A.N. Hey! It's me! I'M ALIVE!!!
...God, this is depressingly overdue, isn't it? Sorry.my inspiration kind of moved out without telling me...but, seeing The Two Towers gave me the jolt I needed to get back into this...
Sooooooooooooooo, if I haven't lost you all, thanks for the reviews, and I'll try and update more often, really I will...okay then, where were we?
Chapter One-Arrivals and Meetings
Elenien closed her eyes and leaned forward until her head rested on her horse's soft mane. If she could, she would become one with the animal, and they would race across the fields forever. Maybe, if they ran fast enough, they would fly. She loved the forest, but you couldn't ride through a forest like this. You needed an open plain for real riding. Suddenly, she sat upright, bringing her horse to a stop. Something was coming. She didn't know what it was or how she knew-she just knew. There-in the valley, close to where Rivendell was nestled into the landscape as naturally as if it had grown there. Racing toward the Ford was a white horse, just ahead of nine black ones. With a cry, Elenien urged her horse down the slope of the hill towards the Ford. The dark riders were already being swept away by the river, but she sensed a greater danger. Not to her, but to the small figure cradled in her cousin Arwen's arms. Arwen looked up as Elenien reached them. Before Elenien could ask, she explained. "He was stabbed by a wraith-we must get him to my father quickly." Elenien, the stronger of the two, took the small one from Arwen. He was a halfing-unnaturally pale, dark curls plastered by sweat to his white forehead. His eyes fluttered open just long enough for her to see that they were incredibly blue before he lost consciousness completely. His breathing was shallow, his skin as cold as ice. "He won't last another five minutes like this." Elenien said. "I have to do something now, or he'll die before we get him to Lord Elrond. His name?" "Frodo." "Frodo..." she closed her eyes and felt for his weakening life force. "Frodo, don't give up. Whatever you have to live for, cling to it as hard as you can." She felt him slipping further, and in desperation she did something she had never done while healing. She yelled at him. "No! I will not let them have you, Frodo! I'm not giving up and neither are you! Live, damn it!" To her surprise, it actually worked. Frodo's breathing grew steadier, and he stopped shaking so badly. He was not healed, but Elenien had bought him some time. Without delay, she lifted him onto her horse and galloped for Rivendell. She prayed Elrond could do the rest.
........................................................................
It took Frodo several days to heal completely. Elenien stayed by him when she could, even though Elrond and Gandalf were doing all that could be done. One of Frodo's companions stayed with him constantly as well. He was shy and seemed slightly in awe of any Elf who spoke to him, but Elenien learned that his name was Sam and he had been Frodo's gardener before they left their home. From the concern he was showing, he seemed more like a dear friend than a servant.
No one told her why the wraiths had been chasing Frodo, but she had seen Elrond remove a gold ring from the halfling's pocket when he first arrived. Her uncle had shuddered and laid it aside as quickly as possible, and it now hung on a chain around Frodo's neck. The dark power she felt radiating from that simple piece of jewelry told Elenien everything she needed to know. Standing beside Frodo's bed, she wondered how and why the One Ring had come into his possession. Was it merely chance, or was he meant to have it? She had sensed something about him that set him apart from the other halflings, but was the otherness there because the Ring was in his possession, or was the Ring in his possession because of the otherness? In spite of-or perhaps because of-being raised by Galadriel, Elenien didn't like mysteries. This Frodo had better be easier to understand when he was awoke. She laid her hand on Sam's shoulder.
"You need to get some sleep, little one. How are you going to care for him if you don't care for yourself?"
"I'm alright, Miss." Sam was sitting by Frodo's bed, holding his master's hand. He had been fighting off sleep for the past half hour. "If he wakes up, he might need me."
Elenien smiled. "Alright, stay here if you want, but try to sleep." She ruffled the hobbit's hair gently before she left the room.
She met up with Arwen in a garden not far from Frodo's room, and the two began walking together, Elenien unconsciously slowing her long, graceful strides so that Arwen could keep up with her ladylike steps.
The two were like day and night. Their features were similar-high cheekbones, full mouths, long eyelashes-but while Arwen had long, straight raven hair and blue eyes, Elenien had storm-gray eyes and hair that curled gently around her face, such a pale blonde it was almost silver. Her hair was shorter than customary for an elf-maid, coming to just below her shoulders while Arwen's hung to mid-back.
Their temperaments were just as different as their appearances. Arwen was spirited, and knew how to wield a blade, but Elenien could outfight half the male elves in Rivendell. Her skill with archery was only passable, but she fought with the long knives that hung from her belt as naturally as if they were extensions of her body. Elenien would laugh out loud at something that would only coax a smile out of Arwen. While Arwen kept her horse at a proper trot, Elenien would gallop. They were very different-and immensely fond of each other.
"Well, cousin," Elenien said as they walked, "as dramatic entrances go, I must say you've surpassed me. I've never managed to be chased by nine wraiths in one day."
Arwen smiled. "Riding in from Rohan with twenty Orcs right behind you isn't bad."
"Twenty-two, thank you very much."
Elenien stopped suddenly, looking down from the terrace on which they stood. "Who is that?" she asked.
An elf she had never seen before had just dismounted in the courtyard and was stroking his horse's neck fondly. He was dressed in soft shades of green and brown, with a bow and quiver slung over one slender shoulder. As Elenien gazed at him, he looked up, his green eyes meeting hers with a startling intensity.
Arwen glanced at the stranger with only mild curiosity. "I do not know him. Perhaps he came for the Council."
"Perhaps..." Still gazing into the elf's eyes, Elenien only half heard the answer.
"His name is Legolas."
Elenien turned. Aragorn had come up behind them, moving with his typical Ranger stealth.
"Legolas?" she repeated. "That's a Sindarin name..."
"He comes from Mirkwood. He's the son of Lord Thranduil." Aragorn stepped up to the terrace and raised a hand in greeting; the elf smiled and returned the gesture. "We've met several times. I could introduce you to him, if you'd like..."
"Yes.I'd like that. And don't you dare look at me that way, Arwen Undomiel, or I'll start looking at you like that whenever I see you talking to Aragorn." Elenien headed toward the stairs. Aragorn and a blushing Arwen followed.
As they approached, Legolas smiled and reached out to clasp Aragorn's hand. "It is good to see you again."
"Welcome to Rivendell, my friend." Aragorn replied. Then he turned to the two women. "This is the Lady Arwen, daughter of Elrond, and Lady Elenien of Lorien."
Legolas greeted both ladies courteously, but a spark of greater interest lit his eyes when Aragorn mentioned Lorien.
"You hail from the Golden Wood, my lady?" he asked in a soft, clear voice as he kissed Elenien's hand.
She nodded, smiling. "I was not born there, but I have lived there since I was very young. Have you ever been there? I think I would remember such a handsome visitor..." He returned her smile and seemed slightly embarrassed by her flattery. "No, though I hope to visit one day. There are many tales of that fair land among my people."
"Well, then I hope you will see Lorien someday. But for now, if you will walk with me, I will be glad to tell you anything you wish to know. On the condition that you tell me about Mirkwood, which I have never seen."
"I can think of no better way to spend my first evening here." He said, offering her his arm.
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A.N. (silly girly Legolas-fanatic giggles) Okay, some points to cover:
1. Yeah, I used Arwen at the Ford instead of Glorfindel...departure from the books or not, that scene kicked ass...
2. Legolas has always had green eyes when I pictured him in my head...sooo, he has green eyes in my story.
3. I don't care what anyone says-Frodo and Sam are meant to be together! Oh, wait, that doesn't have anything to do with this story, does it? (walks away whistling innocently)
...God, this is depressingly overdue, isn't it? Sorry.my inspiration kind of moved out without telling me...but, seeing The Two Towers gave me the jolt I needed to get back into this...
Sooooooooooooooo, if I haven't lost you all, thanks for the reviews, and I'll try and update more often, really I will...okay then, where were we?
Chapter One-Arrivals and Meetings
Elenien closed her eyes and leaned forward until her head rested on her horse's soft mane. If she could, she would become one with the animal, and they would race across the fields forever. Maybe, if they ran fast enough, they would fly. She loved the forest, but you couldn't ride through a forest like this. You needed an open plain for real riding. Suddenly, she sat upright, bringing her horse to a stop. Something was coming. She didn't know what it was or how she knew-she just knew. There-in the valley, close to where Rivendell was nestled into the landscape as naturally as if it had grown there. Racing toward the Ford was a white horse, just ahead of nine black ones. With a cry, Elenien urged her horse down the slope of the hill towards the Ford. The dark riders were already being swept away by the river, but she sensed a greater danger. Not to her, but to the small figure cradled in her cousin Arwen's arms. Arwen looked up as Elenien reached them. Before Elenien could ask, she explained. "He was stabbed by a wraith-we must get him to my father quickly." Elenien, the stronger of the two, took the small one from Arwen. He was a halfing-unnaturally pale, dark curls plastered by sweat to his white forehead. His eyes fluttered open just long enough for her to see that they were incredibly blue before he lost consciousness completely. His breathing was shallow, his skin as cold as ice. "He won't last another five minutes like this." Elenien said. "I have to do something now, or he'll die before we get him to Lord Elrond. His name?" "Frodo." "Frodo..." she closed her eyes and felt for his weakening life force. "Frodo, don't give up. Whatever you have to live for, cling to it as hard as you can." She felt him slipping further, and in desperation she did something she had never done while healing. She yelled at him. "No! I will not let them have you, Frodo! I'm not giving up and neither are you! Live, damn it!" To her surprise, it actually worked. Frodo's breathing grew steadier, and he stopped shaking so badly. He was not healed, but Elenien had bought him some time. Without delay, she lifted him onto her horse and galloped for Rivendell. She prayed Elrond could do the rest.
........................................................................
It took Frodo several days to heal completely. Elenien stayed by him when she could, even though Elrond and Gandalf were doing all that could be done. One of Frodo's companions stayed with him constantly as well. He was shy and seemed slightly in awe of any Elf who spoke to him, but Elenien learned that his name was Sam and he had been Frodo's gardener before they left their home. From the concern he was showing, he seemed more like a dear friend than a servant.
No one told her why the wraiths had been chasing Frodo, but she had seen Elrond remove a gold ring from the halfling's pocket when he first arrived. Her uncle had shuddered and laid it aside as quickly as possible, and it now hung on a chain around Frodo's neck. The dark power she felt radiating from that simple piece of jewelry told Elenien everything she needed to know. Standing beside Frodo's bed, she wondered how and why the One Ring had come into his possession. Was it merely chance, or was he meant to have it? She had sensed something about him that set him apart from the other halflings, but was the otherness there because the Ring was in his possession, or was the Ring in his possession because of the otherness? In spite of-or perhaps because of-being raised by Galadriel, Elenien didn't like mysteries. This Frodo had better be easier to understand when he was awoke. She laid her hand on Sam's shoulder.
"You need to get some sleep, little one. How are you going to care for him if you don't care for yourself?"
"I'm alright, Miss." Sam was sitting by Frodo's bed, holding his master's hand. He had been fighting off sleep for the past half hour. "If he wakes up, he might need me."
Elenien smiled. "Alright, stay here if you want, but try to sleep." She ruffled the hobbit's hair gently before she left the room.
She met up with Arwen in a garden not far from Frodo's room, and the two began walking together, Elenien unconsciously slowing her long, graceful strides so that Arwen could keep up with her ladylike steps.
The two were like day and night. Their features were similar-high cheekbones, full mouths, long eyelashes-but while Arwen had long, straight raven hair and blue eyes, Elenien had storm-gray eyes and hair that curled gently around her face, such a pale blonde it was almost silver. Her hair was shorter than customary for an elf-maid, coming to just below her shoulders while Arwen's hung to mid-back.
Their temperaments were just as different as their appearances. Arwen was spirited, and knew how to wield a blade, but Elenien could outfight half the male elves in Rivendell. Her skill with archery was only passable, but she fought with the long knives that hung from her belt as naturally as if they were extensions of her body. Elenien would laugh out loud at something that would only coax a smile out of Arwen. While Arwen kept her horse at a proper trot, Elenien would gallop. They were very different-and immensely fond of each other.
"Well, cousin," Elenien said as they walked, "as dramatic entrances go, I must say you've surpassed me. I've never managed to be chased by nine wraiths in one day."
Arwen smiled. "Riding in from Rohan with twenty Orcs right behind you isn't bad."
"Twenty-two, thank you very much."
Elenien stopped suddenly, looking down from the terrace on which they stood. "Who is that?" she asked.
An elf she had never seen before had just dismounted in the courtyard and was stroking his horse's neck fondly. He was dressed in soft shades of green and brown, with a bow and quiver slung over one slender shoulder. As Elenien gazed at him, he looked up, his green eyes meeting hers with a startling intensity.
Arwen glanced at the stranger with only mild curiosity. "I do not know him. Perhaps he came for the Council."
"Perhaps..." Still gazing into the elf's eyes, Elenien only half heard the answer.
"His name is Legolas."
Elenien turned. Aragorn had come up behind them, moving with his typical Ranger stealth.
"Legolas?" she repeated. "That's a Sindarin name..."
"He comes from Mirkwood. He's the son of Lord Thranduil." Aragorn stepped up to the terrace and raised a hand in greeting; the elf smiled and returned the gesture. "We've met several times. I could introduce you to him, if you'd like..."
"Yes.I'd like that. And don't you dare look at me that way, Arwen Undomiel, or I'll start looking at you like that whenever I see you talking to Aragorn." Elenien headed toward the stairs. Aragorn and a blushing Arwen followed.
As they approached, Legolas smiled and reached out to clasp Aragorn's hand. "It is good to see you again."
"Welcome to Rivendell, my friend." Aragorn replied. Then he turned to the two women. "This is the Lady Arwen, daughter of Elrond, and Lady Elenien of Lorien."
Legolas greeted both ladies courteously, but a spark of greater interest lit his eyes when Aragorn mentioned Lorien.
"You hail from the Golden Wood, my lady?" he asked in a soft, clear voice as he kissed Elenien's hand.
She nodded, smiling. "I was not born there, but I have lived there since I was very young. Have you ever been there? I think I would remember such a handsome visitor..." He returned her smile and seemed slightly embarrassed by her flattery. "No, though I hope to visit one day. There are many tales of that fair land among my people."
"Well, then I hope you will see Lorien someday. But for now, if you will walk with me, I will be glad to tell you anything you wish to know. On the condition that you tell me about Mirkwood, which I have never seen."
"I can think of no better way to spend my first evening here." He said, offering her his arm.
........................................................................
A.N. (silly girly Legolas-fanatic giggles) Okay, some points to cover:
1. Yeah, I used Arwen at the Ford instead of Glorfindel...departure from the books or not, that scene kicked ass...
2. Legolas has always had green eyes when I pictured him in my head...sooo, he has green eyes in my story.
3. I don't care what anyone says-Frodo and Sam are meant to be together! Oh, wait, that doesn't have anything to do with this story, does it? (walks away whistling innocently)