Chapter 25: the paths
The rest of the fellowship soon joined her on the balcony. They stood for a long moment staring at each other in silence until Jada finally said, "Well, you wanted to talk to me?"
"Yes, yes we did," answered Legolas glancing at Aragorn.
"We just wanted to say that we are all here for you" said Aragorn
"That is if you ever want to talk" Said merry
"Or just have someone listen" said pippin
"Or even a shoulder to cry on lass" said the dwarf.
Jada sighed glad it was nothing more than a show of concern. She reached out her arms and hugged each of them in turn. Though to hug the hobbits and dwarf she had to bend down.
"We share your pain too, don't forget that" said Boromir
She playfully socked the warrior in the arm, suddenly liking him a whole lot more.
"Am I disturbing something?" said Galadriel.
Smiling at the companions un characteristic display of affections. Perhaps her visions were wrong maybe they wouldn't fail after all.
"Not at all, my lady" said Jada.
Galadriel blinked in surprised, she could have sworn she spoke to another. She shook her head to dispel the notion
"I would speak to each of you before the morrow" she said.
The party decided it would be a good idea to retire for the night and Galadriel said she would send a guard to fetch them.
Galadriel wanted to see what her mirror would say about the members of the fellowship. Though she was already certain the man from gondor already coveted the ring. Jada lay on her bed cat snoozing while she awaited the ladies summons.
Frodo and the others went first, though they were told not to share their visions with the others. Then one of the guards summoned Jada. Jada followed him, he stopped at the edge of a clearing "I may go no further" he said,
"Just go strait ahead the lady awaits" he said pointing in that direction before disappearing.
Jada followed the path indicated. She found the lady Galadriel standing next to a pedestal with a basin on top of it.
"Come forward child, be not afraid," she said smiling in reassurance.
"I'm not afraid" Jada said she took a few steps forward just to prove that she wasn't.
"This mirror shows what will be or may be" said Galadriel
"It shows a different vision to all those who look in it" she stated.
Jada frowned as if she really needed anything else to tell her what her destiny was.
"Come gaze into it" said Galadriel
"Ah no thanks" said Jada.
The woman looked up obviously surprised at her answer.
"You would seek no guidance?" she asked
"No I think I know what needs to be done," said Jada
"Are you sure?" the woman asked again
"Yep" Jada answered.
"You are not even a little curious?" questioned the woman clearly confused by Jada's answers.
"No, because I know whatever I see can be changed" Jada answered.
"It can? How so?" Galadriel asked
"By the choices we make" said Jada.
Galadriel nodded her understanding "so what choice have you made?" she asked.
Jada frowned in concentration, trying to come up with an answer to that question.
"I guess I have chosen to honor Gandalf's last wish and try my damnest to fulfill this prophesy" Jada answered.
"You do this for Gandalf, not for yourself?" Galadriel stated.
Jada shrugged "I'm not sure what I want but I know he believed in me" she said.
"That belief is enough for you then?" The lady asked
, "It will have to do" Jada responded
"Please look anyway, if only to ease my mind" said the lady.
"I would rather not, I don't put much stock into horoscopes and crystal balls" Jada said.
The woman smiled "very well child" she said. Jada started to walk away then stopped and turned
"I do however have one question" said Jada
The woman inclined her head in response signaling for her to ask it.
"I've heard Elrond and some of the others talking about leaving these shores" Jada said,
"Yes our time here is at an end" said Galadriel
"Why?" said Jada
"Why we are leaving or why is it at an end?"Galadriel asked
"Both" said Jada.
The woman sighed a weary sounding sigh.
"Why leave when you've done so much to save yourselves and arda" said Jada
"Because we fear that it will not be enough, because all we want now is peace" said Galadriel
Jada nodded she could understand wanting an end to all the violence
"yet you still helped to bring about this prophesy" said Jada
The woman nodded yes
"If you didn't want the results why did you wish for them?" said Jada
Galadriel looked down "I'll tell you why because you do believe in this land, in what you've fought for" said Jada
"What I intend to fight for, if it's worth my love it's worth the fight" said Jada
Ok so she was quoting song lyrics to the woman but they held a certain amount of truth to them.
"Thanks for what you're trying to do for me but I know my path, I think you should look again at what will be yours," said Jada.
Then she turned and walked away from a very stunned lady of the woods.
Galadriel stood there for a moment then at last smiled to herself. Perhaps she didn't need to help the girl after all. Shaking her head in disbelief, imagine a child giving her advice. Galadriel paused remembering the look in those child's eyes, she knew those eyes.
She turned and looked at Jada's receding back, Ereinon she whispered in disbelief. Could the legends be true, for the first time in many millennia the Lady Galadriel felt confused.
They slept the night in loria and were bid farewell the next morning. In the way of the elves each of the party received gifts. Legolas got a new bow, Gimli a lock of the lady's hair, Frodo the light of earindel after that she lost track of the gifts. The lady stopped in front of Jada, she held a box in her hands. Jada looked at her questionably
"I have thought long and hard on your gift my child," said the lady.
Galadriel opened the box, inside was a pendant shaped like an owl holding a rose. Jada looked at the woman quizzically
"This belonged to my foremother, the lady melian" said Galadriel. Several of the elves gasped in surprise
"It is called the Feisul or the spirit of the wind, perhaps it will guide you on your journey" said Galadriel.
Jada removed the necklace from the box and fastened it around her neck. The lady smiled at her then stepped aside so her ladies in waiting could pass the rest of the gifts and supplies to the members of the party. Each of the party were given new cloaks with leaf shaped clasps, they were also outfitted with boats.
Jada threw the cloak over her shoulders but for some reason she couldn't seem to figure out the damn clasp. several of the elves were helping to load the boats with supplies. One of the elves was Haldir. He saw her struggling with the clasp and chuckled when he heard her swear.
He took a step closer to her and said, "May I?"
Jada looked up startled then she recognized Haldir and said "sure"
He helped her to fasten it and showed her how to release it.
"Thank you" she said
"You are most welcome my lady" he responded to her thanks
"Jada, Haldir my name is Jada" she said
He smiled "very well Jada, if you have need of anything else I bid you ask and I shall gladly grant it" he said.
Jada blushed bright red in response. Haldir smiled at her once more and then walked away chuckling to himself.
Finally all the supplies were loaded; the party bid its last farewells and got in the boats. They had to paddle very little to keep the boats together. Two of the hobbits rode with Boromir, the other two with Aragorn. Jada rode with Gimli and Legolas, she offered to help row but they declined. So Jada just sat and watched the landscape go by. She couldn't help but be in awe. The sheer beauty of this place left her breathless. Then she saw the statues of the kings. Jada's jaw dropped, while Legolas briefly explained their history.
The elf and the dwarf watched their silent companion, who seemed to be asleep at the moment. Jada watched the elf and the dwarf from under half lidded eyes. The dwarf looked like he wanted to say something, Jada hoped he would wait. She fell back to watching Legolas row.
Watching the muscles ripple underneath the skintight tunic he was wearing. Ok enough of that she chided herself as her mind turned to decidedly dirty thoughts. She turned her back to her two companions hoping that erasing them from view would distract her. She was practically laying down on her stomach now.
Legolas was rowing or at least trying to concentrate on rowing. He felt Jada's eyes on him earlier until she shifted obviously uncomfortable with more than the boat. Her current position was making him uncomfortable now. She had taken her cloak off earlier, which left her shoulders bare. The form fitting breeches she was wearing were also not helping his concentration any either. Then she saw the statues, which gave him a chance to distract both of them.
They headed for shore about mid afternoon. They set about making camp near the shore for the night. The hobbits went in search of firewood as did Boromir and Jada.
It was then that Galadriel's prophesy came to pass. Boromir tried to take the ring from Frodo and he fled. Then the Orcs came and battle ensued. Boromir fell defending the hobbits earning back his honor through death. The hobbits merry and Pippin were captured and taken towards isengard.
Jada heard the sounds of battle ahead and dropped the wood she was carrying. She fought her way towards Boromir who was blowing on that huge horn of his, trying to summon help. Jada hacked slashed and shot every orc that crossed her path but still she didn't reach Boromir in time.
She saw Aragorn join the fray, saving Boromir from a death shot to his head. Aragorn was soon followed by Legolas and Gimli. Though they slew every last orc attacking Boromir still his injuries were too grievous for him to survive.
Way too many arrows were in his hide. He said a few last words to Aragorn telling him of the hobbits fate before the warrior closed his eyes forever.
Jada bowed her head as tears poured from her eyes and fell across her cheeks. She wiped her tears away in anger as she saw Legolas head for the boats. The others went after them. Jada stood there for a moment watching the retreating figures.
"How did I get myself into all this?" she asked no one in particular.
Then she turned to follow the Orcs. She didn't care that she was way outnumbered. She just wanted to rescue her friends and not waste anytime doing it.
She reasoned that the others would probably follow Frodo. She on the other hand refused to leave her friends to be tortured to death. So she went after them, she had lost too many friends already. If she died doing it then so be it at least she tried, maybe that would count for something
Finae