The sun rose the next morning to find that all the rain clouds had
gone. Mirkwood Forest had turned into a swamp; mud covered everything, and
leaves floated around in puddles like little boats. Aranel had not drifted
to sleep until well after the rain had stopped, which was only a few hours
earlier, yet she was still up with the first rays of light.
She pulled open the shades in her room to let the much-welcomed light in. Aranel walked over her mirror and realized the state her hair was in.
"Uh," she breathed as she ran her fingers through her soiled hair. She decided to head straight for the pond to wash.
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Aranel walked down to the pond, avoiding the mud with a grace only an elf could have. She reached the water's edge, and slipped behind the waterfall. It was one of her favorite places. There was a comfortable rock to sit on, and the water coming over the falls distorted the forest beyond it. It was her secret spot, where no one else ever came. It was the perfect spot.
She undressed and leaned forward to carefully dip her head in the fresh mist. It helped clear her head, having the cool water run down her face.
Many peaceful minutes past, but then a feeling began to irk in the back of her mind. It was very faint, but it reminded her of the way she felt last night, when the lightning flashed.
She tossed her wet hair over her head, and pushed the loose strands from her face. Aranel clutched her dress and looked out from the edge of the waterfall, but she could see nothing. She went back under the falls, but the feeling returned, stronger this time. Then she noticed the tiny pinprick of light off in the corner of her eye. Aranel spun around.
Out in the distance was Belegtathar. And the glint came from a jewel on his scabbard. He was out on a walk with that Gollum. The grayish creature was jumping into the trees, swinging from the branches, and staying as far in the shadows as he could.
Belegtathar sure wasn't keeping him on a short leash.
That's when she heard it. Drums. Drums that seemed to come from every direction. Her eyes swept the horizon, but she could not see where they originated. She didn't have to. They were Orc drums.
Belegtathar did not seem to look worried. But then, why would he be? He was a warrior; it was usually him out looking for them, so of course he was not concerned that this time it was the other way around. He looked back up to the trees.
Aranel noticed that Gollum was gone.
She pulled open the shades in her room to let the much-welcomed light in. Aranel walked over her mirror and realized the state her hair was in.
"Uh," she breathed as she ran her fingers through her soiled hair. She decided to head straight for the pond to wash.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------
Aranel walked down to the pond, avoiding the mud with a grace only an elf could have. She reached the water's edge, and slipped behind the waterfall. It was one of her favorite places. There was a comfortable rock to sit on, and the water coming over the falls distorted the forest beyond it. It was her secret spot, where no one else ever came. It was the perfect spot.
She undressed and leaned forward to carefully dip her head in the fresh mist. It helped clear her head, having the cool water run down her face.
Many peaceful minutes past, but then a feeling began to irk in the back of her mind. It was very faint, but it reminded her of the way she felt last night, when the lightning flashed.
She tossed her wet hair over her head, and pushed the loose strands from her face. Aranel clutched her dress and looked out from the edge of the waterfall, but she could see nothing. She went back under the falls, but the feeling returned, stronger this time. Then she noticed the tiny pinprick of light off in the corner of her eye. Aranel spun around.
Out in the distance was Belegtathar. And the glint came from a jewel on his scabbard. He was out on a walk with that Gollum. The grayish creature was jumping into the trees, swinging from the branches, and staying as far in the shadows as he could.
Belegtathar sure wasn't keeping him on a short leash.
That's when she heard it. Drums. Drums that seemed to come from every direction. Her eyes swept the horizon, but she could not see where they originated. She didn't have to. They were Orc drums.
Belegtathar did not seem to look worried. But then, why would he be? He was a warrior; it was usually him out looking for them, so of course he was not concerned that this time it was the other way around. He looked back up to the trees.
Aranel noticed that Gollum was gone.