THE DAYSTAR
BY: GABRIELLA THE FAIR
Chapter 3
HOME SWEET HOME
"What was she like, how would you explain her?" With a faraway smile, he looked up to the sky and answered, "She was the Daystar, lighting up the day during our darkest hour, warming the earth with her love." "She is as clear as the moon, as fair as the sun, and as glorious as an army under one banner"
To most she was a loving friend, her fairness lighting up the world, no matter what the weather. To some a companion, and one a lover and dream. Yet, many feared her dignity in her footsteps, power in her stride, and authority in her eyes. This is her story.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"How much longer do we have?" Raquel shouted up to Arwen.
"I am not sure, maybe about the third of the hour"
Raquel sighed, her hand brushed to hilt of Sunstone. She had ill feelings about this field. It seemed to scream at her, telling her of the peril that walked beneath it.
"How is Frodo doing?" she asked, releasing her strange thoughts of the field.
"As good as he may be, until we reach Imladris", Arwen answered "Is anyone following us?"
At that Raquel let out a cry. The field, or something, was shrieking at her, trying to tell her something. Everything seemed to spin and turn changing places and colours. All she could hear was a pounding, maybe her own heart, in her head that seemed to spread through her whole body. Fear and terror moved through her, her whole body shaking under its wrath.
"Who are you, what do you want?" her voice sounding weak and small.
The voice came back, whispering, yet screaming in her mind, "Daughter, run, the dark ones seek you, run, daughter of the earth, run with great speed!"
"Who are you, what so you mean?" he voice now stronger, but filled with fright.
"The black ones, they seek you" it repeated.
She then understood.
"They are chasing us!"
"Who?" Arwen asked, not wanting to turn around, but feeling as though she already knew who it was.
"The Nazgul" Raquel whispered while moving Artemis closer to Arwen, so they were side by side.
"Noro lim, Thalionfëa, noro lim!" (Tran) Ride hard, Thalionfea, ride fast!
At that moment the Nazgul appeared from amongst the trees in the field, slowly moving closer.
Both Raquel and Arwen could hear their callings, screeching at them from behind.
"Put it on, put it on!" it whispered, moving beside Arwen and reaching out a hand.
"No! Frodo, you must not!" Arwen shouted into his ear.
Raquel dropped back, reached for her bow, and then quicker than the eye, she shot, not at the Wraith itself, but at it's dark steed. The arrow hit the horse on its back leg, making it falter.
"The Ford!" Arwen called, making Raquel look up.
They approached the river, nudging the horses across, when Raquel stopped halfway across.
"Arwen, go ahead, climb the bank", Raquel whispered sternly, never taking her narrowed eyes off the Wraiths.
"But what about you?" Arwen said softly, "I will not leave you behind".
"Do it!" Raquel raised her voice, then lowered it again, "Do not worry about me, Frodo is more important than me."
Arwen hesitated, looking back once before she climbed up the bank. When she did look back she saw the Black Riders, hesitating on the other side.
"Give up the halfling, she-elves!" they screamed over the roar of the water.
"If you want him, come and claim him!" Raquel challenged, drawing Sunstone.
The Wraiths drew their swords, accepting the challenge, and started walking toward Raquel, making a semi-circle around her.
"Nin o Chithaeglir, lasto beth daer, Rimmo nin Bruinen dan in Ulaer!" Arwen whispered from the bank. (Tran) Waters of the Misty Mountains listen to the great word: flow waters of Loudwater against the Ringwraiths!
"Raquel!" she shouted, trying to warn her of the river.
Swiftly, Raquel turned Artemis around and climbed up the bank.
The rushing waters came, consuming the Black Riders and their horses. Their ear-splitting screams could be heard for miles around.
When Raquel reached the top, there was no time for her to rejoice. Arwen, dismounted, had laid Frodo on the ground. He was losing his battle, his eyes were becoming clear and unfocused. Raquel dismounted.
"No, Frodo! Don't give in! Not now!" Raquel said, tears forming in her eyes.
"Let what grace is given me be passed to him. Let him be spared. Save him" Arwen prayed gently.
Then looking up, Raquel saw horses and Elves approaching them. The rest was a blur and then blackness.
~~~~~~~~
"Raquel, wake up Raquel, please wake up"
Raquel opened her eyes, but shut them quickly, for the light was to bright.
"Finally, you are awake!" Arwen's voice seemed to echo in Raquel's mind, "How do you feel?"
"Like I got trampled by a herd of wild horses" Raquel answered, surprised at her hoarse sounding voice.
She tried to open her eyes again, this time it was not so brilliantly bright. After a couple of moments, she could make out Arwen. She was in her bed, in her own room. She tried to sit up but Arwen stopped her.
"Oh no you don't, I'm suppose to make sure you stay in bed."
Raquel sighed and layed back down. From the other room connected onto the bedroom, two dogs came running in, jumping up on the bed to great Raquel.
"Skysong, Moonsword!" she tried to say, but was muffled by their huge bodies. Both were big, strong dogs, Skysong was a golden colour was shy to new people, and more gentle than Moonsword. Moonsword, on the other hand, was shiny black colour and always had energy and wanted to play. They finally settled down on either side of her.
"What happened?" Raquel asked, trying to recall the past events.
"Well you fainted when Father's men came, so they brought you and Frodo here. Some stayed to look for the Nazgul."
"How is Frodo?" Raquel asked quietly.
"Not very well, Father has been working on him for sometime" Arwen looked down. "How long?"
"About an hour now."
"How deep is the wound?" Raquel wondered.
"I do not know" Arwen answered.
"If you let me go I can figure out" Raquel looked to Arwen, "Lord Elrond might need my help, I really feel better too, please just let me go".
"Fine, but if anyone asks, you slipped out when I was not looking"
She got up and walked to the door, the dogs followed her faithfully.
"No you must stay here, Sky, Moon, I will be back." Turning to Arwen she answered.
"Sounds good to me, I will see you in awhile" she called while walking out the door.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Who is it?"
"It is Raquel, I am here to speak with Lord Elrond" Raquel heard murmuring on the other side of the door. Then the tall Elf, Glorfindel, opened it.
"Ah, Raquel, you have woken!" He embraced her, "You get taller everyday", he said as he released her.
"How did you know that I was ill?" Raquel asked, confusion in her voice.
"Well, you fainted right when we got to the Ford."
"So it was you that came?" Raquel questioned, smiling at her old friend.
"Yes, I came with some of Lord Elrond's men."
"Who is it Glorfindel?" asked a familiar voice.
"It is Raquel, Elrond"
Elrond then appeared from behind Glorfindel, grave was his face.
"I thought I heard you Gilwen, how do you feel?"
Raquel bowed deeply, as she was taught, and answered, "I feel fine, my lord, can I be of any assistance to you?"
"If that is why you came, yes, you can, follow me"
She bowed again and looked up at Glorfindel, "Go ahead", he said grinning at her, "you are needed."
With a light clap on the shoulder, he left.
Raquel hurried to catch up to Elrond. She found him in the next room, leaning over the bed where Frodo lay. Quietly she approached him.
"He looks worse" she said, more to herself then Elrond.
"I mean, lord, not that you can not heal him but.."
Elrond cut her off, "I know Gilwen, he is worse, the tip of the blade is lodged in the wound," he pulled back the covers to point out what he meant, "which is why I need your help."
"That is why I came"
"Good then lets get started"
~~~~~~~~~~
"You look exhausted, go to bed"
"I can't, I have to watch Frodo 'till dawn and give him his medicine", Raquel would never admit that she was tired.
"I'll watch him and then you can go to sleep" Arwen offered
"No, you go to bed, I'm fine" Raquel said firmly.
Arwen could see easily that Raquel fighting to stay awake; she hadn't slept since she got up from her faint. Though, she knew Raquel would never give in freely, and she would not let anyone else take her job.
"Fine, be stubborn" Raquel smiled dimly at the comment, for Arwen was equally stubborn, "but I'm staying here with you".
Arwen made herself comfortable in the chair across from Raquel. Raquel sighed deeply, for she wanted to be alone, but knew there was no arguing with Arwen.
"She will fall asleep soon anyway, toil and travel have made her weary" Raquel whispered to herself.
Sure enough, a half hour later, Arwen was deep in sleep. Taking a blanket, Raquel covered her and wished her a good sleep.
She sat there for what seemed countless hours, checking on Frodo and giving him medicine. Finally, dawn came, and with that Elrond, who looked like he got no sleep either.
"You look terribly weary Gilwen, go sleep, I'll watch Frodo now".
Even stubborn Raquel swallowed her pride and got up to leave, when Elrond spoke.
"What is Arwen doing here?" his voice obviously puzzled.
"She came to stay with me, she wouldn't leave when I asked"
"You two are inseparable" he answered, amusement in his voice.
"It's my job, I have to be with her" Raquel answered turning around.
"You have then turned your "job" into a friendship" when Raquel just stared at him he added, "Just go to sleep, you look horrible"
"So do you" Raquel replied sleepily, not really realizing what she said.
At first, Elrond looked surprised, then started to smile.
"Just get out of here, go, I'm glad no one heard that, or I'd have to punish you", he said, still smiling.
With that she bowed and left, and when she got in bed she feel into very deep sleep.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Hey! How'd ya like it? It was definitely quicker. Yea, as usual, I want as many reviews as possible. Tell me anything. Next chapter, the Counsel of Elrond. Also, since I made up all the new names in this story, in a couple chapters I'm gonna tell you what they all mean, but that's when I have the time to write it. yea, sorry my paragraphs have been a little messed up, but im workin on it!
Thanx-
*~*~*Gabi*~*~*
"What was she like, how would you explain her?" With a faraway smile, he looked up to the sky and answered, "She was the Daystar, lighting up the day during our darkest hour, warming the earth with her love." "She is as clear as the moon, as fair as the sun, and as glorious as an army under one banner"
To most she was a loving friend, her fairness lighting up the world, no matter what the weather. To some a companion, and one a lover and dream. Yet, many feared her dignity in her footsteps, power in her stride, and authority in her eyes. This is her story.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"How much longer do we have?" Raquel shouted up to Arwen.
"I am not sure, maybe about the third of the hour"
Raquel sighed, her hand brushed to hilt of Sunstone. She had ill feelings about this field. It seemed to scream at her, telling her of the peril that walked beneath it.
"How is Frodo doing?" she asked, releasing her strange thoughts of the field.
"As good as he may be, until we reach Imladris", Arwen answered "Is anyone following us?"
At that Raquel let out a cry. The field, or something, was shrieking at her, trying to tell her something. Everything seemed to spin and turn changing places and colours. All she could hear was a pounding, maybe her own heart, in her head that seemed to spread through her whole body. Fear and terror moved through her, her whole body shaking under its wrath.
"Who are you, what do you want?" her voice sounding weak and small.
The voice came back, whispering, yet screaming in her mind, "Daughter, run, the dark ones seek you, run, daughter of the earth, run with great speed!"
"Who are you, what so you mean?" he voice now stronger, but filled with fright.
"The black ones, they seek you" it repeated.
She then understood.
"They are chasing us!"
"Who?" Arwen asked, not wanting to turn around, but feeling as though she already knew who it was.
"The Nazgul" Raquel whispered while moving Artemis closer to Arwen, so they were side by side.
"Noro lim, Thalionfëa, noro lim!" (Tran) Ride hard, Thalionfea, ride fast!
At that moment the Nazgul appeared from amongst the trees in the field, slowly moving closer.
Both Raquel and Arwen could hear their callings, screeching at them from behind.
"Put it on, put it on!" it whispered, moving beside Arwen and reaching out a hand.
"No! Frodo, you must not!" Arwen shouted into his ear.
Raquel dropped back, reached for her bow, and then quicker than the eye, she shot, not at the Wraith itself, but at it's dark steed. The arrow hit the horse on its back leg, making it falter.
"The Ford!" Arwen called, making Raquel look up.
They approached the river, nudging the horses across, when Raquel stopped halfway across.
"Arwen, go ahead, climb the bank", Raquel whispered sternly, never taking her narrowed eyes off the Wraiths.
"But what about you?" Arwen said softly, "I will not leave you behind".
"Do it!" Raquel raised her voice, then lowered it again, "Do not worry about me, Frodo is more important than me."
Arwen hesitated, looking back once before she climbed up the bank. When she did look back she saw the Black Riders, hesitating on the other side.
"Give up the halfling, she-elves!" they screamed over the roar of the water.
"If you want him, come and claim him!" Raquel challenged, drawing Sunstone.
The Wraiths drew their swords, accepting the challenge, and started walking toward Raquel, making a semi-circle around her.
"Nin o Chithaeglir, lasto beth daer, Rimmo nin Bruinen dan in Ulaer!" Arwen whispered from the bank. (Tran) Waters of the Misty Mountains listen to the great word: flow waters of Loudwater against the Ringwraiths!
"Raquel!" she shouted, trying to warn her of the river.
Swiftly, Raquel turned Artemis around and climbed up the bank.
The rushing waters came, consuming the Black Riders and their horses. Their ear-splitting screams could be heard for miles around.
When Raquel reached the top, there was no time for her to rejoice. Arwen, dismounted, had laid Frodo on the ground. He was losing his battle, his eyes were becoming clear and unfocused. Raquel dismounted.
"No, Frodo! Don't give in! Not now!" Raquel said, tears forming in her eyes.
"Let what grace is given me be passed to him. Let him be spared. Save him" Arwen prayed gently.
Then looking up, Raquel saw horses and Elves approaching them. The rest was a blur and then blackness.
~~~~~~~~
"Raquel, wake up Raquel, please wake up"
Raquel opened her eyes, but shut them quickly, for the light was to bright.
"Finally, you are awake!" Arwen's voice seemed to echo in Raquel's mind, "How do you feel?"
"Like I got trampled by a herd of wild horses" Raquel answered, surprised at her hoarse sounding voice.
She tried to open her eyes again, this time it was not so brilliantly bright. After a couple of moments, she could make out Arwen. She was in her bed, in her own room. She tried to sit up but Arwen stopped her.
"Oh no you don't, I'm suppose to make sure you stay in bed."
Raquel sighed and layed back down. From the other room connected onto the bedroom, two dogs came running in, jumping up on the bed to great Raquel.
"Skysong, Moonsword!" she tried to say, but was muffled by their huge bodies. Both were big, strong dogs, Skysong was a golden colour was shy to new people, and more gentle than Moonsword. Moonsword, on the other hand, was shiny black colour and always had energy and wanted to play. They finally settled down on either side of her.
"What happened?" Raquel asked, trying to recall the past events.
"Well you fainted when Father's men came, so they brought you and Frodo here. Some stayed to look for the Nazgul."
"How is Frodo?" Raquel asked quietly.
"Not very well, Father has been working on him for sometime" Arwen looked down. "How long?"
"About an hour now."
"How deep is the wound?" Raquel wondered.
"I do not know" Arwen answered.
"If you let me go I can figure out" Raquel looked to Arwen, "Lord Elrond might need my help, I really feel better too, please just let me go".
"Fine, but if anyone asks, you slipped out when I was not looking"
She got up and walked to the door, the dogs followed her faithfully.
"No you must stay here, Sky, Moon, I will be back." Turning to Arwen she answered.
"Sounds good to me, I will see you in awhile" she called while walking out the door.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Who is it?"
"It is Raquel, I am here to speak with Lord Elrond" Raquel heard murmuring on the other side of the door. Then the tall Elf, Glorfindel, opened it.
"Ah, Raquel, you have woken!" He embraced her, "You get taller everyday", he said as he released her.
"How did you know that I was ill?" Raquel asked, confusion in her voice.
"Well, you fainted right when we got to the Ford."
"So it was you that came?" Raquel questioned, smiling at her old friend.
"Yes, I came with some of Lord Elrond's men."
"Who is it Glorfindel?" asked a familiar voice.
"It is Raquel, Elrond"
Elrond then appeared from behind Glorfindel, grave was his face.
"I thought I heard you Gilwen, how do you feel?"
Raquel bowed deeply, as she was taught, and answered, "I feel fine, my lord, can I be of any assistance to you?"
"If that is why you came, yes, you can, follow me"
She bowed again and looked up at Glorfindel, "Go ahead", he said grinning at her, "you are needed."
With a light clap on the shoulder, he left.
Raquel hurried to catch up to Elrond. She found him in the next room, leaning over the bed where Frodo lay. Quietly she approached him.
"He looks worse" she said, more to herself then Elrond.
"I mean, lord, not that you can not heal him but.."
Elrond cut her off, "I know Gilwen, he is worse, the tip of the blade is lodged in the wound," he pulled back the covers to point out what he meant, "which is why I need your help."
"That is why I came"
"Good then lets get started"
~~~~~~~~~~
"You look exhausted, go to bed"
"I can't, I have to watch Frodo 'till dawn and give him his medicine", Raquel would never admit that she was tired.
"I'll watch him and then you can go to sleep" Arwen offered
"No, you go to bed, I'm fine" Raquel said firmly.
Arwen could see easily that Raquel fighting to stay awake; she hadn't slept since she got up from her faint. Though, she knew Raquel would never give in freely, and she would not let anyone else take her job.
"Fine, be stubborn" Raquel smiled dimly at the comment, for Arwen was equally stubborn, "but I'm staying here with you".
Arwen made herself comfortable in the chair across from Raquel. Raquel sighed deeply, for she wanted to be alone, but knew there was no arguing with Arwen.
"She will fall asleep soon anyway, toil and travel have made her weary" Raquel whispered to herself.
Sure enough, a half hour later, Arwen was deep in sleep. Taking a blanket, Raquel covered her and wished her a good sleep.
She sat there for what seemed countless hours, checking on Frodo and giving him medicine. Finally, dawn came, and with that Elrond, who looked like he got no sleep either.
"You look terribly weary Gilwen, go sleep, I'll watch Frodo now".
Even stubborn Raquel swallowed her pride and got up to leave, when Elrond spoke.
"What is Arwen doing here?" his voice obviously puzzled.
"She came to stay with me, she wouldn't leave when I asked"
"You two are inseparable" he answered, amusement in his voice.
"It's my job, I have to be with her" Raquel answered turning around.
"You have then turned your "job" into a friendship" when Raquel just stared at him he added, "Just go to sleep, you look horrible"
"So do you" Raquel replied sleepily, not really realizing what she said.
At first, Elrond looked surprised, then started to smile.
"Just get out of here, go, I'm glad no one heard that, or I'd have to punish you", he said, still smiling.
With that she bowed and left, and when she got in bed she feel into very deep sleep.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Hey! How'd ya like it? It was definitely quicker. Yea, as usual, I want as many reviews as possible. Tell me anything. Next chapter, the Counsel of Elrond. Also, since I made up all the new names in this story, in a couple chapters I'm gonna tell you what they all mean, but that's when I have the time to write it. yea, sorry my paragraphs have been a little messed up, but im workin on it!
Thanx-
*~*~*Gabi*~*~*