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Disclaimer: Any recognizable characters and places associated with the Lord of the Rings are creations of J.R.R. Tolkien and property of Tolkien Enterprises. No money is being made off of this story, it is for entertainment only.
Chapter 7: Ventures in the Dark
“We gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face... we must do that which we think we cannot.”
- Eleanor Roosevelt
********
Once out the door the three elves took off toward the trees with all haste. Haldan knew that in the dense foliage the swift elves could make good time through the trees and that he would never keep up. As he existed the house the ranger turned sharply in the opposite direction and ran to his horse. He jumped on and together they headed for the trees.
The fog that had blanketed the land during the morning hours was once again descending thickly over the rapidly darkening land.
Even with the sure footing horse the ranger felt like he was crawling along and as he ducked to narrowly miss a branch that appeared out of the fog he had to wonder if this was such a good idea. He was not about to back out, though, so he pushed on hoping he was not going to break his neck.
*********
Gilraen grieved silently reassured by her son’s presence. She gently rocked the crying child as she herself cried. They had eaten their dinner and though she did not feel like eating she did for her son’s sake. After dinner she had tried to explain death to her son, but how do you explain something like that to a three year old? Even through her best efforts she had only accomplished to make Aragorn understand that his dad was going to a better place and that he would not be back, but he would always be watching over them. Of course to a three year old this equated to ‘daddy did not want to be with them anymore.’ She gently tried to reassure him that that was not the case and that he would understand when he was older.
After what felt like hours Gilraen finally look up with a tear streaked face to notice that the sun had dipped down below the horizon and that they should be getting back to the village. She was about to stand when it dawned on her that things where too quiet. She looked around. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, but suddenly her heart was racing. She looked down to the still sniffling child and spoke quietly to him.
“Aragorn listen to me,” she said urgently.
The perceptive child picked up on something in his mother’s voice and quieted down.
“We have to get back home now and I need you to be very quiet for me, alright?”
Aragorn could tell his mother was scared which made him scared as well, but he did what he was asked and did not make a sound and just nodded to his mom.
Gilraen stood silently with the child in her arms leaving the basket and everything else behind. She quickly walked over and put Aragorn up on the horse first. She was just getting ready to spring up behind him when sounds of someone crashing through the forest came to her. She hoped to see one of the elves or the ranger or even someone from the village emerge, but she knew that would not be the case. Gilraen grabbed the nearest thing near her to use as a weapon. She snatched up a fallen tree branch and turned to face the noise just as an orc appeared through the fog.
With courage born of desperation Gilraen stood her ground in between her son and the orc as it charged. She vowed nothing would hurt her son while she was still alive, she was the wife of the Chief of the Dunadien after all and not just a simple farm girl! Of course, the thought came to her, practicing fighting with someone and actually facing someone was very different.
As the orc neared her and brought up his sword Gilraen screamed and blocked it with her make shift club. The impact made her hands and right arm go numb, but she knew she had to do something so, still yelling she kicked out at the thing. The orc caught the kick in the stomach and staggered back. The woman yelled out in anger and fear again and swung her club with all her strength. The orc was just starting to come back at the woman when she swung and the branch hit the orc square in the face. She felt sick when she heard the nose shatter and dropped the branch. The orc hit the ground stunned, but it was still alive and Gilraen’s eyes widened when it struggled to rise. These things were tougher that they looked! With shaking hands the woman quickly grabbed the orc’s dropped sword and shoved it into the orc’s throat.
Gilraen let go of the weapon and watched in horror as orc gurgled and sunk to the ground. The creature fell forwards and she stepped back, but not in time to keep the wound from brushing her skirt. She looked down momentarily stunned at the huge bloodstain on her shirt and felt sick again. She turned to check on her son and saw his small eyes huge with fright, but the boy had promised to be quiet and never made a sound.
Trithen seemed to be the worst off of the three. The horse stared into the fog with large eyes and pawed the ground nervously. Gilraen knew they had to get out of there. She tried to calm the animal and get it moving, but the horse wouldn’t budge. Gilraen was becoming more fearful standing there in an open field with her son while orcs around and the infernal horse was not helping matters. Up on the horse Aragorn quietly began to sniffle.
Gilraen’s heart skipped a beat when she heard another of the creatures coming towards her. She let out a frustrated sob and pulled the sword out of the orc’s neck to face the new terror. She tried to steel herself to keep from throwing up and meet the charging orc.
Gilraen block the first swing and felt the same numbing effect from the blow. Her arm was too numb to block the second strike completely and she cried in pain as the orc’s scimitar bit into her arm. The pain of the wound combined with the need to protect her son brought an emotion up in Gilraen she never thought possibly.
She, Gilraen, wanted to kill this foul creature.
It was after her and more importantly her son and she was going to kill it. These foul things had murdered her husband and she was going to kill this one.
The next strike of the orc never even came close this time. Gilraen blocked it accepting the stinging it caused. She swung at the thing with a yell of anger causing the orc to jump back clumsily. The orc obviously not expecting the woman to attack back was momentarily stunned by the attack. Gilraen took the opportunity to attack the orc again. The orc managed to block it at the last moment, but the strike cut a deep gash into its cheek.
“Stupid female, yous’ll pay for thats,” the orc hissed at the woman.
Gilraen barely managed to deflect the scimitar as the orc drove it straightforward in an attempt to skewer her. While the orc was in close to her she brought her knee up into the orc’s groin. Before she could do anything else the orc lurched forward into her and fell to the ground almost dragging her with it. She saw an arrow protruding out of the orc’s back and hope flared in her heart.
The joy quickly melted off her face as she looked up and saw not someone there to rescue them, but another orc. Apparently the orc did not have a problem with shooting through its companion to get to the people behind it. She held her breath as she watched seemingly in slow motion as the orc lifted its bow again.
Her eyes went frantic when the bow was raised and the orc was not looking at her, but behind her to where she knew Aragorn was sitting on top of the horse. She wheeled around to make a mad dash to get her son off the horse, knowing she would never make it in time.
Gilraen heard the twang of the bow and screamed a split second before something crashed into her and at the same time she saw a streak of color out of the corner of her eyes. She hit the ground hard, tears streaking down her face sure that her son was now dead.
“Gilraen, are you alright?” a voice asked right above her.
Gilraen opened her eyes and stared up in surprise to see Elrohir’s face right in front of hers. She realized what had happened, the elf had crashed into her.
“Aragorn,” she said frantically trying to rise.
“Here mommy,” the little one called from the protection of Aranel’s arms.
Gilraen bolted up and the fair-haired elf smiled to the woman as he handed over the child.
“Thank the Valar,” she said as she hugged the child clinging to her.
Gilraen glanced over Aragorn’s head to see Elladan wiping his sword off with the dead bowman’s tunic.
Elrohir scanned the pair and took in the blood on the woman’s arm and the large amount of it on her skirt.
“Where are you hurt?” Elrohir asked gently.
Gilraen followed the elf’s gaze down and saw what he was talking about.
“That is not mine, it was from that thing,” she indicated one of the orcs with her head.
“What about this?” Elladan asked touching underneath the wound on her arm, startling her for she never heard the elf come up beside her.
“It is not to deep,” she replied.
“That is not what worries me,” the dark-haired elf answered without looking up from inspecting the wound.
Gilraen frowned and was about to ask what that meant when the three elves looked up at once.
“What?” she asked becoming alarmed again.
“It is nothing my lady,” answered Aranel smiling.
“A little late are you not?” the fair-haired elf called as a horse became visible through the fog.
Haldan snorted as he rode up to the group.
“Well Master Elf, it is a little hard to see in this fog and three elves that I will not mention dashed off and left a certain person behind.”
“Actually you are right on time,” Elrohir cut in, “Elladan?”
Elladan finished inspecting the wound and looked up.
“As far as I can tell there is no sign of poison,” Elladan answered.
Gilraen’s eyes went wide at the mention of poison.
“Poison?” she asked.
“Do not worry, I do not see any signs of it around the wound and it can wait to be treated until she is safely back in the village,” Elladan said giving her a reassuring smile.
Elrohir nodded and turned back to the ranger.
“Haldan would you take Gilraen and Aragorn back to the village?”
The ranger nodded silently.
“Gilraen,” Elladan started, “I know you are probably tired, but once you get back gather your and Aragorn’s things quickly. Try to pack light, we will send others back for the rest later if you so desire.”
This time Gilraen did not argue about leaving the village. Tonight had been too close; she vowed to go wherever she had to, to keep her son safe. She nodded without complaint and Haldan brought the child up on the horse.
“What about Trithen?” Gilraen asked before she mounted as well.
“We will bring him, do not worry,” Aranel smiled at her.
Once the ranger rode off with the two humans the three elves turned to each other.
“That arrow went right over my head, the orc was definitely aiming for the boy,” Aranel said.
“I think adar was afraid of this,” Elrohir said shaking his head.
“It looks like we may have our work cut out for us,” Elladan replied.
Elrohir looked over to his brother and was a bit surprised to see a familiar sparkle in Elladan’s eyes, a mischievous glint he had not seen in weeks. Elrohir found himself smiling in response to the look. Aranel saw the exchange and sighed to himself.
“We should check around the area before we head back,” Elrohir suggested.
“I think you are right brother,” Elladan answered jovially.
“Aranel,” Elrohir started.
“Go back and guard the house,” Aranel finished for Elrohir.
The fair-haired elf gave a slight bow of the head and headed off with the horse.
Once Aranel had left, Elrohir looked at his brother skeptically.
“Although with as tired as you look, maybe it should be Aranel here instead,” Elrohir said.
Elladan huffed at his brother.
“I am not an invalid Elrohir.”
“I know that Elladan, just do not push too hard.”
Elladan gave his brother a reassuring smile and with a “very well” he was gone.
That smile may work on others, but Elrohir could see right through it, with a mischievous smile of his own he headed off in the opposite direction.
**********
Even through the shaking of her hands Gilraen managed to pack a travel bag for her and Aragorn. She put the little one to bed when they got back so he could get some rest. She was unsure if they meant to leave tonight or wait until morning.
Her adrenaline spent, Gilraen sat tiredly down. The ranger had tended her arm and she changed out of her now gruesome skirt. The woman opted for pants this time, just in case. The fair-haired elf returned shortly after they did and he and Haldan where talking quietly now. They both looked up when Gilraen came into the kitchen with her bag and sat down at the table.
“Are you well my lady?” Aranel asked.
“What… oh yes, thank you. Just a little unnerved I guess.”
“That is to be expected, you did very well though. It looked as if you were doing just fine when we came,” Aranel said with a wink.
Despite herself Gilraen smiled at the compliment. She sobered immediately and looked at the elf.
“I don’t think I have ever been so frightened before. They were after my son, my son, can you believe that? At Rivendell can he be protected from such things happening again?”
“Gilraen,” Aranel answered as he came kneel in front of the woman, “Rivendell is one of the safest places in Arda. You and your son will be safe there. Trust me, it is guarded by more than just elves I assure you.”
Gilraen took a deep breath and nodded. She managed a weak smile at the elf.
“I know Elladan and Elrohir somewhat, but what of their father? What is he like?”
“Ageless.”
Gilraen looked over to the ranger who had been quiet until now. She looked at him curiously.
“Please continue,” she pleaded.
“I do not know if elves feel as such, but as a mortal man that is what I felt standing near him, an agelessness and wisdom. The whole of Rivendell feels like that actually and it would seem they are one and the same. I was rather distraught when I traveled to Rivendell and one of the feelings I remember the best was that Master Elrond had a calming effect on me. I felt very welcome there and I am sure you will too.”
Haldan noticed Aranel looking at him. He could not read the elf’s calm expression and worried he may have inadvertently insulted his Lord somehow.
“Did I say something unfitting?”
“No, mellonamin, I think you said it beautifully.”
“What if he does not like Aragorn?” Gilraen asked.
“Has either of his sons given you any sign that they do not like the little one?” Aranel asked.
“No,” she said somewhat confused.
“His sons seem to be pretty tolerant and children learn such behaviors from their parents.”
Gilraen nodded as she digested what the elf was getting at. She was probably being too critical. From everything she had ever heard he was a wise and tolerant being.
The ranger obviously had a lot of faith in the Lord of Rivendell and she admitted that, although their quarrel earlier, she liked the twins, so why did the thought of meeting their father terrify her? She figured that part of it was that she had never met anyone so old before, but she knew that was not the main reason. This being who she had never meet before, who had experiences she couldn’t imagine, was the ruler of the place they were going and her and her son’s fate would depend on his good graces. If he did not like Aragorn, they were doomed.
Aranel could easily read the emotion flittering across the young woman’s face.
“It will be alright, you will see.”
Gilraen tried to smile, but did not quiet manage.
The front door opened and she was relieved to see Elrohir enter. He came over to her as she stood up.
“How are you doing?” Elrohir asked.
“I am well. Where is your brother?”
“Still outside keeping a watch over this place. Are you ready to leave?”
Gilraen paused before she answered. This was her home after all. A home she and Arathorn made, but without him it was looking more and more empty all the time. A place, she thought sadly, that Aragorn would probably never remember. His safety and a chance to live without being bombarded with attacks meant more to her than these material walls.
She looked up into the elf’s eyes and answered truthfully.
“Yes, I am ready to leave whenever it is time to go.”
Elrohir nodded and gave her a supportive squeeze of the shoulder.
“When do we leave?” she asked quietly.
“We will wait until morning, you should try to get some rest,” Elrohir suggested.
Gilraen nodded and silently turned.
“Do not worry, you will be well protected tonight.”
Gilraen walked from the room without turning around.
***********
Elladan almost sighed. Why did he never listen to his brother? He was wondering slightly far from where he left Elrohir and he was getting weary. His brother’s voice kept saying do not push too hard over and over in his head. Every time Elladan heard it though he gritted his teeth in annoyance and walked on.
Elladan sighed out loud. This was ridiculous, though. There was nothing out here and with as tired as he was Gilraen’s abode seemed to get farther and farther away all the time.
All right, just over this ridge. He would go until he could look down into the small vale and that was it. The dark-haired elf trudged up the hill trying to remind himself that he was an elf after all and that this should be a simple stroll through the woods. Elf or not he had to fight not to grumble as he walked. Elladan almost stopped and laughed at himself when he realized he had teased almost every human companion he had ever traveled with for this same type of behavior. Instead he just shook his head, the rangers he knew were rubbing off on him.
Elladan could have sighed in relief when he reached the top. That is until he looked down. The vale was littered with flecks of light moving around in a ghostly ocean of white and the elf’s sharp gaze could easily pick out the lights as torches. Somehow he knew what was down there without looking, he could feel them from here. The orcs obviously were not going for stealth with all the torches, but then he supposed a group that large could not move quietly anyway.
On impulse, with his rational mind warning him against it, the dark-haired elf started to pick his way silently down the side of the hill. The moon shone brightly contrasting the overlaying fog causing the very air to luminesce. This worked for and against the elf at the same time. The fog slowed the orcs down, but unfortunately it did the same to the elf and the thick air damped the sounds around it. Meaning he had to get down fairly close to the creatures before he could hear what they where saying.
Elladan took to the trees and managed to get almost right above a couple of orcs, sentries no doubt, a smile crossed his face at the thought. They weren’t really worth listening to, though. All he gathered was that the orcs where gathering here for a task. He already knew that, the elf wanted to know whose task it was they were doing. He had to try and get closer to the main group. The elf walked out as far as he could and nimbly leapt to the next tree. To get to the next one required him to use all fours to clear the distance quietly. When Elladan landed he had to bite back a yelp of pain as his right shoulder protested the action. “Of all the times,” he silently cursed his luck as he brought his left hand up to his shoulder and felt blood. The dark-haired elf did not push his luck anymore and stopped there and listened. None of the orcs where talking about anything of importance. Elladan was just getting ready to turn and leave when one of them mentioned the Misty Mountains. The orc was talking about a hunt they went on in the Misty Mountains. The elf stopped and knelt down to focus on the voices. Even with an elf’s hearing the voice was hard to pick out amongst the others.
“… oh we gots him alright, even with the elfsies with him. Shot him down Dreg did. Poor fool gots trampled though…one of those nasty creatures beast is was…”
Elladan did not listen to the rest, he did not have to. Suddenly the elf could not breath, as the air seemed to become unbearably thick. This was the same group they had run into before, the same horrible monsters. Those foul creatures where talking of Arathorn as if he where just a doll to be thrown aside. The thought made the elf’s blood boil and he felt himself trembling with anger. Anger he not felt in such magnitude since the day Elrohir and he had found their mother in that cave. It took every once of willpower he had not to jump down and kill them all. He knew the numbers would take him down eventually, but he could take a lot of them with him.
Elladan gripped his sword hilt in one hand and the tree in the other. He knew to jump down would be foolish beyond belief, but right now he did not care, so consumed in anger was he. The elf almost gave in to his emotion until the same voice caught his ear. It had said the word wife. With some difficulty the elf quieted his thoughts and listened again. He stayed just long enough to hear that they were to attack the ranger’s home very shortly, just as soon as their leader arrived.
Elladan stealthily moved through the trees as fast as he could until he cleared the orcs and then jumped down to the ground and, all weariness forgotten, sprinted for the village. His shouldered ached as he ran and he knew he had reopened the infernal wound, but right now he did not have the leisure to stop. He had to make haste to warn the village and as soon as possible. The dark-haired elf pushed his tired body past its limits. If he did not get back to warn the village and clear the people they would all be slaughtered in their sleep for his three companions could not fight off this many orcs.
So it was, that focusing so much energy into moving his weary body quickly the elf’s other senses waned and Elladan crashed head on into an orc coming through the fog. The two collided and sent each other sprawling in surprise. The sudden impact into the orc and the ground on his injury made the elf almost swoon. The orc was also momentarily stunned, but his two companions weren’t.
They drew their weapons and moved to attack the stunned elf. Elladan had enough wits left to notice they were coming and rolled sharply towards them as they were about to strike. The move caught them off guard and the two orcs fell clumsily forward as the elf continued rolling past them and sprung to his feet.
Just as he sprung up the orc he had collided with tried to grab him from behind. Grunting in pain the elf easily flipped the orc over his shoulder towards the two getting off the ground.
Unfortunately for Elladan the orc’s wrist caught the elf’s bow pulling him down face first as all four smacked back into the ground. Elladan whipped the bow off as he stood and used it to pull the orc towards him and kneed the creature in the face. Bow still in one hand the elf drew his sword with the other. He slung the bow over one of the creature’s head and pulled it off balance as he stabbed the thing in the stomach. The elf finished off the remaining two and had to stop and catch his breath. Elladan cursed his weakness as he waited for his head to stop spinning. After a few moments his head calmed down and he wiped off his sword, re slung his bow, and took off trying to be less careless this time around.
**********
Elrohir was becoming worried for his brother should have been back long ago. He tried to hold faith that Elladan could take care off himself, but his brother was still not well which concerned him greatly. He was also edgy sitting there. Elrohir couldn’t quite place it and attributed it to the worry he felt.
Elrohir got up from the chair; he simply could not take it anymore. He was going to go search for Elladan.
“What’s wrong?” the ranger asked.
“Elladan should have been back by now, he is normally a quick traveler something must be wrong.”
Elrohir was just picking up his bow when the elf in question came bursting through the door. The three elves in the room looked in surprise as Elladan tried to catch his breath and still his rapidly bating heart. The three snapped out of their stupor and crowded around their winded companion.
Elladan was trying to force the words out, but he could not find the breath. Elrohir noticed the blood seeping through his brother clothes at his right shoulder and the fact that Elladan looked like he had been rolling around in the dirt.
“Mani marte?” Elrohir asked. //what happened?//
Elladan was just beginning to catch his breath, which made his stomach feel ill. Instead of walking to one of the chairs he opted to sit down right there and sunk to the ground. The two elves and ranger kneeled down as well still looking on with concern.
Elladan swallowed and took a deep breath.
“There are orcs out there and a lot of them.”
Elladan turned to look his brother in the eyes.
“They are the same ones who attacked us when Arathorn was slain.”
Elrohir’s face blanched as he took in what Elladan had told him.
“Sweet Eru,” Elrohir breathed.
Even as Elrohir was absorbing the news Elladan was shaking his head.
“That is not the worst of it Elrohir, they are coming to attack this village shortly, we must wake everyone immediately.”