Thank you for the reviews! Here's another chapter! Let me know what you think!
Aragorn orders Boromir and Legolas to get the hobbits up. He yells after Frodo, who is walking aimlessly away, overcome in a storm of sadness, anger, and disbelief.
Gimli offers me a hand. I take it gratefully, using his sturdiness to balance me as I stand. Aragorn tells us to head to Lorthlorien. For the rest of the day, we trek on.
Gimli looks over to me and asks as he sees me struggling to catch my breath, "Are you alright there, lassie?"
Between breaths I nod and reply, "Yes, I am fine."
My side still hurts, but I ignore it. We cannot stop for me. I cannot change anything of what is to come. It is nearly evening when we reach the trees. The forest is beautiful. It is so peaceful here. We continue on. When we reach a clearing, Aragorn stops, and lets us rest for a short time. He goes to check Frodo and Sam, who were both hurt. I painfully sit down on the ground. I notice Legolas approach me.
"You fought very well." He says.
I look down and say, "I do not think I was that good."
With that, Aragorn looks up at me from Sam and says with shock in his voice, "You fought valiantly Alana. You had such a blaze in your eyes"
"Are you sure you have never had any experience with a blade?" inquired Boromir. "You had such skill as you danced with the sword. Skill that took much training for me to acquire." He continued with awe in his voice.
"Yes Miss Alana, you were brilliant" stated Merry, with Pippen nodding in agreement.
I am overwhelmed by all these compliments. I did not think it was possible I was so good at fighting. I smile in thanks, at a loss for words. As Aragorn puts his attention back to Sam's head injury, everyone returns to their own thoughts. I stand and walk away a bit, looking for isolation to think and grieve on my own. I stand against a tree, listening to the sounds of the forest.
"You were skilled with the bow as well" I jump as I hear the voice of Legolas approaching from behind, on silent feet. This is the second time he told me that.
I smile at him as he takes a place next me, looking onward. We stay like that for a while until he speaks.
"You seem to have a blaze burning inside you. You have such courage."
I stay silent, looking at him in a 'thanks'. Suddenly I feel the twinge in my side. I stumble for a moment. Legolas holds on to my elbow to steady me as he asks, "Are you alright?"
As I regain my balance, I hold my side and say, "Yes, I am fine. I'm just tired." I stand again. We stay like that for a while again. Then the pain comes again, and I grimace which grabbing my side, inhaling through my gritted teeth.
Legolas turns in front of me and looks at my side.
"You are injured"
It wasn't a question. I look at his eyes, usually blank, but sparkle with worry.
I reply, "It is nothing. Just a scratch."
I remove my hand and place it at my side as to show that I am fine. But his gaze goes to my hand, and then my side. I look down and notice that my right hand is covered in blood. Then I turn my gaze to my side and see the warm substance soaking through my tunic. I stumble again as another wave of pain takes me, but this time into Legolas. He catches me as I fall. I try to stand again, but the pain is just getting worse. He holds me by my arms and raises his voice.
"Aragorn!" I hear him coming on heavy feet. He looks at me in confusion, quickly turning to concern. Legolas says something to him in Elvish.
"Please, I am fine. It is only a scratch" I repeat. My breath quickens has I begin to feel a little light-headed.
Aragorn walks to me and holds my side, with Legolas still grasping my arm. I wince as he pushes just below my ribs. "Will you lift your shirt?" he asks hesitantly. With great effort, I gently lift my tunic and hold it up to my ribs. Aragorn grimaced as he sees my side. I look down and notice the deep slash there. Dried blood surrounds it as fresh flows down my side.
"This is more than a mere scratch, Alana." Aragorn says. "Come. We must clean it." I start to walk, but when my feel fail me from exhaustion and pain, Legolas holds my side to balance me with one arm wrapped around my back and the other holding my elbow. He helps me lay down onto a mat closer to the stream. Aragorn lifts my tunic, only as far as he needs to, and cleans the wound.
"It is not infected, you will be fine," he says.
I look at him and say, "I said it was only a scratch"
"A small price to pay for your first battle" he replies with a small smile.
He bandages my side and hands me some water. I take it gratefully and drink it quickly. Aragorn tells us to get some rest. We will continue on at dawn. I lay down beside a tree. My side has a slight throb in it, but it feels much better. I fall into an uneasy sleep.
My dreams are dark. I see my family, and then a pack of Orcs come out and run towards them. I try to reach out to them, to shout something, but I am frozen to the spot. I try to scream, but no sound comes. I wake up with a start, sitting up quickly and catching my breath. I wince as the sudden movement makes my side burn. I'm in a cold sweat all over, gasping shaky breaths.
I try to gather myself as I hear someone.
"Alana?" I turn and see Legolas approach. "Are you alright?" I'm starting to feel like he's always there every time I turn around. I begin to feel slightly annoyed, but it is gone by the time I look into his eyes and see only concern.
I readjust into a sitting position.
"I am fine. Though my dreams are dark." I say as I wince due to my side.
It takes me a moment to realize that I have tears falling down from my eyes. I don't notice until he wipes one away with his thumb, never taking his eyes off mine. We both just stay there, studying each other's eyes.
"You are still in pain" he says.
I look at him defiantly and say, "I will be fine. It is only stiff."
His gaze looks uncertain with disbelief. I knew I wouldn't be able to convince him.
"It is almost time to continue," he says after what seems like an eternity.
"Alright" my voice sounds like a chocked whisper.
I remove my blanket and begin to stand. When my side burns with stiffness from lying for a while, I lose my balance, but before I hit the ground, Legolas is holding me up. We stay like that for a moment, our eyes locked, until we hear Aragorn waking the others.
We break apart and I turn away with a blush. I quickly gather my things as the others awake.
The woods of Lorthlorien are filled with absolute beauty. There is no way to describe how golden the leaves are as they dance in the breeze. It seems like winter does not touch the ageless forest. We continue on when I hear Gimli talk about how a dangerous sorceress lives in these woods. I grin to myself, knowing that is completely opposite from the truth. That is when we are suddenly stopped in our tracks by arrows from all directions, aimed to kill.
I relax a bit, noticing that they are elves. I see Legolas drop his guard as well as he greets Haldir. They speak to each other in elvish, along with Aragorn. Then Haldir speaks in the Commen Tongue.
"You may go no further" he states. After more discussion, we end up following the elves through the forest of Lothlorien. We travel in silence as we observe the captivating scenes around us. No words can describe the beauty we saw there. That is when we come upon the center of Lorthlorien. The trees tower above us as we continue on. The pain in my side has turned into a slight throb, hardly noticeable with all the sights around me.
We are led up a grass slope, which was rather steep. Then we come upon stairs that lead up the tree, seeming a part of the tree themselves. Haldir said for Aragorn, Frodo, and Legolas to come up first, and the others may come as they wish, for it is a great climb. Before he turns to approach the stairs, he looks back and motions to me to accompany them. Startled, I slowly come forward and join them. Haldir leads us up. I am in between Aragorn and Legolas as I walk up the stairs. I look down, and instantly regret it. I'm afraid of heights, and this is pretty far up. I struggle to breath as my side begins to hurt with every breath I take.
I stumble on a step, and lose my balance. I begin to fall backwards, but a strong hand catches my back and stables me. I look back and see Legolas behind me, steadying me. I give him a grateful look as I turn around and continue on. I stumble a few other times, and Legolas stables me every time. It isn't until we reach the top that I notice he still has a hand placed on my back, even though it has been a while since I last stumbled. I am glad he cannot see my blush. We step onto the platform, and I am nearly breathless. I hold my side subtly as I try to regain myself. Legolas glances at me, and I can see the faintest hint of concern in his seemingly blank eyes. I give him an "I'm alright" look in return as we notice two figures approaching.
They are tall and slender, obviously elves. I recognize the women as Lady Galadriel, Lady of light. Just being in her presence is intimidating enough, let alone her gaze. She has such an authoritative stance in her, as she observes each and every one of us. I see her fix her stare on Frodo, and his gaze widen. I realize that she is speaking to him in his mind.
That is when I hear her voice in mine.
"Welcome Alana, Daughter of Lyndell."
My breath catches in my throat as I hear the voice of great beauty.
"It is from a faraway place in which you dwell. You have much to learn. You are welcome."
Of course she would know of where I'm from. But daughter of Lyndell? My mother's name is Lisa. My thoughts are broken when Celeborn says something.
"Tell me where is Gandalf? For I much desire to speak with him."
We are silent, with the grief still near. Galadriel's voice breaks the silence.
"Gandalf The Gray did not pass these borders."
It is Aragorn's voice that comes next.
"Alas! Gandalf the Gray has fallen into the shadow. For we went needlessly into the Mines of Moria." At this, the Elves around let out cries of grief and amazement.
"Needless were none of the deeds of Gandalf in life. We may not know yet of his full purpose." Galadriel spoke. "Though these are ill tidings. Your quest stands upon the edge of a knife. Stray but a little and it will fail. Yet Hope remains while all the Company is true."
She looks and holds a gaze with all of us. I become lost in wonder in her gaze. She speaks again.
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Tonight you shall sleep in peace."
Suddenly with a sigh the Company felt exhausted. They were led back down, for a place on the ground to sleep. I notice a She-elf looking at me expectantly. I go to her, and she shows me a place where I can bath. I'm overjoyed at the idea of being clean for once in a long time. She leads me to a stream, that glitters in the moonlight. Any other place I would worry for others to be around, but I felt safe here. I quickly undressed and got into the refreshing water. When I am done, there is a dress waiting for me to wear while my traveling clothes are cleaned. I put it on and make my way back to the others. When I approach, they all look over to me.
The hobbits look at me with awe. I can't imagine I look that great. My hair is just down and still a bit damp. Then I notice Aragorn and Boromir looking at me with almost the same expressions.
Aragorn nods at me in acknowledgement and says, "Alana. You look very nice this night." I smile at him in thanks, feeling slightly uncomfortable at the attention I'm getting. That is when I catch Legolas's gaze. His eyes have some sort of emotion that I can't really place. He too, has a look of awe, but there is more in his stormy blue depths. I smile at him as I begin to sit down.
I was settling down when I could hear Boromir say something ill of the Lady Galadriel. I could hear Aragorn quickly argue back and tell him he knows not of what he is saying.
I wince a bit as I lay down. Hopefully my side will heal soon. I close my eyes and wait for sleep to claim me. But it never did. I feel so restless suddenly. I carefully stand, and wander away from the others. I find myself in a small clearing under that glittering night sky. I think of home. I haven't had much chance to think since I arrived in Middle Earth. I think of all of those who are probably missing me. But I don't feel that sad about it. My mind wanders on.
Suddenly I find myself thinking of Legolas. How he has always helped me. I cannot place the feelings I get when I am around the elf. He makes me feel nervous, intimidated, but comforted. I try to not dwell on it more. I don't need to carry those things on my mind right now. Instead I think of what Galadriel said to me. What did she mean? What was different about me? I remember something Elrond spoke to me when I was only half-conscious,
"You seem different for a human. A different light is within you."
What could that mean?
"You ask many questions, young one." I jump as I hear a familiar melodic voice, but it was not spoken out loud. I turn around and am startled to see Lady Galadriel standing not too far from me.
Aloud, she spoke, "You should be resting. You are weary."
I'm unsure of how to reply. "I could not sleep. There are too many things burning through my mind."
She smiles at me knowingly. I'm not sure of what to do…
"Alana, daughter of Lyndell. You will have many choices to make in the near future." She says. "You also carry a great knowledge with you. You know the fate of Middle Earth."
"But what choices? What's different about me? Why am I here? How can my knowledge of what is to come help anything? I cannot change anything!" The questions that have been swirling in my mind come out at once.
"You will learn these with time. You will find the answers you seek eventually. But you must know, there is much more to you than you know." She replies.
"But what else is there to me?" I suddenly remember how easily the skills of fighting came to me in Moria. How much precision I had with the bow. How I have found more strength within my self than I thought. I don't understand what this means.
Galadriel smiles warmly at me and says, "With time, my child. With time you will find the answers in which you seek. Go, and rest. For you are weary." She gestures to the direction I came from. I turn and slowly walk away, looking back once more upon the Lady of Light.
I find my way back to where the others are sleeping. Silently, I weave around the slumbering figures. I sit down and cross my legs. I think about what Galadriel said to me. I stay there for a while, looking into the distance, when am aware of someone else that is awake. I turn and see Legolas staring at me. When he sees I notice him, he looks away. Feeling uneasy, I lay back down and let sleep claim me.
We stay in Lorthlorein for many days. It is what we all needed. A chance to recover ourselves again. We do hardly anything other than talk and eat. That is, until it was nearing the time to leave, Aragorn wanted to teach me some more sword technique.
"You never stop moving your feet. It keeps you balanced." Aragorn said this as he demonstrated. I copied the motion. In the middle of it, my sword clashes with his. In an instant we are matching each other's moves. I block nearly every hit he aims at me. First, I am on the defensive side. Then, as the heat of a battle claims me, I am suddenly approaching him, switching it up.
Now he is trying to defend himself from my constant blows. I move my sword against his, until in one swift motion, I clip his from his hand with the tip of my blade, and toss it in the air, to have me catch it and point both swords at Aragorn, who is now kneeling on the ground. My sides heaving for air, I drop my position and hand him his sword back. The look on his face is so strangely filled with awe. That is when I notice the others were watching too, matching his look.
"Alana, that was… that was brilliant… and you really have never trained with the sword before?"
I feel a little uneasy as I answer. "No, the mines were the first time I used a sword and bow in combat of any kind." I realized how strange that was. Swordplay was a skill that takes time to gain, along with that of a bow, and it is as if I've trained for years. I see Boromir eying me suspiciously at this. He probably doesn't believe me.
"I believe it is time for a break" said Aragorn after a long pause. I silently agree as I collect my sword. I realize that during that whole affair, I was successful even considering the fact I was wearing a dress. I feel so odd right now, as if there is something bubbling just below the surface of myself that I am to discover.