Chapter 20
The horses and pony ran swiftly as Ethrin, Legolas, Diamond, Frodo, Laphaela, Glorfindel, Aragorn, Gimli, and Arlena set out the next day. The screams of demons and orcs were not far off, and the horses ran, if not out of energy, then out of fear. The evil soon trailed behind far away, and it was safe to let the horses move on in a slow trot. Ethrin's new cloak was a light green but it hid her well, and it flowed behind her as the wind blew hard against her face. Diamond rode right in front of her and seemed to enjoy riding, which was strange for a hobbit. The others followed her and Aragorn as they began to make their way south.
Days passed and nothing big happened. Endless days of wandering made the tension grow up so much that everybody was getting snippy. Everybody wondered where the demons were. They were after Ethrin's blood so much before, and now they just seemed to disappear. Ethrin wondered if this was perhaps a trick that the demons played. But whatever it was, nothing eventful happened.
The day dawned as usual. Ethrin was just getting her Starlight ready when suddenly she sensed a horde of demons coming. She quickly got on Starlight and started riding off as fast as she could away from the camp. The demons suddenly appeared and rushed her. It was a pretty small bunch, but they started attacking. Ethrin quickly drew out her bow and shot some of them. Then the clangs of a sword could be heard, and Aragorn was seen slashing at the demons also, while Legolas and Glorfindel also shooting their arrows. Laphaela and Arlena guarded the hobbits. Gimli was also among the horde, slashing this way and that with his axe. Ethrin just watched Aragorn as he continued to kill demons and giving Ethrin a smug look.
"Child's play," Ethrin muttered and continued shooting her arrows. The demons started realizing that they could not possibly win, so they all ran away howling.
"We have to hurry. I thought that we had lost them, but it turns out I was wrong. The sooner we get to Mordor, the sooner we get rid of Middle-Earth's problem," Ethrin said. She turned her horse and started riding south. The rest of the party followed her and they went back on their way.
They had ridden for a few hours when Legolas suddenly stopped and turned around quickly. Wondering what he was up to, Ethrin followed him. The rest of the party got off their horses and started making camp, for the night was soon to come. Ethrin followed Legolas closely, and then spotted what Legolas had seen. There was a rustling of bushes, and then there were whispers heard. Legolas motioned to Ethrin, and they went on both sides of the rustling bush.
"Now!" Legolas shouted and they both pounced into the bushes. But to their amazement, they pulled out an elf maiden covered in leaves and dust and dirt, and also wearing a very grim expression.
"What are you doing? Get off me! Can't you see that I'm not an orc about to attack? Who are you anyway?" She shouted and then grabbed Legolas's hand off her arm and giving him a glare. Then she spotted Ethrin, who had long let go of her.
"I'm Legolas, and this is Lortil," Legolas said, indicating first to himself and then Ethrin.
"You are the prince of Mirkwood! Wow! I'd never thought I'd meet royalty, let alone another elf other than one from where I live!" the maiden squealed delightfully. Legolas just nodded slowly, amazed at how childish this elf was behaving.
"And what might your name be?" Legolas asked her calmly.
"Oh, I'm Airedaeiel! It's a PLEASURE to meet your acquaintance," Airedaeiel said delightfully. Then she caught a good look at his face, and blushed very hard.
"It's a pleasure to meet you to," Legolas said slowly, unsure of what exactly to say.
"Oh really? Why, I've always DREAMED of having a prince say that to me! Why doesn't Lortil talk? Is she a mute? And why are you here? Can I go with you wherever you're going? Maybe we can get to know each other more…" Airedaeiel's voice trailed off as she looked to the ground and blushed.
"Well, I'm sure you could come along…I think that Lortil and the others won't mind…"
"There are others with you? Other elves? I am so lucky to have bumped into you! Or should I say you bumped into me! Anyway, I'm sure Lortil won't mind, would you Lortil?"
Ethrin continued staring at this strange over-hyper elf in half disgust and half amazement. But Airedaeiel didn't seem to notice at all. She just kept her eyes on Legolas and giggled nonstop.
"Then I guess she is a mute. Oh well, come on Legolas! I want to meet the others of you party. This is much better than traveling with a bunch of orcs!" Airedaeiel said and then grabbed Legolas's hand and dragged him to the camp. It was obvious that she had been watching them for a long time. Ethrin stayed rooted to the spot. She watched as Airedaeiel happily pulled Legolas everywhere and watched as Legolas introduced her to everyone. Legolas seemed to be very happy too. Ethrin felt a pang of jealousy that quickly came and left.
"Airedaeiel, I think I should try to get Lortil to come join us. She could take quite a lot of…well…persuading to do some
thing she doesn't want," Legolas finally said to Airedaeiel, after noticing for quite a long time that Ethrin was obviously not happy with this over-cheerful elf.
"You don't have to do you? I mean we are getting along so well right now. Does she really have to come yet? I think that this place seems a lot happier without her," Airedaeiel whined. Legolas knew that what she said about the happiness was at least true for one person, for he had seen Aragorn give him and this she-elf very approving looks. But Arlena and Laphaela seemed just as…disturbed…as Ethrin was, and Diamond seemed thoroughly unhappy that this elf maiden was near. Glorfindel, Gimli, and Frodo just made no comment.
"Well…" Legolas was about to answer when she saw a very furious hobbit jump off the boulder she was sitting on and glare at him, and then continuing on in Ethrin's direction.
"See, Deedee will take care of everything…" Airedaeiel said.
"Deedee?" Legolas replied. Now this elf just seemed way out of hand.
"Fine, Diamond if you think that sounds better. Well, come on, we can talk for as long as we want. The night is long, and I'm sure that all elves don't need to sleep as much as humans. Let's spend the whole night talking! You're absolutely gorgeous so I know we go perfectly together," Airedaeiel exclaimed as she dragged a helpless-looking Legolas through the camp and into the woods. But she felt a sudden uneasiness, for she could definitely feel Lortil's eyes glaring down at her. But she continued to pull Legolas with her nonetheless.
Diamond quickly ran up to Ethrin and bade her to go back to the camp.
"Please, you have to go. Legolas wont' do anything with her! And besides, none seem to like her at all except Aragorn, who thoroughly approves of their very temporary match," Diamond said, pleading with Ethrin to join the company.
"Well, of course Aragorn approves," Ethrin retorted, her temper showing through.
"You know how Aragorn is. Besides, why would Legolas all of a sudden started falling in love with this Airedaeiel? He loves you, as he has proven more than once."
"Who knows what. But I absolutely REFUSE to have this Airedaeiel with us. She will give away our position before we are within ten miles from Mordor."
"Well, you know Mordor has spies, and the demons, so how do you know that they don't know of your quest already?"
"Maybe Airedaeiel is that spy."
"How would you know?"
"Or she will probably be showing signs of pregnancy tomorrow morning after she comes back, dragging a 'gorgeous' Legolas."
"If she does, we'll just kick her out of the group."
Ethrin still refused to budge. Diamond sighed, and went back to camp, picked up all her and Ethrin's gear, got Arlena to help her pack them onto Starlight, and then led the white horse to where Ethrin was still standing.
"Now we can talk about it privately all night if that's what you want, and if Legolas does get Airedaeiel pregnant, then you know he isn't worth your time," Diamond said and set up camp. Ethrin helped, and finally accepted some food. Then they settled down to talk. Ethrin was very nervous about what would happen the next morning. What if Legolas does get that she-elf pregnant…