Meadowlands
Bergo and Fretho stood watch while their companions slept, well some slept. Four of them stared up at the stars, and Bergo and Fretho both laughed at the amusement of it all. Bergo looked at Jamie, Nyére, Polodrin and Thelyn and smirked.
"I felt that way once," Bergo said.
Fretho nodded, "Yes, I remember that feeling as well."
"What was her name?" Bergo asked.
"Havaleh," Fretho said with a wistful look on his face, "You?"
"Lorelii," Bergo said with a dreamy sigh.
"So, where is she now?" Fretho asked with a cocked brow.
"Married to some farmer down in Lebennin, with about a dozen kids," Bergo said with a flat expression.
"Same with Havaleh, only it's a tanner from Dol Amroth, and she's got four kids," Fretho said sadly. "Woe to the lost opportunities."
"Hmph!" Bergo snorted. "What's worse is I can't hate him, he's a decent man, takes good care of her."
"Yes you can," Fretho said.
"Maybe a little," Bergo admitted with a little smile.
"So, you chose king and country over love?" Fretho asked.
"Yup," Bergo said.
"Aye, me too," Fretho admitted. "It's never too late, you know."
"Nah, love is for the young," Bergo said, shaking his head. "Let them have it and welcome. I follow my liege."
"True enough, besides, who would have an old rascal like you for a husband?" Fretho asked humorously.
"Check the mirror, scruffy," Bergo said, shooting him a sidelong glance. "You have gray in your beard, sir."
"Then that makes us even," Fretho said. "Your gray is in your hair, what there is of it."
"Ouch, Fretho," Bergo said with a chuckle. "You wound me, sir."
"You will live," Fretho said as he shook his head. "More's the pity."
"Oh, pace your watch," Bergo said with a smirk. "This banter is tiresome."
Thelyn rose early and quickly packed and prepared his and Jamie's horses. When she woke, he was waiting beside her. She opened her eyes and was greeted by his smile.
"Good morning," she said with a dreamy smile. "How long have you been sitting there?"
"Not long," Thelyn said.
Jamie sat up and Thelyn took her hand and kissed it. He helped her put her sleeping bag away and they sat by the fire with the others. They had fish for breakfast, and everyone ate their fill. They doused the fire and mounted up. Jamie looked at Nyére and smiled.
"So, do we cross here, or is it too deep?" Jamie asked.
Nyére suddenly realized that no one told Jamie about their plans to go around the wood. "We'll head north along the river and cross there," she said nervously. "The Entwives Gardens should be between the two northernmost peaks of the Orocarni Mountains."
Everyone else waited to see what Jamie would say. They knew the reasons for the change, but they wanted to hear Nyére's explanation to Jamie. Aragorn refrained from interrupting and listened.
Jamie frowned, "But your home… I promised I would go with you and help if I could."
"Your journey first," Nyére said. "We can talk about the forest later."
Jamie looked at her suspiciously. "Oh, no. We'll talk about it right now. What's going on?"
Polodrin was about to say something but it was Quickbeam who spoke. "This journey is not to the Avari, it is to the Entwives. Let the Elf keep her secrets, our path goes north."
Jamie sighed, "You're right, Quickbeam. I'm sorry. I just don't like going back on a promise."
"I release you from it," Nyére said. "Lead on."
Jamie didn't say another word; she just turned up stream and picked up a brisk pace. She was annoyed. It seemed as if everyone else knew what was going on, but wouldn't say. It really pissed her off. She followed the river, and ignored everyone, including Thelyn who was trying to keep pace beside her.
Aragorn and Legolas kept an eye on the far side of the river. If Nyére's fears were valid, it would not be good to be discovered so near their borders. It might be worse to be caught avoiding her home than to boldly visit. But as fortune would have it, they passed the northern edge of the forest by late afternoon, and at dusk, they crossed the river and made camp. With the Northern Dorian forest now to the south and barren steppes to the north they looked to their final destination. The red peaks of the Orocarni Mountains rose above the rolling plains like bloody monuments in the fading light. These two were the tallest in the range and stood as almost a mirror image of each other.
"There is the Entula en' Templa, the mountain's reflection. Between them is thought to be the hidden valley of the Entwives," Nyére said. "None have gone there for more than an age, and stories of the Entwives are little more than legend among my people. But the oldest and wisest swear to the truth of it."
Quickbeam looked at the mountains longingly. He couldn't believe they were that close to his Willowhair. He sighed, and left the camp, as was his custom. He didn't stay with the others at night, craving the solitude he was so accustomed to. If there was no apparent danger, he rested alone in a patch of trees if one could be found. The forest was not far, so he headed there. He needed to be alone for a while. His heart ached for his lost love, and being this close was painful.
The company made camp, and Jamie decided to try her hand at fishing. She joined Bergo, Alcon and Thelyn by the river and watched their technique. They didn't use a fishing rod and reel, just a line with a hook and a small lure. There was a little metal sinker that allowed them to get a little distance with their cast. It was interesting to watch as they skillfully wrapped the excess line around their hands and then spun the hooked end over their head like a lasso. Then they'd release it and let the line unravel from their hand as it flew. It looked difficult. In a matter of minutes, each of them had pulled in at least one fish, and Bergo had two.
Jamie stood with her arms crossed, "All right, how do you do that?"
Thelyn looked at her with a big smile, "We're good."
Bergo just snorted, "You're mediocre, Thelyn. When it comes to fishing, I'm twice as good as you."
Alcon just glanced at Jamie with a smirk, "Humility is not Bergo's strongest quality."
"I noticed," Jamie said. "But he is good at catching fish. What's your secret, Bergo?"
"It's all in the wrist," he said as he cast his line again. "Allow me to catch one just for you."
"Mercy, good ranger," Thelyn said. "Don't make me look bad in front of my girlfriend."
Alcon and Bergo both turned and looked at him, and Alcon just said, "Your what?"
Thelyn smiled, "My girlfriend," he repeated. "It is a term from Jamie's world that means we are courting."
Bergo turned back to his line with a thoughtful look on his face, "Huh."
Alcon just looked at Jamie, "So what's he?"
"My boyfriend," Jamie said with a blush.
Alcon nodded as he looked back at the river, "Makes sense."
Jamie just rolled her eyes and left them to their work. She decided that fishing wasn't her thing so she went to help Nyére with the biscuits.
"So, how are you and Polodrin getting along?" Jamie asked.
Nyére glanced across the camp to where Polodrin sat with Aragorn, Legolas and Fretho. She didn't' want to be overheard. "We are better friends than I would have thought," she said.
"Just friends?" Jamie prompted.
"That is all that we can share," Nyére said. "The Elves of the east do not have the same freedoms your Thelyn has. We are isolated out of choice, and make no alliances."
Jamie was thoughtful for a moment. "You're going home alone, aren't you?"
"Yes," Nyére admitted.
"What if just I came with you? If it was just me, maybe your father wouldn't get upset. You would have proved yourself and then your home will be healed, like you said," Jamie suggested.
Nyére had not considered that possibility. She knew that the others would not let Jamie go alone, especially Thelyn. She immediately disregarded the idea. "No, your friends would not allow you to go alone, and rightly so. Go back to the west with your friends," Nyére said. "There is little you could have done in any case."
"And what about Polodrin?" Jamie asked.
"I will miss him," Nyére said flatly. "Go find something to do and leave me in peace."
Jamie didn't like the brush off, but could tell that Nyére was upset. She was bored and feeling a little left out of everything, so she went for a walk. On a hill, not far from camp, she saw some wildflowers growing, so she went that way. Everyone was busy, so no one noticed her leave and in minutes she was out of sight.
The fishermen or fisherelves returned with their catch, and Polodrin went to work cleaning and frying them. Everyone gathered around the fire lost in conversation until Bergo spoke up.
"Where is your girlfriend, Thelyn? I wanted to show her this spectacular fish." Bergo said.
The conversation ended and there was a thick silence around the fire. Thelyn looked at Aragorn who looked at Nyére.
"Is she with Quickbeam?" Aragorn asked calmly.
"I do not know," Nyére said. "She was here only a few minutes ago."
Thelyn stood and looked around, "Did anyone see her leave?"
There was a chorus of head shaking, and Thelyn frowned and headed for the horses. He didn't bother with the saddle he just leapt onto Thunder's back and started looking. Aragorn followed, as well as Legolas, Alcon, Bergo and Fretho.
Aragorn turned to Polodrin, "She is probably close, and fine. Keep cooking." He looked at the search party and just said, "Split up and fan out."
Polodrin could see that the king was trying to be optimistic, but he was worried. He glanced at Nyére and said, "She was just talking to you, what happened?"
"I told her to find something to do," Nyére said. "I didn't think she'd leave."
Polodrin frowned. "So, how safe is it around here? Any strange creatures we should worry about?"
Nyére glared at him, "Only humans."
Polodrin flipped the fillet he was frying and ignored the obvious dig. He refused to let her bait him, but he wondered why she said it.
"Do you regret our kiss, Snow?" he asked softly.
Nyére blushed, but didn't look at him, "No."
Polodrin smiled, "Neither do I."
Jamie trudged through the waist high grass with a smile. There was wild mustard in shades of yellow white and purple. Large white daisies grew in patches and several varieties of flower she'd never seen before. There was a light breeze, and the grass seemed to ripple across the hills like the waves of the ocean. She hadn't meant to go far, but the breeze and the flowers smelled so fresh. She passed one small hill, and then another. She hummed softly and then she started to sing...
"You'll remember me when the west wind moves upon the fields of barley. You can tell the sun in his jealous sky when we walked in the fields of gold..." Sting always wrote such awesome songs.
Jamie slowed her pace and picked a couple of flowers here and there as she sang. She never thought to look back and see how far she'd come so he never noticed how wildflowers sprung from her footprints. She climbed to the top of another hill and gazed eastward at the rising moon. It was getting late, and she should think about getting back, but she just had to do that sound of music thing first. It was the perfect spot, up on this hill with the mountains in the distance. She held her arms out wide threw her head back and twirled around. Julie Andrwes, eat your heart out...
"The hills are alive with the sound of music, with songs they have sung for a thousand years…"
She suddenlyquit singing and stopped in her tracks with a gasp as she came face to face with an angry looking dark haired Elf. He stood with his arms crossed and a frown on his face.
Jamie gulped nervously. "Uh, hi," she said.
Several other elves stood up, having been completely hidden by the tall grass, and Jamie found herself surrounded. None of them said a word, but the one in front of her just pointed south toward the wood.
Jamie looked at the trees, and then looked at the Elf and asked, "You want me to go with you?"
The Elf's expression darkened in annoyance and he just gave a curt nod.
Jamie thought for a moment about Nyére's concerns about bringing them to the wood and she decided to keep silent about the others. She stood tall, and feigned a fearless expression. "Very well," she said. "I will go with you since you asked so politely." She turned and started to walk, but he caught her arm firmly, and she tried to pull away. "Hey!"
He said nothing, but just took her wrists and bound them behind her back.
Jamie didn't like the way this was going. It was not at all funny, so she took a deep breath and screamed out as loud as she could. The note was more piercing than a high C, and it caught the elves by surprise. A moment later, six riders tore over the hill and surrounded them. Legolas was fuming and spoke first.
"Release her, or face us," he said angrily in sindarin.
The dark haired Elf was not impressed by this mixed band, "I do not answer to deserters," he said lightly.
Legolas was not amused by the Avari's nickname for the followers of the Valar's call. "Draw your sword and I will teach you who to respect!" Legolas slid off his horse and drew his twin blades from their sheaths, but the dark Elf just sneered at him.
"This creature is beneath contempt, save for the song we heard from the wood. Our lord would hear of this strange music and he will decide what is to be done with her," the Elf said.
Aragorn listened intently, and the twins waited anxiously to see how this confrontation would play out.
"You leave your boundary to take her," Legolas said angrily.
Thelyn had heard enough and looked at Aragorn. "Give the order uncle, we can take them."
Aragorn just sighed at the absurdity of the situation. There was simply no reason for this fighting. "Jamie, call the trees. Perhaps if their forest rose against them, they would see the folly of their attack."
The Elf suddenly paused and looked at Aragorn curiously. "The wench can command the trees?"
Thelyn glared at the Elf angrily. "The Taure Lirilla is no wench, you uncivilized brigand!"
The Elf's face paled at the mention of her title. "If she is indeed who you say, then we will fight to the death to take her. Her song is too valuable to give up."
Jamie was tired of their arguing in another language. She was sick of being the victim. "Everyone shut up!" She turned and glared at the Elf. "You understand me?"
He nodded.
"Good, then understand this. I made a promise to a friend to go sing in your forest, but she was afraid your people would hurt me and my friends because we're human. I can see now that she was right to protect us. You are the most bigoted people I have ever met. Untie me before one of my friends hurts you."
The Elf wordlessly cut her ropes and backed away, though he kept his hand on the hilt of his sword.
"That's more like it," Jamie said. "What's your name?"
"Erveryo," he said.
Jamie nodded. "I have to go into the mountains to help the Ents first, but on my way home, I will come and sing if I am invited as a friend and not a captive."
Erveryo looked at her a moment, trying to size her up and finally he asked, "Who's your friend?"
"I am," Nyére said as she rode over the hill with Polodrin. "What cruelty are you about in the meadowlands, Erveryo?"
All the Elves dropped to one knee when they saw her, and Erveryo stared in wonder, "My lady, you have returned! We received word that all in your party were slain."
"Indeed?" she asked with a cocked brow as she nudged her horse forward. "In truth I am the last."
"Why have you come this way in this… strange company?" he asked as he glanced at Aragorn, Polodrin and the rangers.
"On this day, my business is my own," she said. "You have crossed the boundary and are in the wrong. Return to the wood and inform my father that I am well."
"But he will send us to retrieve you," Erveryo said. "Come with us now."
"I will not," she said. "If I leave, you will send out a party to attack them. You have done it before."
Erveryo glared at her. "You are bold among these strangers, Princess. Wait until you are returned to your father's house. Such arrogance will not be tolerated by the new Captain of the Wood."
"So, my father's grace has shined favor upon you," Nyére said with a smirk. "How nice for you."
"Indeed, and Captain is not all I have been promised," he said smugly, knowing full well she would understand his meaning. "Enjoy this moment of freedom, it will be short." Erveryo motioned for his guards to return to the wood, and they did. He looked at Nyére with both admiration and fury before he too headed south.
Nyére shivered and turned her back on the wood. "My future is no longer unknown," she said softly. "Oh how I long for the Goblins and that burning tree," she added under her breath.
Thelyn was of his horse and hugging Jamie. "Why'd you leave?"
"I just wanted to take a little walk," she said.
Aragorn and Legolas watched the retreating Elves and looked at each other.
"How long before they return?" Aragorn asked.
"Not long," Legolas said. "I would take advantage of the moon and the clear night."
Aragorn looked at Jamie, "Well?"
"I'm sorry, this is my fault," she said.
"No," Nyére said. "They would have found our camp in the night. At least this way we had the upper hand."
Jamie nodded and said, "Let's go, then."