I'm soooooooooooo sorry that this chapter has taken so long for me to get out..... but it's here finally!
Disclaimer: Don't own this stuff.
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Lian: Part Two
by Hollie
Lian was roused by the prickling scent of burning timber. Her bleary eyes looked around her and with relief, spotted her traveling companions sitting around a blazing campfire. Two of the Gondorian guards cooked food over the glowing embers, the third tending a bandaged leg. Anto nursed several cuts and bruises that riddled his fair skin, but how it was that he came upon injury Lian could not recall. The last thing she could remember was asking Faith if they were going the right way... Faith! Where was she!?
Lian jolted upright, looking frantically for her aunt. She let out a sigh of relief as her eyes finally caught the elf, who stood in the shadows of a large elm, conversing with Anto's brother Anil.
Her aunt looked slightly shaken, but terribly furious. Her eyes kindled with a fire visible even at a distance and her body seemed to radiate fury.
"What has Anil done?" Lian wondered.
She laid herself down gingerly down on the makeshift bed of grasses and leaves someone had prepared for her. She turned to lie on her left side, and was surprised when a searing pain shot through her arm.
Lian let out a cry mingled with pain and shock and turned her head, finally noticing the cream colored bandage that wrapped her forearm. A small patch of crimson on the cloth alerted her that she too had sustained some sort of injury, but how?
Gentle hands began to unravel her bandage, and she looked up to see the hands' owner.
"What happened?" she whispered feebly to Anto as he removed the cloth. She gasped as she saw a long cut on her arm, still trickling maroon liquid. He looked curiously at her.
"You don't remember?" As she shook her head, he continued. "We were attacked by... something. Men, I think, but they were strangely clad. They looked to be Southrons, but what business they had this far north is beyond me. And why they would attack us, especially since they tread on the soil of our people, and not vice-versa, is yet another mystery." Lian blinked several times.
"Everyone is alright? No one was seriously hurt, were they?"
"We're all in fine health. You seemed to take the worst of it. You were struck by an arrow," he pointed to the long, thin cut on her arm, "but luckily it just grazed your arm. We though for a while that the arrows might have been poisoned, since you passed into unconsciousness." Lian ducked her head to hide the blush that formed. She was beginning to remember what had happened, and the fact that she had fainted from a tiny scratch deeply embarrassed her. Anto, however, didn't notice, or if he did, he said naught.
"Luckily, they didn't seem to have any poisoned weapons. We took care of several of them, but our weapons were few. Luckily, the fury of the elven princess is worth the skills of a large fleet of men." He grinned, motioning to Faith, who was still fuming. "She managed to scare most of them off." He let out a long, low whistle; "I'd hate to be on the other side, fighting against her."
Lian laughed weakly, her throat dry and scratchy.
"Here," Anto lifted a small canteen to her lips, and she drank greedily. A sweet liquid trickled down her throat, soothing it immensely.
"That's delicious," she whispered, "what is it?"
Anto smiled, "it's an elven drink, called kaalin. It has wonderful healing powers, you should begin to feel better almost immediately." He was right, she could practically feel her body healing. The cut on her arm ceased to bleed, although it still gleamed red and was sore to the touch.
"Faith's terribly upset," Lian commented, looking upon her aunt.
"She's terribly upset that we were taken by surprise. We did not sense the onslaught, yet the animals did." A puzzled look spread across Lian's face.
"But we all felt something... A warning in our hearts, remember?"
"Yes, but when the enemy attacked, we had not had the slightest warning otherwise. We didn't hear or see them coming."
"Well, that's perfectly understandable. The horses, they were startled, remember?" She thought hard, trying to remember. "Alian threw you off, right, and it took forever to calm all the horses down, and then... and then I got shot." She shuddered as memory flooded back, including the pain and shock from her first real brush with danger. "These woods are so dense," she continued, "and everyone was busy, of course we didn't see or hear them coming."
"I know, and those were the points your guards brought up too, when we spoke earlier. Very sensible people, you folk of Gondor," he said, a slight twinkle in his eye. "But Faith, and myself as well, we feel that something deeper is going on. I can't explain it to you, but it's as if a giant tide of events is slowly growing, and is almost ready to come crashing down upon Middle-Earth."
Lian nodded slowly, even though she didn't really understand. She wanted it to seem like she did, however, and it was slightly startling to realize that she wanted to impress the dashing elf.
"By the Valar," she thought, "what is wrong with me? I flit my affections from one to another without batting an eye!" She sighed and shook her head, a sign Anto took to mean that she was in need of rest.
"Get some sleep, one of us will come and wake you later," he said, in what was meant as a kind voice.
"I don't need anymore rest," Lian replied tartly, misinterpreting his tone. He shook his head, "all the women in your family are the same... stubborn." Lian made a slight pout, and he reached over and tousled her hair. She sat in silence for a moment, thinking and stifling a yawn.
"Anto?"
"Yes?"
"Have you ever been to Mirkwood forest?"
"Yes, although it's been nigh over a year since I last set foot there."
"Oh. What's it like?"
She sat and listened as he described the land, the people, the customs, everything he knew about the forest. She already knew much; having had it all explained the previous year by Galen, and his father, who was Legolas, King of Mirkwood Forest. She desired to hear it again, however, from one who had not been born and raised in the ancient wood. She was curious to know if the realm really was as beautifully mysterious as Galen and Legolas had said, and it was a great thrill to hear and elf of Rivendell describe it with as much enthusiasm.
"...and the Royal family is made up of the most noble and fair elves you could meet."
"I know," Lian whispered dreamily.
"You have met them?"
"More than met them," a new voice interjected. Faith , it seemed, had calmed down considerably and had come to join in the conversation. Anto now directed his gaze at the she-elf.
"He proposed to her, the Prince, I mean," Faith continued, "but she got cold feet and said 'no' so now we're headed there to patch things up." Lian blushed deeply, embarrassed at hearing her aunt speak her troubles so plainly, especially to Anto. He listened with disbelief etched on his face as Faith told him the tale of the elf and the mortal, telling him about the banquet, Lian's original engagement to the Prince of Rohan and all the troubles that had ensued.
After a while, Lian laid herself back down on the makeshift bed, hoping that maybe if she went to sleep, she would wake to find that all the days events had merely been a dream....
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Short, I know, but I'm almost out of time for writing tonight. I have a couple thank you's....
Frogcatcher98- Wow! I'm flattered!!! I hope that this chapter was to your satisfaction!
QuietOne- Hey! Soooooo glad that you liked this! Hey, Thanks for your review of my new ficlet, I was reading it and cracking up soooooooooooooooooooo hard I though I was gonna pee my pants!!! I think your review was funnier than my story!!!
Tiff- It's taken me forever, but finally, I have the new chapter that I've been promising! So sorry to have kept you waiting so long... I keep on meaning to write, but then I loose track of time and such... *sighs* but here's you name again! I luv writing thank you's to you, you have just been such a huge supporter of my fics, I appreciate it immensely!!!!! Hmm... you're right, she does have a thing for elves. (this might sound stupid, but I hadn't even noticed that I'd done that!)
Lani- YOU'RE BACK YOU'RE BACK YOU'RE BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACCCCCKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm officially dedicating this chapter to you cos I'm so happy that you've returned!!! And I can't wait for chapter 20... I know that it will be spectacular!
Lady Alarien- Hey, thanks! I'm thrilled that you like this fic! Thanks for the reviews!!!!
Dwen- Thanks for the review! Yeah, I don't post my e-mail cos it's stupid. The blasted thing doesn't like to send or recieve e-mail..... *growls at evil e-mail* hopefully, I'll be able to get a working one someday... I luved the update on EE, I hope you post more soon! Thanks again Dwen!
Nariko- oh, thank you Nariko! You're just too sweet! As for Lian and Galen together... we'll just have to see! *g* don't worry, they will be arriving in Mirkwood soon, where the two will be reunited.... or will they? *dun dun dun!* Thank you for all the encouragment!!!
hmm... I think that's it. I hope I haven't forgotten anyone, a thousand apologies if I have!
hope that you guys liked this chapter!!!
luv always,
hollie