Title: Luthien's flute
Author: B-witched83uk (bwitched83uk@aol.com)
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Aragorn, Arwen and the family travel to Lothlorien after receiving a mysterious letter from Celeborn.
Disclaimer: I do not own The Lord of the Rings. The whole of Middle Earth belongs to Tolkien
Chapter Three
All Hope is Lost
Arwen's tears soaked her son's tunic as she wept unashamedly in his arms. Aragorn was organizing a search with his men, doing his very best to hide the panic he felt inside. That would do no one any good.
"Her tracks lead out of the forest and they head north. We will split into two parties: myself, the six I have selected, and Eldarion will ride ahead, following the tracks, the rest will ride into Rohan. We are less then a days ride if that."
Arwen's head had snapped up at her husbands instructions. "You expect me to seek comfort and safety in Rohan whilst my daughter is in the hands of Valar knows who?" She was outraged by the idea. Luthien's delicate hands found the sleeve of Celebriel in a desperate seek of comfort.
"Arwen, I cannot find Galadwen whilst I am worrying about the rest of you." His tone was somewhat commanding, as though he were addressing the troops. Then moving closer to her, his voice dropped to the warm, throaty tones she was used to: "Mela, I will bring her safely back to you."
If this he promised then this he would do. "Very well. Be iest lîn."
*As you wish*
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The party had ridden hard and swift now for hours, and the trail was getting cold. Aragorn's frustration was certainly starting to show. Eldarion silently made a deal with Elbereth that if she was all right then he would never again tease her.
"Rohan! Home of the great horse lords," Aragorn surveyed the land he had once known well.
The day was drawing dark and if they searched this way, then they might miss something. Aragorn gave the orders to set up camp for the night. "In the morning, if the trail is dead, then we will make for Edoras and the home of King Eomer. There we will find aid and assistance."
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Galadwen could only feel the throb in her head and the warm stickiness of blood in her hair. She knew not where she was for it was dark, yet she knew it was not where she was supposed to be. The tall, bulked man was standing over her again, his thinning head casting a glow from the reflection of the moon.
"Pretty little Elfling aren't you? Don't fret miss, you will be well taken care of when he gets here."
She knew not whether to speak at this or remain in the safety of silence. "And who might he be?"
The man simple smiled a toothless smile.
"He's here, he's here." Some great stupid Orc was making more noise than the newly arrived stranger liked. He smacked the Orc to the floor with a simple slap. The tall, bulked man straightened up as the stranger approached, and with a wave of his hand, indicated Galadwen. "Lord Tibias, may I present to you your bride." Galadwen's eyes grew wide, and now she was terrified, truly terrified.
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"Ada, she will be fine, she is so strong." Eldarion knew not how to comfort his father the next morning as they rode. The trail had led them east away from Edoras and into Starkhorn. Aragorn's tracking skills were rusty but his determination to find his daughter more than made up for it.
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Galadwen felt sick. She was forced to stand before the man so that he could check out his future bride.
"Do you have any idea of who I am?" She stood proudly, despite the humiliation.
The men around her laughed out loud,. They were in a party that consisted of the two men and five or so Orcs. The lord Tibias bowed low to her, mocking her. "The beautiful princess Galadwen, Daughter of King Elessar of Gondor."
Galadwen wished for her father badly, she knew not how to help herself and she was truly afraid of this man's intensions.
As if sensing her confusion, Tibias delighted in enlightening her. "Once you are my wife, you shall give me a child, an Elf child, an Elf child with royal blood." As he spoke to her he brushed his hands down her face making her cringe.
"And what exactly could you want with a royal, Elven heir?"
The man smiled, evilly at the young princess, "I will be able to tap into the power of the Elves. I have found a sorcerer so mighty that he is able to draw on the life of an Elf and share its traits with its bloodline," Tibias whispered in her ear, "I will become immortal and have access to the Grey Havens."
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They had been traveling on foot along the outskirts of the forest. They had walked for miles and still Galadwen could not find herself a way out of this mess. She was not bound in any way but she was heavily guarded. They had stopped for now and the two men sat away from the group discussing Galadwen. The ugly Orcs, crude and vulgar as ever, were wolfing down their food, which Galadwen had declined.
'Men are stronger, but women are cleverer'
The words rang through her mind. She could no longer rely on her Ada to save her, she must somehow save herself. Her captors were certainly stronger; she would have to fight them in other ways.
Sitting on a tree stump beside one of the Orcs, she examined him closely. The Orc eyed Galadwen suspiciously. "What cho starin at?" he asked her, getting irritated.
"I am sorry, I did not mean to stare, it's just that, well, I can't see it."
"See what?" The Orc didn't like her being this close to him.
"That one over there," she pointed at any random Orc, "I heard him say that you were a son of a troll, only I can't see it."
The Orc stood abruptly and snarled. He glanced to where the two men were, and with his best efforts walked over to the stove, controlling his urge to smack his fellow Orc right in the kisser.
Galadwen walked over to the Orc that she had pointed out with caution. Great stupid Orcs, she thought. "It must have really hurt," she commented as she neared him. This one was much bigger and sterner, oh why hadn't she pointed to a smaller one?
"What cho talkin bout she Elf?"
He was aggressive, Galadwen was afraid of him. She remembered her mother speaking of how her own mother had passed, she was taken by Orcs, and although Elrond had been able to heal her, her heart was forever saddened and so she passed to the Grey Havens. The Grey Havens. Galadwen's grandmother was there, and this vile man, this Tibias wished to go there and defile the sacred place in who knows what horrible ways. She had to do this, the plan had to work.
"That Orc over there," she pointed to her earlier companion, "He was talking about the way you look and he said how you must have been hit in the face with an anvil."
The huge Orc growled at Galadwen and she backed away, over a stone and fell to the floor. The Orc walked forward, but to her relief he stomped over to the other Orc and punched him right in the face
"Now let's see how you look."
The two Orcs started to fight each other and soon the others had joined in. A brawl was upon the camp. As fast as light, Galadwen found her feet and set off at a run as fast as she could. The ruckus had, however, drawn the attention of the two men, and they were now chasing her.
"After her you fools," Tibias commanded. At once the Orcs let go of each other and were quick on her trail. One of the Orcs lunged at her and tackled her to the ground. She hit her already aching head hard, yet she still struggled with all her might. The Orc grappled with her, tearing into her side with his huge claws. She yelped out in pain.
Tibias pulled the Orc off of her. "We need her alive you stupid pile of pond weed."
Galadwen looked around her. She would never escape, they were surrounding her, a perfect circle around where she now lay.
There was no use, there was no hope.
"There is always hope."
That voice, it was soothing and confident. She knew that voice, it was that of her mother's. Arwen's sweet voice. But where was it coming from? The others seemed not to hear it; it was inside Galadwen's head. With a strength she knew not she had, Galadwen stood in the circle of her captors. Her body began to lighten and her eyes clouded over, pure white. A force took over her body then and she raised both hands to the skies. She had no control over her body or her voice.
"Telaa val envalar vara amin Telaa val en Tel'Quessir ten nall amin yel sulodeno amin en me'urra kostaen utune amin en me'a lle"
*May the grace of the Valar protect me. May the force of the elves hear my cry. I call upon the gods of lightening to heed my aid.*
The words were spoken in a voice that was a blend of Galadwen's and Arwen's. Lightening then came, as it was called, and struck down all those around her. Bursts of white light struck them down, the men and Orc's bodies contorting in pain. Finally they all slumped to the ground and Galadwen felt her mother leave her body. She was left in a circle of smocking corpses, the stench was too much.
She had used all the strength she could muster and now felt lightheaded and nauseous. The pain in her head was matched by that in her side.
Galadwen stumbled forward as fast as she could. She had walked quite far away and was now out of the forest. Before her, she could see a small town, smoke rising from chimneys, people walking around. She couldn't possibly be strong any longer. Galadwen fell to the cold ground unconscious, unable to go any further.
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Arwen's eyes snapped open, clouded and bright. She slumped forward on the ground. Arwen, Celebriel, and Luthien had used all their energy in helping to summon the great forces.
"She is alive, but she is badly wounded and wearied." They stood from the circle they had formed and joined the rest of the group, who sat close by watching in amazement at what they had just seen.
"She is in the outskirts of Edoras. We will ride there first thing in the morn, for now we are too weak to ride." Arwen gave her orders and took her daughters off to bed. She hated having to use up their strength, but she had had no choice. She could not have done it alone.
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His arms felt strong, she remembered a man's arms. He had carried her from where she fell, and now she felt safe, drifting in and out of consciousness. The pain she felt was unmatchable and her mouth was as dry as the wastelands. Her eyes snapped open, only to see a man standing before her bed. She recognized him immediately; his was a face she had seen many a time, although not for a few years. "King Eomer!"
Galadwen's heart was fit to burst at seeing a familiar face.
"Rest my lady for you are weak. One of my men found you just outside of Edoras." His face was warm, his tone was calm and his blond hair was falling on to his face.
"My family, they must be so worried, I was taken against my will, we were traveling to Lothlorien, we were camped on the outskirts of the Druadan forest" Galadwen informed the King.
"Worry no more lady, for your family shall be informed, are you from Edoras itself? Or perhaps near by?"
She smiled a little and laughed despite it causing the pain to increase. "My lord Eomer, do not you know my face? I am the lady Galadwen, daughter of King Elessar."
Eomer's eyes widened. Her beautiful face was now that of a woman, she had changed greatly. "I beg for you forgiveness my lady for forgetting a face so lovely, but you have much changed since last we met. Fear not I shall send out riders to meet your father, he and his party will be more then welcomed here."
