Gaining Speed {Lord of the Rings Crossover: Book 2}

Chapter Nine

During the innocence of her youth, the sight of fresh falling snow would affect Calypso in the same manner catnip bewitched her mind. While her mother would watch the fresh flakes fall with heart clenching dread, Calypso and her brothers would find joy within the fluffy white sleet. The three mischievous cubs would stand under the dancing trees for shelter as they watched the snowfall, the chilly snowflakes still managing to land on their whiskers leaving behind cold kisses across their fur.

The cubs were oblivious towards a lot of things at the start, their mother showed them how to survive but still allowed them moments of innocence. Calypso learnt some time later that it was her mother, not the trees, who protected the cubs from the winter chill. The matriarch would let them watch the snow even if it meant bearing the harsh cold as her form loomed over them. The feline hated the snow, and Calypso grew to hate the cold and quiet of winter just as much as her mother did before her.

As a light dusting of snowflakes began to fall on the towering treetops of Fangorn. The Riders of Rohan grew ever more eager to leave the creeping sickness choking the still air surrounding the wood. Eomer had recalled the guards stationed by Fangorn as the shadows began to move sinisterly between the tree trunks. Their desire to leave grew greater with the thickening of snow covering the trees, only the trees, whatever devilry was brewing within Fangorn held no power beyond the canopy of the wood. A sight which greatly disturbed the magic fearing men.

"You should leave this place," Calypso spoke next to Haedrig, her voice no louder than a somber whisper. The pair stood side by side at the edge of the encampment looking out towards the snow building at the forest's edge, the warm rays of sunlight quickly melting the stray flakes of snow that landed on the grass before it could gain more ground.

Calypso knew it would take a lot more than a few well chosen words to make the Riders of Rohan trust her, name dropping Elrond had proved a wise decision on the feline part. Trust was not something which was easily earned among men however, speaking of the elf Lord seemed to calm their minds enough to hear the Narnian out. The feline made a mental note to thank the elf next she saw him. Regardless of her connections however the feline knew that no matter how well spoken her words of warning were, the men were both smart enough (and dumb enough) to not immediately listen to the creature.

"We should all leave this place," she continued, her muddy orange eyes watching the puffy snowflakes fall with fear clear in their depths. "Your welcome to leave," Haedrig told the feline, turning his back to the woods, the Filly noticing the curious eyes of the riders watching the pair, news of the talking creature having clearly spread among the men as they continued to murmur among themselves. "I meant what I said before," Haedrig continued, "I do not wish to be the master of anyone so go on now, away with you."

Calypso looks around the area curiously looking out into the vast rolling plains to her right and the towering trees to the left before turning back to Haedrig her confusion clear, "Go on girl, leave" he urged gently pushing the feline away from his side as he shooed her. "Did he just shoo me?' Calypso thought incredulously, staring at the man her brow raised.

"Don't look at me like that," Haedrig argued, gently pushing the feline again towards the open field, "don't push me" Calypso shot back, swotting the man's hands away with her front paw. "I'm trying to help you," Haedrig grumbled in annoyance going to push the feline again towards her freedom, however she batted his hand away again. "How is pushing me helping?" The feline shouted, batting the Filly's hands away harder than before earning a sharp feline-ish hiss of pain from the man, "language," the feline gasped, swotting at the man's leg once more.

Haedrig let out a deep sigh of annoyance as he looked at the feline, "I'm setting you free, go home," he pushed again, this time with his words. "Home?" The feline questioned, her voice still rough with disuse, her mind racing as she tried to recall a place to call home for her to return too. The feline knew she was always welcome in Rivendell yet the Narnian could not route the journey there, she could not remember home. "I do not know the way," she whispered defeatedly to the man, the feline hating the thought of being weak as Haedrig looked down at her with pity swimming in his eyes, "is it right or left?" She questioned him, the query feeling oddly familiar yet the feline sent the thought away.