Note: For a while 'Athrana' And 'Nariel the Red' have been chapter for chapter. Until they meet up again however this will not be the case. This chapter actually corresponds with chapter 89 of Nariel
I'm sorry it has taken me so long to update. I am getting married in August and so have been swamped with wedding plans and the new job. It probably doesn't help that before that I was going through a down phase in by depression and before that writing my NaNoWriMo project. I just wanted to say that I have not forgotten this story or any of my others.
Lastly the song is 'Deceiver of Fools' by 'Within Temptation', reordered slightly. I use Within Temptation quite a lot as it somehow makes me think of LOTR. As a result I often write while listening to them, or in the case of this story, 'Three Days Grace' as some of their songs remind me of Athriel.
Athrana (Wandering Shadow)
Chapter 64- Lessons learned
TA 3019 March 13th
Athriel stood on the deck and looked out towards the horizon. Their wait on the shore was over, but now they had to wait for the boats to reach their destination. It would take them another day at least and she was impatient.
Erestor to was restless. He had spent the last few days watching Glorfindel ready the troop, and then this morning he had watched him readying himself to leave. The borders would be attacked, and they would be attacked soon so they all needed to be ready, Erestor included. Once upon a time he had wielded a sword well enough. Once upon a time he had been as capable as any elf in battle despite not being a warrior, and soon he would have to do it again. Slowly he stood and walked slowly to a chest in the corner of the room, humming softly as he did.
Elladan and Elrohir moved silently to stand either side of their old friend. They were heading for a battle they never thought they would have to fight, a battle that had been won centuries before they were born, a battle they had learned about in their school room. Erestor had taught the three of them all about the last alliance and the evil of Sauron, but they had never thought they would face his army in battle. Remembering those lessons Elladan began to hum, which prompted Elrohir to start singing.
TA141
Erestor looked at his students in frustration. They were not troublesome, at least not at the moment. Athriel liked stories of great battles and warriors, but she preferred stories that centred around her hero Glorfindel. And the twins found it difficult to image their father in amongst the battles he was describing and so underestimated the gravity of what he was telling them. But he didn't want to lecture them, didn't want to force the subject on the three elflings, which would automatically turn them off to is lessons. If he wasn't careful he would lose their attention and they would find something else to concentrate on, like pulling pranks and showing off for one another and he didn't want to find stationary items glued to his desk again. At a loss as to what else he could do Erestor began to sing as the three stopped fidgeting to listen to him once again.
Deceiver of hearts
Deceiver of fools
He rules with fear
Deceiver of hearts
Deceiver of fools
He rules again
He feeds on fear
Poisons the truth
To gain their faith
To lead the way
To a world of decay
Athriel smiled as she heard the song and the same memories came to her. That song had always stuck in her mind, and now she wondered at how appropriate it was. In order to make them understand her brother had sung as if the Dark Lord was once again at his full power. It had worked, it had stayed with them. But had he had some inkling that one day they would have to face this evil. She didn't know, she was just glad he had given them the lesson all those years ago. She started to sing along as well.
He feeds on fear
He feeds on pain
He rules again
With growing hate
He will guide
Their faith again
Erestor looked down at the sword in his hands. He had hoped in vain that this day would never come. He had hoped that it was really true that Sauron was gone forever. But he knew that the ring had not been destroyed, he was Elrond's chief adviser, of course he knew. But like the others he had been placated by Saruman's words, he had believed the ring lost forever. He had believed that everything was well when the necromancer was driven out, believed that the ring was indeed lost. But it had all proved untrue. Now his sister would face that same evil and he would have to fight to defend his home. Somehow the lessons he had given the young elflings would be more important than he ever thought it would be.
In my heart there is a place
In my heart there is a trace
Of a small fire burning
A sheltering ray shines through this night
Although it 's small, it's bright
But darkness is lurking
He will sell your soul to bitterness and cold
Fear him
Deceiver of hearts
Deceiver of fools
He rules with fear
Deceiver of hearts
Deceiver of fools
He rules again
Together the three elves watched their destination getting closer and closer while Erestor sang along with them although they were miles apart. The war was coming to everyone and there was no escaping it.
No light in the darkness
Is too small to see
There's always a sparkle of hope
If you just believe
Please awake
And see the truth
He can only be
If you believe what he tells you
Remember who you are
What you stand for
And there will always be a way
Deceiver of hearts
Deceiver of fools
He rules with fear
Deceiver of hearts
Deceiver of fools
Shall he rule again?