Fan Fiction ❯ The quick and the dead ❯ Settling in ( Chapter 5 )

 

 

Aragorn looked down at the slumbering young woman in his lap. Her hair had long ago escaped its confines. The mass spilt onto his shoulder looking all to the world a throng of black interwoven clothe. Her soft even breaths signaled a not so deep sleep with her arms stationary at her sides. The sunlight spilled into the room through the window making Kennonomoi appear to glow.

 

 

`Kennonomoi'

 

 

The name in itself was strange. The ranger in all his travels did not recognize its origin let alone it's meaning. Her clothing was even stranger. She seemed to wear gray leggings with an icy blue tight fitting top. The former seemed to be made out of the softest wool that he ever encountered while the later felt like silk was extremely more flexible. Upon her small feet were the most absurd looking footwear he had ever seen. But what Aragorn found most striking about her clothes was her jacket.

 

 

White leather was rare even among the Eldar. For this child to have it she must have been born to great earthly wealth.

 

 

`A princess?'

 

 

Aragorn snorted immediately `Not the way she acts'

 

 

Not even his beloved Evenstar acted like the sleeping hellion in his lap.

 

 

`A warrior?'

 

 

Defiantly, by the way she threw those blades at him earlier Kennonomoi was more than capable of taking down almost anything that came her way. The design on the back of the jacket was also foreign to him. An intricately designed falcon sat atop the jeweled pummel of a sword with outstretched wings. A strange white and blue plant wrapped around the blade of the sword and the talons of the falcon. The stitching was so precise that he believed that the Queen of the Valar herself wove it. But more to the point Aragorn had never seen the design before.

 

 

The more answers he received only seemed to give way to more questions. This women-child who slumbered in his arms so trustingly was an enigma that had roused his curiosity. But before he could think on it further he felt a hand on his shoulder. Looking up Aragorn was met his adoptive father's blue gaze. In the half elven lord's right arm was a bundle of cream and light gray. Obviously it was a gift for the girl because behind Elrond Aragorn could see a seamstress standing there with a basket full of supplies.

 

 

“Wake up Bee, there is someone here to see you”

 

 

The barely audible words were enough to bring awareness back to the youngest Espada. Orange orbs blinked up at him almost owlishly before coming into focus and then turned slightly to settle on Elrond. Kennonomoi looked anything but pleased.

 

 

“What do you want”?

 

 

Aragorn frowned, surprised at such a barely checked rage coming from the girl. From what little he had observed of her Kennonomoi wasn't easily offended or angered to the point of almost insanity. No she seemed to find more twisted ways to articulate her anger with creative threats and well placed glares.

 

 

`So what could have Ada have done to earn her ire'?

 

 

Aragorn's question was left unanswered though as the lord of Imladris handed Kennonomoi the bundle in his arms. The youngest Espada unraveled the bundle to see a beautiful dress. The cream color of the overall dress contrasted almost starkly to the silver embroidery of the collar and sleeves of the dress. She rubbed the clothe between her fingers noting the smooth texture and elegant shine of the material.

 

 

“Peace offering?”

 

 

“In a manner” the elf lord replied dryly

 

 

Kennonomoi became thoughtfully silent for a moment. Her gazed flickered between Elrond, Elrond's gift, and himself for some time before she spoke again.

 

 

“Apology accepted as to the our earlier encounter, tread carefully”

 

 

The elf-lord bowed his head slightly in acknowledgement to the warning that clearly wrung true in her tone of voice.

 

 

“Then I shall leave you in Anna's capable hands, Come Estel we have much to discuss”

 

 

With that Elrond left the room obviously expecting Aragorn to follow.

 

 

“Estel?”

 

 

Kennonomoi slid out of Aragorn's lap. Stretching her cramped muscles all the while. The Chief of the Dunedain two stood and stretched.

 

 

“It was what I am called by the elves”

 

 

“Oh”

 

 

Without another word he left.

 

 

And then Anna descended upon her. Already Kennonomoi could tell that she would live to regret her decision.

 

 

In the hall outside of Kennonomoi's room Aragorn joined Elrond. The ranger could see the worry and exhaustion taking its toll on the proud elf.

 

 

“Ada what is wrong”

 

 

Elrond sighed, “Walk with me Estel”

 

 

And so he did, their trek was low moods somber yet comforting. The beauty of Rivendell surrounded them giving them the feeling of safety and contentment. Elrond frowned. But such beauty was deceptive and the seemingly peaceful place stood upon the edge of a knife barely holding out from the destruction.

 

 

The twilight of the elves was fast approaching and the second rising of Sauron was upon them. Already there had been casualties from war in Rohan and Duneharrow. The creature Gollum had escaped from Mirkwood seemingly with the help of the nine. Even now the elf lord could feel his ring `Vilya' stirring to life. Sauron's eye had become fixed upon his valley city some time ago.

 

 

None of the things bode well in the mind of Gil-galad's student. Now looking at his foster son Elrond knew that he would not only lose a son but also a daughter soon. Arwen loved this exiled king of men, enough so that she would no doubt give her mortality. But that wouldn't deter Elrond from trying to keep the two lovers from each other.

 

 

Finally Aragorn broke the silence

 

 

“What do you know of Bee”?

 

 

He was careful to use her alias seeing as she obviously didn't want anyone to know of her true name.

 

 

`But why'?

 

 

“She is Othar en Rhun and the ninth walker that shall guard the bearer”

 

 

“You have seen her”?

 

 

Aragorn was careful to phrase his words knowing that even though the hallway was near deserted that the elves could still hear him.

 

 

“Her coming was prophesied long ago Estel it only signals at how little much time we have”

 

 

“Then they have arrived”?

 

 

Elrond nodded, “they have”

 

 

Suddenly Aragorn had the sinking suspicion that his father had done something stupid.

 

 

“Ada what exactly happened with your earlier encounter with Bee”?

 

 

Aragorn watched as an amused chuckle escaped Elrond's lips. His eyes were still tired but they were filled with slight annoyance and mirth.

 

 

“We told her of the prophecy to say the least she was less than pleased”

 

 

“Did she attempt to kill you”?

 

 

“No, why”?

 

 

Aragon silently cursed, “because had I not learned how to catch blades from Glorfindel I would have been very much dead”

 

 

Elrond raised an eyebrow.

 

 

“I had stumbled upon Bee while checking on Frodo, I had startled her and she threw two blades at me”

 

 

Elrond looked quite shocked before his expression morphed into anger. To anyone else the elf lord was still quite calm and even pleasant but Aragorn could see the storm brewing beneath still waters. He quickly changed the subject back to Kennonomoi's origin still truly curious as to where she came from.

 

 

“I do not know exactly where she comes from all the prophecy said was that she comes from an eastern dark city, did she not confide in you young one”?

 

 

“Only in vagueness and riddling tongue”

 

 

“Do not ask of me to divulge what I have learned my lord it would be a betrayal to both Bee and myself”

 

 

“Then do not break her confidence my son she will speak of her past to whom she will”

 

 

The ranger nodded silently.

 

 

“But come let us speak no more of it here Erestor, your brothers, and Gandalf have much to discuss”

 

 

Again Aragorn nodded before following Elrond to his study.

 

 

In Kennonomoi's room Anna had completed adjusting the dress Elrond gave the youngest Espada and was currently taking measurements so that the she elf could make more. The she elf would pick up stray pieces of fabrics comparing them to her skin tone and ask her about the styles of dresses she liked. Kennonomoi would answer Anna's questions indulging the she elf to who wanted to know her style.

 

 

“Anna can you make something else for me?”

 

 

She smiles at Kennonomoi.

 

 

“What would you have me make”?

 

 

The youngest Espada went to the desk by her balcony with Anna not far behind. Kennonomoi used the feather pen and ink to draw a picture of what see wanted on a blank piece of parchment. As Kennonomoi drew Anna looked on with a slightly pensive expression focusing on the lines and creases of the supposed outfit rather than the drawing itself. The design itself was simple. Unusually the girl drew what the elf maid considered males clothing. When she was done Bee handed Anna the drawing and watched her expression carefully.

 

 

“My lady these clothes are not meant for that of the fairer sex”

 

 

Kennonomoi grimaced; she was starting to tire of this chivalry bullshit.

 

 

“I feel more comfortable in those kind of clothes rather than any other, don't take this the wrong way but I prefer this style rather than the dresses no matter how beautiful they are” she replied.

 

 

Any other time Kennonomoi would be rude and perhaps even demented but her witty puns and silver tongued retorts were wasted here especially with pop culture references. So why bother? Kennonomoi was by all means a non-conformist but she was also a survivor by nature so at least some changes to her usual behavior need to change. Hence her resisting the urge to call the ditzy chick Anna a shallow minded hoe.

 

 

Looking into Kennonomoi's eyes then back at the picture Anna sighed.

 

 

“(Be iest lîn)” as you wish

 

 

The African American girl cocked her head to the side inquisitively.

 

 

“Is that a yes”?

 

 

Anna smirked, “Only if you wear dresses whilst in Imladris”

 

 

`Bitch!' Bee snarled mentally but outwardly she merely smirked, “then we have an accord”