Chapter 16
Entenal stood in front of all the soldiers. This was his first battle in awhile. The last huge battle he had fought was when he went to fight in the battles at Mordor, during the destruction of the one ring. Now it was time to demonstrate his survival skills. He had been living in Rivendell all his life, serving Elrond, though he didn't like to call it serving. Elrond had been more than kind to him, and Entenal treated him like a father, his own having left Rivendell at his birth and never came back.
The demons came slowly and surely. The air was tense, and though elves usually don't express their feelings, Entenal could pretty much guess what the others were thinking and feeling. His many times of experience taught him what to expect, and this time didn't seem much different from all the other battles, but he knew that a few of the elves among them were only seventeen. He only hoped that help was coming.
Suddenly, the demons sprinted into a run, and were within range of the archers. Arrows flew through the air, slaying many demons. The crumbling bodies let out smoke, and the dead devils' companions just ran over them. The air was thick with ashes and arrows, as more and more evil fell to the weapons of the elves. Entenal watched as the demons were close enough for the ground troops to attack, and he ordered a charge. The troops ran forward, using spears, swords, daggers, knives, and any other weapon they had to cut at the black shapes around them. The battle seemed to be going very well.
Suddenly shouts from the last row of soldiers flew to the ears of the soldiers up front. Entenal tried to see through the ashes that filled the air. He made out many dark shapes, attacking from inside Rivendell. A cry of surprise nearly escaped his lips. He called for the archers to form semicircles on the slopes and ordered the troops to form into small circle formations, wounding and slaying any demon that passed by. But the surprise attack was too big for Rivendell's troops to handle. The corpses of elves littered the ground, lying among ashes and weapons, although their blood seeped into the ground, as if the land of the elves would not let the demons feed off of them. The number of demons seemed to be ever increasing, while the amount of soldiers was steadily, but definitely, decreasing. Hope seemed lost…so lost…
The messenger stared at the scene below him. He didn't bother rushing to help, nor did he bother to report back to Elrond. The thought of the dead elf he had impersonated lying among Rivendell's beautiful falls satisfied him at the moment, and his belief that Rivendell was doomed was glory to his heart. His body melted into that of a crow, ash-black feathers sprouting from his body as he shrank. Then the Conwilen flew over the battle and turned in the direction of Mordor.
Glorfindel had just finished telling Aragorn, Arlena, and Laphaela about his journey until he found them. They had finally reached the edge of Lothlórien.
"There are many different kinds of demons. Some feed off happiness, and some feed off flesh. Some suck up souls, and some absorb energy. But some drink blood. Elf blood is especially important to all demons. Drinking the blood gives demons great power, and they cannot be slayed by any elven weapon. Which would mean it would be nearly impossible to slay them," Arlena explained.
"I have heard of elf blood being used by druids and necromancers to destroy, and heal wounds, but I have not heard of this," Aragorn said.
"I have looked into very old records at Mirkwood, although now they are all destroyed."
The group walked slowly into Lothlórien, and all conversations ceased.
The scream of someone, the shout of pain escaping the lips of so many, echoed in Ethrin's mind. The screams of orcs were as loud as ever, the clanging of metal, the clashing of armor. Thuds of knives driven into bodies, the scream of a human getting pierced in the heart by an arrow. Suddenly, the darkness was lit by a flash of light. Was that light fire? Ethrin wanted, so bad, to see more detail. But the more she tried to take in, the more everything became blurred. In vain, she gave a sharp cry.
"Are you alright?" Legolas asked, sitting next to Ethrin's bed.
"Where am I? What happened?" was all Ethrin was able to get out of her mouth. Nobody else was in the room, and her hood had fallen down when she had gotten up suddenly.
"Don't worry, nobody else is here. And I saw your face already, when I found you…"
"Oh…"
"Do you feel alright? You have been unconscious for a while."
"Where am I?"
"You are in Lothlórien. I brought you here about two days ago. Aragorn and that party have arrived, bringing along someone unexpected. Gimli is also expected to arrive soon. But none of them have seen your face."
"So you are the only one?"
"Uma, which means yes."
Ethrin climbed slowly out of bed, her white cotton nightdress making her feel light and comfortable, although she remembered to leave her cloak on and pull her hood on over her face. She climbed onto a branch of a tree, sitting down and letting her eyes feast on the visions of Lórien. She was weak, and had used most of her strength getting onto the branch. She leaned against the trunk, taking the beauty of this forest, untouched by evil. She heard Legolas climb up onto the branch, and turned too look at him. Legolas was also watching the scenes of the Golden Woods. Suddenly she saw Aragorn and the others approaching.
"Lortil, are you alright?" Arlena asked.
"I'm alright."
Ethrin smiled from under her hood, and walked away. Aragorn looked at her with a slight look of annoyance on his face. This elf had been difficult the whole time, and he was a bit glad that he didn't have to deal with her. He knew that he had misjudged her so many times, but he didn't want to admit it.
Ethrin walked around the trees, feeling the peace as it stretched around her, floating in the air. She heard the sound of water, and followed it to a beautiful waterfall. The sound of the rushing water calmed her and she sat down on a boulder right next to it. She felt the light spray of water on her face. Waterfalls had always been able to calm her, give her reassurance and relaxation. And there she sat, for a very long while.
Uruviel watched Legolas. He seemed so noble, so strong. She had first seen him when he had come with the Fellowship of the Ring those many years back. He had been with the elves when they were singing, and had later listened to the lament for Gandalf. There, she had fallen in love with him. And now, fate had brought him to Lothlórien. Did it mean something? She had watched him talk to the elf-maiden.
Uruviel brushed back her long golden-blond hair, and leaned against a tree, watching him. Everything about him was perfect, everything from his smile to his care for all. Feeling in love, but not letting it show in her face, she walked up to him as he watched Ethrin leaving. He looked calm, thought he kept on looking in Lortil's direction and then at Aragorn.
"Lle quell are you well?" she asked.
"Amin quell I am well," Legolas replied, his attention temporarily taken away from Ethrin and Aragorn.
Uruviel ran out of things to say, her breath stopping at the sight of the one she loved. He was so perfect, and she wanted him so much. She wanted to share this quest with him, so she could heal him when he needed healing. Uruviel knew in her heart that Legolas would be the only one she's ever loved. She watched as Legolas, seeing that she wasn't talking, walked away silently, smiling back at her.
Legolas knew that Uruviel loved him. She had shown it openly the first time they met, and was now still showing her feelings for him. But he couldn't return the affection that she bestowed to him. His heart, he realized now, was with another. The one that he gave his heart to was one that he had never expected to. He realized that he loved Ethrin, the deepest way possible.
Legolas walked quickly in the direction that Ethrin had gone. He had to let her know, just had to. But whether she'd return his love was yet to be revealed.
Glorfindel had watched the she-elf for a long time, never seeing her face, but he felt a sense of familiarity towards her. Something he could not quite place. He had to find out who exactly she was, or else he would never get any answers. Many a night he had pondered this, and now, he felt a fear of knowing.
"You will have to leave in a few days. The evil is struggling to reach you, Ethrin," Galadriel said. Ethrin looked turned to her.
"How do you know my name? I thought Legolas didn't tell anybody…" she said.
"I don't need to be informed of who you are, for I knew easily."
"Then you know my past?"
"That I am not completely aware of."
Ethrin looked up into Galadriel's eyes, not realizing at the moment she was one of the few who could withstand her keen gaze. Galadriel looked into Ethrin's eyes also, searching deep into her pupils. She saw the brown eyes gazing into her blue ones, in the dark the brown eyes looking dark as Mirkwood forest. Finally, Galadriel looked away. Ethrin was the first one who could withstand her gaze, and even make the great Galadriel look away.
"Will I ever know?" Ethrin asked.
"In time, you will," Galadriel replied.
*Once again I am BEGGING you to please review! I know I am altering some of what Tolkien wrote, but I am trying to stick with what he wrote as best as I can. Thank you!
*In case you didn't know, I do not own Uruviel; I think she is the granddaughter of Galadriel, but I may be mistaken. I have not done much research on her, so I don't really know her personality very well, or her life. So if I'm mistaken on some information about her that you may know, please correct me. Thank you!