I'm so sorry for the tardiness you guys! Life just happens, you get busy and forget. I'm not done with this story, I promise, I've just recently started classes again and I've been looking for a new job so yeah...Anyway, I hope you guys like this chapter, and I'll admit, this ch took a different turn than what I originally wanted to take. Certain characters meets in ways I hadn't planned but overall I liked the turn out better so I ran with it! ;)
Kristin: I cant wait to find out what will happen next . I wish that elf would be able to go with them the one that likes sky that would be interesting to find out what type of relationship she might have had with him. I also want to know if we are going to see Legolas and his dd again or Aragon and Arwen maybe even the twins because they are all connected to Galadriel .update very soon ok . Maybe she can play more music to.
And:
I hope you will update very soon I want to know what happens in the golden woods of Lothlorien and with the elves. How are they going to protect skylar since that is why she is going their to begin with and to learn more about their world middle earth . Will some of the Rivendale crew come and visit her or stay for a while. Will she be able to go back home. these are questions I want answerd.
Me: I personally apologize to you my faithful friend! Each chapter you have reviewed and each time you leave a smile on my face! Although this time I could feel the heat! I could feel you saying, "listen Brittney, update soon or else I'll find you!" Lol, not really but still...I felt the hate ;) And to answer your question, are we going to see Arwen, Aragorn and all those characters again, of course!
Malinda: I cant wait to find out what happens next with sky. Will the Elves protect her from harm from the evil thats in their world. Will sky be able to travel to other lands if she chose to. Or will they bring humans in to their lands so she can be among her kind for awhile and maybe meet someone a potental to be her husband. Will she be able to leave and go back home? update very soon ok
Me: Skylar is definatly going to travel in this story, it's just not going to be from the fellowships POV. So she'll be experiencing (one day) all the different species of Middle-earth. Will Sky be able to go back to her modern time? I know the answer...tee hee, but I can't answer that right now, bwhahahah!
Elizabeth: I cant wait to find out what happens in Lothlorien and what they will do to protect her from the outside world. Will she be able to go back to her world at all. Will you bring different people in to Lothlorien to meet Sky? Will their be Elf gathering where they play music and eat and dancing? what will Sky have to know for Middle Earth Education. update very soon ok.
Me: To be honest I think the source of her protection might surprise you. I can definetly see more feasts taking place that Skylar will attend, although I can tell you if so they'll take place in different kingdoms, not just Rivendell. As for other people coming to visit Skylar in Lorien, yes, for sure.
WARNING: There's some slight violence in this chapter, you have been warned! Hope you enjoy!
Soon they were off. All fifty of the elves that had traveled from Lothlorien, each mounted on their own horse, talked idly amongst themselves, some even singing softly as they set out into the wilds. Skylar had turned one last time, her eyes catching the last glimpse of Rivendell before the massive tree line obscured the stunning city from sight.
She had said her goodbyes to Hayln, Arenel, Val…and even Gavrill….who was adamant that they write to each other. Perhaps Haldir was right. Maybe he did like her….that thought was still too weird to consider since an elf, if loving a human, would eventually fade soon after said human passed away. Not to mention she was nothing in attractiveness compared to the beauty of nearly every ellith.
The sound of Biscuits hooves pounding into compact earth drew Sky from her thoughts, silently she maneuvered her head to gaze at the red headed elf beside her. Tauriel appeared lost in thought…that would be an understatement after what Sky had said right before their departure. You fancy Haldir.
She had denied it of course, claiming defensively that her heart belonged to another. Since then the ellith remained silent, her back rigid and eyes glazed over as she remained in the realm of thought.
Minutes turned into hours and hours into days. Elladan had made mention that the company would take approximately a week and a half to two weeks to reach the borders of Lorien. The high number had startled Skylar…she was use to traveling by car or plane. The thought of traveling two hundred miles, which would easily be only an hour or two via car, would take so long to reach by foot.
A week into the journey Skylar found herself sitting under the bright expanse of starlight, her glassy orbs mirroring the heavens above as she listened softly to the other elves telling tales of fallen heroes and long lost loves. A small wooden bowl of vegetable stew sat atop her knees, which currently was being used as a surrogate table top. The all-encompassing ambiance of crickets, katydids and frogs created a soothing mood as she gazed upward. None of the constellations were familiar and despite herself she frowned at that.
"Pray tell my lady, what troubles your thoughts?" Elladan quietly sat beside her, leaning his back against the same fallen log as her, a mirroring bowl in his palms.
"Stars."
There was a moment of silence before-"S-star?" A gentle breeze billows past, momentarily stirring the swirling heat from their meals. "I do not follow Skylar."
She smiled up at him before taking a quick bite. Talking around a mouth full she replies," they're not the same…the stars I mean. They're set differently."
Sudden realization hit him at her meaning. Quietly the ellon set the steaming bowl aside before turning towards her. "Regardless of the stars my friend, you will always have a home in this place." Elladan gently but firmly placed a warm palm on her shoulder, hoping the small act alone could express the heart-felt intent sincerity of his words.
The following morning:
The sun was nearly positioned in the middle of the sky, signaling it was close to noon when- A scream-no, multiple screams broke the overall quiet. Immediately Haldir, Celeborn, Tauriel, Elladan, and many others where off, their steads riding with a fierce determination towards the perhaps impending danger. Bemused, Skylar sat stiffly atop Biscuit, the mare herself stamping her hoof, as if sensing how her rider felt.
"What's happening?" Her head quickly shot towards the nearest elf, an ellith named Bastilla, Sky's voice pinched.
"I know not," came her quick reply," but I fear those foul beasts are at work here."
The elf needed not to elaborate on those beasts for her to know what beast she was referring to. As if reading sky's thoughts a good dozen orc's came riding over the hillside, their own beasts charging towards Skylar and company. Biscuit reared back, a piercing whinny escaping her lips as Skylar was suddenly thrown from the mares back!
Her vision was a momentary blur as she forcefully hit the ground, dirt and rock biting bitterly into her skin. Her breath was involuntarily heaved from her lungs, leaving her gasping like a fish when- "Skylar!" The frantic plea that was Tauriel momentarily eased the pain from her aching lungs as Sky quickly sat up, wincing slightly. "Look out!"
Skylar's hazel orbs could see the auburn elf in the distance, small splatters of something dark marring her face when….when another figure, closer than the ellith, took over her vision. Only when her eyes focused on the bulky form, did she finally realized what was before her. An orc with thick rubbery skin and a menacing axe in its firm grip, smirked wickedly down at her sprawled form.
Skylar blinked. Once. Twice! It was as if she couldn't believe what was happening to her. What was happening around her- "Skylar! Run you fool!" The cry of Tauriel momentarily caught her attention, slinging the mortal from her jelly-like state when suddenly the light ceased. A shadow emerged, capturing her vision when Sky sees the Orc lifting said axe high, his black beady eyes intent on its prey.
Skylar's heart leapt into her throat and, without really thinking, she marvelously found the silver eagle firmly in her palms. She registered the click as she unlatched the safety and- BANG! Teeth clenching from the sharp ring in her ears she noticed the orc had stumbled, its thick paw clutching harshly at its stomach where there, something dark slipped between its thick fingers.
Blood, she registered.
By now other orc's had paused. As a matter of fact all creatures, orc, elf, and mortal alike all froze for a few painful heartbeats. As if unsure what to do, Orc's shifted on their feet, instinct kicking in, demanding they flee while their training contradicting their inner most thoughts. There was no sound either, less you counted the phantom ring that permeated the air, that is at least…
"Witch!" A tall orc with blue facial markings roared, his yellowing teeth glinting menacingly as he suddenly broke into a dead sprint towards her. The orc Sky shot finally seemed to realize what was happening but by then it was too late. He crumpled to the ground like a stone, only to take his last breath.
"I shall feast on you first she-ith!"
Scrambling to her feat, heart beat in her ears, Skylar ran towards a nearby rock formation. The earth colored stone jutted out along the hillside, the years of erosion evident in its crumbling structure. Feet pounding up red dirt, Skylar rounded the small mound, her breath coming quick as she noticed a small stream. Beyond that where some woods, perhaps she could take cover? Not thinking twice, the hand gun still nestled within her fingers, Skylar makes it two feet from the creek when- "No where to run youngling!" A voice booms from behind as a fist pushes her forward, knocking the weapon from her grasp. Skylar panicked, her ears hearing the soft thud of the eagle as it landed on grass somewhere towards her right. Stupidly, she attempted to reach down, to grab it when- "You die witch!"
Skylar released a yelp, her middle finger reaching, grazing the smooth handle, as if teasing her, when she's fiercely yanked again. Only this time she's thrown into the river, her back hitting hard against a handful of stones that lay on the shallow bottom. She gasps for a shaky breath when suddenly he's there. The Orc stood there on the sandy shore, a triumphant smirk curling up his thick lips deftly the creature leapt forward. "You kill one of my own, now I end you worm!"
She barely had time to register his words when her head was maliciously shoved underneath the warm water, the harsh impact kicking up dirt and small bits of debris, blocking the sun from her field of vision. She flailed, her body's instincts taking over as Skylar grabbed at the orcs palm, desperate to free herself. Her legs, now soaking wet through her jeans, kicked in a sad attempt to hit her assailant but the creature was an expert in the art of the kill, for he too pinned her legs with his own.
I'm going to die, she though.
Without thinking she screamed, ultimately drawing the bitter liquid down her esophagus and into her lungs, only to attempt cough, which only drew in more. She lurched, lungs screaming for a breath, her hands finding the orcs face, clawing at his eyes.
The orc, not only tired but now irate at the scratch, released another yell as he quickly brought the human's head up, only to slam her head back down. He grinned as he saw her release another set of bubbles from her mouth as ruby red blood emerged from the back of her crown. "Die fleshling!"
It hurts! Skylar's mind screamed as she registered the crack of her skull as her head was savagely thrown back. She attempted to scream, to let someone know, I'm here, I'm here! But alas, all she could do was wither. Slowly, she could feel her body giving out. Black spots swarmed across her warped vision as her hands involuntarily fell from the Orcs.
This…is…it.
But it wasn't. The orc, to busy attempting to destroy its prey, did not see that he himself was being hunted. The wind was on the elf's side as he scurried up from the battle field, having heard the cry of the enemy and know he could see why. One of his own, an ellith of all things, as he could see from her sodden figure, was attempting to fight for her life…and loosing. Rage suddenly filled his being as he deftly swung his blade, aiming for its target with lethal precision. Suppressing the battle cry that threatened to crest, the ellon neatly cut the creature down, skillfully angling his weapon to as not hit the female.
Quickly sheathing the blade, the elf kicked the cumbersome body away with a determined grunt, only for his blood to run cold. The female lay under the shallow waters, completely unmoving. Afraid she dead, but unwilling to leave her there, large hands reached to scoop the woman from her watery grave, nimbly placing her small form on the soft grasses nearby.
The sound of swords clashing and of shouts had ceased, signaling the battle had been won…as if the orcs stood a chance against his kin.
For reasons unknown he remained kneeling beside her. Auburn hair, nearly dark brown, clung sporadically around her face and neck as his orbs finally ran down her sprawled form, quickly taking note of the strange clothing when- there! It was small, so small in fact he doubted the small act, until suddenly he saw it again! The female's small ring finger gave a slight twitch and instantly he flew into action.
In an instant his baroque leather gloves are shed from his hands, soaring somewhere over a broad shoulder, not caring where they landed. Carefully the ellon tilted her head, hastily swiping limp locks out of the way before taking his index finger and thumb to pinch the bridge of her nose, only to bring his mouth down with purpose onto her own. He didn't have the time to consider his actions as he forcefully pushed her cool lips apart, breathing his own life into the comatose woman.
He did this once, twice, taking notice of the sharp rise and fall of her chest before hoisting her up, his right arm supporting her upper torso as he whacked her back using his free hand.
Nothing.
Growling in frustration, the elf brings her mouth back to his before repeating the process. On the third try she finally came to, sputtering the offending liquid from her lungs, only to greedily such in mouthfuls of air.
Skylar could feel the presence of another beside her, not the orc, she thought, for she quickly took notice of the gentle yet firm hand on her back, her shoulder. After a moment of deep breaths (not to mention overcoming a coughing fit) did she begin shaking like a leaf as her mind abruptly recounted the last few minutes. With that she lurched, using the strong muscles in her legs to heft herself up. Sky made it halfway when firm hands easily pushed her down," hush now, you are well."
Skylar took a shaky breath, pushing strings of hair behind her ear. That voice…the deep resonating timbre of a certain male elf…she knew that voice.
"Skylar!"
Startled, the mortal whipped her head towards the voice, only to see Tauriel round the bend, the battle field now behind her as she dashes forward, only to freeze in her tracks. Sky assumed the ellith was surprised the see her soaked from head to toe, skin pale from fright, but no…She was very wrong.
"My lord," she gave a quick bow, eyes bouncing back and forth between Skylar and the one just behind her. Following Tauriel's line of sight Sky's orbs also quickly took in the silky blue tunic, the rich silver robes. Her hazel eyes roaming upward to see lengthy light-colored hair that was partially pulled back into an unseen fishtail braid before circling her way around and up to his face. She took in the sharp, proportionate features. The slight snarl that crinkled the skin around his straight nose. Calculating pools of electric blue heatedly regarded her small frame. And finally, she realized something very profound…the one before her was none other than the elven-king Thranduil.
