Assassin Omega

I Am Halbarad

It was Kari. It had to be. I recognised the face, even though part of it was covered by a bandit/assassin mask. She was wearing grey-green robes which meant... 

So my theory was correct! I had guessed the identity of the ranger at my school. The clothing and features were the same. Hah. I never would've guessed that Kari had a secret life, too.

But here she was, weary, her face smudged with dirt, trapped by the werewolves on either side. Great. Just great.

The werewolves looked to Nolan for permission.

Nolan nodded at me. "You've proven yourself in swordplay, now let's see if you can handle leadership. Take charge, future-Beta Echofang."

"Yes, Alpha." I bowed, then turned to the werewolves, doing my best to look dignified. "State your case."

Werewolf One (I think he's Nightpaws) bowed slightly. "We found this rogue wandering on the wood, acting-Beta. On our territory, with those weapons." he gestured to the bow and arrows Werewolf Three (whose name I had forgotten) held. "Obviously seeking to invade."

"No! It wasn't like that!" Kari cried. "I did not come to invade! My clan have been driven out of our own lands by banshees, and were looking for a a new place to live. But I do not wish to invade! I come in peace, though you accept me not! Although that may be understandable."

"What is your name?" I asked sternly.

"Halbarad." Kari replied instantly.

"That is not your name!" someone cried from behind me. I looked around, and saw Matt standing and pointing a finger at Kari/Halbarad, unaware of the OTT moustache marked on his face, not to mention the pen-formed monocle, beard and... nose hair? Okay then.

"It is my name. I am Halbarad, second-in-command of the Dúnedain." Kari/Halbarad said matter-of-factly.

Wait, what? Kari actually was a Dúnedain?

Cool.

"That is not your name! That is a title!" Matt continued doggedly. "State your true name!"

"Halbarad." Kari repeated.

"Bladeblaze!" I growled. "Stand down, for it is not your job to take charge here. Stoneheart! Halfstream!"

Jade and Adam immediately took their proper positions, crouching on either side of me, their weapons drawn. I, as the acting-Beta, acting as the Beta under the Alpha's permission, had the right of being able to call forth two werewolves to help me.

"You have no proof." I said steadily to the guarding werewolves. "Free Halbarad."

"No, she may attack us, she may be lying!" Werewolf Three said.

"You have her weapons." I pointed out. "Halbarad, who commands you?"

"Aragorn, acting-Beta." Kari/Halbarad answered instantly.

"Who are your people?" I asked, trying not to look as confused as I felt. Was Aragorn THE Aragorn? Were there other representatives from Middle Earth? Were there other supernatural entities that no one had told me about?

"I come from the Dúnedain, one of the tribes of the Tolkienas."

"And what are the Tolkienas?"

"My people, a race of humans who become people from Middle Earth."

Does Kari realise that that makes as much sense as a flying rock wearing a top hat and singing Hallelujah off-key?

"...Right." I said, failing at disguising my apprehension. "By any chance, could you take us to these Tolkienas?"

Kari/Halbarad shrugged. "If you were to free me, and give me my weapons, I would take you and your delegates anywhere, acting-Beta."

"Swear that you will do this, without harming us." I commanded, proud of my fancy word choices.

Kari nodded, she had probably expected this. "I swear it by all in this world and every other."

"Right." I said purposefully. "Stoneheart, Halfstream, go on."

Adam and Jade, happy to do something other than crouching by my side, stood up to look authoritatively and/or threateningly at the guards with their blades out. The guards holding Kari released her, and the third one handed back her weapons. With a well-practiced move, Kari slung the quiver over her shoulder and held the bow in her right hand.

"That's better." she said, tightening her ponytail with one hand. "Let's go."

We walked up the steps, and out into the street. 

Suddenly, Kari burst out laughing. "Oh, Aragorn will kill me! Captured by my werewolf sister! No one will ever believe this!" she turned to me. "You knew it was me, right?" 

"Of course, Halbarad." I said, grinning.

Bemused, Jade looked from Kari to me, and back to Kari again. "Halbarad is your sister?"

"It would appear so." Kari said thoughtfully. "I'm really Hikari-Daku Hunter, better known as Kari, but I'm also Halbarad, second-in-command of the Dunedain." she laughed again. "Ah, such is life. Secret identities are fun."

"Introduction time!" I called, rubbing my hands together in preparation. "Kari, this is Adam, or Halfstream, and Jade, or Stoneheart. Adam, Jade, this is Kari, or Halbarad as you now know her."

Kari bowed formally to the werewolves. Jade curtsied, and Adam bowed back.

"So, sis, where are we going?" I asked.

In answer, Kari started jogging into the woods, and Jade, Adam and I followed, trying not to fall over any exposed tree roots, poking up from the soil like worms after rain to trip unwary werewolves or Dunedain.

Before long Kari led us around a grove of trees leaning like old men to shelter what turned out to be a collection of tents, the biggest one with a symbol painted on it, and as I craned my head to look at it I realised what it was.

The symbol of J.R.R. Tolkien.

Clever.