Chapter Three
The moon glittered in the dark evening, and it cast eerie glows about the travelers. Maeg's heart thudded and her palms perspired when they took shelter under a looming tree which resembled an oak. She did not feel comfortable, even when Aragorn looked so at ease as he blew little wisps of smoke from his rugged pipe.
The three companions had found no trace of the Hobbits in which they were looking for, which brought a niggling fear to their troubled hearts.
Maeg studied them as they pulled out a blanket for each of them, their facial features strained and dark with worry.
As soon as the sun had gone to bed, the crisp wind began to blow, making the brown leaves of the trees tremble.
Maeg pulled her blonde hair from about her face and tugged it behind her ears as she pulled her feet underneath her garments to keep some warmth from escaping her frail body.
Gimli seemed to have been dwelling on the same thought, for her burst out, "I don't care if we bring all the Orcs in Isengard if we just had a small fire for warmth!" "I agree," Legolas interjected. "And it might bring the Hobbits if they are astray in the forest." "But we are so close to Saruman's lair, and it is perilous to cut off any wood from the Fangorn forest, or so I have heard," Aragorn argued, his eyes clouding over.
Maeg listened to this conversation in silence before her trembling body and her numbing nose won her over and she burst in. "I am sorry, but I must agree with the Dwarf, for I am just about chilled, through and through!" she exclaimed, her voice wavering with her clattering teeth.
Three pairs of eyes studied her for moments, and then Aragorn finally gave in. "We shall have a fire, but do not cut any living wood from these trees!" Aragorn warned with earnest, his eyes whirling with caution. "The Rohan Riders should have left plenty of extra wood from their bonfire,"
With a triumphant smile, the Dwarf stalked off to find some wood chips. "I shall help," Maeg stuttered as she followed the stout Dwarf into the darkness.
Maeg followed closely behind Gimli as the scrounged the earth for wood. Maeg's hands began filling with wood chips and she finally had to lift her leather apron and use it as a make-shift basket to hold the chips.
"It is surely eerie here," Maeg whispered, frightened to disturb the silence. "It is, my lady, but I shall protect you, as a Dwarf's duty!" Gimli said bravely, though Maeg caught his eyes looking to the forest with slight reservation.
They were just heading back to the campsite, bountiful in their search, when Maeg slowed her step. "How is it that a Dwarf is in company with a Man and an Elf?" Maeg inquired, curiosity stealing over her bashful spirit. "Well, we are on a journey, a mission rather, of life and death," Gimli began, his voice deep and resonating like a soothing lullaby. "I am part of the Fellowship, one of the strongest I should say, and we were sent from Rivendell to destroy the Ring."
Maeg's ears perked up as these new, strange words were being spoken. "The ring? Are you speaking of Sauron's Ring?" Maeg asked, her voice small, her eyes widening. Gimli looked taken aback as he looked into her eyes. "Well yes, it is, how did you know?" Gimli asked, his voice filled with bewilderment.
Maeg shrugged her shoulders. "I have heard those stories since I was a child, about how the Dark Lord tried to take over Middle-Earth, and when Isildur cut the Ring from Sauron's finger himself; there wonderful bedtime stories," Maeg mumbled, thinking of her father who always would sit at the foot of her bed at night and tell those frightening stories with his deep voice. "I must say they are merely stories! They are true," Gimli stuttered, flustered with her accuracy. "But you are on the right track. The Ring has been found, and the Dark Lord is looking for it, and we are.were on the mission to destroy it," Gimli continued.
Maeg lifted a brow and she looked down to the helm-clad head. "What do you mean you were on the mission?" "We don't have the Ring, Fro." "Gimli," Aragorn called, standing at the edge of their camp, watching the two make their leisurely stride toward him. "Coming, Aragorn, we have found barrels of chips!" Gimli said, forgetting his last thought and letting the sentence hang.
Maeg's heart dropped and her hands clenched as Gimli walked toward the camp, a slight jump in his step. Who has it? What is this tale you are speaking of? Why do you keep me hanging as you have done?
Maeg asked these questions of herself as she released her apron and all the wood chips tumbled to the ground in a good-sized pile.
Gimli immediately began gathering the chips and put them in a pyramid and surrounded them with large stones which he dug up from the soft soil. Clapping his hands together, Gimli began rubbing two sticks together quickly, a grin spreading across his greasy face as little wisps of smoke began floating towards the heavens.
Within minutes, the group was cuddled around the small fire, their blankets and large forms suffocating the light from unwelcome eyes.
Maeg began to feel her nose and fingers as she rubbed her hands together, the orange glow cascading down her grim face. Her eyes slowly lifted to Aragorn, who sat across from her, the fire separating them. His eyes searched hers before he cleared his throat quietly. "I do not believe we have all been really acquainted; at least not knowing our reasons of being here and where we have come from," Aragorn mumbled, catching the eyes of Legolas and Gimli. "You are correct," Legolas said, his voice low and soothing like a light wind passing amongst trees in a forest. Maeg felt uncomfortable, her cheeks heated and her back straightened as all eyes found her lowered face. This is highly impolite! Maeg scoffed as she huffed before meeting their eyes. "I suppose you don't believe what I have said before, do you?" Maeg blurted, tears filling her eyes, her hands twisting her skirt. "That is not it at all, my lady," Legolas soothed, his eyes showing compassion. Maeg looked from Legolas to Aragorn, who looked to her, his features stretched in a half-smile. Frowning, Maeg said, "And I suppose you think this is funny? Taking advantage of a woman, with- child, in the middle of nowhere seeking shelter before her child enters this world!" Maeg was just getting started, her sorrow and rage piling together to form an evil burst of wind which she planned on using on these three travelers, but Aragorn intercepted. "We have not, and would not, take advantage of you, my lady," Aragorn began, his voice low and controlled, his hands fluttering about as he spoke. "We will take you straight to Edoras, if that is your wish, but first we would like to know who you are," Aragorn finished, resting his hand on his knee which stood in the air.
Maeg slouched, her neck and ears burning from embarrassment at her behavior. She slowly looked up, the glow of the fire welcoming to her empty soul. "My name is Maegraukowen, daughter of Cithilien, Chief soldier of Gondor. My mother was Inwë, daughter of Drogan. My grandmother was an Elf from Lothlorien, she married my grandfather, Drogan, even though she would not live forever, she loved him so much." Tears pricked her eyes as she stumbled over her words. "My grandmother finally passed away after my grandfather was killed by a racing horse. But they had one child, a daughter, Inwë. She fell in love with my father, Cithilien when he saved her from being beaten, for she was an Elf. Elves were not welcome in Gondor at that time, and still there is strife. Then I was born, I was named after my grandmother. Though I have an Elf name, I have only but a little Elf blood within my veins." Maeg's throat tightened at the last words, remembrance flooding her mind. A single tear slowly fell down her cheek before it dripped off her chin onto her skirt.
Aragorn felt the flutter within his chest as he listened to Maeg's soft voice like a singing bird tell of her past and how she trembled and fought to ward off her emotions. Not able to keep her in this misery, he lifted his hand. "I think that will do for the time being," Aragorn said. "Let us rest, for we have a long ride to Edoras."
Maeg lifted her head, her gratitude flooding through her eyes and her body as her body relaxed.
The moon glittered in the dark evening, and it cast eerie glows about the travelers. Maeg's heart thudded and her palms perspired when they took shelter under a looming tree which resembled an oak. She did not feel comfortable, even when Aragorn looked so at ease as he blew little wisps of smoke from his rugged pipe.
The three companions had found no trace of the Hobbits in which they were looking for, which brought a niggling fear to their troubled hearts.
Maeg studied them as they pulled out a blanket for each of them, their facial features strained and dark with worry.
As soon as the sun had gone to bed, the crisp wind began to blow, making the brown leaves of the trees tremble.
Maeg pulled her blonde hair from about her face and tugged it behind her ears as she pulled her feet underneath her garments to keep some warmth from escaping her frail body.
Gimli seemed to have been dwelling on the same thought, for her burst out, "I don't care if we bring all the Orcs in Isengard if we just had a small fire for warmth!" "I agree," Legolas interjected. "And it might bring the Hobbits if they are astray in the forest." "But we are so close to Saruman's lair, and it is perilous to cut off any wood from the Fangorn forest, or so I have heard," Aragorn argued, his eyes clouding over.
Maeg listened to this conversation in silence before her trembling body and her numbing nose won her over and she burst in. "I am sorry, but I must agree with the Dwarf, for I am just about chilled, through and through!" she exclaimed, her voice wavering with her clattering teeth.
Three pairs of eyes studied her for moments, and then Aragorn finally gave in. "We shall have a fire, but do not cut any living wood from these trees!" Aragorn warned with earnest, his eyes whirling with caution. "The Rohan Riders should have left plenty of extra wood from their bonfire,"
With a triumphant smile, the Dwarf stalked off to find some wood chips. "I shall help," Maeg stuttered as she followed the stout Dwarf into the darkness.
Maeg followed closely behind Gimli as the scrounged the earth for wood. Maeg's hands began filling with wood chips and she finally had to lift her leather apron and use it as a make-shift basket to hold the chips.
"It is surely eerie here," Maeg whispered, frightened to disturb the silence. "It is, my lady, but I shall protect you, as a Dwarf's duty!" Gimli said bravely, though Maeg caught his eyes looking to the forest with slight reservation.
They were just heading back to the campsite, bountiful in their search, when Maeg slowed her step. "How is it that a Dwarf is in company with a Man and an Elf?" Maeg inquired, curiosity stealing over her bashful spirit. "Well, we are on a journey, a mission rather, of life and death," Gimli began, his voice deep and resonating like a soothing lullaby. "I am part of the Fellowship, one of the strongest I should say, and we were sent from Rivendell to destroy the Ring."
Maeg's ears perked up as these new, strange words were being spoken. "The ring? Are you speaking of Sauron's Ring?" Maeg asked, her voice small, her eyes widening. Gimli looked taken aback as he looked into her eyes. "Well yes, it is, how did you know?" Gimli asked, his voice filled with bewilderment.
Maeg shrugged her shoulders. "I have heard those stories since I was a child, about how the Dark Lord tried to take over Middle-Earth, and when Isildur cut the Ring from Sauron's finger himself; there wonderful bedtime stories," Maeg mumbled, thinking of her father who always would sit at the foot of her bed at night and tell those frightening stories with his deep voice. "I must say they are merely stories! They are true," Gimli stuttered, flustered with her accuracy. "But you are on the right track. The Ring has been found, and the Dark Lord is looking for it, and we are.were on the mission to destroy it," Gimli continued.
Maeg lifted a brow and she looked down to the helm-clad head. "What do you mean you were on the mission?" "We don't have the Ring, Fro." "Gimli," Aragorn called, standing at the edge of their camp, watching the two make their leisurely stride toward him. "Coming, Aragorn, we have found barrels of chips!" Gimli said, forgetting his last thought and letting the sentence hang.
Maeg's heart dropped and her hands clenched as Gimli walked toward the camp, a slight jump in his step. Who has it? What is this tale you are speaking of? Why do you keep me hanging as you have done?
Maeg asked these questions of herself as she released her apron and all the wood chips tumbled to the ground in a good-sized pile.
Gimli immediately began gathering the chips and put them in a pyramid and surrounded them with large stones which he dug up from the soft soil. Clapping his hands together, Gimli began rubbing two sticks together quickly, a grin spreading across his greasy face as little wisps of smoke began floating towards the heavens.
Within minutes, the group was cuddled around the small fire, their blankets and large forms suffocating the light from unwelcome eyes.
Maeg began to feel her nose and fingers as she rubbed her hands together, the orange glow cascading down her grim face. Her eyes slowly lifted to Aragorn, who sat across from her, the fire separating them. His eyes searched hers before he cleared his throat quietly. "I do not believe we have all been really acquainted; at least not knowing our reasons of being here and where we have come from," Aragorn mumbled, catching the eyes of Legolas and Gimli. "You are correct," Legolas said, his voice low and soothing like a light wind passing amongst trees in a forest. Maeg felt uncomfortable, her cheeks heated and her back straightened as all eyes found her lowered face. This is highly impolite! Maeg scoffed as she huffed before meeting their eyes. "I suppose you don't believe what I have said before, do you?" Maeg blurted, tears filling her eyes, her hands twisting her skirt. "That is not it at all, my lady," Legolas soothed, his eyes showing compassion. Maeg looked from Legolas to Aragorn, who looked to her, his features stretched in a half-smile. Frowning, Maeg said, "And I suppose you think this is funny? Taking advantage of a woman, with- child, in the middle of nowhere seeking shelter before her child enters this world!" Maeg was just getting started, her sorrow and rage piling together to form an evil burst of wind which she planned on using on these three travelers, but Aragorn intercepted. "We have not, and would not, take advantage of you, my lady," Aragorn began, his voice low and controlled, his hands fluttering about as he spoke. "We will take you straight to Edoras, if that is your wish, but first we would like to know who you are," Aragorn finished, resting his hand on his knee which stood in the air.
Maeg slouched, her neck and ears burning from embarrassment at her behavior. She slowly looked up, the glow of the fire welcoming to her empty soul. "My name is Maegraukowen, daughter of Cithilien, Chief soldier of Gondor. My mother was Inwë, daughter of Drogan. My grandmother was an Elf from Lothlorien, she married my grandfather, Drogan, even though she would not live forever, she loved him so much." Tears pricked her eyes as she stumbled over her words. "My grandmother finally passed away after my grandfather was killed by a racing horse. But they had one child, a daughter, Inwë. She fell in love with my father, Cithilien when he saved her from being beaten, for she was an Elf. Elves were not welcome in Gondor at that time, and still there is strife. Then I was born, I was named after my grandmother. Though I have an Elf name, I have only but a little Elf blood within my veins." Maeg's throat tightened at the last words, remembrance flooding her mind. A single tear slowly fell down her cheek before it dripped off her chin onto her skirt.
Aragorn felt the flutter within his chest as he listened to Maeg's soft voice like a singing bird tell of her past and how she trembled and fought to ward off her emotions. Not able to keep her in this misery, he lifted his hand. "I think that will do for the time being," Aragorn said. "Let us rest, for we have a long ride to Edoras."
Maeg lifted her head, her gratitude flooding through her eyes and her body as her body relaxed.