THE DAYSTAR
BY: GABRIELLA THE FAIR
Chapter 9
THE DAY THE TREES BLOOMED FIRE
"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.
@#!@#!@#!@#!@#!@#!@#!@#!@#!@#!@#!@#!@#!@#!@#!@#!@#!@#!@#!@#!@#!@#
"We will hold a council, for we need to discuss what it is we are to do."
"Right here?" Merry asked.
"Yes, right here and right now" Gandalf replied.
It was evening, and the Company had stopped for the night. Gandalf had spared them each a mouthful of the miruvor. When they had eaten, he called a counsel.
"We cannot go on tonight, the mountain has tired us, and we will rest for a bit." said Gandalf. "But then where do we go?" Frodo asked.
"Well, we have two options. One is to go back to Rivendell." Gandalf said, but was interrupted by Raquel. Pippin's face brightened and Sam sat up.
"But that would be to admit defeat, and put all of Rivendell, and the world in danger."
"Yes, you are right Raquel, not much time would pass before the Dark Lord himself came to the gates of Rivendell for The Ring, but as I was saying, we can also keep going."
"We must keep going then." Frodo said, Pippin and Sam sunk back down.
"By which way do you mean?" Raquel inquired.
"There is a way that Aragorn and I considered, though we agreed to try the mountain first."
"And what is that way?" said Boromir.
Gimli spoke up then, "You are not talking of the Mines, now are you Gandalf?"
"Yes, I am Gimli."
Everyone looked down, they had all heard the tales of that cursed mine. Dread filled Raquel, and something rang in her mind, it was the same voice, the one she had heard while being chased, yet it was not screaming. She closed her eyes and whispered the words that were ringing in her head.
"Moria. You fear to go into those mines. The dwarves delved too greedily and too deep. You know what they awoke in the darkness of Khazad-Dum. Shadow and flame."
Her eyes went huge and Gandalf stared at her. He seemed to be the only one to hear, even Legolas' ears had not picked it up. He sat there and stared, but turned his attention back to the counsel.
"It is a name of ill and I do not feel the need to go there, let us go to The Gap of Rohan." Boromir said.
"Things have changed since you were up North, the Gap takes us to close to Sauman, did you not hear my story?" Gandalf asked, turning to him.
"Yes, I did and I understand"
"I will go with you Gandalf!" Gimli jumped up and went to his side.
"You encourage me Gimli, good."
"I have passed through Moria once and do no wish to do it again." Aragorn said quietly.
"And I don't wish to go even once" said Pippin.
"Same with me" Sam said.
"Of course not!" Gandalf exclaimed, "but the question is, who will come if I lead?"
"I will" Gimli said excitedly.
"So will I" Aragorn said sadly, "you followed my lead into the snow, so I will follow you into whatever you wish, but heed my warning, if you pass the doors of Moria, beware."
"I will not go, but let us hear what the little people and the Elves say." Boromir said.
"I do not want to go either", said Legolas.
They all looked to Raquel.
"Though, I do not want to go anymore than Legolas does, I will, though with a heavy heart." She got up and walked to Gandalf and put her hand on his shoulder, "You have always been with me, so I am with you."
"Thank you Raquel" he said softly.
She stood on his other side.
Sam looked to Frodo, and Frodo answered, "I wish not to go to Moria, but I daren't not take the advice of Gandalf, yet I ask, can we not vote till tomorrow, it will be easier with light and when the wind doesn't howl so."
Aragorn got up suddenly, "How the wind does howl, indeed it does, for the Wargs have come west of the mountains!"
They all got up and discussed what they should do.
"How far is Moria from here?" Boromir asked, but Raquel didn't listen for the answer. She listened to the Wargs' cries. Everyone started to talk all at once, huddling in a circle, though Raquel stayed on the outside, listening.
"Oh, no you don't" Legolas grabbed her arm, "Last time this happened, you just stood there." She shook off his arm, "I'm fine Legolas, really, this is different" she started to go off, but again he stopped her.
"You should not go off alone, especially with the Wargs being as close as they are."
She looked at him, and spoke, "Thank you for your concern, but I know how to defend myself, I did not come on this journey to be protected by you."
He nodded let go of her, and turned to leave.
"Thanks though, Legolas." she said quietly, not turning around, but walking off, in the other direction.
~~~~~~~~~~
The Company climbed to the top of a small hill for protection for the night. Everyone that was not on guard slept uneasily. The howls could be heard form all around the camp, and every now and then they saw a pair of eyes light up. Boromir and Raquel (she took Sam's guard for him) sat on either side of the camp watching, and listening.
"What is wrong Raquel?" Aragorn sat down next to her.
"You are not suppose to be on watch" she told him.
"I know, I can not sleep, what's wrong?" he eyed her suspiciously.
"Those calls, they are different, something is not right about them."
"What do you mean by that?"
"I can not explain it, it is like, like someone, or something is trying to tell me." she trailed off. "Raquel? Raquel!?" he shook her, but she didn't seem to come back. "Not again!"
By now everyone was rising and coming to see what all of the commotion was about. In her own mind she heard that voice again.
"They are coming." it said, or rather screamed in her mind, "Dark and fearsome are they, yet do not believe them! For deceivers They are"
"Who do you mean, who are you?" she asked desperately.
"Daughter of Sun and Moon, Earth and Sky, do not be deceived!" It left her again. She "woke up" with a start, gasping for breath. Everyone was huddled around her, and Gandalf stared at her anxiously.
"What is wrong, Ithildin?" he used his old childhood name for her, speaking in a soft voice, the one she remembered from when she was very little, when he would come and tell her stories of his adventures.
"I heard a voice, it was telling me, telling me, I'm not sure!" she yelled obviously frustrated.
"Go back to bed, all of you!" he ordered, "There is nothing to be seen here."
When everyone had left, he got her up and led her away from the camp.
"Is this the same voice as the one you heard on the hill when the Crebian came and when you said that comment at out counsel earlier?" he asked.
"Yes, it is all the same voice" she answered.\
"Tell me what it said" Gandalf said solemnly.
She took a deep breath, closed her eyes and tried to remember all she could. She was in a daze, like she was hypnotized, she didn't even feel him put his two hands on the side of her head.
"They are coming. Dark and fearsome are they, yet do not believe them! For deceivers They are. Daughter of Sun and Moon, Earth and Sky, do not be deceived!" she whispered so softly Gandalf could hardly hear.
"Did you say anything back?" he asked.
"Yes," she answered sounding very tired.
"What did you say?" he asked kindly.
"I asked who they meant and who they were."
"And did they answer?"
"No, they just kept going on."
He released his hands and she opened her eyes. Gandalf was sitting in front of her, his staff by his side.
They herd a high-pitched howl, and it was very near.
"The camp!" Raquel jumped up and grabbed her bow, she had already strung it in case of a threat.
They ran back to the camp, and Gandalf yelled,
"Listen, Hound of Sauron!" he cried, "Gandalf is here. Fly, if you value your foul skin! I will shrivel you from tail to snot, if you come within this ring."
The Warg seemed to be the leader and howled for the rest to come.
"I know what it means!"
Raquel yelled, but was not heard, for then, the Wargs had surrounded them, attacking from every side. One jumped to them, but Raquel shot it in the throat. Gandalf yelled to the hobbits. Raquel put away her bow and drew Sunstone. Frodo lit a fire and they started to attack. Aragorn slit ones throat and Boromir sliced the head off one. Raquel was busy with her own after that, three actually, slicing the first one's leg and stabbing the second in the chest, it fell dead. The first one got back up, with a limp and came after her, almost biting her arm when it fell to the ground, an arrow stuck in it's side.
"I'll have to thank him for that one later." she whispered to herself, taking her sword and doing a backward thrust into the Warg behind her, pushing it in till she felt It gasp and die. She then turned to see more Wargs, but above them Gandalf stood, seeming to grow in height.
"Naur an edraith ammen! Naur dan I ngaurhoth!"
The whole hills lit up, a tree blooming into flame, and that flame spreading from tree to tree. The hills were sparkling with light, all the Wargs were illuminated in the dazzle of fire. One of Legolas' arrows hit the wolf-chieftain right in the heart. The others fled down the hill. The hill dwindled until the fire went out. Raquel walked off to clean Sunstone. Dawn was drawing near.
~~~~~~~~~
In the full light of morning, the Company looked for the bodies of the wolves. Raquel did not join them.
"Raquel why do you not go and search?" Sam asked.
"Because there are no bodies to be found, just many of Legolas' arrows", she replied.
Sam looked at her puzzled, but looked away. When the search party came back they reported what they saw.
"There are no signs bodies or footprints, not even of the battle, just the charred trees and Legolas' arrows." Boromir said, altogether confused.
"I think this is yours." Legolas handed Raquel an arrow, the one she had shot at the first attacker. "Thanks, and I think this is yours." she handed him the arrow he had shot at the Warg that had jumped at her.
He smiled and took it, staring at her as he did.
"You are very confusing Raquel, every time I think I have figured you out, you confuse me again" he told her, shaking his head and narrowing his eyes, staring at her. She smiled slyly and answered.
"And I think that you will never do." she smiled at him and turned, leaving him there to stand and stare.
()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*( )*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()
Hey ya'll! That's it for now, but how was it? as always, hope ya liked it. next chapter, The Mines of Moria. This time I'm serious, they'll at least get there. I'd like to thank Elena for reviewing, hope you keep on reading! Also, ive posted my totally interactive fic, so look for it! I got to go, so take care every1!
*~*~*Gabi*~*~*
PS-if ya guys were wonderin, these are to signal when I use a direct quote from the book, since I kinda had to do some of that in this chapter. so if you ever see them, they're for quotes.
"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.
@#!@#!@#!@#!@#!@#!@#!@#!@#!@#!@#!@#!@#!@#!@#!@#!@#!@#!@#!@#!@#!@#
"We will hold a council, for we need to discuss what it is we are to do."
"Right here?" Merry asked.
"Yes, right here and right now" Gandalf replied.
It was evening, and the Company had stopped for the night. Gandalf had spared them each a mouthful of the miruvor. When they had eaten, he called a counsel.
"We cannot go on tonight, the mountain has tired us, and we will rest for a bit." said Gandalf. "But then where do we go?" Frodo asked.
"Well, we have two options. One is to go back to Rivendell." Gandalf said, but was interrupted by Raquel. Pippin's face brightened and Sam sat up.
"But that would be to admit defeat, and put all of Rivendell, and the world in danger."
"Yes, you are right Raquel, not much time would pass before the Dark Lord himself came to the gates of Rivendell for The Ring, but as I was saying, we can also keep going."
"We must keep going then." Frodo said, Pippin and Sam sunk back down.
"By which way do you mean?" Raquel inquired.
"There is a way that Aragorn and I considered, though we agreed to try the mountain first."
"And what is that way?" said Boromir.
Gimli spoke up then, "You are not talking of the Mines, now are you Gandalf?"
"Yes, I am Gimli."
Everyone looked down, they had all heard the tales of that cursed mine. Dread filled Raquel, and something rang in her mind, it was the same voice, the one she had heard while being chased, yet it was not screaming. She closed her eyes and whispered the words that were ringing in her head.
"Moria. You fear to go into those mines. The dwarves delved too greedily and too deep. You know what they awoke in the darkness of Khazad-Dum. Shadow and flame."
Her eyes went huge and Gandalf stared at her. He seemed to be the only one to hear, even Legolas' ears had not picked it up. He sat there and stared, but turned his attention back to the counsel.
"It is a name of ill and I do not feel the need to go there, let us go to The Gap of Rohan." Boromir said.
"Things have changed since you were up North, the Gap takes us to close to Sauman, did you not hear my story?" Gandalf asked, turning to him.
"Yes, I did and I understand"
"I will go with you Gandalf!" Gimli jumped up and went to his side.
"You encourage me Gimli, good."
"I have passed through Moria once and do no wish to do it again." Aragorn said quietly.
"And I don't wish to go even once" said Pippin.
"Same with me" Sam said.
"Of course not!" Gandalf exclaimed, "but the question is, who will come if I lead?"
"I will" Gimli said excitedly.
"So will I" Aragorn said sadly, "you followed my lead into the snow, so I will follow you into whatever you wish, but heed my warning, if you pass the doors of Moria, beware."
"I will not go, but let us hear what the little people and the Elves say." Boromir said.
"I do not want to go either", said Legolas.
They all looked to Raquel.
"Though, I do not want to go anymore than Legolas does, I will, though with a heavy heart." She got up and walked to Gandalf and put her hand on his shoulder, "You have always been with me, so I am with you."
"Thank you Raquel" he said softly.
She stood on his other side.
Sam looked to Frodo, and Frodo answered, "I wish not to go to Moria, but I daren't not take the advice of Gandalf, yet I ask, can we not vote till tomorrow, it will be easier with light and when the wind doesn't howl so."
Aragorn got up suddenly, "How the wind does howl, indeed it does, for the Wargs have come west of the mountains!"
They all got up and discussed what they should do.
"How far is Moria from here?" Boromir asked, but Raquel didn't listen for the answer. She listened to the Wargs' cries. Everyone started to talk all at once, huddling in a circle, though Raquel stayed on the outside, listening.
"Oh, no you don't" Legolas grabbed her arm, "Last time this happened, you just stood there." She shook off his arm, "I'm fine Legolas, really, this is different" she started to go off, but again he stopped her.
"You should not go off alone, especially with the Wargs being as close as they are."
She looked at him, and spoke, "Thank you for your concern, but I know how to defend myself, I did not come on this journey to be protected by you."
He nodded let go of her, and turned to leave.
"Thanks though, Legolas." she said quietly, not turning around, but walking off, in the other direction.
~~~~~~~~~~
The Company climbed to the top of a small hill for protection for the night. Everyone that was not on guard slept uneasily. The howls could be heard form all around the camp, and every now and then they saw a pair of eyes light up. Boromir and Raquel (she took Sam's guard for him) sat on either side of the camp watching, and listening.
"What is wrong Raquel?" Aragorn sat down next to her.
"You are not suppose to be on watch" she told him.
"I know, I can not sleep, what's wrong?" he eyed her suspiciously.
"Those calls, they are different, something is not right about them."
"What do you mean by that?"
"I can not explain it, it is like, like someone, or something is trying to tell me." she trailed off. "Raquel? Raquel!?" he shook her, but she didn't seem to come back. "Not again!"
By now everyone was rising and coming to see what all of the commotion was about. In her own mind she heard that voice again.
"They are coming." it said, or rather screamed in her mind, "Dark and fearsome are they, yet do not believe them! For deceivers They are"
"Who do you mean, who are you?" she asked desperately.
"Daughter of Sun and Moon, Earth and Sky, do not be deceived!" It left her again. She "woke up" with a start, gasping for breath. Everyone was huddled around her, and Gandalf stared at her anxiously.
"What is wrong, Ithildin?" he used his old childhood name for her, speaking in a soft voice, the one she remembered from when she was very little, when he would come and tell her stories of his adventures.
"I heard a voice, it was telling me, telling me, I'm not sure!" she yelled obviously frustrated.
"Go back to bed, all of you!" he ordered, "There is nothing to be seen here."
When everyone had left, he got her up and led her away from the camp.
"Is this the same voice as the one you heard on the hill when the Crebian came and when you said that comment at out counsel earlier?" he asked.
"Yes, it is all the same voice" she answered.\
"Tell me what it said" Gandalf said solemnly.
She took a deep breath, closed her eyes and tried to remember all she could. She was in a daze, like she was hypnotized, she didn't even feel him put his two hands on the side of her head.
"They are coming. Dark and fearsome are they, yet do not believe them! For deceivers They are. Daughter of Sun and Moon, Earth and Sky, do not be deceived!" she whispered so softly Gandalf could hardly hear.
"Did you say anything back?" he asked.
"Yes," she answered sounding very tired.
"What did you say?" he asked kindly.
"I asked who they meant and who they were."
"And did they answer?"
"No, they just kept going on."
He released his hands and she opened her eyes. Gandalf was sitting in front of her, his staff by his side.
They herd a high-pitched howl, and it was very near.
"The camp!" Raquel jumped up and grabbed her bow, she had already strung it in case of a threat.
They ran back to the camp, and Gandalf yelled,
"Listen, Hound of Sauron!" he cried, "Gandalf is here. Fly, if you value your foul skin! I will shrivel you from tail to snot, if you come within this ring."
The Warg seemed to be the leader and howled for the rest to come.
"I know what it means!"
Raquel yelled, but was not heard, for then, the Wargs had surrounded them, attacking from every side. One jumped to them, but Raquel shot it in the throat. Gandalf yelled to the hobbits. Raquel put away her bow and drew Sunstone. Frodo lit a fire and they started to attack. Aragorn slit ones throat and Boromir sliced the head off one. Raquel was busy with her own after that, three actually, slicing the first one's leg and stabbing the second in the chest, it fell dead. The first one got back up, with a limp and came after her, almost biting her arm when it fell to the ground, an arrow stuck in it's side.
"I'll have to thank him for that one later." she whispered to herself, taking her sword and doing a backward thrust into the Warg behind her, pushing it in till she felt It gasp and die. She then turned to see more Wargs, but above them Gandalf stood, seeming to grow in height.
"Naur an edraith ammen! Naur dan I ngaurhoth!"
The whole hills lit up, a tree blooming into flame, and that flame spreading from tree to tree. The hills were sparkling with light, all the Wargs were illuminated in the dazzle of fire. One of Legolas' arrows hit the wolf-chieftain right in the heart. The others fled down the hill. The hill dwindled until the fire went out. Raquel walked off to clean Sunstone. Dawn was drawing near.
~~~~~~~~~
In the full light of morning, the Company looked for the bodies of the wolves. Raquel did not join them.
"Raquel why do you not go and search?" Sam asked.
"Because there are no bodies to be found, just many of Legolas' arrows", she replied.
Sam looked at her puzzled, but looked away. When the search party came back they reported what they saw.
"There are no signs bodies or footprints, not even of the battle, just the charred trees and Legolas' arrows." Boromir said, altogether confused.
"I think this is yours." Legolas handed Raquel an arrow, the one she had shot at the first attacker. "Thanks, and I think this is yours." she handed him the arrow he had shot at the Warg that had jumped at her.
He smiled and took it, staring at her as he did.
"You are very confusing Raquel, every time I think I have figured you out, you confuse me again" he told her, shaking his head and narrowing his eyes, staring at her. She smiled slyly and answered.
"And I think that you will never do." she smiled at him and turned, leaving him there to stand and stare.
()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*( )*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()
Hey ya'll! That's it for now, but how was it? as always, hope ya liked it. next chapter, The Mines of Moria. This time I'm serious, they'll at least get there. I'd like to thank Elena for reviewing, hope you keep on reading! Also, ive posted my totally interactive fic, so look for it! I got to go, so take care every1!
*~*~*Gabi*~*~*
PS-if ya guys were wonderin, these are to signal when I use a direct quote from the book, since I kinda had to do some of that in this chapter. so if you ever see them, they're for quotes.