On Eagles Wings
Adriana had hardly walked five paces before a hand reached out from a nearby room and pulled her in and slammed the door. Arms wrapped around her and Lia cried quietly into her shoulder. Adria very confused, hugged her hesitantly back and gently patted her on the back whispering soothing words. Finally she grabbed Lia's shoulders and pulled her back to look at her face to face.
Liawing's eyes were bright with unshed tears and the moonlight coming through the window lit sparkling tracks down her cheeks where many tears had already fallen. "Lia, what's wrong?"
She turned away and walked towards the window her hands clasped to her forearms and laid them across at her stomach. She looked out for awhile before she turned and faced Adriana. "I'm sorry, Adriana. I knew about it, I knew about it all…and I didn't tell you. I should have and then you wouldn't think that you had to go off and save the world." Lia chuckled, the sound watery but smiled and continued her speech, "You always think that."
Adriana joined her sister at the window and looked down, "Lia hush, you don't know what you're saying. We've known for a long time that I was adopted." Adriana grabbed a strand of her midnight black hair and held it up to her sister's eyes, "I look different from everyone here…even the way I do things is different. Saving the world and all the constant training you know." She tried to smile at the joke but failed miserably. She continued determined to make her sister understand.
"You know how a couple of years ago you came to me and said that you were tired with the court life and just wanted to be free?" Lia nodded slightly, "Well, that has always been me. It seems like my feelings, my mind, even my soul has always been swirling around darting from one emotion to the next. Tonight I got some answers and even an adventure. You know that's what I wanted more than anything…tonight my soul stopped moving and was still. The peace that overcame me…even if I died tomorrow I would remember that moment forever. I want to do this don't you understand? Not need to, not have to, I want to."
Lia watched her quietly for a few moments but then sighed and hugged her one last time. Producing a wrapped package she handed it to Adriana, "Here, I made you something in Rivendell with the help of Arwen. Our love is in it and our hopes that you will never fail…or fall. We call it Skye's Tear and it's the only one of its make. It's yours. It will give you hope when everything and everyone else appears to have abandoned you."
Adriana opened the package and then the small satin bag, tipping the contents into her hand before gently placing the bag on a nearby table. In her hand glistening on a long silver chain was a blue teardrop of seemingly unknown stone. Its surface was clear but if you looked down deep into the stone all the blues seem to shift and shimmer. Silver coated the bottom lending star shine and strength to the piece. Adriana traced trembling fingers over it wonderingly, "It's beautiful. Thank you so much sister."
Liawing nodded slightly and took it from her grasp. Moving around her she gently fastened the catch and walked back around, a bag in her hand. She gently handed it to Adriana, "You deserve it, and I packed everything that you will need. Your weapons are on that table and that dagger-like knife is yours also from father. He meant to give it to you for your birthday but I'm afraid you won't be here. Once you have everything Gandalf told me to tell you to meet him by the stables. Father wasn't supposed to know…but I will have to tell him."
She suddenly grabbed her sister and pulled her into a tight embrace. "Be safe Adriana. Tenna' ento lye omenta (until next we meet)." Adriana smiled but it dimmed a little when Lia swept out of the room. Going behind another woven screen she emerged with her full battle regalia on. She swept over to a mirror and looked at herself critically. A riding dress, similar to Arwen's which of course made sense because they had both been fitted at the same time, except hers was a dark blue accented with silver trimmings and designs. Her black archer braces sat unyielding on the pale flesh of her arms. Adriana sighed; she was ready…or as ready as she would be. Hefting the pack and walking over to the table she saw her belt and sword glittering in the moonlight. She wasted no time in fitting it around her waist and grabbing the dagger-knife and placing its belt around her so she could reach behind and grab it if so desired.
The last weapon she grabbed was her ebony bow and quiver full of arrows; they fit in their positions like they had always been there. Which sadly was probably true, Adria had many bows over her long lifespan but this one was one of her favorites…she had carried it for many years and gained a mastery of it before she thought to train with the sword. A couple centuries later she was as adept in sword wielding as she was in shooting the only downfall was while Adria could hit anything that she chose to aim at, it took her awhile and she was not good at dealing with pressure. Chances are in battle her shooting wouldn't be what saved her, her sword-wielding would. She had the heart of a swordswoman not an archer.
Looking one last time at the room she sighed and then walked out. Drifting along the tree paths she slowly began to descend and then headed over to one of the only buildings that sat on the ground. The horse-and-hay smell that greeted her at the door was soothing to her. Gandalf saw her approach and rose from the bale of hay he had been sitting on, "Adriana, are you ready to hear everything?"
Adria walked over to a separate pen and looked in at her mare. Beside it in another pen was Shadowfax, she cooed a greeting to Lirimaer (Lovely one) and then went over to the beautiful white stallion's stall. "Hello old friend. It's been a long time since I've seen the king of the horses." He tossed his head and snorted and then nuzzled her and she laughed while retreating but only after handing each an apple.
Dusting the horse hair and dust off of her she faced Gandalf but avoided looking into his eyes, "I'm ready." He nodded and began to pace the small stable. She watched him silently but then began to brush Lirimaer and check her hooves. Of course each was just a ruse, Lirimaer was in perfect condition, and Adria just wanted something to do so she also didn't feel the need to pace. Her nerves were as bad as they needed to be.
"First off, Shadowfax and Lirimaer will have to get to the Shire by themselves…I had wanted to tell you secrets in the air but you already figured most everything out. I don't believe that you need to know anything more, but the Eagles do not appreciate being ignored and beings I have already asked this favor of them we must fly."
The bush stilled on Lirimaer's back and Adriana looked up excitedly, "Really?" He nodded and then opened the gate releasing Shadowfax. Adriana followed suit and the two horses galloped out of the stable and through the elven town. At the edge of the city they both glimmered and then vanished. Gandalf glanced toward Adriana she nodded and spoke, "My father's spell casters apparently saw fit to speed their journey. They will meet us at the Shire…where we will part." He nodded once at her surmise and then started for the door.
A huge gust of wind assailed them both causing their cloaks to flutter and their hair to move in the wind. Suddenly two huge birds landed and looked at each of the people standing there. Finally the smaller of the two hopped forward and looked at Adriana pointedly. She smiled—another test. She bowed at each of the birds, "Great thoron, cormamin lindua ele lle (Eagle, my heart sings to see thee) and I hope that you will grant me the privilege of flying with you." The Eagles nodded once and then lowered themselves down, Adriana and Gandalf both quickly leaped onto their backs.
As they soared through the air Adriana couldn't help but wonder at the enormity of the adventure that she found herself on. She laughed but the wind snatched it and carried the sound away. She wove her hands through the thick feathers of the bird and smiled—a true smile of happiness. 'And to think just this morning I was hoping for an adventure.' She thought to herself.