Well Here is Chapter 2. Sorry it took so long, but I had family over so I spent some time with them!
PLEASE review and email me if you have any comments, questions, or suggestions. Please suggest to anyone who you would think would enjoy the story.
Chapter 2 Questions
After sitting quietly by myself for a few moments, I got up and walked over to where Haldir was waiting.
"Haldir, do you think I could speak to Lady Galadriel? I have some questions I would like to ask her," I asked him.
With a nod he said, "Yes Storm. She was expecting that you would have some questions for her. Follow me."
He led me out of the room and led me up a path that was among the trees. My guard, Bear, and Ping surrounded us and followed. Finally we got to a small chamber with two comfortable looking arm chairs and a small fireplace. Lady Galadriel was sitting in one of them and waiting for me. I sat down in the vacant chair with Ping on my shoulder and Bear lying at my feet. He was so large that with him lying down his back reached my knees. The elf smiled, as Haldir and the guards gently shit the door, leaving me and Galadriel free to talk, with no worry of eavesdroppers.
"You read the letter then? I am sure you have some questions for me," she said in her sing-song voice.
"Yes, Lady Galadriel. You are really my Godmother?"
"You can just call me Galadriel. Yes, dear one, I am. Your father and I were great friends, ever since the first age. I was also good friends with your mother and her kin. She was a skin-changer like you are, but she could only change to a great black bear like her ancestor Beorn. Have you ever changed into a bear? I know you prefer a white tiger and wolf."
"No, I have never taken that form. I assumed it would be a painful transformation. Anything other than a tiger or wolf usually causes me varying amounts of pain depending on the size of the animal."
"You should try sometime a bear form sometime. You may find that it does not."
I pondered this, and decided I had nothing to lose. I had heard of Beorn, but I had no idea that I was his descendant. While I was pondering what had just learned, Galadriel stood up, opened the door, and mentioned something to one of the elves outside. A few minutes later she opened the door wider and two elves carried a beautiful dark oak chest inlaid with blue and silver into the room. They placed it in front of me and headed back out, while Galadriel sat back down.
"Storm, when we found your parent's slain remains I found the letter that your father wrote you. We also found this chest. We have never opened it, as your father requested in a note to me that it remained sealed until you were with us once again."
I looked at the beautiful chest. On further inspection, I noticed different animals carved into the side and filled with some sort of bluish metal and silver. My mark, that was on my right shoulder and that my animals bore, was on the front, the head of a tiger above it. I could see no way to open the chest, so on a whim I ran my finger over the mark. It glowed blue and I heard clicking as it was unlocked. I then opened it. Before I looked at the contents I read the note that was lying on top.
Storm,
I have made this chest for you. It is magicked so that only you or those you give permission to can open it. The bluish metal was given to me by the Valar as a gift from Eru Ilúvatar for you. It is what is inlaid into this chest, along with mithril, and what the weapons inside are made of. No metal in Middle Earth is equal to it. It will never grow dull or need sharpened. No one but you or those you give permission to will be able to handle your weapons. They will kill evil. I left so much room in your chest so you can place things special to you and items you wish to keep safe in. Nothing on this earth can harm it.
I also forged armor for your wolves, mink, hawk, and horse. They are not in the chest, but are magicked to form on the animal's body in times of need. They have only to think of it for it to happen; however it costs energy to make it appear, but not to disappear. Falco can bring your armor and weapons to you, but you cannot make yours appear on your body. You can make it disappear; this is especially useful in battle when you need to shift. You should know that your armor and battle gear will change size when you shift to certain animals, but only certain animals. Your tiger form, panther form, and human form are the only forms that the weapons will respond too. Your armor will respond to more than that. The way of the weapon should come easy to you, but let the elves help train you.
With Love,
You're Father
I put the note aside next to the letter I had been given. The chest was not completely full, as the note said. I pulled out a package, and opened the paper. The first thing was a beautiful blue cloak.
"Storm, the cloak will shield you from enemy eyes and keep you warm or cool, depending on the weather," said Galadriel, "it is a gift from me on the day you were born."
I folded it and set it aside. Next I pulled out a mithril shirt with a leather jerkin. There was also some light grieves and light gauntlets, complete with beautiful inlays on the bluish metal and different engravings. Both were open so that I could use my claws in battle. Next was a beautiful bow and a quiver complete with arrows. The bow and quiver also were inlaid with different designs.
Further investigations of the contents included a sword belt with a cross holder made of blue leather that would sit over my chest and slip if I was running on all fours. The belt had three daggers on the back. One was larger than the other two, perfect for throwing and each had their own sheaths. Two swords, one larger than the other, as well as chest daggers were also there. The sheaths were blue leather with silver ascents. I pulled each one out. They were well balanced and very, very sharp. With encouragement from Galadriel, I put the armor and weapons on. It felt right, and I admired the dangerous beauty of the weapons.
The last things I pulled from the chest were two long daggers, almost short swords, on their own belt of blue leather.
"These daggers, I believe, were smithed by your father so that you can wear it with your battle weapons or on their own, when appropriate. One goes around your waste, the other around your chest. The cloak can also be worn with them. Your longer sword can also be worn on occasions," supplied Galadriel.
Carefully, I put everything back into the chest, except for the two daggers. Galadriel said that I could wear them and use them if I had to. I believe she was worried about Stonn, and I kind of was too.
We talked a little longer and then she excused herself. Haldir, my guards, Bear, Ping, and I headed back to my quarters. Two elves carried my chest. Galadriel said that in great need, the chest would appear, but it would cost me enough energy to make me weak.
Once I got into my room, Haldir had again assumed his position as well as the guards taking their outside, I told the elves where to put the chest and I sat down. I didn't sit long before Haldir was relieved my Glorfindel and Legolas and Tauriel entered, bringing food with them. I assumed the guards outside had also been relieved.
I took the food. It was some sort of stew, some bread, and some honey mead. It was very good.
"Would you like to come outside in the courtyard?" asked Legolas, "My father was wondering if you would like to join us. He would like to meet you."
"Sure," I said. I was on a role, so I might as well keep rolling.
Well, there you have it. PLEASE review and email me if you have any comments, questions, or suggestions. Please suggest to anyone who you would think would enjoy the story.
Here is an idea I have. Would any of you like to know more about the characters that I have created? Let me know what you think!