Note: Nariel appears in this chapter. Her story can be found in 'Nariel the Red'. Chapter 20 of 'Nariel the Red' (called 'Flirting') corresponds directly to this chapter and shows the event through the eyes of Nariel and Legolas.

This is my second attempt at chapter 12, which I have been having difficulty with. I think the problem is I have been using Chapter 20 of Nariel as a reference. As a result it came out too much like Nariel which is not as dark as Athrana. I have been trying to get back into writing after being ill for a long time and obviously this was not up to standard. Eventually today I ended up deleting the entire thing and starting again.

In reference to people's questions yesterday, yes I uploaded the wrong chapter. The chapter here before was chapter 12 of 'The Weapon' a SPN fanfic I am also writing. In my muddled state I managed to upload the wrong chapter 12.

Athrana (Wandering Shadow)

Chapter 12- Near Breaking

TA3018, October

Athrana blinked in the sunlight that seemed far too bright. Everything seemed brighter than it should be recently. It worried her that over the last few years her tolerance to the sun had been decreasing. She much preferred moving about in twilight or in full darkness if she could.

She blinked a couple more times trying to pull herself further into the limited shadow of the trees. She had been gone for a couple of days, although it felt a lot longer. She still had a job to do out there; she couldn't stay in valley all the time. No that was a lie. She had fled, fled to the borders and beyond looking for something to kill. Looking for a reminder of who she was now, the monster she was now, rather than who she used to be. The conversation with Glorfindel on the training grounds had nearly broken her. She missed him, she missed all of them. She always had. If she had stayed any longer she would have given in, she knew that. Her latest little tip had given her the reminder she needed.

Aragorn moved as quietly as he could through the gardens after his foster brothers. He knew his little trick was going to work on Legolas, but Athriel he wasn't so sure. He didn't even know if she was in Rivendell.

Athrana caught movement and watched as a bear ran across her vision. The creature stopped and turning into a woman sat back against a tree and started to read. It was the same woman she had seen at the ford. The one she had caught as she collapsed. Nariel they had called her. This woman had caused her to break her cover. That was another reason she had had to go hunting. In all the years she had been hiding in the shadows she had never been so stupid before. She had come so close to giving in that day, so close to coming home. But she couldn't. She couldn't do that to them. It was bad enough that Glorfindel knew.

She wasn't blind, she could see what the realisation was doing to him and it scared her. How could she do the same to Erestor and the twins? The answer was simple, she couldn't. And there they were. Elladan and Elrohir were approaching the woman with smiles on their faces and each carrying a bottle of wine. She watched quietly as they sat down next to Nariel and offered her a drink.

Athrana turned her face to the sun. See, she thought. See how much you hate the sunlight now. See how different you are to when you left. You can't go home now. You have to stay in the shadows. That's who you are now, the monster that stalks the darkness.

The blood covered her, dripping from her claw like fingers and filling her mouth as she ripped the bodies to pieces. She laughed as the creatures shrieked and screamed. The adrenaline pumped quickly through her veins alongside the poison. This was it; this was when she felt alive, when she could feel them die. When she could feel the life slip from them leaving only their bloody corpses. This was who she was.

Opening her eyes Athrana noticed that the twins were now alone. In the distance she could see the woman and the prince of Mirkwood arguing. That had been too close, far too close and she knew who was behind it. She watched as Estel approached his brothers.

Aragorn left his Elven kin to sit by the river. He had achieved one thing at least, Legolas had finally admitted his feelings for the female wizard, but he had not seen Athriel. "What exactly did you hope to achieve?" Aragorn spun around. So she had been there. "I was only trying to help my friend realise his feelings" he replied.

Athrana scoffed. "I'm sure that's it." She said sarcastically. He grinned. "It made you angry didn't it?" No, no it didn't she thought but she knew that was a lie. "You didn't like to see them flirting with her" She laughed. "I've been watching them seduce unsuspecting maidens for centuries Estel. It's hardly new"

Aragorn could see the anger growing in her eyes but he could see something else as well. "I doubt you liked it much then either" Suddenly he was shoved against a nearby tree. "Stop this Estel, it's not going to work" she hissed through clenched teeth. "I struck a nerve then" He said trying to hide the sudden fear he felt. He had not forgotten the piles of bodies he had often found amongst the trees, the limbs scattered around like confetti.

She stopped. She had seen the fear on his face. Taking a deep breath she let him go and stood back. This was Estel, little two-year old Estel, the mortal she had given her life to protect. "Why are you doing this?" she asked. The fear faded as she calmed. "You've been coming back here for years Athriel. Why" She ignored the question. "Athriel is dead!" she shouted instead. He shook his head. "If she is as dead as you claim, then why do you still watch them?"