Chapter 9: The Black Forest
Morning came and another day filled with more toil. Another day drawing Arriël closer to her fate. They awoke in the morning while Sam cooked breakfast Arriël went for a walk, trying not to stray too far. She found a small river with a large log fallen over. She sat there thinking of all that was going on not wanting to but she couldn't help it. As she began to think, and rush of fear came over her just as she turned an orc came at her.
He darted at her with his sword in ready position, her quick reflexes saved her by mere seconds, and he tired another attack, but failed again. She started to run back to camp but was ambushed but five other orcs. All of them snarling and growling. Just as they lunged at her she concentrated and used her telepathy, to send them flying threw the air each of them hitting the large trees that surrounded them. Arriël didn't take a second to think, she just ran back to camp warning to others of their intruders, Legolas becoming angry. Concerned at the same time.
Checking her for injury after telling him about twenty times, that she was fine and yelling at him to leave her alone. As soon as he walked away a band of orcs ambushed them. Fighting with all her might, while Gandalf, Aragorn, Talther, Dimtilion, Alexia, Legolas and the four hobbits using their bows and swords. Frodo although wasn't doing to well because just as he thought he had over came his opponent, he was knocked unconscious. But just as Legolas let his guard down, and orc grabbed him. Seeing this Arriël killed her opponent, as the others did the same. Seeing the evil creature with his arms around him with a blade to his neck really pissed her off. She spoke.
"Let him go, right now!" She said sternly clearly angry, but she became angrier as she saw a trickle of blood drip from Legolas's neck.
"Really and what are you going to do if I don't? Please I fear nothing from you," he said showing his rotting teeth.
"Who are you, and what do you want?" Arriël asked the anger welling up inside her very being.
"I am Globwûsh, I am the head leader of all the orcs in Mordor the home of our new leader Molirion, and what I want is to take your life," he said laughing.
"You know I'd watch your back if I was you" she said with an evil grin.
"Oh really and why is that?" Globwûsh asked confused.
"Because you never know when a blade could go right through it." She pointed behind the evil snarling creature. "Now if I was you I'd let my husband go and slowly turn around," she said her face showing no expression now.
As he turned around Globwûsh was surprised. "What sorcery is this?"
"Oh no sorcery, just a little gift of mine now leave before I kill you painfully and slowly. Oh yes and tell your master that I'm coming for him" Arriël said as he ran away, running to Legolas to check on him.
"Melamin are you alright?" She asked frantically worried that he had been hurt.
"Fine, just leave me alone," Legolas said rudely brushing off my hand as she touched his face.
"What's you problem Legolas I save your life, and this is how you thank me with your attitude of bruised ego." Arriël backed away from the arrogant elf prince.
"No, I just would have preferred if you'd have let me handle it" Legolas said rudely.
"Oh so, you would have died instead of having me save you. Why is it because I'm a girl?" Arriël asked even more angered then before.
"You don't understand Arriël," he said but she stopped him.
"Oh, no I understand. You'd rather die than be saved by a woman, and since you want to be left alone so bad fine. I'll leave you alone and you leave me alone." She walked off and headed towards Frodo letting Aragorn handle Legolas.
Seeing that Frodo was shot and unconscious Arriël slapped him to wake him up, but after she realized that it probably wasn't the best thing to do. He awoke moaning and rubbing his head; he finally opened his eyes and looked at her smiling.
"Hey little brother, how do you feel?" Her voice sincere as she gives a faint smile.
"Fine, but could you please find the person that slapped me and give them a good beating" he winked at her.
"Sorry about that little brother I was scared. I do stupid things sometimes when I'm scared" Arriël said feeling awfully horrible.
"That's alright, but may I ask you as to why you called me little brother?" Frodo asked her with those big blue eyes of his.
"Well Frodo ever since I was little I always wanted a little brother but never got one. And I know if I did I'd want him to be just like you" Arriël said kissing his forehead. "Now come we must leave this place and head for the Black Forest" She said helping him up.
They began to travel again. Finally reaching the Black Forest Arriël has not spoken to Legolas since the early morning. Seeing that the entrance was blocked Gandalf asked her to use her gift of telepathy to move all the rubble. After she did Arriël almost fainted.
"Are you alright Arriël" Talther asked concerned.
"I'm fine Talther thank you for asking" She said smiling Arriël is though drained from her powers. Seeing this Talther picks her up and she rides on his back.
Gandalf walked around shining his staff around like a lantern, Arriël becomes disgusted as she looked to the forests floor. Finding dead vines and according to Gimli there's giant bugs around here. Arriël has still not talked to Legolas at least for the whole day and that's a lot considering they're married.
I just cannot take the fact that he'd rather die than have me save him. She thought to herself. Unfortunately they walked for another five hours before stopping although it seemed like much more. Gandalf found a small cave big enough to fit all of them. It seems weird to me to have a cave in the middle of a forest where's there's no mountains. Gandalf reassured Arriël that it must have been a small home for one of the bugs. I told him that he should have never told me that, because it's not very reassuring. All Gandalf did was smile with a light chuckle in his voice. Sam started dinner, first by starting a small fire, Talther put her down Aragorn and Talther keep watch while Arriël socializes with the other four hobbits.
"Hey Sam!" Arriël said smiling at him.
"Oh hello Arriël, you know dinner will be ready soon you wouldn't happen to mind calling everyone over would you?" He asked her.
"Of course not, see you in a few" She said walking off. I'm not to mad about my situation with Legolas I mean it is bothering me but right now I'd just rather not talk to him. Little did she know when Arriël would turn around he'd be right there. She tried to move in the opposite direction but every move she makes Legolas equally matches.
"Meni uma lle merna?" Arriël asked irritated. What do you want?
"Melamin may I speak with you?" Legolas asked.
"Me, you want to speak with me really?" She looked him dead in the eye. "But I thought you were to high and mighty to talk to a woman remember your exact words were 'leave me alone'" Arriël said scornfully.
"Melamin please, just listen to me," he said.
"Kela, I don't want to talk you!" Go away. Arriël walked off pushing him away, but she keeps forgetting that elves have quick reflexes; this was her defeat just as Legolas grabbed her arm.
"Wait melamin please"? He said.
"Fine, talk but that doesn't mean I have to listen" Arriël is now irritated and angered at him.
"Amin hiraetha Arriël, amin hiraetha" he said, and when he did she knew he wasn't lying. I'm sorry Arriël, I'm sorry
"Yeah, me too" she walked away and left him there. Her mind wondered to her thoughts. I don't feel like arguing with him or even trying to make up with him. A lot of people might think that it's wrong but when a guy gets mad at you because you save him, now that's something that he should think about.
A day has passed and I still haven't talked to Legolas. Now most people may think this is childish, but think about it I save his life and he gets mad at me, me the person who saved his life. In my opinion he can wait it out a little longer. I avoid him at all costs and that not being too easy I mean all day I felt like he was watching me. I ignore him and just stick around my little brother and young hobbit friends. He finally approaches Arriël unable to stay away from her any longer.
"Meni uma lle merna?" Arriël asked rudely. What do you want?
"Melamin may I speak with you?" Legolas asked.
"Sure, but like I told you I don't have to listen, but you better believe that your going to listen to me. What is your problem Legolas? I save your life and you would think that you would be grateful oh but no not you. You, you are rude and arrogant not even a thank you." She yelled not caring that the others heard they knew what had happened and all agreed with Arriël that he was in the wrong.
"Amin hiraetha Arriël, amin hiraetha" he said, and when he did she realized that his words were sincere. I'm sorry Arriël, I'm sorry
"For what, for being a jerk or because I saved your life and you acted like a jerk?" She asked shouting.
"Both, melamin I'm not used to being saved. Usually I'm the one doing the saving the girl, not the other way around and I guess I felt inferior to you" Legolas said looking to the ground still embarrassed.
"I didn't do it to make you feel inferior, I did it because I was scared" Arriël said pulling his face up.
"I know that now," said Legolas.
"Yeah maybe next time you won't be such a jerk about it either, now what have we learned?" Arriël asked like a mother would her child.
"That being saved by a girl isn't that worst thing in the world," he said in a little boy tone.
"Good, now come I have to get the other's. Sam has probably finished dinner." She said grabbing his hand and kissing his cheek walking towards Gandalf the others. Trying not to think about the weird vision she had later that night.
Arriël sits in the small cave by the fire, not wanting to sleep although she knows that it is something much needed. The one thing that keeps her from sleep us the fear that a large spider is going to come and eat her or drag her off. I know I could probably take it but still a giant spider gross! She hears the crack of a branch, turning and seeing Frodo sitting there, his face looks scared.
"What's wrong little brother?" Arriël asked
"It's nothing" he shook off her question.
"Liar" Arriël said bluntly.
"I'm just scared, that's all" he said looking down.
"It's ok, we all are" she shared his fear with her own.
"No, see when we traveled, Sam and I Gollum ... Smeagol led us into this cave a short cut to Mordor. But in fact it was actually a trap for him to try and get the ring. A giant spider Shelob attacked us. She killed me or at least we thought she killed me. It turned that out she only stunned me with a certain poison. I awoke in the arms of the enemy." Frodo said gravely. "I would rather stay awake all night then sleep and risk being taken," he said yawning loudly.
"Come you will sleep, and I will watch over you." She said placing her arm around his shoulder, kissing the top of his little hobbit head. Feeling a light tap on her shoulder, she looked up and sees Merry and Pippin. "What's the matter?" Arriël asked.
"Uh, Arriël do you not like us?" Merry asked timidly, and her face looks shocked at his question.
"What? Of course I do, I love you guys," She said rapidly. "Why would ask such a thing?" She questioned.
"Well it's just that we over hear you talking to Frodo, and it seems like you like him more than us" Pippin said in a jealous tone. "You call him your little brother and everything we just feel left out that's all" he said in a more sadden tone.
"Oh you guys, you're all my little brothers. I love you all so much you're all my little hobbit family," she said grabbing their hands. "Come mijos you will sleep next to me." Arriël said as Pippin laid his head on her leg and Merry on the other. She fell asleep not wanting to but she hasn't had a descent night's sleep since Lothlorien. She awoke to a growling sound, as she opens her eye's there's a giant spider in the cave sniffing around. "Frodo! Frodo wake up" she whispered nudging him.
"Huh? Ommm" she slapped her hand over his mouth before he has a chance to yell.
"Be quiet, hand me my daggers" Arriël said, placing them in her hands getting up but the spider looks at me, and in terror.
"Don't hurt me!" He squealed.
"You can talk?" She screamed in shock dropping her daggers.
"Arriël quick kill it!" Pippin shouted throwing his dagger but she stopped it with her telepathy.
"Thank you kind lady," the spider said. "You remind me of someone," he said looking me up and down, and then he gasped, and bowed.
"What are you doing?" Arriël asked confused bending down to face him.
"You are Princess Arriël the princess of my lost city Imanaca," he said looking down.
"How do you know who I am?" She asked curiously.
"Your majesty, my mother told me about you. Along with your sister oh I prayed every night after we fled from our fair city. That you would return to us, and free me from this spell." His voice full of joy. His hideous fangs, legs and body are in contrast to his eye's that show a person with a human soul trapped within the spider form.
"What's your name?" Arriël asked stepping closer.
"I am Roiniel," he said bowing once more.
"Please do not bow to me," she said helping him up, he flinches at her touch. "I do not bare any disease why do you flinch at my touch?" She asked looking to the large spider.
"Forgive my lady; it has been so long since I have made contact with the elven race, or any race at that. People found me ugly, and hideous" he said a small tear fell down his hairy face. The others look at Arriël; she reassures them at everything it ok.
"Tell me how did you come to look like this?"
"My mother was taken from me by an orc. I went after her and ran into Molirion he changed me into this hideous thing you see before you" he said crying. "I was cursed to this form for even thinking of challenging him." He explained to his young elven friend.
"I see no hideous thing. Only a tortured soul longing to be free from this prison. Come we will go to Gandalf" Arriël said smiling walking up, and walking past her hobbit friends. Along with the sleeping others. She awoke Gandalf he sees that the spell Roiniel is under is very weak, and he reverses it. A white light surrounds the giant spider, and as the light fades an elf appears in his place. Unfortunately for Arriël she didn't know it'd be in the nude, covering hers eyes as well as the small hobbits. Gandalf tosses him an extra tunic of Dimtilion he dresses. Finally being able to look upon his face he looks just like Alexia and Arriël but manly. He has ebony hair, dark brown eyes, a tall muscular structure, and golden tan skin and on his finger the ring that there father wears in the painting.
"Arriël now that I am back to normal, I must tell you something, you and Alexia are my sisters I am your older brother" he said showing her his ring, and pointing to her own.
"You were that boy weren't you?" Arriël said touching his face her finger, outlining every bone. "The boy in my memory the one reading. When mother was playing with me and Alexia with her toy you were him" she whispered as if the whole world could hear her every word.
"Yes little sister I was him. I am him and now I've found you both and you have freed me from that spell, with the help of Mirthrandir" he said smiling to Gandalf.
"You look like father, you know that" Arriël said smiling hugging him tightly. She feels as if she's known him all her life. A cold dagger touches his neck. Looking to see Legolas. "Melamin what are you doing!" Arriël said with anger filling her voice.
"Who is he Arriël?" He asked his voice stern he had never called her by her first name, not in a long time. It hurt her deeply, and then she remembered how she felt when she saw him in the arms of another girl.
"He is my brother" Arriël responded pushing away the dagger.
"Oh I am so sorry" Legolas said embarrassed removing the dagger.
"So you are the one my mother talked about." Roiniel looked Legolas over. "The one who has won the heart of my dear little sister" he said looking Legolas up and down once more.
"Yes I am," he said grabbing her hand.
"Where is Alexia?" Roiniel asked.
"I am right here," she said looking to him.
"Lexi this is Roiniel our brother, the little boy from my memory," Arriël said pushing her towards him.
"He looks like father" she said smiling. Hugging him tightly not wanting to let go. "Where have you been?" Alexia asked, as the others awoke he met Dimtilion.
They all learned of his story of how he went after their mother. How Molirion placed the spell on him, how he has been under the spell for over two hundred years, he's only 1003 not that much older than Alexia and Arriël. He was amazed at how much they look the alike. That their mother and father would be proud of them all. He also has explained to the girls about his unique gifts passed down from our mother, that he too has them. Although he still admits that Arriël is the stronger one. He kisses their forehead and embraces the young elven girls once more. Arriël looks to Frodo and he seems sad.
"What's wrong Frodo?" She asked.
"With your brother here this is no room for me and the others" he said sadly.
"Frodo Baggins, how could you assume that I could ever forget about you and the others?" Arriël said shocked. "You will always be my little brother," she whispered in his ear and kissed his cheek, he blushed.
"Come we leave now. I know all the shortest ways out of here although they are the more dangerous ones," Roiniel said. Arriël grabbed her bow, quiver, daggers and boomerang. As Arriël walked out of the cave she gets and evil vibe from above.
"Look out!" Roiniel yelled pushing me out of the way another giant spider, jumps from above the cave onto the ground, his fangs drooling, he's breathing is heavy.
"I will have your flesh!" he shrieked.
Arriël yelled throwing her boomerang. Sling right through the spider. Flying back in to her hands. Placing it over her shoulders.
"Now that, that's over we can move on," the four little hobbits gasped. She turned around and sees a whole army of giant spiders there's got to be a least twenty.
"Spread out! Frodo, Merry, Pippin, Sam stay back!" Arriël yelled running head on at them. Legolas and the others using the bows and arrows. Throwing her giant boomerang weapon slicing right through army. As she caught it, noticing there's no blood on it. Giving Roiniel her extra set of arrow, quiver and bow.
"Damn Arriël, you barely just got that thing and you already know how to throw it perfectly," Alexia said smiling. "What's with that flying bone thing you say?" She asked.
"I don't know something told me to say it" Arriël said laughing throwing it once more through a bushel of trees.
"Dear sister have you not figured it out already" Roiniel asked.
"I guess not tell me" Arriël said catching my boomerang.
"That flying bone as you call it is your specialty. Such as Legolas is deadly with his bow, you are deadly with that." He said as she placed it back around, and over her shoulders.
"Oh, well I decided that I want to get through this forest faster so I'm going to do us all a favor and get rid of those braches and rubble in our way." Arriël said with a smile grabbing her boomerang. The giant weapon flying gracefully through the air slicing through the trees like an assassin's dagger.
"Um Roiniel was I not also given a specialty?" Alexia asked shyly.
"Of course you were little sister in fact your specialty is something you already posses" he said pointing out her bow and arrow. "You are more skilled now than you ever were before"
"Sh . . ." Aragorn hushed them. "There is a cold feel to this air," he said looking to the sky. "Draiels!" he yelled they all looked to the sky, and see giant flying monsters that look like a cross between a dragon, snake, and a bird. Its body long like a snake, claws like a dragon, and wings like a bird, razor sharp teeth. They dive straight for us, Legolas, Dimtilion, Aragorn, Gimli ready their weapons.
"Now," Arriël yelled throwing her weapon.
"Alexia look out!" Dimtilion yelled shooting three arrows at once in her direction killing the draiel.
"Thank you melamin" she smiled, but her smile soon faded as a draiel's claws went straight through Dimtilion. The claw retracts from his body. "No!" she screamed. Alexia screamed shooting her arrows. Arriël's weapon leaves her hand, as she catches it. She notices the rest of the creatures fleeing.
"Dimtilion," Alexia screamed running to his side catching him his arms embracing her.
"I'm sorry my love, we never got to be more than what we are. I would have made you happy, I love you Alexia" he said whispering. "Arriël take care of her" he said looking to her and she nodded tears welling up in her eyes, holding them back was no option.
"You're going to be ok Dimtilion" Arriël said wiping them away.
"I love you Alexia please don't forget me, amin mela lle" he whispered his last words to her. His eye's slowly closing, she holds him close never wanting to let go as if holding him closer well bring him back.
"No!" She screamed to heaven. "You cannot leave me here!" Alexia said grabbing her blade aiming for her stomach.
"No!" Arriël yelled stopping her. "This will not solve anything. I have already lost one person I love dearly I will not lose another. I swear to you this I will kill Molirion for all the pain he has caused you." Arriël said crying as she cried harder. Alexia hugged him tightly; Roiniel and Arriël used their telepathy to fly out of the Black Forest. They all agreed to burry Dimtilion.
It has been four days since that day that he was killed. Alexia now looks different a vengeful look in her eye's, and she no longer smiles. They all long to hear the beautiful laugh she has, but she will not release it. Her heart is broken the elf she loved is gone, not even our little hobbits smile. Frodos eyes have become pale. Sam no longer wishes to tell his jokes. Merry and Pippin no longer eat only when Arriël pushes them. Legolas's skin is pale, his eye's cold, they no longer show the love Arriël knows so well. Only hatred. Aragorn is no longer himself as well, Talther no longer speaks. Gandalf still hums here and there but it is not the same his little tunes are of sorrow, and as for Arriël, she begins to feel more responsible for each casualty that has happened.
"I won't break my promise," Arriël whispered.