A/N For those who are reading the story I have changed certain things about the 7th chapter, but not critical details. Also as an answer to your review Elf Reborn and your opinion that her argument was immature, maybe it was, maybe it wasn't I cannot state this without being biased. However as you have read the story please keep in mind that 180 years had passed since she came to Rivendell and her memories have not returned despite being aided by Glorfindel and Elrond. On the contrary her dreams simply faded away. As the arrival of the ring triggered her memories it is natural for her to want to aid the Fellowship even if it is for a selfish reason. And she is a warrior therefore her presence will not jeopardize the quest and it is not like her dreams have her screaming in the middle of the night. Maybe it is written from a teen mindset, but I am a teen therefore I can only imagine my stories from the point of view I have so far. I am trying to develop my writing as I go.
Thank you for your review PixieAlice. I'm glad you liked the story so far.
Disclaimer: *points to lawyers* Think they'd be here if this was mine?
Title: Forgotten Memories
Rating: T
Genre: Romance/ Drama
Summary: An elven child is found wounded on the banks of the river Bruinen by Glorfindel who takes her to Rivendell for healing. Nobody knows who she is or where she comes from; a blow she received to the head made her forget her past. As she comes of age she decides to join the most perilous voyage in her life in order to unlock her memories.
Chapter VII: On the road
A month and a half had passed; the Fellowship was set to leave Rivendell the following day. The night found Naerdiel in the stables, sadly grooming her horse Riniel and sighing.
"I hate to be parted from you, Riniel." She said "We have been through many adventures together, yet here comes a quest I must make on my own." She opened the door to the stable and quietly took her beloved mare out. "It is time for you to taste freedom, my friend, as you haven't tasted it since you were but a foal. There may come a time when I shall need your aid, but till then run free."
The mare neighed and dashed off, without throwing a second glance to her master. She would be near should the elleth need her so there was no need for tearful partings.
As Naerdiel turned around to return home she noticed a tall figure watching her fondly… Glorfindel stood in the shadows waiting for his daughter to finish the task at hand.
"Ada…" the elleth whispered.
"I have something for you, iell. Something I found with you when I discovered you on the banks of the river, but haven't told you until now." He handed her a book with a black cover.
"'tis the book from my dream." She gasped "The one I was reading when everything caught fire."
"It may be it, I cannot tell... only you can. Its pages are blank… both me and Lord Elrond have opened it many time hoping it would reveal a clue to your past. I feel that you must take it with you tomorrow…" He trailed off "Be safe and return home." He added as he drew his daughter into a hug.
The following day cam swiftly, faster then those who were to take part in the most perilous journey of their lives would have wanted. Accompanied only by the pony Bill who was to carry some of their bags, the Fellowship left the safe sanctuary of the Last Homely Home and stepped into the wild. Near the Ford of Bruinen they left the Road as their course took them west of the Misty Mountains for many miles. Gandalf walked first, and then Aragorn who knew the land well… last came the two elves as their keen eyes would be their rearguard. The weather was dreadful and chilly, as a cold wind came from the mountains blowing harshly over the Company. Although they were clad well, warmth eluded them making it hard for them to rest, as scarcely as they had to in the hollow parts of the land.
The hobbits grew weary easily and stumbled in their way… they seldom stopped and that only when they were sure there would be no way to continue their road.
At last, fourteen days since they had started their journey the weather changed and the sun showed itself from within the clouds. Although the temperature was still low, the pale golden sphere cheered them and raised their spirits. They came to a halt on a stony plain where Boromir brought it upon himself to teach the younger hobbits swordplay. Naerdiel took a seat next to Gandalf and asked gently:
"What is our course? I see we have reached the borders of Hollin…" she trailed off.
"We shall continue our road along the Misty Mountains. If luck is on our side the Gap of Rohan will be open."
"But what if it is watched?" Legolas, who had silently crept next to Naerdiel, asked but the wizard gave no answer to his question. The ellon took a seat next to his friend.
"How do you fare?" he asked her.
"As well as any can fare I reckon. I joined this journey to find answers yet they have been eluding me for the time being. I have not found another key to my locked past since that dream in Rivendell. I suppose I should not rush things that shouldn't be rushed."
"Why does your past matter so much to you? You have spent the last 180 years in Rivendell and that has become your home."
"It has, it is true, but I wish to know where my roots lie. Even Aragorn before he was told of his heritage felt something was amiss, something was hidden from him. This is how I fell and that is why I wish to find out everything."
"I understand…" the ellon nodded.
They stood in silence gazing at the company and taking into account what was happening around them: Gandalf telling Gimli he would not dare take the path through Moria if he had no other chance, Aragorn watching amused as Merry and Pippin tackled Boromir to the ground and Frodo discussing something with Sam. Suddenly their attention turned to a dark form upon the sky.
"What is that?" Sam asked pointing towards the black mass.
"Nothing, it's just a whiff of cloud." Gimli retorted.
"That is no cloud…" Naerdiel gasped.
"It's moving fast, against the wind." Boromir said in alarm.
"They are crebains." The elleth cried out at the same time with Legolas. "Crebain from Dunland."
"Hide." Aragorn urged everyone and they ran to the safest shelter they could find. Aragorn grabbed the bags and ran to the place where Frodo and Sam hid in a gap between the boulders. Naerdiel quickly ran and threw herself under a thick crown of thistle, hiding from the dreadful birds that circled the place crowing maddening, before leaving the place. The elleth waited till there was no danger then left her hiding place. She glanced at Gandalf, knowing well that their previous road was unusable now.
"Spies of Saruman! The passage South is being watched. We must take the Pass of Caradhras." Gandalf answered to her unspoken question. "Do not light any fires on our way should they not be needed… we must keep our presence hidden."
"Bitter cold awaits us on the peaks of the mountain," Boromir said "if not worse. Our need for secrecy may prove that have to battle the need to remain alive and not die frozen in the high places of the mountain."
"I understand your worry, Boromir." Gandalf answered "Should it come to a matter of life and death we shall use the wood and light a fire, but not a moment sooner."
They sidetracked from their chosen road and started climbing a steep slope… a thick blanket of snow covered their feet and the little ones soon started shivering madly. All of a sudden a grunt was heard and Frodo, having lost his footing, rolled down the hill a couple of feet just to be met and stopped by Aragorn. The ring fell in the snow and Boromir picked it up, pausing a bit to look at the Ring before returning it to its owner at Aragorn's urges.
"The hold is growing strong on Boromir." Naerdiel told Gandalf. "Too long has he lived under the threat of the shadow." She added.
"It is true, but he is a strong man. He will fight this evil and conquer it before the end." The wizard reassured her.
"If you are sure of this…" the elleth said doubtful.
"Never lose hope, Naerdiel. It is the worst fate that can befall someone. When one loses hope, one loses the desire to live." The wizard placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder and gazed at her knowingly, then moved on.
As they walked ahead the cliffs the weather turned treacherous and vile; a blizzard blew over them and the little ones were almost buried into the snow. Despite having the luxury of being able to walk on the snow, both elves felt the cold bite of the weather. Legolas was gazing forward, focusing on something unseen to the rest.
"I hear something…" Naerdiel muttered to herself.
"There is a fell voice in the air." Legolas cried over the roaring wind and Gandalf confirmed that it was Saruman. A loud rumble shook the mountain and rocks started falling over the company… Legolas quickly grabbed Naerdiel bringing her to safety near the mountain and far from the edge.
"Losto Caradhras, sedho, hodo, nuitho i 'ruith! (Sleep, Caradhras, be still, lie still, hold your wrath!)" Gandalf shouted against the wind, but to no avail.
"We cannot continue this way." Legolas cried out. "We must return."
"Let us take the Gap of Rohan then the road to my city." Boromir yelled over the wind.
"The Gap of Rohan takes us too close to Isengard…" Aragorn answered, but before anyone could come with another idea Gimli said:
"Another road lies ahead of us. If we cannot go above the mountain, let us go under it, let us go through the mines of Moria."
Both elves stood frozen as they waited for an answer… none knew what hid in the deep dungeons of the Earth or what evil had befallen the mines, an evil that drew Durin's folk from their homes and chased them from the depths of the earth.
"We cannot take the mines…" Naerdiel tried, but Gandalf turned to Frodo and said:
"Let the Ringbearer decide."
"The mines are dangerous." She tried again, but Boromir interfered.
"Staying here will mean the death of the hobbits… they won't make it over the mountain." The elleth glanced at Merry and Pippin, noticing they were half frozen. But the mines were perilous…
"We shall go through the mines." Frodo decided.
"So be it…" the wizard nodded and led everyone off the mines and towards the entrance to the Mines of Moria.