Disclaimer: I do not own any LOTR characters, songs or other stuff related
to the greatness of J.R.R. Tolkien.
************************ ****************************
Whenever dark turns to night,
And all the dreams sing their song,
And in the daylight forever,
To you I belong.
( Song by Bewitched 'To you I belong')
Chapter 15: The journey goes forth
They'd only traveled for a couple of hours when they were overtaken by a rainstorm. They reached Erebor or the Lonely Mountain, as it was known by some, and took cover from the rain.
Everybody was soaking wet and was now trying to dry themselves as best they could.
"Now the hardest and most dangerous part of our journey will begin, we will be an open target once we have reached the Withered Heath," Haldir told his companions in a low voice.
They nodded in comprehension. They all seemed to understand the danger that lay ahead of them.
Soon enough the rain stopped and once again they all mounted their horses and went on their way.
Ravion rode next to Aerin and that gave her the opportunity to start a conversation with this strange elf.
"Tell me lord Moonstone, why did you want to participate in this journey?" Aerin asked, trying not to sound too curious.
He looked at her with his dark eyes, common to all elves of Rivendell.
"Why did you join this fellowship, my Lady?" he asked her in reply.
"Because it is my destiny and someone I love is in terrible danger because of it," she answered him back.
A smile crept at the corners of his mouth.
"Then we have the same reasons for joining this fellowship," she said quietly, smiling back at him slightly.
Aerin's curiosity was aroused even more by his answer. "So this is your destiny as well, Lord Moonstone?" she asked him and examined his features a bit closer. He reminded her of someone but she wasn't sure whom.
"Yes and please call me Ravion, my Lady," he smiled.
"Only if you will call me Aerin," she retorted back at him, smirking.
"Why do you think this is your destiny?" she asked him again, still not satisfied with his answer.
"Because my uncle, lord Elrond, saw it in one of his visions and I believe him," he explained to her.
"So lord Elrond has visions like the lady Galadriel?" she asked in surprise.
Ravion nodded his head.
"Both are the oldest and wisest of their race, but I understand that only the direct descendants of the Galadhrim possess certain gifts bestowed to them by the Valar?"
"Yes, that is true both Lady Galadriel and I have these so called gifts. A gift I wish I never had," she answered sadly.
"I understand. After all this gift both killed your mother and your cousin Celebrian," he added sympathetically.
Aerin's face turned pale. It seemed as if his words didn't quite reach her brain and she couldn't quite comprehend this new bit of information he had given her just yet.
Ravion saw the shocked expression on her face. "Forgive me. You knew nothing of this, did you?" he asked her carefully.
Aerin just shook her head unable to speak.
Aerin knew that her cousin Celebrian was tragically killed by an orc arrow while she was riding through the woods and that her mother had suffered the same ill fate, but she never knew that their gifts were the cause of it.
Did this mean that she had to undergo this same fate? That at this very moment she was riding to her death?
A shiver ran up her spine.
Haldir had watched their conversation from a far and saw the change in Aerin's facial features.
"Lle tyava quel? Do you feel well?" he asked Aerin as soon as he rode beside her.
"Did you know the cause of my mother's death?" she asked him.
Haldir glared at Ravion. "An orc arrow killed her," Haldir answered her hoping it would be enough.
"The truth, Haldir. Did you know it was her gift that killed her?" she asked him again feeling her anger rise.
"Yes, but the lady thought it best to hide the truth from you. It was for your own good," he sighed, regretfully.
"Well it has not done me any good, has it?" Aerin said bitterly.
********************** **************************
They'd finally reached the Withered Heath. It was a landscape filled with big, gray rock formations and patches of yellow, dried up grass. There wasn't a single tree in sight.
"From now on we need to be very careful," Alderon warned them.
"Morion's spies are everywhere," Haldir added.
They rode until the evening fell and they had to set up camp yet again.
Aerin knew she'd only been on the Withered Heath for a couple of hours and she'd decided that this had to be the most unnerving place in all of Middle- Earth. The night air seemed somewhat colder here.
She crept up closer to the fire.
Alderon volunteered to take first watch.
Again Aerin had problems with falling asleep. She tossed and turned, then she stood up and walked over to Alderon.
"Shall I take over your watch?" she asked him.
"Still problems with sleeping, melamin, my love?" Alderon asked her as he looked up at her.
She nodded and smiled at him.
He made a gesture to sit down next to him, which she accepted gratefully.
"You know, I might not make it through this ordeal?" she said while examining his face.
"I do not believe that," he retorted, looking into her eyes.
"It seemed to be the fate of all the female descendants of the Galadhrim," she told him with a sadness in her heart, tainting her features as well.
"Well then we just have to hope for a twist of fate," he replied hopefully.
Aerin and Alderon smiled at each other.
She looked at Legolas who seemed to be fast asleep. The light of the fire played on his face.
"You know, you are a lot more like your brother than you are willing to admit," she bluntly told him.
"In what way can I possibly resemble my brother?" he asked her, raising his eyebrow at this revelation.
"You both display much courage and loyalty and you are both very stubborn," she almost chuckled.
"You seemed to know a great deal about my brother, do you not?" he asked her as he gave her a severe look.
"Yes, I do know him well," she replied softly and her smile faded. She looked at Legolas' sleeping form.
"Do you love me, Aerin?" Alderon asked her promptly.
Aerin's heartbeat sped up and she abruptly averted her eyes.
"I do love you," she softly whispered to him.
Alderon took her softly by the chin and made her look at him.
"Do you love my brother?" he asked her keeping his face expressionless.
"-I-I love you both, it is just that." she stammered.
"It is just that you love my brother more," he finished her sentence.
Alderon let go of her face and stared at his brother.
How he envied his brother, he was a lucky elf for capturing her heart.
If Legolas would ever break her heart, he vowed to himself he would kill his brother, still the sting of rejection burned deeply within his soul.
Aerin composed herself as did Alderon.
"I think I will try to get some sleep," she told him softly without looking at him.
Alderon didn't reply. He was staring into the distance and seemed to have slipped into deep thought.
******************************** ***********************
The Fellowship continued their journey at the break of dawn.
"Did you sleep well, Aerin?" Legolas asked her politely.
"Yes I slept quite well and you?" she lied to him.
"Quite well," he replied shortly.
Suddenly his facial expression changed and he seemed to glare into the distance.
"Something draws near, I can feel it," he said in an ominous tone.
Suddenly she felt it too and so did the others. They automatically drew their weapons.
Their horses snorted and stamped their feet.
From behind a big rock formation came a small army of the most terrible creatures that Aerin had ever seen.
They were much bigger than the average orc and they also looked more dangerous.
She counted at least thirty of these creatures.
Aerin looked at them in disgust.
"What are they?" she asked, hoping one of her companions knew.
"Uruk- Hai," was Legolas' reply, the horrid expression on his face said enough to the others to know that they were in danger.
The Uruk- Hai had almost approached them. They looked viciously at the group of elves, grinning horridly and showing their sharp teeth.
"Protect Aerin at any cost!" Alderon shouted at the others.
Aerin bravely held her sword in her hand bracing herself for the attack.
"Death to all enemies!" Ravion shouted fiercely.
The Uruk-Hai attacked and so did the fellowship.
Legolas had already slain one of the creatures as he tried to keep a close eye on Aerin.
Another Uruk-Hai attacked him.
Their swords clashed.
He knew the strength of the Uruk- Hai, but didn't expect to be thrown off his horse. He fell to the ground with a loud thud.
Legolas swiftly composed himself and came to his feet. He had a dangerous gleam in his eyes.
Aerin had no time to see if Legolas was all right, because she was attacked by a big, muscular Uruk-Hai.
She blocked his attack with her sword and pushed him away with her foot as hard as she could.
The Uruk growled dangerously.
This time it was harder for Aerin to block his attack, he seemed to have put all his strength in this blow.
Then he did something she hadn't anticipated, he impaled her horse with his sword.
The poor animal fell to the ground and so did Aerin.
Aerin lay defenseless on the ground, her whole body seemed to hurt, she moaned softly.
The Uruk saw his chance and was ready to give the finishing stroke.
He raised his arms in, which he held his sword.
Aerin frantically searched for her sword, but found it unfortunately to be out of her reach.
She looked up at the creature, who seemed to be sure of his victory.
Suddenly, as been struck by lightning, she remembered her dagger, still strapped around her thigh.
Without further thought she grabbed it and plunged the small dagger right in the Uruk's heart, before he could defend himself.
He fell backwards on the ground, his dead eyes staring at the sky.
Aerin looked at the others and saw they too had a hard time killing the Uruk-Hai.
Ravion had lost his sword and tried to avoid the Uruk's blows.
The Uruk grabbed him by the throat and Ravion tried desperately to get out of the creature's hold.
Aerin took her dagger out of the dead Uruk's body and threw it in the direction of the Uruk-Hai who was strangling Ravion.
The dagger landed right into his back and the creature let out a horrible howling sound, he let go of Ravion.
This gave the elf the opportunity to grab his sword and decapitated his attacker.
Ravion looked in Aerin's direction and gave her a grateful nod .
Legolas was fighting side by side with Haldir.
He had already slain a dozen Uruk-Hai.
Legolas saw Aerin fighting a big Uruk and he knew she would hold her ground.
******************************* ************************
Finally the battle had ended and all around them Uruk-Hai lay slaughtered on the ground.
Ravion had a big gash in his arm.
Aerin knelt beside him. She had been healing some of the other's wounds.
"Hold still," she gently told Ravion.
The elf did as he was told.
Aerin placed her hand above his wound.
A warm, tingling feeling spread through his arm.
Ravion could feel the pain ebbing away.
He couldn't believe his eyes when he saw that the gash in his arm had completely disappeared, without even leaving a scare behind.
"You have indeed a miraculous gift," he exclaimed.
Aerin smiled wryly.
"You will have no trouble using your arm now," she told him and she stood up again.
"Morion knows we are close by," Aerin conclude, she looked at the three men who were standing before her.
"We have lost time fighting these foul creatures," Haldir said, looking at one of the dead Uruk-Hai that lay at his feet.
"We should reach Ered Mithrin in a couple of hours, if we make haste," Legolas told them.
"Then let us go and not waste a second longer by standing here," Alderon added.
The fellowship quickly went on their way.
At last, at the end of the day, they had finally reached Ered Mithrin and the entrance to Morion's dwelling.
****************************** *************************
Disclaimer: I told you there would be some Uruk-Hai in here! Can this girl fight or what! They'll be facing Morion in the next chapter. Will Aerin be able to save Aranwe? and what has Morion planned for her? Just wait and see!!
Lissenen 'ar maska'lalaith tenna'lye omentuva!
p.s check out the story of my Beta, Aramis. It's called Muirnait and it's great.
Uruviel: I am so proud that I've inspired you to write your own. Please let me know when you've finished your chapter!
American - Royalty: I am writing my next chapter as we speak!!
Legolas 19: Thank you so much for reviewing my story!
Mickeywizard: I am blushing! Thank you so much!
************************ ****************************
Whenever dark turns to night,
And all the dreams sing their song,
And in the daylight forever,
To you I belong.
( Song by Bewitched 'To you I belong')
Chapter 15: The journey goes forth
They'd only traveled for a couple of hours when they were overtaken by a rainstorm. They reached Erebor or the Lonely Mountain, as it was known by some, and took cover from the rain.
Everybody was soaking wet and was now trying to dry themselves as best they could.
"Now the hardest and most dangerous part of our journey will begin, we will be an open target once we have reached the Withered Heath," Haldir told his companions in a low voice.
They nodded in comprehension. They all seemed to understand the danger that lay ahead of them.
Soon enough the rain stopped and once again they all mounted their horses and went on their way.
Ravion rode next to Aerin and that gave her the opportunity to start a conversation with this strange elf.
"Tell me lord Moonstone, why did you want to participate in this journey?" Aerin asked, trying not to sound too curious.
He looked at her with his dark eyes, common to all elves of Rivendell.
"Why did you join this fellowship, my Lady?" he asked her in reply.
"Because it is my destiny and someone I love is in terrible danger because of it," she answered him back.
A smile crept at the corners of his mouth.
"Then we have the same reasons for joining this fellowship," she said quietly, smiling back at him slightly.
Aerin's curiosity was aroused even more by his answer. "So this is your destiny as well, Lord Moonstone?" she asked him and examined his features a bit closer. He reminded her of someone but she wasn't sure whom.
"Yes and please call me Ravion, my Lady," he smiled.
"Only if you will call me Aerin," she retorted back at him, smirking.
"Why do you think this is your destiny?" she asked him again, still not satisfied with his answer.
"Because my uncle, lord Elrond, saw it in one of his visions and I believe him," he explained to her.
"So lord Elrond has visions like the lady Galadriel?" she asked in surprise.
Ravion nodded his head.
"Both are the oldest and wisest of their race, but I understand that only the direct descendants of the Galadhrim possess certain gifts bestowed to them by the Valar?"
"Yes, that is true both Lady Galadriel and I have these so called gifts. A gift I wish I never had," she answered sadly.
"I understand. After all this gift both killed your mother and your cousin Celebrian," he added sympathetically.
Aerin's face turned pale. It seemed as if his words didn't quite reach her brain and she couldn't quite comprehend this new bit of information he had given her just yet.
Ravion saw the shocked expression on her face. "Forgive me. You knew nothing of this, did you?" he asked her carefully.
Aerin just shook her head unable to speak.
Aerin knew that her cousin Celebrian was tragically killed by an orc arrow while she was riding through the woods and that her mother had suffered the same ill fate, but she never knew that their gifts were the cause of it.
Did this mean that she had to undergo this same fate? That at this very moment she was riding to her death?
A shiver ran up her spine.
Haldir had watched their conversation from a far and saw the change in Aerin's facial features.
"Lle tyava quel? Do you feel well?" he asked Aerin as soon as he rode beside her.
"Did you know the cause of my mother's death?" she asked him.
Haldir glared at Ravion. "An orc arrow killed her," Haldir answered her hoping it would be enough.
"The truth, Haldir. Did you know it was her gift that killed her?" she asked him again feeling her anger rise.
"Yes, but the lady thought it best to hide the truth from you. It was for your own good," he sighed, regretfully.
"Well it has not done me any good, has it?" Aerin said bitterly.
********************** **************************
They'd finally reached the Withered Heath. It was a landscape filled with big, gray rock formations and patches of yellow, dried up grass. There wasn't a single tree in sight.
"From now on we need to be very careful," Alderon warned them.
"Morion's spies are everywhere," Haldir added.
They rode until the evening fell and they had to set up camp yet again.
Aerin knew she'd only been on the Withered Heath for a couple of hours and she'd decided that this had to be the most unnerving place in all of Middle- Earth. The night air seemed somewhat colder here.
She crept up closer to the fire.
Alderon volunteered to take first watch.
Again Aerin had problems with falling asleep. She tossed and turned, then she stood up and walked over to Alderon.
"Shall I take over your watch?" she asked him.
"Still problems with sleeping, melamin, my love?" Alderon asked her as he looked up at her.
She nodded and smiled at him.
He made a gesture to sit down next to him, which she accepted gratefully.
"You know, I might not make it through this ordeal?" she said while examining his face.
"I do not believe that," he retorted, looking into her eyes.
"It seemed to be the fate of all the female descendants of the Galadhrim," she told him with a sadness in her heart, tainting her features as well.
"Well then we just have to hope for a twist of fate," he replied hopefully.
Aerin and Alderon smiled at each other.
She looked at Legolas who seemed to be fast asleep. The light of the fire played on his face.
"You know, you are a lot more like your brother than you are willing to admit," she bluntly told him.
"In what way can I possibly resemble my brother?" he asked her, raising his eyebrow at this revelation.
"You both display much courage and loyalty and you are both very stubborn," she almost chuckled.
"You seemed to know a great deal about my brother, do you not?" he asked her as he gave her a severe look.
"Yes, I do know him well," she replied softly and her smile faded. She looked at Legolas' sleeping form.
"Do you love me, Aerin?" Alderon asked her promptly.
Aerin's heartbeat sped up and she abruptly averted her eyes.
"I do love you," she softly whispered to him.
Alderon took her softly by the chin and made her look at him.
"Do you love my brother?" he asked her keeping his face expressionless.
"-I-I love you both, it is just that." she stammered.
"It is just that you love my brother more," he finished her sentence.
Alderon let go of her face and stared at his brother.
How he envied his brother, he was a lucky elf for capturing her heart.
If Legolas would ever break her heart, he vowed to himself he would kill his brother, still the sting of rejection burned deeply within his soul.
Aerin composed herself as did Alderon.
"I think I will try to get some sleep," she told him softly without looking at him.
Alderon didn't reply. He was staring into the distance and seemed to have slipped into deep thought.
******************************** ***********************
The Fellowship continued their journey at the break of dawn.
"Did you sleep well, Aerin?" Legolas asked her politely.
"Yes I slept quite well and you?" she lied to him.
"Quite well," he replied shortly.
Suddenly his facial expression changed and he seemed to glare into the distance.
"Something draws near, I can feel it," he said in an ominous tone.
Suddenly she felt it too and so did the others. They automatically drew their weapons.
Their horses snorted and stamped their feet.
From behind a big rock formation came a small army of the most terrible creatures that Aerin had ever seen.
They were much bigger than the average orc and they also looked more dangerous.
She counted at least thirty of these creatures.
Aerin looked at them in disgust.
"What are they?" she asked, hoping one of her companions knew.
"Uruk- Hai," was Legolas' reply, the horrid expression on his face said enough to the others to know that they were in danger.
The Uruk- Hai had almost approached them. They looked viciously at the group of elves, grinning horridly and showing their sharp teeth.
"Protect Aerin at any cost!" Alderon shouted at the others.
Aerin bravely held her sword in her hand bracing herself for the attack.
"Death to all enemies!" Ravion shouted fiercely.
The Uruk-Hai attacked and so did the fellowship.
Legolas had already slain one of the creatures as he tried to keep a close eye on Aerin.
Another Uruk-Hai attacked him.
Their swords clashed.
He knew the strength of the Uruk- Hai, but didn't expect to be thrown off his horse. He fell to the ground with a loud thud.
Legolas swiftly composed himself and came to his feet. He had a dangerous gleam in his eyes.
Aerin had no time to see if Legolas was all right, because she was attacked by a big, muscular Uruk-Hai.
She blocked his attack with her sword and pushed him away with her foot as hard as she could.
The Uruk growled dangerously.
This time it was harder for Aerin to block his attack, he seemed to have put all his strength in this blow.
Then he did something she hadn't anticipated, he impaled her horse with his sword.
The poor animal fell to the ground and so did Aerin.
Aerin lay defenseless on the ground, her whole body seemed to hurt, she moaned softly.
The Uruk saw his chance and was ready to give the finishing stroke.
He raised his arms in, which he held his sword.
Aerin frantically searched for her sword, but found it unfortunately to be out of her reach.
She looked up at the creature, who seemed to be sure of his victory.
Suddenly, as been struck by lightning, she remembered her dagger, still strapped around her thigh.
Without further thought she grabbed it and plunged the small dagger right in the Uruk's heart, before he could defend himself.
He fell backwards on the ground, his dead eyes staring at the sky.
Aerin looked at the others and saw they too had a hard time killing the Uruk-Hai.
Ravion had lost his sword and tried to avoid the Uruk's blows.
The Uruk grabbed him by the throat and Ravion tried desperately to get out of the creature's hold.
Aerin took her dagger out of the dead Uruk's body and threw it in the direction of the Uruk-Hai who was strangling Ravion.
The dagger landed right into his back and the creature let out a horrible howling sound, he let go of Ravion.
This gave the elf the opportunity to grab his sword and decapitated his attacker.
Ravion looked in Aerin's direction and gave her a grateful nod .
Legolas was fighting side by side with Haldir.
He had already slain a dozen Uruk-Hai.
Legolas saw Aerin fighting a big Uruk and he knew she would hold her ground.
******************************* ************************
Finally the battle had ended and all around them Uruk-Hai lay slaughtered on the ground.
Ravion had a big gash in his arm.
Aerin knelt beside him. She had been healing some of the other's wounds.
"Hold still," she gently told Ravion.
The elf did as he was told.
Aerin placed her hand above his wound.
A warm, tingling feeling spread through his arm.
Ravion could feel the pain ebbing away.
He couldn't believe his eyes when he saw that the gash in his arm had completely disappeared, without even leaving a scare behind.
"You have indeed a miraculous gift," he exclaimed.
Aerin smiled wryly.
"You will have no trouble using your arm now," she told him and she stood up again.
"Morion knows we are close by," Aerin conclude, she looked at the three men who were standing before her.
"We have lost time fighting these foul creatures," Haldir said, looking at one of the dead Uruk-Hai that lay at his feet.
"We should reach Ered Mithrin in a couple of hours, if we make haste," Legolas told them.
"Then let us go and not waste a second longer by standing here," Alderon added.
The fellowship quickly went on their way.
At last, at the end of the day, they had finally reached Ered Mithrin and the entrance to Morion's dwelling.
****************************** *************************
Disclaimer: I told you there would be some Uruk-Hai in here! Can this girl fight or what! They'll be facing Morion in the next chapter. Will Aerin be able to save Aranwe? and what has Morion planned for her? Just wait and see!!
Lissenen 'ar maska'lalaith tenna'lye omentuva!
p.s check out the story of my Beta, Aramis. It's called Muirnait and it's great.
Uruviel: I am so proud that I've inspired you to write your own. Please let me know when you've finished your chapter!
American - Royalty: I am writing my next chapter as we speak!!
Legolas 19: Thank you so much for reviewing my story!
Mickeywizard: I am blushing! Thank you so much!