At the Mercy of a Burning Coal

Disclaimer; I own Lathwen and her cohorts, and that is all.
Note: I’ve been toying with this chapter, wondering if this is really a relevant way to get an elf angry enough to chase you…don’t criticize to harshly on this chapter please…though any new idea’s would be appreciated!

“ You’ve got to be joking.” Nestariel said flatly. Edhelwen shook her head, “ How else are we going to get them close enough so we can hold them back with daggers?” Lily shook her head, “ Absolutely not!” Lathwen snorted and crossed her arms, “ I did the dagger thing once, and believe me, that elf wasn’t happy afterwards. I agree with having to lure them closer, but I’m not sure about the whole plan…isn’t that sort of…devious in a wicked way?”

Edhelwen shrugged and said, “ They were devious to get your horses…and do we have any other plans?” Reluctantly, the others shook their heads. Nestariel wrinkled her nose, “ Edhelwen…how you come up with these things is beyond me.” Edhelwen smiled, “ I happen to have an older sister.”

***
Lathwen bit her lip to keep from opening her eyes and telling everyone how bored she was. She had to keep pretending she was asleep. The plan wouldn’t work otherwise. She heard Nestariel toss about and mumble in her sleep…well, fake sleep. Once Nestariel had softened up, she turned out to be a good actress.

After a lot of whining, arguing, and begging, Edhelwen had gotten the others to agree to the plan. They had all waited till night came, then they settled down for the night near the spot where Lathwen and Lily had camped before going off on their search for the horses.

Edhelwen had instructed them on what to do for the first half of the plan, and then coaxed Lathwen to coach the rest of them because she had experience in the area, however limited, which came into play during the second half. The dagger filled half.

Lathwen heard soft voices and fought not to tense her muscles up. Judging by how quiet they were, she knew they had to be elves. /Immortal’s *again*? This better not become a habit./

She heard Nestariel murmur once more before going back to a silent-false-sleep mode. Lathwen’s heart beat faster, but kept her breathing deep and even. She then heard several males exclaim loudly and struggled not to laugh.

Edhelwen had made everyone take off their cloaks and lie on their bedrolls in a sweet, seemingly peaceful way. She made everyone take out their braids or ponytails and leave their hair streaming down behind them. Nestariel had rolled here eyes, “ Here comes the wicked part.” Edhelwen shrugged in a way that told them that she didn’t like this part anymore than they did…but it was vital for the plan to work. If the vital (and really wrong) part worked, the whole plan would work…they hoped.

So now Lily, Lathwen, Nestariel, and Edhelwen were lying on their bedrolls, teasing the males without moving or saying a word. Lily’s bronze shoulder was showing, as was Nestariel’s. Lathwen’s tunic had ridden up, exposing part of her toned, flat stomach. Edhelwen was lying on her stomach, her tunic arranged so that part of her pale back was bare.

“ Males aren’t immune to charm.” Edhelwen had said. Lathwen shot her a disgusted look, “ This isn’t charm! It’s a state of being half undressed and trying to seduce men who will probably run away screaming like five-year-old girls! Besides, what if it isn’t men? HMM?” Needless to say, the others had agreed with her. “ Who else would steal horses out here? We are the only females venturing places in case you haven’t noticed. Look, if it works, we won’t have to make anymore plans again.” Edhelwen had pointed out.

The elves talked quickly and quietly before going silent. Lathwen knew they were taking the horses because she could hear a sudden snort from Nestariel’s mount, then soft words in elvish being spoken. Nestariel turned over again and muttered something again, causing the flow of elvish words to halt as all elves waited on red alert to see if Nestariel was awake.

A few minutes passed before Lathwen could hear the hoof beats starting up again. /They are *really* patient./ Lathwen thought in amazement. Suddenly, a warm pair of hands picked her up…definitely NOT part of the plan or what they expected.

Nevertheless, she sprang into action…opening her eyes, grabbing a dagger concealed in her sleeve and holding it against the elf’s throat. The elf cried out and Lathwen pressed it more firmly against his throat to still him, “ Put me down.” She whispered in a firm voice. Slowly, the elf placed her on the ground, and she managed to keep her blade in place.

As she had done with Glorfindel, she went behind him, but twisted his arm up so in one move she could break it. “ Don’t even think about moving.” She breathed into his ear.

Nestariel cleared her throat and Lily coughed…signals that they had gotten a captive. Edhelwen cleared her throat after a moment more, and Lathwen nodded to herself.

“ All right girls! We did good!” She shouted, hearing the elves quiet speech and hoof beats halt once more. Nestariel snickered and Edhelwen let out a giggle. Lily said in the quiet, “ I can’t believe they fell for it again…” Suddenly torches were lit, the sudden light causing Lathwen to blink. She closed her eyes for a moment until the colorful spots she was seeing were gone.

Lathwen surveyed the scene…an elf holding the horse’s reins, three more walking with their weapons drawn, and the four elves that were being held captive. Lathwen looked at the elf she was holding and gasped, “ HOLY ERU!”

Ridhion snorted but grinned, “ Surprised?” Lathwen looked at the other three; they were all holding strange elves that she had never seen before. Every single elf here was strange except for Ridhion.

“ Oh honestly.” Lathwen sighed and let her dagger drop. “ Lily, Nestariel…you can drop yours. Edhelwen, keep a tight grip like I told you…can’t have a ransom slipping away now can we?”

Lily face Ridhion and put her hands on her hips, “ What in Arda possessed you? I thought you were a friend!” Ridhion didn’t answer the question but rubbed his throat and said, “ No doubt you already know, but Nestariel and Edhelwen are from the Golden Wood. They are wanted back home…where they belong.” Lathwen’s temper flared, “ On whose orders?!”

“ Mine.” Glorfindel stepped into the clearing along with several other elves, all with weapons drawn. Lathwen groaned in frustration. Glorfindel glared at her then walked over to Ridhion who grinned and said, “ You were right…she has a strong grip for such a little thing.” Nestariel and Edhelwen gaped at Lathwen. “ So *he’s* the elf you did this to before! Dear Valar, I’m surprised you didn’t get beheaded!” Edhelwen exclaimed.

Lathwen shrugged, “ I suppose it was my ‘charm’.” She said, putting emphasis on the word ‘charm’. Edhelwen snorted and rolled her eyes, shifting her grip on the elf that was trying to get away, “ I’ll have none of that.”

Lathwen faced Glorfindel and said heatedly, “ WHAT DO YOU WANT YOU BLOODY FOOL?!” Glorfindel raised an eyebrow but didn’t answer. Lathwen went on, “ We haven’t done anything to harm you or anyone else in Lothlorien, I took care of your adorable nephews who I hope won’t inherit the same attitude as you, all I’m doing is traveling to Gondor…so why, *why*, WHY are you following us?!”
“ Curious are we?”
“ WHY DO YOU THINK I’M HOLDING ONE OF YOUR MEN WITH A BLADE TO HIS NECK?! DESPITE RECENT RUMORS, I DON’T DO THESE THINGS ON A WHIM!!”
“ Really? Sounds like you’d be the sort.” (*Very* bad thing to say there Glorfy…)

Lathwen lost her temper even more than she had in the past. She had been very paranoid ever since she left Bree, and this creepy elf following her didn’t help matters. She wasn’t going to be forced to do something she didn’t want to do. And she sure as heck was tired of this elf!

She curled her hands into fists and said, “ You don’t have a real reason do you?” Glorfindel opened his mouth but Lathwen interrupted him and shouted, “ You want a reason to chase me?! You’ll get a reason!”

She stalked forward and throughout the clearing you could hear a loud ‘crack’. She heard Edhelwen gasp, but ignored her. On Glorfindel’s face was a red handprint where Lathwen had slapped him.

She screamed like a maniac, “ You are a high and mighty, arrogant, conceited, foolish immortal who needs to get off his high horse! Your mother slept under a monster! In fact, YOU are a monster to! You’re a vile and biased elf who treats mortals as if they were the scum of the earth!”

Lathwen walked over to the speechless, shocked, elf with the horses and snatched the reins from his hands. “ ROSETHORN! WILDFIRE!” She hear whinny’s in the distance.

She hoped that Glorfindel was livid with rage, and in fact, he was…his face was turning pink with anger and she could see that his eyes were pinpoints of rage. “ I suggest you and the foolish women who followed you say that you are sorry. You all are delusional if you think—”

“ DELUSIONAL?!” Edhelwen squawked in an outraged way, “ I don’t think so!” Nestariel glared at Glorfindel, “ Foolish? Ha!”

Rosethorn and Wildfire galloped into view, their saddlebags swinging. Lily grabbed Wildfire and mounted up, while Nestariel mounted onto her horse and so did Edhelwen, releasing her captive who looked quite relieved.

Lathwen jumped onto Rosethorn and said, “ You’re just some stalker and probably someone whose head isn’t quite right! In fact, I *know* you aren’t right in the head! You are such an orc-mannered, selfish pig that I can’t even believe I’m still in your presence!” Lathwen trotted over to him and roared, “ In fact, I refuse to stay in your ugly presence any longer!” Lily shouted, “ LA—er…ALANESSA! CONTROL YOURSELF OR WE’LL ALL BE SHOT!”

Lathwen looked toward Lily and said, “ I don’t think so…they have to much honor to shoot innocents…you’ll all be spared.”

She leaned over and plucked his jeweled knives from their sheaths on his back. She held them up and gave a wolfish grin. Glorfindel reached up and grabbed her wrist, twisting it so she cried out in pain.

“ Give-them-back.” He said in a cool, even voice, but each word dropped like a chunk of ice. Glorfindel’s friends winced; this girl had enraged him beyond anything they had ever seen. Valar, was she going to get it…

Lathwen wrenched her wrist from his grip and spit in his face. Glorfindel wiped the spit away and slowly, deliberately drew an arrow from his quiver and notched it in the bowstring.

He pointed it at Lathwen’s face and said, “ I mean now, mortal! And if I were you I’d apologize.” Lathwen gave him a dazzling grin, “ That’s why you aren’t me!” She said brightly and placed the knives in a saddlebag.

“ Now I know why you’re not right in the head…when you were a baby your poor parents dropped you in surprise because you were so ugly. Did your parents die of shame?”

Glorfindel snapped. He threw his bow and quiver on the ground and leapt toward Lathwen, pulling her off of the horse.

He pushed her against Rosethorn and said, “ It is taking all of my patience not to loose my temper wrench!” Lathwen was used to this language, she got it all of the time when she was at the tavern, but somehow, it hurt coming from him “ And you’re not?” She said ferociously before pushing his chest hard with both hands, giving her time to mount Rosethorn and say tauntingly, “ Catch me if you can!” Before riding off with Edhelwen, Lily, and Nestariel at her sides.

***
They stopped a half-hour after Lathwen’s little spat with Glorfindel to camp near the middle of River Limlight. Thankfully, they were more than halfway there already.

Lily said to Lathwen, “ I can’t believe you did that! Do you realize the danger you’re in?! He knows where you’re going, and you just insulted him beyond anything I’ve every heard before! What were you thinking?!” Lathwen shrugged, stinging from Lily’s disapproval, “ I’m sorry if I put you all in danger Lily, but he just gets me so angry!”

Lily shook her head and said in exasperation, “ It’s not *us* I’m worried about Lathwen! It’s you! You are our leader…our captain! You’re our friend and companion…what would we do without you?”

Lathwen felt tears come to her eyes…yes, she had been foolish. But her friends forgave her and were only worried about her, not themselves. Their loyalty and bravery astounded her. She was touched.

Nestariel said, “ Well, I for one, am glad Lathwen said what she did…it might have scared them away.” Edhelwen shook her head, “ Not after she said ‘catch me if you can’. But still,” She grinned, “ I applaud your sense of bravery…I approve completely.” Lathwen gave a weak laugh and wiped a tear from her cheek.

Lily sighed and patted Lathwen on the back. Lathwen smiled before saying, “ So naturally, we’re all enemies of the elves of Lothlorien now…or at least, I am.” Nestariel shook her head, “ Not all of them…only Glorfindel. We all are enemies now because we follow you. But believe us Lathwen, we don’t mind. We’ll follow you no matter what.”

Edhelwen nodded, “ That’s right…we will stay by each other’s sides until death do part us. Besides,” She added with a wry grin, “ Glorfindel needed to be taught a lesson…it was getting annoying hearing nothing but ‘Glorfindel’, ‘Glorfindel’ all the time from the elf-maidens in Lorien anyway.”

Lily grinned and pulled out a dagger from her saddlebag. She unsheathed it and made a cut in both of her palms. She cleaned it off with a cloth and handed it to Nestariel who did the same and passed it to Edhelwen. Lathwen was slightly confused, “ Er…what’s going on?” Lily glanced her way, “ It’s a blood-oath…something the elves did long ago, and some still practice it today. Just wait, Lathwen…you’ll see.”

Edhelwen passed the knife to Lathwen, and she made a cut in both of her palms also, wincing slightly as the cold blade cut into her flesh. She put the blade down along with the cloth and watched as Lily joined hands with Edhelwen and Nestariel, who joined hands with Lathwen.

Lily closed her eyes and said, “ Companions together, friends forever…” Nestariel took her turn and said in her lilting voice, “ Warrior maidens put to the test, to prove themselves strong to men, and the rest…” Edhelwen said, “ Hunted we are, though hunters we be…”

Something deep inside of Lathwen’s soul stirred and caused her to finish the incantation though she had no notion of how or why she said it, “ To help each other in times of strife, to stay each other in death and life…” Together the group said, “ I promise to love my sisters, though parted we may become. I promise to cherish and aid them all, in dark and light times to come.”

The light that had stirred was fading, until it died completely, leaving Lathwen feeling as normal as she had been before. Lathwen smiled weakly, “ That was interesting…I’d never taken part in a Blood-Oath before.” Edhelwen grinned back, “ It’s something rare.”

Lathwen nodded and looked down at her hands. There was no mark or scar, or any sign of blood. She gasped, “ But…there…there’s no blood!” Nestariel nodded, “ There’s never any mark left afterwards.”

Lathwen’s mind was suddenly seared with a vision of Glorfindel riding hard on their trail, his mouth set in a thin line, anger…fury really, blazing in his bright blue eyes. Lathwen groaned and sat down, “ He’ll come after us, he’s furious…and you all got roped into this because of my mistake! Curse it!” She knew better than to ask them to leave to save themselves when they had just promised to stand with each other.

Nestariel drew the map from Lathwen’s saddlebag and examined it. “ It will be a race for Gondor then…we should get to Fangorn as quickly as possible, we might be able to loose them there.” Edhelwen added, “ There are also many orcs who wander there…we’d best be on our guard.”

Lathwen shuddered, more of those swarthy goblins. Lovely. She groaned and stood up, stretching her back and leg muscles. “ Let’s get a move on then…we’ve still got a few hours before evening.”