The Protector in the Shadow

* I hope you enjoy this FF network. I bet it's a surprise to see me after my authors note. I slaved over this chapter; I tried to get it out as fast as possible with the holiday. So I hope you enjoy! Let me know what you think! And remember I'm always open for suggestions! P.S. I was originally not going to write tonight, buy my company ended up getting really sick, so here I am. Alone on new years with my idiotic parents. God help me. Death would be better. Anywhore, enjoy! - Ze*

Disclaimer:

*Past*

*Present*

Chapter Twelve: Like a Father

Something snapped behind the onyx wolf. Her piercing eyes moved to view, she would attack now ask questions later, if she did it at all. She wasn't one to be tampered with; four hundred years of solitude did such things to beasts like her. She was just like her father, running from things that she could not escape. Yet unlike her father she was not gentle, she hadn't even wished to be gentle even in her life.

Thousands of years locked away by her own kin, the shame she had dealt with as a creature born and raised in the under belly of Gondolin. She was young then, only in her first thousand years of life. Her hackles rose, and her expression was killer, that was until a man stepped from the bushes, a quiet calming air surrounded his being. His soft yet beautiful expression calmed her instantly. His whole being was grey, his big hat upon his head, his robe, the lovely head of hair and his beard. His eyes told a tale only Ava could see. "You must be Lyavain." And then there was darkness.

They ran with speed, even though her heart was hammering in her chest, she felt the fear of hundreds of years balled up in her chest. Her paws flue underneath her, that was until she was forced to skid to a stop before plummeting to her doom. She yelped hopelessly with a heart wrenching expression. She watched Legolas jump across, reaching out his hands for Gandalf to jump across, catching him when he did. She helped Merry over as Aragorn helped Pippin. Though she could barely move herself she waited until Frodo was across before moving to jump.

A large footstep caused the bulk of rocks she stood on to start to crack, another caused them to break off, her paws stretched out as she hung uselessly over the edge staring at the door way which began to grow warm and turn the color of the rising sun. The Balrog was close, oh so close; she could almost hear it's breathing…or was that hers?

Arrows started to fly, a top of her battered and broken body the goblins were shooting at them too. Just to add insult to injury. She was considering just accepting the fall, who would miss her? Frodo might, but what did it matter? All too soon he would be consumed with the Ring. He would lose focus of all that mattered, but she had a debt to pay, to everyone around her. They had protected her as she had protected them. She almost didn't finish her thought when she was being grabbed and pulled her to the top. She fell atop of Aragorn who was looking very concerned. "Lean forward Fëa, now!" He said suddenly standing; she did as he instructed moving forward wildly as he wished. Not putting two and two together she flue forward with the impact that was not expected on her part. She flew in to the arms of Samwise who seemed utterly shocked at the fact he was now below a wolf. She smiled a wolfish grin and running her muzzle up his cheek in act of a light feathery kiss before leaping forward to run once more.

"Over the bridge! Fly!" Gandalf called as a wall of fire formed behind them.

To the bridge they fled Gandalf insisting they all went first, it was hard to make it across, and her large form took up much of the skinny bridge. She ran, wildly to get to the other side. Staring over her shoulder at Gandalf who was standing at the middle of the bridge. "He's going to face it." She thought aloud to all who listened, they all turned to stare at her, the expression on her face read on of unspeakable horror. She watched as he stared into the fire of the devil it's self.

Tears streamed down her façade as Gandalf stood before her, scolding her like a child who had done a horrid deed. "Lyavain, why do you allow your feelings to wonder in such a hideous way?" he questioned with a sad expression on his face, knowing her answer would be the same. "Haldir meant no harm, he was only worried for his Lord and Lady. You had no right to offend him in such a way." He was referring to the wild and violent clash she had with Haldir only moments before. She felt her lip raise in a threatening manner, even as an Elf she had a Wolven attitude.

"I saved his precious "Lord and Lady"! Shouldn't he be thankful?" She barked throwing her arms up in exasperation. Gandalf shook his head with a sigh.

"He was thankful Lyavain. He just was angered with himself that it was you who protected his king and queen. Not himself." The wizard explained ruffling the girl's hair with a smile that he could not with hold, even if it did make the creature angry. "Child, Elves are proud creatures, they take their duties very seriously. It angered him that not twice but three times you have saved Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn. That means he has failed to you, an un-pure Elf of Gondolin." He said with a small smile of encouragement. "He's also angered that he's indebted to you, and will one day owe you, a black wolf." She continued to weep even after such an explanation. The words offered nothing to her.

"He had no right to speak of my parents, and myself in such a manner. I know I am not pure, but I am not an imbecile Gandalf. I know of such things, their whispers and stares offer me no hope. Am I a lost cause?" More tears poured from her already stained cheeks. Gandalf's hand brushed those tears away with a sad smile. He had viewed the girl as his own daughter, and she viewed him as a father she had never had. She knew he only did the things he did because he cared for her, but she still disliked when he acted as such.

"You, Lyavain, are the farthest thing from a lost cause." He offered wisely as his lip twitched in an odd smile. "You have more purpose than the finest kings and the bravest armies." He said before looking over the Golden forest of Lothlórien. "Darkness will soon fall upon the world and we will rely on only a few to bring back the innocence of our world." His quiet smile held so much more, so much knowledge. Yet he offered none for the wolf.

She watched as the beast landed only feet away from Gandalf. She knew he felt no shock, he had faced it once before. Long ago in his dreams, yet he could not help but wince, his fear wasn't rising, but his anger, and hurt was. He ran only half way cross the bridge before them; she couldn't help the fear that was raising from the pits of her stomach. Her hurting burn only turned into a biting pain she would numb at the mere sight of the creature Gandalf faced.

"You cannot pass!" He shouted to the creature birthed in shadow and fire. The black beast had horns which twisted round it's face like a protected wall, it was a bullish face, though much shorter. It wasn't a wonder why the creature cowered in shadow; it was beyond the terrors of hell. It's eyes glowed white from an impossible achievement of heat that glowed powerfully at its heart. She didn't hear Frodo exclaim the wizard's name. She hardly could contain herself from leaping to the wizard's aid, but she knew better then to "play with the fates decision. She felt a sinking hope falling around the group faster than she could stop it.

"I am the servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the flame of Anor…" He growled slowly raising his staff and his sword in the air above his head. A light so blinding she could not stare directly into it emitting from its splendor. It encircled Gandalf in what seemed to be an endless light. "The dark fire will not avail you, Flame of Udûn!" he barked through gritted teeth, it was draining so much power from him. But only Ava could see this.

The demon beast raised its shadow sheathed arm and a sword of flame appeared in its hand. It's mouth dropped agape to release a vial growl. Heat emitting from it like a bread oven stoked and hot. The growl so evil not even Ava could reproduce it, and she never wanted to produce such devilry. She watched as it's beastly blade collided with Gandalf who stopped the creature, it clearly drained him with such a horrible noise. The Valar why did it have to make such a noise?

The beast breathed a line of fire, which transformed to the violent string which to a man would be made of leather. He struck it in attempt to intimidate the old wizard, who was having none of it. "Go back to the Shadow!" He spat viciously, his eyes flashed something even Ava could not read. Gandalf raised his combination of the sword and staff to the sky before shouting a violent sentence, the sentence that would stick with Lyavain until the day she faded to shadow.

"You…Shall not pass!" His voice was loud, almost as loud as the smacking of his staff that hit the bridge beneath his feet.

The sound shook her; she knew this part of her dream. The dream she assumed was nothing more. God why? Why her? There was a bright flash that came from the staff, the bright flash startled the beast, but did not halt him. He took a step forward, but the bridge would not support him. They watched as the beast went flying into the cavern plummeting into the shadow with a deafening roar. Gandalf turned with a saddened look, he knew! He knew what was coming, and he did nothing to avoid it, that it happened to be the whip that came flying up from the cavern attaching itself to the wizard's ankle.

She watched in horror as it began to pull him, she watched as he clung helplessly to the bridge locking eyes with Frodo. The expression on his face cut her deeper and caused her more pain than anything she could have ever pictured in her darkest of dreams. She didn't hear the noises that came from the Fellowship, only took steps backwards to avoid anyone seeing her heartbroken expression.

"Fly, you fools." He uttered only for a moment did his eyes flash to Lyavain. Had she been an Elf tears would have been pouring from her tired and now cold eyes. Only a breath later he let go, falling after the monster in the depths of the mine. More than likely never to be seen again. It was Sam who pulled her after him pulling her out of her broken mindset and out into the world of brightness which she had so longed to see. Her mind wasn't safe. She couldn't feel the broken bones, or the ripping at the inside of her body. She couldn't feel the pulling at her necklace, nor hear the weeping coming from the hobbits all around. She didn't see the expression of pure loss on anyone else's face only felt the own ripping at her heartstrings.

She only mutely heard the conversation between Aragorn and Boromir, but choose to fallow limply after Frodo. Aragorn called after Frodo who walked even more heartbroken then she. How? How could that little hobbit care more than Ava? Gandalf was the only reason she was still breathing now. Her heart ached for the hobbit, how dare she be so evil towards her master? Never once had he betrayed her never once had he ignored her and left her for dead. Just by the expression on his face she knew he needed her as much as she needed him, if not more. She did not listen to anyone, only herded Frodo gently toward Aragorn so they could run. He moved willingly after a few moments of coaxing him through her mind, she knew he would shut down soon and he needed relaxation even if only for a moment.

By late afternoon they were in the cover of the wood, the moment she entered she felt the eyes of the Elven creatures on the fellowship, though oddly enough they didn't pass over her broken form. She slowly gained feeling again, and the pain was almost too much to bare. Hadn't she been so dazed she would have told to Dwarf to shut his large mouth before she did it for him, but she stumbled almost drunkly, she was the last in the group so the creatures took no notice. Walking a bit far off from the rest.

"Lyavain…" The voice she knew all too well called quietly into her distressed mind. "My lost child…" the voice continued, though a smile could almost be detected in the voice. "You have come in the darkest of hours, injured to my land. Haldir is near." Lady Galadriel warned with a quiet hiss. "There is a debt to repay." The voice reminded. But no more words came after moments of silence.

When she heard the Dwarf exclaim a soft "Oh" she spread up, attempting to be with the group. The elves surrounded quickly, bows and arrows at the ready. Still none took notice to the shadowy wolf. An entire conversation had taken place by the time she had reached the front of the group. He was about to turn them away, that was until she pushed past Aragorn standing in a defensive stance almost eye to eye with Haldir. Who was more than surprised to see his least favorite creature before him.

"Haldir." She greeted coldly with a wild expression in her eyes. His mouth fell agape for a moment before looking around at the other elves who seemed just as surprised at the wolf's presence.

"Wolf? What brings you here. You know I can take you no further." He hissed, clearly his composure dropping like a rock to the bottom of a pond.

"That is just it my old friend. You will take us further. I must speak with the lord and lady," She growled out into his mind, less than friendly, obviously with no room for negotiation. Her lip brought into a snarl, blood dripped lightly from her mouth, but for the most part none was spilled to the ground, "I am but a pawn to Lady Galadriel. But she is indebted to me." She whispered to him.

"She would not accept this, beast." He spat losing almost everything at that moment.

"Oh but she would!" she growled loudly into his mind, a harsh expression crossing her already angered face. "Shall I remind you of how you failed her? Perhaps project the memory as a hole?" she questioned with a sudden innocent expression on her face. A smirk crossed her violent lips as a scoffing chuckle mused peacefully.

"No, darkling," He said finally cooling down his sorrowful expression showed how horrid he felt for failing his mistress. He turned to address the rest of the Fellowship with a scowl on his face.

"You will follow me." He commanded, giving Lyavain a weary expression from the corner of his eye.

He noticed an expression of shear pain cross her face and gave a more concerned look in her direction. Despite his distaste for the wolf, Haldir did not completely dislike her, he enjoyed watching her fight, and he actually found her very interesting. It was just the fact she was not of pure blood, that her mother, who was a Princess of the Elven world had fallen to love a beast. She shook her head stepping back to take her place by Frodo, who noticed it as well. Even if he didn't not ask, the way his face bent in confusion showed his question. How much longer? What is wrong? When will I speak with you again? These questions would be answered soon.

But would it be soon enough for Lyavain?

*So again, horses hindered this update! Forgive me my loyal readers! I'm such a failure! If you can, R&R to let me know what you think! Even though I am bad, and I need beaten a few times! Happy new year everyone. Once again enjoy the chapter update! Love you all. - Ze*