Chapter 9
They rode on for hours more. Nothing seemed to be stirring. There was the occasional breeze, but then all would be silent again. The horses kept on running silently. Ethrin looked at the sights around her, and forgot her troubles for a moment. The breathtaking scenes of the mountains, and how the sun just couldn't pierce through the mists, but there was still hope for light. The rocks seemed to jut out in all directions and some just piled in one place.
Nothing seemed more terrifying and yet charming as those mountains just then. The whole party followed Aragorn closely, and Aragorn kept on riding, never looking around him. He had seen enough of the Misty Mountains, and so wasn't as awed by its enchanting views as some others were. For Arlena, it was her first time actually seeing them up close, as was the same with Laphaela and Ethrin, as far as she knew. Legolas happily told Laphaela about when he and the Fellowship went this way. Arlena listened to their whispers, and Gimli told her about the great snowstorm and the Mines of Moria. Ethrin rode alone.
When the sun had been up for awhile longer, they all stopped to rest the horses. They were making rapid progress, and everything seemed all right. While Laphaela, Legolas, Arlena, Gimli, and Aragorn sat around talking, Ethrin walked to the edge of the mountains and climbed up a bit. Sitting on a rock, she faced the lands in front of her. She saw a river, far in the distance, and could see the water that reflected the sunlight. She watched as those below her conversed. They seemed to be enjoying the company of each other and discussing memories that she couldn't remember. Feeling a pang of loneliness, Ethrin closed her eyes and lay down on the flat rock. She looked at the cloudless sky over her. The sun warmed her face, but she could still feel chills. Closing her eyes, the she-elf pulled her hood low over her face and surrendered herself to thoughts.
"Mind if I join you?" a voice asked. Ethrin sat up and peered from under her hood. Legolas stood a few feet away, watching her with his piercing blue eyes.
"If you want to talk, then talk. But otherwise, leave me alone," Ethrin said, slightly annoyed that her peace was destroyed.
"Then I guess I'll stay," Legolas replied. He sat down next to her and scanned the land. He saw and felt the same peace and beauty that she had just observed a few minutes ago.
"Why do you conceal yourself? Don't you want people to know who you are? Don't you want people to help you?" he asked.
"Why do you ask me these things?" Ethrin replied.
"You are always so mysterious, not telling others about your past, nor what your real name is. There are many who wonder if you are a demon in disguise."
Ethrin suddenly remembered something that Elrond had said to her. He had told her that Laphaela had told him that she didn't know who she was. How would Laphaela know? Did she figure it out? Nobody else had guessed…had they?
"Legolas, I can tell you I am no demon, and even your father could see I was an elf. Why do you even talk to me like I am someone who wants the destruction of all? I am not a dark lord. I am not a demon. Is that enough to satisfy you?"
At the mention of his father, Legolas's face darkened a little. He said, "my father is very wise. And I can see that you are a demon. But again, why do you try not to show your face. Of our company, Laphaela, Arlena, and I have seen your face, although for Laphaela and I, barely. You always rush to hide yourself."
"What I do is my business, and that's all. You won't get anything else from me."
"Are you always this stubborn? I meant no offense when I asked you these questions."
"It is up to you to decided whether you think I'm stubborn or not. As for now, I wish to be left alone. Go deal with your thoughts somewhere else."
Ethrin watched as Legolas got up to leave. She felt regret when she saw Legolas's face; he looked hurt. She almost shouted after him, but held herself back. Her pride was great, and she didn't want to admit that she wanted to tell him and Laphaela everything, but was afraid that they wouldn't understand. She didn't want to admit that she was wrong for letting her temper get to her.
Legolas walked away angrily. He thought that this she-elf was too difficult to deal with. He didn't understand why he even came with them on this adventure. He would prefer to be sailing the seas, and feeling the ocean breeze on his face. Now he was here on a journey with a short-tempered elf, on a quest that seemed pointless, for couldn't they just gather up a force and kill the demons? Running lightly down the mountain, he didn't turn back, or else he could have seen reflection of the single tear that ran down Ethrin's face.
When Ethrin saw the party starting to get read y to be on their way again, she jogged down from the rock. She arrived and there were no signs of sadness or hurt, for she had shed but that single tear. Laphaela stole a quick glance at her, then at Legolas, for she had watched them talking on the rock, and knew that they had gotten into somewhat an argument. She decided to ask her brother what happened later, for the company had to get going right then.
When everything was ready, they all rode on again. Ethrin tried not to think too much about what had happened. She was an elf, after all, and could withstand hurt, pain, and regret. Practice had kept her from shedding tears most of the time, and she wondered why she shed a tear then, when she had been able to withstand the taunting and mental torture she had received in the human city. Questions seemed to always build up, no matter where she went.
What Ethrin didn't know was that Legolas was thinking of the argument at the same moment. He thought to himself, "I don't think anyone, not another elf, dwarf, nor man, has a temper as she has. All I did was ask her some questions." He ignored his anger then, and focused on riding his horse, following Aragorn.
When they stopped again at nightfall, Ethrin didn't speak to anyone but just lay down beside her horse, pack at her side, and stared at the stars above. Aragorn told Laphaela and Legolas to take the first watch, and then to call Ethrin and Gimli to take the second, Arlena the third, and he himself the fourth. Nobody commented, just nodded. Aragorn and Gimli went to sleep, and Arlena lay down and watched the stars. Legolas and Laphaela sat together, talking.
"What happened today?" asked Laphaela.
"What do you mean what happened?" Legolas replied.
"You usually don't get so angry at someone so quickly. What did Ethrin, or Lortil, say that hurt you so much."
"It is nothing really. I'm fine. There is no need to talk about it."
"I have not seen you get angry and hurt so quick for a long time."
"And what of that?"
"Did you see her face after you just left?"
"Why would I care."
"I saw a single tear."
Legolas nearly gasped at that. If she were and elf, she should have been able to contain her emotions after such a small event, but she hadn't been able to. Just like he hadn't…
"All I did was ask her why she always hid herself. I think that it isn't fair how she won't tell us who she is, but she still drags us onto this big adventure with her."
"First of all, Legolas, do you know that she doesn't even know who she is? And remember this. It was you who chose to come with her. She was against you going with her to Rivendell, and yet you wanted to follow. It wasn't her choice. I think that if she didn't let you come, you would be lying in the ashes with your people or being dragged around by orcs. And that time you could have been killed, she used her last ounce of strength to slay that demon. You owe her your life."
"Do you know who she is? I have always wondered. I trust her, but I still want to know who she is."
"I don't know exactly who she is. But I think that she doesn't know herself. I think her memory is coming back, but I am not sure. Don't mention to anybody else that she doesn't know who she is. She is probably keeping that hidden by keeping herself hidden."
"So that's why she won't tell me anything."
"And you should at least apologize. I think you angered her by asking her those questions that you had no right to ask."
"I suppose you're right. Our watch is over. I'll notify her and Gimli, and you can go get some rest."
Legolas and Laphaela got up. Laphaela found a place on a rock and lay down. Legolas saw that Ethrin was far away from the group, like she was an outcast. He felt sorry for her. He ran up to her and tapped her on the shoulder. She just got up and nodded. Motioning for Legolas to follow her, she walked down to a taller rock and sat down. Legolas followed.
"I just wanted to apologize for losing my temper this morning. I shouldn't have been so impatient with you," Ethrin said, eyes looking over the place where everybody else was resting.
"No, it was I that shouldn't have been bothering you with all those questions. I didn't know that you…never mind," Legolas replied.
"You had no idea that I don't know who I am, you mean. I suppose Laphaela finally told you. She figured it out, as you might have guessed."
"I'm sorry. I was wrong."
"No, we were both wrong. Don't feel bad. You deserve to know the answers, after choosing to come along with me when you could have stayed in Mirkwood or Rivendell."
"If I had stayed in Mirkwood, I would probably now be dead or captured. And if I had stayed in Rivendell, I would have felt guilty."
"If you say so. I have a feeling that we will find a few of them at Mordor. I'm sorry that your people got killed."
"You mean our people. You are an elf, am I correct?"
"Yes, but I don't belong here. I just brought peril."
"No, it is not your fault." A moment of silence followed.
"You should wake Gimli," Ethrin finally said.
"Very well, Ethrin," Legolas replied.
"Along this journey, please call me Lortil. Then I will feel safer."
"If that is what you want, Lortil."
Legolas walked away. He felt as if a weight was lifted from him after talking to Ethrin. He woke Gimli, and then found his own place to lie down. Looking at the stars, he was reminded of Mirkwood, and all those times when he lay down and watched those same stars. Then he closed his eyes and surrendered to thought and memories.
*Please review! I want to know your comments and ways you think I should improve my story.