RP 🎲 RP 36: Redemption

A deafening roar issued from Magnus' gaping jaws and the Elves felt the fell chill of horror as the massive creature bent his eyes upon them. He crept nearer, causing boulders to plummet toward the companions.
He fixed Maedhros with his gaze and strove with him to discover his purpose, his intent for entering HIS territory. Maedhros proved too great in will for him however and he growled angrily. Earitila stood near to Maedhros and defiantly looked him in the eye. Impatiently he
dismissed her and then he cast his gaze on Nildadari. He rumbled low in his chest for here was one who had not the ancient blood of the Noldor, here was one he could use.
Wishing to appear as bold as her companions, Nildadari rashly returned the creatures gaze. He caught and held her, transfixed, and he began to speak..."Brave She-Elf, how is it that one of the Sindar should find herself this far West? Tell me young one, is it glory you seek? To prove yourself worthy in your peoples' eyes that you come looking for arms contained in my hoard?
Come closer warrior, for I see the light of battle in your eyes and
the stubbornness of character that drove you away from those dear to you in order to seek your destiny."
He began retreating up the slope never taking his eyes from hers. She followed, unable to resist.
As Magnus moved Maedhros saw a sudden flash of light in the dragon's chest. He gasped aloud and Magnus glanced at him piercingly.
In that moment Maedhros' thoughts were unguarded and the dragon "smiled" a smile full of cruel malice. "You like my favorite jewel, my ancient enemy? Look well! The only way you shall ever obtain it would be through my rather unlikely death!"
He looked again at Nildadari and drew forth two names from her mind, Elured and Elurin, and the fact that these two were dear to Maedhros.
In his evil heart he conceived a plan to thwart Maedhros in his journey. One that would cause him great pain...

Earentila watched full of dread as Nildadari walked as one transfixed.

'Don't look!' she cried. 'Nildadari, don't look at him!' But it was no use. She followed the dragon without responding, or making any sign of hearing. Already they were some distance away.

Earentila shook with fear, and berated herself. 'You must do something. You must!' But for a moment she could not bring herself to move. Then remembering her oath to Maedhros, she roused herself. 'I will not fail, not yet.'

She sprang to life, and gave chase. She ran, with feet as swift as the wind. Like a blur she seemed to Maedhros as she sped past. Magnus, his baleful gaze bent on Nildadari saw her not, as she leaped and swung on the bare branch of a withered tree. High she arced, and tumbling, landed lighted upon Magnus' neck. She whipped off her cloak, and threw it over the head of the dragon.

The dragon roared with rage, suddenly blinded, his gaze broken. Earentila clung on, as Magnus swung his head about trying to dislodge the cloak, and trying to loosen her grip.

Nildadari stood blinking, wondering where she was.

As I saw Eäritila cling on to Magnus head, I drew a knife of mine and threw it the mouth of the dragon. It made Magnus scream and gave Eäritila the time to get off Magnus as I moved Nildadari out of danger.

Magnus, finally able to see without Eäritila’s cloak, tried to go after her, but when he saw me he stopped. I cried: "Magnus, your quarrel is with me, now thou shalt taste defeat at my hands. I remember in our last battle in Nirnaeth Arnoediad, how you fled after I injured your belly with my spear."

Good, I thought to myself, Magnus has forgotten about Nidadari and Eäritila, just as I hoped. I drew my sword and there Magnus was with his eyes red with anger and ready to strike. My fellow elves managed to get behind Magnus and they shot their arrows at their tail, that gave me the opening I was looking and I went forward and avoided his left paw and cleaved my sword to his right chest area with my sword. He swated me with his right paw, I nearly avoided all, but was caught in my right arm and went down. I never took my eyes of the dragon, it was wounded and screamed........

Snarling in his rage, Magnus pinned Maedhros to the ground with his massive claws. Bringing his head down he glared at Maedhros, fouling the air with his fetid breath. "So, Elf-Lord. It appears that you have claws of own! Think you that you can bring me to heel so easily?" He extended needle-sharp claws that began slowly piercing into Maedhros' leather-clad chest.
Nildadari, having recovered and covered herself with her elven-cloak, had escaped further notice by Magnus. She and Earentila crept closer, hoping to find a vulnerable spot.
"If you wish him dead, come closer." Magnus growled. Bringing his dripping jaws closer to Maedhros' face, he said, "Heed my words. I know the ones you seek and I know who guards them. You have intruded where you have no business, therefore I will consider it a privilege to find and kill these kinsmen, to repay you for the brethren I have lost." He gloated in his wicked heart as he saw the effect his cruel lies had on the Elf-Lord.
Flinging himself into the air, Magnus roared loudly and began winging his way into the East.

Earentila sprang to her feet, and fitted an arrow to her bow. Quickly she took aim, and fired fruitlessly at the departing dragon, now only small in the distant skies. Far too far for any mortal shot, yet swiftly sped the arrow after its mark. And lo! a marvellous shot it was, striking Magnus in the upper thigh of her rear leg. Magnus roared with rage, shaking the clouds, but flew on. Revenge could wait, and such a wound would soon heal.

Then she scrambled to the side of Maedhros, to tend his wounds. She had some skill as a healer, though she was not known as a great healer amongst her people. For those who had lived all their lives in the Blessed Land seldom took hurt or sickness, and so took little heed of such matters. Earentila though had learnt what she could, knowing in Middle Earth, such skills might be needed.

She tenderly bandaged his arm. 'How is your chest? Did your armor stop his claws?' But all the time she was aware of Nildadari, still staring after the dragon, dazed and listless.

Nildadari shook her head which still seemed fuzzy from the Dragon's intrusion. She spoke in a soft, quiet voice.
"I feel so shamed."
She turned her eyes to rest first on Earentila, then slowly on Maedhros. He lay on the ground bleeding slightly from the Dragon inflicted wounds that Earentila gently tended too.
Then she looked away off into the distance after the Dragon. Never had anyone or anything left her so helpless, so useless to those she had fought with or guarded. Her shame began to turn to anger and she cursed under her breath. Such a violation could not be tolerated, she would have that cursed Dragon's scales upon her wall for a trophy.
She glanced back toward Maedhros and once again the shame hit her. Maedhros the great warrior. He probably thought her an infant child incapable of defending herself let alone protecting him on his quest, or even helping him. She scoffed at herself and then went quickly to kneel before Maedhros, her head bowed low in shame.
"Forgive me My Lord." She spoke softly. "I have failed you. I am not worthy to attempt to lend my aid to your quest. Please tell me what you wish me to do, and I shall do it. Do you wish me to leave you? I shall do so with all haste if that is your wish. I should be made to live with me shame."
Nildadari gulped her shame and waited silently on bended knee for Maedhros's reply.

But Earentila put her arm around Nildadari's shoulders and gave her a hug. 'Do not be ashamed!' she said gently. 'For many have been bedazzled by the cunning glance of a dragon. Keep your pride. For we are still alive, and Maedhros' hurts will heal quickly. I have greater fear for what thoughts and doubts have been placed in our mind by the words of that worm. Heed them not!'

Nildadari nodded weakly, the kind words from Earentila seemed sincere but at the same time they lacked the approval that she needed, the forgiveness even. True she had failed them both, but she looked more to Maedhros for forgiveness of her weakness before their foe, would forgiveness come from this stern warrior, or would reproach fall from his lips. The mere thought made her queasy and she simply waited silently. He would speak soon enough, but would he say the words she needed to hear....

I clenched my sword with my hand and I remembered the pain, I had not felt such pain since my torment in Thangorodrim. I see the tormented eyes of Nildadari, who thinks that she has failed me. Wonder not, Sindar elf, the gaze of a Dragon is something very powerful, thou are not the only one who failed. Magnus my foe has seen through me the objective of my quest and now plans as to how destroy my hope for peace.

My wounds will heal, such as they once did, and with the help of Eäritila . Magnus does not want to kill me just yet, he wants to make me suffer. You have proven yourself a magnificent guide and will be honored to have you accompany me in this quest. You will be able to resist his gaze next time Nildadari.

Look, Belegost is before us. I wonder if I will find what I seek there.

'What of that map?' asked Earentila. 'Is that of some use to us perhaps? Or shall we just make our way to the gates?'

'Some of her kin, perhaps?' said Eäritila to Maedhros. 'Well, now I have seen a dwarf hall and a dragon lair. The legends of the great wealth of dragons, sitting idly on their hordes are not true then? I saw weapons and the like, but no pile of gold. Or mayhap this dragon has suffered ill fortune!'

Eäritila was feeling high-spirited again. The light of Valinor was still bright in her eyes, and despite all she had seen, she was not dismayed. Indeed, such things were like a living dream to her.

No my dear Eäritila. You see, there is no gold because this dragon, if I remember correctly has different lairs. This, by the map that i was given, is only a small part of her territory.

We should be wary of Nildadari's kin, they will not like me if they knew who I was.

'I see.' replied Eäritila thoughtfully. 'Then I will talk to them and see what they are about. Doubtless they will welcome me, a daughter of the Teleri. Wait here!'

And with a wink and a smile, she sprang lightly down the hill towards them.

As soon as he saw Nildadari, Caimarë started running towards her. When they met he caught her in a bone-crushing hug. "Nil! How good it is to see you at last, my sister! What have you been doing all these years?" Before their joyous reuinion could get any further, the rest of Nildadari's party arrived. Upon seeing Maedhros, Caimarë's grin faded into an expression of awe and wonder. He dropped to one knee, head bowed. He had not seen Maedhros for over an Age and during that time many tales of the Noldo's herioc deeds had fallen upon his ears. However, he had not ignored Maedhros' darker side, and the Oath of Fëanor was not forgotten. There was a slight tremble in his voice as he announced, "My Lord. I place my sword at your command. May I enter your service?"

Nildadari stepped back to look at her brother. It was long indeed since they had last seen each other, and she was eager to see how he had changed.
The sword in question hung upon Caimarë's back. It was plain and unadorned, apart from a single saphire set in the pommel. The hilt was bound in soft green leather. It was the only weapon he carried. He was dressed in comfortable but practical travel clothes, with a studded leather jacket over the top. His unusually fair hair was gently disturbed by the breeze; it spoke of Vanyarin somewhere in his ancestry. It was a rare thing; none of his siblings nor his parents shared it.

Maedhros placed his hand on Caimarë's shoulder and raised him to his feet. "Gladly indeed do I accept thy service; I have need of all that I can, and if your sister Nildadari and you are in any way similar beside your looks, then your aid will be useful beyond measure". Maedhros then turned to the other Elves that had during this time stood silent.

Nildadari looked upon her brother with shining eyes, glad of the reception he had received from Maedhros. As twins they had always shared an unbreakable bond and leaving him to go adventuring had been
painful. Her joy turned suddenly sour as she saw who accompanied him.
her sister and Hurugurth her despicable bodyguard. She nodded woodenly to her sister and retreated to Maedhros' side, glaring at them from under a dark fall of hair.

Caimarë's smile faded as he saw his sister's reaction to the other Elves. In an attempt to keep the moment joyous, he said, "Come now Nil, it is a long time since you last saw our sister. Surely you can put your grudges aside?" He then turned to Maedhros, bowing low before speaking. "My Lord, where are we bound?"
He spoke again to Nildadari, a quick grin flashing across his face. "Though I must admit that travelling with them was at times painful. Conversation was sparse and dismal at best". This earned him a scowl from his sister, and a menacing look from her bodyguard.

Eve, who had been only partially visible due to shadows, came into the full light. Her face was set sternly as she faced her sister. "Nildadari," she said, her voice hard with a hint of coldness."We meet again, I see." Her gaze turned to Maedhros, and her eyes darkened and sparkled with anger immediatley. She turned to Hurugurth, who did not look any happier than she. With a swipe of her hand, she pushed back her hair, and her mail shirt gleamed. On her back was a bow with arrows, and her great sword Vulcan, hung menacingly on her hip. Dressed in deep brown with a green cape, she was hard to see if you weren't looking for her. Strengthened by a life of adventures in the wild, you did want her anger to be turned upon you. Her voice still hard, she said, "I request to join you, if only to keep Nildadari in line."

Unnoticed, Eäritila watched this whole exchange warily. She gave no sign, but sized up the brutish looking one. He would be no match for her!

But when yet another newcomer came from the shadows she fitted an arrow to her bow with hands that moved faster than the wind. It was pointing at Eve's throat in an instant. 'Who are you that springs from the twilight? What is it to you who we are or where we go? Move not! But speak swiftly!'

"Wait!" cried Nildadari flinging up her hand "This is our sister, Eve." Turning to her sister she glared at her and approached her menacingly. "I am allied to Maedhros, sister and there is little you can do to prevent me." She looked with contempt at Hurugurth who stood at Eve's side, his arms folded across his chest.

"I see you still have this ....person with you, sister dear." She spat at his feet and stood her ground before him.

Smiling slightly but her eyes flashing dangerously, Eve pushed the arrow away from her throat. "I would watch the way you speak, but if you must know, I am Eve, sister of your companion Nildadari. What matters to me is that my sister learns to control herself, for it could matter more deeply than you know that she does this." As she said this, her hand drifted slowly down to the silver hilt of her sword. Her fingers wrapped around the black leather on its handle, but she did not draw it. For now, at least, she held back from that.