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



CHAPTER  21


Two days they had only been there and to the three she-Elves, it felt oddly like an entire week. Time seemed to pass more slowly, now that they were out of danger and were settled in one place with nothing much to do, but simply try to relax and to forget for awhile what had happened.

Landailyn needed time to think. Time to sort out her thoughts and feelings alone and almost wishing she could get away from the all-knowing ears and eyes of Galadriel, but without crossing the borders of the forest, she knew it wasn't at all possible. But riding always seemed to help her think, so that's what she was set to do for the afternoon.

"Arwen," The maiden looked up from the ledges of the clear pools she stood a few feet before. "I'm taking Athron out," She paused. "I need a bit of time to myself."

Elrond's only daughter nodded slowly, her dark locks shaking down around her face. "Just, be back ere nightfall?" The tone more of a question, not a command. Even if they were in a well protected area, she was still a little afraid of being separated from her friends, as if something bad was going to happen to them while she didn't have her eye on them both. Though at the moment, Thalawen was with her grandmother, so she knew her sister was completely safe.

A corner of Landailyn's mouth curled in a half smile. "Of course."

Arwen, satisfied she would, then simply replied. "Be careful."

Giving only a dip of the head in response, she disappeared among the huge mallorns. Taking her horse from the stables holding he, Ezril and Asfaloth and the rest of her men's horses, she jumped up into the saddle and prodded him along until he was easily at a swift gate, riding west along the Celebrant, the river that flowed east through Lorien and directly into the The Great River Anduin.


After a bit, Athron slowed and a medium walking pace went on for quite some time. Lost deeply in her thoughts, his master was not aware of much around her, for she was thinking back to the many events that had happened in such a short time.

And here they were now, in a place of safety and beauty and she was only glad to even be here at all, her shoulder indeed fully healed. But again, she told herself she did not blame Thalawen. And it was the truth.

And into her thoughts was brought a new person, the prince. She had admitted to Arwen and Thalawen that she was in love with Legolas and thought about what Thalawen had said to the subject; 'Perhaps now is the time to find out. Maybe Saruman was right, what if he really loves you? Do you not want to know?'

Of course she wanted to know, but how could she tell him of her feelings? Or ask him how he felt for that matter. She wasn't even sure she should bring the subject up, but knew what Arwen and Thalawen might say when and if they asked her.

She had been riding nearly an hour, when she happened to look up ahead. Figures were moving forward toward her and by their movements and appearance, they were not Elves. 
 

Looking more closely, she realized who the group must be. It was them, it was the Fellowship of the Ring.


* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *


The current eight had been traveling since early that morning. After their shock the day before, they had made camp in a relatively remote area and had not been bothered through the night. Today though, they had come upon the Golden Wood. And had been walking through it a good five hours, following a shallow river that ran curving and zig-zaging through its timber.

Afternoon sun rays mixing in a thin rising fog, poured in passed the thick tree trunks and cast a yellow glow about the whole forest. Making it appear almost golden, like its name.

Awhile before, Gimli had rambled on to the Hobbits over something about an Elf witch, so most everyone was keeping a high guard, stepping cautiously in the foreign footing.

Perhaps making him even more nervous, Frodo had a that very moment heard a strange airy voice that had seemed to come out of nowhere and in looking around, no one else had seemed to have heard it.

"Look." Boromir suddenly pointed, whispering to no one in particular.

Each head rose upward in the direction he'd indicated. All eyes strained ahead, but they could only make out a tall, white blur in the cloudy air, except for two. Aragorn could just make out that it was a lone white horse, but not being able to see the details of its rider, for they were still in the far distance, so he asked his companion for help.

"Legolas, who is it? Can you make them out yet?"

The prince squinted, it was still hard for even him to see through the distance. "Not quite, but no doubt an Elf of Lorien, my friend, for they have fair hair like myself." The Ranger nodded.


* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *


Landailyn couldn't believe what she was seeing. They had made it the same time to Lothlorien as the Nine had. She could almost make all of them out now and wondered if they also wondered who she was, for if she couldn't see detail yet, Legolas couldn't either.

She would finally meet the six she didn't know and hear what had been happening since they had left. She would also have to retell her group's own tale of why they were even in Lothlorien at the present.

Once close enough, she abandoned her saddle for the ground, untangling a lead rope and keeping head to head with Athron.


* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *


"Is it an Elf?" Sam was curious and excited to know they would be seeing more of the Elder Race.

"Well what else do you think it would be? This is an Elven forest, isn't it?" Said Merry.

"It is, and they are, Legolas just said so." Frodo put in before an argument broke out.

They were getting closer, enough so that their own Elven member could finally make out the person they would soon encounter. Mirkwood's prince almost stopped in his tracks when he realized who was jumping gracefully down from the horse.

They were indeed blonde like he and were in fact dressed exactly the same as he and by their physical features he could tell they were female, meaning there was only one person he knew with that description; it was Landailyn dismounting Athron.

"What is it?" Aragorn was quick to ask, when he noticed the change in his friend's expression and slowed pace.

A smile spread wide across his fair visage. "If my eyes do not deceive me, I can tell you now that they are indeed a friend." He motioned to the figures ahead.

"Do you know them?"

He nodded. "You know her too."

Aragorn raised his brows, as if to say, 'stop with the riddles already'.

"It's Landailyn." He simply said and started forward ahead of the group to meet her.


* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *


Landailyn could hardly contain the grin she felt her mouth forming. Legolas must have just been able to see who she was, for she watched as he took up a faster speed than the rest, heading straight for her. She kept her normal walk with Athron, waiting for him.

In a jog, he gained her current spot, stopping in front of her, her eyes nearly level with his own.

"My lord," Landailyn addressed properly. "I see you still fare well, since our last meeting."

He almost laughed aloud, as he moved forward to embrace her.


* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *


Aragorn watched with a warm smile at the sight of the two.

"Friends are they?" As they continued forward, Boromir moved up to be beside the heir.

"Indeed, she is the captain of Mirkwood's royal guard."

The man from Gondor's face took on surprise at this news. "Really?"

"Yes, I've known her as long as I have Legolas."


* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *


"Well met, my friend. What is it that you are doing here?" He wondered why she was not at home on duty and abesently reached a hand over to stroke Athron's jaw.

"I'm out for a ride." She kidded momentarily, then shook her head, reverting back to solemnness. "It's a long story that all leads back to you." Landailyn bit her lip, she hadn't meant to reveal this.

"Me?" Now he was really confused, but had no time to ask, as the group finally caught up.

"Hello, Strider." She also graced him with a hug, pulling back only to notice the Evenstar laying on his chest and glittering brilliantly in the sun.

"My friend, what brings you to Lorien?" He looked between the two, figuring Legolas had already asked such.

"It seems as though it is a long story." The prince told him. The Dunadan nodded. Their's was also and he didn't look forward to telling about it.

Landailyn smiled among the strangers that stared back and up at her, but it immediately fell when she counted and recounted only eight different people. Suddenly realizing who was not with them, that she had been told was, she asked the dreaded question that made each of their faces full of sorrow. "Where is Mithrandir?"

Silence hung, as all eyes cast to the ground, no one really wanted to answer. Then, a Human voice filled the air. "He has fallen. In Moria, he risked his life for ours."

This news was most shocking and grieving for Gandalf had been a dear friend to her, as well as he had been to any other. Her own eyes stared unbelieving, into a pair of silver-gray. She wondered why they had even went into the dark depths of the Dwarven caves in the first place, but decided not to ask. Sighing and turning her head, she closed her eyes and nodded.

Aragorn hated being the bearer of bad news upon those he cared for, but could see no other way around it.

To lighten the mood, Landailyn decided to change the subject, something she had been quite good at in her younger years. "Well now," She flashed a smile for show, being something else she was also good at. "Who might the members be of the Fellowship that everyone is talking about? I believe that there is a few of you I have not had the pleasure of meeting."

Before the Ranger could get out a word, the first to step up happened to be a Hobbit, so she had to incline her head down to see the waist level man.

"I am Peregrin Took," He began the introducing with an accent that she could never say she'd heard until now, not even in Bilbo. "My friends call me Pippin and this is my cousin, Meriadoc Brandybuck, but we call him Merry."

Another of the Hobbits with sandy colored hair, held up a hand in greeting as his name was mentioned.

"And this is the Ring-bearer Frodo Baggins," Aragorn continued. "Bilbo's nephew and his friend Samwise Gamgee."

She tried not to really look at the Ring hanging on a chain around Frodo's neck. But she had never actually seen it before and couldn't help it, after knowing what damage it could cause and had caused before.

"But everyone just calls him Sam." Pippin felt the need to add.

Landailyn quickly looked away and chuckled at the Halfling's remark.

"And I, good lady, am Gimli, son of Gloin of the Lonely Mountain." A whole head taller than the Hobbits, another short man made himself known.

Surprise at this she did not show, but she'd known about Gloin being part of the company of Dwarves Bilbo had traveled with and who Thranduil had all imprisoned not so long ago. But a nod acknowledged his polite presence to her, unlike his manner to Legolas. Who managed to suppress a grin at his kindness to a beautiful maiden, whether she was Elf-kind or not.

Lastly, Boromir decided that if you want something done, you do it yourself. "And myself, am Boromir, son of Denethor, the Steward of Gondor." Said the much taller red headed man behind the Dwarf.

"Certainly a pleasure it is, finally meeting you all."           

"So," Merry spoke up for the first time. "Who might you be?"

She grinned to her left at the prince. "My name is Landailyn Windsong, I am the captain of Mirkwood's army, serving Prince Legolas and his father, King Thranduil."

Three of the little Halflings looked up at her with amazement.

"Well, my friends," Glancing between the two she already knew. "Are you going to stand here all day and talk to me, or shouldn't you be moving on to meet the Lady of the Wood? Somehow, I believe she'll be expecting you now."

"You know Strider, she does have a point." Legolas jested.

She jerked her head to stare at him, mouth gaping.

Aragorn began laughing, feeling more lighthearted at memories of old times. "Come, you can tell us your 'long story' on the way. What business brings you to Lorien?" He asked the previous question. "Are you here alone?"

Landailyn redirected her horse the way they had come and the new party of nine began progressing toward the two wise Elves' home. The rest listening with interest as she spoke to Aragorn and Legolas. "No, but traveling back to Mirkwood can seem a long journey from Isengard."

They looked from one to another as alarm more than hinted among their faces. That location was no longer safe with the White Wizard against them.

A small sigh escaped her lips and she began a short account of what had become of herself and her companions. She could always give details later in private.

"After the Company left Rivendell, Lord Elrond, Lady Arwen and Thalawen Whitestar, set out for Mirkwood. A few nights after their arrival, we were attacked in large number by Saruman's forces. Thalawen was captured and Arwen and I set out soon after to rescue her."

"Arwen is here?" Aragorn cut in.

"So is Thalawen and many of our men that your father and your father sent out without our knowing it, lead by…Teredith." Landailyn implied her words to both the Elven prince and Gondor's heir.

Legolas laughed lightly, having paid no heed to her hesitation and tone about the now 'former' second in command of their guard. "Sounds like Father."           

"Mine too." Aragorn agreed with a smile.

"Anyway," She resumed. "Saruman unfortunately broke Thalawen and we had to fight against her as well as this…massive army of monstrous beings he's created in deep caverns his Orc servants have dug around Orthanc."

Their eyes widened.

"Is she alright?" Asked the foster son of Elrond, before Legolas had the chance.

"She is now. Arwen somehow managed to get through to her at the last minute and we escaped Saruman and his swarming forces."


There were many questions still unanswered, but they had the general idea and would ask her later.

"This is going to be a long story indeed." Aragorn commented.

"I tried to tell you." Landailyn grinned innocently.       

They walked on another long ten minutes, before the two Elves and Ranger sensed a presence about them. They stopped, causing the rest of the group to halt abruptly behind them, but they knew better than to ask any questions.

Suddenly, tall slender forms came from among many trees around them, their weapons knocked with an undeniable aim. But the members of the Company did not draw their own.

"Ah, it is you, Landailyn." The captain of Lorien's guard stepped forward, eyeing closely the ones that traveled with her and recognizing only the Ranger and Mirkwood prince.

"But I see you have brought back with you companions. This must be the Fellowship." He nodded, turning more serious, before she could explain. "Come, the Lady of the Wood has been awaiting you."  

Landailyn gave a look between Legolas and Aragorn, as if to say 'I told you so' then began following Haldir.

The two then looked at each other and shook their heads, smiling. 


TBC ...