THE DAYSTAR
BY: GABRIELLA THE FAIR
Chapter 19
DO NOT FOLLOW ME
"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.
"What is wrong, now you are unusually quiet."
"Nothing." Raquel said, turning away from Legolas. They were at the campsite, mostly everyone had left, except Gimli.
"You are lying to me."
"No I am not." she said simply. He sighed.
"Fine, keep your secrets, but I have a request." he said.
"What is it?" she asked, getting up and walking to the fountain.
"Can you take me to that tree, the one we climbed that one night?"
"Yes, I can." she turned to Gimli, "Would you like to come with us?"
"Oh, huh, what was that?" Gimli asked. He had been very quiet these days.
"I am going into the forest with Legolas, would you like to come?"
"Oh, yes, that would be nice, but I wish to stay here for now, maybe another time." he got up bowed, sat back down and started to fingered his axe.
"Gimli, there is no need for it, these borders are well protected, let it sleep." Gimli looked up and nodded, leaving the axe by his stuff. For the first time, Legolas noticed she went without weapons, except that one day she brought Sunstone.
"It will take a long while to get there, and we will have to run most of the way if we wish to make it there by noon." She said, leading him down different paths.
When they got out of the gate, they went to the southern side of the city and took the same path Raquel had led him on the other day. They ran the whole way, not stopping until she came to the small path. This time, she took another path, which Legolas had never seen before because it was covered by shrubbery and dried leaves. They took that path for awhile, it was bigger so they could walk side by side. Finally she emerged from the path and came out to an even bigger one.
"This is the main path, but I am sure you do not remember it because you were blindfolded."
He closed his eyes, "Yes, you are right, the sound is the same, and the earth is softer here."
"Yes it is a main path, and the earth should be softer from all the feet that walk upon it."
So she led him along the path for a long time until she reached an open spot.
"This is where we camped on the second night that Haldir lead us." she said, stopping and looking around, "Come, it is only a little further up." she led him through the camp and a little farther from it. She turned down a path, and there stood one of the greatest trees Legolas had ever seen. He gasped.
"It is.huge." he said.
"Yes, she is the mother of all trees, the oldest and wisest. She knows everything of the forest."
The tree was very tall, its branches sweeping out so the eye could not see it's top. The bark was a silvery green, like that of a young tree, but was as stable and hard as rock.
"I climbed this?!" Legolas said, his eyes going huge.
"Yes, you did, now come, you said you wished to climb it again."
So she led him around the tree and whispered something in Elvish before she grabbed a branch. Legolas followed her. He found it hard to climb, missing branches and feeling as though he were going very slowly, so he closed his eyes. When he did that, he heard Raquel above him, and his hands found the branches more easily. He felt a hand touch his arm.
"Legolas, come, we sat here." he opened his eyes to find Raquel on a branch, leaning over with a hand on his arm. He climbed over and sat down, his eyes still closed.
"Legolas, open your eyes." he opened them and looked at the forest that stretched for as far as the eye could see.
"Wow, it is so, amazing." he breathed.
"Is it like anything you imagined?" Raquel asked, looking to him and smiling.
"No, and yes, it is so much more beautiful then I thought, but its also looks the same, you told me a lot." she nodded and looked away.
"Raquel, something is wrong, please, tell me."
"Legolas." she looked to the forest, "Something is going to happen tonight, and I might not come out of it unscathed."
"What are you talking about, are you going to get hurt?"
"I am not sure, but do not follow me, I have to do this alone, promise me you will stay away." she looked at him, her eyes pleading, "Please Legolas."
He hesitated, wanting to say something, but could not look away from her sad eyes, "Yes, I promise."
"Thank you Legolas." she said, turning to the forest again.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"What are you doing here?!"
"I came to see you." Legolas caught up with Raquel and stopped her. It was night, of the same day, and Legolas had been watching Raquel.
"Legolas you promised me."
"And I do not intend to break it, I will go back, just as I promised." he looked down at her, though not by much, a worried look on his face "Raquel, what is going on?"
She opened her mouth to speak, but he put his finger to her lips. "Never mind," he sighed "I know I will not get a good answer out of you until you are ready to speak, but I will leave you with this." He leaned down and kissed her forehead, "Goodbye for now, Lady." he turned and left, walking in the direction from which he had come, but Raquel did not notice the footsteps behind her as she left.
~~~~~~~~~~
Raquel turned and left, sadness overwhelming her. She watched as Galadriel walked by the hobbit's sleeping area. There she joined Galadriel, neither looked at each other. They kept walking, until they saw the hobbits, Frodo and Sam, walking and talking together in hushed voices. Galadriel nor Raquel said anything, though the hobbits followed them. They walked down some steps and reached a basin set in stone. Raquel turned and filled the basin with water from a silver urn, going to stand alongside the hobbits.
" This is the Mirror of Galadriel, will you look into the mirror?" Galadriel asked.
"What will we see?" Frodo asked also, staring at the mirror in wonder.
"Not even the wisest can say, for the mirror shows many things. Things that are, things that were, and some things that have not yet come to pass." Frodo did not answer, "And what of you, Master Samwise? Do you wish to look?"
"I will look, if you will let me, Lady" Sam said, stepping up to the mirror.
"Of course, go ahead, but do not touch the water!" Raquel watched as Sam stepped up to the mirror and leaned over the edge. Raquel closed her eyes. The mirror first showed a picture of Legolas, his face sad and grieved, and then Merry and Pippin, and Frodo himself. She then saw a beautiful land, it shifted into a place where a man was cutting down some trees. Fire and smoke rose from the land, it burned and was deserted. Sam yelled something. He backed away from the mirror.
"I have to go home right now!" he said, scrambling to the stairs, but Raquel grabbed him.
"Sam, you cannot go, the mirror is only showing you things, they may not happen or may happen a hundred years from now, please calm down." she led him back to Frodo, his eyes cast on the ground.
"What Raquel says is true, we cannot tell if the mirror tells us the present, past or future, Frodo?"
"Raquel," he asked her, turning around to her "should I look?"
"If that is what you wish to do, Frodo. I am not going to tell you, for it is not my role to advise you." he nodded and looked away,
"I will look." he stepped to the mirror, Raquel closed her eyes. The mirror started to move, showing a scene of a ship with black sails, sailing in a storm. Smoke and fire rose in front of it, Raquel guessed it was a battle. The picture disappeared and was black for a second, but an eye appeared, wreathed in flame, it's very presence freezing the very blood in Raquel's heart. The Ring grew heavier, trying to pull itself down into the mirror. Frodo snatched it away and fell backwards onto the ground. Raquel went and caught him, helping him back onto his feet, looking to Galadriel.
"I know what it that both of you has seen, for it is also in my mind. It is what will come to pass if you should fail." She said, looking to Frodo and Raquel, a glint in her eye. Raquel felt her hand reach for Sunstone. Frodo looked up with scared eyes.
"The Fellowship is breaking. Already it has begun. He will try to take the ring. You know of whom I speak. One by one, it will destroy them all." she said, her voice echoing in Raquel's mind.
"If you ask it of me, I will give you the One Ring." Frodo held out his hand, the Ring lay in his palm. Raquel filled with anger.
"No, Frodo! Do not fall for it!" Raquel said, becoming even more angry and desperate.
"You offer it to me freely. I do not deny that my heart has greatly desired this." Galadriel moved forward, her hand shaking as it stretched out to reach the Ring. Raquel jumped in front of Frodo and Galadriel's eyes widened with anger. Raquel screamed in anger, her own eyes flaming.
"Move Raquel!" Galadriel shouted.
"Never." Raquel said back. A dark light came over Galadriel, and she shoved Raquel to the side.
"Instead of a Dark Lord, you would have a queen, not dark but beautiful and terrible as the dawn!" Galadriel shouted as she touched the Ring.
Raquel rose, a white light coming over her. She chanted something in an ancient tongue, a star upon her heart. She rose up, a white light flowing from the star. She was dressed wholly in white and silver, her hair shown like the stars.
"Treacherous as the sea, and stronger than the foundations of the earth! All shall love me and despair!" Galadriel eyes filled with blackness, yet they faded, and the light drew away from her. She appeared to be old at first, gasping for breath, Raquel did the same, though she appeared to look the same as before. Galadriel back away from the Ring and Raquel dropped to her knees, breathing heavily.
"I passed the test. I will diminish, and go into the west, and remain Galadriel." she looked away, sadness coming over her.
"I cannot do this alone." Frodo, looked up at her, his eyes arraying a certain hopelessness.
"You are a Ringbearer, Frodo. To bear a ring of power is to be alone." Raquel got up shakily, walking to Frodo and putting a hand on him, "This task was appointed to you, and if you do not find a way, no one will." she said, looking down to him. She again slowly sunk to the ground, her legs giving way under her. Frodo stared at her
"Then, I know what I must do. It's just I am afraid to do it."
"Raquel, what is wrong?" Sam asked softly, though she only shook her head.
"Even the smallest person can change the course of the future." Galadriel said, bending down and kissing Frodo on top of the head. Raquel looked up and smiled, but fell forward, blackness shrouding her vision.
"Raquel!" someone yelled, though she remembered nothing more.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
hmm.what happened to Raquel? u'll just have to figure out latta! More to come. next chapter- You get to figure out wat happened to Raquel (duh lol). gracias to elena for reviewin! I really apperciate it! wat else? I don't think theres much to say. ill go now, so every1 have a dandy day!
*~*~*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.
"What is wrong, now you are unusually quiet."
"Nothing." Raquel said, turning away from Legolas. They were at the campsite, mostly everyone had left, except Gimli.
"You are lying to me."
"No I am not." she said simply. He sighed.
"Fine, keep your secrets, but I have a request." he said.
"What is it?" she asked, getting up and walking to the fountain.
"Can you take me to that tree, the one we climbed that one night?"
"Yes, I can." she turned to Gimli, "Would you like to come with us?"
"Oh, huh, what was that?" Gimli asked. He had been very quiet these days.
"I am going into the forest with Legolas, would you like to come?"
"Oh, yes, that would be nice, but I wish to stay here for now, maybe another time." he got up bowed, sat back down and started to fingered his axe.
"Gimli, there is no need for it, these borders are well protected, let it sleep." Gimli looked up and nodded, leaving the axe by his stuff. For the first time, Legolas noticed she went without weapons, except that one day she brought Sunstone.
"It will take a long while to get there, and we will have to run most of the way if we wish to make it there by noon." She said, leading him down different paths.
When they got out of the gate, they went to the southern side of the city and took the same path Raquel had led him on the other day. They ran the whole way, not stopping until she came to the small path. This time, she took another path, which Legolas had never seen before because it was covered by shrubbery and dried leaves. They took that path for awhile, it was bigger so they could walk side by side. Finally she emerged from the path and came out to an even bigger one.
"This is the main path, but I am sure you do not remember it because you were blindfolded."
He closed his eyes, "Yes, you are right, the sound is the same, and the earth is softer here."
"Yes it is a main path, and the earth should be softer from all the feet that walk upon it."
So she led him along the path for a long time until she reached an open spot.
"This is where we camped on the second night that Haldir lead us." she said, stopping and looking around, "Come, it is only a little further up." she led him through the camp and a little farther from it. She turned down a path, and there stood one of the greatest trees Legolas had ever seen. He gasped.
"It is.huge." he said.
"Yes, she is the mother of all trees, the oldest and wisest. She knows everything of the forest."
The tree was very tall, its branches sweeping out so the eye could not see it's top. The bark was a silvery green, like that of a young tree, but was as stable and hard as rock.
"I climbed this?!" Legolas said, his eyes going huge.
"Yes, you did, now come, you said you wished to climb it again."
So she led him around the tree and whispered something in Elvish before she grabbed a branch. Legolas followed her. He found it hard to climb, missing branches and feeling as though he were going very slowly, so he closed his eyes. When he did that, he heard Raquel above him, and his hands found the branches more easily. He felt a hand touch his arm.
"Legolas, come, we sat here." he opened his eyes to find Raquel on a branch, leaning over with a hand on his arm. He climbed over and sat down, his eyes still closed.
"Legolas, open your eyes." he opened them and looked at the forest that stretched for as far as the eye could see.
"Wow, it is so, amazing." he breathed.
"Is it like anything you imagined?" Raquel asked, looking to him and smiling.
"No, and yes, it is so much more beautiful then I thought, but its also looks the same, you told me a lot." she nodded and looked away.
"Raquel, something is wrong, please, tell me."
"Legolas." she looked to the forest, "Something is going to happen tonight, and I might not come out of it unscathed."
"What are you talking about, are you going to get hurt?"
"I am not sure, but do not follow me, I have to do this alone, promise me you will stay away." she looked at him, her eyes pleading, "Please Legolas."
He hesitated, wanting to say something, but could not look away from her sad eyes, "Yes, I promise."
"Thank you Legolas." she said, turning to the forest again.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"What are you doing here?!"
"I came to see you." Legolas caught up with Raquel and stopped her. It was night, of the same day, and Legolas had been watching Raquel.
"Legolas you promised me."
"And I do not intend to break it, I will go back, just as I promised." he looked down at her, though not by much, a worried look on his face "Raquel, what is going on?"
She opened her mouth to speak, but he put his finger to her lips. "Never mind," he sighed "I know I will not get a good answer out of you until you are ready to speak, but I will leave you with this." He leaned down and kissed her forehead, "Goodbye for now, Lady." he turned and left, walking in the direction from which he had come, but Raquel did not notice the footsteps behind her as she left.
~~~~~~~~~~
Raquel turned and left, sadness overwhelming her. She watched as Galadriel walked by the hobbit's sleeping area. There she joined Galadriel, neither looked at each other. They kept walking, until they saw the hobbits, Frodo and Sam, walking and talking together in hushed voices. Galadriel nor Raquel said anything, though the hobbits followed them. They walked down some steps and reached a basin set in stone. Raquel turned and filled the basin with water from a silver urn, going to stand alongside the hobbits.
" This is the Mirror of Galadriel, will you look into the mirror?" Galadriel asked.
"What will we see?" Frodo asked also, staring at the mirror in wonder.
"Not even the wisest can say, for the mirror shows many things. Things that are, things that were, and some things that have not yet come to pass." Frodo did not answer, "And what of you, Master Samwise? Do you wish to look?"
"I will look, if you will let me, Lady" Sam said, stepping up to the mirror.
"Of course, go ahead, but do not touch the water!" Raquel watched as Sam stepped up to the mirror and leaned over the edge. Raquel closed her eyes. The mirror first showed a picture of Legolas, his face sad and grieved, and then Merry and Pippin, and Frodo himself. She then saw a beautiful land, it shifted into a place where a man was cutting down some trees. Fire and smoke rose from the land, it burned and was deserted. Sam yelled something. He backed away from the mirror.
"I have to go home right now!" he said, scrambling to the stairs, but Raquel grabbed him.
"Sam, you cannot go, the mirror is only showing you things, they may not happen or may happen a hundred years from now, please calm down." she led him back to Frodo, his eyes cast on the ground.
"What Raquel says is true, we cannot tell if the mirror tells us the present, past or future, Frodo?"
"Raquel," he asked her, turning around to her "should I look?"
"If that is what you wish to do, Frodo. I am not going to tell you, for it is not my role to advise you." he nodded and looked away,
"I will look." he stepped to the mirror, Raquel closed her eyes. The mirror started to move, showing a scene of a ship with black sails, sailing in a storm. Smoke and fire rose in front of it, Raquel guessed it was a battle. The picture disappeared and was black for a second, but an eye appeared, wreathed in flame, it's very presence freezing the very blood in Raquel's heart. The Ring grew heavier, trying to pull itself down into the mirror. Frodo snatched it away and fell backwards onto the ground. Raquel went and caught him, helping him back onto his feet, looking to Galadriel.
"I know what it that both of you has seen, for it is also in my mind. It is what will come to pass if you should fail." She said, looking to Frodo and Raquel, a glint in her eye. Raquel felt her hand reach for Sunstone. Frodo looked up with scared eyes.
"The Fellowship is breaking. Already it has begun. He will try to take the ring. You know of whom I speak. One by one, it will destroy them all." she said, her voice echoing in Raquel's mind.
"If you ask it of me, I will give you the One Ring." Frodo held out his hand, the Ring lay in his palm. Raquel filled with anger.
"No, Frodo! Do not fall for it!" Raquel said, becoming even more angry and desperate.
"You offer it to me freely. I do not deny that my heart has greatly desired this." Galadriel moved forward, her hand shaking as it stretched out to reach the Ring. Raquel jumped in front of Frodo and Galadriel's eyes widened with anger. Raquel screamed in anger, her own eyes flaming.
"Move Raquel!" Galadriel shouted.
"Never." Raquel said back. A dark light came over Galadriel, and she shoved Raquel to the side.
"Instead of a Dark Lord, you would have a queen, not dark but beautiful and terrible as the dawn!" Galadriel shouted as she touched the Ring.
Raquel rose, a white light coming over her. She chanted something in an ancient tongue, a star upon her heart. She rose up, a white light flowing from the star. She was dressed wholly in white and silver, her hair shown like the stars.
"Treacherous as the sea, and stronger than the foundations of the earth! All shall love me and despair!" Galadriel eyes filled with blackness, yet they faded, and the light drew away from her. She appeared to be old at first, gasping for breath, Raquel did the same, though she appeared to look the same as before. Galadriel back away from the Ring and Raquel dropped to her knees, breathing heavily.
"I passed the test. I will diminish, and go into the west, and remain Galadriel." she looked away, sadness coming over her.
"I cannot do this alone." Frodo, looked up at her, his eyes arraying a certain hopelessness.
"You are a Ringbearer, Frodo. To bear a ring of power is to be alone." Raquel got up shakily, walking to Frodo and putting a hand on him, "This task was appointed to you, and if you do not find a way, no one will." she said, looking down to him. She again slowly sunk to the ground, her legs giving way under her. Frodo stared at her
"Then, I know what I must do. It's just I am afraid to do it."
"Raquel, what is wrong?" Sam asked softly, though she only shook her head.
"Even the smallest person can change the course of the future." Galadriel said, bending down and kissing Frodo on top of the head. Raquel looked up and smiled, but fell forward, blackness shrouding her vision.
"Raquel!" someone yelled, though she remembered nothing more.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
hmm.what happened to Raquel? u'll just have to figure out latta! More to come. next chapter- You get to figure out wat happened to Raquel (duh lol). gracias to elena for reviewin! I really apperciate it! wat else? I don't think theres much to say. ill go now, so every1 have a dandy day!
*~*~*Gabi*~*~*