Bird on a Wire - Part 1
Bird on a Wire - Part 2
Bird on a Wire - Interlude
Xanderian rode hard along the greenway, bent low over the back of the saddleless horse, whispering into its ear. The first pink tendrils of dawn could only now be seen along the Breeland horizon, but she knew she was already late, much too late.
Ahead of her she saw a figure trudging wearily through the rising light. At first it looked like one of the little folk she had seen at times in Bree, outfitted for battle like tinsmiths going to war. Yet the cloaked and hooded figure moved with a burning purpose, as if will alone kept its feet moving, weighed down with ill-fitting jerkin and hauberk and paldrones and heavy boots that looked as if they would pull the figure straight down into the earth, as well as a sword strapped too high upon its waist.
The huntress knew the identity of the plaintive figure long before she rode up beside it, looking down into gentle eyes still red and swollen from crying. “Hail Songstress.”
Audea had paused in the road, studying an unfolded map in shaky hands. Upon noticing Xanderian standing over her on horseback, she peered up, wide-eyed and pale faced. "A-Ah.. Hi.."
Xanderian smiled softly...and reached out one hand to stroke the girl’s head before she slid off the back of the horse, sending the animal off to wander as it would as she turned her full attention to Audea, feeling the confusion and despair surrounding her like bees around a flowerbed.
“Tell me, little one…”
Audea had most of her hair tucked into her hood, though a few locks dangled out from the sides. She gulped hard and either did not hear or did not wish to hear the elleth’s request. "Um.. Wh-Wha' are y'doin' here, Miss Xan? Don't y'have other things t'do?"
Xanderian carefully pushed the wayward strands of hair under the hood. “I have come for you, dear one...and for him. Perhaps I am not really here at all, does it matter? Tell me of it.”
Audea 's brow furrowed heavily. She seldom understood all of what her odd friend said, and she was not sure she wanted to this time. ".. Telll you of wha'?" she asked quietly.
The huntress looked silently off to the road behind them, the smoke of morning fires rising above distant Bree. When she spoke again, she looked into Audea’s eyes, her voice having the tone of a question to which she already knew the answer. “Tell me of what you have done...'
Xanderian watched her...eyes soft, but searching, as recognition flowed into the girl’s face.
Audea understood what Xanderian referred to and it made her stomach churn again, as much from the fact it was no longer her secret shame as from the act itself. She looked away, west along the Greenway, unable to meet the elf’s eyes any longer, and she decided to speak of something else as if talking about what she had done would make it too real. "I-.. I got.. a map.. I-It marks some ruins near the Brandywine where they were s'posed t' stop, I guess.."
Xanderian nodded as she glanced at the rough map. "As I thought, they are bound for the dwarves of Kheledul. I know the place they will be resting I believe...'
The huntress looked up at the stars as she handed the girl back her hard-won map, her voice growing softer, yet somehow colder, like the edge of a well-used knife. "His end was decided when he took Hawke from the Pony....if it had not been you, it would have been me, or this Viper. Hilston was no longer of use, after all, he was now just a liability...and liabilities do not live long.”
Audea gulped again as if she were struggling not to throw up again. She didn't walk to talk about it, or even think about, despite the images that kept popping up every so often. She couldn't keep those back, however. "He... He told me.. tha', um.. the boat leaves in f-five days... The Viper will prob'ly try to.. sell Hawk for more than he was gonna get from the nobles of.. Dol Amr-.. I can't remember.." She reached up to rub her bleary eyes, the images burned into her eyelids it seemed.
Xanderian nodded softly and pulled her gently into her arms. “Dol Amroth, proud and cold city by the sea...Alas for Hawke, our poor Gwaelion, adrift in seas you were born to but not bred for.”
Audea was pulled into the elleth’s embrace, but for once, did not return it. She merely seemed to stiffen in Xanderian's arms.
Xanderian nodded softly as if a moment had arrived and whispered in her ear. “It was in the hills above Bruinen...a scouting party of brigands, their pockets full of eastern gold to cause mischief. They had slain an unlucky sentry of Imladris who had come upon them and were seeking a way across the river and freedom, knowing the alarm had been raised in the last homely house. I was new to the service of my Lord Elrond, and in my eagerness to prove worthy I had outstripped my fellows in pursuit of the murderers. When I neared the banks I was alone. One of the bandits had strayed from the others, the call of nature bringing him to the water’s edge.”
Audea relaxed slightly, the elleth’s voice almost hypnotic as the girl slowly began to understand that this was not a simple traveling tale.
Xanderian continued, images seeming to form in the air as she spoke in a soft murmur. “He was some distance away and did not yet know he was observed. I did not wish that to change so I drew hurriedly and shot...as I let fly, somehow he heard the bowstring, or felt it...or somehow knew...and we locked eyes. I saw avarice, and cruelty…and fear. He was a hunted animal and knew it. Perhaps we both were. There is a fine line between predator and prey."
Audea drew her head back, and the two women met eyes as the elleth continued. “The arrow took him deep in the shoulder...yet a poor shot. I was young….so very young. He staggered into the river, bleeding badly...I think he thought to swim downstream to safety. My second arrow took him in the throat after I had narrowed the distence...I had not wished to risk another poor shot. I slipped into the water and I held him still so he would not thrash in the water and alert his fellows. I pressed my hand over his mouth and watched the terror in his eyes, watched his gaze beg for one more chance, just a few minutes yet, a single breath more. He struggled to speak…perhaps last words, perhaps a final request, perhaps a curse, or a prayer… but I did not allow it as I myself was too afraid to take that risk, and now I will never know his intent. I pressed harder over his mouth as he bled freely into the bright water and went limp at last, his free hand caressing my arm as if accepting, welcoming the end like a lover. I watched the light flee his eyes as he jerked once then went still, his flesh growing suddenly icy cold as if by some spell. I was still kneeling in the water, cradling his body after my fellows had made short work of his comrades and begun to return to Rivendell.'
Xanderian just stared into Audea’s eyes as the two came to a strange understanding, ageless first born archer and simple Bree lass. “I had no choice...he had earned his death...I had my duty...Yet of all those I have killed in peace and war, his blood is brightest on my hands...and the day I finally end, I will see that look in his eyes again. Respect what you did...but respect too the price you will pay. The debt of a slayer to the slain.”
Audea suddenly felt a little woozier, more of her weight pressing into the elf, the words sinking into her against her will. She just shook her head, like a stubborn child trying to deny their chores. It still wasn't quite real to her. ”.. Hawk.. Please, we have t'find Hawk..I don’t matter…”
Xanderian nodded slowly, the moment broken as she looked to the West. “Yes...the Brandy Hills...they will likely make for the ruined fortress of Hillshire. They will have full sight of the valley from there.”
Audea pulled back from Xanderian's hold, her gaze falling to the map she was still holding. She rolled her shoulders, shifting the awkward armor into a more comfortable position and began to amble heavily down the road, utterly wordlessly.
Xanderian simply followed, like a spirit guide, ever a few steps behind her. The Songstress wished to walk...so they would walk.
Finally Audea came to a pause. They had been traveling for some time until the sun was past midday. She peered off into the dusky distance to a large ruin atop the hill. "Think it's there?"
The elleth nodded. “Yes...that is Hillshire. If they are in the ruins they will no doubt have a watch assigned and it will be difficult to come upon them unaware. The Viper is a professional...he will not make errors easily.”
Audea nodded. Again, she fell silent, unsure, peering down to the map as though it could reassure her. Then, with some obvious hesitance, she slowly and carefully stepped off of the wide, safe road. Audea peered around warily, her lips pressed into a thin line, then continued into the underbrush. What was out there? “Watch out for boars.. an' things.....um...’specially things…”
Xanderian followed without argument, Heartbreaker humming happily to itself in her hand. “I will see that nothing harms you, my Songstress...focus on what your heart is telling you.”
The Breelander stopped and turned, wiping sweat from her face, the burden of the armor and weapons telling on her. “My heart is tellin' me tha' I'm way ahead of myself, Miss Xan...It all seemed so clear last night, when I...”. She looked down as if she might cry again, but bit her lip and regained control.
The huntress smiled gently, “You are doing fine....”
Above them in the hills, a dark figure stepped from the cover of the large tree in which he'd been perched earlier, his keen eyes watching the approach of the two figures up the steep hills. He had been watching them for some time as the walked down the Greenway. His longbow was in his gauntleted hands, an arrow nocked and at the ready, his aim falling callously on the first of the oblivious intruders.
Audea tilted her head to look up at the rather daunting hill leading towards the ruin. She exhaled a drawn out sigh. "This migh' take a bit, I'm guessin'.. I ain't used t'this armor. Maybe this ain't such a good..."
The elleth followed her gaze…and frowned slighty. Heartbreaker already in her grasp, she smoothly drew and nocked a long shaft in one fluid motion...but aimed it down as of yet. She cut off young Audea's words. “We are not alone, dear one...for good or ill, we are not alone.”
