Longer chapters coming up, so a longer read. Hope you like this one. Tell me your opinion and review!
I was yanked from what felt like unconciousness by someone pulling on my tunic. I grumbled under my breath and swatted at it. The tugging continued and I lashed my foot out at it.
"Del... Go away..." I mumbled and I rolled over on the cot. Being asleep under the umbrella of leaves, I felt as if I had drifted back to my old life. Del had often been my way of waking in the morning but apparently this morning was not an exception.
Now it began prodding and I rolled over and blindly lashed out, hitting something soft. They let out a quiet grunt and when I tried to pull my foot away, it was caught by a pair of warm hands. I lazily opened my eyes and followed the red and gold colored fabric up to the face of the Gondorian. The sun shown down on me brightly, causing my sleepy eyes to burn. Boromir simply chuckled and I lay back on my cot. I let out a grumble and covered my face with a pillow.
"Good morning to you, too..." His voice was rather humerous and I hated morning people. After I returned to my cot after last night, I just collapsed onto the soft cushion and it didn't feel like I had moved at all. But now, here was Boromir, to rise me from my peaceful sleep. He still held onto my bare foot but eventually released it and he tucked it back under my warm covers. He sat down in the exact place Aragorn was last night and I frowned.
"Aragorn told me to come wake you..." He said quietly and I grumbled and rolled over, burrying my face in my pillows.
"What time is it?"
"It's time for you to get up..." His voice was filled with laughter and I rolled my eyes lazily at him. He placed his hand on my back and rubbed it in slow circles. "Come on, Breeze. Wake up..." He now leaned down and whispered it in my ear. His breath tickled my ear and I placed my hand over his face and pushed him away.
"Fine then, I guess I'm just going to do this the hard way..." He got up off the cot and walked away to my relief. I groaned and rolled over once more but then someone reached under the covers and grabbed my ankles. My eyes shot open and I reached for my dagger that I had placed under my pillow but it was gone. I was yanked from my cot and landed uncerimoniously on my butt. The Gondorian was smiling broadly and laughing while he pulled me across the ground.
"Boromir!" I shrieked and tried reaching for his hands but he released my ankles and I looked around. I was back in the clearing, the rest of the Fellowship was just starting to rise. All the sleep was gone from my eyes and I was infuriated, more so than I was with Del on the mountain.
"You better run, Gondorian!" I straightened my clothes out and sent him a dangerous look, one that could undoubtubly kill. For a moment, a look of genuine fear crossed his face. The large man suddenly took off at a dead sprint.
Giggling evilly, I ran after him. He was laughing loudly and we wove in and around the trees in the large courtyard. Disappearing behind one tree, Boromir looked behind him and saw that I was gone. I stalked my prey and stepped silently around the twigs and leaves. Going in for the kill, I pounced on the Steward's son and he let out a loud yell. Both of us tumbled to the ground and into the soft grass. I held him down to the ground and sat atop him. Both of us were breathing heavily and I pushed the hair from my face.
"You could have just waited until I had woken up..." I said breathlessly and I placed a hand over my beating heart. "Well that wouldn't have been any fun then, wouldn't it?" He raised an eyebrow and I rolled off him.
"Do it again and I will cut something off next time..." I teased as I tossed my hair over my shoulder and walked away.
~Third Person's POV~
Boromir watched her leave. He was still breathless and part of it wasn't because of the running. Breeze had invigorated him like he had planned before he set his plan into action. She got so furious when he woke her early. Aragorn had gave him permission to wake the lady himself and that delighted the Captain-General of Gondor. He hadn't wanted to make her that angry but he missed seeing her playful and rambunctious atitude. He let out a loud chuckle before he mopped a hand over his face and rising from the ground.
Breeze made her way back into the clearing and walked to her things, blood still boiling. Aragorn noticed her suddenly furious mood and watched in amusement as she fiddled around, looking for her weapons. She briskly strapped her various daggers and sword on and she grasped her long sword in her left hand. Like he had warned, she was favoring her right shoulder and he was glad she heeded his warning.
Being a healer herself, she was probably aware of the damage that had been done as soon as the orc sword punctured her smooth skin. Still, the ranger let a small smile take over his lips as he watched her stalk from the clearing after throwing her swords back to the ground in a fit of anger. Yet, he still wondered where she would go and he rose from his spot to follow.
In a fit of rage, the female ranger let her feet take her where they wished. Her foot falls were quiet on the short grass path. After a short while, they brought her to what appeared to be an achery shoot. Legolas was practicing and firing arrows rapidly, hitting the bullseye each time. The woman watched in delight as her elf friend performed his graceful assult on the motionless targets. She let her mouth fall open in awe abd her eyes were wide.
"Is there something you need help with, Lady Quwen?" Breeze hadn't noticed the elf had stopped and her gaze drifted away from the unscathed target and to the blonde elf. She blinked a few times to right her dazed mind and stared at him. "Oh, no. I was just watching, carry on..." She stepped back a few paces, giving him more room. He merely quirked his dainty brow before resuming his practice.
"Legolas, where do they keep the bows?" she suddenly asked and the woman doubled back, realising that she voiced her thoughts out loud. "Do you need a bow?" He asked as he released another arrow. She didn't answer and the elf stopped and sighed. "You can't hide from him..." Her eyes flicked back to him at the comment.
"From who?"
"Aragorn...?"
"Of course I can! I made sure to cover my own tracks... This isn't my first time being trailed you know..." Quwen couldn't contain the smirk from covering her features. Legolas approached a rack of bows near a tree where he had been standing. Breeze immidiately rushed over and picked up a solid, silver bow. She was about to draw it back when the elf snatched it from her palms and examined it himself.
Aragorn had warned him to make her take it easy so the elf came up with a plan. He turned his nose up at it and placed it back in its spot before picking up an even heavier bow.
"Here, try this..." He held it out to her but her forehead wrinkled. She placed her right hand on the base and her left on the string. With an amused smile upon his face, Legolas watched the woman struggle with the strong bow. Grunts and angry screams filled the air as she tried to draw back the string but to no avail. Finally, after she had her chest heaving up and down because of her straining, she gave up.
"I don't think that your shoulder is ready enough for archery yet. Go rest it." He told her, his voice lightly scolding. She scowled at the elf before placing the heavy bow back into his waiting palm and stalking away. "You are an evil elf!" She grumbled before disappearing into the trees.
To his dismay, Quwen returned the next day, slightly aggitating the blonde elf. "I see you were able to sneak away from him again..." Legolas greeted as he notched another arrow. She was suprisingly silent but her foot falls were the only signal of her presence. She came to stand beside him and he looked down at her. Her hazel eyes were full of pleading and he sighed before rolling his eyes.
"Quwen, stop..." He looked away into the trees but he could still feel her gaze on him. "Please, Legolas! Please!" Her voice raised an octave as she whinned and tugged on his sleeve. After an agitated growl, the elf finally complied. The female ranger felt a wave of pride wash over her for swaying the elf's feelings.
"I've been around enough archers to know the basics. When I was young, my father tried to teach me but I was occupied with other things..." She explained and he raised a questioning eyebrow.
"I was but a child! I was procupied with fun and gaming!" her hazel eyes twinkled with mischief. "I could only imagine what a troublesome child you must have been..." Legolas jested before handing her a light-weight, white bow. He picked up a quiver of arrows before he slung it over his shoulder so that he could just hand them to her.
"What are you talking about? I was a wonderful child!" She teased back but the elf scoffed. "Well, I maybe not perfect. My parents were always busy but they still kept me in line..." She explained and the elf grew silent.
It must be hard for her to live without her parents. The elf had only ever known little grief in his life as both his parents were alive and ruling over Mirkwood at this very moment.
"Go easy then, don't strain yourself..." he instructed and she nodded. She raised the bow up and extended her right arm out straight and slowly pulled the string back with her left. She winced a bit but she contained her agony.
"Like this?" She managed to squeak out whilst holding in the pain. Legolas stepped forward and placed his hands on her hips. He slightly rotated them so that they were squared away from the target. He raised her elbow up higher and lightly pushed her stomach in.
"Alright, lower your bow..." She complied and let the string slacken. "Your form is decent but add an arrow now..." He reached behind his head and he held an arrow before her. He showed her how to knock it and how to aim.
Stretching her arm out once more, she winced when she pulled back the taught string due to her injuries but her eyes were hard and determined. The elf stepped forward and straightened her out once more. Walking around, he stood opposite her and looked down the sights.
"Take a deep breath and... realease." As he finished the sentence, her arm gave out and the arrow flashed through the air. It sounded with a solid thunk as it hit the target and it landed off to the left, towards the edge of the target. The female scowled and lowered the bow.
A small chuckle was heard behind them and Breeze slowly turned around to face the eveasdropper. Haldir was watching, leaned up against a silver tree with Aragorn at his side. The lady ranger's cheeks darkened and she cast her eyes on the forest floor.
"Damn..." She mumbled under her breath as she looked up into the ranger's blue eyes. "No, carry on Lady Quwen... We are only here to watch." His blue eyes glinted playfully and her face fell.
"Be careful how you use that name, Lord Aragorn!" She hissed out in a raspy whisper. Her eyes shifted nervously over to the other elf in the ring. His face was smoothed over with contentment as he rested his eyes on her. His blue eyes looked scutenizing and she felt the need to shrink away from him.
"Breeze, I told you to be careful..." Aragorn took a step forward but she matched it by taking a step back. "I am being careful. It doesn't even hurt any more... Hardly..." She grumbled under her breath and she turned back to the target. She narrowed her eyes and took aim. She released another arrow and this one landed closer to the center but still to the left.
"Hardly? If it hurts at all you should stop." Haldir pipped up and she flinched before bringing her bow down. "You were not intended to hear that..." She grumbled as she scratched her arm uncomfortably. The Lorien elf just smirked and continued to lean casually as he watched. He was rather impressed to see her doing this well for her fist endeavor.
After a few more shots, she grew agitated. The arrow continued to inch closer to the middle but it would not center. With an agitated growl, she took out one of her many throwing knives and threw it at the target. It landed in the dead center with a solid thud, shocking her small audience. Her hazel eyes were hard with determination.
She had never met a skill that had been so difficult. In the past, she had always been able to pick things up rather quickly. But, apparently, archery was an exception.
By high noon, her shoulder was growing tired. The ranger noticed quickly and claimed that the archery lesson was done for today. Quwen's lips turned down in a frown but she returned to the clearing with her companions. There had been a tad bit of chill in the air but it had disappeared when the sun had risen higher in the blue sky. A thought crossed the blonde ranger's mind at this time.
"Aragorn, when will we be leaving?" She suddenly asked and he turned to look at her. "I think it be best that we leave tomorrow at midday after we have recieved more rest. Why do you ask?" his blue eyes studied her carefully.
"Something lies in wait for us outside the forest... I have this unnerving feeling that something is about to happen, something terrible." Fear shown in her hazel eyes, causing something to stir inside the ranger as well. "You've had another dream?" Breeze looked shaken but slowly nodded.
"Death is coming again, but a voice inside my head said that I was the only one who could shy it away from the Fellowship..." she looked down at the ground now, uncertain as to what to do. "Well, if it is danger we face in the future, it may be best if we get your shoulder healed up. Come..." He led her away to the healing houses and sat her down. He retrieved some powerful salve and covered her wound with it. Smoke rose from the drying cream and Breeze hissed in pain quietly.
"What is this?" She asked through gritted teeth and she looked over her shoulder. "It is a powerful cream that speeds up the healing process. A wound that takes three weeks to heal, heals in one. It is a bit painful but the lasting affects are quite pleasing."
At a second glance, Breeze noticed that the wound had indeed begun to scab over. "And, since we heal rather quickly, it works even faster for our people..." He wrapped the creamy substance back up into a deep green leaf. "The pain is... is gone!" She easily moved her arm about but the ranger stopped her jerky movements. He placed the bundle in her hands and curled her fingers around the edges.
"I think it best if I gathered more medicine for our journey, do you not think the same?" She looked up at the ranger, fire flashing back into her eyes now that the pain was almost entirely gone. Aragorn nodded and they set about gathering the more powerful herbs. As they were about to finish up, Lady Galadriel herself appeared before them.
"Aragorn, would you please excuse yoursle. I need to speak with Quwen..." Her hazel eyes widened and she couldn't look away from the elf enchantress before her. The quiet footsteps behind her signaled Aragorn's leave and they were left alone.
Breeze remained silent as the lady moved about the room. She drifted over to a intricate wooden box placed in the center of a wide table. Her slim, pale fingers grazed the surface before slowly opening the beautiful box. Quwen expected something intricate and marvelous to be inside but her eyes only found a small vile of shimmering powder.
"This is the most powerful medicine that any mortal man shall come across. It has the power to change death into life..." The words echoed in the blonde maiden's head and her eyes were wide.
"Reverse death?" Breeze blinked once as the Lady of the Wood laughed. "No one can undo death, young one. But, the icy fingers of death can be warded off with this..." Lady Galadriel reached out and placed the shimering vile in her hands.
"I-I cannot take this. This is the most valuable medicine in all of Middle-Earth! I-I cannot-" Lady Galadriel cut her off. "I wish you to take it, Quwen." Her blue eyes were piercing and caused Breeze to look away.
"Go now, take what you have aquired and rest. Your journey only becomes more perilous from here, young ranger." Breeze shut her eyes and reopened them to find Galadriel gone. She looked around the room, searching for any clue as to where the Lady of the Wood had gone but she could find none.
As if in a dream like state, Breeze returned to the courtyard where the others rested. The afternoon was growing later and the sun was now beginning its descent in the sky. Everyone began to settle down for an afternoon nap it would seem. Smoke billowed from Aragorn's pipe as he sat and watched Breeze enter the yard. Her new elven satchel dangled at her side and the faint clinking of glass reached his ears.
In her hand, she held something else and her eyes were wide with uncertainty. Placing the satchel by her other things, she burrowed her new belonging inside the folds of cloth. Stretching back to her full height, the lady ranger walked past the remaining Fellowship and off into the trees.
"Do you think she can have children?" Pippin's voice floated easily on the air.
"Don't know Pip, think that she's a bit old for that, hmm?" Merry responded and they both watched her disappear.
"She's like eighty something! Practically a grandmother!" Aragorn chuckled at the hobbits remark.
"Well, what about elves? How do you think they have children! They're thousands of years old!" Merry added, causing Pippin to grow quiet in thought.
"Never thought about it like that... Legolas!" The curly haired hobbit leapt from the ground and ran up to the tall elf warrior who looked startled. He sent his dark haired friend a 'help me' look but the ranger shook his head.
~Quwen's POV~
I really needed to clear my mind right now, and Delgaranor was calling my name. I walked into the intricate stables still in awe at elven architetcure. A tall stable boy, probably not as young as I thought, walked passed gracefully.
"Excuse me?" He spun around just as gracefully and stopped just inches from my face. I reeled back as he got in my personal space and was about to slap him. "Yes, what can I do for the lovely maiden?" He flashed a brilliant smile at me, causing my cheeks to heat up. He knew that he was handsome and was using it to his advantage.
"I'm l-looking for the large speckled stallion that probably gave the stable hands some difficulty?" My words grew stronger as my eyes left his face and traveled around to look at all the other beautiful horses. His laugh was so bell like it was enchanting.
"Yes, I know him. He gave us quite the time. He is this way..." The elf lead me down the long corridor until we stopped before a horse I barely recognized. He had so many ropes tieing him down to the stall, I could barely see the white speckles that dotted his fur. Anger and fury boiled inside me.
"Del?" My voice cracked as I took in the scene before me. The large horse nickered and its dark brown eyes sparkled with mischeviousness. I was so angry, my brow started twitching.
"Who did this to my horse?" I snapped, the elf's good looks no longer clouding my thoughts. My instincts kicked in and I settled back on my heels. "I did of course, with the help of a few others. He would not cooperate and needed to be restrained..." The elf didn't seem to notice my anger. I ripped the dagger from its holster and set to cutting the ropes restraining him. Once the stallion was almost free, I turned on the elf-boy.
"Why would you ever treat horses this way? Why not put them in the paddock if they would not cooperate?" I cut the few remaining ropes holding Del. He shook out his mane and flattened his ears in the boy's direction. My anger kept rising inside me.
"How could someone do that to a valiant steed? Especially an elf!" My voice rose up and octave as I got louder. The elf's eyes filled with slight fear and he began to back up but I advanced on him. "If I ever so much as catch you treating any of these horses badly, I will make sure to tell Lady Galadriel!" The elf-boy shook his head like that was the worst possible scenario.
We began backing out until we were out of the stable. Del was right on my heels the entire time, adding to the terror that we had already placed in the elf's heart. "And Lady Galadriel won't be the worst part of it! I will personally see to your pain!" I was up in his face now, my finger on the tip of his dainty nose.
"Got it!" I finished and he nodded perfusely before turning and running off. My chest heaved up and down as I tried catching my breath from all the yelling. I huffed once more before straightening up and brushing out my clothes. I heard two chuckles to my left and looked over.
Aragorn and Boromir had watched what had just unfolded and they were now laughing at me. Del still stood obidiently behind me, his ears pricked forward.
"What's so funny?" I snapped at them but both their faces were filled with humor. "It was not funny if you saw what that elf did to him!" I snapped once more but they continued to laugh. Their chuckling lessened and they began to grow quiet.
"Breeze, that was not very nice..." Aragorn's eyes sparkled with humor as he continued to fight his laughter. "But, it wasn't fair!" I protested and glanced over my shoulder at Del who stood idly behind me. He nickered deeply and I wheeled on him.
"So you think that was funny as well?" The men behind me probably thought I was crazy for talking to my horse. The only response I got from him was a twitch of his ears. I growled lowly at the horse and playfully rustled his long bangs that hung in his face. He gave a playful whinney before bobbing his head.
"And now, gentlemen, I will begin my ride. Please do not follow, I wish to be alone, at least for a small while." I polietly shunned them from joining my ride and turned back to Del. Grabbing a handful of dark red mane, I swung up onto his back and took to the trees.