Disclaimer: I do not own any of the LOTR characters, songs, poems, places
ect, ect, ect.
********************* ******************************
So this is who I am,
And this is all I know.
And I must choose to live,
For all that I can give.
The spark that makes the power grow.
And I must follow on the road that lies ahead,
And I won't let my heart control my head.
Chapter 13: The fellowship
Once again the palace garden was filled with elves and once again king Thranduil sat on his marble throne, only now the air seemed to be filled with angst and tension, because this time one of their own was missing and taken against her will.
Nervous whispers could be heard all over the garden.
Beside king Thranduil sat the lady Galadriel, calm and serene as always, not showing any emotion.
The king looked over the gathered nobility, one by one, finally he stood up from his throne and beckoned all of them to silence.
"You all know by now why I have summoned you to this council," the king said while looking at all of them.
All elves nodded in silence.
"Alas, a young elven maiden, handmaiden to the lady Galadriel is missing. We think she has been taken from the castle last night," he informed them.
"Has she been taken by the dark lord Morion?" a young noble elf stood up and raised his voice.
Some of the faces turned white by the sound of the dark lord's name and again the nervous whispering started.
"Silence, silence! We do not know for sure," the king replied calmly.
Aerin bit her lower lip, she wanted so much to tell them about what really happened to Aranwe, but how could she without exposing her own where- about last night.
"Was she taken by orcs?" a somewhat older elf now stood up and addressed the king.
Alderon, who was nearest to his father, stepped forward to answer the elf's question.
"My men have patrolled the borders of Mirkwood and guarded the castle all night and I can assure you that there was not a single Orc in Mirkwood forest last night."
"Than who has taken the girl?" several elves asked out loud.
Alderon looked at his father, hoping he would have an explanation.
Aerin couldn't stand it anymore, every minute that was wasted by them guessing whom it was, could be the last for her dear friend. She stepped up to the king and the lady Galadriel and looked them both straight in the eye.
Both Legolas and Haldir were so baffeled by her action that they weren't able to stop her in time.
"I fear she has been taken to Morion and I also fear that it indeed was not orcs, but one of our own that has abducted her," she spoke loud and clear so all could hear her statement.
She never lost eye contact with either the King or lady Galadriel.
She sighed heavily like a weight had been lifted from her shoulder and a new one had been put on them again.
"Ridiculous! Nonsense! Out of the Question!" was the astonished cries that came from the crowd of elves.
"How do you know all of this? Please explain yourself, my child," the King encouraged her gently.
She glanced quickly at Haldir and Legolas and saw that they didn't approve of what she was going to say next, but she didn't care anymore.
She felt like she already had lost everyone she had ever loved in her entire life and she wasn't prepared to lose her best friend too.
She again fixed her gaze upon the King and the Lady, whom were waiting for her explanation in silent anticipation.
"I found her bracelet in my room," she held the silver bracelet out for all to see.
"It was a gift from me, a sign of our eternal friendship. I know she would never have taken it off freely," she continued.
"Is that all? Why she could have lost it in your room anytime," a voice exclaimed from the crowd.
"No, that is not all,"Aerin replied a bit irritated, "I have also found blood on the floor and on one of my candlesticks. I believe she was struck upon the head with it."
"What was she doing in your room and where were you last night?" Alderon whispered softly to her.
A big lump formed in her throat and she didn't dare to look into Alderon's eyes. She knew that others were thinking the same thing.
"Yes, why was she in your room and where were you, milady?" an elf with almond brown eyes and flowing black hair asked her, he had apparently overheard Alderon's question.
She turned her head towards the elf and gave him an icy stare. "What she did in my room, I do not know. And where I was is none of your business, sir," she snapped at him.
The elf turned crimson and sat down without saying another word.
Aerin looked at the still whispering crowd and raised her voice. "What I do know is that our kindred sister and my beloved friend is in terrible danger and that if we do not act immediately we will never see her alive again."
"True words from such an innocent youth," the King turned the attention back on him and again stood up from his throne.
Aerin returned to Legolas and Haldir, they both gave her an admirable look, but did not speak to her.
They all turned their attention towards the king like the rest.
"We indeed need to act fast. So my suggestion is to assemble a rescue party. Who of you will anticipate in this quest? Come forward now," the king said as his eyes glided over each and everyone of them.
All whispered but none stepped forward.
"I do not understand. Why does not anybody step forward?" she asked Haldir a bit frustrated.
"They are all afraid, you must understand that there is a slight chance that none of them will ever return. The dark lord is very powerful and is not to be taken lightly," Haldir explained to her.
"Well than, I shall have to take the first step," Aerin said determined.
Legolas grabbed her arm just before she could walk away. "I beg you, do not do this. Do not put yourself in anymore danger than you already are, melamin, my love,"
Fire burned in her eyes as she looked at him. Unsure how to react to his supplication, she pulled her arm out of his grasp and looked deep into his eyes.
"I will rather die trying than never have tried at all."
Aerin's face stood determined and her aura glowed like never before as she stepped up to the King.
"I will go," she said forcefully and gazed at the other elves.
"No, out of the question!" Alderon exclaimed.
She locked eyes with him.
"Why not? I wish to go. Nobody else will," she exclaimed rather furiously.
"Do you not see? You will walk straight into his clutches. It is you he wants, my love," Alderon desperately tried to explain to her.
"He is right, my child. You should stay here in the safe surroundings of Mirkwood," the King agreed with his son.
Aerin started to laugh hysterically, unable to control herself any longer. "Safe. Safe. If Mirkwood is such a safe place, my lord, why is it then that my dearest and most beloved friend is captured, taken by force if you will right from under our very noses."
She looked at the king with her piercing green eyes and continued.
"Do you think that if we rescue Aranwe it will stay with that? No my lord, it will be only the beginning. The beginning of an endless war against the Dark Lord. He will not rest until he has me. As you well know, I am highly skilled in both bow and sword. I have defeated many of the best warriors in Lorien. I have to go, my lord. It is my destiny, my fate."
Finally the lady Galadriel rose up from her seat, placing her delicate hand on top of the king's shoulder.
"My niece is right, I have known this would happen from the very moment she was born. I cannot deny her true destiny any longer."
Once again she looked at all the elves, whom were present and a smile crept at the corners of her mouth.
"Now who of you is worthy to join her in this quest? Who of you has the courage to save our people from sudden doom and change the fate of the elven race?"
All the elves looked at each other and whispered.
"I will!" a familiar voice sounded through the air.
Aerin looked and smiled as Haldir stepped forward to join her. Her heart skipped a beat as she saw that Legolas followed him and was now standing beside him.
"I will not let you go alone," Alderon whispered, placing his hand in hers.
"I will go too," a voice came from the crowd.
To her amazement the almond, brown-eyed elf stepped up to them and introduced himself as Ravion Moonstone of Rivendell. He turned out to be one of Lord Elrond's cousins.
To Aerin's displeasure the elf that she had defeated many months ago also stepped forward. She disliked him. There was something about him she didn't trust.
Ronyo was the last to join in.
King Thranduil smiled satisfied. "Here before us are the six most bravest elves Middle- Earth has ever seen. They will journey to Ered Mithrin to rescue lady Galadriel's handmaiden, Aranwe, from the evil clutches of the Dark Lord."
"And to destroy the Dark Lord thus saving the entire elven realm," lady Galadriel added.
All Cheered for the members of the newly formed fellowship.
The council had come to an end.
***************************** **********************
Aerin stood in front of a big oak door, she softly knocked on it.
"Enter," a familiar voice told her.
She entered the chamber, which was even more beautifully decorated than her own.
Her aunt sat on a red velvet canopy and was mildly smiling at her.
"What is it that worries you, my child?" her aunt's voice sounded in her mind.
Aerin looked into her eyes, a bit unsure of what to say to her aunt.
"I just wondered. I was just wondering if you know..," she stammered.
"If I know if you are going to survive this ordeal?" lady Galadriel finished her sentence.
Aerin just nodded.
Galadriel beckoned Aerin to sit next to her, she tilted her niece's chin and looked into her emerald green eyes.
"Sweet child, you so remind me of your mother, my dear sister," she told her softly.
Aerin smiled thinking of the few memories she had of her mother.
"I cannot say who will live or who will die," lady Galadriel told her.
Aerin sighed.
"Do not despair, my dear child. Just remember that where there is darkness there will always be light and as long as the light lives there will always be hope," lady Galadriel spoke in an ethereal voice.
"Now go to your room and rest. You have a long journey ahead of you," the Lady lightly caressed her cheek.
Aerin nodded in consent and stood up from the canopy.
"And Aerin. Love eventually will prevail," the Lady spoke softly, a mysterious light flickering in her eyes.
****************************** **************************
Disclaimer: Here we go! The journey finally begins, though it isn't as long as the journey in LOTR. The lyrics at the beginning of this chapter are taken from 'Immortality' by Celine Dion. I am awfully sorry I've kept you waiting for such a long time. I am terribly ashamed! Please forgive me. * Falls to her knees, begging*
I really hope you like this chapter!
Until the next chapter!
Breanna: Thank you so much for saying my story is captivating! *Does a little dance*
Szhismine: I have I ever told you. Your Great for adding me on your favorites list!!
Beth: Well Alderon is a little daft. Love is really blind in his case! But Aerin does love him though. In Holland we call it a triangle relationship! By the way I watch a lot of soapies!
Emily: Again thank you for your encouragement!
CariadLovely: And thank you for reading and enjoying my story!
********************* ******************************
So this is who I am,
And this is all I know.
And I must choose to live,
For all that I can give.
The spark that makes the power grow.
And I must follow on the road that lies ahead,
And I won't let my heart control my head.
Chapter 13: The fellowship
Once again the palace garden was filled with elves and once again king Thranduil sat on his marble throne, only now the air seemed to be filled with angst and tension, because this time one of their own was missing and taken against her will.
Nervous whispers could be heard all over the garden.
Beside king Thranduil sat the lady Galadriel, calm and serene as always, not showing any emotion.
The king looked over the gathered nobility, one by one, finally he stood up from his throne and beckoned all of them to silence.
"You all know by now why I have summoned you to this council," the king said while looking at all of them.
All elves nodded in silence.
"Alas, a young elven maiden, handmaiden to the lady Galadriel is missing. We think she has been taken from the castle last night," he informed them.
"Has she been taken by the dark lord Morion?" a young noble elf stood up and raised his voice.
Some of the faces turned white by the sound of the dark lord's name and again the nervous whispering started.
"Silence, silence! We do not know for sure," the king replied calmly.
Aerin bit her lower lip, she wanted so much to tell them about what really happened to Aranwe, but how could she without exposing her own where- about last night.
"Was she taken by orcs?" a somewhat older elf now stood up and addressed the king.
Alderon, who was nearest to his father, stepped forward to answer the elf's question.
"My men have patrolled the borders of Mirkwood and guarded the castle all night and I can assure you that there was not a single Orc in Mirkwood forest last night."
"Than who has taken the girl?" several elves asked out loud.
Alderon looked at his father, hoping he would have an explanation.
Aerin couldn't stand it anymore, every minute that was wasted by them guessing whom it was, could be the last for her dear friend. She stepped up to the king and the lady Galadriel and looked them both straight in the eye.
Both Legolas and Haldir were so baffeled by her action that they weren't able to stop her in time.
"I fear she has been taken to Morion and I also fear that it indeed was not orcs, but one of our own that has abducted her," she spoke loud and clear so all could hear her statement.
She never lost eye contact with either the King or lady Galadriel.
She sighed heavily like a weight had been lifted from her shoulder and a new one had been put on them again.
"Ridiculous! Nonsense! Out of the Question!" was the astonished cries that came from the crowd of elves.
"How do you know all of this? Please explain yourself, my child," the King encouraged her gently.
She glanced quickly at Haldir and Legolas and saw that they didn't approve of what she was going to say next, but she didn't care anymore.
She felt like she already had lost everyone she had ever loved in her entire life and she wasn't prepared to lose her best friend too.
She again fixed her gaze upon the King and the Lady, whom were waiting for her explanation in silent anticipation.
"I found her bracelet in my room," she held the silver bracelet out for all to see.
"It was a gift from me, a sign of our eternal friendship. I know she would never have taken it off freely," she continued.
"Is that all? Why she could have lost it in your room anytime," a voice exclaimed from the crowd.
"No, that is not all,"Aerin replied a bit irritated, "I have also found blood on the floor and on one of my candlesticks. I believe she was struck upon the head with it."
"What was she doing in your room and where were you last night?" Alderon whispered softly to her.
A big lump formed in her throat and she didn't dare to look into Alderon's eyes. She knew that others were thinking the same thing.
"Yes, why was she in your room and where were you, milady?" an elf with almond brown eyes and flowing black hair asked her, he had apparently overheard Alderon's question.
She turned her head towards the elf and gave him an icy stare. "What she did in my room, I do not know. And where I was is none of your business, sir," she snapped at him.
The elf turned crimson and sat down without saying another word.
Aerin looked at the still whispering crowd and raised her voice. "What I do know is that our kindred sister and my beloved friend is in terrible danger and that if we do not act immediately we will never see her alive again."
"True words from such an innocent youth," the King turned the attention back on him and again stood up from his throne.
Aerin returned to Legolas and Haldir, they both gave her an admirable look, but did not speak to her.
They all turned their attention towards the king like the rest.
"We indeed need to act fast. So my suggestion is to assemble a rescue party. Who of you will anticipate in this quest? Come forward now," the king said as his eyes glided over each and everyone of them.
All whispered but none stepped forward.
"I do not understand. Why does not anybody step forward?" she asked Haldir a bit frustrated.
"They are all afraid, you must understand that there is a slight chance that none of them will ever return. The dark lord is very powerful and is not to be taken lightly," Haldir explained to her.
"Well than, I shall have to take the first step," Aerin said determined.
Legolas grabbed her arm just before she could walk away. "I beg you, do not do this. Do not put yourself in anymore danger than you already are, melamin, my love,"
Fire burned in her eyes as she looked at him. Unsure how to react to his supplication, she pulled her arm out of his grasp and looked deep into his eyes.
"I will rather die trying than never have tried at all."
Aerin's face stood determined and her aura glowed like never before as she stepped up to the King.
"I will go," she said forcefully and gazed at the other elves.
"No, out of the question!" Alderon exclaimed.
She locked eyes with him.
"Why not? I wish to go. Nobody else will," she exclaimed rather furiously.
"Do you not see? You will walk straight into his clutches. It is you he wants, my love," Alderon desperately tried to explain to her.
"He is right, my child. You should stay here in the safe surroundings of Mirkwood," the King agreed with his son.
Aerin started to laugh hysterically, unable to control herself any longer. "Safe. Safe. If Mirkwood is such a safe place, my lord, why is it then that my dearest and most beloved friend is captured, taken by force if you will right from under our very noses."
She looked at the king with her piercing green eyes and continued.
"Do you think that if we rescue Aranwe it will stay with that? No my lord, it will be only the beginning. The beginning of an endless war against the Dark Lord. He will not rest until he has me. As you well know, I am highly skilled in both bow and sword. I have defeated many of the best warriors in Lorien. I have to go, my lord. It is my destiny, my fate."
Finally the lady Galadriel rose up from her seat, placing her delicate hand on top of the king's shoulder.
"My niece is right, I have known this would happen from the very moment she was born. I cannot deny her true destiny any longer."
Once again she looked at all the elves, whom were present and a smile crept at the corners of her mouth.
"Now who of you is worthy to join her in this quest? Who of you has the courage to save our people from sudden doom and change the fate of the elven race?"
All the elves looked at each other and whispered.
"I will!" a familiar voice sounded through the air.
Aerin looked and smiled as Haldir stepped forward to join her. Her heart skipped a beat as she saw that Legolas followed him and was now standing beside him.
"I will not let you go alone," Alderon whispered, placing his hand in hers.
"I will go too," a voice came from the crowd.
To her amazement the almond, brown-eyed elf stepped up to them and introduced himself as Ravion Moonstone of Rivendell. He turned out to be one of Lord Elrond's cousins.
To Aerin's displeasure the elf that she had defeated many months ago also stepped forward. She disliked him. There was something about him she didn't trust.
Ronyo was the last to join in.
King Thranduil smiled satisfied. "Here before us are the six most bravest elves Middle- Earth has ever seen. They will journey to Ered Mithrin to rescue lady Galadriel's handmaiden, Aranwe, from the evil clutches of the Dark Lord."
"And to destroy the Dark Lord thus saving the entire elven realm," lady Galadriel added.
All Cheered for the members of the newly formed fellowship.
The council had come to an end.
***************************** **********************
Aerin stood in front of a big oak door, she softly knocked on it.
"Enter," a familiar voice told her.
She entered the chamber, which was even more beautifully decorated than her own.
Her aunt sat on a red velvet canopy and was mildly smiling at her.
"What is it that worries you, my child?" her aunt's voice sounded in her mind.
Aerin looked into her eyes, a bit unsure of what to say to her aunt.
"I just wondered. I was just wondering if you know..," she stammered.
"If I know if you are going to survive this ordeal?" lady Galadriel finished her sentence.
Aerin just nodded.
Galadriel beckoned Aerin to sit next to her, she tilted her niece's chin and looked into her emerald green eyes.
"Sweet child, you so remind me of your mother, my dear sister," she told her softly.
Aerin smiled thinking of the few memories she had of her mother.
"I cannot say who will live or who will die," lady Galadriel told her.
Aerin sighed.
"Do not despair, my dear child. Just remember that where there is darkness there will always be light and as long as the light lives there will always be hope," lady Galadriel spoke in an ethereal voice.
"Now go to your room and rest. You have a long journey ahead of you," the Lady lightly caressed her cheek.
Aerin nodded in consent and stood up from the canopy.
"And Aerin. Love eventually will prevail," the Lady spoke softly, a mysterious light flickering in her eyes.
****************************** **************************
Disclaimer: Here we go! The journey finally begins, though it isn't as long as the journey in LOTR. The lyrics at the beginning of this chapter are taken from 'Immortality' by Celine Dion. I am awfully sorry I've kept you waiting for such a long time. I am terribly ashamed! Please forgive me. * Falls to her knees, begging*
I really hope you like this chapter!
Until the next chapter!
Breanna: Thank you so much for saying my story is captivating! *Does a little dance*
Szhismine: I have I ever told you. Your Great for adding me on your favorites list!!
Beth: Well Alderon is a little daft. Love is really blind in his case! But Aerin does love him though. In Holland we call it a triangle relationship! By the way I watch a lot of soapies!
Emily: Again thank you for your encouragement!
CariadLovely: And thank you for reading and enjoying my story!