Chapter Five:
"We cannot wait here longer, Legolas. The hobbits need us. If we take him with us, he will slow us down." Aragorn said, waiting impatiently.
"Not if we ride. I could--"
"What and leave us behind?" Gimli snorted.
Legolas was torn. He could not just leave him behind. "No, we shall lead the horse. This way, we can go any pace need be. The horse is young and will be able to walk or run cross country well."
Aragorn caved. "Alright. But if for any reason---"
Legolas nodded and put the elf on his horse. "Well, what are you waiting for? Let's go kill some orc!"
~~~
There was water on her lips. She sensed light on her eyelids. 'No, go away! Let me sleep!' her mind screamed. The water was refreshing and the light warm. She heard sound. Her ears couldn't make out what it was, but it grew louder and clearer.
She opened her eyes, slightly at first to let them dilate. A blurry face hovered over her. It was dark outside, but a small torch was lit beside her.
"Hello." The voice was now clear to understand. The language was elvish. "Can you hear me?"
She focused on the face until the image sharpened and he became clear. She blinked several times to be sure.
"Either I'm delirious or dead," she managed to make out in a husky voice. Her throat burned from the lack of water.
He laughed. "No sir, you were on the brink of death when we found you."
The elf helped her sit up. "May I have some water?" she asked him.
"Oh, certainly." He handed her the canteen he was holding.
As she drank he looked at her curiously. "You look strangely familiar. Pray tell, what is your name?"
She thought hard. Name.name."I.do not know."
The elf looked at her quizzically. "You do not know?"
"I am just as surprised as you. Pray tell yours."
"I am Legolas Greenleaf of the Woodland Realm."
"Pleasure. I apologize for not being able to give you mine."
"No harm done."
"What were you doing roaming around? With orcs about, that is dangerous."
She couldn't think of an answer so she changed the topic quickly before he could suspect anything. "Sorry, but would you by chance have any food on you? I have not eaten for days."
"Oh, of course." He got up to go retrieve some. She sighed, thankful he did not even second guess her not answering. Her memory.was gone.
He returned with some lambas bread. "Thank you." She took a bite and then asked. "I am sorry. I do not remember much. I must have hit my head. Why are you out here? With a man and a dwarf?"
"We are currently taking the Ring of Power to be destroyed in Mordor. The problem is, the Fellowship has broken. We lost Boromir to orcs, and Gandalf fell into the shadows. Pippin and Merry have been captured by the orcs and Frodo and Sam have continued on with the Ring."
"That is horrible news. The Ring has awoken?"
"Yes." He looked at her as if it were obvious. "The tree of us are trying to catch the orcs that have seized the hobbits. Frodo and Sam must continue alone." his voice lowered and he looked away. "Aragorn is afraid we will try to take it."
"Why would you do a thing like that?" Legolas gave her a strange look. "I am sorry. I seem to be fighting a slight amnesia."
"No, it is alright. The Ring drives people mad. Especially men."
"May I ask a question?"
"Yes."
"If you are trying to catch orc who, if I am not mistaken, seldomly rest. Then what are you waiting for?"
He looked at her, surprised almost. "Aragorn and Gimli need their rest, as do you. But you are right. We should be on our way." He stood and went over to the others.
The three cam over. She acknowledged them as Legolas introduced them. "I should be on my way. For I will slow your search."
"No sir, you are not strong enough. You do not even know who you are."
"I will fair well." She started walking. "Thank you for everything!"
"Sir, you have no food and you are forgetting your horse!" She turned at the sound of a man's voice.
"Horse? I have a horse?"
"We cannot let him go like this," she heard the elf whisper to the man.
"Yes, I agree," he whispered back.
Legolas walked over and took her arm. "Come. You shall travel with us. Do you know wherest it was you were going?"
"I don't even know where I am.I don't remember leaving."
"Do you remember where you live?"
"Where I live?" All of a sudden, she felt scared, alone. She didn't remember anything. She felt like a chid in the dark. Lost. Frightened. She started to panic causing her breathing to quicken.
Air.she blacked out.
~~~
Leglas caught the elf as he fainted. He didn't seem to be like any elf he had met. He almost seemed to be.no it couldn't be.
"He is in bad shape," Legolas said as he put the man on his horse. "We shall continue as we have."
~~~ They stopped at midday to get a drink from the river. Legolas took a cloth and we it in attempt to clean the elf off a little.
He gently whipped his face. The ski was fair and soft. He noticed that it looked like his nose had been broken. The swelling had gone down and his nose was slightly crooked.
The more dirt he removed, the more he was convinced of whet he thought earlier.
"Aragorn." Aragorn came over and looked at the elf. "Is it just me."
"He looks like a she."
"But with his muscle tone, callused hands, clothing, supplies."
"A traveler. She must have been out here for sometime if not her whole life."
"She looks familiar, although I cannot say how." He shook his head then looked at Aragorn. "We should be going. We've spent too much time here."
"Yes, I'll get Gimli. Prepare her."
Legolas wet the cloth once more and wiped her forehead. Her eyebrows raised and Legolas removed the cloth. Green eyes stared into his.
"Hello. Are you alright?"
"I think.wait.you're the elf from."
"Yes?"
"D@*& it's real."
"What's real?"
"Legolas!" Aragorn called from up ahead.
Legolas helped her up and on her horse. "I am sorry, Milady, for anything I might have done to offend you." He walked quickly towards Aragorn, leading her horse.
~~~
Days turned into weeks. Aethyrelda had been accepted as one of the Fellowship. Her memory did not return, so everyone agreed it was best if she stayed with them until it did.
Along their way, she met Gandalf, a wonderful wizard who was also part of the Fellowship, but was feared dead. She also ventured to Rohan. There, they were told of the enormous army making their way towards them and they fled to Helm's Deep.
Everything was hectic. People were rushing around trying to prepare everything for the war. Small children were being fitted into suits of armor. Legolas was furious about this.
She was ready for battle, Legolas stood beside her and beside him Gimli. They had time, but not enough.
"There!" she said in a surprised mannor. One of her hands touched Legolas' shoulder and the other pointed int the direction she was speaking of. "Those are no orcs I see!"
Horns sounded from the strange army. "Elves!" Legolas cried excitedly. Then turned to yell at the men, "Open the gates! Those are no orc horns!"
'Elves?' it had been long since she had seen her kind. She did not even recall when she had. They were dressed in beautiful cloaks and were perfect.
"Which city do they come from?" she asked Legolas, but he rushed over to greet the commander.
~~~
The orcs had arrived. They reached as far as any eye could see.
They were stomping like mad and getting themselves 'pumped up' (for want of a better phrase). The Helm's Deep army was being ordered not to shoot.
"Let me shoot," she whispered to Legolas.
"Pardon me?"
"If you let them keep going like this they will have had plenty of time to strategize and think up tactics."
"I believe they have already come up with their tactics."
"Fine, then. I don't need your approval."
"Milady!"
It was too late. She pulled an arrow out and shot and orc on the front lines. The stomping ceased.
"Hold your fire!" someone yelled from her right.
"You may have just started the war," Legolas muttered angrily under his breath.
"Then I shall end it as well."
~~~ They were everywhere. Aethyrelda shot at them until she used up all her arrows. Legolas handed her a sword.
"I---" she started, staring at the sword.
"Look out!"
She swirled around to see an orc coming at her. Deja vous. She saw the scene flash before her eyes. It was an orc running at her, but there were trees behind it.
She flashed back to reality just in time to flip over the orc and stab it from behind. Withdrawing it, she felt queasy at the sight of the orc guts all over her sword.
"It is not to look at! It's to fight with!" Legolas yelled at her while slicing off an orc's head. Blook splattered them both in the face.
"I know very well what it is for." She looked at it and an image of her holding an orc sword flashed in her mind. Yes, there was a battle. Like this but not as large.in the woodlands. Pieces of her memory were floating back.
"Aragorn!" someone yelled. No. It was Amroth. The voice had yelled Amroth.
A hand grabbed her. It was Legolas. "Get with it." A face flashed before her eyes.
"Valandir," she whispered not believing she was remembering.
"Valandir?" Legolas asked curiously.
Someone or something bumped he and she was thrown to the stone floor. The throne room. Legolas gabbed her and pulled her up while fighting off the orcs around her.
"No.you are Prince Legolas of Mirkwood. You.you didn't tell me you were a prince."
"It is not time for this. I can see you are remembering, but you must fight!"
Tari.Mirkwood.the thoughts all floated back. Aethyrelda.her name! A smile grew across her face as the great sensation of her memory floated back.
AH! There was a new sensation, one her mind and body did not like. She looked down and saw a sword sticking through her abdomen.
Her knees buckled. Her heart beat pumped in her ears pushing away all other sound. The sword was withdrawn. Someone picked her up. Elvish words were slurred together and softly reached her ears. Pain.
It spread throughout her body. She couldn't speak. She couldn't move.
She was set down. "Milady!"
It was Legolas.
"My name." she managed to make out. "Aethyrelda."
She saw the realization on his face. "Aethyrelda? Of Mirk." She nodded slightly.
"I.sorry.Didn't.know." she sucked in a painful breath. "Tell Tair.Thanks.for."
"No! You shall live. Do not give up hope."
***
He watched a painful smile spread across her face. "Thank you.My Prince. Please." the smile faded as she tried to say the last words. "tell.h--" her body fell lifeless.
"No!" he whispered. A tear dripped down his cheek. This was hi friend. He accepted her like a sister. She was one of the Fellowship. She couldn't die on him!
"Legolas!" Aragorn called to him while trying to fend off two orcs.
He had lost one friend, he wouldn't lose another. "Farewell, Mellon," he whispered as he kissed her forehead and closed her eyes.
~~~
"We cannot wait here longer, Legolas. The hobbits need us. If we take him with us, he will slow us down." Aragorn said, waiting impatiently.
"Not if we ride. I could--"
"What and leave us behind?" Gimli snorted.
Legolas was torn. He could not just leave him behind. "No, we shall lead the horse. This way, we can go any pace need be. The horse is young and will be able to walk or run cross country well."
Aragorn caved. "Alright. But if for any reason---"
Legolas nodded and put the elf on his horse. "Well, what are you waiting for? Let's go kill some orc!"
~~~
There was water on her lips. She sensed light on her eyelids. 'No, go away! Let me sleep!' her mind screamed. The water was refreshing and the light warm. She heard sound. Her ears couldn't make out what it was, but it grew louder and clearer.
She opened her eyes, slightly at first to let them dilate. A blurry face hovered over her. It was dark outside, but a small torch was lit beside her.
"Hello." The voice was now clear to understand. The language was elvish. "Can you hear me?"
She focused on the face until the image sharpened and he became clear. She blinked several times to be sure.
"Either I'm delirious or dead," she managed to make out in a husky voice. Her throat burned from the lack of water.
He laughed. "No sir, you were on the brink of death when we found you."
The elf helped her sit up. "May I have some water?" she asked him.
"Oh, certainly." He handed her the canteen he was holding.
As she drank he looked at her curiously. "You look strangely familiar. Pray tell, what is your name?"
She thought hard. Name.name."I.do not know."
The elf looked at her quizzically. "You do not know?"
"I am just as surprised as you. Pray tell yours."
"I am Legolas Greenleaf of the Woodland Realm."
"Pleasure. I apologize for not being able to give you mine."
"No harm done."
"What were you doing roaming around? With orcs about, that is dangerous."
She couldn't think of an answer so she changed the topic quickly before he could suspect anything. "Sorry, but would you by chance have any food on you? I have not eaten for days."
"Oh, of course." He got up to go retrieve some. She sighed, thankful he did not even second guess her not answering. Her memory.was gone.
He returned with some lambas bread. "Thank you." She took a bite and then asked. "I am sorry. I do not remember much. I must have hit my head. Why are you out here? With a man and a dwarf?"
"We are currently taking the Ring of Power to be destroyed in Mordor. The problem is, the Fellowship has broken. We lost Boromir to orcs, and Gandalf fell into the shadows. Pippin and Merry have been captured by the orcs and Frodo and Sam have continued on with the Ring."
"That is horrible news. The Ring has awoken?"
"Yes." He looked at her as if it were obvious. "The tree of us are trying to catch the orcs that have seized the hobbits. Frodo and Sam must continue alone." his voice lowered and he looked away. "Aragorn is afraid we will try to take it."
"Why would you do a thing like that?" Legolas gave her a strange look. "I am sorry. I seem to be fighting a slight amnesia."
"No, it is alright. The Ring drives people mad. Especially men."
"May I ask a question?"
"Yes."
"If you are trying to catch orc who, if I am not mistaken, seldomly rest. Then what are you waiting for?"
He looked at her, surprised almost. "Aragorn and Gimli need their rest, as do you. But you are right. We should be on our way." He stood and went over to the others.
The three cam over. She acknowledged them as Legolas introduced them. "I should be on my way. For I will slow your search."
"No sir, you are not strong enough. You do not even know who you are."
"I will fair well." She started walking. "Thank you for everything!"
"Sir, you have no food and you are forgetting your horse!" She turned at the sound of a man's voice.
"Horse? I have a horse?"
"We cannot let him go like this," she heard the elf whisper to the man.
"Yes, I agree," he whispered back.
Legolas walked over and took her arm. "Come. You shall travel with us. Do you know wherest it was you were going?"
"I don't even know where I am.I don't remember leaving."
"Do you remember where you live?"
"Where I live?" All of a sudden, she felt scared, alone. She didn't remember anything. She felt like a chid in the dark. Lost. Frightened. She started to panic causing her breathing to quicken.
Air.she blacked out.
~~~
Leglas caught the elf as he fainted. He didn't seem to be like any elf he had met. He almost seemed to be.no it couldn't be.
"He is in bad shape," Legolas said as he put the man on his horse. "We shall continue as we have."
~~~ They stopped at midday to get a drink from the river. Legolas took a cloth and we it in attempt to clean the elf off a little.
He gently whipped his face. The ski was fair and soft. He noticed that it looked like his nose had been broken. The swelling had gone down and his nose was slightly crooked.
The more dirt he removed, the more he was convinced of whet he thought earlier.
"Aragorn." Aragorn came over and looked at the elf. "Is it just me."
"He looks like a she."
"But with his muscle tone, callused hands, clothing, supplies."
"A traveler. She must have been out here for sometime if not her whole life."
"She looks familiar, although I cannot say how." He shook his head then looked at Aragorn. "We should be going. We've spent too much time here."
"Yes, I'll get Gimli. Prepare her."
Legolas wet the cloth once more and wiped her forehead. Her eyebrows raised and Legolas removed the cloth. Green eyes stared into his.
"Hello. Are you alright?"
"I think.wait.you're the elf from."
"Yes?"
"D@*& it's real."
"What's real?"
"Legolas!" Aragorn called from up ahead.
Legolas helped her up and on her horse. "I am sorry, Milady, for anything I might have done to offend you." He walked quickly towards Aragorn, leading her horse.
~~~
Days turned into weeks. Aethyrelda had been accepted as one of the Fellowship. Her memory did not return, so everyone agreed it was best if she stayed with them until it did.
Along their way, she met Gandalf, a wonderful wizard who was also part of the Fellowship, but was feared dead. She also ventured to Rohan. There, they were told of the enormous army making their way towards them and they fled to Helm's Deep.
Everything was hectic. People were rushing around trying to prepare everything for the war. Small children were being fitted into suits of armor. Legolas was furious about this.
She was ready for battle, Legolas stood beside her and beside him Gimli. They had time, but not enough.
"There!" she said in a surprised mannor. One of her hands touched Legolas' shoulder and the other pointed int the direction she was speaking of. "Those are no orcs I see!"
Horns sounded from the strange army. "Elves!" Legolas cried excitedly. Then turned to yell at the men, "Open the gates! Those are no orc horns!"
'Elves?' it had been long since she had seen her kind. She did not even recall when she had. They were dressed in beautiful cloaks and were perfect.
"Which city do they come from?" she asked Legolas, but he rushed over to greet the commander.
~~~
The orcs had arrived. They reached as far as any eye could see.
They were stomping like mad and getting themselves 'pumped up' (for want of a better phrase). The Helm's Deep army was being ordered not to shoot.
"Let me shoot," she whispered to Legolas.
"Pardon me?"
"If you let them keep going like this they will have had plenty of time to strategize and think up tactics."
"I believe they have already come up with their tactics."
"Fine, then. I don't need your approval."
"Milady!"
It was too late. She pulled an arrow out and shot and orc on the front lines. The stomping ceased.
"Hold your fire!" someone yelled from her right.
"You may have just started the war," Legolas muttered angrily under his breath.
"Then I shall end it as well."
~~~ They were everywhere. Aethyrelda shot at them until she used up all her arrows. Legolas handed her a sword.
"I---" she started, staring at the sword.
"Look out!"
She swirled around to see an orc coming at her. Deja vous. She saw the scene flash before her eyes. It was an orc running at her, but there were trees behind it.
She flashed back to reality just in time to flip over the orc and stab it from behind. Withdrawing it, she felt queasy at the sight of the orc guts all over her sword.
"It is not to look at! It's to fight with!" Legolas yelled at her while slicing off an orc's head. Blook splattered them both in the face.
"I know very well what it is for." She looked at it and an image of her holding an orc sword flashed in her mind. Yes, there was a battle. Like this but not as large.in the woodlands. Pieces of her memory were floating back.
"Aragorn!" someone yelled. No. It was Amroth. The voice had yelled Amroth.
A hand grabbed her. It was Legolas. "Get with it." A face flashed before her eyes.
"Valandir," she whispered not believing she was remembering.
"Valandir?" Legolas asked curiously.
Someone or something bumped he and she was thrown to the stone floor. The throne room. Legolas gabbed her and pulled her up while fighting off the orcs around her.
"No.you are Prince Legolas of Mirkwood. You.you didn't tell me you were a prince."
"It is not time for this. I can see you are remembering, but you must fight!"
Tari.Mirkwood.the thoughts all floated back. Aethyrelda.her name! A smile grew across her face as the great sensation of her memory floated back.
AH! There was a new sensation, one her mind and body did not like. She looked down and saw a sword sticking through her abdomen.
Her knees buckled. Her heart beat pumped in her ears pushing away all other sound. The sword was withdrawn. Someone picked her up. Elvish words were slurred together and softly reached her ears. Pain.
It spread throughout her body. She couldn't speak. She couldn't move.
She was set down. "Milady!"
It was Legolas.
"My name." she managed to make out. "Aethyrelda."
She saw the realization on his face. "Aethyrelda? Of Mirk." She nodded slightly.
"I.sorry.Didn't.know." she sucked in a painful breath. "Tell Tair.Thanks.for."
"No! You shall live. Do not give up hope."
***
He watched a painful smile spread across her face. "Thank you.My Prince. Please." the smile faded as she tried to say the last words. "tell.h--" her body fell lifeless.
"No!" he whispered. A tear dripped down his cheek. This was hi friend. He accepted her like a sister. She was one of the Fellowship. She couldn't die on him!
"Legolas!" Aragorn called to him while trying to fend off two orcs.
He had lost one friend, he wouldn't lose another. "Farewell, Mellon," he whispered as he kissed her forehead and closed her eyes.
~~~