SHADOW IN THE TREES
By : mirkwood-elf-2931 & Thala



CHAPTER 18


Time went by slowly, though it was unnoticed to one.

A figure covered in the color of night sat beside another, that was leaned against a large round rock in a most uncomfortable looking position, though went on sleeping away, head turned so their opened eyes were not visable to the any other who might be watching her.

The Princess Arwen groaned quietly in her light rest, perhaps from a bad dream, Thalawen didn't know. All she knew, was that she dared not sleep herself.

Rising, she remembered a task that needed completing. 


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Faint light slowly freed a foggy mind from a dense cloud, that had before been spread to cover to its every corner.

A light blue sleeved arm went to a throbbing head of blonde locks, as a small moan escaped from dry pale lips. Soreness seemed to be present everywhere, as an Elf experimented simple movement with the rest of its body.

Extreme pain was awakened in one particular spot and a memory flashed of the outcome of a fight she and another had engaged themselves in a most unpleasant location.

Landailyn opened her eyes, though blurry, she blinked a few times and her vision eventually cleared. Slowly, she tried sitting up, keeping her right arm close to her midsection. It was difficult, though she didn't know it she was still very weak as before. Her head felt like it was going to burst right there, but ignored it to find out where she was.      

It was night, only a half moon hung high with the stars, but her Elven sight told her only that she must be in a camp. 


"Landy, you're awake!" A familiar voice followed with the silhouette of a person, who had been on their way to her.

"Thalawen?" She couldn't remember a thing after falling unconscious in the tower, but she did remember just before that, Arwen had reached the Elf, but it wasn't definite at the time that she'd stay on their side.

Apparently though, it had worked.

"Where are we? How long have I been out?" Her voice low and hoarse, feeling as if she was out of breath even if the questions were short.

"Still outside of Orthanc's gates. And I'd say it's at least been a good half a day; sunrise is not far off." Replied Thalawen. "You should lay back down. I don't think you're ready to be up."

"What are you still doing up?" It appeared to her almost everyone else had bedded down.

"I could not sleep." She told the truth. Though her body was tired and sore, every time she closed her eyes for longer than a second, haunting images of her former captors was all she would see and she was more afraid than anything of turning back into the 'Dark Elf' she had so recently been.

Landailyn nodded, though not before her body was racked with fierce, painful coughing.

This brought the attention of Calatria on them, who rushed over. "My lady, you should not be up!" She forced her back down, gently pressing on her good shoulder. "How do you feel?" She put a hand to Landailyn's forehead and cheek, then checked her bandages for signs of any blood soaking through.

"Fine," She said slightly sarcastic, her voice holding the hint of a laugh. 

Calatria smiled. "Well, your fever is completely gone and your bandages will not even need changing until later today. You shall be back on your feet in no time I'm sure, but for now you must continue to rest."

Landailyn could only agree, she felt too weak right now to do anything anyway and couldn't remember when she had ever been so tired in her life. Which come to think of it, was never. Never had she had an injury this serious.

"Anything you should need?"

She shook her head.

"If you should change your mind, I will not be far away." Calatria replied, covering the Elf back up with a thick blanket. It would not do good to have the cold getting to her next.

"Thank you."

The woman bowed her head slightly and rose, resuming her original task.  

Landailyn looked over at Thalawen, who only stared back. Then the face of someone else popped into her head, that she had not yet seen. "Where's Arwen? Is she alright?"

"She's fine. She fell asleep some time ago." Answered the Elf, voice low and containing no emotion.

"Are you alright?"

"Me?" She paused. This had caught her slightly by surprise. "I am now." She half way told the truth.

In turn, Landailyn held a faint smile for her, as her eyes began to close. She was about ready to fall asleep again and couldn't stop herself, but would have to remember to ask questions later of the escape she'd missed out on. 

Thalawen watched as this happened and listened as deep steady breathing set in. The Elf was peacefully resting once again, her mind fleeing back to the darkness, where pain was unknown.

But only now was there something she noticed about the Elf. The faint glowing she'd seen on Landailyn the night before in the shadows, where she was even now, was barely there. And suddenly saw that her own was not even there at all.

She looked away, a guilty feeling rising within her. She wished that none of this had ever happened. She wished she had never met the Prince of Mirkwood and that right now she was at home in Rivendell. But then, how would she have ever made this new friend?

She sighed and went back to the reason that she had come over to the Elf and reaching with both hands drew them from her given scabbard where they had stayed tight. Their sharpened shafts of silver and gold reflected the moon's light as she reached over Landailyn's still figure to pick up her nearly empty quiver. Trying with little noise to put the retrieved knives in their rightful sheathes. 

She would only truly be happy when this was all done with and forgotten and they returned home.  


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The next evening, Arwen spent trying to help other wounded men, keep Landailyn down and resting and most of all Thalawen to get some sleep herself.

"I do not know that I can." Thalawen had told her.   

"You don't have to be afraid, I'm right here. I will protect you."

How could she even began to tell her something that was simply inexplicable. "I know," She said tersely. "But it is not as simple as that."

Arwen knew of what she spoke, but chose not to confront it or even think of it. Speaking of it would bring much fear back into Thalawen's eyes. Instead, she put her arms around Thalawen and let her head fall to her shoulder, stroking her hair much in the way her mother would have.

To make her feel at home, she began singing Thalawen's favorite song, the song of her grandmother. Slowly, but surely, Thalawen's lids closed over her eyes. "There, my sister. Sleep and I will keep you safe from harm."

Once she knew the Elf was truly asleep, Arwen gently let her body rest against the ground. 

The princess contiued to sit next to the sleeping Thalawen into the pale dawn light, stroking her face and hair with soft fingertips to soothe the Elf and make sure she stayed in this peaceful state.

Earlier, during the night, Landailyn had joined her on the other side, propped against a tree trunk. Many hours had she slept and was no longer so weakened by her injury. So Arwen gave up in trying to advise her and they conversed for the remainder of the night and most of that morning.

They had talked much about the past few days and what was more to come. Arwen described their escape and related the story Thalawen had told, telling only enough for Landailyn to not be angry. Assuring her, that Thalawen would immediately tell of what had happened herself.

Their voices never woke the sleeping Elf between them.


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The princess watched as now both of her friends slept, listening to their steady breathing.

Thalawen was still on her back and not once had she stirred. Landailyn however, was on her side facing the other direction, so she was not putting pressure on her wound.

The two had been through a lot the past four weeks and both needed their rest more than anyone or anything. Though too soon for her liking, did she see Landailyn move to rise.

"Good morning," She said smiling. "You didn't sleep long."

Landailyn nodded as if to say 'I know', then scrutinizing their surroundings and the sky above, a decision was silently made. "We are leaving today." She stated, walking past her without eye contact.

"What?" Arwen quickly jumped up to follow. "Landailyn, I am not so sure you are ready for travel." She folded her arms, watching as the Elf put on her riding coat and weapons, reloading her quiver with extra arrows from their supplies, then carefully mounting her steed, who was more than happy to see her again. If she was in any amount of pain, which she probably was, she was doing a good job of hiding it.

"I'll be fine. We have already remained here too long."

Arwen sighed, letting Landailyn know she did not think it the best idea, though she knew it would not change the stubborn Elf's mind. "Where are you going?"

"Not far," She replied simply, prodding Athron forward. "I won't be long." And without another word, the white beast took off at a steady gate. 

Arwen sighed again, watching her go. She turned to begin a chore of gathering her things and packing them on Asfaloth. Eventually, she would wake Thalawen, but not until it was closer to their departure; she needed the extra rest. 


TBC ...