Hello again! Yes it's that time again. Update time! Thank you again for all the people who gave reviews and even to those you just read my stories. I'm just happy people enjoy it!
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Elanor awoke to the sound of someone calling her name. Elanor grabbed her cloak and rushed outside. It was near morning, the sun barely rising over the trees. Mannen, one of the younger rangers with hair so pale it was almost silver, was standing outside the tent waiting for her,
"Edains awake and asking for you." Mannen said. Elanor looked at the blue eyed ranger. His arm was bandaged and a large red scar ran along his neck. The man caught her gaze,
"Do not worry Elanor; it is worse than it appears." Elanor smiled at him and placed a hand on his arm before heading to Edains tent. Inside Elanor found Talin sat at his fathers' side and Edain propped up and smiling. She rushed forward and gently hugged the man being careful of his chest,
"I am so glad to see you awake"
"Not as glad as I am to see you two." His smile faded when he saw the tinted blue bruise on his adopted daughters face and the red lines that marred her cheek,
"A curse on those creatures," he muttered, reaching up and stroking her face,
Elanor gave him a brave smile,
"I am not badly injured father, and the wounds will fade with time"
Edain removed his hand a nodded, "Tell me," he asked, "How the rest have fared?"
Talin looked at Elanor then back at his father,
"We lost Rammel and Elego in the field. Ealing, Fayte and Arian were found slain among the bodies of orcs. The others were not badly injured."
Edain was silent, his face blank, deep in the memory of his fallen friends. A moments silence passed before Talin spoke,
"Why did they come?" he asked, angrily, throwing his hands in the air, "We had no warning and now five men are dead."
"I knew something was wrong," Edain said, "I should have seen it"
"You cannot blame yourself." Elanor said, "You could not have known what was to happen. None of us did." Edain shook his head,
"I have never seen orcs attack in such manner. Aragorn must be informed," he said, trying to sit forward only to be stopped by his sons' hand,
"You must rest father, I shall ride to Aragorn and inform him of what had happened."
"It will not be that easy" Edain said, ominously. Talin and Elanor looked at the man questionably, "Aragorn is no longer in Bree. He has travelled east to Rivendell." He explained,
"To the house of Elrond?" Talin asked, "Why has he gone to the elves?"
"It is not my place to explain but Aragorn must be warned. The attack of the orcs was no coincidence. I believe they were looking for something"
"Or someone." Elanor said, "Is it not strange that they attacked with such precision and so soon after Gandalfs visit? Aragorn has often said that his identity was hidden for a reason. Perhaps this was it."
"You think they came for him?" Talin asked. Elanor shrugged,
"I do not know but they will realise he is not among us and search further for him."
"Then I must make haste and follow the east-west road to Rivendell." Talin said, standing. Elanor rose and stopped him with his hand,
"I shall go, I am the faster rider"
Talin stopped and stared at her,
"You would go freely to the elves?" he asked concerned. He knew full well the contempt Elanor held for their kind,
"I will go for Aragorn. Do not fear brother, I shall hold my tongue."
"It is your sword I worry about" he muttered.
"That is why you will go with her" Edain said. He had been watching his children quarrel and decided to step in, "I shall hear no argument," he said, noting the disapproving look he gained from them both,
"Elanor, you are our fastest rider but I loathe sending you alone. Talin will go with you."
His voice left no room for dispute. The two looked at each other and nodded before leaving to gather their things. Edain leaned back against the bed stead and sighed. He did not know if sending his daughter to the elves was right. He did not know if she was ready to face what was waiting for her, in all honesty he was not sure that he wanted her to. What he wanted in his heart fought with what he thought in his head. He longed to keep her here as his daughter but he knew that one day she would have to know the truth. With a heavy heart he knew it was time to let her go.
Elanor hurriedly stuffed some spare clothes and blankets into her pack. She grabbed her cloak and quickly made her way out to where Talin was waiting. He was clad in the familiar green and brown of the rangers. The front of his blond hair was pulled back in small braids away from his face, showing off his handsome features and emerald green eyes. She often wondered why he had no wife yet despite all the women she had seen him with. She walked over to him and pulled on his braid playfully,
"What is with the decoration?" she teased. A slight blush spread across Talins face, but he said nothing, "Hoping to impress some young elvish maid?" she continued, a smile playing on her lips, "You realise they will all be older than you, much older."
Talin scowled and brushed away her hand,
"Hurry and get your horse ready," he said, "We have to leave soon and you don't even have your weapons."
"I lost my sword during the fighting" she explained, her face dropped and her eyes darkened.
"Then we shall find you another"
"There are none. I have my bow. It will suffice."
Talin shook his head, "You know you skill lies with a blade, and you do own a sword." Elanor looked up confused for a moment before realising what he was talking about,
"I cannot take it." She said bluntly.
"It is yours to take" he argued, "The journey is long and you shall need it" Elanor fell silent and her gaze turned to the trees,
"Wait for me here," she said. Talin stood and watched her walk from him.
Elanor walked briskly to the clearing. This place which was once peaceful and open had now become a mass grave. The bodies of her fallen friends lay underneath the five mounds on freshly dug earth and in the middle sat a small pile of grey stones, a sliver blade standing proudly behind it. Elanor walked over to the stones and knelt down before them. She lifted her hand and brushed away a few leaves that had fallen onto the pile.
She looked up at the sword, her eyes narrowed when she saw the elvish script. She wished with all her heart that it had been anywhere but Rivendell. She had forgotten that part of her or at least she had tried to. The pain her father caused her mother hurt Elanor deeper than she was willing to admit. The elves were fickle creatures, she thought. Do they think their immortality allows them to play with the life of men? Treat women's hearts as simply something to amuse them with?
Elanor looked down at the small grave and her thoughts returned once more to her mother. Even after these years she could still see her mothers smile and hear her voice. Often Elanor would wake from sleep and for a brief, magnificent moment, her mother was still alive but then the harsh truth would creep back into her head,
"Mother," she said to the stones, "I wish you were here to guide me."
The pebbles gave their silent reply and she looked to the grave beside her. Rammel lay a few feet under the earth. The memories of his death came back to her and she fought the tears. She placed a hand on the soft earth and said a silent prayer, hoping that, wherever he was, he was happy. Too many men had died that night. Elanor turned her gaze back to the silver hilt of the sword before her. The emerald eyes glinted back at her. Suddenly she realised how selfish her had been. She was too worried about confronting her past to face her responsibilities she now held. She raised a hand to her forehead and said another prayer for her mother and slowly stood up. Elanor reached out her hand and grasped the handle of the sword. With one swift movement she pulled the sword sharply from the ground and wiped the grubby blade on her cloak. With a final look, she sheathed the weapon and left to meet Talin.
Elanor found her brother waiting patiently, a white mare stood next to them, the same mare she had tried to take the first night she was brought here. Aragorn had taught Elanor to ride on her. He had named her Aeglos, meaning Snow-thorn, due to her awkward nature but when Elanor first rode upon the horse, she remained calm and gentle, much to Aragorns surprise.
Beside Talin stood his mount, a proud stallion, with a dark chestnut coat. The animal was given the name Thalion meaning 'steadfast.' Mainly of the animals owned by the rangers were given sindarian names, much to the annoyance of Elanor, for she had tried to get Aeglos to respond to another name but it had been in vain. The horse would answer to no other. She was indeed stubborn. Elanor smiled at the mare, just like her master she thought.
Elanor took Aeglos' reins from Talins hand, and turned when she heard Edain approached them both, leaning heavily on a staff. Mannen, Raef and the other surviving rangers
"You should not be out of bed," Elanor chided. Edain laughed and shook his head,
"I'm fine child."
"You need to rest!" She said, looking to Talin for support. He merely shrugged and looked away causing Elanor to sigh loudly,
"Very well but don't expect me to come running back when your stitches come undone."
Edain smiled briefly before regarding his two children, his face dropping to a more serious expression. Slowly and painfully he inched closer to Elanor,
"My child," he said, raising a hand to her cheek, "I have never thought of you as less than my own. In my heart you are my daughter. Ride fast and ride safe" Elanor clasped his rough hand in hers and looked at him through tear brimmed eyes. She smiled warmly down at the man who had become the father she had so desperately needed. Edain leaned closer to her, his voice merely a whisper,
"Whatever you discover, this will always be your home." Elanor looked at him, confused, unsure of what he meant,
"My son," he said, turning to the young man beside her, "Watch over you sister and make sure she comes to no harm." Edain placed a hand on each shoulder and regarded his son,
"You have grown into a fine man. I am proud of you, Talin"
Talin nodded and smiled at his father. Elanor embraced the other rangers, men that were her brothers. She looked to each of them; only eight remained, including herself, Aragorn and Talin. Many of the men lost had been older in years, but they had been fathers. They had families. With Aragorn gone, Edain was now the eldest surviving member. It was left to him and the younger rangers to protect what they had left. The pair gave a final farewell and swiftly mounted their horses. Elanor nudged Aeglos' side and softly clicked her tongue, urging the horse forward, away from her family.
Yay! Another long-ish chapter. Sorry for not updating recently but I've started writing another story based on Garth Nix's old kingdom story Lirael, so if you liked the book please check out my story, Frost Festival!