Elven_Princess_2005
Chapter 11
Thanks To:
Mireiswen: Thank you and I'll try.
Lintered: Sure, I'd have no problem with that.
Saturnpyroprincess:Sometimes typos can't be helped, and I try to keep away from them, but a lot of the time, typos are accidental. And romance will be romance.
Cute-Kitty: Here's more for you.
Luineraugwen the Dark Elf: Thank you and the site for the Elvish is at the end of this chapter. I do study it, when I find the time.
Skye-Chan: I try to keep up the good work.
fighting-4-freedom: No, don't stop writing, no matter what! If you enjoy writing, never stop, no matter what other people say or how other people write.
tomboy101: Here's my update.
loveandpeace: Thank you
ElvenEssence: I'm glad you like my writing. And the next few chapters will have a little more angst than anything else.
Coolio02: Thank you
Lady Light: I don't think he would have those thoughts. Thank you.
Elias Wandering: Thank you.
PsycoPixie: The how Natalie got to ME is still unknown (in the story). Keep in mind that I have a reason for her being in ME. Natalie never told Katherine how she wound up in Middle Earth.
Jack-Sparrow-Lover: She doesn't really talk to him, as you'll find out in later chapters. No she doesn't tell him in this one. Sorry about that. And I'm not giving any hints out.
Azura1: I'm glad you like it.
elven wood: Thank you.
I'm cute but kind of evil: I'm happy that you like it. Evanescence and Nickleback do rock, I'll agree with you.
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I woke up the next morning, before dawn and packed my belongings. I had told my traveling companions where I was going to spend the next couple of weeks. Aragorn wasn't happy in the least. I didn't understand why. Boromir was too engrossed with Natalie to notice me. I think he likes her. And vice-versa. I laughed. That would be humorous to see Natalie fall for someone in this world. She deserves to be happy, but happiness right now doesn't exist. And to top it all off, she'll falling for Boromir! Great, like I don't have enough pressure to deal with as it is. I thought wryly. I said my farewells and ran off to the palace to meet up with Haldir. He was waiting, patiently, at the bottom of the steps.
He eyed me. "I didn't think you would show," He said.
"When I say I'm going to do something, I'm going to do it. This is something that I have to accomplish, whether I like it or not" I said.
"Let's get going," He said.
I followed him out of the city and back to the borders of Lothlórien. He showed me to a talan and I threw my bag into it. "Do you have a weapon?" He asked.
"The only one I had, I lost in Moria," I said.
He nodded and retrieved a sword. It was light in weight, and a bit longer than the one I had taken from Rivendell. "Most of the borders are littered with Orcs. We have attacked daily and nightly, several times a day," Haldir informed me. "We split up into shifts and patrol the borders. We have three shifts a day"
I shook my head in understanding. I looked around and saw some of the Elves training. Mostly with a bow and arrows, but some with swords. "Our first shift should be back in about an hour. Our second has already left to relieve them. You will be patrolling with me and Rúmil on the third shift" Haldir said.
I looked at my clock. An hour would be 9 am. Second shift will be there until 1 am when we relieve them. Damn! I had to get the graveyard shift! Oh well, it's for the greater good. I thought.
Sixteen hours until my shift started. Well, I didn't need sleep, or food; I had gotten that before I left Caras Galadhon. I followed Haldir into a larger talan. Most of the Elves there raised eyebrows then I entered. I rolled my eyes at them, making sure they knew I didn't approve of the looks they gave me. I studied the map of the area for hours, listening to the soldiers explain, in Elvish, where the Orc units were. I caught most of it, but some of it, still boggled my mind. Orcs came in greater numbers everyday and we outnumbering the Elven troops. I know how that feels like. I thought truthfully.
After hours of strategies, I was finally able to get some fresh air. "What bothers you?" I turned to see Haldir.
I shook my head. "I don't know. Something is coming, and I do not know what. Something is wrong; I can feel it in the very depth of my being" I told him.
"I think you're becoming paranoid," my father told me.
I laughed. "I would almost agree with you; had I not seen what I have seen the past few weeks"
I went back to my talan and set up my bedroll. Not that it mattered; I wouldn't be there long enough to enjoy it. I kneeled down and pulled out my CD player. I listened to Evanescence's "Everybody's Fool". Right now music was all I had to turn to. I had nothing else. Most of the male Elves were pleased that I was here. Not that I blamed them. I wondered sometime what I was doing there.
I quickly changed the song and skipped through it. I stopped at the verse:
"Now in a world where innocence is quickly claimedIt's so hard to stand your ground when you're so afraid
No one reaches out a hand for you to hold
When you're lost outside look inside to your soul"
Christina Aguliera's "A Voice Within." The verse was kind of appropriate at the time. I hit stop and sighed, sadly. I heard shouting, and strained my hearing to listen. "She doesn't belong here, Haldir. She's going to get herself killed" An Elf complained.
"If she survived Moria, then she'll survive the borders. Besides I give her a day maximum before she gives up and goes back to her companions" Haldir said.
Oh? So they have little faith in my abilities? What else is new? I should be used to this by now. Not that it matters. I'm going to prove them wrong. I'll stick it out, just because I have no choice and to prove them wrong. This is a matter of life or death; Boromir's life or death. I thought.
I stood up and exited my talan. I stood crossed-armed towards the complaining Elf and my father. "I couldn't help but overhear your conversation" I started. The complaining Elf turned and I saw a flash of horror cross his eyes. "If you have a problem with me, take it up with me, not Haldir. I don't care what you have to say, I'm staying here. You can live with that or not, it's not my problem. Say what you will about me, just remember one thing, sooner or later, I might wind up saving your life" I told him.
I turned and walked off. I climbed a tree and stayed in its limbs so hours. My side was killing me, but I ignored it. "Katherine?" Haldir asked.
"What do you want?" I demanded.
"It's almost time to leave," He told me.
I silently groaned. I jumped, landing on the ground with Elven grace. I followed him back to camp and we soon left for the borders. We relieved the second shift; they were happy to be going back. We took our posts and I took mine, next to Haldir. I leaned against the tree trunk and closed my eyes; my other senses were automatically enhanced. I stayed in that position for many hours. I heard and Elf come up and whisper something in Haldir's ear. The Elf left. "We have Orcs coming straight for us," Haldir informed me.
"How many?" I asked.
"180"
My eyes shot open and I looked at Haldir with disbelieving eyes. "We only have 60 on shift. The odds are 3:1. That's not good," I hissed, turning my eyes back to the forest.
"I'm aware of that, but we have no choice. It would take too long to get more Sentinels here, and we are not running from them!" He hissed back.
"So you're leading us into a slaughter house?" I countered.
"There's a larger picture here," He told me.
"I know you have to protect Lothlórien, and I'm behind you on that, but if you're going to do it, have a plan, don't go in there with your arrows strung"
"Then what would you suggest?" He asked.
"You tell me! You're in charge!" I said.
My eyes looked around, for anything that we could use or that could be used against us. I saw Orcs enter the area and I tensed. My blade was already drawn and in my grip, ready to use at a moments notice. The archers released their arrows, effectively killing several Orcs. I saw Haldir string an arrow, reading it to be released. I sighed, knowing I needed to be in the battle. After some of the Orcs were under the tree, I jumped down, landing in the middle of the group. I stabbed Orc after Orc; their numbers seemed infinite. I didn't see an Orc come up behind me. It screeched, alerting me to its presence. An arrow was ledged it the side of its neck. I breathed a sigh of relief before I went back to killing the hideous creatures. Something out of the corner of my eye caught my attention. It was that damnable complaining Elf and he was in dire need of assistance. I'm never going to let him live this one down! I spitefully thought.
I ran over to him, decapitating a few Orcs that would leave him be. I eyed him, while he stared back in disbelief. The battle raged on for over an hour, and we have a few causalities. Many of us were injured, but I was one of the few who were able to stay out of their sword range. Besides I had enough pain coming from the cut on my side. All of the fighting had reopened the wound. The Orcs, who were smart enough to figure out that we were going to beat them, took off running in the middle of the fight.
We went back to our posts; I was praying we didn't have any more attacks. We wouldn't be able to stand another one. It was only another three hours until we were relieved. I got back to camp, and got my wound dressed. "You should watch you back more carefully" Rúmil said.
I turned to the older Elf. "Thank you for saving my life" I said.
I went back into my talan and lay on top of my blanket. I fell asleep in that position and woke up several hours later. I snuck a peek at my watch. 12:51 p.m. I groaned and pushed myself up. My whole body ached. I had things hurting that I didn't know existed. My back was constricted and my shoulder muscles were pulled. I think my muscles hurt worse than my wounded side did. I sat on my haunches, finally deciding to wake up and start my day. I had planned on staying out here for three weeks. That gave me a week to rest up. I walked out of my talan and went looking for food. I stopped at a tree and rested my forehead against it. "You look tired" Haldir said.
I glared at my father. "Dina. I'm in no mood to deal with you right now" I told him.
"You did well last night" Haldir praised.
"Thanks" I muttered.
He smiled. "Here" He offered me some lembas.
I took it, appreciatively, and bit into it. "How do you feel?" he asked.
"Why bother asking a question to which you already know the answer to?" I asked.
"I'm only looking out for my troops" He responded.
"And I'm a Sentinel?" I asked, almost comically.
"You proved you're worth last night. I needn't remind you that you saved Aradol," He said.
"So that's the complaining Elf's name? Well, its time for me to go find him and boast that I saved his life" I said, starting to walk off.
"I'll not have my soldiers fight amongst themselves," the March Warden said, snatching my arm.
"He deserves it, especially after that comments he made about me yesterday evening!" I hissed.
"He knows his mistakes but he also knows that you'll come looking for him wanting to boast. He'll remark that you're acting like a child and that you don't belong here. Be the bigger Elf" Haldir scolded.
I rolled my eyes sneering at the term of being the bigger Elf. "Fine" I whispered.
I found myself a nice tall tree and climbed to the top. It was a perfect view of my surrounding, especially with my Elven sight. I sat with my legs out in from of me, crossed, until the sunset behind the bottle green mountains.
I climbed down after that, making sure I didn't reopen my wound. I heard Haldir come up behind me. "Whatcha need?" I asked.
"Nothing" He lied.
"You don't lie very well," I told him.
"Do you have any family?" He asked.
I sighed. I couldn't say no, but then again I couldn't say yes. Sure he was my dad, but he didn't know that and hopefully he would never know. "I don't know yet," I said.
"How can you not know if you have family or not?" He asked.
"It's…complicated," I said, trying to find the right words. "I've been gone for so long, I don't know if my family even remembers me"
"I'm sure no one in your family could ever forget you"
I smiled, knowing what he meant. "I don't always act like this. I'm usually pretty laid back. Truth is, my mom died years ago and my dad supposedly lives in Lothlórien. I just wanna get through this. I'm not looking for any commitments right now," I said.
"And yet you pair yourself with Legolas, son of Thranduil?" He asked.
"It's a long story," I said. "What about you. Do you have any family?" I asked, but knowing the answer.
"Besides my two brothers, no. I did once, but Orcs killed my consort, mercilessly. Our daughter, Palanwen was sent off. I do not know whatever became of her. I wish is did. I wish I knew where she grew up, how she was doing, what she was like, but I fear I'll never know. She was a beautiful little girl"
So much sorrow could be felt in his voice. "I'm sorry," I said, for more than one reason.
He had lost so much and even with me there he wasn't gaining a damn thing. I suddenly walked off. I couldn't take lying to him…but it was necessary. If something would happen to me at Amon Hen or Helm's Deep, there would be no telling what would happen. He lost my mom and me once; I don't think he could stand to lose me again.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Author's Note: Well here's Chapter 11. I'm sorry it took me so long to get it out, but school has swamped me. We've started a new semester and the new classes are killing me. I've got so much homework in so many classes. Luckily, I've been off for the past three days due to snow (I love snow)!!!Anyway, some of you have been asking for a weksite for the Elvish. So here it is:
At the bottom of the page (it takes a long time to load, it's a big page) you'll see other links. They're self-explanitory.
Chapter 12 is in the works, but when it's going to be posted is anyone's guess. I'm hoping and praying that it comes at or around the Feb. 14. But I also plan on making the chapters a little longer.