Chapter 5: Decision of the Heart
A/N: I just took about 5 aspirin. That's not considered overdosing is it? You see, I just rode my horse, Slick, for about 4 hours. I have a horse show this weekend so I've been training pretty hard. I'll be going against some A-circuit people (I'm at like either B or C) so it's going to be tough. I'm sorry my updates haven't been too regular. I've been bogged down with preparing for TAKS, my regular tests, horse lessons, my collab (it's under the name Hobbitgirls, so check it out. It's a humor/romance fic), and oh so much other random crap. I hope this chapter makes up for it though! Oh and thanks once again to Videl-14 for the idea. She's my muse.
Disclaimer: I only own what you don't recognize from Tolkien's wonderful stories.
"Am I too lost to be saved?" –Evanescence "Tourniquet"
"Legolas? Where is he taking us? And why were we blindfolded? This doesn't seem right," Annawen whispered. Haldir and his soldiers (are they called soldiers? I don't know. If you happen to know, would you please tell me in a review? Thank you) had blindfolded each of the members of the fellowship and was now leading them through the forest.
Haldir, who was put in charge of leading Annawen, shoved her rather hard. "Do not speak, She-elf," he hissed. "If it were not for Estel you would not even be here. So whilst you are in my presence you will keep your mouth shut."
"How can you treat a lady like that?!" Legolas questioned angrily. "It is not in your nature to act this way."
"It would do you well to keep your tongue in check as well, Prince Legolas," he growled.
Annawen turned her head to the quarreling elves. "Please, Legolas, stop. He has every right to speak to me as he does. We are in his debt."
"Your friend is not as stupid as she looks," Haldir sneered. "She would be a decent wife, was she not so ratty-looking…and if she would learn how to hold her tongue."
"What has she done to make you act this way?! I have been standing here the entire time and she still has yet to do something ill-mannered," Legolas said.
(A/N: I just back from day one of my horse show. I didn't do too well. I got a third, a fourth, and three fifths…out of five people. So needless to say I'm not in the best of moods. Just thought I'd let you know.)
"Haldir, I'm sorry. I will not speak any longer. Now, may we continue?" Annawen asked hurriedly.
"Let's do. Rúmil? Would you lead us on to the Lord and Lady?" Haldir asked, turning to one of the nearby elves.
Legolas stood there in disbelief. "How can she stand to be treated like that?!" He was outraged at the manner in which Haldir spoke to Annawen, and even more so that she had endured it.
"That bastard!" Annawen thought. "How dare he speak to me is such a way?! I'm sure Sauron would not mind if I murdered one more than was required…"
_~~*~~_
"I do not trust the girl," Haldir whispered to his brother, Rúmil, later that night as they rested and to make camp. "There is something odd about her that we have yet to find out."
Rúmil was silent throughout his conversation with Haldir. There was nothing strange about the she-elf in his eyes. But he trusted his brother and commander's thoughts and decisions.
_~~*~~_
"I present to you, Lord Celeborn and his wife, Lady Galadriel, Lady of the Light," Haldir said, bowing his head as the couple entered.
"Nine there are and yet…" Celeborn began but Annawen was not listening. In fact, she could not for the voice of Galadriel filled her thoughts.
"Lady Annawen, I welcome you to Lórien. But tell me, what brings you here with the fellowship? You were not of the original nine that set out from Rivendell."
"Indeed I was not. My village was attacked by orcs a few weeks past. My betrothed, I, and a couple of his family members managed to escape but they too were soon slain by a pack of rouge orcs."
"I see," was all she said before turning to Boromir.
_~~*~~_
"What are they singing?" Sam asked Annawen later that night as they were setting up camp for the night.
"All I can say is that it is a lament for Gandalf the Grey. I sense that many in your fellowship are still grieving," she replied. "I will say no more."
Annawen had laid out her bed roll at the foot of one of the large trees, as did Legolas. When she realized how close his roll was to hers, she moved. And once again, Legolas followed.
"Why do you persist in following me, my lord?" she asked him. "Can you not see that I wish to sleep alone?"
"Forgive me, Annawen, I was merely doing what I was assigned to do by Strider when we first met. I do believe I was to keep watch over you," Legolas stated. "And I do trust that we agreed that my name was Legolas, not my lord."
Annawen let out an exasperated sigh. "I see that there is no way to get away from you, is there, Legolas?" He smiled. "Well, good-night then. Pleasant dreams until it be morrow."
_~~*~~_
"Annawen."
She stirred. It was almost dawn by the look of the stars and the moon. Annawen looked around her at the sleeping forms of her companions.
"Annawen."
Someone was calling her. She silently arose from her bed roll and followed where her mind was leading her. It brought her to a large clearing. It was deserted and for a moment she thought that she had been misled.
But soon Lady Galadriel appeared. She looked at Annawen as one would look at an escaped convict from a high security prison. "I know why you are here. I know of your plans in which you were sent to do."
Annawen stared at the ground. It was only a matter of time before all of Lothlórien knew now. "I have to escape."
"You need not run, Annawen. You have a choice. You can run now, I will not mention it to anyone; or you can run later."
"I do not understand!" she cried. "You speak in riddles!"
"Look into my mirror maybe that will clear a path for you." She removed a silver pitcher of water, and very carefully poured its contents into a birdbath. (A/N: Is it a birdbath? I thought it was a pan, but my friend Christy said it wasn't. So if you think it's a pan, tell me. Because I want to shove it in her face that I was right, not her. If it is a birdbath, whoops!)
Annawen leaned in and heard the voice of Galadriel in her mind. "Do not touch the water."
At first all she could see was her reflection; a cut and scarred face loomed back at her. But the water soon became murky and an image appeared. It was her, sitting in her cell in Mordor, awaiting death. It then showed her at the Black Gate, clutching her pack close to her.
That soon faded and a new image formed. It was Boromir, sitting with Frodo on a log. Aragorn's face appeared and then dissipated into Legolas's fair face. Annawen smiled.
The water turned black, and Annawen thought the visions were over. But an image of her appeared. She was dressed in black, running through the forest. She was then seated in front of an orc, holding a bloody dagger out to him, her face to the ground. He smiled grimly, took the dagger from her, and ran the blade into her back. Her crumpled form lay on the ground bleeding.
Annawen looked up at Galadriel. "Is this what is to come? To be my future?"
"It is if you carry out this fateful deed. But you have the power in your hands to change that…if you choose to use it."
"What must I do?" Annawen asked fearfully. She was dreading what was to become of her.
"Do you wish to harm Legolas now that you have grown feelings for him?"
"How did you…?"
"Do not dwell on how, Annawen. Answer the question."
Annawen pondered this for a moment. She did want her freedom. But from what she had just witnessed in the Lady's mirror, it did not seem possible. On the other hand, Legolas had grown to be quite dear to her…in more ways than one. "No, I do not wish to harm Legolas," she answered.
"Very well," Galadriel said before turning to walk away.
"But how do I…" Annawen began, but the Lady was gone. Her crisp voice sounded in her mind though, "Let your heart decide."
A/N: So what did you think? I most certainly had fun writing it! Please don't kill me for making Haldir mean though. Thanks again Videl-14. I love you! Not like that! Pervs! Sheesh! Fan fiction readers! Oh, BTW, if any of you guys have been reading my Elissa fic, I'm going to be updating that soon. But there is an announcement on there that is crucial to the outcome of the story. Thank you, guys, for reading. I love you all! Don't forget to drop a review with any of your ideas (which are always welcome!) and your opinion, they really help!