Chapter Five 'Tis Love


After Treebeard finished resting, the group began to wait for other ents to arrive for an Entmoot.

"Climb on me, little ones, so that you are not crushed." Treebeard instructed.

They obeyed and Merry decided to begin his quest for Olane'a Elionata's affections.

"So, what are you doing when this is over with?" He asked casually, unable to hide a thoughtful glint in his eye from her.

"I'm going to tell Levanna off, go home and rest!" She laughed at this. "Though I highly doubt that rest will happen."

Merry laughed also. "I know how you feel. This has been far too much adventure for one little Hobbit."

She looked at him, a playfulness shielding her softly featured face. "The adventure has only begun, Master Brandybuck, for the Ring has not yet been destroyed. That, is the true adventure."

He sighed heavily."I feared it to be so. Beside the point, you and Pip seem to be fond for one another." His face was distraught and she could see it.

She grinned to lighten the mood. "We are good friends, but nothing more."

He felt slightly relieved and the abrupt smile showed it. "Well then, uh..."

She shyly looked at him, hoping that he had the feelings for her, that she had carried around the past week or so.
"Were you jealous, Merry?" She breathed his name through her teeth, a sudden warmness filling him at the sound. But Meriadoc Brandybuck was a stubborn mule, and he wasn't about to look like a wimp in front of her.

"N-n-no! Of course not!" He stammered. "Me be jealous, of all the..."

"Oh yes you were!" She laughed stepping across a branch to get closer. Her eyes met his and his face softened once again. He wanted to hold her right then, he wanted to feel her lips to his, her arms around him. But suddenly she continued.

"But why ever would you?" Her face was closer to his. He looked beautiful, th4e sun was setting behind him and his face was full of, something. She wanted him to answer by kissing her, she wanted this moment to be theirs.

He wanted to slap himself for saying what he did." I already told you, I'm not jealous nor was I. In fact, I don't care what you think of Pip."

She did not get taken aback. "Then what DO you care about?"

Please say, "You, Olane`a!" She thought. You you you you you.

She was shocked at what he answered. "Getting this over with and getting home."

She was speechless, to say the least. She did her best to shrug and stepped away from him. He looked embarrassed but she looked around nonetheless.

You fool! You almost had her! Merry thought to himself.

Olane`a had turned to the setting sun just in time. Ents were approaching from all directions. They formed a circle and looked at the halflings in astonishment. Treebeard sent them off so they climbed at tree and looked at the sunset.

Pippin sighed and curled up against a branch. Falling asleep. Olane`a sighed. "'This a beautiful thing." She continued to watch the sun lower itself.

He looked at her, his eyes soft and his smile faint. " 'Tis."

She blushed, knowing he wasn't talking about the sunset. She didn't look at him but her hand slowly crept on top of his. secretly settling on the warm skin. Merry smiled, and watched the sun fall.

Levanna went a step, looking in the distance her eyes scanning. She saw the Black Gate, just ahead, large and grim.

"We are close," She turned to Gollum. "Your service will soon not be needed."

Gollum began to shake. "Yessss precious, we knows, we knows."

Levanna sighed as Sam eyed Gollum tensilely. She walked away a bit, to get some privacy, and take solace in a song.

A Elbereth Giltoniel,

Silivren penna miriel,

O menel agalr elenath!

Na-chared palandiriel,

Oh galladhremmin ennorath,

Fanuilos lelinnathon,

Nef aear,

Si nef aeron!

Frodo listened with great interest. He had heard this song before, sung by the woodelves that he and Sam had encountered. And he knew that only high elves could sing it. It was now that he noticed that the sections of hair taken from her ear to the tip were braided in one long braid. He knew that High Elves were elves with at least one braid in their hair. Legolas had three, Olane`a and Lily both had one. And Arwen had several. The braids were earned for acts of bravery.

He approached her. "What did you get yours for?" He asked softly, smiling at her uneasily.

"My what?" She asked, confused as to what he was talking about and why he looked so sad.

"Your braid." He replied. She sighed with this and thought of how to tell the tale.

Lily, daughter of Lethonias, was sitting on a grassy mound that night. It was a quick stop, before they would continue on into the Fangorn Forest. Her black hair blew in the breeze like feathers on a wing of a Crow, gliding like grass. Her hands were wrapped around her knees, so to keep her skirt from flying up.

Legolas approached her here, he sat next to her and looked into the sky where her eyes were fixated.

"Why are you weary, my love?" He asked, not turning to look at her still.

She sighed. "I am not weary. I am worried. There is a big difference." His hand covered hers and they looked at each other simultaneously.

She continued. "My friends are all alone and probably afraid! I bet you that Levanna has arrived in Mordor, with Frodo and Sam. We don't know if she's okay. Now Olane`a's in those dark woods! With two men just out of their tweens !We are not knowing if she's dead or alive neither!" She softly sobbed. "I want to see them again! I want to see if they are okay!"

He gently squeezed her hand. "And that you will. Everything will be fine, Lily."

She sighed leaning her head against his chest. "Nae bedan." She whispered. in the common tongue this would have meant, "I hope so."

Olane`a sat with Merry and Pippin, anxiously awaiting word from Treebeard.. For the first time, Merry noticed on a silver chain a small gold ring. On the ring was writing, he believed the word Frodo used for writing like this was Quenya. Yes, that was it.

"What's that?" He asked softly, still embarrassed about the event from before.

She looked to where his eyes were wondering. " 'Tis my immortality charm. My father had it made when I was born."

He nodded." What does it say?"

"Olane`a Rockcliffe, 1, 28, 1380." She answered, unannoyed.

Merry nodded."It looks like the One Ring." He put in.

She laughed. "Yes, they are very similar. But mine will not destroy the world and all good too. But there is one very special similarity. Want to see?" She asked, a twinkle in her eye.

"Very much." He said truthfully, and he watched as she slipped it onto her finger.

And that was it. olane`a was gone. Disappeared. Vanished. He grinned at this. Then frowned as she came back.

"It also wont draw the Nazgul," She noticed the frown. "What is it?"

"It's just... If you are immortal, then if a guy like, me or Pip... Would..."

"Die before me. Yes, 'Tis very sad. But there is a simple solution."

He looked at her. "What?"

She grinned and he felt her hand over his and something old and hard in it. He opened his hand to see the necklace.

"Give it to the one you love." Suddenly it was gone, around her neck again. For the second time Merry wanted to take her into his arms but he decided against rushing things.

He grinned. "You are full of surprises, Lana."

She cocked her head. "Lana? Only Levanna has dared call me that!"

"I think it to be a lovely nickname. If you don't mind, of course."

She shook her head. "Not at all."

He smiled at her."Ok, Lana." The moonlight shining in his eyes.

Levanna sat down in the grass a bit away from the camp. Frodo then sat down next to her, eagerly awaiting her response.

"I believe," She began. "That it was when I was 18. I was living with Elrond in Rivendell after my mothers death. Glorfindel decided to chase the Nazgul a bit but was soon being chased by them. Against my Uncles orders I rode out to help him. He got onto my horse and his own ran ahead. I rode him to the Ford and made it across, but not before teasing them a bit. I was awarded the braid from Elrond himself."

Frodo nodded in understanding. "So, do you ride faster than Arwen?"

She laughed. "By a longshot! But I have practically lived on my horse, so it is no surprise."

He smiled. "Oh but you are full of surprises aren't you , Levanna."

She did not answer him. Instead she leaned in and pressed her soft lips to his. He smiled against them and took her into his arms. But then a sudden paranoia overcame him. Suddenly he felt comforted perhaps by how she held him or maybe by how happy she seemed to be with him.

He held her tighter to him and surprised her by sliding his tongue across her closed lips . She opened her mouth more slightly and he took the opportunity, exploring her in a way he rarely had before. He awkwardly brought her onto her back and then parted his lips from hers. He traced a pattern along her neck with them instead, causing her to moan softly.

Her body became heated and her desire overwhelmed her. But then she thought of what this could cause, the consequences good and bad.

She was slightly afraid now and her eyes wondered for their two companions, hoping for at least one to walk in on this, or over should she say. Suddenly Frodos mouth reclaimed hers and she closed her eyes, trying to calm down. And then his arousal bumped up against her stomach. He gasped suddenly and she sat up.

"I'm sorry Frodo love, I just can't do this." She said looking at him, her fear totally visible.

"Levanna, I'll be careful I prom..."

She shook her head. "It's not that. It's that I'm not ready for some of the things this can lead to, not while we're on this journey. It can't happen."

He looked really disappointed. But he nodded. "You're right. C'mon. Let's go get some sleep." He stood and reached out for her hand.

She took it and he helped her up. Before he turned she kissed him. Not quite as fervently, but softly. "I'm really sorry."

He sighed and gave her hand a squeeze. "I know, and I understand." He whispered.

Merry, being curious and in love noticed Olane`a's braid and how she never took it out. He watched as she gently stroked it, in a thoughtful manner.

"Why do you elven people have those?" He asked, also noticing through memory Levanna's , Lily's and Legolas's.

She sighed. "We get them for acts of bravery. Once when I was young probably in my mid teens, my father was to be stoned. When I found out I immediately ran to his aid and leaped on top of him. I told them if they killed him, they would have to kill me. Naturally they couldn't."

"I see, but why did they want to kill your father?" He asked.

"They think him to be crazy, but he's not. He has dreams for the future of our people. But they will not see that."

He nodded once again. He said nothing for he did not want to say anything stupid.

"So how's life treated you?" She asked softly, curiosity in her tone.

He laughed. "I've been the joker of the family. Frodo's the dreamer and Pip's the sidekick. I've been in and out of trouble, but poor Pip's had it worse, especially with Gandalf."

Olane`a nodded and looked at her friend, who had fallen asleep. Then to Merry, who was looking off into the stars. There was something different about him, something... Nice.

Some time later Treebeard had come to them with a decision. The Entmoot had decided that they were not Orcs. And finally some time after that.

"Well little ones, we have decided not to attack Isengard." He nodded in agreement with himself.

"What?" Merry growled, his face full of fury.

"I am sorry, it is not worth the risk. Go on to your home, and wait for this to blow over."

"But don't you see, it's not going to just blow over!" Olane`a protested.

"Why fight and be destroyed for a world that does no good?"

Merry looked like a mean old dog, ready to bite. "You're a part of this world too."

"I am truly sorry. Here, let me take you to the eastern border, from there you can return home."

"He's right Merry, little hobbits like us aren't meant to contribute, we should just go home."

Merry grunted. "There isn't going to be a home soon Pip."

Olane`a sadly hopped up onto Treebeard followed by the hobbits. They sat up there for about an hour when Pippin jumped.

"What is it Pip?" Olane`a asked him.

"Let's go South." He told Treebeard.

"South? But South is..."

"Exactly." Pippin grinned almost evilly. "You'll see why." he told the other two halflings both with questioning looks on their faces.

Treebeard turned South and they all breathed heavily, curious as to what Pippin was thinking.

"Look masters! Good Smea`gol has done well!" They all looked out breathless.

"The Black Gate of Mordor." Sam managed.

"So you have." Levanna almost whispered.

"Yech! Orc blood!" Gimli growled.

""It's a massacre in here!"Lily said, looking sick.

A sudden, deep groaning set off and Gimli jumped. Aragorn curiously looked at legolas who seemed to intently listen. "Legolas?"

"The trees are talking to each other," He listened. "The White Wizard approaches." He readied his bow.

"We must be quick," Aragorn informed, drawing his sword partially. "Let him not speak, he will bind us in a spell." Gimli readied his axe and then they flung around, tossing the weapons at the Wizard only to have them thrown down without a finger touching them.

"You are looking for three halflings, they were here just three days ago, "

"Who are you? Show yourself!" Aragorn demanded.

The figure steppes forward, his face now revealed. They all breathed in heavy silence.

"I come back to you now, at the turn of the tide." It was Gandalf.

They all cried his name, touching his sleeve to be sure it was real. He told them the story of his fight with the Balrog and then awaking anew.

Legolas hung his head, mourning for those who could not be here. Gandalf spoke.

" Three march toward the gate, but not the same three as before. I cannot reassure you, as to Levanna, for her shadow has long since faded."

Legolas kept his composure but Lily began to weep. He took her into his arms. Tigerlily coldly smiled and Gimli and Aragorn looked at her as if she was fungus.

And here stood Lily, her best friend by Gandalfs words dead, . And her friends cousin, smiling in glee.

*Some time before the previous.*

'Levanna.'

"Yes Frodo?"

"What?"

"You called me?"

"No I didn't."

'It is I.' Galadriels voice said now she realized through telepathy.

'Oh well. We're almost at the Black gate.'

' I know. You need to choose now.'

'Choose what?"

'Between Frodo and fighting at Helms Deep.'

'Fighting at Helms Deep? For what?'

'Sauruman is sending orcs there, 10,000. No one else knows, but they're sort of short on guys.'

'And?'

'You know your way. Sam will look after Frodo and I'll do my best to delaying them from entering Mordor without you. A horse will arrive within the hour if you choose to go.'

'But it takes weeks to get there from here!'

'Not on this horse.'

With that she was gone. Levanna tried to speak several times but she heard nothing.

"I swear I hate her!"

"Who?" Frodo, Sam and Gollum all asked in unison.

She realized that she had spoken out loud and so she innocently. "N-n-no one. Just... thinking out loud! Let's break."

"Ok, but not for long."

Levanna got her pack together wrote a quick note explaining everything, and then readied for the horse's arrival.

"Levanna?" Sam called, looking for her.

"C'mon you ball of fur move!" she groaned bopping up and down.

"Where are you?"

"What is it Sam?"

"The gate is open! we have to move." He responded. She found him.

"Here, give this to Frodo, I need to get to Rohan."

"Rohan?" He looked confused.

"I'll meet up with you just go!"

"But.."

"Sam please you have to go! I'm sorry just," she sighed. "Promise me you'll take care of him?"

"I will." he said. She heard the mare approaching and sighed. "Goodbye Sam."

"Goodbye, Levanna."

He watched as she mounted the mare and smiled weakly as she rode off. He could hear her voice echoing in the wind.

"Noro lim, asfolath, noro lim!"

End Chapter Five