Chapter Twenty-Three: Of Crossing a River
A/N: Wow, number 23!! Well, you should all know that 23 is my lucky number, so I really like this chapter, and I think it's tight! I was thinking, hey, I should post this on the 23rd of September, but you know what? That's really far from now and I kind of already missed the 23rd of August, so yeah. But anyway, 23 23 23 23 23! You know, that's Michael Jordan's number, so you all better like it too, because Michael Jordan was the best player ever to basketball. AND he played for Chicago, my home sweet home. SO THERE! Oh yeah, and 45 is cool too, his "2nd" number. Heyy…
Disclaimer: I done good, ma! Anyway, the disclaimer is that I don't own anything, it all belongs to JRR Tolkien. So there ya go.
…
"Stand still," he whispered to them. "Do not move or speak!" Laughter echoed from above and then another clear voice spoke. Aila made no attempt to translate what they said, as they spoke too quickly for her to understand and she was much too tired. Legolas answered their questions in his language as well
"They're elves," said Sam.
"Yes, they are elves," replied Legolas; turning to them. "And they say that you breathe so loud that they could shoot you in the dark." Hastily, the hobbits put hands over their mouths, but Aila stood unimpressed.
"And tell them," she said to Legolas, not bothering to keep her voice down, "that if they shoot any of my friends I will climb the tree myself and take Haldir, Rumil, and Orophin by their large pointy ears and throw them off the talan." Legolas smiled wide at what she said, not bothering to translate for the elves in the trees, as they obviously knew what they had said, as they gasped and then laughed.
"But they say you need have no fear," Legolas continued, translating what they had said earlier. "They heard my voice across the Nimrodel, and knew that I was one of their Northern kindred, and therefore they did not hinder our crossing; and afterwards they heard my song. Now they bid me climb up with Frodo and Aila, or the cheeky one as they call her. The others they ask to wait a little, and to keep watch at the foot of the tree, until they have decided what is to be done."
A silvery ladder thrust down out of the shadows and Legolas ran lightly up it, in the fashion of elves, Frodo following him, and Aila coming last. When she reached the talan, Legolas and Frodo were already engaged in conversation with the three elves that sat on the talan.
"How many are you," the elf who was obviously Haldir asked.
"Nine," said Legolas. "Myself, four hobbits; and two men, one of whom, Aragorn, is an Elf-friend of the folk of Westernesse. Then there is one women, the one who threatened to throw you off the talan is you shot any of us."
"The name of Aragorn son of Arathorn is known in Lorien. But you have only spoken of eight."
"The eighth is a dwarf," said Legolas cautiously.
"A dwarf!" said Haldir. "That is not well. We have not had dealings with dwarves since the Dark Days. They are not permitted in our land. I cannot allow him to pass."
"Elrond himself chose him to be one of our companions, and he has been brave and faithful," said Frodo in Gimli's defense. Aila sat quietly, listening to the conversation.
"Very good," said Haldir at last. "What of you?" he asked, turning to Aila "Of what importance are you?"
"No importance," she said to him, lying through her teeth, but unsatisfied he turned to Legolas.
"She must have some importance, my northern kindred. Or she would not have been asked to join this fellowship."
"I am not part of the Fellowship," she replied before Legolas could say anything. "I am its One Companion." Still looking to Legolas, Haldir raised his eyebrows slightly.
"She is the Light Bearer." Legolas' simple sentence sent the three elves on guard into delirium as they cried aloud in surprise. Rumil and Orophin never took their gazes from her at that point as Haldir continued to say what was to be done with the rest of the Company.
"They must not remain on the ground. You three shall sleep here with me as guard. Rumil and Orophin will lead the others to another flet where they can sleep." Telling his brothers what was going on, they nodded slightly, answering in Sindarin, before going down the ladder. Aila chose a large part of the talan, far away from any edge, to sleep on and she wrapped herself in her cloak.
Haldir came near her and handed his cloak to her.
"Sleep well, Light Bearer. For you have finally come." Slightly confused, but definitely tired, Aila accepted his cloak and wrapped it around her as well. From the corner of her eye, she saw Legolas watch apprehensively as Haldir spoke to her. Wrapping herself tightly in his fur-lined cloak, Aila thanked Haldir and smiled up at her.
…
Sunlight glowed through Aila's eyelids and she drowsily opened her eyes against the light, which was filtered by the golden leaves of the tree. They joined each other between the base of the two trees in which they had slept. They marched on for quite a while when they again heard the rushing of water, but this time it was the river Celebrant.
"Celebrant is already a strong stream here, as you see," said Haldir and Aila watched the rushing river from his side. He had insisted that she walk with him for much of the way and Aila saw that was much to the disliking of Legolas. "It runs both swift and deep, and 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 caught a rope that was thrown to him by an elf on the other side of the river and made it fast to a tree as the other elf did the same.
With much ease, Haldir sprang lightly upon the rope and ran across like he was on a wide road. Aila watched wide-eyed as he ran across, disbelieving that he thought they all could do that. She would have more luck trying to swim through sandpit.
"I can walk this path," said Legolas; "but the others have not this skill." He gestured mainly towards Aila. "Must they swim?" The thought of herself swimming through the cold waters was enough to make Aila visibly shiver and Boromir placed his strong hand on her shoulder.
"No!" cried Haldir, also looking at Aila. "We have two more ropes. We will fasten them above the other, one shoulder-high, and another half-high, and holding these the strangers should be able to cross with care."
This slender bridge proved not too difficult for Pippin, who was sure-footed and passed quickly over the ropes. Sam fared not as well, as he clung heavily. Aragorn and Boromir both struggled slightly, both being tall, strong men. Gimli didn't look as he crossed, the rope rocking under his sturdy feet. Somehow, Aila had been volunteered to go last and when she was about to step onto the rope, Haldir came bounding across.
"I will help you, Light Bearer, if I may." Raising her eyebrows slightly at her, she heard Legolas running across the rope as well.
"I will help her cross," he said stubbornly. Exasperated, Aila threw her arms up and pushed both of the elves aside.
"I will help myself, thank you. If the rest of the Company can do it, so can I." The two elves were reluctant to allow her to pass on her own, but when she threatened to push them into the river, they both laughed as if the notion were ridiculous. Even more frustrated with them than before, Aila ran to the rope and began crossing it before they could do anything. Realizing what she was doing, the elves fought with each other and bickered as they ran to the rope to help her.
"If either of you touches me," she screamed back to them, over the din of the river. "I will jump, do you understand?" Immediately, both of them stopped on the rope, balancing on it, clinging to the ropes. Breathing deeply, Aila refused to allow herself to look down at the rushing waters, but kept her eyes trained on the opposite shore, like she was staring at Aragorn the entire time. "Never," she said as her foot hit the solid ground of the bank, "have I thought I would welcome the feeling of grass under my feet." Immediately after she got off the rope, Haldir, followed by Legolas, came running across the rope and from his pocket, Haldir pulled a black cloth.
"As was agreed, I shall her blindfold the eyes of Gimli the Dwarf." This was not to Gimli's liking.
"This agreement was made without my consent. I will not walk blindfold, like a beggar or a prisoner. And I am no spy. I am no more likely to betray you than Legolas, or any other of my companions."
"I do not doubt you," said Haldir, "but this is our law." Gimli raised his axe and Haldir bent his bow.
"A plague on dwarves and their stiff necks!" cried Legolas.
"I will end this," said Aila quietly, stepping between Gimli and Haldir, so that Haldir's arrow pointed at her chest. Immediately, he relaxed his string and pointed the arrow downwards. "I will be blindfolded as well."
"You do not need to be blindfold, Light Bearer!" cried Haldir, disbelieving. "We do not think ill of you!"
"You had better not think ill of Gimli either. Do as I say, I will walk blind with Gimli so that his mind will be at ease.
"I will be content," said Gimli, "if only Legolas here shares my blindness."
"I am an elf and a kinsman here," said Legolas, becoming angry.
"No," said Aila, raising a hand to shut all of their mouths. "No let us cry, a plague on the still necks of elves! Come, bind our eyes, Haldir."
"Alas for the folly of these days," said Legolas, "that our own salvation must walk blind while the sun is merry in the woodland under leaves of gold!"
"Of my own free will," she replied, "and only to help a friend."
"I would lead you," said Haldir, taking her hand after he had placed the black cloth about her eyes. Legolas became defensive once more and tore her hand from his, pulling her towards him.
"You will do no such thing," he said angrily at Haldir.
"And neither will you!" cried Aila, trying to pull her hand from his firm grasp. "You will lead Gimli and he will be grateful for it, for I am not the only one blind. Go, Legolas!" Reluctantly, Legolas went to lead Gimli and Aila accepted Boromir's hand when he offered to lead her. She held light conversation with Boromir for the rest of the day as he held her hand and led her as they followed Haldir. He described to her the scenes they saw as they passed them. The golden leaves, the sparkling light, the trickling water, the mossy swards, the grassy hills, ferny undergrowth. She pieced it together in her mind and sometimes she sent mind wraiths to Boromir's mind so that she may see through his eyes. Lothlorien was truly beautiful.
Haldir called a halt after some hours of marching and they ate a sparing meal. They rested without fear upon the ground and Aila leaned her back against a tree. Wordlessly, Legolas came and sat down next to her and she fingered the cloth that covered her eyes, pulling it from her skin slightly so that she could get a cool breeze where sweat dampened her face. Through the cloth she could see the fading light and she sighed deeply.
At her side, Legolas put an arm around her shoulder in a comforting manner and she scooted closer to him, placing her head in the crook of his shoulder and chest. In turn, Legolas wrapped his arms around her waist and rested them on her stomach as she leaned against him. Smiling slightly, she turned her head towards his face.
Without thinking, she sent a wraith into his mind to find out exactly why he had been acting so strange lately. Subconsciously, she found she had chosen a spy clothed in tight black clothing, a black beanie hiding her brown hair. Across her hips was slung a black nylon belt with various gadgets hung on it. Obviously, this wraith was a spy. Creeping along the walls of Legolas' mind, the spy hugged the leafy walls, causing a slight rustle every now and then. She found her query and opened the door; it was the room that had held all the portraits of herself. Now she could explore it more than she had before, but upon entering it, she gasped in shock.
The picture frames were empty, no longer were likenesses of herself smiling back at her. Though she could tell this was the room she was seeking, because there were slight ghosts of the pictures the frames once held, mere shadows of what they had held. But what made her most surprised was at the spy's feet, a picture of herself, a close up of her smiling face, was smashed upon the ground, shattered into pieces, but still close together so that you could see what the picture was of, as if it were a mosaic. Shocked, Aila reeled back into the physical world and paid no more attention to it, not thinking of what she had seen, but snuggled deeper into Legolas, not bothering to wonder what it meant.
A/N: Wow, number 23!! Well, you should all know that 23 is my lucky number, so I really like this chapter, and I think it's tight! I was thinking, hey, I should post this on the 23rd of September, but you know what? That's really far from now and I kind of already missed the 23rd of August, so yeah. But anyway, 23 23 23 23 23! You know, that's Michael Jordan's number, so you all better like it too, because Michael Jordan was the best player ever to basketball. AND he played for Chicago, my home sweet home. SO THERE! Oh yeah, and 45 is cool too, his "2nd" number. Heyy…
Disclaimer: I done good, ma! Anyway, the disclaimer is that I don't own anything, it all belongs to JRR Tolkien. So there ya go.
…
"Stand still," he whispered to them. "Do not move or speak!" Laughter echoed from above and then another clear voice spoke. Aila made no attempt to translate what they said, as they spoke too quickly for her to understand and she was much too tired. Legolas answered their questions in his language as well
"They're elves," said Sam.
"Yes, they are elves," replied Legolas; turning to them. "And they say that you breathe so loud that they could shoot you in the dark." Hastily, the hobbits put hands over their mouths, but Aila stood unimpressed.
"And tell them," she said to Legolas, not bothering to keep her voice down, "that if they shoot any of my friends I will climb the tree myself and take Haldir, Rumil, and Orophin by their large pointy ears and throw them off the talan." Legolas smiled wide at what she said, not bothering to translate for the elves in the trees, as they obviously knew what they had said, as they gasped and then laughed.
"But they say you need have no fear," Legolas continued, translating what they had said earlier. "They heard my voice across the Nimrodel, and knew that I was one of their Northern kindred, and therefore they did not hinder our crossing; and afterwards they heard my song. Now they bid me climb up with Frodo and Aila, or the cheeky one as they call her. The others they ask to wait a little, and to keep watch at the foot of the tree, until they have decided what is to be done."
A silvery ladder thrust down out of the shadows and Legolas ran lightly up it, in the fashion of elves, Frodo following him, and Aila coming last. When she reached the talan, Legolas and Frodo were already engaged in conversation with the three elves that sat on the talan.
"How many are you," the elf who was obviously Haldir asked.
"Nine," said Legolas. "Myself, four hobbits; and two men, one of whom, Aragorn, is an Elf-friend of the folk of Westernesse. Then there is one women, the one who threatened to throw you off the talan is you shot any of us."
"The name of Aragorn son of Arathorn is known in Lorien. But you have only spoken of eight."
"The eighth is a dwarf," said Legolas cautiously.
"A dwarf!" said Haldir. "That is not well. We have not had dealings with dwarves since the Dark Days. They are not permitted in our land. I cannot allow him to pass."
"Elrond himself chose him to be one of our companions, and he has been brave and faithful," said Frodo in Gimli's defense. Aila sat quietly, listening to the conversation.
"Very good," said Haldir at last. "What of you?" he asked, turning to Aila "Of what importance are you?"
"No importance," she said to him, lying through her teeth, but unsatisfied he turned to Legolas.
"She must have some importance, my northern kindred. Or she would not have been asked to join this fellowship."
"I am not part of the Fellowship," she replied before Legolas could say anything. "I am its One Companion." Still looking to Legolas, Haldir raised his eyebrows slightly.
"She is the Light Bearer." Legolas' simple sentence sent the three elves on guard into delirium as they cried aloud in surprise. Rumil and Orophin never took their gazes from her at that point as Haldir continued to say what was to be done with the rest of the Company.
"They must not remain on the ground. You three shall sleep here with me as guard. Rumil and Orophin will lead the others to another flet where they can sleep." Telling his brothers what was going on, they nodded slightly, answering in Sindarin, before going down the ladder. Aila chose a large part of the talan, far away from any edge, to sleep on and she wrapped herself in her cloak.
Haldir came near her and handed his cloak to her.
"Sleep well, Light Bearer. For you have finally come." Slightly confused, but definitely tired, Aila accepted his cloak and wrapped it around her as well. From the corner of her eye, she saw Legolas watch apprehensively as Haldir spoke to her. Wrapping herself tightly in his fur-lined cloak, Aila thanked Haldir and smiled up at her.
…
Sunlight glowed through Aila's eyelids and she drowsily opened her eyes against the light, which was filtered by the golden leaves of the tree. They joined each other between the base of the two trees in which they had slept. They marched on for quite a while when they again heard the rushing of water, but this time it was the river Celebrant.
"Celebrant is already a strong stream here, as you see," said Haldir and Aila watched the rushing river from his side. He had insisted that she walk with him for much of the way and Aila saw that was much to the disliking of Legolas. "It runs both swift and deep, and 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 caught a rope that was thrown to him by an elf on the other side of the river and made it fast to a tree as the other elf did the same.
With much ease, Haldir sprang lightly upon the rope and ran across like he was on a wide road. Aila watched wide-eyed as he ran across, disbelieving that he thought they all could do that. She would have more luck trying to swim through sandpit.
"I can walk this path," said Legolas; "but the others have not this skill." He gestured mainly towards Aila. "Must they swim?" The thought of herself swimming through the cold waters was enough to make Aila visibly shiver and Boromir placed his strong hand on her shoulder.
"No!" cried Haldir, also looking at Aila. "We have two more ropes. We will fasten them above the other, one shoulder-high, and another half-high, and holding these the strangers should be able to cross with care."
This slender bridge proved not too difficult for Pippin, who was sure-footed and passed quickly over the ropes. Sam fared not as well, as he clung heavily. Aragorn and Boromir both struggled slightly, both being tall, strong men. Gimli didn't look as he crossed, the rope rocking under his sturdy feet. Somehow, Aila had been volunteered to go last and when she was about to step onto the rope, Haldir came bounding across.
"I will help you, Light Bearer, if I may." Raising her eyebrows slightly at her, she heard Legolas running across the rope as well.
"I will help her cross," he said stubbornly. Exasperated, Aila threw her arms up and pushed both of the elves aside.
"I will help myself, thank you. If the rest of the Company can do it, so can I." The two elves were reluctant to allow her to pass on her own, but when she threatened to push them into the river, they both laughed as if the notion were ridiculous. Even more frustrated with them than before, Aila ran to the rope and began crossing it before they could do anything. Realizing what she was doing, the elves fought with each other and bickered as they ran to the rope to help her.
"If either of you touches me," she screamed back to them, over the din of the river. "I will jump, do you understand?" Immediately, both of them stopped on the rope, balancing on it, clinging to the ropes. Breathing deeply, Aila refused to allow herself to look down at the rushing waters, but kept her eyes trained on the opposite shore, like she was staring at Aragorn the entire time. "Never," she said as her foot hit the solid ground of the bank, "have I thought I would welcome the feeling of grass under my feet." Immediately after she got off the rope, Haldir, followed by Legolas, came running across the rope and from his pocket, Haldir pulled a black cloth.
"As was agreed, I shall her blindfold the eyes of Gimli the Dwarf." This was not to Gimli's liking.
"This agreement was made without my consent. I will not walk blindfold, like a beggar or a prisoner. And I am no spy. I am no more likely to betray you than Legolas, or any other of my companions."
"I do not doubt you," said Haldir, "but this is our law." Gimli raised his axe and Haldir bent his bow.
"A plague on dwarves and their stiff necks!" cried Legolas.
"I will end this," said Aila quietly, stepping between Gimli and Haldir, so that Haldir's arrow pointed at her chest. Immediately, he relaxed his string and pointed the arrow downwards. "I will be blindfolded as well."
"You do not need to be blindfold, Light Bearer!" cried Haldir, disbelieving. "We do not think ill of you!"
"You had better not think ill of Gimli either. Do as I say, I will walk blind with Gimli so that his mind will be at ease.
"I will be content," said Gimli, "if only Legolas here shares my blindness."
"I am an elf and a kinsman here," said Legolas, becoming angry.
"No," said Aila, raising a hand to shut all of their mouths. "No let us cry, a plague on the still necks of elves! Come, bind our eyes, Haldir."
"Alas for the folly of these days," said Legolas, "that our own salvation must walk blind while the sun is merry in the woodland under leaves of gold!"
"Of my own free will," she replied, "and only to help a friend."
"I would lead you," said Haldir, taking her hand after he had placed the black cloth about her eyes. Legolas became defensive once more and tore her hand from his, pulling her towards him.
"You will do no such thing," he said angrily at Haldir.
"And neither will you!" cried Aila, trying to pull her hand from his firm grasp. "You will lead Gimli and he will be grateful for it, for I am not the only one blind. Go, Legolas!" Reluctantly, Legolas went to lead Gimli and Aila accepted Boromir's hand when he offered to lead her. She held light conversation with Boromir for the rest of the day as he held her hand and led her as they followed Haldir. He described to her the scenes they saw as they passed them. The golden leaves, the sparkling light, the trickling water, the mossy swards, the grassy hills, ferny undergrowth. She pieced it together in her mind and sometimes she sent mind wraiths to Boromir's mind so that she may see through his eyes. Lothlorien was truly beautiful.
Haldir called a halt after some hours of marching and they ate a sparing meal. They rested without fear upon the ground and Aila leaned her back against a tree. Wordlessly, Legolas came and sat down next to her and she fingered the cloth that covered her eyes, pulling it from her skin slightly so that she could get a cool breeze where sweat dampened her face. Through the cloth she could see the fading light and she sighed deeply.
At her side, Legolas put an arm around her shoulder in a comforting manner and she scooted closer to him, placing her head in the crook of his shoulder and chest. In turn, Legolas wrapped his arms around her waist and rested them on her stomach as she leaned against him. Smiling slightly, she turned her head towards his face.
Without thinking, she sent a wraith into his mind to find out exactly why he had been acting so strange lately. Subconsciously, she found she had chosen a spy clothed in tight black clothing, a black beanie hiding her brown hair. Across her hips was slung a black nylon belt with various gadgets hung on it. Obviously, this wraith was a spy. Creeping along the walls of Legolas' mind, the spy hugged the leafy walls, causing a slight rustle every now and then. She found her query and opened the door; it was the room that had held all the portraits of herself. Now she could explore it more than she had before, but upon entering it, she gasped in shock.
The picture frames were empty, no longer were likenesses of herself smiling back at her. Though she could tell this was the room she was seeking, because there were slight ghosts of the pictures the frames once held, mere shadows of what they had held. But what made her most surprised was at the spy's feet, a picture of herself, a close up of her smiling face, was smashed upon the ground, shattered into pieces, but still close together so that you could see what the picture was of, as if it were a mosaic. Shocked, Aila reeled back into the physical world and paid no more attention to it, not thinking of what she had seen, but snuggled deeper into Legolas, not bothering to wonder what it meant.