Ok, we've landed in Mirkwood so we know what character's next.
Chapter Four
Gwaihir. Gandalf watched as the Eagle Lord circled further to the north. He estimated where he was flying over and began in that direction. After maybe ten minutes the great bird stopped circling and started northward. Why would Gwaihir be here? And who could have called him?
"Faster my old friend, time is not our ally." He urged the great horse who lurched forward, his long legs covering miles in minutes.
No doubt this meant something had happened. He watched the tree's as he went by seeing the occassional wood elf guarding the forest of Mirkwood. Did Thranduil know something of the threat that held Middle-earth? Whatever it meant even if it meant nothing at all he needed to go where Gwaihir had circled. He had done so specifically so he would see.
Through the thundering rush of wind that surrounded them Shadowfax heard Gandalf's soft plea for him to stop and as he did the blurr of greens and browns transformed back into a forest.
As he looked around he saw nobody, yet the lingering presence of someone remained. He got off the towering horse and walked around slowly noting anything amiss. A broken tree branch made by a deer, a small hole dug by a gopher or muskrat, and then the footprints of men. Two by the look of it.
Calling his horse he continued on at a walk as he followed the trail.
"So tell me how we're suppose to cross this." Elora said as Morgan stood up from the river bed and ran a wet hand through his long sandy hair and shrugged.
"Maybe this man we're looking for is that way?" He said pointing the direction they'd come. "Then again he could be at that castle we saw about two hundred miles ago. Maybe Cherlindrea got the directions wrong." He said as Elora put her hands on her hips and sighed.
"How dare you!" Fran Jean walked along the pebbles of the river's shoreline and shook his fist at Morgan. "Never say a word against the great Fairie Queen!"
"Or face our wrath!" Rool put in as he stepped next to his partner in crime.
Morgan laughed and threw his hands up in the air. "Of course! Whatever you say Lords." He mocked as they sneared at him.
All conversation stopped when the sharp twang of a arrow was heard and it embedded itself in the tree beside Morgan.
"Leave it be!" A voice rang out as Morgan reached for his sword.
"Who are you and why are you in my forest?" The voice was behind Elora and she whirled around and warily kept her hand near her sword. The strange humming sensation began again in her hands. The man was tall and had long blonde hair that was pulled behind his head. His bow was notched with an arrow and the look in his eyes told her he would shoot. Deciding now was not the time to be rash she opted to cooperate.
"I am Elora Danan, and this is my gaurd Morgan." She knew these lands were perilous and didn't want to give him any information about why they were there and who they searched for. "Who are you?" She shot back. He raised an eyebrow but didn't seem angry at her answer.
"I am Legolas, son of King Thranduil of Mirkwood. You are not welcome in these parts." He looked at the two obvious warriors and couldn't quite tell where they were from but too many wild men from dunland had been found in the woods and the Wood Elves had enough to worry about with orc's passing through it constantly.
"I mean you no harm. You have my word that we will pass through your land and leave it as it was found." She said as a voice from behind her spoke up.
"Men have no right here. Your very presence disturbes the forest, you don't need to try. You cut down our tree's and burn their limbs, you care for nothing but yourselves." She turned her head and saw another blonde man take Morgan by the arm. "None enter without permission and certainly not sorry scouts like yourselves. Who sent you?" He asked as two more came and disarmed Morgan and brought him struggling to his knee's.
Elora drew her sword lightning fast and immediately had a dozen arrow's trained on her. She didn't move but looked to Morgan who seethed as he tried to free himself.
"You wouldn't know if I told you. Your obviously a little out of touch." He spat as the two holding him burst into laughter. Soon most of the men around them were laughing and joking.
"The man replies,'we're out of touch'." The one who seemed to be second in command said mockingly. "Maybe you have an injury of some sort. Whoever heard of a man calling an elf inadequate." Elora's ears perked at this and she examined the men closely. They all had fair features and long light colored hair, a few were dark but all had pale eyes. They all seemed very young, but she didn't doubt that they knew how to use those bow's. And most interesting of all was their ears, they were pointed at the ends and looked as they could hear quite sharply.
"You're not men." She whispered as she noticed how tall and lean they were. They all seemed very high in spirits but at the same time very cold and unforgiving.
Legolas turned his head to the woman who had whispered the short comment. He saw how she looked at him in awe and took in his different appearance in stride. She hadn't realized they were a different race.
Elora was startled out of her stare by someone to her left who grabbed her arm. She quickly snapped her elbow back into his chest knocking him back and then slashed her sword towards his head. He dodged it with agility she'd never seen and then he paused in awe. She almost cut him, a few strands of his platinum hair were sheered short. He'd clearly underestimated her. She turned her sword in her hand and looked to another who drew his bow.
"Tell me where to find the wizard Gandalf and we will leave peacfully! Do not make me harm you." She said with a glitter in her eye. More laughter and chides.
"Halt!" Legolas raised his hand and all bows were lowered. "You seek Gandalf?" He asked as she looked at him warily and nodded.
"I have been sent by Cherlindrea to find him, he is to take me to a kingdom called Gondor. I will say no more until I see him myself." She said as she held her sword steady.
"Then go on child, for you have found him." The voice came from an old man in white who rode from the tree's a huge steed that shimmered white. There was no question in her mind that this was Gandalf. Even if she had doubted his identity, the fact that the elves bowed their heads in revered respect told her enough. She sheathed her sword and bowed shortly.
"Sir, I have sought you from the kingdom of Tir Asleen. The Fairie Queen Cherlindrea sent me to you." She said as Gandalf climbed off Shadowfax and walked to her.
"I now know your purpose but what of your name?" He asked as she shook her head.
"I apollogize, I am Elora Danan. Daughter of Lord Martigan and the Lady Sorcha." She said as he nodded and looked over the situation before him.
"Lay down your weapons, and let him to his feet." He motioned to Morgan who rushed to his feet and grabbed his sword back from the elves and moved to stand next to Elora. "No my child they are not your sire's, your blood is far more pure than their's." She blinked at him, not knowing what to say. He knew of her real parents?
He motioned to the elves surrounding them and she glanced at them with a frown. "Your kin were elves who remained in the eastern lands, Cherlindrea gave them the power you possess. Many died and when the race of men dwelled here the last few ruled them in Tir Asleen. The line ended when Earsil the last great king wed a mortal woman." All eye were on the woman who listened with wide eyes. "I see they have not faded completely." He regaurded her fondly as the corner's of his mouth turned up in a smile. Then his thoughts made there way back to the present.
"I know of Cherlindrea, but all else of which you speak is foreign to me. What peril has brought you so far by the wings of Gwaihir?" He knew of her lineage but why would she be sent here now? Legolas was in awe, these two had summond the Eagle Lord? He quickly realized this was a conversation best kept seecret. With a simple motion he dismissed his gaurds who left, silently disappearing into the tree's.
"I have come to defeat Bavmorda. She has returned from the shadow and I alone must face her." She said as Gandalf sighed and closed his eyes.
"I remember when she was defeated her name was cursed by many, though I never saw her evil by my own eyes." He said as he narrowed his eyes in thought. "Never did I think she would flee here."
"It is prophecised that I alone will destroy her." She shook her head in defiance. "I will not let her take this land in darkness, nor my home." Gandalf smiled at her statement. It was all making sense, the odd calling he heard in Gondor was Cherlindrea and she had sent Gwaihir. This girl needed to get to Gondor, and he would help her.
"I believe you." He said sincerely. "And I will ride to Gondor now and prepare the army of the great city and it's king to help you." He turned to his horse. "For her army's will thwart you should you try to engage her."
"Wait!" She said as he turned, raising an eyebrow. "Aren't I going with you?" He shook his head.
"Even if Shadowfax would allow it I must have time to prepare. I see the light you carry and it must be harnessed and carefully controlled. You need to learn your limits on your way to Gondor, that is something not even the fairie queen can do." She knew what he meant and looked down at her hands that now trembled. He then lifted his eyes to Legolas who was already stepping forward. A chance to see Gondor again is all the excuse he needed to go along, but there was more.
"I will take them to the white city." He said as Elora looked at him with a quizzical expression. "To rid the free lands of this recent evil is something I wish to be a part of." His words were powerful and she could tell his heart was in them.
"You will be safe Elora Danan, Cherlindrea did not steer you wrong. Legolas will guide you and make sure you reach Gondor safely. I will meet you there, but that is all you will need of me. Farewell for now." He gave a reassuring smile and then mounted his great white horse and was gone in a blinding flash.
By the time she looked back all the other elves were gone except Legolas. She let her gaze glance over the elven prince before turning to a bewildered Morgan, who sheathed his sword.
"Things happen so suddenly here."
The next chapter has a little romance, and I plan on having her end up with someone. Have any suggestions on who? I'm not sure if I wanna write another Legolas romance. I'm so torn!
Chapter Four
Gwaihir. Gandalf watched as the Eagle Lord circled further to the north. He estimated where he was flying over and began in that direction. After maybe ten minutes the great bird stopped circling and started northward. Why would Gwaihir be here? And who could have called him?
"Faster my old friend, time is not our ally." He urged the great horse who lurched forward, his long legs covering miles in minutes.
No doubt this meant something had happened. He watched the tree's as he went by seeing the occassional wood elf guarding the forest of Mirkwood. Did Thranduil know something of the threat that held Middle-earth? Whatever it meant even if it meant nothing at all he needed to go where Gwaihir had circled. He had done so specifically so he would see.
Through the thundering rush of wind that surrounded them Shadowfax heard Gandalf's soft plea for him to stop and as he did the blurr of greens and browns transformed back into a forest.
As he looked around he saw nobody, yet the lingering presence of someone remained. He got off the towering horse and walked around slowly noting anything amiss. A broken tree branch made by a deer, a small hole dug by a gopher or muskrat, and then the footprints of men. Two by the look of it.
Calling his horse he continued on at a walk as he followed the trail.
"So tell me how we're suppose to cross this." Elora said as Morgan stood up from the river bed and ran a wet hand through his long sandy hair and shrugged.
"Maybe this man we're looking for is that way?" He said pointing the direction they'd come. "Then again he could be at that castle we saw about two hundred miles ago. Maybe Cherlindrea got the directions wrong." He said as Elora put her hands on her hips and sighed.
"How dare you!" Fran Jean walked along the pebbles of the river's shoreline and shook his fist at Morgan. "Never say a word against the great Fairie Queen!"
"Or face our wrath!" Rool put in as he stepped next to his partner in crime.
Morgan laughed and threw his hands up in the air. "Of course! Whatever you say Lords." He mocked as they sneared at him.
All conversation stopped when the sharp twang of a arrow was heard and it embedded itself in the tree beside Morgan.
"Leave it be!" A voice rang out as Morgan reached for his sword.
"Who are you and why are you in my forest?" The voice was behind Elora and she whirled around and warily kept her hand near her sword. The strange humming sensation began again in her hands. The man was tall and had long blonde hair that was pulled behind his head. His bow was notched with an arrow and the look in his eyes told her he would shoot. Deciding now was not the time to be rash she opted to cooperate.
"I am Elora Danan, and this is my gaurd Morgan." She knew these lands were perilous and didn't want to give him any information about why they were there and who they searched for. "Who are you?" She shot back. He raised an eyebrow but didn't seem angry at her answer.
"I am Legolas, son of King Thranduil of Mirkwood. You are not welcome in these parts." He looked at the two obvious warriors and couldn't quite tell where they were from but too many wild men from dunland had been found in the woods and the Wood Elves had enough to worry about with orc's passing through it constantly.
"I mean you no harm. You have my word that we will pass through your land and leave it as it was found." She said as a voice from behind her spoke up.
"Men have no right here. Your very presence disturbes the forest, you don't need to try. You cut down our tree's and burn their limbs, you care for nothing but yourselves." She turned her head and saw another blonde man take Morgan by the arm. "None enter without permission and certainly not sorry scouts like yourselves. Who sent you?" He asked as two more came and disarmed Morgan and brought him struggling to his knee's.
Elora drew her sword lightning fast and immediately had a dozen arrow's trained on her. She didn't move but looked to Morgan who seethed as he tried to free himself.
"You wouldn't know if I told you. Your obviously a little out of touch." He spat as the two holding him burst into laughter. Soon most of the men around them were laughing and joking.
"The man replies,'we're out of touch'." The one who seemed to be second in command said mockingly. "Maybe you have an injury of some sort. Whoever heard of a man calling an elf inadequate." Elora's ears perked at this and she examined the men closely. They all had fair features and long light colored hair, a few were dark but all had pale eyes. They all seemed very young, but she didn't doubt that they knew how to use those bow's. And most interesting of all was their ears, they were pointed at the ends and looked as they could hear quite sharply.
"You're not men." She whispered as she noticed how tall and lean they were. They all seemed very high in spirits but at the same time very cold and unforgiving.
Legolas turned his head to the woman who had whispered the short comment. He saw how she looked at him in awe and took in his different appearance in stride. She hadn't realized they were a different race.
Elora was startled out of her stare by someone to her left who grabbed her arm. She quickly snapped her elbow back into his chest knocking him back and then slashed her sword towards his head. He dodged it with agility she'd never seen and then he paused in awe. She almost cut him, a few strands of his platinum hair were sheered short. He'd clearly underestimated her. She turned her sword in her hand and looked to another who drew his bow.
"Tell me where to find the wizard Gandalf and we will leave peacfully! Do not make me harm you." She said with a glitter in her eye. More laughter and chides.
"Halt!" Legolas raised his hand and all bows were lowered. "You seek Gandalf?" He asked as she looked at him warily and nodded.
"I have been sent by Cherlindrea to find him, he is to take me to a kingdom called Gondor. I will say no more until I see him myself." She said as she held her sword steady.
"Then go on child, for you have found him." The voice came from an old man in white who rode from the tree's a huge steed that shimmered white. There was no question in her mind that this was Gandalf. Even if she had doubted his identity, the fact that the elves bowed their heads in revered respect told her enough. She sheathed her sword and bowed shortly.
"Sir, I have sought you from the kingdom of Tir Asleen. The Fairie Queen Cherlindrea sent me to you." She said as Gandalf climbed off Shadowfax and walked to her.
"I now know your purpose but what of your name?" He asked as she shook her head.
"I apollogize, I am Elora Danan. Daughter of Lord Martigan and the Lady Sorcha." She said as he nodded and looked over the situation before him.
"Lay down your weapons, and let him to his feet." He motioned to Morgan who rushed to his feet and grabbed his sword back from the elves and moved to stand next to Elora. "No my child they are not your sire's, your blood is far more pure than their's." She blinked at him, not knowing what to say. He knew of her real parents?
He motioned to the elves surrounding them and she glanced at them with a frown. "Your kin were elves who remained in the eastern lands, Cherlindrea gave them the power you possess. Many died and when the race of men dwelled here the last few ruled them in Tir Asleen. The line ended when Earsil the last great king wed a mortal woman." All eye were on the woman who listened with wide eyes. "I see they have not faded completely." He regaurded her fondly as the corner's of his mouth turned up in a smile. Then his thoughts made there way back to the present.
"I know of Cherlindrea, but all else of which you speak is foreign to me. What peril has brought you so far by the wings of Gwaihir?" He knew of her lineage but why would she be sent here now? Legolas was in awe, these two had summond the Eagle Lord? He quickly realized this was a conversation best kept seecret. With a simple motion he dismissed his gaurds who left, silently disappearing into the tree's.
"I have come to defeat Bavmorda. She has returned from the shadow and I alone must face her." She said as Gandalf sighed and closed his eyes.
"I remember when she was defeated her name was cursed by many, though I never saw her evil by my own eyes." He said as he narrowed his eyes in thought. "Never did I think she would flee here."
"It is prophecised that I alone will destroy her." She shook her head in defiance. "I will not let her take this land in darkness, nor my home." Gandalf smiled at her statement. It was all making sense, the odd calling he heard in Gondor was Cherlindrea and she had sent Gwaihir. This girl needed to get to Gondor, and he would help her.
"I believe you." He said sincerely. "And I will ride to Gondor now and prepare the army of the great city and it's king to help you." He turned to his horse. "For her army's will thwart you should you try to engage her."
"Wait!" She said as he turned, raising an eyebrow. "Aren't I going with you?" He shook his head.
"Even if Shadowfax would allow it I must have time to prepare. I see the light you carry and it must be harnessed and carefully controlled. You need to learn your limits on your way to Gondor, that is something not even the fairie queen can do." She knew what he meant and looked down at her hands that now trembled. He then lifted his eyes to Legolas who was already stepping forward. A chance to see Gondor again is all the excuse he needed to go along, but there was more.
"I will take them to the white city." He said as Elora looked at him with a quizzical expression. "To rid the free lands of this recent evil is something I wish to be a part of." His words were powerful and she could tell his heart was in them.
"You will be safe Elora Danan, Cherlindrea did not steer you wrong. Legolas will guide you and make sure you reach Gondor safely. I will meet you there, but that is all you will need of me. Farewell for now." He gave a reassuring smile and then mounted his great white horse and was gone in a blinding flash.
By the time she looked back all the other elves were gone except Legolas. She let her gaze glance over the elven prince before turning to a bewildered Morgan, who sheathed his sword.
"Things happen so suddenly here."
The next chapter has a little romance, and I plan on having her end up with someone. Have any suggestions on who? I'm not sure if I wanna write another Legolas romance. I'm so torn!