Atop Asfaloth, Glorfindel found himself surprised to realize that, for the first time in nearly a century, he was actually looking forward to returning to Imladris. Something had changed within him. Something had filled the forlorn emptiness in his heart, pushing away the dark cloud of guilt that had come to envelop his existence. That something was Wonderer. For in this large and powerful, yet strangely childlike being, Glorfindel had found a focus for his need to nurture, to protect, to love. And the Balrog Slayer sent a silent prayer of gratitude to the Valar, for gifting him with this much-sought anchor in his life.
It was naught but a brief moment of self-indulgent thought that the three elves, unbeknownst to one another, were simultaneously engaged in. A small lapse in their vigilance.
But it was enough.
A fearsome growl brought the three, careening, back to their immediate surroundings. Some distance ahead of them, Wonderer stood with his chest heaving as he sniffed at the evening air. It was then that they saw the figures skittering over an outcrop of boulders, like so many maddened dark spiders.
Orcs!.
For Wonderer that moment seemed to freeze, as his mind was overcome by a terrifying vision...
// He had been scouting ahead, when he heard the chilling sounds that brought him running back to the main party of travellers. With a rush of anger, he wondered how a band of human brigands could have managed to sneak up behind them, and he determined to do his part to punish the curs for their audacity. But when he arrived at the scene of the battle, his heart nearly stopped in disbelief.
Orcs!.
Unseen since the Second Age, their foul forms now crowed the large clearing in mass numbers. Too many, he realized with sinking horror, too many for the elves to overcome... //
In his mind's eye, Wonderer once again witnessed the slaughter, played out in disjointed glimpses as his own arm rose and fell with every strike of his sword. And then...
// He was being held immobile by the cruel grasp of many twisted hands. Forced to watch, as the leader of the orc band viciously struck the beautiful face of the regal silver-haired lady, ripping the bodice of her gown with sharp claws, before throwing her to the ground and... //
{ No...NO!... }
With a roar that chilled the blood of his elven companions, Wonderer ran headlong towards the dark creatures. Glorfindel bit off an oath, calling for Taurnil and Nimarfan to ply their skills with the bow as he drew his sword and spurred Asfaloth on, desperate to catch up with the recklessly speeding figure.
Wonderer plowed into the front ranks of the orcs, who were too stunned by the sight of him to react, at first. That quickly changed, however, when he began to kill them with ferocious abandon. Yet for all his atonishing strengh and speed he would have fallen, had not the orcs suddently found themselves under heavy bow fire. And then, another fearsome foe rode upon them. The light of Aman shone forth from the golden warrior, sriking great fear into the orcs' black hearts, even as it blinded their eyes.
The battle that ensued was brutal. Though the orcs well outnumbered the four companions, they proved to be no match for the skill of the elves and the fury of Wonderer. Soon, the last few of the foul creatures quit the fray, fleeing for their lives. And in the sudden quiet that followed, Glorfindel, Taurnil and Nimarfan heard the welcomed sounds of another elven scout patrol, as it made short work of the deserters.
The carnage was over. Glorfindel dismounted, sending Asfaloth to the outer edge of the field, after ensuring that the faithful horse remained unharmed. Then he turned his attention to the poweful figure standing with his back to him, amidst a pile of mutilated corpses.
" Wonderer." He called, softly.
The thing that turned around at the sound of his voice, no longer bore any resemblance to a childlike being. Lips were drawn back in a horrid snarl and the feral yellow eyes now looking at the Balrog Slayer, were filled with mad hatred.
This, was an Uruk-Hai.
Still atop their own mounts, Taurnil and Nimarfan tensed as they watched the scene unfolding before them. Their hands closed around the pummels of their swords, for neither had any arrows left to fire. But they did not move, for with a terse hand gesture, their lord signalled them to stay where they were.
The sound of rapidly approaching hoofbeats also came to an abrupt stop, as the other elven patrol reigned in, stunned by the frozen tableu that greeted their eyes. Yet but a moment later, hands were reaching back to full quivers.
" Daro."
Glorfindel's voice was clear and calm, yet brooking no disobedience. Then it gentled, as he began to speak to the savage beast in front of him.
" It is over Wonderer. It is done. Come back to the light, mellon nin...come back to me."
Something shifted in Wonderer's face as he heard the soothing tones of the golden one's voice. And Glorfindel clearly saw the struggle taking place behind those feral yellow eyes.
" Aye, meldir." He continued. " Listen to my voice... Let it guide your fea away from the darkness."
The struggle ended. Wonderer sank to his knees with a keening moan, once more a lost and lonely child. Glorfindel rushed to his side, paying no heed to their gory surroundings as he, too, dropped to his knees, gathering the trembling body into a tight embrace. As the Balrog Slayer gently rocked the sobbing form in his arms, the leader of the other scout patrol brought his mount alongside Taurnil's.
" Sweet Eru!... What is that thing?." He whispered.
Taurnil's light-blue eyes were glistening with unshed tears, as he turned to face the elf.
" That is no thing." He anwered. " That, is Wonderer..."
TBC...