Chapter Whatever:
***Lothlorian***
Leaves fell in golden-brown piles on the forest floor, clustering in the city streets and blowing through the air. Usually it would be expected that in a city such as Lothlorian that there would be women working and children playing in the streets, but there were none. No elflings played in the streets, or laughed. The city had lost it's youth a millennia ago, and now it's last warriors were leaving also.
Lothlorian was quiet except the endless hammering of the mettle- workers who were busy on the fine armer that would soon be put to use. There was a deep sadness in the forest. It was as if the great woods knew that many of the elvish warriors would not return. Still, the work went on, with gravity and almost complete silence.
Orian rode up into the midst of the gettings-ready, dismounting Briano practically before he came to a halt. The young elf-warrior stopped beside her.
Captain Haldir glanced up from where he stood talking quietly to one of his lieutenants, and saw Orian coming towards him. He wasn't surprised in the least. "I knew that you couldn't sail to the Undying Lands." He said as soon as she was in hearing range. "You have too much fight in you for that."
Orian smiled at her old friend, her green eyes meeting his gray. "Why didn't you tell me about this?"
Haldir pursed his lips, then shrugged. "Your aunt, Lady Galadriel, wished it. She worries about you like a mother."
The young warrior, who was supposed to take Orian safety to Middle Earth's shores, came to stand beside her, saluting his Captain.
Captain Haldir returned the salute, and sighed. "And I know just who told you too."
"I'm sorry sir." The young warrior said. "I did not think."
"It is alright Gerron." Haldir replied, motioning for him to leave. "You were not made known of the fact that she wasn't supposed to know about tonite's march."
Gerron left, and Haldir and Orian were alone.
"I wish to be in your regiment of archers." Orian said. "And you know I can handle a bow fairly."
Haldir nodded sadly. "I know." He answered. "Wasn't I the one who taught you?"
Orian paused, looking at him. "Yet you still do not want me to come?"
Haldir threw his long crimson cape over his shoulder, showing his gold and black armer befitting a Captain of elvish warriors. "Orian, you know the danger. It has come to my knowledge that the Uruk-Hai outnumber us and the Rohan ten to one."
Orian crossed her arms. "Then why do you go?"
"You know why." Haldir said solemnly.
"To honor an ancient alliance." Orian answered.
"Correct." Haldir said, turning away.
Orian followed, coming up beside the older elf. "You must let me come also."
The two elves walked up into the armerors, where the heat from the fire- pits made Orian's skin smart. She left Briano standing outside, but still followed Haldir like a demanding sibling.
"It is too dangerous Orian." Haldir said, coming to a halt and facing her.
"You would let me go if you did not know me." Orian said, her eyes angry and ablaze.
"Perhaps." Haldir said. "But I doubt it."
"You only doubt my skill because you saw me shoot my first arrow." Orian flung her hands up.
"It is not your skill I doubt, Orian." Haldir said coming up to her. He stood taller than her, she only came up to his shoulders. He looked down at her, her elder, and in many ways her better. "You are a girl, Orian. It is going to be hard, and cold, and wearying. There will be casualties and bloodshed, and all things I would rather you not see." With that, he walked out of the shop through the back, into the sunlight. Here there were not very many working, and here all was quiet.
Orian followed. This time she wasn't angry. She reached up and touched his shoulder, standing in front of him once again. She looked up into his eyes, quiet and calm. "You were the first to be my friend when I entered these woods. You taught me to fight, and to shoot. If you really are my friend you would let me come with you."
"And the Mirkwood Prince?" Haldir asked quietly.
"He is partly the reason I have to go. But if I do go, I would have you not tell him of my presence there." Orian said. "I would not have him trying to look after me and not protect himself fully." Haldir smiled slightly, and the sun came down over his blonde hair and danced in his gray eyes. "You are no fool, child."
"And I am no child." Orian answered, smiling in her turn.
"Very well." Haldir said, looking down at her.
"Than I can go?" Orian asked, her eyes bright with hope.
"Yes." Haldir said. "As one of my archers."
"Oh thank you." With that, Orian flung her arms around Haldir's neck, giving him a grateful hug."You are a true friend."
Haldir hugged her back, sighing. "I was your teacher, and feel responsible for your safety." He said quietly. "I would never forgive myself if you came to harm. Make sure that I don't regret this decision."
Orian pulled away, smiling. "You wont regret it." She answered. "You have taught me well. And I am probably one of your finer archers."
"But we can't have you standing out as a woman." Haldir said, motioning toward her extremely long brown hair. "Such is the cost of going to battle."
"I understand." Orian replied, running her hands through the long dark locks.
"You are very brave, Orian." Haldir said. "But I hope your Mirkwood Prince is worthy."
"I don't only go for Legolas." Orian said, taking one of his hands. "But I go for Middle Earth also, and it's freedom. The same as you."
Haldir met her gaze, and nodded. "You should get ready Orian. We leave at dusk."
***Later***
Orian stood before her bedroom mirror. Already it was growing late, but she was ready. She was garbed in a blueish cape, and golden fringed armer. She stood tall and silent. Her bow was across her shoulder; long ago she had dubbed the bow Silver Hawk. And now Orian knew that it would be put to the test. There was only one more thing to do.
She took a long hunting knife, and a great lock of her long dark hair. Orian paused, but then took in a deep breath, and brought the blade across.
Soon the floor was littered with lavish dark locks, and the length of Orian's hair was only a little past her shoulders. It was a warrior's cut, and a warrior she was.
***Dusk***
It was dusk in the Golden Woods. The elf-warriors were prepared, and Orian stood silently in the ranks of archers.
All was silent. The endless hammering of the armories were silenced and all was ready. Orian and the others stood at attention, facing the great house of Lady Galadriel.
Lady Galdriel stood on a balcony overlooking the troops, her face catching the last fragments of the setting sun. At her side stood her husband, Lord Celeborn, his silver hair and dark eyes looking out over the last elven warriors in Middle Earth.
Captain Haldir stood in the front of the long line of the troops, his crimson cape standing out as starking contrast to the dark blues of his warriors.
"The power of the Enemy is growing." Lady Galadriel said quietly, her voice soft but somehow carrying to every elven ear in the glade. "Sauron will use his puppet, Saruman, to destroy the people of Rohan. Isengard has been unleashed. The eye of Sauron has now turned to Gondor, the last Free Kingdom of Men."
This news came to the elves with acceptance; it had been only a matter of time now. But still they listened with the graveness only keen warriors could truly express.
"In the gathering dark, the will of the Ring grows strong." Lady Galadriel said, looking to each of her warriors. "For Sauron will have dominion over all life on this earth. Even until the ending of the world."
There was a cold wind that came through the glade, and it made seemed to crawl up every warrior's spine. The elves stiffened, hearing the words of their leader and knowing that it was all in truth.
"The time of the Elves, is over." Lady Galadriel said, a deep sadness in her voice. "Do we leave Middle-Earth to it's fate?" She asked, her voice steadilyy. "Do we let them stand alone?"
Then, a great wind blew through the forest glade, picking up the leaves and brushing against the cloaks of the warriors.
Haldir drew his sword, raising it. "Heveneth anith?" He shouted to his troops, turning to them. *Will we?* "Havveneth se terrin estellio serco de esen la coth estin?" *Will we let our youngers die and forsake our homes to the Enemy?* He asked, his eyes ablaze.
The warriors raised their bows, their voices ringing through the forests. "Never!"
"This land was once peaceful, and none hid in the shadows for fear." Haldir shouted. "But we must soon leave." He paused, the same sadness passing across his ageless features earlier seen on Lady Galadriel's beautiful face. "We are few in number I know. But I remember the days when we were great, and our armies were fearsome."
Orian watched silently as Haldir recalled the former days of Elven glory.
"But this war is going to be greater than any. And more terrible than any recorded." Haldir yelled, "But we will not let our youngers remember us as the ones who left them in time of trouble and death." He glanced out over his warriors. "We will fight!"
Again the glade shook with the their many voices. "We will fight!" They yelled. "Fight for one last time!" The stars looked down upon the hundred or so warriors. And the moon shined in a blueish light, dancing off the ageless faces of the world's First Born . "We will fight for Middle-Earth!"
The last shout was great in voice and Orian joined, her call losing itself in amongst her fellows. It was then she knew that this would be the last battle for the Elves. This would be the last time they would be called to fight, and all intended to make it their finest battle ever acknowledged.
"We will fight!" They cried. "For Middle-Earth! For freedom!"
To Be Continued
(A.N. I hope you enjoyed, sorry I haven't updated lately, it's just that I've been busy getting ready for school.)
***Lothlorian***
Leaves fell in golden-brown piles on the forest floor, clustering in the city streets and blowing through the air. Usually it would be expected that in a city such as Lothlorian that there would be women working and children playing in the streets, but there were none. No elflings played in the streets, or laughed. The city had lost it's youth a millennia ago, and now it's last warriors were leaving also.
Lothlorian was quiet except the endless hammering of the mettle- workers who were busy on the fine armer that would soon be put to use. There was a deep sadness in the forest. It was as if the great woods knew that many of the elvish warriors would not return. Still, the work went on, with gravity and almost complete silence.
Orian rode up into the midst of the gettings-ready, dismounting Briano practically before he came to a halt. The young elf-warrior stopped beside her.
Captain Haldir glanced up from where he stood talking quietly to one of his lieutenants, and saw Orian coming towards him. He wasn't surprised in the least. "I knew that you couldn't sail to the Undying Lands." He said as soon as she was in hearing range. "You have too much fight in you for that."
Orian smiled at her old friend, her green eyes meeting his gray. "Why didn't you tell me about this?"
Haldir pursed his lips, then shrugged. "Your aunt, Lady Galadriel, wished it. She worries about you like a mother."
The young warrior, who was supposed to take Orian safety to Middle Earth's shores, came to stand beside her, saluting his Captain.
Captain Haldir returned the salute, and sighed. "And I know just who told you too."
"I'm sorry sir." The young warrior said. "I did not think."
"It is alright Gerron." Haldir replied, motioning for him to leave. "You were not made known of the fact that she wasn't supposed to know about tonite's march."
Gerron left, and Haldir and Orian were alone.
"I wish to be in your regiment of archers." Orian said. "And you know I can handle a bow fairly."
Haldir nodded sadly. "I know." He answered. "Wasn't I the one who taught you?"
Orian paused, looking at him. "Yet you still do not want me to come?"
Haldir threw his long crimson cape over his shoulder, showing his gold and black armer befitting a Captain of elvish warriors. "Orian, you know the danger. It has come to my knowledge that the Uruk-Hai outnumber us and the Rohan ten to one."
Orian crossed her arms. "Then why do you go?"
"You know why." Haldir said solemnly.
"To honor an ancient alliance." Orian answered.
"Correct." Haldir said, turning away.
Orian followed, coming up beside the older elf. "You must let me come also."
The two elves walked up into the armerors, where the heat from the fire- pits made Orian's skin smart. She left Briano standing outside, but still followed Haldir like a demanding sibling.
"It is too dangerous Orian." Haldir said, coming to a halt and facing her.
"You would let me go if you did not know me." Orian said, her eyes angry and ablaze.
"Perhaps." Haldir said. "But I doubt it."
"You only doubt my skill because you saw me shoot my first arrow." Orian flung her hands up.
"It is not your skill I doubt, Orian." Haldir said coming up to her. He stood taller than her, she only came up to his shoulders. He looked down at her, her elder, and in many ways her better. "You are a girl, Orian. It is going to be hard, and cold, and wearying. There will be casualties and bloodshed, and all things I would rather you not see." With that, he walked out of the shop through the back, into the sunlight. Here there were not very many working, and here all was quiet.
Orian followed. This time she wasn't angry. She reached up and touched his shoulder, standing in front of him once again. She looked up into his eyes, quiet and calm. "You were the first to be my friend when I entered these woods. You taught me to fight, and to shoot. If you really are my friend you would let me come with you."
"And the Mirkwood Prince?" Haldir asked quietly.
"He is partly the reason I have to go. But if I do go, I would have you not tell him of my presence there." Orian said. "I would not have him trying to look after me and not protect himself fully." Haldir smiled slightly, and the sun came down over his blonde hair and danced in his gray eyes. "You are no fool, child."
"And I am no child." Orian answered, smiling in her turn.
"Very well." Haldir said, looking down at her.
"Than I can go?" Orian asked, her eyes bright with hope.
"Yes." Haldir said. "As one of my archers."
"Oh thank you." With that, Orian flung her arms around Haldir's neck, giving him a grateful hug."You are a true friend."
Haldir hugged her back, sighing. "I was your teacher, and feel responsible for your safety." He said quietly. "I would never forgive myself if you came to harm. Make sure that I don't regret this decision."
Orian pulled away, smiling. "You wont regret it." She answered. "You have taught me well. And I am probably one of your finer archers."
"But we can't have you standing out as a woman." Haldir said, motioning toward her extremely long brown hair. "Such is the cost of going to battle."
"I understand." Orian replied, running her hands through the long dark locks.
"You are very brave, Orian." Haldir said. "But I hope your Mirkwood Prince is worthy."
"I don't only go for Legolas." Orian said, taking one of his hands. "But I go for Middle Earth also, and it's freedom. The same as you."
Haldir met her gaze, and nodded. "You should get ready Orian. We leave at dusk."
***Later***
Orian stood before her bedroom mirror. Already it was growing late, but she was ready. She was garbed in a blueish cape, and golden fringed armer. She stood tall and silent. Her bow was across her shoulder; long ago she had dubbed the bow Silver Hawk. And now Orian knew that it would be put to the test. There was only one more thing to do.
She took a long hunting knife, and a great lock of her long dark hair. Orian paused, but then took in a deep breath, and brought the blade across.
Soon the floor was littered with lavish dark locks, and the length of Orian's hair was only a little past her shoulders. It was a warrior's cut, and a warrior she was.
***Dusk***
It was dusk in the Golden Woods. The elf-warriors were prepared, and Orian stood silently in the ranks of archers.
All was silent. The endless hammering of the armories were silenced and all was ready. Orian and the others stood at attention, facing the great house of Lady Galadriel.
Lady Galdriel stood on a balcony overlooking the troops, her face catching the last fragments of the setting sun. At her side stood her husband, Lord Celeborn, his silver hair and dark eyes looking out over the last elven warriors in Middle Earth.
Captain Haldir stood in the front of the long line of the troops, his crimson cape standing out as starking contrast to the dark blues of his warriors.
"The power of the Enemy is growing." Lady Galadriel said quietly, her voice soft but somehow carrying to every elven ear in the glade. "Sauron will use his puppet, Saruman, to destroy the people of Rohan. Isengard has been unleashed. The eye of Sauron has now turned to Gondor, the last Free Kingdom of Men."
This news came to the elves with acceptance; it had been only a matter of time now. But still they listened with the graveness only keen warriors could truly express.
"In the gathering dark, the will of the Ring grows strong." Lady Galadriel said, looking to each of her warriors. "For Sauron will have dominion over all life on this earth. Even until the ending of the world."
There was a cold wind that came through the glade, and it made seemed to crawl up every warrior's spine. The elves stiffened, hearing the words of their leader and knowing that it was all in truth.
"The time of the Elves, is over." Lady Galadriel said, a deep sadness in her voice. "Do we leave Middle-Earth to it's fate?" She asked, her voice steadilyy. "Do we let them stand alone?"
Then, a great wind blew through the forest glade, picking up the leaves and brushing against the cloaks of the warriors.
Haldir drew his sword, raising it. "Heveneth anith?" He shouted to his troops, turning to them. *Will we?* "Havveneth se terrin estellio serco de esen la coth estin?" *Will we let our youngers die and forsake our homes to the Enemy?* He asked, his eyes ablaze.
The warriors raised their bows, their voices ringing through the forests. "Never!"
"This land was once peaceful, and none hid in the shadows for fear." Haldir shouted. "But we must soon leave." He paused, the same sadness passing across his ageless features earlier seen on Lady Galadriel's beautiful face. "We are few in number I know. But I remember the days when we were great, and our armies were fearsome."
Orian watched silently as Haldir recalled the former days of Elven glory.
"But this war is going to be greater than any. And more terrible than any recorded." Haldir yelled, "But we will not let our youngers remember us as the ones who left them in time of trouble and death." He glanced out over his warriors. "We will fight!"
Again the glade shook with the their many voices. "We will fight!" They yelled. "Fight for one last time!" The stars looked down upon the hundred or so warriors. And the moon shined in a blueish light, dancing off the ageless faces of the world's First Born . "We will fight for Middle-Earth!"
The last shout was great in voice and Orian joined, her call losing itself in amongst her fellows. It was then she knew that this would be the last battle for the Elves. This would be the last time they would be called to fight, and all intended to make it their finest battle ever acknowledged.
"We will fight!" They cried. "For Middle-Earth! For freedom!"
To Be Continued
(A.N. I hope you enjoyed, sorry I haven't updated lately, it's just that I've been busy getting ready for school.)