Audrien's POV

Celeborn is familiar with me since he has sent the elves of Lothlorien to help Rohan before, and he has heard of me, but we never met in person. I handed him the written note King Théoden gave to me, my hand slightly shaking.
"My Lord Théoden requests the aid of the elves against the fight of evil." I said while bowing down to him politely.
He studied the note with an expressionless look on his strong elven features. Lady Galadriel looked at me the whole time, but I didn't want to lock eyes with her. This was a serious subject, and I wanted to be back home as soon as possible, with a positive answer from Celeborn. When he looked back to me, I stood back up, waiting for his answer.
"Give me some time to think about it. I know Rohan is in dire need, but I cannot send too many of my army to possibly their death." His crystal blue eyes bore into mine. He sighed. "I will have my answer in the morning." He then turned to me and Ethelinn. "You should get some rest Captain. You have been traveling all day. Ethelinn, show her to her room. And make sure she is comfortable."
"It shall be done." She answered. "Come on, I will show you around." I grabbed my horse's reins and followed. In my mind, I was excited to spend the night in the most beautiful woods in Middle Earth, but I was feeling homesick. I wanted to see my friends again. I wanted to see my father and give him a hug.
As Ethelinn and I walked down the long spiral of stairs and down to the forest floor, I could feel Galadriel was still watching me, and it made me feel uneasy. I tried to not let that bother me and I looked around, taking in the haunting beauty of Lothlorien. The trees climbed high to the night sky, most of them housing other Lorien elves, with spots of blue lights ghosting the air, giving the forest a faint blue glow. Little streams of clear water ran in between the thick tree trunks and ran down farther than the eye can see.
Ethelinn and I talked little, but she eventually asked me about my past and how I became the captain of the Rohirrim. I explained all I could, and she was fascinated with every word. "So you have been fighting ever since you were little?"
"Ever since I could hold a sword." I said. "But I have been in the Rohirrim since I was 15. I became the captain when I was 20."
"And you're 23 now." She replied. I nodded. We didn't talk more because we were at a very old tree with a platform on top. I imagined it was where I would rest for the night, and it was.
"This is my home, but you will rest here, if that's ok." She said, turning to me.
"Oh, that's fine. This is a wonderful home you have." I said back, smiling.
She laughed. "Thanks. This is actually my family's home, but I am the only one who uses it now. You can tie up your horse over here." She walked over to a nearby tree with a strong branch sticking out. I followed her and tied up Felicia, then gave her an apple. I stroked her nose before walking over to Ethelinn where she walked up a staircase and up to the 1st floor of the tree home.
In the elf home, everything was one color, but it had everything an elf would need. The house had a sense of warmth even though I had to keep telling myself I was still outside, and there were no walls in the room. Ethelinn walked another set of stairs to the 2nd floor of the house was located, and I followed. This floor was where a rather big bed was placed. The light purple blankets and sheets placed nicely on the mattress, with two big and fluffy pillows placed at the head of the bed.
"I hope this is suitable for you." Ethelinn spoke, her soft elven voice breaking my train of thought.
"Yes, this will do just fine, thank you." I bowed my head in appreciation of her kindness for me borrowing her room for the night.
She smiled. "Do you have any other clothes than your armor?" She asked.
I realized I only had under armor to wear, and that's not really comfortable or practical for a place like this. "Unfortunately, I don't."
"That's ok, I have some clothes for you to borrow if you'd like." She walked over to her closet and pulled out a white satin night gown, then walked back over to me. "Will this do?" She handed the night gown to me.
"Yes, this is so generous of you!" I said, running my fingers over the soft fabric.
"It's really no problem! My only wish is for you to be comfortable." She replied. I removed my top layer of heavy armor, finally being able to breathe properly. She gestured her hands out for me to hand her my armor so she can keep it in safe keeping. I handed her my heavy armor, but she noticed my necklace before she could walk away. "What's that?" Starblossom glowed at her remark, and her eyes widened. "It glows?!"
"It's my necklace called Starblossom. It glows according to my emotions and how strong they are." I said, a nervous smile tugging on my cheeks.
Ethelinn reached out her hand to touch it. "That's fascinating! And it looks like elven make, am I wrong?"
"I would think so, but I don't even know myself." I said laughing. "It is very old, and it's been in the family for a long time."
"Wow! That is an incredible piece of jewelry, I hope you find out who made it soon! I would be curious to find out." Ethelinn walked back over to the closet and hung up my armor. "Well, I hope you have a good nights sleep, I will wake you up in the morning when it's time for you to depart."
I nodded. "Thanks again for everything Ethelinn." I said removing my sword hilt and started changing into the soft night clothes.
"No problem. See you in the morning." She walked back down the stairs, and I looked around a little before climbing into the warm sheets and letting my muscles relax into the mattress, my eyelids closing. The hustle and bustle of quiet night elves ended up lulling me right to sleep.

I was in a deep sleep when Ethelinn shook me awake. "Wake up Audrien, the sun's rays have stretched above the horizon and are seeping through the leaves in the trees." I smiled at her remark, and slowly slipped out of the soft covers. "I will leave you to get changed into your armor, and there is breakfast waiting for you downstairs, okay?"
I yawned. "Ok, I'll be down in a minute." I changed into my armor, strapped on my sword, and walked downstairs where a bowl of fruit, slices of bread, and a glass of clear cold water was placed on the table. I sat in a nearby chair and ate the food rather quickly, since I didn't eat that much yesterday.
"Lord Celeborn is ready to see you when you are done." Ethelinn said. "He said he has an answer for King Theoden for you to give him." I nodded and swallowed my last bite of food and grabbed an apple I didn't eat before heading out, unleashing Felicia and feeding her the apple for her breakfast.
"Good morning Felicia, are you ready for another day of hard riding?" Felicia was a white stallion with big black spots covering her body and on her snout. I have had her since I joined the Rohirrim, and I had formed a great relationship with her. She is my best buddy. I stroked her nose and she quietly snorted in reply.
I grabbed Felicia's reins and led her back to the long winding staircase where I left her at the bottom of the stairs, and I began the long climb. When I reached the top, Celeborn was quietly waiting for me, his tall slender form illuminated by the filtered cold morning sunlight. He had a letter in his hand, but it was different to the one I gave him before.
"I have an answer for King Theoden." He handed his letter to me. It had a red wax seal closing it shut. "I am willing to send some of my army to Edoras to help with the good fight. Besides, we are all fighting the same enemy, aren't we?"
"That is true, my Lord." I replied. "But I thank you either way. Any help is appreciated."
He nodded. "Now, head back to King Theoden, I am sure he is anxious to see you."
I bowed and quickly walked back down the stairs, and back to Felicia who was fidgety, probably ready to race back through the forests and fields to get her heart pumping, and honestly, I was ready to head back too. I put the note in my saddle bag and mounted Felicia. I then raced out of the calm and quiet forest of Lothlorien. When I got to the gates, I was stopped by a voice.
"Audrien! Wait!" I heard Ethelinn's voice call out. I turned Felicia around. Ethelinn was on her horse. Weird.
"Ethelinn what are you doing? I can't waste any time!" I said.
"What are you talking about? I am coming with you!" She smiled.
"But I thought you-"
"Don't worry, I convinced Edanir that I could come with you. I just want to help you on your way back. Just in case you run in to any Uruk-hai. Some of our scouts said that they are close to our area. You can't be too careful."
I thought about it for a minute, but I then realized that she is offering me free help, and I have learned to like Ethelinn and how she can be a good travel partner. "Ok, let's go." I smiled. "Race you to that tree over there!" I pointed to a tree about 30 meters away, and Felicia immediately bolted to the tree with a subtle kick of my legs to her sides.
"Hey! Wait up! That's not fair! You got a head start!" I heard her voice get farther away, then at about half way there, her horse's hooves quickly caught up to me. When she surprisingly passed me, I watched her slowly stand on her horse's saddle, gain her balance, then jump quickly and skillfully onto a branch on the targeted tree. I slowed Felicia to a stop and looked at her in amazement. She had a smug look on her face as she crossed her arms, clearly trying to rub it in my face. "I believe I won that race." She said.
"You get out way too much." I said. "Come on, we have a quest to finish." She lightly and quietly hopped back onto her horse's saddle, and caught up to me.

After riding for about only 20 minutes, we had been walking on foot since the branches were too low for horse back. Until Ethelinn stopped us.
"I hear movement in the bushes. Tread lightly." She looked around, keeping an eye out for enemies. I couldn't hear anything, but Ethelinn was proved to be right when a pack of Uruk-hai suddenly jumped out of some nearby bushes. One lunged towards me, but I dodged him just before he could bury his sword into me. They were just like orcs, but these were bigger, stronger, and faster. This was the first time I had to fight one. Or a dozen, in this case.
I unsheathed my sword and got right to slashing. Ethelinn pulled out her bow and shot some Uruk-hai from a distance. I eventually had 3 Uruk-hai's in front of me, where Ethelinn was now using her daggars to kill 2 that were trying to kill her, so she couldn't help me. I stabbed one under his neck, killing him instantly, then I had to distract another before killing the third. I ended up kicking one in the stomach, knocking the air out of him and pushing him back to save me some time. I then immediately chopped the arm off the third Uruk-hai and he dropped like a fly. Then I jumped in the air and plunged my sword into the chest of the Uruk- hai on the ground.
I then joined Ethelinn in killing a few more, but they just kept coming. "There's too many Ethelinn! We can't kill them!"
"Just keep going!" She cried before killing 2 more. But she didn't see the Uruk-hai coming at her who swung his sword at her chest, giving her devastating chest blow and probably a rib or lung injury. She cried out in pain before decapitating the Uru-hai and collapsing onto the ground.
"Ethelinn!" I cried out. I couldn't run over to her since I had been battling a tough Uruk-hai. He kept deflecting my attacks. But he got a strong attack to my right leg before I could block him. The attack ripped open my armor and left a deep gash that went down my leg. I cried out, my mind clouded with pain and shock, Starblossom burning against my chest. My body dropped to the floor and my hand immediately clenched my leg, trying to stop the incredible amounts of blood that was escaping my body. The Uruk-hai that stood before me grunted and lifted his sword to end my life, and all I could think was "Just do it. End my life already."
But before he could lower his sword, a huge wolf creature with white fur clenched his teeth around his neck, tackling him to the ground. I propped myself up on one arm to watch, never seeing a creature like this before. The wolf bit down so hard that it tore the head off of the helpless Uruk-hai, blood spurting out of his neck, staining the wolf's white fur. 2 other wolves leaped out of the bushes and fluently killed the rest of the Uruk-hai, these ones with grey fur. As the wolves were effortlessly slaying the rest of the enemies, I shifted to Ethelinn to see if she was still alive. She was, but she couldn't breathe.
"Stay with me Ethelinn. You will be ok." I said, tears welling in my eyes. The noises of blood spilling stopped and the white wolf approached me, my sword in its mouth. It placed my sword in my hand, and took a few steps back. Then it morphed into a human. I gasped and thought my mind was so clouded that I mistook the human as a wolf, but then he spoke.
"I don't mean to harm you, I am a human and a wolf. I am not an enemy." He crouched down next to me and Ethelinn, then spoke to the other wolves - who morphed into humans as well - in a language I have never heard of before. They looked a lot like he did, but a little younger it seemed. When he spoke to them, he must have ordered one to care for Ethelinn, and the other to care for me. The man who sat next to Ethelinn had dark eyes, a tan skin color, and bright blonde hair with no bangs parted down the middle of his head. He pressed his hands onto Ethelinn's chest. She yelped in pain, but he told her to calm down.
"Don't worry, I am here to help. I am a skilled healer." He smiled reassuringly. She nodded and occasionally cried out when his long and slender fingers hit a spot where the most damage had been done. After a few minutes of him pressing his fingers into Ethelinn's chest, he came to a conclusion. "She has severe chest and rib injuries, but no broken ribs."
"Ok, thank you Sehun." The 1st man replied. He turned to the man sitting next to me. "Try to close her leg wound, Luhan." He told him. Luhan took out leaves which I imagined were healing herbs, but I didn't know which ones. He ripped up the leaves and gently placed them in the flesh of the deep gash, blood trying to wash them out. The pain rised up again and I threw my head back, trying to take in deep breaths. I then looked at the young man by the name of Luhan, and he looked at me.
"You are a trooper. You must be used to the pain, right?" His voice was soft and fluid to match the youth in his face. His eyes were big and light brown, his cheeks a little rosy, but the same tan color as Sehun and the other young man. His hair was light brown and combed slightly up and over to the side. I nodded at his remark as he wrapped a bandage around my leg, trying to close the wound. He skillfully wrapped it, closing the gash, tying it not too tight, but tight enough to keep itself in place. When he was done, he told the other man "She has a pretty big gash Kris, I worry that the sword that pierced her had poison in it, or so much dirt on it that the wound has to be thoroughly cleaned."
"Fine. We must take them both back to camp and alert the others about the attack." He walked over to my sword, put it back in its sheath, and looked to me. His face was longer, his hair in the style of Luhan's, but the color of Sehuns, and his voice was lower, more mature. "In case you were wondering, my name is Kris, and this is Sehun, and Luhan." He gestured to the other men who nodded when he said their names. I looked to Ethelinn, who was sitting up and obviously listening, but she didn't say anything in reply, so I introduced us.
"I'm Audrien, and this is Ethelinn." I pointed my head to Ethelinn and she smiled.
"It's nice to meet you both. I will save the talking for when we get back to our camp, ok?"
"Ok." I was worried if I should trust them, but my body was hurting so badly, and I was feeling dizzy, so I had no choice.
"Luhan, carry Audrien. Sehun, carry Ethelinn." Luhan picked me up, his right arm holding my upper body and my legs draped over his left arm, same with Sehun and Ethelinn.
My leg was still throbbing when they took off running at an incredibley fast speed for humans, but my eyes eventually were filled with purple stars with my head spinning. I eventually passed out in Luhan's arms, not knowing where I will end up when I awake.

CHAPTER END