Wild Monster

by Matthew Harrington

  Suddenly, a terribly painful shriek pierced the air, Mae's eyes flashed open and looked around wildly, trying to find the source of the scream... but she was no longer sitting beside Aragorn on a rock. She was surrounded by a dark despondent wasteland, the ruins of Gondor adorning the darkness, stone stained by blood and surrounded by shadows. But that was not the worst of what she saw, her eyes soon found the bodies of her loved ones. Maethien recoiled in horror and hurried away, her hands clamped over her mouth in an attempt to keep herself from retching.

  Pippin, dear and joyous Pippin had been burned alive, his tiny blackened body curled into a fetal position, his fingers were curled and clutching at his burned body... almost as if he had been trying to smother the flames on his body with them. Merry lied on the ground not far from Pippin, multiple blood stained swords impaling him and pinning him to the ground, blood still dripping from his small body and pooling around him. Sweet Sam was completely frozen, his entire body tinted blue, chips of ice had formed all around him, his eyes were frozen in an expression of stark fear. Legolas had been shot through the eyes with arrows, Gimli lay on the ground with his stomach ripped open, blood and gore everywhere.

  Horrified, Maethien continued to back away from the brutal scene before her, gasping for breath, tears spilling from her eyes. "No, no. It's not real. It's not real." Mae yelped when she bumped into something behind her, she jumped away and whirled around to look at what she had touched. Her scream pierced the deadly silent air as she stared in pure horror... Aragorn's head was on a spike his eyes still open but clouded, his own blood dripping from his hair. Behind him Gandalf had been chained to a stone wall, his torso exposed revealing the horrid evidence of his torture. And Frodo... oh God, Frodo... her little friend lied at Gandalf's feet, Frodo was dead... the ring gleamed dangerously on his finger. He, unlike the others, did not display the cause of his death but Maethien could feel it... somehow she just knew that the ring had claimed his life.

  "You failed, daughter of the Valar." The deep husky voice came from behind Mae, she instantly whirled around and found herself face to face with a tall dark figure dressed in pitch black armor from head to toe, a black cape of shadows flowing from his back. The armor was nothing like Sauron's... it was dark and frightening yet somehow still... elegant. Almost regal.

  "Who are you?" Maethien cried out, tasting the salt of her tears on her lips. She hastily wiped at her face, she refused to look weak in front of her enemy. She refused to be weak in front of this enemy. Pain and rage flared from within her and Mae glared viciously at the dark figure in front of her, her chest rising and falling deeply along with her angry breaths. "I will kill you for this." The warrior's deep roaring laugh pierced the dead air making Mae flinched, the sound lashing at her very soul.

  "Your sisters shall kill you first, little girl." Maethien's horror returned with a vengeance as she watched her dear loving sisters come out from behind the dark warrior. They were dressed in shadows, they're once golden hair now pitch black, they're eyes... they're eyes entirely consumed by darkness.

  "NO! Elle wake up! Ann, Ann please!" Maethien sobbed, reaching out to her sisters pleadingly.

  "You will not defeat the Dark Lord. You are weak. You were always weak" Saeleth spoke, her voice throaty, her lips twisted into a cruel snarl.

  "Look at us, Maethien." Maethein could not stop herself from looking at her sisters, tears streaming from her eyes. "You couldn't protect us. You can't protect us."

  "No!" Maethien screamed at the top of her lungs.

  "Maethien?" Aragorn's deep, soothing voice made Mae jerk awake with a gasp. "Mae are you alright?" He asked her, concern coloring his tone, reaching out to set a hand on her shoulder, his palm feeling oddly warm against her cold skin.

  No, she was not alright, but Maethien pushed away the cold and fear away and forced a smile onto her face. "I'm fine, Aragorn. Thank you." He did not look convinced, Aragorn looked at her closely for a moment longer, his eyes narrowed slightly. Maethien reached up hesitantly and patted the hand he'd set on her shoulder gently in an attempt to reassure him. She was relieved when he finally nodded and moved away from her.

  Immediately after his departure, Mae turned to look for her sisters, they looked shaken but otherwise unharmed, her thundering heart beat calming when she found them safe and sound. She rushed toward them and wrapped them both into a tight hug.

  "Did you-"

  "Yes." Saeleth nodded, a dazed look in her eyes.

  "And look." Ann lifted her left hand to show her sisters the mark that had appeared on the back of her hand. Mae grimaced when she felt the stinging sensation on her own hand. The mark seemed to consist of several overlapping knots in the center of their palm with three leaf shaped lines curling out of the cluster then back in to blend into the array of beautiful knots. It reminded Mae of the many beautiful symbols in Celtic mythology back in their world.

  "Foresight." Elle muttered as she gazed at the gleaming new mark, her gaze not all that pleased.

  "That was horrible." Ann whispered, she could still feel herself quivering. She fisted her hands once, then lifted them to wrap her arms around herself and leaned into her oldest sister. "There was so much blood and darkness." Mae wrapped a comforting hand around her little sister's trembling shoulders. "I saw you both. Your eyes were black, everything about you was dark and evil. You called me useless and pathetic."

  Mae's thoughts went back to that dark wasteland, she bit her lip. "You called me a failure, and weak."

  "I saw you two the same way." Elle shivered and looked at her sisters with wide eyes. "You told me you never loved me."

  "No! Of course we love you, Elle!" Ann immediately launched herself at Saeleth and hugged her tight.

  "You're our lovable and nerdy sister, how could we not love you?" Mae said, in an attempt to bring back the warmth and lighten the depressing atmosphere that cloaked them. It worked. Elle breathed a laugh and reached out to hold her older sister's hand tightly in hers.

  "I love you too. You've protected us all your life Mae, I would never think you weak." Mae felt her heart melt with warmth and love, she smiled and gripped her sisters hand with both of hers.

  "Hey! What about me? I need loving words too." Ann said, her arms still round Elle, refusing to let go. The sisters laughed.

  "We love you too Ann. Your what keeps us together little sister." Mae said through laughter. Ann sniffled and reached out to pull Maethien into her hug, forcing them into a very tight group hug. Which, they didn't pull away from for a long while.

  When they finally did let go, they looked over to the rest of the group. Boromir was calling out instructions to Merry and Pip, the three of them holding swords.

  "Two, one, five. Good! Very good!" Boromir praised with a smile as Pippin completed the actions accurately. Mae smiled widely as she looked on, watching all of her little friends having a wonderful time. This was how she wanted to see them, to remember them... full of joy and life.

  "Move your feet." Aragorn called out.

  "You look good, Pipin." Merry complimented his friend.

  "Thanks!"

  "Faster." Boromir declared and leaped back into the routine. Meanwhile, Gimli approached Gandalf, his hands on his belt, thumbs tucked behind the buckle.

  "If anyone was to ask for my opinion, which I note they're not, I'd say we were taking the long way around!" He said gruffly. "Gandalf, we could pass through the Mines of Moria. My cousin, Balin, would give us a royal welcome." There was unmistakable pride in his tone.

  "No, Gimli," Gandalf spoke gravely. "I would not take the road through Moria unless I had no other choice." He said, before returning his attention to his pipe. Uh-oh. Maethien watched closely as Legolas climbed onto a tall cluster of rocks and boulders, he looked to the south his bow already in his hand.

  "Elle, isn't this-"

  "The part where the Crebain come." Ann nodded, her shoulders tensing in anticipation. The sisters turned back to look at the group as Aragorn strode over to t
he laughing hobbits, who had tackled Boromir to the ground and were holding him down.

  "Gentlemen, that's enough." Merry and Pip responded to his order by grabbing his legs and flipping him onto his back, winding him. Yes, this was the part.

  "Get down!" Maethien called out.

  "Crebain from the Dunland!" Legolas shouted instantly after, running back to the others. Saeleth hurried to Merry and Pippin, grabbing them and rushing them to a safe place below the rocks, Boromir close behind them his body hovering over them protectively. Maethien ran to Sam and made sure he completely stomped out the fire before looking around in search of Frodo, where was he? He should be here!

  "Frodo!" She called out, spotting him just down the hill, unaware of the danger that was coming. Mae moved fast and ran to him the sounds of Crebain looming behind her.

  "Mae!" Ann took one look at how close the Crebain were and quickly tried to go after her sister but Legolas grabbed her arm and pulled her down into the bushes with him, hovering over her protectively just as the birds flew within range. Maethien reached a startled Frodo and pushed them both behind a rock, throwing her cloak over both of them and holding him close to her as the racket of birds flew over them.

  "Shh." She whispered, the loud screeching of the birds rang above them, causing her to grimace. Her sensitive ears picking up every shrill sound. Once they had passed over, she slowly uncovered herself to make sure they had gone, then pulled the cloak off Frodo and stood from the hard ground, guiding Frodo back to the others. Ann was frantically searching for them.

  "Mae! Frodo!" She exclaimed in relief.

  "We're alright." Mae assured them.

  "Thank you, Mae." Frodo said with a smile, Maethien nodded.

  "My pleasure, Frodo. I hope I didn't hurt you." She added, biting her lip and grinning. She had practically tackled him to the ground in her attempt to hide him. Their laughter faded and Maethien turned to face a solemn looking Gandalf.

  "Spies of Saruman." He said. "The passage South is being watched. We must take the Pass of Caradhras." Gandalf said grimly and turned to face the great mountain crowned with pure snow, his eyes clouded with concern. The dramatic and serious moment was ruined by a loud mournful groan.

  "Wonderful. My two favorite things." Ann muttered as she unhappily eyed the snowy mountains.

  "It just had to be-" Ann yelped suddenly, she had somehow managed to step into a particularly deep part in the snow and had sunk shin deep into the poofy cold snow. How in the hell had that happened?! More than a little surprised, Ann blinked as she watched her sister just ahead of her, walking atop the snow with ease. Anoreth was supposed to be an elf! Elves didn't didn't fall into snow holes! They walked on top of the snow!

  "Here." Ann moved her incredulous gaze up to see Legolas, smiling kindly at her and holding out a hand, his gleaming blue eyes bright with tender amusement. "Let me help you." He said softly, Ann grabbed his warm hand and let him pull her out of the snow. The icy wind instantly hit her and she felt a shiver pass through her... that was another thing, why was she feeling the cold? Weren't elves more resilient against the cold? What kind of an elf was she?

  "Thanks." She breathed, brushing snow off of her clothes, unaware that she was sort of leaning against Legolas. The tall elf Prince was actually pretty warm. Legolas nodded and continued to guide her over the thinner stretches of snow keeping her to the side where the wind did not hit as hard.

  Maethien, who had taken the rear of the group while Saeleth took to the head with Gandalf, watched the pair with a knowing smile. A soft cry made her head whip up, Frodo had slipped and was rolling down the slight incline of the hill.

  "Frodo!" Aragorn called out and rushed forward to catch him, quickly helping the hobbit to his feet, brushing off the snow that had clung to his clothes. Maethien spotted the glint of gold in the white snow a second before Boromir stooped down and picked it up, his eyes wide and dazzled. He was instantly captivated by the power within the ring.

  "Boromir." Aragorn said quietly, a low warning in his tone. Enchanted, Boromir did not hear Aragorn's call, his eyes still fixed on the ring.

  "It is a strange fate we should suffer so much fear and doubt... over so small a thing. Such a little thing." Maethien felt herself tense and quickly stepped forward when he lifted a hand to touch it, but Aragorn called out again, his harsh command cutting into Boromir's trance this time.

  "Boromir! Give the Ring to Frodo." Boromir still seemed in a daze as he slowly walked down the slope toward the Ranger and the hobbit, he held it out to Frodo quietly.

  "As you wish," His voice was light and airy, Frodo instantly snatched it from Boromir's hand and hastily placed it around his neck, a wary and slightly panicked look in his bright blue eyes. "I care not." Maethien un-tensed, but did not look away, as he reached up to tousle Frodo's hair playfully, and turned back to continue on his walk up the snow covered mountain.

  It wasn't long after that incident that the snow storm hit, making it all the more difficult and dangerous to move along the path, it was much too close to the edge of the cliff. Legolas and Saeleth walked slightly ahead of the group, looking around for a safer path to take through the storm. It was then that they heard the cruel echo of Saruman's chants.

  "There is a fell voice on the air." Legolas called back.

  "It's Saruman!" Gandalf cried out at the same moment that a loud crack sounded high above their heads. A horde of boulders and snow fell from the mountain's edges and forced the Fellowship to flat themselves against the sheer cliff wall to avoid the descent of stone and ice.

  "He's trying to bring down the mountain! Gandalf, we must turn back!" Aragorn shouted over the roaring wind and snow.

  "No!" Gandalf rose from the snow and began to counter chant. "Losto Caradhras, sedho, hodo, nuitho i 'ruith!"

  "Cuiva nwalca Carnirasse; Nai yarvaxea rasselya; taltuva notto-carinnar!" Saruman's voice answered strongly. A bolt of lightning struck the tip of Caradhras, sending a second avalanche of sheer ice onto the Fellowship. Gandalf hurried to command the mountain, but it was much too late. Saeleth, seeing the horde of snow coming their way, darted away and snatched Gandalf from the edge, pulling him against the cliff just moments before the storm of ice fell on them heavily.

  A string of muffled curses sounded from Saeleth's lips as she forced her way through the shockingly heavy snow that had buried her and her friends. She had no clue which way to go or where she'd pop up- or over- but she didn't care, she just wanted out. She burst free a minute later, gasping for air, and looked around wildly, trying not to think about how close she had been to emerging beside the cliff not three feet away from where she was.

  "Elle." She turned and found a worried Anoreth in the arms of Legolas, who had apparently shoved her away from the edge and against the wall. Everywhere her friends begun to pop up out of the snow, many sputtering out snow and trembling from the cold. Saeleth looked over in time to see Boromir struggling to lift Merry and Pip out of the snow, both hobbits holding onto each other in an attempt to get warm. Saeleth rushed over to help them, holding onto the hobbits and rubbing their shoulders as Boromir turned to shout to Gandalf.

  "We must get off the mountain! Make for the Gap of Rohan and take the west road to my city!"

  "The Gap of Rohan takes us too close to Isengard." Aragorn shouted in return.

  "If we cannot pass over the mountain, let us go under it. Let us go through the Mines of Moria." Saeleth had to force herself not to shout her refusal, instead she busied herself with helping the hobbits to get warm. Still, she could not keep herself from feeling a strong wave of despair stab into her chest, she had always hated this moment, the moment where Gandalf realized his fate.

  "Let the Ring bearer decide." Gandalf decided, his eyes going to Frodo.

  "We cannot stay here! This will be the death of the Hobbits!" Boromis shouted from beside Elle, clutching Merry close to him while she held onto Pippin.

  "Frodo?" Gandalf prompted, Frodo turned to the wizard and Saeleth
turned to gaze at the snow sadly, desperately holding in her tears.

  "We will go through the mines." He decided.

  "So be it."

  The Fellowship approached the doors to Moria. Frodo helping Gandalf walk at the head of the group, the three sisters, though, hung back a little to talk in private.

  "Can't we save him?" Anoreth asked quietly so that they weren't overhead. Saeleth sighed and looked at the ground, a lump growing in her throat.

  "You know we can't." She said, though she didn't like it. "It needs to happen, otherwise he won't became Gandalf the White and everything will fall out of place." Which was true, and Elle reminded herself constantly of that fact.

  "Besides," Mae added. "He comes back. We'll see him again." Anoreth nodded slowly, despite the truth in their words, all three of the sisters were not looking forward to Gandalf's temporary death.

  "Oh! The Walls of Moria!" Gimli gasped and rushed forward. The sisters hastened to join the rest, pausing to marvel at the mountainous wall that hid the Mines of Moria inside it. The film did not compare at all to the real thing. Nightfall had come quickly, the moonlight glistening in the murky water that lay just beside the doors to Moria.

  "Dwarf doors are invisible when closed." Gimli commented casually, tapping his ax against the stone wall with a proud smirk.

  "Yes, Gimli, their own masters cannot find them, if their secrets are forgotten." Gandalf added.

  "Why doesn't that surprise me?" Legolas' commented sarcastically, Maethien resisted the urge to chuckle as Gimli grumbled ahead of them but said nothing.

  "Shouldn't you at least try to get along with Gimli?" Anoreth asked the elf suddenly, walking beside him calmly, her eyes on the path ahead. Legolas blinked and looked at Ann.