Mandos's Embrace Continuation

A/N: Finally, eh? Alright this starts out a chapter six so if you've never read this I suggest going to the other piece which is in the read-onlt archive first. For the rest of you, here's the next pieces of the story. Enjoy! SpiritChild


Chapter Six

"Zallie!!" Tanja's rough voice pierced the air. She raised herself up slightly. The horrid abomination stood over her as a predator having rendered it's prey utterly helpless. Pain screamed through her back and she could see her own blood staining the hewn stone. She could hear bells tolling in her ears, or was she just imagining things. Heavy footsteps drew her attention back to the present. Opening her eyes she saw a pair of booted feet standing over her. She looked up and saw Tanja. "Get..out..go.." She gasped out. "I willn't leave, ya thrice damned elf! Ye're me best friend." An axe flew from her hand, embedding itself in the Balrog's shoulder. It let out a searing shriek. "Be gone with ye, Durin's Bane!" Tanja roared at it...

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Azalea was writhing in her sleep. She had cried out several times, mostly incoherent, and had alerted others to her plight. Rumil and Haldir climbed the hithlain ladder to her flet. The two shared a quick glance, before dropping down next to her. "Grab her arms Haldir." Rumil gripped the side of her face and called her name several times. She didn't respond. "She's probably going to hate me later, but.." He reached over and grabbed her canteen. Popping off the top, he proceeded to empty the contents onto her.

She awoke with a cry. "Tanja!!" Panting, she took several moments to realize where she was. When it dawned on her, she relaxed slightly, then noticed she was wet. Haldir released his hold on her. Turning, she spied the canteen in Rumil's hands. He smiled sheepishly.

"Sorry, it was the only way."

She gave a resigned sigh. "That bad, eh?" He nodded. "At least you didn't have to strike me, that one is tough to explain." She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "You guys can go, I should be alright now."

They both gave her concerned looks. "Are you sure?" Haldir asked gently.

She nodded. "Yeah, I'll be fine. Can I get an early watch? I won't be sleeping anymore tonight."

"Sure." He squeezed her hand reassuringly before exiting the flet. Rumil lingered a moment longer, giving her a kiss on the cheek, then followed his brother. She lay back down, wide awake. Shifting uncomfortably, she noted her back ached terribly. She must have cried out, that would have drawn attention, causing Rumil and Haldir to come. Ai Elbereth! She hated them knowing about the dreams.

She rolled over onto her stomach to ease the ache of her back, all the while mulling over the intensity of the dream. Elves rarely dreamed, in the same sense most others did, let alone had nightmares. What she had gone through wasn't exactly a normal situation, so it was dismissed as an after effect, along with the pain in her back. Sometimes, she wasn't so sure. It was almost as if she had formed a connection with the Balrog. She wondered if the dreams had something to do with the beast. With a snort, she rolled back over and sat up. Thinking crazy again, Azalea. Those kind of thoughts get you into trouble.

With a groan, she got up and dressed for duty, watch would start in an hour, so she had time to get a little in her stomach beforehand. She picked silently at a bowl of berries and sweetroot, eating about half before passing it to another warden. She slipped through the darkened forest, stepping up behind a warden. She tapped him on the shoulder and gave the signal that he was relieved. With a nod, he moved off towards the camp. Her violet eyes wandered over the very field they had battled the orcs on the day before, the burn pile still smoldered and stunk. Luckily she wasn't downwind.

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Glorfindel woke early and headed out to the training fields to practice. The morning was crisp and the fields were wonderfully vacant. He slipped out of his heavier outer tunic and drew his blades, a short sword and a curved dagger. he assumed a defensive stance, and exhaled slowly, calming his body before beginning the first in a long series of complex manuvers. His blades arced gracefully in the morning air, catching the light and glinting. Azure eyes followed each movement with precision, envisioning the opponent's moves completely. He fell deeply into the dance, sweat beaded across his bare arms, moistened stray locks of hair clung to his face.

Nearly two hours later Glorfindel made his way to the baths, his muscles tingling from the excercises. Four days and she would be back. He could handle four days, he thought to himself as he slipped into the water and relaxed. The afternoon he was free to do as he pleased, perhaps he would go borrow one of those books of hers. Something to read in the evening would be pleasant. The warm water swirled around his aching muscles and he closed his eyes, drowsing in the water, until he heard two sets of feet approaching, and very fast indeed. With a groan, he pulled himself from the water and wrapped a robe about himself.

He exited the tent just in time to be made into a living shield. Elladan and Elrohir pulled him in front of themselves. He rolled his eyes. "What did you two do now?"

"Um..well.." Elladan began.

"It wasn't actually us this time..believe it or not." Elrohir said, peeking over Glorfindel's shoulder.

"But we are the most likely suspects. So you see our dilemma?"

Glorfindel sighed. "Not really, but keep going."

Elladan glanced at his brother. "Go on, tell him what happened."

"Right, so we had intended on mischeif, but someone beat us to it. You see we had this great idea to frame you.." He winced at the glare Glorfindel gave him. Elladan picked up where his brother left off.

"We had heard of your long-time prank on our grandfather, so we had planned to...well...um...Make him relive his glory days?"

Glorfindel bit his lip to keep from showing a hint of amusement. "Keep going..What happened next?"

"Um." Elrohir began. "When we got there...he already had several blue streaks in his hair. We meant to sneak away..but he woke up..."

About that time Celeborn appeared from around a tree and spotted his grandsons behind Glorfindel. The Lorien Lord was sporting half a dozen bright blue streaks in his silvery hair. A tiny chuckle escaped Glorfindel's lips at the sight, and he was lucky Celeborn didn't seem to catch it. "Did you have a hand in this, Glorfindel?"

He shook his head. "No, I did not. Though I must admit, it does bring back memories.." Celeborn scowled at him. He looked to the twins, still cowering behind him. "I think you need to discuss this together, and I need to dress. So if you'll excuse me." He slipped away, leaving the twins to blurt out their tale to their very unamused grandfather. He headed off to Azalea's talan for a book.

Not too far away, two pairs of eyes watched the whole display, quite satisfied with themselves. Arwen and Tirniel peered through the bushes. It was about time those two got what was coming to them. The two ladies shared a grin and crept away to bask in their triumph.

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Azalea dropped down from her post next to Haldir. "Your're relieved from shift." He said clapping her on the shoulder.

"Understood, and grateful. Nothing to report, except that the winds changed earlier." She grimaced. The smell had made her turn green. Haldir had turned slightly green as well.

"Thanks for the warning." He commented dryly as he climbed up to her recently vacated post. She chuckled and headed off to get something to eat. A piece of lembas and a glass of wine later, she was reclined against a tree trunk in a light reverie. The dream from the previous night still disturbed her greatly.

"Morning Zal." The voice startled her out of her reverie. She looked around to see Rumil slightly off to her left. She gave a smile and patted the ground next to her. With a return grin, he sat down next to her. "How are you..?" His eyes searched hers.

She never kept anything from him, and from the look in his face, she could tell he was quite concerned. "A little embarassed that I caused such a scene last night, and slightly unnerved at the vividness of my nightmare." She furrowed her brows in frustration. "The whole thing has me distracted. I've even considered asking for permission to return early. If I'm not fully here, I'm only a liability to my watch." Rumil repressed a shudder. She sounded just like Haldir. His brother would be proud.

"A leave? You must be truly concerned indeed. I never knew you as one to consider taking off from duty."

She sighed. He was right, she wasn't really the type to consider such a move, but if she had another nightmare, she would be a detriment to her comrades. "Perhaps I will discuss it with Haldir and see what he has to say on the matter before anything else."

Rumil gave a nod. "Indeed, his advice could prove helpful to you." He turned a wry grin to her. "Then again, it could bore you to death.." They locked eyes before bursting out with laughter.

Azalea sought out Haldir just before dusk. He was speaking with one of the younger wardens. Catching sight of her, he dismissed the young ellon. "Something I can do for you liuetenant?" He was always more formal on duty.

"Aye. After last night I find I am distracted. Perhaps I should cut my stay short. I am no use when I am not alert."

He seemed to think on this awhile before answering. "I need you for the morning shift and part of the evening since we are short-handed for tomorrow, but after that you have my permission to leave if you truly feel you need to. As for myself, I do think it would be best. We need no distractions on the fences."

She smiled. "I knew I could trust you to be honest. Thank you Marchwarden Haldir." She turned and headed to the gathering fire, Rumil had talked her into singing again.