Thank you once again for your reviews and suggestions. A note to Misty- Yes I know that Aníron means desire. And thank you for your suggestion about her joining the fellowship, I have taken note, and I am working it into the story. Thanks once again to Lynliss for your support.
Chapter 5. The Choices of Lady Aníron
The days that followed the fellowship's entrance into Caras Galadhon seemed like a dream to Aníron. During the day she would walk the many paths of Caras Galadhon, visiting with her friends whom she had not seen for many months or years. Or she would walk in the gardens of Lórien, often joined by Legolas, who seemed to be spending as much time away from the fellowship as possible.
At night, Aníron joined Galadriel and Celeborn for an evening meal, though she spoke little during these times, for Legolas joined the rest of the fellowship to eat. After these dinners, she would step out and go to her own talan, which had a large balcony that overlooked a small glade, which looked up into the star-filled sky. It was in this glade that she would meet Legolas after the stars had risen in the sky.
On the third night of the fellowship's visit, Legolas brought Gimli with him. Legolas instructed Gimli to stand in the glade and wait for him there. Aníron watched this scene with interest from her balcony, clearly hearing Gimli's complaints about this with her keen elven ears. Legolas approached her from behind, startling her and causing her to smile when she found out who it was.
'What is it,' she asked in amusement, 'why did you bring Gimli here?' Legolas smiled and said 'I told Gimli that I would show him a star that walks on the earth.' Aníron looked at him in amazement. 'Surely you do not think that I...' she stammered, but she could not finish for he had pulled her down the stairway and into the glade. 'Just go,' he murmured, giving her a push into the glade.
Slowly, Aníron walked towards the place where Gimli was standing, and a light aura seemed to come from her as she walked in the starlight. As she stepped into the center of the glade, she paused, lifting her eyes skyward. Then she did something unexpected, she began to sing.
Legolas watched as Gimli's eyes grew wide, as she walked into the glade, but now it was his turn to have wide eyes, for he had not expected her to sing. The song was hauntingly familiar, and he realized she was singing the ballad of Nimrodel, in Sindarin. Her voice rose to the heavens with its sweet fullness, until it sounded as if the stars themselves were singing. when he could stand it no longer, Legolas stepped out of the shadows, and began to sing the part of Amroth, Nimrodel's lover, and his disappearance from the world. The two voices intertwined rose and fell throughout all of Lórien, and whoever heard the song paused to listen, for the voices were indeed heavenly, and many believed it to be Amroth and Nimrodel themselves singing.
When the song ended, Legolas looked at Gimli, surprised to see the sturdy dwarf in tears after hearing the song. 'What did I tell you my friend,' Legolas said with a smile, 'did I indeed show you a star that walks on the earth?' Aníron stood silently in the center of the glade, radiance still shining about her. 'Indeed this is a twilight star that walks upon the earth.' Gimli announced, 'I fear to touch or come near her, for she may disappear, and never be seen again.'
Legolas laughed, as did Aníron, their laughter like bells chiming. 'Nay, Gimli,' said she 'I am not a star in maiden form, though many would deem me as such at a first glance. I am Aníron, the Grey Lady of Lothlórien, and it has been said that none is fairer than I, save Galadriel herself.'
After Gimli had been escorted back to the fellowship, Legolas came and put his arms around Aníron's shoulders, and she smiled contentedly, leaning her head back on his chest and closing her eyes. He kissed her brow and began to sing softly in her ear until the sun's first rays shone through the mellyrn branches above them.
After several more blissful days, Aníron wished that this happiness could never end, though in her heart she felt that soon it would end. Sure enough, that night Celeborn summoned the fellowship once more to the great hall, where they had first been questioned. Aníron stood once more by Galadriel, but did not break her eye contact with Legolas during the first part of the speech. It was only when Galadriel said 'They all pledge to go on' that caused her to break eye contact with her love.
Aníron's head was spinning, she could not believe what she had heard. The company was to leave Lórien the next day, and she was never to see Legolas again. She found it hard to hide her grief, and was thankful when the meeting was over, so that she could go to her talan to think. As she walked out, she caught a glimpse of Legolas' face, which showed that he was concerned at Aníron's silence and her swiftness to leave the hall.
She reached her talan several minutes later and stood on the balcony, pondering what to do. She knew that Legolas could not come, for the fellowship was holding a council on what to do that evening. She went back to thinking of what she should do. She knew she would not be allowed to join the fellowship, but there must be a way to follow them, then it hit her. It was so obvious! She could just follow them on horseback. Her fighting skills were advanced, and she was the best archer in Lórien, well able to protect herself. That settled it, as soon as the fellowship left by boat, she would follow on horseback.
By the next morning, Aníron was packed and prepared to leave. She had notified Galadriel that she would stay only long enough to see the fellowship leave, and then she would travel to Mirkwood. Wearing her finest clothing, she boarded the swan boat with Galadriel and Celeborn, and set out to meet the fellowship for one last feast. It was not long until they encountered the fellowship and both boats were pulled over to the banks of the river where the feast was set up.
Aníron sat across from Legolas, who was obviously pained at leaving, now that he saw her face once more. Midway through the feast, he stood and spoke to Galadriel, 'My lady, you have shown much hospitality to our company, but I would much like to speak with the Grey Lady. Could you excuse us from your company for a short time?' Aragorn and the rest of the company as well as many elves including Celeborn stopped eating or speaking to stare at this elf who dared to ask Galadriel for leave to speak with her second in command.
Galadriel smiled simply and responded, 'Of course you may, son of Thranduil, but do not tarry long, lest your company leaves without you.' Legolas smiled and took Aníron's hand, and ignored the smirk on Gimli's lips and the look of shock he was receiving from Aragorn. He led her into a grove of trees not far from the feast table that had been set up and looked into her eyes.
'Alas, for I cannot say that I do not dread the day I excepted this quest, now that I look into your eyes now,' he sighed. 'Fear not, my prince, for we may meet again, sooner then you might think, Aníron whispered to him. He kissed her lips and her brow, and she pulled herself closer to him, saying, 'Namárië, for now my love.' Legolas replied 'Namárië,' and kissed her once more.
Legolas led Aníron back to the feast, which was now closing and the fellowship was preparing to leave. She took her place back at the side of Galadriel, and Legolas stood next to Gimli. The gifts were given and the fellowship accepted them with gratitude, before boarding their boats and sailing away on the river.
At this, Aníron bid her lady farewell and ran to the place where Celebfindel was waiting. She mounted her steed and sped off south following behind the small fleet of boats in the distance.
For ten days Aníron followed the small boats, always staying out of sight lest someone should turn around and see her riding on the opposite shore. As she rode along the river, she saw a familiar landmark that she had seen long ago when first traveling south, the Argonath. The pillars of the kings rose up before her, yet she did not pause to gaze in wonder at them, for she could feel a foreboding evil behind her. She urged Celebfindel forward, still following the boats of the fellowship south.
As the sun set, she reached Amon Hen. Aníron dismounted and watched the company land at Parth Galen. The night was uneventful, and morning came soon enough for Aníron, yet she could feel an evil coming ever closer as she awoke and she grew uneasy. As she walked in the woodlands, she heard the fellowship holding council on which way they should travel next. She heard Frodo ask to walk in the woods and she quickly hid herself in a tree and watched as he walked by. A few minutes later, Boromir walked by, following Frodo's trail. She climbed down from the tree and headed back to where she had tethered Celebfindel. Suddenly she heard a noise like many booted feet running on the ground and looked up, from her spot on the hill she saw a sight that froze her blood.
Orcs! Hundreds of them! She ran to her horse, untied him and whispered in his ear, 'Run! Run to Edoras in Rohan, where of old you were sired. Quickly, go!' Celebfindel sped off through the woodlands like the wind, as Aníron turned and drew her bow, preparing for battle.
The fellowship, minus Frodo and Boromir, sat by the boats together when suddenly, Merry spoke up 'Where's Frodo? Shouldn't he be back by now?' Boromir entered the group, looking sullen and muttering to himself. 'Boromir have you seen Frodo?' Aragorn asked. 'It has been at least half an hour since I saw him last,' Boromir replied. The entire group leapt into action with Aragorn trying to issue orders to the remainder of the panicked Hobbits. 'Sam, Legolas, and Gimli, come with me!' Aragorn called, 'Merry and Pippin, you go with Boromir, we have to find Frodo!'
Legolas had broken away from Aragorn who was now searching Amon Hen. He could hear shouts but he knew not where they came from. He walked a little further and saw a huge company of orcs marching forward. 'Aragorn!' he called, 'come quickly!' Aragorn and Gimli came running and immediately sword axe and bow were drawn. A fierce battle raged, and Legolas fought his way through the orc until they had all been slain. Suddenly he saw a sight that horrified him. Aníron was leaning against a tree with a cut on her cheek and a black arrow sticking out of her left arm.
Legolas ran forward and crouched down at her side, his face wet with tears. 'Aníron, what are you doing here,' he whispered, hoping against hope that she was still alive. Her head turned towards him and she gasped out his name 'Legolas? Is it really you?' Without waiting for an answer, she whispered, 'I had to follow you.' 'But why?' he asked quietly. She replied in little less than a whisper, 'Because I love you.' Suddenly everything went black and she fainted into Legolas' arms. As Gimli and Aragorn found Legolas, they stopped as they saw him weeping silently over Aníron.