Minyelaire's hand reached into the grey fur of Radbug. What a good companion he was. His nose had led her right where she wanted to go. Her blood-red lips set a slight kiss on the beasts snout, whose tail swings from one side to the other. The Avar can make out Daerundros, to her surprise Nimlith... but where is the ranger?
A bright sunny day, just a few hours after Daerundros and Randir left the peaks of Caradhas. They had found shelter in a nearby camp which belonged to Ruidhriel, an Elf-scout of Imladris, and by some strange fate (Nimlith called it a "summons"), Nimlith had miraculously found them in the dead of night as Randir slumbered. Daerundros had been engrossed in a deep conversation with Ruidhriel, debating to Minyelaírë's reasons for wanting to slay Randir. She revealed her pity for such a tainted Elf as Minyelaírë. Daerundros could almost barely tolerate Minyelaírë now... but no, it was her duty to change such a wretched creature. Hers and hers alone..
'Ah... Gilrandir, sî mellon.' Nimlith's voice rang up from behind her. Daerundros held her bow, Cútasar, aloft, peering at the darkness.
Far away, Radbug looked up... and silently he growled. His teeth are visible. Ñasdháranël followed his look and spotted the figure in green. Silently this figure made his way to the camp, sneaking up behind the injured ranger and the occupied healer, and Daerundros, who had her back turned to him.
'Shh. Avpedo.' Nimlith spoke, 'You were shot, friend... Where...?'
'Nacuvalmet ohtassë, Cútasor...' Daerundros whispered to her bow, in Quenya.
Amlarad, who had now been stirring due to Nimlith's calls and the bowl of herbs' scent wafting around the tent, breathes deeply, the distinct aroma of fragrant herbs woven into the fabric of her robe reaching his senses. He rises himself onto his arms and grimaces.
'You called me and I came, though I am already late. I shall aid you if I can.' Nimlith spoke swiftly.
Minyelaire, Princess of Spears, at this moment gives the hound a quick sign, to which he vanishes into the shadows of the night. She herself climbs up one of the trees in utter silence, hidden away, concealed from eyes. Daerundros caught the movement in the trees, and narrowed her eyes. Yet alas, the timely intrusion of the green-clad figure's swift footsteps broke her urge as she whipped around with bow and silver arrow on string, sensing a foreign presence, and hearing the sound of boots against grass.
'Lower thine bow... if I wish to do harm.. thou wouldn't be able to turn...Noldo.' The Green-clad figure spoke.
'Perhaps not, but the Silver Arrows of Gondolin fly true.' Daerundros smirked. Nimlith turned to the proceedings outside:
'Peace, peace.' She said, 'Daerundros. Sidh.'
Daerundros lowered her bow, peering at Relalas for a while, before she nodded and sat herself unto a log, frowning. Exhasperation haunts her clearly, for a moment later she had stood up and placed a hand unto her hip, and the other on her forehead.
Amlarad sat upright suddenly and leaned forward, frowning, '....wait...' He cast his eyes towards the gloom, appearing outright disturbed.
'Shh. You should lie back for this.' Nimlith spoke softly
'No, no.' Amlarad heaved himself upright, grimacing here and there, and tried to relinquish himself from the stewardship of his healer.
'I know what you are sensing, but worry not. You are safe, I promise this with my own life.' Nimlith rebuked him, pushing him gently back into his bed, 'Now. Sit.'
'That scent...' Suddenly Daerundros' head shot up as a familiar waft entered her nose: The scent of wet dog. The Scent of a familiar wet dog.
Radbug was here.
'Dost thou smell it? Surely you would recognize it from your hunting of... it.' She looked at Relalas imploringly, waiting for him to speak.
'It is quite familair...indeed.' Relalas nodded in agreement, 'It is that pet warg of thine friend...'
'Indeed. Nimlith! Minyelaírë is here.' Daerundros turned sharply to Nimlith, who nodded, with a serious look in her face.
'Daerundros... my friend.' She said, 'If she chooses to attack Randir, who will you defend?.'
Unexpected. Daerundros thought to herself, completely thrown off by the question, yet at the same time still prepared. Her voice was fierce and cold, 'She may be close and dear to me, but I cannot accept that she hunts Randir for sport.'
'Good.' Nimlith looked satisfied.
'I have always been disgusted with her man-hunting ways...' Daerundros trailed off.
'She should not hunt me any longer.' Amlarad interjected, yet Nimlith broke in; 'For I too will defend my patient with my life, it is my oath.'
'I am protected by the mariner's will. You saw it that day, my lady. I do not fear her.' Amlarad pointed out, glancing up at Daerundros, who seemed to have stiffened like a statue.
'Are you still feeling your wound now?' Nimlith asked.
'But she will seek to find you and make you suffer. This I know well, Randir, for she is a huntress at heart.' Daerundros spoke, in a low voice.
'Let her come.' Amlarad said stoutly. Daerundros was impressed. Such a ragged, weathered man, able to withstand Minyelaírë where most would have fled. She sighed to herself. What on earth had she been doing, following Minyelaírë so blindly... 'Thy courage is astounding, Randir. I commend thee for it.'
'She has not yet come.' Nimlith's voice sounded up again.
'I trust to a higher will than hers. Not my own courage, I fear.'
Relalas peered into the distance, just as Nimlith had said, 'And when she comes, her intentions will be laid bare, for she will ahve to choose.'
'Indeed.' Daerundros agreed, then spoke an old saying in Quenya, 'Áva fara an perestanië; tuluva lyenna.'
'I will scout a bit..... with a bit of luck, I will find our stalker..' Relalas whispered to Daerundros, who nodded and whispered, 'I remain here should she intend it to be a distraction for you.'
'Agreed... look sharp.... we both know how your friend is...' Relalas said loftily, and within moments he had gone and faded from sight.
Daerundros chuckled slightly at Relalas' words, but resumed a stern position, keeping vigilant for Minyelaírë.
Yet lo! There the Avar appeared, looking at the camp resolutely. Radbug trotted beside her, her hand resting on the hilt of Dhêorl, her sword. Daerundros looked at Minyelaírë calmly, though an aura of anger surrounds her. Her silver arrow is still on string, 'Minyelaírë.'
'Where will he go?' She asked.
'I have no knowledge of his next course of action.' Daerundros replied, then adressing the Ranger sharply, 'Randir. I suggest you sit down.'
'Stand back, Randir.' Nimlith said from behind Daerundros.
'What is it you want?' She added towards Minyelaírë, her voice imperious, though soft-spoken. Minyelaire narrowed her eyes, immediately realizing what she stepped into. She raised her hand, holding it aloft, 'Where will the ranger go?.' Daerundros regarded Minyelaírë rather coldly as Ruidhriel looked up silently and regarded the Avar with wide eyes. Minyelaire holding yet her hand aloft, awaits an answer. Amlarad limped out of the tent to see what the commotion was about.
'The ranger is under my protection.' Nimlith said.
'As he is under mine.' Daerundros added. Thunder rang above them. It would soon rain, perhaps.
'I do not care for it, where will he go?.' Minyelaírë spoke brashly.
'He will go where I deem it nevessary to cure his wounds. Then he is free to choose himself.' Came Nimlith's voice. Yet Minyelaírë looked at Amlarad.
'Who will be informed about...' her voice trailed off, examining Randir, '... this man and his limb.'
'Informed?' Nimlith asked.
'If I may speak...' Amlarad looked at Minyelaírë with a mingled expression of pity and weariness.
'Speak.' Nimlith replied.
'To whom I answer, and with what intent is of no concern to you. I am, graciously, under the protection of those present; for they, in the face of you, are the stewards of lost Hollin, and you have no authority here. You would do well to hearken them, lest you wholly diminish your respect for by-gone eras.'
'Thou art indeed a pitiful form of life, man!' Minyelaírë spoke, 'What do I care for these lands, for they are not the mine, not those of my ancestors and fathers not those of my thought. I seek knowledge. Knowledge of if I must count in pursuers on my way to the south, pursuers I will be forced to slay.'
At this Daerundros' anger grew. Minyelaírë claimed they were sisters-in-arms, yet she had no respect for her sister's own lands. Minyelaírë was degrading herself now. Even now, it was hard to believe that she was a noble of the Kinn-Lai, with such an attitude and disregard for any land but her own.
'Speak then your question but leave us in peace.' Nimlith stated. Amlarad creased his brow at her blasphemous words, and regarded her with renewed pity, and yet lessened respect, 'Threats are rarely a way to answers, and never to wisdom.'
'Will there be pursuers?' Minyelaírë finally inquired, 'Will allies and friends of this man come to hunt me down and to die upon the edge of Dhêorl?.'
'I have already spoken of this to you, my lady. Do you not forget our parting words? Let me speak them again, so that all may hear:' Amlarad breathed in deeply, 'Should you enter the lands of our forefathers, and her ancient bounds, then I will willingly aid and lay down my life for you; for indeed you are an Elf, and my people look to your kind with great respect and deference. I shall raise no blade to you.'
'You have an answer, then.' Nimlith announced. Daerundros frowned all of a sudden, wondering what has tainted this child of Ilúvatar so that she casts aside any regard for nature and lands, 'Now leave us or stay, but bring no more discord to this place.'
'I have dealt with men of thy liking before, long ago. Their words were not unlike thine, speaking of peace, of respect to one another and to live life hand in hand. At the end, men brought betrayal to the Kinn-lai despite their words.' Minyelaírë spat bitterly.
'If you would not offer me the chance to live up to my words, then perhaps we should part ways for good. I can offer you no more.' Amlarad's voice rang up.
'Yet this man is not one who would betray the Elf-kind.' Daerundros looked at Minyelaírë calmly. Yet the Avar drew a poisonous expression on her face. Standing against it swiftly spoke Daerundros once more, 'Please, Minyelaírë. Leave this man in peace, as he would have left thee in peace were it not for you hunting him.'
'How would I be sure.' Minyelaírë shot at Daerundros accusingly, 'How would anyone be certain. Men are full with lies and deceit, taking and earning all for nothing, they bring naught back to the earth, cannot hear its crying music since they came upon the lands of 'my' people. Mankind. It would have been better without them.'
Minyelaire lowered her hand carefully. She tugged short at Radbug's fur and turned, stroding off into the wilderness
'You are wrong, Minyelaírë...' Daerundros trailed off, looking at the back of Minyelaírë with less respect. The Avar had nearly driven Daerundros to the edge of her nerves, 'Her assumptions shall be her undoing...'
Relalas nodded in agreement as Nimlith sighed. Daerundros then added; 'Though it seems, that men have brought down this Prejudice upon her. I am not entirely sure she will ever let go of this grudge she bears for men.'
'I think danger is passed...I shall continue my road towards the pass of Caradhras now... please, stay her with these two...atleast till the man can stand on his feet again...' Relalas said, bowing deeply, 'Navaer...'
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''Come now, Latala'jah, Noldorin-child! We shall continue our travel south-wards!'' Minyelaírë's voice rang up distantly and swiftly, adressing Daerundros, who eyed her distant figure in pity, but stood up,
'She calls me now...' She stated, 'It is my duty to change her horrid ideals.'
'If she is your sister in heart, you must.' Nimlith nodded, 'But I pray to thee, do not let her hurt thee.'
'Must you hearken to her?.' Amalarad's voice sounded up from the tent.
'I must, for it is my duty to make her rethink her ways.' Daerundros replied, 'She cannot be allowed to roam these lands which such horrid malice.'
'Is this a duty you have laid upon yourself? Or are you bound by an erstwhile oath?.' Amalarad inquired, looking at the back of Daerundros thoughtfully.
'This is a duty I have laid upon myself.' Daerundros said, rather cold, 'I pity her and her wretched ideas.'
Nimlith nodded understandingly at Daerundros.
'But another mistake...' Daerundros smiled to herself, then looked over her shoulder, '.... and I assure you, I will turn back and come here. I have already lost much of my respect and tolerance for her.'
'I wish thee luck, friend.' Nimlith said, 'May the stars shine on your road in this effort.'
You say, 'Thank you, Nimlith. Farewell, friends.'
'You cannot follow a duty borne from your own mind so blindly, for you can just as easily deny it. But if you must, then go with good grace, and may you speak some sense into your curious companion.' Amlarad raised a hand roughly in farewell.
'But do not all duties spring from the mind eventually, friend?.' Nimlith looked back at Amlarad, smiling.
'Not my mind, my lady. I answer to another's willingly.' Amlarad flashed a ragged smile at her before collapsing again.
'I shall stay and watch our friend here unless I can trust him to continue his way in enough health.' Nimlith looked at Daerundros as she walked off towards the slender of figure of Minyelaírë.
Daerundros looked at her friends sadly. In a token of farewell, she raised her great bow, Cútasar, and shot an arrow of silver into the sky. The Silver reflected into the now-clear sun, like a shooting star rising up, '...safe travels, friends...' She trailed off, looking at the distant campfire. And without another word, she strode past Minyelaírë and walked away.
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After a while of walking, Daerundros lurched to an abrupt stop, having just remembered something, 'I have forgotten something...'
She looked up and contemplates for a moment, taking note of the clouds above her. Minyelaírë was behind her, 'I think I shall go back and fetch it.'
'What was it?' Minyelaírë inquired.
'A pouch of mine.'
'with what inside?.'
'Important healing herbs.' Daerundros sighed, 'Also a few bandages and medical supplies.'
'We can pick some up in a settlement' Minyelaírë told her, 'Let us continue'
'Nay. I cannot.'
'Day is almost at its end'
'Please, Minyelaírë.' Daerundros requested, 'I shall make swift haste.'
After a moment of pondering and silence, the answer rang up from Minyelaírë, 'I will wait'
Daerundros nodded and ran with all due haste, back the direction where they had come from. She smiled to herself. Indeed she had forgotten something back by the camp, but she had other intentions than just picking it up and leaving...
The fiery red sun in it's sunset gleamed over the bright red rocks of the Sirannon.
