Disclaimer: It all belongs to J.R.R. Tolkien and Co. I own the oc's characters and that's about all I own in my life.
Game and Set
Chapter Three: An Arrow Shot
His breath like silver arrows pierced the air,
The naked earth crouched shuddering at his feet,
His finger on all flowing waters sweet
Forbidding lay--motion nor sound was there:--
Nature was frozen dead,--and still and slow,
A winding sheet fell o'er her body fair,
Flaky and soft, from his wide wings of snow.
- Frances Anne "Fanny" Kemble (Mrs. Butler), Winter
The aging process has you firmly in its grasp if you never get the urge to throw a snowball.
-Doug Larson
Imladris, TA 2911
Someone had angered Nature, that was the only answer. Winter had come to Arda and it had come with a vengeance. Imladris, often the realm of pleasing winters, was covered in snow and parts of the Bruinen had iced over. Elves, who could endure the cold, were even starting to feel the chill of the ever frosty air. Imladris was still experiencing a mild winter compared to other parts of Arda. Despite the snow, the ice, the appearance of white wolves in the Northern Lands and the frozen rivers which made travel difficult, life was still forced to go on, if a little slower than usual. Elladan and Elrohir were preparing to set out again with the Rangers, both twins doing their best to teach Arathorn the skills normally taught to the heirs while they were fostered in Imladris. Morwen and Eluialeth were to attempt a journey to the Havens. Elrond had decreed none would leave until Mid Winter passed.
Elladan and Elrohir were doing as their father ordered, clearing the pathways of snow and doing their best to melt the ice. The healing halls were full of the elven and human inhabitants from Imladris who had already lost their romantic notions of how beautiful the ice was. Sliding down the ice covered grand staircase could do that to a person. Having run with the Rangers in very inhabitable regions of Arda, the twins already had boots imbedded with spikes, making it easier for them to walk on the ice. Seeing the boots, Elrond had volunteered the twins for shovel duty.
Elladan sighed, his breath visible in the cold air, "I thought elves were supposed to be graceful, able to run on snow and…"
Elrohir looked at this twin, "Yes, well, I do not believe it was elven grace that caused father to utter those charming phrases as he went toppling down today."
"Erestor with him." Elladan laughed.
Elrohir smiled widely, "Apparently even formidable Chief Councilor Erestor is no match for a pathway of ice."
"Glorfindel was able to walk on it without any worry." Elladan sighed as he moved down the ever clearing path.
"I believe that has to do with Gondolin being so far away in the mountains, his body must remember how to walk on it." Elrohir agreed as he continued to break up the ice.
"Or perhaps it was because he knew better than to wear house slippers on stairways exposed to the elements." Elladan said.
Elrohir snickered, "Apparently even elves need some sort of traction on their footwear."
"You wouldn't be mocking your poor bruised father, would you?" Rian called down from the balcony connected to Erestor's office.
"We only do it out of our deepest love and affection." Elladan called back as he scarped out a new path.
Morwen joined Rian, "Aww, Elladan, are you being a beast of burden again?"
Elladan quickly formed a snowball and made to throw it at Morwen when his brother stopped his arm, "Think, Elladan, that is Erestor's office. Do you really want to get snow in Erestor's office? On his papers?"
Elladan took a moment to consider the punishment and quickly dropped the snow ball. He picked his shovel back up and said, "Morwen, this is teaching me humility. I am doing everything in my power to protect the safety of the people, even if its just protecting their ankles from breaking."
Rian snorted, "More like their as…"
"Rian, language." Morwen admonished. She smiled down at Elladan, "Yes, you are learning humility. Such great humility is being learned as consequence for mocking your father."
"You would have laughed as well." Elladan defended his actions.
"I did." Morwen said. "But I also had the good sense to wait until he could not see me. I did not hurry out to him and laugh and point as he attempted to get back on his feet."
"I did not point." Elladan said.
"You pointed." Elrohir said.
"You pointed and shouted." Rian said.
The doors to the house opened and Eluialeth came out, walking carefully, to inspect the progress of the twins. She gave a nod, "You are doing well. My father says 'less talking, more shoveling.' And bids you remember that there was once a time when you too were defeated by ice and snow. Though, I must confess, I do not know what he means."
Morwen, however, clearly did as she quickly covered her face to hide her laughter.
Rian turned to her, "What is it?"
Elladan and Elrohir looked up at them.
"Do not do it, Morwen." Elrohir said.
"You promised never to speak of the actions of that day." Elladan stated.
Rian grabbed Morwen's hand, "Morwen, you must tell me."
Morwen shook her head fighting a horrible bought of laughter, "I…I..c-c-can not."
Morwen covered her face again.
"Oh, just give us words, no story." Eluialeth said, clearly intrigued.
"Eluialeth!" The twins protested.
Morwen laughed, "twins….ice…tree…balcony.." she giggled, "…cold…clothes….branches…ow." Morwen lost the battle and gave over to her laughter, "Excuse me, I must…" she smiled, "go check on Elrond."
Morwen dashed off before she could be persuaded to tell anymore of the tale.
Rian looked down at the twins again, "I assume this happened before I arrived."
"Yes." Elladan said as he looked everywhere but at Rian.
"Was Morwen involved?" Eluialeth asked.
"No." Elrohir said as he continued to shovel, "she was in the library with Erestor."
"What happened?" Rian asked.
"Nothing." The twins stated.
"We will find out eventually." Eluialeth said, already planning on asking her father.
"You can try, but many have been sworn to secrecy about that day." Elladan said.
"And I promise your father will not tell you." Elrohir agreed.
"Nor will Glorfindel." Elladan said.
Elrohir looked up with a wicked smile, "For fear of what our father might do to them."
"And our mother, if she ever finds out." Elladan said.
Elladan and Elrohir exchanged glances and nodded, getting back to the work, much to the frustration of both Rian and Eluialeth.
Glorfindel studied the latest report from the secret patrol, hoping with all he had that what they inferred was not true. He pushed himself away from his desk and went in hunt of Mithrandir. He found him sitting in the Hall of Fire, staring into the flames, enjoying the peace as no other were currently in the Hall.
"What are your concerns, Glorfindel?" Mithrandir asked before Glorfindel could announce his presence.
"The reports it has been said certain people have been skulking around the Gladden fields."
Mithrandir turned to look at him, "Certain people as in…"
"Agents of Sauron." Glorfindel said.
"That is not surprising." Mithrandir said.
Glorfindel titled his head in agreement then said, "The beginnings of what look like a fortification of Isengard are."
Mithrandir put down his pipe and studied Glorfindel. "What are you implying, Glorfindel?"
"I hope nothing. It seems oddly coincidental, does it not?" Glorfindel asked.
"Glorfindel, Curunir is the wisest of us all and if he desires to add more security to his borders, he is allowed to do so."
Glorfindel walked over to Mithrandir and said, "But without sharing his concerns with others, that is not…"
"Glorfindel perhaps he is waiting or perhaps he does not feel the need to do so, we have certainly not shared with Curunir the areas the secret patrol watches over. Put it from your mind." Mithrandir insisted.
Glorfindel nodded, "You are right. I bow to your wisdom I just cannot…"
Mithrandir patted Glorfindel on the shoulder, "You have lived two lifetimes full of war and conflict, you are forgiven for being suspicious."
Glorfindel nodded and turned to walk back to his office. Before he reached the threshold he stopped and faced Mithrandir again. "Mithrandir, is Ecthelion…"
Mithrandir blew out a trail of smoke and smiled at Glorfindel, "I did wonder how long it would take you to ask me. I dare say, over a thousand years, quite impressive."
Glorfindel bowed his head, trying not to blush in front of the wiser and more powerful wizard.
Mithrandir laughed, "When I left the shores of Aman, he had just reached his fiftieth year. His memories had not yet returned to him. Do not worry, Glorfindel, I am sure whenever you return to Aman Ecthelion will be one of the first to greet you at the shore, if only to embarrass you in front of your family from Arda."
Glorfindel smiled, "Yes, he would do that. He probably already has devised a few marvelous schemes." Glorfindel bowed his head, "Thank you, Mithrandir. I leave you to your thoughts and I will see you at the feast."
Glorfindel left the Hall of Fire, a smile still on his face.
He made to go back to his office when he ran into Morwen. His demeanor changed quickly as he spotted the tears on Morwen's face.
"Morwen, what is wrong?" He asked in alarm.
Morwen shook her head, her body trembling, "It…it is not." she stuttered out. She took a breath calming herself, "Laughter, Glorfindel, tears of mirth." She said in a clear voice.
Glorfindel raised a brow, "What could have possibly drive you to tears of mirth? Did Elrond fall on the ice again?"
Morwen shook her head, a devilish smile crossing her face, "Oh no. Not at all. I was simply reminiscing on the Snow and Ice incident of TA 145."
Glorfindel quickly covered his mouth to hold back his laughter. "Did you tell…"
"No, of course not. It is the incident of which we do not tell the others. Only you, Erestor, the twins, and myself know the true tale. And the twins would wish for it to stay that way."
Glorfindel laughed, "Yes, well, when one runs around in their most natural state, slips on ice and does a marvelous glide off of a balcony and lands in a tree slipping off of that and hitting its branches on the way down to the snow packed ground they would often not what others to hear of it."
"Nor do the caregivers who were supposed to be watching said fools want the story shared with the parents." Morwen said.
Glorfindel nodded and looked at Morwen, both trying to fight off their laughter at the memory and both losing horribly.
From inside the Hall of Fire, Mithrandir smiled as he heard the small tale and the subsequent laughter. It was good to hear laughter, even when his own misgivings were pulling him into a darkened state. He conjured up the image of the young twins and could not help but have a laugh or two of his own.
TA 2912
The twins had rode out with the Rangers again and were currently watching over Arathorn.
"Whatever you do, stay away from the white wolves." Elrohir warned.
"You do not want to meet your fate that way." Elladan said as he shuddered.
Arathorn turned to look at his father, "What do they mean?"
Arador gave a weak glare to both twins, "They simply speak of Aragorn who became chieftain in 2319. He was killed by wolves in 2327."
"How old was he?" Arathorn asked.
"One hundred." Arador said.
"He was so young." Arathorn breathed.
Arador gave his son a weak smile as he clasped his shoulder, "Yes, my dear son, he was."
Elladan and Elrohir exchanged a look as they heard the conversation between father and son. Arador had explained he felt Arathorn would live an extremely short life for one of the Dunedain, and that was why he had declined the chance to have his son fostered in Imladris. There was no sign of an imminent death for Arathorn, but the winter they were experiencing certainly did not bode well for the future.
Elladan turned to his brother, "Things are getting far too serious here. We should lighten it up for them."
"Indeed." Elrohir agreed as he dismounted. He walked over to his brother, pulling him off of his horse, much to said horse's annoyance and Arador's amusement.
The twins walked over to Arathorn, motioning for him to follow them.
"Where are we going?" Arathorn asked.
"To have a practical strategy lesson." Elladan said.
"Yes," Elrohir agreed, "we must plan."
"For what?" Arathorn asked.
"Battle." Elladan said.
"Battle?" Arathorn asked.
Arador shook his head, "They did this with me as well. Prepare for a snow battle, Arathorn, the twins take it seriously."
"I thought they were called snow fights." Arathorn said.
Elrohir shook his head and laughed, "Oh, Arathorn, that is only for people who do not know how to win it. Amateurs."
"Amateurs." Elladan agreed.
The twins walked off, Arathorn between them as they talked of the best way to win a snow battle.
Arador shaking his head and yet glad the twins had taken so well to his son.
TA 2912, Between Imladris and Grey Havens.
Morwen smiled as she watched Eluialeth walking ahead, listening to the stories Gildor had to tell. It was nice traveling in such a large party. Gildor's people were some of the most cheerful elves in Arda, despite their wandering existence. They were often filled with laughter and song, even in these days when they more than any others knew the changes occurring in Middle Earth.
"You are quiet." Thandrog said from Morwen's side.
"I am simply enjoying all the pleasant conversation, No one is speaking of trade routes or Dol Guldur or horse breeding or.."
"Anything you have to speak of as a councilor?" Thandrog asked again.
Morwen laughed, "Yes. I admit, there are days when I dislike my position. Especially those days when I cannot get my mind to just stop spinning."
Thandrog smiled as he spotted a family of snow rabbits, he waved to them and then turned to Morwen, "You could always step down from your position."
Morwen shook her head, "Never. I fought too hard to get it in the first place."
The party came to a halt.
"Thandrog!" Gildor called out, "Come see this wounded snow leopard."
"Leopard?" Thandrog asked. "That animal is far from its home." Thandrog rode ahead to investigate the animal.
Morwen, once again, pondered if there was any way Thandrog could be related to Radagast. His ability with animals truly was remarkable.
Morwen dismounted knowing this could take some time. She caressed her horse's mane as she thought of her last letter from Tirnion. Things were getting worse in Mirkwood, the outer lying settlements of humans also feeling the burden of the attacks. Smaug the dragon had also been causing more than a few problems. If an elf could fade from exhaustion, she had a fear Tirnion would be one of the candidates, though Erestor would probably be at the head of the line. The snows were starting to melt, the icy rivers beginning to break free and there was a large concern about flooding. That was the primary reason for this particular journey to the Havens. Few knew more about flooding than Cirdan. The elf lord had unfortunately dealt with it a countless amount of times in his life.
Thandrog must have done his best to fix the leopard, the signal was made to move again. Morwen mounted her horse, following the action of many others.
It would only be later they realized the leopard was bait. Injured to draw the attention of the party, the enemy knowing Thandrog was in their company.
It would only be later they would realize they had been led into a trap.
At the time though, the band of orcs came as a complete surprise. The confusion caused the party to be split and for a brief time, chaos did reign.
Morwen could hear the arrow coming her way and quickly pulled the reins of his horse with all of her might to get him to turn, the horse went down and Morwen going with it, the arrow tip going into her shoulder rather than the heart it was meant to pierce.
She wondered if she should scream, it certainly hurt enough to do so. But she could not, she found herself oddly fascinated by the dark arrow sticking out of her, fascinated by the blood starting to trickle from the wound, from the numbness she felt going down her arm as the reins went slack in her hands and she slammed against the tree as her horse righted itself.
Her eyes sought out the rest of the party and she saw that Eluialeth was safe, a group of Gildor's elves guarding her. She nodded, happy to know Eluialeth was safe and gave into the comforting darkness that was pulling her under.
Eluialeth screamed as she saw Morwen's eyes closed, hoping that it would draw someone's attention in all of the confusion.
"Eluialeth are you hurt?" Thandrog asked as he rushed to her side.
She vigorously shook her head and moved Thandrog to where he could see Morwen, eyes closed, body cradled in the roots of a tree, as blood seeped from her wound. Thandrog nodded in understanding and fought his way to Morwen's side as the rest of Gildor's party drove off the orcs.
Thandrog checked for a pulse, finding it sluggish but there. He recoiled at the stench of the wound and cursed as he realized it was poison.
One of the healers ran over, "Is she well?"
Thandrog gave him a dangerous look, "She has an arrow sticking out of her shoulder, her eyes are closed, her wound is poisoned and you ask me if she is well?"
"Is she breathing? Does she have a pulse?" The healer asked.
Thandrog nodded in the affirmative.
"Then she is well enough." The healer said as he contemplated the best way to pull the arrow out.
Gildor himself walked over, telling the healer to see to the others. Gildor sighed and grabbed hold of the arrow wrenching it out. "Glorfindel is going to kill me." He muttered.
Thandrog looked up in surprise, "When did you find out?"
Gildor removed a pair of tweezers from his own kit, looking in the wound to get the rest of the arrowhead out. "Glorfindel made it clear when he told me to protect Morwen with my own life before we set out." He drew out the rest of the arrowhead and moved to draw out the poison. "However, I knew long before he told me."
The poison drawn out, Gildor smiled up at Thandrog, "The necklace around her neck is telling enough. Old tradition, quite common in Gondolin from what I have been told."
Gildor placed a healing poultice around the wound and stood up, Morwen in his arms.
"She is most likely in shock, though the snow doesn't help matters, nor the hit I am guessing she took when she impacted with the tree. She will survive, Thandrog, it could have been much worse."
Gildor turned to one of his elves, "Find the horse. We will go onto the Havens, we are not far. I will ride ahead."
Gildor motioned for Thandrog, handing him Morwen as Gildor mounted a horse. He took Morwen back into his arms. "Eluialeth will also ride ahead. Any of the wounded must come with me, if there was poison on the arrow in Morwen, they were on the others. Thandrog, please stay with my party."
Thandrog nodded and watched as a group of elves, the wounded and those taking care of them, rode off.
Morwen looked at Eluialeth who had become a permanent fixture at her bedside. She had been in the Haven's for a week, and awake for the past five days. The wound was healing, slowly but surely. She saw the letter and the quill in Eluialeth's hand.
Morwen blinked tiredly, "You best not be writing what I think you are writing."
Eluialeth looked up, her face in an odd state of relieved worry. "Morwen, I have to write and tell them what happened."
"Am I going to die?" Morwen asked Eluialeth.
"Of course not." Eluialeth said.
Morwen nodded, "Then you do not need to alert them until I am healed. They will know some of the party was attacked, but they do not need to know I was hurt. None of us were wounded fatally. They must already know someone was attacked and Thandrog will have the good sense not to tell Glorfindel about me just yet."
Eluialeth sighed and put her quill down. She sat down next to Morwen and grabbed her hand. "Morwen, I saw that arrow, it was headed straight for your…"
"I know, Eluialeth. But it did not. I will more than share my concerns with Glorfindel once we return. As of now, there is nothing he can do about it and considering the attack, I do not wish to write any correspondence that would fall into the wrong hands."
"Cirdan could always far speak with Elrond." Eluialeth said.
Morwen smiled, "I am sure he already has." She sighed, "Not to be a horrid person, but I still feel tired. The poison has made me a bit sluggish."
"Oh, of course." Eluialeth said. She blew out the candle beside Morwen's bed and then placed a chaste kiss on her forehead, "I will see you in the morning."
Morwen was already asleep.
Eluialeth sighed. They had been targeted and the twins and Glorfindel were not going to like this. Morwen may be healing now, as were the other wounded elves, but this was far from over.
A/N Thanks:
Nima: Thanks, Nima for the compliment.. I do attempt to give the reader an idea of the environment. The last chapter was an attempt to show other parts of the character's personality, and I really wanted to play with Elrohir as a healer and Elladan as more than just his jokester self. And yes, Bilbo will soon make his memorable appearance and Rivendell and the whole start of a very big adventure.
Renna, thank you! I try to make the banter entertaining. As for Galadriel, I do adore her despite how much the Golden Wood may be mocked in this story and I sure she has "natural" visions, but really, the mirror thing, I think it needed to be addressed, even if it was for the sake of amusement.