Oh man, I never expected it to take me this long to get this written! Aargh.... if any other author wants some advice from me, here it is; Never, /ever!/ try and write four fics at once! Not only does it make updating hectic, but you wind up with headaches and writer's block... not fun! I love writing all these fics, but I'm driving myself mad trying to do way too many things at once. To quote Bilbo, "I feel thin, sort of stretched, like butter, scrapped over too much bread." Oi. And in my spare time, I've started working on two more stories... one a piece of original fiction, the other a HP songfic. I know, I know, I'm being very stupid trying to do too many things, but that's me... I write what I feel like writing no matter how complicated I'm making my life.
Anyways, I'm sure that was all more info that you all really cared about, so I'll delay no further. Here it is, chapter 6 of Lian: Part Two-----
Disclaimer: I don't own them... they own me.
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Lian: Part Two
By Hollie
The days that followed the unexpected attack were long and uneventful. Mainly, the company rode in silence, with Faith and the other Rivendell elves listening intently for any sound of movement other than their own, and Lian and the Gondorian guards staring off into the distance sleepily. The farther they went into the forest, the deeper and darker it got.
Lian had also realized that the distance between Rivendell and Mirkwood was much greater than she had originally expected. On the maps her father had in his study, they hadn't looked that distant from one another, but here they were, still riding towards it weeks and weeks after their departure from Rivendell!
"It must have been awful for Galen, traveling all the way from Mirkwood to Gondor. But then, he got to ride in that fancy carriage, and these elves… long distances don't seem to affect them like they do mortals. Probably because their measure of time is so different than ours. I wonder what it would be like to live forever?" Lian began to drift off once again, her musings filling her head. It was very lucky that Hoshi was such a clever horse and did not need direction from her master, for otherwise things could have become very problematic.
Several paces behind Lian, another was lost in thought. Anto, with a dreamy, far-away expression across his face, was paying little attention to his surroundings. Instead, he was thinking of Her, the one he had come to love.
"So beautiful, and strong too! Such a rare combination in a female! But then, 'tis hardly surprising, given her heritage. She is without a doubt the most breathtaking creature that walks Middle-Earth! But how can I express my affection and adoration? No doubt such an amazing woman would reject me. And if her heart belongs to another… Clearly I have set my sights too far above me. Alas for me, for if she is not mine, I shall have none."
Anto closed his eyes, lamenting for the love that was unobtainable. He spent the rest of the afternoon trying not to think of her, but finding it impossible. When the party made camp that night, he sat away from the rest of the group, slightly outside the circle of light the campfire gave off.
Faith, who had known the young elf for many years, noticed the change in his behavior. Normally, Anto loved to be surrounded with companions, singing and laughing and talking into all hours of the night. It was most unlike him to separate himself.
Her curiosity getting the better of her, Faith got up from her seat on an old, fallen tree trunk and walked over to where Anto sat, shrouded in darkness.
So deep in thought was he, that not until Faith made a slight noise clearing her throat did he notice that she had come over and was sitting across from him. He gave her a nod and a thin smile, but nothing more.
Faith was utterly perplexed now; Anto always had something to say, no matter what the situation. She realized that something must be deeply troubling him, and that she would probably have a lot of coaxing to do to get it out of him.
"Nice night, is it not?" she asked casually.
"Hm? Oh, yes, it 'tis. Very nice." With that, he lapsed back into silence.
Faith's brows furrowed and she pursed her lips. Why was he being so close? What could possibly be wrong?
"Is everything well, with you?" she asked, trying once again to procure the problem from him.
"Oh, yes, I'm well. And you? Good, good." Anto didn't even seem to realize that Faith had not answered his question; he just continued as if she had. "That's well, such a journey can oft tire even the strongest. Not that you are unaccustomed to long rides and much toil, eh? But, even still…" he carried on in such a manner for quite some time, having a conversation with Faith, but not really with her. Her spoke at her, but not truly to her, and it was rather unnerving.
"Anto?" Faith tried. He continued talking, as though he had not heard her.
Again, "Anto?" No reply.
"Anto!"
He looked curiously at her, his long chatter finally ceasing. "Yes?" was his confused response.
"What is wrong? You are acting like… Well, I know not, but you are not yourself!"
"I…" his voice faltered and broke. He took a moment to collect himself, then, "I think that you have let your imagination go astray. I would appreciate it if you would let me in peace now please, Highness." He added, his face darkening.
His last words stung Faith right at the heart; he never called her 'Highness.' Getting to her feet, she cast him one last irritated glare, then returned to the company of those that were not so moody.
During Faith's attempted conversation with Anto, Lian had been having a much more successful one with Anto's younger brother, Anil.
Anil resembled his brother greatly. He had the same dark, almost black hair, though his was long, tied back with two thin braids in elf-fashion, whereas his brother kept his hair much shorter, framing his face. The brothers shared the same eyes; both pair an astounding brown color, always sprinkled with concern and compassion. Anil's eyes were more powerful than his brother's however, and he radiated strength and vigor. Anil was an elf at home in warfare and battle; Anto was a dreamer and had a more poetic soul, and though he was also a hearty fighter, he was more apt to sing than to loose a bow, whist his brother was the complete opposite.
Lian had been sitting on the old tree trunk, the same one, you will remember, that Faith had also been seated on. Anil, sprawled on the ground besides the tiny fire, had unsheathed his sword and had set about polishing the blade.
Lian's eyes had been instantly drawn to the long, curved piece of metal. Designs like thin leaves crept up the blade, intertwining and forming intricate patters all the way up to it's pointed tip. Lian was amazed that so much beauty could be found in a single object, especially a weapon. Anil noticed her stare and a smile played across his lips.
"Like it?" he asked, brandishing the sword with both of his hands, and angling it so the firelight played across it.
"Mmm," she murmured, her eyes still transfixed.
"It was made by my father, almost two thousand years hence. Beautiful, no?"
"Yes. The designs are amazing."
Anil's smile broadened and he gazed lovingly at his prize weapon; he always loved it whenever his father's craftsmanship was complimented.
"So, your father made swords?" Lian asked.
"No, only this one. Most oft he trained young elflings, taught them how to fight and shoot. I miss him deeply." Anil's eyes clouded over and his countenance became troubled.
"Did he go West? Into the Undying Lands?" Lian's voice was soft, almost timid. She was uncertain as to what kind of response she would get.
"No," was Anil's whispered reply, "he was in the Great Battle, the one between men and elves and Sauron and his minions. He never returned, and I know naught of him since."
"Oh," Lian lapsed into silence, unsure of what to say.
It was at that moment that Faith returned. She was, to say the least, grumpier than she had been when she had left.
"Is all well?" Lian asked her favorite aunt.
"No, all is not well," Faith replied huffily. Lian was taken slightly aback at Faith's tone.
"What is wrong?"
"That's just it!" Faith's voice the loudest whisper she could make it and still have it be a whisper. She glared back at Anto, who was still sitting by himself, shrouded with darkness. "He refuses to tell me what troubles him, the infuriating elf!"
Lian followed her aunt's gaze and stared at Anto, who did indeed look troubled. She wondered if his want of solitude had any connection to what he had spoken to her of earlier in the week, the 'great tide of events that were slowly building to encompass Middle-Earth' or however he'd said it. "Perhaps," she thought, "he just needs some space to try and piece things together… Maybe."
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"Someone's looking sullen to-day," Faith commented as she rode up next to Lian. Astride her favorite mount, Hoshi, Lian's normally bronze skin looked pale, and her hands kept slipping off the mare's reins, no doubt due to severe perspiration. Lian's face was set, grim and determined, her small lips forming a straight line and her dark brows furrowed. She kept her gray eyes staring directly ahead of her, practically glaring at the road, as if it had done something to offend her.
She didn't even seem to heed Faith's comment, though if she did, she gave no response.
"Crazy," Faith thought darkly. "They've all gone crazy. First Galen's acting like a loon, now Lian's all troubled… next thing I know, Anil will be singing and prancing about like a fool and Magen will refuse to speak with me! Honestly, have they all gone starkers, or is this 'Drive-Faith-Crazy' week?"
Lian had not been ignoring Faith. In truth, she hadn't even heard her. A mixture of fear and apprehension currently possessed her whole being. She was terrified, right down to the innermost portion of her heart. They party was drawing close on the great realm; they would arrive in Mirkwood by the end of the week, meaning that the reunion Lian had been craving and dreading was drawing nigh at a pace that was far too rapid for her liking.
She licked her dry, chapped lips, trying to moisten them. She took a deep, shuddering breath, then returned her focus to the road ahead of her.
"If you search for answers in the ground, I must say, I highly doubt you will find them." Lian finally broke out of her revere, turning to look at her aunt, whose annoyance had changed to solemn remembrance. "For the road holds no answers," she continued, whispering her words more to herself than to her niece.
Lian looked curiously at Faith, who smiled sadly, then let her mount, Hope, fall behind to ride with the others. Lian sighed deeply, her mind a mess. She was so confused about everything; she'd never known life could be so complicated.
"It has it's good parts, of that I am sure, but sometimes, the bad casts terrible shadows over the good, and it becomes harder and harder to see. I wonder if this was what it was like in the battle with Sauron." She thought about that, and her mind began to wander down through the many paths of memory. A smile played across her lips as her brain recounted the heroic deeds of her father; how he had saved the men at the Battle of the Pelannor Fields with his army of ghosts. A shiver ran up her spine, and she was filled with desire to have been there, to have watched proudly as Aragorn came over the crest of the hill, his banner flying high in the breeze, and striking fear into his enemies' hearts.
She had often wished that she was as brave as her family. Her father had done great deeds, too many to recount here, her mother as well. Her brother was brave and wise, and her sister noble-hearted and caring. Her aunt was probably the fiercest she-elf warrior that ever lived, whilst her grandfather had been Elrond Halfelven, ruler of Rivendell, bearer of one of the Three Rings, not to mention the fact that Lian's other ancestors had been incredibly powerful, strong and brave, both on her mortal side and her elven lineage. She couldn't help but feel small and unimportant against such amazing men and elves.
"I don't suppose I'll ever do something important," she thought sadly.
Little did she know…
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I'm sorry… you all have been waiting patiently for so long, and when I finally update, it's this little piece of garbage. Next chapter will be much better though, I PROMISE! The gang finally reaches Mirkwood!!!
I've got lots of thank you's to take care of, but right now, I don't have the time or energy to do individual messages. I'm really sorry! But anyways, huge thanks to: Lani(so glad ur back!), Sarai-IceElf, frogcatcher98, Xenafan1983, blah, a person, Lady of None, Dwen, Nariko, Tiff(who I haven't heard from in a while… *sniff*) and lastly, to Quiet One!
I luv ya all, and I am SOSO appreciative of all your kind words and helpful remarks… you guys totally rule!!!
Oh, a quick message for Lani--- How was that portrayal of Faith? Am I going too far off, having her do things she wouldn't, or having thoughts she wouldn't? Please let me know, I in no way want to destroy the lovely character you created! Oh, and you were 100% accurate about the blabbing thing… that was my reasoning behind it!
I think that's pretty much it… THANK YOU SOOOOOOOOO MUCH FOR READING THIS!!!! MY THANKS FOREVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
luv always,
hollie