At the Mercy of a Burning Coal

Disclaimer; Guess what? Good news! I’m still living, which means I don’t own Tolkien’s fabulous estate! (Explanation for the confused in previous disclaimer)

(1 month later after leaving Imladris)

There was good news…and there was bad news.

The good news was that the Outlaw Maidens hadn’t seen any sign of Glorfindel and his gang since they parted a whole three hours before them. The good news was that Saerwen and Elenniel were well adjusted to the Outlaw Maiden’s ways, forced march, and quirky sarcastic humor. The good news was that they hadn’t had much trouble along the way, just a couple of wolves here or there. The good news was that the Lord and Lady of Lothlorien had forgiven them.

Lothlorien. Part of the bad news.

The bad news was that they had to take a little detour in Lorien where they were treated like criminals by all of the highborn, though most people in the forest welcomed them warmly enough. The bad news was that Lindariel hadn’t forgiven Lily and Lathwen. The reason they were in Lorien was because Nestariel had acquired a gash in her arm from one of the wolf’s claws. The bad news was that they kept getting detoured and slowed down until their journey had become a few weeks longer than they had expected.

Oh, and the biggest piece of good news was that…THEY WERE HOME AT LAST!

Lathwen and Lily rode in front, scouting for signs of trouble in Tanglewood near Minas Tirith. (They had already crossed over the meadows and were now nearing their home) Nestariel rode between Elenniel and Saerwen explaining their codes and various activities/jobs that they did while on duty. Which was basically all of the time.

Lily leaned over in her saddle, examining the dark shadows cast by the afternoon sun. Lathwen listened while Nestariel comforted the two new Outlaw Maidens with the promise that they would be able to take hot baths once in their home.

Lily let out a sudden cry; causing Lathwen to whirl, bow ready. Nestariel and the other two however just sat there looking confused. Lily wiped her eyes and said, “I’m sorry girls…thought I saw something.”

Lathwen peered into the forest, and upon seeing nothing, pronounced, “Well then. Quite the scare you gave me Lily.” She turned in her saddle and faced Elenniel and Saerwen, “We’re almost there.” She called, and kneed Rosethorn, causing her horse to break into a trot.

The five went on in silence for maybe five minutes until a small cave came into view. Lathwen grinned and said, “May not look like much, but don’t judge a book by its cover.” Elenniel exchanged an excited glance with Saerwen as the five trotted up to the back entrance.

Lathwen dismounted along with the others and looked at the entrance approvingly. The brambles and bushes blocking it were still in place, meaning that no one had been inside since the Outlaw Maiden’s left.

Just to be safe, Lily, Lathwen, and Nestariel drew and readied their weapons as they guided their horses into the cave. Quickly they tied up all of the horses, and refilled the feedboxes, which they had emptied upon leaving so long ago.

“Come on!” Lathwen encouraged the others, particularly the new girls, and they all walked happily down the hall toward the dorms. Lathwen and Lily quickly surveyed the rooms and pronounced that they were undisturbed and safe.

Elenniel and Saerwen were in such a state of awe that they didn’t react immediately when Lily said that the room across from the baths would be theirs.

Nestariel sighed, “Now I won’t have anyone to hit my head with the pillow every morning.” Lathwen gave her friend a sad smile and a pat on the back.

“Lily or I could move in with you.” She offered. Nestariel instantly brightened, “Yes!” Lily grinned, “I’ll move in!” Nestariel rolled her eyes, “You just want the job of smacking my face every morning.” Lily laughed evilly.

Lathwen shook her head with a smile and walked quietly toward the main room while the others sat in the dorms and chatted with each other. Lathwen looked at the shelves and sadly noted the empty bottles that held formula in their halcyon days.

She sighed and set down her weapons on the undisturbed table and murmured, “Might as well start now.” She walked over to the shelves and cabinets and began throwing all of the food and drink that was stale or rotten into a basket to be brought outside and buried.

For an hour she scrubbed, dusted, and washed all of the chairs, tables, and carpets in the place, making as clean as possible, given that they were in a cave. Once in a while she stopped her work to hear the splashing of water in the bathing room. Apparently the other Outlaw Maidens were going to get clean before they were going to do any work.

***
“We all know that I chose a *very* bad time to leave Imladris.” Lathwen said grimly, starting the conversation.

The Outlaw Maidens were eating a small snack after hours of cleaning themselves and their home.

Lathwen continued, “It’s winter now, and we haven’t stocked up on food.” Lily randomly interrupted, “So next spring we should start a garden. We wouldn’t have to go to the Minas Tirith market so often.”

Lathwen gritted her teeth, “But if Glorfindel of Gondolin and his Gang can do it, so can we.” Lily exchanged glances with Nestariel, “Yeah…but we’re women. And I’m mortal. And we don’t have friends in Minas Tirith really.”

Nestariel shook her head and scolded Lily, “That is the very thing we’ve been fighting against for so long! Our job is to show the world that though we are women we *can* be strong despite our lack of experience!”

Lily looked sheepish and returned to eating her dinner. But before very long she suggested, “How about one of us go to Minas Tirith and stock up on food that won’t rot. You know, like potatoes, tea, bread, dried meat and berries, flour, sugar…”

Lathwen snorted, “Good thing we’re going to sell some of the crops we grow to make up for Lily’s extravagant appetite.” Lily gave her a cheeky smile, “Good thing we have your inheritance to use so the pennies don’t come from *our* pocket.”

Lathwen rolled her eyes and went back to eating. After a few mouthfuls she said, “Once we have enough Outlaw’s, I think we should start a whole system of guard duty. Like the ones the rangers have.”

Nestariel shrugged, “Fitting seeing as we are the ranger’s female counterparts in a way. So Bessie…you’re saying that once we have enough girls, we should split up into groups and certain groups would guard and bring news from different places?”

Lathwen nodded and Lily asked, “How long would shifts be?” Lathwen shrugged, “Two weeks…three. We’d constantly have a fresh group waiting here at our home base. The groups would keep rotating.”

Saerwen nodded in approval, “Good thinking. But we’ll need to get enough women first.” Elenniel flashed her friend a smile, “Always the pessimist.” Saerwen smiled back; apparently this was an old joke between them. “Not a pessimist, I’m just pointing out the facts.”

Elenniel leaned back in her chair and sighed, “Bloody facts. Who needs them?” Lily nodded and added, “We’ve defied all facts to form the Outlaw Maidens.” Lathwen defended Saerwen, “But who knows how long it will be before the women revert to thinking they like the chains of etiquette?”

Nestariel frowned, “Who says they’ll revert? You’ve caused quite the stir among all of them. This is, for sure, something that will last. I can feel it.”

Lily nodded and Elenniel laughed, “We all can! The feeling of belonging, the feeling that its right…it wouldn’t feel right if it wasn’t meant to be.”

Lathwen looked at Saerwen and shrugged, “What do you think Saerwen?”

Saerwen seemed play with the idea in her head for a while before saying, “I stand corrected. Ellie, Lily, and Nestariel are right I believe. This was meant to be.”

***
“Lily, why don’t you come with me and give poor Nestariel a break?” Lathwen suggested. Lily shrugged, “Don’t see how it can do us any harm. I’ve always wanted to see the Minas Tirith market.”

Nestariel handed Lathwen and Lily the faded dresses and aprons. Lathwen didn’t follow Lily to the dorm to change, but asked, “Wait…how did you get into Minas Tirith?”

Nestariel shrugged, “Girls go out to gather herbs and berries and the men firewood…I just say that I was out doing that to the guards. Sooner or later they stopped being suspicious because I always arrived at the same time.”

Lathwen looked at her, “What time was that?” Nestariel shrugged, “Around this time always. Better get going. Be convincing, remember.”

***
“Well…that was almost to easy, wouldn’t you say.” Lily whispered uncomfortably as they walked through the gates of Minas Tirith and onto the streets. They had left the horses at the meadows, and stopped to pick some herbs and such, just as props of course.

While they walked up to the gates they had gossiped about some imaginary maid who had been refused by some imaginary lad. They had then giggled over the arrangements for some wedding to take place in the spring. Guards didn’t listen to that sort of thing they knew, so who was to know if it was false or not?

Apparently their ploy worked, for they were granted access to Minas Tirith within seconds.

The two walked down the crowded streets, smiling and nodding, acting like they belonged. They felt weak and afraid behind their disguises…what would happen if they were caught?

Lily and Lathwen gossiped and chatted about absolutely nothing while they wandered about, examining wares. They came to a food stall and Lily nudged Lathwen, who quickly examined a big bunch of potatoes and herbs.

The stall keeper looked at her suspiciously, and suddenly Lily started bubbling about how cousin Gideon’s appetite was simply ruining them. Not to mention the gaggle of guests they’d have in a day. The man relaxed after Lathwen laughed and agreed. Then they started haggling while Lily looked around, slightly bored.

Afterwards she scolded Lily for being slightly obvious. Poor girl.

Lathwen walked down the road, holding the basket full of their purchases. The basket was getting heavier by the minute, and the pushing and shoving throngs didn’t help a bit.

Lathwen finally gave up and asked Lily to hold the basket. She couldn’t take it anymore she explained. Lily shrugged and took it without a thought.

“What else do we need?” Lathwen asked Lily as she followed her friend through the crowd. “A bunch of tea leaves…oh, and soap. We’re running out of all that.”

Lathwen nodded and guided her friend to a stall that held soaps and oils. “One of the rosemary, and one of the lavender please.” Lathwen said to the woman at the stall.

More haggling. But Lathwen got the better end of the deal, and that pleased her greatly. Lily rolled her eyes as Lathwen bounced along side of her, “Relax please…people will begin to think something’s wrong with you.”

Lathwen shrugged but complied and acted normally as they purchased mixes for apple cinnamon, vanilla, and mint tea. Lily put this all in the now full basket and said, “Well…this ought to last us a month or two.”

Lathwen sighed, “Good. Now can we go home? It’s almost evening.” True enough, it was four o’ clock. One hour till Nestariel would make dinner. (It was her turn to do them that night. Lathwen and Lily had already finished the laundry and washing dishes from their small lunch.)

Lily nodded, “Alright.” The pair headed for the other side of the market where the exit was. Lathwen had started humming a song. It was a song of praise to Varda, queen of the stars, and she had heard it at her stay in Imladris.

“Isn’t it a lovely song? I compliment you on your taste.”

Lathwen stopped humming abruptly and she and Lily turned around to face a dark haired elf with soft brown eyes. He was smiling, but Lathwen and Lily didn’t smile back.

“I’m sorry sir…I’m afraid there isn’t much taste in *that* drinking song.” Lily said politely with a Gondorian accent.

Lathwen knew that this man would have no idea who they were because of your disguises, and even if he had heard of the Outlaw Maidens before, he wouldn’t know them by sight. Surely they hadn’t seen *him* before.

The elf frowned, “It is not a drinking song, but a song to Varda.” Lathwen and Lily exchange false puzzled looks, “A song to Varda? Who is she?” Lathwen asked also with a thick Gondorian accent. “No sir…we are but simple weavers. We no not of elves hallucina—er…beliefs.”

Lily smirked inwardly at Lathwen’s not so disguised insult, which would make them seem ignorant. The elf frowned deeper, “What are your names?”

Lathwen ignored him and went on, “The tune I was humming was a drinking song…it goes like this…” She started the humming again, but put it to a more bouncy tune.

The elf frowned deeper still, if that were even possible. Lily squinted at the elf when Lathwen stopped humming. “Why are you talking to us? Who are *you*?”

The elf shook his head, “I asked you first.” Lathwen looked at him in mock suspicion, “And why should we trust you? I’ve been taught not to trust strangers’ sir. You’d best say your name.”

“Very well.”

The elf leaned in closer to Lily until he was inches away from her ear. “I am—” Lily backed up and purposely tripped so the elf caught her before she fell to the ground, holding onto her arm.

Lathwen looked at the situation swiftly and made a split second decision. She screamed loud enough to wake the dead, break any piece of glass within a two mile radius, and rattle any windowpane in Middle Earth.

Everyone in the market stopped what they were doing and stared at her. The elf winced and covered his sensitive ears with his one free hand.

“HELP! SOMEONE HELP! HE’S TRYING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF US!” She shouted, pointed at the elf. Lily caught on and struggled, screaming all sorts of insults and threats at a very bemused elf.

Instantly guards came running and forced the elf away from Lily. Lathwen quickly picked up the fallen basket and gave Lily a hand before both of them darted through the mob toward the gates of Minas Tirith.

***
Lathwen and Lily darted across the meadows, keeping to the shadows. They had snuck past the guards at the gate while they were talking to witnesses who had seen the elf and Lily’s little escapade.

Thankfully, none had noticed that the girls were gone. Or had they? (Dun dun dun…)

Lily quickly motioned for Lathwen to come over when she found Rosethorn and Wildfire tied up where they had left them. Lathwen quickly untied her horse and mounted up, Lily did the same.

“That was…interesting.” Lathwen said while gasping for breath. Lily nodded and said, “Come on. That was an elf…maybe a friend of Glorfy. We’d best head home before anything worse happens.”

Lathwen and Lily turned their horses toward Tanglewood, and towards home sweet home where the others were waiting.