daughter has told me of the most amazing feats. Of summoning lightning and harnessing the River Bruinen."
Percy hesitated, wondering exactly what to say. Fortunately, Arwen made it easy for them. "Are you wizards?"
"Yes! We are. Wizards." Percy agreed, then turned to Annabeth, mouthing incredulously 'there are wizards here?'
"Oh?" Elrond frowned. "Arwen, it is impossible. There are only five Istari, as you know. Gandalf, Radagast, Saruman, Alatar and Pallando. These four youths cannot possibly be them." Uh oh…
"Well…" Thalia spoke up. "Like Kelp Head just said, we're not from around here."
"And how came you to Middle Earth? Did the Valar send you to aid us?" Elrond questioned.
"Um…well…we got…lost?" Percy answered, lamely. "Truth is, we don't know exactly where we are." Beside him, he felt a red hot glare burn his side and he quailed slightly. Funny how he could face Kronos with no hesitation and charge at monsters without fear, but one hint of disapproval from Annabeth could make him want to dig his own grave.
Arwen now looked more confused than ever. "That certainly explains your curious dress, but how do four powerful wizards get themselves lost?"
"Not our fault" Nico piped up. "We were following Percy." Percy glared at him. Gee thanks, Nick. Real supportive of you.
Elrond still looked skeptical, but he relented. "I see. you have your own secrets to keep. I shall not intrude, then. But if you need to speak to us, I am always ready to listen." He smiled. "You are welcome to all of Rivendell, from the library to the courtyards. No place is prohibited, save perhaps the bedchambers. Rivendell is a place of peace and learning, and I hope you will have a peaceful stay." So saying, he walked off.
Arwen looked at them and gave them an uncertain smile. "Shall I direct you to your bedchambers for the night? I can arrange two private rooms for both couples, or would you prefer a communal room?"
Percy and Annabeth immediately flushed red and yelled "Communal!", echoed only seconds later by Thalia and Nico, who were blushing a similar shade of crimson and determinedly not looking at each other.
Arwen laughed for the first time. "Calm down, I was only jesting. Come, I will take you to your rooms."
They were taken to a huge room with four beds, with a huge window at the east and a balcony. The whole room was decorated with carved marble vines and flowers. Thalia laughed. "Looks like the Zeus cabin crossed with the Demeter cabin." Annabeth ran to the balcony and checked out the amazing view. Nico just crashed onto the bed.
"The washroom is through that passage," Arwen pointed, "and the dining hall, should you get hungry, is through that one. Breakfast is served each morning from the seventh hour to the eighth. An elf will come to wake you if you are not already awake. Is there anything else? No? Then I bid you good night. Lostho Ve, Mellon Nin." (Sleep Well, my friend) She glided out of the room.
They climbed into their soft beds, and Percy fell instantly asleep. That's not to say he didn't dream…
"How are you settling in, Perseus?"
He was in the most beautiful garden he had ever seen in his life. The garden wandered around freely, with courtyards and fountains. The garden was full of labyrinths and mazes, but they were full of life. Deep blue pools were overshadowed by great yew, cedar and cypress trees. The scent of pines and nightflowers were in the air. Stars hung over the sky, lighting everything in a silver glow. Soft singing filled the air. As Percy gazed about in wonder, a figure appeared before him, robed in green and white.
"Where am I? Did you bring me here?"
The man smiled. "You are in the Gardens of Lorien. And no, you seem to have found the way through the Olore Malle yourself. That is a rare feat indeed."
"The what?"
The man chuckled. "The Olore Malle , or the Path of Dreams, is a path I created when Valinor left Middle Earth, a pathway where Men and Elves loyal to the Valar can come and enjoy the peacefulness of the Gardens of Lorien. I think you are to be congratulated. Few Men have ever managed to find the Gardens of Lorien unaided."
"Uh, thanks, I guess. Who are you?"
The man smiled."My name is Irmo, more commonly known as Lorien. I am the Master of Dreams and Visions. It was my voice that you heard when I opened the doorways between the worlds."
Percy nodded."Yeah, I thought you sounded familiar. Are you here to explain?"
Lorien swept his hands, and suddenly Percy found himself in a black land. Literally black. Jagged black rocks jutted out randomly, the ground was riddled with cracks. The air stunk of something foul. It was a place of death. Percy looked up, then, and saw a mighty black fortress, one of the biggest he had ever seen, constructed entirely of dark stones. A tower jutted out, imposed over the horizon. A tall tower, and upon it was one of the most horrifying sights Percy had ever seen before, next to Kronos and his coffin. An eye, a fiery eye blazed between two points on the top of the tower. It's evil gaze swept over the land.
"WHAT IN THE NAME OF TARTARUS IS THAT?!"Percy hissed.
Lorien looked grave. "That is the enemy of Middle Earth. Sauron, the Lord of the Rings. We thought him defeated many years ago, but he has risen again to threaten Middle Earth. That is why you are here."
"You want us to defeat that thing?"
"No. Once, long ago, while Sauron still had a body, you perhaps could have done it. But Sauron is now a spirit, a wraith. His life force is bound to this earth by one thing. A Ring. If that is destroyed, then Sauron will be destroyed also."
"So that is why we're here? to destroy a ring?"Percy almost laughed.
"Yes. But it will not be easy, Perseus. This is a Ring of Power, forged by Sauron himself in the fires of Orodruin." Suddenly Percy and Lorien were standing beside a gigantic volcano. Lorien led him inside into a long platform jutting over a lake of lava. "Also known as Mount Doom in your tongue."
Percy felt his stomach dropping with dread. "Oh gods, don't tell me…"
"Unfortunately, it is so. The Ring can only be destroyed in the place that it was forged. It will not be easy."
Percy gave a short bark of laughter."You're telling me."
Lorien gazed at him seriously. "Percy, I am here to offer you a choice. When you first stepped into this world with your friends, you had no idea of what you were getting into. Now that you know, are you still willing to help us?"
"Why?"
"The Valar are not monsters, Percy. We do not interfere in the workings of Middle Earth, and we never force people to do things that they refuse to do. All we can do is put the elements together and give a nudge, hoping for the best. If you cannot, we will not force you. I can open the doorways again, and you can return."
Percy looked down into the lake of lava, then back out, seeing the black land and the tower in the distance. He took a deep breath."No."
"No?"
"You heard me. I'm not abandoning this place. I will do whatever I must to help this place."
Lorien looked surprised, even impressed. "Morpheus and Hypnos spoke truly. Loyalty is your mightiest attribute. Thank you, Perseus."
Percy nodded slightly."yeah, sure. So what am I supposed to do? What are we supposed to do?"
"Join the fellowship. That is all I can tell you for now. Join the fellowship. You will understand when the time comes."
Everything faded.
=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=
Please leave a review! Please! they encourage me more than you can imagine.
PJCrazy signing out