Athrana (Wandering Shadow)

Chapter 3- Erestor

TA2938

Athrana, as she now called herself sat up and stretched. Although she knew she couldn't go home, she still wanted to see that her family were alright. She needed to see them, to make sure. Athrana looked down at herself for the first time. But first she needed to find something to wear rather than the ragged strips of cloth she had now. Hopefully she would find something on the way. She was going to get back to Rivendell to see that everyone was alright, and then she could continue with her revenge. Athrana picked up the knife she had used to cut her hair and strapped it to one arm. Then she took a second knife and strapped it to her ankle. If she came across any of the vile creatures, she didn't want to react the way she had the night before.

Finally ready to leave Athrana climbed up into the branches of the nearest tree. She intended to travel as far as she could in the tree tops, that way she was less likely to come across anymore of the vile orcs. Luckily she wasn't very far from the elven valley, at least she hadn't been when she was captured and she felt as if she recognised her surroundings.

Athrana heard the sound of laughter and singing as she got closer to the Last Homely House. She didn't dare go to close to the voices; she just wanted to see Erestor and the twins.

TA2957

Erestor stood watching Estel as he packed up to leave on his journey. He would be Thorongil for now. It was important that he learned about the kingdom he would rule one day. He had been here for 24 years. He had only been a child when he arrived and had grown quickly as mortals do. Erestor watched as Elrond said goodbye to his foster son. He knew that for the lord of the valley the years had gone by too quickly. Erestor too had noted the passage of time more closely than he otherwise would have but for a different reason. He wondered if the mortal had ever noticed the sadness Erestor always carried when he saw him. It wasn't the boy's fault of course but in Erestor's mind the day of Estel's arrival would always be remembered as the day he had lost his sister.

TA2933

Erestor stood on the steps as he always did when she was expected home. It was only a simple errand and she would chastise him for worrying so much. She would laugh and drag him off to their sitting room to drink wine and tell him everything that had happened. He laughed when he thought that at one time he had called it his sitting room, she had her own after all. But more often than not she would sit in his rooms to read rather than her own. He had thought she would grow out of it eventually but she was now 2,802 and hadn't shown any signs of changing.

The nostalgic smile however slipped from his face when he saw the horses enter the courtyard. Three horses and three riders; Elladan, Elrohir and a mortal woman carrying a small child. Where was Athriel? He watched in silence as they dismounted. No, this couldn't be happening. It was only a small errand. Any minute now she would ride up laughing and apologise for scaring him so much, any minute now. As the twins passed him to lead the woman inside they avoided catching his eye. They knew what he wanted to know and neither wanted to be the one to tell him.

Erestor stood for hours watching the sky change colour. Eventually he felt Elrond stand beside him.

"Erestor?..."

A hand touched his shoulder but he shook it away.

"She's dead isn't she? That's what you've come to tell me."

Elrond grabbed his arm and tried to lead him inside.

"Erestor... come inside and we can talk"

But Erestor didn't want to come inside. If he went inside then it would become real. If he went inside he wouldn't be able to pretend that it was all a joke. He would have to acknowledge that she was really gone, that she wasn't hiding around the corner waiting to surprise him.

"Erestor please."

He collapsed onto the steps and cried with his head in his hands.

Elrond was standing on those same steps now with his sons watching the mortal ride off towards his destiny. It was then that the twins looked up and saw him. He couldn't hold their gaze for long. Erestor turned and ran to his rooms. With shaking hands he took out the key to the connecting door and opened it. The room was dark, but it looked the same. It had looked the same for the last 24years. He hadn't moved anything in all that time. He had let the twins take a couple of things, when they had finally gotten up the courage to ask; small trinkets she had acquired over the years mostly. But there were some things Erestor hadn't been able to part with. Erestor's eyes landed on a mannish pipe on the side table and an unfinished package of pipe weed. It was a habit she had picked up while travelling with the Dunedain.

TA2588

Erestor was sitting at the desk in his rooms when his nose wrinkled. What was that smell? He sniffed a couple more times before he stood up. It was coming from Athriel's room. He walked towards the connecting door and pulled it open.

"Athriel?"

She was sitting on the sofa by the fire with her legs tucked up underneath her, a book on her lap and a pipe in her mouth. She looked up when he came in.

"Hello Erestor, I thought you had work to do?"

He nodded.

"I do. But what are you doing."

She waved her book at him.

"Just a bit of reading. Why?"

He rolled his eyes.

"I meant what are you doing with this?"

Erestor leant over and took the pipe from her. He sniffed it with a look of disgust on his face.

"It's a pipe Res." She said as if it was obvious.

"Yes I know that, but where did you get it? And what are you doing with it?"

Athriel stood up and took the pipe back.

"I'm smoking Erestor, it's very relaxing."

Erestor shook his head.

"It smells disgusting."

She laughed.

"You're just not used to it. It's a Mannish thing."

Erestor threw his hands up.

"Well that explains it. I tell you Athriel, those boys are a bad influence on you"

She tried to look innocent.

"Which boys?"

It didn't work.

"You know who I mean. Must you go off gallivanting with them all the time. Picking up Mannish habits and looking for orcs."

She rolled her eyes.

"Because it's fun. Besides Elladan and Elrohir are my oldest friends. I'm not going to let them go off and get killed now am I?"

Erestor gave up.

"Fine, fine do what you want. But if you are going to smoke that thing, can you at least do it on the balcony so you don't stink out both your rooms and mine."

Athriel smirked.

"Alright Erestor, I'll smoke on the balcony. I wouldn't want to ruin the atmosphere for your date with a certain Balrog slayer tonight."

Oh how he wished she was here now smoking the infernal thing and teasing him. What he wouldn't give to hear her goad him about Glorfindel. She had always known, even before he did. Erestor turned away from the pipe and opened the bedroom door. The wardrobe door was still open from when she had rushed out the day she left. She had been running late that morning and couldn't find her boots. Erestor took a deep breath. Why did he do this to himself? Why did he come in here? He was about to turn and leave when movement outside drew his gaze the balcony door. That was the only thing he had changed. He had locked that door. She was always forgetting to do that.

"Can I go out on the balcony now Erestor?"

He closed his eyes and could almost imagine no time had passed, that she was still a child jumping on her new bed. But then two arms wrapped themselves around him from behind.

"You will see her again Meleth"

Erestor leant back into the body behind him.

"Glorfindel, tell me about the halls again."

The warrior sighed but nodded his head slightly.

"Alright, come on"

Glorfindel led Erestor back through the door to what were now their rooms and locked it.