Warning: graphic violence in this chapter...
And thank you, kind reviewers: Millie, BizzareArmy, d'elfe and LeeLee202, you keep me going with your kind words.
And thank you readers that started following this story on FF, feels good to see how many people are interested in my story.
And in between writing I do some reading as well and I highly recommend "Paths Afire" by Ruiniel. A real gem, that story, on Glorfindel and OC.
CHAPTER 17 - The landscape opened up more and more….
The landscape opened up more and more, showing grassy plains with occasional boulders. Harsh winds blew from behind and Rin's hair was swept up and downwards into her face, moving wildly, until she pulled up her hoodie, sick of the sharp points of hair prickling her cheeks. Her companions had no such trouble due to their warrior braids. She should consider taking braids as well, she mused.
She imagined that the gusts of wind pushed them over the plains, having a mind of their own, steering them into an unknown venture. Having a free range of vision over the wide open lands, it became clear how far the other groups travelled during the day, for she could not see them. Dissolved in nature, it seemed.
She was travelling with a group of four Elves, all silent dark haired warriors. They did not talk with her due to their lack of knowledge of Westron. She quite enjoyed the silence for now, being able to relax for a moment, without having to meet some expectations from others. One of the warriors, Raumo, she recalled, pointed from time to time towards animals or landscape marks. He was a kind Elf, always friendly and quiet, he smiled a lot at her and she made gestures to indicate that she was grateful for his remarks on her surroundings.
After some time Tessarion appeared from the rear, accompanied by two of his elves. It was his habit to travel in between the groups and she looked forward to the breaking of this silence, for he would take the time to engage in conversation with her and provide valuable information. She would ask questions about the lands they were passing, as well as the lands that lay ahead and she absorbed his answers eagerly. Having memorised the maps in Elronds' study, she silently combined her knowledge with the additional information that Tessarion provided. She became capable of keeping a very precise track on their movements through the landscape.
She wondered if Tessarion realised how precise she could be and tried to keep her knowledge to herself. She knew exactly where and how to ride to get back to Rivendell, and how to trace back her journey with the twins. She felt confident of traversing even the lands of the Dunedain in the North that were now within reach. She knew where to expect the rivers, ridges or lakes and how to navigate around them. It made her feel independent and free.
Tessarion also shared basic knowledge of the many power balances in Middle Earth during their conversations. The complicated broken relationship between Rohan and Gondor. The trade networks that came and went between Bree, Mirkwood and Laketown. The silent realm of Lorien where the power of the Lady Galadriel kept the land in stasis. He confirmed her own limited knowledge of this world, and added more. He described the many Dunedain settlements that kept the enemy in check in the North. She learned that the men they sometimes encountered, were Dunedain rangers that kept an eye on the lands around Rivendell and the Shire. He displayed his concern for the upcoming evil forces that kept sweeping southward from the North from its many ancient strongholds there.
So when he pulled up his horse next to her, stroking its mane, murmuring in Elvish, she welcomed him back with a smile, anticipating their conversation.
The sun was shining brightly halfway in the sky, and Tessarion was eating an apple, sitting in the saddle with the flair of an old cowboy. His hair seemed to be an auburn colour where the sun hit it directly, and she marvelled at the shiny braids that were woven in an intricate pattern, baring his face and ears. The sunlight seemed to enhance his presence, as if his features had been carved afresh, his scar reflected the light subtly.
But her admiration of his features was short lived, for her stomach made her eyeing the apple with jealousy. She never saw these Elves snacking during patrol! He noticed immediately and gave her a cheeky smile.
"Seeing something you like?" His smile turned into a grin.
"Where did you get that?" she asked with longing.
He waved his hand vaguely towards where came from while taking a large bite.
She noticed small drops of apple juice on his bottom lip, sliding further down his chin while he chewed and she surprised herself by the wicked thoughts that popped up in her mind. Thoughts about her tongue on his skin. Before she had time to blush he wiped his chin with the back of his sleeve, waking her out of her fantasy.
He caught her gaze and looked at her thoughtfully. Suddenly, as if deciding on a strategy, he suddenly sat up straight in the saddle, saying something in quick Elvish and the others rode on ahead. When they were out of hearing, she made a mental note on the large distance that was necessary for private conversation. These elves with their heightened senses!
Tessarion refrained from speaking for a while until she grew uneasy under the tension.
"Did you want to speak about something, taichou?"
"Indeed I did." he smiled apologetically at her. "I hope that it is unsurprising to you that Lord Elrond briefed me on your sensitive information."
She had suspected that that would be the case. He of all elves, should know, since he was controlling the lands and information networks around Rivendell. It was logical that he knew. She nodded in confirmation.
Chewing thoughtfully on another piece of apple he stated in a softer tone: "I urge you not to speak of it in the company of my warriors, Rin. I needed to know, being the leader of the Guard, but I will not risk it spreading to my men. I can vouch for them, but there is no telling what will happen when the enemy puts them to the test."
Rin shivered at his underlying meaning.
"I want you to recall your story as you have told it to my Lord, Rin. Second hand information will become less accurate when passed on. I just want to be sure I have not missed anything."
She nodded in understanding. "The person that is of importance is called Aragorn. He will be raised in Rivendell from an early age. He hails from the North, from the Dunedain. His father's name sounds the same."
Tessarion stilled for a while. She could hear the wheels turning in his head.
"Alas, that is not much more than Lord Elrond shared with me. Is there nothing else that you can think of? Maybe an object that is connected to him?"
She had to confess that she had forgotten that possibility. She racked her brain for something, but details were vague and obscure. She did read the book, but she was not a die-hard fan. She looked at Tessarion helplessly.
"Maybe a weapon?"
And then something clicked in her brain. Of course! It was so obvious that she completely overlooked it!
"Yes! A sword! A sword that was broken!"
Tessarion grew pale. She knew that he was aware now. Aware of the importance of Aragorn and when she spotted the resolve that followed his shock, she knew that he was dedicated to her cause in finding him.
"I know of that house. But this name is not connected to it. There is only Arador and his son Arathorn that I can think of."
"Can it be that we are too late?" The possibility gave her the chills, she had hoped that Aragorn existed already and that circumstances would bring him to Rivendell as it should happen. But what if the opposite was true? What would become of Middle Earth when Aragorn was dead? And what was her role in this? Was she here by accident? Or did she have a part to play in this?
"There is no way to find out for now Rin. This Guard will not pass the boundaries of this realm. Our only contact with mortals is the occasional meeting with rangers. The lives of the Second Born are intense but short and follow a different pace from ours. So I fear I have lost track of that house, although some information remains, for I heard rumors that Arador has been killed recently. Elrond's sons will know more of this, since they venture past the boundaries towards the North. I suspect they formed friendships with those houses in the North. But they do not share their knowledge easily."
"That seems, unwise…." she wondered out loud, ignoring the fact that, that he just categorised her life as well, as intense but short. It was one of those moments that she realised that he may seem human and only a few years older, but that he was something else entirely.
"Indeed. Unwise and selfish. They hold their own counsel."
She heard the frustration in his voice and said no more. It seemed the twins had some kind of dubious reputation, and Tessarion made it almost seem like they were untrustworthy. She wondered about that, since her trust in them had been larger than life. Until they ditched her of course. She ground her teeth. The hurt was there, deep inside, contained within a ball of anger. And that anger was simple. Underneath were more complicated feelings. Did she really love them? She shook her head. Better not to think about them. Right now she had a friend in the captain of the Guard, and she would be content with that.
"So, what now, taichou?"
He stared ahead over the grass towards his warriors in the distance. The strong wind swept past them.
"We will focus our intelligence gathering on the north for now. I will set out a request for information, through our networks. I fear it is a balancing act. We cannot state the exact nature of our request, it would raise suspicions. We have to gather indirect information in the hopes it will lead us to our goal."
Rin felt frustration rising inside her. Gather information? Stay put and stay out of sight? Indirect information? She did not like this stealthy cat-and-mouse game, but it seemed they were the only weapons Tessarion had at his disposal that would not raise suspicion, being the Captain of the Guard.
So for now, she gritted her teeth at her own powerlessness and let the wind sweep her alongside him in silence.
Xxxxxxxxxxx
As was her custom, Rin did not seek out social contact voluntarily within the patrol even though Tessarion encouraged her to do so. The Elves teased her, laughed at her mortal ways, but were always kind and looking out for her, teaching her all kinds of lore, like caring for her horse, her weapons and surviving in the wild. She felt exactly as they most likely saw her: a mortal in the midst of immortals.
Being a reclusive type for many years, the constant presence of the company around her tired her out and made her sometimes irritable. Only Bethril she tolerated at any time, feeling their bond soothed her uneasiness over other things. She had noticed quickly that the horse reacted to her moods. This sensitivity showed her the power over their bond, for her strength and weaknesses resonated in Bethril too.
Two Elves who were fluent in Westron, Raithon and Aien, took an interest in her katana. She learned later that they were masters in sword making. When she told them that her sword was very old and the technique of its making lost to later generations, they asked if they could inspect it. After intense study, they shared with her many things about her katana that she had not known nor noticed before. To her surprise, they told her that they felt the resolve of its maker and the impact that resolve had on the weapon and its wielder.
She could not help but smile. She knew her katana was special, but it was also priceless. Her father had always urged her to use it. An unused sword would grow lazy and lose its soul, he always told her. After he died, she read in his last will and testament, the true nature of the blade. Smiling she realised that this was exactly what the Elves seemed to sense, the soul of the katana.
So she took a deep breath and told them that the katana was made by the most famous sword master of Japan, Masamune Gorō Nyūdō and that its worth was not measurable in money in her world. She told them many stories after dinner that night of Masamune-sama and other famous samurai and sword makers. The two Elves seemed hungry for knowledge and listened silently, afterwards interrogating her on details. They repaid her by sharing with her, stories of their own legendary swords and their makers, and stories of times long gone, stories of noble deeds and perilous adventures. And she forgot about her own hurt for a while as she listened in awe, with Tessarion smiling his approval in the background at the growing interaction between Rin and the rest of the patrol.
Xxxxxxx
While her days with the Guard fled past, she learned that as far as diversions were concerned, Tessarion proved to be the best one of all. He was accessible, easy going and funny and she found herself increasingly eager for his company. She could not decipher her feelings towards him at that point, it was friendship first and foremost, but she noticed herself being attracted to him as well. His handsome face, agile body, his qualities as a warrior and a leader, it all added up and she noticed more and more that her eyes sought him out whenever he was near. It confused her, since her complicated feelings for the twins were still dancing just underneath the surface of her consciousness.
One morning, he stated out of the blue, that she was different from other humans in Middle Earth. "I had thought mortal women to be busy cooking, nursing or cleaning house all day. How come you are different, Rin?"
"I just don't like cooking, nursing or cleaning house."
"Ai! How come you failed to meet the expectations of your gender?" He winked at her.
"In my land there are not much expectations concerning one's gender. I was free to choose my own path."
"Well, it seems your land is lacking discipline. How dare you choose your own path? I will make sure to replace your sword by with a broom tomorrow!" He laughed out loud.
She pushed him in the shoulder, for they were riding close to each other. He feigned being hurt with a childish expression. "My lady, you are too cruel!"
She could not help but laugh at his silliness.
Tessarion, still laughing, said gently. "Forgive my silly teasing Rin. You are quite exceptional. I never met a mortal that was this skilled with a blade. Why did you choose to master the art of war?"
She blinked at his gentle and friendly question. How did one explain to an Elf warrior that sword fighting was a sport at home?
"I did not study the art of war, taichou-sama, for I am not trained as a warrior, or soldier as we call it. I practiced sword fighting as a sport, for relaxation and to keep my body healthy."
"Why are you not a warrior?" Tessarion frowned.
"Killing others is normally not allowed under my country's laws, unless one is a soldier in war. I do not want to kill for my country or my emperor for that matter. The first time I ever killed another being was here in Middle Earth when I met orcs. I cannot and will not call myself a warrior. For me, killing is a personal and intimate endeavour. "
Tessarion chewed on her words carefully. She had some insightful self reflections and he felt her convictions keenly and he suspected that she would have a hard time fitting into his Guard. Still, it didn't hurt for her to try.
"Anyway." She mused on: "You and I could not be warriors in my country, since we do not fight with swords any more."
"Not with swords?"
"We use guns. Metal devices that explode and send a piece of metal with incredible speed through a body. If aimed well, death is quick."
Tessarion stared at her in awe while he tried to wrap his mind around such a weapon.
After some silence he said softly as if to himself. "Well, I would be without a purpose in your world".
"You might have time to learn how to cook and clean then!" she laughed out loud and urged Bethril forward to escape his possible wrath at her quip.
When he caught up with her again mirth was written all over his face. He enjoyed their verbal sparring as much as she did.
"Do you miss your home?"
She had learned that this was Tessarion's way, teasing, laughing on one hand and then suddenly, asking very private and direct questions. She found she liked his openness very much.
"I do not. I quite like it here."
"You have nothing or nobody to miss at home?" he cocked his head to the side.
She shrugged. "No, not really." She wasn't ready to share that her family was dead. "Maybe my training partner. It would be nice to show him the skill of the Elves. He is a better sword master than I am".
"Better?" Tessarion cocked his head to the side. "I would have liked to meet this master. What is his name?"
"Hideo. Akamine Hideo." Saying Hideo's name brought back memories of the activities they used to do together. Intense training rounds with their swords. Wild sex so she could feel something other than the hurt from the loss of her family and desire for revenge. Did she miss him like she missed the twins? No she didn't, she mused. The emotional connection had been lacking. But she did miss the physical intimacy that came with no strings attached. Lost in her thoughts, she almost missed Tessarion's next question.
"Since this other sword master is not here, would you be willing to give me a lesson on your techniques? I find your sword fighting style very intriguing and would like to learn more about it."
She stared at him in surprise. Why would a master Elven swordsman want to learn from her? But she saw that he was serious in his request. Swallowing, she could only nod, at which he smiled.
Xxxxxxxxxxxx
That evening she faced Tessarion alongside the sparring Elves who occasionally threw them curious glances. He had shed his leather tunic and mail and wore a loose soft looking tunic of a light brown color. She could see well-muscled pale chest peeking out. He had rolled up his sleeves, showing strong arms and slender wrists. She noticed what a handsome figure he cut and wondered what his body would feel like, promptly blushing at her unexpected thoughts. She hoped Tessarion would not notice her flushed face as she stood in her racer-back holding the katana straight out towards him in a basic "chudan-no-kamae" stance.
"I am trained in various styles, both old and new and styles from other cultures and times. But I will teach you the basic exercises that go with the history of these kind of swords in my world, the katana. So we start with the first kata or exercise called "ippon-uchi no waza".
Tessarion nodded and watched seriously when she gave an example of the exercise and then copied her effortlessly and to perfection. She smiled and moved on to the second kata and all too soon they were immersed in the demonstration and learning of different offence and defense techniques.
Sometime in-between stances, she noticed Raithon moving to stand next to them, watching the training with interest, with Aien following suit.
Standing wide-legged with her left side towards Tessarion, placing the length of her katana behind her side she explained: "This stance is called "waki-gamae" and it is said that Miyamoto Musashi used this stance in his legendary fight with Sasaki Kojiro. They were legendary warriors in my world".
Raithon nodded, remembering her stories on this famous samurai from her past. Tessarion mimicked her again effortlessly.
"It seems a highly offensive move, while the distance with the opponent is deceptively close, since the sword length is hidden." he noted.
"You are correct," she smiled.
"There is beauty and practicality in these styles, Rin. I thank you for your teachings. I will incorporate some moves into my own style, I find some of them useful." They smiled at each other and then Tessarion nodded at the two spectators, calmly giving them orders: "Raithon, back to your training. Aien, come and spar with Rin."
He looked back at her. "I will watch and see if I can aid you in your fighting, if you don't mind." She smiled back at him in assent. Perhaps she would finally get some help in learning how to defeat these supernaturally strong Elf warriors.
Tessarion perched upon a large boulder and watched as she sparred with Aien. After several bouts of losing to him, Tessarion called out, "Adapt your footwork, Rin."
She looked at him questioningly. "Adapt my footwork? He should just refrain himself from using Elven power!" She glared at Aien, who smiled at her mischievously.
"Elven power? I fear I do not understand your reasoning, Rin. All I see is a bad loser!" Aien had become in a very short time, such a good companion, that he started to joke with her in a rather modern way, making her laugh constantly at his quips.
Tessarion jumped down from the boulder and strode towards her. Standing alongside her, he pressed his body against hers, grabbed her katana by folding his hands over hers and barked at Aien: "Again, but slow!" To Rin he said, "Watch my feet, and learn."
He was holding Rin and the katana in a death grip, but she could only focus on the warmth and smell that radiated from him. He smelled like earth, sweat and horses. Not as overwhelming as the twins when she met them because they had not travelling that long yet. Pressed against Tessarion she realised how much she missed the casual touching of the twins. Their ever-present hands, the feel of their bodies, their warmth, their breath. She felt a lump rising in her throat and quickly swallowed, focussing on Tessarion's movements instead, yet still fully aware of just how good Tessarion's body felt leaning on her.
While slowly turning in towards Aien's movement, he showed her how her footwork could aid her against the strength behind his blows. She was amazed at the simplicity of his suggestions. With just a simple adjustment of the position of her knees and feet, she felt capable of withstanding the sheer force of Aien's blows better.
Tessarion released her, stepping back to watch her mimic what he had shown her, nodding in satisfaction. "Now you get it. Keep in mind Rin, there is no boundary to your development as a fighter. Fight with your head and heart, adapt when necessary. Strength alone, is no sure victor. Work on your footwork and you should have no problems handling stronger opponents." he said with a smile. Their eyes met and she caught her breath at the look in his eyes. She was not the only one affected by their close proximity earlier, it seemed. Aware that she had seen his barely hidden attraction to her, he turned and walked away to check on other sparring groups, before she could reply.
Aien winked at her as he prepared to continue sparring. Rin though, could only feel the warmth of Tessarion's hands and body still distractingly present on her skin.
Xxxxxxxxxxx
The forest resonated with the sound of metal scraping over metal, followed by loud cries. A foul smell of blood and worse things hung over a small clearing. Two Elf Lords stood panting, shoulders hunched, in the epicentre of destruction, back to back. It was clear they were desperate, at the end of their energy reserves. And still the fight was not done.
Five orcs were still standing and in the distance two wargs were approaching at top speed. The orcs grinned, they would have the upper hand soon. And they could finally end the reign of these dangerous brothers against their kin and comrades once and for all. They would feast on Elf flesh this night, this much was certain.
Elrohir yelled at Elladan in elvish: "Wargs are approaching brother, I cannot be sure how many. We need to do this quick!"
Out of breath, Elladan nodded, staring at the three orcs within his line of vision, leaving the others to his brother. Gathering their strength with effort, they took a moment to collect their thoughts. Then, mind clear, they ran out simultaneously with a savage cry in a final charge, their power flaring fiercely once more, sending fear into their enemy's hearts.
Elladan ran forwards, evaded a swinging axe of one, and leaped light as air on the blade of the sword of another, sending it down into the dirt. The orc's face was thus within the reach of his sword, but the creature was agile and bent out of reach.
With a flash of irritation, Elladan jumped backwards before the orc could recover. He landed, legs bent into a crouch, leaning forwards, his fingertips on the ground for balance. Then, like a spring that uncoiled suddenly, he jumped forwards with lightning speed, his sword in both hands above his head. Then he let it descend while shifted slightly to the side, making it come downward with a slight angle. His Elven force together with the gravitational pull made his sword cut through flesh and bone. Two orcs fell in the wake of his sword. Blood sprayed his face. To his dismay, at the end of his movement, his sword got stuck within a bone and was wrenched out of his arm, twisting it painfully.
Now disarmed he cursed loudly, ducking underneath the swing of the third orc's jagged edged longsword. While ducking he pulled a dagger out of his boot, keeping it in a reverse grip, he scraped it alongside the orc's arm, making it cry out in agony. The sword swung back, the speed incredible considering the weight of the creature. He barely got out of the way, stumbling backwards. A stinging feeling on his cheek told him he had been grazed by the sword tip. He needed to end this, or he would meet his own ending!
The orc swung the sword towards him again, but before it could put speed and power into the movement, Elladan made a split-second decision. He grabbed the blade at an angle with one hand, the pain of the cut tearing through his arm like molten fire. Fortunately, the jagged edge made his grip extra tight and he used his Elven strength to pull the sword behind him, to get his opponent within reach and plunged the dagger into its belly.
The orc gurgled, blood, vomit and spit spilling out of its mouth while he tore its belly open, the warm intestines spilling over his hand and arm. He hardly registered the foul smell of it. Out of the corner of his eye he saw his brother ending his part of the fight, preparing for the imminent arrival of the wargs while eyeing Elladan with worry in his eyes. This was a close call.
When Elladan was sure the orc would not stand up again, he released the sword, cursing the large gash in the palm of his hand, bleeding profusely. But there was no time to wrap it. He could feel the wargs approaching, they would be here any second now.
He ran towards his sword that was still stuck in the dead orc, putting his foot on the body to gain leverage. He managed to pull it out of the bone, just in time to face the wargs that were upon them.
To their surprise, the beasts had slowed down their rampage and stepped into the clearing with care, steam coming out of their nostrils, foam dripping from their jaws. They smelled foul, of blood, rotting flesh and dung. The intelligence in their eyes was uncanny, as they assessed the situation and the two Elf Lords in their power.
They carried no riders, a strange feat, for wargs were brainless powerhouses, in need of a master. There was no time to dwell on that, because they needed to use this calm moment to assess how to kill the beasts. They could not be allowed to roam these lands free. Not when they had a chance to dispatch them.
But before they could charge at them, the animals turned and rushed away, leaving them puzzled but relieved. The only thing left in the clearing was the sound of their laboured breathing.
Xxxxxxxxx
Elrohir sat on his knees, shirtless at the edge of a small stream. He was tending his brother's hand with care, sewing the wound close as best he could. Elladan stared over the water in contemplation, ignoring the stinging sensations. They felt shell-shocked. A whirr of emotions had taken hold of them and they could not find their bearings, so they remained silent. Moving on automatic pilot.
"There. Done." his voice sounded monotone. Not like himself. Shaken out of his reverie, Elladan turned to watch his brother, shocked at his appearance, suddenly seeing him for real. His face had the colour of ashes, dark circles underneath his grey eyes. Despite the fact that they cleaned themselves, a streak of red was following his jawline. The silver light seemed gone from his irises. There was no emotion on his face and fear crept into his heart.
He raised his hand tentatively, placing it on his chest. The cold skin sending shivers of anxiety through his spine. His skin felt too cold, or was it his own hand that was wrong? He felt confused suddenly on the trustworthiness of his senses.
He caressed his brothers chest for a moment, trailing his pectoral muscles, until his hand rested on his shoulder, gripping it tightly. He was not sure at that moment if he was gripping it to comfort his brother or to gain strength himself. He was not sure if he was in his right mind and he blinked slowly as if waking from a tense dream.
Then suddenly, sound came back to the world around him. The stream made a happy clattering, the wind rustled the leaves of some bushes nearby. A single bird sang a cheerful song some distance away. It all seemed to stand out in sharp contrast to their state of mind.
With a shock, Elladan realised that he too must be appearing as his brother, just as empty and pale. And fear crept into his heart with more intensity this time. He knew what was the cause of this, as did his brother.
They stood, sharing a knowing look. He did not have to say it out loud. It was clear in his eyes. Elrohir turned away from him tiredly, picking up his tunic from the ground, dressing himself. In silence they mounted their horses and picked up their own trail reluctantly, back to Rivendell.