A/N: Sorry again. More writer's block. I hate writer's block. Anyway, if you'll believe it, I got the idea for this chapter immediately after I wrote a humor fic. O.o Go figure.
A/N: I have been getting some complaints about spelling errors in my stories. I apologize. I forgot to run spell check on a few of my chapters and I'll try for that not to happen again. Of course, there may be the odd one still in there, but please forgive me. I'm only human, right?
Read on...
Chapter 11: Public Address
As the four Elves sat in a circle on the forest floor, the story of the past few days was retold to Galadriel, this time, with Orophin adding his part in as well.
By the end of the story, Galadriel did not look surprised at all. "I feared that we had not seen the last of him," she said quietly, "Sadly, I cannot think of anything that we can do to stop Amargwaith."
Seregwen's mouth dropped open. "What are you talking about?" she demanded in too loud of a voice. She lowered it to a loud whisper before continuing. "You are the leader of Lothlorien! There has to be something you can do!"
"Perhaps there is," Haldir cut in, "But it might be dangerous, especially for you, hiril nín," he warned, turning to Galadriel.
"Anything for the sake of Lothlorien and my people," she replied bravely, "What do I do?"
"You tell the Elves the truth. Tell them there is a murderer among them. Tell them the story we just told you. Tell them what he did to you. There is no way to tell which Elf Amargwaith has become, so he may attempt an assassination on you while you are giving your address, but it's a risk you'll have to take."
Orophin stood up, walked in front of Galadriel, and got down on one knee holding his bow out to the Lady of Lothlorien. "For the sake of my people and my home, I will gladly risk my life as a guard during your announcement."
Haldir did the same with his dagger.
Seregwen, however, stayed where she was, her head bowed in sorrow. "I'm afraid that I have no experience with weapons of any kind, hiril nín, but I will do what I can to help."
Galadriel smiled. "Well then, it's settled. Let us go back to Caras Galadon and prepare."
~~~~~~~
As the four Elves approached the first of the boarder guards, Galadriel stepped forward to speak with them. His face took on a surprised look and he said, "Hiril nín! I thought you had been kidnaped!" Then, his eyes fell on Haldir, Seregwen, and Orophin. "You!" he shouted, pointing an accusing finger at them, "You kidnaped her!"
"I wasn't kidnaped, I was rescued," Galadriel vouched.
"What sort of magic have they been using on you, hiril nín?"
"You should know that even I don't have the power to erase someone's memory. Now, could you quell your paranoia long enough to escort us into the city?"
"Y-yes, hiril nín," the guard replied, feeling quite embarrassed, as he led the party into the city.
~~~~~~~
The time had come for Galadriel to give her speech to the people of Lothlorien. She was aware of the dangers, but she had assembled a team of her best guards and hunters to protect her and the crowd, with Haldir and Orophin as their leaders. Slowly, she confronted the entire population of Lothlorien and began. "People of Lothlorien, I do not mean to alarm you, but a very serious matter has come to my attention." She paused for a moment, wondering if she had the courage to continue. Soon, she found her voice again. The Elves had to know. "There is a murderer in our midst." Half of the crowd's reactions were of sheer horror, the other half's were of disbelief. "This murderer, has the ability to take on the form of others, but only if he has a part of the one he wishes to shift into. The important thing for all of us to do is to stay ca-" She screamed as Orophin fell in front of her, the wooden shaft of an arrow sticking out of his chest.
~~~~~~~
Orophin stood, his eyes and ears alert for any sound or unwanted movement. He had told Galadriel that he would give his life protecting her, and if that was what it came to, he would. The Lady had barely began her address when he heard it. The snap of a bow string. Then, as if in slow motion, he saw the arrow headed for Galadriel. There was nothing more for him to do. He prayed that the Valar see his soul safe passage to the Halls of Mandos*, and leaped into the path of the arrow.
Immediately, he tasted blood and felt a surge of excruciating pain, but only for an instant. After that, he felt no more.
A/N: WHY DID I DO THAT?! WHY?! *hysterical sobs*
* The Halls of Mandos is where the spirits of slain Elves go to wait for a time when they will one day be reborn, so they can sail to the land of Valinor.
A/N: I have been getting some complaints about spelling errors in my stories. I apologize. I forgot to run spell check on a few of my chapters and I'll try for that not to happen again. Of course, there may be the odd one still in there, but please forgive me. I'm only human, right?
Read on...
Chapter 11: Public Address
As the four Elves sat in a circle on the forest floor, the story of the past few days was retold to Galadriel, this time, with Orophin adding his part in as well.
By the end of the story, Galadriel did not look surprised at all. "I feared that we had not seen the last of him," she said quietly, "Sadly, I cannot think of anything that we can do to stop Amargwaith."
Seregwen's mouth dropped open. "What are you talking about?" she demanded in too loud of a voice. She lowered it to a loud whisper before continuing. "You are the leader of Lothlorien! There has to be something you can do!"
"Perhaps there is," Haldir cut in, "But it might be dangerous, especially for you, hiril nín," he warned, turning to Galadriel.
"Anything for the sake of Lothlorien and my people," she replied bravely, "What do I do?"
"You tell the Elves the truth. Tell them there is a murderer among them. Tell them the story we just told you. Tell them what he did to you. There is no way to tell which Elf Amargwaith has become, so he may attempt an assassination on you while you are giving your address, but it's a risk you'll have to take."
Orophin stood up, walked in front of Galadriel, and got down on one knee holding his bow out to the Lady of Lothlorien. "For the sake of my people and my home, I will gladly risk my life as a guard during your announcement."
Haldir did the same with his dagger.
Seregwen, however, stayed where she was, her head bowed in sorrow. "I'm afraid that I have no experience with weapons of any kind, hiril nín, but I will do what I can to help."
Galadriel smiled. "Well then, it's settled. Let us go back to Caras Galadon and prepare."
~~~~~~~
As the four Elves approached the first of the boarder guards, Galadriel stepped forward to speak with them. His face took on a surprised look and he said, "Hiril nín! I thought you had been kidnaped!" Then, his eyes fell on Haldir, Seregwen, and Orophin. "You!" he shouted, pointing an accusing finger at them, "You kidnaped her!"
"I wasn't kidnaped, I was rescued," Galadriel vouched.
"What sort of magic have they been using on you, hiril nín?"
"You should know that even I don't have the power to erase someone's memory. Now, could you quell your paranoia long enough to escort us into the city?"
"Y-yes, hiril nín," the guard replied, feeling quite embarrassed, as he led the party into the city.
~~~~~~~
The time had come for Galadriel to give her speech to the people of Lothlorien. She was aware of the dangers, but she had assembled a team of her best guards and hunters to protect her and the crowd, with Haldir and Orophin as their leaders. Slowly, she confronted the entire population of Lothlorien and began. "People of Lothlorien, I do not mean to alarm you, but a very serious matter has come to my attention." She paused for a moment, wondering if she had the courage to continue. Soon, she found her voice again. The Elves had to know. "There is a murderer in our midst." Half of the crowd's reactions were of sheer horror, the other half's were of disbelief. "This murderer, has the ability to take on the form of others, but only if he has a part of the one he wishes to shift into. The important thing for all of us to do is to stay ca-" She screamed as Orophin fell in front of her, the wooden shaft of an arrow sticking out of his chest.
~~~~~~~
Orophin stood, his eyes and ears alert for any sound or unwanted movement. He had told Galadriel that he would give his life protecting her, and if that was what it came to, he would. The Lady had barely began her address when he heard it. The snap of a bow string. Then, as if in slow motion, he saw the arrow headed for Galadriel. There was nothing more for him to do. He prayed that the Valar see his soul safe passage to the Halls of Mandos*, and leaped into the path of the arrow.
Immediately, he tasted blood and felt a surge of excruciating pain, but only for an instant. After that, he felt no more.
A/N: WHY DID I DO THAT?! WHY?! *hysterical sobs*
* The Halls of Mandos is where the spirits of slain Elves go to wait for a time when they will one day be reborn, so they can sail to the land of Valinor.