Disclaimer: I do not own anything that Tolkien has already written about. I don't own the Lord of the Rings plot. I don't own…well, I think you know the drill. Now let's get to what I can actually claim as my own. I own Silmarien (Mari) Goldeneve, Sillaluna ('Luna) the awesome cat. Thank you for taking up valuable time to read my little story here…*Kekeke*
Chapter 3: Arrival In the Elven Kingdom of Rivendell
Mari and Sillaluna continued on, ever watchful. An eerie wind blew in their faces and pulled threateningly on Mari's long ebony black braid that hung down her back. Sillaluna eyed the landscape with her green eyes that so resembled Mari's. Mari had a strange urge to huddle up in a corner and stay there forever. She resisted the urge and her face remained emotionless.
Suddenly an earsplitting screech filled the air. Mari resisted the urge to cover her ears and instead whipped out the long twin knives that had been a gift from Gandalf. They had been made in the Elven Kingdom of Rivendell. Each had Elven spells inscribed on them. Each was sharpened to kill. Mari had no idea how she knew how to use them, but she could. She even went far enough to be deadly with them. Sillaluna sharpened her claws on a stone and stared ahead apprehensively.
Five disgusting orcs sprang out of the growth and stopped when they saw Mari. The leader of the pack broke into an evil grin. The others followed suit. Mari watched on with a cold rage in her eyes. She had never felt such a rage. She had no idea where it came from, but she felt the ice drawing around her heart unmercifully. Sillaluna looked at Mari determinedly. Mari spun the knives in her hands and sprinted forward with inhumanly speed. The orcs cackled and brought out their hellish weapons.
Mari sliced one of her blades across one of the hideous orcs. It fell instantly. Sillaluna managed to lock one of her long claws into the hollow in another of the orcs neck. Two down. Three more to destroy. Mari brought down her long elven knife once again, but this time she was not so lucky. A cruel looking blade slashed at her arm making a large wound that dripped with crimson blood. Nevertheless, the orc fell upon her descending knife. Mari smiled triumphantly in her mind, but kept her face blank. In truth, she was feeling kind of sick with all of the killing she was doing. Destroying life was not her nature.
Sillaluna hopped up unto Mari's shoulder and warded off offending orcs with her ferocious claws. Mari smiled and gave her small companion a kiss on the cheek. The small green-eyed cat nudged Mari affectionately. Mari felt renewed and she brought her blade up once more. The two remaining orcs fell to her descending blade. Sillaluna hissed that them one final time, then looked up at her companion.
Mari was staring at the scene with a strange look on her face. Her face was expressionless, but her eyes showed something akin to sadness. This was the first time she had ever killed something. Sillaluna saw the look of sadness upon her companion's face.
"*Do not regret what you have done. They would not have had an afterthought after killing you. Those foul creatures would have simply done away with you, then continued their journey without another thought, *" said Sillaluna in a quiet, understanding voice.
"*It is not their fault that they kill unmercifully. They are not nature's creatures. They were created to destroy. They were once Elves. I can feel it. I killed Elves who were tortured and Changed. I am a murderer, *" replied Mari in a depressing voice.
"*It is true, they were tortured. But you are no murder bringer. We did not torture them when they died. We killed them quickly. Some Dark creatures kill their prisoners slowly. This we did not do. Do not call yourself a murderer for making the bringers of destruction vanish. Let us carry on; this wood is not any safer because we killed only five beings of darkness. I can feel evil coming this way. We cannot tarry! *" Said Sillaluna with motivation in her voice. Mari nodded slowly and followed after her small companion. She looked back at the site where the dead orcs' lay and silently apologized. It was not their fault they were built this way. It was not their fault they lived on destruction. Mari walked away with her head drooping.
Sillaluna and Mari walked for several days, following the map that Gandalf had given them. Mari wondered many times where Frodo was and if he was all right. He was in many ways a brother to her. The way to Rivendell was not easy. It seemed impossible to find this Elven Valley. Many times Mari would hear faint rustlings in the leaves, as if they were being followed. Sillaluna also heard this, and would often pick up the pace. Finally, they reached the valley where the Elven Realm was located. Mari gaped at it. Even from this distance, it was beautiful.
Before Mari and Sillaluna could descend to the gates, a musical and commanding voice rang out.
"Greetings to you gentle cat and fair maiden! Why do you come this way? There are easier paths to the gates of fair Rivendell. Tell me what business you have here." Said the tall Elf in a firm and kind voice. He had long brown hair that was held up with two slim braids. Mari saw his pointed ears and realized that he was an elf.
"You are an elf! Incredible. I have never met an elf before. I do have someone that I am wishing to find though. I am looking for Frodo and Sam, if he is here," Mari said this all in a soft voice. The elf looked at her strangely. She knew about Frodo somehow. This one had never met her own kind before and she believed she was related to a halfling. "What is your name?" asked Mari curiously.
"My name is Leshua. I think I will take you to Lord Elrond. That is curious, your eyes match the hue of your companion's eyes. That is curious. Please follow, you chose a strange way to come," said Leshua in a kind voice. Mari followed behind and looked at her surroundings with awe written on her face. This place was absolutely gorgeous.
Leshua was thinking about this maiden. He had to admit, she was the most beautiful elven maiden he had ever seen. She had very strange eyes. Green and gold. Leshua looked back at the maiden to see if she was still following. Her small black cat was perched on her shoulder. Leshua then realized that she had an ugly wound on her arm.
"You are wounded!" Said Leshua in a shocked voice. He reached into a leather pouch that was secured around his wrist and pulled out three small leaves. "These are athelas leaves. Place them over your wound." Mari took the leaves and thanked him gratefully. They continued on their way. Soon, Mari found herself in front of huge door that was polished and seemed to radiate energy. Leshua brought her inside and showed her to where there was another regal elf sitting. This one seemed to be much older, even though he still looked young. His eyes betrayed age and wisdom.
Leshua then left out of the door again. Mari stood alone and nervous before the lordly elf.
"I have been waiting for you, Silmarien Goldeneve. I am Lord Elrond of Rivendell. I understand you wish to see young Frodo. You must understand, he was greatly wounded by a Black Rider. He may not be the same young hobbit you remember. Frodo has now seen the Shadow of this world. Please come this way. Frodo lies asleep at the moment," said the Elven Lord. Mari shook her head at his thought of what her name was. Gandalf had called her the same thing. It was a beautiful name, but like she had thought, it did not belong to her. Mari followed after the Lord and was brought to a room where a small figure was staring out the window from his bed. Mari recognized the furry feet and curly head.
"FRODO!" Said Mari louder than usual. Frodo snapped around and stared at Mari in surprise. Mari almost fell at the look in his eyes. This was not the Frodo that she remembered. There was sadness in his eyes and a look of great burden marring his features.
"Mari? Where did you come from? Sam will be so happy; he was feeling guilty about not including you in our adventure. I am glad that you did not go though. It was not an adventure I would want you to have to experience, sister." Mari stared at the small Frodo in the bed. He looked so feeble and sad.
"Gandalf gave me a map to find my way here. You look really bad. Oh, I'm sorry. That was probably mot the best thing to say. Well, I think you look as good as ever." Frodo looked up at Mari with laughter on his face. You could always trust Mari to be very straightforward. Frodo stood up and gave Mari a huge sisterly hug. Mari hugged her 'little brother' back mightily. Someone tapped on her shoulder. Mari turned around and saw an elf maiden standing there with a kind expression on her face.
"My lady, does this small creature belong to you?" Said the maiden. Mari was about to comment on the 'my lady,' but she noticed Sillaluna. The cat had a mischievous gleam in her eyes. "She was found by Lord Elrond who was having a secret council with Gandalf concerning shadowed topics. They think he was trying to spy." Mari smiled, trying deeply to restrain a fit of laughter. Frodo was looking from the cat to Mari. He was focusing mainly on their eyes. They were the same! Mari picked up her little companion and stroked her fondly. The maiden smiled to herself and left quietly.
Lord Elrond entered the room and noticed Frodo, Mari, and Sam teasing each other. Mari was calling them bottomless pits because of their like for food. They were calling her a tree-climbing cat. Sillaluna erupted a very indignant meow at this. All three of them burst out laughing. Lord Elrond smiled inwardly, but outwardly he was as stern as ever.
"Silmarien, Sam, Frodo needs his rest, as do you. Sam, you know where your chamber is. Silmarien, please follow me," said Elrond in a firm voice. Mari was confused as to why people had taken up a new nickname for her. She bid good-bye to Frodo and followed the Lordly Elf out.
Mari followed out in a confused state. Sillaluna was trailing at her heels, green eyes glittering curiously. Mari followed until she was in a large library. Lord Elrond brought her to a table and motioned for her to sit. She did.
"Where do you think you were born?" asked Elrond curiously.
"I was born in the Shire, Bag End to be exact," replied Mari easily. Well, she thought to herself, I guess Elves are very curious.
"I see. I will not be the one to break the news to you. I will inform Galadriel about this at once. You are welcome to explore Rivendell. My daughter Arwen will show you to the gardens. No doubt you will enjoy them," said Elrond in a kind voice. Mari noticed that he seemed to have a fatherly brightness in his eyes when he said his daughter's name.
Mari was free to go, confused as ever. She wandered around not really knowing where she was going. Suddenly she felt something heavy on her shoulder. Mari looked around and saw that Sillaluna was perched on her.
"Seriously, 'Luna, you are more bird than cat. Or should I say kitten," chuckled Mari happily. She had missed her companion during that strange meeting with Lord Elrond.
"Is that so? Well, I DO like a roasted bird now and then. Wait a minute! Did you just call me a kitten?!" asked Sillaluna indignantly. "I am older than you are YOUNGLING!" Sillaluna conveniently did not notice that Mari was sustaining fits of laughter. It gave her face a look as though she were about to explode.
Suddenly, a tall maiden stepped out into the pathway. She was beautiful.
"Hello Silmarien Goldeneve. I am Arwen Undomiel. Would you care to walk with me?" Mari agreed at once. She did not mind about her new nickname anymore. It was kind of pretty actually.
Silmarien and Arwen soon became great friends. It took only 60 minutes to make them inseparable. Arwen immediately liked Sillaluna and stroked her kindly. Sillaluna did not mind her at all.
Author's Note:
I am so sorry! If you tried to review, and a message popped up that said I did not accept anonymous reviews, I am sorry. I had no idea how that thing happened. I turned it off and I also have a new pen name: Cherry Blossom. If you have any requests about my story, or helpful advice, please e-mail me at Sakurablossom66@hotmail.com. I am really sorry that that happened. Please Review!!
