When Destinies Meet, part 1: In the wake of discovery

Chapter Three

It had all transpired so fast that Arwen wasn't really sure what had truly happened. One moment she was smiling down at the young girl whom had climbed out of the silver beast that lay broken in front of them, and the next there came a sound of burning, and Asfaloth, Glorfindel's mount, reared and tried to save his master. The Evenstar of her people was frightened, but she would never show it to these newcomers. The hours that her father and Erestor had spent on teaching her proper behaviour in public had been too long, and were too well-imprinted into her that she would panic.

But her mare wasn't as solid in her decisions as was her mistress; she was frightened, and the sight of Asfaloth bearing down upon the young girl who tried to help Glorfindel, not harm him in any way, didn't help either. She stood on her hind quarters, nickering in fright, her dial tossed high into the air. The sound of her frightened cries rose high and the birds flew away, having been frightened by it. Arwen pulled the reins back and dug her heels into her mare's flanks, trying to get her onto the ground again.

Panaka stood mesmerised by the sight, but his blaster was ready, and he was now aiming at the female creature, whos beast seemed to have gone out of control. He was concerned for Yané, who had been hit and now lay motionless under the feet of the white animal. The large beast had calmed by now, and his master tried to help the woman beside him, but that was nigh impossible with the child underneath. Sabé bore her eyes into Panaka.

"Might I ask who gave you permission to shoot?" she barked, her voice sounding very-much as Padmé's.
"I don't know how you've managed it, but you've made the situation even worse!" The captain of the guard shrugged helplessly, at a loss for words, while Sabé huffed with anger and set out to save Yané, Eirtaé and Rabé following in her wake. Saché was too frightened to even move.

Arwen finally regained control over her mare and she relaxed slightly, blowing a strand of hair from her face and rubbing her mount's neck soothingly. Her blue-gray eyes rested on Glorfindel, who was at the moment experiencing immense pain. The wound on his left shoulder didn't seem deep, but the smell of burnt flesh was strong, and the daughter of Elrond knew her guardian was in pain, even though he didn't show it. The golden-haired warrior clenched his teeth; his left arm feelt completely useless. His blue eyes bore into the chidlren before him, apparently friends of the young girl whom Asfaloth had attacked. Glorfindel sighed as he saw the fear written across the girls' features, and looked at his charge. Sympathy was written across the fair Elf's features, and she had dismounted, making her way to the girl under Asfaloth's feet. The stallion huffed and tried to move, but Glorfindel kept him at bay. He would do only more damage, should he choose to move.

Sabé backed away a bit when the dark-haired female dismounted and came forward, but relaxed when she saw the concern that was written across her features. Arwen knelt down, gently patting Asfaloth's chest to calm him, and took hold of Yané. Carefully but swiftly she pulled her from underneath the stallion and placed her head onto her lap. There was a deep wound in the girl's shoulder, and the hoof had also grazed her cheek. There was at least one bone broken, if not more; Asfaloth's kick was a mighty one. Arwen was pretty sure the young girl had passed out because of the pain she had experienced. Her fingers pushed the torn and bloodied fabric away from the wound as she examined it carefully.

Rabé and Eirtaé caught up with Sabé.
"What is she doing?" whispered the blonde-haired handmaiden. Sabé, who was watching Arwen intently, answered impatiently:
"She's trying to help Yané."

Panaka had also joined the group, accompanied by Saché, who had tears in her eyes that begun to flow when she saw her friend in the position she was in. Eirtaé came to her and wrapped an arm round her shoulders in a comforting way.
Glorfindel dismounted with a grunt, his face wrinkled with pain, and joined Arwen on the ground. But before he could even kneel down properly, he heard a clicking sound and Asfaloth snorting threatingly. Blue eyes met brown ones, and the Elf noticed the dark-skinned man was holding the same device that had wounded him before. Anger flashed across Glorfindel's features, but he remained where he was, knowing it would do him no good, should he rebel. He would probably get himself killed.

Panaka's face was controled.
"Stay right where you are," he spoke sternly. The tone of his voice woke Sabé from her reverie and she glanced towards Panaka sharply, eyes blazing. But the captain ignored her.
Arwen looked up from the wounded Yané and watched the scene that transpired between the two men present. She knew Glorfindel would do nothing stupid until someone threatened her well-being. But she could not tell what the black-skinned man, named Panaka, if she remembered correctly, would do. Her voice was soft and held a slight accent when she spoke, in fluid Westorn:

"Put down your weapon, my lord. It will do you no good. You are on foreign teritory. Do you always enter foreign lands with weapons in your hands?" Sabé came to Panaka's side.

"Listen to her, will you?" she spoke sharply. "You've done more harm than good already; and she's right, we're foreigners here, we should respect their customs." Panaka shook his head slowly.
"For all we know, they could carry blasters, hidden within their robes. I am not taking any cha.."

"Captain Panaka! Drop your weapon THIS INSTANT!"

The clear, commanding voice rang through the air, and everyone turned. By the silver ship stood a woman, no taller than those already gathered around Yané. She was clad in a rich black gown, embroided with gold, and a mighty tiara rested upon her head, ornamented with large black feathers. Her face was painted white, only her upper lip died red, with a scar on her lower one, and two beauty marks on her cheeks. Some of her dark brown hair had escaped from underneath the imposing headdress, and one could see that she had black stains all over her, due to smoke. Her brown eyes were aflare and she quickly made her way to the group.

"Captain, I will not repeat myself. Drop your weapon." The handmaidens released a relieved sigh at the sight of their Queen, however dishelved she was. Amidala's eyes bore into Panaka's, and the man reluctantly put his blaster in the holder on his belt. The Queen of Naboo then turned her gaze to the tall golden-haired man in front of her, and the dark-haired woman who cradled Yané's head on her lap, wrapping a piece of fabric around the wound the young handmaiden sported.

"I have no idea what had transpired here while I was still on my ship," spoke the monarch in a humbled tone, "but I deeply appologise, and beg you to forgive Panaka here." She looked at the man, who lowered his gaze. "We have had a rough few hours, and our nerves are on the edge," she continued, and looked back to the fair pair. Her brown gaze softened as she looked upon Yané.
"Will she be alright?" she asked quietly. Arwen looked up at the monarch, sympathy, yet confidance written across her fair features.

"If we can get her to my father as fast as we can, she will be fine before the sun goes down," she replied in a soft voice that mesmerised the Queen. The young monarch smiled, and Arwen smiled back, understanding flowing between them in that one, simple gaze.

Suddenly voices could be heard and the sound of hooves upon the ground. Glorfindel's head snapped into the direction the noise was coming from. The Queen of Naboo hid her fright behind her facial make-up, while Arwen gently placed Yané on the ground and stood, wiping her hands into her dress, waiting to see who was to come.

A group of riders thundered into the glade. All were clad in similar, shinning attire, made of body-armour and complete with a set of arrows, a bow and a longsword. Their hair waried from golden to black, but all sported it long, past their shoulders, held in place by warrior braids, similar to those Glorfindel wore. Their mounts were white or gray, snorting and pawning the ground as they were pulled to a halt.

Two figures led their horses forward. So alike they were that Amidala and her group thought they were looking at a reflection. Tall they were, taller than the rest, black-haired and gray-eyed. Their bodies were tense and ready to spring into action, should it come to it. The expressions they wore were emotionless, yet a hint of danger was written in their clear eyes.

Glorfindel stepped forth, and the riders cried out, seeing his wound. One of them dismounted and rushed to the tall golden-haired Elf, but Glorfindel dismissed him and pointed to the figure lying on the ground. The black-haired Elf looked then at Arwen, and Amidala noticed how similar their features were. Surely, they were related.
The Elf-Princess stepped up to the Elf who was her brother, and they spoke together in hushed voices, Glorfindel speaking up from time to time. Sabé looked at the Queen; Amidala's face betrayed nothing and she remained calm and serene while they were being observed quietly by the group on horseback.

Soon enough, Arwen returned, with the dark-haired man Amidala didn't know, and he gently lifted Yané into his arms, doing it with such ease as if she weighed no more than a feather. Swiftly he carried her to one of the riders and placed her in his care. The blonde-haired warrior nodded his head at the words that were spoken and turned his mount around, urging him into a gallop, soon disappearing among the trees.
The tall man returned to the female's side then, and Amidala knew it was time for speech. Indeed, he spoke out, his voice clear, holding a velvety texture to it.

"Welcome, travellers, to Imladris, or Rivendell as it is called in the tounge of Men. I am Elrohir, son of Elrond. That behind me is my brother Elladan, and this is our sister Arwen, whom you have already met." Amidala looked at the female and smiled slightly. Arwen smiled back, then looked to her brother, who had not finished yet.
"I do not know what has happened here, but your young friend is gravely wounded, as far as I could see and from what Arwen told me. I have sent her ahead to our father, who is the most reknown healer in all of Middle Earth. She will be alright." Behind him, Glorfindel was being helped onto Asfaloth and one of the gathered took the reins of the white stallion and lead him slowly into the trees. Elrohir continued.

"Glorfindel shall also recover, although one of you shall have to answer to our father for the wound he carries." The Queen of Naboo glanced towards Panaka, but said nothing, instead responding to Elrohir.

"Our thanks to you, kind sir, for taking care of Yané so swiftly. Indeed, not even I know exactly what has happened here, for I had not entered the scene until after the shot had been fired. For that, I appologise, and if there is any way I can help with sir Glorfindel's recovery, name it, and I shall do so." Elrohir smiled; he could see this woman was the leader, and a born leader to the group. He placed a hand on his heart and inclined his head to her.

"Until my father examines him, we know not what Glorfindel will need to recover," he responded. "But do not trouble yourselves; Glorfindel has seen worse wounds in his life. Come now! You are weary and in need of rest. Food and quarters are being prepared for you, and my father is no doubt anxious to meet the people from the silver bird." Saché choked back a laugh, but was silenced by the Queen. The monarch nodded towards Elrohir and followed him slowly. Now would come the time when she would need all her skills to excuse the doings of her staff to the foreign lord.

TBC

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