The Teacher

Chap. 30

The attack had come suddenly. Just as Elrohir had finished tying Amros’ hands in front of him so that he could eat, three orcs had charged at them from the underbrush. Putting Amros between them they fought the orcs, using their swords in close combat. While two of the orcs fought with the armed elves, drawing them away from Amros, the third made his way to where Amros knelt, trying to loosen his bindings.

Amros put his head down, only for a moment, but it was enough time to give the orc the upper hand. Moving behind the struggling elf, he attacked him from behind, plunging his knife into Amros’ back, once then twice. Just as he pulled the knife out and prepared to plunge it a third time, Glorfindel ran up. Pulling his dagger out, he plunged it into the orcs neck, killing him instantly.

By this time Elrohir and Aerandir had also finished off the orcs they had been fighting.
Rushing up behind Glorfindel, Elrond knelt down beside Amros.

“Help me with his tunic” he told Glorfindel, “we need to see how deep the wounds are.”

”No, milord,” Amros said through his pain. “Leave it, I am finished.”

“Amros,” Elrond said as he began pulling the tunic up, “you know I can help you.”

The dying elf grabbed Elrond’s wrist, stopping him. “Please Lord Elrond, let me go,” he begged. If you save me, you will take me back to Imladris, and then banish me from the only home I have ever known. I know… this would be my…punishment…for what I did to Penda. I…I have shamed…my fam”
”

Elrond was at a loss for words. He could not just sit and watch as another died, not when he could help them. But he also knew that if Amros set his mind to it, his efforts would be of no use. Releasing the tunic, he handed his sword to Glorfindel

“Let us at least make you comfortable,” he said as he picked Amros up and carried him back to where Elladan and Penda waited for them.

As they stepped back into the clearing, Penda gasped.

“Elladan, bring my herbs; Elrohir bring water,” Elrond shouted as he set Amros down. Dropping the horse’s reins, Penda ran forward to help.

“Penda,” Amros said, “I am sss…sorry for what I did…did to you. I…”

“Amros, please,” Penda said as she knelt next to him and took his hand, “don’t talk, save your strength.”

“Penda…I must…please forgive…forgive me. I never…never meant to…harm you.”

Penda looked at Amros, then up at Elrond and back again at Amros. Swallowing hard she said, “All is forgiven, Amros.”

“Thank…thank you…Penda,” Amros whispered as he closed his eyes.

Carefully Elrond rolled him over. Pulling his tunic up he saw the large wounds. “Hand me some clothes so that I can clean this,” he said to Elladan. Once the wounds were cleaned, Elrond bandaged them.

“What now?” asked Glorfindel. “Do we wait here, until he passes, or do we continue?”

Elrond looked at the others. He was torn with the decision he was now faced with. Stay here and wait until Amros died his his wounds, or continue their journey in haste, so that the elf could see his home one last time.

“Elrond,” Penda said as she placed her hand gently on his forearm, “how far are we from Imladris?”

“An hour to the river, and then three more before we get to the settlement.”

“We should leave now then,” she said as she looked down at Amros, “if he is to see his home one last time.”

“Are you sure, Penda?” Elrond asked. “We will have to ride hard.’

“I am sure Elrond,” she replied.

Turning, she went back to where the packs of food had been left. Taking several pieces of cloth she busied herself wrapping food in each of them, so that they could eat while riding. Elladan, Elrohir and Aerandir went to fill the water skins. By the time they came back, everyone was ready to go.

It was decided that they would take turns carrying Amros. It meant they would have to stop to move him from one horse to another, but it would keep the horses from wearing out.

With the help of Elladan and Elrohir they were able to lift the unconscious elf onto Asfaloth’s back, setting him in front of Glorfindel. With a kick of his heels, he was off, racing ahead of everyone else.

They traveled at a fast gallop until they reached the River Bruinen. There, they stopped for a few moments before crossing, allowing the horses to rest and drink if they desired.

When they were ready to go, Amros was lifted onto Aerandir’s horse, who then crossed the river. Penda watched as they disappeared into the woods.

“Once we cross the river, Penda,” Elrond said as he moved up next to her, “we will be on the lands of Imladris.”

They made their way across the river, Fallon and Amros’s horse in tow.

“Ada,” Elrohir said when they reached the other shore, “I will ride ahead and relieve Aerandir.” Before Elrond could speak, Elrohir was gone. The rest of the group made their way through the woods to a road that led to Imladris. Once on the road, they took off at a gallop.

When they caught up with Elrohir and Aerandir, they found them on the side of the road. “Ada,” Elrohir said as they approached, “his bleeding has started again.”

Jumping from his horse, Elrond knelt down beside Amros. Penda watched from the back of Celahir as Elrond worked on the injured elf. She had been tired when they stopped earlier, before the attack, now she was exted.ted. Leaning forward, she rested her head against Celahir’s neck, closing her eyes.

She had been resting for several moments when she heard a new voice speaking to Elrond.

“Milord, is there anything we can do?” she heard the voice ask.

Opening her eyes she looked up to see that several elves had joined them. They were all dressed in dark tunics and leggings. Each was armed with bow and arrows and a sword or long knives. They must be boarder guards, she thought to herself. Sitting up, she tried to stifle a yawn but couldn’t.

As he stood to talk to his boarder guards, Elrond caught Penda’s yawn from the corner of his eye. He knew she was tired. They had pushed themselves and the horses hard to get Amros here.

“Two of you follow behind us,” he said to the guards. “Take Lölinder, Fallon and Amros’s horse to the stables. See that they are taken care of. After they are setteled, bring our packs up to the main house. I will ride with Penda.”

“Yes, milord,” one of them replied, then left to do as Elrond had said.

“Ada,” Elladan said as he mounted his horse, “I will take Amros now.”

“Are you sure, son?” Elrond asked.

“Yes, I am sure. Elrohir, Aerandir, help me get him up here,” Elladan said.

Elrond stood next to Celahir and watched as Amros was lifted up in front of Elladan. Once he was setteled in front of him, Elladan waited for them to mount their own horses, and they were off again, galloping down the road.

Elrond pulled himself up behind Penda. Taking the massive horses reins from her, he nudged him forward into a gallop with Glorfindel following close behind.

Penda leaned back against Elrond, allowing him to wrap his arm around her, pulling her closer. She tried to ignore the warm feeling that came on to her with his closeness but couldn’t. Eventually the steady beat of the pounding hooves lulled her to sleep.

“Penda,” she heard Elrond calling her in her dreams. “Penda, wake up,” she heard again. Opening her eyes, she heard him calling her again. Slowly she turned her head to look up at him. “You are home, Penda, look,” he whispered in her ear. Turning to look in the direction he indicated, she gasped in awe.

Down in the valley before them was Imladris. A soft glow of light emanated from the lower floor of the main house. Above, on the upper floor, the same soft light could be seen coming from some of the rooms and balconies. Various paths to the home were lit up, as were some of the smaller buildings and gardens. She could hear the roar of the waterfalls as they made they made there way down from the mountains. Penda was amazed; she had never seen anything quiet like it.

“Watch and listen,” Elrond whispered, his lips just brushing her ear.

She watched as a light fog rolled down from the mountains, stopping its forward motion as it enveloped the buildings. She could no longer see the lights, nor hear the falls.

“They know we have arrived,” she heard Glorfindel say as he moved Asfaloth up to stand next to Celahir. “They will…”

“Ada, come quick,” Elrohir shouted. Jumping down from Celahir, Elrond rushed over to where his son’s knelt on the ground beside Amros. Kneeling down beside Amros, he took his hand and held it.

“Milord… thank…thank you,” Amros said quietly as he closed his eyes for the last time.

Elrond felt the soft touch of a hand as it rested on his shoulder. Looking up, he saw Penda standing to his side and behind him.

“I am sorry Ed,” d,” she said quietly as she squeezed his shoulder gently.

Slowly he stood and walked her back to Celahir.

“Wait for me here,” he said somberly.

Elrohir offered to carry Amros’ body the rest of the way, to which Elrond agreed. A short time later they were back on their horses, slowly making their way down into the valley.

“Milord,” Penda asked quietly as they rode along, “what will you tell his family?”

“I do not know, Penda. The truth will destroy his mother.”

Penda was silent for a few moments, and then said something that stunned Elrond.

“Then please, for his mothers’ sake, tell her nothing of the events that occurred at the pond. Do not tell her of his shame. Let her remember her son as she last saw him.”

“You do not have to do this Penda,” he replied.

“I know, but I want to,” she said before becoming quiet once again.

Elrond looked down at her from where he sat behind her. Was there no end to her, he wondered? In her short life time she had been treated cruelly by her own family, had lost so much; yet she still found room in her heart to care about the grief that others would feel.

“I will do as you wish, milady,” Elrond said quietly as they crossed the final bridge and rode through the gates of Imladris.