Chapter 8
The creature screamed. Ethrin held her hood on and scrunched her legs up, trying to defend herself. Legolas drew out his knife and slashed at it. It leaped out of the way, and stared at him with much hatred. It spat and growled. Legolas drew his bow and shot an arrow at it. The creature leaped again, but got shot on the leg. It howled and screamed again. Then it suddenly disappeared. Legolas looked around. Hadn't the creature just been there a second ago. Then he saw Ethrin leap up at him, sword drawn. He leaped back. Why did this she-elf attack him just after he saved her? Ethrin, gathering a last ounce of strength, suddenly brought her sword down. The sword struck something, and Legolas felt a shot of pain on his hand. Ethrin's sword lay in a heap of ashes. Legolas's hand had teeth marks on it.
Laphaela rushed over, and, leaning her head on Ethrin's chest, she listened for a heartbeat. There was none. Legolas saw black blood pouring from the bite marks, and grimaced in pain. He realized that Ethrin was trying to save him. She had much greater power than he had, and could sense these beings. And now she was possibly dead.
Aragorn came over. He took Ethrin's hand and felt for a pulse. There it was, faint, but there. The company crowded around him.
"Lortil will live. She is worn out, and so we must rest," Aragorn said. Then he examined Legolas's hand. "There is a poison seeping through your blood. Kingsfoil will do for now. Do you think you can still ride to Lothl© rien?"
"Yes, it isn't very bad. I'm guessing that that demon isn't one of the very powerful," said Legolas, who grimaced in pain.
Aragorn nodded. He was beginning to trust this she-elf. She had power, and could probably have let the creature of darkness kill them all, for it seemed to fear her, although it attacked her. He wondered why she seemed to want to know who she is, but never showed herself to anybody. Was she afraid to find out, or did she have some other reason of her own? Aragorn decided to ignore matter for now and then leaned against a rock. The last time he could remember being on such a big quest was when he went with Frodo and the Fellowship, defending the Frodo so the ring could be destroyed. He sighed and was lost in thought.
Laphaela stood a bit away from the rest of the party. She missed home. She missed all the tall trees, the stream that ran through the forest, all of Mirkwood. She remembered her mother, her father, and her friends. Softly, she sang:
I wish I were home
Where my heart
Always will be
Where there was peace
Calm, and beauty
I wish I had wings
To fly across these mountains
To fly over the rivers
To fly all the way home
Where my heart dwells
The words and melody soared over the grass. Legolas heard them and could feel his heart grow heavy. Gimli heard it and thought about the caves and mines that he lived in. Aragorn thought about Arwen, and pictured her beautiful face. Ethrin heard it, and slowly strength seeped back into her. She thought about her home with the people, and her adopted mother. She tried to remember the times before her life with humans. But her mind was stuck, and she slowly fell asleep again.
In her dreams, Ethrin saw mountains in the distance. She saw a river that connected into a gulf. She remembered a castle, a palace, that looked over the ocean. Sea gulls called over her, and fish swam plenty. Enormous whale-like animals sang their songs. She was surrounded by a beauty and a peace that could never be destroyed.
"She's awaking," Legolas whispered to Laphaela as he saw Ethrin stir. She had been still so long that he thought that Aragorn was wrong about her being still alive. He felt a sense of relief. He watched as she sat up slowly, and then stood up. She walked until she reached a tree, and sat down, leaning against it. Tears ran down her face as she stared into the sky. The stars had come out, and the moon was bright. The misty mountains stood on the right of her, standing proud and strong.
"Diola lle, Thank you, for saving me," Legolas said. Ethrin felt him standing beside her. Ethrin remained silent for a while longer. Legolas stayed beside her, and watched her. Ethrin didn't reply, but stared into the stretch of land before her. Then she coughed, and blood came out of her mouth. Legolas quickly asked, "Are you alright?" Ethrin didn't reply, but her voice had gone hoarse. The night was quiet, and finally danger seemed to have passed for the moment.
Legolas was about to give up any hope of a reply when Ethrin asked, "how do you say you're welcome in elven?"
"Lle creoso," Legolas replied.
"Lle creoso, Legolas," Ethrin said. Her voice seemed to loosen up a bit, although it was still a bit hoarse. But the elven words were magic on her lips, and they flowed when spoken. Ethrin felt herself beginning to remember words that she had known before. Her memory seemed to come back quicker now that she was among her kind again, her people.
"Diola lle, Legolas, for being so kind although I have been a bit rude," Ethrin said.
Legolas just nodded. Then Aragorn called him. Legolas took one last look at Ethrin and then ran to Aragorn.
"We need to get going. These dark creatures are faster than Lortil thought they'd be. If we don't want to be caught again, then we must go. Get the others up quickly," Aragorn whispered.
"Which pass shall we take?" Legolas asked.
"The pass of Redhorn Gate. That seems to be the only available pass now," Aragorn answered.
Legolas left then to get everybody else up. Ethrin saw what he was doing and returned to the group. She helped Laphaela to her feet and called her horse. Starlight bound over and stood beside Ethrin. She mounted him and waited as the others put their packs on and mounted their horses. Aragorn road in the lead and they rode fast and hard. The hooves of the horses were silent against the grass, and the wind didn't blow. The stars still shone and the moon was still bright. The whole companionship felt at peace.
But Ethrin could feel the presence of something. Her power surged through her, and she was on her guard. She wanted to stop the fellowship, but she also wanted to get over the Misty Mountains and to Lothl©rien fast. So she just shouted, "all of you, be on your guard."
*here is de newest chapter! Don't 4get 2 review!