Disclaimer: I do not own the LOTR
CHAPTER TWO
It was a silent journey as the fellowship and Vaeri entered the Woods of Lothlorien. There was no time for talk along the way. Vaeri was self conscious in the beginning as she was walking around in her pyjamas. She quickly got over it, whatever clothing she might have arrived in would probably have looked odd to them anyway.
"Stay close young hobbits! They say there's a great sorceress that lives in these woods, an elf-witch of terrible power. All who look upon her, fall under her spell and are never seen again."
A voice suddenly came into Vaeri's mind. 'Welcome Vaeri of the otherworld, who has travelled time and space.'
Vaeri looked around to see if anyone else had heard anything. Frodo looked a bit taken a back, looking around himself. Then Gimli spoke.
"Well, here is one dwarf she won't ensnare so easily. I have the eyes of a hawk and the ears of a fox!"
Out of know where with arrows notched, Lorien elves suddenly appeared from behind the trees, aiming at them. The Fellowship stops and look around, alarmed. 'Must be an elf thing' Vaeri thought to herself.
"Oh..." Gimli said, looking a bit embarrassed.
"The dwarf breathes so loud we could have shot him in the dark." An elf spoke.
Gimli grumbles.
"Haldir o Lórien. Henion aníron, boe ammen She dulu lîn. Boe ammen veriad lîn."(Haldir of Lorien, we come here for help. We need your protection.) Aragorn spoke. It was a new language the Vaeri hadn't heard but she read in the book and knew that it was beautiful. She thought it was even more beautiful now that she could hear it actually being spoken.
"Aragorn, these woods are perilous! We should go back." Gimli said looking towards the elves apprehensively.
"You have entered the realm of the Lady of the Wood. You cannot go back. Come, she is waiting."Haldir said.
Haldir's eyes settled on Frodo for a moment, then moved to Vaeri. He took her in, from her strange clothing to the blood stain on her arm. He quirked a brow, she showed no sign of being in pain. Her shirt was cut so it was definitely her blood. Perhaps a glancing wound? Her long silver hair was tied up on the top of her head. She didn't fit in with those around her. She was clutching a book to her chest as though it was more important than life itself. An odd woman indeed. He then ushered the group to follow him.
The Fellowship arrived at Caras Galadhon. They ascended a winding stairway amongst the trees. Vaeri nervously looked around. It was like a fantasy world. She looked in awe at the large trees and grazed a hand along one as she walked around it.
This caught the eye of the wood elf. He watched her as she looked around and at trees, smiling softly to herself. He didn't know what to make of her. The first time he laid eyes on her in Moria he was taken aback by her unexpected presence. She wore clothing he has never seen before and yet she an air of familiarity around her. She was tall just a few inches shorter than himself and was lean. Her hair was a shimmering silver and it glinted on the soft light that ran along the staircase around the trees. He didn't miss her shooting in Moria either. He noticed along the way to Lothlorien that she seemed to be injured. But she wasn't complaining so he decided to wait until they were safe before treating it as time was of the essence. Legolas was sure that Aragorn would question her, hopefully some of his own questions would be answered.
The Fellowship went up some stairs that led to a glowing room and there, the Lord and Lady of Lothlorien descended to meet the Fellowship, hand in hand. Aragorn touched his head reverently in greeting.
Vaeri stared in awe at the beautiful couple in front of her.
"Nine that are here yet not the nine that set out from Rivendell." The Lord said looking to Vaeri for a moment. "Tell me where is Gandalf? For I much desire to speak with him."
Galadriel looks at Aragorn, reading the answer in his eyes.
"He has fallen into shadow." She spoke softly. "The quest stands upon the edge of a knife. Stray but a little and it will fail to the ruin of all." Galadriel looked at Boromir who can't seem stand her gaze. He starts shaking and casts his eyes downwards.
"Yet hope remains while the company is true." Galadriel looks at Sam and smiles. Sam continues to gaze at her. "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Go now and rest for you are weary with sorrow and much toil. Tonight you will sleep in peace." Vaeri then hears her voice in her mind again. 'Many questions swim in your mind, Vaeri. I will show you who you really are.' Vaeri's mouth fell open.
The Fellowship headed down the stairs, Vaeri stayed behind. Legolas went back to her.
"Vaeri," He began putting a hand on her shoulder, but Galadriel spoke.
"She is to remain here until I release her." Legolas looked to her then back to Vaeri, he nodded but Galadriel noticed the slight resistance in the young prince. Galadriel waited until he was gone before she spoke. "Come with me, my dear."
Vaeri nodded and followed the beautiful Lady. They sat down beside a small table.
"Your book," Galadriel said. Vaeri placed it on the table before her. Galadriel delicately took the book in her hands and opened it to exactly the last written page.
"Please, if you know why I am here, tell me. I want to go home." Vaeri felt a tear slide down her cheek.
"My dear, you are home." Galadriel said looked away from the book and into her eyes. She handed her book back and left it open to the last written page.
There, a new sentence appeared.
'Vaeri, this is your aunt.'
Aunt? How was that possible? She was just a character from a book. There was no way she had any family relation to her.
"No, I'm not from this world. How could you be my aunt?"
"Tell me of you parents from the otherworld." Galadriel asked.
"They died last year." Vaeri saddened. "Even though I was adopted they were the parents that loved me, they were the ones that were there for me."
"And of you biological parents?" The Lady asked.
"I don't know anything about them." Vaeri spat. "All I know is that I was abandoned as an infant. Left in the woods to die. They aren't parents to me, they didn't love me." She held hatred in her heart. How could someone have a child and leave them completely alone?
"That is where you are wrong." Galadriel leaned forward and grasped Vaeri's hands. "Those that know me know that I have four brothers Finrod Felagund, Orodreth, Angrod, and Aegnor. But what they didn't know is that I also had a sister. Your mother."
Vaeri stared at her wide eyed, unbelieving. When she was ready to speak, Galadriel lifted a finger to her lips. "Let me explain from beginning to end, then you can ask your questions." Vaeri nodded slowly, paying close attention to what Galadriel told her.
"My sister Avanna, lived here and there, never settling into a home. She had unique gifts that she didn't want getting into the wrong hands. She thought she was protecting us by not being around her family. But then she fell pregnant, with an elf she fell in love with, but he died soon after, and so she came back to me. Fear began to take over her and her health began to fade, though knowing you were within her gave her in inner strength to carry on. One of her gifts was that of foresight. She told me she saw a vision of you as a child being hunted. This broke her heart for you were everything to her. So to protect you she made the ultimate sacrifice. You see, her powers that others coveted were that of time and space. She could manipulate it, but at great cost. So to protect you she poured her essence into this book and with the last of her power she sent you across time and space to another land. She left this world after." Vaeri felt tears brimming her eyes. "You are here now because the world has called you back. Even I did not foresee this."
"She locked away your elven spirit as well after you were born. But now with the book in your hands, that spirit is slowly flowing back into you. Take your arm as an example."
Vaeri looked to her arm. She had completely forgotten the cut after entering these woods. She moved aside her ripped sleeve and the faintest red line remained.
"Soon not even a scar will remain. That is the power of Elven healing."
"So the words that appear to me in the book, are those my mothers words?" Vaeri asked.
"Yes, a part of Avanna lives inside this book." Galadriel smiled lightly to the book and closed it. All the previous hate she held for her parents disappeared in an instant. Her mother had protected her at the cost of her life. There was probably no greater way to show a parents love than that.
"Ok." Vaeri breathed taking it all in. "So if this is all true, than that makes me what? An elf?"
Galadriel smiled. "For the most part yes, but if the book remains in one piece, a part of your elven self will be locked away."
Vaeri nodded in understanding. Though, still in shock she did believe it. Her arm was proof enough for her. Many times she had cut or scrapped herself and it never healed this quickly. And this was a much nastier wound. So I won't become a complete elf unless this book is gone. That's something she decided to keep to herself for the time being
"Gandalf said that this book might be a way for me to get back to my home." Vaeri began but noticed Galadriel's disappointed look a the word 'home'. "I mean my other world."
"Yes, when your task is done, I believe you will have the option of returning to the other world."
"My task, and what might that be?" Vaeri asked skeptically.
"Your task is to protect, and ensure return of the king." Vaeri gave her a quizzical look. "Aragorn son of Arathorn is the future King of Gondor."
Vaeri then remembered some of what she had read in the book. Galadriel wants her to protect him? What could she do to help him? She wasn't a fighter? She was average at the bow on a good day.
"Vaeri," Galadriel began regaining the young woman's attention. "I can feel the same power that your mother carried within you. Time and space are at your fingertips, but I must warn you, if you choose to use such power it always comes at a price. Be it something small or great. Be prepared."
Vaeri nodded and looked to her hands. Time and space. She prayed she would never have to use it.
"Now, your fellowship awaits your arrival." Galadriel stood up and led her to the group.
Vaeri saw the hobbits were resting as well as the others. Legolas was walking by and he saw Vaeri descending down the steps to them. He stared at her a moment she seemed to have a new internal glow about her. No mortal glowed this way. Galadriel whispered something into her ear and walked away smirking slightly at the ellon.
Vaeri smiled at him and continued on and set her book down in an unoccupied tent. A set of clothing laid there, she went to the bathhouse to clean herself and change. The new clothing was simple. A soft purple silk fell down around her and had silver embroidered vines all around it. She let her long silver hair fall down beside her. She came back to group and found them in a circle, save for the Hobbits that lay asleep. She sat down on a stump.
They all look to one another for a moment. Aragorn was the one to break the silence.
"Now, I know some of you may be against it but Vaeri," He motioned a hand in her direction. "She will be joining us on our journey."
"But she doesn't know what she is getting into!" Boromir disagreed.
"I have reason to believe that she will be important in the future. And need I remind you Gandalf instructed that she be with us as well?" Aragorn argued.
"She will just get in the way." Boromir huffed.
"Train me." She spoke softly, Legolas seemed to have been the only one that heard her. As he looked at her, his eyes widened a fraction at her boldness. "Train me." She spoke louder. "I already know the basics of shooting an arrow. I just need more practice. I don't want to get in the way. Plus I have my own reason for joining this quest." Vaeri said with determination.
Boromir grumbled and walked away saying, "Be it on your head."
Vaeri smiled lightly.
Aragorn walked towards her and knelt down before her. "I pledge to protect you as long as I am able." He bowed his head down. Vaeri placed a hand on his shoulder and he raised his head.
"And I the same." She smiled. He smiled back and stood up. He looked toward Legolas. "Seems like our newest companion needs a teacher and I cant think of none better than you Legolas."
Legolas looked to Vaeri, her sparkling blue eyes held hope and anticipation. Any past fear seemingly had disappeared. "It would be my pleasure." Vaeri smiled happily and went to get up when Legolas remembered her injury. "Vaeri, did you get your arm treated?"
Vaeri looked at Legolas for a moment and then pulled up the sleeve of her dress. She showed him her arm, a light red line was all that adorned it. Legolas inhaled in shock.
"How can this be?" Legolas said and placed a hand under her arm, raising the healed wound closer to him.
Gimli stood up from his seat and peered over. "My, the lassie has her own secrets doesn't she?"
Vaeri smiled to the dwarf. "I had almost forgotten about it since it only hurt for a short time."
Aragorn rounded her and saw the fading line. "Vaeri, is there something you have yet to tell us?"
She nodded. "Apparently I'm an elf." She shrugged her shoulder as if it wasn't a big deal. For her the initial shock had worn off but it was funny to see their reactions.
Legolas' eyes furrowed. This made no sense, and yet a part of him always knew. Elves were always drawn to each other. That was how he had first found her, but all he had seen in Moria was a human. It seemed the short time she had been in his company she was slowly showing more attributes of an elf-maid.
"My mother was Galadriel's secret sister." She began and pulled her sleeve down. "My mother sent me away as an infant, and this book holds her essence and my elven spirit. But it is slowly leaking out."
Legolas stared down at the book. He had never heard of such a thing happening before. Vaeri handed the book to him. "Maybe my mother will have something to tell you?"
He tentatively grabbed the book and flipped through it, landing on the last written page. There, a sentence stood out to him.
'Mellon, Legolas of the Woodland realm. I know your father, we were good friends. Please take care of Vaeri. She is my everything.'
Legolas reread the words in front of him a few times before closing it and handing it back.
"You have my protection Lady Vaeri." Legolas gave her a small bow. Vaeri was curious as to what it said but just smiled at him.
"Thank you, but please call me Vaeri. Being called a Lady feels weird." She smiled. "And can I also ask you to be my 'elf' teacher? I don't know anything really about your or," She corrected. "Our culture."
"Sure." He smiled.
"And I shall be your dwarf teacher!" Gimli proclaimed, killing the mood. Though Vaeri just laughed and said she would be happy to learn.
"We will begin your training tomorrow then." Legolas said.
"Alright." Vaeri said. "But if you all don't mind I am in need of some sleep. I haven't slept in over 24 hours and need some rest."
Legolas smiled. "One day you wont feel the tiredness of sleep."
Vaeri looked at him bug-eyed. "Elves don't sleep?"
"It's not that we don't sleep, we just don't tire like men."
"That day cant come soon enough." She laughed. "Goodnight Legolas," she said to him. "Everyone." She said to the others and headed into her tent for a goodnights sleep.
How was that chapter? Are we liking Vaeri? I hope so. Please leave a review!