At the Mercy of a Burning Coal

Disclaimer; Don’t own nothin’ of Tolkien’s…never will…so I have no choice but to get on with life.
Note: Many thanks to my reviews! Without them, I’d have no incentive to go on…and countless mistakes in my writing.

“BESSIE! BESSIE! MANWATHIEL’S HERE!” Lily shouted as she jumped up from her stool in the main room and ran to greet their weary friend who was standing outside of the cave entrance. Lily quickly brought her horse in and tied it up in the lookout room, but led Manwathiel further down the hall.

Lathwen wiped the sweat from her brow and set down the basket she had been weaving. She to, got up from a newly made stool, and grinned broadly as she caught sight of Manwathiel’s tired face.

“MANWATHIEL!” Edhelwen cried from a bedroom where she and Nestariel had been placing carpets and stools and a table. Nestariel came out and stepped into the passageway, “Like what we did with the place? We’ve decided it’ll be our new home.” Manwathiel grinned, “I expect a full tour.”

Lathwen remembered her manners as Manwathiel rubbed her temples. “Come and sit down…you need to eat.” She said, and took some bread and cheese from their saddlebags, given they didn’t have cabinets or anything like that yet. Manwathiel gratefully took the food and plopped down on a stool that sat at a table.

She took a few bites of her food before asking, “Did you all *make* these things?!” Lily nodded proudly, and held up her calloused hands, “And it earned us a good few splinters might I add.” Manwathiel looked around in a dazed way and spotted the baskets that were on the floor of the cavern. “By the Valar! You all have been busy!”

She continued to eat her meal while Edhelwen chirped, “Nestariel and Lathwen are weaving the baskets. Lily made the candles…did you see them in the hallway? Of course, they smell horrible and give off a lot of smoke, but I guess that’ll have to do for now considering we need light desperately. I made the tubs that are in the bathroom…did I tell you about that? Running water Manwathiel! We have a fresh stream in the bathroom! All we have to do is heat the water by putting the buckets on a grill sort of thing that hangs over a fire in there…come to think of it, I don’t know if the fire is still going…oh well…not much can go up in flames there anyhow so—”

Manwathiel and Lathwen were laughing helplessly at Edhelwen’s endless tirade. After she stopped giggling, Manwathiel held up her hands to slow Edhelwen’s outburst and said warmly, “I’m sure I’ll get a chance to see it all.” Edhelwen giggled and shut her mouth. Nestariel asked, “ How goes it in the Golden Wood?”

Manwathiel lost her smile. She said gravely, “An attack earlier in the week took two warriors and wounded three others. In regards of Sarethiel and the babe…all is well.” Lathwen asked, “ Lindariel isn’t bothering her anymore?” Manwathiel sighed, “ Nay. Not at all. But Lathwen, you must know that long before you or Lily were born…Lindariel felt love for an elf that Sarethiel had married. She is only bitter out of hurt and spite…remember that.”

Lathwen blushed at her own ignorance, “ I promise to remember…and it will be hard to forget. I regret what I did that day Manwathiel.” She said softly. Manwathiel nodded knowingly, “ Sarethiel said you would.”

Manwathiel popped the last of her bread crust into her mouth and swallowed rather quickly. She looked around the main room with an odd look on her face, “Erm…I suppose you aren’t expecting any visitors then?”

Lily raised an eyebrow, “Eh?” Manwathiel grinned, “Well…this happens to be a convenient cave my dear friends…someone else besides you will think it looks like a good place to rest.”

Edhelwen rocketed out of her seat in excitement and said, “We know that! Guess what? We’re aiming on doing something to make it look less…appetizing if you’ll excuse my reference to food…we’re going to block off the front entrance as much as we can with rocks and dirt and the like from the new tunnel we’re going to dig because there’s a back entrance to, and its very well hidden and hardly used. Actually, the tunnel will sort of be a basement, but who cares? It’ll be a good a place as any to—”

Manwathiel held up her hands again, “And what will you do until then?” Nestariel snorted, “Pray that the Valar have mercy on our pitiful souls?” Lily shrugged, “That works. Much less work to do…which results in not as sore a back.” Manwathiel wasn’t very amused by their “humor”.

“No…really girls…Manwathiel’s right. We have to do something else to help ourselves survive here!” Lathwen said seriously. Manwathiel nodded, “I only found this place because I saw light coming from inside…the sooner you cover the front entrance the better.” Lathwen put hands on her hips and sighed, looking about the room.

“Well,” She began slowly, “We’ve got the bathroom almost finished…one of the main rooms is...” “Finished!” Nestariel offered. Lathwen nodded, “Good. And this main room is finished except for storage places and shelves and all…I suppose we could dig early…what do you think girls?” Nestariel crossed her arms, “The sooner the better.” Edhelwen added, “Let’s try and get it done quickly…how long do you think the basement will take?”

Lily answered, “Given only the main room has a stone floor, it shouldn’t be a problem to dig anywhere else.” Nestariel thought a moment, “This may seem strange…but maybe the lookout room?” Lathwen shrugged, “If it’s the only place we have…fine. I have no objections as to where it goes.” Manwathiel sighed and rose from her seat, “I should go…I’m already late because it took me so long to find you all. Farewell then…and good luck.”

***
(Eight days later)

The tunnel/basement thing was done. The dirt that had been dug up was now blocking the entrance, with rocks before and in back of it, like a sandwich. Of course, the rocks could be dangerous if they fell…so the girls’ had felled a huge oak tree with their swords, which were now almost blunt, and they had made thick boards, nailed together with the nails that Edhelwen had gone to the city to buy.

Everything the girls needed Edhelwen went to buy…and she had now become a common figure among the people of Minas Tirith. Among he shopkeepers and commoners that is…she made sure no official or soldier would ever see her.

How did she not get caught? Well for one thing she had a good disguise. She wore the kind of clothing a young girl might have…and she wore a ratty cloak with the hood drawn over her head to hide her ears.

Before she went, she made sure to smudge dirt on her face and arms to hide the elven glow she possessed. And of course, she braided her hair tightly and the hood hid that, so it was of no consequence. She had mastered the Gondorian accent better than any of them also. She was also sure to stick to the same story all of the time…her father was a blacksmith, and her mother, a weaver.

So, with the combination of a good disguise, Elbereth guiding her, and a fair amount of luck…she had managed not to be recognized, though there had been a few heart stopping times.

And of course, so far there had been no one to be seen…but Lathwen and co. couldn’t be sure of it…they trusted nothing and no one but themselves and their sisters.

They had all taken this chance to improve their skills with weapons. Lathwen and Lily’s aim improved incredibly…Edhelwen and Nestariel worked up their strength, and were now teaching Lathwen and Lily how to use a sword, for they already knew how to use a bow.

It was the afternoon of the eight-day…and an incredibly boring one at that. Lily was sitting on a log outside with Lathwen and Edhelwen next to her. Nestariel was busy singing softly about lost love.

Lily let out a huffy sigh and bent her head back to face the sky, “BORING!” She cried, causing the birds in the trees above them to flutter to the nearest safety zone. Lathwen kicked at the dirt and sighed, “We know…believe me.” Edhelwen sighed, “We take one day off from work…and look what happens? We’re already bored!”

Nestariel halted her singing, “Why don’t we take a walk…to Greywood?” Lily laughed sarcastically, “*Walk* to the *Greywood*? Where Glorfy and his gang were last sighted? I don’t think so!” Nestariel shrugged, “It would provide vast amusement compared to this…you have to admit that.” Lathwen sighed, “Yeah, if you think risking your life and livelihood is vast amusement.”

Edhelwen stood up, “Don’t know ‘bout you all…but I’m up for some fun and games…the riskier, the better. It’s more fun than sitting around doing nothing anyway!” Lathwen considered it a moment more, “Fine…I’m coming. I suppose Glorfy’s gone by now…or at least, I hope he is.”

Lily jumped up to, “All right…I’ll come rather than being left alone…I honestly hope he isn’t after you Old Bess…‘cuz of the stealing knives incident and all. If he is…we’re in it deep.”

Lathwen tapped her bow with a meaningful smile and said, “Not so deep…he doesn’t know we’re willing to fight for our lives…literally.”

***
They were halfway to Greywood in the fields.

“STUPID MORONIC IDIOTIC IMBICLE OF AN ELF!!”
“ARE YOU MAD BESSIE?! SAY THAT AGAIN AND HE’LL SKIN YOU ALIVE!”
“So Glorfy and his gang are back once more…”
“Apparently.”

“I’d appreciate it if you didn’t call me ‘Glorfy’ Miss Lily.”
“Shut up Glorfy.”
“You’re in no position to talk Alanessa.”
“I still think you’re all mad for doing this.”
“I suppose you’re used to being around ‘mad’ people though, Lady Nestariel.”
“I SAID SHUT UP YOU ROTTEN TOE JAM!”

*Nestariel, Lily, and Edhelwen laugh*
*Sigh* “Glorfindel, I think this is going to be a lot harder than we expected…”