The Last Othellan

The Council of Elrond

I awoke, and all seemed peaceful, but I knew differently. I felt afraid. Opening my eyes, I discovered I was no longer in the safe confines of Imladris. 

I was lying on cold, cracked earth. The smell was repulsive, and the sky was blacker than night, blacker than anything I had ever seen. I pushed myself into a sitting position. 

That was when I saw her.

She stood with her back to me, flaming red hair hid behind a cloak. I tried to get to her, but I couldn't move. I couldn't speak. When she turned, pulling her hood down, her hair was bright red, even brighter than I remembered it. Her clothes were black, and she looked at me with a pure loathing in her brown eyes.

"I have been trying to find you for so many years, now" she hissed, her eyes boring into mine. I looked straight back, determined not to show an ounce of fear.

"But things have changed" she continued, her expression never once changing from abject hatred. "I have a new, very powerful, ally. That's why I decided to visit you, to tell you that I will find you, and soon. And when I do, I will destroy you, watch the light leave your eyes".

She made her way slowly to my side, and I couldn't turn my head, couldn't see. I felt her cold touch on my cheek, then my arm. I saw the flash of metal out of the corner of my eye, and felt a searing pain on my upper arm. Blood trickled onto the ground as I gasped and she came back into my eye level.

"Just a taster" she mocked with a sick grin.

She stood still for a second, her lips curling into a satisfied smile as I tried to get up, to reach her.

Then she disappeared.

***
I sat up with a gasp and looked automatically at my left arm. The bicep was soaked with blood and there was a long gash almost to my elbow.

I got up shakily and dug into my bag, finding a strip of long linen cloth, and tied it around my arm. Next, I scrubbed the blood off my sheets and immediately left my room, hurrying into the pre – dawn.

I walked purposefully to the trees on the edge of the valley and sat with my back against one, staring blankly at another opposite.

How had she got inside my head? How had she injured me in my head? I wasn't safe anymore, even when I returned to my old life, she could still find me now. Who was her powerful ally?

I had no doubt she had been telling the truth, as she was not nearly powerful enough herself to invade my dreams, and slash my arm so I was injured in reality. She was not old enough to have that kind of power. In fact, only one elf remained on Middle Earth with something even close to the power used on me tonight, and luckily she was on our side.

I was so consumed by my thoughts that I didn't hear the voice asking if I was okay, nor did I see a pair of feet walk into my eye level. It was only when he crouched down that I was even aware of his presence.

I jumped about a foot off the ground as someone crouched concernedly against the opposite tree. "Are you okay, my lady?" he repeated, brow furrowed, as I came to my senses.

I blinked and shook my head a little to clear it. "N- Yes I'm well, just startled that's all". The words fell out of my mouth and I took a deep breath before continuing "I was just thinking"

"I apologise for startling you" answered the elf with a small, warm smile. He had deep blue eyes the colour of a cloudless sky before dusk, pale, smooth skin and bright blond hair, which was long and braided. He wore clothes of green and brown and on his feet were light shoes, unlike the tough, familiar leather of my own boots.