A/N: So I was made aware of my little technicality in the last chapter regarding Caras Galadhon and how it takes a few days to travel there, thanks to my loving friend Brittany. Like I said, folks, I have not yet read the books but that's what I have her for! :D I hope a few of your questions are cleared up in this chapter! And thank you for my two amazing reviews! :D I loved them dearly!
Eraithwen had been led to a small clearing next to a crystal-like pool. It was only expected since these were wood elves and they mostly stayed outside. But part of her felt exposed, as though at any moment Sauron himself could come walking up to her and chop her head off.
She laughed a little to herself at thought. She knew she'd put up a hell of a fight if he tried.
Slowly she took in her surroundings, noting the silver-like tone of the air around her. The crumpled leaves at her feet blew softly in the wind and a bundle of blankets and cushions up against an old tree. Just at her feet there was a small pool with a waterfall running into it, making the softest almost inaudible sound. It was so inviting.
Eraithwen knew that Haldir, that annoying elf of Lorien, would certainly be back soon with her food, but part of her could care less. She began taking off her weapons, laying them neat and organized next to the little make-shift bed she would sleep on later. Soon enough she was in only a loose tunic that came just barely below her butt. It felt nice to be free of the tight confines of her traveling cloths, something that she'd found useful in battle but an annoyance when trying to relax.
She turned to the pool, just about to drop the tunic past her shoulders when the inevitable happened.
Haldir came around the corner of a tree, a tray of elven food in his hands. His jaw dropped at the sight of Eraithwen so scarcely dressed. He gulped, watching as she turned to look over her shoulder at him with a smirk.
"Hello there." She said, attempting to cover her shoulders again.
His eyes caught the scar on her back just before she did. It was dark, like it had taken a good chunk out of her skin and muscle tissue. It consisted of four long claw marks that put even Haldir's battle scars to shame.
"What's that?" He asked, more composed now.
She turned after buttoning up the tunic, walking up to him and taking the tray.
"What?" She asked, pretending to be oblivious as she turned to sit on a rock next to the pool of water.
She placed the tray on her lap and began eyeing the food with a hungry intent. She hadn't eaten food this scrumptious looking in many, many years.
"That on your shoulder." Haldir said, walking up to her and grabbing her shoulder.
She sighed as he pulled the tunic back, exposing her pale shoulder to his curious eyes. He looked at the scar again, noticing now that it had a slightly red tint, almost like glitter mixed in with her skin.
"This…" He muttered.
"You know, Haldir of Lorien, you get more and more aggravating by the second." She said, jerking her top from his hands and pulling it back up. "You don't just go jerking cloths off a lady like that."
Haldir raised an eyebrow at her. "And here I was under the impression you wanted me to jerk your clothes off."
Eraithwen blushed, turning away from him and looking back down at the water.
Haldir took her silence as a compliment, grinning to himself a little before looking down at the water himself.
"It's beautiful isn't it?" He asked her.
"Very." She muttered. "It's been a long time since I've come across a land so lush with beauty."
"It's not beautiful where you live?" He sounded genuinely surprised.
"Beauty left my home long ago." Eraithwen told him gravely. "Now all that's left is broken ruins and corpses. I do not dare to go back, and neither does my lady."
Haldir seemed somewhat saddened by this. "I heard of what happened, but I was not sure whether to believe it or not. It's been a long time since the people of your kingdom visited here, even before the downfall."
"We were always very private." Eraithwen told him quietly. "No one from the outside could be trusted. And now you know why."
"That stone around Lady Vanya's neck?" Haldir questioned. "That's the fabled Tigers Eye, isn't it? I was never one to believe that Sauron had his hands on it in the first place, but I wondered…"
"No, he never even laid an eye on it." Eraithwen said. "Upon the orders of the king Lady Vanya and I disappeared through the tunnels as soon as the attack started. Although…"
Haldir examined her quiet silence, wondering what troubled her, beyond the obvious. Her eyes seemed to grow sadder and sadder and he thought he saw them well up with tears but he wasn't sure. He was surprised when she shook her head as if dismissing the topic, and took another bite of bread.
"Why am I telling you this anyway?" She demanded, looking up at him again with a strong mockery in her eyes. "Do you always stick your elvish nose into other people's business?"
Haldir huffed. "I was only trying to be nice."
"Niceness is lost on me, my lord." Eraithwen said, standing abruptly and placing the tray back on the rock. "Now, unless you want to see me naked, I would walk away now."
"Who says I don't?" Haldir teased, earning a shrug from her.
But as soon as she began unbuttoning her tunic, every second showing a little more skin, he turned beat red and turned to walk away. She laughed to herself, the sound ringing through the trees and sending something similar to chills across Haldir's skin.
She smiled unlike she had in a long time, dropping her cloths and stepping a foot into the perfectly warm water. She enveloped herself in the pureness of it, letting it bring her wary soul peace after her long day.
Vanya walked towards where she knew Eraithwen waited, sensing her friend through the thick forest before her. She was content after her meeting, knowing now that all hope was not lost.
After much reluctance Aragorn and the others finally decided to welcome Vanya and Eraithwen on their quest to destroy the ring of power. It had taken a lot of persuading on her own part, but it was only truly effective when Galadriel intervened and convinced him that bringing Vanya along could only benefit them.
Since she'd spent so much time in the room with that wretched ring, she was now able to overcome the darkness that tempted her to take it for her own. She had warred with herself and decided that she didn't need that much power; she had her fair share already. She remembered the clouds parting in her heart and feeling a heavy burden lifted off her shoulders. And even though the ring still drug her down, she was able to stand tall.
Suddenly she was made aware of a nearing presence and it made her slow her pace. She knew who it was and it seemed to excite her just a little.
"My lady Vanya." A voice called from behind her and she didn't have to turn around to know it was Legolas.
"Ah, Prince Legolas." Vanya turned her head then, smiling at him as she paused and waited for him to fall into step beside her. "We haven't gotten the chance to officially meet."
"I don't think that's necessary." Legolas told her, offering her a polite smile. "I am curious though. Your pendant? It controls dragons yet dragons have been extinct for many years."
Vanya laughed. "No, Legolas. Dragons have been in hiding for many years, not extinct. Ever since the fall of our kingdom they've been without a ruler, and a purpose…"
Legolas noticed her sadness at this. "You miss them."
"I miss every single one of them." She said quietly. "I hope one day to see them again… I want to rebuild my kingdom, so much that it hurts to think about it. It's a goal I can't quite reach."
"My lady, if we can destroy the ring of power, then anything is possible." Legolas said softly, placing his hand firmly on her shoulder.
She looked him in the eye, grinning at him with a glimmer of hope in her own.
"You are strong, Legolas Greenleaf." She said matter-of-factly. "Not only in battle but in your heart. Even I can see it. I noticed it back in the gathering room, when I first saw you. You of all people make me feel safe on this quest."
Legolas smiled, tilting his head in gratitude. "I will take that as a compliment."
Vanya lifted her head to the forest, letting her ears guide her. She laughed quietly at what she heard.
"Where is that damned elf now? Gallivantin' around with a villain on the loose, who does he think he is?" She heard Gimli's seemingly agitated tone and smiled.
"It seems your friend is worried about you." Vanya told Legolas. "You must go now."
Legolas smirked, laughing before stopping and bowing to her. She was pleasantly surprised when he took her hand and placed a chaste kiss upon her fingers.
"Sleep well, my lady." Legolas told her softly before disappearing into the trees.
Vanya sighed, feeling her heart flutter in her chest. It had been a long time since she'd felt so giddy, it almost made her sick. But despite her lightheadedness she found her way to her dear friend Eraithwen, shaking her head with a soft chuckle when she interrupted the warrior's bath.
"What?" Eraithwen said as Vanya walked over to the cushions next to the tree and sat down.
"It suits you to arrive at a place and just as quickly embellish yourself in its luxuries." Vanya teased her as she removed her riding boots.
"Why not?" Eraithwen asked, laying her head back on a soft patch of land and sighing. "It's been so long since I've taken a proper bath."
"Yes, it has." Vanya muttered, beginning to peel her dirty travelling dress from her body. "I may have to join you. Our ride through the marsh lands certainly did a number on my favorite dress."
"I told you not to get off your horse, but you didn't listen." Eraithwen said with a light chuckle.
"Ah, the horses…" Vanya's face twisted into worry. "I suppose they're very confused by now. They're not very fluent in Elvish."
"We'll check on them tomorrow." Eraithwen told her. "For now, let's just relax."
Vanya nodded, rising and throwing her dirty dress in a pile before climbing into the pool herself. She suddenly felt every tense muscle in her body release and she sighed in contentment.
"Don't get too used to it, Era." Vanya told her, even though her voice sounded as if she was drowning in every second she got to sit in the warming water. "Soon we'll be riding towards Mordor. Who knows when we'll be able to do this kind of thing again."
"Or if…" Eraithwen said, a tint of sadness coating her voice.
"Have hope, Eraithwen." Vanya said, lifting her head and placing her hand on Eraithwen's arm. "Remember what father told us? Our hope is the kindle to the fire of our kingdom. If we have no hope, then no one will."
Eraithwen sighed, nodding to her friend before laying her head back down again. "Just for tonight, though, I'm going give in to these luxuries and enjoy them as much as I can."
"I never said you couldn't enjoy them." Vanya laughed, and they stayed like that.
It was the day they were set to leave and yet again Vanya was rising out of the water to get dressed. She had taken her last bath and made herself as clean as she could before their quest. She knew she'd miss the feeling of her skin being so light and airy, but she didn't let it sully her mood.
Eraithwen had already left and was preparing the horses. So the princess was left alone to get ready, something she preferred.
She looked down at her favorite dress, the one she had had cleaned a few days before. But she knew she couldn't wear it, not this time. Traveling was one thing to do in a dress, but they'd more than likely run into a few set backs on the way, be it orks, uruk-hai or the Nazgul themselves. A dress would hinder what fighting ability she had, she was sure of that.
So she overlooked the dress and walked over to her traveling bag. She pushed a few things around until she found just what she was looking for.
Vanya pulled out a blue tunic, one she remembered to be fitting to her form, as well as a pair of white pants. Then she got out her belt and pulled her black riding boots over towards her from where they rest at her bedside.
She came here as a princess, but she would leave as a warrior.
Once she was dressed she strapped her sword to her waist and a dagger to her ankle, just under her boot. Then she reached even farther into her bag to pull out the Tigers Eye. She knew from this day forward she wouldn't dare to take it off, it was just too risky. So she clasped it around her neck and lifted her head, letting her auburn hair fall around her shoulders in waves.
She walked over to the clear reflective pool before her, watching as her reflection slowly appeared. Who she saw wasn't the girl who came here, but a woman ready to take on any challenges fate would throw at her.
"That's a lovely look on you, Vanya."
Vanya turned and tried to smile at Galadriel, but the elderly elf knew better and saw right through her and into the fear hidden deep within her heart.
"Fear is Sauron's greatest tool, dear one." Galadriel said, taking a few gliding steps towards her. "You must be strong."
"I know." Vanya nodded, taking a deep breath. "And I will be. I do not fear the rings temptation anymore. At least not for myself. I will be strong, for Eraithwen and the others. For Frodo."
Galadriel smiled. "All is well, then. If I do remember correctly, you were quite the archer back in the days of your kingdom. It was one of the few things battle-related that you could do better than Eraithwen."
"Yes, my lady." Vanya smiled fondly of her memories of Eraithwen's aggravated expression every time their archery teacher complimented Vanya instead of her. "That was a long time ago."
"Not so long…" Galadriel said as she held out a beautiful bow and quiver to Vanya, watching as her eyes widened in awe.
"For me?" Vanya asked, wide-eyed.
"Yes. May it aide you well." Galadriel smiled, handing them over to her.
Vanya's fingers brushed the beautifully sculpted wood with wide eyes. She smiled as she threw the quiver over her shoulder and strapped her bow to her back.
"You, Lady Galadriel, are like the mother I never knew." Vanya said before surprising her with a tight hug. "And I will always remember you fondly."
Galadriel smiled to herself, taking a second before hugging the girl back. "As I will you, Vanya. Now, you must go. The others are waiting."
Vanya moved back, nodding quickly to her before bowing. And at that she ran off into the woods towards where she knew the others waited.
