Beasts in the Gloom

Elmeraith's horse galloped from under her. Her long brown hair flew around her and stung her face like a whip. Her bags and luggage bounced up and down with every stride. "Must we keep going? I'm so tired!" Elhenin whined.

"We have to ride all through the night and we will sleep in the day. I'm too scared to rest at dark out here. Now ride on till sunrise!" Elmeraith announced, never letting her horse slow, except once or twice, claiming that she had heard something other than her horse.

"Keep on going, Shawkly," Elmeraith muttered to her horse. The black horse lifted his head higher and galloped proudly through the gloom of the trees. The horses were hasty without being urged and they rode like hidden shadows through the forest.

"We are long out of Minis Tirith," Elmeraith announced. "We will be in Mirkwood before three weeks pass I believe. I left a note for mother saying that we are gone, but I doubt that she will take it well. They will search for us."

Elhenin felt like groaning, but remembered it had been her choice to come along. Then she smiled at the thought, 'This is a real adventure.'



Elhenin smiled as the sun arose. It was a beautiful sight. They were both tired and the horses were now tripping over roots and stones with weariness. Elhenin patted her horse, Feelor, and slowed him to a stop. "The sun rises and the lands are bright. Let us sleep," said Elhenin. She slipped off her horse and began making a bed of blankets. She was too tired to cook food over a fire. She just wanted to sleep.

Elmeraith sighed and also drew out a blanket to sleep on. As their horses grazed a little way in the woods, the two girls slept soundly.



Elmeraith awoke as the sun was setting. She had been so tired. "Elhenin, let us eat and we will be off again," she said to her sister, sprawled on a blanket. Elhenin grumbled in reply and seemed to fall asleep again. Elmeraith lit a fire and nibbled at her Rimus as the fire began to rise (incase I haven't told you, Rimus is a soft Elven bread that's saturated in honey).

"Mmm," Elmeraith mumbled as she ate her Rimus. It was delicious and filling for her empty stomach.

"Elhenin," Elmeraith hissed at her sister, whom had fallen asleep. "I packed plenty of Rimus." With that, Elhenin sat up quickly. "Rimus!" she said, grabbing one greedily and eating it hungrily.

"We will leave in a moment. Darkness in these woods frightens me. I despise darkness away from home," said Elmeraith.



Legolas's white horse snorted from under him. Legolas began whispering to his horse. The horse neighed tiredly in return. Legolas sighed and slowed the horse down till they came to a stop. They had been riding for a long time and Legolas had driven the horse unmercifully (but unintentionally, mind you!).

"Sorry, girl," he said, rubbing the horse's soft nose. He hadn't been able to think of anything else since he had heard that voice. He began singing softly to himself as he made a fire.

"Lady with hair, long, soft, and brown,

Dances far away, twirling around

Eyes like bright stars in the cold night

Beautiful princess, meet me tonight

On her brow rests a silver crown

And all around her is a soft blue gown

Lady of Gondor, the wonderful and fair

Hold me again and let me rest in your lair"

He sighed sadly at the thought. He didn't want to travel so long to be with her. He wanted to wake up with her nearby every morning and every time he thought of her, he wanted it all more. He didn't hear her voice on the wind again, though he constantly stopped to listen.



The two Half-elven girls rode through the night again. Elmeraith gasped when she heard a blood-curling scream, echoing through the woods. It wasn't the scream of a human, but a beast in the wood. It was a nameless animal in Middle Earth all together, but the children of Gondor called them Gunk Goblins. The two black horses sped up and began running at a frightful speed. A few low, dead branches of trees stung Elmeraith's face as they hurried by, but they kept riding. Far in the distance, Elmeraith saw one of these animals. It had the body shape and size of a young boy, but his face was more animal-like. He had a large, round head and bulging eyes. His nose was small, but wide. His mouth was open, revealing sharp fangs. His long arms dragged a little low and he had a mossy-green hide.

"He's been following us!" Elmeraith gasped. "Are they as dangerous as they appear?"

Elhenin looked back for a moment. "He is very dangerous, or so I've heard they all are. He's not as fast as the horses, but he can travel very long distances. He might follow us all the way to Mirkwood."

Elmeraith cursed aloud. So many things lurked around the corners of the dark, Sauron or no. They heard an animal from above them, low in a tree.

A bat-like animal with slanted, glowing eyes stared at them as they rode through. His big ears stuck out and were pointed at the end. He screeched like a bird as the two girls passed from his sight under the shadows.

Elmeraith shivered. "Won't they ever leave? Curse these beats that follow behind!" Elhenin whispered to her sister.

(Alright, I need to find out what's happening in the next chapter. It's going to get more exciting, don't worry.)