THE DAYSTAR
BY: GABRIELLA THE FAIR
Chapter 28
FROM THE RISING OF THE SUN
"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.
A/N- sry guys for the long waits, I've had a writers block about this, because now I'm transtioning into the second book (the two towers) without the movie to guide me, so its been a real challenge, but I'm doing my best! hope u like!
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"Why must they kill everything in their path, only such folk would be this cruel" Legolas said.
"And they go at a great speed in doing this." Aragorn said, though Raquel made no comment as she looked around at all the slashed and killed trees and growth. She felt a sadness grow in her.\
"They had little hope, but all the same, some." she bent down and touched a fallen tree, as though a fallen comrade. "The Orcs shall die for this." she shook her head in anger and got up, surveying the area, "They will wish they had never heard come across me." she smiled wickedly and picked up an arrow from a dead Orc.
"I think this is yours." she handed Legolas the arrow, and he handed her one of her own. They couldn't help but smile.
The Fellowship, or at least what was left of them, had gone back to the spot where Boromir had fallen, looking for clues as to where the Orcs had gone, and what better place to start then the last place where they had seen them.
"Come, let us after them! Just as the Lady says, they shall cry out at the sound of our names!" Gimli said harshly, putting his hands to his axe. The rest couldn't help but wonder how Gimli had such confidence.
"Come, the trail is clear!" Aragorn cried, "We shall ride forth, the Three Hunters! May it go down in history of the three kindred's working together, Dwarves, Elves, and Men, come!" he sprang forth, as fast as a deer.
They followed, Raquel proving to be the nimblest. She passed each of them easily, disappearing into the dusk, a gray shadow in the cold stone land.
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"We will rest for awhile, recover your strength while you can."
It was an hour before dawn; they had traveled on all night, stopping only now to rest. Aragorn resented this stop, though; he was at a loss. He knew not where the trail led them, or where it would.
"Which way do you think they have gone?" Legolas asked, still standing, "Northward, a straight road to Isengard, or Fangorn, or maybe even southward to the Entwash."
Aragorn hesitated, looking across the plain, "They will not go to the river, that I know. And unless there is much going on in Rohan that has not been accounted for, then they will go over the fields of the Rohirrim. Come, we must press on!" they once again gathered their things, and made their way through the country. Raquel, though, noticed the growing pain in her arm.
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They traveled on for a couple more hours, but stopped after awhile to again find their trail. Aragorn bent himself over to the ground, Raquel beside him. Though Aragorn was the best tracker, Raquel had proven herself as a worthy companion, both whispered together softly of what they were finding, until they heard a cry from Legolas, who was farther up ahead.
"Look!" he pointed to the ground, where five dead Orcs lay.
They had been cruelly struck, two were beheaded. The ground beneath them was dark with their blood.
"And yet, here is another riddle." Gimli said, "But we need light to figure it out."
Raquel bent down and dipped a finger in the blood, shuddering at its rotting smell.
"It is not all that old," she said, turning her finger. She smiled, "Do not lose hope, they are not too far ahead."
"But what can we make of this?" Legolas asked, "Did enemies of the Orcs come here? It would not be too unfortunate, for their enemies are likely to be our friends."
"No," Aragorn said, "The Rohirrim rarely come here, and it is much to far from Minas Tirith." he trailed into thought.
"Well, what can it be?" Gimli said impatiently.
"They are their own enemies." Raquel said, still turning her bloody finger, focusing only on that, "They killed themselves. A quarrel, I can guarantee. Notice none of the strange Orcs are lying here. They must have slain these. There may have been a dispute about the road."
"Or the captives." Legolas said, an image of sweet Pippin and Merry flashed into Raquel's mind. "Let us hope they do not meet such a fate as these Orcs did."
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They continued on by foot, coming by a stream northward. The stream cut into the rocky ground, yet Aragorn ran to it and smiled.
"Here are the tracks we seek! Look, up the stream, this is the way the Orcs went after their debate."
Swiftly, the pursuers followed the trail. They sprang from rock to rock, as if they had found the strength from a long night's rest. A soft breeze blew in their faces, the chill wind of dawn. Turning, Raquel watched Day leap into the sky, momentarily forgetting her arm. She stared in awe, the beauty of the dawn leaping over her.
"It has been long since you have watched the rising of the Sun, has it not?" Aragorn stopped briefly and jumped down to her rock, landing softly next to her.
"No, the rising of the Daystar is not unknown to me. I watched it not long ago, yet those days seem like pleasant dreams, when even then, I thought life could get no worse." She flinched at the burning in her arm, and Aragorn turned, noticing her pain.
"What is it?" He asked, moving a hand to her arm, but she pushed it away.
"Nothing, Aragorn, I am fine. If something were wrong, do you not think I would tell you?" she managed to smile, turning and leaping to the rock above her without a sound. Aragorn followed, doubting inside that she spoke the truth.
They followed the ridge for some time, until Raquel spotted something in the sky, "It is the eagle again, look." They looked into the direction she pointed, though with their eyes, only Legolas saw.
"It is moving away from us." Legolas said, coming to Raquel's side. He looked at her strangely, though she moved her eyes quickly to the sky.
"Not even my eyes can see it, my good Elves." A look of wonder came into Aragorn's face, "But, I wonder what he may want, if he is the same bird as I had seen before, but look, on the plain, there is a great company on foot!"
Raquel shifted her eyes quickly to the ground, staring intently, lost in her own thoughts. She heard not what Legolas said, something about the company they looked at. She heard a voice deep inside her head, Arsitotle hummed happily on her neck.
"Listen, child, to the words I give thee." the voice said, whispering to her, yet all the same commanding, "Listen."
She shook her head, the pain in her arm shot through her body and she let out a sharp breath.
"Raquel.?"
"Listen."
"Who are you, what do you want form me? Answer me!" she screamed in her head, "I will not listen, leave me be!"
A hideous voice echoed in her head, not as sweet or terrifying as the one that "The trees are strong, my lord. Their roots go deep." she shuddered, recognizing the voice ad an Orcs, but the next confused her.
"Rip them all down." It was cold and pure evil, something about it made her think back to a time when she was a child. She had heard that voice before, but when?
"Raquel!" a hand shook her back into reality, it gripped her arm. She let out a cry of pain.
She looked to see Aragorn and Legolas standing in front of her, Aragorn's hand laid on her arm.
"Raquel, what is wrong?" Aragorn removed is hand.
"You.you grabbed my wound, it is not fully healed." she said, once again lying.
"Oh, I am sorry! Please forgive me, but we must leave, are you sure you are fine?"
"Yes, I am, do not worry over me." Aragorn nodded and turned away to get his things, Legolas handed Raquel her pack.
"Why are you lying?" he whispered, keeping his voice low.
"I am not lying." she said, just as low, her lips barely moving.
"Well then, tell me how a wound on your shoulder switched to your arm." he said, narrowing his eyes at her. She did it back to him as Aragorn approached them, he lifted his brows.
"I will not ask what has happened, but please resolve it soon, we need to leave." He turned again to leave when Legolas opened his mouth. Raquel shook her head slightly, her eyes pleading.
"Aragorn." Legolas started, but stopped when he looked at Raquel.
"Yes?" Aragorn asked.
"Ummm." he looked at Raquel and back at Aragorn, "Nothing, never mind." Aragorn just nodded, looking a little dazed and left.
Raquel smiled and Legolas glared at her.
"Why did you make me do that?" he asked, "I had the perfect chance."
She smiled and cocked her head to the side "What do you mean? I made you do nothing." She smiled again as he rolled his eyes and turned away, shaking his head and muttering.
They followed the path of the Orcs, finding things they had cast away to make the trail lighter. Raquel sometimes would run in front of the others, or lag behind. A weariness grew in her, as she lagged, though, when she went before them, she seemed to have all the energy in the world, a sense of hope coming over the others.
This is what it was like when they found her, standing at the foot of Emyn Muil. She had gone ahead and was now standing at the foot, smiling faintly, her head slightly titled. The others caught up and looked over the land.
The grass of Rohan was green and deep, soft under their feet. A stream flowed out and disappeared into tunnels of green earth, where they heard the soft tinkle of water and stone.
"Ah! The smell of sweet green!" Legolas breathed in and sighed, "It is better than any sleep."
Raquel shifted her eyes over to him, grinning. "Let us run!" she said, not turning her glance from Legolas. She took off, and they barely noticed when she ran far ahead of them, Aragorn and Gimli left behind in their wake.
"Well, hopefully that energy will last them." Gimli said, "But, where are they going?"
"They will find a way, let us leave them be awhile, for they need to relax." Aragorn smiled as he watched Raquel disappear. "But, let us get started ourselves. Swift feet may prove better than the iron-clad feet of our enemies!" and he set out, with Gimli by his side, they could hear only the soft laughter of the Elves in front of them.
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Gimli went on for some hours before the Elves came back, a looking of weariness only apparent in Raquel's face.
"Good, you are back!" Aragorn said "We are going to head west now, so follow me in a straight line."
Aragorn lead the way with Gimli behind him, then Legolas and Raquel, she being last so she could scan the grass beneath them for any signs of their companions. After taking their path west they noticed more the torn up land that they had left behind, to Raquel's great dismay. After two hours of taking this path Aragorn let out a cry.
"Stay here! I will call you when you can follow me." he turned from the path, Raquel watching the ground he had avoided from stepping on. She bent down and examined it.
"What is it Raquel?" Gimli asked.
"Footprints!" She said, running her hand down them, "Small footprints. A hobbits no doubt."
"How do you know this?" Legolas asked, questioning her reason. Either her anxiety to find the young hobbits twisted her logic or she really meant it.
"When I tracked Aragorn, before the fellowship, I found hobbit tracks. These are the same, if not only similar. I know these are it."
Aragorn came running back, something shining in his palm.
"Yes, Raquel is right, they are the hobbits prints."
"Pippin's I think, for they are smaller." she said.
"Yes, and I do think you are correct about that too. Look!" He opened his palm and I it sat the leaf of Lorien, the one used to hold the cloaks.
"The elven cloak brooch!" Legolas and Gimli cried. Raquel stared at it.
"He put it there for a reason, for us." Raquel said, stepping forward, "They need our help, we must hurry!"
"Yes, you are right, he did put it there for us, he probably ran away from the trail, but got caught, and dragged back to the line." Raquel looked down sadly at the hobbits footprints.
"Here Raquel, keep the brooch, you can give it to him upon his return to us." Aragorn held out the brooch to her, "Plus, it is rightfully yours, Lady of Lorien."
She took the brooch and put it in her pocket.
"Well, at least we know that he is alive, and he could use his legs. It is good to know that we do not pursue the halflings in vain."
"Yes, and let us hope he did not get hurt for his bold act, come it hurts my heart," at this he looked at Raquel, "and others to think of them in pain, come, let us search more!"
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It had been one day since Boromir had fallen, and the pursuers pushed on, noticing that their enemies grew farther and farther away. They had only had two brief stops since they had started, pushing on to catch up to the Orcs.
They had decided to take a break as night came upon them. Twelve leagues they had traveled since the rising of the sun.
"Now we come to our hardest question yet, do we travel by night or sleep it?" Aragorn asked.
"But what of our enemies, they must also rest sometime!" said Gimli.
"Hardly, seldom have I heard of Orcs sleeping, and even these kind I have no knowledge of. Also, they travel under the Sun, which I have never heard done." Raquel said, adjusting her arm to a new spot. During the long day, she had felt a pain creep into her chest, as though it were bruised making it hard to breathe.
"But if we walk at night, we may lose sight of the trail. That may take us days to find again if we go on." Gimli pointed out.
"From what I see, the trail is straight, leading neither left nor right, from what my eyes can tell." Legolas said.
"Also, what would happen if we missed tracks? What if a prisoner escaped and we missed it because of the darkness of night?" said Gimli.
"What all of you say is true, but from my guesses, and I f I am wrong correct me," he looked to Raquel, who sat inspecting her arm, "the Orcs of the White Hand seem to all be traveling to Isengard."
"Well, even with that, what if one did escape? And worse yet, what if we missed the signs?" Gimli said again.
"The Orcs will guard the Hobbits, I can assume, after Pippin's brave attempt." Legolas said. "Doubly also, no escape will be made."
"Yet, even a Dwarf as I am, not even I can run all the way to Isengard." Gimli sighed, "My heart burns me too, what I would do to see those merry faces again." he sighed again. "But I must rest, for I am very weary."
"We are all weary, and did I not say this is a difficult decision? What shall we do?" Aragorn asked again, looking to each. Raquel never lifted her head.
"My heart, just as Gimli's wishes to go, though we must stay together." he looked down, sadness sweeping over the elf's face, "I will go by your counsel."
They all looked to Raquel, waiting for her answer. She looked up at them, her sword in hand.
"I would do whatever it takes, today, tomorrow, or anytime needed. My heart is willing, though, I will not leave behind that of which life has granted me." she sheathed Sunstone, "On your command, Lord." she bowed to Aragorn, sitting back down.
"Fine if this is the will, I will decide, though, since we passed the Argonath, my thought has been ill."
"And you are to blame?" Raquel asked, she looked to him, her face and eyes kind, reminding the others of The Lady herself, "You lead us out of need, did Gandalf not appoint you? Do you doubt his decision?" she shook her head, "That would be in vain, for none of this you can control. Just pray, pray for the wisdom and strength to go on and through that, your answer may be found. Do not doubt what has been laid out for you, Son of Arathorn." she finished and looked away.
Aragorn hesitated, "Though I also wish to go on, we shall stay here tonight. I do not wish to miss anything due to the missing of signs. Rest while you can. I would go on, but if it were not for the pale moon." he set down his things.
"Now if only the Lady Galadriel had given us a light as she gave Frodo, then we may be getting on our way." Gimli grumbled, already falling asleep.
"The light will be put for better uses with Frodo and Sam, our quest is nothing compared to theirs." Raquel said, "Go to sleep and enjoy it while you can, it will be a long and hard day."
Aragorn agreed quickly and threw himself down, for he had not slept in a long while. Gimli did the same, but Raquel wandered to the edge of the camp.
"I will keep watch tonight." she said, "Go to sleep Legolas, for at least one of us is able to." he said nothing in argument, he himself felt weary.
They slept until sunrise, Aragorn waking to find Gimli snoring soundly next to him. Legolas and Raquel sat talking quietly, she pointed out to the plain.
"They are far way, Aragorn, so very far that I lose hope." Raquel said, looking over her shoulder to him.
"I do not care! We will continue on, for whatever may become of this." Aragorn said, "Rise, Gimli, we are ready to set out!"
"But it is still too dark." Gimli said, rolling over.
"Yes, he is right, I fear they have passed mine and Raquel's sight." Legolas sighed wearily.
"Well, we shall go, the more we wait the farther ahead our enemy gets!" Aragorn said, getting his pack and starting. Gimli got up stiffly.
"Here, Gimli, take some of this." Raquel handed him her bottle of minuvor. He took a drink and felt strength return to his limbs. He picked up his pack and followed the Man and Elves as they started.
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Sry guys, that was kinda lame and had no real good stuff in it, but like I said, I had a really bad writers block! Tell me if you liked it..anyways, next chappie! Eomer meets up with them and will regret saying some stuff. Also, Raquel falls ill, and the funny thing is, I thought Elves couldn't get sick! figure out how she does in the next chappie! Ummm.o yea, jit may take awhile to write the next chapters cuz I hurt my wrist and I think it may be broken, im goin to get x-rays in a few days, so don't kill me if I don't update soon! well, I better go, gracias for reading, I hope u guys have a great day!
*~*~*Gabi*~*~*
Leigha- well, u do have a good point about arwen, but I still think he (peter jackson, as much as I love him) enlarged her part way to much. She is not needed in the battle, and I personally am mad at her for taking glorfindel's spot, but that's my own opinion. Some people may say I enlarged Haldir's part too much, or Legolas', or Pippin's. But then, its all in the way you see it. so, thanx for your opinion, keep reading! Quel marth!- Gabs
Elena- You are crazy (I'm sure!) and I am going to continue this, hopefully. Thanx for reviewing, I hope you like!- Gabi
Elven Girl- hey thanx for the border, maybe ill use it in the next chapter! thanx, keep reading!-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.
A/N- sry guys for the long waits, I've had a writers block about this, because now I'm transtioning into the second book (the two towers) without the movie to guide me, so its been a real challenge, but I'm doing my best! hope u like!
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"Why must they kill everything in their path, only such folk would be this cruel" Legolas said.
"And they go at a great speed in doing this." Aragorn said, though Raquel made no comment as she looked around at all the slashed and killed trees and growth. She felt a sadness grow in her.\
"They had little hope, but all the same, some." she bent down and touched a fallen tree, as though a fallen comrade. "The Orcs shall die for this." she shook her head in anger and got up, surveying the area, "They will wish they had never heard come across me." she smiled wickedly and picked up an arrow from a dead Orc.
"I think this is yours." she handed Legolas the arrow, and he handed her one of her own. They couldn't help but smile.
The Fellowship, or at least what was left of them, had gone back to the spot where Boromir had fallen, looking for clues as to where the Orcs had gone, and what better place to start then the last place where they had seen them.
"Come, let us after them! Just as the Lady says, they shall cry out at the sound of our names!" Gimli said harshly, putting his hands to his axe. The rest couldn't help but wonder how Gimli had such confidence.
"Come, the trail is clear!" Aragorn cried, "We shall ride forth, the Three Hunters! May it go down in history of the three kindred's working together, Dwarves, Elves, and Men, come!" he sprang forth, as fast as a deer.
They followed, Raquel proving to be the nimblest. She passed each of them easily, disappearing into the dusk, a gray shadow in the cold stone land.
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"We will rest for awhile, recover your strength while you can."
It was an hour before dawn; they had traveled on all night, stopping only now to rest. Aragorn resented this stop, though; he was at a loss. He knew not where the trail led them, or where it would.
"Which way do you think they have gone?" Legolas asked, still standing, "Northward, a straight road to Isengard, or Fangorn, or maybe even southward to the Entwash."
Aragorn hesitated, looking across the plain, "They will not go to the river, that I know. And unless there is much going on in Rohan that has not been accounted for, then they will go over the fields of the Rohirrim. Come, we must press on!" they once again gathered their things, and made their way through the country. Raquel, though, noticed the growing pain in her arm.
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They traveled on for a couple more hours, but stopped after awhile to again find their trail. Aragorn bent himself over to the ground, Raquel beside him. Though Aragorn was the best tracker, Raquel had proven herself as a worthy companion, both whispered together softly of what they were finding, until they heard a cry from Legolas, who was farther up ahead.
"Look!" he pointed to the ground, where five dead Orcs lay.
They had been cruelly struck, two were beheaded. The ground beneath them was dark with their blood.
"And yet, here is another riddle." Gimli said, "But we need light to figure it out."
Raquel bent down and dipped a finger in the blood, shuddering at its rotting smell.
"It is not all that old," she said, turning her finger. She smiled, "Do not lose hope, they are not too far ahead."
"But what can we make of this?" Legolas asked, "Did enemies of the Orcs come here? It would not be too unfortunate, for their enemies are likely to be our friends."
"No," Aragorn said, "The Rohirrim rarely come here, and it is much to far from Minas Tirith." he trailed into thought.
"Well, what can it be?" Gimli said impatiently.
"They are their own enemies." Raquel said, still turning her bloody finger, focusing only on that, "They killed themselves. A quarrel, I can guarantee. Notice none of the strange Orcs are lying here. They must have slain these. There may have been a dispute about the road."
"Or the captives." Legolas said, an image of sweet Pippin and Merry flashed into Raquel's mind. "Let us hope they do not meet such a fate as these Orcs did."
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They continued on by foot, coming by a stream northward. The stream cut into the rocky ground, yet Aragorn ran to it and smiled.
"Here are the tracks we seek! Look, up the stream, this is the way the Orcs went after their debate."
Swiftly, the pursuers followed the trail. They sprang from rock to rock, as if they had found the strength from a long night's rest. A soft breeze blew in their faces, the chill wind of dawn. Turning, Raquel watched Day leap into the sky, momentarily forgetting her arm. She stared in awe, the beauty of the dawn leaping over her.
"It has been long since you have watched the rising of the Sun, has it not?" Aragorn stopped briefly and jumped down to her rock, landing softly next to her.
"No, the rising of the Daystar is not unknown to me. I watched it not long ago, yet those days seem like pleasant dreams, when even then, I thought life could get no worse." She flinched at the burning in her arm, and Aragorn turned, noticing her pain.
"What is it?" He asked, moving a hand to her arm, but she pushed it away.
"Nothing, Aragorn, I am fine. If something were wrong, do you not think I would tell you?" she managed to smile, turning and leaping to the rock above her without a sound. Aragorn followed, doubting inside that she spoke the truth.
They followed the ridge for some time, until Raquel spotted something in the sky, "It is the eagle again, look." They looked into the direction she pointed, though with their eyes, only Legolas saw.
"It is moving away from us." Legolas said, coming to Raquel's side. He looked at her strangely, though she moved her eyes quickly to the sky.
"Not even my eyes can see it, my good Elves." A look of wonder came into Aragorn's face, "But, I wonder what he may want, if he is the same bird as I had seen before, but look, on the plain, there is a great company on foot!"
Raquel shifted her eyes quickly to the ground, staring intently, lost in her own thoughts. She heard not what Legolas said, something about the company they looked at. She heard a voice deep inside her head, Arsitotle hummed happily on her neck.
"Listen, child, to the words I give thee." the voice said, whispering to her, yet all the same commanding, "Listen."
She shook her head, the pain in her arm shot through her body and she let out a sharp breath.
"Raquel.?"
"Listen."
"Who are you, what do you want form me? Answer me!" she screamed in her head, "I will not listen, leave me be!"
A hideous voice echoed in her head, not as sweet or terrifying as the one that "The trees are strong, my lord. Their roots go deep." she shuddered, recognizing the voice ad an Orcs, but the next confused her.
"Rip them all down." It was cold and pure evil, something about it made her think back to a time when she was a child. She had heard that voice before, but when?
"Raquel!" a hand shook her back into reality, it gripped her arm. She let out a cry of pain.
She looked to see Aragorn and Legolas standing in front of her, Aragorn's hand laid on her arm.
"Raquel, what is wrong?" Aragorn removed is hand.
"You.you grabbed my wound, it is not fully healed." she said, once again lying.
"Oh, I am sorry! Please forgive me, but we must leave, are you sure you are fine?"
"Yes, I am, do not worry over me." Aragorn nodded and turned away to get his things, Legolas handed Raquel her pack.
"Why are you lying?" he whispered, keeping his voice low.
"I am not lying." she said, just as low, her lips barely moving.
"Well then, tell me how a wound on your shoulder switched to your arm." he said, narrowing his eyes at her. She did it back to him as Aragorn approached them, he lifted his brows.
"I will not ask what has happened, but please resolve it soon, we need to leave." He turned again to leave when Legolas opened his mouth. Raquel shook her head slightly, her eyes pleading.
"Aragorn." Legolas started, but stopped when he looked at Raquel.
"Yes?" Aragorn asked.
"Ummm." he looked at Raquel and back at Aragorn, "Nothing, never mind." Aragorn just nodded, looking a little dazed and left.
Raquel smiled and Legolas glared at her.
"Why did you make me do that?" he asked, "I had the perfect chance."
She smiled and cocked her head to the side "What do you mean? I made you do nothing." She smiled again as he rolled his eyes and turned away, shaking his head and muttering.
They followed the path of the Orcs, finding things they had cast away to make the trail lighter. Raquel sometimes would run in front of the others, or lag behind. A weariness grew in her, as she lagged, though, when she went before them, she seemed to have all the energy in the world, a sense of hope coming over the others.
This is what it was like when they found her, standing at the foot of Emyn Muil. She had gone ahead and was now standing at the foot, smiling faintly, her head slightly titled. The others caught up and looked over the land.
The grass of Rohan was green and deep, soft under their feet. A stream flowed out and disappeared into tunnels of green earth, where they heard the soft tinkle of water and stone.
"Ah! The smell of sweet green!" Legolas breathed in and sighed, "It is better than any sleep."
Raquel shifted her eyes over to him, grinning. "Let us run!" she said, not turning her glance from Legolas. She took off, and they barely noticed when she ran far ahead of them, Aragorn and Gimli left behind in their wake.
"Well, hopefully that energy will last them." Gimli said, "But, where are they going?"
"They will find a way, let us leave them be awhile, for they need to relax." Aragorn smiled as he watched Raquel disappear. "But, let us get started ourselves. Swift feet may prove better than the iron-clad feet of our enemies!" and he set out, with Gimli by his side, they could hear only the soft laughter of the Elves in front of them.
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Gimli went on for some hours before the Elves came back, a looking of weariness only apparent in Raquel's face.
"Good, you are back!" Aragorn said "We are going to head west now, so follow me in a straight line."
Aragorn lead the way with Gimli behind him, then Legolas and Raquel, she being last so she could scan the grass beneath them for any signs of their companions. After taking their path west they noticed more the torn up land that they had left behind, to Raquel's great dismay. After two hours of taking this path Aragorn let out a cry.
"Stay here! I will call you when you can follow me." he turned from the path, Raquel watching the ground he had avoided from stepping on. She bent down and examined it.
"What is it Raquel?" Gimli asked.
"Footprints!" She said, running her hand down them, "Small footprints. A hobbits no doubt."
"How do you know this?" Legolas asked, questioning her reason. Either her anxiety to find the young hobbits twisted her logic or she really meant it.
"When I tracked Aragorn, before the fellowship, I found hobbit tracks. These are the same, if not only similar. I know these are it."
Aragorn came running back, something shining in his palm.
"Yes, Raquel is right, they are the hobbits prints."
"Pippin's I think, for they are smaller." she said.
"Yes, and I do think you are correct about that too. Look!" He opened his palm and I it sat the leaf of Lorien, the one used to hold the cloaks.
"The elven cloak brooch!" Legolas and Gimli cried. Raquel stared at it.
"He put it there for a reason, for us." Raquel said, stepping forward, "They need our help, we must hurry!"
"Yes, you are right, he did put it there for us, he probably ran away from the trail, but got caught, and dragged back to the line." Raquel looked down sadly at the hobbits footprints.
"Here Raquel, keep the brooch, you can give it to him upon his return to us." Aragorn held out the brooch to her, "Plus, it is rightfully yours, Lady of Lorien."
She took the brooch and put it in her pocket.
"Well, at least we know that he is alive, and he could use his legs. It is good to know that we do not pursue the halflings in vain."
"Yes, and let us hope he did not get hurt for his bold act, come it hurts my heart," at this he looked at Raquel, "and others to think of them in pain, come, let us search more!"
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It had been one day since Boromir had fallen, and the pursuers pushed on, noticing that their enemies grew farther and farther away. They had only had two brief stops since they had started, pushing on to catch up to the Orcs.
They had decided to take a break as night came upon them. Twelve leagues they had traveled since the rising of the sun.
"Now we come to our hardest question yet, do we travel by night or sleep it?" Aragorn asked.
"But what of our enemies, they must also rest sometime!" said Gimli.
"Hardly, seldom have I heard of Orcs sleeping, and even these kind I have no knowledge of. Also, they travel under the Sun, which I have never heard done." Raquel said, adjusting her arm to a new spot. During the long day, she had felt a pain creep into her chest, as though it were bruised making it hard to breathe.
"But if we walk at night, we may lose sight of the trail. That may take us days to find again if we go on." Gimli pointed out.
"From what I see, the trail is straight, leading neither left nor right, from what my eyes can tell." Legolas said.
"Also, what would happen if we missed tracks? What if a prisoner escaped and we missed it because of the darkness of night?" said Gimli.
"What all of you say is true, but from my guesses, and I f I am wrong correct me," he looked to Raquel, who sat inspecting her arm, "the Orcs of the White Hand seem to all be traveling to Isengard."
"Well, even with that, what if one did escape? And worse yet, what if we missed the signs?" Gimli said again.
"The Orcs will guard the Hobbits, I can assume, after Pippin's brave attempt." Legolas said. "Doubly also, no escape will be made."
"Yet, even a Dwarf as I am, not even I can run all the way to Isengard." Gimli sighed, "My heart burns me too, what I would do to see those merry faces again." he sighed again. "But I must rest, for I am very weary."
"We are all weary, and did I not say this is a difficult decision? What shall we do?" Aragorn asked again, looking to each. Raquel never lifted her head.
"My heart, just as Gimli's wishes to go, though we must stay together." he looked down, sadness sweeping over the elf's face, "I will go by your counsel."
They all looked to Raquel, waiting for her answer. She looked up at them, her sword in hand.
"I would do whatever it takes, today, tomorrow, or anytime needed. My heart is willing, though, I will not leave behind that of which life has granted me." she sheathed Sunstone, "On your command, Lord." she bowed to Aragorn, sitting back down.
"Fine if this is the will, I will decide, though, since we passed the Argonath, my thought has been ill."
"And you are to blame?" Raquel asked, she looked to him, her face and eyes kind, reminding the others of The Lady herself, "You lead us out of need, did Gandalf not appoint you? Do you doubt his decision?" she shook her head, "That would be in vain, for none of this you can control. Just pray, pray for the wisdom and strength to go on and through that, your answer may be found. Do not doubt what has been laid out for you, Son of Arathorn." she finished and looked away.
Aragorn hesitated, "Though I also wish to go on, we shall stay here tonight. I do not wish to miss anything due to the missing of signs. Rest while you can. I would go on, but if it were not for the pale moon." he set down his things.
"Now if only the Lady Galadriel had given us a light as she gave Frodo, then we may be getting on our way." Gimli grumbled, already falling asleep.
"The light will be put for better uses with Frodo and Sam, our quest is nothing compared to theirs." Raquel said, "Go to sleep and enjoy it while you can, it will be a long and hard day."
Aragorn agreed quickly and threw himself down, for he had not slept in a long while. Gimli did the same, but Raquel wandered to the edge of the camp.
"I will keep watch tonight." she said, "Go to sleep Legolas, for at least one of us is able to." he said nothing in argument, he himself felt weary.
They slept until sunrise, Aragorn waking to find Gimli snoring soundly next to him. Legolas and Raquel sat talking quietly, she pointed out to the plain.
"They are far way, Aragorn, so very far that I lose hope." Raquel said, looking over her shoulder to him.
"I do not care! We will continue on, for whatever may become of this." Aragorn said, "Rise, Gimli, we are ready to set out!"
"But it is still too dark." Gimli said, rolling over.
"Yes, he is right, I fear they have passed mine and Raquel's sight." Legolas sighed wearily.
"Well, we shall go, the more we wait the farther ahead our enemy gets!" Aragorn said, getting his pack and starting. Gimli got up stiffly.
"Here, Gimli, take some of this." Raquel handed him her bottle of minuvor. He took a drink and felt strength return to his limbs. He picked up his pack and followed the Man and Elves as they started.
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Sry guys, that was kinda lame and had no real good stuff in it, but like I said, I had a really bad writers block! Tell me if you liked it..anyways, next chappie! Eomer meets up with them and will regret saying some stuff. Also, Raquel falls ill, and the funny thing is, I thought Elves couldn't get sick! figure out how she does in the next chappie! Ummm.o yea, jit may take awhile to write the next chapters cuz I hurt my wrist and I think it may be broken, im goin to get x-rays in a few days, so don't kill me if I don't update soon! well, I better go, gracias for reading, I hope u guys have a great day!
*~*~*Gabi*~*~*
Leigha- well, u do have a good point about arwen, but I still think he (peter jackson, as much as I love him) enlarged her part way to much. She is not needed in the battle, and I personally am mad at her for taking glorfindel's spot, but that's my own opinion. Some people may say I enlarged Haldir's part too much, or Legolas', or Pippin's. But then, its all in the way you see it. so, thanx for your opinion, keep reading! Quel marth!- Gabs
Elena- You are crazy (I'm sure!) and I am going to continue this, hopefully. Thanx for reviewing, I hope you like!- Gabi
Elven Girl- hey thanx for the border, maybe ill use it in the next chapter! thanx, keep reading!-Gabi