Aerendyll sighed as she took in the dull, flat plains around her. This was the part she loathed on her travels. The seemingly endless days riding through the wilderness and sleeping on the hard, cold ground. At least if Legolas had been here, he would have told stories or teased her to distract from the discomfort. But the guard he had put together for her were rather stern and barely spoke, keeping a professional distance.
It would seem that they took King Thranduil's warning to protect - and only protect - his ward rather seriously. It was something Aerendyll was long used to, though at times it made for a lonely life. Her only truest friend was Legolas, as the only elves that Thranduil approved of for her to befriend were those of the court, but Aerendyll found them either dull or only focused on furthering themselves before the king.
The only saving grace on this journey was the presence of Tauriel, whom Aerendyll enjoyed tremendously, though the captain was always careful to not appear too friendly in front of the others. She had held the post some time now, quickly rising through the ranks and earning the respect of both Legolas and King Thranduil. Aerendyll as well, for she knew how difficult it was to learn and excel in the art of war.
Tauriel rode at her side while the others were spread out before and behind them, creating a protective barrier around Aerendyll.
Aerendyll glanced behind her, noting that they would have made better time if not for the wagon loaded down with her trunks. Surely she did not need to bring so many things, but her maids had insisted, not knowing just how long it was she would be gone. She needed to be prepared for anything, apparently, though Aerendyll was curious as to how often Lorien had events that called for extravagant gowns. Surely she did not need to bring so many.
"The time will pass quickly, Lady Aerendyll," Tauriel said softly, sensing her agitation.
"That is what Legolas said," she sighed, turning back to look in front of her.
Though a year was not much time at all in the life of an elf, Aerendyll was still frustrated. It was long enough for many of the things she had been working on to be undone by others on the council. Or for her to fall behind on matters of court. And that was if it was only a year. Judging from the King's actions, it very well could be longer.
One of the guards had ridden ahead to scout out the path before them, but as they were on the final portion of their journey - which unfortunately was also the longest - there was nothing of note for the time being. The increased scouting was mostly because they were nearing a treacherous stretch. Just before they were to arrive in the realm of Lorien, they would pass near Dol Guldur. Even now, Aerendyll glanced towards the southeast cautiously though they had purposely gone farther west than was necessary.
"Do not fear, my lady. We are keeping watch," one of the guards - Ehlark - called out, sensing her worry.
Aerendyll did not respond, only continued looking about, though she could see no one save their party. She was grateful that at least the plains offered unfettered sight. Should anyone launch an attack, they would see it coming from afar. For now, at least. They would eventually come upon rolling hills that could potentially hide an ambush. The thought of that brought a rush of nervous energy coursing through Aerendyll, though she maintained her calm and cool facade.
"When was the last you visited Lorien?" Tauriel asked, offering Aerendyll much-needed distraction.
"Around half a century ago, I should think. Or perhaps it was more like a century," Aerendyll replied as she thought back over the years. "I visited for the autumn festival on behalf of the King with Legolas. The colors were lovely, as was the visit. I have thought it would be nice to return once more, though I fear I do not care to be far from home for very long."
She frowned slightly, once again wondering just how long she would have to stay within the Golden Wood. It did not help that she was still rather unaware of whatever ulterior motives Thranduil had for sending her there. Her last two days in Mirkwood did not allow much time for inquiries. Or even really pondering on just what it could be, if anything.
Beyond that Aerendyll's heart ached at the loss of time with her dearest friend. Thranduil had kept Legolas rather busy so that the only time she really spent with him was just before she left when the court gathered to bid her farewell. He offered her safe journeys but little more.
"Perhaps a change of environment will be a grand experience for you," Tauriel said softly. "I think it would. Being able to leave the trees of Mirkwood and discover other lands and customs."
Aerendyll glanced over at the captain, seeing the longing in her eyes. It was surprising. Aerendyll always thought Tauriel happy in Mirkwood, though she could now clearly see a desire to travel.
"This is your first time to Lorien, is it not?" Aerendyll asked. Tauriel nodded.
"Though we are only to stay and rest one night before gathering supplies and leaving the following morning. The King does not wish for us to linger," Tauriel said, straightening up in her saddle. "Too much work for us to do in Mirkwood."
"Shame. I should like to have at least one friendly face for a time to help me settle," Aerendyll replied lightly. She glanced at Tauriel, who offered her a small, encouraging smile.
"You will do well, Lady Aerendyll. If I know you as I think I do, you will thrive in whatever endeavor you set your mind to," Tauriel replied.
"And Legolas thinks I have the silver tongue," Aerendyll muttered softly, though she wore a small smile.
"I have spent time with you. Perhaps I have learned your ways," Tauriel said in jest, though she glanced around, nervous the others would think her too familiar with the King's ward.
"Perhaps it would not hurt for you to stay and rest a few days. You should still be able to make the return journey at a much faster pace without myself and my trunks slowing you down," Aerendyll suggested. "Only one night before embarking on a journey that takes a fortnight just after making said journey seems like madness."
"You may try, but we have our orders," Tauriel replied sternly.
"Thought I only needed to convince the great captain of this guard," Aerendyll said in return, a smirk on her face.
"My lady," Tauriel chided. Aerendyll chuckled and returned her focus to the road before her.
"Allow me my fun. I am sure to have a long, tedious year or more of solitude ahead of me," Aerendyll replied dryly.
Tauriel only rolled her eyes in response, returning her attention to her guard duties as she called out to the scout that was returning. While normally rational, there were times when Aerendyll could still be a bit dramatic, or well, dramatic for their kind.
And it would not do to slack off and allow any trouble to befall their charge this close to their destination.
Aerendyll sighed as she pulled a blanket tighter around her to ward off the slight chill of the night while she sat down next to the small fire. They would not tarry long - just enough to allow the horses to rest - but she knew she should attempt to get some rest before they continued.
Tauriel sat down next to her, pulling lembas out of her pack and holding it out to Aerendyll. The others were either on watch or not paying them any heed as they double-checked their supplies or weapons.
"Why did the Prince not come?" she asked, looking at Aerendyll. "I thought surely he would volunteer to escort you."
Aerendyll was honestly surprised that Tauriel had not asked this question yet as they had already run through a number of topics on their journey.
"He was needed in Mirkwood," Aerendyll said before taking a bite of the bread. "The King could not spare him."
"I sense there is something amiss between you and the Prince," Tauriel replied, her brow furrowed slightly.
"Oh, all is well. Other than he was too busy to spend much time with me before the Great Separation, though he swore that he would," Aerendyll said with a sigh. Tauriel chuckled.
"The Great Separation?" the captain asked, an eyebrow raised.
"A jest by Legolas, though I had considered calling it The Great Exile," Aerendyll replied with a soft laugh. "I am still not so sure the only reason that the king wished to send me from Mirkwood was for my own education. Even Legolas agreed."
"I admit, even I do not see why he would wish to send you away so suddenly and for so long. The King relies on your advice greatly. And he is keen on you and Legolas someday bonding," Tauriel replied.
Aerendyll glanced over at her and smiled wanly.
"At some point he will need to accept defeat on that front. Though I suppose we do not help the wagging tongues of court with our closeness," Aerendyll stated. She turned her eyes back to the fire. "Though some days I wonder if it would not be so bad. To just… accept it. We are close and Legolas is very dear to me… but then I realize that would be fair to no one, neither myself nor Legolas."
"I am sure you will find great love someday," Tauriel said encouragingly. "The King… he does not understand these things, I should think."
"On the contrary, he does. He loved his wife very dearly," Aerendyll replied quickly, looking to the captain of the guard as she defended Thranduil. "It may seem as though he is cold and uncaring, but he cares very deeply… for his kingdom and all who dwell within it. For Legolas and myself. He would never foist a marriage upon us without our consent."
Tauriel stared back, an expression of surprise on her face. Aerendyll could not help but chuckle at her response. And she thought there was nothing that could shock the captain of the guard. But then again, she supposed that she had witnessed only the King's stern and serious composure.
"And as for great love… that is not what I seek," Aerendyll continued, looking back to the fire. "Not when there is so much to be done."
"You have devoted your life to Mirkwood. Why?" Tauriel asked. Aerendyll looked at her, an eyebrow raised. "The others of your station… they fill their days with other things… perhaps the arts. Bonding. Creating a family. But you… you spend your days reading over trade reports and maps. Studying the history of our kind. Endless meetings and negotiations..."
"It gives me purpose," Aerendyll said, back to staring at the fire. "Much like being a member of the King's guard gives you purpose. You protect our lands with a sword and bow. I protect our lands through negotiation and diplomacy."
"I… suppose I can understand. Though I should not care to spend my days meeting with the King and his advisors for hours on end," Tauriel said, dropping her voice slightly so the others could not hear, a slight grimace coming over her face. "They are most disagreeable. And that is on a good day."
Aerendyll chuckled.
"Your thoughts are safe with me, but careful what you say in front of others," Aerendyll replied with a wink. "And they are not so disagreeable when you learn the best ways to handle them."
But just as suddenly as her smile had appeared, it disappeared as she thought to the long stretch of time before her. She would be away from her home and everything she knew for some untold amount of time. From her work. From Legolas and the King - her only family. And for what purpose?
"Surely there is much to learn in Lorien," Tauriel continued, her voice light and airy as though she could sense Aerendyll's turmoil. "Perhaps an adventure to be had."
"I fear there may not be many adventures in Lorien," Aerendyll replied with a soft laugh. "Nor that I should wish to embark on one."
"Ah, but to have an adventure… that would be most exciting," Tauriel said, a far-off tone in her voice.
"Perhaps you are more cut out for adventures than I," Aerendyll said. "No, my time in Lorien will be spent attending meetings and feasts. Speaking with the Lord and Lady of the Wood. Vying for a place in their court and the like. All courtiers are the same, I fear. Dreadfully boring and rather dull."
"Ah, but let us not forget your training. Surely that will be exciting and a pleasant reprieve from court," Tauriel said, a large smile breaking forth. Aerendyll wrinkled her nose at that. "I do carry a letter for the marchwarden from the Prince, requesting that he oversee your continued education in the art of war and fighting."
"Perhaps you might conveniently lose the letter, yet inform Legolas that it was safely delivered?" Aerendyll pleaded. Tauriel chuckled.
"I fear not, my lady. I cannot lie to the Prince very convincingly. He will know and be sorely put out with me," the captain said lightly. "Then send another."
"Well, we cannot have that, can we? A sulking prince is no good, indeed," Aerendyll said with a sigh.
"A fact you know all too well, I should think," Tauriel said knowingly. "I do recall a time when he would not speak with you for days after you called him a cad for a travesty that he had not committed."
"If only he would have spoken to me directly, he would have known that I knew full well it was Fenris and was only teasing," Aerendyll said with a chuckle. "But yes, I do have rather extended experience with a sulking prince. Very well. I will allow you to hand over this letter, but I fully intend to try and talk the marchwarden out of it."
"If anyone can, I am most assured that it would be you," Tauriel said sagely.
"Alas, what good is a silver tongue if one does not put it to use…"
But a few days later, the party was near the border to Galadriel and Celeborn's lands and for that Aerendyll was happy. Soon she would be able to get off her blasted horse and actually bathe properly. Sleep in a proper bed rather than on the hard ground. And so far they had faced no danger.
Her spirit continued to lift the closer they drew to the forest. It would not be long before they were within the safety of the trees and would no longer need to constantly look over their shoulders or towards the east. There was no doubt in Aerendyll's mind that the Lorien guard had likely already spotted them and would soon come out to meet them as they drew nearer.
Out of the corner of her eye, Aerendyll could see the tower at Dol Guldur rising up from the trees in the far distance, dark clouds gathered around it. A shiver ran down her spine, though she silently told herself to buck up. It was still in the distance and they were nearly to their destination.
Visions of a warm bath began to fill her mind, overtaking her fear. Yes, that would be the first thing she did upon her arrival to the city. Take a nice, long, luxurious bath and get out of her dusty traveling clothes. How Tauriel and Legolas stood to be out on patrol for days on end, sleeping on the ground and wearing the same clothing, was far beyond her imagination.
Just as a small smile appeared upon her face, there was a shout from the rear guard. Aerendyll whipped her head around, eyes wide as she saw him slap the side of one of the horses drawing the wagon, urging them on faster.
"Quickly! To the wood!" he shouted before turning his horse around.
Aerendyll looked beyond, seeing a pack of orcs on wargs shooting over the crest of a hill, quickly gaining on them.
"Hurry!" Tauriel shouted, already turning her horse around to engage the enemy to give Aerendyll a chance to make it within the safety of the forest.
Turning in her saddle, Aerendyll kicked her horse and took off, though feared for the guards. She could clearly see that they were outnumbered and the pack of orcs would be upon them soon. Even if they had run with her, they would not have made it far before a battle ensued. They were clearly stalling them to give her a chance to escape.
Hearing shouts, she ventured a look back, seeing that the orcs had reached the guards. For a moment, she faltered. There were not enough to fight and win, were there? Where were the so-called famed wardens of Lorien? Though she loathed fighting, she did not wish to leave the others behind to die.
Finally settling on a course of action, Aerendyll turned her horse around and unsheathed her sword, riding full speed back towards the others.
"LADY AERENDYLL! NO!"
Not heeding their words, she smoothly hopped off her horse and ran into the fray, a battle cry on her lips, though she was terrified. She had not seen battle before, only ever used her bow or sword on the training fields. But there was no time to fret or faint. It would get them all killed.
With a jarring jolt, Aerendyll stopped what would have been a fatal blow from one of the orcs, scowling as she pushed back and engaged again, managing to lop the creature's arm off before delivering a fatal blow to its stomach. Blood thick as sludge and black as night painted her face, though she pushed aside the urge to vomit and moved onto the next one.
"GET TO THE WOOD!"
"I will not leave you to die for me!" Aerendyll shouted back, unsure as to who was speaking as she continued to fight.
She did not know what had come over her, as she allowed instinct to take over, though every so often, she could hear Legolas' voice in her mind, reminding her to move her foot here or block there. She focused on that and not the bloody fight around her or the bodies that were starting to litter the ground.
She saw Tauriel surrounded and immediately set out to lend aid, running as quickly as she could. The captain fought bravely, an almost serene look on her face as she spun and pivoted, evading every sword then striking out and taking down her foe. Aerendyll felt decidedly ungraceful as she barreled towards the captain of the guard, sword up and a shout on her lips.
But just before she reached them, something latched onto her ankle and suddenly, the ground was rising up to meet her. Quickly rolling over, Aerendyll looked down to see a snarling orc, attempting to pull her closer as it crawled towards her. She kicked it in the face, but that only seemed to rile it up more as it lifted a wicked sword into the air.
Aerendyll's eyes widened as she froze completely, forgetting everything she had ever learned. All she could do was stare at the sword that was about to descend upon her, her heart pounding in her ears.
But suddenly, a grimace came over the creature's face as it stopped, released her ankle and fell over, revealing an arrow in the back of its head as Aerendyll breathed heavily, still unable to move as she stared at it.
"My lady!"
She looked up again, seeing an elf with long, nearly silver hair running up to her as he slung his bow over his back. He held his hand out to her, his grey eyes full of worry. For a moment all she could do was stare at it before her senses returned and she took it, allowing him to help pull her up.
Haldir. Yes. That was his name, she reminded herself. The marchwarden of Lorien. Help had arrived. Aerendyll breathed slowly as she attempted to calm her rapidly beating heart.
"Are you injured," he asked, looking her over for wounds.
Aerendyll glanced around, noting that with the arrival of the Lorien guards, the fight was now nearly over. And thankfully the only bodies on the ground were those of the orcs.
"My lady?"
"Yes, I'm fine," Aerendyll said, finally finding her voice as she looked back at him, mustering a weak smile. "Thank you. I fear we might not have overcome them on our own."
"We tried to reach you faster. My apologies," he said, bowing slightly. "We've doubled the guard in recent weeks. The orcs have been growing bolder."
"At least you arrived," Aerendyll replied, her voice calm though she was still a bit shaken. "And thank you… for saving me."
Haldir met her eyes, a small smile beginning to form, though just as quickly it was gone.
"I was only doing my duty," he replied solemnly.
"I told you to ride to the forest," Tauriel shouted as she advanced upon Aerendyll. "Why would you stay and fight?"
"I could not in good conscience leave you to face the beasts alone," Aerendyll replied, drawing upon her many years of being among Thranduil's advisors to school her features. "I know I may not have your skill, but I can fight when needed."
"And you were not needed. King Thranduil would skewer me alive if you had been killed or harmed," the captain replied, her relief that Aerendyll was unhurt clearly overriding any need for decorum.
"Then it is luck indeed that I am neither," Arendyll said evenly, staring her down.
Tauriel heaved an annoyed sigh, though Aerendyll swore she saw an amused glint in Haldir's eyes.
"We should hurry," he finally interjected. "I do not wish to linger here should there be others. And Lady Galadriel is expecting you."
"Yes, we should continue," Aerendyll agreed. "Now… where is my horse…"
And here we have the first meeting with Haldir, in which he plays the hero. I mean, even though she already knew him somewhat, it does make for a good impression, yes?
Ten Duel Commandments – Haha, well, your wish is my command. ^_^
Shetan20 – You're welcome!
Thanks everyone for reading, following and commenting!