Disclaimer: LOtR is the property of J.R.R.Tolkein and if I did own then Legolas would be a particle theorist and Sauron would be doing the soprano with Pavarotti. So there!
A/N: since I was suffering from malaria for the past few days, I was not able to update! I am so sorry guys!
The ProphesyChapter 6 (The clash from the past)
" It wouldn't be long now! We should be approaching the glade any time now!" Silme said aloud as she turned Amrûn to the right. True to her words, a green thickly wooded enclosure greeted them.
"The glade of Laerwen. She is the March Warden here. We will rest here and probably continue our journey due east from tomorrow. We have been traveling south too long. No matter how much we were to try, Nwalme knows we are approaching her."
Gandalf nodded. "We all know that dark forces spy on good! Don't we?" he turned to the group. They smiled ruefully. They were aware that the Istari talked of Sauron. And they wouldn't forget him in a hurry. Legolas rode Arod close to Amrûn who was riding with pace matching that of Shadowfax. The rest were having trouble keeping pace with them.
"Silme, would you mind slowing down? We are not blessed with steeds so fast as yours!"
Silme smiled at him. Legolas averted his eyes just then. He didn't know why? Her smile reminded him of Vala and her gaze.
"I shall remember that in the future lord Legolas! But we must get moving and we must positively reach the glade before sundown."
"And why is that?"
"The glade does not invite visitors after dark these days! That is why! Now hurry up."
She the turned to face the path ahead of her. True to her words mere hours before sundown, they reached the glade she had mentioned. It was similar to the wood that Gandalf and Aragorn ahead landed with the others. But they could occasionally see some elves stationed near the border. Silme kicked Amrûn gently and as though sensing her thoughts, the steed rode faster. She then turned to Legolas.
"Slow enough?" he glared at her back as she rode ahead all of them. Legolas caught up with Aragorn who turned to Legolas.
"Now that elleth sounds more like a ranger than an elf! And what is it with you? Why do you glare at me?"
He chose not to answer. The elleth from the woods were coming to greet them.
"We desire to go to the stronghold of Nwalme. I presume Vala must have told you something!" Silme said to the elleth who introduced herself as Laerwen.
Laerwen nodded her head. " Her ladyship has given orders that you are to be taken care of in a friendly manner. Please! This way if you would!"
They were directed to flets atop trees. But unlike the beautiful mallorn trees of Lorien, these trees were simple oaks. Laerwen turned to Aragorn who was looking around. There seemed to be a lot of activities going on there. Elves and ellith were getting ready for a probable duty off in the borders.
"The king of Gondor seemed to please the queen very much. She talked of you as noble and kind. She also said that your child was in the custody of Nwalme. I am very sorry to hear that lord Aragorn! We hope our help would get her back to you."
Aragorn smiled and replied; "having Silme with us seems to boost our morale a lot! She is all the help we will need I believe."
Laerwen smiled at the elleth they were speaking about. She was gently tending to Amrûn. Laerwen then turned to Aragorn.
"She had a very difficult childhood. Not that she was abused or anything! But her mother and aunt died fighting Nwalme's army. Amrûn seems to be the only one whom she completely trusts now. Vala comes a close second. But that horse seems to understand her better than any of us!"
Aragorn nodded and turned to see Silme feeding Amrûn. Just then Legolas walked towards the horse. Aragorn let a sly smile creep to the corner of his mouth. He turned to Laerwen and said in a whisper,
"Now it shall grow interesting!"
Laerwen looked at Aragorn bemused, "what do you mean?"
" Silme and Legolas, though they are of the same kind, they don't seem to get along very well."
Laerwen smiled at this. "Lord Aragorn, I would agree then! It would be a sight to see Silme flare her temper! Quite nasty!"
Aragorn's eyebrows shot up at this and he turned to see Legolas. He was slowly walking towards Silme who was tending to her steed.
"Mae Govannen!" Silme greeted him even though he approached her from behind. Legolas replied,
"Mae Govannen to you too." Silme was smiling, "you seem distressed! What is it lord Greenleaf?"
"Just Legolas please." Silme's eyebrow shot up. "But you are the prince of greenwood! A prince can't be addressed that way!"
"You are the heir to the throne as well! Doesn't it make us equals?" he looked at her straight in the face as though trying to read what was written behind those brown orbs that shone in the setting sun.
"I might be the heir of the throne! But what makes you think I would accept that position?" her hands flew to her hips. She was smiling though. It was as though she was teasing him outright. Legolas seemed to understand that too. He glared at her and replied,
"I do not care if you ascend the throne or not. I was trying to start a civil conversation! That is all."
He expected her tease him again but to his surprise, her hands dropped and she looked into his eyes. There was another smile in her face, a grateful smile. She replied in a low tone, which was quite different from her usual tone,
" That was very kind of you Legolas. I appreciate that very much! May be we could be good friends?" she extended her right hand. She was wearing an expectant smile. Legolas slowly extended his right hand and held her right forearm as a sign of friendship. He was also smiling.
"I believe that is possible Silme of Edona!"
Aragorn and Laerwen, who were watching all of this from their place, almost fell down. Laerwen turned to look at Aragorn staring open mouthed at the two elves shaking hand. He looked disappointed.
"And I thought we were to have entertainment for the rest of our journey! It would have eased my anxiety." He smiled before continuing looking at a laughing Laerwen.
"Her flaring temper lady Laerwen?" the march warden smiled at the king of Gondor.
"Maybe she likes him! She teases everybody! You know!"
"Well she doesn't tease Gimli or Gandalf or myself!"
Laerwen shrugged. Aragorn turned back to see the both of them talking and laughing. It reminded him of someone. A sigh heaved in his being. Why did everything seem to happen to keep him away from his beloved? He smiled sadly and turned to go to the flet allocated for him.
"And Gimli and I are good friends now! You would never find a more helpful dwarf in the entire Middle Earth! So, tell me Silme starlight! Have you any friends?"
Silme looked up to see the clouds lazily move across the moon. Stars glittered here and there. She smiled slowly and turned to look at Legolas. Her skin was a little darker than his but still it glowed a bronze. His face was bathed in the starlight and he was looking at her expecting her to answer.
"Well, I have Amrûn and I trust Vala and Laerwen. That's about it and oh I also trust Mithrandir! That's it I guess."
Legolas seemed disappointed a little at this answer but he did not know why and did not show it out. Silme was looking at the sky again. Legolas turned to the sky as well,
" The sky looks bright tonight!" Silme was listening vaguely to him. Suddenly she turned to Legolas and still bearing a smile in her face but a strain in her body told her friend,
"Legolas string your bow, orcs are approaching us."
Legolas looked at her surprised. But sure enough, he soon sensed their steady approach. Silme frowned.
"Nwalme is good. They approach from the southeast. That is to your left. Be ready."
Legolas nodded and fitted an arrow onto his bow. Silme also removed her bow and fitted an arrow across it. She was barely moving. She suddenly aimed to her left and sent an arrow straight at her target. True to her word, an orc fell.
"Legolas we must warn Laerwen. There will be a battle tonight." She was tense. Legolas nodded and said,
"We shall have to escape this party first! And I am enjoying myself to speak the truth!" he grinned as he killed another orc. Silme smirked and hit another orc who Legolas was aiming. He turned to glare at her but soon laughed.
"Well you are a good shot!" Silme scoffed,
" You jest." She shot another with her aim. She then replaced her bow behind her. There was little amount of time before the second party of orcs would come in this direction. She turned towards Legolas.
"We must hurry or there wont be any orcs left for us!" she started running in the direction of the camp. Fire was lighted and torches moved in every direction in a hazy blur. But then there was a loud scream. She recognized that voice,
"Laerwen!" her face went from happy to anxious in mere seconds.
She gathered speed and hurried towards the camp.
So, there is a sort of a cliffhanger. Is Laerwen in trouble? Is she dead or is she just freaked out? Find out in the next episode! Sam site! Ciao! Oh and please read and review by the way!
- Anarya of Lorien