Ellendil

Scouting

As they trekked on Elle found it increasingly hard to linger at the back of the company. The dwarves slow lumbering movements made it difficult for Elle to slow her naturally bounding, effortless gait so she would fall behind, to calm her frustration and restlessness she travelled wide of the group and and up slopes and hills and overlooks. The dwarves must of thought she was scouting, which she was, she had always been on the lookout, as was her nature but this was more of a little energy release. A little fun if you will. She would always keep them in sight of course, incase Thorin saw his chance to ditch her and they wandered stupidly off track just to shake her off, which would never happen. After the course the dwarves had started to take became a little unsettling to her she decided to head back and join the company, planning on finding out just where in middle earth Thorin was taking them.
She silently raced across the soft grass of the plain, the wind whipping her in long ringlets behind her making it look like wreathing fire as her auburn hair swirled as it true to dance on the wind. She came to the back of the company, steadily slowing, herself and patiently started to follow the group. There wasn't much talking between the dwarves who were clearly not as keen as Thorin to leave the wine cellars of Rivendell and start their trek. They journeyed in silence for most of the day, to her disappointment. Elle noticed Kili and his brother Fili walking a little further ahead of her. She saw Kili was gradually slowing his walk and then fell behind his brother and then Ori, then Bombur and Bifur before he was within kicking distance of Ellendil. Not that she was going to kick him, although she was in need of something to do. She got the message and came swiftly up to his side and smiled as he grinned at her. 'Well how about that? You getting on so nicely with everyone.' He laughed, as he shifted the quiver on his back. 'Well I'm alive, he hasn't killed me, that's got to be a good thing. More surprisingly, he's still alive.' Elle said with fake malice which got a snort from Kili in response.
There was silence for a moment, with just the sound of Kili's footsteps on the ground which had gradually started to become steeper. 'Thank you Kili, for vouching for me back there.' said Elle breaking the quiet.
'You needed it. He has cause not to trust or take to you very much. Along with, eh, well your entire race.' He said, a little nervously. 'Yes, I know. Though I wonder why you do not share the same mistrust? Unless you're plan is to simply annoy me to death to express your dislike?' Elle smirked a little and then pressed on 'Still, you seem to have accepted me with no hostility.' Elle wondered for the first time why Thorin's nephew had chosen to speak out for an elf he barely knew. 'I...uh... I don't know to be truthful. Well, actually you did save my life! I guess that's it, and you don't seem to look down on me and my kin, which I half expected you too giving our behaviour at Rivendell.' He paused to chuckle and continued 'Though you're words are sometimes poorly chosen, from a dwarves point of view.' He taunted his lips starting to form a grin once more. 'So I should just endanger your uncles life and bravely save it and he will take to the likes of me?' Elle retorted shaking her head. 'More or less yes' breathed Kili as they continued walking on, Elle finally able to walk at a normal pace as they caught up with the others. 'Do not trouble yourself over our races hostilities Kili. Your uncle knows you are loyal and he knows you did not give away your escape plans to me. He will not let this, let's say traditional dislike between himself and elves blind him of that. He knows you will always be loyal to him.' Elle said gently. She could feel Kili doubting his choice to speak out for her, his enduring loyalty to his uncle meant a lot to him and she wished to put him at ease. He need not have worried, not at her extent. Kili just looked at her, trying to figure out how she could speak of them, himself and Thorin, both so knowingly. 'Im sorry, I shouldn't have... I can feel. I mean I know, your'e doubting you're
decision. Uh.' Elle tried to get out something to brush aside what she had said, to attempt an explanation of how she had seen his doubt but Kili simply shrugged and nodded what seemed like a thank you. He accepted the fact once again that she must just know things.
They travelled until the light had started to dim into evening before stopping to set up camp. On the last leg of that days journey the ground had grown considerably steeper as they slowly approached first snow covered band of the misty mountains. Elle had spoken with quite a few of the dwarves as they trekked onward, their moods had lifted as the mountains came closer. Dori had taken quite a shine to her at first sight, and she smiled despite herself at his warming kindness and innocent words, as he spoke to her of the fine wine blends of Rivendell he had enjoyed. Not that Elle had the faintest interest in any of that, but she enjoyed the conversation immensely. It felt safe, she hadn't felt safe in a long time. She also had needed to emphatically explain to Bombur she was not an expert with cooking magnificent meat roasts with thick forest herbs, much to his disappointment and after had swiftly caught the attention of Bofur as she lit up a smoke pipe and puffed on it lazily as they lumbered on. 'You are quite unusual for an elf,' he had told her and then went on to show her his skill in creating forest animals out of the smoke he released into the air after each puff. As the day drew on, Bilbo had came to walk her with a kindly smile as he proceeded to tell her all about the Shire and his stories of home after she told him she had longed to see the woods on the border of Hobbiton once
more. The youngest, Ori had enlightened her to the amusing story of their incident with a couple of venturing trolls and of Gandalf's last minute rescue and she could see the group was anxious for Gandalf to join them again. They weren't foolish enough not to see that they needed him, on this quest full of present and oncoming danger. Elle knew he wasn't far off though and so could put them all at ease. All this talk of smoke pipes and trips to the shire had brought back memories of a very different Elle who had journeyed far with this wandering wizard, and had caused her to greatly pine for him, though she would not admit it.
Thorin had chosen a clearing in the shrubbery they had come across, growing on the side of the ever sloping ground, to set up a camp for the night. It provided shelter from the wind, it wasn't strong but it may still threaten to pick up during the night and plus it provided security at their back, and they would see any oncoming danger. They had covered a lot of ground for a mere days walking, yet a more steep challenging route lay ahead tomorrow as they would begin the ascent on the misty mountains. They'd need a good rest and Elle knew the closer they got to the lonely mountain, the more Thorin would push then relentlessly on.
Elle hastily rolled out a rough length of fabric that could scarcely be called a blanket. It had chunks stolen from its side and it made no particular recognisable rectangular shape. Elle shook her head as she came to the conclusion her damned horse had probably been stealing a few mouthfuls of it during their past travels when it thought she was paying no heed. She pulled out her blade and swung the bow off of her back after slipping her quivers off her shoulders and carefully onto her horse chewed blanket. Elle had set up her sleeping place quite a bit away from the rest of the company who had set up in a cluster around the campfire they had effortlessly set up. Soon there was a small fire and a pot resting above it, sending smoke into the chilled air as it's contents cooked. She could smell the anticipation off of all the dwarves and she grinned as they all grasped their bowls, awaiting filled bellies. Elle weighed her options. She had Lembass bread stuffed into her pack somewhere, so she could either take a bite from that and head off for sleep or instead claim to be going on a night hunt to get the chance to wander off for a bit. It didn't take her long to reach a decision. She was out of here. She grabbed her quiver and bows and silently snuck away, the dwarves too preoccupied with their now filled bowls to notice her disappearing into the night. The dwarves would see her missing weapons and assume she had left to feed herself. They all knew Thorin would not give away food to one who was capable of hunting, wise too Elle thought, because there was scarcely enough food as it was, for the bellies of 13 dwarves and a hobbit and they had yet to journey far. Soon they'd have to hunt themselves, Elle would love to see that.
The landscape around them had changed drastically from when they set off on the wide, tree dotted plains. The land had become rocky and uneven as the ground began to scramble up to meet the foot of the mountains and instead of fully fledged forests stretching through the land, small huddles of low lying foliage grew from the ground. Tomorrow they would probably head east before travelling around the lakes and up the winding path that would take them clear along the top of the mountains. From then on, they'd be making their way onto the thunder mountain of sleek black rock. There wouldn't be much stopping to rest, perhaps a few meals would be skipped. Elle wasn't looking forward to being around weary unfed dwarves as they embarked upon mountain paths.
She broke into a light run as she made her way around the slope, leaping off juts and drops in the ground that threatened to trip her. She sped up and as soon as the camp was lost round the bend of the slope she let herself drift to the side as she descended down it. There was a great river of rock pouring down the rise in the land Elle saw as she looked back up at the camp from the flat ground below. The river of rock stemmed from far up the mountain pass as rocks often tumble from the height, unable to cling on as the peaks grow ever sharper. It veered wide of the company and trickled down to gather far below them. The sight of the jagged mountains and this great stone stream almost looked like a great beast, a dragon perhaps had raked a claw across the land, it's skin rising up as it was torn from the bones of the land, whilst the remnants of what once made up it's flawless surface were scattered across it's immense body.
Elle ran to the end of the gash as it clung onto the bottom of the slope. She ran her hands along the large boulders, some bigger than her, with her eyes closed as she took in where it once belonged when it was apart of the mountain. It had once been apart of an out looking peak, that had lain perhaps just an hours climb above them at this moment. It had looked out across the plains, and farther across to the woodlands and the hills of the wild country. Elle pitied it as it lay smashed here at the bottom. It had fallen so far from grace, it now would never again see the world as it once had. Elle sighed as she leant against the boulder, hands on her knees as she accepted she had more in common with this rock than any living being in Middle Earth. Despite the uncanny similarities between the story of this rock and her very own tale, Elle couldn't help but laugh at her findings. She thrust herself onto a less beaten up rock and hopped from one to the other as she made her way to the opposite side, where a gathering of small trees and bushes were set up. As she was passing over the rocks she noticed a steady trickle of water start to appear from amongst them beneath her, probably from the melting snow on the mountain peaks. As Elle reached the other side her boots landed on short grass. She was impressed by what this small amount of water had inspired to grow. She ventured into the low lying tree boughs and had to weave her way through close knit shrubs and snagging branches. She didn't have to journey in far to find what she was looking for. She knelt low to the ground and felt the slight dampness of it as she traced a dainty hoof print imprinted into it's surface. There was another water source nearby, a pond perhaps and that was were this fellow was headed. She'd meet them soon.
She silently broke the line of bushes as she crawled forward on her haunches, peering through branches as she saw the deer. An aiiwë deer. She did not mean to kill it, there was no need. She had her bread and despite Elle's sometimes fearsome appetite she did not feel like she could scrape clean the bones of this hefty creature. Elle just meant to observe. She came into view and the legs of the deer shot out in all directions in fright but it remained still. Ears pricked forward toward her, taking in her signs. Elle lifted a hand to her head, eyes down and then outstretched it toward the deer, this was telling the creature they were of one mind. She calmed the animal through her own head as she slowly came to stand. It's eyes were locked on hers but it chewed nervously as it awaited her response. It had just asked her why she was here. Elle motioned with a gentle movement of her hand to a break in the branches above them, to the gleaming light of the full moon. Elle then brought forward a pink round fruit from her inside her sleeve and rolled it toward the deer, in payment for what she was asking. This fruit came from one of the far off lush lands Elle had ventured to many moons past when she had went in search of the shadows she had told Elrond of. The deer sniffed the apple for only a moment before taking a bite, spilling the sweet water contained within the fruit. This seemed to impress the deer and Elle's eyes gleamed as the deer spun and took off, making for the tree line. Elle sprinted off in chase, her face fixed in an exhilarating smile. As she came to the tree line she halted as the sight before her took her breath away. The deer she had connected with had gathered it's flock and broke out from the trees all around her and filled the short grass pasture before her. Their coats shimmered in the moonlight as they took on the appearance of a flock of birds. They gathered together and began to gallop about, they moved at impossible speed but every movement one made seemed to be in tune with another and they braked and swerved and pranced in unison. They were all synchronised as if they were of one body and as their name suggests, moved as if they were a flock of starling birds taking into the sky, effortlessly moving with the wind. This was beautiful. This world was a beautiful place, and Elle was glad she could use sights like this to remind her from time to time.
The sound of a snapping branch brought Elle back to her senses, she spun around, an arrow already strung into her bow. She fell immediately to her knees and rolled behind the cover of a tree as an arrow whistled above her head, were just a moment ago she had stood. Her eyes searched the trees in the direction the arrow had been loosed from and her eyes immediately focused on the threat that watched her with predator eyes from the bushes. An Orc scout. 'What are you doing out all alone at night, and so away from your scum company's, she-elf?' came the orcs raspy voice as it echoed off of the trees. Elle supposed this Orc thought it had her scared senseless. What it didn't know, was that Elle was a quick mover and had already moved without a sound through the bushes, around to just behind where the Orc was standing, completely oblivious to Elle's relocation. It was still staring at the tree Elle had managed to roll behind moments before. With her arrow still knocked into her bow Elle lifted and took aim at the back of the orcs head. It had coarse strands of hair dotted about it's head, leaving the ill grey tinge of the skin on his scalp mostly exposed. He stood stopped over and she could smell his last fleshy meal on his breath. He worse a nasty looking serrated blade on his back and he was covered in scars and scratches, some oozing with infection. Elle saw most of these were sores from riding, wargs mostl likely. This Orc had pursued them for some time. 'I could ask you the same thing Scout. Where are the rest of your filth?' Elle spat as the Orc twitched his head in surprise at Elle's sneaky manoeuvre. 'Stalking you and the dwarf-scum you travel with. We're gaining on you, she-elf and we mean to slaughter you all while you sleep.' It snarled, letting out an eerie chuckle at Elle's silence. She didn't let it keep up the jibe. 'Well thank you for telling me your schemes, it didn't take as much convincing as I expected.' Elle quickly announced before releasing an arrow into the orcs leg, it let out a muffled growl in defiant pain. It's head twisting round to meet her, it's eyes dark and foreboding as it bared it's teeth like a crazed animal. 'How far behind are you? Why are you following us?' snapped Elle as she lurched forward grabbing the orcs throat as she withdrew the small sharp knife in her belt and pressed it deep against it's grimy skin. The Orc struggled briefly before regaining itself. 'You're all going to die' is all it said. Elle pressed the arrow in it's leg deeper with her foot and it let out a anguished screech. Elle smiled as it yielded to pain. She was just about to push it in a little further still before something else caught her eye. She noticed a lifeless body lying beyond the tree line, where instead the grass took over where the deer had now scattered at the sound of the commotion. Elle realised in horror that it was the deer she had found by the pond, lying dead with an arrow sticking up from it's side. The arrow the Orc had intended to strike Elle with. If she hadn't asked the deer to venture out and put on that display it would not be there dead. It was so pure, beautiful, innocent. The only thing that had given Elle any hope in a long time. Dead because of a fruit, dead because of Elle's strange request, dead because of a misplaced arrow. Funny how things pan out. Fate is a rather peculiar thing. Elle's sadness was interrupted by a pain in her thigh. Her distraction had allowed the Orc to loosen himself from her grip slightly and bury his nails into her thigh as he tried to swing a few punches behind him, hoping for a lucky go at her face. She didn't miss a beat as she raked her knife along his throat, spilling black fluid over her hands as he gagged on his own hot, sticky blood. Elle brought her face down close to the gasping Orc as she shook him. 'Who is your master? Who do you follow?' She said in between shakes. She hadn't cut him deep enough for him to bleed out too quickly. His voice was shrill, as he strove for a laugh that didn't exactly work out. 'Pale...' He began but his lifeblood spilled into the earth as his black eyes turned ever blacker as death took him. She left him there to rot in the woods, she didn't have time to cover the kill to throw off his scouting party. She had to start back to camp, to alert the company. Firstly, though she sprang out of the forest to come to the side of the dead deer. She swung it over her shoulders, whispering an elvish prayer of apology and promise. This deer would not go to waste. She swiftly retreated back to camp. Watching the land for any slight movement. Every one of her senses alert and focused by the adrenaline. The adrenaline soon dissipated as dread grew on her senses as the orcs last words dawned on her. It was clear who was hunting them and why. The pale Orc was on their trail, with lust for dwarf blood. Especially the blood of Durin's sons