Disclaimer: Any character from Lotr, I do not own., clearly The rest are mine.
A/N: I realize it has been months since the last update. Truthfully, all I can say is that I was having to work on a major project, that actually has a great deal of bearing on my life. However, that project is complete now. So updates, should happen on a regular basis again. Thank you for the reviews and also for people who read, even if you don't review. I am completely guilty of rarely reviewing myself...
Italicized words means elvish is being spoken.
Chapter 10:
Two nights had passed since Elarinya's meeting with Galadriel. In all the years of her life, a day was a fleeting moment. Here, a day was more than just a moment among countless, time itself seemed to pass more slowly. Even in the extended time, she was unsure how she would keep the silmarils safe in a time of growing darkness. The faith Galadriel had in her abilities was a phantom to Elarinya.
"Up there again Elarinya?" called up Sadron from on top his horse.
Elarinya looked down at him from a branch of a mallorn tree that overlooked the river that flowed through Calas-Galadhon. "Alas, it appears that not even here, I can find solitude.." she jested back.
Sadron leapt down from his horse and effortlessly climbed up to the branch to where Elarinya sat. "You surprise me Elarinya. I expected that you would be wandering around under the great mallorn trees, but now for a third day, I have found you here, in the same place."
"It reminds me vaguely of a place I used to visit often."
"Perhaps, it is time that you see something new? Come On!" Sadron easily jump down from the tree. He turned around and looked back up at Elarinya. He turned around and looked back up at Elarinya. Elarinya pushed herself off the branch, landing next to Sadron.
Sadron got back on his horse. He reached his hand out to Elarinya, who took it and got on the horse sitting behind him. His horse took off through the woods with great easy, always knowing when to jump or where to step.
"Where are you taking me?" Elarinya asked as they passed through the heart of Calas-Galadhon.
"You shall see soon enough." The horse picked up speed. Elarinya felt the wind loosen her hair from its braid, she undid the tie that held what was left of her braid. Riding like this was invigorating.
"Hold on!" Sadron warned her right before the horse jumped over a particularly large root. Without warning, the horse stopped in front of the largest tree Elarinya had ever seen.
"This is the oldest tree and greatest of all the trees in Calas-Galadhon. Follow me." Sadron began climbing up the tree. There were no steps spiraling around the tree, or talons to be found up high in its branches. Together they climbed higher and higher up until they were in the crown of the tree.
"This is amazing." Elarinya said in awe. The rays of the sun painted the sky in the brightest shades of yellows, oranges, and pinks, as it began setting in the evening sky. "Do you come here often?"
"When I am able. Of late, it seems to be less and less often."
"That is a shame." Elarinya replied, pausing. "Did you always know that you wished to be a part of the patrol?"
"I believe so. Both my naneth and ada were part of the patrol. I never thought of doing anything else. When I was old enough to begin my training, I did, and soon followed my younger brother. However, now it is only my brother and I that are a part of the guard. Both of my parents have sailed to the shores of Valinor."
"My naneth has also left Middle Earth."
"It must be nice to still have -" Sadron stopped mid-sentence. "What business does a dwarf and man have coming here?" He asked allowed to himself.
Hearing his words, Elarinya turned her head to look over where Sadron was looking, but she was too late, the great trees block them from view. "Tell me, what did you see?" Urgency laced her voice.
"I only caught a glimpse myself, but there was an armour clad dwarf, and a tall man. That is all."
"I need to go to them." Elarinya quickly began scaling down the tree, She needed to know they were all alive.
"Elarinya, you do not even know who they are!" Sadron called after her, as he followed down after her.
Quickly he caught up and grabbed her hand, effectively stopping her from going further. Elarinya looked up at Sadron. "I do know them though."
"How can you be sure? You did not even see them."
"How often to do men and dwarves travel together?"
"Rarely, but times are strange."
"They may be, but not that strange. I am going to go meet them at the border."
"Even if I thought this was a good idea, which I do not believe it is, you are not allowed to go to the patrol quarters. They do not want to put others lives at risk that need not be."
"I thought the borders were well protected, how dangerous can it be?"
"They are, but that does not stop orcs from coming to the borders, nor does it prevent them from shooting arrowings. Elarinya, you saved my life once and nearly lost yours in doing so. I refuse to put you in a situation where your life could be at risk." Sadron firmly replied. His voice softened a little. "Please, Elarinya, just wait. If they are granted passage, they will probably arrive sometime in the evening tomorrow or the morning the following day."
There was concern in his eyes. He was not begging her, he was asking her to be patient. She could see though, if she were to press on, he would not hesitate from stopping her.
"Then I will wait." she replied sitting down with her back to the tree on a branch. He sat down next to her, both in silence.
"Two days past, you asked me how long I would stay in Calas-Galadhon." Elarinya began, breaking the silence.
"Aye." Sadron looked at her intently
"I have decided to stay here until -" She was just about to say, until after the ring was destroyed, but stopped herself.
"Go on"
"I have decided to stay here until the the dark days no longer cast a shadow over the lands."
Sadron's eyes lit up and he smiled. "I am happy to hear that, I know you will grow to love your home here"
It was Elarinya's turn to smile back as Sadron continued speaking. She placed her hand on her chest, over where her necklace was covered up by her chemise. In her heart, Calas-Galadhon was not home, nor did she expect it would feel that way. Her home was long realized sitting up there, she drew her entire identity from her friends, Culiwen and Turin, relationship with her father, knowledge that she would one day be reunited with her mother, the ongoings of her village. It was ripped away from her and left her standing there naked. With each passing day it felt harder and harder to remember the elleth she was before the attack. That elleth was a stranger - but even now she felt like a stranger to herself.
"...to the festival?" Sadron looked at Elarinya. "Elarinya?"
Elarinya pushed her thoughts aside.
"Have you heard anything I have said?"
"Forgive me."
Sadron laughed lightly. "Maybe it is time we should head back."
"Aye."
Together they climbed down the tree and Sadron brought Elarinya back to her talon.
Elarinya sat down. Legolas' cloak was draped over a chair. She went over and picked it up. It had lost all trace that it may have belonged to someone else before it. The broach, a symbol of Mirkwood, was the only clue left to suggest otherwise. "Soon you will be back to your rightful owner." By now the light of day had vanished, and the light of the stars was filtering down through the leaves of the trees. Sleep evaded her as she waited for morning to come again.
Early the next morning, Elarinya walked through the Lorien to one of the small market areas. Music flowed through the area as she passed by silversmiths and blacksmiths, bakers, and carpenters. Nearly hidden away, she spotted a small shop with papers, inks, paints, quills among other odds and ends.
"You are a new elleth, I have yet to meet." An ordinary, blonde haired elleth in a simple red gown that had a gold fabric belt around the waist walked up to Elarinya, who was looking at some paints. No elf ever looked old, but there was a wisdom about her in the way she spoke, that suggested otherwise to her.
"I have only arrived a few days past. I am Elarinya daughter of Thannor from Imladris."
"It is a pleasure to meet your acquaintance. I am Melda. Times have changed. Elves do not travel so freely anymore. I have long enjoyed meeting others. Were you looking for anything in particular?"
"No, I was only looking. I do not have nothing to trade or money to spend. But thank you."
Melda turned around and picked up a large, dark leather bound book, a couple of brushes and then reached for the set of paints Elarinya had been looking at. "Take these." Melda held them out to her.
"I couldn't possibly. I couldn't pay you back..."
"I insist. I could see it in your eyes, the way you looked at the paints, that you are an artist, and an artist needs to be able to create." Melda placed them in her hands.
"Thank you." Elarinya sincerely replied.
"Melda! I was wishing to speak with." Elarinya turned around to a broad shouldered, square faced elon.
"Come around again Elarinya." Melda replied, before turning her attention to the other male elf.
Elarinya left the shop with her new paints, brushes, and leather book in hand. Less than a handful of people knew her in the Lorien, but she knew the one thing everyone else was conversing to each other about throughout Calas-Galadhon. Over and over again she heard them speak about the red-bearded dwarf she knew to be Gimli as she walked through the Lothlorien. Some were angry and distrustful of this unknown dwarf's granted passage. A few months ago, she knew she would be among those. Now, she was slightly pulled to think otherwise.
Late in the afternoon, Elarinya found a place to sit down to "start creating." She opened the leather book, the pages were made of a heavy textured paper. With the water she had gathered in a bowl, she dipped her brush into the water and then onto the yellow paint. Sitting there with her paintbrush in hand, she found herself hesitating. The last time she had painted was the night her entire world changed. Elarinya tapped her brush to the paper, leaving a couple of light yellow splotches on the paper, hesitating. It felt as if ages had passed since she last painted. Focusing herself she dipped her brush in the water again and painted a faint horizon line. With each brush stroke she made, she could feel it coming back to her and she felt herself come alive again with passion. Time stopped and the world faded away around save for her and the scene before her.
Hours passed. Elarinya smiled as she looked down at her finished painting of Calas-Galadhon. Why she had waited so long to paint again, she knew not, but she would never stop painting again. She blew over the painting to make sure it was dry before shutting the book, and gathering her supplies and made her way back to her talon,
Elarinya exchanged her clothes to a light flowing lavender gown and began brushing her hair. Outside her talon, sorrowful music filled the air - a lament for Gandalf. She put her brush down. "It cannot be true…" She whispered allowed. Quickly she got up from her chair, and went in search of the fellowship. If Gandalf a wizard had passed to the Halls of Mandos, who is to say someone else did not also? In her heart she felt responsible for the Sam, Merry, and Pippin joining the fellowship. If only she had stayed quiet that day, they would not have known until it was too late to join… Now, they were on a dangerous journey.
Lightly she walked along the forest floor barefoot, searching but never finding. "Haldir?" She called seeing him start to walk up the winding stairs. Haldir look over to her. Grief filled his eyes. "Haldir, do you know where the fellowship is?"
Haldir walked back down the few stairs. Elarinya could not hide the fear and worry she felt from her face. He did not question her reason to see them. "I do. Follow me."
"Thank you Haldir."
He led her along a curving path amongst the large roots, until he came to a stairs that went down. "They are staying down there." He pointed. "I will leave you now."
Elarinya walked down the stairs. She came upon a couple of tents set up by the tree trunks. She heart was put at ease when she saw the four hobbits sleeping. Gimli laid asleep too.
"Lady Elarinya. I did not expect your presence here." Elarinya turned around to face Boromir walking towards her with Aragorn.
"My heart weeps for Gandalf, they say he fallen in the shadow. I feared that more of you may have been lost… I had to see with my own eyes that you were all safe, especially the hobbits."
Aragorn walked up to her and embraced her. "You need not worry anymore Elarinya. I am glad to see you are safe too. When you left, Elrohir, Elladan, Arwen, and I were concerned for your safety. It was as if you had vanished."
"I am sorry to have made you worry, but I had to leave. Please understand." Elarinya replied, letting go of the embrace.
Aragorn nodded his head in reply. "Will we see you tomorrow? It has been a long, and tiring journey."
"Of course." Elarinya stepped aside to allow them entrance into their tents. "Sleep well. Aragorn and Boromir."
She had barely started walking down the path and Legolas walked up to her with a vase of water in his hands.
"I heard your voice, and even in this dark hour of grief, my heart singed knowing you had made it to Calas-Galadhon." He said softly as he reached out and touched her cheek with the back of his hand.
Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I realize it is much shorter than the previous. However, if I were to write everything that is supposed to go in this part, you'd be waiting a bit longer. Instead I decided to break it up into smaller chapters. Reviews are always welcomed!