SHADOW IN THE TREES
By : mirkwood-elf-2931 & Thala
CHAPTER 9
"Saruman is no longer an ally of ours, as Gandalf has informed me." Elrond
put in sullenly, when the supper table was set with food.
Arwen and Landailyn joined the two lords in the meal, who discussed the day's
events.
"He in fact bred that army himself. As you have seen, they are much stronger
and will even travel in sunlight. I fear for the Fellowship as well, Saruman
will stop at nothing to possess the Ring."
The maidens stopped eating, not that they particularly felt like it in the
first place and sat there listening to the conversation in mere shock. All of
their friends were in danger and they could do nothing about it. Or could they?
The princess stared up into the face of the friend she still had left. She knew
Landailyn wanted to go after the Orcs just as much as she herself did.
"Father," She burst out. "We must go after them! We must save Thala!"
He arched a single brow at his anxious daughter. "Who is 'we'?"
Arwen didn't hesitate in answering him. "Myself and Landailyn!"
The Mirkwood captain looked across the narrow table at the dark haired Elf when
her name was mentioned almost startled by what she'd suggested. Of course, she
wanted to save Thalawen too, but knew the two of them alone would never be
enough against what they'd seen that day. Then she quickly rethought the idea;
if Saruman had turned as Gandalf had said, they would be heading for his black
tower. There, maybe they could rescue her more easily without getting caught,
if it were only the two of them. And if their prayers came true and nothing
happened to her along the way.
"No, Arwen. It is out of the question." Elrond said flatly.
"Father, I am grown now, I can take care of myself! Thalawen even told you
that. And Landailyn will be with me!" She spoke of her as if it should be a
comfort that his daughter would be completely safe in the Wood-Elf's presence.
"We may have a better chance if it is just the two of us!"
Finally! Someone had said it so Landailyn didn't have to and now she knew that
Arwen had been thinking the same thing.
Elrond liked Landailyn, as he did Legolas, but he also knew how the prince and
his Human son always got themselves into more trouble than they'd bargained
for, even when they weren't looking for it. Then again, things always managed
to turn out fine. Not that that was supposed to be a comfort either. He looked
to his right for her reaction.
Landailyn's eyes had widened and her mouth slightly hung open, but she quickly
composed herself when she found the Rivendell lord scrutinizing her.
"She is an excellent warrior, my friend." Thranduil tried to reason with
him and help the young she-Elves out. Although, he himself would tell Legolas
not to go, if it were his situation, perhaps Landailyn too, but that was up to
her parents. He would not tell Elrond how to handle his own children,
but he could see that the young princess was more than determined.
The Half-Elven lord spoke up again. "I know that you are captain now of the
guard here. That must have been an honor indeed to be chosen from so many." He
turned his attention on Landailyn again. He knew women were rarely, if ever,
allowed to be put into positions like a warrior captain, though this one was
certainly different, like another he knew.
"It certainly was, my lord. I take on the responsibility gladly." She replied.
Elrond nodded, appearing as though he was now considering the matter.
"Ada," [Father,] Arwen attempted again. "You adopted her many years ago,
remember? Just like Estel not so long ago. Have you not grown to love
her as much as I have?"
Elrond sighed, turning a pair of soft brown eyes on his youngest flesh and
blood. "Of course I have. I love all five of my sons and daughters." He
stopped, eyeing a smiling young captain at these words. "And I have indeed
grown very fond of their friends and know for a fact that they would protect
one another with their own lives." And he spoke the truth, for he had seen this
many times in Legolas and his three sons.
Landailyn turned more serious and gave a confirming nod.
"If it is alright with Lord Thranduil," He turned back on Arwen. "You may seek
Thalawen with the Mirkwood captain."
The king was nodding, as the three glanced at him at the opposite head of the
table. "Yes, you may take leave, Landailyn, for as long as the situation
needs."
"Thank you, my lord."
"But only if both of you promise me this," Continued Elrond. "That you will
track them to find out where they are going and not just rush into their camp
to try and rescue her. No matter how much you wish to, they are too many and
you will be captured yourselves and that will not help matters at all."
"I certainly agree." Thranduil added his opinion. "You must be careful; Orcs
are still being spotted near this area."
"We will, we promise." Arwen quickly assured them, incase they changed their
minds and Landailyn helped by adding her own agreement.
"It is settled then. When will you leave?" Elrond left the decision up to the
two younger Elves, causing Arwen to bare a questioning look toward Landailyn.
"On the morrow?" Asked the captain.
"Aye, we can leave early in the morning." Agreed the princess.
"Then I shall be here bright and early, not that that time is unusual for me to
arrive here anyway." This made the others laugh, lightening the serious mood.
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
After the meal had ended, Arwen said goodnight to everyone and left for the
privacy of her guestroom. She stopped at the door, glancing to her right at the
next room, the one that had been Thalawen's. "If it is the last thing I do." She
murmured Landailyn's earlier words.
A question of importance plagued her, as she later lay wide-awake in bed. If
she ever saw Thalawen again, would she even be the same person?
This was a fear greater than she could ever imagine. Sadness filled her heart,
as she thought of when her mother had passed over the sea. Too soon had it been
for her to leave and Thalawen was even younger; she still had much time yet to
dwell in Middle-Earth.
Please do not let this change her, she prayed.
But yet another thought crossed into her mind, one she would rather have kept
pushed to the very back. Or would Thalawen's ties with the world be cut and she
would be lost forever?
The time of the Elves was ending and someday she, unlike herself, would
have to take a ship into the west and reunite with her family again, to leave
Middle-Earth behind when her time came.
If she didn't make it out of this mess alive, Arwen would never forgive
herself.
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
Elrond paced slowly around the throne room, just coming from talking to
Thranduil in his study. He stopped only when his attention came to rest upon a
door. Going toward it, he went through to the outside.
"Good evening, Captain."
Landailyn almost visibly jumped, as a gentle voice broke her train of thought,
recognizing it immediately and realizing she hadn't even heard him come into
the courtyard. "Oh, good evening, my lord." She turned to face the Lord of
Rivendell and gave a smile for show. Though it didn't matter, he could see
right through it in the orange flickering of the torches that hung on the
palace's outside walls.
"What troubles you?" He asked.
"You know," She laughed a little. "I've been asked that a lot lately."
"Is it about the journey?"
She would rather not, but Landailyn just decided to admit it. He was one of the
wisest and could read others easily, so he would know right away she was lying
if she told him 'no' anyway. She nodded, her eyes never leaving his.
"I see," He began to pace again, like he had done inside. "I will not hide
that I do not have a good feeling about any of this. I fear for my
daughters. And for you. Just as I fear for Estel and Legolas with the Company."
"My lord, I would not even have Arwen go with me, if it were my choice to
decide." She stated. "But I cannot tell my friend what to do. She wants her
sister back and I do not think anyone can change her mind about going."
"No, not even I." He sighed, his face holding the faintest smile.
"Well, you have my word that I will protect the princess...my friend...from
what I can."
Elrond's smile spread, shaking his head. "I never had doubt that you would, or
could not. I just hope that none of you come back to us in the shape that Estel
and the prince always seem to for me."
At this, she let out a true laugh. "That, my lord, I think I can promise you
will not happen."
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
Pitch black. Nothing but blackness all around her. She couldn't see! Panicked,
she tried to call out for help, but no saviors would rescue her. No one would
come for her. This she knew and her anxiety grew. Thalawen's hands were bound
at the wrist, a tight rope looped about her ankles. The cold ground seeped
through her tattered garments, chilling her skin and seemingly seeping straight
to the bone.
She tried to sit up, only to have a slimy, cold booted foot pressed upon her
chest. A quiet, but no less afraid, sound escaped her throat. She was
surprised, but knew this to be an Orc.
The beast laughed softly. "Where do you think you're going, my pretty?" He
said, his voice almost a whisper.
Thalawen heard him bend down to her and the blind covering her eyes was torn
away. The black was replaced by a face with squinted yellow eyes and bared
fangs. Eyes growing wide, Thalawen tried to back away, causing this Orc like
creature to laugh more.
Then she remembered Mirkwood and the attack from these creatures. She was
suddenly no longer afraid of him. Cocking her head to the side, she said. "What
are you?!" There was a hint of utter disgust and fascination for what this
being was.
His smile fell as quickly as it appeared. Odd, she thought, he looked more
menacing with the smile.
The Orc's hands shot forward and grabbed her lapels. He tugged with little
force and brought her forward, so close that their faces nearly touched. She
tried to jerk back, but she was immobile. This beast was a solid rock of pure
muscle.
"I will not tolerate insolence from you!" He roared. His breath made her
slightly dizzy with nausea. He saw the face she made and was much angered by
it.
Throwing her back to the ground, he got to his feet and began unbuckling the
many fastenings securing his weapons to his body. All the while glancing at her
with that evil grimace covering his face.
He knelt to her once more and grabbed hold of the rope around her wrists. He
drug her to the nearest tree, one with narled mangled bark, which cut the soft
skin almost effortlessly. He brought her arms above her head and affixed the
rope tightly. His dirty fingers thick and greasy, were clumsly on the
elabortate and small Elven bucklings that carried her weapons. Throwing them
aside he made a move for the many strings tying her clothes.
Facing the tree, Thalawen leaned her forehead against the trunk. She knew what
was to come, as well as she knew she could do nothing to prevent it.
The sudden violation tore a scream of pain from deep within her. The whip
slashed against her naked back, cutting, painful, excruciating. When she felt
she could take it no more, she gave herself strength to go on, but it would
soon perish. She turned her head to look over her shoulder.
The whole camp stood in a tight circle, surrounding the tree, cheering their
fellow Orc on. An anger so sudden and blinding consumed her mind, blotted out
the pain momentarily.
"You are all damned!" She screamed in Elvish, at the top of her lungs.
The crowd hushed and became silent and still. The whip stopped in mid air and
slowly dropped to the Orc's side.
"Before this deed is done, you will all die by my hand!" She said quietly,
almost out of breath with the need to stay strong.
The silence was cut abruptly with the Orc's yell of rage. Raising the whip
again, striking harder than before, screaming his anger for her until the
others joined. The last sound she would hear as her vision went black, was her
own cry of pain and the call to her friends.
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
The next morning, it was not so bright and sunny. As if the day knew of their
treacherous expedition and it was simply setting the mood for them. They
readied themselves, dressed in the proper attire and strapped with their gear,
taking only items that were absolutely needed for the occasion.
Landailyn was ready to go first thing and they set out as soon as Arwen was.
"Are you ready for this?" Landailyn asked, not knowing what would happen or
what they would find.
"If you are."
"I am." She whispered.
Thranduil and Elrond joined them, as did Teredith with Arwen's horse. Farewells
and be carefuls were exchanged between the five and the two rode out of the
courtyard, into Mirkwood Forest and on most of that day, late into the night.
There was not much time for talk however, both of them busy watching out for
their surroundings and keeping to the trail of the Orcs.
"Are you tired, Arwen?" Asked the fair blonde Elf several hours after dark;
their horses walking more slowly than before.
Arwen guessed like she had and knew it had to be somewhere after midnight.
She looked around at their current spot, thinking a bit before answering.
Doubting that anything would bother them during the remainder of the night,
nothing had so far. "Perhaps a little. The horses could definitely use a rest
anyway, I believe."
Landailyn nodded. "Then we will stop here if you wish it so. It is about as
good a place as any."
"Let us do then." She agreed, pulling back the reins of the graceful creatures
that carried them. Stopping under the trees and starlit sky, to continue on a
little before dawn that morning.
Landailyn dismounted her white stallion, Athron, with his even brighter mane
and tail, as did Arwen hers. They found well darkened spots, taking their turn
at keeping watch and eating, while the other rested, until sunrise came again,
then they were off.
Once out of the familiarity of the forest, the two endured climbing up and down
tall hills, trudging long open plains and passing or camping near small rivers,
or ruins of ancient structures. Along with the weather as it was, with the hot
sun beating down, the rain soaking their cloaked forms at least twice and now
it was growing colder each day, as it neared the middle of December. Though
luckily, harsh temperatures do not bother their race and the two hardly
noticed.
It had been exactly a week and a half now and they had never once been close
enough to even see the Orcs and now had lost their tracks entirely, but they
had no doubt they were heading for Isengard, the previous ones had been pointed
southwest.
On this afternoon, while leading their horses from the ground, Arwen noticed an
oncoming wooded area. "Lothlorien," She smiled, recognizing the trees. "I have
not been here in some time."
"Neither have I."
To her surprise, the Elf next to her had just agreed. "I did not know you had
ever been here before."
Landailyn nodded. "I also had grandparents here, great grandparents, for my
mother's lived here. But mine moved to Mirkwood, where my mother was born and
where she then met my father, whose family originally came from there."
"Oh," Arwen smiled again. "You had kin here too? It is only your parents and
yourself left though, is it not?"
Landailyn nodded to confirm her right. "It is."
It was reaching evening before they were even close to areas inhabited by the
people of Lothlorien. And it was only when Landailyn almost literally walked
into one of these people, did they stop for the first time that day.
She was aware of their surroundings at all times, but didn't expect someone to
step right out from behind one of the trees, making her almost fully draw one
of her knives, as she stepped back from him.
"Ah, lady Arwen. We were told it was you who had crossed our boarders." Said
the man, who stood slightly taller than Landailyn. He like the few others that
had come from their own hiding places, looked like herself, with long blonde
hair.
"Haldir," Arwen smiled at him. "Good to see you. This is my friend, Landailyn,
from Mirkwood."
Landailyn slowly held out her hand and he took it.
Realizing with where she was from, that what she wore and the weapons she
carried, he'd only seen on one other person. "Captain," He addressed. "I
apologize."
She half grinned, knowing he must have figured it out. "Captain," She replied
the same, already knowing who he was by the mention of his name. "It is
alright."
He smiled and nodded as though amazed and amused at the same time. "Then let us
go, your grandmother is anxious to see you…both."
TBC …
