'Remember, Titus. Strength and Honor.'
'Hah. It's Might and Glory for me, Marcus.'
'Still. Just remember what I said, alright.'
'Is it the one that if I whore too much, I'll die mid-coitus?'
'What? No! I just said it! Strength and Honor. The Gods will have my eternal thanks if someone actually manages to tie you down.'
'Oh, please. Women, whether they be warriors, servants or whores, are always lining up in my doorstep. Not one woman can tie this Centurion down.'
'Is that a challenge, Baka?'
Titus woke up with a gasp. He saw he was in a room. A beautiful room. He felt his back against something soft and realized it was a bed. He sat up and looked around, searching for any sign of his companions. He then realized his Musculata, Gladius and dagger were gone, leaving him with his tunic, trousers, metal bracers, greaves and Caligae. But he didn't mind all that when his eyes landed on Rin's body on a bed similar to his. Her Kasa was on a small desk beside her, letting the world see her wild and short onyx hair and the black eye patch that covered her left eye.
He got up and walked to her side. He shook her gently and said.
"Hey, Rin. Wake up."
She let out an unlady-like snort before muttering something unintelligable.
Titus' right brow twitched before grabbing both of her shoulders and shook her harder.
"Hey! Wake up, already!
Rin's eye shot open.
"Finally, you're awake."
She glared at him before headbutting him.
"Ahh! Really!? Again with the nose? Gods, that hurt!"
Rin scoffed and sat up fron the bed. She observed the room and found it similar to the stone walls that made up most the Iron Legion's structures. She looked down and saw she was only wearing her Sarashi and Hakama pants.
She walked over to Titus, who was still on the ground and caressing his nose, and gently kicked his foot.
Titus stopped holding his nose and looked at Rin, who motioned her head towards the open door.
Titus saw the door and got to his feet. The two of them walked out the room and walked to a balcony. The sight that met them was beautiful.
The sun's ray shining over the town, making it glow like a jewel. The trees, so green and healthy, mixed with the land and seemed to make the place look more alive.
"By the Gods, it's beautiful. Is this what the Iron Legion believe as Heaven?"
"I'm afraid this is not the Grey Haven, strangers. This is Imladris. The Last Homely House East of the Sea. Rivendell in Westron."
The two turned around and saw an old man with grey hair and wearing grey robes, sitting on a chair with a pipe in his mouth beside the door they came from.
How they didn't notice him was a mystery to them.
He stood from his cheer and gave them a friendly smile.
"If you're looking for your friend, you should wait a bit longer. He is currently speaking with Lord Elrond."
Rin raised an eyebrow "Lord... Elrond?"
The old man smiled "Elrond Half-elven, Lord of Rivendell."
Titus shook his head "Wait. Did you say 'Half-elven'? Half man, half elf?"
The old man nodded.
Titus rubbed the bridge of his knows in frustration.
"First it was Centaurs, Satyrs, a Giant Lion God and talking animals. Now it's elves? Why do I even bother?"
The old man seemed to remember something. He gave them an apologetic smile and said "Forgive me, but I have forgotten to ask for your names."
Rin bowed in greeting.
"Rin Tanaka. Mercenary."
Titus brought a fist to his chest and said "Titus Valerius Felix. Centurion of the House of Valeria."
Rin looked at Titus with an amused expression "I didn't know your name was such a mouthful."
Titus turned to Rin and shrugged "My first name is Titus and my family name is Valerius. The third one was a nickname given to me and my brother by the Iron Legion."
The old man raised an eyebrow at this "And what does this nickname signify?"
Titus smiled "It means 'Lucky'. My brother, Marcus, and I were considered one of the luckiest soldiers in the Legion. When the battle seemed lost, the both of us would always find a way to overcome the obstacles thrown our way."
His smile suddenly turned into a sad one "But luck has to run out sometime."
He shook his head and turned to the old man "Now that you know our names, what about yours?"
"I am known by many names, but most know me as Gandalf the Grey."
Titus nodded "It is a pleasure to meet you, Gandalf the Grey."
Gandalf smiled "The pleasure is all mine."
"I see you two have acquainted yourself with Mithrandir."
Titus and Rin looked to the source of the voice and to see an elf, half-elf really, with long, dark brown hair.
He gave them a warm smile and spread his arms.
"Welcome to Imladris, Other-worlders."
Beside him was Aéd, who nodded at them and crossed his arms.
"I asked if there was a way for us to get back home."
Aéd sighed "Nothing."
Titus shook his head and crossed his arms "So what now?"
Aéd looked at Elrond who nodded.
"I asked if there is anything I could do. He asked me to join the Fellowship of the Ring in return, he will do whatever he can to find us a way home. I accepted but when he showed me the reason why the Fellowship was made, I knew there was no turning back."
Rin crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow.
"So you just decided to join a merry band of misfits to do what exactly?"
Elrond was the one who answered.
"To destroy Sauron's Ring of Power."
Rin gave him a deadpan look.
"And Sauron is...?"
Aéd sighed and leaned on a pillar.
"I'll give ya the short version of the story, lass."
Later
"...Okaaaay, I think I can see your point."
She looked at Titus. He just shrugged his shoulders.
"Well, to be honest. There's not much left to do but help this Fellowship."
"Wait, you're really considering joining this quest. You know if you two join this, you'll be fighting a war that isn't our own."
Titus took a bite out of the apple in his hands and swallowed before answering.
"That didn't stop us from fighting at Narnia."
"But that was different. We were only there for one battle. This. We are talking about a quest that will take a looong time to complete and high chance if dying while doing it."
Titus shrugged.
"Not like it's any different."
He finished his apple and asked Elrond where should he dispose of it.
Elrond signalled for a servant to take it away.
Titus cleared his throat.
"Rin, we were born in a world that all we do is fight. From the moment we picked up a weapon, we never stopped fighting. Either by choice or not, fighting is unavoidable. What will we do if not help? Do we waste ourselves away 'til old age catches up to us? No. The moment we were born, our lives are fated to forfeit in battle. Not stagnation. Besides, I refuse to die from stagnation. If I was to die, it would be in my terms, preferably in battle with a sword in one hand and a delicious treat in the other."
Rin sighed.
"You're not gonna give up are you?"
Titus shook his head.
"I'm better with a sword than looking at books in hopes of finding a way out of this world."
Rin relaxed her posture in defeat. She stood up and looked at Elrond before bowing.
"Well, Elrond-sama. The Fellowship has my services. If you would have me, that is."
Titus stood straight and brought a fist to his chest.
"As the only representative of the Iron Legion and the House of Valeria, I would gladly offer my sword for this quest, if you would have me as well."
Elrond gave a small bow in gratitude.
"Thank you, Master Titus Valerius Felix and Lady Rin Tanaka. I, Lord Elrond Half-elven, Ruler of Imladris. Welcome you to the Fellowship of the Ring."
Titus bowed his head.
"It is an honor, Lord Elrond."
"Hai."
Elrond nodded and asked them to follow him.
"Come, Masters Aéd, Master Titus and Lady Rin. It is time for you to meet your companions for this journey."
The three other-worlders followed after the Ruler of Rivendell with Gandalf not far behind.
Rin snorted causing Titus to look at her.
"What?" He asked.
"I never thought I'd be called a Lady in my life. I mean, when was the last time you heard someone call a mercenary Lady? Never, right."
Titus shook his head.
"The only title I liked is Centurion Titus Valerius. I never liked how the maids and servants kept calling me Master. They look at me like I would fuck them on the spot."
Rin scoffed.
"Well, you did say you had history with whoring. Those servants and maids must've thought you were a man with an insatiable hunger for sex."
Titus snorted in displeasure.
"Is that what I really look like to them?"
Rin shrugged.
"I don't know. We just met a few days ago. Most men I journey with just looks at me like they wanna ravage me in my sleep." She complained.
"Ooohh, I know how they feel." Titus muttered under his breath.
"What was that?"
"Nothing. Nothing at all."
What the two didn't know was Aéd heard every single word they said. He scoffed and focused ahead.
'Bunch of children, is what they are.'
If this is how it'll always gonna go with these two, then it's gonna be a very long and terrible journey. He could already feel a headache coming in.