Disclaimer: I do not own Lord of the Rings and I write this story as an avid fan with no profit or gain.
Chapter 14
Tiriel observed the woman's eyes dart around. The dark brown eyes searched for something desperately, but the hope in them dimmed with each passing second. The elleth felt her heart grow heavy for the mortal. She knew exactly what those eyes were searching for. She turned to the elf besides her and whispered, "Where is he?"
"I do not know," Rúmil looked equally as pained. He also watched their friend's unsuccessful search. "I could not find him anywhere."
They watched as Lauren forced her attention back to the group when Orophin and his family stepped forward to say their goodbyes. Mallosdis embraced the woman for a long period, whispering things into her ear that Tiriel did not try to hear. Each friend offered words of farewell and love, but all had noticed the absence of one particular friend.
"Haldir is a fool," Tiriel murmured.
"Indeed. He will regret this forever if she does not return," agreed Rúmil.
Several minutes later, Gandalf broke away from where he stood with Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn. The three powerful beings looked to Lauren as the wizard announced, "It is time."
The morning air was still cool and mist littered the forest floor. Lauren wore her marine uniform and boots, which had been tailored to fit her taller and thinner frame. She was pleased to find that her feet had remained the same size and wore her boots. It was silly, but Lauren felt slightly guilty for wearing her uniform but keeping her hair down, it was not in regulation. Regulation meant nothing in this world, but it still made her feel slightly awkward. With her ears becoming more distinctly pointed each day, Lauren ensured to cover them with her thick locks. Her cover was packed into the one bag she carried over her back. Gandalf had advised to pack light for the eagles and Lauren felt satisfied with her performance. Aside from a clean tunic, Lauren only brought ammunition, Greer's dog tags, and the photograph of Sophia. With her handgun and tools tucked into her utility belt and rifle in one hand, Lauren left the rest of her belongings with Rúmil. She had dismantled Greer's rifle and locked it away. If she never returned, Lauren would not be responsible for this world learning how to build a rifle.
Lauren took a deep breath and glanced at her friends. She smiled slightly and said, "Thank you for everything. Hopefully I will see you again and if not, hope that is because I found a way home."
"You will always have a home here," Tiriel responded. Nods from the others followed and Lauren felt her throat burn with the desire to cry. She turned abruptly from the elves and began to walk after Gandalf. With each step, Lauren's grip on her rifle grew tighter and tighter. Why hadn't he come? Lauren felt a potent mix of hurt, betrayal, and anger as she and Gandalf walked down the forest path. Her chest felt ready to explode and it took every bit of control to keep the tears from spilling. If Gandalf noticed her dark mood, he gave no indication. Thankfully, the wizard seemed to know that she had no desire to speak. His pace was swift and Lauren noticed that he made no sound as he walked. She wondered if wizards were related to elves. They both possessed immortality, magic, and the ability to seemingly glide. It frightened her to think that she could possibly share these traits. For now she would go to Mirkwood but Lauren made a promise to herself that she would seek mortal company as soon as possible. Perhaps her body would change back if she surrounded herself with normal humans again. Did she want to be mortal? Lauren shook her head, hating the question. This world had too many questions and too few answers.
They traveled for an hour and came close to the forest edge when her ears picked up on distant sounds. Lauren heard the noise several seconds before Gandalf. Something moved towards them quickly and a little too loudly to be an elf. She had her rifle up and ready and Gandalf placed a hand on the sword at his waist. They hadn't planned on meeting orcs this soon into their travels. How had the border patrol missed this intruder? However, they both relaxed when the figure came close enough to break through the mist in the forest.
"Haldir!" Gandalf greeted the elf kindly. The Marchwarden was panting slightly and his hair had a stray twig caught in it. Lauren had never seen the proud elf look so… distraught. The wizard looked to the elf then to the woman, his eyes dancing with amusement. "I will… ah, scout ahead."
When the wizard had walked far enough to give them some privacy, Lauren took a step forward. Then she stopped and said, "I thought you weren't coming."
The words sounded more accusatory than she had meant, but the elf did not wince. He didn't even look the least bit sorry. Lauren felt the anger build and she continued, "You could have at least said goodbye-"
Suddenly the space between them was gone and he was holding her face in his hands. His rough palms pressed against her cheeks, warm and gentle. His lips however, were soft and aggressive as he kissed her. Her anger subsided as she closed her eyes, leaning into his body instinctively. Their lips separated and Haldir rested his forehead against hers. She opened her eyes and found herself staring into a blue pool of pain. He was hurting she realized, badly.
"I am sorry," His voice was strained and deep.
"It's okay." Lauren found herself saying before she could think.
Haldir pulled away fully and reached into his pocket. "I have a parting gift for you. Tiriel tells me that you favored this necklace when you first arrived. I hope that you still do."
The necklace he held out was the same one she had seen in the market years ago. Lauren took the silver chain into her hand and examined the green stone reverently. "Did she explain why I chose this one?"
Haldir only shook his head.
"My brother Anthony gave me a necklace just like this one," She told him quietly. "I wore it every day but forgot the day of the accident. Thank you Haldir, truly."
"I am glad you like it." The elf looked immensely relieved.
"It will remind me of you," She told him as she placed the rifle on the ground. Her hands went to the back of her neck as she fastened the chain. "And of my brother. I won't make the mistake of taking it off again."
"Let is also remind you of those who love you here," He said seriously. "We will always welcome you home to Lothlórien."
"Thank you," She picked up the rifle again. "If you ever find yourself in America, you're always welcome at my house too."
Haldir chuckled and embraced her once more, but did not kiss her. "It is selfish to say, but I hope to see you again."
Lauren felt torn and did not say anything. She wanted to return home, but it pained her to think that the price was never seeing Haldir again. Even though he could not be with her, she could not deny her wish to see him once more. Lauren simply smiled at the elf who had changed her forever and looked into his face for a long moment, trying to memorize every inch of it. "Goodbye my friend."
...
...
When Lauren found the grey wizard down the path, she felt like a teenager again sneaking back into the house with a father waiting. To his credit, Gandalf did not question or comment. He only looked to the necklace and back to her face, a kind expression on his face. Silently, he turned and began to walk once more. Lauren followed obediently and wondered if all wizards were as observant as Gandalf.
As they reached the edge of the forest, both Lauren and Gandalf scanned the horizon. She felt her heart begin to beat quickly. For the first time in years, Lauren would leave the safety of the forest. On patrols she had walked to the end of the trees, but she had never walked into the grass plains beyond. The morning sunlight burned away the mist and the field seemed to beckon her.
"Welcome to Middle Earth," The wizard announced.
"Hooyah," She said to herself. Of all the places the marines had sent her, this would undoubtedly be the biggest adventure. With no orcs or any type of monster in sight, the pair continued to walk south. When almost out of sight of the trees, Lauren looked back to Lothlórien and accepted that it may be the last time she saw it.
The first and second nights came and went. They walked for most of the day and encountered no one. The lack of life or civilization made Lauren wonder if there truly were other cities in this world. Gandalf at least proved to be a pleasant companion. He shared stories of his travels and past battles that made Lauren's head spin. Perhaps it was his great age, but his patience never faltered at her endless questions. They alternated taking watch and ate elvin bread to avoid a fire or a surprise attack. The orcs found them on the third night. Lauren awoke with a hand over her mouth and the hair of Gandalf tickling her face as he bent over and whispered, "They are here."
Nodding in understanding, the wizard withdrew and Lauren sat up quietly. She pulled the bag from where it lay as her pillow and placed it on her back. With her rifle in hand, Lauren joined Gandalf in a crouch that overlooked the top of a small grassy hill. They had camped sheltered in the hilly landscape and her eyes watched as several things slinked towards their position.
They had discussed their plan before leaving the city. Lauren would need to shoot her rifle to make it obvious who she was, if her skin color didn't give it away already, and they would allow surviving orcs to return and pass news of her traveling. Just when the orcs were close enough to see the whites and yellows of their eyes, Gandalf jumped up. His staff flashed and a stream of bright light hit the orcs. The monsters screeched in protest and covered their eyes with arms and hands. Taking advantage, Lauren aimed and fired twice. She chose the two closest orcs and they fell instantly. The screeches grew louder and with expertise Lauren clicked the safety on her weapon, dropped it to the floor, withdrew her sword, and was jumping into the fray. The light from Gandalf's staff died as he too attacked with a sword. There were about a dozen orcs and half were already fleeing from the sounds of gunfire. Gandalf and Lauren killed quietly, neither speaking as they took down the orcs one by one. As the closest orcs were eliminated, three orcs successfully sprinted from the chaos. The orcs dropped their dark swords and blades, not looking back.
"Three should be more than sufficient," Gandalf finally said as he wiped his bloody blade on a clean patch of grass. The area was littered with foul smelling bodies and Lauren grimaced as she stabbed a twitching orc. Its body went limp and she also cleaned her blade. She was satisfied to know that the years training and patrolling with the guard had not been wasted. Every orc that she killed was a victory and avenged the death of Greer. It would take many orcs to quench her thirst for revenge.
"Now what?" She asked, catching her breath. Haldir and his brothers would not be panting in effort from the skirmish, but she was not an elf. Not like them at least and the physical exertion was enough to make her breath quickly.
"Now we fly," The wizard looked to the skies and pointed. Lauren's eyes followed the direction and widened. Her mouth fell open and she nearly dropped her sword. Enormous eagles were descending towards them. Their bodies were larger than horses and wings long enough to shadow the entire hill. She'd been told to expect giant eagles and that is exactly what flew at her now, but Lauren still could not believe her eyes.
"Holy shit," She gaped. "They're real!"
Gandalf laughed as the eagles landed and he greeted them. Lauren watched him converse with them as if speaking to men and she waited cautiously. Their beaks were large enough to easily bite her head off. With her sword returned to its scabbard and rifle in her arms, Lauren subtly unclicked the safety and waited. Gandalf mounted an eagle and gestured for her to do the same. An eagle approached her and bent its neck slightly. Lauren avoided look into its dark, black eyes and nervously pulled her way onto its back. Once she'd tightened her arms and legs around the torso, the eagle beat its wings and they lifted off the ground.
There was a reason why Lauren had not become a Marine pilot. As the eagle climbed higher and higher, Lauren's body froze in blind terror. Her stomach felt like it was about to explode out of her mouth and Lauren squeezed her eyes shut. It wasn't until the eagle leveled out and her stomach relaxed did Lauren open her eyes. She did so slowly, afraid of what she would see but fully opened them when she saw the sky. The night was dark, darker than anything she'd experienced before. Looking down, she saw the expanse of raw, beautiful land. The only source of light was the moon and Lauren realized why the night was so dark. Without the glow of cities or towns, the world was at the mercy of the moonlight. A flicker of orange made Lauren stare at the ground far below. Her heart skipped a beat as her eyes focused on the flicker and recognized the fire. Next her eyes identified hunched figures around the fire, leaning close for the warmth. She could not tell if they were mortal or elf, but she didn't care. For the first time, Lauren was seeing life beyond the forest. Then she frowned slightly, noticing how closely the travelers stayed to their fire. Were they truly that cold? If they were noticeable cold on the earth then she should be freezing up here. At this altitude Lauren should have felt uncomfortable but instead she felt nothing beyond the pull of the wind on her hair. Then a shiver went up her spine, not because of a sudden chill but at the realization that she'd taken on another Elvin quality. Elves did not feel the cold.
"That is Mirkwood!" Gandalf half shouted over the wind hours later. The sun had begun to peek over the horizon and the world below came to life. He pointed with his staff to her right and Lauren looked below. Another forest in this strange world would become her next home. This forest however, did not have the same magical appeal of Lothlórien. It seemed… darker. The trees didn't seem as green or bright as the ones she'd become accustomed to. Even with the morning light, they remained dark and dull.
Lauren said nothing as they descended. She forced herself to keep her eyes open this time, taking note of the expanse and shape of the forest before she would lose sight of it. In the far distance she saw a large lake and a monstrously large mountain. The landscape of this world was nothing like she'd seen before. The eagles landed just outside of the trees and it was gentler than Lauren had anticipated. She was pleased when her stomach and its contents remained safely inside her body. With slightly stiff limbs, Lauren dismounted and stepped quickly away from the eagle. "Thank you," She said awkwardly. To her surprise, the eagle seemed to understand and bowed its head slightly, staring straight into her eyes. The intelligence in them made Lauren step away further. The eagles were strikingly beautiful, but she knew their talons were not just for show.
Once Gandalf had said his goodbyes and the eagles returned to the skies, he turned to Lauren. "No matter what you see or hear, stay on the path."
"What do you mean?" Lauren asked, not liking the sound of it.
"There is a magic in these woods," The wizard said as he stepped into the treeline. "A sort of defense against intruders. Although, I am curious if you will be affected now that you are no longer mortal."
Lauren's free hand lifted to her ear and she felt the tip nervously. What did he mean no longer mortal? Did that mean she was without a doubt immortal? Afraid of the answer, she did not ask and only followed Gandalf. The forest was thick of trees that seemed to creak and groan as they walked. The path below them was littered with leaves and branches, making Lauren think that it was rarely used. Gandalf hummed to himself and left Lauren alone. She busied herself with trying to listen for anything in the forest. The strange quiet in Mirkwood kept her fingers to close to the trigger of her rifle. She disliked Gandalf's humming because it broke the silence, leaving them vulnerable to any monster waiting for its next meal.
They walked for a good part of the day. The path took strange turns and seemed to climb and descend at random, but they never strayed from it. After the first several hours, Lauren relaxed slightly. Nothing had attacked them and she did not hallucinate or feel strange, as Gandalf had warned. Just as Lauren's stomach growled for the first time, Lauren paused mid step.
"What is it?" Gandfalf instantly asked, ending him humming.
"I thought I heard something," She said frowning. Lauren strained her ears, concentrating. "Yes, there's definitely something out there."
"Just one?"
Her frowned deepened, "I can't tell. It just sounds like branches bending-"
"Look up slowly and be ready to fight," The wizard cut her off. His hand was already reaching for his sword. Lauren felt adrenaline and horror hit her at the sight of three enormous spiders jumping from branch to branch towards them. She had heard of the monsters in Lothlórien, mainly from King Thranduil's request for her aid, but she had no idea how big they were until now. Suddenly, Lauren realized how lucky she'd been with giant eagles, not giant spiders.
The spiders made strange hissing noises as they dropped to the ground. Before they could even slither forward, Lauren threw a dagger which landed into the head of the closest spider. It fell, body tossing violently. Gandalf dodged as another spider launched itself at him. His blade fell quickly, cutting off two legs. That was the last that Lauren saw because she dropped to the floor, watching the final spider fly over her. It recovered by pushing off a tree behind her and opened its mouth, exposing venom covered fangs. Lauren kept the rifle's strap around her back, choosing to use her sword before using precious ammo. Her sword made a resounding noise as she withdrew it, waiting. The spider did not hesitate as it leapt again, but Lauren was ready. Her blade cut into the spider, spilling dark blood onto the path. The spider screeched and knocked Lauren off her feet with a leg. Lauren fell but swiped her blade again. More blood burst from the spider as she stabbed it between its many eyes, killing it. The body collapsed with her blade still within it. Standing up, Lauren looked to Gandalf who was already recovering her dagger from the first spider.
"That was most impressive for a woman."
Lauren spun around to see an elf leaning against a tree. His arms were crossed and he gave her a grin that made her want to break his nose. His hair was a brown that nearly matched the tree trunk beside him. It was strange to see an elf with hair like his, but she rather liked it. Perhaps her black hair would not be so different here.
"Mithrandir, we did not know the mortal could fight with a blade," The elf pushed off the tree and walked towards the wizard. He ignored Lauren as he passed her, not offering a greeting. She snorted as she cleaned her blade with fallen leaves. She observed the elf bow slightly and welcome the wizard, who returned the traditional greeting. Then Gandalf looked to her and said in the common tongue, "Yes she is quite talented."
"Indeed," The elf took the hint and used the common tongue. "Welcome to Mirkwood my lady. My name is Daeron."
"Thank you," She answered slowly. Did the elf not realize she could speak his native tongue? Lauren glanced at Gandalf, who still wore that small smile.
"Please, follow me," Daeron turned on his heel and continued on the path. "King Thranduil will be pleased with your arrival."
Gandalf offered Lauren's dagger to her and whispered, "Do not trust Thranduil. He is a cunning elf, you must be careful."
Lauren nodded, returning the dagger to her belt. She had been warned of the elf king by Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel too. It seemed that the elf had a harsh reputation. Even kind Tiriel had offered words of caution against the king. They followed their guide quietly until the forest gave way to a stone bridge. On the other side were two Elvin guards posted outside large doors. They passed through the gateway and into what Lauren could only describe as an inside city. The space was vast, bridges and pathways everywhere. It was as if she had stepped into a beautiful anthill within the mountain.
"This way," Daeron did not let her stop to gape. Keeping her face neutral, she continued walking after him and allowed her eyes to roam silently. She had never seen anything like this before. Elves walked around in impressive numbers, some stopped to watch her and Gandalf. Many pointed and whispered, reminding Lauren of her first day in Lothlórien. She had been frightened, confused, and exhausted that day but now the stares meant nothing to her. She was immune to such reactions now.
They stopped at the bottom of what was clearly the throne platform. Sitting on the great seat was an elf so handsome and regal that Lauren nearly laughed out loud. Lord Celeborn was certainly attractive, but his clothes were plain and simple, masking his grace to an acceptable level. This elf however wanted the world to know of his beauty. Jewels covered his fingers and his cloak was so long that it covered most of the floor around the throne. The crown on the elf's head made Lauren wonder why Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel hadn't worn their own. She had heard of King Thranduil's love for jewels, but she had no idea he enjoyed to wear them so audaciously. Still, behind the flashy appearance was a cold elf with a stare that made Lauren's fingers twitch toward her handgun.
Daeron bowed and announced, "The lady Lauren Harris and Mithrandir have arrived my king."
"So I can see," King Thranduil's voice was mesmerizing. He flicked his hand in a careless motion, "You may go Daeron."
The elf retreated quickly, making Lauren wonder if the elves in this realm were frightened of their own leader. As Daeron left, Thranduil said, "Welcome to my realm Lauren Harris. I am glad that you finally accepted my invitation."
He spoke in the common tongue, so Lauren replied in it. "Thank you sir. I am grateful for your hospitality."
The king leaned forward, intrigued, "Ah, they must have nice manners where you are from. Mortals in our realm are often not so lucky. I look forward to learning about your world. Tonight we will have a feast to celebrate your arrival. Mithrandir, I will be sure to serve your favorite wine."
The wizard nodded, a neutral expression on his own face, "Thank you Thranduil. How very kind."
"Until then, rest from your journey. I will send someone to show you the way to our great hall." The king leaned back in his chair.
Lauren took that as a dismissal and turned. She and Gandalf descended back down the steps leading up to the throne platform. Daeron waited at the bottom and said, "Follow me. I will show you to your rooms."
She tried to keep track of where they went, how many turns they took and in which direction, but soon Lauren found herself lost. The tunnels were well lit by lanterns and torches and the air was surprisingly fresh, not stale. She did not know how the city ventilated, but was glad for it. Eventually, Daeron stopped before a door and opened it for her. "My lady, these are your quarters. The feast is in several hours. There is a bath prepared for you inside."
Lauren waited at the door long enough to see that Gandalf was escorted to the quarters next to her. Satisfied that her companion was close by, she entered the quarters and closed the heavy wooden door behind her. She stood on the edge of a finely furnished sitting room. An open doorway led to a bedroom with an impressive, large bed. Another doorway led to a bathing room where steaming water awaited in the tub. After a bath, Lauren donned a silver nightgown she'd found in the closet and slipped under the blankets. She placed her gun under the pillow. The blankets were soft against her skin, sending her to sleep within minutes.
She awoke to the sounds of knocking on the door. Momentarily forgetting where she was, Lauren sat up in bed with her handgun ready. As her eyes focused and memory returned, she relaxed and went to the door. Opening it cautiously, she found an elleth standing outside. She wore a simple brown dress, darker than her light brown hair and eyes. The elleth smiled nervously and said, "I am here to prepare you for the feast."
Lauren was surprised to hear the common tongue. The elleth spoke slowly and had to repeat the world prepare several times before saying it correctly. From what she had experienced in Lothorien, it was rare for elves to speak the language. Opening the door wider, Lauren allowed the elleth to enter but said, "Oh. Well, thank you but I can put a dress on by myself."
The elleth shifted, uncomfortable. "King Thranduil sent me to help. Shall I tell him that you refused?"
Not wanting to offend her host, Lauren sighed. "No, nevermind. I could use some help with my hair, I'm afraid the journey here ruined my braids."
Inside the closet were several gowns, some casual and a few more elaborate. Lauren stared at the them all for several moments before looking to the elleth. "What is your name?"
"Istimiel, my lady."
"Nice to meet you Istimiel," Lauren pointed to the dresses. "Can you tell me which one I should wear? I am not sure how fancy this feast is supposed to be."
"I like the purple one," Istimiel said shyly. "It will go nicely with your hair my lady."
"Purple it is," Lauren withdrew the gown grudgingly. She would have preferred wearing one of the simpler dresses, but the elleth knew best. Pulling the nightgown over her head, Lauren traded it for the gown. Sitting down at the vanity in the corner, Lauren allowed Istimiel to begin braiding her hair. A minute later, the elleth gasped and withdrew her hands suddenly.
Lauren gave the elleth a strange look. Then understood when she looked at her reflection and realized that Istimiel had uncovered her left ear. The pointy tip was more profound than ever, making Lauren look away from the mirror.
"You… You are…"
"Complicated," Lauren finished for her. "Sorry I should have warned you."
"No," The elleth recovered from her shock. "I am sorry. They told me you were mortal-"
"I am, sort of. I don't know actually," She pointed to her ears, "This is a rather new development."
Istimiel nodded mutely and returned to her work. She brushed Lauren's hair and braided it slightly, so that her ears remained covered. Lauren did not know if the elleth did this on purpose or not, but she was glad for it. Once finished, Istimiel murmured a rapid farewell and fled the quarters. Lauren felt guilty, hoping the elleth wasn't too frightened by her discovery. The news of Lauren's ears would probably spread through the city like wildfire, but she expected it. Lauren could only hide her ears for so long.
Ready for the feast, Lauren searched for a source of entertainment while she waited for her promised guide. Returning to the sitting room, she approached the tall bookshelf. Elegant, old books lined its shelves and she read the covers curiously. A title with the word magic in it caught her eye and she settled in a chair browsing its pages. Too distracted to actually read it, Lauren contented herself with scanning random pages and tracing her finger along eloquent letters. The elvish language was so pretty to look at. Just as she was about to pick a second book, three rapid knocks came at the door.
Placing the book on the desk, Lauren stood up and opened the door. A blonde elf stood in a fine tunic and a circlet around his head. His arms were behind his back and he nodded politely to her.
"I am here to escort you to the feast my lady."
His use of the common tongue was flawless. He did not stutter or fumble, but spoke confidently. His blue eyes were calm and confident, only straying to inspect her for a second. Satisfied with his inspection, he restored their eye contact and said, "My name is Legolas."