Disclaimer: I don't own anybody in this story except for Adariel and minor
character associated with her, i.e. Maids and other people like that…….. I
also made up the King and Lakewood.
Echoes of the Narbeleth
Spirit Star
Chapter 7: In which beginnings meet
We leave Adariel now, and hop over to the Fellowship, which by that time had arrived at the stream where Haldir, brother of Elsbeth had led them on their journey to Lothlorien.
"Celebrant is already a strong stream here, as you can see," explained Haldir, "and it runs both swift and deep, and it is very cold. We do not set foot in it so far north, unless we must. But in these days of watchfulness we do not make bridges. This is how we cross! Follow me!" He made his end of the rope fast about another tree, and then ran along lightly just as Elbesth had done.
"I can walk the rope," said Legolas, "But my friends cannot. Would they have to swim?"
"Oh, no!" said Haldir, looking shocked, "We have two guide ropes. They should be fine if they hold fast and walk cautiously."
One by one, they crossed with Legolas bring up the end. They waited for him on the bank while he walked comfortably along the rope. Halfway across, something caught his eye. He turned his head towards the current and blinked. This was something, because Elves hardly ever need to blink at what they see; their eyesight is hawklike.
He did not see wrong. "What ails you?" asked Haldir from the bank. Legolas made a movement signaling silence. There was silence.
The currents were rather fast, so whatever was drifting along in the water was coming at a great speed. It floated quite close to the rope now, and Legolas could make out that it was a bundle of cloth laid upon many branches that looked like a raft, except none were bound and the branches came from different trees. Closer still it moved.
Haldir had spotted it too. "What do you see, Brother?" He called out. Legolas frowned. He had never seen anything like it. It looked like a dress, but it was too solid. But what would a dress, obviously Elven made be doing on several thick branches that looked like they had fallen in on purpose? He kneeled on the rope (this was quite easy for an Elf) and reached forward carefully. Even Elves weren't perfect in balance.
The bundle grew nearer. Haldir threw him the guide ropes and he secured one around his waist, and the other he held out in waiting. As soon as the bundle came, he quickly threw the rope around it and knotted it tightly. The bunches of wood slipped from under it, and the bundle came under water. Just as Legalos made to move on to join the others and ask one of the Elves to take it back, something disturbing happened.
The bundle screamed. Everybody looked startled. The Elves present immediately climbed up onto the rope and steadied it. Their sensitive ears perceived that it was another Elf. Legalos tugged on the rope and leaned back, using his own weight as a pulley. When it was within reaching distance, he held it in his arms, and found that it was quite light, but extremely cold. It was indeed a night blue dress, as he had guessed, and there was definitely someone in it. He hurried to the bank where the others were waiting anxiously.
Adariel didn't remember much about the whole affair. Only that she woke up once on branches while in the water. She silently thanked the trees, which lent their limbs when she fell in the river. Then she slipped back into unconsciousness. The next time she woke up was not a pleasant one. She felt something pulling from her stomach, but the worse thing was that the raft was there no longer, and she was totally under icy water. The current jerked her body to and fro. The next time she surfaced temporarily, she let out a scream. Then she fainted again.
Now, she woke up once more. Her senses surfaced one by one, as usual after sleep. First came her hearing. She frowned, her eyes still closed. They were in the Woods, and the chirping of birds softly amongst the trees welcomed her. There was breathing far off, and the cackling of a fire. Tree sounds reached her ears. They knew that she had woken up and were asking if she was okay.
Next, her nostrils flared to life. She was lying on the ground, from the Earthy smell around her. She smelt smoke, and food being cooked over an uncovered fire. She smelt the dark scent of someone's cloak over her. Then the feeling came back into her body. It was sore. Battered, bruised, raw and cold. Every muscle ached from being battered by the rushing water of Celebrant. What she felt next made her eyes nearly pop open.
She was in dry clothes. Under the cloak, her hands touched the material. It was rough, traveling clothes. It definitely wasn't *her* traveling clothes. For one thing, they were slightly too big, and for another they felt strange to her. "It looks like its time to get up," she thought to herself.
Gently, she opened her eyes, and found herself staring up into the canopy of leaves. Her head was leaning on the roots of a tree. She was indeed covered with someone's cloak. Gingerly, she let herself up, muscles protesting all the way. Slowly, gently, she sat halfway. Carefully, she lifted up the cloak and peered inside. A sigh of relief was followed by a blush. She wasn't hurt so badly that she had several bandages; she only had one around her stomach which was bruised in her ride. But for the blush, she realized that she was in a man's clothes, and for that to happen, she had to be changed out of her dress. And she certainly didn't recall doing that.
It was night time, she realized. A light could be seen to her left, and she moved her neck testily. It didn't hurt too much. There, sitting beside the fire, sat the Fellowship, and beside them, a strange Elf. Even stranger was that they were blindfolded except for the strange Elf, including Legolas who didn't look too happy about it.
"Oh Elbereth!" she thought. "If I hadn't ran off like that, then I not be here, within recognizable distance from the people that I'm meant to be following secretly!" She tried to recall how she ended up in the river in the first place, and the first thing she thought of was the lump on her head. Checking that nobody was looking at her, she slid her arm to the back of her head and carefully felt around there. There was nothing wrong with it, but it sure throbbed! Even as she thought about the bump, the image that the trees had projected of the Orc came back to her, causing her to sit up on impulse.
Or rather, she *tried* to sit up. Her bruised back ached. ('Funny', she thought, 'it didn't hurt when I was in Moria! It must be delayed reaction!') Her stomach hurt. As much as she didn't want to, she groaned. That sound whisper of a groan reached the ears of the people around the fire. Everybody turned. The Elf without the blindfold rushed over, and the others looked as if they wanted to, save the Dwarf.
"You're awake," said the Elf, reaching her. He knelt beside her and forced her down again. "But you're not well enough to stand yet."
Adariel blinked. "You never said anything about not sitting!" she said rather crossly, then immediately apologized. "I beg your pardon, I don't feel my usual self, I am sorry," she said gently.
"You are forgiven, Beautiful Lady," said the Elf, who had paused to admire her for some time now. She took the opportunity to sit up again, leaning herself against the tree so she could not be pushed back down. As the comment registered in her mind, she said "You are a fool to have called me that."
The Elf snapped back and blinked. "Then I beg your pardon, it's just that, well," Adariel decided to change the subject before some of her old habits came back. He looked too confused and pure intended to be like her old suitors and admirers. She would spare him.
Groaning again, she said, "Where am I and what time is it?"
"You are in the woods near Lothlorien and the time is the same day as when we found you." He replied presently.
"Who are you?" she asked.
"I am Haldir, brother of Elbesth, and these are visitors like you."
She noted that he had not named them. "I am not from around here, and please excuse me, Sir, if I do not name myself just yet." Glancing again at the remaining people at the fire, she decided that the sooner she was separated from them, the better. And that meant going into Lothlorien before dark, when there was no hope of being unstuck from these people.
She turned back to Haldir. "When are we going to leave these woods and head into Lothlorien?"
"As soon as you've recovered, Fair Lady,"
"In that case, we should leave immediately. I am definitely recovered, and don't try to say anything else. I am quite aware of the state of being I'm in because I'm in it and you're not!" she said.
Haldir looked surprised, and so did the members of the Fellowship. They were aware that the lady they had rescued was an Elf. 'What they weren't aware of was that not all Elves sit by the lake and gaze at their reflections all the time' she thought to herself. Out loud, she said "And I've also been curious to know where I got these from." With her free arm, she flung off the cloak.
She was dressed in a tunic and had someone's spare breeches on her. Of course, they were too big.
"Oh those," said Haldir. "One of the men sitting around the fire lent them to you. And if you want to journey now, I should not be the one to stop you, but I can see you can hardly sit up, let alone walk all that way. You must stay here, until either you are well recovered enough, or I run up to Lothlorien and fetch a steed down to meet you."
"Give me a moment, and I will answer you," she said to Haldir. He nodded, although curious, and went to join the circle around the fire again. They leaned in, talking. Haldir and Boromir laughed together, and Gimli had a scowl on his face. Not wasting time, Adariel leaned back on the tree and sent a picture of Starliss to it, to which the tree answered that Starliss was nearby. Adariel was glad, and thanked it.
"I have come to a decision!" she said from where she was sitting. All turned to look at her. "So are you staying, Fair Lady, or should I go and fetch a steed down?"
"Neither!" Adariel replied, "But let me first ask, which of you men by the fire can yell the loudest?" They looked at each other. Finally, after a while, Aragorn (still blindfolded) stood up and turned slightly towards her voice.
"What is it that you need Lady Elf?" he asked her.
"First you must trust me," and after he nodded, she continued, "I will teach you some words that you have to yell out into the woods. Ask me not why just yet." Aragorn nodded again, obviously amused.
"Starliss! Brrrreeeeennnaaaaiii grrraaammeeeeee! Starliss! MMMeeeeeelllliii Brrrrrreeeeannnaiiii!" said Adariel slowly. Aragorn looked slightly surprised. "It is not a tongue that I know of, Lady," he said.
"Please try to say them, for they are extremely important." Adariel said. So he consented, and repeated them after her again and again until Adariel felt satisfied with the stresses and the accent as well as the pronunciation. The rest of them had amused smiles upon their faces, except for Legalos, who had a look of wonder.
Glancing at him, she wondered if he knew of this particular type of skill. Turning back to Aragorn, she said, "Now make the woods echo with those words, I beseech you." True to his promise, he questioned her not, and soon afterwards, the words that she had taught him made the woods ring. None of the animals started, for they knew the language that she spoke of, and a few of them flew off to find the one she called for.
Nothing happened. Haldir smiled. "You see, you must either stay or-"
"Hush!" she snapped. To her surprise, Legolas made a move to say the same thing. He had heard something, and he said so. Everybody stopped, afraid that it may be an unfriendly visitor. Each tensed, but Adariel felt the familiar beating of hooves on the forest floor. She laughed. They turned nervously in her direction. "She has come!" she explained, as if that would answer any questions, and laughed again at their surprised faces. A twig snapped behind Adariel. Haldir stood up. "Be careful Lady" he called, but still Adariel laughed. To the surprise of everyone, she said "Starliss! Be not afraid!"
Out of the shadows of the wood stepped a pure white mare, glowing in the moonlight. "Elbereth!" gasped Haldir, gazing at the horse. The others relaxed, and although they could not see, they knew that it was not foe. Adariel felt relieved that they were blindfolded. If they saw Starliss, they were sure to guess that she was the one who rode out of the bushes near the Gates of Moria. How would she react then?
"Neeeenbbbbaaaaa! Sssseeebrrreeeennnaaa" she said to Starliss, and the mare kneed her front legs down, and Adariel slowly reached out and gingerly shifted her weight onto her back. Starliss made sure her rider was safe, and straightened one leg after another until she was standing with Adariel leaning slightly forward on her back.
Adariel turned back to the people around the fire. "I have made my decision. May we depart now?" Haldir blinked, (and again I voice that this is very unusual for Elves to do) and consented. Soon, they were ready to depart with Adariel on Starliss.
"I'm afraid, Lady, I must blindfold you," Haldir said to her, "It would be unfair to the others if you were not!"
Adariel glanced at Legolas, who still looked slightly annoyed. Adariel understood that he wanted to see Lothlorien and all its wonders, for it Lothlorien was a place of legend, even amongst the Elves. It would be unfair to him, because he was after all an Elf. Besides, she had already seen it all before. She turned back to Haldir.
"I propose an exchange!" said she. Haldir raised an eyebrow. Adariel continued, "I can see that you don't have enough blindfolds along with you, and to tear a piece of cloth is not necessary at a time like this. I would have myself blindfolded in exchange for the freedom of sight of one of these present here." She indicated to the blindfolded ones gathered near Starliss in single file. Starliss snorted.
Haldir considered a moment, and leaned in to answer her. "It is fine by me, as long as you don't choose the Dwarf. No Dwarf has set sight in Lothlorien for a long time," Adariel gave her word. All this was exchanged in whispers, but Adariel saw that Legalos's ears twitched slightly. She remembered again that Elven ears were as good as their sight.
"Very well," Haldir said louder, straightening. "You shall have your wish. They are here for your choosing." The men stirred uncomfortably. Adariel turned to them. "Whomever I shall chose must promise to leave their eyes closed until I bid them open again."
However strange this sounded, as Adariel knew it must, they consented. With silent feet, she moved until she was standing in front of Legalos. Gazing at his face again, she saw the look of hope shining from it. She looked down grimly, for she dreaded the dark, and more so after Moria. She knew that it was so for all of them, Legolas in particular.
Carefully, she reached up and brushed his hair back so he would know that she had chosen him. She circled around until she saw the knot in the blindfold and as she untied it, she reached up and whispered in his ear, "remember the promise," before taking the blindfold off. Her arms were starting to hurt again.
As briskly as she could in her condition, she walked back to Starliss who kneeled again. Once she was safely on, she took a deep breath and then closed her eyes before securing the blindfold over them. Satisfied that it was tight, she threw up the hood of the borrowed tunic and tightened it so that nobody may see. Her hands grasped Starliss's mane tightly.
"You may open your eyes now," she said after her breathing grew even. How she loathed the dark! Haldir stepped forward. "Do you wish me to lead your horse, Lady?"
"No, she can walk herself, I thank you." To Starliss, she said "Neegggggggarru dabbbbeeerra" Starliss tossed her head in a nod in response. "She will not let me fall"
With a heavy heart, she continued, taking refuge in her mind by letting it slip into the Elven roads that it roamed when she was resting while she had her eyes open. There was silence on the road. All the blindfolded were lost in their own thoughts, and Adariel's mind had drifted far away. Haldir was thinking of his brother Elbesth who had told him of the beautiful Elven maiden that he had led down this path just a day or so ago. Elbesth had sworn that it was the most beautiful maiden he had ever seen, but as Haldir glanced at the newcomer, he thought that none were as fair as she.
Legolas's eyes roamed around the wonders of the forest, and he was amazed at what he saw. It was just as the legends that he grew up with described it. And it was one of those rare times when legends fell short of the truth. The light was unnatural and as they neared their destination, it grew brighter. All around there was a golden hue lighting the foliage that they walked upon. Golden leaves floated out of Golden canopies. Golden branches hung from Golden trunks. Even the earth that they trampled upon had a slightly lighter tinge to it.
Something sweet caught his nose, and he saw that the small, golden bloom of the leaner was up in the trees, for winter was nearly over, and some of the leaves had started to drift from their places. Suddenly he wasn't looking at leaves anymore. Something about this place that made anybody who gazed upon it extremely happy. He sighed contentedly. Then his gaze slid to his companions. It was too bad that they could not gaze upon the wonders that he beheld here.
Aragorn was sure to have seen it before, for his love Arwen was grandchild to Lady Galariel herself, and they had met here many times, or so he had heard. Legalos was sure that Aragorn did not mind the blindfold. The Hobbits knew not about Lothlorien except what they had heard, and then again they hadn't heard too much about it. They would not know what they were missing out on. Boromir, no doubt had heard of the Golden City of Lothlorien. Legalos guessed that Boromir minded very much being blindfolded, and felt that the man's pride had been wounded. Lastly, his gazed at Gimli the Dwarf, who despite all his insulting attitude towards the Elves looked quite nervous. Legalos recalled how they imprisoned Gimli's father Gloin in Mirkwood. Gimli was strange to the Legalos, and he didn't know what to do with him, and how to react. They were brought up to despise each other.
Legalos continued quite some way like this, beholding the wonders around him on their walk until something alongside him caught his eye. It was the strange white mare that the new Elven lady rode. Starliss, she had called it. Now as he watched, the horse was careful to walk along even ground only and when the occasional obstacle occurred, it avoided them and took great effort to make sure that the rider was safe. And all this time the Lady said not a word. It was true that all Elves were good with animals, and many could ride strange horses and command them with the sound of their voice, but nobody could make them do what this mare was doing without another Elf shouting directions.
Now that he thought about it, the horse was quite like the one that had shot out of the bushes near Moria carrying their 'Friend'. He shook that thought off. It was totally illogical. For one thing, he was sure that the rider and horse would already be in Lothlorien by now because they would have had at least a day's advantage. Secondly, there were many white horses ridden by the Elves and thirdly, no Elven lady would travel, and even less had such great skill with a bow. Even Arwen Evenstar favored the sword.
Suddenly, Legalos realized that he had not really looked at the rider before, only glances. Now that he looked, he found that he couldn't look away. For a while his breath caught in his throat. She was beautiful. If he didn't know better, then she would be related to Arwen Evenstar herself. She might even be prettier than the fabled Maiden of Lakewood whose beauty no Elf had ever laid eyes on. For a short moment, her hair hid her face from view. Strands of Gold bordering on Silver under the unnatural light seemed to sparkle as they fell like a waterfall around her shoulders and down to her back.
Then a sudden breeze blew the curtain of hair back and Legalos saw that she was biting her lip, and immediately felt guilty. It was obvious that she feared the dark like all Elven kind did. If she had been down to the caves of Moria then Legalos knew that he would feel even sorrier. 'The Lady is lucky, for if she feared the dark, as she obviously does, then to walk the tunnels of Moria would have been like a million tortures carried out by Sauron himself. She is lucky to sit at safe havens for now, traveling where she wills." He thought to himself.
Thoughts diverted, he looked around himself once again at the glory that Lothlorien brought.
Adariel couldn't concentrate. Her stomach muscles ached, and her head felt dizzy from the tightness of the blindfold. Her hands could not reach to undo it because it would mean falling off Starliss. "BrreeenaaaDEghdd" she whispered to Starliss in thanks, to which the mare replied that it was worth it for Lothlorien. Adariel recalled again that the mare had been dwelling here for quite some time before she came into the service of her father, and then herself.
Her lip was starting to bleed. She could taste it. Had she even been biting her own lip? She wasn't sure. Then with the blackness came the images of what had happened the night before, and she could feel tears soaking the blindfold she was wearing. Now she was sure that the Mirror had showed her herself if she were to continue what she was doing.
But what *was* she doing?
Her mind sifted through the words of Galadriel as to some hidden clue. Something about her heart? But what did the Lady mean that she didn't know the depths of her own heart? She bit her lip even harder at the pain at the back of her head. Too much thinking had made her slightly dizzy, and the darkness didn't help*. Her breathing grew uneven, and she swayed slightly. "Hurry up, hurry up……………" she thought to herself, and leaned forward slightly.
Which was a mistake.
Starliss, who had been carefully avoiding things in her path had lowered herself down to avoid a branch on in her way. When Adariel leaned forward, her head hit the branch that Starliss was trying to avoid. That last knock did it. She felt quite light headed, and fell in a faint from the throbbing in her head.
Haldir was last in the line, with Legalos in front. He saw that the men he was leading had their heads bowed in thought. How strange it was to see strangers in these woods again! And the Lady! She reminded him of the beauty of Lothlorien itself. He cast his eyes towards her just in time to see her slip limply from her horse. He cried out.
All the men stopped, on alert. Haldir could see Legalos starting to turn towards him when he caught sight of the Lady, who was riding just behind him slightly. Before Haldir could see what had happened, the Lady was lying on top of Legalos, who was sitting on the ground, covered in a thin dust of dirt. The mare shied up and pranced a little before calming down and standing tranquilly to the side of the road.
Legolas looked at the maiden in his lap. She looked like she was sleeping with her hair spread out like a halo draping the dirt floor. And although he could not see her eyes, he knew that she had fainted. There was something not right about it. Sliding his arms under the body, he lifted her up slowly as he stood up. Turning to the back of the line, he could see that everybody looked tense. "All is well. The Lady just fell of her horse," he said, and then to Haldir, "She does not seem to be faring well. Are there healers in Lothlorien?"
Haldir stepped forward. "Does she need it immediately?"
Legolas looked at the maiden again. She seemed to have an unnatural shade of color about her, and it was fading even faster. Without taking his eyes off her, he said "Though I am not experienced in healing I should deem her to be quite unwell,"
Haldir hesitated. They were near the Golden City, but he knew that if one suffered an injury, they were not nearly close enough for comfort. At times like this, Haldir would have sent someone to ride into Lothlorien with the injured one, but since there was a Dwarf among the party (not that Haldir mistrusted Dwarves, but you could never be sure) and everybody else was blindfolded except Legalos, who was a stranger amongst these woods.
Then again, Haldir reasoned, the path to Lothlorien was simple, and all you had to do was stay on the path. The Lady did look like she needed some help. Nobody could tell how long she had been in the river for. Making up his mind while he was still sure, he said "If you mount her steed, then you could carry her into ride ahead with her into Lothlorien. Take this path and do not wander off it."
Legolas nodded. Still cradling the maiden, he approached the mare. It shied away and glared at him angrily. He hugged the maiden closer to him, and the mare understood. It approached cautiously and knelt. Legolas swiftly swung up onto its back. Once it had stood up, he sat the lady in front of him and reached his arms around the limp form to grab on to the horse's mane. Squeezing the mare's flank, he commanded it to ride onwards.
To his surprise, it was not only fast, but it was extremely light in riding. The bumps in the road felt like nothing as the horse galloped down the path. Soon, he could see the company no longer. Onwards still the white mare galloped. The road twisted and turned this way and that. There were banks where small streams trickled and places where there the earth was clumped, forming mounds. And suddenly it evened again. Before him stood the entrance of the great city of the Elves. He sucked in his breath.
There were Elves guarding the entrance, and now that they saw a stranger, they drew out their bows. Legolas was slightly startled for he had given no thought to this. The Elf closest drew in and saw that it was one of their kin. The rest relaxed, but no move was made to lower their bows. The first Elf said in a commanding voice, "Please state your business in Lothlorien." To which the stranger answered "I come with a company of strangers, but have ridden ahead as to give aid to the one that I carry here." He turned a little and they could see the limp form of the Lady that Elbesth had brought in about two days ago.
"Very well, you may come along with me," The Elf said, and he motioned for another to take his place in guard. "She looks in need of a Healer."
Another Elf took the mare after they had dismounted and led it to a field where the horses roamed freely, for Elves were kind to all animals and in return, the creatures of the forest were kind to the Elves. For that reason, the horses had no intention of running away (besides, the grass in Lothlorien was the sweetest grown).
They were led to a large building underneath the biggest tree in the city. Legolas had no time to admire the beauty of it. The Elf had moved swiftly, and now they followed him inside where the scent of the athelas greeted him. He stood aside while the Elf conversed with another, and then looked up as they both walked towards him.
"You may stay here to-night until the rest of you Company arrives, as we know that they will. The lady will be tended to here. A bed will be brought so you may stay with her, for she is a stranger to these lands too." The guard Elf said and when Legolas nodded, he turned towards the door before adding "A star shines in the hour of our meeting."
"Please follow me, Sir." Said the remaining Elf. He led them into a room facing the East. Legolas placed the maiden on the bed, then looked uncertainly toward the Elf who was already fussing with her blindfold. After several tries, it came off. The Elf tsked and now Legolas could see that the blindfold was too tight around the Lady's head.
"Whoever tied this around her must have had a good arm," mused the Elf. He had taken two athela leaves out of his cloak and was now scrunching them up. Nearby, one of the women had started boiling water over the fire. The Elf now threw the athela leaves into the pot and a spring fragrance wafted in the room. He bathed her eyes in the water and also applied some to the back of her head and then to the front where the branch had made a slight mark on it. Then he rolled her over and a helping Elven lady undid the back of the dress up to the small of her back. The athela juice was applied there too.
At first Legolas couldn't help but wonder why that was, until he saw the enormous bruise that covered it. 'How did she come upon such a wound?' he thought to himself. Now the Elf was instructing the women on something, and soon afterwards he turned to Legolas and motioned him to follow him out. Legalos felt puzzled, then realized that they were going to apply some of the water to her stomach, and as dresses go, they could not do it without undressing her. He blushed slightly, although he did not know why.
Turning to the Elf once they were outside, he asked "Is the maiden alright?"
To which he answered, "I know not where she has been, but not since the days of darkness has anybody walked Lothlorien with wounds such as hers. Though her wounds are many, none are serious enough to sustain long lasting damage." Then he peered at Legalos and added, "You may call me Eldaren."
"Well met, Eldaren," replied Legalos. "I am Legalos, son of Thranduil."
Elderen bowed to him, recognizing the name and said, "It has been long since one of your folk has traveled into Lothlorien."
Legolas nodded but said nothing more because at that moment, the door opened again and Elderen bade him to follow him inside. It was growing dark, and the maiden was changed into a think gown and was covered with a warm quilt sewn by Elven hands. She looked at ease now, and some color had come back into her cheeks.
"You will sleep here," said Elderen indicating to a place beside the bed. "If she wakes up in the night time, only ask for me, and I will come. I pray she sleeps on until she is well again." With that, he bade Legolas good night. "The stars may shine brightly tonight," Legolas replied as way of farewell before turning back towards the maiden.
The sun had set already, and food was brought in from the table of the Lady Galadriel herself. He ate, although he did not feel hungry after drinking in the beauty of Lothlorien. Then he settled himself to his sleeping place with his bow and knife close at hand. With one last look at the maiden lying near him, he saw that a strange light now filled her face from the pink of the setting sun making it look like something that words could not be found for. Her lips were slightly parted, and her breath was even. Soft lashes curled on her cheek, and the mark on her forehead was dimming as a result of the athelas.
"'Tis such a sight to end a day," he thought to himself, then a slight breeze blew into the chamber and his hair fell gently in wisps about him. He slept dreamlessly, while in the bed next to him, Adariel's face smoothed out and with a strained sigh, she made her way into troubled dreams and dark images.
1.1 End of Chapter 7
Reviews please! NO FLAMES but constructive criticism is very welcome! –Spirit Star
Author's notes:
*Have you ever tried balancing on something with your eyes closed? Not easy! How about riding a horse with a headache and blindfolded. Even harder.
Echoes of the Narbeleth
Spirit Star
Chapter 7: In which beginnings meet
We leave Adariel now, and hop over to the Fellowship, which by that time had arrived at the stream where Haldir, brother of Elsbeth had led them on their journey to Lothlorien.
"Celebrant is already a strong stream here, as you can see," explained Haldir, "and it runs both swift and deep, and it is very cold. We do not set foot in it so far north, unless we must. But in these days of watchfulness we do not make bridges. This is how we cross! Follow me!" He made his end of the rope fast about another tree, and then ran along lightly just as Elbesth had done.
"I can walk the rope," said Legolas, "But my friends cannot. Would they have to swim?"
"Oh, no!" said Haldir, looking shocked, "We have two guide ropes. They should be fine if they hold fast and walk cautiously."
One by one, they crossed with Legolas bring up the end. They waited for him on the bank while he walked comfortably along the rope. Halfway across, something caught his eye. He turned his head towards the current and blinked. This was something, because Elves hardly ever need to blink at what they see; their eyesight is hawklike.
He did not see wrong. "What ails you?" asked Haldir from the bank. Legolas made a movement signaling silence. There was silence.
The currents were rather fast, so whatever was drifting along in the water was coming at a great speed. It floated quite close to the rope now, and Legolas could make out that it was a bundle of cloth laid upon many branches that looked like a raft, except none were bound and the branches came from different trees. Closer still it moved.
Haldir had spotted it too. "What do you see, Brother?" He called out. Legolas frowned. He had never seen anything like it. It looked like a dress, but it was too solid. But what would a dress, obviously Elven made be doing on several thick branches that looked like they had fallen in on purpose? He kneeled on the rope (this was quite easy for an Elf) and reached forward carefully. Even Elves weren't perfect in balance.
The bundle grew nearer. Haldir threw him the guide ropes and he secured one around his waist, and the other he held out in waiting. As soon as the bundle came, he quickly threw the rope around it and knotted it tightly. The bunches of wood slipped from under it, and the bundle came under water. Just as Legalos made to move on to join the others and ask one of the Elves to take it back, something disturbing happened.
The bundle screamed. Everybody looked startled. The Elves present immediately climbed up onto the rope and steadied it. Their sensitive ears perceived that it was another Elf. Legalos tugged on the rope and leaned back, using his own weight as a pulley. When it was within reaching distance, he held it in his arms, and found that it was quite light, but extremely cold. It was indeed a night blue dress, as he had guessed, and there was definitely someone in it. He hurried to the bank where the others were waiting anxiously.
Adariel didn't remember much about the whole affair. Only that she woke up once on branches while in the water. She silently thanked the trees, which lent their limbs when she fell in the river. Then she slipped back into unconsciousness. The next time she woke up was not a pleasant one. She felt something pulling from her stomach, but the worse thing was that the raft was there no longer, and she was totally under icy water. The current jerked her body to and fro. The next time she surfaced temporarily, she let out a scream. Then she fainted again.
Now, she woke up once more. Her senses surfaced one by one, as usual after sleep. First came her hearing. She frowned, her eyes still closed. They were in the Woods, and the chirping of birds softly amongst the trees welcomed her. There was breathing far off, and the cackling of a fire. Tree sounds reached her ears. They knew that she had woken up and were asking if she was okay.
Next, her nostrils flared to life. She was lying on the ground, from the Earthy smell around her. She smelt smoke, and food being cooked over an uncovered fire. She smelt the dark scent of someone's cloak over her. Then the feeling came back into her body. It was sore. Battered, bruised, raw and cold. Every muscle ached from being battered by the rushing water of Celebrant. What she felt next made her eyes nearly pop open.
She was in dry clothes. Under the cloak, her hands touched the material. It was rough, traveling clothes. It definitely wasn't *her* traveling clothes. For one thing, they were slightly too big, and for another they felt strange to her. "It looks like its time to get up," she thought to herself.
Gently, she opened her eyes, and found herself staring up into the canopy of leaves. Her head was leaning on the roots of a tree. She was indeed covered with someone's cloak. Gingerly, she let herself up, muscles protesting all the way. Slowly, gently, she sat halfway. Carefully, she lifted up the cloak and peered inside. A sigh of relief was followed by a blush. She wasn't hurt so badly that she had several bandages; she only had one around her stomach which was bruised in her ride. But for the blush, she realized that she was in a man's clothes, and for that to happen, she had to be changed out of her dress. And she certainly didn't recall doing that.
It was night time, she realized. A light could be seen to her left, and she moved her neck testily. It didn't hurt too much. There, sitting beside the fire, sat the Fellowship, and beside them, a strange Elf. Even stranger was that they were blindfolded except for the strange Elf, including Legolas who didn't look too happy about it.
"Oh Elbereth!" she thought. "If I hadn't ran off like that, then I not be here, within recognizable distance from the people that I'm meant to be following secretly!" She tried to recall how she ended up in the river in the first place, and the first thing she thought of was the lump on her head. Checking that nobody was looking at her, she slid her arm to the back of her head and carefully felt around there. There was nothing wrong with it, but it sure throbbed! Even as she thought about the bump, the image that the trees had projected of the Orc came back to her, causing her to sit up on impulse.
Or rather, she *tried* to sit up. Her bruised back ached. ('Funny', she thought, 'it didn't hurt when I was in Moria! It must be delayed reaction!') Her stomach hurt. As much as she didn't want to, she groaned. That sound whisper of a groan reached the ears of the people around the fire. Everybody turned. The Elf without the blindfold rushed over, and the others looked as if they wanted to, save the Dwarf.
"You're awake," said the Elf, reaching her. He knelt beside her and forced her down again. "But you're not well enough to stand yet."
Adariel blinked. "You never said anything about not sitting!" she said rather crossly, then immediately apologized. "I beg your pardon, I don't feel my usual self, I am sorry," she said gently.
"You are forgiven, Beautiful Lady," said the Elf, who had paused to admire her for some time now. She took the opportunity to sit up again, leaning herself against the tree so she could not be pushed back down. As the comment registered in her mind, she said "You are a fool to have called me that."
The Elf snapped back and blinked. "Then I beg your pardon, it's just that, well," Adariel decided to change the subject before some of her old habits came back. He looked too confused and pure intended to be like her old suitors and admirers. She would spare him.
Groaning again, she said, "Where am I and what time is it?"
"You are in the woods near Lothlorien and the time is the same day as when we found you." He replied presently.
"Who are you?" she asked.
"I am Haldir, brother of Elbesth, and these are visitors like you."
She noted that he had not named them. "I am not from around here, and please excuse me, Sir, if I do not name myself just yet." Glancing again at the remaining people at the fire, she decided that the sooner she was separated from them, the better. And that meant going into Lothlorien before dark, when there was no hope of being unstuck from these people.
She turned back to Haldir. "When are we going to leave these woods and head into Lothlorien?"
"As soon as you've recovered, Fair Lady,"
"In that case, we should leave immediately. I am definitely recovered, and don't try to say anything else. I am quite aware of the state of being I'm in because I'm in it and you're not!" she said.
Haldir looked surprised, and so did the members of the Fellowship. They were aware that the lady they had rescued was an Elf. 'What they weren't aware of was that not all Elves sit by the lake and gaze at their reflections all the time' she thought to herself. Out loud, she said "And I've also been curious to know where I got these from." With her free arm, she flung off the cloak.
She was dressed in a tunic and had someone's spare breeches on her. Of course, they were too big.
"Oh those," said Haldir. "One of the men sitting around the fire lent them to you. And if you want to journey now, I should not be the one to stop you, but I can see you can hardly sit up, let alone walk all that way. You must stay here, until either you are well recovered enough, or I run up to Lothlorien and fetch a steed down to meet you."
"Give me a moment, and I will answer you," she said to Haldir. He nodded, although curious, and went to join the circle around the fire again. They leaned in, talking. Haldir and Boromir laughed together, and Gimli had a scowl on his face. Not wasting time, Adariel leaned back on the tree and sent a picture of Starliss to it, to which the tree answered that Starliss was nearby. Adariel was glad, and thanked it.
"I have come to a decision!" she said from where she was sitting. All turned to look at her. "So are you staying, Fair Lady, or should I go and fetch a steed down?"
"Neither!" Adariel replied, "But let me first ask, which of you men by the fire can yell the loudest?" They looked at each other. Finally, after a while, Aragorn (still blindfolded) stood up and turned slightly towards her voice.
"What is it that you need Lady Elf?" he asked her.
"First you must trust me," and after he nodded, she continued, "I will teach you some words that you have to yell out into the woods. Ask me not why just yet." Aragorn nodded again, obviously amused.
"Starliss! Brrrreeeeennnaaaaiii grrraaammeeeeee! Starliss! MMMeeeeeelllliii Brrrrrreeeeannnaiiii!" said Adariel slowly. Aragorn looked slightly surprised. "It is not a tongue that I know of, Lady," he said.
"Please try to say them, for they are extremely important." Adariel said. So he consented, and repeated them after her again and again until Adariel felt satisfied with the stresses and the accent as well as the pronunciation. The rest of them had amused smiles upon their faces, except for Legalos, who had a look of wonder.
Glancing at him, she wondered if he knew of this particular type of skill. Turning back to Aragorn, she said, "Now make the woods echo with those words, I beseech you." True to his promise, he questioned her not, and soon afterwards, the words that she had taught him made the woods ring. None of the animals started, for they knew the language that she spoke of, and a few of them flew off to find the one she called for.
Nothing happened. Haldir smiled. "You see, you must either stay or-"
"Hush!" she snapped. To her surprise, Legolas made a move to say the same thing. He had heard something, and he said so. Everybody stopped, afraid that it may be an unfriendly visitor. Each tensed, but Adariel felt the familiar beating of hooves on the forest floor. She laughed. They turned nervously in her direction. "She has come!" she explained, as if that would answer any questions, and laughed again at their surprised faces. A twig snapped behind Adariel. Haldir stood up. "Be careful Lady" he called, but still Adariel laughed. To the surprise of everyone, she said "Starliss! Be not afraid!"
Out of the shadows of the wood stepped a pure white mare, glowing in the moonlight. "Elbereth!" gasped Haldir, gazing at the horse. The others relaxed, and although they could not see, they knew that it was not foe. Adariel felt relieved that they were blindfolded. If they saw Starliss, they were sure to guess that she was the one who rode out of the bushes near the Gates of Moria. How would she react then?
"Neeeenbbbbaaaaa! Sssseeebrrreeeennnaaa" she said to Starliss, and the mare kneed her front legs down, and Adariel slowly reached out and gingerly shifted her weight onto her back. Starliss made sure her rider was safe, and straightened one leg after another until she was standing with Adariel leaning slightly forward on her back.
Adariel turned back to the people around the fire. "I have made my decision. May we depart now?" Haldir blinked, (and again I voice that this is very unusual for Elves to do) and consented. Soon, they were ready to depart with Adariel on Starliss.
"I'm afraid, Lady, I must blindfold you," Haldir said to her, "It would be unfair to the others if you were not!"
Adariel glanced at Legolas, who still looked slightly annoyed. Adariel understood that he wanted to see Lothlorien and all its wonders, for it Lothlorien was a place of legend, even amongst the Elves. It would be unfair to him, because he was after all an Elf. Besides, she had already seen it all before. She turned back to Haldir.
"I propose an exchange!" said she. Haldir raised an eyebrow. Adariel continued, "I can see that you don't have enough blindfolds along with you, and to tear a piece of cloth is not necessary at a time like this. I would have myself blindfolded in exchange for the freedom of sight of one of these present here." She indicated to the blindfolded ones gathered near Starliss in single file. Starliss snorted.
Haldir considered a moment, and leaned in to answer her. "It is fine by me, as long as you don't choose the Dwarf. No Dwarf has set sight in Lothlorien for a long time," Adariel gave her word. All this was exchanged in whispers, but Adariel saw that Legalos's ears twitched slightly. She remembered again that Elven ears were as good as their sight.
"Very well," Haldir said louder, straightening. "You shall have your wish. They are here for your choosing." The men stirred uncomfortably. Adariel turned to them. "Whomever I shall chose must promise to leave their eyes closed until I bid them open again."
However strange this sounded, as Adariel knew it must, they consented. With silent feet, she moved until she was standing in front of Legalos. Gazing at his face again, she saw the look of hope shining from it. She looked down grimly, for she dreaded the dark, and more so after Moria. She knew that it was so for all of them, Legolas in particular.
Carefully, she reached up and brushed his hair back so he would know that she had chosen him. She circled around until she saw the knot in the blindfold and as she untied it, she reached up and whispered in his ear, "remember the promise," before taking the blindfold off. Her arms were starting to hurt again.
As briskly as she could in her condition, she walked back to Starliss who kneeled again. Once she was safely on, she took a deep breath and then closed her eyes before securing the blindfold over them. Satisfied that it was tight, she threw up the hood of the borrowed tunic and tightened it so that nobody may see. Her hands grasped Starliss's mane tightly.
"You may open your eyes now," she said after her breathing grew even. How she loathed the dark! Haldir stepped forward. "Do you wish me to lead your horse, Lady?"
"No, she can walk herself, I thank you." To Starliss, she said "Neegggggggarru dabbbbeeerra" Starliss tossed her head in a nod in response. "She will not let me fall"
With a heavy heart, she continued, taking refuge in her mind by letting it slip into the Elven roads that it roamed when she was resting while she had her eyes open. There was silence on the road. All the blindfolded were lost in their own thoughts, and Adariel's mind had drifted far away. Haldir was thinking of his brother Elbesth who had told him of the beautiful Elven maiden that he had led down this path just a day or so ago. Elbesth had sworn that it was the most beautiful maiden he had ever seen, but as Haldir glanced at the newcomer, he thought that none were as fair as she.
Legolas's eyes roamed around the wonders of the forest, and he was amazed at what he saw. It was just as the legends that he grew up with described it. And it was one of those rare times when legends fell short of the truth. The light was unnatural and as they neared their destination, it grew brighter. All around there was a golden hue lighting the foliage that they walked upon. Golden leaves floated out of Golden canopies. Golden branches hung from Golden trunks. Even the earth that they trampled upon had a slightly lighter tinge to it.
Something sweet caught his nose, and he saw that the small, golden bloom of the leaner was up in the trees, for winter was nearly over, and some of the leaves had started to drift from their places. Suddenly he wasn't looking at leaves anymore. Something about this place that made anybody who gazed upon it extremely happy. He sighed contentedly. Then his gaze slid to his companions. It was too bad that they could not gaze upon the wonders that he beheld here.
Aragorn was sure to have seen it before, for his love Arwen was grandchild to Lady Galariel herself, and they had met here many times, or so he had heard. Legalos was sure that Aragorn did not mind the blindfold. The Hobbits knew not about Lothlorien except what they had heard, and then again they hadn't heard too much about it. They would not know what they were missing out on. Boromir, no doubt had heard of the Golden City of Lothlorien. Legalos guessed that Boromir minded very much being blindfolded, and felt that the man's pride had been wounded. Lastly, his gazed at Gimli the Dwarf, who despite all his insulting attitude towards the Elves looked quite nervous. Legalos recalled how they imprisoned Gimli's father Gloin in Mirkwood. Gimli was strange to the Legalos, and he didn't know what to do with him, and how to react. They were brought up to despise each other.
Legalos continued quite some way like this, beholding the wonders around him on their walk until something alongside him caught his eye. It was the strange white mare that the new Elven lady rode. Starliss, she had called it. Now as he watched, the horse was careful to walk along even ground only and when the occasional obstacle occurred, it avoided them and took great effort to make sure that the rider was safe. And all this time the Lady said not a word. It was true that all Elves were good with animals, and many could ride strange horses and command them with the sound of their voice, but nobody could make them do what this mare was doing without another Elf shouting directions.
Now that he thought about it, the horse was quite like the one that had shot out of the bushes near Moria carrying their 'Friend'. He shook that thought off. It was totally illogical. For one thing, he was sure that the rider and horse would already be in Lothlorien by now because they would have had at least a day's advantage. Secondly, there were many white horses ridden by the Elves and thirdly, no Elven lady would travel, and even less had such great skill with a bow. Even Arwen Evenstar favored the sword.
Suddenly, Legalos realized that he had not really looked at the rider before, only glances. Now that he looked, he found that he couldn't look away. For a while his breath caught in his throat. She was beautiful. If he didn't know better, then she would be related to Arwen Evenstar herself. She might even be prettier than the fabled Maiden of Lakewood whose beauty no Elf had ever laid eyes on. For a short moment, her hair hid her face from view. Strands of Gold bordering on Silver under the unnatural light seemed to sparkle as they fell like a waterfall around her shoulders and down to her back.
Then a sudden breeze blew the curtain of hair back and Legalos saw that she was biting her lip, and immediately felt guilty. It was obvious that she feared the dark like all Elven kind did. If she had been down to the caves of Moria then Legalos knew that he would feel even sorrier. 'The Lady is lucky, for if she feared the dark, as she obviously does, then to walk the tunnels of Moria would have been like a million tortures carried out by Sauron himself. She is lucky to sit at safe havens for now, traveling where she wills." He thought to himself.
Thoughts diverted, he looked around himself once again at the glory that Lothlorien brought.
Adariel couldn't concentrate. Her stomach muscles ached, and her head felt dizzy from the tightness of the blindfold. Her hands could not reach to undo it because it would mean falling off Starliss. "BrreeenaaaDEghdd" she whispered to Starliss in thanks, to which the mare replied that it was worth it for Lothlorien. Adariel recalled again that the mare had been dwelling here for quite some time before she came into the service of her father, and then herself.
Her lip was starting to bleed. She could taste it. Had she even been biting her own lip? She wasn't sure. Then with the blackness came the images of what had happened the night before, and she could feel tears soaking the blindfold she was wearing. Now she was sure that the Mirror had showed her herself if she were to continue what she was doing.
But what *was* she doing?
Her mind sifted through the words of Galadriel as to some hidden clue. Something about her heart? But what did the Lady mean that she didn't know the depths of her own heart? She bit her lip even harder at the pain at the back of her head. Too much thinking had made her slightly dizzy, and the darkness didn't help*. Her breathing grew uneven, and she swayed slightly. "Hurry up, hurry up……………" she thought to herself, and leaned forward slightly.
Which was a mistake.
Starliss, who had been carefully avoiding things in her path had lowered herself down to avoid a branch on in her way. When Adariel leaned forward, her head hit the branch that Starliss was trying to avoid. That last knock did it. She felt quite light headed, and fell in a faint from the throbbing in her head.
Haldir was last in the line, with Legalos in front. He saw that the men he was leading had their heads bowed in thought. How strange it was to see strangers in these woods again! And the Lady! She reminded him of the beauty of Lothlorien itself. He cast his eyes towards her just in time to see her slip limply from her horse. He cried out.
All the men stopped, on alert. Haldir could see Legalos starting to turn towards him when he caught sight of the Lady, who was riding just behind him slightly. Before Haldir could see what had happened, the Lady was lying on top of Legalos, who was sitting on the ground, covered in a thin dust of dirt. The mare shied up and pranced a little before calming down and standing tranquilly to the side of the road.
Legolas looked at the maiden in his lap. She looked like she was sleeping with her hair spread out like a halo draping the dirt floor. And although he could not see her eyes, he knew that she had fainted. There was something not right about it. Sliding his arms under the body, he lifted her up slowly as he stood up. Turning to the back of the line, he could see that everybody looked tense. "All is well. The Lady just fell of her horse," he said, and then to Haldir, "She does not seem to be faring well. Are there healers in Lothlorien?"
Haldir stepped forward. "Does she need it immediately?"
Legolas looked at the maiden again. She seemed to have an unnatural shade of color about her, and it was fading even faster. Without taking his eyes off her, he said "Though I am not experienced in healing I should deem her to be quite unwell,"
Haldir hesitated. They were near the Golden City, but he knew that if one suffered an injury, they were not nearly close enough for comfort. At times like this, Haldir would have sent someone to ride into Lothlorien with the injured one, but since there was a Dwarf among the party (not that Haldir mistrusted Dwarves, but you could never be sure) and everybody else was blindfolded except Legalos, who was a stranger amongst these woods.
Then again, Haldir reasoned, the path to Lothlorien was simple, and all you had to do was stay on the path. The Lady did look like she needed some help. Nobody could tell how long she had been in the river for. Making up his mind while he was still sure, he said "If you mount her steed, then you could carry her into ride ahead with her into Lothlorien. Take this path and do not wander off it."
Legolas nodded. Still cradling the maiden, he approached the mare. It shied away and glared at him angrily. He hugged the maiden closer to him, and the mare understood. It approached cautiously and knelt. Legolas swiftly swung up onto its back. Once it had stood up, he sat the lady in front of him and reached his arms around the limp form to grab on to the horse's mane. Squeezing the mare's flank, he commanded it to ride onwards.
To his surprise, it was not only fast, but it was extremely light in riding. The bumps in the road felt like nothing as the horse galloped down the path. Soon, he could see the company no longer. Onwards still the white mare galloped. The road twisted and turned this way and that. There were banks where small streams trickled and places where there the earth was clumped, forming mounds. And suddenly it evened again. Before him stood the entrance of the great city of the Elves. He sucked in his breath.
There were Elves guarding the entrance, and now that they saw a stranger, they drew out their bows. Legolas was slightly startled for he had given no thought to this. The Elf closest drew in and saw that it was one of their kin. The rest relaxed, but no move was made to lower their bows. The first Elf said in a commanding voice, "Please state your business in Lothlorien." To which the stranger answered "I come with a company of strangers, but have ridden ahead as to give aid to the one that I carry here." He turned a little and they could see the limp form of the Lady that Elbesth had brought in about two days ago.
"Very well, you may come along with me," The Elf said, and he motioned for another to take his place in guard. "She looks in need of a Healer."
Another Elf took the mare after they had dismounted and led it to a field where the horses roamed freely, for Elves were kind to all animals and in return, the creatures of the forest were kind to the Elves. For that reason, the horses had no intention of running away (besides, the grass in Lothlorien was the sweetest grown).
They were led to a large building underneath the biggest tree in the city. Legolas had no time to admire the beauty of it. The Elf had moved swiftly, and now they followed him inside where the scent of the athelas greeted him. He stood aside while the Elf conversed with another, and then looked up as they both walked towards him.
"You may stay here to-night until the rest of you Company arrives, as we know that they will. The lady will be tended to here. A bed will be brought so you may stay with her, for she is a stranger to these lands too." The guard Elf said and when Legolas nodded, he turned towards the door before adding "A star shines in the hour of our meeting."
"Please follow me, Sir." Said the remaining Elf. He led them into a room facing the East. Legolas placed the maiden on the bed, then looked uncertainly toward the Elf who was already fussing with her blindfold. After several tries, it came off. The Elf tsked and now Legolas could see that the blindfold was too tight around the Lady's head.
"Whoever tied this around her must have had a good arm," mused the Elf. He had taken two athela leaves out of his cloak and was now scrunching them up. Nearby, one of the women had started boiling water over the fire. The Elf now threw the athela leaves into the pot and a spring fragrance wafted in the room. He bathed her eyes in the water and also applied some to the back of her head and then to the front where the branch had made a slight mark on it. Then he rolled her over and a helping Elven lady undid the back of the dress up to the small of her back. The athela juice was applied there too.
At first Legolas couldn't help but wonder why that was, until he saw the enormous bruise that covered it. 'How did she come upon such a wound?' he thought to himself. Now the Elf was instructing the women on something, and soon afterwards he turned to Legolas and motioned him to follow him out. Legalos felt puzzled, then realized that they were going to apply some of the water to her stomach, and as dresses go, they could not do it without undressing her. He blushed slightly, although he did not know why.
Turning to the Elf once they were outside, he asked "Is the maiden alright?"
To which he answered, "I know not where she has been, but not since the days of darkness has anybody walked Lothlorien with wounds such as hers. Though her wounds are many, none are serious enough to sustain long lasting damage." Then he peered at Legalos and added, "You may call me Eldaren."
"Well met, Eldaren," replied Legalos. "I am Legalos, son of Thranduil."
Elderen bowed to him, recognizing the name and said, "It has been long since one of your folk has traveled into Lothlorien."
Legolas nodded but said nothing more because at that moment, the door opened again and Elderen bade him to follow him inside. It was growing dark, and the maiden was changed into a think gown and was covered with a warm quilt sewn by Elven hands. She looked at ease now, and some color had come back into her cheeks.
"You will sleep here," said Elderen indicating to a place beside the bed. "If she wakes up in the night time, only ask for me, and I will come. I pray she sleeps on until she is well again." With that, he bade Legolas good night. "The stars may shine brightly tonight," Legolas replied as way of farewell before turning back towards the maiden.
The sun had set already, and food was brought in from the table of the Lady Galadriel herself. He ate, although he did not feel hungry after drinking in the beauty of Lothlorien. Then he settled himself to his sleeping place with his bow and knife close at hand. With one last look at the maiden lying near him, he saw that a strange light now filled her face from the pink of the setting sun making it look like something that words could not be found for. Her lips were slightly parted, and her breath was even. Soft lashes curled on her cheek, and the mark on her forehead was dimming as a result of the athelas.
"'Tis such a sight to end a day," he thought to himself, then a slight breeze blew into the chamber and his hair fell gently in wisps about him. He slept dreamlessly, while in the bed next to him, Adariel's face smoothed out and with a strained sigh, she made her way into troubled dreams and dark images.
1.1 End of Chapter 7
Reviews please! NO FLAMES but constructive criticism is very welcome! –Spirit Star
Author's notes:
*Have you ever tried balancing on something with your eyes closed? Not easy! How about riding a horse with a headache and blindfolded. Even harder.