TWO - An Ill Wind


Amanaduial Tuarcuar sighted along the arrow, focusing on the brown rabbit nibbling grass a few yards in front of her. Pulling back the arrow and drawing in her breath, she prepared to shoot.

Suddenly a horse shot past, sending the rabbit scurrying for cover far out of sight. Aman slackened her bowstring and irritably muttered an oath. "Aye, that's right! Thunder past, scaring away my dinner! Don't worry about what I think!"

The rider whirled her horse around, her hand clenched firmly on the hilt of her sword. "What is your business here, stranger?" she said, her voice tinged with suspicion.

"I'm trying to hunt something for my supper, Elenna Starsong. And I am no stranger either to you or to this land!" Aman replied, trying hard to keep a straight face. She and Elenna had met a hundred or so years ago, and had traveled together on many an adventure or battle. "If you are going to scare off all of the game, you and your lord had better be prepared to feed a hungry wanderer."

Elenna laughed and dismounted, she and Aman grasping each other's forearms in a warrior's greeting. "The Lord would be happy to offer you food and shelter. Do you have a horse?"

"I didn't bring one with me, no. Yours is a fine beast." She stepped forward and eyed the tall gray stallion. "Battle trained, I suppose?"

"Yes, Celebdae is a beauty, isn't he? And fierce as a warrior in a pinch. But don't think to catch me off guard by praising my horse. How are you going to get to Rivendell by the evening meal without a horse? Celebdae has been running hard for two days, and I don't think he can bear us both."

"I believe I can get there before you anyway."

"Without a horse? How?"

Aman didn't answer the question. "Go on now! Hurry!" Elenna rolled her eyes and did as the other maiden said, cantering lightly off through the trees. Amanaduial watched her go. After the horse and rider were out of sight, she cried a spell word of summoning. A few seconds later, a black horse galloped out from the forest behind her. He was wearing heavy spiked armor, the kind which was found only on the beasts of Sauron's forces. Aman frowned. She had heard rumors on the wind of a fell army drawing closer, and now it must be very close indeed. She stripped away the armor and mounted it, nudging it forward with a few whispered words. She would meet Elenna at Rivendell, and question her further about the state of this land.

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A little while later Elenna stood by the River Bruinen as her horse drank his fill from the clear water. Behind her, she could hear the sound of hoof beats crunching on the small stones leading up to the riverbank. Not quite sure who it was, she turned, ready to fight if it was an orc. Instead, her eyes were met with a brown horse. On its back was an elf- maiden with long dark hair. Elenna frowned. Was her army fated to be made up completely of maidens? Still, she stood her ground as the rider approached.

"Mae govannen, Elenna! Do you not recognize me? Fëaelenawen, daughter of Elrond?"

"Of course! You left for Mirkwood long ago, am I right? Why are you back now?"

"I thought it was time I visited my father." Fëa smiled brightly, and then stopped as she saw Elenna's grim face. "Why do you grimace so? Is something wrong?"

"Come with me back to Rivendell. I'll explain when we get there."

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As Elenna and Fëa rode back to Elrond's house, a trumpeting neigh could be heard from the forest on their left. Elenna drew her sword, preparing to fight the orcs that she was sure were about to attack them. Fëa stared at her incredulously. "Why do you prepare for battle? This is my father's land! Nothing comes here that he doesn't give leave."

Elenna ignored her, continuing to try to see what was coming. Another neigh and she could see it - a white elven horse.

"Asfaloth!" she cried, urging her own horse forward. "Glorfindel!" she shouted. "What news from the north?"

The golden-haired rider reined his mount in. "Not much. I met a scouting party of maybe 10 orcs, but nothing larger." He leaned forward and kissed her quickly on the mouth. "And what news from the west?"

"Nothing, except for finding a few old friends. Amanaduial and Fëaelenawen, here."

Glorfindel smiled and nodded his head at Fëa. "We should hurry back - Elrond will be wanting to hear our tidings."

Their three horses cantered off, leaving behind only empty forest.

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As Elenna and her companions arrived at Rivendell, a new guest was being welcomed. Elrond came forward and embraced a tall maiden with long, golden hair. "Welcome, Celebmundoiel, to Rivendell. To what do we owe the pleasure of your visit?"

"My lady Galadriel heard of your peril, Lord Elrond. I have been sent by her to assist you in any way I can." She tossed her long hair over her shoulder and smoothed the skirt of her riding gown. Elenna groaned inwardly as she dismounted. Wonderful. Now I have to deal with a spoiled princess who will no doubt want to pause the war so she can fix a chipped nail.

Elrond gestured for Elenna to come over. "This is Elenna Starsong. She commands Rivendell's forces."

Celebmundoiel looked at Elenna with disdain. "She does? Surely there is some mistake! Has Glorfindel been injured?"

Glorfindel also got off his horse and came to where Elenna was standing. "No, I am just fine."

"Then why is a maiden commanding the defense of Rivendell?"
"I have my reasons, Celebmundoiel," said Elrond, a slight chill coming into his voice. "Now I trust you are weary from your long journey. Allow me to direct you to your chamber."

As she was led away, the blonde princess shot a look of pure venom back at Elenna, who rolled her eyes and turned away.

"Well, nobody said this job would be easy," Glorfindel chuckled as he led Elenna inside Rivendell.
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Azruk sat at a makeshift camp table a few miles southeast of Rivendell. His officers gorged themselves on the meat of captured horses, and a few more horrifying dishes. On his left the archer Narcis, an Uruk of unparalleled skill with the bow, recounted the capture of two elven scouts.

The time of carnage was nearing. Azruk looked around the camp and grinned fiercely. His crebain scouts had reported that the elven defenses were sparse and disorganized. The orcs howled, dancing around the fire upon which roasted something that was not a horse.

Azalel, the great black stallion reared up and snorted aloud, his demon blood raging to ride into war. His blood red eyes, deathlike and cold, gleamed at his master in anticipation. Most of the orc army would be on foot; their large numbers would run screaming and hurl their collective mass at the elves, forming a cushion for the elf arrows that would rain down. So that the melee warriors could rush in and raise hell, with a handful of wargs and crebain to cause nuisance and distraction, paving the way for the Uruks to move in for the final kill. Azruk tore at a chunk of meat, bloodlust and confidence thrilling through his veins. Soon, very soon, Elrond would fall, and Rivendell would be his.

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As darkness fell, a great force walked in the twilight through the Uruk camp. No one she traveled with now knew her real name, but the orcs called her Thrakatburz, bringer of darkness. All but the strongest feared her for though she walked in the form of an elf-woman, she had a great hidden strength and could over power even the greatest warrior at need. She seldom entered battles, knowing that her strength was in her mind, her tactics, ambushes and surprise attacks. Disobeying her orders was often the last thing an orc did.

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Elenna paced by the side of the little stream. Her mind hadn't been so troubled for as long as she could remember. So Azruk himself leads the host of the Dark Lord. she thought to herself. And a massive host it is at that. At least 20,000 orcs. Plus the Wargs and, may the Valar help us, the Uruk- hai. And Azruk is no fool - that much I know. She ceased pacing and sat down on a nearby rock. The water chuckled and babbled next to her, and she leaned down, running her fingers through the clear stream. Our army isn't great enough - we have mostly archers. Elrond's sons are gone with the Dunedain. That is two less hand-to-hand fighters. And there is no chance that they could be summoned in time. And to top it off, Rivendell's army is commanded by a maiden with no command experience! But another part of her spoke up. I swore revenge on Azruk long ago. I WILL kill him, for what he has done to me...and to my sister.

Then, standing up, she strode proudly back into Rivendell. War was creeping ever closer, and she did not have time for fear and worry. On the way in, she was met by Glorfindel.

"El, you have to come and eat something - it wouldn't do for our fearless leader to faint from hunger." He smiled, and she tried to return his good cheer. Seeing the worry etched on her face, Glorfindel went on. "You'll make yourself ill if you keep troubling yourself. We will triumph over Mordor's army."

He put his arm around her waist and drew her close. She held him tightly - At least Glorfindel will be with me. I know I can rely on him, she thought before allowing herself to be led to the dining chamber.