Chapter Ten: Better Times

Fo.A 19, Nov 29th

Idrial stood behind the tree, arrow notched, waiting for the right moment to let it fly. The buck grazed on the short winter grass that grew on the mountainside, and she had been tracking him for several miles before finally stumbling across him.

Anna was standing off to her left, arrow ready and waiting in case Idrial missed. Idrial huffed, like that would happen. Stepping carefully around the tree, Idrial took aim and fired, hitting her mark. She smiled.

"That was a nice shot," Anna said, joining her at the kill.

"Hannon le," Idrial replied, examining the buck, feeling pleased with herself. It was only a four-point buck, but it would feed them for a few days at least. She wasn't sure how they would make it through the winter in the mountains, and certainly not in their current camp; the snow would surely reach them come December.

"May I ask you something?"

Idrial looked at Anna quizzically. The strange elleth had said little since her arrival, and Idrial didn't exactly trust her. While she seemed to no longer want to kill Údar, Idrial wasn't sure what it was that Anna was doing with them now that her mind had been restored. If it had, in fact, been restored.

"Ask away."

"What is your relationship to Údar? You seem to have a history together."

Idrial eyed her suspiciously. "Why do you want to know?"

"Well, he's a bit of a mystery. I remember meeting him and not recognizing the origin of his name, nor realizing at the time how much he seemed to know about me. I'm curious."

Idrial snorted. "Then you are in good company, for there is much I still do not know about him."

"He mentioned a place...Narneea I think it was. What happened there? Is that where you met him?"

Idrial tensed. "I met him there, yes, a long time ago. And it's Narnia."

"Interesting." Anna tilted her head. "How long ago?"

Idrial was struck by the innocent way Anna asked it, a far cry from the murderous rage she had been in not that long ago. "I didn't keep track," she replied shortly.

"Where is this, Narnia?

"Why are you so full of questions?"

"Would you not have questions?" Anna replied.

Idrial pinched the bridge of her nose, wishing Anna has stayed at camp with Údar. "It's complicated," Idrial said at last. "It is not a part of this world as far as I know of. He was there already when I found myself there, and he helped me." She trailed off, remembering her first encounter with Údar, or Elindar as he was known back then, and Mandar. What an old little group they had been.

Idrial shook herself from her recollections. "No more questions until we get this deer back to camp. Come, help me clean it."

Anna wanted to ask more but sensed that she would get no more out of her companion than she already had until they were back at camp. Pulling out a dagger, she went about helping Idrial dressing the creature.

<><><><><><><><><><>

Údar looked out from the clifftop towards the sea, his cloak pulled close about him. He wasn't sure why this view seemed to call to him, and he couldn't say why it was that he always returned to this spot overlooking the sea in the distance. It just seemed right. Safe.

A shiver ran down his spine, and he pulled the cloak tighter to himself. He was thankful for its warmth and comfort amidst the harsh cold of winter. No doubt a benefit placed on it by its maker.

Údar found his mind drifting, like a ship on the sea without either rudder or sail, blown to and fro by the wind and at the mercy of the waves. His mind drifted back to the time when he had first arrived in this world and to the Last Homely House. 

To better times.

-II-

TA. 2838

The young man lay in the tall grass surrounded by woods, the heat of the day already upon him. He stared up at the blue sky, mind blank, and body unwilling to move.

He was alive.

The pain of the former life still lingered, though, and the ache in his chest would not go away. He'd left her. He'd run, then run right into trouble before ending up here, wherever here was.

He groaned, throwing his arm over his eyes and cursed the growing heat. He hated being hot.

The sound of distant hoofbeats seeped into his awareness, and the young man bolted upright, fighting back the dizziness he experienced. As his vision cleared, he saw two horses thundering towards where he lay. "Great," he mumbled. "Let's hope they're friendly."

The horses were upon his position before he had been able to fully stand, and once the stars disappeared from his vision, he could see two figures outlined against the sun, spears glistening. He raised his hands. "Hello."

The figures, who wore gilded helms and armor, looked at each other, and he wasn't sure if they understood him. One of them climbed down from the horse, removing the helm as they walked towards him, revealing long dark hair and grey eyes. "Mae govannen."

The young man's eyes went wide. "Holy crap. You're..." The words stopped as the dizziness returned in full force, and he felt his legs go weak, and darkness take him.

The elf who remained on the horse snorted, shaking his head. The elf on foot turned, eyeing his companion. "Should we take him back to Imladris, Elrohir?"

"It's just a boy, probably got lost on his way home," Elrohir replied.

Elladan shook his head. "What village do you know of that is around here, brother? I shall tell you, none."

Elrohir sighed. "Very well. If Ada is upset, though, I shall tell him it was your fault."

<>

Sweet voices spoke all around him, and he thought that he must have died and gone to Aslan's land. Cracking his eyes open, he heard the sounds cease, and he opened them all the way, seeing the elegant white ceiling above him. He looked down, seeing a beautiful woman with long dark hair and deep blue eyes sitting on the edge of his bed. "Am I dead?" he asked, a little woozy.

The woman laughed, shaking her head. "No, you are in Imladris, the home of Lord Elrond. I am Arwen, his daughter, and my brothers found you on the borders of our land yesterday."

The young man leaned up on his elbow, his heart pounding. "I'm...I'm in Middle-Earth?"

Arwen looked at him quizzically. "Yes, you are. Where did you think you were?"

The young man leaned back, staring up at the ceiling. "I'm here...I'm actually here."

Arwen looked at the two elven healers who only shrugged, then turned back to him. "What is your name, boy?"

The young man looked at her with a broad grin on his face. "You may call my Elindar, my lady. It is a great pleasure to finally meet you."

Arwen raised her brows in surprise. "How is it you know me?"

Young Elindar smiled. "I know a great many things about this world. I would love to speak more with you and your father when there is time."

Arwen furrowed her brow, nodding hesitantly. "That may be arranged. For now, rest, and take your ease here." She stood and walked towards the door, casting a quick glance back at the strange boy before ducking through.

Elindar lay in the bed, pinching himself every so often to remind himself that he was awake and that this wasn't a dream. "I'm actually here. But how? And for the love of all that's holy, why am I seventeen again!?"

He looked at the two elves standing there watching him with confused expressions. Elindar gave a nervous laugh and waved. "Mae govannen, mellon-nin."

The elves exchanged glances then nodded to him, but they didn't respond to their native tongue.

Elindar's thought's raced as he tried to comprehend his new surroundings. First Narnia, and now Middle-Earth. What was Aslan-oh- Eru up to?

Several hours went by before there came a knock on the door and a tall elf with long dark hair similar to Arwen's stepped through. His brows were knit together as his intense gaze examined Elindar, and the young man felt suddenly exposed. His mouth was turned slightly at the corners in a frown, and his presence was filled with awe and power.

Elindar, who had been given a robe of scarlet with a silver belt, stood and bowed deeply. "Lord Elrond, it is an honor." He met Elrond's gaze, but only for a moment.

Elrond wore a robe of deep blues and forest greens, his face unreadable as he silently looked him over. "My daughter has told me that you are a stranger to these lands. From whence do you come?"

Elindar swallowed. "Um, Narnia."

Elrond looked at Arwen and back. "Where is this land, for never in all my long life had I heard of such a place."

"Uh..." Elindar was at a loss for words. "It is a place...elsewhere."

Elrond narrowed his eyes, anger flashing in them. "You would dare lie to me?"

"No!" Elindar said quickly, panicking. "It's just that, I don't know how to explain it!"

Elrond raised his chin. "Then we have nothing further to discuss." He turned to leave.

"Eru sent me!"

Elrond turned quickly. "What did you say?"

"Eru sent me," Elindar repeated. "From the land of Narnia, but for what reason, I do not yet know."

Taking several steps towards him, Elrond stopped, towering over him with a curious expression. A minute passed, and still, Elrond said nothing, and Elindar's discomfort grew with each passing second.

"I do not sense any deceit in you," Elrond said, at last, a small smile on his face. "Luckily for you. Come and join us for supper and we shall speak further on this matter."

Elindar nodded, bowing again as Elrond walked towards the door. Then he remembered a question that had been burning on his mind. "Oh, my lord!"

Elrond turned, a brow raised high. Elindar took a step forward, asking, "What Age are we in?"

Elrond gave him an amused look. "It is 2838 of the Third Age."

Elindar's stomach churned, but he bowed and gave a thank you before sitting down on the bed as Elrond and Arwen left the room. 2838? He was in Middle-Earth almost a century before the War of the Ring? Why? To what purpose?

"Dear Eru, help me," he mumbled.

****************************

FLAAAAAAAAAASHBAAAAAAAAAACK!!!!!!

Oh snap, little Elindar hehe

Údar: I was pretty adorable.

What the!? Get out!!! *shoves Údar out*

Heh, anyway, you guys finally get a peek at his arrival to Middle-Earth! :D

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