Athrana (Wandering Shadow)
Chapter 44- Dunedain
TA3019, March 3rd
Athriel was getting impatient. They could have been continuing with their journey, but instead they were waiting here. Really she understood why they were here. They had the banner Arwen had made for Estel, they had the remade sword and they had themselves. But Estel needed his people as well. He needed the support of his kin both elven and mortal. She just wished they would hurry up.
To be honest she wanted this meeting over and done with. She was dreading it. Athriel was terrified. She didn't know how they were going to react to her. For centuries she had fought alongside the Dunedain with the twins, but that was a long time ago. It was unlikely that any of these men would remember her, and even if there were any amongst them old enough she looked so different. Would they be able to accept fighting alongside someone like her? Someone who was as much an orc as she was an elf. Would Elladan and Elrohir even tell them about that side of her? And if they didn't how would the men react when they saw her fight? How would they react to the scars that covered her body? She wondered whether her presence would affect how they saw the brethren. To most men the elves were magical beings. Perfect in every way and incorruptible. Would it shatter their faith to see her? Would they lose all confidence seeing what she had become at the hands of the enemy?
From her perch up in the tree tops Athriel scanned the horizon. There was still no sign of them. She huffed. At least there were no orcs about. They had been lucky so far. She knew eventually she would have to face the enemy in battle, but she didn't think she could deal with that right now. Not while she was worrying about Estel's kin.
Elrohir looked up into the tree tops again. Elladan nudge him. "Stop it Roh. She's fine" Elrohir looked back towards the fire. "No she isn't she's worrying again" He picked up a twig and threw it into the flames. "And you aren't" To be honest they were just as worried. When they had left the valley they hadn't thought this far ahead. Unlike Athriel they weren't worried about how she would react. They trusted her more than she trusted herself. They knew that even if she lost control she would not harm them, or any of the men. They didn't even know how they knew that, they just did.
What worried them was how the Dunedain would react to her. For centuries they had travelled with them, they were Estel's men, his kin. But Athriel was more important to them. They had no idea what to tell them when they got here. How much should they explain?
Before they could answer their own questions Athriel dropped down between them. "They will be here in an hour" She said quietly. From either side an arm went around her shoulders. Not saying anything the three of them watched the flames.
Back in Imladris Erestor stood out on his balcony looking out towards the trees. "She's out there somewhere." Two arms snaked around his waist and he smiled. "And she's fine." Erestor leant back into the body behind him. "What if she isn't Fin" The arms held him tighter. "She is. I know she is, and so do you. She is good at what she does, she always has been and the twins are with her. They won't let anything happen to her." Erestor moved away from the comforting embrace. "Because they did so well the last time." Glorfindel followed him inside and pulled him down to sit beside him. "That's not fair Erestor." The advisor sighed. "I know, I'm just so scared."
"We all are"