One person said around three or four weeks and another person said three to four months to get to Lothlorien so in this story I'II say around three weeks, which are up in this chapter.
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Amothien was watching Em as she staggered towards her small tent. She took the pot of the liquid Em had just drunk and threw it in the fire, but instead of it disturbing the fire, the fire rose. It's hot, red flames reaching for the heavens above before diminishing quickly to but sparks of its former glory. Twisting and coiling around itself as though it was trapping something in the flames, and then it settled looking like any camp fire that had not been tended in an hour or two.
Amothien sat down a small distance from the fire and stretched out her arms to warm her hands, even though that night was not that cool, without the faintest trace of a breeze.
"What was that drink you gave to Lady Em, Amothien." Legolas said harshly from behind the sitting elf.
"A drink made of herbs, mainly." Answered Amothien without breaking her gaze from the fire.
"And for what purpose Milady" Asked Legolas.
"For her sleep your highness, only for her sleep." Amothien turned around and smiled sweetly at Legolas. "All for her good."
"We shall see what is for her good." Legolas said coldly.
"Yes we shall. Good night your Highness." Amothien rose and left the warmth of the campfire.
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TWO WEEKS LATER
When the sun was barely in the sky and all were in a deep slumber, with the exception of two watchful sentries, one member of the party was stuck, drowning in a dream. Em bolted straight up and looked dimly around her dark tent.
"Brilliant. Just bloody brilliant. Every single night…" Em mumbled incoherently to herself as she lay back down on her lumpy bedroll.
For the past two weeks Em had woken up in a cold sweat at, as far as she could tell without a watch, the same time. After several minutes of Em tossing from side to side in a failed effort to find a comfortable position to slumber, though what she had dreamed about for the past two weeks she couldn't tell anyone because she had no memory of any of her dreams except she always woke up and seemed shuck up, she heaved a sigh of defeat and climbed to her feet. She reached to the side of her bedroll and threw her long brown traveling cloak over the simple grey dress she had slept in because of the unusually cold night, and slipped her feet into the black ankle boots which had luckily for Em fur lining. Em crept as silently as she could from around the tent and made her way to the dying fire in the middle of the camp.
She sat down of the ground and brought her knees up to her chin, her still bandaged hand resting on her knees as well while her uninjured hand casually threw peddles into the core of the fire…
"Em…Em…" Amothien's voice sang out.
Em groggily opened her eyes and raised her head.
"Em you shouldn't have slept outside especial on such a brisk night." Amothien scolded as she threw water onto the renewed fire.
"The fault is my own…"Em said as she walked back to her tent to change into a warmer, cleaner dress.
Legolas and Thranduil emerged from the surrounding area and made their way, talking happily, towards the campfire.
"Morning Amothien." King Thranduil greeted warmly.
"Good morning King Thranduil, Prince Legolas. How does the morning find you both?" Amothien inquired respectfully.
"We are both grand, and you?" Asked Thranduil.
"I am well thank you. I most go and raise my Lady." Amothien rushed over to Em's tent to check on her.
"What do you think of her?"
"A person most worthy of the trust Em has bestowed in her." King Thranduil answered.
"You are sure?" Legolas asked.
"She has done nothing to make me question her loyalty." Thranduil reasoned. "What is with these questions?"
"Nothing, nothing." Legolas smiled reassuringly. "We are leaving soon then?"
"Yes the guards and Gandalf are ready to depart." Thranduil said. "As am I, and I wish to leave soon to make our journey shorter."
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FIVE HOURS LATER.
"Em?" Legolas voice said into Em's ear. "Are you alright?"
Em was currently stooped over the horse with her eyes half closed, almost asleep.
"Mm? Fine." Em mumbled as she turned her head to face Legolas and gave him a reassuring smile before turning around and leaning into him.
Legolas' horse sped up until he was beside King Thranduil and Gandalf, they trio spoke in elfish and then an order was sounded and all the horses stopped.
"What's going on?" Em asked drowsy.
"Nothing. We are just stopping for the night is all." Replied Legolas as he gracefully jumped off the horse and reach up to help Em off.
Em slid off the horse and into Legolas' waiting arms. "But it's not even late yet! And Gandalf said we were only a day's journey from Lothlorien."
"Yes, but we think it is best if we all rest first."
"I really think you're lying." Em said.
"Yes well, we are resting anyway. Then tomorrow we will head straight to Lothlorien early and be there just after noon." Legolas said.
"Sure…"
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Em was woken early, much to her annoyance, and the party left at a slow pace for the elvish city, and arrived just as the sun was far on it's pathway towards the horizon as the golden rays shone through the crisp green leaves that hung grandly from the outstretch boughs of the towering forest trees, illuminating the beautiful city in the suns last light. It was a sight beyond our world, but Em saw none of it as she was already asleep before they had arrived and no one had the heart to wake her.
All the inhabitants of the city left their homes to greet the arriving party. The sleeping girl on the Prince's horse captured all eyes, struck with wonder and curiosity by the young mortal woman. One pair of eyes in the crowd was completely set upon Em…
She was carried to her bedchamber and placed in the bed before the night was fully set onto the dreamlike scene, and left to her dreamless slumber.
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A thin curtain made of a gauze like material blew gently in the light breeze of the evening wind coming from the balcony high in the tree tops, sweeping the gossamer fabric across the marble floor of the creamy coloured room. A slight mist had rose in the eve.
Light feet of an unknown elf darted in from the balcony and made their way to the top of the bed were the girl lay sleeping. The elf drifted to the side of the bed and reached down a slender hand and swept a few stray locks of hair off of Em's face before gently tracing her face. The elf slowly leaned down and placed a soft kiss on Em's lips…
Em bolted up straight in her bed. A slightly stronger gust blew the curtains. Em turned her head towards the balcony as she placed a hand on her lips, utterly confused why her lips were tingling.
"What…" Em whispered questioningly to herself.
The mystery elf was standing behind Em's bed, making less sound then a mouse. A smile graced the elf's fair face. When Em turned her head away from the balcony the elf slipped out into the night.
Note: The chapter is indeed short and does in fact suck, but I wrote it in a fraction of the time I usually get to write, also am very tired.
Thank you everyone with patience.
IF AT FIRST YOU DON'T SUCCEED,
DESTROY ALL EVIDENCE THAT YOU TRIED!
ImpC