Wild Monster

by Matthew Harrington

  "Folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back, only they didn't. They kept gong because they were holding on to something."

  "What are we holding onto, Sam?" Frodo asked with despair, tears threatening to spill at any given moment. Sam turned to his friend and strode over, gripping his shoulders ad helping him off the ground then holding out a hand to Anoreth so that she would rise as well. They stood together, hand in hand with each other, uniting them in a bond of blessed friendship.

  "That there's some good in this world, Mr Frodo. And it's worth fighting for." Sam breathed, Anoreth felt her tears streak down her cheeks as she turned to look at Frodo... his wide blue eyes filled with tears. Her heart swelled and she dropped to her knees to wrap them both into a tight hug, allowing her healing light to envelop them all, allowing the light to chase away the darkness in their minds.

  "Do not doubt for a second that there is good in this world, my friend." She whispered. "For the greatest good that I have ever encountered is right here in my arms." Opening her eyes, Anoreth found that they had been quietly surrounded by soldiers, she frowned and held the hobbits closer, wrapping her arms around them protectively.

  Hearing footsteps behind her, Anoreth turned and saw Faramir coming to them, his eyes suspiciously watery as he kneeled down beside her and smiled kindly at Frodo.

  "I think at last we understand one another, Frodo Baggins." He said gently, prompting a teary smile from the elleth.

  "You know the laws of our country, the laws of your father. If you release them, then your life will be forfeit." Anoreth rolled her eyes at the soldiers urgent words.

  "Way too kill the mood." She muttered.

  "Then it is forfeit." Faramir decided, the determination evident in his watering eyes. "Release them." Anoreth's smile widened, and she pushed herself to her feet, a mischievous look in her eyes as she looked out to the east.

  "Oh, I think we can stay a few minutes longer. What do you think, boys?" Anoreth turned to Frodo and Sam, winking delightfully at their confused expressions. Sam was the first to catch on.

  "Oh, yes. Would be rude if we came all this way and didn't say hello to the orcs." The dear blonde hobbit agreed with a grin, nodding solemnly. Anoreth looked at Frodo for approval, he still looked weary and plagued, but watching the way Anoreth smiled brilliantly at him... he felt himself step into the light she offered. He nodded.

  "Lovely!" Anoreth giggled and turned to smile at Faramir, catching the solemn soldier by surprise. "You know, I don't think we've introduced ourselves. Anoreth, but you may call me Ann, all my friends do." And just like that, any ill will that Faramir feared the elleth would have toward him... disappeared. Anoreth was an emotional woman and she could be wildly aggressive when she needed to, but, in truth, Ann was the most forgiving and loving person... it was no wonder that she was granted the gift of light. Faramir's tension faded and he followed after the smiling elleth with a puzzled smile of his own.

  "I say we give those foul beasts something to remember us by, yes?" Ann smiled wickedly as she climbed up to where the catapults of Osgiliath were positioned, ready to be launched at the eastern shore where the orcs ran amok. "Tell me, how do you like your orcs? Fried? Crispy? Or burned to a pile of ash?" She asked, and smiled when the general ordered the catapults to fire. Warm power surged forth and Ann lifted her hands, aiming for the flying boulders, flames jetted from her palms and caught the boulders, wrapping them in blazing fire as they hurled to the eastern shore.

  "Yes!" Anoreth cheered, then proceeded to take some time to go... just a little wild. She collapsed buildings over orcs, set orc camps ablaze, destroyed enemy catapults, and she even set a troll's head on fire. Alright... maybe more than a little wild.

  "You're... quite the character." Faramir said quietly, then laughed as Anoreth set boats ablaze with a volley of fireballs.

  "I love my job." She grinned, breathing heavily and lifting a hand to wipe away at the sweat on her brow. "But... I think I should probably stop now." She added, breathing out a weary sigh as she dropped down to the ground suddenly, landing heavily on her rear end.

  "You have given us more than enough time to prepare." Faramir glanced over to where the fires continued to blaze. "And you have wounded them greatly. Thank you."

  "Oh, my pleasure." Ann breathed, waving her hand as she tried to stand. "It's no problem. Woops!" Faramir caught her arm before she could tumble to the ground again, Anoreth laughed brightly. "But let's not do it again, huh? At least not until I'm rested up." Anoreth felt happy that she could help Faramir and his men get an advantage over the orc army, but with all of the power she'd used in the process? She was more than a little exhausted.

  Faramir chuckled as he lead the elleth back to where the hobbits waited, guiding her through the water and into a cavern hidden under the ruins of Osgiliath.

  "Ready to go?" She asked her friends brightly, nodding her thanks to Faramir as she pulled away from him to stand by Frodo, aware that Gollum was cowering behind her, gripping onto her cloak as he looked around wildly.

  "This is the old sewer." Faramir told them. "Runs right under the river, through to the edge of the city. You'll find cover in the woods there."

  "Captain Faramir." Sam spoke up hesitantly, though he meant every word he was about to say. "You've show your quality. The very highest." Surprised, Faramir stared at the hobbit for a moment before his lips widened into a warm smile.

  "The Shire must truly be a great realm, Master Gamgee. Where gardeners are held in high honor." Sam looked at the Captain sheepishly, a smile pulling at the corners of his lips. Faramir turned to look at Frodo, concern furrowing his brow.

  "What road will you take once you reach the woods?" He asked.

  "Gollum says there's a path near Minas Morul that climbs up into the mountains." Faramir's eyes widened.

  "Cirith Ungol?" Faramir looked from the hobbits to the elleth until he found Gollum, who had guiltily begun to inch away in an attempt to escape the soldier's wrath. Faramir moved fast, pulling the elleth away from the creature and grabbing onto his neck to pin him against a near by pillar. Anoreth gasped and grabbed onto the mans arm, the one that held Gollum's neck, in an attempt to make the man soften his hold.

  "What are you doing?" She gasped, her eyes on the struggling creature, but Faramir ignored her as he growled at Gollum.

  "Is that it's name?"

  "No! No!" Ann grimaced as she watched Faramir tighten his hold on Gollum's neck. "Yesss!" He admitted, struggling against the man's hold. Faramir turned to the hobbits.

  "Frodo, they say a dark terror dwells in the passes above Minas Morgul. You cannot go that way." Faramir explained urgently to the hobbits. Anoreth looked from Gollum to Faramir as she realized that the Captain was telling the truth, the concern in his voice was very real.

  "It is the only way." Gollum croaked. "Master says we must go to Mordor, so we must try!" Faramir and Anoreth looked to Frodo, waiting for his response. Frodo knew that Faramir spoke the truth, he had no reason to lie to them but he also knew that there was no other way to reach Mordor. He had run out of options, so with a sorrowful and troubled look in his gaze, the hobbit nodded his head to the man and woman looking at him with genuine concern.

  "I must."

  Faramir looked back to the creature and threw him to the ground, causing Anoreth to flinch. With a resigned sigh, Faramir looked at Frodo one more time and nodded to him in respect.

  "Go Frodo. Go with the goodwill of all Men." Faramir blessed them, Frodo looked up to the man with wide grateful eyes and returned the nod.

  "Thank you." Anoreth smiled proudly at her little friend then turned to smile at Faramir softly, hesitating a moment longer before walking up to the man and kissing his cheek lightly, the one that she had struck in their last encounter.

  "Thank you, Faramir." She said, holding back a giggle when she saw the look of utter surprise on the man's face. "I'm sorry I insulted you... and your men... and broke their noses... and struck you... and-" A
noreth saw the amusement rise in his eyes and laughed, shaking her head. "I'm sorry for everything." She finally said with a bright smile before turning away, but Faramir caught her arm.

  "I should be the one with the apology." He said with a small smile, leaning forward to press a quick kiss the back of her hand lightly. "I am truly sorry, Ann." He looked to the sewers then returned his gaze to the elleth. "Be careful. I should like to meet you again." Anoreth smiled one last time before turning away and following after Frodo and Sam, Gollum following closely behind her, limping on one hand.

  "Are you hurt, Smeagol?" Ann asked him gently.

  "Nasty rocks falls on my hands." He said, holding out his hands to show her were the rocks had crushed his fingers, one or two bent an awkward way. Anoreth took them into her own and healed them, pushing his frail fingers back into place and mending the broken bones gently.

  "Better?" She asked, pulling back her hands to smile at the creature.

  "Nice mistress. Nice mistress is good to Gollum." He nodded slowly before turning away to speed after the hobbits, making to lead the way.

  It wasn't long before they were crunching through the woos, leaving the ruins and war of Osgiliath behind them as they set out to continue their fated quest. Lifting a hand, Anoreth took her pendant into her hands and searched for her sisters, hoping to find them safe and sound. She smiled when she found them, they were alive and happy, though undoubtedly in pain and rained of mamgical power... They had survived Helm's Deep, and that made Anoreth very, very happy. Looking to the sky, Anoreth whispered her thanks to the Valar for having taken care of her sisters before gently tucking her jewel into her tunic and following after her little friends.

  "I wonder if we'll ever be put into songs or tales." Sam said suddenly.

  "What?" Frodo breathed a laugh, looking back to smile at the blonde hobbit. Anoreth felt her heart sing at the sight of that sweet smile, it had been far too long since she had seen such a genuine smile from Frodo... she had missed it. How she longed to take the heavy burden off of his shoulder... but it was not her fate to do so. It was her destiny to guide him, heal him, and make the quest easier, but the burden would be his to bear until it no longer had to.

  "I wonder if people will ever say, 'let' hear about Frodo and the Ring!' And they'll say 'yes, that's one of my favorite stories. Frodo was really courageous, wasn't he, dad?' 'Yes, my boy the most famousest of hobbits. And that's saying a lot.'" Anoreth smiled, loving the sound of her dear friend's laugh.

  "Huh, you left out one of the chief characters. Samwise the Brave!" Frodo smiled and nodded in approval. "I want to hear more about Sam." Frodo paused and turned around slowly to face his best friend. "Frodo wouldn't have got far without Sam." He then glanced up at Anoreth and smiled.

  "Or Anoreth the Fierce." Ann blinked in surprise, then smiled at her friend, a flush rising to her cheeks.

  "Now Mr Frodo, you shouldn't make fun. I was being serious." Sam said quietly, prompting a kind smile from his best friend.

  "So was I." He said before turning around to follow after Gollum. Sam stayed where he had stopped for a moment longer, a soft smile gracing his lips; Anoreth placed a hand on Sam's shoulder as he whispered dreamily to himself.

  "Samwise the Brave."

  Maethien had not moved. For a full two days and nights, the elleth lied utterly still in her makeshift bed.

  The first day, Saeleth had stayed by her sister's side, refusing to leave even to eat or sleep; and she had not been alone in her constant vigilance. Aragorn had remained as well. He watched Maethien sleep, took care of her comforts, refused to leave lest she awake while he was away. He did not wish for her to be alone when her eyes opened again. Despite the tries of their friends, the two had refused to leave her side for the entire day. They watched on as Maethien's color slowly began to return to her face and the light glow of her markings began to gleam once again. Saeleth could feel that her sister's power was slowly returning, and that comforted her very, very much.

  On the second day, both Aragorn and Saeleth still remained, but both were much more... comforted by the look of Maethein's face. She was doing so much better, Elle could feel it. Happy to see her doing so well, she lifted her eyes to share her excitement with Aragorn, but when she saw the the ranger she felt her smile falter. The ranger sat on the other side of her sister with his hands holding one of her still hands, his cloudy eyes drooping but still somehow intent of Mae's face. Elle smiled with concern... he looked exhausted.

  "Aragorn, you should rest." The elleth said quietly.

  "Not until she is awake. She must not be alone." He murmured wearily, prompting a kind smile from the elleth.

  "She will not be alone, mellon nin." Elle said. "I will stay with her until you've had a good amount of sleep, then you can stay with her while I take some time to rest as well." Saeleth bargained, but the man did not move, his crystal blue eyes still on Maethein's face. Elle hesitated and considered leaving him be, she could see that he loved her sister dearly and wanted nothing more than to be there when she opened her pretty green eyes again... but he looked like the walking dead. He was utterly exhausted.

  "You are weary, Aragorn. Maethien would not forgive you if you make yourself ill on her account. Please, just a few hours of sleep, then you can take my place." Elle bargained pleadingly and smiled brightly when Aragorn finally conceded, breathing a weary sigh and nodding.

  "You will find me if she wakes?" He asked, Elle nodded.

  "I promise." She vowed, the ranger nodded then finally rose from his seat, leaning over Mae one more time to pull the fur cover higher up on her body, then he slowly turned and left the room, his steps heavy with his exhaustion.

  Minutes later, there was a gentle knock on the door and Saeleth lifted her head, expecting to see Aragorn at the door, but she was pleasantly surprised to see Haldir step into the room. His injured arm was bandaged up tight in a splint but other than that, he looked healthy and well in a simple silvery grey tunic and grey breeches. The elf bowed his head respectfully.

  "Haldir." Elle breathed in surprise, before smiling and gesturing at the elf to come closer. "Tolo, govano ven" [Come, join us.] Haldir nodded his thanks and stepped further into the room, walking up to stand on the opposite side of Saeleth, admiring Maethien's sleeping face.

  "How is she?" He asked quietly.

  "Better. Much better." She said with a happy smile, looking over her sisters face for a moment longer before lifting her gaze to meet the eyes of Haldir. "And how are you?" She asked hesitantly, a soft smile on her lips as she searched the elf's eyes.

  Haldir's eyes dropped to his injured arm, his expression going completely blank, which made Saeleth unsure whether to be worried or not. He said nothing for a long moment and Elle, though usually a very patient person, was beginning to feel uneasy in the tense silence.

  "I am... better." He said simply, the look in his eyes telling Elle that something was troubling the elf. He wanted to say something to her but was not sure how to say it, so Saeleth remained silent and waited patiently, or as patiently as she could, for Haldir to find the courage to say what he needed to say to her.

  "I resented you." Saeleth blinked, surprised by the words that finally left the elf's had to admit, she did not expect to hear those words. "I resented you... at first. After you saved my life. A warrior such as myself..." Elle watched with concern as the elf struggled to say the words, his eyes on Maethien's sleeping face.

  "A warrior such as myself would rather die an honorable death in battle than to lie on a sickbed, recovering after being rescued by a woman, even a lady elf." Now that made Saeleth bristle. After being rescued by a woman?! Oh, it was Eomer all over again! Just who did this idiot think he-

  "I know now that I am a proud man," Clouded blue eyes rose to meet Elle's amber gems, his words silencing the fire that had lit in Saeleth. "A warrior accustomed to being the stronger person. Accustomed to being the rescuer rather than the one in need of rescue." Saeleth did not speak, she unders
tood now that Haldir needed to say everything, get it all of of his chest without an interruption from her. So, she waited, not breaking the connection that Haldir had made with her, allowing him to search her sincere eyes as he searched for the words he would say next. When he finally found them, he found that the words were not as difficult to say as he had expected them to be.

  "Thank you, Saeleth. For saving my life, for allowing me the opportunity to return home and sail west." There was silence for a long moment, then finally Elle's lips widened into a brilliant smile as she rose from her seat to stand before Haldir.

  "Well," She said quietly. "That took you long enough." Surprise colored the elf's expression and Elle resisted the urge to laugh, he looked positively flabbergasted. She guessed that he had not expected such candid words from her. Breathing a soft chuckle, Elle reached out to set her hands on the elf warrior's shoulders, prompting him to meet her kind gaze.

  "There is no need to thank me, Haldir. I would gladly do it again." She said honestly, refusing to let the elf look away from her. She suspected that Haldir was not one to openly show his emotions and that he had expected the same from her, which Saeleth understood entirely, she was, in fact, not usually the type to wear her emotions on her sleeve but she also understood that sometimes, just sometimes, it was okay to let them show... and she wanted for Haldir to understand that as well. To see and know that, within the presence of good friends and family alike, wearing your heart on your sleeve was a beautiful thing.

  "Now you must do me this one favor." Saeleth said softly as she gazed into the warriors eyes,

  "You must do as you said and return home with all of our kin and join them on the journey west. You must surround yourself with our people and live, Haldir, not survive. Live this life that you hold in your hands. You will do this for me, yes?" She could tell that she had taken the elf by surprise, but that was not a bad thing at all, for the look in Haldir's eyes told Saeleth that she had done the right thing in saving his life. He was a good man that deserved to sail west with his people.