Chapter 13
"Elrond, Lady Arwen wants to see you," a messenger elf said. Elrond was standing in the sunlight, looking at Rivendell below him.
"Tell her I'm coming," he said. The messenger nodded, and left.
Elrond went to Arwen's room, and saw that she was studying the word again. Arwen's head was bent over, and she was writing many notes.
"You needed me?" Elrond asked.
"Yes, I think I have thought of something that might solve the Mithwinrell's mystery," Arwen replied.
"What is it?"
"I don't know if this would help, because it really isn't something that important, I think."
"Well, every little bit helps."
"The word sounds familiar to me…as if I had heard it somewhere before. I think it was in a song, or something, but I can't remember where. So I need you to help refresh my memory, and help me think, because I think that you have heard it before too."
"Now that you mention it, it does sound familiar."
So Elrond and Arwen sat down again to more thinking, and the mystery of the Mithwinrell's word still thrived.
"We will attack in the morning. Aren't orcs supposed to not like sunlight, maybe even be hurt by it?" Ethrin asked.
"While on the quest of the ring, the Uruk-hai seemed to not mind the light at all, so I wouldn't be too surprised if these orcs didn't mind it either," Legolas replied.
"Curse the Uruk-hai, all orcs, and all evil!"
"Lets hope fate is on our side this time."
Legolas and Ethrin sat down behind some rocks, about half a league away from the orcs. Suddenly, they saw two huddled figures creeping along the rocks. They were too small to be orcs; perhaps they were some small form of demons. Legolas motioned for Ethrin to follow him, and he lightly climbed up the rocks slowly. His clothes blended into the boulders, as with Ethrin's cloak, so they would be invisible to all but other elves. The figures ran behind a boulder, but Ethrin knew exactly where the stone was. She climbed up faster, her footsteps so light they were inaudible even by elves. Legolas followed her, and looked down once in awhile, to make sure they hadn't been spotted.
Ethrin reached the boulder and darted into the shadows. She told Legolas to move back, and she would try to jump them. The two figures looked human-like but were so small, only a bit more than half the height of an elf. Ethrin feared it would be another demon, and started to pull her bow out and aimed an arrow at the figures. But the forms turned around at her, or seemed to turn around at her, and then one of them let out a cry. Ethrin knew right away that these weren't demons. She put her arrow back, slung her bow on her back, and leaped onto the thing that had given the cry. She covered his mouth, and Legolas grabbed the other creature, and held it tight.
"Legolas! What are you doing here?" the being Ethrin was holding said.
"I was just about to ask the same! Ethrin, let go of him, its alright," Legolas said. Ethrin let him go, and then the person stepped into the light. Ethrin could now see that he was a halfling.
"Frodo! How long has it been? I didn't think you'd be one to leave the Grey Havens!" Legolas said.
"Well, I didn't think you'd be going anywhere but the Grey Havens after visiting Mirkwood!" Frodo replied. Legolas let go of the she-hobbit that he was holding, and she straightened up and ran to Frodo.
"Who is she?" Legolas asked.
"She is Diamond Took, now Diamond Baggins! She is my wife," Frodo said proudly.
"Well, I sure do miss much staying all of my life on the sea."
"Well, now will you introduce me to your new friend?"
"This is Lortil, the mysterious elf maiden."
Frodo saw the elf maiden, hood over her face, and cloak on tight. Why did she hide her face like that? How well does Legolas know this maiden?
"It's a pleasure to meet you," Frodo said.
"Well, you're looking as young as ever! It's been forty-five years, and you still look the same. What did the elves at the Grey Havens give you, a potion for long life?" Legolas asked.
"For our wedding, the prince, Elenquil, gave us a charm that made us immortal. He said it was a thank-you gift from the elves, for me doing such a brave deed, and he said he hoped that, now being immortal like the elves, I would try to put myself to more good use," Frodo replied.
"Elenquil? Who's he?" Ethrin asked.
"I already said he was the prince of the Grey Havens. That is just about how much I know," Frodo said.
Ethrin stood still, her bones chilled. Elenquil…another familiar name. How could she recognize names of so many dwellers of Middle-Earth, and they all lived so far away from each other?
Legolas spoke, and his voice brought Ethrin out of the world of thought. "What are you doing here? It has been so long since I've seen you. And you were the last person I would expect here."
"My ship was captured by orcs. And we were taken as prisoners, Diamond and I, but we were able to escape. And we were trying to get to Lothlórien, to visit the Lady Galadriel again. But then we saw the same orcs that captured us, and decided to climb up this hill. We were hiding behind this rock, trying to remain hidden, until Lortil there jumped me. I just hope that our cries haven't warned the orcs of our presence," Frodo said, in a worried tone.
"Gimli is down there, and Lortil and I are trying to rescue him."
"Let's shoot arrows at them from all directions, so they might think that we are a big group. Then retreat. After a little while longer, shoot more arrows. Diamond and I have gotten ourselves a bit into archery, and we have our own bows and arrows. We can attack together."
"What Lortil and I were originally planning was for her to be a distraction while I go and get Gimli. Lortil, what do you think?"
Ethrin thought for a while, and said, "I could still be the distraction. They will probably chase after me, and then Legolas can go get Gimli. You halflings can shoot your arrows at the orcs, and distract them a little, but I will try to keep them chasing me."
"Please call me Frodo, and my wife Diamond," Frodo said.
"Very well."
White trees everywhere, and the forest shone with a soft moonlight. Legolas stepped through it, and he could feel that this place was Lothlórien, the place of Galadriel. He was alone and felt lost. Legolas's horse ran off, and he chased after it. Whiteshadow didn't run very fast, but just fast enough to leave Legolas panting when he finally stopped. Whiteshadow reared, and snorted many times. A voice was heard, and Whiteshadow neighed over and over. "Lothlórien… Lothlórien…" the voice said, but Legolas felt confused. What was this voice trying to tell him? He saw the images around him fade, and he grew dizzy…so lightheaded…so faint…
Legolas woke to sunshine. He had fallen asleep, for once, and he watched as Frodo and Diamond sat on the ground next to him. They had a few pieces of bread, and Ethrin was sitting next to them. She wasn't eating anything, but was looking down at the orc camp. The orcs were stirring, and some were walking around. But Ethrin spotted Gimli down there, tied up and unconscious. She saw Legolas was awake.
"We go right now. Frodo and Diamond, climb down slowly, until most of the orcs are gone. Then, shoot as many orcs as possible, and then hide. Do not be seen, whatever you do," Ethrin said.
"Are you sure about this?" Frodo asked, still not trusting the elf maiden.
"Do you have another plan?"
"I guess not. Then I hope this one works."
"May fate be with you."
"And you."
Ethrin crawled down, and found Whiteshadow and Starlight untouched. She mounted Starlight, and waited for Legolas to get down. Looking at him, she nodded, and started riding toward the camp. Legolas watched her go.
Ethrin rode her horse as close to the camp as she dared, and then started circling it. Suddenly, she appeared from behind the trees, and caught the orcs by surprise. They stared at each other, and then Ethrin shouted, "I am the one you seek! Come catch me if you can, or stay on your slow asses, and let my bow pierce your hearts! Or are you too afraid to face even a single she-elf!"
The orcs gave a cry and started running after her. Three hundred of them were running. Starlight turned and ran, winding through the trees. Only about thirty were left to guard the prisoner. Gimli woke and recognized her as Lortil, and his heart gave a leap. Soon he watched orcs fall from arrows, and then Legolas came charging through with Whiteshadow. More arrows were fired from behind the trees. The orcs ran towards the direction the arrows were coming from, but then the arrows stopped. More arrows poured from another direction. Soon, all of the orcs were dead.
"Legolas! I was wondering when you would notice I was gone!" Gimli said happily.
"You have Lortil to thank for that. A changeling replaced you, and we couldn't have told the difference without her," he replied with a grin.
"Master Gimli! How are you?" Frodo shouted, running up to Gimli with Diamond trailing behind him.
"Why Frodo! How did you get here? I would have thought you were still in the Grey Havens," Gimli cried.
"Well, here I am. Those same orcs captured my wife and I. Meet Diamond."
"Well, you sure are a pretty hobbit lass."
Diamond blushed, and smiled.
"Where are Aragorn, Arlena, and the rest?"
"Lortil and I rode ahead. We just found Frodo and Diamond when we first got here."
"Lortil…is she going to be alright? She has pretty much the whole horde after her."
"I worry about her…but I believe she'll be alright. She seems to be able to take care of herself, but I plan to follow the orcs. Stay here with Frodo and Diamond; they've both got bows. I'll go after the orcs."
Legolas mounted Whiteshadow and chased after the orcs. He was afraid for Ethrin, and worried more than he expressed. She was their lifeline, and was a member of the party. She was just as important to him as Gimli was, and as Aragorn and now Frodo and Diamond were, and are. He hoped that she could really handle all three hundred orcs.
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