Chapter 7:
Disclaimer: I don't own LotR...I wish I did. I am not making any money off of this, don't sue me!!!
a/n: I am REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY sorry this took so long!!! Just to make up for it, I'ma post the next chapter too!! A thousand apologies!!!! *sweat droplet*
oh! and, I couldn't find the first (and far better, or at least I think so) version of this, so I had to write it anew. again, so sorry!
Oh! and much thanks to Kelly (you know who you are) for this idea, never could have done it without you, thanks a bunch!!!
Many days after the departing of Laurefinwen, Aldaloth still worried.
Earel was still in pain. If Laurefinwen even got the herb in time, there is no idea of how long Earel could hold out.
'I believe in her!' Aldaloth told herself strongly. Turning her attention to Earel, she began to weep in desperation.
Laurefinwen awoke with a crick in her neck and aching. In her exhaustion, she had made a poor camp on rocky territory. Rubbing her neck, she yawned and splashed water on her face. She already started the day grumpy.
As the afternoon wore on, Laurefinwen's pains became steadily worse, as did her attitude. She was now loudly grumbling/talking to herself. Also, her pace slackened and she grew to have slow, sluggish movements and often glanced behind her. She had and eerie feeling she was being watched.
She WAS being watched. Though Gaerelen slept deeply, it was for scare two hours. He had ridden hard in the morning hours. He was observing her from afar, still, his mind festering with less than elf-like affections he felt.
He often thought he was odd, different from the rest.
"It's just what you discover as you age. You collect knowledge and experience; become wise. You will find your meaning in life. You will find your path, Gaerelen."
'That's what mum used to say,' Gaerelen thought. 'If only she could read my thoughts now!' he cursed bitterly.
He stayed in shadow, his cloak blending him into the scenery, and silently stalked along, some ways behind.
...But that was not all who watched.
A pair of yellow-green eyes peered out at her from the depths of the dense foliage.
A creature watched her every move.
It had become wary and cautious in its tracking, Laurefinwen always glancing behind made its work long and tedious.
It had kept out of sight and was waiting for the path to guide her to a meadow where work would be much easier. Where he could kill her quickly and easily.
The path veered off to the right, Laurefinwen followed it, hardly taking any notice.
The creature was clever, it knew these paths well.
Laurefinwen came to a clearing. An odd feeling of dread hung upon the air. It made Laurefinwen uneasy.
The creature hunched down, backed up slightly, ready to spring. Tightly coiled muscles released and the creature sprang out into the clearing, landing in from of her. Laurefinwen jumped back and drew one of her knives.
The creature was some sort of big cat, light brown in colour with short fur. Its paws were massive, with thick, ripping claws.
It growled a horribly sickening howl and licked its chops. It had sharp needle teeth.
It sauntered in towards Laurefinwen. She was ready. He walked close and she lashed out with her knife. It sliced him cleanly across the nose.
It wasn't expecting that, It yowled in pain and jumped back in surprise.
Now it was angry. After a moment of recovery, he was back and angrier than ever. The pain in his nose just intensified it.
He stepped closer again, Laurefinwen raised her knife. With one swipe of his mighty paw, he knocked it to the ground.
It still advanced.
Laurefinwen stepped uneasily backwards until she felt something press against her back. The surface was cool and hard, she turned to look. A boulder... trapped.
The cat was two feet away. Laurefinwen pressed herself against the large rock. She could smell the big cats breath. It smelled of rancid meat.
Without weapon, she crouched down.
"Mother, I have failed you!" she whispered, closing her eyes, awaiting the impact, awaiting death.
Again, the cat backed up a bit, coiled his muscles, the strong tendons bulging in its thighs, and released. It sprang up and straight at Laurefinwen, claws outstretched, a horrible evil look soiling its face, blood gushing from its nose.
Gaerelen approached the clearing through the trees. He saw some sort of cat-like creature, only huge! It seemed to be stalking something... 'Laurefinwen!!' Gaerelen thought, seeing the creatures prey. 'I've got to help her!' He drew his bow, pulled back and released with deadly accuracy.
As Laurefinwen's eyes were closed, she heard a familiar twang and a heavy 'thud.'
After seconds turned in to tens of seconds, Laurefinwen squinted, peering through her lashes to see what happened.
To her surprise, the large feline lay dead on the ground. Pierced in the heart from the back. Its claws still outstretched and eyes open and glaring.
She plucked the arrow from the wound and surveyed the shaft. It looked familiar. Curious.
Her eyes darted around the clearing and she heard the quick crunch of leaves and was absolutely sure that she saw the hem of a cloak swift by from a spot beneath the trees.
Gaerelen stood, admiring his marksmanship, the pride hunters' skill and exceptionally good eyesight.
He watched as Laurefinwen studied the arrow.
'She may have guessed! No!' thought Gaerelen, cursing himself. It wasn't the first time. He saw her, she was coming his way, he had only a moment to react.
He jumped up and snagged the branch of a tree. He had just gotten out of sight as Laurefinwen stepped into the wood.
"Hello?" she called in the common tongue. "Is anyone there? Hello??" he stepped a few feet further in and called again. Gods she was beautiful.
After about ten minutes of poking about, she shrugged softly and walked out.
Gaerelen breathed a sigh of relief. All that time, he prayed that she wouldn't look up. Hoping that she would. All that time, he clung to the branch directly above her.
He dropped soundlessly to the ground.
He watched her while she made camp, ate, and finally, cast herself upon her blankets and slept.
He watched her long into the night, watching her sleep.
Watching her breathe.
Her breast rose and fell steadily. Gods, she was beautiful. It wasn't the first time he had thought that, nor would it be the last.
It took all of himself just to sit there watching, to not walk out to her... Just to see her. Gods, he wanted her... He blushed a bit wickedly at the thought running through his head.
Gaerelen lay on his stomach with his chin on his folded arms.
Watching.
Watching....
Review? Please, tell me what you think, even if you hate it.
luvs,
*~*Elbereth*~*
Disclaimer: I don't own LotR...I wish I did. I am not making any money off of this, don't sue me!!!
a/n: I am REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY sorry this took so long!!! Just to make up for it, I'ma post the next chapter too!! A thousand apologies!!!! *sweat droplet*
oh! and, I couldn't find the first (and far better, or at least I think so) version of this, so I had to write it anew. again, so sorry!
Oh! and much thanks to Kelly (you know who you are) for this idea, never could have done it without you, thanks a bunch!!!
Many days after the departing of Laurefinwen, Aldaloth still worried.
Earel was still in pain. If Laurefinwen even got the herb in time, there is no idea of how long Earel could hold out.
'I believe in her!' Aldaloth told herself strongly. Turning her attention to Earel, she began to weep in desperation.
Laurefinwen awoke with a crick in her neck and aching. In her exhaustion, she had made a poor camp on rocky territory. Rubbing her neck, she yawned and splashed water on her face. She already started the day grumpy.
As the afternoon wore on, Laurefinwen's pains became steadily worse, as did her attitude. She was now loudly grumbling/talking to herself. Also, her pace slackened and she grew to have slow, sluggish movements and often glanced behind her. She had and eerie feeling she was being watched.
She WAS being watched. Though Gaerelen slept deeply, it was for scare two hours. He had ridden hard in the morning hours. He was observing her from afar, still, his mind festering with less than elf-like affections he felt.
He often thought he was odd, different from the rest.
"It's just what you discover as you age. You collect knowledge and experience; become wise. You will find your meaning in life. You will find your path, Gaerelen."
'That's what mum used to say,' Gaerelen thought. 'If only she could read my thoughts now!' he cursed bitterly.
He stayed in shadow, his cloak blending him into the scenery, and silently stalked along, some ways behind.
...But that was not all who watched.
A pair of yellow-green eyes peered out at her from the depths of the dense foliage.
A creature watched her every move.
It had become wary and cautious in its tracking, Laurefinwen always glancing behind made its work long and tedious.
It had kept out of sight and was waiting for the path to guide her to a meadow where work would be much easier. Where he could kill her quickly and easily.
The path veered off to the right, Laurefinwen followed it, hardly taking any notice.
The creature was clever, it knew these paths well.
Laurefinwen came to a clearing. An odd feeling of dread hung upon the air. It made Laurefinwen uneasy.
The creature hunched down, backed up slightly, ready to spring. Tightly coiled muscles released and the creature sprang out into the clearing, landing in from of her. Laurefinwen jumped back and drew one of her knives.
The creature was some sort of big cat, light brown in colour with short fur. Its paws were massive, with thick, ripping claws.
It growled a horribly sickening howl and licked its chops. It had sharp needle teeth.
It sauntered in towards Laurefinwen. She was ready. He walked close and she lashed out with her knife. It sliced him cleanly across the nose.
It wasn't expecting that, It yowled in pain and jumped back in surprise.
Now it was angry. After a moment of recovery, he was back and angrier than ever. The pain in his nose just intensified it.
He stepped closer again, Laurefinwen raised her knife. With one swipe of his mighty paw, he knocked it to the ground.
It still advanced.
Laurefinwen stepped uneasily backwards until she felt something press against her back. The surface was cool and hard, she turned to look. A boulder... trapped.
The cat was two feet away. Laurefinwen pressed herself against the large rock. She could smell the big cats breath. It smelled of rancid meat.
Without weapon, she crouched down.
"Mother, I have failed you!" she whispered, closing her eyes, awaiting the impact, awaiting death.
Again, the cat backed up a bit, coiled his muscles, the strong tendons bulging in its thighs, and released. It sprang up and straight at Laurefinwen, claws outstretched, a horrible evil look soiling its face, blood gushing from its nose.
Gaerelen approached the clearing through the trees. He saw some sort of cat-like creature, only huge! It seemed to be stalking something... 'Laurefinwen!!' Gaerelen thought, seeing the creatures prey. 'I've got to help her!' He drew his bow, pulled back and released with deadly accuracy.
As Laurefinwen's eyes were closed, she heard a familiar twang and a heavy 'thud.'
After seconds turned in to tens of seconds, Laurefinwen squinted, peering through her lashes to see what happened.
To her surprise, the large feline lay dead on the ground. Pierced in the heart from the back. Its claws still outstretched and eyes open and glaring.
She plucked the arrow from the wound and surveyed the shaft. It looked familiar. Curious.
Her eyes darted around the clearing and she heard the quick crunch of leaves and was absolutely sure that she saw the hem of a cloak swift by from a spot beneath the trees.
Gaerelen stood, admiring his marksmanship, the pride hunters' skill and exceptionally good eyesight.
He watched as Laurefinwen studied the arrow.
'She may have guessed! No!' thought Gaerelen, cursing himself. It wasn't the first time. He saw her, she was coming his way, he had only a moment to react.
He jumped up and snagged the branch of a tree. He had just gotten out of sight as Laurefinwen stepped into the wood.
"Hello?" she called in the common tongue. "Is anyone there? Hello??" he stepped a few feet further in and called again. Gods she was beautiful.
After about ten minutes of poking about, she shrugged softly and walked out.
Gaerelen breathed a sigh of relief. All that time, he prayed that she wouldn't look up. Hoping that she would. All that time, he clung to the branch directly above her.
He dropped soundlessly to the ground.
He watched her while she made camp, ate, and finally, cast herself upon her blankets and slept.
He watched her long into the night, watching her sleep.
Watching her breathe.
Her breast rose and fell steadily. Gods, she was beautiful. It wasn't the first time he had thought that, nor would it be the last.
It took all of himself just to sit there watching, to not walk out to her... Just to see her. Gods, he wanted her... He blushed a bit wickedly at the thought running through his head.
Gaerelen lay on his stomach with his chin on his folded arms.
Watching.
Watching....
Review? Please, tell me what you think, even if you hate it.
luvs,
*~*Elbereth*~*