Surprise Arrows
Legolas missed it the first time he walked past Haldir. He was trying to deliberately use the bond between himself and Gilriant to track down the young elf. It didn’t seem to be working well as it kept making him loop back towards the marchwarden. Who was sitting on a bench and calmly making arrows. It wasn’t until he paused to look that he spotted the way the other elf was rather carefully working around the black raven half tucked into his cloak. A raven with a small patch of white feathers over one of their green eyes. Now it made sense.
After looking over Haldir’s body language he sat down next to the marchwarden. He slid the barrel of arrows to be worked on between them wordlessly. Legolas started picking a few and stripping off damaged parts before passing them over to Haldir. Neither elf spoke, nor did the raven make any sounds as they worked.
Every once in a while, Gilriant would have a bad day. Either parts of his gifts being overwhelming, or bad memories threatening to sink him under. Thankfully these days had gotten very few and far between. When he was an elfling Legolas knew he often attached himself to one of his family members who would simply carry him around all day. As he got older, the raven form made that easier.
Neither elf nor elf-turned raven needed to talk. Some things really did not need words. A simple supporting presence could be enough. Instead the sounds of spring and those that moved around them filtered through the air. The two archers sat repairing arrows and keeping the youngest of them company.
*
Often discoveries come about in unexpected fashion. Gilriant certainly hadn’t intended to infuse the arrowheads he was crafting in the forge with any sort of power. Hadn’t really been focusing on much of anything. Just singing in an absent minded way as he forged each into its proper shape. The task for Tauriel later was crafting arrows they would take on a trip south. Since most were being made afresh it seemed logical enough to make the metal tips instead of taking some from stores. It wasn’t until much later, when Tauriel was crafting the full arrow from tip to fletching that she even noticed.
Only the first of her arrows were done under the watchful eyes of instructors. After she had proven she could craft a perfect arrow, the elleth had been given leave to craft arrows in her own choice of time and space. Granted it had taken many arrows to get to that point. Most had been taken back apart in the beginning. An flawed arrow had the chance of causing injuries after all. Tauriel's first accepted arrows went to the practice range to ensure the solidity of their make before any would be considered to take on a scouting trip.
The first of the wiggentrees had their growth accelerated enough to be planted. After much discussion it was chosen to plant them along the old forest road. As much as the elf path had been improved, and that would be to the benefit of all, Thranduil wasn’t thrilled by others traveling through the Greenwood. As the wiggentrees were known to repel corrupt ones, planting them on the south edge of the old forest road and along either entrance could make the path safe again for travelers. It would take time, decades at a minimum to plant and grow enough trees to make it an effective barrier. Possibly a century or more. Even then space would need to be cleared out to be declared space. Even adding the venomous tentacula to improve the protection wouldn’t hasten the completion by much. At least the inability of the corrupt ones to even approach the trees made it safe to do gradually, rather than all at once. Once that was completed the north side could slowly be planted as well to balance both sides of the road.
The bulk of maintaining the path would go to the skinchangers. The bear men had agreed to this in exchange for imposing a toll on travelers and some of the trees from the elves to protect their homes. What the elves got out of it was people staying out of their wood and another line of protection against the corrupt creeping northward. Over time working together should accomplish the goal.
As the plants listened to their creator best, and Tauriel needed more experience to truly earn her archer braids, she was included in the trip. Part of her testing was to make sure she had enough of everything, including arrows. Every archer needed to have this skill. No matter what form they took, their plants always recognized them. These plants didn’t have eyes, not really. It was their magic that was recognized. They may use it differently in different forms, but it would always have the same signature. So this also made a way to test the waters of letting the Greenwood as a whole know about the shifting ability.
Actually it was the singing to herself that had her pick up on the fact their was magic in the arrowheads. Tauriel did sing some, most elves did. Though she chose not to perform for an audience. Music was in her blood, bone and soul. So even if magic came more slowly to her as Tauriel, she could still feel it, especially with music. The answering vibration in the arrow heads gave her pause. In truth, being so focused on her task she was at the end of it. So most were already completed. Continuing the song she ran her fingertips over the ends of completed arrows and yes, that vibration was in them as well.
So a bit of power had been infused in the arrowheads accidentally during creation. Tauriel had absolutely no idea what that would do to the arrowheads. Now she was rather curious as to what would happen. Much of the power went towards cleansing corruption. So that placed in an item meant to be used against such creatures. Well it probably would not be good, for the corrupted anyways. After a brief internal debate the elleth decided against telling anyone. Instead, she would see what they did first. It would probably be something they would prefer to know in advance. However, by now everyone should expect strange things to happen around her.
They reach the skinchangers without incident. Though they did seem to be aware that there is something more to Tauriel. Thankfully they don’t press when she doesn’t volunteer any information. They did however keep close watch. Especially with how the plants respond to her and that she was the one giving the instructions about the pair of saplings that are being left with them. As the work progresses they will eventually have enough wiggentrees to encircle their homes as added protection.
The thought relieved a certain itch she had been feeling about the skin-changers. They were important custodians of the land. Hopefully, someday, when all the corruption was cleansed from the land they could be the custodians of the mountains once more. They certainly were more in tune with nature than most men. There were many things they could be entrusted with when the time came.
Moving towards the Old Forest Road would take them right past Rhosgobel, the home of the Brown Wizard. Idly Tauriel wondered if there was some special significance to the color choice other than the obvious connection to the land. She would have to ask at some point. Today they had other things to focus on so she sent one of her raven friends ahead to let Radagast know what they were doing. If he could be pulled away from his animals he was welcome to join them. He likely would at some point.
It did not surprise her to see two of her Starlight Wolves streak through the group and head straight to her for attention. With a laugh she waved the rest to keep going even as she stopped to give Sirius and Fred some attention. Minus Haldir and Legolas who both paused when she did. Ruffling fur around the neck and ears before pressing her forehead to the large wolves’ in turn. “Well you are full of surprises little raven.” Artos’ voice rumbled as he paused next to her.
“Those wolves have only one master, which apparently is you.” The leader of the Skinchangers observed quietly. “I surprise myself quite often. It is a journey of discovery I am on.” Tauriel acknowledged with a smile. Granted their connection to nature likely gave them an advantage in coming to a conclusion who she was.
“Hmm, are you sure you are meant to be among the elves' little shifter? You have much in common with my people.” She couldn’t help but to laugh. “Perhaps, but I am still mostly elf, and they are my people.” Tauriel could get a distinct feeling of amusement from Haldir and faint irritation from Legolas. Which very well could be why Artos was making the suggestion. To test boundaries and see reactions. “As you well know, though I appreciate the fact you have always made me feel welcome.” Giving Fred pat she took up the invitation Sirius offered her and pulled herself up on the wolf’s back and they started moving once more. They were getting closer to the entrance to the Old Forest Road.
“The corruption is creeping up, but it is not bad yet. Still, it is a good thing we can start doing this.” Legolas’ voice was quiet and even as he asked her, “Do you sense something or did the wolves tell you?” “A bit of both,” Tauriel admitted. “I did ask them to patrol down here once we made the plans. Though the spiders are a little more difficult for them to deal with as they can’t climb trees. They can still be a layer of protection until the wiggentrees are full grown, but an imperfect one. What we plant is very much needed.”
“The corruption continues to grow in the south of the woods.” Artos agreed in what was a soft voice for him. “Between that and the orcs my people would be in grave danger if not for your plants and wolves. Why help us, mostly elf?” Even though she used the designation herself, Tauriel could feel a faint bristle from Legolas. The elleth sent some soothing reassurance intertwined with amusement to him. “You need it, the land needs you, because I can and most of all because it thwarts the corruption. Any of those reasons would be enough for me.”
Reaching the destination some stayed on guard while most moved to unload the plants. They would be planting not just around the road, but also along the western edge of the woods for a short distance. It would do no good if travelers could be easily ambushed right outside the entrance after all. Tauriel kept her bow and arrows with her, even as she helped with the plants. The trees needed to be spaced so they wouldn’t crowd each other when fully grown, but still provide protection. The Venomous Tentacula would help fill in the gap for now. She just needed to reinforce with them that they were only to go after the corrupted.
The project went fairly smoothly. Radagast showed up very interested in the plants she was adding to the forest. She did caution him about the slightly carnivorous nature of the more aggressive of the plants so he knew to keep his smaller friends away from them. That did fluster the brown wizard some and he didn’t stay too long. They were close to being finished when Tauriel started to feel restless.
It was difficult for her to define exactly what was pulling at her attention. So she was cautious and alert as she paced towards it as Haldir and Legolas quickly moved to flank her. The elves immediately noticed and went on guard, the skin-changers following as they did. Fred and Sirius paced silently around the area. It frustrated Tauriel that she could sense something, in a muted fashion, but not what. It also wasn't obliging by coming out in the open.
So the elleth decided to trust her instincts. Tauriel had kept a few of her older arrows and pulled one of those to set in place. Drawing the bow string back carefully she aimed until the feeling that was both right and wrong locked into place. She loosed the arrow and flew through the leaves until hitting something. A short distance away a very large spider crashed to the ground breaking the silence. For a beat nothing, then an angry sounding noise as spiders started climbing down the trees and launching towards them. Bowstrings sang as the elves loosed arrows, ready for such a move. More spiders crashed to the ground.
Now was as good a time as any to test her newest made arrows. Pulling one of those she lifted and aimed at one of the spiders and loosed it. The arrow flew true and struck one of the large corrupted spiders. The arachnid shrieked, even as its body started to crumble. By the time it hit the ground it was naught but dust. That made everyone pause and more than a few looked her way. That bit of respite only lasted a few breaths, before the spiders restarted their angry charge, this time they were all headed directly towards her. Not that any of them made it.
The elves were well equipped and ready for their foe. Tauriel even managed to hit a few more with her new arrows before the entire clutter of spiders was dispatched. “So that’s what I did to the arrowheads, good to know. Now I’m curious as to what they will do to orcs.” Cheerfully the elleth moved forwards to reclaim what she could of them even as the wolves dashed around to help get rid of the bodies. She did ask them to drag a few to the Venomous Tentacula to show them what at least one of the corrupted looked like. Haldir and Legolas moved with her to assist with arrow retrieval. That way they could also confirm all the spiders had in fact been dispatched and none were only keeping up a pretence in order to take them by surprise.
“You didn’t know what they would do?” Haldir sounded entirely amused by the whole thing. “If you are making more I would certainly appreciate some.” Legolas’ request was rather predictable. “I didn’t actually set out to infuse anything into the arrowheads. I do, on occasion, sing to myself while working. For whatever reason this resonated in the metal while I was working with it.” The marchwarden inclined his head in understanding. “Your singing infused the metal with your power, which is well suited to cleansing corruption.”
“You realize this confirms that the spiders are indeed either created by or influenced by something that can corrupt them.” Legolas pointed out with a grim look. Tauriel looked to the south with a faint frown, absently thanking the ravens that had brought them some arrows they retrieved. “I am beginning to think that Dol Guldur wasn’t as thoroughly neutralized as they thought. Or perhaps the Enemy has restarted anew down there. Quietly trying to build up more forces.” Then Tauriel swore with the prince giving her a somewhat startled look as Haldir just looked amused and slightly proud.
“I’m going to have to talk to Saruman. We need to call a council meeting and he can not be further alienated by not being invited.” Haldir’s amusement fled. “That may be difficult. You have never stopped having the split visions of him. Can you do so without stressing yourself too much?” Tauriel stared into the distance then shook her head. “I can, I just need to . . . “ Giving a quick glance around and seeing no one was particularly paying attention to them, she shifted. Red hair darkening to red-black and features shifting.
“For some reason when I am Tauriel, my gifts seem more muted. I need to at least attempt to look.” Haldir shot Legolas a look. The prince nodded and his stance shifted to one of being on guard, protecting them. Placing his hand on their back the marchwarden nodded to Faircoivar. “Go ahead, I have you.” The young elf closed their eyes and relaxed that which kept their gift shut down the smallest of fractions.
Immediately images and feelings flickered through them. A giant spider web being laid over middle earth. Anchored in the east, with almost invisible lines stretching westward. While the biggest nest was in the East, smaller ones were situated in places that they knew orcs and goblins liked to dwell. If they could hold on to the image they may be able to mark a map later. When they turned their focus to the former fortress of the Necromancer an image immediately flipped their mind. The silhouette of an individual, bracketed by red flames flaring out to either side to a point. A nauseating feeling struck out at them and they cried out stumbling backward, form immediately shifting as their sight shut down.
Haldir caught Tauriel even as Hallows appeared at his side and Tindil to Legolas’. The moon bright wolf had her ears laid back, growling as she faced south. The night dark deer brandished his starlight infused antlers in the same direction. Hedwig appeared in a burst of snowflakes trilling her concern and settled on Haldir’s shoulder. “Oh I feel like I’m going to be sick.” The marchwarden’s arm around her middle kept her steady. The rest of the group abandoned what they were doing to encircle the trio. “Little raven, are you alright?”
Pressing the heel of her hand to her eye she grimaced. “Fine, mostly, for now anyways.” Haldir didn’t even bother to hide his sigh as he looked over to Legolas. The prince moved to help support Tauriel before the marchwarden released her. It was less supporting her weight and more providing the close comfort that the young elf needed. Pulling the bag off his back the Lothlorien archer stuck his arm deep in it much to the bemusement of Atros before pulling out a waterskin. At Hedwig’s approving trill of his choice he thrust it into the hands of the elleth, “Drink.” He looked over to the skinchanger, “Fine is not something you want to trust when she uses it. As long as she’s not actively in danger of dying she considers herself fine.”
“Ah, one of those, I will keep that in mind.”
“Just a headache,” Tauriel muttered as she unstoppered the waterskin and took a sip. “Tepid is not the best taste for this but just as effective.” Haldir gave her a look. “I would suggest you not try that line on me. I know exactly what you are feeling, remember?” She peered at him, “Yes but this isn’t the worst I could be feeling.” “That doesn’t mean that you are fine. You do not feel well, so that is not the definition of fine.” Legolas pointed out with a frown. The elleth just made a noncommittal sound as she sipped, leaning into him.
“Whatever you Saw my Lady, I would say it goes under the definition of not good?” Maethel had been shadowing her the whole time. Yes, the guard did her best to give her charge space to learn and grow. However she would never neglect the duty she took such pride in, keeping Tauriel safe. Sometimes the captain was just a bit more discreet about it than others. When the others closed in on the trio, so did she. “Not good, but not immediate.
“I need to talk to my brother and we definitely need to have a council meeting sooner than later.” She looked over to Legolas. “How willing would your father be to host one?” The prince tilted his head as he thought. “Considering he may see it as an opportunity to show off the wards you established for the Greenwood that he holds, fairly good.” Tauriel huffed then winced with regret at her choice of action. “Right, well, invoking his pride could be a good way to go.”
“If there is to be a discussion about whatever the danger you sense to the south, I would ask to be included. My people would be at risk as well.” Tauriel inhaled. “Not an unreasonable request, however I will warn you that Saruman may be dismissive of your presence, or any danger to us.” The large man frowned, “Why would he feel he has any say? This is the White Wizard I have heard of, yes?”
“He is considered the head of the White Council and the leader of the Istari.” Artos looked at Legolas after his explanation. “And? This does not give him dominion over my people. He has never intervened on our behalf. That he would be dismissive of us gives me even more reason to wish to be present.” The prince nodded, “Your words have merit.” Then he smiled. “As it would possibly annoy Saruman may even be a point in your favor in my father’s eyes.” Tauriel huffed out a laugh and then winced. “Please don’t make me laugh right now.”
“You rest now my Lady, we will finish up here.” Maethel gave the pair of ellons flanking her charge a meaningful look before withdrawing. “She’s right, you know.” Legolas moved to guide Tauriel over to a nearby tree that had fallen long ago. The trunk would make a suitable enough seat as was not fully given over to decay yet. Hedwig launched from Haldir’s shoulder to land on her elf’s lap and cuddled up to Tauriel, trilling a soothing song. Hallows continued to stick to Haldir’s side even as Tindil did for the elven prince.
“Not immediately you said,’ Haldir prompted. It was best to try and get some information on her impressions as it could fade over time. “As in we shouldn’t expect an attack from there in the near future.” Tauriel waved a hand at the downed spiders that the wolves were taking care of. “I’m certain these are of their influence or make. Sent to sicken the forest and make it easier for the Enemy. A war of attrition, rather than a direct attack. The Enemy seeks to weaken us.”
Which also meant the Enemy would be angry with the things she had been doing to strengthen everyone. There were multiple reasons she would become a target when the Enemy became aware of her. “Did the Enemy see you?” Tauriel slowly shook her head no. “I think not. I only freed up the smallest amount of my Sight as I could. So when it was overwhelmed it shut down quickly.” “The longer it takes for the Enemy to become aware of you the better,” Legolas remarked quietly.
“Oh I’m sure he’ll know something is up when I make a star sing, but he’s not looking in the right places.” Tauriel’s gaze was fixed in the distance, her voice soft. Haldir swiftly moved to kneel in front of her. His hand reached to guide her face to look towards him. Rador, “Look at me.” The name was spoken silently between them. Only invoked to make sure he could grab her full attention. Immediately her gaze focused on his. “Close it down, you were thrown out, you have yet to shut it down fully. You may be more resistant as Tauriel but some things still leak. Close it down.” Inhaling slowly she closed her eyes to follow his direction.”
Legolas frowned, “Does she need to go to Lady Galadriel’s tutoring sooner?” Haldir took a moment to think then shook his head. “Not yet. From what I understand, some of this is just lack of experience. Though it won’t hurt to have regular lessons with her brother reinstated. Since we visit regularly enough that can just be added to the plan. Though I will ask Elrond to confirm that.” Her brother took his younger sibling’s health and well being very seriously. If he was okay with this plan, everyone knew it would be a safe one.
“I take it back, the little raven does belong with the elves. We have none that could help her with that ability. Though I still think we can help her with others.” Artos let a brief smile form on his face. “I now understand the vague warnings of chaos. Your kin seems to have somewhat of a handle on that. That is if anyone can.” Tauriel opened her eyes giving the skin changer a mock glare. “I did hear that.” Artos just smiled more widely at her. “As was intended.”
Looking back towards Haldir she smiled, “Better now, thanks.” He studied her a bit longer before straightening up. “Do you remember what you just said, before I told you to close it down?” Tauriel tilted her head, “About my Sight shutting down when I was overwhelmed?” The marchwarden shook his head. “No, you spoke of making a star sing, and that the Enemy was looking in the wrong places.” Her eyebrows lifted then a thoughtful look crossed her expression. “Interesting, I will have to think on that.”
“We have done what we came here to do. Perhaps it is time to head home?” Legolas suggested softly.” Tauriel nodded, helping Hedwig move to her shoulder. “Yes, I do have some new arrows to make after all. If nothing else to make sure the three of us are well equipped.”
“We should send some to my brothers, without telling them what they do. I’m sure they’ll enjoy the surprise.”