River of Horses
The going was tough. Both Aragorn and Adriana were merciless on the hobbits that were not used to the fast pace traveling. Sam panted as he caught up to both and spoke in gasps, "That Lady elf…she spoke and said that five….wraiths were…behind us and four were somewhere…else. What are…we going to do?"
Adriana shot Sam a small look, "We are going to survive and meet your friend at Rivendell. We'll all be alive and well, I promise you Sam." A rustling in the undergrowth caused the already nervous hobbits to start with fear and the on guard Adriana to whirl about, cape flaring around her, and move protectively behind the group while Aragorn covered the front. Her sword was glinting in the moonlight and she flicked it in the direction where the rustling was loudest and was about to leap forward when she checked herself.
Lirimaer's familiar black head broke through the undergrowth and she let out quiet inquisitive whinny, "Lirimaer! Beautiful One, you couldn't have come at a better time." She glanced towards Strider who was at the moment calming the hobbits. She watched him once again wrestle with his doubts and she spoke quietly to decide for him, "I am the faster rider just as Arwen was before, Strider."
Aragorn looked towards her, "Be swift Adriana," he said quietly his green eyes portraying the meaning to his next words: a fierce protectiveness, "Protect her. I give you my word that they will be protected." Adriana bowed her head once in ascent her black hair pooling about her shoulders.
She went to the small group of hobbits, who had become not just bothersome extra charges but friends in the short time, and hugged them all, "Friends, be safe. We'll see each other in Rivendell and I swear to you to protect Frodo with my life."
Nodding resolutely once again as she met Aragorn's eyes she swiftly leapt to the saddle and whispered words to her mare. They disappeared into the night and Adriana tried very hard to forget about the three, frightened pale faces that watched her gallop away. It was useless; thoughts of the night at the ferry's bridge and now of the fight that very evening swirled about causing her to push her mare even faster. "Be fast as the eagles in flight Lirimaer, we can't let Arwen face those heathen creatures by herself." Adriana exclaimed quietly, her mare quickened the pace.
The dawn's light spread slowly over the forest and Adriana glanced up at the lightening sky somewhat surprised, her fear had born her through countless nights it had seemed not just several hours. She had dismounted a couple hours before to allow Lirimaer a time to rest but now she quickly leapt back into the saddle again, murmuring compliments and quiet entreaties to her. Her steadfast friend flicked her ears back and then forward again and once more the break-neck pace commenced. Adriana glanced above to see a crescent of blue sky through the branches before they were obscured again, "I pray that we are not to late…" She trailed off and fixed her eyes resolutely forward. A near-muffled call reached her keen ears and Adria's eyes widened slightly while Lirimaer let loose a startled whinny. Their quarry was far in front of them….Adriana only hoped not too far.
Mid-day light spread over head and the chase was coming to a close. Not far ahead of her she could see flickering shadows and she knew they were not from the shadows of the trees—she could hear the numerous hoof beats after all as they pounded the worn dirt path in pursuit of the ring bearer.
Adriana occasionally caught sight of a pure white horse only a few yards in front of the pursuers before the trees or the riders (many times both) obscured her view. Once again a shrill yell echoed through the clearing, reminding Adria of a pack of hounds belling out their blood thirsty chorus during a hunt….one that was about to come to a close. Adriana was thankful for the noise and the quick excitement that seemed to cause the wraiths to become off guard. She was able to shadow them quite easily with none the wiser.
Lirimaer quickened her pace by unspoken consent while Adria counted…three, four… no five pursuers. She ducked under the branch that was still quivering just a few moments after the last of the wraiths moved out of sight and was startled to see blood lining the branch. She shook her head to clear her thoughts and reached for her bow and arrows. Grasping the familiar wood brought a measure of peace to her, but only a measure. She was pursuing violent beings with nothing but their master's orders whispering in their heads. Damned creatures destined to know no peace.
She knocked an arrow and placed it on the string and slowed the headlong rush of a gallop to a slower canter and moved further into the trees so she could come abreast with the Nazgul and still have some maneuvering room on one side of the river. She smiled once briefly remembering with gratefulness the many hours that the dear Queen and King of Ered Luin Mountains had made her study the maps and books that they had. The smile disappeared, first she had to get out of this alive and then she could reminisce.
She broke through the last few trees and trotted onto the wet gravel and sand of the river bank just as Arwen crossed the river and wheeled her horse to face the Nazgul. Lirimaer sunk through the sand and floundered a little but then steadied and allowed Adriana to dismount and creep a little bit closer to hear the conversation between the parties.
Adriana watched carefully as all of them again let out a shriek of anger and losing their prey and watched with glee as once again the horses of the wraiths plunged with fear at the water's edge. Arwen had since turned her horse around and faced the Nazgul. The leader spoke now his voice rough with disuse and tinged with the hiss of all dead and despairing things, "Give up the Halfling, She-Elf."
"If you want him, come and claim him," Arwen challenged while drawing her sword. The soft whisper of blade on sheath was repeated as the wraiths answered with blades of their own. Adriana pulled her blade out slowly, careful to keep the sound to a minimum.
All of them stepped to cross the river and Adriana sighed as she made a difficult decision, as long as her first arrow was true and wounded one of them she could possibly hold the others off for a few moments to give Arwen time to escape. She plunged her sword into the soft sand and drew her bow and arrow with sure fingers.
Arwen's horse rose on its back legs for a moment before touching down again. Arwen waited until the swirling water of the river lapped at all of the wraith's mounts and then lowered her challenging gaze down to the water her eyes focusing less on the danger and more on the water.
Adria narrowed her blue-gray eyes in confusion while a slight breeze whipped her raven-wing black hair behind her, 'Arwen what are you trying to do?' She paused as she began to listen to Arwen speak to the waters and to her surprise it seemed like a door that had remained closed until now in her mind suddenly sprang open.
She remembered playing with another raven-locked baby while Elrond looked on fondly. Images assaulted her and Adriana shook her head from side to side eyes closed in confusion. She remembered a stormy night and the soft swoosh of wind through feathers. Eagles? A hard stone floor and a door opening spilling light out onto a swaddled child—herself. Adriana suddenly opened her eyes with a gasp as she listened to the words of Arwen, so familiar that it had to be a birth-right that she also possessed.
Her voice merged with Arwen's in a perfect counter-melody. Arwen glanced up and met her gaze, brilliant sapphire meeting blue-gray once in an instant of understanding. Together, Arwen and Adriana—cousins by blood, called the horses.
Adriana gasped with awe as the torrent of water raged by her, galloping horses freer than the wind and fiercer than the most awful storm. The spray of the water hit her in the face and she closed her eyes again as once more her soul was quiet. It had some answers. Adria opened her eyes realizing for the first time why she had never belonged with Liawing and the others…it had never been her true birth-home.
She watched as the wraiths tried to outrun the raging flash-flood but failed and she placed her arrow back in its correct place, momentarily surprised that she had still had it in her hand. Drawing her sword out of the sand she wiped it on her dress and returned it to its sheath before mounting Lirimaer and crossing the river to where Arwen was now holding Frodo in her hands on the sand. She knelt beside her friend, but also her newfound cousin, and ran a hand over Frodo's head, "No Frodo, don't give in. Not now," Arwen pleaded.
Adriana added her own phrase as she watched heartbroken. Why did it have to end like this? What had she done wrong? She spoke through a constricted throat as the tears threatened to spill, "Oh please no…Frodo. No, I can't break my promise to you. You will be safe, be strong Frodo."
She bowed her head as Arwen began to cry. Adriana raised her head and began to get up before a wave of dizziness forced her to use a hand to steady herself on the ground. Aware of something dripping onto her hand she lifted in surprise to see blood drops—bright red against her pale skin. She paused for a moment but then remembered when she and Aragorn had pushed back the Nazgul on the tower. One of the wraiths had scored her side with his blade…this one not poisoned it seemed. The blood continued to pool and waves of weakness threatened Adria.
She slipped further down and was aware of the sand pushing through her hair to press grittily against her head. She stared at the blue sky for a moment before she began to lose consciousness. She was aware of Arwen speaking or so it seemed. Her mind began to wander further and further down the dark dream path she had for so long kept at bay—but this time splashing river horses and midnight flights with eagles passed before her closed eyes.
She opened them to see cathedral-like building rising out of the forest, soft waves of white curtains swished into view, and a dark haired figure speaking to her in a voice that resounded with power. Adria again slipped down into the darkness…dreams this time fading away to nothing. She slept.