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━━━━ »•» act two. age of shadow

19. teeth and claw «•« ━━━━

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ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ third age ━━ year 3019

𓇻 misty mountains; wildernis

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THE FELLOWSHIP HAD WEARILY MANAGED TO STUMBLE DOWN THE LAST REMAINING MOUNTAIN SLOPES. The pass of Caradhras had defeated them, leaving them with no other option than to go through the Mines of Moria. The thought alone made Elgarain shiver but she would rather face that darkness than facing the only other option; going back. Though she knew that danger was still lurking close, not having forgotten the haunting howls of the Wargs on their trail. And the fact that Gyda kept a close watch of the landscape stretching out around them, was enough of an indication that she was still expecting an attack as well...

Despite the storm having passed, the wind remained cold and cut through their clothes like a knife made of ice. Soon the effects of the Miruvor started to fade and the Hobbits were shivering once again, the cold of the snow storm still clutching to their bones. She could feel it too, like the sun had been driven from her veins and been replaced with frost. She didn't want to waste the precious drink but the temptation to hand everyone another swig was growing with each step she took.

Exhausted silence clung to the air as they continued their journey. Darkness would soon fall and they couldn't possibly go on much longer. Meaning they couldn't keep the presence of the Wargs a secret much longer...

Gyda seemed to have come to that very same conclusion. She came to a halt and looked over her shoulder to address the Fellowship. "The wind howls with wolf-voices. They're stalking us, coming fast from west of the mountains."

The news only seemed to take the Hobbits by surprise and perhaps Gimli, whose frown became a little darker. "What do we do?" Frodo questioned. His fingers clutching the chain around his neck. "The path to Moira is west, is it not Gandalf?"

The Grey Wizard nodded. "It is."

Boromir looked worried. "The wolf that one hears, is worse than the orc that one fears."

"True," Aragorn said as he came to a halt beside her, slightly startling her. Though his eyes were scanning the horizon, avoiding her gaze, making her exhale with relief.

"I wish I had taken Elrond's advice," Pippin muttered. "I am no good after all. There is not enough blood of Bandobras the Bullroarer in me. I don't remember ever feeling so wretched."

"My heart's right down in my toes, Mr. Pippin," Sam joined in. "But we aren't doomed yet, and there are some stout folk here with us. Whatever may be in store for old Gandalf, I'll wager it isn't a wolf's belly."

Gyda smiled reassuringly at the Hobbit with his somerset accent. "Whatever awaits us, we will face it together, and we will defeat it. But first we must find a place to rest, continue our journey in daylight."

They walked for a few more hours in search of a defendable resting place. Just as darkness was starting to set, they came across a place that the warriors amongst them deemed doable. It was a small hill, crowned with old and twisted trees with a circle of boulders surrounding them. In the midst they lit a fire, for they couldn't possibly fight off a pack of Wargs in the darkness. No one was naive enough to believe they could avoid an attack during the night.

They gathered around the fire, though only the Hobbits managed to eat something as the howls in the distance ever grew closer. Bill the pony trembled with fear as even his ears could pick up the sounds by now. They decided to put three members on watch, each of them able to guard a different side of the camp. The other members of the Fellowship searched for a comfortable spot on the ground and tried to get some sleep, though most probably wouldn't be able to.

Elgarain settled next to the flames and took out a pouch filled with leaves. The very same herbs she always gave to wounded soldiers to calm their nerves before a procedure. Though she used far less of them this time, only wanting to calm most of their nerves instead of sedating them entirely. She added the leaves to the boiling water inside Sam's cooking pot above the fire and waited. When the herbs had dissolved into the water, she poured the tea into the cups and handed out the calming tea to each of them. Either to help them sleep, or to take away a little bit of their nerves. Though when she reached Gyda, her guard frowned hesitantly. Clearly she was aware of the purpose the leaves were normally used for.

"It won't numb your senses," Elgarain promised. "But it will take the edge off."

Gyda smiled gratefully, accepting the tea and taking a careful sip. "You should rest," she spoke.

The elven queen hummed, having expected such words. "As should you."

Gyda shook her head as her eyes drifted to the flickering flames. "I've taken first watch. The wolves may have shrunk into the shadows, but they prowl still. I can hear them, I know you can hear them too." She fell silent, seeming to search for her next words but eventually chosing to say them despite her doubts. "Are you afraid?"

Elgarain inhaled deeply, though her voice still trembled when she spoke. "I wish I could say I wasn't but then I'd be lying."

"You have always been one for honesty," Gyda grinned but it didn't quite reach her eyes. "I'm afraid too."

"That doesn't help," Elgarain said with a tense smile. "Are they really as tall as the stories say?"

"I will not lie to you; they are as tall as they are vicious."

"Then I'm glad you're with us."

Suddenly Gyda looked solemn, as if a certain memory had taken hold of her. "As long as I'm with you Elgarain, no harm shall befall you." She clutched the hilt of her sword with one hand and placed the other on Elgarain's shoulder.

Elgarain smiled, though she felt a sadness take hold of her. Even after all this time, Gyda was still looking out for her. And with all the dangers they were about to face, there was a very real chance she might end up getting hurt. She didn't want the Head of her Guard to shoulder those burdens. Not anymore. Especially because she wasn't even the most important part of this mission. "Don't make promises you cannot keep, dear nésa."

"It's not a promise Tarinya. It is a vow." Gyda said stoically, clearly hurt by her words.

"And I thank you for holding true to it," Elgarain replied seriously, wanting, no, needing, her to understand. "But this journey is not about me. I'm not the one you should vow to be protecting, not anymore."

She gave Gyda's hand a reassuring squeeze before nodding goodbye and retreating back to the fire. She truly was thankful for Gyda's protection as she was no longer that same stubborn Elfling who couldn't appreciate what others did for her. But she was not the one carrying the burden. She wasn't the one they all set out to protect and vowed to aid.

Their vows now belonged to the small Hobbit with his immense amount of courage.

Her eyes searched for the Hobbit in question, watching as Frodo just finished his tea and lay down on the ground to try and get some sleep. She decided to follow up on Gyda's advice. Elves didn't experience exhaustion the same way others did. They had less need for sleep or even food at times. But the circumstances of the last few days had been unique to her and, for the first time in a long time, she felt the need to lay down and grant her body some rest, even though she knew sleep probably wouldn't come.

Time passed, the fire slowly dying out as the Fellowship rested uneasily.

The howling of the wolves was now all round them, sometimes nearer and sometimes further off. In the dead of night many shining eyes were seen peering over the edge of the hill. Some advanced almost to the ring of stones.

Elgarain tried to ignore them but it was hard to do so when they wouldn't return that favor.

At some point during the night, a great dark wolf-shape could be seen at a gap between two boulders. Its piercing yellow eyes gazing at them. A sudden, shuddering howl broke from him, as if he were a captain summoning his pack to the assault.

She breathed in, terrified, her hand tightening its grip on her spear. Every warrior among them seemed ready to jump into action but it was Gandalf who strode forward. "Listen, Hound of Sauron!' He bellowed. "Gandalf is here. Fly, if you value your foul skin! I will shrivel you from tail to snout, if you come within this ring."

The wolf snarled in protest and jumped towards them with a great leap. Gyda jumped down from the rock she'd been seated on, sword ready to strike but at that same moment a sharp twang resounded. Legolas had fired his bow. There was a hideous yell, and the leaping shape fell to the ground. The arrow had pierced its throat.

The glowing eyes suddenly extinguished, as if losing their leader had taken away any courage the wolves might have had.

Gandalf, Gyda and Aragorn strode forward, but the hill was deserted. The pack had fled. The darkness grew silent once again. The wind carried not a single howl. Gyda threw a look over her shoulder at the camp, her eyes landing on Elgarain. Her features said it all; this was not the last they had seen of the Wargs.

That unsettling realization meant Elgarain barely rested in the hours that followed. Her entire body tensed as she listened for even the smallest sounds coming out of the darkness. She envied the Hobbits as their soft snores echoed across the hill. Even when they were terrified, they still managed to fall asleep. It was a talent usually only experienced soldiers were capable of. If that wasn't evidence enough of their bravery, Elgarain didn't know what was. Even Pippin, she was sure, would one day come to know his own value.

The night seemed to drag on, though it couldn't have been much more than an hour since the Wargs first attacked. Elgarain considered giving up on trying to sleep and just warm herself by the fire instead. But whispering voices stopped her from moving.

Legolas had joined Aragorn on the rock he was seated on to keep watch, clearly not having been able to rest either. "Have you seen another sign of them?" The Mirkwood Elf questioned.

"They're not far," Aragorn replied in quiet tones, not wishing anyone to overhear. "They've been circling the hill for quite some time now."

"We will fight them off a second time," Legolas said, convinced.

Aragorn said nothing.

When Legolas spoke up again, Elgarain could almost hear him smiling. "You've grown somber, mellon nin."

The ranger took a deep breath. "Elgarain said the same thing." He cleared his throat uncomfortably, as if he regretted speaking the words as soon as they'd left his lips. At the mention of their encounter in the hallway before the Fellowships' departure, her entire body ached with longing to be alone with him once again.

"Well, if anyone knows you, it's her," Legolas said, sounding both amused and a little concerned.

"She used to," Aragorn replied, slightly surprising her when he actually sounded saddened by that fact. The very same sadness that flooded her own soul at the painful truth of those words.

Legolas remained quiet for a moment, considering his next words. "There's still time to change that."

Despite knowing that there was no possible future for the two of them, Elgarain's heart skipped a hopeful beat in her chest. But it was a fool's hope. Their destinies were never supposed to intertwine. The one, wonderful moment they had, had been the happiest time of her life. But it wasn't meant to be again.

"That time has passed," Aragorn stated, sounding as though that was the final thing he would say about the topic. And despite her coming to that same conclusion, the words still left her wounded.

"I'm not saying you're a liar," Legolas began carefully, "but if it is truly in the past, why have you two barely spoken a word since we set out from Rivendell? Or walked near each other, or even exchanged so much as a simple look?"

Elgarain held her breath in anticipation of the answer.

"For the very same reason her guard has been avoiding you," Aragorn said, a hint of amusement in his voice. She could barely contain a very unregal snort.

The elf sighed deeply as memories of his time with Gyda in the forest of Mirkwood seemed to pass through his mind. "She has made her position on that matter quite clear," he muttered, his voice filled with the gnawing pain of regret.

"You never did tell me what happened during her visit," Aragorn asked.

"I will tell you the day you tell me what transpired between you and the Tári during your time in Imladris," Legolas was quick to reply.

"You have my word," the ranger said. Which, in other words, meant Legolas would never get to hear one single word on the matter again.

The two friends fell into a comfortable silence and the conversation of lost loved ones almost seemed to be over, when Legolas suddenly asked a question that made her entire body tense. "Did you fear her coming along?"

She froze, though her heart was racing within her chest. It seemed as though even the earth itself held its breath, complete silence settling upon the hill as even the stars waited with apprehension. She shouldn't care for his answer, but she longed for it anyway.

"I did," Aragorn admitted softly.

She relaxed slightly, though remained on guard for what he would say next. But Elgarain would never get to hear his explanation of why her presence had filled him with dread. For the peace of the night was shattered by a fierce and wild howling. Without so much as a single warning, the Wargs had launched their attack once again. Though this time, they were coming from all sides at once, deadly glowing eyes set on their prey.

"Everybody up!" Aragorn shouted in alarm. The sharp ring of his sword being drawn reached her ears as he jumped down from the rock.

While the Hobbits were still blinking the sleep from their eyes, Elgarain jumped to her feet. Her fingers closed around the familiar wood of her spear Rilya, her blood pumping through her veins at high speed.

"Put fuel on the fire!" Gandalf shouted as he pulled the Hobbits on their feet. "Draw your blades, stand back-to-back!"

Sam hurried to toss more wood on the fire. The flames brightened, revealing the many shapes jumping over the rocks that had formed their circle of shelter.

Aragorn tossed his sword through the throat of an approaching Warg while Boromir beheaded another. Beside them Gimli swung his ax left and right, shouting out war cries in his native tongue. But Elgarain couldn't spot the others, as they were taken out of her sight by a Warg jumping in front of her, baring its teeth at her.

All the stories she'd heard didn't even come close to their true monstrosity. They barely even resembled the wolves they'd once been made from. Their bones were deformed, their backs arched in unnatural ways, their jaws set uneven. Their teeth blinked beneath the pale light of the moon, their yellow eyes shining with malicious hunger. Their fur was dirty and at some places, ripped off completely, replaced by ugly scars running along their skin. All the while the foul smell of death and blood penetrated her nose.

Elgarain gritted her teeth, burying her fears deep within her and raised her spear, never breaking eye contact with the monster that was circling her. With a shout she thrusted her weapon forward, right at the same time the Warg leaped towards her. The tip of her spear pierced its skull, bringing the creature down with a pained howl.

She pulled her spear back, blinking in surprise when a blinding light drove away the darkness.

Gandalf had taken a burning branch from the fire. It flared with white radiance as the wizard seemed to grow in size. The wolves jumped away from him as he opened his mouth and shouted words of a language unknown to her. His voice was like thunder, resembling the same might he'd spoken with during the council.

There was a roar as the sky parted and lighting came sizzling down, igniting the trees that surrounded them. The entire hill was set ablaze with blinding light, revealing the pack of Wargs as though they were standing in broad daylight. The light summoned by the wizard seemed to renew their strength. The weapons of the Fellowship gleamed in the light of the flames as they drove the Wargs back.

Elgarain met her enemies with a steady hand and a singing spear. With a shout she pierced the heart of another Warg, having lost count of how many she'd slain. The ground was littered with blood and the corpses of the wolves.

Having been so focused on another enormous monster in front of her, she'd failed to see the one sneaking up on her from behind. She tossed her spear with a shout, bringing down the Warg in front of her. But as soon as the weapon left her hand, she caught the sound of a hungry breath in her neck. She turned; eyes wide as the wolf leaped towards her.

A spear came out of nowhere, blinking in the light of flames. It pierced the skull of the Warg, killing it instantly. Its heavy body fell down, the thud vibrating through her very bones. With a wild beating heart her eyes searched the darkness, meeting the worried gaze of Gyda.

"Annon allen," she breathed as her heart slowly settled in her chest.

The last arrow of Legolas pierced the sky and plunged into the heart of the last remaining wolf. As soon as the monster died, the fire Gandalf had summoned was extinguished until they were surrounded by darkness once more. The smell of smoke and death lingered in her nose. Slowly the adrenaline left her body, the fire left her veins, making her shiver.

Far in the distance the first light of the coming dawn colored the sky a pale orange. Their enemies had been defeated. They'd survived the night.

"What did I tell you, Mr. Pippin?' said Sam, sheathing his sword. 'Wolves won't get him. That was an eye-opener and no mistake! Nearly singed the hair off my head!"

A shaky laugh of relief fell from her lips and as if he was drawn to the sound, Aragorn's gaze found hers. A small smile was tugging at his lips as well. The sight set her heart ablaze with a glow that had once been so familiar to her. And in that moment, she wondered if they would ever be able to forgive themselves for all the things they did not become.

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𝕬𝐔𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐑'𝐒 𝕹𝐎𝐓𝐄 . . .

Hey guys!

A new chapter has finally been published! I'm sorry it took a little longer than usual. Both Chloe and I have been very busy with school. I hope you guys thought it was worth the wait! The Warg fight is a scene from the books. One that I enjoyed very much and so I decided to include it in this fic. I hope you guys enjoyed it as well. Please leave some comments if you did. I love to hear your thoughts!

Thank you all so much for your endless support on this fic. It really means the world to me.

xx Nelly

ELVISH TRANSLATIONS:

Nésa ― Sister

Tarinya ― My Queen

Mellon nin ― My friend

Tári ― Queen

Annon allen ― I give thanks to you