Author's note ~ I have writer's block on "Sun Star ~ Child of Light", so I
decided to continue on this one. Ladies and gentlemen, enter "The Two
Towers" . I'll make it through this series yet. :) :) :)
Thank you for your support so far, it means a lot.
Arwen
"And the Fellowship of the Ring Shall Be Ten"
Chapter XVI ~ "Hunting Hobbits"
The three hunters had been running for an entire night now, without a rest. Weariness was beginning to show on them, although they were kept strong by the lembas. They passed onto the fields of Rohan, still following the myriad of Orc footprints.
Aragorn, who was in the lead, suddenly turned aside from the path. "Hobbit footprints," he murmured, following them slowly so not to lose the trail.
"Aragorn, what have you found?" Teneriel asked, stepping up to follow him.
"Nay, do not follow me yet," Aragorn muttered, kneeling and picking up a small object. "One of our young hobbits is still alive, at least he was when he cast this away."
It was a small brooch, used as a clasp for an Elven cloak.
Gimli gazed at the footprints, concentrating on them carefully. "I think they are Pippin's. His feet are smaller than Merry's."
"We must continue on," Legolas said. "Pippin may have paid dearly for dropping this for us to find."
And so they ran on, not stopping for rest again until late that night.
Teneriel sat by the fire, completely alert and yet not. Her mind was drifting, her thoughts were reaching out, centered on the friends they had lost. Pippin was most dear to her heart at the moment, but she was most concerned for Frodo. His quest was by far the most perilous, if that word even came close to a proper description of the terrors the young hobbit would endure. But Frodo was beyond her reach, she could not aid him now. He had made his choice, and that tore at her heart. The only comfort she could take was the knowledge that he was not alone. Faithful Sam had followed after him.
Pippin and Merry, however, were not beyond her reach. They could be saved, if only fate would change sides.
Her thoughts turned then to her companions that were there with her. Gimli slept soundly across the fire and Legolas had gone after Aragorn. Over the many months since she had left Rivendell, Teneriel had not once regretted her decision to travel with the Fellowship. She, like all the Elves, could sense that their time on Middle Earth was drawing to an end. Teneriel could see it also in her father, with every passing day his eyes grew darker, the longing in his soul grew louder. He would soon leave these shores, and she knew it. But that knowledge did not quiet the pain she would feel upon his departure.
Teneriel sighed. If nothing else worthwhile comes of this adventure, she knew one thing for certain. She would not rule Rivendell when her father left the Gray Havens. Elladan and Elrohir would rule jointly, they would make far better lords than she would make a lady. Once Elrond left with Vilya, his ring of Power, then time would come to Rivendell. Teneriel knew she could not watch the home that she loved fade away.
What she would do when her father left was a mystery even to her. Teneriel felt that going with him to the West was not an option, but what other roads lay open unto her? From where she sat now, all paths seemed dark and shadowy. The world she knew and loved was slipping away quicker than she could hold on to it. Soon, all that would remain would be memories of the past. Memories could nurture the soul, but they could also tear it apart.
A snort from the slumbering Gimli snapped Teneriel rudely out of her reverie. Once again she became truly aware of her surroundings, the noises of the night, the twinkling of the stars overhead. "Perhaps I project too much," she said softly.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Aragorn sat with his back to a tree, his eyes focused at the stars above, though he did not see them. His thoughts clouded his vision, for they were dark.
His only warning that he had been followed was a tiny whisper in the tree above him. "I left the camp so I could be alone," he said, not sure if the intruder was Legolas or Teneriel.
"So you would rather stare at the beauty of the stars by yourself?" asked Legolas, landing lightly and silently beside Aragorn. "Forgive me, my friend, but somehow I doubt you desire solitude that much."
"I seek not the opinion of an Elf prince, Legolas," Aragorn snapped, glaring at him. "Provoke me not by staying."
Legolas' eyes narrowed slightly and he sat against a nearby tree. "You may not seek my counsel, son of Arathorn, but nevertheless, I think you need it." His sharp, unearthly blue eyes pierced through Aragorn's, giving the man the uncomfortable feeling that his mind was being read. After a few moments of silence, the Elf spoke again. "You blame yourself for what happened, do you not?"
Aragorn sighed, shaking his head ruefully. "I appears that I am unable to rid myself of you, troublesome Elf. If you must know, I do not blame myself for what happened at Amon Hen. My only concern at the moment is rescuing Merry and Pippin."
Legolas did not look convinced. "Then what troubles you, my friend?"
"What makes you think I am troubled, Legolas?"
The Elf pursed his lips in minor irritation. "You left camp in the middle of your watch, you have snapped at me more than once tonight, and you sit alone in the darkness. Something is bothering you, Aragorn. I want to help you, if I can."
"Who is on watch?" asked Aragorn, avoiding his question.
"Teneriel awoke when you left, just as I did. We decided that she would keep watch while I came after you. Now, will you answer my question?"
Aragorn sighed, picking up a small stick and twirling it around his fingers. "Life troubles me, ageless one. Every decision I have made since Lothlorien seems to have gone amiss."
Legolas smiled knowingly. "It may seem that way now, Aragorn, but I think when our Quest is over, you may see things differently. Trust in your heart and do what you know is right. Fear not that you will choose badly."
Sorry if this chapter doesn't read as well as the others, I'm a little out of practice. Arwen
PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"And the Fellowship of the Ring Shall Be Ten"
Chapter XVI ~ "Hunting Hobbits"
The three hunters had been running for an entire night now, without a rest. Weariness was beginning to show on them, although they were kept strong by the lembas. They passed onto the fields of Rohan, still following the myriad of Orc footprints.
Aragorn, who was in the lead, suddenly turned aside from the path. "Hobbit footprints," he murmured, following them slowly so not to lose the trail.
"Aragorn, what have you found?" Teneriel asked, stepping up to follow him.
"Nay, do not follow me yet," Aragorn muttered, kneeling and picking up a small object. "One of our young hobbits is still alive, at least he was when he cast this away."
It was a small brooch, used as a clasp for an Elven cloak.
Gimli gazed at the footprints, concentrating on them carefully. "I think they are Pippin's. His feet are smaller than Merry's."
"We must continue on," Legolas said. "Pippin may have paid dearly for dropping this for us to find."
And so they ran on, not stopping for rest again until late that night.
Teneriel sat by the fire, completely alert and yet not. Her mind was drifting, her thoughts were reaching out, centered on the friends they had lost. Pippin was most dear to her heart at the moment, but she was most concerned for Frodo. His quest was by far the most perilous, if that word even came close to a proper description of the terrors the young hobbit would endure. But Frodo was beyond her reach, she could not aid him now. He had made his choice, and that tore at her heart. The only comfort she could take was the knowledge that he was not alone. Faithful Sam had followed after him.
Pippin and Merry, however, were not beyond her reach. They could be saved, if only fate would change sides.
Her thoughts turned then to her companions that were there with her. Gimli slept soundly across the fire and Legolas had gone after Aragorn. Over the many months since she had left Rivendell, Teneriel had not once regretted her decision to travel with the Fellowship. She, like all the Elves, could sense that their time on Middle Earth was drawing to an end. Teneriel could see it also in her father, with every passing day his eyes grew darker, the longing in his soul grew louder. He would soon leave these shores, and she knew it. But that knowledge did not quiet the pain she would feel upon his departure.
Teneriel sighed. If nothing else worthwhile comes of this adventure, she knew one thing for certain. She would not rule Rivendell when her father left the Gray Havens. Elladan and Elrohir would rule jointly, they would make far better lords than she would make a lady. Once Elrond left with Vilya, his ring of Power, then time would come to Rivendell. Teneriel knew she could not watch the home that she loved fade away.
What she would do when her father left was a mystery even to her. Teneriel felt that going with him to the West was not an option, but what other roads lay open unto her? From where she sat now, all paths seemed dark and shadowy. The world she knew and loved was slipping away quicker than she could hold on to it. Soon, all that would remain would be memories of the past. Memories could nurture the soul, but they could also tear it apart.
A snort from the slumbering Gimli snapped Teneriel rudely out of her reverie. Once again she became truly aware of her surroundings, the noises of the night, the twinkling of the stars overhead. "Perhaps I project too much," she said softly.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Aragorn sat with his back to a tree, his eyes focused at the stars above, though he did not see them. His thoughts clouded his vision, for they were dark.
His only warning that he had been followed was a tiny whisper in the tree above him. "I left the camp so I could be alone," he said, not sure if the intruder was Legolas or Teneriel.
"So you would rather stare at the beauty of the stars by yourself?" asked Legolas, landing lightly and silently beside Aragorn. "Forgive me, my friend, but somehow I doubt you desire solitude that much."
"I seek not the opinion of an Elf prince, Legolas," Aragorn snapped, glaring at him. "Provoke me not by staying."
Legolas' eyes narrowed slightly and he sat against a nearby tree. "You may not seek my counsel, son of Arathorn, but nevertheless, I think you need it." His sharp, unearthly blue eyes pierced through Aragorn's, giving the man the uncomfortable feeling that his mind was being read. After a few moments of silence, the Elf spoke again. "You blame yourself for what happened, do you not?"
Aragorn sighed, shaking his head ruefully. "I appears that I am unable to rid myself of you, troublesome Elf. If you must know, I do not blame myself for what happened at Amon Hen. My only concern at the moment is rescuing Merry and Pippin."
Legolas did not look convinced. "Then what troubles you, my friend?"
"What makes you think I am troubled, Legolas?"
The Elf pursed his lips in minor irritation. "You left camp in the middle of your watch, you have snapped at me more than once tonight, and you sit alone in the darkness. Something is bothering you, Aragorn. I want to help you, if I can."
"Who is on watch?" asked Aragorn, avoiding his question.
"Teneriel awoke when you left, just as I did. We decided that she would keep watch while I came after you. Now, will you answer my question?"
Aragorn sighed, picking up a small stick and twirling it around his fingers. "Life troubles me, ageless one. Every decision I have made since Lothlorien seems to have gone amiss."
Legolas smiled knowingly. "It may seem that way now, Aragorn, but I think when our Quest is over, you may see things differently. Trust in your heart and do what you know is right. Fear not that you will choose badly."
Sorry if this chapter doesn't read as well as the others, I'm a little out of practice. Arwen
PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!