SW-Sorry it's late, but this week's been kinda busy. But the third chappie is up too so that I hope makes up for my lack of typing for 2 days. All I can say is "Opps!!!" Well here it is! Oh, and any A/N are from Horse Crazee and mine are from SW. Hope you enjoy it!
Disclaimer: Horse Crazee does not own LotR, but she does own Kat, Sal, and any other original characters that come along. I, Shadow Wolf, own Tenchi though.
A/N: Thanks to pandapearl ~ my first reviewer! "Goodbye" is Namarie; and "ride hard" is noro lim. We know the elven words from reading stories on ff.net that have elvish in them. Just search for Elvish dictionaries, or something like that.
Sorry to everyone for any and all typos made in chapter one, this chapter, and all future chapters!!! Here is the second chappie! Sorry it's late. Enjoy and R/R!!!!!!!!!!!!
Chapter 2: Seeing the Wood-Elf and Lord Gimli
Our journey was uneventful and I hoped that Sal's was the same. Haldir and I arrived in Lothlorien on the morning of the third day. We had ridden all night. Our horses were taken and I said, "Thank you, mellonamin my friend."
"The Lord and Lady are waiting, Princess Kat. I wish you luck," and with that he bowed and left.
I went in search of the Lord and Lady. As it turned out, I found out that Lord Celeborn was talking to his guests, and so I went in search of Galadriel. I found her in her private library. I spoke quietly, "I came as soon as I could, my lady."
She embraced me, "You rode hard to get here, Kat, did you not?"
"Yes. Haldir and I both rode hard all last night to get here so quickly," I replied. We moved out to the balcony, as the Lady Galadriel knew how much I love to look around me and like to know what's going on. For a few minutes neither of us spoke, just watching quietly. I saw Lord Celeborn walking with his two guests-a handsome elf who looked like a wood-elf, but I doubted he was from Lothlorien; and a…dwarf? Yes, that was a dwarf. I recognized him immediately, "Lord Gimli," I whispered, calling him by the nickname that only I used. I smiled as I remembered my last stay at the Glittering Caves, then set my jaw when I remembered why I had been there: to seek shelter from Saruman, and to let my numerous wounds heal.
While they were healing, I was supposed to rest, but it was not my nature. Instead I went on walks, and it was on one of those walks that I met Gimli. We got along quite well, and I eventually gave him the nickname, "Lord Gimli." That had been before he'd been summoned to the Council of Elrond.
Galadriel looked at me, "You should relax, Kat. I will send you tomorrow morning," she looked at me again, as if trying to read my soul. I kept my face unreadable and cleared my thoughts, so as not to show my true fear of Saruman. She continued, "If you like, I will send someone with you."
I held up my hand, "That is not necessary, my lady."
She laughed softly, "Well then, how about I send someone with you and not tell you who it is?"
I sighed, this was hopeless, "Alright," I said in defeat.
Galadriel laughed and I noticed Celeborn, the wood-elf, and Gimli look over at us. "Well then, shall we expect you at dinner?" I shook my head, "Alright, then I will see you in the morning. Meet me by my mirror at first light.
"I will be there, Galadriel," I said softly. She gave me another hug and I left.
"After leaving the library, I took the scenic route back to my usual room. The room was the same as I had left if. There was a hot bath that was scented with roses and honey. A clean tunic and towel were laid on the side of the tub. I felt a grin cross my face at the fact that the maidens always remember not to bring me dresses. I took off my grimy travel clothes and laid my weapons on the bed-but I kept one of my twin daggers and laid it within hands reach out of sight. I let out a sigh when I got in the tub and let the hot scented water draw some of the tension our of my muscles.
An hour later I felt refreshed and somewhat relaxed as I brushed out my mahogany hair. That done, I replaced my twin daggers to their usual place-one in each boot. I made sure my sword was still in good shape. There was no finer silver blade, made by the Dwarves, crafted by the elves of Melethron, and inscripted and lined with mithril in Rivendell. The hilt was solid mithril. Satisfied that it had not been messed with, I sheathed it and put it alongside my gear.
I ran my fingers along my bow, making sure that it too, was unharmed. The wood matched my hair and was inscripted in silver with the elvish words that said, "Fear this warrior, for she is brave. Her skill can be matched by few." The bow had been a gift form Lord Celeborn when I was named as leader of the Elven Riders, and it has served me well. The quiver was filled to the brim with Mirkwood arrows. King Thranduil had made sure they were the best, and were a shiny mahogany color as well.
My twin daggers signified royalty in Melethron, and my brother had a pair as well. The blades were Melethron' s finest. Written on both sides of each blade was the word: Melethron. The hilts of both daggers were made of mithril like my sword and were inlaid with blue sapphires and green gems in a distinct pattern. On the butt of both daggers was a diamond from the Mines of Moria. The daggers were legendary almost, and are well known throughout Middle Earth. (A/N: Kat also has another weapon that I will not describe until alter! *evil grin*)
Satisfied that my weapons were fine, I left my room. I paused after closing my door, not moving in order to listen. It was one of my many habits that I picked up while being tortured in Isenguard. The daggers had killed many orcs and Uruk-hai during my "stay." The habits would stay with me for a very long time-even after Saruman was dead.
I took a deep breath and went down. My feet took me down an old, familiar path. However, the path is mostly used as a horseback path. I remembered this when I heard hoof beats. Light though they were, they were coming from behind me. As quickly as any wood-elf, I was in the branches above, well hidden from view-or so I hoped. I heard voices: one belonged to Lord Gimli, and the other I didn't recognize, although it belonged to an elf. The both of them were riding on one horse. The big horse was beautiful with a black mane, tail, and legs, and his body was all white. The elf was the wood-elf I had seen with Gimli and Lord Celeborn. I looked the wood elf over. From his dress, I could tell he was from Mirkwood. 'Wow,' I thought, 'Sal would fall out of a tree if she saw this one.' I had to work hard to hold in my laughter at the idea of Sal falling out of a tree. The elf was very and looked to be over six feet tall. He had blonde hair that shone in the sun and his bright blue eyes sparkled when the sunlight hit them. His face was flawless, but he had the look of being a skilled warrior.
He must have sensed my presence because his whole body became tense and alert and his horse was tense as well. Gimli didn't notice until the horse stopped completely below and a few yards to my right. "Eh, what did you stop for, Legolas, the trail keeps going," Gimli said in his gruff voice. I smiled-typical thing for a dwarf to say.
"I sense another's presence nearby," the wood elf said, alert as ever.
"Yer probably just overtense, boy, relax," replied Gimli. I noticed Legolas arch an eyebrow.
I decided that they might as well that I am here. So I spoke softly, yet loud enough for Gimli to hear, "Yes, the trail does continue, Lord Gimli," and even softer I said, "Typical thing for a dwarf to say." The elf called Legolas snorted with laughter, but said nothing, keeping his eyes fixed on where I was, "I will not show myself, so you might as well continue," and as he nudged the big gray horse forward I said, "It was nice seeing you again, Lord Gimli," emphasizing his nickname. I watched for his reaction. His jaw dropped and he toppled right off the horse. A dwarf covered in mud is a funny sight indeed, and Legolas, try as he might could not restrain his laughter. I took this time to leave and jumped to other trees. I did scrawl a quick note:
Lord Gimli,
I thank you for your hospitality when I last saw you. You might not remember me, for it was before you were summoned to the Council of Elrond. I heard about your going on the quest and am glad to see that you returned safely. You might even have seen me a time or two, but not recognized me, for I was well hidden. Haldir wasn't the only one who could have shot you in the dark.
Give my greetings to your father. We will meet again, Lord Gimli.
Until then,
Kat
I folded the letter and tied it to a dead branch. I threw the branch and it landed right in at Legolas' feet, as he was helping Gimli out of the mud. Seeing it, he reached down immediately-temporarily forgetting for an instant that he was helping Gimli up- and the dwarf promptly fell back into the mud. He unwrapped the note as Gimli was getting out of the mud and as soon as Gimli was standing, handed him the note and scanned the trees. His eyes rested on the tree I was in. I knew, however, that he couldn't see me, judging from the look on his face-it was more like he sensed I was here.
I felt myself smiling; I wanted to see if the wood-elf could see me. His expression didn't change and I felt relieved that he hadn't seen me. I moved back a few trees, silently climbed down and ran to the stables. If I had looked back, I would have seen the wood elf smiling-he had seen me.
Briefly it had been, but my face was printed in his mind and in his heart…….and my face seemed vaguely familiar.
SW- So what do ya think? Funny? Horrible? Wicked? Good? Bad? Sucky? What!? Onegai tell us we'd love to know.
Gomen it took so long to update, but the third chappie is up too! Yay!!
The fourth chappie will be out on Sat. and the fifth on Mon. Oh, and if I can convince her, Horse Crazee might have a HP fic out too soon. That's only if I ca n convince her to let me post it that is. I think it's wicked so far, but she's only on chapter 2 in that one. Oh ,well!
JA!!!
P.S.~ FOR THE LOVE OF PURPLE PIXIES AND LEMON DROP FAIRIES REVIEW ONEGAI!!!!!!!!
