Disclaimer: I don't own any of this. (I just wanted to remind
everyone).
*****
She continued on her journey northwest across the open meadow and into the western reaches of Mirkwood until she came to the Forest Gate. Here the trees were young and more openly spaced, their empty branches scratching at the darkening sky. Through the Forest Gate, the Elf Path snaked up to Thranduil's Halls, crossing the Enchanted River about midway through the woodland.
It would be best to leave the horse here, as it would be able to find its way back to Rivendell. At least she would spare the animal the walk through Mirkwood. She shuddered at the thought of spending several nights alone in the frightening place but this was the quickest way for her to reach home. She had spent nights deep in this forest before and emerged safely, but the thought did not comfort her now. Legs or one of her cousins had usually accompanied her but not this time.
Pushing the thoughts of spiders and wolves out of her mind, she removed her pack from the horse, tied the reins together so not to trip the animal and turned its head toward home, giving it a slap on the rump to send it on its way. The animal trotted off. Annowe shouldered her pack and gathered her courage as she took one last look at the Misty Mountains before she plunged into the darkness of Mirkwood.
As she passed through the forest gate, the thought struck her that she had not even considered what she would say to Thranduil regarding his son. She would be the bearer of the news that the young prince had taken it upon himself to escort The Ring to Mount Doom and see to its destruction. Selfishly, she had not considered that there were others who loved Legolas as much as she did.
Lost in her own thoughts, she pressed farther into the woods where the trees grew closer together, their massive trunks occupying the space of a large house and their thick canopy of dead leaves dimming the weak winter sun. The place had always made her blood run cold. And with Sauron's return, there would be even more cause for alarm, as the malevolent creatures would feel emboldened and roam more freely about the place. She hurried on, pulling the hood of her cloak over her head defensively. The quicker her pace, the faster she would reach the safety of Thranduil's protection.
The forest seemed to close in on her and she could not tell if the sun had set or if the deepening forest had merely blotted out all of the light from above. Creatures scurried across the forest floor, rustling dead leaves, making Annowe even more nervous as she cast her eyes about in fear. Leaves and branches, disturbed by the wind or other things unimaginable, floated to the ground around her. She could feel a thousand eyes upon her, following her as she moved along the path and it made her shiver.
Soon it would be completely dark and she would not even be able to see her hand in front of her face. But building a fire would just draw the bats, moths and spiders to her. She shivered at the thought. She hated spiders. They made her skin crawl. Where was Legolas when she needed him? She was alone and increasingly agitated in this hair-raising place. "Stay calm," she told herself. "You've done this before. You'll be fine."
She stumbled along in the increasing darkness, trying to feel her way along the path. Finally, she just gave up and decided to stop for the night. Finding a tree by the path, she sat down at its base putting her back to the tree and slipping her pack under her knees for support and protection. She wrapped the cloak tightly around her and pulled the hood over her head, trying to make herself as small and inconspicuous as possible. Resting her covered head in her arms, she tried to focus her anxious mind elsewhere.
It would be foolish and dangerous to try and walk the path in the dark. Once you left the path, it was highly unlikely you would find it again. Only the elves and the wood nymphs dared to wander from the path and Annowe was neither. She would almost be glad to see Deka, she thought fleetingly but decided she wasn't quite that scared yet.
The creatures of the forest began to stir deep in the night and Annowe shivered at their sounds – feet scrabbling over dry leaves, howls of the wolves, the creaking of branches under weight and the soft fluttering of bats' wings. Taking deep breaths, she tried to calm herself and think of more pleasant memories or at least something else to take her away from the forest and the terrifying creatures that she thought were closing in on her.
Home! Home was safe! She smiled weakly at the thought of her own bed, a hot bath and a change of clothes. It would only be a few more days and she would be curled up in her warm bed.
Was her sister there or had she gone to sea for the winter? She fervently hoped that Hollyberry was still home. She needed to confide in someone and her older sister was like a mother to her.
Holly would listen and offer her sound advice on the path she had chosen to follow, pointing out the flaws and possible complications to her plans. Her sister could be quite the steadying influence and Annowe loved her for that. More than anything else, she needed a sensible ally to advise her now that Legs was gone. He had always been the practical one in their relationship but now she would turn to her older sister to fulfill that role.
Thinking of home and her sister made Annowe long for its comforts. She fleetingly considered bypassing Thranduil's Halls and heading straight home but banished the thought. Thranduil needed to be warned about The Ring and Curunir's treachery. The bath and other comforts of home could wait. She had more urgent matters to attend to than looking presentable.
Her languid thoughts drifted to Legolas and she sleepily felt the comb through the fabric of her pouch with her fingers to reassure herself it was still there. She fell into a light and fitful sleep as memories of their shared past drifted through her mind.
****
A/N: The descriptions of Mirkwood and the creepy-crawlies that live there are from "The Hobbit". And yes, it gets worse!
Jebb – You're right. She'd be pretty upset if she knew Legs was stuck in Moria. Probably go after him but luckily, she doesn't know yet.
everyone).
*****
She continued on her journey northwest across the open meadow and into the western reaches of Mirkwood until she came to the Forest Gate. Here the trees were young and more openly spaced, their empty branches scratching at the darkening sky. Through the Forest Gate, the Elf Path snaked up to Thranduil's Halls, crossing the Enchanted River about midway through the woodland.
It would be best to leave the horse here, as it would be able to find its way back to Rivendell. At least she would spare the animal the walk through Mirkwood. She shuddered at the thought of spending several nights alone in the frightening place but this was the quickest way for her to reach home. She had spent nights deep in this forest before and emerged safely, but the thought did not comfort her now. Legs or one of her cousins had usually accompanied her but not this time.
Pushing the thoughts of spiders and wolves out of her mind, she removed her pack from the horse, tied the reins together so not to trip the animal and turned its head toward home, giving it a slap on the rump to send it on its way. The animal trotted off. Annowe shouldered her pack and gathered her courage as she took one last look at the Misty Mountains before she plunged into the darkness of Mirkwood.
As she passed through the forest gate, the thought struck her that she had not even considered what she would say to Thranduil regarding his son. She would be the bearer of the news that the young prince had taken it upon himself to escort The Ring to Mount Doom and see to its destruction. Selfishly, she had not considered that there were others who loved Legolas as much as she did.
Lost in her own thoughts, she pressed farther into the woods where the trees grew closer together, their massive trunks occupying the space of a large house and their thick canopy of dead leaves dimming the weak winter sun. The place had always made her blood run cold. And with Sauron's return, there would be even more cause for alarm, as the malevolent creatures would feel emboldened and roam more freely about the place. She hurried on, pulling the hood of her cloak over her head defensively. The quicker her pace, the faster she would reach the safety of Thranduil's protection.
The forest seemed to close in on her and she could not tell if the sun had set or if the deepening forest had merely blotted out all of the light from above. Creatures scurried across the forest floor, rustling dead leaves, making Annowe even more nervous as she cast her eyes about in fear. Leaves and branches, disturbed by the wind or other things unimaginable, floated to the ground around her. She could feel a thousand eyes upon her, following her as she moved along the path and it made her shiver.
Soon it would be completely dark and she would not even be able to see her hand in front of her face. But building a fire would just draw the bats, moths and spiders to her. She shivered at the thought. She hated spiders. They made her skin crawl. Where was Legolas when she needed him? She was alone and increasingly agitated in this hair-raising place. "Stay calm," she told herself. "You've done this before. You'll be fine."
She stumbled along in the increasing darkness, trying to feel her way along the path. Finally, she just gave up and decided to stop for the night. Finding a tree by the path, she sat down at its base putting her back to the tree and slipping her pack under her knees for support and protection. She wrapped the cloak tightly around her and pulled the hood over her head, trying to make herself as small and inconspicuous as possible. Resting her covered head in her arms, she tried to focus her anxious mind elsewhere.
It would be foolish and dangerous to try and walk the path in the dark. Once you left the path, it was highly unlikely you would find it again. Only the elves and the wood nymphs dared to wander from the path and Annowe was neither. She would almost be glad to see Deka, she thought fleetingly but decided she wasn't quite that scared yet.
The creatures of the forest began to stir deep in the night and Annowe shivered at their sounds – feet scrabbling over dry leaves, howls of the wolves, the creaking of branches under weight and the soft fluttering of bats' wings. Taking deep breaths, she tried to calm herself and think of more pleasant memories or at least something else to take her away from the forest and the terrifying creatures that she thought were closing in on her.
Home! Home was safe! She smiled weakly at the thought of her own bed, a hot bath and a change of clothes. It would only be a few more days and she would be curled up in her warm bed.
Was her sister there or had she gone to sea for the winter? She fervently hoped that Hollyberry was still home. She needed to confide in someone and her older sister was like a mother to her.
Holly would listen and offer her sound advice on the path she had chosen to follow, pointing out the flaws and possible complications to her plans. Her sister could be quite the steadying influence and Annowe loved her for that. More than anything else, she needed a sensible ally to advise her now that Legs was gone. He had always been the practical one in their relationship but now she would turn to her older sister to fulfill that role.
Thinking of home and her sister made Annowe long for its comforts. She fleetingly considered bypassing Thranduil's Halls and heading straight home but banished the thought. Thranduil needed to be warned about The Ring and Curunir's treachery. The bath and other comforts of home could wait. She had more urgent matters to attend to than looking presentable.
Her languid thoughts drifted to Legolas and she sleepily felt the comb through the fabric of her pouch with her fingers to reassure herself it was still there. She fell into a light and fitful sleep as memories of their shared past drifted through her mind.
****
A/N: The descriptions of Mirkwood and the creepy-crawlies that live there are from "The Hobbit". And yes, it gets worse!
Jebb – You're right. She'd be pretty upset if she knew Legs was stuck in Moria. Probably go after him but luckily, she doesn't know yet.