Luineraugwen: Hey I'm back. My holidays are pretty boring but I've got FF.Net for company. I should really get a life. Just in case anyone wants another reason why I added a Prologue, its because I finally figured out where this story is going and I have all the idea so I don't need your help anymore, except for the Mary Sue thing. The time I put down in the previous chapter was wrong. It's not forty years, it's about sixty, close to the same time Bilbo found the ring or just before that. I also realize that the characters in the last chapter were somewhat out of character, that's what OOC means doesn't it, and well I could change that. I'm not too good when it comes to keeping the characters as themselves, I sometimes can't help what I write. Enough of me, lets get onto the people who reviewed for both the Prologue and Chapter 4. Thank you all for doing so.
By the way, has anyone watched a street magician called David Blaine? He's on Foxtel and he's magnificent. Some of the things he does. He can even levitate! And he did it on camera to prove it…then almost passed out. Okay sometimes he can be a bit of an idiot, especially the time when he froze himself in Antarctic ice for, I think it was, three days. Stupid but he is quite good.
Another thing, a friend and I had a talk on the last day of school about how a lot of fic writers leave out one of the most annoying things that could happen to a woman in their story. You know what I'm thinking about. Well now I understand how hard it is to do because there are male readers out there but I've done it…although there's not much detail. Whew. Now if you've got any complaints about it, I understand. Butterfly, this is for you. I'm also starting to use a little elvish from now on.
Zammy: I've finally updated. Yay.
Jeregrin Took: I agree with you on that one. Her father is a woman after all and thus makes a good bitch, even better than some other people I know. I'm not pointing fingers. Good work, you made me laugh… when I got it.
Padawanjinx: I use quite a lot thank you but I guess I missed a few…or a lot. Thanks for the idea and I seemed to have taken quite a liking to it. (Sorry but I've been watching The Scarlet Pimpernel and I seemed to have picked up Sir Percival Blakney's s or rather Richard E. Grant's speech pattern. Dear me, I'd better stop it.) I wrote a quite a bit so far during the holidays and I haven't updated in a while. When I go back to school I won't let anyone read it. That'll be hard because one of my friends is always looking over my shoulder. No worries, they haven't read anywhere near the part I'm writing so they'll be lost. Excellent, leave them in the dark. I also just found out how to make the stress on Rùmil's name but I hadn't used it yet. I shall do so from now on…unless I forget.
Tidus'luvr99: Although I am tempted to ask, I won't.
Lollipops o' Doom: You have one strange name. In the first chapter with the water, I guess I was too excited to get it up than to check it through. I've had about three other friends read it and they didn't seem to mind the mistake but I'm glad someone pointed it out, although I'm not going to change it. I am also aware that there wasn't villages anywhere near Lothlòrien but it goes with my story and what I plan to do in future chapters. There is going to be some decent men from her village but they won't show up for quite a while yet. You know how I put down ' Dawn was fast approaching, along with the villages', well it was meant to be ' villagers' and if you hand anything to say about their speed then I say that they took the shortcut. I'll try and make the words mean and not sound like what I want them to. Also, my story isn't meant to be a Mary Sue, it's just that I don't have any idea about how I should prevent it from happening, even my friends can't give me any ideas. Can you? With what I've got planned, Katren is going to seem like a real MS and I'm desperate not to let that happen.
Also I checked out that website you told me to look at but my sense of humor wasn't with me that day and I didn't read anything. I happy to hear that the two of you have respect for fic writers but I'm not sure if I'll give you permission to mst my story yet. I'm not sure what the point of it is at the moment. If you can prove that you're not going to disgrace my story and you at least give me some idea of what you're going to put in it, I might consider giving you permission. Until then, my answer is no.
Mia: I can't give too much away but no Katren won't have elvish blood in her but they will have a nice life together… for a while.
Haldir's Heart and Soul: Yeah I know, he is that kind of person.
Irethwen-ElfRanger: Yeah I have the ability to write really good dream sequences that can make someone get emotional. Katren is so lucky to have Haldir help her and she'd need it in the future. Can't give too much away.
Lady Light: I agree. It's good but the characters are out of character a bit. That's what OOC means right. I'm not too good with the shortened versions of some phrases. What does AU stand for?
Words with around them are elvish.
Okay, on with the story.
Haldir had watched Katren succumb to sleep as he and his brother talked after dinner. Her head began to droop and rest on her chest. Haldir gestured to his brothers that he would have to leave soon and when Katren had fallen asleep he said goodbye, lifted her into his arms and carried her back to his talan. He placed her in the bed before settling down in one of the chairs. They would have to wake up early tomorrow to make the final preparations for the trip.
Haldir woke Katren close to mid morning the next day. There was still about six hours until they were due to leave but things still had to be done.
Katren groaned after Haldir was out of the room. They had to travel today of all days. Her favorite time of the month had just dropped in on her out of the blue. She'd missed it the last few months because of her malnutrition and now that she was eating properly, they were back again. This was going to be one hell of a trip. Haldir had left a cloak, her clothes and a small pack on the chair. Katren immediately grabbed the cloak and wrapped it around her, her fingers clumsily fumbling with the large leaf fastening. She made the bed and packed what little belongings she had into the pack. No matter what her body thought, it wasn't going to stop her today. Today was the first day of the journey to Caras Galadhon.
She raced down the stairs and almost ran straight into Orophin. Haldir had sent him to get her. It seemed they were ahead of schedule and after they ate, he planned to leave. This excited Katren even further. The elf took her back to the talan they had dined in the night before. Haldir and Rúmil were already there eating fruit as they talked. Katren sat down in a chair Orophin offered her and began nibbling on a piece of apple. She was too excited to eat and besides, her hunger had deserted her. Rúmil jested that he would force feed her if she didn't take bigger bites. Katren did so and soon realized that Haldir had told them about what she'd said a week ago. Now that she looked back on it, it did seem pretty childish.
Katren sat in silence as the elves discussed the travel plans for the third time. They were going to take a route that would lead them to a shallower part of the Celebrant and cross there, only to continue onto Caras Galadhon. Rúmil and Orophin would pack the food and blankets on the back of their horses while Katren rode in front of Haldir.
"The day is getting on, we will have to depart soon" Haldir announced when all the fruit was gone. They all got to their feet and Katren followed the elves to the stables. Katren saw three horses saddled and packed waiting for them. Rúmil and Orophin's horses were white mares while Haldir's horse was a beautiful strawberry roan stallion.
"He's beautiful," Katren said cautiously running a hand down the stallion's long neck. Haldir merely smiled and nodded at her as he checked the security of the saddle. She watched Rúmil and Orophin easily mount their horses and she began to wonder how she'd get on Haldir's horse. He was so tall.
"You've never ridden a horse have you Katren" Haldir stated and the girl nodded. Th elf jumped lightly up into the saddle and extended his hand to her. Katren looked at it uncertainly and then the horse.
"Don't worry, I won't let you fall. I promise. We will be riding slowly. Although he is a stallion, Aranbellan is a gentle horse. Trust me Katren, neither of us will allow any harm to befall you on this journey" Haldir said noticing her discomfort. He saw a flicker of distrust go through her eyes. Perhaps it was another memory that caused it. Whatever it was, Katren squashed it back into her mind and took his hand. He smiled and lifted her up into the saddle so she sat in front of him. His brothers rode up beside them and they started their journey.
Katren was quiet while they rode. She was listening to the sounds of the forest around her. Every now and then one of the elves would point out a bird sitting on a branch. Katren was too preoccupied by her surroundings to register the pain in her abdomen. Like she said, nothing would ruin her day.
After a while the slow gate of the horse. The gentle breeze and the occasional singing bird began to lull Katren to sleep. She felt Haldir shift his shoulder and one of his hands came up to push her back against him.
"It will be a while before we stop to make camp. We while arrive in Caras Galadhon close to mid morning tomorrow. It may be wise for you to get some rest while we ride" Haldir whispered. Katren felt Haldir's warm breaths tickle the back of her neck and she suddenly felt uncomfortable. Somehow she knew that neither Haldir nor his brothers would harm her in any way but that simple movement had brought back a flood of unpleasant memories which she wished had never happened.
Haldir could once again feel Katren's discomfort and he began to wonder just what he was doing to make her feel uneasy. Elves never caused harm to another being unless they were provoked, surely she would know that. But she grew up in a village filled with liars. Perhaps she had been taught different. It was that or that he may have made an unwanted memory resurface. Another question he would ask her.
"Don't worry about it hinchild, I won't harm you" Haldir added. As the minutes passed, Haldir felt Katren's body relax until she was completely at easy. Her breathing slowed and she drifted off to sleep.
"What do you think will happen to Katren when we reach Caras Galadhon, brother?" Orophin asked him as they rode.
"I am not entirely sure, Orophin. A number of things could happen but it all depends on the Lord and Lady. Katren's fate lies in their hands from this point on" Haldir answered. His brothers nodded in agreement then left him to his thoughts.
The sun barely shone through the tree branches when Haldir woke Katren up. The group was trying to find a clearing where they could spend the night. Not knowing the forest at all, Katren let the elves decide. A hooting owl surprised her and she jumped slightly. Aranbellan nickered softly and Katren patted his silky neck in reassurance.
"He likes you. Although he tolerates males, he would much rather be ridden by woman. That's why I said he would be gently with you" Haldir said as he watched her. Rúmil shouted and pointed something out to him in elvish. Haldir looked in the direction his brother had pointed and he saw a secluded clearing hidden amongst the trees. It was perfect. He gently nudged Aranbellan over to the other horses so he could follow them into the grassy area.
Katren helped Haldir unpack Aranbellan while Rúmil and Orophin took the food and blankets from their horses backs. Katren thought it was unwise to build a fire, even a small one. Even though they were in a large clearing, there were still trees surrounding them and trees could burn.
"The trees won't burn Katren. Although it is a warm night, we still might need a comforting fire. Rúmil and I will go looking for burnable branched and water. You and Haldir stay here" Orophin said. He and Rúmil wandered off into the trees.
"Katren could you help me set out the blankets please?" Haldir asked and she went about doing it straight away like it was an order. If Galadriel wants her as a servant, then Katren would do quite well. She was quick on her feet but he hoped the girl didn't become a servant. Sometimes it wasn't a very pleasant job.
The blankets were set out in a matter of minutes and Katren stood around looking like a lost soul in the middle of the clearing. Haldir decided to make conversation to pass the time.
"Tell me, Katren, what do you think of Lothlorien so far?"
"Well I still think it's beautiful. I used to look at it from the village. It was a mass of trees. I wished I could see it up class but I never dreamed that I would get to walk along it's paths" Katren replied.
Haldir nodded along with her answer. Now, while they were alone, it would be a good time to ask her a few questions that had been eating at his mind for days.
"In that case, it seems your wish has come true. Katren, I have several questions I would like to ask you but you might not be so thrilled to answer. Do you mind if I ask you then?" Haldir's hopes were high and he didn't expect her to agree. Katren thought about the proposal for a few seconds. He could tell she was hesitant but in the end, she nodded.
"After all that you have done for me, Haldir, you do deserve more than my thanks. Of course I will answer them" she replied. Haldir motioned for her to sit next to him on one of the blankets. Once Katren was settled, he began.
"Katren, while we were riding, you seemed to be uncomfortable for a few minutes. What caused your sudden change of mood?"
"Well I've never ridden a horse before Haldir. I guess being on a horse for the first time as well as one as big as Aranbellan made me a little uneasy" Katren replied, keeping the real truth hidden. Haldir didn't believe her.
"Now I don't mean to offend you, Katren, but I don't like being lied to" he said disapprovingly and Katren looked at him in surprise. "Elves can tell when people lying" he explained. The girl looked at her hands and began to wringing them slightly as well as biting her lip as she wondered how much to tell him. In the end she decided to just give him a brief outline of the way she'd lived for the past nineteen years.
"I guess you could say that I didn't have much of a childhood. I mainly helped my mother around the hut as much as I could. After she died, I had to take care of my brother and father. My father wasn't a nice man and nothing I did ever seemed right for him. My brother, in the few years after mother's death, was nice and somewhat sympathetic but as he grew, he became more and more like our father. In the end I became a slave and servant rather than a family member" Katren said slowly. Tear threatened to flow from the corner of her eyes but she refused to let them fall.
"That's how you got your ribs broken" It was more of a statement than a question. Katren nodded and out of the corner of her watery eye, she saw the elf's body stiffen and his hands ball into fists. The young woman lifted her head so she could see Haldir better. His jaw was tight and his eyes were stormy ocean blue. Katren gently placed a hand on Haldir's shoulder. His head snapped around to look at her. Haldir's eyes began to slowly change back to his normal ocean blue color. His eyes softened and he wiped one of Katren's fallen tears away with his thumb.
"I'm sorry to hear that Katren, I truly am. Perhaps you will be able to start a new life here, if the Lord and Lady permit it, and you could forget about the past. Though I guess it would be difficult because of what you've been though" Haldir whispered sympathetically but Katren continued to blink back her tears. Haldir suddenly looked over her shoulder and smiled. Orophin and Rúmil were back. The elves told Katren to stay where she was while they built the fire and cooked the meal.
The moon was high in the sky when the group settled down for the night. Katren curled up into a tight ball and waited for sleep to come to her. She was surprised that she wasn't excited as she was a few days ago. The thought of meeting the Lord and Lady of Lothlorien was starting to get her nervous. What would they think of her? She hadn't made them a gift and there wasn't enough time to do it now. She didn't even have the materials she needed. Katren had overheard the conversation Haldir and his brothers had when they were riding and for some reason, Katren didn't think that the high elves would let her stay in any way, shape or form. Haldir had been hind and sympathetic to her when she told him about her past. No one had ever really treated her like that it would be a shame to loose someone like him. With those thoughts in her head and the butterflies in her stomach, Katren drifted off to sleep.
'Do not fear hinchild, other are not so quick to judge you like you do yourself' a voice echoed through Katren's mind but she was too sleepy to register it's presence.
Caras Galadhon
Galadriel's eyes opened gracefully. She had succeeded in sending a telepathic message to Katren. The girl doubted herself too much. For the life she had lived, Katren deserved what Galadriel and her husband had planned. The human had proved this.
Celeborn noted on her fighting ability or lack there of and decided she was to be taught under either his or Haldir's instruction. No matter what, Katren was to stay, it was essential if the future would take the right path.
It was early morning and the group had already had breakfast and was busy putting out the fire, or saddling the horses. Surprisingly enough Katren had slept peacefully and her ribs weren't sore anymore. Her backside and legs were from all the riding.
"Come Katren, we want to show you something. It won't take long," Orophin said and Haldir helped her mount Aranbellan.
"Really, what is it?" she asked as Haldir jumped up lightly behind her and took the reins.
"It is a surprise and if we told you, it wouldn't be a surprise now would it" Rúmil answered with a grin on his face. Katren sighed and gave in. She wouldn't get any more out of Orophin and Rúmil. Haldir was probably in on the surprise so he wouldn't say anything to her either. Katren didn't like gossip but she hated been left in the dark even more.
Katren listened to the birds singing as they rode. Lothlorien was beautiful. It was filled with life and the elves that lived here were extremely lucky to be surrounded by it. Most of the animals Katren had mainly seen were birds but she had spotted several squirrels scampering across the ground as well as a few other forest creatures.
An hour passed in silence before anyone spoke. In the end it was Rúmil who broke the silence. He had begun to sing.
An Elven-maid there was of old,
A shinning star by day.
Her mantle white was hemmed with gold,
Her shoes of silver-grey.
A star was bound upon her brows,
A light was on her hair
As sun upon the golden boughs
In Lórien the fair.
Her hair was long, her limbs were white,
And fair she was and free;
And in the wind she went as light
As leaf of linden-tree.
Beside the falls of Nimrodel,]
By water clear and cool,
Her voice as falling silver fell
Into the shinning pool.
Where now she wanders none can tell,
In sunlight or in shade;
For lost of yore was Nimrodel
And in the mountains strayed.
The elven-ship in haven grey
Beneath the mountain-lee
Awaited her for many a day
Beside the roaring sea.
A wind by night in Northern lands
Arose and loud it cried,
And drove the ship from elven-strands
Across the streaming tide.
When dawn came dim the land was lost,
The mountains sinking grey
Beyond the heaving waves that tossed
Their plumes of blinding spray.
Amroth beheld the fading shore
Now low beyond the swell,
And cursed the faithless ship that bore
Him far from Nimrodel.
Of old he was an Elven-king
A lord of tree and glen,
When golden were the boughs in spring
In fair Lothlorien.
From helm to sea they saw him leap,
As arrow from the string,
And dive into the water deep,
As mew upon the wing.
The wind was in his flowing hair,
The foam about him shone;
Afar they saw him strong and fair
Go riding like a swan.
But from the West had come no word,
And on the Hither Shore
No tidings Elven-folk have heard,
Of Amroth evermore.
Haldir and Orophin had joined their brother and their voices echoed though the surrounding trees. By the time they had finished, Katren's mouth was almost dragging along the ground. Orophin quickened his horse's pace until he was even with Aranbellan.
"I can see that you are amazed by our singing Katren but you should really close your mouth" he said gently closing her mouth with his forefinger. Katren came to her senses. She blushed and looked down at Aranbellan's mane. Another hand lifted her chin up and Haldir whispered in her ear.
"Look Katren, this is your surprise. I'm sure you will find this more interesting than Aranbellan's mane"
Katren was so awestruck at the sight before her that it took her breath away. To the left was a great mound covered in healthy green grass like the rest of the forest. On it grew two circles of trees, the outer had bark of snowy-white while the inner were tall mallorn trees that reached up into the sky. In the branches of one of the towering inner trees, Katren could see something horizontal and white. Amidst the green grass, she could see yellow as well as other flowers.
"Behold, Cerin Amroth. Do you remember the song we sung, well this open space is the heart of the ancient realm as it has been for a long time. The mound represents the place where in happier days his high house was built. You should count yourself quite fortunate, few people outside of our own realm have laid either foot nor eyes on Cerin Amroth in many years" Haldir said nudging Aranbellan further into the glen.
"Katren, there is a beautiful view from the flet up there in the branches. Come, we will show you. We ourselves are longing for the sight. Long it has been since we visited Cerin Amroth" Orophin said gently holding Katren's arm as he helped her dismount. She followed Haldir up the ladder with his brothers behind her. Haldir offered Katren his hand when she reached the opening at the top. As accepted his offer and he pulled her through the gape. From where she stood high up in the trees, Katren could see for miles and just as Orophin had said, the view was beautiful. In fact beautiful was an understatement. It was magnificent. Katren let go of Haldir's hand and wandered over to the edge and dared to look down. She couldn't believe how high she was. Not in her entire life had she been up so far. The horses looked like small dots on the ground and Katren was amazed to find that she wasn't afraid.
Suddenly a violent gust of wind hit Katren's back and she lost her footing. Even though she wind- milled her arms around, it was a feeble attempt to regain her balance. In the end it did nothing and Katren still fell forward…over the edge.
Luineraugwen: Haha you'll have to wait till the next chapter to find out what happens. I decided to be mean and do that. Also I forgot to say that I didn't own the Nimrodel song. Oh and the elvish translation I got is correct, I looked it up. If you want to see the site, you'll have to go to Elven Princess 2005 to find it. R&R I hope everyone has a good weekend as for me, I've got a Taekwondo tournament. Eep. 3am wake up call!!! As well as all that, there was surpossed to be a line between the paragraphs in the song but it stuffed up big time.