Title & Chapter Number: Phantoms Be Near 1/1
Author(s): - Author's Index
Fandom: Tolkien
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: I am making absolutely no money off this. Elladan, Elrohir and all recognizable characters belong to J. R. R. Tolkien. The female elf, her beginnings start with Donna, her personality came from me. The idea for the ghost story told in this is a combination and inspiration of more than one tale from chapters in Phantom Animals by Daniel Cohen; The Roaring Bull, The Ghost Steer (which was the original inspiration, but I failed to come up with an idea to really set that in stone so continued through for more ideas), and The Phantom Hound. There is also a bit of an influence of The Last Unicorn, I always loved the Red Bull, but of course was glad that the Unicorn prevailed. :) Any Elvish you see in here is courtesy of the Dragon Flame Sindarin dictionary. Any mistakes in that area are all mine since I always did suck at other languages... even my native English at times. LOL So, I hope I haven't royally screwed anything there up, but please do inform me if I have.
Warnings: None
Betas: Tamara
Cast: Elladan & Elrohir
Timeline: TA
Spoilers: Nope
Summary: My story for the first ELVES_R_US Halloween challenge that I opted out of as far as winning go, but still wanted to see this completed. I have yet another version of this challenge to complete.
Notes: Those who attempted to help me out while I was trying to come up with the right animal... then Lady Starblade suggested, "you could just make up your own species." So, that's where the Mondogūr comes from, although it's not really it's species as you'll see... just a more advanced one of sorts. And of course thanks to Amy. B for being such a wonderful beta reader. :)
Well, I was going to go for comedy with this challenge, then I was going to go with smut because that's where my mind automatically headed. THEN because I had a gazillion other things to work on that were getting more work done, this hasn't been worked on for weeks and then last night I was rereading a book on Phantom Animals and just said to myself... "That would be fun to incorporate something like that into a story." So... here it is.
He looked at the beautiful maiden bathing in the cool stream. She was unaware that two sets of eyes watched her every move. Elrohir looked at his brother, reluctant to take his eyes away from her but curious to see his brother's reaction. Elladan looked much how he felt: totally in awe of their good fortune in happening by when such a gorgeous subject was available to their sights.
Elrohir turned back to watch the maiden and his mouth fell open as she turned around, giving them a frontal view. She dressed too quickly and both twins wore matching frowns on their faces. They continued to watch her as she took her pack and pulled out a brush. She began brushing her long blonde hair with a smile on her face. "I know you are watching me," she called out.
The twins froze in their spot. They had been caught! "What do we do now?" Elrohir asked his twin.
Elrohir shrugged. "Tell her the truth about our reasons for spying upon her." He stood and stepped out as Elladan stared at him in bewilderment, then followed him out of the hiding spot.
Elrohir bowed his head to her in respect, as Elladan followed suit, their hands clasped in front of them. Elrohir looked up. "Forgive us, fair maiden. Our thoughts were of keeping you safe."
She raised a disbelieving eyebrow at them. "Safe? This stream resides in the deepest part of Imladris. No Orc or any such creature could threaten me here."
Elrohir raised a finger as he stepped forward. "Ah! Orcs, yes, you are quite safe from such vile things," he said with a sneer. "But there are things of a less physical nature that roam these woods." He looked elsewhere for a moment before he gave a small shrug. "Well, at least once upon a time it was so."
She sat down upon the rock, clearly interested. "How so?"
Elladan took the moment to step towards her, drawing even with his brother. "The Mondogūr roamed these lands long years ago, not even such a place as Imladris would be safe."
"Long before we were born," Elrohir added.
She put her brush down. "The Mondogūr, what is that? I've never heard of it."
They each took a seat beside her as they began to tell her of the Mondogūr beneath the moonlight. Elrohir raised his hands as he made reference to the size of the Mondogūr. "It was a great animal, larger than even a Warg. A bull of immense power, which carried a forked tail and a crown of four black horns of such sharpness that even the lightest touch will draw blood through the thickest hide and could pierce the toughest armor. It wore a hide of the blackest black, eyes of great, red fire and its very breath was like the stifling smoke that rises from Mount Doom itself."
The young maiden gasped at the description as Elladan took over. "Once, long before Sauron rose to power, there was a dark Elf called Mornernil, The Black Prince. Some said his blood was tainted with evil when he was conceived and that, because of such tainted blood, he grew to adulthood four times as fast as a normal Elfling would. He grew powerful and bold. He bent weak minds to his will and with those he drew to him built Minas Coth upon a great hill. There he sought to bring destruction to Middle Earth."
The maiden had sat mesmerized through the tale thus far and finally ventured to say, "He doesn't sound that much different from Sauron."
Elladan nodded. "True, he doesn't, most evil beings, to me, appear much alike. They lust after absolute power. As did Mornernil. He wanted to bring such destruction upon the people of these lands that they would willingly surrender to him from despair and suffering."
"And until he had that," Elrohir said, "he would bring them under his rule by torturing any he caught. Their very souls would give flight and leave a living corpse to do with as he wanted. His armies grew with each one. But pride can be a downfall for many. The rest of Middle Earth refused to give in, and as the Last Alliance rose against Sauron, they rose against Mornernil. Many came from all ends of the lands, Elves, Men and Dwarves alike. Mornernil shouted from the top of Minas Coth that he would have them all under his rule before the next dawn came. There was a great battle and many died. During the majority of the battle, he sat up in his tower, listening to the sounds of battle below, as we listen to our sweet music."
Elladan inched closer as he once again took over. "When he grew bored of it and longed to bring an end to the battle and have his enemies under his rule, he took his sword and emerged from the tower."
"Only then did he leave it?" The maiden seemed somewhat surprised. "Why did he not venture out before if he was so confident?"
"It was because he was so confident that he did not emerge. Not only was he a very dark Elf... he was what you would call... a bit on the lazy side as well. You're interrupting the story, my dear," Elladan lightly chastised.
"Oh, sorry. Please, continue."
"Where was I? Oh, yes! He emerged from the tower, looking to strike down any who still stood himself. The battle had gone on long and both sides were weary. He began to slaughter those he came near, until all began to back away from him. Still he came on, laughing at them all."
"This," Elrohir said, "spurned his enemies to a final assault and they eventually slew him upon the edge of the hill. They went on to defeat the rest of his army and over the course of many, many weeks, they drove themselves on to destroy Minas Coth. The Valar were so displeased with his actions that instead of keeping him forever in the Halls of Mandos to contaminate everything he came into contact with, they sent him back to Middle Earth."
"They didn't?" She was astounded at hearing such a thing. "Surely, they would not let him wreak such destruction again?!?"
Elladan smiled as he shook a finger at her. "Calm down. We have not yet finished our tale. He was sent back in the form of a phantom bull who brought death to all who saw it, the Mondogūr. He was punished to forever roam the land, never to find rest anywhere. Never could he stop to eat for his breath would scorch the ground he tried to eat. No amount of water could quell his thirst and ease the soreness of his throat. Still, behind him followed a curse. In his path he left footprints of charred earth and if anyone were to ever step across it, were it a man, he would never sire children and would be pursued by such bad luck for the rest of his days he was usually driven to take his own life. Any woman would become barren and any man doomed to fall in love with her would be struck down by a violent death. And for any who saw the Mondogūr with their own eyes, they would be possessed to kill the first loved one they next saw, left to live with such immense guilt, shame and grief, if they were not slaughtered on the spot they stood by others."
The maiden was quiet, though a bit on the edgy side. She tilted her head at Elladan. "Why would the Valar send such a creature back to Middle Earth, especially to leave behind such... death?"
Elladan shrugged. "That is a question the tale that has been passed down has never answered. Perhaps, for some reason, all evil could not be banished from the soul."
"Or maybe he was sent as a reminder to the people lands for as long any shall live here," Elrohir mused.
She stared at him. "A reminder? Of what?"
"To keep to the path of truth and love, else you find your life controlled by the evil Mornernil sought to envelop all of Middle Earth with."
She nodded, finding it a worthy reminder indeed. All grew quiet for several long moments. The maiden was now looking around the dark shadows of the trees, perhaps expecting the Mondogūr to come charging out of the brush at any moment. They all jumped to their feet, however, when a snort came from behind them. She let out a piercing scream and hid behind the Twins as they drew swords and spun together. They all stared at the grey mare contentedly munching grass and looking back at them all as if there were foolish. All three erupted in hearty laughter.
"'Tis just Mithathol come to wonder when we are going to take her home and see her fed," laughed Elladan as he strode over to the mare, resheathing his sword.
Elrohir glanced around. "But where is Meldis?" As if in answer, a bay stallion emerged from the woods behind Mithathol, nickering softly. "Ah, there you are."
Elladan looked at the maiden. "Would the Lady care for a ride back?"
"I would love one." She smiled as she began collecting her things and storing them in the pack she'd brought.
"I will carry that for you," Elrohir offered.
"By the way," Elladan began as he pulled her up behind him, "what is your name?"
She wrapped her arms around his waist as they headed back to the Last Homely House. "Aerlinn, daughter of Lindir."
Elrohir bowed his head. "Pleased then are we to make your acquaintance."
The End
~*~*~*~
Mondogūr -- Bull of Death
Mornernil -- Black Prince
Minas -- Tower
Coth -- Enmity
Mithathol -- Grey Blade
Meldis -- friend
Aerlinn -- unknown meaning, possibly 'song about the sea' or 'holy song'~*~*~*~
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