~*~ ~*~
Clop-clop, clop-clop. Sigh. Clop-clop, clop-clop.
Arindwen sat moodily on her bay horse Isendre, watching the dark forest grow nearer. Not for the first time did she curse her bad luck at being sent on this mission. A mission to the Elves.
Elves.. The highborn folk who slept in trees and lazed around all day brushing their long hair and pretending to be above all the petty doings of men. Elves. She disliked and distrusted Elves.
Arindwen glared at the dark trees ahead of her. Her father, King Theoden, had sent her as an emissary to the King of Mirkwood, Thranduil, and his Lady in a desperate plea for help. Theoden was in need of a thousand good archers to help fight off the steady stream of Orcs that were invading his lands.
So, needing an emissary, King Theoden had chosen his daughter, Arindwen, a young woman in her early twenties who was the commander of his archer regiment.
Arindwen was tall, slender, and beautiful, though she thought otherwise, and could best any of the men in her regiment at a tournament. She had shoulder length chesnut brown hair that waved gently in the breeze and she wore a riding tunic of a dark reddish-brown color with dark green pants and black boots. Her cloak was of a deep forest green color and blended perfectly with the trees. Strapped to her back was her black long bow and a quiver full of arrows, and on her slender hips she wore a belt with two hunting knives sharpened to a fine edge and a long slender sword. All in all she was a very formidable foe if one chose to incorrectly cross her path.
Isendre slowed from a quick trot to a slow walk as they came upon the outer set of trees. Mirkwood was known for its unusual animals, if one could call them animals, streams that if you were to drink even a drop of the water would make you sleep for a thousand years, and of course Woodelves. Arindwen pursed her lips.
"I know, Isendre, but we don't have much choice," she said quietly to her mount. "Its either go through the forest or face Father's wrath which is something I am not prepared to do." She sighed. "There's no choice," and with those words she spurred her horse into the woods.
~*~ ~*~
The dense canopy of trees and the lack of light pressed in on Arindwen. She shivered and pulled her cloak closer about herself. "One does not travel in Mirkwood lightly," she commented to her mount and Isendre shook her head in agreement. They moved quickly and quietly along a well worn path, always on guard for an attack or sudden movement in the trees. But for all their careful guard and watchfulness, nothing stirred in the forest and no sudden movements came from either side.
The light began to gradually dim as the sun passed its peak and began decending into the far and distant mountains of the Dwarves. Arindwen pursed her lips and grimaced. She knew would have to spend a few nights in the open until she could get to Thranduil's palace, but it that fact did not cheer her in the least. Glaring around as if to challenge anyone watching her, Arindwen began searching for a sheltered place just off the path. By the time she found one, the light was rapidly receding from the forest and she knew that if she did not get a fire built before total nightfall she would have some very unwelcome guests to dinner.
Her small fire crackled merrily in the gloom of the woods. Or at least tried to. Arindwen wondered dispiritedly if anything could be merry in this forest, day or night. She had already had to kill four creatures and was sure that she would not last the night with the record she had set by now. Isendre was placidly munching on some oats that Arindwen had brought for her and seemed unaware or uncaring of the dangers of the forest. As long as she had her oats, she was satisfied, Arindwen noted with a grimace. Lazy animal...
She suddenly froze. There was something not right. Where there had been soft birdsong and the usual forest sounds there was silence. It was as if the forests was holding its breath.. Waiting.. Waiting for...
The attack came from her left side. A hedious creature with blood red eyes, long fangs, and short bristly fur hurled itself at her. Taken off guard, Arindwen stumbled and fell back on her haunches. The creature landed and again launched itself at her, but Arindwen was ready. Her sword out, she deftly cloved the creature in two as it came at her. It died with a horrible shriek that rattled Arindwen down to her teeth. But that was not all. More creatures were now coming out of the forest and their evil multicolored eyes glittered in the fire light. Arindwen pushed herself to her feet and grabbed her bow, nocking at arrow to it. Aiming, she shot the first one at the closest creature. The arrow pierced its skull and it dropped like a stone. The other creatures paused at this and this gave Arindwen time to reload and fire another shot off into the oncoming horde. This riled them up and before she knew it, Arindwen was surrounded on all sides by the darkest of Mirkwood's creatures.
THWIP! THWIP! Two creatures suddenly went down right in front of Arindwen, both sporting slender green arrows in their sides. The horde went into a frenzy and began running every which way. Arindwen, temporarily stunned by the arrival of the new arrows now took her own bow and set about polishing off the stragglers of the group. Then, suddenly, there were no more creatures. Arindwen relaxed slightly and lowered her bow, sighing in relief.
"Daro." Arindwen froze, gaze glued to the trees in front of her. She could feel the presence of another beside her and knew that her new guest was armed. "Put your weapon down," said a soft but stern male voice in the commom tongue. Arindwen did as she was told and laid her bow and quiver down on the ground by her feet. "Turn around," the voice commanded and she did so.
What met her gaze at first was the sight of the tip of an arrow pointed straight at her heart. Her eyebrows rose slightly as her gaze did and as she looked into the face of her new guest, her heart skipped a beat in spite of herself. A young male Elf, she would guess in his late teens to early twenties in human years, was standing there holding a tall gray long bow with an arrow nocked and pointed squarely at her heart. His face was fair and his skin looked smooth, and he had long blonde hair which sported two tiny braids behind each pointed ear. And his eyes... His eyes were a soft blue-grey and reminded Arindwen of the sea, of starlight, or of rainy days on the Rohan plains near her father's castle. Truely mesmerizing they were and Arindwen found she was staring. She blinked and gave her head a tiny shake and frowned at herself. The Elf with the bow never moved a muscle.
"What business brings you to Mirkwood?" he asked. Arindwen pulled herself together and tried to regain some of her composure.
"I have business with the King Thranduil and his Lady."
"Of what nature?" Arindwen hesitated. She was reluctant to divulge so much information to a stranger and an Elf at that, no matter how beautiful and pleasing he was to look at. She grimaced slightly and spoke.
"I am here as an emissary from King Theoden of the Rohan people. My king is in desperate need of men and has sent me to ask the King and his Lady if they could possibly assist us in our fight against the Orcs who have been invading our homeland." Arindwen found she could not hold the Elf's gaze for long and so dropped her gaze to the dead creatures scattered around her fire. The Elf seemed to be contemplating her story.
"Very well, then," he announced and let down his draw, denocking his arrow and returning it to his quiver. Arindwen relaxed a little and once more lifted her gaze to that of the young man's before her. There was a tightness around his eyes as if looking upon her was some how difficult for him. Arindwen again found herself captured by his eyes and jumped when he began to speak.
"I am called Legolas Greenleaf," he said softly and reached for her right shoulder, placing a firm and gentle hand on it.
"I am called Arindwen of Rohan," she said and placed her hand on his left shoulder feeling the strong yet silky material his overtunic was made of. Legolas released her shoulder and stepped back. Arindwen's hand fell to her side. He turned to the dead creatures that littered her campsite and set about removing them. He took his arrows, cleaned them, and returned them to his quiver.
"Why did you come to my aid," Arindwen asked him as they cleaned the campsite and desposed of the dead creatures in the wood. Legolas paused in wiping an arrow tip clean on the grass.
"It is my job to protect those who are foolish enough to wander in to Mirkwood without a companion or a guide," he announced and returned the arrow to his quiver. Arindwen arched an eyebrow at him and bit back a very sarcastic comment.
When the campsite was deviod of dead bodies, Arindwen turned her attention to the fire. It had gone during the skirmish with the creatures so Arindwen gently blew on the embers and restocked her supply of wood. The Elf was crouched on the opposite side of the fire, watching her. Arindwen felt like a bird being stalked by a cat. It was a most unnerving feeling.
Feeling too tired to cook a meal, Arindwen pulled some cheese and bread from her travelling bag, the Elf watching every movement she made. Feeling uncomfortable, Arindwen extended a bit of cheese and bread to Legolas who regarded her for several moments before accepting the food.
"Thank you," he said quietly. Arindwen nodded silently and continued with her meal.
After they were done, Arindwen sat on the ground, occasionally stoking the fire with a long stick.
"Thanks," she murmured to the Elf who gazed at her from across the fire. She did not look at him. "Thank you for saving me from those...things.." The Elf-Legolas was it?-shifted slightly.
"You are welcome," he said in a quiet voice.
"I was wondering," Arindwen said, "whether or not you are part of the King's court?" She glanced at him and found his expression to be unreadable. Legolas paused.
"I am familiar with his court and palace," he said.
"Ah.." Arindwen nodded. "And are you on your way there?" Legolas nodded silently.
"Ahh.." she remarked. A sudden noise to her right made both of them jump. Arindwen's hand went for her sword and Legolas went for his bow, an arrow already nocked and the bow string pulled taut. When nothing emerged from the woods both Legolas and Arindwen relaxed. Arindwen sighed and closed her eyes momentarily.
"You are tired." The Elf's soft voice reached her ears and her eyes opened.
"No" she said, annoyed at her weakness. Legolas merely regarded her silent.
"I will stand watch while you sleep," he said decidedly and rose to his feet with a cat like grace. Arindwen frowned.
"I didn't ask for your help you know," she said beligerantly. Legolas merely looked at her. Arindwen's frown deepened.
"I suggest you get as much sleep as you can," Legolas said. "You will need it for the journey tomorrow," and with that final word he turned a deaf ear to all her protests that she did NOT need an escourt and could make it to the Palace just fine. Finally, when she realized that he wasn't going to move, she unrolled her sleeping sack and climbed into it, still muttering about high born elves and long blonde hair. The fire died down and Legolas perched himself on a rock, watching the forests with an eagle's eye though he knew that nothing would try to harm this strange woman from the Rohan planes again tonight.
~*~ ~*~
The sunlight trickled slowly down through the canopy of trees onto the leaf strewn floor, waking Arindwen from a deep sleep. She yawned and stretched out her long slender body. Sitting up, she rubbed her eyes sleepily and shook her head. Judging it to be about six in the morning, she yawned again and, looking around her, saw that she was alone. There was so sign of the Elf from last night. Frowning, she stood up and peered into the woods around her, looking for some sign of his passing. Finding none she grunted and rolled up her sleeping sack and returned it to Isendre's back.
"Good morning, my sweet," she said as she rubbed her horse's nose. Isendre nuzzled her hand, searching for food. Grinning, Arindwen rummaged in one of the packs and brought out more oats. She piled them at the feet of her horse and turned back to her camp.
"Good morning." Arindwen jumped. The Elf was standing before her, long bow in hand and some dead animal dangling from the other. He was smiling slightly, like a cat who has gotten into the cream. She frowned and pushed past him, muttering a terse "Good morning" in return.
Legolas watched her back carefully for a moment before crouching down to skin the animal. Arindwen watched him out of the corner of her eye, still distrustful of the Elf who had saved her.
Strange creatures, Elves she thought to herself as she packed up the camp. Soon it was hard to tell that any one had been there the previous night, accept for the fire on which now roasted some strange animal. It smelled good, though and Arindwen's stomach growled impatiently at her. She frowned at her stomach and moved over to Isendre to check her packs.
"Breakfast," the Elf announced, holding out at chunk of meat to her. She took it gingerly, as it was still hot from the fire, and nibbled carefully. It was surprisingly good. She smiled slightly and sat down near the Elf--Legolas, was it? She could never remember--to finish her meal.
~*~ ~*~
The sun was high and the road was long and dusty. The horses moved at a quick trot, good for covering large distances in a short amount of time. Arindwen had originally thought that Legolas would be walking until when they were ready to leave, a light grey horse walked into the clearing and stopped by the Elf. Arindwen looked slightly surprised for the horse had come with no whistle of any sort, no call. Then she shrugged. Elves were strange enough. It would be hard to try and sort them out. They had set out on their journey then.
It was high noon before they stopped by the road. They lunched silently for half an hour before getting back upon their horses and riding again. Along the way, Legolas would occasionally break into soft song, his sweet voice lilting out over the dark and gloomy trees, like sunlight on green grass. During these times, Arindwen would sit silently and listen as the strange words wove themselves practically into pictures before her eyes, telling of the Kings of old and of the ways of the Elves. The conversation was light and neither seemed to feel much like talking, which suited both. It was commonly known that the Elves and the people of the Rohan planes were distrustful of each other, as were Elves with Dwarves. But something about the Elf that rode beside her singing softly made Arindwen rethink the reasons her elders had given her about the distrust between them. None of the seemed to make sense now, under the trees of Mirkwood with a singing Elf beside her.
She shook her head and rode on, eyes roving the path ahead and the forest off to either side of them. She had been told that roving bands of Orcs sometimes visited Mirkwood and that Giant Spiders lived here. Spiders.. she loathed and detested spiders. The way they crawled and moved, their hairy backs and eight eyes.. She shivered and pulled her cloak more close around her. Legolas stopped singing and looked at her quietly.
"Lle quell, Lady?" he asked her softly. Arindwen looked at him, trying to decipher his words.
"Are you well, Lady?" he repeated in the common tongue. Arindwen smiled slightly and Legolas nodded.
"I am well, thank you," she replied. A few moments passed between them before she asked "How do you say that in Elvish?". Legolas smiled then, a full smile and Arindwen could not help smiling in return, for when the Elf smiled the whole land around him seemed to be lifted of its burdens.
"Lle quell," he told her in soft Elvish.
"Lle quell," she repeated to herself. "Right?" He nodded. "Lle quell.. lle quell," she tested it out on her tongue. It felt good and she smiled once more. Another long moment passed with Arindwen quietly running the phrase over in her mind. Then, "Are there more you can teach me?" she asked suddenly. Legolas looked at her sharply for a moment and Arindwen feared that she had some how offended him when his handsome, fair face broke into a full grin.
"There are many I can teach you, Lady," he replied, grinning at her. "Some of less importance than other." He smirked at her. "How is this: You already know lle quell: are you well?'. Now try Diola lle: Thank you"
"Diiola ley" she repeated and frowned at herself. It sounded nothing like what the Elf had said. He laughed.
"No, my Lady. DioLA le," he corrected her.
"Diola lle," she repeated and immediately smiled. It sounded much better. Legolas nodded, smiling.
"Good! Try Lle ume quell: You did well" he instructed her.
"Lle umi quel," she repeated.
"Lle umae quell," he corrected.
"Lle ume quell," she said and he smiled.
"Good! Try this," he said and his eyes sparkled with mischief. Oh dear, she thought.
"A'maer, lamin wun'd tuhnaer." Arindwen's eyes went wide and the Elf smirked.
"Ahh... amaer lamine wund tuh.. what?" The Elf laughed and repeated the sentence.
"A'maer, lamin wun'd tuhnaer," she repeated and Legolas nodded.
"Good! Very good." She eyed him suspiciously. Some how this did not sound similar to the simple phrases he had been teaching her.
"What does it mean," she asked him and he shook his head.
"Basically, I will help you', but more then that is not for me to say," and with that he trotted faster down the path. Arindwen stared at his retreating back in puzzlement before spurring Isendre after him.
~*~ ~*~
The day wore on and the sun began to fall.
The rest of the day had been spent bantering quietly back and forth, with bits of Elvish thrown in, usually courtesy of Legolas since Arindwen knew only the words he had taught her. She found that he actually had a sense of humor when he permitted it to show and she found that she enjoyed it when he did. It made for better company than having a silent companion by her side. She also discovered that the Elf was a wealth of songs and stories. Arindwen had him sing song after song, marvelling at the way the words didn't seem like words at all but moving pictures, pieces of Elvish history come alive right before her eyes. Finally he declined to sing any more, so they rode along in a companionable silence.
Before long, the sun began to dip below the trees and sink towards the horizon.
"We shall have to find a safe place to rest tonight," commented Legolas, his eyes scanning the forest path and the woods to either side. Arindwen nodded and began looking for a campsite. "There!" she pointed to a small dip in the ground to the right of the path, but Legolas wasn't listening.
"Daro," he commanded and his horse stopped. Arindwen reigned Isendre in and put her hand on the pommel of her sword.
"What is it?" she whispered. Legolas continued to scan the woods silently, sharp Elven eyes peering through the thinkening gloom of the surrounding forest.
"It is not safe here, Lady," he said quietly. Arindwen looked at him sharply. He had not called her Lady for over 4 hours and for him to do so now must mean that they were in more trouble than he was letting on.
"Legolas, what is it?" she asked more urgently. The Elf was silent for a moment considering his words.
"I do not know what it is, but something weighs heavily on my mind.." he said quietly. "Tula. We move quickly and look for another site. This place is not safe." And with that, he spurred his horse into a slow gallop down the road, leaving Arindwen to catch up. She shook her head and hurried after him, never sensing the evil presence behind her.
She had gotten perhaps three hundred heart beats down the road when the first attack came.
On to- Part 2