Chapter Five: Chosen and Rejected
Awakening to a beautiful morning Ariella dresses quickly and finds Arwen with her husband Aragorn in the kitchen. The two cousins embrace for what seems like an eternity. Aragorn then hugs Ariella kissing her forehead.
"It is good to see you my little cousin." Aragorn said teasingly.
"Little? If I am not mistaken I am the same height as you as and more than twice your age!" Ariella said punching his arm in a playful manner.
"Quiet true what it is to be young and youthful and not old and decrepit like those such as you!" Aragorn said laughing only joking of course.
"Well at least I don't show my age what are you dear cousin 127?" Ariella's voice has a gentle chuckle.
"And what do you mean decrepit do I look decrepit to you?" Arwen asked hurtfully. Guilt that always was one of her strongest powers of Aragorn,
"Oh melamin I only was joking with and then what I mean to say is"
Laughing hysterically, Ariella and Arwen do their handshake. Sliding their palms together and then bumping their fists, Aragorn soon learns he has been a victim of their guilt trick. "Gets him every time." Arwen winks at Ariella smiling.
"Are you attending the council today Aragorn?" Ariella asked curiously.
"Yes unfortunately I am. I am sorry that I feel so melancholy about it but I had hoped to never journey again into such a perilous adventure. I wish to stay with Arwen and my son Aralorn. But your uncle and my father in-law requested my presence, who am I to deny his wishes." The now older Aragorn said, he may be older but he does not look a day over forty-five, he is one hundred and twenty. His Numenor blood flows deep within him, thankfully he does not feel a day over twenty.
"Well I must go get ready for this council meeting my lord has wished me to come unrevealed I do not understand why. I suppose it is because I shall be the only female attending but that should be of no matter." Ariella complained.
"I will see you or should I say not see you there." Aragorn said with a light chuckle.
An hour passed and Ariella is now dressed and ready for the council meeting. She wears a earth brown skirt that reaches just above her knees, a wine colored long sleeve blouse, earth brown below the knee high boots, and a dark green cloak that covers her entire body, using the hood to cover her head she leaves her room. Walking down the hallway into the courtyard, she feels someone watching her knowing whom it is she calls out to the watcher.
"You did not have to hide I can sense your presence from a mile away." Unveiling her hood Ariella looks up into the surrounding trees to see Seolas.
"Little princess it amazes me how much your powers have grown. Shall I accompany you to the council?" Seolas grinned devilishly holding out his arm.
"Of course kind sir, but why did you not just come up to me?" Ariella asked curiously.
"Because I wanted to see how strong our connection is you see all people bound to you by the jewel have a connection with you even in death," He said walking ahead of her leaving her baffled.
If the jewel binds everyone to me then why can I no longer feel my mother and father? She asked herself sadly. Turning around Seolas looks to Ariella who seems to be staring off into the cloudless sky.
"You can no longer feel them because you choose not to," was all Seolas said, before leaving her there once again she became baffled.
What does he mean I choose not too, why would I do something so stupid as to deny my parents? Ariella looked at the sundial and realized that if she does not hurry she will be late for the council meeting. Speedily running as most elves do, she finds herself interrupting her uncle.
"As I was saying all of you have heard of the Celeb Loki the jewel. You all know what evil power it brings. Thankfully there is one who is able sustain such an evil power." Lord Elrond said as Ariella cringing took her seat. A man stood up angrily.
"You know as well as we all do that no one person elf, dwarf, hobbit, or mortal can withstand the power of the dragon jewel." His voice deep and strong. Carrying himself proudly the man is tall, with broad shoulders; his skin is tanned from the rays of the sun. With long brown locks accenting his face and dark green eyes. The crest on his armor is of royalty and that of someone from Rohan he is dressed in dark earth tone colors burgundy's, browns, greens, and gold's.
"I would hold your tongue Neomer son of Éomer. Do you wish to meet this person they are here now in this very council?" Lord Elrond said his eyebrow cocked up.
"Yes I wish to see the one you claim is so powerful!" Not in all her lifetime had Ariella seen any mortal or immortal challenge her uncle's word. Feeling her uncle's gaze on her, she stands and removes her hood. Her hair now hangs loosely the sun shining on it making it appear iridescent.
"Hello Neomer I am Ariella" she greeted him smiling.
"Now I really don't believe you, first you expect me to believe that one person can control the Celeb Loki, and now you expect me to believe that a woman can hold this power" Neomer's voice mocking the entire council. "You cannot expect me to believe this. You cannot expect me to believe that the most powerful jewel in the entire universe lies within this woman, and that she is not corrupted by it. If you all here choose to believe this lie then you are all unwise and ignorant." Neomer scoffs.
"You accuse me of being corrupt and yet you nothing of or about me, you assume because I am a female that I cannot bare this burden, you call those around you ignorant and unwise. If you ask me, you are the unwise and ignorant one. Stuck in your pathetic head strong ways." Ariella rolling her eyes, finding it hard to believe that she has to explain herself to someone that is of no importance to her. "When I was a young child my parents died at the hands of the woman who so greedily seeks this jewel. My great grandmother, grandmother, and mother all possessed this jewel and now so do I. From the time of my parent's death to now, I have been tormented by horrible nightmares of their dead bodies, the blood spilling onto the ground taking their lives with it. If the Celeb Loki had not corrupted my great grandmother, grandmother and mother what makes you think it would do any different to me, our blood is the same. How dare you make a mockery of this council and how dare you challenge the authority and word of my uncle and call him a liar." Ariella's voice stern and angry. "All here today come to this place in faith but you, you young Neomer bring doubt and fear. I do not doubt that fear is within this council but at least they do not doubt my uncle." Pulling a lock of hair behind her ear Ariella reveals her elven ear to the young prince.
"You are an elf!" Neomer said amazed.
"Not that it is any of your business but yes I am and," Ariella is cut short but a dark cloud that hovers over the council. The warning drums can be heard Rivendell's gates.
"All of you into the palace, Aragorn lead them to safety. Ariella go with them." Lord Elrond orders his niece.
"I can fight and you cannot stop me!" She said to Lord Elrond. Running back into the palace, Legolas at her side.
"Do you know what your doing?" He asked readying his bow and arrows.
"Not a clue, all I know is that my uncle needs help and I will not let this kingdom be destroyed as mine once was!" Ariella said reaching her room, she finds Artemis in his true from her boomerang slung around his back. Running down the palace halls on his back the two teen elves find themselves readying for battle. Ariella sees her uncle chanting an elven spell.
"Yala onna en alu!" Using his elven power to summon the water element Lord Elrond finds his strength draining but the enemies are hit hard from the blow.
Ariella finally sees the attackers hundreds of giant centipedes. Their hard scales black as the night, their under belly red as blood, their legs an enumerable count, with giant gold eyes. No doubt kin to the Lord Centipede. Wielding her boomerang, she throws it into the air killing twenty at a time. Legolas shooting all that he can, they are aided by the other elves. Artemis breathing fire from his mouth burns all enemies that come against him. Ariella stands on his back. The giant bugs in one large group.
"Artemis head straight into the demons!" Ariella said readying her elven spell.
Over the years during her time in the library, Ariella had discovered her uncle's elven spell books. Notes he had taken. One had said this. Elven spells are not used for the wills and whims of our people. However, for the protection and healing of our people. We do not use them to manipulate others around us for it is wrong and devious.
"Ariella what are you doing?" Legolas shouted, as they grew closer to the demons.
"Trust me!" She yelled to Legolas.
Jumping off Aretmis into the air, she stands mid-air only being able to do this with her power of telekinesis. Holding her hands out they look as if they form and invisible bowl, a light of great size begins to form within the space sparks flying everywhere. Artemis flying faster now out of the swarm of demons with Legolas ordering him to go back.
Little prince I cannot go back! Ariella has ordered me not too! Aretmis tells Legolas through their thoughts. Giving up Legolas starts shooting more of the giant centipede's trying to help in every way possible. Ariella forms a protective shield around her body, the giant ball of light growing bigger in her hands.
"Lanta en kalae!" Ariella releases her power to create a lightening bolt thrusting it into the flock of demons killing all of them.
The remaining body parts of the creatures falling from the sky. Using her telekinesis to clean up Ariella sends the blood parts high into the Misty Mountains. Letting her guard down Ariella quickly feels the consequence of her mistake, another centipede comes from behind her slicing straight through her. The jewel flying out of her body. Ariella's elven power of healing tends to her wound although the pain she feels is incomprehensible. Legolas spots this and starts to shoot at the creature. Ariella grabs her boomerang, the giant centipede swallows the jewel and grows to an immense size it has to be as tall as the Misty Mountains and as long as them.
"Legolas it swallowed the jewel!" Ariella yelled.
Nodding he gives it all he has got shooting five arrows at a time not slowing the creature down. Holding her boomerang Ariella throws it slicing half of his body off. Ariella can see the jewel, catching her weapon she throws it once more, and just as she does Legolas shoots one last arrow. Their weapons are both lethal to the creature, but Legolas's arrow has serious repercussions. Just as Ariella feels her weapon fly back into her hands, a bright light comes out from the creature. In addition, all of Ariella's fears become a reality, Legolas and Ariella witness the jewel shattering into pieces. All of the pieces flying off into air. Except for one shard, a single shard falls to the sky Ariella catches it the angry growing within her.
"Don't tell me," Ariella said gritting her teeth. "Do you know what this is?" She yelled.
"Why are you yelling at me I didn't do anything?" Legolas shouted back.
"This is the shard of the Celeb Loki and thanks to you the jewel shattered with your arrow scattering across a league of who knows what! Do you know what this means!" Ariella screams into the heavens. "This means that now we have to find them all before Caspia does, you've just made my life a whole lot harder! It's bad enough I have to bare the burden but now I have to go looking for it!" Ariella said walking away.
"Where are you going?" Legolas asked letting her leave he is much too proud to follow.
"You're not my favorite person right now!" Ariella yelled back.
"Yeah well same too you!" He said kicking the ground.
Aretmis flies down into the fields, and finds Lord Elrond unconscious. Rushing him to elven healers, he is quickly worked on. The healers assure Ariella that her uncle will be all right. Lord Elrond has told Ariella that she must choose those to accompany her. Sitting in her room Artemis on her lap purring loudly.
So who will be joining you little one? Artemis asked, as she pets his black fur.
I don't know Legolas of course that little ass can at least come along seeing as how it's all his fault that the jewel broke. You of course my love, Aragorn. She stopped unable to think of anyone else her mind-running blank, silence fills the room but is soon broken by a knock on her door.
"Come in," she said her voice unfriendly and unwelcoming.
The door creeks open and entering her room come four little hobbit boys. Three very slim and one rather chubby. The one who seems to be their leader has large diamond blue eyes, messy brown hair, and rather large hairy feet as they all do. The other two the slimmer ones both have hazel eye's and dirty blonde hair. The last one who is a little heavier has hazel eyes as well but a little darker dirty blonde hair.
"Hello Lady Ariella forgive us we did not mean to intrude but we came to offer our services to you. Sam, Merry, Pippin and I all were in the Fellowship of the Ring." The blue eyed one spoke and Ariella begins to realize that these are no ordinary hobbits but the most famous of them all.
"Excuse me are you Frodo?" She asked excitedly.
"I am my lady," he replied.
"Frodo Baggins? The brave hobbit who threw the ring of power into Mt. Doom," Ariella asked even more excited.
"Well actually Gollum fell into the mountain with the ring after biting off my finger." Frodo said holding up his little nub.
"Oh my gosh you have no idea what an honor this is. I mean I have read your book it is my favorite and your uncles. That is where I learned all about hobbits. Which one of you is Samwise Gamgee?" Ariella asked looking amongst the other three.
"I am my lady" Sam's timid voice spoke softly.
"Merry, Pippin?" Looking to the other two, they bowed and introduced themselves proudly. Tears began to form in her eyes.
"My lady are you alright?" Frodo asked as Ariella crouched down to the floor.
"You are willing to travel this entire world just to help me, you don't even know me." Ariella said sobbing. "You four have shown more loyalty to me than my own kind."
"Not true my lady we know all about you. Why your Ariella Mailian wielder of the giant bone, your mother and father were killed long ago when you were little centuries before any of us were even born." Sam said smiling. "And we would be honored if you allowed us to accompany you."
I like them Artemis said with a happy growl.
"I do too," Ariella, said smiling. "This is Artemis my most trusted friend and companion, he is an elven cat and I believe a great warrior show them." Artemis purred as a blaze of fire surrounded his body as it died down his giant saber tooth cat form appeared before the hobbits.
"That is so cool may we ride him?" Merry asked like a small child begging for candy.
"Artemis?" asked Ariella bowing down the cat allowed Merry to climb onto his sleek body.
After choosing, all of her companions Ariella has announced her decision. Those that are to be joining her are Legolas, Artemis, Gandalf, the hobbits, Aragorn, Neomer, and Gimli. Ariella finds herself looking for Legolas she discovers him in her library reading an old book. He is the first to apologize and she in turn assures him that it is her fault.
"If I had not shot my arrow none of this would have happened." He debated.
"No it is as much your fault, as mine if I had been on my guard that creature would have never caught me doesn't matter now, doesn't matter we'll do this together" She smiled and kissed his forehead.
Getting ready for bed the young princess packs a small bag with three earth brown skirts, three blouses one red wine colored, another blue, and the last forest green. Crawling into her bed for what she feels will be the last time for a long time. Ariella enjoys the comforts of her home knowing that she will probably forget it over the journey. Legolas has also packed except he brings only one spare tunic. They each pack their choices of weapons Ariella and her boomerang along with her mother's elven daggers. Legolas with his bow and quiver his daggers from back home.
The hobbits sharing one large room pack their things as well. Frodo and the other hobbits ready their weapons. Frodo with Sting and only one spare pair of clothing, Sam bringing all the necessary cooking utensils, spare clothes and elven dagger. Merry and Pippin bring their pipes, clothes and the elven daggers Lady Galandriel gave them at the beginning of their last journey. Aragorn readies his sword sending it to the elven sword maker to sharpen the blade. In their room, Arwen is unable to stop crying.
"Melamin I will see you once again and I promise I shall not be gone for long." Aragorn said wiping away her tears.
"Why can't I come with you?" She asked sadly.
"Our son needs you here with him and I would prefer you stay here." He said trying not to sound old fashion.
"Promise me that you'll come back safely." Arwen said holding back the tears. Aragorn turned to her once more before blowing out the candle.
"I promise," he said turning once more to snuff the candle.
The Fellowship gathers their things some remembering old trials and tribulations from the battle they had fought fifty years earlier. With each passing moment Ariella becomes more anxious to leave unable to bare the fact that the Celeb Loki jewel shards are out amongst the world, where Caspia so vigorously searches yearning for their power.