The night air bit my skin. Winds caressed me, blowing my blonde hair in my face. The stars sparkled like Noldorin jewels as I darted through the field. I had snuck out. I had waited for my parents to fall asleep, then I slipped from the house, and from town, to explore. Ah, yes, the wind ruffled my nightgown. I pulled it up, my bare ankles getting stained by the tall grasses. I ran, laughter filling the meadows as I tasted freedom. Freedom from civilization, freedom from the tight constricting rules of my parents, freedom to roam. I ran, smiling.
The small child I was, I was unable to properly see above the towering grasses and rainbow selection of flowers. Of course, it was dark as well. The stars only illuminated so much. I had not cared, I was a child. All I cared about was the wind on my face and my bare toes digging into the cool dirt. It startled me when the ground gave out from under me. Ground could fall? My mother had told me stories of her old home sinking beneath the see, but falling into a hole? I cried out, scrambling as I desperately grabbed stones only for them to slide with me. Mud splattered me as I tumbled down the long, steep ditch wall.
When I fell to the floor, I sputtered. Spitting the earth from my mouth, I coughed as I looked up to see that I was in a deep, dark trench that dipped from the field above. I could only see the stars up from where I was. I felt something I only ever felt when my father lectured me on getting into this or that - fear. Fear. Fear whispered to me as I gazed up from the ground, lying down and filthy in nothing but my nightgown. I pulled myself up, glancing from left to right looking for a way up the ditch. Unfortunately, all I could see was another hole etched between boulders, leading into a further incline. I shuddered, reaching up and brushing my pebble dusted hair behind my head.
I reached up to the sky, grubby hand trying to reach the stars. I could not. I was only an elf child, I was nothing down here.
I shook my head, lowering my head. No matter, I had gotten into mayhem and shenanigans before. My parents always had saved me before slapping me on the wrist for my behavior. No, this was no different. I plopped myself into the slimy, thick mud. I waited. My rescue would come soon enough…
I waited…
… I waited…
… Waited…
…
…
… the sky was now drowned out by heavy clouds. Was it going to rain? The moon peaked out occasionally, but never for more than a minute. I lulled, singing a song detailing the adventures of Beren and Luthien to myself as I mindlessly looked up at the sky, bored. Oh, I was so insanely bored.
Then, I heard… was that scratching? Confusion flooded me as my ear twitched. I pushed myself into a sitting position, peering into the darkness of the small cave several feet away. Was the darkness… moving? Were those shadows, dancing inside. I heard strange, bizarre noises. Somehow, a sense of dread creeped in as my instincts told me something foul was at play.
A hand, black and putrid, reached out from the shadows. I squeaked, turning pale as moonlight cast itself onto what had crawled up from the earth.
Terrible, the hulking creatures were like some kind of twisted mockery of elves. Pointed ears, long hair, yet cruel in movement and foul of stench. Those pitch black, irisless eyes glared like hungry predators. The twisted, bone thin limbs held primitive spears, crude and childish. The creatures barely wore anything, save the loincloths wrapped around their bony waists. The bodies were scrawny and cut up, blotched and darkened as if rotting from death. The strands of messy thin hair veiled their wicked gazes, gazing upon me. One lifted its stick spear and shouted in some sort of evil sounding tongue. I tried to pull myself up, screaming, only to fall back down. Mindless a feral, the leader charged. It waved its limbs to and fro with a distorted gait. I winced my eyes shut, raising my arms. I had heard of orcs, the abominations of Morgoth, in tales and legends. Now, I saw them with my own two eyes. They were going to kill me tonight.
"Gwanna din er!"
I looked up, shocked. A lithe warrior swept down from above like an Eagle of Manwe. Sword glistening, glowing blue, she moved with the grace a dancer and the skill of a seamstress. With a single, long sweep, she decapitated the head of the orc, then turned and struck the chest of the one behind. Wicked, agonized screams bellowed from them as they fell dead. Now, in the moonlight, stood a Noldorin warrior.
She lowered the sword, which was waning in its glow. The black armor shone in the blue moonlight, shining like a hazy dream. The silver shimmer of a grappling hook line, streaming from above, was attached to her waistline. The elf reached up and pulled her helm off, holding it at her side as she shook her short, jet black hair. She looked down on me, green eyes shining with the gentleness of a maiden, rather than the wrath of a warrior.
I stood before her, a terrified, muddy, mess. I was the disobedient and dishonorable child who should have died. Why had she helped me?
"Gwaindoriel," She said, lowering her sword, "Av-‘osto."
How did she know my name? I blinked up at her, confused, as she sheathed her weapon. She walked over to me, extending her hand and placing it on my shoulder. Her eyes were narrowed and filled with tender emotion as she soothed.
"Gi meriathon."
I was safe now.
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Sindarin Translations:
- Gwanna din er"" - "Leave (depart) her alone!"
- "Av-‘osto." - "Don't be afraid."
- "Gi meriathon." - "I will protect you."
