You know the disclaimer so I won't say it again… =_=
A/N: Hello! Missed you all and here's the 4th chapter! *whew* finally done with it.... Enjoy!
Vocab:
Glaive- long pole (about 5-6 ft.) with a sharp blade at one end (about 1ft.)
Nai taruvantel ar varyuvantel i Valar tielyanna nu vilya*- (elvish) May the Valar protect you on your path under the sky
Elen sila lumenn' omentielvo*- (elvish) A star shines on the hour of our meeting
Andúril*- the sword that was broken. Was forged again by the elvish smiths
Black Shadow*- sickness one gets from Nazgûl
Athelas*- strong healing herb used to cure most anything
*I did not make these words up. They came from the great mind of JRR Tolkien!
Many Meetings
By: Angelwing
'Where is my daughter,' Elberon calmly stated as if he were asking of the weather. Yet beneath his calm mask, his mind was in turmoil. Had he been too harsh on their last meeting? The old healer-who was now his most trusted advisor-knew that Elberon was merely hiding his true feelings. For she was there when Isilwen had given up her life... After that day, Elberon had put all of his love into his daughter. The only one that could remind him of his dear wife. However she also knew of Adelaide's adventuresome spirit, which drove her father half-insane from worry. She carelessly picked up a needle and began sewing another pattern as they spoke.
'She went to go search for the Song of Remembrance,' she bluntly said, knowing Elberon could detect any careless lie. His eyes widened as she said this for he also knew the legend of the Song of Remembrance and the deadly task set for his daughter. His breath rattled in his lungs and his heart beat rapidly for he feared for Adelaide's safety. Giving a soft moan he closed his eyes in worry and you could see the shadow of age even in his ageless face.
'Did she go with any others?' Elberon asked not bothering to hide his worry this time. The old healer gave a shake of her head and continued her embroidery as if the matter did not concern her.
'You are fully aware of the dangers of her task and you even did not send with her a guardian?' he said, his voice rising in anger at the healer's folly. However, the old healer merely ignored his cries and continued on with her work.
'Answer me!' Elberon now shouted annoyed with the healer's silence. Finally she looked up at Elberon with wisdom far older than the existence of elves.
'Worry not old friend, she will soon meet the young heroes of the ring if not already. I presume they will be enough for her. And how would you know whether I sent her on this task or not?' the old healer said. Elberon thought of this for a time, he had heard of the fellowship of the ring but had never met them. How could he trust his daughter to a group of strangers? Yet he trusted in the wisdom of the old healer and he prayed no harm would befall Adelaide.
'I'm sorry for my rude outburst; I was just concerned about my daughter. However... I'm pretty sure you had something to do with her disappearance,' Elberon said giving a sly look at the old healer. The old healer just smiled and resumed working on her embroidery.
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Adelaide knew the forest well for she had spent many of her days sneaking away from her home. But today it was different from before. She knew that she may never return to her home yet the old healer's words still rang in her ears, filling her heart with determination. The small amulet she wore throttled around as she ran constantly reminding her it was there. How it annoyed her but she kept it on fearing that if she stopped, she might not have the courage to go on. It was only when she tumbled in to something... or someone, that she finally stopped. The other figure was already up and in a blink of an eye she was staring at an arrow aimed at her.
'Wait! I didn't mean any harm,' Adelaide said refusing to lose control to her fear.
'It's an elven girl Legolas! She can't possibly do anything to us!' a gruff noise from above said. Finally the one named Legolas lowered his bow and replaced the arrow to his quiver.
'Elen sila lumenn' omentielvo,' he said softly the formal elven greeting. Adelaide replied similarly and both got a clear look at each other by the moon's bright light.
'I'm sorry, I was quite surprised with your coming. Please understand,' he said with a look of genuine apology. Adelaide relaxed a little at his words but was still suspicious of this newcomer.
'I'm quite sorry I intruded so abruptly! I was in quite a hurry,' Adelaide said not forgetting her manners, 'Now if I may ask, I have never seen you around this area before, who might you be?'
'Alright, enough formalities... Just get me out of this net!' both elves were quite startled for they had almost forgotten of the poor dwarf high in the treetops. Then Adelaide gave out a laughter that bubbled like a stream freed from the winter frost.
'Ah! I'm sorry Master Dwarf but I had forgotten you in your silence!' Adelaide said laughing even more at the dwarf's red face. She quickly climbed the rowan tree and cut the rope (which had been cleverly camouflaged with the bark) that held the net with her glaive. She had forgotten the fact that this would cause the dwarf to plummet down, and from the height he was in......
'OUCH!!!' a loud yell from below indicated that the dwarf had made it down although not painlessly. By the time she reached the two friends, Legolas had cut the dwarf out with his long elven knife.
'I thank you for your assistance. We have been stuck here for quite a time,' Legolas said slightly bowing his head.
'It was no problem. I needed to repay you for my intrusion anyways,' she replied returning the bow, 'I'm sorry Master Dwarf for the hard fall, I hope you haven't hurt yourself!' A grunt was all she received. She turned back to Legolas and found him looking at her with curiosity.
'The weapon you carry is unknown to me. And yet you wield it with great skill,' Legolas commented causing her to blush.
'Oh! I have forgotten! My name is Adelaide of Stonebrook,' Adelaide said receiving excited looks from both elf and dwarf, 'Where I come from, we all learn to use a glaive for protection in case we run out of arrows.'
'I am Legolas Greenleaf of Mirkwood and this Gimli son of Balin,' Legolas replied, 'Perhaps one day I may learn to use the glaive.'
'We were on our way to Stonebrook and what luck we have in meeting you! By any chance, do you know of the Keeper of the Moon Spirit? That's who we came all the way here for,' Legolas exclaimed, 'We were starting to lose hope when no one came to save Gimli from the trap.' Adelaide hesitated in answering whether she was who they were looking for or not. What did they want with her?
'What business do you have with the Keeper?' she asked trying to hide her suspicion. Whatever their business was, she decided that it was safer to keep her secret to herself not that she didn't trust Legolas or Gimli. In fact she was quite taken with Legolas' but refused to admit it. Besides, she wasn't going to let a man win her heart so easily.
'Aragorn, King of Gondor, sits by his dear wife who is stricken with the Black Shadow. Even the powerful herb, Athelas will not awaken her from the clutches of evil. Legolas here has heard of a song about the Moon Spirit, which is known to cure anything. Please, we wish to help our friends for they helped us in times of our own troubles,' Gimli said solemnly bowing his head with grim sorrow. Hearing this, she quickly made up her mind to help them.
'Gimli son of Balin and Legolas Greenleaf of Mirkwood, I will help you find the Keeper of the Moon Spirit if you help me on the quest that I am going out on,' Adelaide said surprising herself with the strength in her voice. This caused Gimli to kiss her hand as tears of gratitude ran down his cheeks.
Three stars in the moonlit sky twinkled with a newly found inner light. Back in the Stonebrook, the old healer smiled, as she knew the three had met.
Notes: Yes, I am back and so sorry about the loooooong wait ^-^ I just got the motivation to continue all of my stories again so stay tuned! If you have any suggestions or comments or ... flames (not too many ok?) then click that ole' review button!
~Angelwing
