The Forgotten Ring
folder
Lord of the Rings Movies › Het - Male/Female
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
51
Views:
5,116
Reviews:
17
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
Lord of the Rings Movies › Het - Male/Female
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
51
Views:
5,116
Reviews:
17
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I do not own the Lord of the Rings book series and movie series, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
The Journey Begins
Disclaimer: All familiar characters of this story belong to the awesome world and works of JRR Tolkien, who is an unparalleled genius of this genre. All unfamiliar and original characters, animals and places are of my own invention. I do not derive any monies from this work and created this story solely out of the love and respect that I hold for all of the works related to this canon.
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The Forgotten Ring
by Sienna Dawn
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Chapter 17 - The Journey Begins
(Sunset of the next day...)
Eridani quickly picked one of the best mares the elves had in the Stables and prepared the animal herself. As she worked, she lost track of time, every now and then nodding to an elf who came in to prepare his steed. She had selected to wear the same uniform the elven soldiers used, her hair tucked behind her ears, and with her height and demeanor, she easily passed for a male.
All the chosen trackers had prepared their mounts and were walking toward an open area behind the Stables, when Eridani caught sigh of Haldir. She noticed his eyes quickly took in the group and she held her breath when he glanced in her direction.
Haldir began to speak. "You will ride the horses south for a full one hundred leagues, after that, turn southwest and complete the rest of the journey by foot. Make certain you have enough to travel lightly with, for you must clear the regions of Avonea in one day, and at speed. Rotate as usual. May Elbereth be with you all." He glanced one more time toward the group and turned toward tlf Clf Captain she knew was named Ormuil. A quiet elf of about 3,000 years, he had been Haldir's first choice. Eridani noticed they spoke quietly before Ormuil mounted his chestnut steed.
Guiding her mare to the front of the line, the other elves made way for her. Haldir walked to her and gripped her leg tightly. Their eyes locking briefly, he gave her leg a gentle squeeze and stood back.
And so as twilight descended on the elven realm, the small party departed Avonea.
The first fifty leagues were uneventful. They passed the Gap of Aldran to the east and she could hear the rushing waters of the Aina Eska and knew they were skirting very close to the borders of the realms of Men. Finally, at noon day they reached the northernmost borders of Uile and here Ormuil called a stop. Finding a small grove to rest their horses and themselves, the group settled into a small tight circle and set about making camp, taking turns sleeping a few hours and rotating this until sunset. At that time they would break camp and turn west into the Plains of Asto Nuut. Before they departed, they would set the horses loose and let them make their way back to the Stables of Avonea.
The area Ormuil had chosen to rest was well concealed by a small but tall brush overgrowth. The spindly grass that the elves used to make baskets grew wild here and provided good cover in daylight hours.
Gathering herself, Eridani, took out a small flask which had been hidden in her pockets and drank slowly. She knew she had to conserve food and drink to last as long as possible. She was no stranger to tracking, having been brought up br Unr Uncle Eadril to the ways of the trackers and hunters. She was good with the bow and arrow, as well as with the sword. But it was in her use of small knives that her true skill showed. She knew she would be able to hold her own should they face battle.
She could hear the voices of the other trackers as they settled in.
A slender elf she knew was named Criardan approached the elf seated by her side, his eyes tired, "Will you take third watch?" She saw the elf nod and he moved off. Stretching her cloak on the grass, Eridani laid down. Looking up at the noon sky she let her mind wander amongst the clouds, deciding to ask Ormuil to let her take a watch as well, and soon she slept. Her dreams were troubled and she tossed and moaned. By sunset she was being called to waken and her eyes opened, her mind foggy with sleep. Standing, she rolled up her things and placed her cloak on her shoulders. Setting off behind Ormuil, the elven group began the second day of their journey.
While Eridani walked, she kept her eyes on the sky, watching as the golden rays of the sun began to wane, until its last light dipped behind a silent horizon. When at last Earendil rose, they stopped to eat a small meal of waybread, broke camp and moved off.
It was toward the end of the third day that disaster struck. Sometime before sunrise, they had begun to notice that the land was getting wetter rather than drier. Nobody could account for this sudden change in terrain when all maps indicated that they were at the boundaries of the Plains of Asto Nuut. But the terrain looked more like they were in the Morthlond Salque than in Asto Nuut. Everyone was perplexed but they kept steadily on.
The wet marshland smelled of dead animals, stagnant water and other aromas. Not letting herself think about what the waters of the marsh held, Eridani followed the elves in front of her.
Just as they passed a small clump of dead stumps, Eridani found herself suddenly sinking. With a sick realization she knew she had stepped into moving sand and that if she did not pull herself out soon, she'd be sucked in seconds into the brackish water.
Spluttering, she was trying to get herself out of the water, but the more she moved, the faster she sank. The water was cold and thick, like soup. Her feet could not touch bottom so she had no idea how deep it went. She called out to her companions who quickly turned and worked to free her. A cord was thrown to her, which she grasped and she felt herself being slowly pulled to safety. But while she was being pulled out, she felt a sharp pain in her right calf and she screamed in pain. Hearing this the elves redoubled their efforts and in a matter of minutes she found herself free of the cold, grasping water.
She was carried for a few leagues, and when the sun rose, she was placed on a dry cloak, her calf inspected. The cut resembled bite marks and the elves quietly reflected on the type of animal that could cause this. Eridani allowed herself to be bandaged and after that fell into a deep and exhausted sleep.
When at last she did awake, she noticed it was past sunset and the group had still not moved. Perplexed, she looked around her and saw the elves crouched in a small circle, and speaking quietly. Getting up and limping toward the group, she noticed they stood and half bowed to her. She frowned at this and looked for Ormuil.
Just then, the elf who had bandaged her leg, approached her, bowed and said, "My Lady, if you are thirsty or hungry there are lembas and some water for you to drink. Your own were lost." Eridani smiled with thanks at thall,all, dark elf and replied,
"Thank you. I will soon drink some water." Her eyes sought out Ormuil. When he caught sight of her, he stood and closed the distance between them. Bowing politely, he looked down at her leg.
"You feel stronger, yes?" His voice was concerned.
She nodded, "Well enough. Thank you for saving my life."
Ormuil shrugged. "It is the same you would do for any of us."
Eridani smiled. She turned around, "I see we have stopped for the time?"
Ormuil nodded and walked around to stand beside her. "My Lady, before we left Avonea, Lord Haldir bade me guard thee well. I vowed to do so with my life. Now..." his eyes looked into hers.
Eridani frowned. She knew what was coming, so she decided to confront him. "And now I fell into a pond of stinking water you are ready to send me back!" Her eyes blazed.
Ormuil's face showed his dismay at her words, "Nay, my Lady! You cannot walk with an injury such as this. These are bite marks and I do not recognize the shape of the wound. We have no healers here. In Avonea you would be better cared for!"
But Eridani would have none of it. "If the bite were poisonous, I would already be dead, Captain!"
She looked over at the others. "Come, we have lost much time." She turned her gaze toward Ormuil. "Captain, let us speed our way. We have tarried here long enough."
With a worried and unconvinced frown, Ormuil gave the order to break camp.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
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The Forgotten Ring
by Sienna Dawn
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Chapter 17 - The Journey Begins
(Sunset of the next day...)
Eridani quickly picked one of the best mares the elves had in the Stables and prepared the animal herself. As she worked, she lost track of time, every now and then nodding to an elf who came in to prepare his steed. She had selected to wear the same uniform the elven soldiers used, her hair tucked behind her ears, and with her height and demeanor, she easily passed for a male.
All the chosen trackers had prepared their mounts and were walking toward an open area behind the Stables, when Eridani caught sigh of Haldir. She noticed his eyes quickly took in the group and she held her breath when he glanced in her direction.
Haldir began to speak. "You will ride the horses south for a full one hundred leagues, after that, turn southwest and complete the rest of the journey by foot. Make certain you have enough to travel lightly with, for you must clear the regions of Avonea in one day, and at speed. Rotate as usual. May Elbereth be with you all." He glanced one more time toward the group and turned toward tlf Clf Captain she knew was named Ormuil. A quiet elf of about 3,000 years, he had been Haldir's first choice. Eridani noticed they spoke quietly before Ormuil mounted his chestnut steed.
Guiding her mare to the front of the line, the other elves made way for her. Haldir walked to her and gripped her leg tightly. Their eyes locking briefly, he gave her leg a gentle squeeze and stood back.
And so as twilight descended on the elven realm, the small party departed Avonea.
The first fifty leagues were uneventful. They passed the Gap of Aldran to the east and she could hear the rushing waters of the Aina Eska and knew they were skirting very close to the borders of the realms of Men. Finally, at noon day they reached the northernmost borders of Uile and here Ormuil called a stop. Finding a small grove to rest their horses and themselves, the group settled into a small tight circle and set about making camp, taking turns sleeping a few hours and rotating this until sunset. At that time they would break camp and turn west into the Plains of Asto Nuut. Before they departed, they would set the horses loose and let them make their way back to the Stables of Avonea.
The area Ormuil had chosen to rest was well concealed by a small but tall brush overgrowth. The spindly grass that the elves used to make baskets grew wild here and provided good cover in daylight hours.
Gathering herself, Eridani, took out a small flask which had been hidden in her pockets and drank slowly. She knew she had to conserve food and drink to last as long as possible. She was no stranger to tracking, having been brought up br Unr Uncle Eadril to the ways of the trackers and hunters. She was good with the bow and arrow, as well as with the sword. But it was in her use of small knives that her true skill showed. She knew she would be able to hold her own should they face battle.
She could hear the voices of the other trackers as they settled in.
A slender elf she knew was named Criardan approached the elf seated by her side, his eyes tired, "Will you take third watch?" She saw the elf nod and he moved off. Stretching her cloak on the grass, Eridani laid down. Looking up at the noon sky she let her mind wander amongst the clouds, deciding to ask Ormuil to let her take a watch as well, and soon she slept. Her dreams were troubled and she tossed and moaned. By sunset she was being called to waken and her eyes opened, her mind foggy with sleep. Standing, she rolled up her things and placed her cloak on her shoulders. Setting off behind Ormuil, the elven group began the second day of their journey.
While Eridani walked, she kept her eyes on the sky, watching as the golden rays of the sun began to wane, until its last light dipped behind a silent horizon. When at last Earendil rose, they stopped to eat a small meal of waybread, broke camp and moved off.
It was toward the end of the third day that disaster struck. Sometime before sunrise, they had begun to notice that the land was getting wetter rather than drier. Nobody could account for this sudden change in terrain when all maps indicated that they were at the boundaries of the Plains of Asto Nuut. But the terrain looked more like they were in the Morthlond Salque than in Asto Nuut. Everyone was perplexed but they kept steadily on.
The wet marshland smelled of dead animals, stagnant water and other aromas. Not letting herself think about what the waters of the marsh held, Eridani followed the elves in front of her.
Just as they passed a small clump of dead stumps, Eridani found herself suddenly sinking. With a sick realization she knew she had stepped into moving sand and that if she did not pull herself out soon, she'd be sucked in seconds into the brackish water.
Spluttering, she was trying to get herself out of the water, but the more she moved, the faster she sank. The water was cold and thick, like soup. Her feet could not touch bottom so she had no idea how deep it went. She called out to her companions who quickly turned and worked to free her. A cord was thrown to her, which she grasped and she felt herself being slowly pulled to safety. But while she was being pulled out, she felt a sharp pain in her right calf and she screamed in pain. Hearing this the elves redoubled their efforts and in a matter of minutes she found herself free of the cold, grasping water.
She was carried for a few leagues, and when the sun rose, she was placed on a dry cloak, her calf inspected. The cut resembled bite marks and the elves quietly reflected on the type of animal that could cause this. Eridani allowed herself to be bandaged and after that fell into a deep and exhausted sleep.
When at last she did awake, she noticed it was past sunset and the group had still not moved. Perplexed, she looked around her and saw the elves crouched in a small circle, and speaking quietly. Getting up and limping toward the group, she noticed they stood and half bowed to her. She frowned at this and looked for Ormuil.
Just then, the elf who had bandaged her leg, approached her, bowed and said, "My Lady, if you are thirsty or hungry there are lembas and some water for you to drink. Your own were lost." Eridani smiled with thanks at thall,all, dark elf and replied,
"Thank you. I will soon drink some water." Her eyes sought out Ormuil. When he caught sight of her, he stood and closed the distance between them. Bowing politely, he looked down at her leg.
"You feel stronger, yes?" His voice was concerned.
She nodded, "Well enough. Thank you for saving my life."
Ormuil shrugged. "It is the same you would do for any of us."
Eridani smiled. She turned around, "I see we have stopped for the time?"
Ormuil nodded and walked around to stand beside her. "My Lady, before we left Avonea, Lord Haldir bade me guard thee well. I vowed to do so with my life. Now..." his eyes looked into hers.
Eridani frowned. She knew what was coming, so she decided to confront him. "And now I fell into a pond of stinking water you are ready to send me back!" Her eyes blazed.
Ormuil's face showed his dismay at her words, "Nay, my Lady! You cannot walk with an injury such as this. These are bite marks and I do not recognize the shape of the wound. We have no healers here. In Avonea you would be better cared for!"
But Eridani would have none of it. "If the bite were poisonous, I would already be dead, Captain!"
She looked over at the others. "Come, we have lost much time." She turned her gaze toward Ormuil. "Captain, let us speed our way. We have tarried here long enough."
With a worried and unconvinced frown, Ormuil gave the order to break camp.
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