Chapter 14

There was no need to wake any of us—everyone was up by dawn. It was a kind of silent hell, all of us just sitting there waiting until we had to leave. I had never felt anything like it… and I don't want to again.

I was tired. The feast had lasted long into the night, and I always was a bit of a party girl. Heck, I thought, I might as well enjoy it now—there's nothing you can do to stay here. If I had asked, I would bet my life that they would have let me stay without thinking any less of me. I wasn't a coward. I was born a lot of things: annoying, clumsy, and occasionally rude. But I wasn't about to say I was a coward. So I would go, even if it meant I would never know about my future.

When everything was packed, we all silently hiked to the river, where Galadriel, Celeborn, and the rest of our friends would say goodbye, and where they (we?) would receive their (our?) gifts.

It was clear, sunny, and beautiful. I hated it. Of all the rotten days in middle earth, this would be the worst.

We all stood together so that she could speak to us.

"It is with deepest sorrow that you here depart from the Wood," she began, her voice as smooth as glass, "But hear now that all those who toil do not strive in vain, nor alone. Should you ever need it, help and hope shall come from the Lord and Lady of Lothlorien. Nai i Valar nauvar as elyë!"

I have to get Legolas or Aragorn to teach me Elvish.

As the Lady came to each of us to give her gifts, I tried to clear my mind. There were way too many thoughts in there for someone like her to be in it.

She glided over to me, and I could feel my heart skip a beat. Even around her, there was an overpowering sense of majesty. It was like being trapped in World Leader's Convention, where everywhere you turn you see royalty. I don't know how Celeborn did it.

"Peace, Vinyaquen." She said smiling. Obviously she picked up on my anxiousness. I took a deep breath. She pulled something from her white robe, something that shimmered in the sunlight.

It was a gorgeous small dagger, with silver runes engraved in the blade. The hilt was silvery, studded with shiny stones and detailed etchings.

I was caught there, gaping like an idiot.

"Lord Aragorn told me you were in need of a blade. I should think this is fitting?"

"Yes," I said, stumbling over my reply and breathlessly taking it. It was cool, and felt so right in my hands. How do elves have so much magic? We mortals are such cavemen!

"No," she said softly, "Mortals acquire such skill in amazingly short time. That is a wonder."

Oops. I forgot she could read my mind.

"Thank you so much," I said, with real gratitude. "This is exactly what I needed!"

"That is not all," she said. Suddenly there was a mysterious smile on her face. I was confused.

"You have a question, I believe, that you did not wish to ask." She said, looking me straight in the eyes. Now I was even more confused.

"How old are you, child?"

"I will be nineteen in the summer."

She suddenly directed her gaze over to Boromir. Now I knew what question she was going to answer.

"He is twenty-four." Her voice still held a little bit of mischief that I didn't understand. I couldn't help getting a little bit excited as she said that. Was he that supposed to be that young? He's not that much older than me! Wait— why did she feel the need to tell me that?...

I knew she heard me say all that in my mind. She didn't answer; she only stood there smiling that "I-know-something-you-don't" smile.

"Patience." She said simply.

I could feel the weight on my chest get heavier as our boats left Silverlode for the Anduin. We passed in silence, and it was very uneventful until we reached the Argonath. I craned my neck up so I could see the faces, but they were so tall that as we passed the farthest up I could see was the belts. I was sitting in the boat with Boromir and Merry, and as I turned to look at Boromir he smiled slightly. Obviously this was a big thing for a man of Gondor, to see your ancestors and what not. We continued on downriver to the lake.

The pressure on my chest was now at a high. It felt like a giant hand, squeezing each breath out of me. 'I will not panic' I said, over and over, 'I will not panic!'

We docked. I guess I had been noticeably more nervous, because before I knew it there was a hand on my shoulder, and Aragorn looked me straight in the face.

"What is wrong?" he asked firmly. I struggled over my words, and tried to speak, but only a weird strangled noise came from my throat. Damn you and your incoherency! Were you going to change things or not!

"Nothing," is what I settled on. Nothing. That's what I said. Sometimes I hate myself.

He looked at me in disbelief, but didn't say anymore. I sat down on a log, staring into space and falling into a glazed over calm. Things were so messed up!

"Where's Frodo?" asked Merry.

Damn it!

Aragorn had walked off, looking for Frodo and Boromir. I sat there, nearly hyperventilating beside Gimli. Legolas walked over to me, alarmed.

"What is it?" he asked, over and over. I wouldn't say anything. I couldn't. It was as if my actions were completely out of my control, and I could only sit there in a daze thinking about what might or would happen.

"Tell me!" he said, more urgently than before. "What's wrong?"

I looked up at them, an elf and a dwarf. Where were Merry and Pippin? My muscles were frozen in place. Then, a cool voice in the back of my mind spoke to me, almost pushing me into action.

'Do something,' the voice said, 'It isn't too late.'

I got up, pulling the magnificent dagger from its sheath, saying simply, "Uruks."

We were ready even before we heard the horn. I sprinted down the hill, not caring whether I stumbled or fell. If I told my legs to stop running I would still be bolting as fast as I could. There was no room for fear. In fact, there was no emotion at all. All I could feel was the blade in my hand and my feet tearing through Parth Galen.

They were near now. The Uruks, big black and ugly looming near my friends. I searched for that one, the one with the big black bow. I found him, trekking the hill and preparing to launch the arrow. I ignored the yell of Legolas as I rounded on Lurtz. It was now—or never.

He was stunned when he felt the impact of me tackling him. God, but it hurt my head. He swung around to face me, bearing his teeth and raising his scimitar. I ducked, bringing the dagger up to slice his wrist. He didn't even wince.

I was tripped and kicked, but I rolled to the left and kicked his legs as hard as I could, hearing a momentary growl from the Uruk. Nothing was a blur anymore. I could see the trees around me and everything was back to normal.

'Remember what Boromir taught you!' I said to myself, trying to think of the attack tactics. Let your enemy tire themselves out. Well, that wasn't going to happen. What next?

Go for speed. When the enemy is distracted by all of the movements, then you strike. So that is what I did.

Block, left, duck, attack, right, block and attack! And I succeeded in gashing his side. But something told me he wasn't going down that easily. I swiveled around him, slamming the dagger in his back as he grabbed my arm and wrenched me clear over his head. I crumbled to the ground, black dots swirling in front of my eyes. Crawling back up, I felt a sharp pain in my wrist. He once again raised his sword, but I rolled over to my right and got back up. I could feel something warm and wet on the back of my head. I reached around to touch it. My fingers were red.

He was moving slower now. Still going, but injured. This was my advantage. In a burst of strength I didn't know I had, I slammed my blade in his chest, ripping it out then backing away as he slumped to the ground with a thud.

More were coming, and for a moment I thought I could see a flash of blonde hair in the distance.

"Get the girl!" one of them hissed.

Pain exploded in the back of my head, and I slipped into unconsciousness.

MUAHAHAAHHAH! I LOVE CLIFFHANGERS!

I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Please leave a review!

May the Valar be with you!