The Traveler: Chapter Nine

Legolas didn't wake again until dusk. He opened his eye to the dark orange sky of the setting sun. He stretched his body and looked over to Ariana. She'd drawn away from him during their sleep. She lay a few feet away, her legs pulled up to her chest.

Legolas crept closer to Ariana. It looked to him that her whole body was shaking. He gently touched her shoulder and called her name. When his fingers touched her shoulder he felt a fire on her skin. He looked at her face and saw her eyelids flickering but they remained closed.

Becoming worried, Legolas quickly dressed Ariana and himself, then he gently lifted Ariana into his arms and turned back to Mirkwood. Legolas looked down at Ariana. Her lips were opened slightly and Legolas could see she was taking shallow breaths.

Legolas held Ariana closer and stepped through the woods. He did not know what evil had its hold on her and hoped Gandalf could help her.

Ariana had no idea what was going on around her. While she'd slept after making love to Legolas, she'd slowly slipped into a void of nothingness. Now she was stuck; she couldn't find her way out of it. If Legolas had look under her dress and seen her necklace he would have seen it was burning a bright red.

* * *

After Legolas left Ariana in her room, he went searching for Gandalf. Ariana's skin was still on fire and Legolas felt a need to find the wizard quickly.

Gandalf was sitting with King Thranduil in the same room the King and Ariana had first met in. Legolas approached the two and told Gandalf that he needed his help. The two returned to Ariana's room. They found her curled up in a fetal position.

Gandalf laid his hand upon her forehead. The heat from her skin crept up his arm. He furrowed his brow and studied her face. Her eyelids still continued to flicker, as though she was dreaming.

Legolas watched Gandalf as he stepped back from the bed. The old wizard suddenly seemed older to Legolas. Gandalf turned to him. "We will have to leave for Rivendall earlier then I had hoped." Gandalf stepped to the door and opened it but didn't leave. "Tell your father we will be leaving tomorrow." Legolas looked back to Ariana before he left the room to do what Gandalf asked.

After Legolas left, Gandalf looked over to Ariana's still form. He heard her let out a small moan as her face contracted as though she was pained. Gandalf stepped to the side of the bed and raised his staff. Words fell past his lips that were only used in the dire of circumstances.

A bright white light began to radiate from the tip of the staff. Ariana was bathed in a cool, soothing light. Immediately she stopped shaking and her body relaxed. A change came across her face. Her features were relaxed and peaceful.

Gandalf let out a satisfied grunt and lowered his staff. A look of pity came across his face. Ariana's troubles were only beginning. She reminded him so much of Frodo, when he first encountered the Ring. Lost in a world of pain and torture, they both would suffer much in the end.

* * *

Gandalf sat by Ariana's bed for the rest of the night and far into the morn. He watched over her and pondered what would happen at the Council of Elrond.

Legolas hardly left Ariana's side as she lay in slumber. He held her hand and stroked her hair, all while under the watchful eye of Gandalf.

When Ariana awake the next morning she was surprised to see the Elf sitting by her bed. She gave him a warm smile and stroked his cheek. Legolas held her hand and asked how she was feeling.

Ariana let out a small laugh and kissed his hand. "I'm feeling much better, thank you." She pulled herself up to a sitting position and looked over to Gandalf.

"Good morning, Gandalf," Ariana said in the happiest voice she could muster. She'd only been awake a few minutes and her headache was already upon her.

"Good morning, Ariana," the old wizard replied.

Gandalf's eyes trailed to the far corner of the room, then back to the bed. Ariana followed his gaze and saw a small bag packed in the corner of the room. Ariana looked back to Gandalf.

"Are we leaving already?" Ariana asked as she looked between Legolas and Gandalf. She figured their plans must have changed a bit while she'd been busy in her dream world.

She thought to herself for a quick moment and tried to remember what it was she had been dreaming about. She remembered a dark tower, high above a battle and she could remember a small sword, maybe a dagger. The memory faded and she was left with nothing, just a feeling of dread about her future in Middle Earth. A small shiver crept up her back and she pulled the covers up to her chest.

"We will be leaving for Rivendall whenever you are ready, Ariana," Gandalf said as he sat back in his chair. "After yesterday, our journey cannot be put off any longer. I have sent word to the others that we will be leaving today." With that, Gandalf stood up from his chair. "Hopefully, you can be ready to leave soon Ariana."

Ariana nodded her head. "Yes. If my things have already been packed, I'm ready to go."

Gandalf said he needed to speak with King Thranduil one last time before they left for Rivendall. He left Ariana and Legolas alone.

Ariana turned and smiled at Legolas. Every feeling and memory came back to her from the meadow. She'd never felt so loved from one person before. "I'm sorry," she said as she looked down.

Legolas leaned forward and kissed her softly on the lips. "What for?"

Ariana looked him in the eye. She laughed and touched his face. "I'm not sure really, I just have this feeling of guilt." Her hand dropped back to the bed.

He kissed her again and stood up from his chair. "Do not be sorry, melamin."

Ariana raised her eyebrows at him. "Melamin?"

Legolas smiled at her. "My love." At that, Ariana blushed but smiled at him.

Suddenly, there came a knock at the door. Legolas and Ariana turned to see a one of the King's servants at the door. He bowed as he entered the room. "Prince Legolas, your father would like to speak with you before you depart."

Legolas nodded at the elf, who then turned and left the room. Legolas then looked back to Ariana. He kissed her forehead and told her he would return quickly, then he left the room.

Ariana took the alone time to get herself out of bed and into some traveling clothes that had been laid out for her again. When she stood up and stretched out her back she felt a pain in her chest. Curiously, it faded away as she moved about the room. She silently wished her headache would do the same.

She pulled the dress on that the Elves had left her again. It was a plain dress just like the one she'd worn out with Legolas. After she was dressed she picked up the bag that had been in the corner of her room and left.

She ran into Legolas in the hall. He smiled when he saw her and took her bag. He helped her out to the yard where five horses were waiting. Gandalf was already standing out in the yard, as were two elves Ariana had never met. They both had a quiver full of the deadly Elven arrows on their backs.

King Thranduil came out of the house and a tall Elf followed behind him, carrying a small sword. The King stopped first in front of Gandalf. They exchanged a few words, first in English, then in a language that Ariana didn't know. She figured it must have been Elvish, the same thing she'd been hearing everywhere else.

After the King was finished speaking with Gandalf, he turned to his son. Legolas stood by one of the horses, petting the beast's head. Legolas hugged his father and said something again in the Elvish language. Ariana watched as the two parted from their embrace.

Ariana smiled as the old king turned to her next. The King returned her smile, though she noticed the sadness contained in it. They hugged and Ariana felt like she was losing a father. A deep sadness suddenly filled her heart, causing her headache to sweep across her mind.

"I don't know how to thank you for your kindness to me. I wish there was something I could do to repay you," Ariana said as they parted.

The smile quickly vanished from the King's face and Ariana feared she'd said the wrong thing. She was confused as she watched the King called forward the Elf who'd followed him out into the yard.

"For you, Lady Ariana," King Thranduil said as he took the small sword from the Elf and handed it to her. Ariana slowly took the sword, which she now realized was no bigger then a dagger. It was extremely light in her hands. She studied the hilt of the dagger and noticed the same strange writing on it that had been in the book that had started all this.

Ariana looked back up to the King as he began to speak. "Forged by the Elves, I hope it will bring you hope when it is most needed."

Ariana smiled and hugged the King one last time. She whispered a soft 'thank you' before they parted again. He smiled at her and laid a small kiss on her forehead.

The five travelers quickly mounted their horses and rode down the long path into the surrounding forest. Ariana couldn't help but wipe away a tear as they entered the woods. A feeling of dread and sadness hit her as the thought that she'd never see Mirkwood again entered her mind. She didn't know where the thought came from, but she knew it was true.

****Notes****

Yep, with in doubt, consult a wizard. I couldn't think of any cool names in Elvish for Ariana's dagger. I was tempted to name it Spork, but I don't think that would go along with the rest of the story. [All disclaimers and warnings can be found at the beginning of chapter 1.]