Holiday treat, another chapter for you beautiful readers.
Silver x
Alkira and Indilwen used the peaceful alone time to practise their weapons. It started they were good at their given weapons but Indilwen insisted in teaching Alkira how to use a bow. "You never know." She simply said then set out in her task. Alkira was a poor shot at the beginning, she did not have the heart to win properly and not the speed to shoot rapidly. "How was that?" She asked as her arrow struck the corner of the target loosely.
"You don't draw your arm back far enough." Indilwen positioned her friend correctly for what felt like the thousandth time. As soon as she let go Alkira slumped slightly. "Back straight! Level the arrow so it lies flat." Indilwen nodded to her and she let the arrow go. It sailed over the target and into some bushes. "It helps when you have your eyes open." Indilwen burst out laughing.
"Hey! I know I'm rubbish at this. No need to rub it in!" Alkira pouted.
"I'm not, you're just so funny when you clench your eyes shut." Indilwen stood directly behind Alkira and repositioned her again. This time she aimed the arrow herself. "Now don't move a muscle." Indilwen told her steely before slowly backing away. Alkira stood stock still. "Now all at once let go of your right hand but don't move it, just your fingers." Indilwen advised. After a minute asks let go of the string. It sailed the few yards and plummeted directly through the target at its centre point. "Hell yeah!" She fist punched the air with her left hand still holding the bow.
"Nice one!" Indilwen grinned brightly at her. Suddenly a cold breeze blew in her face, lifting her hair from around her neck. Indilwen sniffed the air then hissed sharply. "Something's here." She whispered to Alkira.
"Who is it?"
"Not who, what." She corrected and Alkira gulped, glancing to where her sword and shield lay. "We need to get back inside." Indilwen moved so fast Alkira missed it when she blinked. Indilwen had drawn her bow and an arrow and shot it into the dusk. A shrill cry followed and something black feel from the trees, writhing and screeching. It was not a person as it had no shape when it moved. It was a blurry black shadow of fog. As the creature died it became still and Indilwen for a good look at it. It was the size of a hobbit but it had twisted legs and a curved spine, every bone was seen through the leathery skin. It has no features except a mouth, only wrinkled skin for a face with slimy black rags for hair. The mouth however sent shivers down her spine. It was large and misshapen, gaping widely as it displayed rows and tired of miniature fangs as sharp as knives.
"Run!" Indilwen cried and shot another arrow. She could not hit them when they were moving, they were too fast for her. They moved like lightning monkeys through the trees after the girls as they ran for their lives. Alkira blew on her horn loudly. "Hurry!" Alkira shouted over her shoulder and Indilwen picked up the pace. The kingdom was just ahead, so close..."Watch out!" Alkira screamed. Indilwen only had time to turn her bow around and slam the creature into the ground as it leaped at her. Before she could draw knock an arrow it was gone. The shimmering light of Galadriel's shield was only a few paces away, they would be safe now.
Alkira screamed as something caught her ankle and dragged her back through the trees into swallowing darkness. "No!" Indilwen released an arrow and it caught the creature in the face, throwing it backwards. Alkira limped forwards, her ankle swollen and bleeding heavily. Her eyes were wide and panicked, she had now lost all sense. "Heal yourself!" Indilwen shouted at her but she heard nothing. Indilwen practically carried Alkira to the border. The shadow figures were flitting back and forth, each time they got close they slashed the girls with their dagger like talons.
"Inside!" Indilwen turned and began to shoot desperately, covering Alkira's escape. The archers on the platforms also started shooting but the creatures moved to swiftly for any of them. No one came out of the protection border to save them. Except for the fellowship. Legolas ran to Alkira and swung her up into his arms to carry her inside. "Indilwen!" Aragorn shouted to her. Somehow he couldn't get out, they were trapped inside. Indilwen ran for all she was worth, cut and bleeding. Only a yard away from safety she was dragged back viciously. "No!" Everyone shouted and beat against the bubble, trying to get to their friend.
Indilwen barely made it to her knees when she was caved by the shadows. They formed a hurricane around her, whispering and hiding as they cut and bit into her flesh and poison began to throb through her veins. The world grew dark and ugly, there was no love, no laughter but only pain and hot flames that burned your soul. The fire spread from Indilwen's chest to her arms before expanding to her legs and head. With a delirious mind Indilwen reached for her sword and swung it wildly but the monsters merely dodged the slow slice then punished her with more pain.
"Make it stop..." She whispered pitifully.
"Say that you are my servant...then I shall end your suffering. Mercifully I shall call away these shadow beasts and never again shall you feel pain." Melkor whispered sweetly, the distant rattle off his chains echoing in the air. Indilwen's head felt like it would explode as another voice tried to get in but it was blocked. "I shall make you a queen over all, I shall spare all those you love...You will have the stars as your crown and the shadows as your gown, everyone shall bow to you. No one will ever call you useless or ugly, all will crumble under your magnificence." He promised wonderful things but something else grew within the elleth. Peace. A cool, gentle, fluid sensation that blossomed like spring in Indilwen's heart.
"No." She whispered, clinging to that feeling. She pushed at it, making it grow like the flower. "No." She said again, a little stronger. Her head filed with happy images of her past life with Sky, with the warm father figure of Gandalf, the innocent Frodo and Aragorn...Aragorn. Alkira sent wave after wave of light at the shadows but they were unaffected by them, they only shattered upon impact. Galadriel stood beside her, starting wide eyed as she tried to force her way into Indilwen's mind. "She is lost." She whispered. Aragorn struck his first at the shield wall in anger.
"Let me through to her!" He bellowed loudly.
"I can't. Something is stopping me. My powers are weak against it." They all watched in despair as the creatures ate their beloved friend alive. Without warning a crack of light blazed through and everyone pushed forwards to see. It was like the shadowy wall was made of wood. It splintered and grew slowly before it burst free, raising a power so strong the creatures were blown to dust. Frodo staggered from the sudden shift of strength, he had felt the Ring grow heavy with the power it wielded but now it seemed to recoil in fear.
Once the dust had settled in a ring on the ground around Indilwen, the fellowship ran forwards. "Indi!" Alkira collapsed to her knees and rubbed either side of Indilwen's puzzled face, her eyes closed. "Wake up. Come on, wake up!" Her eyes suddenly flew open and Alkira almost screamed as she drew back sharply. Indilwen's eyes were liquid gold like the Valar.
She blinked then they were her eyes again, bright green. She started really around her. "Please don't hurt me." She whispered as she saw Aragorn. She was delirious and confused but in that moment Aragorn knew. That petty beg for mercy sparked something in him he had never felt before. "Nothing will harm you, you're safe now." He promised then gently lifted her up into his arms, cradling her like a baby. Her weapons dropped to the ground and the hobbits hastily picked them up before going back inside. Haldir led then to the healing rooms where Galadriel was waiting for them.
"Over there." She gestured to the long plinth which Aragorn placed Indilwen's limp body upon.
"We must all leave." Haldir informed, pushing everyone outside.
"What about Indi? Well she be alright?" Pippin demanded as he put his foot down.
"She had been touched by darkness, lady Galadriel will do her best to ensure her sanity remains." Haldir replied.
"But want to stay! She needs us with her." All four hobbits stood shoulder to shoulder, blocking the way. "Come now young hobbits, we must leave or the ritual will not work." Aragorn persuaded. Legolas placed an arm around Alkira as she sobbed. She turned into him and let him embrace her comfortingly.
"You have been unconscious for two days, young one. Brave one. Strong one." Galadriel murmured to Indilwen as she slowly came back to the light.
"Why?" She croaked, touching her forehead as she sat up.
"I told you he was afraid. You are the only match for his greatest weapon against all good."
"Me? I'm only-"
"Chosen by the Valar, strength forged by an entity not known in this universe, born of the Earth who's power out ranks all other life force known. You are special."
"Alkira is all of those things too." She argued.
"Yes...but you are the warrior." The ethereal woman answered before standing. "Come. Your friends are impatient to know how you fare." Indilwen got up sluggishly then followed. She had been changed into a simple white nightgown and her hair hung loosely around her shoulders. She walked elegantly towards the glade and Galadriel fell behind, allowing her to make the first appearance. Alkira practically screamed.
She bolted at Indilwen and going herself into her closely followed by the hobbits. Soon it was a tumbled mess of six bodies all laughing and crying at the same time. Gimli was roaring laughter as he came up beside Indilwen and clasped her hands in his, kissing them clumsily with merry eyes. Boromir pulled everyone off of the elleth then pulled her to her feet, hugging her happily with a bright smile she had never seen before. Legolas placed his hands on her face and pressed his brow to her in an elvish way of greeting.
Indilwen sniffed then turned to Aragorn as the hobbits danced around joyously. He stepped forwards slowly and repeated Legolas's gesture but he held out for longer, closing his eyes. When he pulled away Indilwen was beaming at him. Galadriel watched the exchange between the ranger and his lady, for that is what she was. The powerful woman sensed their future together but found it forever changing and cloaked in shadow, undetermined.
She left them to their love and laughter, they would need this memory to get through the storm that was soon to come.
"Never before have we clad strangers in the garb of our own people. May they shield you from unfriendly eyes." Celeborn told them as elves fastened cloaks around everyone's shoulders. Indilwen was fully recovered now so they had decided it was time to leave the beautiful forest. Legolas shifted provisions from the shore into the boat only stopping once to pull out some lembas.
"Lembas!" He showed the hobbits. "One small bite is enough to fill the stomach of a grown man." He smiled then continued to place them into the boat before climbing out again. Alkira leaned towards Merry and Pippin. "How many did you eat?"
"Four." Pippin replied. She giggled as the evidence of his feast passed. Indilwen walked with Galadriel through the trees as she had requested, watching as the blossoms fell from their trees. Galadriel reached out and caught a dead flower in her palm, smiling as it hovered over her skin, never touching. Slowly it bloomed back into life, growing whiter and smoother with youth. "The world has always been uncertain of its fate, nothing is ever certain." Galadriel began as she allowed the flower to float away from her. "You have many challenges before you but I am confident you will excel." Indilwen smiled nervously at her.
"I am afraid."
"As is natural. I am afraid, though I do not let anyone see." Galadriel whispered, tucking a lock of hair behind Indilwen's ears. Her eyes searched through the younger elleth before nodding her head in understanding. "You are also afraid to love him." Indilwen bowed her head and nodded. "You should not fear love. Love is what saved you when shadow gripped you. It is a deadly poison to people such as Melkor and Sauron."
"But...when this is all over. Won't I go back to my world?" Galadriel regarded her for a long while.
"Only if you wish to." She opened the palm of her hand. It held a long silver chain with a tiny white sphere. "When you are separated from Alkira, this will enable to feel what she feels when you hold it. That way you will know how you both are." Galadriel placed it around Indilwen's neck. "She has the other."
"Thank you, my lady." Indilwen touched the pearl-like sphere, finding it to be warm and silky under her skin. She walked back to the boats, checking she had all her weapons as she went. As she was looking down at her daggers she accidentally walked into Aragorn. His hand snatched her arm as she bounced back off his solid frame. "I'm so sorry!" She gasped, making him chuckle.
"Don't worry. I'm still all in one piece." He smiled softly at her, slowly taking his hand back. Indilwen opened her mouth as if to say something else but nothing came to her head. She closed it again then awkwardly walked around Aragorn. She climbed into her boat with Alkira and Pippin, taking up an oar and pushing the boat out onto the lake. She looked down at Pippin who was gazing at his dagger, the gift from Galadriel. "Are you still afraid Pippin?" Indilwen asked him. He nodded his head. "Then you are braver than you think." Pippin turned confused eyes upon her. Indilwen smiled at him. "It takes true courage to admit you are afraid."
"Are you afraid?" He asked her quietly. Indilwen nodded.
"But I try to not let it show." She ruffled his hair. They had been traveling for about an hour and Pippin was shifting uncomfortably. Thankfully Aragorn had called out to moor in a small clearing just up the bank. "I'm so bored!" He moaned, fidgeting.
"Then chuck some water at Merry." Alkira giggled.
"Alright, steer us closer then." Pippin suddenly grinned and leaned forwards. The boat tipped ever so slightly.
"Pippin..." Indilwen warned him. He took no heed of her warning. He splashed Merry directly in the face and instantly all hell broke loose. Merry retaliated and Boromir laughed loudly, throwing a paddle-full of water all over Alkira who gasped and splashed him back. "No! Stop it please! You're tipping the boat! PIPPIN!" Indilwen yelled as the excited hobbit leaned so far over, the boat went. Indilwen tensed up as the boat turned over. Alkira resurfaced then grinned happily, throwing water over Boromir and Merry.
They laughed then abandoned them with an overturned boat. Indilwen cursed as she dived under the water then went to lift the boat and turn it over. Firstly she lifted it up, spilling the water free but that in itself was hard, the boat was heavy without something to anchor herself onto. Pippin and Alkira were too busy fighting each other to help. Indilwen tried to turn the boat back over but that also was difficult as her hands kept slipping. Once it was finally over, she couldn't back in. "Dammit." She growled then shouted to the others. "Are you going to help or what?" They answered her with a splash.
They slowly began to gather all their equipment back together but one thing worried Indilwen. She couldn't find her necklace. "No!" She gasped and dived under, searching for the dim glow of her pearl. Aragorn and Legolas paddled back out to them.
"What's wrong?" He asked.
"I've lost it! The pearl Galadriel gave to me!" Indilwen looked close to tears and Alkira gasped.
"Oh my God I'm so sorry!" She turned and started to look for it but did not dive down to search like Indilwen did. She practically walked on the bottom of the lake to find it but it must have been dragged away by the current. "No! Dammit Alkira, you couldn't act a little more mature?" Indilwen demanded, shivering slightly from the cold.
"Oh loosen up! We'll find it!" She snapped back. Legolas glanced to Aragorn. The girls were about to continue arguing when Indilwen stopped.
"You're right. I'm sorry." Alkira blinked then swam closer to Indilwen. She embraced her friend tightly.
"Me too. You're right, we shouldn't have tipped the boat." Pippin rolled his eyes.
"Women." Indilwen and Alkira looked at each other then sent a massive wave over the hobbit with bright smiles. With Aragorn and Legolas's help they got the supplies back onto the bank. After dark Indilwen took to watching the water, sitting upon the bank and listening whilst the others either ate, slept or bathed. Suddenly a crystal blue light glimmers from beneath the surface of the water. Indilwen slowly rose to her feet and took off her boots, armour, cloak and all her clothes until she stood in only her breeches and soft white undershirt.
She waded out into the water then dived underneath, following the light. Her necklace had snagged on a jutting rock, it waved at her brightly as she reached out and took it. She was slightly upstream from the others and out of sight but she didn't care. She had her link to Alkira back. She held the pearl of shimmering colours tightly in her hand. It was more like an opal, actually, but the colours you would see in an opal moved in this precious jewel and the colours were firmer, brighter when touched by Indilwen's hand.
Right now she felt peace wash through her but it soon switched to giddiness. Curiously Indilwen resurfaced and looked over to the others, hidden by the rocks. Alkira was talking with Legolas. When listening she found that Legolas was teaching her more of his language. Indilwen smirked then sank back down to the ground, wringing out her hair. "You found it then." Aragorn noted. Indilwen shot to her feet and stared at Aragorn.
"How did you..." She frowned.
"I am a ranger, I have practiced moving quietly for most of my life." He answered her question. Indilwen smiled then looked down to where her necklace lay between her breasts. Aragorn stepped forwards again, looking at the jewel before gazing back at Indilwen. He came closer again so that his chest almost touched hers. "Do you blame me?" Indilwen suddenly asked. "For Gandalf's passing." Aragorn blinked in shock.
"How can you think that? I have never admired someone as much as I admire you. You fall into our world after having an audience with the Valar, you then save a stranger's life whilst evading the Ringwraiths, then volunteer to go on the most dangerous quest known to this world and fight against foul creatures. After that you go up against a ten foot tall orc and protected me from him, don't think I don't know," Aragorn stopped her before she could protest. "Then you fight against shadows with nothing but your own inner strength...no. I don't blame you. I think you should be Isuildur's heir instead of me." Aragorn tilted his head slightly. Indilwen gazed up at him then turned her head away sharply as something came down the river, murmuring under its breath. "Gollum. He has tracked us since Moria." Aragorn explained. "I had hoped we would loose him on the river, but he is too skilled a waterman."
"He used to be a hobbit, you know." Indilwen blurted as the small raft stopped on the opposite shore. Aragorn sighed.
"The Ring corrupts all." He began to walk away.
"Not all, Frodo is different." Indilwen stopped him, taking a step after him. "Aragorn..." He looked back at her, shining in moonlight. "I admire you too."
Oooh...what's going to happen next I wonder?
Tell me guys, do you think Aragorn and Indilwen make a good pairing? Please tell me what you think!
