*A/N*: I do not own Lord of the Rings or any of the names or characters
used in Tolkien's wonderful stories (though none have been used...yet), but
Calathi and all other characters are copyright 2002 Meghan.
*This is a longer chapter, and more interesting than the previous ones, I am sure. Enjoy!
Chapter Five
They traveled through the Forest of Mirkwood at a fairly light pace. The guards were unsure of the ladies' endurance, so they stopped to rest often. Though Calathi did not need it when they first began riding, Nora appeared as though she did, so Calathi said nothing to the other elves.
She was forced to ride side-saddle because of her gown, and she was careful getting on and off her horse so she would not tear it. It was frustrating for her to go through these painstaking precautions all day long. *Can't I at least wear normal clothes while I am traveling,* she thought. But no, her mother had told her that this is the way it must be, so she dealt with it as best she could.
The company continued a bit even after darkness had settled, and then they made camp.
Despite their many breaks throughout the journey thus far, Calathi was exhausted. She had never ridden so far in one day, so she simply loosened her gown, let down her hair, and fell onto a blanket. Nora, though even more tired than her companion, went about preparing Calathi's things for the next day.
"Nora," Calathi yawned, "go to bed. It has been a long day."
"My lady-"
"Calathi," her mistress interrupted.
"Calathi, I have not yet finished this evening's chores. I am still your servant and my duty today will not be fulfilled until I am finished with these tasks."
"Nora, I order you to drop what you are doing and get some rest," Calathi said sternly. "Besides, what good will you be as anything, a servant or friend, if you become sick?" She smiled. "I am officially relieving you of your duty for the day. Now go to bed."
"Nora sighed and gratefully got into her own bedroll. "Thank you," she whispered.
"You are welcome," answered Calathi, but her friend was already fast asleep. She chuckled and passed into her own dreamless sleep.
The next morning dawned brisk and foggy. Nora woke Calathi and helped her change into a new gown after bathing. She now donned a pale green one, complete with lace around the collar and low hem. She let out her breath in relief, for this dress had no train to worry about stepping on. Then Calathi stepped outside her tent for breakfast, which the other elves had prepared.
They all stood and bowed when they saw her, and she curtsied in return. *Is this what my life will be,* she thought. *Curtsying when bowed too, riding sidesaddle, and attending boring banquets with stuffy nobles?* She sighed and ate her breakfast. Then they packed up camp and were off once again.
The day continued as the previous one did, with many breaks throughout the day. They only had that one, and two more, until they would finally reach the palace. Calathi became anxious, knowing that she would then be presented at court and she would meet King Thranduil and the Prince of Mirkwood.
Her horse seemed to sense her anxiousness and became fidgety. *Wait,* she thought. *It can't be just me, everyone else's horses are also prancing nervously, and Telmon couldn't possibly be worried about anything.*
She pulled her quaking horse to a stop as she caught a foul stench in the air. It was of rotting flesh and sweat mixed with dirt-orcs.
The others had also stopped as they smelled it. "Orcs!" Telmon shouted. The royal guard instantly formed a line between Calathi and Nora and the scent of the orcs as they drew their swords. "Remain behind us ladies," he ordered sternly.
Calathi would have protested, but she knew that she would only be in the way. How could she possibly help them in her gown, and without a weapon?
Suddenly the orcs swarmed into view, charging madly and yelling. Immediately the arrows began to fly from the elfin bows, shooting down orc after orc.
The charging enemy merged into the Mirkwood warriors with a loud clang of metal-on-metal. The elves struck them down one by one, slaughtering them with their swift swords and daggers.
Calathi and Nora only looked on in terror, Calathi trying to think of a plan, should an orc break through the protective line.
Suddenly a sharp pain erupted on the back of her head, and her vision clouded. As she sunk to the ground, trying to stead herself, rough hands yanked her back to her feet. She felt cold steel press to her neck as she looked confusedly at her companions.
They stared at her, dead orcs lying slain at their feet. She heard a gruff voice behind her say, "Drop your weapons, or your lady dies."
Great anger welled inside her. An orc was holding her hostage. Her, a hostage! The blade was no longer at her neck, sensing that their was no need as she could hardly stand.
Focusing her thoughts so that she stopped seeing only blurred images, she snapped out her arm as fast as lightning and knocked the weapon from her captor's loose fingers, sending it flying away through the air.
She spun quickly away from the surprised orc. Yanking her dress above her knees, she pulled her leg in and put all of her remaining strength into a kick. She nailed the orc square in the face and sent him sailing backward, landing several paces away where he lay, unmoving.
Calathi found several arrows instantly embedded in each of the half-dozen or so orcs that had stood behind her captor. Turning, she saw her elf companions rushing toward her as her vision went white and her knees buckled. She collapsed into darkness.
****You get to meet Legolas in the next chapter…if there is one…*laughs evilly* …it is sooo fun to leave you hanging like this! Though I am sure you can guess what happens. :)
~Megolas~
*This is a longer chapter, and more interesting than the previous ones, I am sure. Enjoy!
Chapter Five
They traveled through the Forest of Mirkwood at a fairly light pace. The guards were unsure of the ladies' endurance, so they stopped to rest often. Though Calathi did not need it when they first began riding, Nora appeared as though she did, so Calathi said nothing to the other elves.
She was forced to ride side-saddle because of her gown, and she was careful getting on and off her horse so she would not tear it. It was frustrating for her to go through these painstaking precautions all day long. *Can't I at least wear normal clothes while I am traveling,* she thought. But no, her mother had told her that this is the way it must be, so she dealt with it as best she could.
The company continued a bit even after darkness had settled, and then they made camp.
Despite their many breaks throughout the journey thus far, Calathi was exhausted. She had never ridden so far in one day, so she simply loosened her gown, let down her hair, and fell onto a blanket. Nora, though even more tired than her companion, went about preparing Calathi's things for the next day.
"Nora," Calathi yawned, "go to bed. It has been a long day."
"My lady-"
"Calathi," her mistress interrupted.
"Calathi, I have not yet finished this evening's chores. I am still your servant and my duty today will not be fulfilled until I am finished with these tasks."
"Nora, I order you to drop what you are doing and get some rest," Calathi said sternly. "Besides, what good will you be as anything, a servant or friend, if you become sick?" She smiled. "I am officially relieving you of your duty for the day. Now go to bed."
"Nora sighed and gratefully got into her own bedroll. "Thank you," she whispered.
"You are welcome," answered Calathi, but her friend was already fast asleep. She chuckled and passed into her own dreamless sleep.
The next morning dawned brisk and foggy. Nora woke Calathi and helped her change into a new gown after bathing. She now donned a pale green one, complete with lace around the collar and low hem. She let out her breath in relief, for this dress had no train to worry about stepping on. Then Calathi stepped outside her tent for breakfast, which the other elves had prepared.
They all stood and bowed when they saw her, and she curtsied in return. *Is this what my life will be,* she thought. *Curtsying when bowed too, riding sidesaddle, and attending boring banquets with stuffy nobles?* She sighed and ate her breakfast. Then they packed up camp and were off once again.
The day continued as the previous one did, with many breaks throughout the day. They only had that one, and two more, until they would finally reach the palace. Calathi became anxious, knowing that she would then be presented at court and she would meet King Thranduil and the Prince of Mirkwood.
Her horse seemed to sense her anxiousness and became fidgety. *Wait,* she thought. *It can't be just me, everyone else's horses are also prancing nervously, and Telmon couldn't possibly be worried about anything.*
She pulled her quaking horse to a stop as she caught a foul stench in the air. It was of rotting flesh and sweat mixed with dirt-orcs.
The others had also stopped as they smelled it. "Orcs!" Telmon shouted. The royal guard instantly formed a line between Calathi and Nora and the scent of the orcs as they drew their swords. "Remain behind us ladies," he ordered sternly.
Calathi would have protested, but she knew that she would only be in the way. How could she possibly help them in her gown, and without a weapon?
Suddenly the orcs swarmed into view, charging madly and yelling. Immediately the arrows began to fly from the elfin bows, shooting down orc after orc.
The charging enemy merged into the Mirkwood warriors with a loud clang of metal-on-metal. The elves struck them down one by one, slaughtering them with their swift swords and daggers.
Calathi and Nora only looked on in terror, Calathi trying to think of a plan, should an orc break through the protective line.
Suddenly a sharp pain erupted on the back of her head, and her vision clouded. As she sunk to the ground, trying to stead herself, rough hands yanked her back to her feet. She felt cold steel press to her neck as she looked confusedly at her companions.
They stared at her, dead orcs lying slain at their feet. She heard a gruff voice behind her say, "Drop your weapons, or your lady dies."
Great anger welled inside her. An orc was holding her hostage. Her, a hostage! The blade was no longer at her neck, sensing that their was no need as she could hardly stand.
Focusing her thoughts so that she stopped seeing only blurred images, she snapped out her arm as fast as lightning and knocked the weapon from her captor's loose fingers, sending it flying away through the air.
She spun quickly away from the surprised orc. Yanking her dress above her knees, she pulled her leg in and put all of her remaining strength into a kick. She nailed the orc square in the face and sent him sailing backward, landing several paces away where he lay, unmoving.
Calathi found several arrows instantly embedded in each of the half-dozen or so orcs that had stood behind her captor. Turning, she saw her elf companions rushing toward her as her vision went white and her knees buckled. She collapsed into darkness.
****You get to meet Legolas in the next chapter…if there is one…*laughs evilly* …it is sooo fun to leave you hanging like this! Though I am sure you can guess what happens. :)
~Megolas~