At the Mercy of a Burning Coal

Disclaimer; Lathwen and her mad/brilliant plans plus her associates on her journey are mine.
Note: Thanks everyone for the feedback on the last chapter! It’s a keeper!

Edhelwen was the one who saved them all from going insane with worry. Her endless supply of cheer and humor kept each and every one of them in stitches. She had also established Lathwen’s new nickname…Bessie. Of course, Lily being Lily, called Lathwen Old Bess.

The two elves fit into the group with fluidity and ease, speaking their minds without blinking if someone disagreed or was skeptical of their plans. Lathwen’s confidence and freedom had given the whole group a whole new outlook on the way they had been living before…bound in chains. (Metaphorically speaking of course…)

But even now, Lathwen looked strained. The elves were coming closer she knew…and they couldn’t do anything about it. Or could they?

***
Nestariel thought a moment, “ They already know that we are going to Gondor Bessie…I don’t see how we can possibly avoid them forever.” Lathwen’s face was bleak, “ We’ll manage.” Lily spoke up, “ There are many enemies of men who know where the men reside…if the men can survive, why can’t we?” Nestariel snorted, “ Because we lack the experience.” Lily sighed in mock dismay, “ Besides that…we all have training with weapons, we can go on a forced march for a long time thanks to Lathwen’s heroic efforts to kill us with exhaustion…”

Lathwen grinned at the familiar jibe…Lily wasn’t complaining, in fact, no one ever did anymore. They were all used to this new life…well, Nestariel and Edhelwen not so much, but then again, they were tougher than the mortals.

It was evening now, and the stars were beginning to light the sky with their small, but bright flame. The endless fields of grass around them whispered hauntingly as the wind swept through them.

Edhelwen sighed, “ It’s a bit odd without having tunics to wash though. And I miss my friends back in Lorien…all my family has sailed away to the Undying Lands.” Lathwen saw Nestariel nod in agreement and said, “ I understand. I miss my home to Edhelwen. You do know that you can return any time you wish…I’m not forcing you to stay here against your will.” Edhelwen shook her head, “ No. I wouldn’t go back for all of the dwarves gold…most of it would probably be cursed anyway, but still…”

Lily laughed softly, “ Perhaps your friends will join us sometime soon.” Edhelwen nodded slowly, “ Perhaps.” Lathwen turned her face to the sky and tried to hide her remorse for what felt like pulling them away from everything they held dear. Lathwen sighed; she had forgotten elves lived with so much sorrow.

Edhelwen said in a more cheery tone, “ How far back do you think the elves are?” Lily shrugged, “ How do we even know that they’re chasing us?”

Lathwen snorted, “ Well, considering I committed treason against a famous elven warrior, what else would they do? They’d probably get some reinforcements and—oh no! Edhelwen, Nestariel…do you think they would tell the Lord and Lady? Or Lord Elrond of Imladris? Or maybe they warned Gondor! I’d forgotten that Glorfindel most likely has friends in high places!”

Nestariel answered, “ Bess! Calm yourself…yes, Glorfindel probably has friends he will alert to our coming wherever we go, and when Edhelwen and I left, we heard that the Lord and Lady of the Golden Wood already knew that you had insulted Glorfindel and Lindariel back when you were still in Lorien—” Lathwen rolled her eyes to the sky and groaned, “ Lovely.”

Nestariel gave her a stern look and continued, “ But that doesn’t mean we can’t deal with it. It may sound strange, but I’m feeling a bit rebellious...” Lily nodded, “ I’ve always wanted to be an outlaw…to lead a life of romance and adventure. By the way, who was it who asked how far back the elves were?”

“ I did.” Edhelwen volunteered in a confused voice, “ Why do you ask?” Lily turned in her saddle to face the darkness behind them all, “ Well, judging by the lights I see…they aren’t far off.”

They all turned around and gasped (cursed in Lily’s case). “ We can’t outrun elves.” Lathwen said, “ So I suppose the race begins now.” Edhelwen set a grim expression about her merry eyes and nodded, “ Ready?” Lathwen nodded and said, “ We ride hard to Fangorn girls! Let’s go!”

Lily let out a whoop and all four of them loosened their reins, urging their horses from a walk to a canter. Lathwen didn’t want the horses to be exhausted just yet…they’d need their energy for the last lap of this dangerous race.

The wind whipped mercilessly at their faces, drawing liquid from their eyes and spilling it down their red cheeks. Though their legs felt as if they were on fire, they drove themselves harder and harder, the elves eventually falling further and further behind them. Lathwen’s ankle felt like it was swelling again…to bad considering it had been doing all right these past days.

Lathwen could see the determination in each of her sister’s faces, but she could also see how this would tax them in the morning. Not to mention the horses. She could hear her own disjointed breathing as they forced themselves to go farther and farther down the river Limlight’s bank.

Lathwen looked back and saw no lights…nothing. Of course, they could have blown the lanterns out, but what was the point after Lathwen and the others already knew that they were there?

Lathwen reined in Rosethorn to a trot and called a halt to their fast pace. Nestariel began to say something, but Edhelwen interrupted with a shout, “ I can see them! They aren’t using light anymore! Bessie, we have to go! And quickly!”

Wearily, Lathwen nodded and kicked a tired Rosethorn into a gallop this time, and breathed a sigh of relief as she saw the forbidden edges of the Fangorn come into view.

***
It was midnight. The girls had stopped at the Fangorn’s edges a little while ago, resting and eating…keeping watch for the many creatures that wouldn’t hesitate to murder them all.

Nestariel said absentmindedly as she poked at the fire, “ For an ill-mannered warrior, he isn’t all that bad looking…don’t you think?” Lily choked on the water she was drinking. Edhelwen sighed loudly and said in dismay, “ Not you *to* Nestariel! I heard enough of that to last me a lifetime back in Lorien…” Lathwen shrugged, “ He’s an elf. No elf is bad looking if that’s what you mean.”

Nestariel nodded and added, “ I feel somewhat bad for him…after what happened with Faelwen.” Lathwen was puzzled, “ Who’s Faelwen?” She asked. Nestariel gazed at Lathwen, surprised, “ You mean you do not know the story? Glorfindel had but one lover before Lindariel.” She paused for a moment before plunging into the tale.

“ Faelwen was a warrior maid. Like us I suppose. She had freedom and adventures, and the other elven warriors respected her ability to fight, and fight well with level-headedness. She was quite the swords master I heard…she and Glorfindel met during a battle ironically. But I’ll skip to the important part.” A pained look came over Nestariel’s face.

“ I saw her body being brought back to her family in Lorien. She had gone with the March Warden’s and Glorfindel to respond to an orc attack on the southern borders. They say that she died defending Glorfindel. For he had an arrow wound in his arm, and while he was picking up his bow, which had fallen to the ground, an orc came up behind him and was prepared to plunge a dagger into his back. They say that before the killing blow was struck, Faelwen leapt over Glorfindel and engaged the orc in combat. However, she made the mistake of looking behind her at her love, Glorfindel, and in that moment…” Nestariel’s voice quivered and she squeezed her eyes shut for a moment before going on in a soft voice, “ In that moment, the orc stabbed his sword into her heart, then ran away, screaming in victory.”

Nestariel wiped a tear away from her face, “ Glorfindel ran to his dying love, and held her in his arms. She knew she was dying, and before she passed, she told him how much she loved him. Her life’s blood had spilled onto the ground and Glorfindel. Rage overcame his features, and he went about on a rampage, killing ever orc in sight. He even chased down those who fled away. He has never really gotten over that day…he has never forgiven himself for not being able to help my cousin.”

Lathwen blinked at that last line, “ You cousin was Faelwen?” She asked gently. Nestariel nodded silently. Lathwen placed a comforting hand on Nestariel’s shoulder and said, “ You and Edhelwen should go to bed…Lily and I will keep watch.” Edhelwen shook her head firmly and with a fierce expression said, “ Not a chance Bess. You have had a long day, and no doubt the days will be longer the closer we get to Gondor. I will take first watch with Lily. At least try to rest.”

Lathwen nodded wearily and spread her bedroll out near the fire. She took her bow and quiver from her back and placed them within her reach. Sighing, she lay down and watched the stars twinkling above, hearing snatches of Lily and Edhelwen’s whispered conversation before falling into a dreamless sleep.

***
Lathwen felt someone shaking her shoulder and crying urgently, “ Lathwen! Awake, awake! It’s the wolves! Draug!” Instantly, Lathwen forced herself to rise quickly. She quickly grabbed her arrows and bent her bow. She looked around…yes, there were wolves. Perhaps fifteen or so. Edhelwen and Nestariel had their swords out, blades flashing dangerously in the moonlight. Lily was shooting at a wolf that was charging from Nestariel from behind.

Lathwen placed an arrow on the bowstring and let it fly, watching in satisfaction as it hit a wolf with a ‘smack’. Her smile faltered as the wolf only staggered, but didn’t fall. Now she frowned and let loose another arrow, which killed it. Lathwen continued to shoot at the wolves, and it always took two or more arrows to bring them down.

During the battle, nothing else mattered to her but the enemy she was facing. Lathwen’s face became set, looking as if it had been chiseled out of marble. She saw nothing but the many wolves that were surrounding her and her sisters’. Her arm burned and she felt weariness threatening to overcome her, yet she pressed on.

Lathwen shot one last wolf through the torso, wincing as it gave a gurgling growl and fell to the ground, remaining still. She was breathing heavily as she looked at her companions who looked pale, but otherwise unharmed.

“ Well,” Lathwen started in the heavy silence, “ That’s one way to wake us up…but judging by the moon’s position, it was my turn to take watch anyway.” Edhelwen smiled slightly and Lily yawned, feeling the last of the battle fever trickle away.

After Lily and Lathwen had gathered their arrows, (which were different so they were easy to tell apart) Lathwen and Nestariel positioned themselves a ways away from the fire to keep watch.

***
Lathwen rubbed her aching thigh as she sat atop Rosethorn with Nestariel, Edhelwen, and Lily at her side on top of their horses. They had gotten through the night with no more disturbances…thankfully.

“ So, it’s off to Rohan then girls…then its straight and clear to Gondor.” Lathwen said as they set off. They all cheered, but quickly stopped as the noise echoed through the dim and dense Fangorn.

They had finished following the Fangorn’s border, and now were keeping straight on course, hoping they wouldn’t go astray. Lathwen had taken advantage of their silent trip to ponder the new information Nestariel had given out just the night before.

Glorfindel had a lover, and felt that she had died because of him. Was it a guilty conscience that propelled him to keep wandering away from the place she originated and follow Lathwen? She didn’t know…no one except Glorfindel did, and he wouldn’t tell for his life she knew.

Lathwen sighed and shifted in her saddle; he was like a coal that had been sitting in the fire for a while. He was tough and easily set off (temper wise) and he was merciless, just like that burning coal if you happened to brush against it. It would burn you as punishment.

She knew that though he knew where she was traveling, he didn’t know what she would do afterwards. So until she was finished with her business in Gondor…she and her outlaw band of women were at the mercy of this burning coal.