Chapter 6: Moving On
The fire raged as the hammer came down crashing down on the anvil, the black metal was being shaped by the Dwarfs, forging the tips of the black arrows. Pulling the hammer away the Dwarf looked at his hand work and placed the tip on to the rest of the arrow, before laying it with the others. Moving next to the raw black ore that lay beside him only to find it had run out, he looked to door only to have another Dwarf come in to see him.
"We have some quests." said the second.
"Quest, who would come here to the lonely mountain, home to Dwarf king."
"Alight, you can stop with that, it's the Dragon hunters, form the brotherhood."
Moving away form the anvil he came to the first Dwarf who seemed weary "What would any human dragon hunter want here."
"They need the same metal we use to forge the black arrows."
"Impossible, that metal is more rare now then any other resource in middle earth."
"Well the King, is more then willing to accept their price."
"Our deal already gives them enough arrows, we can't spare any more, Dragons will come one day."
"That is not our choice to make, and by giving the brother hood the metal, dragons will no longer be threat to us or anyone ever again."
"But I've just forged the last of it in to another set of arrows."
"That is not a concern to us." said a Knight as they came in. "A new threat as surfaced."
The Dwarfs looked as the taller of the three moved around the room.
"There are now Dragon-Kinn roaming these lands, we need to stop them before they spread, and so we need weapons forged form the same metal. As no mortal blade can harm them."
"I said I used the last." insisted the Dwarf.
"Yes, but we can just melt down what you have forged."
"You don't understand this metal is not like anything, I've seen it's to potent that it takes a master craftsman to bend it and fit it, even in to a small shape, to forge a blade with such a metal, is beyond even us."
"We don't need your words, we need your arrows." insisted the Knight.
The Dwarf conceded and picked up the arrows and handed them over to the Knight, who nodded and carried them away.
"They will be unable to craft them form their current form." said the Dwarf.
Designed to be used on Dragon-Kinn, the metal was forged in to a few spearing weapons, said to be the only way to pierce the scales of a Dragon-Kinn and Dragon.
Wile what few weapons that where forged, non ever saw use against a real dragon, as besides the impossible feat of getting close enough to use it. These weapons soon disappeared ounce the Dragon Hunters died out and with them gone was the amount of sacred black metal used to forge the black arrows which soon became scarce.
The forge of the Brotherhoods base was engulfed with hammers hitting metal and fierce flames that rose up high and mighty. The knight in the forge laid down the arrow heads on the anvil and he dove it in and out of the flames as he hammered it on the anvil to shape the metal. Taking the arrow heads one by one and moulding them together to forge a single blade, melting down what little would bend to the fire. As each piece was placed the more the blade became hole before it was plunged in to the water. As the metal cooled the still raw links that held with the other arrow heads together began to weaken as the sword was forged.
The blade's crashed down as the black metal met on the battle field, as Elizabeth and Thanion struggled to over power the other. Pulling away Elizabeth spun around and as she gained enough force that as Thanion brought up his blade to counter the strike, as the two blades met Elizabeth's blade cut though Thanion's shattering it as it broke and fell to the ground.
The blade sat on the bank laid with the other weapons as the sun ran over it, as it's light breached the grassy plains. The others came out of the river they moved towards their clothes and possessions, quickly applying them back on.
"Okay so we make for the mountains." said Elizabeth.
"And the fastest route would be though the forest." said Vincent.
"What are we going to do for food?" wondered Theodore "I mean none of us have really had anything to eat."
Elizabeth looked to Vincent.
"I guess we can forage on ounce we reach the woods." said Elizabeth as she began to wade though the waters "Come on Snarlg."
The Gnarg looked over and finished his soak and joined her as she crossed.
"I know I had that bird." said Theodore.
"Don't worry, we'll manage." said Vincent as he also made his way across the river.
On the other side wet and dripping, they stood on the edge of the Lothlórien forest, looking in they seemed to wait until they where all gathered before moving forward.
As they made their way though Elizabeth drew the Ice bow, Theodore readied his spear and Vincent held his staff ready. At the slightest inkling of movement they all pounced shooting down all that crossed their path. Birds fell form tress and Rabbit's dropped dead, Theodore raced in to pull his spare form a baby dear. As Vincent used his staff to pull back the bird, both eating them hole, as they unhinged their jaws to swallow the body's of their prey. Elizabeth bent down to eat her rabbit but looked to Snarlg who was holding back flipping around in all directions.
"Vincent, hand me the black blade." she said holding out her hand.
"Why?" he asked having to hinge his jaw.
"Just, give it to me." she insisted.
Giving in he handed over the weapon, and she held it in her hands looking over it, the blade was not smooth like other weapons. Where the arrow heads had been melded together and weakened by the water had caused narrow cracks in the blade. Looking at it, wile the blade's edge was sharp the cracks flowed in form where arrow heads met. Running her hand over it she felt the cracks on her hand, then looking to the blade's thickness saw how fragile it really was.
"Are you okay?" asked Vincent.
"Yeah." she said.
"We should keep moving."
"No, Snarlg knows something is off, you leave and go around the forest, catch what you can, I'll find out who's hunting us."
"Don't go alone."
"Trust me."
"To do what, we need you."
"Just go." she insisted.
Vincent turned around reluctant to leave, pulling Theodore away and leading Snarlg with them as they left.
"You wish to fight me alone." said a voice.
"They have nothing to do with this, and if I die, I hope it's stops you from going after them and further harming what ever ends come to my people."
Thanion came out in to view. "You are animals, you deserve no better then to be stricken form this plan."
"And what about you, the elven who has lived for so long yet has lost the will to forgive."
"How can I forgive the actions of a creature that knows now what they did."
With that, talking stopped and he charged towards her, and she raised her blade to defend the attack.
As they left they made their way to the edge of the forest Theodore looked back.
"Come on, we cant' afford to loose more time." said Vincent.
Fallen back to in a tree Elizabeth looked up to Thanion as he wiped the blood from her mouth, before charging in with her attack.
Backing up as he kept a strong defence blocking each attack keeping both hands on his hilt to give him more strength.
Coming down on him with each short bust the metal struck against it self before she swung up for an heavy attack.
Countering this Thanion raised his blade and brought it down at the same time, having the blades clash over their heads. Smiling he loomed over her with his great elven hight.
Choosing to back of she pulled back on her attack and two stepped around in circles, both coated in cuts and scraps, no lethal blows had been made, but all carried a sting as they moved.
This time he went in to attack and so Elizabeth shot the blade forward and Thanion me this and pushed the blade out and swung it up forcing the blade form her hand.
Looking to the were it landed she head butted him and made a dash for her weapon before swinging around.
Lunging at her he came down to attack, as Elizabeth brought up her blade to defend, as Thanion pushed down forcing his weapon down trying to reached the scales on his opponent.
Having the blade slowly bare down on her, she rolled away ans Thanion's force led him to the ground, as she got away and stood back up. Taking a breath she watched his movements.
Bringing up his weapon he charged in to attack and Elizabeth did the same brining up her blade to counter. The two blades clashed as they hit each other, the black metal scratched ageist each other. Spark's flew as the blades scraped against each other, as they both tried to over power the other. Both began to weaken as their strength faded, and Elizabeth pulled away as Thanion pulled his blade back but kept it up in defence. Spinning the blade around Elizabeth spun her blade around forcing Thanion to raise up his weapon, only for the two to collide.
As the large force of the first blade met the second static blade the, the over whelming force that passed though the blade as it made contact weakened the already weak joints of Thanion's reforged baled. The joints broke apart and broke up and spread on to the grass as it was pulled form his hand pulling Thanion with it as he looked up, confused to where his blade had gone.
Standing in the citaras aladhon Thanion looked longingly out in to the woods as his wife came up behind him.
"I'm going back to hunt down the Dragon-Kinn." he said.
"Don't let this be the end of you." she warned.
"It won't." he said looking back seeing her face for the last time "I'm going to be coming back."
Looking back around to the forest.
He looked up to the blade that had broken his own that was starring him down.
"End me." he said looking up at last face he would see. "I can't go on like this, you have taken everything form me, end me now and let me at peace. Take my life and finish what you started."
Starring him down, holding the blade so close to him, she was able to pierce a vain in a single movement. She held her ground as she questioned her grip on the blade.
Wondering close to the edge Vincent led Theodore and Snarlg around the forest's borders. Sticking close to tree's, they kept a good footing to the expansive fields, they kept looking in, letting their minds wonder.
"Do you think she's still alive?" asked Theodore.
"If she's not, we've just lost three of our best weapons." he said as he ducked under a branch.
"Don't talk like that." grunted Theodore.
"It's true, and I'm sure, her ability's will see her though."
"Will she be able to find us?"
"You can't let you fears for her safety out weigh our struggles back home, that's the reason we are even here."
"I know, but what good is saving the people if we don't have someone to lead us."
"To be honest, I don't think we need a leader." said Elizabeth coming out of the forest.
"What happened?" asked Theodore.
"I knew the Elven was there, and I was right."
"Has he been dealt with?" asked Vincent.
Elizabeth looked away and held her arm.
"Is he going to keep following us?" asked Vincent.
"No, he's not going to be following us, we need to keep moving, Moria is this way."
They headed off moving further around towards the forest.
"Where did she learn that?" wondered Theodore.
But no none was paying attention.
Moving closer to the Misty Mountains, the edge of forest was drawing near, as the group made the next leg of their journey. They stopped as they looked past the last of the forest and looked over to the see the range of the Misty Mountains.
"The entrance should be somewhere up here." said Elizabeth, as she made a mad dash towards the range.
Vincent watched as Snarlg raced on after her leaving him and Theodore behind, coming close to the forest edge Elizabeth looked on towards short trek between the edge of the forest and the mountains.
"We should be able to pass though clear to the other side." she called back.
"Then we can find our selves in more familiar territory." said Vincent braking out the map.
Theodore looked uneasy, as he and Vincent followed on after Elizabeth and Snarlg, as they came to the borders of the forest. Joining up with the others the group carried on towards the mines.
"Do you still have the black blade?" asked Vincent.
"Yes." she replied.
"Can I have it back?" he asked.
"Oh, sorry I forgot."
"So did, I but I'd rather keep that weapon on my person."
Taking it out Elizabeth handed it over allowing Vincent to put it back in his sheath.
"Why did you need it?" asked Theodore "You have the frost blade."
"Thanion, had a black blade, I thought it only fair I thought him with." Elizabeth explained
"Who?" wondered Vincent.
"The elven who was chasing us."
"We never got a name."
She became quite.
"What aren't you telling us?" wondered Vincent. "What happened in those woods."
Soon after Elizabeth raced away at great speed towards the mountains.
"ELIZABETH!" shouted Vincent, trying to go after her.
Theodore and Snarlg tried to follow but she was to fast and was out of sight.
"Dam, it." Vincent cursed, sitting down.
"That's not the only thing, she knows." said Theodore joining him.
"What do you mean?"
"She knew how to get in to Moria."
"True, we only learnt of the mine as our last hope from women we met."
"She must have spoken to someone in the woods."
"Perhaps." thought Vincent "Come, let us carry on."
Getting back up the three moved on.
"We need to fin Elizabeth, we have no idea what lays ahead."
Running and running, she did not look back, soon she found the mines west tunnel that the fellowship had ounce used to escape, racing in the dark soon took hold and she stopped letting her self catch her breath. Her mind went back to the woods.
Standing over Thanion she looked at him, holding the blade unsure weather to strike, closing his eyes he looked away as he heard the sword go only to feel nothing and look over at her as she slumped down in front of a tree.
"Why haven't you killed me."
"How can you live a life as long as you have?" she asked.
"Elf's are immortal, we can not die from age. Only though other means can our life's be taken."
"Not that, how can you go on knowing that everything around you will fade away and leaving you and only you to remember it."
"For elf's it's not a real problem."
"What about the fact you can do and seen everything you ever wanted?"
He looked unsure as he answered "We leave for the Greyavens, where we leave this mortal plain behind."
"We don't have such life to lead." said Elisabeth "We are forced to contend with our short lives, living no more then fifty to be so lucky." she looked to the blade in her hand "But, we live out our lives knowing we are going to die, leaving us knowing that at time it can be taken by someone else, meaning we need to treasure what we have." she looked to Thanion "But you, who can live to the end of time, who can do so much more and enjoy a life greater then any one."
He looked away.
"My people are dying, and we may not live to see tomorrow, so don't ask for death, when so many ask for more of their own life."
Sobbing in the mines she fell to her side.
Soon Vincent, Theodore and Snarlg arrived at the cave mouth that led in to Moria, looking in the darkness took hold and they where unable to see nay more then jut front of them.
"Come on." said Vincent as he stepped in.
The orb atop bis staff light up in orange hue, not to dissimilar to a flame, as they stepped in they kept close and looked around. Soon enough the sound of crying echoed around them.
"Elizabeth." called Vincent.
But it only carried on though the mines.
Thanion stood up form the ground and sat beside Elizabeth.
"I, can help you." he offered.
Elizabeth looked over at him.
"Tell me what is it you seek."
The trio moved deep in to the mines caller out her name.
"Silver, or what you call Minthril." she said wiping away her tears.
Thanion took her hands "Moria is not to far form here, at the furthest point from here just shy of the forest, there is an entrance to Moria, the East Gate." he pointed though the woods, to where the entrance lay. "The Dwarfs mined it hollow, but you might find some still hold Minthril weapons and amour, just enough for you to do with it."
"Thank you." she replied. "Now I can honour your wishes."
Thanion was unable to do anything, as he found the frost blade had already cut though his heart. Falling over his body ran cold. Elizabeth yanked the blade clear.
"My queen." called Theodore, hearing his words echo back at him.
"You got your wish." she said standing up. "Death." her tone went dull and her eye narrowed.
A sound came from the distance, and call went out.
Crying to her self Elisabeth heard their words carry thought the caves and tunnels.
The sound had spoken to her so she darted in to the trees to hide as another Elf came out, female this time, Elizabeth drew her ice bow.
"So, you met your end." said the Elf "You never could let things go." tears began to roll don her face. "So as it is, you pass on leaving everything behind. Blind to what really mattered, caring for those around you. Instead you let vengeance take hold."
Lowering her bow Elizabeth thought back on those parting words, to her own life spent out side the city walls. Trying to spare her own tears she tried to slip away unnoticed, but the Elf had seen her, seen what she had done and now seen her leave. But she did not want to hunt her down, get revenge for what had been done, she stayed and sat there with her husband before laying him down to rest and parting back to the other elves.