Boromir was, of course, rather bewildered when Arrow fell crying into his
arms. Each choked sob made her wiry frame tremble, and he could only hold
the strange girl so she would not crumple to the rocky terrain. Aragorn,
who had been vigilant the entire time, was momentarily preoccupied by this
first human like gesture of Arrow. It was not long after she had begun to
cry that she struggled to stop. Eyes glassy from tears, she pulled away
from Boromir and noiselessly sat down.
She could not bring herself to look at anyone, and simply clutched her knees to her chest. A few sniffles and a tear streaked face were the only insinuations to the ordeal.
"We cannot stay here longer." Aragorn said regretfully, looking towards the mountains. Both he and Legolas said a farewell to Gandalf. The Company was soon reassembled, but it seemed to lack something without Gandalf there with them. The assurance that everything would be consummate at the end had vanished with the wise old wizard, and it was only now that some realized how valuable he had been.
Treading through the rough trail, they made their way silently. It was not until a single column caught Gimli's attention did anyone dare speak aloud.
"That is Durin's stone!" cried Gimli, "I cannot pass without looking at the wonder of the dale!"
"Be swift then," Aragorn said, "The orcs of Moria, I think, do not dare to swarm from their home until the sun sets. We must be far away by twilight. Our only guide will be the twinkling stars this night, the moon is nearly spent."
Gimli sprang eagerly towards Kheled-zaram, bringing Frodo and Sam along with him. Despite everything, a smile curved Aragorn's lips as he watched. Besides him Arrow looked on curiously.
"Durin's stone marks the spot where Durin first looked in the Mirrormere." The ranger answered to her unasked question. Her brow furrowed as she wondered why that enthralled the dwarf, but he was very peculiar after all.
"He is proud of his ancestry. Most dwarves are, as are most races." said Aragorn.
"I did not question anything."
"What were you thinking, then?"
Her lips contorted into an ugly scowl in response. It was then that Gimli returned, with Sam and Frodo just behind him.
"What did you see?" Pippin asked of Sam, but he was so deep in thought that he did not hear.
The great pace set by Aragorn slowly took its toll on the youngest members of the group, save Arrow. Pippin staggered often as he walked, but his older cousin was always there to catch him. Behind them Frodo and Sam played a similar game, Sam catching Frodo if he were to stumble, and Frodo doing the same for Sam. Glancing back, Legolas noticed their weariness and called to Aragorn to halt.
"I am sorry, friends!" Said Aragorn as he hurried back towards them, "Night is fast approaching and we still have much land to cross. Boromir and I shall bear you further so we may reach Lorien sooner."
Boromir scooped Merry and Pippin into his arms, while Aragorn took Sam and his master. After many minutes had passed, Arrow could contain her curiosity no longer.
"What is Lorien?"
Aragorn, nearly breathless from his quick gait and extra baggage, looked to Legolas. The elf smiled fondly as he thought of the stories and songs associated with the fair dwelling.
"Lothlorien is the most beautiful of elven dwellings. Tall trees with smooth gray bark bloom with leaves that do not fall, but instead turn to gold. In the spring when the new green arrives is when they do fall, blanketing all of Lorien in the most beautiful golden carpet. So is said by the elves in Mirkwood and often have I wished to walk there in the springtime."
"It's a home for elves?" A horrified Arrow questioned.
"Yes. As I said-"
"Elves?"
"Yes, if you would-"
"Never will I live in an abode of elvish folk." Arrow said. Her tired feet walked no more, and she stood in silent defiance. "Leave me to go where I like, I am of no use to you."
Gimli was the first to stop, and the others soon followed his example. Aragorn had been considering doing just that for many hours, but he did not say so.
"Let us make a fire and rest. We will determine your fate then." He said. Laying Sam and Frodo down, he went to get fresh water. Pippin, recovering from lack of food and energy, followed the ranger once Boromir let him down. Legolas and Gimli kindled a fire of brush and fir-wood.
"It was ill fated that I met such a crew when I left Moria." Arrow muttered bitterly. She sat down and it seemed to those not busy with chores that an angry heat radiated from her body.
"Why do you say that?" Merry asked her, sitting besides her.
"I am going in the direction opposite of where I wished to go, and any choices made about what to do are not mine."
"They are not mine, either."
"You agreed to that. I did not."
The hobbit and human fell into silence after that, each thinking of home. The crackling of flames and sizzle of sausages soon filled the air. Legolas gazed at the meat disdainfully, wishing for a full meal in his father's hall. Gimli poked at it with a pronged fork, disappointed in the meager size.
"We will have better foods soon enough, do not fret." Aragorn said. When it was ready, they ate, and discussed what would become of Arrow.
"I am no servant of the dark lord, let me go free and I will tell naught of what I have witnessed." She swore.
"If a servant of the dark side were to find you, torture you, threaten to kill you, would you speak then?" Legolas asked.
"No."
"You say so now, but I doubt a child as yourself would withstand such a thing."
She did not reply, but she knew it was true. Admitting that to an elf, however, was inconceivable.
Aragorn and Legolas quarreled for many minutes about the likelihood of her becoming a prisoner, until they decided she would be safe. The debate was quite possibly won when Arrow grew bored and hit a tree dead on with one of her own orcish arrows.
"Gandalf certainly had a plan but we cannot ask for his guidance now." Boromir said.
"No, we cannot. But as it is right now, I think it would be safe to let Arrow roam free." Aragorn replied.
"Truly?" Arrow exclaimed, jumping to her feet. With a quick look to the others for reassurance, the ranger nodded. The girl cried something in the black speech, causing Legolas to cringe.
"I wish you could have seen the beauty that is Lorien." Said the elf, but Arrow was too busy preparing herself to reply. Nearly instantly she had everything she needed, and just as quickly she ran the way they had come.
"Do you think that was wise, Aragorn?" Frodo asked.
"I do not know for sure, I only hope that it was." Aragorn answered.
Leaving the fellowship behind her, Arrow ran to some unknown destination. Dark tangled hair flew in the biting wind as she dashed over familiar terrain. She kept her pace, long and hard as it was, and found herself standing by Durin's stone just when the sun set. Darkness overtook the land and Arrow paused.
"Where is it that I am going? I cannot return to Moria, there is no welcome there for me." She said aloud. Wondering to herself, she looked down to see what had so excited Gimli. When she looked away, she was as Sam had been, lost in thought. It made approaching her so much easier for the orc of Moria.
"You betrayed us!" An angered voice growled, followed by a curse in the orc's tongue. Arrow whipped around with her long knife quivering before her. The narrowed eyes of Headcleaver, who had long been her tormenter, met hers. He was Pluton's son, and had often been jealous of the attention given to the only human among them. Pluton had never been loving, but he had certainly cared more for his adoptive daughter than his rightful son.
"Still bitter, Shortshot?" She asked, using her nickname for him. The title had been spawned when every shot of his bow fell short of the target in practice. Arrow, a master of archery, had laughed at his lacking abilities.
"Not for long." He answered, one hand firmly grasping at her throat. Angered by his bold move, Arrow slashed at his arm. The blade cut through his limb, leaving him with a bloody stump. He howled in pain as he watched his hand fall to the ground, but his cry soon turned to anger. Headcleaver lunged at Arrow, knocking her to the ground alongside his severed hand.
They rolled around the barren ground, punching, clawing, fighting, and cursing. It did not take long for a dozen or so orcs to join the fray, and Arrow soon found herself quite outnumbered. Headcleaver had her pinned against the ground, and no matter how much she resisted, he still held firm.
"Pluton said we were never to harm you because he had plans for you. Those orders are useless now. Do you know why? You killed him." He hissed.
"I would kill him again, if you gave me the chance." She spat back. A forceful blow sent her head ringing, but she gritted her teeth.
"You will not have the chance, I'm afraid. We're going to Mordor, to fight for Sauron."
"That is a lie; he would never take someone as weak as you." Another blow. Arrow could taste blood on her lips and it only made her more furious. She managed to get free, for just a second, and grabbed her long knife. When he pinned her down again, she cut his stomach open. His innards glistened in the pale light of the moon, and in seconds he was dead.
She sprang to her feet, attacking the others without mercy. Half of them were soon dead, but she was not faring well. Drenched in sweat and blood she ran, stumbling and afraid, towards Lorien. It was death or elves, and of the two, elves seemed like the better choice.
She could not bring herself to look at anyone, and simply clutched her knees to her chest. A few sniffles and a tear streaked face were the only insinuations to the ordeal.
"We cannot stay here longer." Aragorn said regretfully, looking towards the mountains. Both he and Legolas said a farewell to Gandalf. The Company was soon reassembled, but it seemed to lack something without Gandalf there with them. The assurance that everything would be consummate at the end had vanished with the wise old wizard, and it was only now that some realized how valuable he had been.
Treading through the rough trail, they made their way silently. It was not until a single column caught Gimli's attention did anyone dare speak aloud.
"That is Durin's stone!" cried Gimli, "I cannot pass without looking at the wonder of the dale!"
"Be swift then," Aragorn said, "The orcs of Moria, I think, do not dare to swarm from their home until the sun sets. We must be far away by twilight. Our only guide will be the twinkling stars this night, the moon is nearly spent."
Gimli sprang eagerly towards Kheled-zaram, bringing Frodo and Sam along with him. Despite everything, a smile curved Aragorn's lips as he watched. Besides him Arrow looked on curiously.
"Durin's stone marks the spot where Durin first looked in the Mirrormere." The ranger answered to her unasked question. Her brow furrowed as she wondered why that enthralled the dwarf, but he was very peculiar after all.
"He is proud of his ancestry. Most dwarves are, as are most races." said Aragorn.
"I did not question anything."
"What were you thinking, then?"
Her lips contorted into an ugly scowl in response. It was then that Gimli returned, with Sam and Frodo just behind him.
"What did you see?" Pippin asked of Sam, but he was so deep in thought that he did not hear.
The great pace set by Aragorn slowly took its toll on the youngest members of the group, save Arrow. Pippin staggered often as he walked, but his older cousin was always there to catch him. Behind them Frodo and Sam played a similar game, Sam catching Frodo if he were to stumble, and Frodo doing the same for Sam. Glancing back, Legolas noticed their weariness and called to Aragorn to halt.
"I am sorry, friends!" Said Aragorn as he hurried back towards them, "Night is fast approaching and we still have much land to cross. Boromir and I shall bear you further so we may reach Lorien sooner."
Boromir scooped Merry and Pippin into his arms, while Aragorn took Sam and his master. After many minutes had passed, Arrow could contain her curiosity no longer.
"What is Lorien?"
Aragorn, nearly breathless from his quick gait and extra baggage, looked to Legolas. The elf smiled fondly as he thought of the stories and songs associated with the fair dwelling.
"Lothlorien is the most beautiful of elven dwellings. Tall trees with smooth gray bark bloom with leaves that do not fall, but instead turn to gold. In the spring when the new green arrives is when they do fall, blanketing all of Lorien in the most beautiful golden carpet. So is said by the elves in Mirkwood and often have I wished to walk there in the springtime."
"It's a home for elves?" A horrified Arrow questioned.
"Yes. As I said-"
"Elves?"
"Yes, if you would-"
"Never will I live in an abode of elvish folk." Arrow said. Her tired feet walked no more, and she stood in silent defiance. "Leave me to go where I like, I am of no use to you."
Gimli was the first to stop, and the others soon followed his example. Aragorn had been considering doing just that for many hours, but he did not say so.
"Let us make a fire and rest. We will determine your fate then." He said. Laying Sam and Frodo down, he went to get fresh water. Pippin, recovering from lack of food and energy, followed the ranger once Boromir let him down. Legolas and Gimli kindled a fire of brush and fir-wood.
"It was ill fated that I met such a crew when I left Moria." Arrow muttered bitterly. She sat down and it seemed to those not busy with chores that an angry heat radiated from her body.
"Why do you say that?" Merry asked her, sitting besides her.
"I am going in the direction opposite of where I wished to go, and any choices made about what to do are not mine."
"They are not mine, either."
"You agreed to that. I did not."
The hobbit and human fell into silence after that, each thinking of home. The crackling of flames and sizzle of sausages soon filled the air. Legolas gazed at the meat disdainfully, wishing for a full meal in his father's hall. Gimli poked at it with a pronged fork, disappointed in the meager size.
"We will have better foods soon enough, do not fret." Aragorn said. When it was ready, they ate, and discussed what would become of Arrow.
"I am no servant of the dark lord, let me go free and I will tell naught of what I have witnessed." She swore.
"If a servant of the dark side were to find you, torture you, threaten to kill you, would you speak then?" Legolas asked.
"No."
"You say so now, but I doubt a child as yourself would withstand such a thing."
She did not reply, but she knew it was true. Admitting that to an elf, however, was inconceivable.
Aragorn and Legolas quarreled for many minutes about the likelihood of her becoming a prisoner, until they decided she would be safe. The debate was quite possibly won when Arrow grew bored and hit a tree dead on with one of her own orcish arrows.
"Gandalf certainly had a plan but we cannot ask for his guidance now." Boromir said.
"No, we cannot. But as it is right now, I think it would be safe to let Arrow roam free." Aragorn replied.
"Truly?" Arrow exclaimed, jumping to her feet. With a quick look to the others for reassurance, the ranger nodded. The girl cried something in the black speech, causing Legolas to cringe.
"I wish you could have seen the beauty that is Lorien." Said the elf, but Arrow was too busy preparing herself to reply. Nearly instantly she had everything she needed, and just as quickly she ran the way they had come.
"Do you think that was wise, Aragorn?" Frodo asked.
"I do not know for sure, I only hope that it was." Aragorn answered.
Leaving the fellowship behind her, Arrow ran to some unknown destination. Dark tangled hair flew in the biting wind as she dashed over familiar terrain. She kept her pace, long and hard as it was, and found herself standing by Durin's stone just when the sun set. Darkness overtook the land and Arrow paused.
"Where is it that I am going? I cannot return to Moria, there is no welcome there for me." She said aloud. Wondering to herself, she looked down to see what had so excited Gimli. When she looked away, she was as Sam had been, lost in thought. It made approaching her so much easier for the orc of Moria.
"You betrayed us!" An angered voice growled, followed by a curse in the orc's tongue. Arrow whipped around with her long knife quivering before her. The narrowed eyes of Headcleaver, who had long been her tormenter, met hers. He was Pluton's son, and had often been jealous of the attention given to the only human among them. Pluton had never been loving, but he had certainly cared more for his adoptive daughter than his rightful son.
"Still bitter, Shortshot?" She asked, using her nickname for him. The title had been spawned when every shot of his bow fell short of the target in practice. Arrow, a master of archery, had laughed at his lacking abilities.
"Not for long." He answered, one hand firmly grasping at her throat. Angered by his bold move, Arrow slashed at his arm. The blade cut through his limb, leaving him with a bloody stump. He howled in pain as he watched his hand fall to the ground, but his cry soon turned to anger. Headcleaver lunged at Arrow, knocking her to the ground alongside his severed hand.
They rolled around the barren ground, punching, clawing, fighting, and cursing. It did not take long for a dozen or so orcs to join the fray, and Arrow soon found herself quite outnumbered. Headcleaver had her pinned against the ground, and no matter how much she resisted, he still held firm.
"Pluton said we were never to harm you because he had plans for you. Those orders are useless now. Do you know why? You killed him." He hissed.
"I would kill him again, if you gave me the chance." She spat back. A forceful blow sent her head ringing, but she gritted her teeth.
"You will not have the chance, I'm afraid. We're going to Mordor, to fight for Sauron."
"That is a lie; he would never take someone as weak as you." Another blow. Arrow could taste blood on her lips and it only made her more furious. She managed to get free, for just a second, and grabbed her long knife. When he pinned her down again, she cut his stomach open. His innards glistened in the pale light of the moon, and in seconds he was dead.
She sprang to her feet, attacking the others without mercy. Half of them were soon dead, but she was not faring well. Drenched in sweat and blood she ran, stumbling and afraid, towards Lorien. It was death or elves, and of the two, elves seemed like the better choice.