Part 9
Rei couldn't comprehend what was happening. Serena was acting strangely ever since, well ever since she had first seen her again in Rivendell. The prophecies that were being made kept jumbling together, one after the other, there seemed to be no end! Sitting next to the other Senshi in the swan-like boat that the elves of Lothlorien gave them for the rest of the journey, Rei contemplated over the words that Serena had said before.
It had been two days since they left Lothlorien. Two days since Serena had uttered those words in a voice, that had sent shivers running along her back. Something was amiss and Rei wished she had the sacred fire to gain more wisdom from its dancing flames. To see the symbols and images that would bring her wisdom, to give her strength and an idea of the uncertain future.
"Hey Rei," came the voice of Ami's. "Don't you think it's too quiet?"
"Yeah." Rei replied and focused on to the scene that was unfolding before her. She was alert to her friend's observations and so was Lita. Both of them could tell. In the air for the birds were not chirping and all that could be heard was the rowing of the oars in the water.
Serena heard what Rei said and stayed still. So many tears would be cried when the first throes of battle began. She sat calmly this time and her face a blank expression. She tried to remember all the good times she had with her friends, old and new. All the bad times she shared, new and old. There were so many lost souls and memories, all of them fighting to save the world from evil at all costs.
Legolas rowed the boat that he shared with Gimli mulling over the name that Serena had spoken while in her trance. 'Nimithil. Where have I heard that name before?'
Then it him like a bolt of lightning. In the tales that many of his kindred spoke of about the beginning of the world, there was Iluvatar, the one father. There were many stories of his deeds but one that stuck out in his mind was the tale of Iluvatar before the creation. It is said that he was not alone in the making of the world. There was Iluvala, the one mother and Nimithil the daughter of light. Before time began, the three had been said to be asleep until the darkness began to creep in. They soon began to create and intertwine, making the world that all knew it to be now. The story went on to explain how Nimithil was swallowed by the Jaws of Death to sleep until Arda was clouded in despair. Could it be that the daughter of light had appeared upon Arda? Silently but would make an appearance in the future to aid the forces of light? It was highly improbable but given the recent events that had taken place, those thoughts held a gap of possibility. If people from another realm could travel to Arda as Senshi then Nimithil could indeed awaken.
As they rowed, the troupe felt the presence of Orcs. They were being followed!
"Quick we must hurry!" Aragorn said to each commander that rowed the boats softly. "We must not linger."
The company complied and rode their boats faster than they had previously. They had to either out-run their pursuers or risk being shot while getting to safety. Serena felt tears water in her eyes. War was terrible! The necklaces that she had given her comrades began to glow before a flash of light blinded their enemies and giving them a push forward to have them ahead of their opponents by two days.
It was almost nightfall before they went to make camp in a nearby cove but even then, the group made sure to have surrounded themselves by their weapons. They also prepared to be certain that they couldn't be traced as easily.
"Legolas I love you." Serena whispered into her beloved's ear as she went to lay with him for a while before he got up for his turn as the watch. Fate had a funny way of pulling her to men that said very little but could give so much joy. The Earth Prince she had fancied herself was like this elf but colder. She supposed it came with the knowledge of experincing too much but now she was not sure. Life was getting crazier by the minute and it only got harder when one knew what they had to do.