Vaniel, My Heart

Vaniel, My Heart
Chapter 26: Chapter 26 - The Flight
by Sienna
Disclaimer: All familiar characters are owned by JRR Tolkien and are used without permission. No monies are being made from this work. Original characters are part of the story and owned by the author.


Vaniel, My Heart
by Sienna Dawn
Copyright 2003. All rights reserved

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Chapter 26 - The Flight

Mid March, nearly two weeks after leaving Minas Tirith....Fording the Limlight River.....

The rain poured down relentlessly, turning the usually mild Limlight into a churning whirlpool. The horses reared and Haldir realized he would not ford the river this day.

Turning back, he urged Rohanor toward the small company. With him rode Vaniel, Ramion and Nithoniel, plus five Rangers who served under Tonamor. Having parted with the Rangers at Cair Andros, Haldir accepted the companionship of five volunteers from Tonamor's troop to safely see the elven company through to the southern borders of Lorien.

They had travelled nearly sixty leagues with no signs of attack or being tracked. By now, it appeared as if Eodwyn had yielded and decided to not pursue, although Haldir's instincts told him otherwise.

They had made fair time, riding their steeds at speed, resting for only brief periods and keeping to the West road until they reached Edoras, striking from there toward the Wold.

Haldir knew that the warm weather brought rains but he had not bargained for early storms that year and was worried the river banks would still flood. Thus, he had urged the men to stay alert for flash floods, knowing full well that these could bring sudden death.

But the weather had held, fording them an easy path through the Wold and to the Limlight. They had made the usually three week trip in just under twelve days. He knew everyone was weary but he also realized they could not let up now.

Finally, the company had reached the banks of the Limlight in late afternoon, and Haldir was waiting for the cover of darkness to cross when the skies opened their floodgates. Mighty winds had bellowed at them, driving them into the northern fringes of the Fanghorn Forest for protection. Somehow, Haldir knew this storm was no mere spring shower. It was a full blown gale-force nightmare. Winds howled like mad dogs, lightning forked the sky and thunder crashed above them. Apparently, they were not meant to ford the Limlight....at least not yet.

Taking the lead in the relentless downpour, Haldir shouted to the others, "Make for that break, there, by the lower branches!"

Glancing at the dark forest that loomed ahead of them, Nithoniel led his steed away from the group and called out in a loud voice, "Haldir, that is Fanghorn!"

Well aware of this, Haldir studied the dark silhouettes within the ancient wood before responding. "We have no other choice!", shouted Haldir, the winds whipping the hair into his face, the rain striking hard and cold against his body.

"Go!" He motioned to the others.

Heeding him, the company rode toward the old forest, fighting the wind and rain that assailed them at each step. Once they had touched the fringes of the old wood, they slowed their steeds.

Inside the forest, the howling storm's fury seemed to mute, its sound coming as if from a distance. But at least it was warm, quiet and dry. Massive trees rose before them, some gnarled, twisted and knobby, crossing their branches with other trees, as if in a silent embrace. Logs and stumps there were aplenty, and the soil of the forest was a rich dark brown. The trees were tall, spindly in some places, leafy and with wide fronds in others. No sound came from the wood, for neither bird, animal or insect braved the mysteries of the ancient Fangorn. It lay now as it had for thousands of years: still, quiet, expectant, but always watchful, always listening.

The Rangers dismounted and spoke quietly amongst themselves, but the elves still sat perched on their steeds, their elven senses keen to the power of the Wood.

It was Haldir who broke their uneasy silence. "Come," he gingerly dismounted from Rohanor and walked toward Vaniel. "Let us wait out the storm here." He reached out a hand for his wife and she took it, her fingers trembling. Haldir looked at her face as she dismounted and came to stand beside him.

"This place is full of memories," said Ramion. "'Tis no place for elves." His voice was low, hushed and tinged with worry.

Haldir steeled himself and walked to the Rangers, "Raise no weapons here, make no fires. This is a sacred place." His voice was calm but firm. "These woods have eyes and ears. We camp and rest, but we do no more." His eyes bored into the Men's faces and they, understanding the elf's warning, nodded and moved off to rest beside a bundle of gnarled roots.

"Haldir, this wood is alive!" whispered Vaniel, her eyes never leaving the darkness of the trees before her. "It is listening to us!"

Without responding, Haldir turned and drew blankets from the horses, nudging the other two elves, who like Vaniel stood rooted, their faces tense, their eyes surverying the forest.

" 'Tis the way of Fanghorn. These trees are older than time itself. Do not disturb their slumber and they will not disturb you."

Throwing the blankets on the ground, Haldir pointed, "Vaniel...come, my sweet, rest and sleep."

Vaniel left Ramion and Nithoniel's side, walking to the area where Haldir spread the blankets. Curling on the ground, she allowed her mind to rest and soon she was asleep.

Whistling low to the other two, Haldir pointed to their blankets as well. They frowned, and Nithoniel spoke, "Who is taking watch?" His eyes drifting to the five Rangers who were already lying down, their horses silently grazing.

"I will," answered Haldir. "Put the magic of this wood behind you and rest."

Exchanging glances, Ramion and Nithoniel complied and soon they too rested.

Several hours later the storm had subsided and Haldir stood guard. He watched the banks of the river and the woods beyond it that he knew were Lorien's southern borders. Once in a while, he turned his gaze to scan the glade they had crossed. The moon shone high in the sky, wide and luminous, making it even easier for his keen sight to see anything within his range.

It was well past midnight and the company still slept, when Haldir's ears picked up a small rustling sound. Instantly drawing his weapons, his bow at ready, he listened even more intently searching for the origin of the sound.

In a moment he knew. Someone was approaching from the South, on foot. Haldir listened closely. One man. Human from the breathing. He tried to pick up a scent, but he could not.

Crouching even lower, Haldir silently retreated further into the pitch blackness of Fanghorn until at last he seemed to melt and disappear into its gloom. From the darkness he studied the man who stood only a few yards away. Haldir saw that the man was dressed in the fashion of the Rangers. He was armed and tracking. Frowing, Haldir focused on the man's face. He suspected he knew who it was but was not sure of it until the man stood and faced Fanghorn, the full light of the moon illuminating his features.

It was Eodwyn.

Quickly, Haldir considered the alternatives before them as he watched the man walk to the banks of the river. Then the man searched the ground about him as if looking for tracks. Abruptly the man stilled as if waiting for something to happen, the silver frost of the moon casting strange shadows about his body. Then the man turned and stared into the gloom that was Fanghorn.

Haldir knew he had choices, some better than others. He could rush the man now since he knew Eodwyn travelled alone. At least Haldir had not detected the presence of other humans. He could try and wake the others but the sounds of the Rangers might give them away. Men always awoke with a noisy clatter. He could waken his own guards and they could create a distraction while he guided Vaniel across the Limlight and into the lands of Lorien.

Or he could let the man pass.

While he pondered these alternatives, Haldir's eyes followed Eodwyn's movements. He saw the man approach the forest and then hang back, uncertain as if he should proceed or not. This went on for several minutes as Eodwyn seemed to decide to go forward and then change his mind and come to a halt.

Haldir watched the man for several minutes. He had not moved and he knew the man could not see him, thus he was unprepared for what followed.

Eodwyn had walked the perimeter of the woods and finally had come to stand directly where Haldir was hiding. Haldir knew that the man could not see him and so the man's words, when they came shocked him.

"I know you are there, elf."

Eodwyn's voice was clear. Haldir narrowed his eyes and scanned the meadow beyond the man. Eodwyn was alone.

"I know you are there, elf." Eodwyn repeated. "Come and let us decide this matter for you owe me a pledged oath." Drawing his sword, Eodwyn walked toward the wood and suddenly struck the side of a fallen sapling.

Haldir was making ready to fire a warning arrow past the man's head, when a booming, resonant moan suddenly came from deep within Fanghorn. Haldir started, his sapphire eyes wide with shock, and he looked behind him toward the sound, and then whirled around to face the man again. He saw Eodwyn had stopped in his tracks.

"Come out, you filthy elf." Eodwyn shouted now and he struck the ground with his sword.

Once more Fanghorn rumbled.

Knowing what was happening, Haldir quickly moved away from his position and quietly roused the Rangers, the elves and Vaniel. They moved swiftly and in silence. Just as they were mounting their steeds, there came yet another booming moan, but this time it was accompanied by the shaking of the ground. Brambles and branches began to rain down on the elves, some the size of houses. Not caring now that the man would discover them, Haldir shouted above the moaning, crashing noise, "Ramion, Nithoniel, take Vaniel and make for the river!" He urged Rohanor toward the Rangers, "Stay with me and we cross last!"

Dodging a large branch that came flying toward him, Haldir saw Ramion, Nithoniel and Vaniel emerge from the woods and ride toward the banks of the river. But Eodwyn had also seen them. Suddenly, a small hand knife went flying toward the fleeing elves. But the knife never reached its mark as a huge branch moved in the way and there was the knife buried instead.

Instantly, the moaning of Fanghorn turned to screeching and the Rangers and Haldir quickly galloped to the river once the others had crossed. Haldir and the Rangers urged their steeds toward the cool, now-tranquil waters, the splashing of their steeds' hooves drowned out by the thundering din that Fanghorn was making.

Turning atop Rohanor to look behind him, Haldir saw Eodwyn standing at the outer rim of the old wood, as branches, brambles and sticks came hurling at him from within Fanghorn Forest. Turning briefly, as he protected his head with his forearms, Eodwyn spotted Haldir in the distance. Although the man's sight was not as keen as the elves', he still managed to glare toward the company before running away from Fanghorn's fury and into the open field. Haldir watched Eodwyn with a stony expression on his face, and then urged Rohanor forward following the company toward the woods of South Lorien.

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{to be continued...}