At the Mercy of a Burning Coal

Disclaimer; *sigh* I’m getting tired of saying this over and over again…so I’ve hired someone to do it for me! Meet Valentine Teddy! (The stuffed animal I got when I was three. Can’t believe its still around.)
Valentine Teddy: Dawnie doesn’t own anything except for Lily, Lathwen, Eothain and me!
Note: Subconsciously is right! And we couldn’t just leave the poor twins hanging now could we?

Lathwen dissolved in tears the moment they stepped inside of the main room. She wept as she walked over to the stool and sat Tirion and Antien on her lap. Lily anxiously asked, “Bessie! What’s wrong?” Lathwen sighed as the tears ran down her cheeks; “I can’t do this anymore Lily! I’m so tired!”
“Tired of what Bessie?” Nestariel asked in her soothing voice as she sat down beside her sobbing friend.

“Tired of all the worry! I’m tired of all the frustration and constant danger! What happened to Sarethiel and the babe during the attack? What will happen to Tirion and Antien? What will happen to you all? I’m so tired of this! It’s to hard to think about all of the time, and yet, that’s what I’ve been doing these past few days and it’s making me crazy!”

Nestariel and Edhelwen took the twins as Lily sat on the other side of Lathwen. “It’ll be all right Bessie, I promise! The twins are safe with us, and Glorfindel would have mentioned if something had happened to Sarethiel and the babe. Besides, there’s little danger here in this small forest no one’s ever been in before.”

Lathwen sighed impatiently and brushed the tears away, “Don’t misunderstand me girls…I honestly do love the adventure and living on our own hard work and wit, I love what we’re doing…but I still worry. What if something goes wrong?” Lily said quietly, “Bessie…things will go wrong sometimes…you cannot prevent that. You have to accept it. What will be was meant to be.”

Lathwen answered, “I know. I sorry I’m making a big deal out of nothing…I suppose I’m just overworked. I’m going to bed girls…” Lily nodded, “Its dark now…we all should get to bed early. We’ll need the energy for the twins and all.” Nestariel slapped her palm against her forehead, “THE TWINS!” She exclaimed, “Where will they sleep?” Lathwen smiled faintly and held up a large oval shaped basket that she had made.

“We’ll line it with some blankets.” She said.

***
Lathwen smiled gently as she watched the twins sleep after waking with a start from a nightmare she couldn’t remember. She knew it had been about her parents though, her kind, gentle, loving parents long gone.

Antien was curled up against Tirion who was sucking his thumb loudly. Their basket stood right by Lathwen’s bedroll. Lily’s bedroll was opposite of Lathwen’s, and Nestariel and Edhelwen lie sleeping on the end. They were sleeping in the room closest to the bathroom on the left side.

Lathwen soundlessly got up and walked to the entrance to the cave, sitting against the side. She sat there for over an hour, completely unaware of anything else but her own thoughts. She yawned and stood up again, creeping back to bed so she wouldn’t wake the others.

***
Three weeks. Twenty-one days. Enough time to take down a few orcs. Enough time to go back to Lorien and Fangorn. Perhaps even enough time to go back to Imladris where Lord Elrond resided. There were opportunities for that…there were opportunities for all of it and more. But they didn’t take them…for their sake, as well as the twins.

Edhelwen hadn’t been to the market in a while, so her novelty had worn off. People now thought that she had a good paying job…rare, but not unheard of. She had gone to the market to buy the ingredients for the twins’ formula, she had gone ten times during the three weeks…the twenty-one days.

On exactly the twenty-first day…Edhelwen had come running home, basket full of formula, but looking very unkempt. She slid off of Wildfire in a hurry and led her to the ‘stables’…the lookout room, which was not a lookout room anymore. She rushed down the hall to the main room, gasping for breath.

Lathwen rushed to her side, handing a sleeping Tirion to Lily, “What is it Edhelwen? What’s wrong?” Edhelwen sat down on a stool and said rapidly, “When I was in the market, after I bought all of the things we needed, a man in a cloak came up to me and asked if I knew anything about the Outlaw Maiden’s.” She held up a hand at Lathwen’s panicked look.

“It’s okay girls…I just acted like a resident of Minas Tirith…I said that I didn’t know anything more than anyone else there. I added that I heard that the Outlaw Maiden’s went north to fight the attack in Lorien.” Edhelwen continued with a troubled look on her face, “I don’t think he believed me though…” (Catch Edhelwen’s mistake yet?)

Lathwen shrugged, “It’s okay…no one will be able to find out hideaway besides. It’s to far in Tanglewood. Don’t worry Edhelwen.” The elf-maiden smiled weakly and pulled off her cloak. “I hope—” Lily began, but was interrupted by a horse’s whinny somewhere off in the distance.

Lathwen and Lily grabbed their arrows and quiver, while Nestariel and Edhelwen quickly buckled on their swords, though Edhelwen was still in her dress. They all did this silently and instantly. Lily blew out all of the candles in the hall as they had practiced, and they all crept toward the left tunnel and the back entrance.

They stayed hidden in the shadows, peering out into the forest, praying that no one was going to find them. Lathwen inhaled sharply as she saw a quickly movement off to their right. She heard the others ready their weapons at the same time she readied hers.

She and the others waited a minute or two before relaxing slightly. Lathwen was about to give the command to go back, when out from the bushes stepped Ridhion, his bow ready, a thoroughly confused look on his face. At his side was Nestaron, the March Warden who had first brought Lily and Lathwen to Lothlorien. Right behind them were Glorfindel and the diplomat soldier. Stupid elves.

Lathwen held out a hand, signaling the girls to be quiet and not make a move. They waited a moment or two before hearing Nestaron say, “By the Valar, they aren’t making this easy!” Glorfindel snorted, “That would be unlike them Nestaron…they love watching us suffer…in fact,” Here he raised his voice slightly, “I bet they are watching us right now, laughing at our hardship.”

Lathwen rolled her eyes at his dramatic statement. She could tell that Lily was trying hard to refrain from snorting and telling Glorfindel exactly what she thought of him.

She focused her attention on Ridhion who was saying, “Why don’t we check in that cave?” Glorfindel shook his head, “They know better than to keep my nephews in a damp cave where they could easily be hurt by something.” Nestaron shook his head, “I certainly hope so.”

Lathwen motioned to the others and they stepped outside of the cave entrance because the group of elves was already past the cave. Nestariel sighed loudly, “So sorry to disappoint you.” Glorfindel and the others whirled around to face smirking maidens. Glorfindel walked quickly to Lathwen and asked hurriedly, “Antien and Tirion? Where are they.”

Lathwen held up a hand to slow their questions and said, “You weren’t supposed to know where we were. How did you find us?” (Edhelwen’s mistake comes in here.) Nestaron sighed and pulled up his hood. Edhelwen gasped, “That’s him!” Nestaron answered, “No ordinary resident of Minas Tirith would know of the attack on Lorien, Lady Edhelwen.” Lily muttered a curse under her breath as Edhelwen glared at the March Warden, serving only to make him more amused.

Lathwen rubbed her temples, “Never mind that Edhelwen.” She said. Turning to the others she said firmly, “Swear on the Valar’s honor that you won’t tell a soul where we are? Even your own kin. You must no reveal this to anyone…not even under pain of death.” The four took the oaths very seriously, promising never to reveal the Outlaw Maiden’s location.

Lathwen sighed and beckoned to them, “You should be honored my lords…you are the first and last to see where we reside.” Ridhion quirked an eyebrow, “It’s a cave.” He said flatly. Lily smiled, “Things are often more than they appear.”

Curious, the elf lords allowed Lathwen and the others to lead them down the pathway of the left tunnel, and into the main passage. They stopped at the foyer so the group could tie their horses up with the girls. (Lily quickly put more hay and feed into the feedboxes)

They walked down the main hallway towards the main room, often stopping for the elven lords to examine the dorms where guests would be kept. They were amazed at the effort the maiden’s had put into their work…exclaiming and praising often. “Not just a damp cave then.” Glorfindel had said quietly, quite amused.

However fascinated they were with the rooms, they were absolutely astounded when it came to the bathing room. (Lathwen could have sworn they took a good ten minutes studying how it worked.) “Amazing.” Ridhion breathed as they stepped into the main room.

Lily shrugged, “Please, sit.” Lathwen motioned for Lily to stay with them as she went to get Antien and Tirion. Lathwen gently picked up the basket and walked carefully with it into the main room, setting it on top of the table beside Glorfindel’s chair.

Antien had woken and was cheerfully chirping in his baby talk. Tirion soon was awake due to his brothers kicking and waving fists. At first Tirion scrunched up his face, turning slightly pink in his distressed state, but upon seeing Glorfindel, his face cleared and he let out a joyful burble.

Glorfindel’s face lit up and he smiled quietly, tenderly picking up both of his nephews and placing them on his lap. Lathwen watched as he bounced them up and down on his knees, earning happy giggles. She was surprised to see that he didn’t mind when Tirion chewed on the cuff of his cloak, or when Antien stuffed a few golden strands of his hair into his little mouth. Gently, Glorfindel pulled the strands of his hair from Antien’s mouth, and rolled up his cuff out of Tirion’s reach, softly saying that it wasn’t good for him to chew on.

Lathwen made a move to talk to Lily, but saw that she was engaged in an animated conversation with Nestariel and Ridhion, while Edhelwen talked with Nestaron about his disguise and such. Lathwen smiled and impulsively sat on a stool near Glorfindel’s, eyes set demurely on the adorable twins.

“Thank you, Lathwen.” Glorfindel said to her after a moment of watching her face as she observed his endearing nephews. Lathwen looked up and met his gaze, she smiled, “You’re welcome my lord. Though I should be the one thanking you…you have no idea how much light they brought to us. They were a joy to take care of.” Glorfindel smiled pleasantly but was distracted as Antien entangled himself in his uncle’s long hair.

Lathwen gazed at Glorfindel out of the corner of her eyes. His hair was golden…it glowed in the candlelight, a soft silver. His eyes were bright blue, which would turn darker with a sudden change of emotion. And he was a warrior. A strong, lithe warrior. Not to mention handsome.

Lathwen blushed at this thought and hastily turned her head to watch Lily’s argument with Ridhion who fought back with an equal passion. Lathwen’s lips curved in a smile as she saw Nestariel collapse with laughter at the two arguing.

Glorfindel had been aware of Lathwen’s scrutiny, but pretended not to notice. Though if she had looked closer, she would have seen the slight smile that played on his lips as she suddenly blushed and turned away.

Glorfindel gazed at her as she watched his men in a heated discussion with one of her companions…Lily. Lathwen obviously noticed his gaze, for she looked at him curiously. The elf lord smiled and asked, “Tell me…how did the Outlaw Maiden’s survive here? We’re all curious.”

Lathwen laughed harshly and crossed her arms. “Well there’s an interesting subject.” She said sarcastically. Glorfindel frowned at her tone, but said nothing. The room went silent and everyone listened as Lathwen went on.

Lathwen went on, “Survival. How did we survive? We learned to let go, my lord. We learned to let go of everything we had, every wish we might have been able to make come true…” “We let go of.” Nestariel finished softly. Lily nodded and said, “Every day we fought with ourselves…trying to find the courage and strength to complete the journey. Every day was as struggle to forget who we were, where we came from, and who we knew. We learned to forget.”

Edhelwen spoke up, “We let go of the hope to raise a family, we let go of the old ties we were once connected to. We let go and forgot everything to start this new life, and yet…none of us regret it. None of us regret what we did or how we went about doing it.”

Lily continued, “Throughout our journey, the struggles, the battles made us stronger. The weariness and frustration made us more determined to succeed. Those who opposed us, those who laughed, those who tried to hinder us only made us better at what we were doing. Surviving.”

Glorfindel was silent, horrified at their hardships, yet amazed at their resilience and ability to survive. Lathwen looked away and said softly, “And there’s your answer my lord. We forgot, we let go, we made ourselves stronger, and enjoyed the fact that we were truly free...we enjoy what we’re doing my lord. *That* is how we survive.”