Thank you for your reviews and everything. I am glad that you liked everything, or almost everything, in that last chapter. Lynliss, I am not at all offended by your comment and any more criticism is greatly appreciated. I don't particularly enjoy reading flames though, so please do not flame. I have a lot of schoolwork to do, so I will be publishing chapters at a much slower pace. Aníron's full name is Aníron Tindómerel, which means 'Desire Daughter of the Twilight.' I chose her surname from The Silmarillion. Please continue to read and review.
Chapter 12. Riding to Isengard
As the company rode into the strange forest, Aníron could sense a great wrath about her. The branches of the trees rustled and many voices seemed to cry out in distress. 'I do not much care for the feel of this place,' Gimli muttered, holding on to her slender waist with strong hands. Aníron laughed a little, attempting to breathe. 'Master Dwarf, please release your hold on my waist,' she said with a forced smile, 'If you wish to ride with me, I suggest not suffocating me first.' Legolas smiled as he rode next to her and Gimli released his hold a little, allowing her room to breathe.
Legolas looked over at her, his eyes shining as he remembered the events of the previous night. If anything, he had become intoxicated with love for her, and longed to touch her soft skin once more. Aragorn seemed to notice the faraway look in his friend's eyes and smiled, remembering times that seemed so long ago when he was with Arwen. Aragorn shook himself mentally, reminding himself that bigger things were at hand, and he alerted Legolas of this by calling to him. 'Legolas!' he called, 'Look out for that tree branch!' The elf looked up and just barely missed hitting his blonde head on the thick branch, but getting hit in the face with a low hanging limb.
Gimli roared with laughter and Aragorn's laughter filled the air as well. Aníron looked at Legolas in concern, attempting to stifle her own laughter, a smile on her rose petal lips. 'Are you alright?' she asked, leaning towards him enough to gently touch his cheek. He began to laugh as well, after the shock had worn off, and kissed her cheek in thanks for her concern. A light blush spread over her face, but faded quickly as they rushed onward, the rest of the riders having left them behind when they had stopped.
'These woods are so strange, and beautiful,' Legolas murmured to Aníron, gazing in her eyes as they rode in the rear of the company. Gimli spoke up from behind Aníron, startling both of the elves, 'So you have forgotten my presence have you?' The dwarf had noticed that his friend was looking at this lady with desire in his eyes. Gimli spoke again, 'And these woods are nothing compared to the caverns of Helm's Deep...' The dwarf spoke animatedly of the caves and their beauty, but Legolas did not hear a word his friend said, for in his eyes there was something far more beautiful than some cave.
Her shimmering hair flowed out behind her as Aníron rode, free from any burden. Legolas had offered to take Gimli on his own horse, as she had been forced to listen about the beauty of the caves for several hours. She rode up next to Gandalf at the head of the riders. 'What news from the rear of the company, lady?' The old wizard asked her with a smile, noticing the radiance that surrounded her, and the laughter in her eyes. 'I have just finished listening about the wonders of the caverns in Helm's Deep, as told by an expert on caves,' she said with a laugh. Gandalf laughed as well, 'Gimli is quite the enthusiast,' he said, 'What news of Aragorn and Legolas? Are they well?' Aníron sighed softly and happily at the mention of Legolas, and Gandalf's suspicions were confirmed, Legolas had not spoken to her last night.
Éomer had been riding at the head of the company with Théoden and Gandalf all morning, and greatly wanted the chance to see Aníron again. He turned his head, and saw her speaking with Gandalf; smiling and looking very much healed. There was a light in her eyes that had not been there before, and she seemed to laugh more easily. Éomer took leave of Théoden, and rode over to Gandalf and, more specifically, Aníron.
'Greetings lady!' He called to her, and Aníron turned to him with a smile, 'It is wonderful to see you, Éomer!' Aníron had not seen him since the day before and happily engaged him in conversation. As they were speaking, Gandalf was silent, remembering the conversation between himself and Legolas the day before. 'Surely she would not choose Éomer over me...' Legolas' words echoed in the wizard's mind. He looked over at the elf lady next to him. She was speaking with Éomer, but she did not have the same look on her face as when she spoke to Legolas. 'I will speak to Théoden later,' Gandalf muttered to himself as Aníron rode back to where Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli were waiting.
At long last, the company exited the woods and reached the road that reached from Edoras to the Fords of Isen. As the company began to follow the route to the fords Legolas cried out, 'There are eyes! Eyes such as i have never seen before peering out of the wood!' The rest of the company halted, turning to look upon the forest, but Legolas began to ride back. 'Let me down! I wish to see no eyes!' Gimli cried in distress trying to clamber down from Arod's back. Aníron stopped Legolas from going onward with a single word. 'Legolas,' she called to him, and he stopped looking back at her. Suddenly, three strange creatures walked out of the wood, and Aníron and Legolas' eyes grew wide at the sight.
Twelve feet tall they stood, clad in grey and brown. Their long limbs were at their sides and their hands had many fingers. They took long strides and approached the company, but did not heed the riders, stopping to emit low and musical calls from their mouths. Thus, the Riders of Rohan, Aragorn, Gimli, Aníron, and Legolas, first beheld the Ents of Fangorn Forest. The elves sat speechless upon their horses, and Gimli looked as if he would faint. Many of the rider's hands strayed to their sword hilts, but Gandalf stopped them. 'They are only but herdsmen let them be. They do not heed us at all.' He called to them and Théoden gasped to see the characters of old songs walk out into the sunlight.
As the Ents passed them by, the company continued on towards the Fords of Isen. Legolas had followed reluctantly, his eyes still darting back to the forest in which the Ents had disappeared. Aníron looked at him in concern, 'Legolas, please you will be left behind,' she called to him, and he was lead back into reality by her voice. 'Come let us ride!' Legolas said and they sped off to join the company. Gimli had decided to ride once again with Aníron, 'Lest Legolas tried to go back into that wretched forest once more,' and was clutching tightly to her waist. 'Must you ride so quickly?' he called to her. Legolas laughed at the dwarf's face, which looked as if he was being thrown into a flaming pit instead of riding a horse. 'Would you like to be left behind?' She replied, and Gimli was silent for some time afterwards.
The company rode onward and darkness fell around them until the moon rose casting pale light all around them. As the company reached the Fords of Isen, Aníron gasped at the sight of the riverbed. The river seemed to have almost completely dried, and the bottom could be seen, cracked and covered in small stones. She averted her eyes but then saw a mound, ringed with stones and spears. Éomer and Gandalf had dropped back in the ranks, and were now even with Aníron, Legolas, and Aragorn. 'Friends have labored here,' the horse lord whispered, seeing Aníron's distress at the sight. 'Here lie all of the Riders of the Mark that fell here,' Gandalf said quietly, and the company bowed their heads in respect for the dead. They crossed the river, and continued on the ancient highway to Isengard.
At around midnight, they had ridden five leagues from the fords, and stopped along the riverbank, for Théoden was weary of travel. Aníron woke Gimli, whom she had moved to sit in front of her for he was falling asleep, and he would have fallen off of Celebfindel if he sat otherwise. The dwarf fell asleep as soon as he had been placed on the ground, but Aníron stayed awake, and walked over to where Legolas sat gazing at the clear night sky.
Legolas stood as Aníron approached, offering her his hand. As she placed her hand in his, she was pulled forward into a passionate embrace. Legolas released her and placed his hands on her delicate cheeks, feeling the silken softness of her skin and the contours of her face. Aníron sighed, 'If only the river was flowing.' Legolas looked at her in surprise, 'Why do you wish for the river to flow?' She smiled simply, and laughed, 'I would like very much to bathe, only without you spying on me this time.' A smile crossed the elven prince's features as he remembered the last time she had attempted to bathe. 'Would you like me to join you?' he joked, and started to laugh, until he saw the look on Aníron's face. She grinned devilishly, pulling him gently towards her, 'That was the whole idea.'
Aragorn watched the elves kiss in the moonlight. He hadn't heard what was said between them, but he watched this and smiled. He had simply followed to make sure that they were not going to stray too far from camp. There were also wolves in this area, and he did not want either of them attacked by a pack of wolves. Something in his conscience told him that he should go back to the campsite, and he turned away from Aníron and Legolas.
Aníron sat leaning back against Legolas, her head on his shoulder. Legolas had wrapped his arms around her waist and was smiling down at her. He cherished these moments, never wanting them to end. Pale green eyes peered up at him, Aníron's eyes had lost almost all of their golden hue in the past few days, and a soft voice soon followed, 'We should go back soon, they will miss us.' Legolas stood holding Aníron in his arms. 'Put me down! I can walk on my own,' she protested with a laugh, 'Put me dow...' Legolas silenced her with a passionate kiss, and then stood her on the grass in front of him. Together they walked towards camp, Aníron smiling at Legolas with love shining in her eyes.
Just as the elves walked into camp, the voices of those set out to guard the camp cried out in dismay and shock. A mist, darker than night, was creeping along the ground, slowly engulfing the camp and the river. Gandalf's voice echoed through the mist, and Aníron could just barely make out a figure in shining white several feet ahead of where she and Legolas stood. 'Do not draw your weapons! It will pass, stay calm!' Gandalf's voice calmed and alarmed her at the same time, and she grabbed onto Legolas' arm. He pulled her closer to comfort her, and then he looked up into the sky. The stars could still be seen through the mist. 'Aníron, love, look at the stars,' he whispered, and he felt her look up. The light of Eärendil, most beloved star of the elves, shone down through the mist to reassure them, and an aura began to shine once more from Aníron.
Galadriel's voice seemed to echo softly in her head, 'Fear not, Tindómerel, for Eärendil will guide you when all other lights go out.' So long ago, Galadriel had spoken these words to her, and had given her that name, Tindómerel. It had been a pet name for so long, but now it had special meaning, for she was the daughter of the twilight. Her light shone true in the darkness, kindled by her love for Legolas. The soft sound of water trickling over rocks filled the air and Aníron turned to see the river flowing once more.
The dark mist eventually passed, and the Isen filled its banks once more, slowly flowing in the direction of Isengard. Legolas looked down at the woman in his arms, Aníron was watching the river lazily, her head on his shoulder. 'Do you still wish to bathe, my lady?' he asked innocently, causing her to look up at him in surprise. She smiled, and he led her to a more secluded part of the riverbank, where they could not be seen. The stars shone brightly above the river.
Aníron sat by the side of the river, drying her hair with an old blanket she had brought. Legolas watched her intently. He was already clothed and dried, and he was waiting for Aníron to finish drying her hair so that they could return to camp. He watched as she ran her fingers through her silken hair, smoothing it. This was more than he could stand. Legolas stood and walked over to the rock where she was sitting. Aníron felt Legolas' arms slide around her shoulders, she turned her head meeting astonishingly blue eyes with her own pale green. 'How can you be so beautiful?' He breathed in her ear, softly kissing her neck. Aníron blushed in pleasure, allowing Legolas to pick her up off of the rock, and then place her down on the riverbank. 'Come,' he whispered, taking her arm and leading her back to camp.
At dawn, the entire camp had already been packed, and the riders were prepared to travel the final miles to Isengard. There was a heavy fog about them, accompanied by a foul smell. Gimli rode behind Legolas once more, and Aníron rode beside him. The company made their way up to the highway once more, still weary from the day before.
In the dim light, Aníron and Legolas could just barely make out the arm of the mountain reaching around them. They had entered Nan Curunír, the Wizard's Vale, and the Gates of Isengard could be seen through the fog.