** Disclaimer: I only own Zana*****************
Thank you so so much for all your reviews! After this chapter I'll write one just to comment a bit what you're writing, because I see new people are reading my story and this is great! : ) I had my doubts about putting a new character, unknown for all of you.. but when I'll finish this story I'll confess some secrets from my life , and you'll understand perfectly why all things looked always so confusing : ) But not yet.. : )
****************************** **************** ************
Cold cold heart
Hard done by you
Some things look better baby
Just passing through
And it's no sacrifice
Just a simple word
It's two hearts living
In two separate worlds
But it's no sacrifice
No sacrifice
It's no sacrifice at all
- Sacrifice – Elton John
Galadriel looked at me and smiled. It was early in the morning, we all were ready to leave.. and time had passed so fast because they gave me a strange substance to make me sleep, against my will, of course, but she said that I wouldn't resist the first day of journey unless I slept more than the usual hours.. probably she already knew about my night walks and strange meetings, and I never thought that a cup of boiled flowers could make that effect on me, because I had been sleeping for the whole day, and now I was sorry for missing all the beautiful places in Lorien.. I didn't know if one day I would come back there.. I didn't know if I would ever come back somewhere..
"Don't let the sad thoughts invade your heart, Zana" Galadriel noticed that I wasn't in my best mood in that moment.
"I was just wondering when will I have the chance to visit Lorien again.." I looked around me, Haldir and Legolas were walking towards us, and Gimli was sleeping next to me, sitting on the grass.. that dwarf was really funny to watch at.
"No one can tell, and this is the nice thing of life.. every day brings a new surprise, good or bad, and we learn about facing problems and solving them. You have a powerful spirit, but you don't know how to make good use of it... you still have to learn lots of things from this journey, Zana.. and I'm afraid that the end is not as close as you would like it to be.. be patient and time will tell everything.. I promise you that when the time will come, there won't be any confusion in your mind" She smiled and I felt better after her words. Then , she turned around to meet Haldir and Legolas. "I trust them and you should too, Zana" She whispered, and I blushed a bit.
"We are ready to leave" Haldir looked at me and then came closer. "I'm glad to know that you were sleeping all this time, you really needed it" His smile wasn't his usual calming smile, and something was worrying him. But before I could ask, Legolas also greeted me.
"This journey won't be easy and I'm afraid that in some stages you will need extra help.. this makes me a bit worried" He looked at Galadriel, and she shook her head.
"No danger will threat Zana as long as you both keep your mind free of human feelings in the moments when she will need you" Her gaze was serious, and that made the moment a bit embarrassing.
"Can I ask something..? "They all looked at me after I spoke, and Galadriel nodded. "Well.." I went on. "I would like to know how will the journey be.. I mean, where will we walk, where will we.. well, everything, I want to know everything!" I was so nervous in that moment, and the faces they all showed made me feel even worse. "What's wrong?" Nobody replied for a while.
"Zana.. you have to reach the Land of Eternal Ice, and this is not easy.. it's far away from here, and half of the way will be made by ship, sailing on the sea.." I became pale, starting to know what kind of journey was waiting for me. "And once in the Land of Eternal Ice, you will have to .. wait.. and see" She spoke slowly, staring at me, with a confusing expression on her face.
"There are things that is better not to know, right? "I tried to smile, but I wasn't able. Suddenly, Legolas took my hand.
"Nothing bad will happen to you, don't fear anything" He smiled, and Haldir looked at us, a strange look on his eyes.
"We must go. Gimli, wake up" Haldir reacted and walked towards the dwarf, and Legolas left my hand, but went on looking at me with that smile. Something inside me changed again, and that was driving me crazy. "Zana" Haldir called me, and I woke up from that absent minded moment. "Are you OK?" I nodded, blushing deeply.
"Good luck, Zana. Whatever will happen, never have doubts, life has surprising twists and who knows what will be waiting for you tomorrow" Galadriel gave me her hand and she smiled. Before turning around and leaving towards the forest, she gave a look to the elves, who nodded.
We were standing by the path, waiting.. all directions looked similar, but we were supposed to take the southern ones.. I was curious about that because, after all, I expected the north to be the place for the Land of Eternal Ice. But it seemed that Middle Earth had something similar to my world.. a kind of new Antarctica. And when I remembered this part of the world, I got scared.
"The way to South is easier if we cross through the Rivers.." Legolas showed the map to Haldir, and he nodded.
"Rivers?" I asked , curious.. I also checked the map and Haldir pointed at it.
"Here.. it's the green part of Middle Earth.. I've never been there, but I heard that rivers join paths, and paths join rivers.. it's all green and pure.. but there's one problem about it.. I'm afraid we'll have to cross waters many times.." I looked at him, and what I saw scared me. Haldir was so pale, more than usual, and he didn't look too confident, which was so strange on him. And Legolas was the opposite.. optimistic, strong and sure about everything.. I couldn't help feeling better with him.
"There won't be any problem with crossing waters, Haldir. Not for her, at least.." Legolas looked at Gimli, and the dwarf frowned.
"What do you mean?" His voice was sharp. I knew he would get angry with that remark, and I couldn't help smiling.
"Come on, Gimli.. you can't swim, and you know it.. you're too short and water will cover all your body" Legolas was also smiling.
"Argh! You'll be sorry for your words, elf!" His face was so red, and then he looked at me. "Zana, don't pay attention to him. Dwarves are very good at swimming and climbing, and crossing mountains, as you probably already know" He took a deep breath, proudly.
"Of course" My voice sounded too sarcastic, and Legolas laughed out loud. I noticed that Haldir was staring in the distance, thinking. I joined him and put my hand on his arm. But he didn't look at me.
"Haldir.. why this sudden change? What's wrong?" He turned his head and I saw his blue eyes with a sad expression.
"I can't tell you now, Zana.. please, let me think about this.. Galadriel trusts me a lot, and this also has bad consequences.. one of them, she showed me some things I preferred not to know.. and I can't understand why did she do that.. I can't understand it" I was shocked, and now I became nervous.
"Please, you must tell me! You can't leave me like this!" But he took my hand and tried to smile.
"You know I won't ever tell you, but the truth is that I can't lie to you and you must know that there's something that troubles me.. I had to tell you this because else you would think that I'm angry, or upset, which is not the case.. so please, now that you know that I have a horrible secret, respect Galadriel's will and don't ask any more".
"How do you want me to do that?" I was shouting, and both Legolas and Gimli looked at us. "How can I go on walking and ignoring this? I want to help you and you must tell me!"
"What happened? "Legolas approached us, with a worried face. Haldir took his bag and ignored him.
"We have to leave, or else we won't ever arrive"
"What the hell..?" I began to say, and Legolas looked at me.
"Zana.. what's wrong? What happened to him?" His blue eyes on mines again, and Haldir walking a bit far away.. a bad combination , to my surprise. I looked at the sky, sighing.
"I'm afraid that Galadriel gave him an uncomfortable duty, and he won't ever tell us.." Legolas stared at me, surprised. But I started to walk, and Gimli followed me. Also Legolas, after standing alone for a while. The journey was going to be difficult indeed.
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Some moments before, Haldir left his home and walked towards the entry of Lorien. He saw a known elf, and in some seconds, he was looking at Galadriel.. he noticed that she was about to say something important to him, because her voice sounded inside his head.
"Haldir, my loyal friend.. bad times are coming and you must know it.." He frowned, and looked at her again. "Walk with me before meeting Zana"
They both went to a separated place near from the lake, where she asked him to sit down and listen carefully. He didn't like the tone of her voice, a warning and dangerous tone. He knew that something bad was about to come. And he was right about that. His blue eyes stared at her and she began to speak.
"This will be a long journey, and you all will need all your forces and energy.. not only physical, but also spiritual.. this is not a story with a happy end for some of you, Haldir"
"What do you mean?" He almost shouted, afraid that something would happen to Zana.
"It's not the human girl the only one who worries me.. humans are unpredictable, and this is all what I can say about her. She's good and kind.. but things are getting more and more complicated for her.. and she doesn't have the strength of elves.. "She made a pause, and walked towards the water.
"Then, please, tell me what's wrong, Galadriel" Haldir stood up and walked near from her. She turned around.
"For the future of both worlds, some , or one of you, must die. For the future of habitants of Earth , the secret must be kept. Both worlds shouldn't be joined, this would mean a big mess.. I want to tell you something, and I'm afraid that for the first time in our lives, Gandalf and I were wrong.. Zana was sent here for unknown reasons, although at first we were sure about them.. now I can say that everything has changed. She wasn't sent here to join worlds.. she was sent here to test one of you, to check if your heart is really as honourable as we all thought.. but on her way she will find a big dilemma, and this is the dangerous thing.. Gandalf saw it and now I see it too.. all depends on her, and unfortunately, I don't trust humans too much. I don't know if she will take the right decision, I can't know if she will sacrifice .. something.. or someone.. if the discovery she will make will be a too big lack, a too big charge for her, something that won't allow Zana to have a normal life.. maybe it will be too much for a human.." Galadriel's eyes became darker, and she looked at the sky. "Haldir.. you must stop her when the moment will come.."
"But when will this moment come?" He was out of control, shocked. Galadriel and Gandalf had made a mistake , their premonitions had been wrong and now things had to change. The mission included now Haldir as an important part of it.
"You will know it.. and you must do all possible things to avoid it.. and I mean all possible things, Haldir.." He understood the importance of her words and he covered his face with his hands, and then sighed.
"Are you telling me that if I don't stop her, if I don't solve this, both worlds could be in danger?"
"Not both worlds.. her world" She said, with mystery on her voice.
"So now it's me the one who has to save it?" He almost shouted.
"Maybe yes, maybe not.. but the truth is that most of things depend on you, and this is why I chose you.. good luck, my dear friend.. good luck"
She left, to meet Zana, and Haldir saw Legolas in the distance. He walked towards him, incapable of thinking about anything, unable to react after what had been told him. When they met, and after the good morning greetings, they took their bags and got ready for the journey.
Thank you so so much for all your reviews! After this chapter I'll write one just to comment a bit what you're writing, because I see new people are reading my story and this is great! : ) I had my doubts about putting a new character, unknown for all of you.. but when I'll finish this story I'll confess some secrets from my life , and you'll understand perfectly why all things looked always so confusing : ) But not yet.. : )
****************************** **************** ************
Cold cold heart
Hard done by you
Some things look better baby
Just passing through
And it's no sacrifice
Just a simple word
It's two hearts living
In two separate worlds
But it's no sacrifice
No sacrifice
It's no sacrifice at all
- Sacrifice – Elton John
Galadriel looked at me and smiled. It was early in the morning, we all were ready to leave.. and time had passed so fast because they gave me a strange substance to make me sleep, against my will, of course, but she said that I wouldn't resist the first day of journey unless I slept more than the usual hours.. probably she already knew about my night walks and strange meetings, and I never thought that a cup of boiled flowers could make that effect on me, because I had been sleeping for the whole day, and now I was sorry for missing all the beautiful places in Lorien.. I didn't know if one day I would come back there.. I didn't know if I would ever come back somewhere..
"Don't let the sad thoughts invade your heart, Zana" Galadriel noticed that I wasn't in my best mood in that moment.
"I was just wondering when will I have the chance to visit Lorien again.." I looked around me, Haldir and Legolas were walking towards us, and Gimli was sleeping next to me, sitting on the grass.. that dwarf was really funny to watch at.
"No one can tell, and this is the nice thing of life.. every day brings a new surprise, good or bad, and we learn about facing problems and solving them. You have a powerful spirit, but you don't know how to make good use of it... you still have to learn lots of things from this journey, Zana.. and I'm afraid that the end is not as close as you would like it to be.. be patient and time will tell everything.. I promise you that when the time will come, there won't be any confusion in your mind" She smiled and I felt better after her words. Then , she turned around to meet Haldir and Legolas. "I trust them and you should too, Zana" She whispered, and I blushed a bit.
"We are ready to leave" Haldir looked at me and then came closer. "I'm glad to know that you were sleeping all this time, you really needed it" His smile wasn't his usual calming smile, and something was worrying him. But before I could ask, Legolas also greeted me.
"This journey won't be easy and I'm afraid that in some stages you will need extra help.. this makes me a bit worried" He looked at Galadriel, and she shook her head.
"No danger will threat Zana as long as you both keep your mind free of human feelings in the moments when she will need you" Her gaze was serious, and that made the moment a bit embarrassing.
"Can I ask something..? "They all looked at me after I spoke, and Galadriel nodded. "Well.." I went on. "I would like to know how will the journey be.. I mean, where will we walk, where will we.. well, everything, I want to know everything!" I was so nervous in that moment, and the faces they all showed made me feel even worse. "What's wrong?" Nobody replied for a while.
"Zana.. you have to reach the Land of Eternal Ice, and this is not easy.. it's far away from here, and half of the way will be made by ship, sailing on the sea.." I became pale, starting to know what kind of journey was waiting for me. "And once in the Land of Eternal Ice, you will have to .. wait.. and see" She spoke slowly, staring at me, with a confusing expression on her face.
"There are things that is better not to know, right? "I tried to smile, but I wasn't able. Suddenly, Legolas took my hand.
"Nothing bad will happen to you, don't fear anything" He smiled, and Haldir looked at us, a strange look on his eyes.
"We must go. Gimli, wake up" Haldir reacted and walked towards the dwarf, and Legolas left my hand, but went on looking at me with that smile. Something inside me changed again, and that was driving me crazy. "Zana" Haldir called me, and I woke up from that absent minded moment. "Are you OK?" I nodded, blushing deeply.
"Good luck, Zana. Whatever will happen, never have doubts, life has surprising twists and who knows what will be waiting for you tomorrow" Galadriel gave me her hand and she smiled. Before turning around and leaving towards the forest, she gave a look to the elves, who nodded.
We were standing by the path, waiting.. all directions looked similar, but we were supposed to take the southern ones.. I was curious about that because, after all, I expected the north to be the place for the Land of Eternal Ice. But it seemed that Middle Earth had something similar to my world.. a kind of new Antarctica. And when I remembered this part of the world, I got scared.
"The way to South is easier if we cross through the Rivers.." Legolas showed the map to Haldir, and he nodded.
"Rivers?" I asked , curious.. I also checked the map and Haldir pointed at it.
"Here.. it's the green part of Middle Earth.. I've never been there, but I heard that rivers join paths, and paths join rivers.. it's all green and pure.. but there's one problem about it.. I'm afraid we'll have to cross waters many times.." I looked at him, and what I saw scared me. Haldir was so pale, more than usual, and he didn't look too confident, which was so strange on him. And Legolas was the opposite.. optimistic, strong and sure about everything.. I couldn't help feeling better with him.
"There won't be any problem with crossing waters, Haldir. Not for her, at least.." Legolas looked at Gimli, and the dwarf frowned.
"What do you mean?" His voice was sharp. I knew he would get angry with that remark, and I couldn't help smiling.
"Come on, Gimli.. you can't swim, and you know it.. you're too short and water will cover all your body" Legolas was also smiling.
"Argh! You'll be sorry for your words, elf!" His face was so red, and then he looked at me. "Zana, don't pay attention to him. Dwarves are very good at swimming and climbing, and crossing mountains, as you probably already know" He took a deep breath, proudly.
"Of course" My voice sounded too sarcastic, and Legolas laughed out loud. I noticed that Haldir was staring in the distance, thinking. I joined him and put my hand on his arm. But he didn't look at me.
"Haldir.. why this sudden change? What's wrong?" He turned his head and I saw his blue eyes with a sad expression.
"I can't tell you now, Zana.. please, let me think about this.. Galadriel trusts me a lot, and this also has bad consequences.. one of them, she showed me some things I preferred not to know.. and I can't understand why did she do that.. I can't understand it" I was shocked, and now I became nervous.
"Please, you must tell me! You can't leave me like this!" But he took my hand and tried to smile.
"You know I won't ever tell you, but the truth is that I can't lie to you and you must know that there's something that troubles me.. I had to tell you this because else you would think that I'm angry, or upset, which is not the case.. so please, now that you know that I have a horrible secret, respect Galadriel's will and don't ask any more".
"How do you want me to do that?" I was shouting, and both Legolas and Gimli looked at us. "How can I go on walking and ignoring this? I want to help you and you must tell me!"
"What happened? "Legolas approached us, with a worried face. Haldir took his bag and ignored him.
"We have to leave, or else we won't ever arrive"
"What the hell..?" I began to say, and Legolas looked at me.
"Zana.. what's wrong? What happened to him?" His blue eyes on mines again, and Haldir walking a bit far away.. a bad combination , to my surprise. I looked at the sky, sighing.
"I'm afraid that Galadriel gave him an uncomfortable duty, and he won't ever tell us.." Legolas stared at me, surprised. But I started to walk, and Gimli followed me. Also Legolas, after standing alone for a while. The journey was going to be difficult indeed.
---------- ------------ ------------- ------------- ---------------- -- ----------------
Some moments before, Haldir left his home and walked towards the entry of Lorien. He saw a known elf, and in some seconds, he was looking at Galadriel.. he noticed that she was about to say something important to him, because her voice sounded inside his head.
"Haldir, my loyal friend.. bad times are coming and you must know it.." He frowned, and looked at her again. "Walk with me before meeting Zana"
They both went to a separated place near from the lake, where she asked him to sit down and listen carefully. He didn't like the tone of her voice, a warning and dangerous tone. He knew that something bad was about to come. And he was right about that. His blue eyes stared at her and she began to speak.
"This will be a long journey, and you all will need all your forces and energy.. not only physical, but also spiritual.. this is not a story with a happy end for some of you, Haldir"
"What do you mean?" He almost shouted, afraid that something would happen to Zana.
"It's not the human girl the only one who worries me.. humans are unpredictable, and this is all what I can say about her. She's good and kind.. but things are getting more and more complicated for her.. and she doesn't have the strength of elves.. "She made a pause, and walked towards the water.
"Then, please, tell me what's wrong, Galadriel" Haldir stood up and walked near from her. She turned around.
"For the future of both worlds, some , or one of you, must die. For the future of habitants of Earth , the secret must be kept. Both worlds shouldn't be joined, this would mean a big mess.. I want to tell you something, and I'm afraid that for the first time in our lives, Gandalf and I were wrong.. Zana was sent here for unknown reasons, although at first we were sure about them.. now I can say that everything has changed. She wasn't sent here to join worlds.. she was sent here to test one of you, to check if your heart is really as honourable as we all thought.. but on her way she will find a big dilemma, and this is the dangerous thing.. Gandalf saw it and now I see it too.. all depends on her, and unfortunately, I don't trust humans too much. I don't know if she will take the right decision, I can't know if she will sacrifice .. something.. or someone.. if the discovery she will make will be a too big lack, a too big charge for her, something that won't allow Zana to have a normal life.. maybe it will be too much for a human.." Galadriel's eyes became darker, and she looked at the sky. "Haldir.. you must stop her when the moment will come.."
"But when will this moment come?" He was out of control, shocked. Galadriel and Gandalf had made a mistake , their premonitions had been wrong and now things had to change. The mission included now Haldir as an important part of it.
"You will know it.. and you must do all possible things to avoid it.. and I mean all possible things, Haldir.." He understood the importance of her words and he covered his face with his hands, and then sighed.
"Are you telling me that if I don't stop her, if I don't solve this, both worlds could be in danger?"
"Not both worlds.. her world" She said, with mystery on her voice.
"So now it's me the one who has to save it?" He almost shouted.
"Maybe yes, maybe not.. but the truth is that most of things depend on you, and this is why I chose you.. good luck, my dear friend.. good luck"
She left, to meet Zana, and Haldir saw Legolas in the distance. He walked towards him, incapable of thinking about anything, unable to react after what had been told him. When they met, and after the good morning greetings, they took their bags and got ready for the journey.