Chapter 8
I look at him, my friend, I have known him for many years, since as young woman of 30 winters I first came to Lothlorien, bearing a message to Lady Arwen from her father, Lord Elrond.
I admit I was a bit scared, approaching the infamous Golden Woods. It wasn't helped by the fact that I was injured, I had run into some Orcs as I came through the Gap of Rohan. It was unusual for Orcs to be there, but since the battle of five Armies, the few surviving Orcs had been increasingly on the move, as the Elves of Mirkwood can testify.
The dozen Orcs I ran into gave me a fierce fight; for all that they were small Orcs. I had received a cut to the ribs and another to the head for my trouble in killing those Orcs, and I entered the edges of Lothlorien feeling ill and weak. I came upon a clean running stream, and paused for a drink. As I stood again, I looked straight into the face of an Elven Archer, his arrow pointed at my heart.
I stood slowly, taking great care to keep my hands in sight, and to make no move towards my weapons.
`My brothers and I keep guard on the borders of the dwelling of the Lord and Lady of the Golden Woods. Woman, you have trespassed these borders, tell me why we should not kill you now!!' the elf said in an arrogant tone.
`I am a Ranger, I bear a message from Lord Elrond of Rivendell to his daughter Lady Arwen, believed to dwelling with the Lord Celeborn and Lady Gladriel, her grandparents,' I replied, arrogant now in my turn.
`How do we know you speak the truth, Mortal', he snapped back at me.
`Tell one of two behind those trees to my right, to search my pack, letters proving who I am and why I am here will be found there,' I said, fairly confident that the rude elf in front of me did not know I had spotted the other two.
He looked surprised, and directed the other elves to my pack, lying on the ground beside me. I was motioned to step back, as the two approached me. The movement made my head swim, and my ribs ache. One elf spoke in Elvish to the first, still pointing his arrow at me, `She is wounded, brother, at least let her sit while we question her.'
Before my assailant could answer, I spoke, in Elvish too, `Yes, please, let me sit, before I fall down', I asked.
`Then sit you down, and tell us who you are', said the first elf.
`I am Elandra, younger sister of Aragorn, son of Arathorn, Isildur's heir, and as I said earlier, I bear a message to Lady Arwen from her father', I said sitting down slowly and resting my aching head in my hands.
`Why then, does not your brother, or Elrond's sons not bear this message,' he replied.
`Because they are already here, the ones you name accompanied Lady Arwen here and stay here still', I answered.
The arrow had not wavered an inch in its aim on my heart, and I had no doubt but it would be loosed instantly if the archer was not satisfied with my answers. Silently I urged the two searching my gear to hurry, I was feeling giddy and unwell, and didn't want to faint in front of these three; the wound at the back of my head had started bleeding again, I could feel the blood running down through my long dark hair, and onto the collar of my shirt.
Hours seemed to pass, but I knew it was only minutes, and then the letters were found. `She is who she says is, here are Lord Elrond's letters,' said one elf to the archer. The arrow was removed from my gaze, and the one in front of me gave a brief bow. `I am Haldir, Ranger Elandra, Captain of the Border Guards of Lothlorien. These two are my brothers Rumil and Orophin, we will escort you to the Lady you bear tidings for.'
`Haldir, we had best tend this lady's wounds, her head is bleeding badly', the one called Rumil spoke. All three elves now sat down around me, and one of them, Haldir I think, made me remove my hands from where I had grasped my head in pain. He then brushed my hair away from the wound, and I felt a wet cloth on my head, and pressure applied. I grunted with pain and Haldir apologised, `The bleeding must be stopped, this cloth has a herbal mixture on it that will soon stop the bleeding, then there are other treatments we can give you so you can travel'.
As I sat there, I felt the pain lessen, and soon Haldir removed his hand from my head. A flask was offered to me and I was told to drink, that the contents would give me strength. I did as I was bid, and soon felt strong enough to stand carefully. Then with Haldir leading the way, Rumil walking beside, and Orophin carrying my pack, I was taken where few mortals tread, into the Golden Woods of legend.
I look at him, my friend, I have known him for many years, since as young woman of 30 winters I first came to Lothlorien, bearing a message to Lady Arwen from her father, Lord Elrond.
I admit I was a bit scared, approaching the infamous Golden Woods. It wasn't helped by the fact that I was injured, I had run into some Orcs as I came through the Gap of Rohan. It was unusual for Orcs to be there, but since the battle of five Armies, the few surviving Orcs had been increasingly on the move, as the Elves of Mirkwood can testify.
The dozen Orcs I ran into gave me a fierce fight; for all that they were small Orcs. I had received a cut to the ribs and another to the head for my trouble in killing those Orcs, and I entered the edges of Lothlorien feeling ill and weak. I came upon a clean running stream, and paused for a drink. As I stood again, I looked straight into the face of an Elven Archer, his arrow pointed at my heart.
I stood slowly, taking great care to keep my hands in sight, and to make no move towards my weapons.
`My brothers and I keep guard on the borders of the dwelling of the Lord and Lady of the Golden Woods. Woman, you have trespassed these borders, tell me why we should not kill you now!!' the elf said in an arrogant tone.
`I am a Ranger, I bear a message from Lord Elrond of Rivendell to his daughter Lady Arwen, believed to dwelling with the Lord Celeborn and Lady Gladriel, her grandparents,' I replied, arrogant now in my turn.
`How do we know you speak the truth, Mortal', he snapped back at me.
`Tell one of two behind those trees to my right, to search my pack, letters proving who I am and why I am here will be found there,' I said, fairly confident that the rude elf in front of me did not know I had spotted the other two.
He looked surprised, and directed the other elves to my pack, lying on the ground beside me. I was motioned to step back, as the two approached me. The movement made my head swim, and my ribs ache. One elf spoke in Elvish to the first, still pointing his arrow at me, `She is wounded, brother, at least let her sit while we question her.'
Before my assailant could answer, I spoke, in Elvish too, `Yes, please, let me sit, before I fall down', I asked.
`Then sit you down, and tell us who you are', said the first elf.
`I am Elandra, younger sister of Aragorn, son of Arathorn, Isildur's heir, and as I said earlier, I bear a message to Lady Arwen from her father', I said sitting down slowly and resting my aching head in my hands.
`Why then, does not your brother, or Elrond's sons not bear this message,' he replied.
`Because they are already here, the ones you name accompanied Lady Arwen here and stay here still', I answered.
The arrow had not wavered an inch in its aim on my heart, and I had no doubt but it would be loosed instantly if the archer was not satisfied with my answers. Silently I urged the two searching my gear to hurry, I was feeling giddy and unwell, and didn't want to faint in front of these three; the wound at the back of my head had started bleeding again, I could feel the blood running down through my long dark hair, and onto the collar of my shirt.
Hours seemed to pass, but I knew it was only minutes, and then the letters were found. `She is who she says is, here are Lord Elrond's letters,' said one elf to the archer. The arrow was removed from my gaze, and the one in front of me gave a brief bow. `I am Haldir, Ranger Elandra, Captain of the Border Guards of Lothlorien. These two are my brothers Rumil and Orophin, we will escort you to the Lady you bear tidings for.'
`Haldir, we had best tend this lady's wounds, her head is bleeding badly', the one called Rumil spoke. All three elves now sat down around me, and one of them, Haldir I think, made me remove my hands from where I had grasped my head in pain. He then brushed my hair away from the wound, and I felt a wet cloth on my head, and pressure applied. I grunted with pain and Haldir apologised, `The bleeding must be stopped, this cloth has a herbal mixture on it that will soon stop the bleeding, then there are other treatments we can give you so you can travel'.
As I sat there, I felt the pain lessen, and soon Haldir removed his hand from my head. A flask was offered to me and I was told to drink, that the contents would give me strength. I did as I was bid, and soon felt strong enough to stand carefully. Then with Haldir leading the way, Rumil walking beside, and Orophin carrying my pack, I was taken where few mortals tread, into the Golden Woods of legend.