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It took only a few days for Aria to recover. Within that time, with the help of the Trendil, every blemish and bruise had faded, the only thing to remind her of the ordeal being the black mark on her shoulder where Saruman's magic had done it's work. One particular evening after the event, Aria sat by the fire with Merry and Pippin. The two hobbits were chattering excitedly of what would come on the morrow. Aria herself was barely listening, as she smoothly placed her things in a sack. "Oh yes! Gandalf will show that wizard! He won't let him get away with what he's done, will he Merry?" Pippin asked. Merry shook his head as he bit into an apple. "No. Gandalf with teach Saruman a lesson he'll never forget!" Merry replied. Pippin laughed excitedly, grabbing for a piece of bread.
Merry turned from Pippin to look at Aria. He frowned and chewed his apple slower, then swallowed as he watched her actions. He watched as she stood and placed the sack on the ground by the horse that Gandalf had given to her to replace Noron, a tall brown horse named Golorith. He stood slowly and walked over to her turning his now sober blue eyes toward her face. "You intend to leave don't you?" He asked gravely. Aria turned to him slightly. "Yes Merry." She said quietly. "You can't go! You aren't well yet!" Pippin said suddenly, observing what was happening. He jumped up from the ground and rushed to them, a handful of bread in his mouth. Aria smiled at the two hobbits, but sobered as she saw Merry's serious face and Pippin's pleading eyes. "I cannot stay. I must go." She said gently. "Do the others know this?" Merry asked suspiciously. "They will before I take my leave of them." Aria said. "I don't like it. You should stay here with us Lady Aria, instead of riskin' your life for a cause that even you can't decifer." Merry said firmly. Aria smiled gently, and placed her hand upon his shoulder. "You speak words beyond your years Alasseo. I will keep them in my heart." She smiled at the two of them, squeezing their shoulders voluntarily before she walked off.
She eyed Legolas standing off to the side before she passed him, his arms across his chest, his face grave. "What did she call you Merry?" Pippin whispered. "She called him by his name in Elvish. Alasseo." Legolas spoke out quietly, his keen eyes fixed on Aria as she walked to and fro among the camp. Aria walked over to Gandalf and said a few words, before turning to Gimli and speaking to him. She made her rounds to Aragorn, then the King and Eomer before she finally came to Legolas. His eyes were as solemn as his face as he eyed her. She placed her hand gently on one of his arms. "I know you do not approve of my going, but know this, I must." She said quietly. "You do not even know why you go. Where will you end up before you finally see that you are leaving for nothing?" Legolas asked. "I will follow my heart Legolas. My heart will lead me to what I seek, though my mind knows not the way." She whispered urgently. Legolas shook his head before gazing into her face. "Why do I feel that I shall never see you again if I allow you to go?" Aria smiled gently. "I know not. For I know that I shall be protected, for I am under my sister's mantle." She said, beginning to walk away. "But does your sister's mantle extend to the realms of Isengard?" Legolas asked.
Aria turned around to face him. "The reason you do not wish me to go is because you do not wish me to be hurt again. I promise you I will not. And as to the matter of my sister's protection," Aria jumped upon Golorith and wheeled him around before smiling at Legolas. "She has never let me down before." She said with a cocky smile before riding into the darkness. Legolas watched her, then turned away and shook his head. He knew that unnfortunately, she was right about the feelings in his heart. Merry and Pippin watched her as she rode off. "You think she'll come back Merry?" Pippin asked. "Sure she'll come back. She's an Elf. Elves don't give up easily I reckon." Merry said, looking at the still, and stubborn form of Legolas as he watched the darkness where she had disappeared out of the corner of his eye.
Aria rode far into the night and into the early morning. When she had told Legolas that she would follow her heart, she had meant it, but she still doubted even herself. "After all, my senses betrayed me when the Orcs from Isengard came." She murmured, wincing at the sudden pain in her shoulder. But there was magic involved. Saruman shielded their presence for he knew you were coming. Her conscience whispered. "Yes, but I too am embodied with powers! I should have felt it!" Aria insisted. Do not be so hard on yourself. Saruman is a great wizard, you know that you hold not a candle to his power. Her mind whispered comfortingly. This thought kept Aria silent and she did not batter her concience any further.
She rode hard and fast, her heart begging her to go faster still. Finally along the river Anduin, she stopped. She did not give Golorith his freedom, but instead kept her hand on the horse's back as he stooped to eat the grass along the river. Something in the back of her mind quivered like a child in the dark. Aria felt it and she kept it close, her senses alert. Suddenly, she doubled over in pain as her shoulder gave a huge throb, blood oozing from it's chapped surface. Aria's hand went over it and she looked above her as a screech sounded above her head. "Nazgul." Aria muttered angrily. Two Ringwraiths rode the wind above her, their swords raised high. Her hand still on her wound, she grasped her bow, then lifting her hand from her wound, she lifted an arrow to the bow. But before she could let loose the arrow, one of the Wraiths swooped down closer to her. Her wound's pain grew unsufferable as it throbbed. Her arm dropped as the Ringwraiths swooped closer to her. She tried once more to fit an arrow to her bow, but the Wraith's sword cut through the arrow she tried to fit to her bow. Golorith screamed and shied away, running from the spot into the trees. The horse's back had been her one support, but now he was gone and she fell to the ground. As the Ringwraiths swooped down towards her, their swords pointed, Aria tried one last time to fit an arrow to her bow, but failed.
Suddenly a screech broke out among the Nazgul. They shrieked and Aria raised her head slightly to see the end of an arrow sticking cleanly out of the hood of the Ringwraith. Another screech sounded as another arrow pierced the other. They took off, riding the wind to safety. Aria picked herself off the ground as the pain in the wound faded and looked to her rescuer. She was met with cold blue eyes as the person jumped from a horse. As the person strode closer, Aria realized that it was an Elf, one of her own kind and she recognized the she-Elf with a smile. "So Cousin, you cannot even hold your own against the Nazgul? I knew Galadriel must have been out of her mind to let you go out alone into the wilderness." The Elf said disdainfully. Aria smiled and shook her head. "Hello Rillia. Thank you for your help." She murmured.
Rillia sighed and brushed back a strand of her long blonde hair. Rillia was twenty years Aria's junior, but the two did not mind each other's company. In fact, Rillia was one of the few Elves who was Aria's true friend. Rillia was tall and imposing, her blue eyes dark and cold as ice. Her face was fair, her blond hair long and hanging down her back, her long bangs done back in braids. She shook her head again as she looked at Aria. "So you have sustained a wound. Is that what hindered you?" Rillia asked. "Yes. But it is no ordinary wound. It was a present given to me from Saruman." Aria remarked sarcastically, peering under her shirt and wincing at the bloody mess. "You have confronted Saruman? I take back my crude words as to your lack of courage." Rillia said, surprise in her eyes. Aria smiled, then winced as she pressed a cloth to the wound.
"But where is your Fellowship, Cousin? Are they not here to protect you, or you to protect them?" Rillia asked. "They have gone their own way, and I mine." Aria murmured as she patted her wound. "So you have abandoned them to go to Mordor alone? Thats nice." Rillia said, frowning. "They are not going to Mordor. The Ringbearer is not with them. As far as we know he is proceeding to Mordor as of now." Aria said, frowning at the bloody cloth in her hand. "As far as you know. So why are you out here wandering in the wilderness. Its not like you Cousin." Rillia said, taking the cloth from her and rinsing it in the waters of the river. "I know. But my heart wishes it. I know not where I am going, but I have a feeling that I am close to my destination." Aria said softly.
"I know one thing, perhaps your heart is suicidal." Rillia commented as she stood and presented the dripping cloth to Aria. "What do you mean Rillia?" Aria asked as she pressed the cloth to her wound. "I know the direction you are going. If one was to look at you and your direction from the sky above, they would know that you were heading straight into the fires of Mordor." Aria's head snapped up as she looked into her cousin's serious face. Rillia's knowing eyes bored into her. "We will stay here tonight. You are too weak to go anywhere yet." Rillia said. "Rillia, if that is true, then I cannot go anywhere. My wound does not heal." Aria said, taking her cousin's arm. "So you say. But little do you know that I come from Lorien and I bring medicine that you lack." Rillia said with a smile, producing a powder from her bag.
A little while later, Aria allowed her cousin to mix the powder into a paste then pat it on the wound. The sting returned, the pain immeasurable, but Aria said nothing. "So I am really heading towards Mordor." Aria murmured a little while later. "It seems to be that way." Rillia answered her, piling more wood on the small fire she had started. "Why would I go to Mordor? Why am I even here?" Aria whispered. "Because you wish to prove yourself to your people. That is the reason Galadriel gave." Rillia said. "It is true. I wished to prove myself to my people. In fact, that was all I wanted. Now its become much more." Aria murmured. "So, Galadriel informed me of the members of the Fellowship." Rillia murmured. "Two mortal men, a Dwarf, four hobbits, and a certain Elf, whom I believe you know." Rillia said, a cruel gleam in her eye. Aria eyed her but said nothing. "Legolas wasn't it?" Rillia asked. "Thats enough Rillia. Take first watch." Aria said, lying on the ground, her blanket around her. "I see. Your feelings for this Legolas abound. You can't hide anything from me Cousin." Rillia murmured with a smile as she turned back to the fire. Aria sighed and closed her eyes, and indeed the face of Legolas haunted her dreams the whole night.
The next day the two Elves mounted their horses and rode in silence for most of the morning. One of the times when Aria turned to look at her cousin, she saw that she was sitting still and erect, her fingers buried in the grey horse's mane. "So why did you come Rillia? If you don't mind my asking." Aria finally asked. "Simple, Cousin. I wanted to go with you, but I must say, rudely did you not invite me on this quest." Rillia said with a smile. "There is more to it." Aria pressed. Rillia sighed and clucked at her horse to move alongside Aria's. "Very well. I wished to make sure you were well. You must not be aware of the powers you set off in your sleep." Rillia frowned. "What do you mean?" Aria asked. "Every night as I went to sleep, you came into my mind. It mattered not how many paths I crossed, how many hills I climbed, your face still beseiged my memory. And the last few nights, you were in pain. I desired to make sure you were well." Rillia said seriously. "You desired to protect me." Aria said knowingly. "Yes." There was silence between the two for a moment before Rillia spoke again. "I know you don't like that and you think that you can care for yourself, but what do you think the Nazgul would have done to you if I hadn't come? They certainly weren't there to give you a welcome feast." Rillia said scornfully.
"I am not mad." Aria said. "Very well, but remember whenever you DO get mad, that I saved you and you owe me." Rillia insisted. Aria smiled at her cousin's insistence. "So what are we tracking? Who is this Ringbearer?" Rillia asked. "He is a hobbit." Aria said quietly, Frodo's solemn face arising in her mind. "A hobbit. You mean a Halfling?" Rillia asked. Aria nodded. "Yes. His name is Frodo Baggins. He is also traveling with his friend, another hobbit named Samwise Gamgee." Aria explained. Rillia shook her head. "Two hobbits. And they've come this far with the Ring? Without being killed?" Rillia asked. "Thats the way it seems. The only injury Frodo has sustained is a wound from a Nazgul blade on his shoulder." Aria said quietly. "Ah, I see. Saruman has a cruel sense of humor." Rillia scoffed, remembering her cousin's wound in the same place.
"So what do you mean to do when and if we do find these hobbits?" Rillia asked. "I haven't figured that out yet. I'm just looking now." Aria said. "Well you best come up with something! Goodness, you'd think that I was the sorceress the way you act! Goodness." Rillia exclaimed. "Well you are NOT a sorceress. What would you suggest?" Aria asked. "Use your powers to find him. To see him. That would help don't you think?" Rillia asked. Aria thought over the suggestion, a pained look on her face. "What? Is that not a good idea?" Rillia asked. "A good idea it is, but a painful one. I do not know what I shall see." Aria murmured. "No one knows what they shall see when they search. They must simply look and deal with the emotions as they come." Rillia said gently. "You are right." Aria murmured, stopping her horse with a word. Rillia stopped as well, her eyes fixed on Aria closely.
Aria closed her eyes slowly, feeling, listening, seeing. She started as an Orc face came into her mind, his eyes bulging, his eyes evil. Then the vision pulled back to reveal a deep, dank cave, darkness in its corridors. Below the entrance, stairs wound their way down to the bottom of the mountain. Then she saw into the cave itself. Several eyes stared at her from the darkness. A creature was there, waiting, watching. A small creature scampered through the puddles of water in the cave, occasionaly lifting its head to listen, the muttering under its breath. "We will not hurt the Master. She will do as she wishes. I will get the nasty hobbitses if he livesss. Yesss, then we will have our Precioussss." The word was dragged out by the echoes of the cave and there was nothing. Nothing but the eyes, gleaming in the darkness.
Aria opened her own eyes and stared into the distance for a time. "Did you see him? The Ringbearer?" Rillia asked. Aria shook her head. "No. I merely saw a mountain, with stairs winding up, leading to a cave. There was something in there. Something evil. And Gollum was there." Aria shuddered. "The creature Gollum is involved in this? Oh just wonderful! Why did you not inform me of this information before I risked my neck to come out here and help you?" Rillia said angrily. "You were indisposed at the moment I believe. Safe and sound at Lorien weren't you?" Aria snapped at her cousin's angry speech. "Actually, NO, I wasn't. I was living in your own city among your people. But I went to Lothlorien to see Galadriel before I set out." Rillia replied. "This is all so strange. Why is Gollum there? Where was Frodo?" Aria whispered. "I know not, but I think that that place is where we will find the hobbits." Rillia said, clucking at her horse. Aria did the same, but Gollum's face continually invaded her thoughts, poisoning her mind with his words, "My Precioussss."
The two Elves traveled long days and nights, not needing very much rest in order to sustain them. During this time, the two cousins caught up with each other. "I spoke with a great majority of your people before I left." Aria eyed her cousin, but didn't respond. "They were very sad due to your leaving. They would have rather wished that you had stayed." Aria turned to Rillia sharply. "Why? Didn't they think me unable to rule?" Aria asked. "They did, but then they realized that it was a mistake sending you away." Rillia explained, shrugging. Aria turned away and shook her head in disbelief. "So, tell me of your friend Legolas. I saw him before all this started you know, in Mirkwood." Aria turned to her cousin. "I thought you were residing in Rivendell as a member of Elrond's soldiers." Aria said. "I was, but the noble elves of Mirkwood passed through, unfortunately to tell Elrond of their failure to keep the creature Gollum in captivity." Rillia said.
"I spoke with Legolas during that time. He has grown greatly from the last day I saw him. He spoke of you. Did you know that?" Rillia asked cleverly. "Rillia, how would I know that?" Aria asked impatiently. "Because you're a sorceress. Who knows, you might have known if you had tried to know. Anyway, he asked me how you were, how your rule was proceeding. I told him that all was well and you were a wonderful queen. You know what he said? He said, 'I'm sure her rule will be great and talked about for many generations.' You know what I told him? I told him that he was far to flattering for his own good. But yes, he has certainly changed since we saw him last. How was it that you met Aria? Tell me the romantic tale again." Rillia asked, a smile on her face. "Rillia, you know the story. And it was NOT romantic. Not at all. It was embarrassing." Aria said with disgust.
"Embarrassing! That he comforted you in your lonliness? You call that embarrassing?" Rillia asked. "Yes I do." Aria said shortly. "Very well, think it that way then. I however think that you regard it much differently." Rillia insisted, riding off a little ways. Aria shook her head as her cousin rode ahead of her. Rillia Thornshadow was an Elf of stature yes, but also one of convictions, convictions to which she stuck to and never abandoned. When she got an idea in her head, it remained her personal opinion. Nothing could shake her. Aria smiled then sobered as she thought of the event Rillia spoke of.
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*Author's Note*: Thanx again to all the great reviewers! You guys are so awesome and I'm so glad you like my work!! :-) Don't worry, the next chapter will be entirely about the event that Rillia is indicating, so you won't be left in the dark! ;-)
T.H.