Little had taken place since a date of departing had been decided. Elemmírë had conducted herself normally, preparing and packing with little fanfare. Relagon had watched her quietly, remarking on little as she carried on with her usual business. It wasn't until the morning of that he decided to speak to her on the one particular matter which hung over all of their heads.
"It is nothing personal against the Marchwarden," said Relagon gently as he came beside her after their breakfast. Elemmírë kept silent, setting aside some empty plates and goblets at the end of the long dining table.
"And he would be very lucky to have gained your favor, but there are still many matters at hand—"
"I understand," said Elemmírë almost breathlessly as she lifted the stack of dishes in her own arms.
"You do not need to tend to that, Elemmírë. There are others who will come and take care of it," said Relagon with some exasperation of his own.
"Why unnecessarily add to their burdens?"
To that Relagon sighed, standing on shifting feet as he debated on what he should say next, before his sister stopped him.
"Please don't."
Relagon watched her, words caught on his tongue. He turned away from her, a fist clenched at his side for what felt like an eternity for the both of them, only to abandon his efforts and leave the room in an agitated huff, but not before throwing in a last word. "You are being foolish!"
Having said that, he left to retrieve his own possessions that he'd readied and set aside the night before. He was done with his stay in Lorien.
Elemmírë finished up what little tidying up had been left and carried down only two satchels with her, Relagon following shortly behind her in a similar fashion. Her heart began to race when she realized that Haldir was already waiting for them down below with two other guards whose names she was not familiar with, as well as horses for all of them. More than anything she would have thrown herself into his embrace, but restrained herself with Relagon's disapproving eye still on her.
"We hope we did not keep you waiting," said Relagon with a mild bow, some air of condescension faintly evident in his tone.
"We were purposefully early," said Haldir with an incline of his head to them.
Relagon made a sour, almost watery smile as he strapped his satchel to one of the horses, just before Haldir stopped him.
"Forgive me, this one is for the lady Elemmírë," said Haldir simply, daring Relagon to dispute the arrangement. He did not, not even hesitating to step back and turn to another which was a male, and brownish with a white patch on his chest like a star burst shining bright, while the mare Haldir had chosen for Elemmírë was gray and white-spotted with an almost silvery mane and whose keen eyes held a lively and spirited nature. Elemmírë found that she was immediately pleased with the choice and mounted with relative ease, whereas Relagon's own steed raised its hind leg in agitation and snorted almost defensively when he had finished fastening his pack at last, but still letting him mount and continue.
Haldir and other two wardens soon joined them and they found themselves in a small procession out of Caras Galadhon which did tug at something inside Elemmírë', making her hope that she would return again soon. She did not know what they were getting themselves into at this point, but had faith that together they would be able to achieve what they so wanted; to be together.
They were not alone in their departure, a few familiar faces appearing to bid them farewell, even Haldir's brothers who bowed and seemed to be smiling at the party. Further on both Elemmírë and Relagon were surprised to see the Lord and Lady themselves standing above in a silver flet, they, too, bidding them a safe journey and farewell. Elemmírë smiled fondly, nodding her head to them in recognition while Relagon mimicked her, but it was strained and lacking something genuine. Soon a gentle song caught in the air, carried over to them; a goodbye full of promises.
After finally crossing into the forest Elemmírë found herself truly dwelling on the reality of it, but said nothing, wondering if Haldir knew her thoughts as he rode ahead, eventually guiding them past the boundaries of the city. Elemmírë was placed safely in the middle as she soon tried the wardens behind her casually for conversation. She felt pleased when they humored her efforts to get to know them better.
"I have longed to travel! Although as much as I favor my homeland, I do feel a curiosity to the other realms," said one warden, his name being Eseril and only slightly older than she, with his long strawberry-tinted blonde hair falling over his shoulder already draped by the standard gray cloak. Elemmírë quickly decided that she liked his manner and found herself trusting him easily.
The other warden remained mostly quiet, however, until she had asked him herself his name which had turned out to be Turon, but he would not say much else, nor did she feel the need to press him. They still had much ahead of them together and Haldir and Relagon remained silent, at least for the first few hours of their journey until they'd stopped for a brief respite.
A few times she caught Haldir's gaze checking on her over his shoulder, giving the faintest look of assurance he could give with Relagon still in their presence. Elemmírë could not help but wonder what Eseril and Turon thought of the matter, or if they knew anything at all. She guessed, or at least hoped, that they knew nothing of what was between herself and the stoic Marchwarden. She did not want them to think their time was wasted over such a silly thing.
Night came and they still traveled for some time, even going on into the morning when the sky was painted a deep blue, the specks of the sun's first rays barely showing from where they were still in the forest. She knew that they had passed a few guard-posts, listening and watching intently as Haldir occasionally made a series of clipped whistles out into silent trees as if to mark themselves. They remained undisturbed and it was noon by the time they stopped for a short respite to water the horses in a flowing stream.
The group seemed to disperse somewhat as Elemmírë took to finding a seat on a large, mossy stone in the center of the clearing, while the wardens spoke among themselves a few paces away. Relagon had stationed himself some distance from her to write something furiously in a leather-bound ledger he'd kept in his pocket and Elemmírë couldn't help but image with some dry amusement that he was perhaps writing about what a troublesome sister she was, or perhaps a detailed log to bring back to their father, though she knew how silly the notion was. Or so she hoped.
Still, she struggled to think what sort of thing he took notes furiously of, but before dwelling on the matter too thoroughly she glanced in another direction, only to turn back to the spot where her brother had been sitting and found it empty. Elemmírë blinked, scanning the forest around and finding no trace of him. A voice behind her broke her concentration, but it was a happy interruption and Elemmírë smiled to see that it was Haldir speaking to her.
"So far your brother seems to have maintained himself peacefully," stated Haldir.
"For now. Something is simmering in him, however. I do not know what it is he has planned for us," Elemmírë said in a low, quiet voice.
"For now he is outmatched," said Haldir with a smirk that did not quite reach his eyes. Before she could think of anything to say he soon left her and disappeared into the dense forest where Relagon might have gone. Elemmírë had watched him go, unspoken words and longings still on her lips and heart, reminding her of what a difficult journey this was likely to become, yet she stayed put.
It could be worse, she reminded herself, Haldir could not have come at all and then how well could she fare?
Elemmírë sat contemplatively for some time, silent and not moving from her spot, only looking up when the soft crunch of leaves was heard and she looked frantically to catch sight of Haldir, this time with Relagon following, strange looks on their faces. Haldir passed her by, saying nothing to Elemmírë, while her brother took residence on her rock with her, his back almost touching hers', the proximity taking her by surprise.
"Is everything well with you, Relagon?"
Relagon sat silently as she had, giving her nothing to work on, and when Elemmírë turned to look at him she knew, in his dire expression alone, that all was in fact not well with him. The color in his face was drained, she realized, and almost missing the fact that his hands were clenched at his sides and they were... trembling.
Her head instantly snapped to where Haldir was and found that he would not meet her eye, busying himself with paying affection to the horses. Eseril and Turon had also turned their backs, too, deep in their own private conversation.
Elemmírë felt entirely unsure of what to do and if she should do anything at all. Relagon continued his silence, taking some time to gather himself while the others ignored them and she couldn't help feel uncomfortable being in the dark to what had just transpired.
But then the trees spoke.
In the air was a calm, wavering breeze and with it was a note that she realized was a soothing one. It said something of 'Patience' to her, and though despite feeling silly she took it into her heart and let the matter rest for the time.
A week had passed, long having found themselves out of the forests of Lothlorien's borders, now treading the plains beside the mountains where there was only solitude and vacancy with the wide expanse of a gray sky above.
Rain clouds lingered in the distance, edging ever closer, however.
"What will we do when the rain comes?" Elemmírë asked the party.
"We will make due," said Eseril simply, watching the clouds with some trepidation. Being caught in a downpour wasn't the worst thing to happen, but there were times of the year when the surrounding lands became flooded from the mountains and nearby marshes and rivers. It would be too early this time of the year, but nature still did as it pleased.
Relagon had spent their time together in brooding silence, even his shoulders slumping as he wore a scowling look that made Elemmírë grow more and more irate, though there were other reasons for that. Haldir, while keeping close, had spoken very little to Elemmírë, often leaving her in suspense with his occasional long looks that he'd give her, only to tend to another matter and move on. She understood, or at least she imagined she did, that it must have likely been strange for him and not wanting to put him an awkward position she chose to let the matter be, but still... an impatience grew within her and the lack of privacy was enough to drive her wild.
Yet she remained calm.
Mostly.
It was when the first drop of rain fell; a fat splatter on the back of her hand, did Elemmírë feel it was an ominous foreshadowing. She heard Relagon begin to curse almost unbecomingly behind her as she looked up curiously only to be smacked by another and another drop of rain that became many until it was a drenching shower that quickly soaked her hair. As if on cue the entire party lifted their hoods over their heads and picked up speed and as the sky suddenly darkened further, hoping to gain some traction while the ground wasn't completely saturated into thick muck.
"We must not stop here, as there is danger which has flown in with the fast coming storm! Go on!" Haldir shouted over the whip of the wind and increasing rain that had appeared from no where, it seemed.
Elemmírë did not respond, but she knew that he was right, for she sensed something, too, lurking just beyond the hills, something unseen. The path home was not without peril, something well known, but Elemmírë shuddered to think if they should find themselves a casualty, too, at least all because of Relagon's need for controlling their fates. She chanced a look back, finding her brother wearing a sorry and bitter grimace before the snap of reality reminded her of her place, only to be knocked from it again.
"Elemmírë!"
She heard the arrow before she felt it, sensing the weight of it on the current of the wind and hearing a garbled wail echoing over from some foul and loathsome creature in the distance, now drawing closer from its low point beyond a hill.
Elemmírë had never felt such a pain, at least nothing like the piercing and tearing of flesh from her arm that she felt. No scream of terror or whimper came from her lips, but she heard Relagon behind her shout in alarm, only to be cut short when another rain of arrows cascaded around them, missing them as they began galloping even faster.
They were clearly not as alone as they had imagined or hoped and she could not help but wonder how a party of orcs hadn't been noticed sooner.
They were hideous and unsightly, barking and making shrill shrieks as battle cries as they appeared like a darkened plague on the lands, spreading and hounding them atop fearsome wargs never seen before by her, or her brother.
Fear gripped her, honest and true fear. This was what it meant to feel alive and to feel afraid, though a curious calmness filled her and an immediate need to live.
Haldir raised his arm, making an unfamiliar gesture with his free hand just before turning in another direction and signaling one of the wardens to follow him, Turon being the one to take the order, while Eseril came up beside her and shouted at her to follow and turn, she agreed reluctantly, feeling rapid flashes of uncertainty as she fumbled to ascertain that Haldir meant to lead them away, but to what end? She could not see any sense in the plan, at least as she perceived it, but did as she was instructed and pushed her mare on with Relagon and Eseril at her sides, flanking her. Going on downward slope she watched from the corner of her eye as Eseril turned back, he too drawing the stragglers away who had been in pursuit of them.
The rain fell heavier, if such a thing could be possible, terribly obscuring her vision, but in the distance she saw the line of forest across the flow of the rushing Anduin. It was further away from where they were meant to be going, but she took the risk and led herself and Relagon to it, stopping just at the edge when she realized how treacherous the water had become. She looked back, finding that they had lost their pursuers, but she knew that they should not stop, not if they meant to live.
"There is blood pouring from your sleeve, Elemmírë!"
"I am aware, but we must go on!"
Elemmírë could barely even hear Relagon, barely even her own voice, though partially reading his moving lips that dripped with rolling rain water.
Her mare circled in panic, lifting her front legs and moving anxiously in the downpour, but Elemmírë listened and followed along the path of the river, not sure if what she was doing was at all wise. They were meant to be passing between the mountains, not attempting to cross into an unknown danger in the opposite direction of their intended destination.
"We cannot go on alone, we must cross the river and make for the forests!" Relagon shouted at her. But Elemmírë knew that such a plan was folly, and knowing full well that they could not make it into the realm of Thranduil safely...
"No, we will follow the river and wait," said Elemmírë.
"You cannot decide what we shall do," hissed Relagon.
"Neither can you!"
Elemmírë shot forward, going at a swift speed without looking back once as Relagon sputtered and followed after her, gritting his teeth the entire way.