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Chapter 18


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Azura sat, crossed-legged in the faint glow of firelight. The soft snores and light breathing
of her sleeping companions softly floated around her in the cool night breeze. She was
stringing a few shells on thin strips of cotton, making bracelets for everyone. It seemed
so childish to be doing so, but she felt compelled to do it.

She could manuver her injured arm, but she knew in time, if not treated or healed, she
would lose complete feeling and usage of it. It scared her too.

She shook off the thought of not being able to use her arm, and concentrated on making
the bracelet.

Faile nibbled at her ear lovingly, sitting upon Azura's shoulder. The bird was nearly
full grown now, and quite lovely and large. Most of her feathers were dusty grey, with
speckles of brown and white upon her breast, and deep red-brown speckles down her head
and back. She nibbled upon her breast, and shook and fluffed her feather's as she preened
upon Azura's shoulder.

"You are quite the one, nibbling at my shoulder and then acting all pretty, as if you
hadn't..." Azura murmured gently at her bird, smiling.

Frodo lay quietly awake, watching Azura make bracelets out of shells. Her bird, Faile,
was sitting on her shoulder, and Azura often spoke lightly to the bird, and laughed quietly
when the bird nibbled on her neck or hair.

The firelight was dim, but the light jumped and danced, and the glow made Azura's hair shine
like molten gold, that rippled smoothly when ever she shook with light laughter. Her blue eyes
glowed tonight, with kindness and beauty, and the innocent purity they often held. They weren't
dim with some unfounded sadness, but now were bright. It made him smile.

"Be a good girl, and stop playing with my ear..." Azura cooed lightly at Faile, laughing
lightly.

Azura gave a soft sigh, and her eyes darkened slightly, as troubling thoughts came back to her.

Gandalf is gone... The sudden thought rang through her mind, like a glass suddenly shattering
as it hit the ground. Her hand faltered and trembled, and she went suddenly numb. She had
succesfully not thought about the fact that Gandalf was dead for almost an hour, but now,
it stung fresh in her mind, like someone poked it with a white-hot, iron poker.

Not only did that bother her, but the unsettling thing that had overcome her in Moria.
Being so near to those orcs, the trolls, and even that Balrog, had awoken the monster
inside her. She almost lost control of herself, when she shouted in the rough orc-language.

After a long slumber to have awakened again...

"I cannot keep hiding it from myself...it will not go away..." Azura whispered lightly, her
voice getting lost in the still of the night.

Azura was shaking lightly, but didn't cry. She wasn't sad. It was hatred that made her shake.
Hatred for Sauron. It was because of him she was like this, why she was who she was. Though,
because of him, she was alive, and she had the friends she did now. Should she be thankful?

She shook her head, she did not want to think of any of this now. She put down the shells and
next to the other completed bracelets, and rose slowly. A soft voice made her jump.

"Azura?" Frodo whispered, from where he was lying.

Azura turned to him, but said nothing.

Frodo sat up, looking at her. He stood slowly, and came toward her, and took her hand.
"I'm here for you, always."

Azura smiled, then said, "Let's go over by the stream, I don't want to wake any of the others."

Frodo and Azura went off to the stream, hand in hand, in the quiet, dark night. They were a
good ways from camp, so they wouldn't wake anyone by talking.

Azura sat next to the stream, and Frodo sat next to her. He smiled at her, and brushed away
a wisp of gold that had floated infront of Azura's face, and brushed it behind her ear.

Azura giggled, and looked down. The sky was starting to brighten slightly, as morning crept
ever nearer.

"Im sorry." Frodo said, lightly.

"For what?" Azura asked, looking up, somewhat confused.

"I don't have a ring to give you...." Frodo said, blushing and looking guilty.

Azura shook her head, then opened a pack on her belt. It was old, and dirty, but he always
saw it on Azura's belt. She pulled out a thin, silver ring from it. It had a small, blue stone
in the middle, that shone like a star. "This was my father's ring, the stone is a starphire,
an old gem from the West. My mother says that don't exist anymore, since there are none in
Middle Earth. I want you to have it, as your ring." Azura said, gingerly handing the ring to
Frodo.

Frodo took the ring, and slipped it on his ring finger on his left hand. He smiled down at it,
and then looked back at Azura. She was blushing furiously, and looking off at the water. She
seemed determined to stare at a floating lily pad.

Frodo smiled and leaned forward, and kissed Azura's cheek softly.

Azura gave a sudden loud giggle, smiling at him childishly. She reached up to a tree branch
and pulled herself up into a tree.

Frodo looked up and said, "How am I to follow? I am not good at climbing..."

Azura walked nimbly out on a long, thick branch that hung over the stream. Her feet were bare,
along with her arms and legs. Her skin looked pale pink in the moonlight, and admiringly
beautiful. She was wearing a good tunic of Pippin's that she had borrowed while her other
clothes were hanging to dry, as she had washed them earlier. Pippin's tunic hung loosely
around her, and rippled in the cool, but mild breeze.

"Did you know..." Azura said, her movements suddenly turning quite graceful, "That I used to
dance at an inn, where I once lived, as a child?" She said, as she nimbly stood on one foot,
on the branch, as she leaned slowly, but gracefully forward, bringing her other slim leg up
behind her, and into a high arc above herself. Her arms were stretched out, keeping her balance.

In a bush, not too far from Frodo and Azura, three hobbits hid, watching Azura move nimbly
into a graceful motion.

"Wow...!" Whispered Pippin, wide-eyed. He lay on his stomach, alongside Merry and Sam,
spying on Azura and Frodo.

Frodo stood, wide-eyed and gaping at Azura, as she held the position, and slowly move back up
into a standing position.

Then, Azura smiled at Frodo, and sat down onto the branch, letting her legs dangle high above
the water.

Frodo sat where he stood, smiling lightly at how many things Azura kept secret about herself.
It made him wonder a lot about her, she was so talented, and knew so many things, even when he
figured he knew everything about her, she went and suprised him so. Even though she had some
dark secrets she may never share, he still desired to know about her.

Azura now stood again, and was moving back to the trunk of the tree, and climbed down. She came
and sat next to him, and looked thoughtfully down at her own feet.

A few moments later, she looked over to his feet. Her eyes crinkled, and she unsuccesfully
tried to stiffle a loud laugh, and quickly covered her mouth, her eyes smiling at him.

"What?" Frodo asked, looking at her incredulously.

Azura shook with suppressed giggles, and lowered her hands from her mouth and said, "Your
feet are so hairy!!" And errupted into a fit of giggles.

Frodo went scarlet, and then, as revenge, took hold of Azura's foot, and tickled her
mercilessly.

Azura giggled loudly, wriggling and trying to fight the laughter that overtook her. Frodo
held her ankle with one hand, and tickle the smooth bottom of her foot with the other. He
stopped, and admired how soft the bottom of her foot actually was. Unlike a hobbit's, it was
very smooth, and callus-free, and not hard in the least. Her toes were slim, and longer than
a hobbit's, but quite elegant.

Azura moved and pushed Frodo back onto his back in the soft moss of the bank, and pinned him
down with her hands, revenge glinting mischievously in her eyes. She was sitting upon his
stomach, and smiling. "You naughty, naughty little hobbit...." She said, and giggled, then
began to tickle Frodo's sides and stomach.

"No!...no!" Frodo protested, and erupted into laughter. He tickled Azura back, getting her
sides, and she crumpled against him in laughter. "Naughty hobbit, eh?" Frodo smirked, and
tickled her sides again.

"Ok! Mercy!" Azura cried, breathing deeply, and flushed with emotion and from all the
laughing.

Azura sat up, long blonde strands of her hair was messed up from wrestling, and dangled
over her eyes. She giggled, then took hold of his ears with both her hands and wiggled
them, and laughed loudly, "You have such funny looking ears!"

Frodo took hold of her ears gently, and admired how they looked. They were a bit longer
than his, and came to a slim point. "Well..." He said, smirking, "Your's are bigger than
mine..."

Azura let go of his ears and laughed loudly, "Of course they are! I'm an elf!"

Azura smiled, ran her fingers through his short, curly hair. It was dark brown, with
strands of lighter brown here and there. She gently combed her fingers through his curls,
pulling them gently straight, and letting the bounce back into curls. "How soft..." Azura
said, softly.

Frodo reached up, and ran his fingers through Azura's silky blonde hair, and smiled.
"You hair is softer."

Azura let go of his hair, and laughed. Azura looked to the side, and plucked a long
stemmed flower from the moss. She held it gently between her fingers, and gently held
it to Frodo's nose.

He gingerly sniffed it, and smiled, "It smells pretty."

Azura giggled, and began softly tracing the flower along his cheek, up his right temple,
and across his forehead.

Frodo laughed lightly, and closed his eyes.

Azura grinned, and traced it down the bridge of his nose, and over his lips, and down his
chin. She smiled, and gently kissed the tip of his nose, and giggled at him.

Frodo opened his eyes, and looked up at her with his beautiful eyes. Azura loved his eyes,
they were so beautiful, and a wonderful shade of light blue eyes, but they were still darker
than hers'.

Azura stood, and clasped her hands behind her back, and walked along the side of the stream. She looked up at the sky, which was growing steadily lighter. The dark night was sinking away into the horizon, and light was spreading across a misty morning.

Frodo sat up and watched her walk slowly along the bank. She was looking down, and walking slowly, and had a curious look on her face.

"Frodo...?" Azura inquired, not looking up.

"Yes?" Frodo replied, curious.

"What do hobbit's do? I mean, when they marry. What name do you take?" Azura asked, still
not looking up.

"Well, you would take my name." Frodo said, feeling a bit proud he was a Baggins.

Azura looked up with a smile, "So...I would be Azura Baggins? That..sounds kinda nice.."
Azura said, stifling a giggle.

Frodo fell silent, a sudden warm feeling coming over him. He stared at her loving face,
smiling at him. "Yes... you will be Azura Baggins... my wife." Frodo said, softly.

Azura got a thoughtful look, and her eyes dimmed a bit, as she looked down at her feet,
"...And... we'll live in Bagwood... and have children... and live next to Sam, Pippin, and
Merry... and we'll all be together forever... happily ever after..." Azura said softly, a
tear gently rolling down her cheek.

"Of course we will!" Sam cried out, just as Pippin and Merry clamped their hands over his
mouth, earnestly trying to keep him quiet.

Frodo stood, and came over to the bush, and pulled them all out.

Azura was looking up at them now, her hands on her hips. She idly brushed away her tears,
then bellowed at them, "Silly hobbits! Have you no shame of spying on us??"

Sam, Merry, and Pippin all stood silently, looking down at their feet. Pippin was idly
playing with a string hanging off of the sleeve of his jacket, trying to look innocent.

Azura quickly walked over to them, a scolding look on her face, and a heated blush, and
said, "How long have you naughty little hobbits been watching??" Her cheeks and ears were
pink in embarrasment.

"Since...since...well...you two left camp..." Pippin stuttered, turning bright pink, along
with Merry and Sam.

Azura was steadily turning redder, and crossed her arms.

"W-we...were...well..and you see...we...er.." Merry stuttered, along with Sam.

"You..and you see..." Sam stuttered, "..and you seemed...s-sad so I...well..."

Azura dropped her hands to her side, and giggled, and threw her arms around Sam, Frodo, and
Pippin. "You guys are so silly!" She cried, hugging each in turn.

Merry and Pippin's uncertain looks turned to grins, and Merry said, "Besides, Frodo, watching
you and Azura make goo-goo eyes at each other is more interesting than sleeping."

Pippin broke into hysterical laughter, and Sam laughed alongside Merry. Frodo went scarlet
red, and Azura was not amused.

"Oh, so this is funny, Pippin?" Azura asked, then started tickling Pippin's sides mercilessly.
Pippin turned bright pink as he laughed harder, and feebly tried to fend Azura off.

"Merry? Frodo? Little ones, where did you wander off to?" Legolas's tired voice called.

"We should be leaving soon!" Called Strider, somewhat sleepily.

Azura stopped tickling Pippin, and his laughter subsided into hiccups, and gasps of air.

"We are coming!" Frodo called, looking at the other hobbits, "Come, let's not delay..."

Azura nodded, and pushed Merry and Pippin toward the camp, and followed behind them all.

Azura placed two fingers to her lips, and made a shrill whistling sound.

The group of hobbits all jumped, and whirled around to look at her, looking somewhat bewildered.

Azura grinned broadly, as Faile came screeching from the camp, and circled high above her,
then ladning smoothly onto her shoulder. Azura cooed at the bird, "Good girl! That's my girl..."

"You trained her!" Sam cried, smiling. "I often thought of trying, but she often nips at my
hand when I do not pet her or feed her.."

Azura laughed loudly, and continued to follow them to camp.

Legolas was changing out of his tunic, and into a cleaner one. Strider was putting things
into packs, and argueing with Gimli about something.

Azura spotted her hanging clothes, and walked over to them, and felt them. They were dry.
She pulled them off the branch and slung them over her arm. She pressed her hand next to
Faile's feet, and the bird gently moved to her hand. Azura lifted Faile and set her down on
the tree branch.

Faile gave a loud squawk, and nipped at Azura's hand, looking for food.

"Oh, hold on, I'll get you something." Azura said, and headed over to Gimli. She knew he had
some smoke-dreid meats on him, for when they were low on food.

"Gimli? Can I have some of that meat you have? Faile is hungry, and she hasn't quite gotten
into the habit of hunting just yet..." Azura said, making herself sound as young as she could,
it helped whenever she asked something of someone.

Gimli turned to her, and gave a smile. "Well, missy, I guess so. As long as you help me hunt
later, as I am running low." He pulled out three thick strips of meat, and handed them to Azura.

Azura smiled girlishly, and kissed Gimli's cheek, and cried, "Thank you, Gimli! I will help
you hunt whenever you want."

Gimli turned slightly pink at the kiss, and laughed, "Now, now, that's not necessary, Zurie."

"Zurie?" Azura gave a loud laugh, "That's what my nanny used to call me!"

Azura turned and walked back to Faile, and fed her the strips of meat. When Faile finished,
she lovingly cooed in a soft croon, and nipped lightly, but lovingly at Azura's fingertips.

"Now you need some excersise..." Azura said, picking Faile up on her arm again.

Gimli was watching how she intteracted with the bird, and gave a laugh, "You sure have a way
with birds!"

"Of course! She is an elf. All elves have an affinity to some animals and birds." Legolas
said, looking a bit proud of the fact.

Azura pushed upward, and set the bird to flight, and cried after the bird, "Not too far, now!"

"Azura, hurry and go change, we have to leave, unless you want to dress along the way.
"Strider said, somewhat mockingly, but trying to urge her to hurry.

Azura gave a laugh, "I'm going, I'm going!" Azura ducked behind a tree and started changing,
out of sight of her companions.

Merry and Pippin caught Frodo looking off to the tree, and both gave him a nudge and cried,
"Come on!" to him in unison, both laughing and grinning.

"You'll get to look at her like that another time!" Merry said slyly, making Pippin errupt
into hysterical laughter. Sam had gone scarlet and was laughing into his hands.

Frodo went scarlet, and began packing up his things.

Azura slipped off Pippin's tunic, and pulled on her cream-colored, long-sleeved shirt, and
tied up the front. She slipped Pippin's tunic back on, over her shirt, and fastened her belt
around her waist.

Azura grimaced suddenly, as a sharp pain seared down her arm. Azura grasped her hurt arm,
and the pain receeded, but a strange feeling lingered on her arm. She peeked under the tunic
and shirt at her bandaged arm. It wasn't bleeding through the bandages, and it no longer hurt,
but something was wrong. She shook it off, and finished lacing up her boots, and went to join
the others as they began on again.

---

"Lothlorien!" Cried Legolas, "We have come upon the eaves of the Golden Forest. Alas that it is
winter."

It was night again, as they had traveled all day, only now to come upon the Golden Forest. The
breeze flowed through and endless, rippling sea of leaves high above them, sounding almost like
a cascading waterfall of leaves, sounding sweet like music. There was a hint of gold from the
leaves in the dark, cloud-covered moonlight. The bark of the trees shone like pale silver where
the moonlight touched it.

Azura felt a sudden yearning to run among the trees, to dance beneath the golden leaves, and
to sing as loudly as she could. "What is this I feel...?" She asked Legolas, tears stinging her
eyes.

Legolas knelt, and placed his hand on her shoulder, and smiled, "You are feeling your love for
Lothlorien. Every elf feels it, the love for Lothlorien, and the peace of being within this
beautiful land."

Azura nodded, and took a few steps and placed a hand to the silver bark of one of the golden
trees. She felt a sudden deep love, and paid no heed as Legolas, Gimli, Borormir, and Aragorn
discussing what to do. She looked upward as a few golden leaves floated down and landed in her
hair, and on her forehead. She smiled, and pulled the leaves out of her hair and off her
forehead.

"Come Azura! We are heading deeper into the Woods, and you may see even far more beauty before
we rest for the night." Legolas called, and Azura followed.

With each step she took, something tugged inside her. Nothing foul or frightening, but rather,
like a powerful longing. A longing to go further, a longing to stay forever. She felt that if
she spent the rest of her days beneath these golden leaves, she would be truly at peace.

As they traveled further into the woods, it grew more beautiful. They soon came upon a
rippling, dark-watered, rushing across the path before them, and it joined the Silverlode in
a swirl of dim pools among the roots and trees.

"This, Azura, is Nimrodel!" Legolas said, ushering her to look at it's beautiful, but dark
waters. The night made it look deeper than it was, and darker, but it was beautiful. Legolas
continued, "Of this stream the Silvan Elves made many songs long ago, and still we sing them
in the North, remembering the rainbow on it's falls, and the golden flowers that floated in
it's foam.

"I wish dearly to learn those songs!" Cried Azura, as she awed at the dark, beautiful stream.

"I, too, would enjoy learning them." Frodo was said, smiling.

"All is dark now, and the Bridge of Nimrodel is broken down." Legolas said, and stared at the
stream, with a smile.

Azura crouched, and stared at the stream, it was so beautiful.

"We should get on across this... is it very deep, Legolas?" Strider asked.

"No, it is not, but wait a moment, for this moment is Azura and mine. For us elves, certain
places we are naturally bonded too... Can you feel it, Azura?" Legolas said, looking over at her
small figure.

Azura nodded lightly, and replied, "... I do."

"Then, I share with you a piece of the Song of Nimrodel. It's is a translation, and only a
small portion of the song, though." Legolas said.

"I'll be happy to hear it!" Azura said, looking up at him.

"All right, and you too, Frodo. I will teach you both more of it, when we have time. Now.."
Legolas said, then began to sing softly, but smoothly,

"An Elven-maid there was of old,
A shining star by day.
Her mantle white was hemmed with gold,
Her shoes of silver-grey.
A star was bound upon her brows,
A light was on her hair
As sun upon the golden boughs
In Lorien the fair.
Her hair was long, her limbs were white,
And fair she was and free;
And in the wind she went as light
As leaf of linden-tree.
Beside the falls of Nimrodel,
By water clear and cool,
Her voice as falling silver fell
Into the shining pool.
Where now she wanders none can tell,
In sunlight or in shade;
For lost of yore was Nimrodel
And in the mountains strayed.
The elven-ships in haven grey
Beneath the mountain-lee
Awaited her for many a day
Beside the roaring sea.
A wind by night in Northern lands
Arose, and loud it cried,
And drove the ship from elven-strands
Across the steaming tide.
When dawn came dim the land was lost,
The mountains sinking grey
Beyond the heaving waves that tossed
Their plumes of blinding spray.
Amroth beheld the fading shore
Now low beyond the swell,
And cursed the faithless ship that bore
Him far from Nimrodel.
Of old he was an Elven-king,
A lord of tree and glen,
When golden were the boughs in spring
In fair Lothlorien.
From helm to sea they saw him leap,
As arrow from the string,
And dive into the water deep,
As mew upon the wing.
The wind was in his flowing hair,
The foam about him shone;
Afar they saw him strong and fair
Go riding like a swan.
But from the West has come no word,
And on the Hither Shore
No tidings Elven-folk have heard
Of Amroth evermore...."

Azura listened intently, trying to memorize each word. Before she knew it, the song was over.
She was staring intently down upon the dark waters, wishing it were day. She didn't even
realized most of her companions had crossed the river, until Strider called out to her.

"Azura! We have crossed! Hurry and follow, we are almost to a safe place to camp for the
night." He called, looking at her over his shoulder.

Azura shook her head, and slid down the slope to the bank of the stream, and waded across.
Frodo held out his hand, and helped her out at the other end, and they continued on.

Azura gave a few longing looks over her shoulder at the slowly disappearing stream.

"Have not worry, Azura, I'll bring you back in the day when it is safe again, and you can
spend all the time you want in the waters." Legolas said, smiling.

Azura smiled, "Thank you."

"Yes, I think I should like to come, too. What do you think, Pippin?" Merry asked Pippin,
looking somewhat thoughtful.

"Better, I should think, if we let Azura come with Frodo and leave them to theirselves!" Pippin
replied, grinning slyly.

Azura gave a gasp, and blushed fiercely, and seized Pippin's ear's from behind, "You naughty,
naughty hobbit!" And then let go of his ears, and ruffled his golden-brown tangle of curls,
and laughed at the face he made.

"Not fair!" Pippin said, now walking backwards, and then ruffled Azura's hair, and laughed at
the face that she made.

"That is not nice!" Azura said, crossing her arms and pouting, alomst like a child.

"Aw, c'mon Azura, I was only playing." Pippin said, then turned and crouched, so she could get
on his back, as if to make up for teasing her.

Azura grinned, then climbed onto his back, and said, "I still think Sam makes a better
'horse'..." She said slyly, and smiled at how Sam beamed, and also blushed.

Legolas stopped them infront of a few trees, and said, "I will climb up. I am at home among
trees, by root or bough, though these trees are of a kind strange to me, save as a name in song.
Mellryn they are called, and are those that bear the yellow blossom, but I have never climbed
in one. I will see now what is their shape and way of growth."

"Whatever it may be," Pippin said, looking at the tree uncertainly, "They will be marvelous
trees indeed if they can offer any rest at night, except to birds. I cannot sleep on a perch!"

"Then dig a hole in the ground, if that is more after the fashion of your kind. But you must
dig swift and deep, if you wish to hide from Orcs." With that, he sprung up, and caught hold
of a branch, and began to pull himself up when a commanding voice suddenly spoke up.

"Daro!"

Legolas dropped back to the earth in suprise and fear. "Stand still! Do not move or speak!"
Legolas whispered quietly to the others.

Soft laughter came from high above, and voices spoke softly to each other in elven, and Azura
understood a little, from what her mother had taught her.

"... small creatures..."

"....breath too loud..."

"...What is an elfling child...out here? ...she.. lost?"

"...Call them up..."

Legolas said something up to them, but Azura didn't understand what he said.

"Who are they, and what do they say?" Merry asked, interested, but frightened.

"They're Elves, can you not hear their voices?" Sam awed, looking upward, trying to see one,
but saw only shadows.

"Yes, they're Elves, and they say you breathe so loud that they could shoot you in the dark!"
Legolas said, and Sam hastily covered his mouth with his hands.

"How rude!" Azura cried, and looked upward at the shadows.

"But they say you have no fear.They say they have been aware of us for a long while. They heard
my voice across Nimrodel, and knew I was one of their Northern kindred, and therefore let us
cross unhindered, and also heard my song. Now, they bid for Frodo and I to climb up, for they
have many tidings for us. The others, they ask you to wait awhile, and to keep watch at the
foot of the tree, while they decide what to do."

Out of the shadows a ladder was let down, it was made of rope, of a silver-grey color, and it
glimmered in the dark.

Legolas ran up the side of the tree, holding the rope tightly. Frodo followed slowly, and
Sam behind him, trying not to breathe too loudly.

When Frodo disappeared into the leaves, Azura heard a elf call down to her, in the common
tounge, but with a definate elvish accent.

"Come hither, elf-child!"

Azura looked back and Pippin and Merry, whom looked as if they eagerly wanted to come, but
they stayed behind as Azura began up the side of the tree. It wasn't difficult for her, but
she went slowly to make them wait because they called her a child.

Azura came up through a hole in the middle of a platform, and gave a scowling look at Legolas,
whom she heard call her a child just as she came up. As she stood, she harshly said to him,
"I am NOT a child!" Azura was then hushed by Frodo, whom pulled her down to sit next to him,
and Legolas laughed to another elf, obviously speaking of her. She was flushed, and scowled,
but did not say more on that matter.

"How many are traveling in your comapny?" And elf asked, now speaking in the common tounge.
His name was Haldir, as Azura had heard an Elf call him.

"Nine. Myself, four hobbits, and two men, one of which is Aragorn, and is an Elf-friend of the
folk of Westernesse." Legolas replied.

"The name of Aragorn is known in Lorien, and he has the favour of the Lady. All then is well.
But you have yet only spoken of seven. Who is this elf-child?" The elf asked, looking curiously
at Azura. The other's also looked to her, even though she was scowling at them. She was tired,
and now grumpy for being called a child so many times in the last hour.

"She is precious beyond all the mithril in Middle Earth! She is Azura a'Leoni, daughter-heir
to the old Western throne, and blood of the Leonian Elves!" Legolas said, a bit overly-excited.

The Elves looked quickly to Legolas, and back at her, and two began conversing quickly in
Elven, too fast for her to make any sense of it.

"I've not seen her since she was a infant! Her mother lied to us.... Breynna said that she had
found the child, abandoned and alone..." The elf said, then spurng to his feet and came over to
Azura, and knelt down low before her, "Your Highness..." He murmured, and the other elves,
including Legolas bowed to her.

"Please do not bow!" Azura said, scarlet in her cheeks.

The elf looked back up at her, and stood. He had blonde hair cut all the same length just to
his chin, and had bright, shining green eyes. "My name is Arawrath Nillendae. I am honored to
meet you, your Highness."

"And now, tell us of the eighth." The other elf chirped, looking at Legolas.

"He is a dwarf." Legolas replied.

"A dwarf! That is not good. We have not had dealings with them since the Dark Ages. I am sorry,
but he cannot pass." The elf said, dismayed.

"But he is from the Lonely Mountain, one of Dain's trusty people, and chosen by Elrond himself
to accompany us!. He has been nothing but brave and faithful, and very helpful to us."

The Elf considered Frodo's words, then said, "Alright. It is against my liking, but he shall
come, though he will pass blindfolded on the way to Lorien. Now we will not debate anymore. There is another flet in the other tree, Legolas, take the Men and Dwarf to stay up there, and send the other hobbits up. I do not fear them! Call us if anything is amiss, and keep an eye on that dwarf."

Legolas bounded down the ladder, and soon, Merry and Pippin appeared, they were out of breath,
and rather scared.

Merry and Pippin threw down blankets they had dragged up and said, "There! We have lugged up
your blankets, as well as our own. Strider has hidden the other baggage in a ditch full of
leaves."

"We have drinks and food that will replenish your strangth and make you warm. And the Southern
wind is upon us, so you will not be cold." Arawrath said, smiling.

They accepted the food and drinks, and soon lay huddled together, wrapped in fur blankets
offered by the other elves, and their own blankets. Azura's head lay on Frodo's stomach,
and her legs were over Pippin's stomach. Pippin had his head resting on Merry's stomach,
and Merry had his on Sam's, and Sam's was on Frodo's thighs, so they were fashioned in a
tight circle, far from the ledge of the flet.

Azura and Pippin prattled on, to Merry and Sam's annoyance.

"We are very high up, are we not?" Pippin asked Azura, looking at her.

"Yes. Quite high, and I do not like it too much... My hobbit-blood makes me nervous up here.."
Azura said, looking back at him.

"And, Azura? When this is all over, and when we take you back to Hobbiton, I would like it if
you take us all to learn to swim. You enjoy it so, and if you do, I suppose I would too."
Pippin said.

"I will. It's a promise." Azura said, smiling.

Pippin smiled slyly, and tickled Azura's foot. Azura jerked, and giggled loudly, and then
tickled him back by digging her toes into his sides, making him jump, and laugh loudly.
A few moments later, they settled down, and were more subdued.

"Faile is quite happy up here, isn't she?" Pippin said, looking over at Azura's bird, perched
on a branch near the flet, sleeping quietly.

"Of course she is, she's a bird, this is a tree..." Azura said, giggling lightly.

"Well, I hope, if I do go to sleep in this bed-loft, that I shan't roll off." Pippin said,
letting his arms rest over Azura's legs, as if it reassured him to know she was there.

"If you do, I will catch you with my magic, like I did before." Azura said, smiling.

"Once I do get to sleep," Sam said, "I shall go on sleeping, whether I roll off or no. And
the less said, the sooner I'll drop off, if you take my meaning."

"Sorry, Sam." Azura said, sweetly, and hushed Pippin, and they all drifted to sleep.


---


Azura did not wake easily in the morning, and was carried down the tree by Arawrath.
The Company headed onward, and Azura slept on.

Azura only woke, when Strider had set her down and shook her awake, and cried, "Azura!
Wake, I cannot carry you across this river!"

Azura woke, and stood, and grimaced when Strider held her upper arm.

"Is it sore?" Strider asked, and psuhed her sleeve up.

The bandages on her arm were soaked with blood, and Strider pulled back one bandage to look
at the cut, and grimaced at what he saw.

"What?" Azura asked, and looked. She, too, grimaced. The cut had grown ugly, and the flesh had
molded to a grey and yellow color, and pus seeped freely from the cut.

"Your wound has grown infected. I fear we must hurry more so no, or we will not be in time to
have your arm healed." Strider said.

Azura watched Sam move slowly across the rope bridge made for them, looking down at the river
like it was a great chasm in a mountain. Pippin was next, and proved the best, as he moved
quickly across and with only one hand for assistance, and only looked to the bank, and not
down. Soon, all the other's had crossed, and she was alone on the west bank, except for one
elf, whom knelt in front of her, and kissed her hands, and wept silently.

"I am happy beyond myself now, Highness, and relieved that you are here. Lorien is saved. Now,
hurry to the Queen, and meet with her." The elf, Rumil said, and stood.

Azura turned and began across the rope bridge, but faltered halfway through, suddenly feeling
dizzy and sick, and her arm began to burn with pain. She released the rope with her injurded
hand, and barely held on with the other, suddenly weak with pain.

"Azura! Do not stop now, you are almost here!" Sam cried, and Pippin and Merry were uneasy,
along with Frodo.

"Are you well, Azura? Do you need assisstance?" Strider cried, and Legolas quickly came out on
the rope and got her, and helped her across the rest of the way.

Azura listened as Gimli protested about being blindfolded, and soon they all settled into all
of the Company being blindfolded. Azura didn't mind, as Sam carried her piggy-back, and let
her arm drape over his shoulder, and was careful to keep it from being bumped or moved.

They walked in darkness, following Haldir.

"Happy folk are Hobbits to dwell near the shores of the sea! Long has it been since my folk
have looked upon it, but we still remember it in song. Tell me of these havens in which you
dwell, as we walk." Haldir said, from ahead of them.

"I cannot. I have never seen them. I have never been outside of my own land before. If I had
known what the lands outside were like, I do not think I would have the heart to leave it."
Merry replied.

"I have seen the seas." Azura said, smiling lightly to herself.

"You have?" Cried Haldir, "How did you have the heart to leave after seeing them? What was it
like?"

Azura sighed, remembering the beautiful blue waves of the sea, and said, "I once traveled past
Harlond, and stayed on the coast for a year. The waters were so beautiful, and the roar of the
ocean is a beautiful sound, and watching the waves crash upon the beach is bliss. I spent many
days just swimming in the shallows and playing in the tidepools."

Haldir gave a sigh, and said, "I fear the only time I will see the ocean is when we leave the
Grey Havens for the West..."

Azura felt a tug inside her, to console him, and say that he wouldn't have to leave because
she was here. But what could she do? She didn;t know how to revive Lothlorien, or even how to
use such power. So she remained silent.

A good while later, Haldir stopped them, and they removed their blindfolds.

Azura gave a cry at the beautiful sight before her. The trees were tall and beauitful,
silver-barked, and golden blossoms crowned the trees. Rays of sunlight spilled through gaps
in the trees, and the forest seemed to be aglow with beauty itself, and everything looked
like a wonderful dream to her.The wind rustled and flowed softly through the trees, sounding
like sweet music.

Sudden words rang inside her, that she did not know.

The winds in the trees whisper strange melodies
Calling me home, to a place I've never been
Nightwinds sing to me, of a life I do not know
The hallways echo with footsteps, yet unheard
An unfounded sadness is lifted from my soul

Azura heaved a great sigh, and tears ran freely down her cheeks. She knew what she was
feeling inside herself.

She was home.





---



Note: This is the first chapter I have written without using the owrd "whom", now aren't
you proud? :-) The next chapter will explain about the whole "Mana Dragon" topic. Now aren't
you interested, even a little? *wink wink*


Azureskies (Sarah)

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