The Traveler: Chapter Ten

The first day of riding passed by the five quickly. They were completely surrounded by the trees of Mirkwood. Ariana was caught in the beauty and simplicity of it all, just like the first day she'd arrived in Middle Earth.

The woods were mostly silent, except for a few birds' calls and the Elves' singing. Ariana rode next to Legolas and listen to his strong voice as he and the other two Elves sang a song about the sun and moon and stars. It was quit a beautiful song. The feeling the three Elves put into their singing made up for the fact that Ariana didn't know some of the Elvish words in it.

As they rode, Ariana fell back beside Gandalf. The old wizard sat upon his horse, a light colored horse who's name was Shadowfax. Ariana horse was a light brown, with a long mane of dark hair. Legolas had told her the horse's name was Argon.

Ariana couldn't keep the smile off her face as they rode until the darkening sky. She deeply wished for a pencil and her sketchpad she always kept by her bed back home.

She took a deep breath and looked over at Gandalf. "It's so beautiful," she said as she motioned towards the woods.

Gandalf smiled at her and slowly nodded his head. Ariana let out a sigh and frowned a little. "I wish I had my sketchpad. I'd love to get these down."

Gandalf weighed Ariana last comment for a few moments, then nodded his head slowly, almost like he'd decided something.

The five travelers stopped a few hours later. They moved off the road to a small clearing. One of the Elves pulled out some food and handed out to the other four. Ariana looked at the food and saw a it was a cross between a cookie and a piece of bread. Legolas told her it was lembas, food specially made by the Elves.

Ariana took a bite and immediately felt a warmth spread throughout her body. The lembas revived her from the long day of traveling after only a few bites. It took away the aches and pains she'd received from riding. She only wished it had also taken away her growing headache. Ariana hoped the riding out give her a reason to actually get some sleep tonight.

Ariana laid down on the soft grass and pulled her cloak tighter around her. She closed her eyes and let her body relax completely.

Just then, she felt a movement to her right and opened her eyes. She smiled as Legolas laid beside her. She changed her position and curled up beside him. His arm wrapped itself around her body and Ariana fell asleep, feeling protected by Legolas' strong arm around her.

* * *

The five began riding again early the next morning. Ariana quickly mounted Argon and settled into the saddle. She stretched her back and began to follow Legolas out of the clearing and back on the path they'd been following the day before.

As they rode, Ariana felt a pain begin to spread from her chest throughout her body. She braced herself again the saddle and closed her eyes. Her headache was worse then before and she quickly became lightheaded. Ariana opened her eyes and rubbed her forehead.

"Ariana?" she heard a voice asked her. She looked over and saw Legolas' worried face. She realized they'd stopped and the four other travelers were now watching her.

"I- ," she began, but it caught in her throat. She couldn't explain it. For some reason, the farther they rode, the stronger the pain in her head and chest became.

Legolas pulled his horse, a beautiful white stallion named Ithil, closer and touched Ariana's shoulder. He quickly saw the pain in her face and realized she couldn't ride herself.

"You shall ride with me, if you wish," Legolas said as placed his hand on hers. Ariana nodded her head and let him pull her onto his horse. She sat in front of him, between his arms. One of the Elves grabbed Argon's reins and tied them to his horse's saddle.

The rest of the trip went by quickly for Ariana, only because she was semi-conscious for it. She barely recalled stopping the second night. She remembered the lembas, a bright light in a sea of darkness. She also remembered laying next to Legolas as she slept.

Something Ariana couldn't forget was the pain. She'd have given anything to make the pain in her head and chest stop. She sat on Ithil with her head resting on Legolas' shoulder as they passed into the Hithaeglir Mountains.

The five stopped for their final night in the middle of the mountains. Ariana slipped down off Ithil's saddle and into Legolas' arms. She gave him a weak smile and he helped her to the fire that had been built.

Ariana sat silently beside Legolas, her arms wrapped around herself, trying to stay warm. The mountains surrounded them, giving Ariana a feeling of dread. She missed the smell and feel of the woods. The mountains were cold and dark; not what Ariana needed at the moment.

After some more of the Elves' lembas the five laid down wherever they could find the softest rocks and slept.

Ariana couldn't sleep though. She laid in Legolas' embrace for over an hour, but the pain in her chest kept her up. It almost felt like a something was constricting around her chest; it was painful for her to take deep breaths.

Ariana slipped out from under Legolas' arm and crept away to a nearby rock. She sat with her head bowed, rubbing her temples. She thought about the upcoming Council and what she was going to do.

She knew Gandalf had spoken the truth; that the only way to end this was her own death. Ariana had a little trouble excepting it. She thought about the dagger King Thranduil had given her, that was now packed away in her bag on Argon's saddle.

Ariana turned back and looked at Legolas. She narrowed her eyes and studied Legolas' face. She couldn't believe her eyes, Legolas was sleeping, or appeared to be sleeping with his eyes opened. Ariana crept up to Legolas and she crouched down just off to his right.

His breathing was slow and deep. Ariana would have sworn to anyone Legolas was asleep. His blue eyes weren't fixed on any particular point in the distance, they just stared out into the darkness.

Ariana leaned back and sat silently for a few moments. Gandalf's low voice startled her. "Yes, he is asleep. Deep in slumber, I would say, after riding for so long." Ariana whirled around and saw the old wizard shifting position on the ground.

"With his eyes open like that?" she asked his as she slipped away from Legolas, afraid to wake him.

"A habit of the Elves, if they have something they feel they need to protect," Gandalf said as he settled his old body onto the ground. "Legolas would often sleep with his eyes peering into the night when the Fellowship made their journey to Mordor."

Ariana looked back to her sleeping love. She knew Legolas worried about her day and night, she just didn't know he kept watch over her while they both slept.

After Gandalf fell asleep, Ariana crept back to Legolas. His eyes were still open, and his breathing was still deep. Ariana sat down beside him and curled up against his side. She laid her head against his chest and listened to his heart beating. She closed her eyes and fell asleep with Legolas watching the night.

* * *

The last day of their journey was slow for Ariana. She set upon Argon's saddle and watched the mountains looming all around her. Legolas had been worried about her riding on her own, but she assured him she'd be fine. He rode to her left, glancing over to her whenever he got the chance.

The trip to Rivendall had worried Legolas more then anything. Ariana's aura was slightly hazy to him. The same darkness he'd felt the first day he'd met her was back again. Ariana hardly complained about her pains, still, Legolas knew she was tired and in need of rest.

Legolas could not have been happier when the grand House of Elrond began to peak over the edge of the cliff they were climbing.

Ariana sucked in a breath at the house. It was beautiful. Set right into the side of the mountain, it looked almost too good to be true. The afternoon sunlight streamed over the edge of the surrounding cliffs and covered the house in warm sunlight.

The five came to a small cliff on the side of the mountain. Ariana's eyes trailed along the path and figured it was the only way down to the House. Legolas told the two Elves to go first and that they would follow. Ariana looked over to Gandalf as he pulled up beside her. Ariana noticed a hint of a smile was spreading across the old wizard's face.

Legolas also turned to the wizard, but Gandalf spoke before Legolas could. "Go next Legolas. I would like a word with Ariana before we reached the House of Elrond."

Legolas moved his horse over to the trail. "I will speak with Lord Elrond when I arrive," he said as he looked to Gandalf.

Ariana watched as Legolas smiled to her, then started after the other two Elves. She pulled Argon's reins and moved closer to Gandalf.

"What is it Gandalf?" Ariana asked.

Gandalf let out a small sigh and motioned towards Elrond's House. "Ariana, when the Council begins, you must remember that at times even the gentlest of creatures can become fierce in the worst of situations."

Ariana was a little confused by his words. "Gandalf, what's going to happen at the Council?"

Gandalf straightened in Shadowfax's saddle and looked to the House. He didn't answer her and Ariana began to think he wasn't going to. Her gaze also trailed towards the beautiful mountain House of Elrond.

Suddenly, Gandalf spoke. His voice was grave as he spoke. "Many will not understand what is happening. Many of them thought all of Middle Earth's fears were destroyed with the passing of the One Ring.

"You must remember, Ariana, that what is said is not what has to be done. In the end it must be your decision and only your decision."

Ariana looked to the ground and petted Argon's neck. The horse quietly neighed and Ariana looked to Gandalf. The wizard was watching her again. Suddenly, Ariana felt very tired.

Gandalf seemed to understand this and told her to start down the cliff and that he would follow behind her.

"They will begin to wonder what is keeping us," he said as he smiled at her.

****Notes****

I always thought the sleeping with your eyes open was the best Elf trick, besides the whole walking on snow thing. ::rubs hands together:: Oh man, I can't wait to get the Council chapter up here. I had to watch that part in the movie a couple of times to get everything set. You'll see what I mean. [All disclaimers and warnings can be found at the beginning of chapter 1.] - Aren't you guys sick of reading this yet?