Chapter 15: Under The Shade Of Mirkwood
The night ended to soon. The sun rose in the east and the tow elves once again started their journey, but there was no argument between them. "I should have let him go," she said after walking for a while. "After all, he did opened the way for us."
The statement reminded Er-Galadh of a question that hung in his mind. "Firiel, is the cave…"
"It was the orcs' way, yes," she answered, confirming his thoughts. "The way was known only by the orcs, hidden so that nothing may pass through. I presume they built it to gain an easier access to your kingdom."
"How do you know of the way then?" He asked. As soon as the question escaped his lips, he wondered whether she would be offended.
But she simply shrugs and said, "I am the apprentice of Radagast."
Er-Galadh narrowed his eyes. "I failed to see the connection."
"Nature know of it," she replied. "They showed me the way."
"And I suppose they answer for the knowledge of the Black Speech?" he asked becoming les and les sure about her answer. She simply shrugged and said no more.
Decided not to pursue the matter anymore, he changed the subject to something more pressing. They must hunt for food if they do not want to spend the day starving. Firiel agreed with him and so the hunt begun.
Firstly, they did not search of any place in particular. Instead they continued their way normally while searching for any sign of beast. They went on for a while, finding nothing on the way, until Er-Galadh heard a noise. More specifically, he heard footsteps. He signalled Firiel to come as he walked towards the source of the sound.
The footsteps indicated that whatever they were chasing was not moving in great speed. They crept up slowly, following the sound until they heard nothing more. The creature has stopped, making it hard for them to detect its position. Despite of this, they kept on going, relying entirely on their instinct. It seemed that their instinct did not failed them for soon they spotted a footprint accompanied with a couple of broken branches that appeared as though it was deliberately done.
They followed the trail for a while, not detecting any other sign of movement. They should find it soon enough. Moving as fast as possible so that the creature would not get away, they suddenly heard the footsteps again. Er-Galadh started to chase after it but Firiel did not move. Her gaze was fixed somewhere else. "What are you doing? We might lose it."
Firiel flinched before shaking her head. "I think it is better to stop our pursue. We are getting too far away from the path."
He raised his eyebrows in disapproval. "Should we then starve all the way to Dol Guldur?"
She held out her hand. "No need. Though you can if you wish. I found other food and we do not need to chase after it. Look." With that, she pointed to a shrub near her. Er-Galadh looked at what she pointed at. It was fruits. "I think it will be sufficient." Bending down, she picked up one of them and threw it to Er-Galadh.
Er-Galadh caught it. "How can you be so sure that it's safe to eat? What if it contains poison?"
She stared at him and started to giggle. "Well, it is more reason why you should eat it first." He tilted his head making her giggles broke into laughter. Controlling herself with great effort, she spoke, "With every poison come an antidote. Fear not, I can always heal you should the worst happen."
He glared at her, aghast. Covering the distance between them in a few strides he thrust the fruit to her. "Why don't you eat it instead?"
She frowned as though the answer was very obvious. "If I do, and it is poisoned, I won't be in the right state of mind to heal myself." Er-Galadh took a glimpse at the fruit and brought it slowly to his mouth but Firiel stopped him. She pulled his hand away and bites into the part that he would have eaten.
"Firiel!" Er-Galadh grabbed her shoulder but she slide away and finished the bite.
Smiling broadly, she said, "There is no poison. The fruit is save to eat."
He could only stared in surprised before his expression changed to those of annoyance. "You know of this." Firiel just grinned and picked more fruits, enough for a few days journey. She stood up; ready to start their journey again when she felt arms enveloped her before a soft kiss landed on her temple. "You scared me. I would rather eat it instead."
He smiled as he rested his chin above her head. Her body stiffened abruptly and she broke away from his embrace. "What ails you?" he asked unable to understand her sudden change of mood.
She turned around and said matter-of-factly, "We must get to the old path before might falls. I cannot afford to lose more time." She forced a smile and walked away swiftly leaving Er-Galadh frowning, contemplating on this.
Why did she try to get away every time I was close to her? He remembered the last night event and sighed. Perhaps this too will unravel as time progress. And with that he shrugged and chase after her.
They walked faster than usual for the need to reach Dol Guldur pressed on them more heavily than ever. The way was not hard to thread compared to those before the mountain. They had reserved to go through the trees as both found that the way was faster and, being a wood-elf, Er-Galadh found that the way was also easier.
They took their rest every now and then yet they did not tarry long. Soon enough they reached the old forest path, faster than what Firiel had expected. She was very pleased with this and decided that they should rest for a while to restore their energy. Er-Galadh glanced at her and smiled. Her mood was better than the usual.
They sat near the pathway, eating the fruits that Firiel brought in silence. They did not eat all of them, for they need to keep their supply otherwise they will end up chasing another beast. It was lucky that she found the fruit along the way for the chase will take few of the precious time left. Firiel finished her portion faster than Er-Galadh. She glanced at him, trying to stop the drip from his mouth. She smiled and looked up to the sky. It was time to call her friend.
Er-Galadh watched her between his vain attempts to eat the treacherous fruit. Her face was basked in sunlight and for once he thought that he saw not the half-elf but a fey. Her expression was so serious he did not dare to interrupt her but was contempt in simply looking at her.
"What is it like to live in Mirkwood, Er-Galadh?" Firiel asked, lowering her gaze down from the sky.
Er-Galadh did not answered. He was lost in his mind. Firiel saw this and whispered his name softly, waking him from his elven dream. He looked at her, confused. "What is it like, Er-Galadh, to live in Mirkwood amongst the elves?" she repeated her question.
Er-Galadh frowned at her question. "It is monotonous like what you said many years ago about me. Except perhaps for the occasional attack by the orcs. Everyone has their own duty and that is what we do every day. Must be different from the way of men."
"Not as different as what you think. It is the same. Perhaps the only difference is the amount of affairs that they have. They are the reason why to their own misery. Hardly anything come but from their own race yet they blamed others for their misfortunes." She sighed and continued, "That is why I left it long time ago. When I was young, I thought the way they do, but now, looking back at it all, I wondered why. Things that were monotonous for me then changed into something else. It is as though I cannot live without my usual routine."
"Perhaps you have become more elf than you are before." Er-Galadh remarked. It was unusual to hear her talking the way she did. She was changing faster than what he had expected. Could it be that she was right? That they truly do not know each other anymore?
"Perhaps because I have grown weary of life." She sighed. "There is little in this life left for me. This battle will be the last."
"What will you do then?" Er-Galadh asked. Never would he think the girl that he once knew would say such thing. She used to be full with hopes and dreams of the future. The girl he knew was full with vigour of life but now she was naught but a wintering tree, ready to let go of what little it had left.
"What I am bid to do," she replied. "To become Radagast apprentice, devoting my life to him."
His heart ached as he heard her muttered those words. He wanted her to live with him, spending their time together again like the way it was many years ago. He would do whatever it takes but he had let her go once and that was all it takes to lose her forever. He pushed away all his thoughts and instead asked what he had mentioned a night before. "Will you visit Mirkwood again?"
Firiel turned to face him and smiled. "Perhaps. I do wish to meet my brother again after all." With that she stood up and whistled a high sounding pitch. Something ruffled above her, breaking the braches of the trees. Er-Galadh shielded his eyes against the sun to see the creature above him but it was of no use. The creature has flown low and landed on the ground next to him. It was a magnificent eagle, greater than any other he had ever seen. Firiel reached out to it and stroke its feathers. "Behold, Gwaihir the Windlord."
AN: Right now I'm feeling like tearing myself. When will the battle started? AAAAAAAARRRGGGHHHHHHHH can't take it anymore. This thing takes so long… Maybe if I write longer chapter? But they're definitely reaching Dol Guldur by next chapter. So annoying when this happen but I still need to build up on their emotions towards each other… Very annoying! *Sigh* I should have known. I put this upon myself when I made them fight…
