Athrana (Wandering Shadow)
Chapter 41- Leaving
TA3019, March 2nd
As quietly as possible Athriel made ready to go out. She wanted to get to the training ground as early as she could and she didn't want to wake Erestor. Now that she had decided she was going to war she was worried. She had no idea whether she would be able to control herself out there. Picking up her sword on the way out, she opened the door and stopped. Erestor was standing there with his arms folded. "Morning Res" she said sweetly, sword resting on her shoulder. "Don't you 'morning res' me. Where are you going?" Rolling her eyes Athriel walked back into her room with her brother on her tail. "I'm going down to the training grounds for some extra practice. Have you spoken to Glorfindel yet?" She sat down on the long chair and looked expectantly up at her brother. "Don't change the subject Athriel. I'm not an idiot. I know what's going on."
Sighing he sat next to her. "I just don't want you to go, not yet." She closed her eyes. "I know you don't but I have to. I can't just sit here. You want me to get back into my old life, and this is my old life." Erestor leant back looking up at the ceiling. "I know. I just wish... nothing. Just come back this time." She looked at him in shock. "Of course I'm coming home." She grabbed his hand. "I'm coming back Erestor, I promise. I just have to do this. I'm not running away, I'm finally getting my life back. Estel needs them, and they need me. And when I come home I'm going to be more myself than I was before. You'll see."
By the time Athriel finally reached the training grounds her mind was working overtime. How was she going to get it through to her brother that she was coming back? How was he going to cope while she was gone? And worst of all; what did Erestor wish? Memories ran through her mind. All the times he had tried to get her to act like a lady, all the arguments they had when she revealed she wanted to be a warrior, the secret training with Glorfindel terrified he would find out, and now. Did he wish she was different? Was she really that bad a sister?
"He's just worried about you" Glorfindel was standing against one of the targets, as if he was waiting for her. "Have you been following him Findel" she asked sitting down on the ground. He laughed moving to sit next to her. "No. I just know how he thinks, and I know how you think." He pulled a package from behind his back. "I got you something; you'll need it when you leave today." She pulled the fabric open and gasped. She pulled out the two knives and grinned. "I placed the order the first night after you started training again. I figured you'd need them soon enough, and judging by everything that happened yesterday I was right." With that he stood up and turned to leave. "Glorfindel?" He turned back. "He really misses you, you know." He nodded. "I know. We'll sort it out don't worry." With that he was gone.
Elladan and Elrohir checked their packs for the final time before heading towards the stables. For one moment it was as if they had gone back in time.
Elladan and Elrohir were in the stables readying the horses when Athriel came in. They watched her tack up her horse before Elladan spoke. "What do you think you are doing Athriel?" he asked. "You're not coming with us" Elrohir added. She laughed. "Of course I am."
Standing there as they approached their horses was Athriel adjusting the saddle on her horse. "Ree, what are you doing?" She didn't even turn around. "What do you think I'm doing?" They all knew where this was going, but they continued anyway. "We can't let you come with us." She shook her head. "You don't have any choice. I'm coming with you and that's that." But they couldn't do it, not this time. They couldn't let her get herself killed for them, not again. ""NO!"" They shouted together. Athriel's eyes took on a dangerous glint as she spun around. "I'm going with you, and you can't stop me. I am doing this for the same reasons you are. Estel needs help, he needs to know what Arwen has done for him, he needs the sword of his people and he needs the Dunedain. I am doing this for him, and for Arwen to make sure she gets her happiness and I'm doing this for you two. Because there is no way I'm letting you go out there on your own. Do you really think you care more about them than I do? They may be your family, but they are mine as well. I am coming with you, so deal with it!"
With that she pulled her steed out into the courtyard while they stared after her. Finally they snapped out of it and ran after her. Elladan reached her first and grabbed her arm. "Wait! Athriel stop!" She shrugged him off. "What?" Elrohir grabbed her other arm. "That isn't the only reason we are doing this." She shrugged him off as well. "What do you mean?" As they pulled her back towards the stables Elrohir removed a scroll from his pack. "We know Ok, we know what's happening to you" She tensed beside them "And we think we can stop it" What, how could they. There was nothing that could help her, nothing she wasn't already doing. "The Orcs weakened when Sauron was defeated the last time..." She looked between the two of them as they spoke. "...If he is destroyed, completely eradicated. We think you'll go back to normal."
Athriel stared at them blankly. That was ridiculous; it was one of the stupidest things she had ever heard. But she didn't want to shatter their hope. Maybe this would keep them going, help them to do what they needed to do to help their foster brother. "Alright" She said nodding. "But I'm still coming with you."