These poems and stories come from hours of time consuming inspiration. They are also the children of our hearts. We think through these verses of truth. Our experiences, heart aches, and a little more of everything going on around us, are the foundations of those offspring. Please make your selves comforatble, and enjoy these lyrical versions of our lives.
With all our love,
The Authors
~ Poets
Contents:
THE ELVEN SAGA: ELDARWEN HALF ELVEN AND NIMLOS OF THE DARK ELVES.
( More of the Elven Sagas will be written.)
( Poems)
( The Vampire and Werewolf Saga)
*This story is being written by both Elizabeth and I, all fictional characters are our own, please do not steal them.
( this picture is of Nimlos)
Alone With Elven Spies
Chapter One Nimlos
The cold snow crunched under the knee length boots Nimlos wore. Her posture was slightly crouched, and her pointy elven ears were tuned to what was going on around her. The soft trickle of the river ten miles from her, a soft breeze that will blow in the next five seconds, the soft rustle of fallen red and brown leaves…all of it she was aware of. She was even aware of her own heartbeats, the flowing of the blood in her head, and her slow calm breathing. Nimlos’ senses were wild and awake. Her short white locks fell loose from being her ears to feather into her eyelashes. Annoyed, she batted them away, and tucked them firmly behind her ear again.
She didn’t even risk a sigh, and continued to move on, until she was on the tips of her fingers and toes. It had to be around here somewhere, and she wasn’t going to let Eldarwen down again. It was bad enough that the only weapon she chose to carry with her on this mission was her spiky whip. And at the end of this flesh tearing whip was a light elven steel dagger, used to slice as the spikes ripped. Eldarwen insisted that she take a bow and a sword, but the whip was Nimlos’ specialty.
The forest around her was breathtaking in the moonlight; everything was beautiful in the dark as far as Nimlos was concerned. She was a dark elf, one of the sneakiest, most cunning races of elves in Middle Earth. Most dark elves are captured and used as assassins. As a matter of fact, that’s what Eldarwen was. An assassin trained by her wicked father to do the cruelest, heartless things to people he randomly chose as a threat to his dark kingdom.
Nimlos was trained as a spy at such an early age. She was named after and Elven royal, only known in myth to have been the adopted daughter of Lord Elrond. Why her dark mother picked such a name for her was a mystery. But I guess everyone has his or her faults. Eldarwen was only half elven, a weakness in her blood that all dark elves try to avoid. Being weak means one day you will die. But Nimlos highly doubted that her teacher would perish in the next generation or so. Her skills ranked higher than any born killer in the world almost. She could even have been captain of the Dark Elven Army, if she wasn’t female that is. One day though, Nimlos seen a female may change the ways of the dark elven kind. As for now, there was nothing else to do but wait and do your job.
And if Nimlos would keep focus, her job would have been done a long time ago. She wandered to forest for many hours, not making even the smallest of sounds. Quietly she crawled like the animal she was, the killer she was born to be, across the dark and dirty ground. Not even a twig was snapped. The soft whisper of the wind told her to turn back now before it was too late. But onward she went, until the light of a campfire was found. She looked behind her at the two other spies, who were chosen to go with her incase something went wrong, and whistled lightly once.
Snow and leaves clung to her boots from when they first entered the forest, now there was nothing but dirt, leaves, and foliage in the enchanted wood of Galadriel. The signal told the other two to move on head and draw their bows. That was when Eldarwen crouched beside Nimlos.
*~*
Eldarwen Half Elven, Dark Elf and a high official of the N.A.D.E., leaned casually against a high branch in the immense tree she had stationed herself in. The cold air hardly affected her, since she was half elven, and her breath was barely visible in the frigid atmosphere. Her charge, Nimlos, daughter of a friend of her father's, was undergoing a fairly rigorous expedition, and Eldarwen was casually keeping watch. She wasn't too worried about it, but Nimlos had a tendency to get distracted.
The sound of a fire could be heard not a league off, where Eldarwen was sure that Nimlos was heading. Eldarwen had sent two other spies with her, just in case they were needed, and she had tried to get Nimlos to arm herself better, but the she-elf was stubborn. Eldarwen had relented, though reluctantly. She felt that Nimlos knew what she was doing, and even if she did get into trouble, at least she was there to get her out of it.
Their mission: Capture the two elves stationed just inside the borders of Lothlorien. They were also high ranking elves of their lands, though Eldarwen had not been told of their titles or names. She was hardly ever told, anyway. But it always bothered her. Being an assassin, it was better not to know a name...it made it easier to kill. Made it impersonal...but it still hurt her...
"Damn my human blood,” she whispered harshly, though low enough that not even an elf nearby could hear. She frowned angrily. 'And damn my father, too.' she thought, tightening her grip on the limb next to her. The tree started to complain, but she ignored it.
Eldarwen then guessed it was time to check up on Nimlos, so she rose till she was crouching on the branch, momentarily gauging her surroundings. Rule One of an Assassin: Become one with the land around you...be invisible. Slowly she stood, and deciding that the treetops would be the safest way, began to run across the branches. Her light elven weight enabled her to run with great speed, and it was second nature to her. After doing it for over two millennia, she'd learned.
It didn't take her long to locate them, though they had taken care to keep their trail minimal. Eldarwen pushed her black locks of hair behind her ears with one hand, her other placed on the hilt of her long knife. She peered through the leaves with her cobalt eyes, scanning the area. They were close to their destination.
When she was a fairly close, Eldarwen dropped down to the ground next to Nimlos, her light feet barely making a sound. Nimlos regarded her, though without too much of a glance and no words, keeping her focus on the situation at hand. The two other elves had their bows drawn and loaded, aimed at the two targets they were after. Eldarwen didn't fail to notice that the two elves they were to capture were...blond??? She raised an eyebrow at that.
The two elves they had intended to capture, though, were catching on to their presence... that wasn't a good thing. They had to act quickly. Eldarwen waited expectantly on Nimlos to give the order, for it was her mission after all, and she needed to learn.
And so...the mission was about to begin...
Chapter Two The Mission At Hand
“ There they are, milady. Both targets are in sight. I’m about to give the order to move on in for the capture.” Nimlos said, still not making any eye contact with her captain. Eldarwen glanced at the other two spies, who happened to be male. The farthest one from her end was her own cousin, Arabndar. He made eye contact with Eldarwen, and she swore she seen daggers in his deep purple eyes. His hair was a fair white, like Nimlos’, and he shared the rare dark elven trait of darkened skin. His features were sharp, yet unmistakably handsome. Arabndar pulled back his platinum locks in a leather string, and reached into his quiver for an arrow. The arrows he usually carried were laced with a lethal poison. That was why he was chosen for this mission. That was the only reason why. He and Eldarwen never got along much ever since she was promoted to mission leader, and he was left behind. His skills leveled up to hers, yet he couldn’t keep his cool, and could sometimes be out of control during an assignment.
The other spy, who was much closer in distance to the females, was Hour. He was a quiet type mostly. He had brown skin, for he wasn’t fully dark elven, and had descendants of orc in his bloodline. His looks however, were not gruesome. In fact, you couldn’t tell he was part orc at all. His mother died giving birth to him, because of the curse she’d received when she was brutally raped by an orc. So he was cursed as well, but it didn’t seem to slow him down one bit. He was just as fair as Arabndar was, and twice as skilled of a warrior. He light lilac eyes scanned the camp for the two-elven lords they were here after. She grinned thinking about how good of an idea it was, bringing him along.
“ That’s good. It’s up to you now.” Eldarwen said, turning to her pupil. Nimlos nodded and signaled for the two warriors to move in. They did just that. In front of Nimlos and Eldarwen, Arabndar and Hour made their commands for the two nobles to stay where they were, and if a muscle was moved, their doom will be sealed.
Satisfied with her work, Nimlos grinned and approached the frozen, yet angry, elves. The closer she got, the more she began to recognize them. And soon she was standing speechless. Her white hair blew softly in her face by the light breeze that circled them. That was when she realized the importance of their mission. Hoping for another route, Nimlos turned to Eldarwen who took charge of the situation.
Chapter Three Great First Impressions
Eldarwen spared Arabndar a glance, amused at the daggers he sent in her direction. Though he was well older than her, his nature didn't frighten her a bit. Arrogance was his key point of personality, and had served him well for the most part. But since Eldarwen had become of higher rank, he had especially loathed her. He came from an awesome bloodline, and the fact that a female had surpassed him...that burnt his very ego...Not that it was lacking any...
Now Hour...he was a different story. Hour had been trained along with Eldarwen, and she had always admired him. Though he seemed quiet, which he normally was, he was a very self-confident elf. Though he was only half elven, like her, he was immensely more reliable than any elf she had ever worked with. That was why she had chosen him. After their return, he would be appointed to her rank, and hopefully Nimlos as well, but that was yet to be decided.
Eldarwen stayed behind as Nimlos initiated the move to capture the two elves, which, to her very surprise, happened to be Haldir (March warden of Lothlorien) and Legolas (Prince of the Woodland Realm). Arabndar, of course, gave the orders to remain silent and not move, and Hour remained silent, pointing his bow close to Legolas's temple. Eldarwen then decided it was time to take over, seeing that Nimlos had done her part. She stood up straight and walked out into the firelight. Her eyes flashed in amusement, seeing Legolas and Haldir so furious.
"My, my...this is a rather amusing sight, isn’t it?” she mused aloud, glancing briefly at Nimlos. Eldarwen couldn't read her face very well, so she continued, walking fairly close to the two male captives. "Bind their hands, and disarm them." she said authoritatively, drawing her long knife from its sheath. She noted that Nimlos kept her hand on her whip coiled at her side, just as she had been taught.
Legolas and Haldir glared at the elves that had cornered them. Arabndar pulled a coil of elven rope from a pouch on his belt and lifted Haldir roughly from the ground. The elf, whether out of stubbornness or just plain...well...bull-headedness...took the opportunity to kick Arabndar in the crotch, sending the poor elf to the ground while he bolted away from his captors. Eldarwen smiled in amusement while Nimlos took action, taking out her whip and gracefully flinging it to catch Haldir by the ankle, making him drop rather heavily to the ground with a loud crunch of snow. White powder flew everywhere.
Eldarwen approached Arabndar with an amused grin on her face. "Get up, you oaf. I thought you knew how to better stand guard?"
The ellon got up, his face red with fury. He made for Haldir, intent on killing him Eldarwen supposed, but she stopped him by placing her knife to his throat. His eyes flashed angrily to hers. "Get the hell out of my way and let me gut him!"
"I'm the boss here. I'm your commander, and our mission is to capture them, not kill them."
"You may be my commander here, " Arabndar hissed, confronting Eldarwen boldly even if she had a dagger to his throat. "But otherwise you are nothing to me."
"Glad to see we think very much the same." Eldarwen smugly retorted, not giving him the satisfaction of objection. "Now return to what you were supposed to do. Wait, on second thought, you just stand over there and keep watch. Nimlos can take care of Haldir."
Nimlos looked briefly at Eldarwen before doing as she had been indirectly ordered to. Eldarwen watched with smug satisfaction as Arabndar stomped off (a very un-elf-like thing to do), and she swore she heard Hour snickering from his place beside a baffled Legolas.
When she reached him, Nimlos tore her whip from the flesh and cloth of Haldir’s ankle. He cried out in miserable pain that brought a quick smile to her dark face. She peered down at his form with piercing light blue eyes, giving off the evil she was brought up from. Haldir looked back at her, and for a split second, he seen a beauty in her. Though dark, it was hidden inside her eyes.
“ Get up, cur.” She said, kicking his side. Haldir was on his feet quicker than Nimlos could blink, and in her face before she took her next breath. His bravery made her smile a second time.
“ Don’t tempt me.” She said under her breath.
“ Lady Galadriel will seek vengeance for us! You’ll not get away with this!” Haldir was taken aback, when Eldarwen had his hands bound to by the strong elven rope. He looked back at Nimlos, anger poured into his own blue eyes. She didn’t fear him; she admired him. A rare emotion for Nimlos to give an elf that was not of her race. She watched as Eldarwen dragged him towards the others. Snow still clung to his clothing. She seen the limp and looked down at his ankle. Blood had seeped through his breeches.
“ Milady, he’s bleeding.” she said.
“ We’ve no time to see to him now. If we’re going to make good time back to Tethlion before the fourth frost.” Eldarwen said helping Haldir on the black steed they’d brought for the both of them.
“ Aye, milady.” Nimlos said, briskly making haste as her horse trotted to her.
Eldarwen and Hour pulled Haldir onto the saddled black horse, tying his hands to the convenient horn on the front of the saddle so that he couldn't even try to escape again. Eldarwen noted that his ankle wasn't terribly damaged, and being pressed for time they would have to see to it later. Dark Elves weren't senseless beings, and they treated their prisoners fairly well compared to many of the other races in Middle Earth, like orcs. Nimlos and Arabndar (who still was fuming and would be for a while) tied Legolas to the horse. If the weather wasn't so terrible, and another hard frost on its way, Eldarwen would have made both of them walk for most of the journey.
Legolas was still silent, oddly enough. But his eyes were at times narrowed dangerously with warning. Eldarwen found it somewhat intriguing and rather amusing, so she would purposely stare at him just to see him glare at her. As their long journey home began, Eldarwen, mounted on her own horse like everyone else, kept giving the two blond elves curious looks. "What is it with blond hair? I thought we were all children of the stars?"
Haldir and Legolas both turned their gazes to her, as did the others out of curiosity. Yet the two elves she was speaking of both glared.
"We are, but you were the unwilling ones, remember?" Legolas hissed, narrowing his eyes again. "A vile representation of our race."
Arabndar growled rather loudly at his comments, but Hour silenced him. Eldarwen smiled wickedly. "Vile or not, I'm not the one in such an awful predicament, am I?" she said sweetly, which only served to anger him more. She was definitely enjoying this too much.
"Just what are your plans for us? You know that our people will come searching for us." Haldir grumbled, a rather unusual trait for an elf. His pride, she noted, had been injured like Arabndar's had earlier.
Eldarwen shrugged. "I'm not totally sure myself just yet, but our commanders would like to have a word with you."
"Who are your commanders?" Legolas demanded, then, but Eldarwen put up a hand to silence him.
"I believe that you've asked enough questions for now. Let's get the pace going and find some decent shelter before the fourth frost is here. We don't want to be frozen to death just outside Lorien, now do we?" Eldarwen rode ahead a bit before turning around to face those following. "I'm scouting ahead. Nimlos is in charge while I'm gone. No questions." With that, she turned and rode off in a flurry of white powdered snow, her black cloak beating after her...
Chapter Four A Head Of The Game
‘Great,’ Nimlos thought. Not only was she in charge now, but also she had to very angry blonde…handsome…elves throwing daggers with their icy blue eyes. She turned to Arabndar, who wasn’t at all happy with anyone, and then she looked at Hour. A smile spread on his handsome dark face. He had faith in her no matter what. With her knew found confidence, Nimlos motioned for her horse to start trotting past Arabndar.
“ Come, you heard what she said.”
“ Yes, I heard….” he growled. Hour made sure that the others followed, and soon they were out of the enchanted wood, and on the right track towards Tethlion. For hours, everyone was dead silent. The horses huffed a bit, and the crunch of snow under their hooves was all the sounds they paid attention to. Haldir and Legolas, though highly upset, were good prisoners. Only because they were curious about why they were captured. Nimlos kept a sharp eye on Haldir, for reasons beyond her. He seemed so refined, brave, handsome…Nimlos shook her head violently. ‘ What the hell? Keep your
head, Nimlos.’ she thought, bringing her awesome eyes back to the path. She watched as tiny snow crystals began to melt slightly. To human eyes it would be impossible to see such magic. Yet she was enjoying it, like it was normal.
Eldarwen had always had confidence in Nimlos' abilities, hence why she'd left her in charge. That left her the ability to think clearly about the task she had assigned herself.
Her horse, Rauko, a brilliant black steed that her father had given her, charged almost effortlessly through the ankle-deep snow. She was scouting the terrain ahead, like she had always liked to do for a multitude of reasons. The main reasons being safety and shelter. With the coming of another very hard frost, it was important that they find shelter for the night and get a fire going. Otherwise they risked freezing to death. 'And to think, ' Eldarwen thought ruefully to herself, 'that we're going back north...back into frozen country.'
After galloping for a while, Eldarwen slowed Rauko to a walk so that he could rest, allowing her to better analyze the terrain. She pulled back the hood of her cloak so that she could hear better, listening for any signs of life on the edge of this forest. Rauko snorted once, stopping and pawing at the ground for a moment. She knew something was up.
Three orcs were making their way in her direction. Big orcs at that. Eldarwen could hear their heavy footfalls at a distance. And they would probably be hungry. She quickly drew out a plan, jumping from Rauko's back and up into the lower limbs of a big tree they had paused under. In Elvish Eldarwen quietly told Rauko to go back in the direction that they had come and wait at a safe distance. It was when he had left that she realized she had left her bow on Rauko's saddle...
"Damn it..." Eldarwen hissed under her breath. And she was supposed to be the one teaching! She mentally slapped herself for making such a stupid mistake, but luckily she always wore her long knives at her sides. Yet it would have been a whole lot easier to use a bow and kill them from a distance. "Oh well...there are only three." She muttered, drawing one of her knives from its sheath.
The three orcs soon stumbled into view, their dark faces contorted in annoyance and their yellow teeth bared. They were heavily armed and wore the crude furs of wargs to keep out the chill. They smelt horse, and being hungry they immediately set off after Rauko's scent...right under Eldarwen's perch.
Soon she was the assassin she'd been raised to be...a cold-hearted killer bred to slay. Her eyes darkened, and she dropped down onto the shoulders of the last orc that passed beneath her. Before any of the orcs could react, she'd slain him with a quick swipe of her knife across his neck, and he tumbled gurgling to the ground. The other two cried out angrily, and she jumped backwards to give herself some distance. "Bring it on..." She hissed at them, her blade poised against her arm. She drew the other from its sheath, readying it for an impending attack.
The two orcs seemed to be analyzing her...a very odd thing for them to do. Most orcs attacked blindly, but these weren't... It was like they were plotting...
The biggest orc attacked her, charging straight into her path. Their blades met for a moment, the orcs strength greater than hers. She slipped back again, avoiding a downward swoop of death, only to be attacked by the other orc. Their intent was to tire her out...a very good strategy for an orc to have. But Eldarwen wasn't intent on letting them get the better of her.
She finally managed to seriously wound the smallest orc, cutting a deep gash through a weak spot of armor and into his abdomen. He fell to the ground, growling and muttering things in Orcish, keeping his grip tightly on his sword. The big orc didn't give Eldarwen time to finish him, lunging at her and knocking her to the ground.
'I was trained better than this!' Eldarwen thought furiously, blocking the orc's sword from cutting her head open. She was growing very angry... With all the force she could muster, she kicked the orc as hard as she could in the groin. The orc backed off, howling and extremely angry. She quickly lashed out with her knives, cutting off his lower left leg. Hearing the other orc start to rise behind her, she quickly turned and threw a knife at him, catching him in the forehead. His body stiffened before dropping to the ground again, dead.
The remaining live orc was furious. He roared at her, saliva flying as he did so. Eldarwen looked at him over her shoulder for a brief moment before whistling for Rauko, who soon came galloping through the woods to her side. With a skillful flick of her wrists, the blood flew from her blades and onto the snow. Sheathing them, she mounted Rauko, whispering to him in Elvish. The horse snorted, walking slowly over to the fallen orc...and with one final hard kick with is hoof, stopped the orcs roaring...
"Hannon lle, mellon nin." Eldarwen whispered, patting the stallion on the neck. "Now let us return to the others, since the threat is out of the way. I fear we'll have to endure the snow and frost tonight.”
Chapter Five Within A Darkness
Nimlos was the first to see the blood spray on Eldarwen’s cloak. She raced ahead of everyone, to see if her teacher was injured. Fear took hold of her light blue eyes, as she approached her elder, and scanned briefly for any signs of a fatal injury. To her relief, and yet no surprise, there was not a scratch on Eldarwen. Seeing, the distress in her pupil’s face, Eldarwen chuckled lightly.
“ Not to worry, student of mine. I killed them all.”
“ Killed what ‘ Oh fearless leader’.” Arabndar spoke huskily. Eldarwen looked past him at Hour, who asked a similar, yet nicer, question with his eyes.
“ Orcs. Three of them. Not but a league from here. I see no shelter yet, so we must change direction, only for the night.” Nimlos smiled for the first real time, allowing a true light shine through her natural born darkness. Haldir seen it, and couldn’t help but want to smile himself, though not for the benefit of his captures health. If he were those orcs, she’d surely have died.
“ I seen a cave sixty miles from here, on our journey to Galadriel forest.” Nimlos reported. Eldarwen smiled affectionately at her student.
“ Very well, Nim. Lead the way.”
*~*
As the cold winds grew harsh, Nimlos pulled the hood of her cloak tighter around her narrow pale face. She looked like a fairy tale demon. Her fair beautiful skin, complimenting with the rest of her attractive nature. She darted her elven eyes for the entrance of shelter she’d mentioned hours before. Panic swarmed inside her, as her horse blew out a smoky puff of exhaustion. Poor Nikeil. She knew the others must have been tired too. What was she thinking? There was no way she’d ever reach captain at this rate. Freezing her companions and prisoners to death. Especially her dearest friend Nikeil. Nimlos stroked Nikeil’s shiny black coat and whispered a promise that they will stop soon.
Eldarwen rode up beside Nimlos, keeping a keen eye on the child, yet keeping her senses aware of Haldir and Legolas, grumbling behind them. Nimlos’ features were stressed her eyes were desperate. She meant well, Eldarwen knew, but where the hell was she leading them? Then Nimlos turned her wide blue eyes towards Eldarwen, about the same time she, herself, felt it too.
Something dark came to them from a distance. Something unpleasant. Hour and Arabndar both turned gazes towards each other, they felt it also. Soon all of the elves present were aware that there was possible danger lurking behind the fast falling curtain of snow. The world around them was pure white and freezing cold. What was this threatening danger? Nimlos this time was the first to see it. Several miles ahead of them, a dark figure emerged from the white, and hobbled its way towards them.
It seemed to notice them, the closer it got. Soon Nimlos could see the furry beast. A wolf. Why the hell was it alone? She pulled out her bow, ready to be the one that found dinner, when Eldarwen raised a hand, gesturing for Nimlos to hold. She looked at the young one and shook her head slowly.
“ Wolves never travel alone…he’s scouting…lets move in a different direction,” she said.
*~*
Eldarwen rode at a fair distance from the rest of the group, keen on keeping her attention alert on everything that was going on around them. Nimlos led the way, her black horse cutting a path through the ever-deepening snow. Arabndar rode the furthest behind, and Hour was leading two still-so-ever-upset blond ellons on horses. This type of formation helped them to better keep an eye on both the captives and everything else. But the appearance of the wolf had irked Eldarwen and was ever on her mind.
"Why so tense?" Hour suddenly spoke up from beside her. Eldarwen nearly jumped out of her skin.
"Damn it, Hour..." she hissed angrily at him, though she knew that he hadn't meant any harm at all. She should have been more alert and not in deep thought.
Hour ignored her angry reply. He knew she was in deep thought. "You know such deep thinking could get you killed one day."
Eldarwen calmed down, still angry with herself more than anything. "I know." she muttered, looking away from him and at Nimlos's back, though she wasn't really looking at anything. "But I know that some day I will die. If it be by the sword or poison, I care not."
Hour found her response just. They all felt that they all might die by the sword someday, especially in their line of work. But dark elves were not immune to that unusual fear of death. Death was known of, but not fully comprehended by the elves. "Is it not funny how mortals long for immortality?" he asked, broaching a conversation that they had not had the opportunity to before.
Eldarwen smiled slightly. "Aye, it is. Though I don't see why."
"But I myself would rather like to have a mortal life." Hour stated, maybe even a bit cynically, which Eldarwen didn't fail to hear. She looked at him curiously.
"Why do you say that?" she asked out of her curiosity. Hour gave her a withering look but soon smiled again.
"Don't even try to tell me that you don't long for mortality. At least not at times."
Eldarwen didn't say anything, looking away again. "I loathe my human blood,” she muttered, unconsciously twisting Rauko's mane with her fingers.
Hour looked at their surroundings. "El, you know that you also have a love for it." He felt her eyes on him for a moment but didn't return the look.
"Maybe I do...but I do not like these human emotions that assault me so constantly." she growled. She couldn't believe that she admitted such. If her father knew, he'd be very angry. He'd told her that he loathed humans because of her mother, which didn't explain it a bit since she knew practically nothing about her.
"Your human blood gives you a special fire unlike any other elleth I've met." Hour said then, causing Eldarwen to roll her eyes at him. "It's true. You have no idea how boring all of the other elleths are back at home. You're a challenge and a fighter."
"Nimlos isn't boring. I'm the bore here."
Hour rolled his eyes this time. "El, come on. You KNOW how boring all of the other females are." He sounded like he was groaning a little when he said it, which caused her to laugh.
"I have to agree with you on that, but I'm no exceptionally exciting person."
Hour raised an eyebrow. "You're not exciting! Where the hell have you been the past two thousand years? You've beaten me in practically every skill."
"Except archery."
"That's beside the point and you know it." he laughed, "Come on...name an elleth besides you and Nimlos that can hold a bow properly, much less shoot an arrow more than one foot."
Eldarwen thought for a moment before grinning wickedly. "Isil."
Hour reeled back, causing his horse to stumble a bit. "Ugh, El. I meant decent, not whore."
"She may be a whore, but she's competition in the bi-annual fights." Eldarwen countered, still grinning.
"She may be able to fight, but she uses it for other purposes."
"And you know this...how?"
Hour growled. "She's tried it on me."
Eldarwen paused, as did Rauko. "What!" She soon realized everyone was looking at them, so she urged Rauko forward again. "When?"
"Not long before we left." Hour was in a cynical mood again, having broached a touchy subject. "She came into my room and practically cornered me. It was disgusting."
Eldarwen's ears felt hot. "So...you didn't..."
"No, I didn't." Hour stated flatly. "You know I'm better than that. Plus the repercussions...ugh..."
Eldarwen sighed. "I didn't mean to offend you."
"You didn't." He said, "I'm sorry I snapped. But she did try hard."
"What did she do, exactly?" Eldarwen asked curiously.
Hour raised an eyebrow. "You really wanna know?"
Eldarwen nodded a little. Hour bent over and whispered in her ear.
"THAT BITCH!" she yelled before she could stop herself. Everyone stopped and was staring at her. Nimlos's stare brought Eldarwen back to reality and she mentally scolded herself. The two blond elves were also staring, so she glared at them. "What the hell are you looking at?”
The two elves stared at her, visibly flinching, before looking away.
Then...everyone fell silent. A series of howls sounded in the distance... 'Oh, Valar...' Eldarwen thought suddenly, adrenaline seeping into her system. The horses started to prance nervously around.
"They're here..." Hour whispered, trying to calm his horse.
Eldarwen glanced around them in the fading light, catching Nimlos's eyes for a moment. Her protective streak was beginning to come to light, for she felt like Nimlos's protector as well as her teacher, and she wouldn't let anything happen to her. No damn wolves were going to get them...not this night...
"Ready yourselves for battle...tonight we dance,” she growled, pulling out her long knife from its sheath.
*~*
Nimlos felt the quick snap of fear take hold of her by the throat. But Eldarwen’s courage gave her courage, and quickly Nimlos pulled out her bow and a speedy arrow. Everyone was still and quiet. The howls continued their calling card, and still no sight of them could be possible with the white blanket of snow before them.
“ Can you see them?” Eldarwen called out to Nimlos. She looked hard past the white curtain and seen the canines’ silhouette surround them.
“ Milady…” Nimlos said without moving her eyes from them. To show Eldarwen where they were, Nimlos aimed her bow and arrow at the leader of the pack. It was the lone wolf they’d seen hours before. He snarled at Nimlos, foaming terribly at the mouth. They were all infected by something Nimlos could feel it.
“ Everyone stand guard.” Eldarwen said.
“ We can fight.” Legolas shouted above the wind.
“ Hour, tie a cloth over there mouths. You two can sit tight. It won’t take us very long,” she ordered. Hour nodded and did what he was told. Legolas growled, and turned to look at Haldir, whose gaze was not on his friend.
Haldir watched Nimlos’s style, and swift movements off of her horse an and take her position, ready for the fight. He smiled at little at the young one, wishing there was a way they could help as well.
“ Why don’t we just throw them to the wolves?” Arabndar laughed. Eldarwen glared at him.
“ They would be no use to your father that way now would they?” she said, turning back to the upcoming fight. “ Idiot.” she whispered.
The wolves made their charge, hungry and ready for their blood. Nimlos took the first shot, hitting the leader in the heart. His sudden death stopped the others in their tracks. The supposed next in line for leadership, looked up at Nimlos with madness in his piercing yellow eyes. Nimlos looked nervously at Eldarwen, who only nodded, suddenly more howls came from the side of them. ‘ Oh no…’ Nimlos thought.
*~*
'Damn it...' Eldarwen hissed in her head. She couldn't safely fight from Rauko's back with so many wolves around. The horses were easy targets, but they could outrun a wolf any day...so she made a hasty decision.
"Send away Nikeil, Rauko, and Anarta. Maybe they will lure them away." She shouted out, keeping her eyes on the wolves while watching the others in her peripheral vision. Nimlos stared at her, clearly not wanting to send her dear friend away. Eldarwen could sympathize, but they had to try something.
"They won't chase them down, Eldarwen!" Arabndar shouted back, his bow out and ready. "It's pointless!"
"But we have to try something!" she shouted back, returning her knife to its sheath. She jumped down from Rauko's back and removed her bow and quiver. She then removed his saddle before sending him off with a reassuring shove. She hated for him to leave, but they had to try.
Alas, the releasing of the horses didn't curb the wolves from them... "Damn Damn DAMN!" Eldarwen cursed aloud as the wolves encircled them. She did a quick count, which ended up with a total of twelve big and hungry wolves...a good-sized pack. She glanced quickly at Nimlos and the two tied-up blond elves. Nimlos didn't look too happy, but killing the main pack leader was enough encouragement. Eldarwen fitted her bow with an arrow.
“Keep them from the captives. We can’t lose them.” She yelled to everyone, just as the wolves began their attack…
The next few moments were a blur. Eldarwen became a killing machine, immediately taking down two wolves with arrows before another quickly attacked her from the side. She drew her long knives and slashed at it as it came, cutting its side and foreleg deep. The canine was deeply angered, but didn’t cease its intense attacks at her. His fangs dripped with saliva, and his smell was rank beyond reason. These were no ordinary wolves…something was wrong with them.
The wolf attacked her again, this time fooling her by bounding over her and rebounding off a nearby tree…taking her to the ground… His fangs immediately went for her neck, but she managed to hold them off with her hands. She’d lost one knife when he’d hit her, but she still held the other knife… His claws dug into her shoulders, but she ignored the pain and struck quickly, plunging the knife into his neck. The wolf reeled back, in agonizing pain, and Eldarwen stood up as quickly as she could. She tried to catch her breath as the wolf breathed it’s last…
“Eldarwen!” She heard Hour shout just as she was struck to the ground again… She blacked out for a moment from the impact, but it soon cleared just as she was watching Nimlos kill the last of the wolves, breaking its neck with her whip. Valar, she was a terrible teacher…
“Are you alright?” Hour asked…it was then that Eldarwen noticed that he was on top of her. He must have been the one to shove her to the ground… It took her a long time to respond, being in the position they were in…
“I…I’m fine…” she managed to say, immediately wishing he would just get off of her…it was making her a little well…nervous and uncomfortable…
Hour, in his own mind, was pretty much going through the same thoughts…but something was stirring inside him that he vaguely felt and made him compelled to stay. “Are you sure…?”
Eldarwen then felt an odd sensation…with his face being so close and his breath on her face…she felt drawn to him… Then, Arabndar cleared his throat…and it was gone. She went red to the tips of her pointed ears, as did Hour… They both stood up quickly, Eldarwen walking away from him and the others for a moment to compose herself. Valar, she was such an idiot…
Nimlos grinned at the uncomfortable sight, and turned her head only to meet Haldir’s sapphire stare. ‘ Speaking of uncomfortable.’ she thought, and whistled for Nikeil. The horse protested a bit before returning to her loving master. In one quick movement, Nimlos swung her body onto her friend, and turned to see Eldarwen galloping towards her.
“ You led us to a pack…” she mumbled.
“ It was not my intention to do so milady. I was certain the cave was-”
“ There it tis, El.” Hour spoke behind her. Eldarwen turned to him and looked where he was pointing. Indeed there was a large dark entrance to a cave. Eldarwen glanced at Nimlos, and gave her a pleasing smile.
“ Very well, my pupil. You have not let me down.”
Her statement, made Nimlos smile even more, and gallop towards that cave. Arabndar followed closely behind, then the others began to catch up with them.
*~*
There was very little light inside the cave. Arabndar and Hour left for a moment to gather wood for a fire. Nimlos stayed with Eldarwen and helped her tie them to a more comfortable setting…like a near by boulder.
“ Tell me you aren’t serious.” Legolas argued. Eldarwen had almost had enough of his mouth.
“ I think we might have one less captive…we’ll say a wolf ate him.” she said. Legolas glared at her as she walked away.
“ You were very brave out there, Nimlos.” Haldir said. Legolas turned his wide blue eyes to the march warden. Nimlos turned from the entrance and stared down at him for a moment.
“ I only did what I was trained to do.” she said.
“ You were trained well,” he said. “ Even though it was by….”his comment made her turn red at the face. She stomped towards him; sliding the dagger she’d been hiding in her boot, and quickly pressed the tip against the flesh of his neck. Haldir’s chin lifted, but his eyes remained on her.
“ What was that…sir?” she said.
“ Wow, even in the killing mode, we’re still proper.”
“ I will properly slit your throat the next time you talk about Lady Eldarwen like that.” she whispered harshly, her mouth just inches away from his. Haldir smiled, when she slid the dagger back into her boot, and walked back to the entrance of the cave. She stood there against the bitter cold. It bit against the soft skin of her arms and legs, but she paid it no bother to it. The cold was much worse back home. Nimlos watched through the sharp snow, waiting for Hour and Arabndar to return. However, her mind kept wondering back to Haldir…’ Bastard.’ she thought, turning her gaze to Eldarwen. Her teacher sat farther away from everyone, like she usually does. Nimlos didn’t exactly know what she was doing. The lighting was too bad. Nimlos’s light eyes looked back out into the cold world, waiting. Her mind filed through many things. Home…completing the mission…saying fair well to the ellon idiots tied to the rock….
She sighed heavily, when Hour and Arabndar came into view. Finally…some heat at last.
*~*
As they fire’s warmth spread throughout, Eldarwen passed out the portions of food, she’d backed for the journey. Nimlos ate, trying not to look hungry. The prisoners ate reluctantly keeping their keen eyes on Eldarwen…well one of the prisoners were. Haldir watched how the light of the fire danced with the light blue of Nimlos’s eyes. It wasn’t sure if it was the heat of the fire that was getting to him…but it wasn’t the food.
“ Nimlos,” Eldarwen broke in. Nimlos’s head snapped to attention.
“ Yes, milady.”
“ When you’re finished with your meal, look after Haldir’s injury please. I must discuss tomorrow’s plans with Hour and Arabndar. I’ll tell you everything afterward, but I fear Lord Haldir’s wound won’t last a meetings time.” she said. Nimlos nodded and glanced at Haldir. His eyes reflected the light from the fire. The very look of him made her stomach tighten.
Nimlos rang the small rag free from any access water, and gently dabbed Haldir’s ankle. He hissed a bit from the pain and looked at her through winced eyes. She looked back at him, her face appeared emotionless, but her eyes showed pity for his pain. Her eyes had always been her downfall. It was when her victims took their last breath; they’d seen her guilt. They’d seen her very soul. As soft as it was, killing never hardened it. With her gentle hands, she ran them over the gaping holes her whip had left. A twinge of guilt hit her in the gut, but she did what she had to do.
“ Sorry.” she said quietly, and continued to do her work applying a thick amount of some kind of healing jelly to his wounds. It stung intensely. She took another small rag and began to wrap it around his ankle.
“ It’s ok. You had to do your job,” he said between groans. She looked at him again, this time with a small smile in her face.
“ Aye.” she said.
“ You’re not as bad as I had imagined, Lady Nimlos.” Was it the fact that he’d seen good in her? Or was it the fact that he’d addressed her like a lady that had her eyes growing wide before him. The light blue could have easily been mistaken for the whole white of her eyes.
“ Well, I can change your mind again if you’d like.” She said. He laughed a little, and let things between them grow quiet. He watched her work, and tried not to wine when she touched a tender spot.
“ Do you enjoy this?”
“ Hurting you?”
“ No. Being this…killer…this spy.” He said. Nimlos shrugged and looked back down at his ankle. Examining it closely.
“ It keeps me alive for now.”
“ That’s a pity,” he said plainly. Nimlos’ head snapped up in attention.
“ What’s a pity?”
“ That someone like you has to live a life like this. There’s got to be more to you than following orders, capturing and…torturing people.”
“ I never tortured you.” Nimlos countered.
“ Not that you know of.” Haldir said, meeting her eyes again. Nimlos dragged her hands away from Haldir’s ankle and moved to stand up, that’s when Haldir took her arm.
“ I didn’t mean to upset you.” He said.
“ You know what I’ve always thought life to be?” she said, almost in a defensive hiss. “ I believe my life is just a dream. That one day I will wake up and find that I no longer have to deal with death. Maybe it’s in my destiny to do this, but my heart was never in it.” She said, jerking from him. Then she turned her face to Eldarwen, who was idly chatting with Hour. “ She’s been more than a teacher to me. I wouldn’t dare let her down.”
“ You risk everything for someone who tells you to kill? To hurt people?” Haldir countered. Nimlos met Haldir’s eyes again.
“ For her, I would.” she said. Then she shot up to her feet, and stomped off. Haldir let out a frustrated sigh.
“ Now we’re getting somewhere,” he said.
Chapter Six Eldarwen’s Only Family
The cold blistering wind was refreshing in its own way…at least in Eldarwen’s mind. She sat near the entrance of the cave, staring out at the white sheet that had started to rise. The snow, it seemed, didn’t want to leave. She massaged her temples in an attempt to get that spreading darkness out… Ever since the incident with the wolves, she’d had this terrible feeling that something bad was going to happen soon. The wolves had had something wrong with them. Just what it was, she couldn’t figure out. It seemed that the Valar had something planned to change everything and make the return journey difficult…
Eldarwen sighed, giving up on ridding the foreboding feeling. She rose and walked over to Nimlos after everyone had finished their meal. She didn’t even try to conceal her anxiety when she told her to attend to Haldir. She had to discuss tomorrow with the others, but Haldir needed to be attended to.
Soon the three of them sat in a corner near the entrance of the cave. Arabndar sat across from her, for he’d always refused to sit beside her. Hour also kept his distance…for other reasons.
“Okay…we’ve got to make our plans for tomorrow. I was thinking that we should veer off course a bit to avoid what might me a set up of some kind.” Eldarwen said, looking from one ellon to the other.
Arabndar spoke first. “So you’re thinking that someone’s after us? That someone actually has the guts to stalk us?” He was cynical in his response.
“That’s exactly what I’m saying, you dolt.” She snapped back, glaring at him. “There’s something afoot here that isn’t to my liking.”
“Well, you’re the captain here…” Arabndar muttered haughtily, looking away from her.
Hour remained silent, but nodded his head in affirmation. Eldarwen stared at him for a while before standing again, turning away from them. “Alright. I’ll take first watch tonight. Who goes second?”
”I will.” Hour said, finally speaking…though he still wouldn’t look at her.
*~*~*
Later on, Eldarwen stood near the entrance of the cave again, leaning against the rim. She let her thoughts wander, though this time she didn’t let her guard down. She heard Hour approach her from behind, but didn’t turn to face him. When he stood beside her, looking out at the snow along with her, he didn’t speak for a long time.
“How are you doing?” he asked lightly, as though he was timid. It was odd to hear him speak like a frightened animal.
“I’m fine.” She answered simply, not looking at him. What had happened earlier was still present in her mind; unlike she wanted it to be. It was as if the Valar meant to torment her.
Hour shook his head. “No, you’re not.”
She turned to him with her head, none too happy. “And how would you know?” she snapped.
”My point exactly.” He said. Eldarwen immediately knew that he’d gotten her…again. Hour faced her fully, staring into her eyes. “What’s wrong? Seriously.”
She quickly looked away from him. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
“You know it would help if you would talk about it.”
Eldarwen sighed. “That may be true, but no…I vowed not to a long time ago.”
Hour went silent. He looked down at her tunic, which had been punctured earlier by the wolf that had pinned her to the ground. “You’re injured.”
“Thanks for speaking the obvious.” She muttered, laughing slightly. Hour didn’t hesitate to touch the wound, causing her to hiss loudly and recoil away from him. “Why the hell did you do that!” she growled, glaring at him.
“You should have said something.” He said sternly, grabbing her arm and taking her to where his stuff was. He made her sit on the ground and began to look for his healing supplies.
“I can take care of myself, you know.” She mumbled.
“That was apparent.” Hour retorted sarcastically, sitting down beside her. “Now let me see to them.” Eldarwen groaned before reluctantly exposing her pierced shoulders, letting him work on healing them.
*~*~*
After Hour had finished with her and took his place as watchman, Eldarwen decided it was time to tell Nimlos tomorrow’s plans. She found her tending to her horse before she would lay down for the night near the fire.
“Nimlos.” She called to her, sitting on a boulder nearby. Her student was quickly before her, which made her smile. “Sit. I want to talk to you for a moment.” After her charge was seated, Eldarwen explained their plans for tomorrow. Nimlos listened avidly, as she always did.
When she had finished, Eldarwen sighed. “I fear that something lies ahead that may separate us. I’ve had this feeling since the wolves that something isn’t right.”
Nimlos nodded in understanding. Before she could respond, Eldarwen continued.
“I just want you to know…that I’ve always had confidence in you and your decisions.” Eldarwen paused and looked at her pupil for a moment, smiling slightly. “I know I’m cold and aloof…that I’ve pushed you harder than most others…but I’ve known every time that you could do it. And you have.” Nimlos started to interrupt, but Eldarwen put up her hand to silence her. “Just hear me out…In the case that we are separated, however that happens, whether by my death or some other thing, you’re in control.
“This life isn’t one that we all wish to have. I know that in your heart you don’t. I can truly say that I never have either. I’ve never had my heart in this.” Eldarwen paused and ran a hand through her hair in frustration before standing and turning away. “But this is our life, however unfortunate it is. We are trapped. My point is…” she said, turning her head halfway around. “My point is that you’re like a daughter to me…you’re like my best friend, even though I don’t act it. I just wanted you to know that…" With that, Eldarwen turned away again and walked into the darkness further into the cave…
*~*
Tears threatened to rim her eyes, but Nimlos breathed them back in and sighed heavily. Nikeil snorted, drawing Nimlos’s attention and smile back to her. She picked the brush back up, and continued to groom her friend. Nikeil pushed her nose against Nimlos’s shoulder, getting a pat on the neck as a response.
“ My friend, I had the same fears as Eldarwen…I was too afraid to fess up to them…Have I really become so amazed by her rank, that I have lost my voice completely to her?”
“ I do not believe that is possible, young Nimlos.” Hour said approaching her with one of his charming smiles. Nimlos easily smiled back, giving Nikeil one last loving stroke, and turned to Hour.
“ And why is that, Lord Hour.”
“ Nim, you know better. You are like a little sister to me,” he said. Nimlos blushed and lowered her head, only to have Hour lift her chin with two forefingers.
“ Hour…I should have told her I felt the same thing about the wolves. The leaders eyes were…dreadful.” Nimlos turned from him and took a few steps for distance. Hour stepped up behind her, and placed a caring hand on her shoulder.
“ Nim, she knows what you’re capable of. Everyone does. Small things like this shouldn’t get to you. Especially since you are so close to be promoted also,” he said. Nimlos turned back to him with a wide smile.
“ That would be nice,” she said. Hour chuckled and tussled her short fair locks about, before turning back to keep guard. Nimlos was still smiling when she turned and seen Haldir sitting at the fire alone. He was bound by strong elven chains, which Arabndar brought and seen ample enough time to struggle and clasp them on, to Legolas.
With a heavy smile, Nimlos’s expression softened, yet lost its smile. She walked to opposite direction, to find a nice isolated place to sleep.
*~*
They woke before even the Valar regained consciousness. The blizzard still blinded them from the roads ahead, so they depended on their own senses to make it through the storm. Nimlos kept the hood of her cloak pulled close, trying to keep the deadly winds from her face and eyes. The light blues darted back and forth in front of her, wondering deeply inside where they were going. Eldarwen told them they’d lean off course a bit, but Nimlos feared it would not keep them from the danger of the storm. She seemed pretty calm compared to Nimlos. Hour treaded close beside her, while Arabndar lingered behind the prisoners. Haldir and Legolas stayed bundled under their heavy Elvish cloaks. Nimlos envied their warmth.
Nikeil whinnied and whipped her tail about, causing Eldarwen to look at them in a questioning stare. Nimlos stroked her jittery friend, and whispered calm words into her ear. Nikeil finally settled down, and when Nimlos looked up she froze, for she seen what spooked Nikeil.
“ Lady Eldarwen.” She warned.
“ I know.” She said. The whole group stopped dead in their tracks. An army of large bulky orcs marched toward them, growling and snarling at them. Nikeil, Rauko, and the other three horses snorted and whinnied, moving around in the snow. The elves tried to control their beasts, and think of a way out of their jam. Suddenly, out of the corner of her eye, Nimlos seen a warg with an orc saddled on him standing above them on the snow-banked mountain.
“ Damn it…. Milady, we’re surrounded,” she said, drawing her bow and aiming at the attacking warg. It’s roar rumbled throughout the mountain as it pounced heavily on the ground in front of them. They shook from the warg’s impact slowly moving their horses away. Nimlos jumped when the sound of thunder rolled across the air around them.
“ Bloody Hell…” Eldarwen grumbled, and took the shot at the warg before Nimlos could react. Suddenly a crash sounded above them, the orcs jumped from the ledge smartly, leaving the elves to face the avalanche that tumbled from the mountaintops.
“ Run!” Hour shouted, and the group began to take off, the tumbling snow was quicker though, and wiped out half of the retreating elves. Nimlos felt the air get knocked out of her as the snow swallow her and Nikeil. Then the world was dark.
*~*~*
‘ Am I dead?’ Nimlos asked herself, trying to move her body, but it was impossible. The snow was heavy above her, however she could wiggle the fingers that stuck out of the snow like daisies. It was hard to breath in the dark, hard to think from the cold. Panic began to rise and she struggled to get out.
Suddenly she felt contact with someone’s fingers, and found herself being jerked out of the freezing bank. She coughed as fresh air refilled her burning lungs, and it took her eyes only a second to focus on the white world around her. The moment her eyes were steady she was face to face with Haldir, he was saying something, but all she could hear was the piercing ringing in her ears. The there was a blast of sound.
“ Are you okay? Answer me, Nimlos!” Haldir’s eyes were in distress, and his hands clasped tightly on her shoulders.
“ I’m fine…” she managed, and looked around her. The snow had covered everything. She didn’t recognize her surroundings at all. Nikeil popped up and shook the excess snow from her shiny black coat.
“ Nikeil.” Nimlos whispered. Her voice was raw and hoarse. She wobbled her way to her feet, Haldir there to spot her. Nikeil trotted to Nimlos as if nothing was wrong. She embraced her beastly friend and gave her a peck on the snout. Haldir found himself jealous of the horse.
Arabndar lay still on the ground a few feet from Nimlos. She gasped and sprinted towards his body. Nimlos rolled him over and checked his pulse.
“ He’s alive…he’s breathing…” she whispered, and stroked his cold pale face.
“ Damn it.” Haldir joked. Nimlos glared at him and looked around were she sat for the rest of the group.
“ Where is everyone else?”
“ They ran straight into the orcs’ tap…for some reason those ugly beasts are being smart about catching your people.” He said, crouching next to her. Nimlos whipped her deadly eyes at him.
“ You watched our captain become a captive and you did nothing? Hour and Legolas too?”
“ Number one, she’s you’re captain…and yes, they took Hour and my friend as well, leaving us all here for dead…” Haldir said looking down at Arabndar.
“ Well then…if we can save him. His skills are greater than mine. We’ll need him.” Nimlos said, then she turned quickly back to Haldir.
“ Unless you’re planning to escape,” she warned, slowly grasping the handle of her dagger. Haldir lifted a hand for peace.
“ Nimlos please. Why would I stick around to pull you out of the snow, if I was going to run away? I have to rescue Legolas, as do you for Hour and Eldarwen.” he said. Nimlos slid the dagger back in and reached into the pocket of her skirt for a vial.
“ Thank the Valar, I didn’t lose it.” she whispered and pulled the topper out of it.
“ What is that?” Haldir said, looking from the vial to Nimlos.
“ An ointment used for those who are weak. It should warm him up a bit before we find a place to make a fire,” she said, lifting his head onto her lap. Nikeil huffed behind Haldir, making him jump. Nimlos held back a laugh, as she poured a couple of drops of the liquid into Arabndar’s mouth.
“ You Dark Elves and your potions.” Haldir smiled.
*~*
“Nimlos!” Eldarwen managed to shout just as the snowy wave engulfed her charge. Rauko reared and turned on command to return, but the orcs assaulted them before he managed to get anywhere. They were like a massive ant army, climbing up onto the horse and dragging Eldarwen from her saddle. Their grimy hands grabbed whatever they could, and soon poor Rauko was on his side. Eldarwen felt as if she were drowning in orcs.
Rauko fought the orcs, managing to injure a few of them, but there were too many. Orcish was being spit everywhere, giving orders and such in a hasty rush. Eldarwen fought with her fists, her bow long ago abandoned, but to no avail. A couple of orcs were on top of her, holding her down, as another orc punched her sharply in the temple. She was dazed for a moment from the blow…then all went black…
*~*~*
It took Eldarwen a very long time to manage to open her eyes. She heard faint grunting all around her, and it was dark outside. She slowly blinked away the blurriness from her eyes, her head throbbing painfully. She then noticed that she was tied to a boulder of all things, leather cutting tightly into her wrists behind her back. The chilly air was biting at her, her outer tunic gone. ‘Those damn orcs must have taken it.’ She thought angrily. Her body ached with bruises, but she couldn’t assess herself for any breaks. She felt the dried blood from her temple sticking to the side of her face, and her lip was cut of course.
“El…El are you okay?” Hour whispered from close by. Soon he was beside her, his arms behind tied behind him as well. Somehow he’d managed to slide his bindings down the rope that held him to the boulder. His moves went unnoticed by the orcs, who were busy arguing over food. “El…”
It took her a long while to put words together. “I’m okay…I’m fine” she managed, her voice hoarse. The throbbing in her head was acute by then, but she was resilient. Yet that resilience was wearing away. “Where…are we…?”
Hour watched her in the darkness, the faint glow of a fire lighting her face slightly. “I do not know for sure, but we’re well off the beaten path.” He kept his eyes on her, but also watched their surroundings in his peripheral vision. “Legolas is unconscious still.”
“And…what happened to the others?” she asked, dreading the answer.
Silence reigned for a long moment. “I know not exactly, but the avalanche claimed them. I know not whether they are alive…or dead…”
Eldarwen hissed at the thought...and the pain in her head. Hour didn’t miss it.
Though he couldn’t fully face her, Hour used his head to tilt hers back. He stared into her eyes, analyzing her. “I’m sure she’s alive, El.” He whispered in comfort, scooting closer beside her on his knees. “She’s as stubborn as you are.”
Eldarwen didn’t respond, still not willing to fully look into his eyes. But something drew her eyes to his, and she stared for a while. “You’re hurt.” She said then, noticing his cut up and bruised face. His face was never beat up like that…at least not often.
“It’s not as bad as it looks.” He muttered, smirking slightly. “I’d say you look far worse.”
“Thanks…” she mumbled, looking down. It was then that she saw blood. “But you’re lying to me.” She looked back up into his eyes, her eyes serious. “What did they do to you?”
Hour kept his gaze remarkably steady. “Nothing I can’t handle. I think one may have managed to stab me in the arm, but nothing serious.”
“Nothing serious? What if it was poisoned?” she hissed, glaring at him.
“It wasn’t poisoned, El, so quit worrying.” Hour said sternly, his gaze hardening. Eldarwen turned away from him in anger, causing him to let out a frustrated breath. “El, hey…” When she didn’t respond, he gently nudged her with his shoulder. “Look at me.”
Eldarwen was reluctant, but she finally turned around and faced him. She glared, but his gentle aura was quickly wearing away the anger she was clinging to. She felt bare before him…and though elves weren’t self-conscious in the way that humans were, the fact that she was half human wasn’t helping any. She felt the tips of her ears go red and prayed to the Valar he couldn’t tell.
Hour looked concerned. “I’m sorry…I shouldn’t have been so cold.” He whispered, wishing he wasn’t tied up so that he could try and better comfort her.
Eldarwen couldn’t stop herself from seeking some sort of comfort from him. She laid her head against his shoulder, burying her face in his neck. Though none of them smelt supremely pleasant, she found comfort in that familiar smell that still clung to him. “I’m just…I just worry too much. I’m at fault here.”
Hour was too surprised by her reaction to respond at first. She’d never been one to open up this much to him, much less seek comfort. He gently tilted his head until it was resting on top of hers, wishing more than ever that his arms were free. “No…you’re concerned for good reasons.” He closed his eyes, reveling in the rare moment, but it was not to last…
“Hey, they’re awake!” An orc grunted from nearby, and soon a few of them were on them. Eldarwen and Hour both separated but remained close to one another. The orcs were hard to make out in the darkness, but they could definitely smell them…and they reeked. One particularly smelly one grabbed Eldarwen by the scruff of her tunic, cutting her bonds, and began to drag her away. She fought him, but two other orcs held her at bay.
“Eldarwen!” Hour shouted out, fighting at his bonds. An orc smirked at him before kicking him roughly in the stomach. He doubled over in pain, seeing spots for a moment.
“Hour!” Eldarwen shouted back, her voice fading away as she was dragged off. Hour watched, helpless, as the darkness engulfed her.
Chapter Seven Bound and Tortured
A fire crackled in the middle of Gladden Fields. The night air was still bitterly cold, but not as bad as it was under several feet of snow. Nimlos kept her eyes on the sleeping Arabndar. He’d been unconscious for a day and a half. Nimlos, unable to help the healing process, waited until he would awaken before helping him. Haldir returned with more firewood, and stared off into the massive darkness around them.
“ I don’t think we’ll find them,” he said. Nimlos watched Haldir and waited on him to say more. “ We don’t have a clue where those orc scum have taken them.”
“ Perhaps we can track them?”
“ How? We lost their footprints in the snow. We know they headed North…Hell…We’re heading North.”
“ Northwest actually.” Nimlos piped in, glancing at Arabndar so that she wouldn’t meet Haldir’s angry stare.
“ Is he awake yet?” Haldir tried to change the subject before he blacked out and found himself strangling Nimlos.
“ No…he’s still weak,” she said, taking out the vial, and dropping a bit more into Arabndar’s mouth. His color had instantly began to come back during her first application of the potion. “ Haldir…our only hope is to believe that they will escape from the grasp of those brutes, and we’ll meet them in Tethlion.”
“ Excuse me…isn’t Tethlion where you live?” Recognizing the knowledge in his voice, Nimlos slowly met his eyes. He was free of binds, and able to run away any moment.
“ Legolas dies, if you do not show up. If you want to keep your friend safe, I suggest you follow along.” she warned.
“ I’m not going to be threatened by a young cadet.” he mused.
“ Then leave. But Legolas’s blood will be on your conscience.” she said, grasping her knife. Haldir noticed the movement, and sighed.
“ I will not promise to remain courteous when we arrive and I see my friend alive with my own two eyes. We will manage an escape.”
“ That is up to you. You can try and be killed. Or you can go into questioning, and go on from there.” Haldir’s eyes hardened and zeroed in on Nimlos’s beautiful face.
“ You have no idea what’s to happen to us, do you?” he dared. Nimlos looked away quickly and licked her suddenly dry lips.
“ No…My orders were to capture and bring back. There was no questions on my end.” she said, meeting is eyes again. In a huff, Haldir jumped to his feet. Nimlos watched, ready to attack if he should try and run. Haldir saw this also.
“ Don’t worry your little head, elleth. I’m merely taking a walk…unless you don’t trust me, and would like to join Me.” he smiled. Nimlos rose on her feet, the look in her eyes told Haldir she didn’t trust him. For some reason he was effected by it.
“ I will go…but we mustn’t be long. Arabndar may wake up and see that he is alone. I need to help him the best way I can.”
“ Though he is unkind to your captain?”
“ He has his reasons. Besides, he is apart of the mission still. As march warden, you should have understood that.”
*~*
Eldarwen fought the orcs with all she had, but it was to no avail. The main assailant had her by the scruff of her shirt, and the two others were following and keeping a keen eye on her. Suddenly she was dropped, which knocked the wind out of her lungs. She was careful not to hit her head again.
Nearly as soon as she was dropped, she was picked up again by two burly orcs in armor, which forced her between two trees with ropes tied to them at various heights. They quickly had her arms tied above the height of her head, one toward each tree, almost spread eagle. Her legs were also tied to the two trees.
This was one of the most vulnerable positions Eldarwen had ever been in…and it made her very uncomfortable. The orcs were eyeing her up and down, sneering and snarling at her. She just glared back at them, daring them to try something. If she only had her stiletto…ugh…
Then…the orc that had ridden the warg earlier walked up to her, his face more human-like than any of the others there…which made her even more nervous. His yellow teeth glinted in the torchlight, and he had an ugly sneer on his face. “Ah, just the she-elf I was hoping to capture…”
Eldarwen glared at him, but said nothing. He grinned.
“Cooperate and we won’t do anything to you, or your friends…” He grumbled, walking closer to her. He started to sniff her, like a dog would of something it likes, which angered her…but the bonds prevented her from doing anything. “You smell like all the other dark elves…but there’s something more…”
“Nothing you can have, you sick bastard…” She hissed at him, fire flashing in her eyes. The orc laughed his guttural laugh.
“You have information that we so desire.” He said then, showing her the blade of his sword. “And we will attain it.”
“I will tell you nothing…not ever…” she whispered harshly, finishing by spitting in his face. He reeled back for a moment, angry, but calmed down and grinned devilishly.
“If you so feel that way, you’ll soon feel differently…” He hissed, laughing under his breath. It was then that Eldarwen began to feel a small amount of real fear…
A larger than normal orc approached her from behind. She heard him. She also could hear the weapon in which he carried…the very weapon that was Nimlos’ specialty…the whip. She heard the first crack of it just next to her ear. For a moment she swore she’d lost hearing in it, it was so loud.
Then she started feeling them. Eldarwen had been whipped in her life many times, but not by this type of whip. This whip was tipped with tiny spikes. One…two…three… She ignored the first few strikes against her back, but then they started to get harder. Ten…eleven…twelve… At fifteen strikes, Eldarwen was hurting pretty badly. Yet she stubbornly refused to cry. The whipping stopped, and the orc from before approached her again. “Do you yield?”
Eldarwen gritted her teeth and glared at him. “Never…”
The orc grinned. “Suit yourself, she-elf.” He waved another orc over, this one with no weapons or armor on…but he was bulky. His muscles were very prominent, and as he approached he cracked his knuckles. Eldarwen stared at him defiantly. The orc gave her a swift jab in the abdomen, and her body instinctively reacted by trying to curl up…but the bonds were preventing her from doing so. Before she could recover, the orc hit her there again…and again…and again… Eldarwen took ten good jabs in the stomach before he stopped. She couldn’t catch her breath, but she was thankful he’d missed most of her ribs.
“I take it you’re still defiant, so I won’t ask.” The orc said then, approaching her. “But since you’re a pretty she-elf…I’ll keep you for a while fairly intact.” He turned to an orc that was nearby. “Take her back.”
When her bonds around her wrists were cut, Eldarwen collapsed onto the ground, curling up on her elbows and knees. Valar, she hurt terribly. Her breaths came short and labored. The nearby orcs jeered at her as they passed. Eldarwen felt like she’d been hit by a couple of Mumakil.
When two orcs picked her up and started to drag her off, she hardly paid any notice to the scrapes and bumps she was receiving from being dragged. All she felt was pain. She didn’t even notice that they’d tied her by the wrist to a tree near the boulder she’d been tied to earlier.
Hour watched was they dragged her back, tied her up, and left her. The darkness prevented him from getting a good look at her, but just seeing her not fighting them sent a chill down his spine. When the orcs had left her, he scooted near her as close as he could, which as about three feet.
“Eldarwen…” he whispered loudly, his brows knotted in concern. “El, are you okay…?”
Eldarwen vaguely heard him, but she couldn’t respond. Her stomach was in a terrible mess. Her bruised abdomen and gashed up back combined were taking their tolls on her. She hadn’t been left for five minutes before she emptied her stomach onto the ground beneath her. When that moment of sickness passed, she shivered and practically fell over onto her side facing Hour.
“El…” he whispered. He felt helpless.
Eldarwen lay curled up for a long while before saying anything. “I’m okay…Hour…” she managed. “Don’t worry…about me…” But she refused to cry, even in such terrible pain. She was the captain, damn it, and she wouldn’t show weakness to the enemy in such a way. Hour knew this, but the enemy had passed for the moment.
“El…” he whispered desperately, stretching out as far as he could. “El…come to me…don’t do this.” He was pleading with her.
Eldarwen looked over to him from behind her arms, seeing his desperation. She’d never seen him this way. She attempted to move, her stiff joints loudly protesting along with her back and stomach. But she felt the need to comfort him more than she needed comforting. He needed her reassurance. So she moved at a slow pace, getting as close to him as she could reach. They had given her a good bit of slack on the rope, and she could reach his legs. Hour adjusted until he was sitting cross-legged before her. Eldarwen put her head in his lap, then.
No words were spoken afterward. When Eldarwen finally succumbed to sleep, Hour bent down and placed a gentle kiss just above her injured temple…
*~*
The next morning, Nimlos was awakened by the sound of groaning. A gasped escaped her to find Arabndar stirring beside her. She scrambled beside him and took his hand. Sweat was already began to bead and slid on his forehead. His eyes were bloodshot, and his fever was worse than before. He looked at Nimlos, trying not to show his fear. But she could feel it. She was afraid for him.
“ It’s alright Arabndar. I’m going to look after you.” She said, pulling out the vial again.
“ Sooner or later you’re going to run out. Then what will you do to break his sickness?” Haldir said from the other side of the camp. Nimlos did not look at him, nor answer his question. She simply did as she said, and looked after Arabndar. Annoyed and just a tiny bit jealous, Haldir continued to eat his lambis.
“ N-Nimlos,” Arabndar stuttered. His whole body quivered from the cold, yet his skin was so hot.
“ Shhh…my friend, you mustn’t try to speak. Please relax and try to get well. We still have a long journey before us.” she whispered, and rang a wet cloth from the small bowl of water she found in the marsh. She’d added herbs to it, to help medicate the lotions she’d applied to his skin hours before. Then she began to dab his scorching forehead. Arabndar looked confused for a moment, finally sleep won the battle.
*~*
Unable to wait for Arabndar’s fever to break, Haldir and Nimlos packed up their things, and secured Arabndar to his horse as he slept. The traveled for miles through the cold, stopping ever so often to check on the sickened elf. Nimlos could not figure out what could be the trouble of him. It worried her mind too much, and Haldir was running out of patients.
“ Nimlos…” Haldir said. Nimlos’s head turned from behind her, where Arabndar’s horse was, back to Haldir’s face. “ He’s okay.”
“ No he isn’t. I fear he will not survive what ever it is he’s suffering.” The lines on her forehead showed Haldir, how much her concern was for Arabndar.
“ Did you check him out?” he asked, keeping his eyes on the trial in front of them.
“ No. I didn’t see any thing bleeding through his clothes.” Nimlos stopped and began to think deeply. “ I really didn’t take the time to check.” she realized and suddenly felt the pang of guilt. She stopped Nikeil, and hurried to Arabndar, taking him down from his horse. Haldir turned his horse around and watched her.
“ What are you doing? We don’t have time for this,” he said. Nimlos carefully removed Arabndar’s tunic, and turned him over to expose his back. A long deep cut ran across it.
“ How did I not see this?” her eyes grew wide, as she ran a gentle finger over the red sore. The blood had frozen over, from when he’d been buried under the snow banks. It had formed a solid cake of crimson, but his flesh around it was even redder.
“ By the Valar.” Nimlos cursed and turned to Haldir. “ How did this happen?” Haldir leaned over the neck of his horse.
“ I don’t recall seeing the warg survive the fall,” he said. Nimlos’s eyes narrowed and her face quickly became flush.
“ You were going to let him die? That warg must have been infected like the wolves. And you were just going to let Arabndar die?” she yelled.
“ Why would I help an enemy?”
“ Because I have helped you!” she said, jumping to her feet. Haldir sat up, as if he realized something.
“ Are you in love with him?” Astounded, Nimlos’s jaw dropped to the ground.
“ I beg your pardon?” she said, her anger was beginning to boil.
“ It’s a simple question really. Are you in love with Arabndar? You seem to fuss about him enough.”
“ I am not in love with anyone,” she said stomping towards Haldir. “ I am a loyal person, who happens to care about the people I am assigned with.”
“ Or just care about them in general.” He smiled. Nimlos had had it. She lunged for him, knocking him off of his horse. They rolled about in the snow, Nimlos throwing punches and scratching him with her nails. Haldir tried his best to hold her off, until she punched him in the nose. Blood oozed down his face. Nimlos stopped when she seen it, and a seed of guilt planted itself in her gut. Haldir shoved her off of him, and rose up, touching the blood gingerly.
Nimlos lifted her chin in defiance. She got up, brushed the snow from her body, and walked back to Arabndar. Nimlos fell on her knees beside him, and released the tears she refused to let Haldir see. She had a heart…and it bled for him, as she had just made his nose bleed. However he had insulted and hurt her feelings.
Trying to control her emotions, Nimlos spread both her hands against Arabndar’s temple. She was hit with the vision in his head. The roar of the snow thundered around them. Nimlos looked up from where she stood, beside Arabndar’s horse. She saw her past self still aiming the arrow at the warg, yet watching the mountain of snow pouring down to them. That was when the warg made its unknown leap over them. The orc that was saddled on its back reared back his sword, slicing into Arabndar’s armor, gashing his flesh. His cry was muffled as the snow hit them. It’s impact knocked Nimlos out of her vision.
Her breath was quick and desperate. She looked back at Arabndar, and then back to Haldir who was no longer worried about his nose.
“ Nimlos, what is it?” he said, rushing towards her. Fresh tears began to warm her cheeks. Unable to resist, Haldir held her face in his hands.
“ Look at me. Look at me, dear. What did you see?”
“ The orcs…they carry the sickness…” she sobbed. Haldir’s brows drew together as he tried to understand. “ Did you see the warg leap over us?” she asked.
“ Yes, I thought you did too?” he said.
“ The orc…his blade was poisoned by the infection. He cut Arabndar with it. The same infection the wolves had.” she said. Her sobs came out louder now. The vision had shaken her badly. Haldir pulled her to him, and wrapped his arms around her shivering body.
“ I don’t know how to cure It.,” she whispered against him.
“ There’s nothing left for us to do, but watch over him and ride it through,” he said, rocking her back and forth. Nimlos felt stupid for allowing him to see her like this, but when she turned her face towards Arabndar, her heart shattered. Eldarwen’s cousin was dieing.
*~**~*
Hour didn’t know when he’d fallen asleep, but when he awoke it was about an hour before dawn. He was stiff from sitting in one position for so long, but when he looked down at Eldarwen’s head in his lap, he didn’t care one bit. He heard a snort to his left, and when he turned he was amazed at what he saw…
There stood Rauko working precariously at Legolas’ bonds. Legolas winced every once in a while at a nip here and there, almost causing Hour to laugh. But only almost…for Eldarwen was on the forefront of his mind. As the black horse finished chewing away at the bonds on Legolas’ wrists, Hour returned his attention to Eldarwen. She was shivering. He then remembered what had happened earlier in the night…when she’d been sick.
Eldarwen had chosen a life of immortality…the life of an elf. What confused him was that she had gotten sick. Elves never got sick. It was a typically human trait. This sudden realization had him concerned and confused at the same moment, and as soon as Rauko had chewed away his bonds, he gently pulled down Eldarwen’s torn tunic from her shoulder to inspect the older wounds, but they were inflamed far worse than they had been when she had gotten them. But before he could think too much on it, he decided it was high time to hightail it out of there…
Legolas had already started for the nearest exit, which was a gap between two sleeping orc guards. Hour glared angrily at him, but ignored him for the time being. Rauko had soon worked off Eldarwen’s bindings, gently nuzzling her awake with his nose. Hour looked down at her, wiping the hair from her face. She was hot and slightly sweaty with fever, he could tell.
“Hour?” she managed to whisper before hissing in pain. Her bruised abdomen had decided to protest angrily to any form of movement. She was afraid to move her back at all.
“It is I, Eldarwen.” He said gently, stroking the side of her face. “We must rise and be gone before the orcs awaken.”
Eldarwen understood, but that didn’t make her feel any better. Rauko whinnied sadly at the sight and condition of his mistress, causing her to turn her head slightly to him. She smiled slightly, slowly raising a hand and stroking his nose. “Hannon lle, mellon nin.” She whispered to him, the horse gently nipping her in response.
“You may hate me for this in moment, but I have to carry you, El.” Hour said then, looking expectantly into her eyes. She turned back to him and nodded.
“I won’t hate you, no matter how much I may…curse you…” she replied, managing a small smile. Hour nodded back.
“Alright. Are you ready?” He asked, moving until he was in a squatting position. Eldarwen didn’t say anything for a moment, but took a bit of the leftover rope the orcs had tied her with and put it reluctantly between her teeth. She then nodded. Hour didn’t hesitate to pick her up, putting one arm under her knees and the other as far up her shoulders as he could, though he could feel her wounds still. Eldarwen bit hard into the rope, her hands automatically tightly gripping the front of Hour’s tunic in her attempt to prevent from crying out at the intense pain. The wounds on her back reopened, and blood began to ooze slowly from them onto Hour…but he didn’t care. Rauko kneeled down and let Hour mount him with Eldarwen facing him. Hour didn’t want to injure her further, thus placing her in front of him.
Once he’d mounted with Eldarwen, Hour gently commanded Rauko to pursue Legolas. “If that elf thinks he can get away so easily, we’ll show him what dark elves are capable of.” He whispered to the stallion, which snorted in response. As soon as they’d escaped the eyes and ears of the orcs, Rauko took off at a canter in pursuit of the escaping ellon.
Eldarwen’s pain faded slightly as they began the pursuit, and when she finally reopened her eyes, she found the position that Hour had placed her in a little disturbing. Hour noticed her reaction, laughing lightly.
“What’s wrong, El?” he asked nonchalantly, watching her glance nervously around. When she didn’t answer, Hour smiled. “I didn’t want to injure you further.”
Hour’s simple but true response calmed her slightly, but she still didn’t like it. Eldarwen didn’t think much on it, the pain resonating through her back and abdomen not allowing her to. Besides, she could think on it later.
Rauko slowly sped up to a gallop, hot on the trail of Legolas. The elf had gotten a good start, but he was on foot and wouldn’t get too far. Hour knew Legolas knew how to hide, but Hour happened to know how to find such clever elves. Rauko could smell him, and Hour could see the smallest of details.
When the horse suddenly stopped at foot of an immense tree, Hour immediately knew where to find him. He silently signaled to Eldarwen what he was doing, gently sliding off the horse and laying her against the stallion’s back. ‘I’ll be back.’ He mouthed to her, jumping up onto the lowest branch of the tree. Eldarwen watched him disappear into its vast branches.
She didn’t have to wait long. She heard a scuffle occurring near the top of the tree, followed by a loud curse, a laugh, and then cracking branches. In a blur of green and yellow, Legolas was the first to reach the ground…after hitting a few branches on the way down. He landed flat on his back with a loud grunt, groaning afterwards. Hour was soon beside him, only on his feet.
“I thought that wood elves almost always landed on their feet.” Hour mumbled, bending over and grabbing Legolas by the scruff of his shirt. He easily lifted the elf from the ground, pulling his face close to his. “I hope that shows you to not try and escape from us again.” He growled, roughly standing him on his feet. Legolas glared at him, sporting a new black eye.
“You’re lower than even orcs.” Legolas hissed as Hour began to bind Legolas’ hands with his own belt. At his comment, Hour sharply tightened the bindings, causing Legolas to wince.
“Shut up before I gag you, blondie.” Hour whispered harshly.
Eldarwen watched them for a long while before she started to get dizzy. She felt sick, even still, but it was getting worse. She was freezing, even though the weather was warmer than it had been. As the sun came over horizon to the east, its glare causing her to wince, her body felt even weaker. She knew she was about to pass out. Hour caught her just as she slumped over, slipping from Rauko’s back.
“El?” he asked hastily, sitting her on the ground near the stallion’s feet. She groaned, still conscious, though weak. This worried him.
Legolas watched them for a moment, still upset. “She looks like she’s dying.” He muttered, though Hour heard him. The elf turned to the prince, glaring at him.
“What the hell do you mean, she’s dying?! She’s elven.”
“I mean what I said.” Legolas hissed back. “Though if she is, I can guarantee you that I won’t miss her.”
Legolas’ words sent a blaze through Hour, but as he started to his feet to cut him to pieces, Eldarwen’s grip on his tunic stopped him. He looked down questionably at her.
“Leave him be, Hour…” she mumbled, pain evident in her voice. “We need to get out of here…before…the orcs return…” She passed out just as she finished, her head slumping against his shoulder.
Hour was quiet for a while. When he’d gone over everything in his head, he mounted Rauko with Eldarwen in his arms like he had before, turning the stallion to face Legolas. “We should get moving. Walk ahead of me, and if you try to run, I won’t hesitate to slit your pretty little throat.” He said sternly and very seriously. Legolas glared for a moment before reluctantly relenting to his command, walking along the northerly path. Hour sighed quietly, feeling utterly defeated. “You can’t be dying.” He whispered to her, knowing that she couldn’t hear him. “By the Valar, I won’t let you…” Feeling weak from this new thought, he laid his head on top of hers, following Legolas north along the Misty Mountains. It would be a long journey yet…
*~*
Horror gripped Nimlos’s heart still even after they found shelter leagues away from their last stop. The cave was much smaller than the one they had all stayed in. So it seemed perfect for the three of them. Nimlos mothered Arabndar while he was awake, which never was that long, and worried over him as he slept. Haldir could notice how ill she was getting from it as well. He chewed on his dinner and watched Nimlos apply some more medicated cream to Arabndar’s gash. She hoped so badly that it would draw the infection out. Haldir, however, knew better. Yet he kept his opinions to himself. For the truth would crush her.
“ Come and eat, Nim. You’ll need your strength for tomorrow’s journey, ” he said.
“ I’m fine.” Nimlos said, without looking at him. Haldir sighed, and took another bite. The fire played with the shadows on the walls of the cave. That was how Haldir watched Nimlos apply the cream. He walked over to her, knelt beside her and offered her a bite.
“ If not for me, ” he said, drawing her attention to him, “ eat for Arabndar. He’ll still need your strength so he can gather his own.” Nimlos took the triangle of limbas, and nibbled on the corner.
“ I will eat for you, ” she said. Her eyes didn’t leave his. That’s what brought the numbness in his knees. He brushed her cheek with the tips of her fingers, and then played with the short ends of her hair. She smiled a bit, feeling more than the heat from the fire. Was it wrong to feel this way about an enemy? Her father would kill her and not think twice about it. With that thought, Nimlos turned away from him. Haldir’s eyes flashed with an unexpected pain. But he quickly covered it up.
“ Eat up, Nimlos.” he said, and then walked back to his area.
Nimlos paused for a moment after he left, and sighed. Why was she torn? Her loyalty with her kind kept her with developing a loyalty with Haldir. Then for a moment, Nimlos’s mind slipped to think about Eldarwen…Sadness crept into her heart. She didn’t know if her captain was alive or not. She prayed to the Valar that they were all okay. Would El be disappointed in her if she knew the warmth Haldir gave her? He didn’t make her feel like the tiny failure her father always had. He believed in her, just as Hour and Eldarwen did.
Arabndar stirred a moment before opening his eyes again. He seen the distant look in Nimlos’s eyes, and did not understand where it came from. His whole body ached, as did his mind. He could feel himself slipping away, yet he was still attached to his body…as if on tiny strings. Arabndar reached over for Nimlos’s hand, and tried to reassure her. She jumped for a moment from the contact, and smiled in relief to see him awake.
“ What’s troubling you, Nim?” he asked. He once beautiful purple eyes had lightened to a fair violet. His eyeballs were sunken back into his skull a bit. His body had turned fragile very quick, and his bones were poking against the thin layers of his skin. If he were not visibly breathing, she would have thought him to be dead. The infection was quick at taking its toll. Two days…two days was all it took to drain away his body, leaving him shriveled like a raisin.
“ I’m just trying to figure out how I am going to save you, ” she said, lifting his hand to her face to warm it up. Enjoying the comforting warmth, Arabndar dug in the strength to brush her cheek.
“ I believe you can, milady.” his eyes grew sad. “ This sickness has made me think and regret a lot of things, Nimlos.” His comment softened Nimlos’s eyes as well.
“ Regret what, my friend?”
“ How big of a disappointment I’ve been to everyone. Even my father.” he coughed a bit, and slowly dragged in more breath. It tore at her heart to see him like this.
“ We all look to the approval of our fathers. They seem to rule the whole lot in Tethlion, ” she said. Arabndar smiled.
“ Yes…I guess they do. But I’ve been angry for it. I’ve taken it out on those I should respect. Like you...and Eldarwen.” he turned his face, so she would not see the tears that fell from the depths of his eyes. “ I will die before I get to tell her that.”
“ No. Arabndar I will not let you die. I will fight the Valar myself to prevent that.” she said, grasping his hand.
“ Even I know that is not possible, young one.” he chuckled.
“ I will make it possible, ” she promised. Arabndar coughed, giving his throat a sick-rattling noise. Nimlos winced, and pulled the vial out again. Haldir was right… she was running out. She gave Arabndar the last two drops to help sooth his throat, and tossed the tiny glass into the fire. It gave a quick burst inside the flames, not harming anyone.
“ Nimlos…” Arabndar said. He brushed her face again, and gave her another weak smile.“ Beautiful Nimlos…if it had been anyone else, they would have left me in the snow.”
“ Lady Eldarwen would have done the same I believe; no matter what argument was between you two.”
“ Still…I’m glad it was you, ” he said. A funny feeling trickled down her spine. Nimlos wasn’t sure if she liked it that much. She smiled sweetly still and eased Arabndar back to sleep.
Nimlos walked back to the fire where Haldir sat. He’d watched the whole scene, and forced himself not to recoil from her presents. He felt foolish for feeling anything for her. But there she was, close to him again. The fire playing with the light colors of her eyes. She looked at him for a long moment before she spoke.
“ I was mistaken, Lord Haldir.” she started. The title threw him off a bit, but he sat and waited. “ I thought of you as an arrogant brute. Yet you saved me from the snow…and you’ve helped me keep Arabndar safe.”
“ Now when you return and he is well, you can marry him.” he said and walked off. Nimlos lifted a brow, trying not to smile. She followed him to the entrance of the cave, and placed a hand on his shoulder.
“ I do not wish to marry Arabndar. Only to bring him back home safe and healthy is my only wish, ” she said softly. Haldir turned to her; his brilliant eyes reflected the light from the fire.
“ Is that so?” he asked. Nimlos noticed how close their bodies were, and how fast her heart was beating.
“ Yes…tis so.” she said. Haldir thought for a moment. He pondered his next action. She was reading his mind, not literally, but she sensed that he wanted to embrace her some how. He was afraid of how she would react. Nimlos stepped closer to him, feeling the extravagant sensation the closeness was giving her, and slowly brought her arms around him. The hug caught him even more off guard. He wanted to do more than hug, but her young innocence had yet, once again softened him. He returned the hug, no longer feeling the bitter cold wind that blew outside the cave.
Chapter Eight Bound to love…
They walked on for most of the day, stopping once at an abandoned campsite to attain a weapon. Hour found a heavy sword that had been used by a human fairly recently, though it seemed they had forgotten to clean it. No food was found, much to Hour’s disappointment. It had been over a day since any of them had eaten. They weren’t starving yet, but they needed to eat to keep their energy up.
Eldarwen had been unconscious most of the trip since she’d passed out earlier in the day. She had woken up once for only a moment, her eyes looking lost and distant. Her condition began to really worry Hour. She looked as if she was fading, and Hour couldn’t figure out why. She hadn’t had her heart broken, as far as he knew, so her fading had to be a result of something else…like the wolves claws. It was then that it really hit him. It had to be the wolves. They had had something wrong with them at the time of the attack, and one of the last ones had pierced her with his claws. He brought a hand to his forehead at the realization.
As the light of the day began to fade, Hour found a small place for them to camp out. Rauko lowered himself to the ground, letting Hour better get off of him with Eldarwen. Legolas sat on a fallen rotting log, tired slightly from walking all day. He watched Hour lift Eldarwen from Rauko and gently lay her beside her steed. When her back faced him, Legolas couldn’t help but hiss from the sight. Even he knew well enough that no one should have been treated like that. But to have it done to an elleth…that really angered him…but he was loath to let it show. These elves had captured him without seeming to have a reason, thus his hatred of them…or dislike…
Hour sat with her for a few moments, stroking her hair and the side of her face. His mind was in turmoil. Before he let himself sink too far into despair, he stood up from his spot. “Keep her warm, Rauko.” He said to the horse, which seemed to curl himself around his mistress. Hour smiled before turning to Legolas, unable to hide his distress from the elf. “We need a fire. I ask you…would you watch over her?”
Hour’s request stunned Legolas for a moment. “You trust me to watch her?” he asked, unsure of what the elf was getting at.
“Yes…you are a strong elf. Though I know you don’t like us too much, I am asking you this as another elf…ellon to ellon.” Hour was reluctant, but he was hoping that Legolas would do as he had asked.
Legolas nodded after a moment. “I will do as you ask.”
Hour smiled, walking over to Legolas and untying his binds. When Legolas stood before him, Hour touched his hand to his heart and then to Legolas’ shoulder. “Hannon lle. This means a lot to me.” He nodded in finality and left to find firewood.
Legolas did as had been asked of him, watching over Eldarwen diligently as Hour started a fire and left to hunt as well. He even cleaned Eldarwen’s wounds, though they had nothing to wrap them with. He was bound by honor to the task, and he upheld it. No matter how badly an enemy treated you, you always upheld your honor, especially when another had placed their own on the line.
*~*~*
Hour woke late in the night, feeling Eldarwen shaking beside him. He sat up quickly on his elbow, looking down at her in concern. She looked like she was crying. Worrying even more, he carefully glided his fingers down her hot face. “Eldarwen…”
Eldarwen’s eyes slowly opened, looking around for a moment before finding his eyes. “Hour…” She whispered hoarsely, looking frightened. Hour noticed how her eyes had faded even more to such a pale gray that she looked near death. She had lost weight dramatically, which was very evident in her face. Her skin was a sallow yellow/gray color as well.
“What’s happening to you?” he asked, his worry showing through. He prayed to the Valar to keep his voice steady. Eldarwen blinked a few times, her breaths shallow. “El, talk to me…please…” He was pleading with her.
It took her a while to speak. She hated to think about what could be happening to her, but it was very evident. Always she had found strength to battle all sorts of things, but it seemed that this time she was helpless. Not even Hour could help her…not this time. “I don’t know…what’s happening to me…” she muttered finally, shaking from the cold. Hour had bundled her up with everything they could, even using his own body heat, but it wasn’t enough.
Hour put a hand against her cheek, gently rubbing his thumb over her cheek. “El…” he whispered tenderly, his voice nearly quavering with emotion. Valar, why had it come to this? His heart ached terribly, almost to the point to where he winced with pain.
Eldarwen closed her eyes for a moment, shuddering. “I feel so cold…” she barely whispered. She looked up at him again, her pale eyes wavering.
“You’re…you’re fading, aren’t you?” Hour asked, though it was a painful thing to even think, much less say.
Eldarwen didn’t answer him immediately, closing her eyes and lowering her head. “I think so…” Tears began to seep from her eyes, which Hour brushed away hesitantly. “Believe me when I say…I don’t want to…I really don’t… I used to, but now I’m not so sure…”
Her response shocked Hour slightly. “Why would you want to fade?” he asked, curious about the answer.
“I’ve never told anyone…” she whispered. Hour could tell that it was a painful subject for her by the tone of her voice. She looked up at him for a moment before looking away from him and up to the stars. The wounds on her back, thanks to Legolas, had already begun to heal, so they caused her little pain in the effort. “But I’ll tell you…for you deserve to know.” She slowly turned till her back was facing him, which confused him slightly. She wrapped her arms around herself as a form of security. Hour felt an odd sort of dread within him…and he couldn’t tell whether it was from him or her.
“Hour…I’m bound to someone…” she whispered, the last part coming out as a choked sob. She tightened her arms around herself.
Hour froze. “What?”
Eldarwen turned back around, reaching out and touching his face. “I’m bound to someone…” she repeated, the anguish clearly evident then. Hour was still in a shocked sort of state, but his mind was reeling.
“So you’re married…” Hour managed to stammer.
“No, I’m not married.” Eldarwen whispered, shaking her head. “I’m merely bound to another. It won’t ever be official.”
“Then…where’s your mate?” Hour asked hesitantly. Though he was madly jealous deep down (for reasons he couldn’t abate), his concern over her well being was the most important.
Eldarwen looked down at his chest, a wave of pain sweeping through her. When it had passed, she spoke again. “I know not…for he didn’t love me… He doesn’t know, and he doesn’t need to know, for he won’t acknowledge the binding, or remember it more or less.” She was really crying then, which ate at Hour’s heart more than anything.
Hour pulled Eldarwen to him, carefully wrapping his arms around her. She accepted his comfort, wrapping her arms around his neck and burying her head in his collar. “I’m sorry.” He whispered gently, placing a kiss on her ear. “That ellon is an idiot to have left you like that.” He paused for a moment. “Do you sense his presence?”
Eldarwen shook her head. “Not now…”
Eldarwen cried for a while before she began to cough roughly. Hour pulled her away from him in concern. “El?” She didn’t respond, but her eyes were wide, as if in panic. Her breaths were short and rapid. “El…El, stay with me.” Hour said, a hand on her face. She was hotter than ever before. Soon she had passed out again from the pain. Hour would have thought she was dead if he hadn’t seen her chest barely rise and fall. A tear fell from his eye before he could prevent it.
“Valar…” he mumbled, pulling her closer again. “I wish I had known sooner.”
Legolas watched the scene sadly before sending a silent prayer to the Valar. That night he quietly sang an elven song, lulling Hour into a relatively peaceful sleep. He would need his strength…
*~*
After several weeks of traveling near the Misty Mountains, Haldir and Nimlos neared the Old Forest Road. They would not follow it however, just pass through it and onward toward the Grey Mountains, for it was there in the depths that they’re destination laid. Arabndar, a little more together now through the passage of time and sleepless nights, rode limply close behind them. He began to gather his strength just a week ago. But still his weight was gone, his mind was not focused, and he still looked sickly. The mark on his back blackened and hardened into a thick scab. The red around it still glowed with fever, and his skin was still clammy. How he was able to ride the horse without falling over, Nimlos would never understand. She didn’t know the infection. She didn’t know its effects, besides what she witnessed with Arabndar. All she knew, was that he was indeed fading.
Fading in sort of an odd way. But she could feel him slipping away. Nimlos regained her hope the day Arabndar first fed himself the rabbit soup Haldir had managed to fix with their limited supplies. Her reaction was that of pride and relief, and Arabndar felt it too. It was the first time someone had been truly proud of him, and showed it with much care. Though he took up the majority of Nimlos’s time, he wanted to be closer to her. Not just as spies on a mission. But friends…more than friends. He found it impossible the more he seen Haldir and Nimlos interact. Yes he seen the way Haldir looked at her, talked to her, and at times…really connect with her. Envy had him green up to his ears sometimes. She was unaware of it though, Arabndar was sure of it. Nimlos didn’t know how he felt. But once he got his strength up, he would tell her. He swore to himself he would tell her.
*~*
As they neared a clearing, which they would use as a camp, Haldir slipped off his horse, and walked the rest of the way beside it. Nimlos looked around the area, trying to notice anything out of the ordinary. She would not risk losing Arabndar now that he was coming back to them. She’d mothered him in a way he’d never been mothered before. And that had trampled on Haldir’s nerves quite a bit. The way she’d hover over him and smile. Feed him his dinner, and take pride in his progress. If it had been up to Haldir…he must no think negatively of the sick ellon yet. Especially since he hadn’t the strength to actually move in on Nimlos.
They found their camping ground, and Haldir left reluctantly for firewood and food. Nimlos helped Arabndar off of his horse and sat him down near the river. It’s cold water rushed past them in a fury. Nimlos dwelled in the spray as the water smashed into the rocks on the shore. She watched Arabndar enjoy the scenery as well. The excitement in his eyes gave her such joy.
“ I wish I had the strength to fish.” he said, staring off into the forest on the other side.
“ Yes, but the water would be freezing my friend. I will not have you catch your death in there.”
“ I should like to feel the wetness of water. I can’t feel the brush of a late winter breeze…I can’t smell the pines around us…and the taste of lambis is leaving me. All of my senses are failing me…and I cannot stop it.” Arabndar’s distressful eyes met Nimlos’s. “ I feel darkness in me Nimlos. I feel as if I’m tied above a hole, and all that is below he is the hungry black ambis. And there are voices calling me.” His sunken eyes began to grow wider. “ Call for me to let go to the strings that hold me to this world.” He began to quiver in fear. Nimlos jumped in fear, and took his arm.
“ There are more than strings holding you to this world. And I will not let you fall into darkness. By the Valar there will come a fight, if what’s inside that hole emerges for you.” she swore. Tears rippled down the tight skin of his face. Nimlos pulled him to her and comforted him as he sobbed. She felt inside that the worse of the infection had not come yet.
That’s how Haldir found them, warm in each other’s embrace. Arabndar’s head tucked into the dip of her smooth neck as he sobbed. Nimlos’s face showed much concern and anger. Haldir wanted to take her into his own arms and beg of her to tell him her ails. Instead, he left her there and began to build the fire before he set out to gather food.
*~*
That night Haldir watched as Nimlos observed Arabndar sleeping. He began to get fed up with her obsessive worrying, and decided to put an end to it once and for all. Quickly he glanced around them. The weather had been a bit warmer than usual lately. Which was perfect for what he had planned.
“ Nimlos.” he said, catching her attention.
“ Yes.” she said over the heat of the fire.
“ Let’s go for a walk.” Her reply was a simple shake of her head.
“ I don’t think so. I don’t want Arabndar’s condition to worsen.”
“ Nimlos, listen. If this infection takes him, there’s nothing to do about it. We don’t know exactly what it is yet. Only that it might have the power to kill elves.” He noticed that she looked hurt for a moment, then stood up and walked toward her.
“ Thirty minutes” he said, kneeling next to her. “ That’s all I ask.” Nimlos stared at him for a moment, then glanced back at Arabndar. It couldn’t hurt to break free for thirty minutes. Get her mind off of possible death.
“ Alright, Haldir.” she said turning back to him. “ You have thirty minutes.” She smiled and walked with him to the clearing.
The air was thick and warm, so relaxing for once. The stars lit up the night sky, twinkling in all of their wonder. Nimlos gazed at the moon and felt a pang of worry for Eldarwen. No word had been heard from them. And that thought was enough to make Nimlos sick.
“ You have a world of worry on your shoulders, and in your mind.” Haldir said, still looking ahead of them. Nimlos glanced at him, then back at the moon.
“ I am worried. I have not seen a hair from Hour and Eldarwen. Arabndar may die before we reach Tethlion, and all I can seem to think about is my treason.” she said. Haldir stopped and faced her, a mess of confusion shown on his face. The light from the moon poured on them both, enclosing them into a world of their own.
“ Treason?” he said, looking deeply into her eyes.
“ Aye. I have betrayed my people Haldir.” Nimlos said, edging closer to him.
“ I do not understand.”
“ I have fallen for you in such a way that could have me killed once we enter the gates of my home.” she confessed. Haldir was taken aback for a moment, and recovered with a quick smile.
“ Is that so?”
“ Yes…tis so, my Lord.” Her face was tilted towards his, it was then he realized how short she was. He gently brushed back the stray locks of white from her light blue eyes, and swam in the depths of them. And he knew that if he held his breath long enough, he could dive deep into her soul.
“ Nimlos..” he started to say, but once again she was a step ahead of him. Her lips touched his once. Just enough to start a show of sparks. His heart skipped, and he knew he had to have more. His hands ventured around her waist, pulling her body to meet his. Haldir’s head dipped down to kiss her again. Deeper this time, exploring the sensation of the touch. Nimlos’s soft lips brushed the skin of his cheek, her hot breath slid over his ear in an audible sigh.
“ I think we need to get back.” she said, regretting that those words left her mouth.
“ Not yet,” Haldir breathed, crushing her mouth against his.
*~*
An elven bond: The bonding of two souls as one between an elleth and ellon. It is the most sacred of all bonds in the life of an elf. Once an elf has bonded souls with another, it is unbreakable. Left incomplete, it can eat at the soul like a canker. The bond consists of three parts. To be complete, all three must unite, with the three being Mind, Body, and Soul. Eldarwen's bond hadn't been completed, otherwise her mate would have known about it.
All this Hour reasoned in his head, along with the sickness she'd come down with. For weeks he'd pondered them over and over in his head. Legolas had remained vigilant, even starting to befriend Hour a bit. Hour even confided in him with most things, except for those concerning Eldarwen and her lost mate. Legolas was wise for a fairly young elf and an excellent tracker. He hunted now and then to supply them with food, often using his bare hands. Wood elves had a tendency to be great fighters and hunters, which didn't surprise Hour. His company was a nice temporary release from the turmoil in his head.
Eldarwen's condition had worsened before it began to lighten up. Hour had spent many sleepless nights with her, helping her as best he could. Her fever had begun to lessen, but it was still there. She refused to ride with Hour helping her, claiming she had the strength to ride on her own. Hour had been reluctant, but he eventually consented. There wasn't much he could do to prevent her from doing so, and Rauko was willing and careful. The horse still didn't like Legolas too much, though
Hour believed that they were close to a village somewhere, which heartened him a bit. A bit of small hospitality would be nice, though he didn't know if anyone would take in a trio of elves in a human village...especially elves with practically no money.
When they did arrive at a tiny village to the west of Mirkwood, it was dusk. Eldarwen was tired, as she usually was. She looked no better than she had been, other than the fact that her whip wounds were healed. They had left thin scars on her back that would take millennia to fade away. Speaking of fading, she was most definitely. Legolas and Hour had kept their eyes on her, though she spoke little to anyone. Most days were quiet, with only a word here or there spoken, and most of them were between Legolas and Hour. When Hour would try and check up on her, she'd just nod. It worried both elves to no end.
The village was very modest, with mostly older buildings serving as housing and a bar. Horses were tied about here and there, and candlelight began to light the buildings in the coming darkness. Hour and Legolas walked on foot just ahead of Eldarwen, who was mounted on her stallion. Rauko snorted curiously at a few passing horses. They arrived at the bar, Hour and Legolas both helping Eldarwen down from Rauko so that she wouldn't stumble. When she was on the ground, she turned away from them. Hour didn't know what to think anymore.
When the three of them entered the building, all talking ceased and all eyes turned to them. The elves ignored them, taking Eldarwen by the arms and heading to the front desk. A large man greeted them with caution. "May I help you?" he asked, looking them up and down.
Legolas spoke for them, having dealt more with the world of men. "We ask for a room, if you would allow us to stay, good sir."
The man nodded. "I would. That would be three shillings."
Legolas sifted through a pocket in his breeches, eventually revealing three shillings and handing them to the man. The bartender grinned and came around the bar. "Right this way. I hope you our accommodations will be okay. It's been a while since an elf has stayed here."
When they arrived at a room upstairs, Hour thanked the man and shut the door. He turned around and looked questioningly at Legolas. "Where'd you get the money?"
"I always have a few coins on me." Legolas said with a grin, patting his pocket. Hour laughed lightly before turning to Eldarwen, his laugh quickly disappearing.
Eldarwen stood at the window overlooking the street, watching the people and horses pass beneath the window. As usual, she was in the reverie she'd taken on as a personality.
Hour walked up behind her, placing his hands on her shoulders. Before he said anything, Legolas opened the door and left. Hour didn't know where he was going, but he figured he was giving them some time alone.
"El, would you please talk to me?" he asked quietly.
Eldarwen sighed. "What do you want me to say, Hour?" she asked him, lowering her head. She felt the grip on her shoulders tighten slightly, though not enough to hurt her.
"Anything, just stop being like this...please..."
"Don't you think I've tried?" she said then, turning around to face him. "I've fought this with all I have. I'm worried about Nimlos and Arabndar...I'm worried about this mission. I'm worried about everything." She paused for a moment, sniffing slightly. Looking deep into his eyes, she slowly brought a cold hand up to his face, gliding it down his face with light fingers. "I worry about you...so much..."
Before her hand slid from his face, Hour caught it with his own, keeping it against his cheek. "Why do you worry for me?" he asked slowly, watching her closely. She seemed to be in as much turmoil as he had been in for the past few weeks since her confession.
Eldarwen didn't say anything for a moment or two, content on just observing him. She felt his other hand on her cheek, so she reciprocated his response to hers, covering it with her free one. She leaned into his touch slightly, her eyes lingering away from his and down onto the street again. "I worry for you for many reasons..." she started, her voice waning slightly. Hour watched her ever closer. "Mainly because I'm fading."
Hour hated hearing her say it, and he visibly recoiled slightly at the thought. Eldarwen saw and felt his reaction, taking both of her hands and cupping his face with them. He looked so hurt...as hurt as he felt. He tried to calm down, looking deep into her eyes with much emotion. "I can't let you fade, El... I can't..."
"You know as well as I that if either of us could prevent this, we would. I know that you would, and I hope you know how much I would love to." She whispered to him, her hands gliding down to his shoulders.
Hour slowly moved his hands 'til they rested on her waist. He bent slightly until their foreheads touched, their noses barely apart. He kept staring into her eyes. "You know I'll fight for you. I can't let you fade..." His voice was low, filled with the emotion Eldarwen saw within his eyes.
She smiled. "I know." They stared for a long while, just how long neither knew.
Hour fought a small conflict within himself. He longed to kiss her so much, but he was hesitant, especially since she was already bound to another elf. 'That elf was a bastard for not staying with her. If I find out his name, I'll knock some serious sense into his skull.' Before he'd even finished the thought, he found Eldarwen's lips on his. He was too shocked to react at first, but he soon responded by kissing her gently back. When she pulled away, a tear slid down her face. "What's wrong?" he asked, wiping away the tear with his thumb.
Eldarwen looked away for a moment before turning back. "I don't want to fade...I don't want to die yet, Hour..." Hour immediately pulled her against him, sitting down on the bed with her frail form in his lap, letting her cry. Hour stayed as strong as he could, but his heart was crying with her...
Later than night, Legolas re-entered the room quietly, finding the two on the bed, Hour leaning against the wall, Eldarwen wrapped in his arms asleep. Legolas had to smile a little at the sight before blowing out the candle and going to bed. Finally, some peace for a while, but peace never lasts long.
~*~
Nimlos woke up, with her hand inside Haldir’s. She was lying on her stomach, her face towards his. The early birds of late winter chirped in their nests above them. The weather was getting warmer so there was no more need for their cloaks, though she was going to wear hers anyway for protection. Nimlos rolled on her back and stared at the dawning sky. The purples began to fade into pinks, yellows, and finally the welcoming blues.
What exactly was she going to do about this? She thought to herself for a moment, and then turned her face to watch him sleep. They will be in Tethlion in a matter of a month or so…How was she going to explain to the council, that they had to spare Haldir’s life, if it was to be taken? She couldn’t bear to lose him. The morning breeze brushed over them, Nimlos took in the smell of fresh dirt and beautiful nature.
She kneeled next to the river, gathered two handfuls of the cool water, and splashed it on her face. It refreshed and finished off every bit of grogginess that lingered around her. A long awaited calmness fell on her, as she watched with magnificent light blue eyes, the orange sun that rose over the mountains. They traveled in to the West. She always liked traveling west…for some reason. It was always a dream of Nimlos’s to journey across the ocean, and see what lay in the beyond.
She looked back at sleeping Arabndar and sighed. Would he make it long enough to gaze upon the lands again? To seek out the ocean like he had dreamed also? Arabndar’s limp small form shivered under the light fabric of his cloak. Nimlos approached him and pulled the cloak under his chin, and tucked him in further to make sure he was warm. It was then that she noticed it. His skin had become a deadly gray shade. It was not the normal skin type for any elf…except for Hour of course, but even he wasn’t this hue of gray…Nimlos sighed, not understanding what Arabndar was going through.
“ Nimlos, ” she heard him say when she turned to leave. She turned back to him and felt her heart drop once again. His eyes…were a pale yellow, and ooze escaped the corners of his mouth…Tears formed in her eyes that she could not control.
“ I thought you were getting better, my friend…” she whispered, and fell to her knees beside him. All hope it seemed…was gone….
“ Nimlos…” he whispered again, raising a bony shaking hand towards her. Nimlos took it, and sobbed at its coldness. “ I’m fading…”
“ No, ” she sobbed. “ You cannot…you have to fight this, Arabndar. I want to bring you back home so your father can see you. You can tell him your story, and he will be proud.” But Arabndar only shook his head.
“ Sweet young Nimlos…” his strength failed, and his hand dropped from her grasp. His eyes slowly closed. It took him a long moment to gather more; he wanted to look into those leaking eyes one more time.
Haldir knelt behind Nimlos, and laid a supportive hand on her quivering shoulder. The poor ellon was losing the light of the Valar. He could feel it. And he knew how badly it was hurting Nimlos. Haldir wanted to take her pain away, and gi