Her mother didn't care, deep down she knew It was her fault but she wouldn't admit It for the world. Without realizing It, she had broken her son deep Inside. She had made him guilty. Guilty of her father's crime when she should have spoken to him as a victim.
Mistrid was lying to herself, repeating to herself that the child had loved her right away, a child loves his mother, and he recognizes her and follows her. She still had hope that this child would love her one day, that he would understand her gesture. When it seemed to her that he was old enough, she tried to explain to him why he didn't have a dad. But Zack remained insensitive to his confidences, he kept his eyes closed or fixed on a point straight in front of him.
And today, Mistrid was still wondering if it wasn't by choice that he had thrown himself into the river, to end his remorse and finally leave this mother who hated him. She had never put words to this event. But It was nevertheless true, she had killed her son, condemning him for a fault he could do nothing about.
She cried often, Mistrid, telling herself that she shouldn't have burdened this little being with all his problems, not punishing him for what his father had done.
And that, finally, maybe, was he not guilty…
She cried often, Mistrid.
She had the right to.
Elwen didn't open her eyes right away, letting the memory sink In. It was almost soothing. As if, after last night's dream, we had wanted to heal our wounds. It had been years since she had dreamed of those memories and seeing them again almost made her feel good.
But it reminded her of the suffering of her first friend, of her substitute mother… She felt hypocritical to think that, but this suffering was not her fault and It was restful. Elwen stood up with a smile plastered on her lips for the first time in a long time. Mistrid had died a long time ago, but today Elwen rose with her strength flowing through her veins
She walked over to Elladan who was still on guard. He was sitting on a rock, his sword in his hand, the moonlight shining on his face. She found him handsome, but after all, all elves were handsome. She smiled at herself, telling herself that she was lucky to have them. She had met them forty years after Hoarwell. She was then on the other side of the Misty Mountains.
Elwen quickly braided her hair and went to sit next to the brown elf. He turned to her, saying nothing.
- "Who should we meet?" she whispered.
Not daring to look at him, she fixed her gaze on the trees In front of her.
- "A… a friend." We had promised to meet again that day and we will make sure to keep this promise, he replied after a whIle. Don't worry, he's very nice, I'm sure you'll get along well.
- I want to hear a name, she Insisted
- He was in Greenwood's army, and now he's a Ranger. He lost his traveling companion years ago, he was a very good friend to the three of us, Elladan whispered sadly, lowering his eyes. I'll leave you, I'll sleep a little longer. »
He left and went back to bed, and Elwen remained alone on the rock. Without her knowing why, a single sentence resounded In her at this moment: "We always pay for our crimes sooner or later"
She saw dawn break a few hours later. She went to wake up the others and they left immediately, not even taking the time to eat.
The horses were tired, Elwen rode wIth Elladan but they soon had to stop again to let them breathe. Two weeks passed like this, stopping every other day to sleep a few hours before dawn when the plains were deserted.
Elwen didn't like this sustained rhythm, she felt too much, like a burden for the other two. It's true that If she had had her horse, they could have been on time, but they had already fallen so far behind that this one couldn't even be made up for.
She saw them getting anxious, hoping their friend had waited for them a few more days. So, one evening, she offered them something.
- "You could go ahead, I'll follow you walking and you'll come and join me after your appointment." I can-"
She didn't have time to finish her sentence when the twins froze. They looked very serious and frowned.
- "Ilestelwen … We are a team, we do not separate, even If we are late on an appointment, answered Elrohir. It's not so bad If we miss this meeting, we will have other chances.
Anyway, we only have a few days left before we get to the rendezvous point," Elladan added, ending the conversation.
The meal ended In a good mood, and they left immediately and continued on the road for the night.
Elwen was less tired than the twins so she took the reins of Elrohir's horse and let him ride behind her. They rode all night and when the day came, they stopped their crazy race and decided to take a few hours of rest. Everyone suddenly fell asleep and Elwen's dreams were only worse. She had a nightmare throughout their short break and woke up after two hours of sleep. The twins were already up and waiting for him to leave.
They set off again and Elladan told them that they would arrive In two days If they continued at this pace for the rest of the day and night.
Time was pressing them and they chose to push the pace. They only stopped their mounts in the middle of the second night and fell asleep immediately. Elwen was not sleepy so she stayed awake, drowsy, before deciding to go explore this forest. She got up and went to get her weapons in her bag then left by jumping on a branch before climbing the tree.
For about half an hour, she advanced due east. Elwen felt alive again among these trees. They had a few strange things as if she had been here before without knowing It. As she closed her eyes to better feel the wind rustling the leaves, a noise made her freeze. She jumped down silently and approached the source of the noise.
The scarlet-haired elf discovered, hidden by the trees, a patrol of about fifteen orcs. Her breath caught and she felt the reassuring weight of his sword on her back. While she was going to try to turn around quietly to leave as quickly as possible and warn her friends, she found herself face-to-face with one of the monsters.
- "An elf!" Kill her Immediately! Cried the latter, once the surprise had passed.
Elwen had known the black language of Mordor for centuries, she had never told why. This language had been useful to her when she had begun to bargain with the Enemy and to kill for him.
She drew her sword and stabbed the orc who couldn't finish his sentence. She immediately started running in the opposite direction. It was only then that she realized how far she was from their camp.
- "Elladan! Elrohir! She cried with all her might. Orcs! Orcs! »
But his calls went unanswered. She could hear the orcs behind her. She only took a few minutes to understand the stupidity she was doing. Elwen was about to lead an orc patrol directly on her friends who were still drowsy and exhausted from the road. She suddenly changed direction, trying to drive the horrible monsters away from her friends. She continued to scream at the top of her lungs but it was a waste of time, they were far too far away.
Elwen suddenly turned around and decided to face the beasts. She tightened her grip on the hilt of her sword and slew the first orc she saw. When they threw themselves on her all at the same time, she felt a surge of anguish goes through her. Orcs weren't very intelligent creatures, but you must admit she was outnumbered.
It had been more than a century since she had fought alone, but her reflexes for solitary combat returned quickly enough to allow her to take down a second orc. She didn't know how long the fight lasted but It felt like an eternity.
She sliced through flesh as fast as she could, but the number of assailants never seemed to diminish. She tried again to call her friends, but she knew she wouldn't last long. She decapitated another orc before ducking to avoid a sword. She twirled her heavy blade and slew three monsters at once. With a kick, she pushed back an orc who was trying to pierce her with a spear. She pierced his heart before cutting off the leg of another.
She faced the four remaining orcs, frowned, and charged at them, screaming.
She succeeded In killing one of them but the fatigue of the journey and of the too-short nights added to that of the fIght, she felt unable to kill them all. She parried a violent swing of her sword, deflecting It towards her shoulder. The blade cut through his flesh and sank into it. She groaned In pain before slamming her foot Into the orc's head, producing a loud crack.
The elf looked at his left shoulder, It was badly bruised and bleeding. His hand was sticky with blood and moving the arm was quite painful. The whistle of an arrow rang out and out of the corner of her eye, she saw an orc fall. She grabbed her remaining sword and stabbed one of the two remaining orcs. When she turned around, she saw a blond elf take down a monster in turn. He was tall and his hair twirled around him as he turned to her
He wasn't looking at her but she knew It, without understanding why. He was a Wood Elf, it showed in his uniform. As he wiped his sword on the ground, Elwen approached him.
- "Thank you, with all my heart," she told him. Without you, I was lost. »
He looked up at her and smiled slowly.
- "Who would have thought that orc would hang around here?" she added, laughing, still out of breath.
- You're hurt… he finally said.
- Oh… Yes, I know. A moment of Inattention. »
He continued to stare at her silently. She found It embarrassing, he on the contrary seemed almost amused.
- "You fought well, he told her after a while
- "Thank you, you too…" she replied. I am Ilestelwen {Hopeless Woman} but you can call me Elwen, I prefer… My father didn't like me. After another silence from her, she continued. Well… I don't know where you come from but I have to find my pair of twins…"