Does anyone want to be a Beta-reader for me? I think I really need one,
because I'll post something, then change the chapter and re-post it. note
to you, readers: I've changed a couple things in the past chapters, if
things get confusing, read them again, because I am one whacked up writer,
and things. well, you'll see. but anyways, if anyone wants to help me with
the editing process and writing processes and keeping me on track and
stuff, send me an e-mail or just tell me in a review, because I would SOOOO
APPRECIATE IT!!!!!
Anyways, on with da story!
Chapter V: Rúcima Laurenandë
[terrible Golden-valley]
Aragorn thought to himself as they trod through the light forest heading towards LothLórien. To say the least he hoped they were headed there, as Haíthwen had led them on a path said to be the fastest and safest route to the Wood. He remembered that he should have no doubts of her loyalty, but thoughts of her fear of the place still floated through his mind.
She had seemed so different than when at last they met. Aragorn thought she seemed so much more defensive, more solemn and serious than the Haíthwen he knew who was always cheerful, and had a sense of humour to rival that of the hobbits.
Well, he thought, at least she seems to get along with those in the Fellowship. She was walking alongside Gimli, who no longer held any reservations to her, and was happily discussing the Glittering Caves with her, who seemed happy just listening. Aragorn almost thought him to be rambling, but thought again. It would readily sound like rambling to others who do not share the love of the topic, like Gimli of mountains, or Legolas of the woods.
Aragorn glanced back to see the elf keeping the rear of the group, his keen eyes taking in all the sights of the trees around him. Would only be a matter of time before he broke out into song, he thought, amused.
The group kept walking that day, and stopped to rest in a small clearing beside a small brook. It was only another days walk to LothLórien, so said Haíthwen, and they had covered more ground that Aragorn had previously thought. He was hoping to lure her farther into the wood than she wanted to go, For he knew of the scouting parties that roamed the borders. If he could get her inside their paths, he was pretty sure she would be forced to enter the city, and most certainly see Galadriel.
When he had first met Haíthwen, or Lórëala as he had nicknamed her, Gandalf had introduced them right away as what they properly were: Haíthiminë, crowned princess of the long lost race of Faëries; and Aragorn, son of Arathorn, of Isildur's line and heir to the throne of Gondor ('should he ever get the guts to claim it' Gandalf had said). Why exactly Gandalf had bluntly introduced them as what they were (or could be) was unclear, but Aragorn had never regretted that she knew, for she treated him exactly as he wished to be treated by others: like a human being, not as some superhuman being that was all righteous and virtuous, possible King or not. Aragorn admired her in many ways, for her kindness, friendship and honesty. Even now those qualities were still present, although hidden by such toil that Aragorn pitied her, even if he would not dare show it (he dared think of that would happen if he did: She would be mad. A mad Lórëala would be a baaaad thing...) . Gandalf had explained how she could fear elves, and how it was his fondest desire that she could restore the relationship with Galadriel, for she had not been the same since her departure. Galadriel had never spoken directly to Aragorn of it, but Gandalf knew of the grief the she felt in her actions towards the small sprite. 'Aragorn, should you ever have a chance to bring Haíthwen before the Lady of the Wood, by no means let it slip by you!' Gandalf had said, then made him swear by it that he would do whatever he could to fulfill his oath, whether or not it meant dragging her into the wood by her ears. Aragorn laughed inwardly at the mental picture this entailed: him dragging a very furious Fairy by her pointed ears through a forest, her cursing every step of the way.
The company rested that night, Haíthwen keeping guard all through the night, as Aragorn had later learned, for she had 'forgotten' to wake another to replace her. He frowned upon this, for she had not slept since they had met in Dimril Dale, and despite the fact that she never looked tired, the weariness was apparent in her eyes, particularly when she thought no one was there to see.
They continued on through the fields and plains, till they reached the very edge of the forest, where the trees began to turn a silver hue and the leaves were like liquid gold in the wind. Haíthwen visibly slowed as they passed the first few trees, but Aragorn slowed his pace to meet hers, nodding to Legolas with a quick glance as the elf lead them through the wood.
"Lórëala, how exactly did Mithrandir send word to you?" He asked, and she looked at him, surprised at haven been awakened from her thoughts.
"I. um, he sent me letters and messages through Gwaihir, the Wind Lord. Not much for conversation, but he is the best messenger by far in Middle- Earth." She said wistfully. She did not move to continue the conversation, and Aragorn searched quickly to find another topic to discuss. Luckily, Merry and Pippin saved him from his block of ideas.
"Aíca, every time we've tried to bring this up, you've always shifted the topic to something else, and now we aren't going to give up till you tell us. Once and for all, are you an elf? Or Man? Or part hobbit, perhaps, since you're shorter than the others." Merry asked. She looked at them anxiously, then shifted her gaze away to the trees.
"Aren't these trees beautiful? The leaves stay gold all winter, and don't fall off, did you know that?"
"Oh no you don't!" Pippin cried as he jumped on Haíthwen's back, arms around her neck trying to wrestle her to the ground. Merry grabbed hold of her legs and held them together, causing the trio to fall to the ground, rolling down a small hill. Her cry of alarm alerted the rest of the Fellowship, and they all turned to look for hidden enemies. Aragorn and Gimli laughed as the two hobbits ganged up on her and began to tickle her, and, try as she might, she could not wrestle her arms from underneath their tight grasp. Even Frodo laughed, forgetting his sorrow for a moment.
"Stop! Ple-please.let me. GO! Peace!" she cried, silver pearls of laughter ringing through the forest like a cheerful song.
"Promise you'll tell, then we'll let you go!" Merry said.
"Fine! FINE! « Avá. áva », I'll tell!" [Don't!] She cried, and Merry and Pippin jumped off her, offering their hands to pick her up. She glared at them and rolled over on her side, gasping for air. She slowly picked herself up, and the duo looked at her expectantly, waiting for her answer. "Will you give me time to rest first? Then, I promise I shall tell you. My sides hurt from laughing, and I do not think I am able to tell such a long tale as of now." Merry and Pippin looked at each other doubtfully, but shrugged and walked back up the hill.
"Alright, but you made a promise! And we'll hold you to that!"
Haíthwen sighed and dusted herself off, removing a few leaves and twigs from her hair and clothing as the group continued on. Aragorn followed by her side, laughing to himself as she tried to clean her dishevelled appearance. She saw his smothered laugh and swiped at his arm. His heart jumped again for the better as he realized how far they had traveled into the Wood.
Just as he realized this, she seemed to also, for she gasped and halted abruptly, staring at the trees around her as if they were to be Orcs ready to attack. The group stopped again and turned, slightly confused at her frightened appearance to nothing but some trees. She backed away, in the direction they had just came in.
"Is something the matter, Lady?" Boromir asked.
"I have come too far. I dare not take another step further." She said, quickly turning to run away, but almost falling backwards as an arrow was aimed in her face by a golden haired elf that appeared as stealthily as a breeze.
"Tis a little too late for that, isn't it?" An arrogant accent said from above them, and the fellowship turned about, equally shocked to find more arrows, complete with archers, completely surround them.
"The Dwarf breathes so loud we could shoot you in the dark," said one of the Elves, whom Aragorn recognized, coming forwards and sweeping a cool and disdainful gaze over the company. Aragorn laid a hand on Legolas' wrist and he reluctantly lowered his bow.
"It has been many summers since we saw each other, Haldir of Lórien. We come as the Walkers from Imladris, and we ask your protection."
'Aragorn,' Gimli interjected before Haldir could reply, 'These woods are perilous! We must turn back!'
Haíthwen seemed to agree with this, for she seemed terrified of the group that not surrounded her. The moment the nearest guard let their bows drop, she knocked the bow from one of the elves, and elbowed another in the stomach. She took off, deftly loosing herself from sight in mere seconds as she ran as swiftly as she could.
Haldir showed no emotion or surprise at this, but signalled for 4 Elves to pursue her, and they ran off as well, and almost immediately were naught to be seen amongst the trees.
"Know this, son of earth," he said coolly as he looked upon Gimli with something akin to distaste, "You have entered the domain of the Lady of the Wood. There can be no going back. The same with your friend. She will return, and will be judged along with the rest of you."
"The Lady expects us, does she not?" Aragorn asked his eyes searching Haldir for any betrayal of information.
Haldir inclined his head in acknowledgement, briefly looking the Fellowship over, then returned his attention to the now both irate and alarmed Gimli.
"Come," he said solemnly. "She is waiting."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Anyways, on with da story!
Chapter V: Rúcima Laurenandë
[terrible Golden-valley]
Aragorn thought to himself as they trod through the light forest heading towards LothLórien. To say the least he hoped they were headed there, as Haíthwen had led them on a path said to be the fastest and safest route to the Wood. He remembered that he should have no doubts of her loyalty, but thoughts of her fear of the place still floated through his mind.
She had seemed so different than when at last they met. Aragorn thought she seemed so much more defensive, more solemn and serious than the Haíthwen he knew who was always cheerful, and had a sense of humour to rival that of the hobbits.
Well, he thought, at least she seems to get along with those in the Fellowship. She was walking alongside Gimli, who no longer held any reservations to her, and was happily discussing the Glittering Caves with her, who seemed happy just listening. Aragorn almost thought him to be rambling, but thought again. It would readily sound like rambling to others who do not share the love of the topic, like Gimli of mountains, or Legolas of the woods.
Aragorn glanced back to see the elf keeping the rear of the group, his keen eyes taking in all the sights of the trees around him. Would only be a matter of time before he broke out into song, he thought, amused.
The group kept walking that day, and stopped to rest in a small clearing beside a small brook. It was only another days walk to LothLórien, so said Haíthwen, and they had covered more ground that Aragorn had previously thought. He was hoping to lure her farther into the wood than she wanted to go, For he knew of the scouting parties that roamed the borders. If he could get her inside their paths, he was pretty sure she would be forced to enter the city, and most certainly see Galadriel.
When he had first met Haíthwen, or Lórëala as he had nicknamed her, Gandalf had introduced them right away as what they properly were: Haíthiminë, crowned princess of the long lost race of Faëries; and Aragorn, son of Arathorn, of Isildur's line and heir to the throne of Gondor ('should he ever get the guts to claim it' Gandalf had said). Why exactly Gandalf had bluntly introduced them as what they were (or could be) was unclear, but Aragorn had never regretted that she knew, for she treated him exactly as he wished to be treated by others: like a human being, not as some superhuman being that was all righteous and virtuous, possible King or not. Aragorn admired her in many ways, for her kindness, friendship and honesty. Even now those qualities were still present, although hidden by such toil that Aragorn pitied her, even if he would not dare show it (he dared think of that would happen if he did: She would be mad. A mad Lórëala would be a baaaad thing...) . Gandalf had explained how she could fear elves, and how it was his fondest desire that she could restore the relationship with Galadriel, for she had not been the same since her departure. Galadriel had never spoken directly to Aragorn of it, but Gandalf knew of the grief the she felt in her actions towards the small sprite. 'Aragorn, should you ever have a chance to bring Haíthwen before the Lady of the Wood, by no means let it slip by you!' Gandalf had said, then made him swear by it that he would do whatever he could to fulfill his oath, whether or not it meant dragging her into the wood by her ears. Aragorn laughed inwardly at the mental picture this entailed: him dragging a very furious Fairy by her pointed ears through a forest, her cursing every step of the way.
The company rested that night, Haíthwen keeping guard all through the night, as Aragorn had later learned, for she had 'forgotten' to wake another to replace her. He frowned upon this, for she had not slept since they had met in Dimril Dale, and despite the fact that she never looked tired, the weariness was apparent in her eyes, particularly when she thought no one was there to see.
They continued on through the fields and plains, till they reached the very edge of the forest, where the trees began to turn a silver hue and the leaves were like liquid gold in the wind. Haíthwen visibly slowed as they passed the first few trees, but Aragorn slowed his pace to meet hers, nodding to Legolas with a quick glance as the elf lead them through the wood.
"Lórëala, how exactly did Mithrandir send word to you?" He asked, and she looked at him, surprised at haven been awakened from her thoughts.
"I. um, he sent me letters and messages through Gwaihir, the Wind Lord. Not much for conversation, but he is the best messenger by far in Middle- Earth." She said wistfully. She did not move to continue the conversation, and Aragorn searched quickly to find another topic to discuss. Luckily, Merry and Pippin saved him from his block of ideas.
"Aíca, every time we've tried to bring this up, you've always shifted the topic to something else, and now we aren't going to give up till you tell us. Once and for all, are you an elf? Or Man? Or part hobbit, perhaps, since you're shorter than the others." Merry asked. She looked at them anxiously, then shifted her gaze away to the trees.
"Aren't these trees beautiful? The leaves stay gold all winter, and don't fall off, did you know that?"
"Oh no you don't!" Pippin cried as he jumped on Haíthwen's back, arms around her neck trying to wrestle her to the ground. Merry grabbed hold of her legs and held them together, causing the trio to fall to the ground, rolling down a small hill. Her cry of alarm alerted the rest of the Fellowship, and they all turned to look for hidden enemies. Aragorn and Gimli laughed as the two hobbits ganged up on her and began to tickle her, and, try as she might, she could not wrestle her arms from underneath their tight grasp. Even Frodo laughed, forgetting his sorrow for a moment.
"Stop! Ple-please.let me. GO! Peace!" she cried, silver pearls of laughter ringing through the forest like a cheerful song.
"Promise you'll tell, then we'll let you go!" Merry said.
"Fine! FINE! « Avá. áva », I'll tell!" [Don't!] She cried, and Merry and Pippin jumped off her, offering their hands to pick her up. She glared at them and rolled over on her side, gasping for air. She slowly picked herself up, and the duo looked at her expectantly, waiting for her answer. "Will you give me time to rest first? Then, I promise I shall tell you. My sides hurt from laughing, and I do not think I am able to tell such a long tale as of now." Merry and Pippin looked at each other doubtfully, but shrugged and walked back up the hill.
"Alright, but you made a promise! And we'll hold you to that!"
Haíthwen sighed and dusted herself off, removing a few leaves and twigs from her hair and clothing as the group continued on. Aragorn followed by her side, laughing to himself as she tried to clean her dishevelled appearance. She saw his smothered laugh and swiped at his arm. His heart jumped again for the better as he realized how far they had traveled into the Wood.
Just as he realized this, she seemed to also, for she gasped and halted abruptly, staring at the trees around her as if they were to be Orcs ready to attack. The group stopped again and turned, slightly confused at her frightened appearance to nothing but some trees. She backed away, in the direction they had just came in.
"Is something the matter, Lady?" Boromir asked.
"I have come too far. I dare not take another step further." She said, quickly turning to run away, but almost falling backwards as an arrow was aimed in her face by a golden haired elf that appeared as stealthily as a breeze.
"Tis a little too late for that, isn't it?" An arrogant accent said from above them, and the fellowship turned about, equally shocked to find more arrows, complete with archers, completely surround them.
"The Dwarf breathes so loud we could shoot you in the dark," said one of the Elves, whom Aragorn recognized, coming forwards and sweeping a cool and disdainful gaze over the company. Aragorn laid a hand on Legolas' wrist and he reluctantly lowered his bow.
"It has been many summers since we saw each other, Haldir of Lórien. We come as the Walkers from Imladris, and we ask your protection."
'Aragorn,' Gimli interjected before Haldir could reply, 'These woods are perilous! We must turn back!'
Haíthwen seemed to agree with this, for she seemed terrified of the group that not surrounded her. The moment the nearest guard let their bows drop, she knocked the bow from one of the elves, and elbowed another in the stomach. She took off, deftly loosing herself from sight in mere seconds as she ran as swiftly as she could.
Haldir showed no emotion or surprise at this, but signalled for 4 Elves to pursue her, and they ran off as well, and almost immediately were naught to be seen amongst the trees.
"Know this, son of earth," he said coolly as he looked upon Gimli with something akin to distaste, "You have entered the domain of the Lady of the Wood. There can be no going back. The same with your friend. She will return, and will be judged along with the rest of you."
"The Lady expects us, does she not?" Aragorn asked his eyes searching Haldir for any betrayal of information.
Haldir inclined his head in acknowledgement, briefly looking the Fellowship over, then returned his attention to the now both irate and alarmed Gimli.
"Come," he said solemnly. "She is waiting."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*