Five hundred and nine years had passed since Aria's last meeting with Legolas. He had never been able to reach Lothlorien, nor Nethrana. But all this was changed when the Fellowship reached the lands of Lothlorien and she and Legolas met once more. Aria shok her head in thought as she remembered those old days, still crisp and new as if just experienced. She looked at Rillia's form ahead of her, then past her at the rising mountains in their path. They were the Ered Lithui, the Ash Mountains, and they rose before them like smoking giants in slumber. It was at this time that Aria decided to try to feel once more for the presence of Frodo, and the Ring.
She gently closed her eyes and probed the darkness. For a time, darkness was all that was visible, but in a flash of bright white light and fluorescent green, everything changed. A cave, simliar to the one she had seen previously. Dark, but now lit with a green glow, horrifying shrieks filling its chambers. But this vision was not like the last. She was not simply watching, she was there. Aria tried to shield her face, tried to hide, but to no avail. She was purely visible to all the creatures and madness that the cave held. In front of her, she saw now what made the terrifying shrieks. A spider, huge and terrible in size and appearance, its eyes glowing fiercely. But it scuttled away from her as she covered her face, but it dragged its body along, leaving behind it a slime that glowed in the darkness.
Aria whirled around as a sound echoed behind her. She saw nothing but darkness and a large, torn web, it's remnants flowing in the dank cavern air. As she saw nothing, she turned back to look where the creature had disappeared. She suddenly drew in her breath as she saw a figure lying still on the floor, its face white, wrapped in the spider's thread. Aria knelt down, touched the still face and shuddered at its coldness. She did not understand, she could not comprehend why the figure did not stand. She could not tell his identity for his blanchness. But suddenly, memories beseiged her mind. It was not just anyone, it was Frodo. Frodo, whose black lashes lay closed over his eyes. Frodo, whose forehead was still furrowed in pain. Frodo, whose body was still and cold. The realization suddenly dawned upon there as she knelt upon the cold cavern floor. Death had visited here, wrapped in the cloak of a spider's hide, her cold hands shrouded by white thread till she gently touched the hobbit's skin, spreading her chilling touch over all of his body. It was she who gently touched his lashes, closing them to the mortal world.
Aria stared in shock at the sight before her, the realization still not fully taking her mind. A figure rushed from the darkness and she jumped to her feet in anticipation. Sam fell to the floor, his face red with perspiration. He grasped a sword from the ground and cut through the threads, murmuring worriedly under his breath. "He lives not Sam." She whispered in the frosty air. But he did not hear her words, or refused to hear, for he continued to rub Frodo's white hands gently. Finally he dropped his head, Frodo's hand still in his own. Aria gently placed her hand upon the hobbit's shoulder. He jumped slightly, though he did not even look up. Aria could barely hear his words as he spoke comfortingly to Frodo, taking the sword, then the light of Earendil. The surrounding areas about her began to grow dim, but the last thing that Aria saw was the lusty glow of the Ring as Sam slipped it off Frodo's neck and put it on his own.
"Aria! Aria!" Aria's eyes opened to see her cousin beside her, eying her fervently. Aria smiled and waved her hand. "I am well. I simply saw," Aria's words were cut off as a blinding light cut through her vision sharply. She felt a sharp pain in her head as the light overtook her whole mind. Again, the caves came into her mind, dark and dank as before, but it was voices that she heard. The rough voices of Orcs as they called out in the darkness. They spoke back and forth, but Aria did not see them. She only heard them, heard their plans to return with the hobbit to Cirith Ungul. But what she heard next, pierced her senses more than any light could do. Frodo was alive. He had been living and breathing when she had touched his face, and she had not known. Before the vision faded once more, a tall gray tower arose in her mind, surrounded by dim gray and dark landscape.
"Aria!" Rillia's voice brought her back to reality. She lifted her head suddenly then lay back as a knife of pain cut into her senses. She found herself on the lush grass. Rillia was leaning in front of her, her hand on Aria's forehead. "What happened?" Aria asked with a groan. "You fell from your horse. You had me worried. What did you see?" She added. "Frodo. He's been taken by the Orcs to Cirith Ungul." Aria murmured. "What of the Ring?" Rillia asked suddenly with alarm. "No worries. Sam has it." Aria whispered before she drifted into merciful sleep.
Faces of the Fellowship peppered Aria's dreams. Aragorn, rough, but noble and true to his cause. Gimli, though a dwarf, but determined and a brilliant fighter. Gandalf, her dear friend and reason that she lived through her fight with Saruman, who had escaped his own grave as well. Merry and Pippin, though both small in stature, tall and brave in their hearts. Sam, who would never leave Frodo's side and though he did not think himself an adventurer like Frodo, was willing to take on the burden of the Ring for his Master's sake. And Frodo, who knew what was happening to him now at Cirith Ungul. But Aria knew, even in the fog of her mind that she would go to him. She would help him. Finally, Legolas' deep blue eyes pierced her dreams. She smiled in her dream as he gently smiled in her direction as he had before she had left his company. And in that moment, she wondered, would she ever see him again?
The next morning, Aria awoke with a start. The fire beside her was smoking, the blanket wrapped around her wet with dew. She sat up and threw off the blanket, breathing in the misty air. Rillia's seated form came to Aria's vision. She approached her and Rillia smiled and stood. "So, where do we go from here?" She asked. "We will go to Cirith Ungul. We must find Sam, and rescue Frodo." Aria said with determination. "Do you know what you say?" Rillia whispered. Aria nodded and Rillia shook her head. "That is a fort surrounded completely by Orcs. Their captives that they take, they torture until death." Rillia said quietly. "They will not kill Frodo. He is the Ringbearer." Aria said firmly. "But he does not have the Ring and when they see that, they will have no qualms about killing him." Rillia hissed.
"That is where we shall go Rillia. Take down the camp." Aria said firmly. Rillia gazed at her cousin for a long while, searching her face. Finally she did as she was bid and Aria looked away. In no time the two elves were galloping away, getting closer and closer to the Ash Mountains and closer to Mordor. By nightfall, the two elves passed over the borders of Mordor and when they did, Aria halted and jumped from her horse. She whispered a few words in Golorith's ear, then gave him a small pat on the back. The horse neighed sadly and nuzzled her hand before galloping back the way they had come. Aria turned to Rillia. "Let your horse free. From here we travel on foot." Rillia released her horse and together the two crept into Mordor. They traveled lightly through the darkness for many days, until they finally came to the cave that Aria knew from her vision.
Aria stared at it, inwardly shivering as she stared. "What is it?" Rillia whispered. "Many have died here. Many. Elves, Men, Orcs. But we must enter." Aria whispered with a shudder, taking the first step into the dank cave. Rillia followed behind Aria as they crept through the darkness. Aria crept through searching for signs that she would recognize. She jumped slightly as the green eyes glowed from the darkness and a groan of pain subsided as the visitors were noticed. Make not a sound. Though the creature is wounded, it still hungers. Aria's mind whispered to Rillia's own. Rillia in turn nodded and they set off again. Aria halted a moment later as she looked ahead of her. Ahead was the giant spider web, its torn ends blowing mournfully in the breeze. There was light beyond it, very dim, but still there. Aria took a deep breath and stepped past the web and towards the light.
They squinted as the light pierced their eyes as they stepped outside the cave. Far beneath them, down the craggy hills, lay Cirith Ungul, dark and terrible in majesty. But even as the two Elves stared upon it, the feelings in Aria's heart changed. Even as Rillia took a step forward towards the citadel, Aria's hand fell upon hers. "We do not proceed to Cirith Ungul." She whispered, a frown on her face. Rillia stared at her with disdain. "But that is where the Ringbearer lies." She protested. Aria shook her head. "No more does the Ringbearer reside in the fortress of darkness. He has escaped with Sam and even now they flee towards Mount Doom." Rillia stared at Aria, shaking her head. "Your heart must learn to make up its mind. Otherwise we shall be traveling all over this accursed land." She said with a sigh, as the two Elves walked towards Mount Doom.