Chapter 12, The Threat of Obscurity
I opened my eyes as the sunlight shown in silky beams into the pavilion; I rubbed my eyes as I sat up and ran my fingers through my hair. It was getting longer than normal, but thank goodness I had my leather string to tie it back with. I smiled as I remembered the day that the hair tie I had brought from Earth snapped as I pulled my hair into a ponytail; many times in my life had I snapped a hair tie as I fixed my hair but never before had it been so tragic. I was so heartbroken that I started to cry; and, Lord knows that men could never understand why this would upset me so much. Finally after a few minutes of grumbling and sniffling Boromir gave me a leather string that he used to tie his own hair back; it worked very well and I still had it even in Lothlórien. After a big yawn and a good stretch I looked down and saw that I was still wearing the white dress. I immediately covered myself with a blanket, but I was getting so warm under it that I knew that I couldn't hide there long; as I quickly glanced around, I saw that I was the first one to wake. It amazed me that everyone else was asleep, especially Aragorn, who was the one who woke me up most of the time. I tried to keep quiet, so that the others could stay asleep, and I stealthily walked to the nearby fountain to wash my face.
When I finished, I left the fountain and returned to the pavilion where I found my sets of traveling clothes; they were clean and folded neatly on the arm of my couch. I changed out of my dress, slipped on one of my outfits, and fastened my sword back to my side. It was strange to be without it for that short while; to have my sword back on my side again was reassuring. When I had dressed I walked quietly from the pavilion to walk in the woods. As I walked, I thought about many things, such as how quickly my wounds had healed; as of then they were scabs that pained me no longer and that I had traveled miles upon miles upon miles from Rivendell to Lothlórien. I smiled as I thought of this because it was an accomplishment I never would have thought possible.
"You are up early. Perhaps the earliest I have ever seen you before!" I jumped at the sound of that voice and turned to where the voice came from. There was Haldir standing on a raised tree trunk gazing into the forest. I had met him previously but it was only for a moment. I sighed as I relaxed and said in a friendly voice,
"You scared me!" I laughed and he smiled.
"I heard you approaching from afar. You are by far the most thunderous walker I have ever heard." He opened his eyes and looked at me as if searching for an explanation. I shrugged my shoulders at him and said nonchalantly,
"Well I guess I'm doomed then aren't I? I mean, once a thunderous walker you're always a thunderous walker, right?" I saw a nearby fallen log and sat upon it as I laughed and said, "Next thing you know, I'll breathe too loud too." Haldir smiled a side ways smiled that showed he was amuse, but at the same time showed that he was preoccupied as well.
"I suppose…" He said with a sigh. Then he asked, "Where are you going my Lady?" I stood as I replied,
"I don't know, anywhere. I just wanted to walk around and look at this place; It breathtaking." I could see a small swell of pride in Haldir's face as I said this. I smiled as he asked,
"Do you enjoy music?" I answered happily,
"Yes! I love music, but I'm afraid that I have heard none since we left Rivendell." I was honest about this and until just then I had not actually realized that I had been music-less for over three months.
"Well then, instead of roaming around the forest, would you like it if I accompanied you into the city walls so that you may hear some?" Haldir replied and steed down from the tree root. I looked to him with excitement as he continued, "My time can be much better spent than I as I am spending it now and I am willing to accompany you; would you allow me?"
I smiled as I replied happily, "Yes, I would! Thank you very much Haldir." He approached me and extended his arm to escort me; I took it slowly as I asked, "You really don't mind taking me?" he stood next to me and began to walk onward as he replied,
"Not at all, it is my pleasure."
"Alright, because I do not want to trouble you!" I walked alongside him as we turned east from the path that I was taking. We passed the field of yellow and blue flowers where I had walked the previous night. I picked a deep blue flower and gazed at it happily as we passed and as I looked at it's soft, velvety petals, I remembered what Legolas asked of me when we spoke,I want you to give you my apology… pause…I never gave to you the recognition deserved. So having said this I wish to start anew. Will you please privilege me with that?
We finally arrived at the city gates where we entered and Haldir took me to a section of the city where I had not been, it was like an enormous garden with dozens of gazebos, terraces and white flowers that seemed to glow in the morning sunlight. After we passed a few gazebos, we found a group of three elves playing instruments and singing gentle verses that seemed to wake the garden and stir life. As they played Haldir and I sat in chairs and listened to them, as I listened I felt so renewed and tranquil that I could not help feeling happy. I smiled as I watched them play till their last note when I gently applauded alongside Haldir. They bowed to us and began to play another tune; although half way through it Haldir stood and motioned for me to join him. As we left the garden he told me that he must speak to Aragorn. When we arrived back at the pavilion everyone else had awakened and packed their bags
"Laura!" Aragorn greeted me warmly when I came back. "I was scared for your safety when I saw that you were not asleep on your couch. But now that I see you here I am well!" I laughed at this and I asked,
"Really, I caused you this much worry because I wasn't the last one up?" Aragorn smiled and changed the subject.
"Today is our last day in Lórien and you should pack. But on this last day I am going to spend it well; I will teach you to shoot a proper arrow today." I looked at him with a little surprise and a raised eyebrow. Aragorn continued, "I have asked Haldir to assist me." I looked at him, then at Haldir, and finally back at Aragorn as I asked,
"Aragorn, am I so hopeless that you need an elf as well as yourself to teach me how to shoot an arrow?" Aragorn rubbed my head as he answered with a laugh,
"No Laura, we simply desire your good company. Come, we will pack then go to an open field to practice." With that I nodded and went to my couch to pack. On the ground, slightly tucked under my couch was my Taekwondo bag. I smiled as I looked at it and I realized how grateful I was to have it back.
We set out for and empty field as soon as I had packed and found Haldir with bows and quivers of arrows in the grass. Before him was a large target, made of wood and painted with silver; it was obvious that the target was Elvish just by the look of it. Haldir and Aragorn showed me how to stand correctly and hold the bow. Unfortunately for me, Legolas had shown up to watch, and sometimes fire shots at the target, hitting the center mechanically every time. He varied it once or twice by shooting two arrows instead of one or what not. It was so discouraging to see someone shooting arrows perfectly and effortlessly three feet away from you while you're only trying to figure out how to aim and how far to pull the bowstring back to get it to the target. Most of the times I missed the target completely was because of how uncomfortable I felt with Legolas so close, but by the end of the day I had gotten the hang of it and was hitting the outer circles of the target consistently.
Haldir, Aragorn, Legolas, and I parted ways after calling it a night I walked back to the pavilion where it was once again deserted. I yawned, sat down on my couch in the middle of the pavilion, and lay beside my Taekwondo bag. It was nice to relax, though I could not rest for long for Aragorn told me that all of us were meeting Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel to night. I reluctantly decided that I would be brave and change back into my dress. As I readied my self, I looked at my bag; I was comforted at the sight of it and with only a glance my curiosity overwhelmed me. I picked my bag up from the floor and sat it beside me on the couch. I sighed as I rested my hand upon it and welcomed it back graciously into my keeping. When my hand came to touch the bag I felt the air leave my lungs as if I had suddenly lost my breath. I quickly drew my hand away and leapt from my seat. I landed on one of the nearby couches that someone else slept on and stared in scared confusion at my bag. I was winded but it did not feel normal. I watched my bag as if it was going to jump up and bite me and I thought of what I should do next.
Last time I felt that feeling, I came here. No I didn't come here, I went to Isengard. As I stared at my bag I remember the excruciating pain of my badly twisted ankle. Am I willing to risk something like that again? Am I willing to risk that sort of pain again? Before I knew it I slowly rose to my feet and walked towards the bag. My mind was blank, the only thing I could think about was the bag. That bag that I had carried with me for many years was dancing in my thoughts, teasing me with cruel curiosity. At last I stood over it as I stared at the long black zipper that crossed it's top; that zipper was the only thing preventing me from seeing my old things, seeing what was in my bag. My hand left my side and went to the zipper and I unzipped it slowly. The sound of the zipper seemed to echo in my mind and left all thoughts of the bag its self to the dust. I thought solely about that zipper, and what it would reveal to me. Once it was totally unzipped I opened the bag slowly then gasped at what I saw; my bag was filled with ashes and charred items. Everything that I kept was burnt and destroyed by fire. I kneeled as I looked into my bag with sad eyes; I felt my heart fall and my happiness diminish with every moment.
"No." I whimpered, and held my hands over the bag. "No, no, no. What happened? I don't understand." My eyes began to water as chills ran up my back. "No, this isn't right, this is all that's left…it's gone…" my eyes began to water as my hands shook. My hands neared the ashes slowly and then I ran my fingertips through them. Most of the ash crumbled and became powder as I touched them, and a tear rolled down my cheek. "No." I whispered silently and at that moment a vivid pain shot through me, as if someone had stabbed me and was slowly twisting the blade. My hands and body jerked in surprise and in that moment my hands were pushed to the very bottom of the bag. Suddenly I felt smoldering heat consumed my hands and burn my skin. I screamed and drew them out; there were smoldering coals at the bottom of my bag and it burned my hands badly. A mad surge of pain stained my heart and I saw the sleeve of my clothing was slightly burned from the coals. I was terrified as I yelled, "HELP!" As I screamed my voice cracked and I closed my eyes, "PLEASE SOMEONE HELP ME!"
I see you. A dark menacing voice said in my head, I had heard this voice before. I have you. "NO!" I screamed to no one. It was the voice of the eye, the voice of Sauron. "NO! GET AWAY! YOU CAN'T TAKE ME YOU WON'T! SOME ONE HELP ME!" No one can hear you, it said again, you are mine. At that moment I felt strong hands grasp me and hold me tight. I cried out as I fought against the hands that were going to take me as I screamed, "NO! NO! NO!" As I struggled I heard some sort of voice talking to me; the words were soothing and I began to calm down. I opened my eyes and saw that it was not someone to take me anywhere, it was an elf, Haldir's brother. My burnt hands still burned in anguish as I heard the voice say one last time, I am coming for you Laura and the ring bearer, my servants are coming and will not be stopped. I'll be waiting…the pain in my mind from Sauron subsided and all that was left was the pain from my hands. I bawled as I realized that Sauron was done and I held my hands in the air.
"Arwen en amin, arwen en amin, mani marte?" He said to me as I cried. I did not reply, but the elf continued to speak in a kind voice, "Im Orophin." My vision cleared somewhat and I saw the man's face clearly; it was one of Haldir's brother's who found me. His eyes were filled with fear and concern as he looked upon me.
"Orophin, I need to go, I must see the Lady." I as I looked at him with watered eyes. He looked at me and answered slowly,
"Amin n'rangwa arwen en amin." I sat up and I remembered that Haldir's brothers didn't speak English, so I said to him quickly,
"Galadriel! Galadriel!" and I pointed to the trees. He understood and he helped me to my feet, but I could not support myself, all my energy was spent and my legs simply gave out beneath me.
"Asca!" Orophin cried to me, but I shook my head. Within moments, I was soon lifted into Orophin's arms and he carried me out of the pavilion and up the stairs that lead to the Galadriel's talan. He sprinted up the stairs and said nothing as my eyes closed. Soon we stopped and I had no idea what was going on. I heard another male voice say quickly to Orophin,
"Ona he a'amin." I soon felt Orophin's arms move as I was given to someone else and carried up the tree once more. "Laura," the same voice said, "Laura wake up!" I opened my eyes and saw that it was Aragorn who now held me.
"Aragorn." I whispered, "it was him, he was here! In the woods!"
"Shh, save your breath." He panted as we climbed, "You must speak to Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel." I watched the lights as Aragorn carried me until we came to the huge talan where I first met Celeborn and Galadriel. Immediately two other elves took me away from Aragorn. As they took me, I heard their voices elves speaking quickly to one another, this distressed me until I heard Merry, Sam and the other hobbits calling my name. The elves sat me in a chair and then applied all sorts of things in my burnt hands before bandaging them. They gave me a blanket and with that they left me. Galadriel came before me and said gently,
"We heard your calls and feared the worst." Behind her I heard Celeborn command all to leave save those of the fellowship. Galadriel moved a stray strand of hair from my face and gently placed a hand on my cheek, "What happened?" she asked. I looked at her and asked with my eyes if I could remain silent, but I cold tell from her eyes that she wanted me to speak now.
"I opened my bag." I said simply to her. I could see the vague figures of the rest in the background sitting down or standing up. "I was dressing so that I could meet with you tonight, and I opened that bag that you returned to me…" With this Galadriel's eyes opened with shock.
"It was a ploy." Lord Celeborn stated, "Sent to Rivendell in disguise as a way to retake her." I was shaking in fear as I came into realization of what happened to me.
"But then, I heard a voice…" I added slowly, "It wasn't Saruman and it was not the first time I heard it."
"When did you first hear it?" Aragorn asked and I replied slowly,
"When I first came to middle earth before I woke in Isengard."
"It was Sauron." Galadriel said and all was silent on the flet. No one spoke at the weight of those words, I gathered the strength to break the silence then said,
"He said to me, that he is coming for me and the ring and he will not be stopped."
"Then she must not continue with the fellowship." A voice said straightly. It was Boromir; he then stood and added stiffly, "we are to protect the ring, and if she brings danger close then that threat must be removed." At this there was silence once again.
"Where will Laura stay then? Will she remain in Lothlórien and draw the danger hither?" Aragorn asked, "And if we continued on without her, danger will still be drawn to the ring as well." Galadriel stood and looked upon the fellowship. She said to them,
"The choice belongs to the Fellowship." I watched her as she said this then looked at my friends, "Will Laura continue with the fellowship or remain?" She turned back to me and helped me to my feet. "I now retire. The fellowship will take leave from here tomorrow and you must go down the river. Laura will be sound by the time the sunrises, but you must decide if she will follow the river as well." With that Galadriel lead me off the flet as looked back at my friends; they would decide whether or not I'd go with them; I was terrorized by the idea of my friendships ending but I had to hope in trust. Galadriel and two handmaidens lead me to a room of some sort. They walked me to the bedside where I sat and fell back onto the soft bed; relief spread from my head all the down to my fingertips and my toes. "You will rest here tonight." She said to me softly, "By the morning sun you will be well." I looked to Galadriel, who stood in the center of the room. I asked her slowly,
"What must I do now? I am in danger?" She replied,
"I cannot tell you, you must choose yourself." One of the handmaidens who had soaked a towel in a basin rested the towel on my head as Galadriel finished, "Sleep now Laura, sleep will shut sorrow's eye and sooth your heart." I nodded as she left and with in a few moments my eyes closed and I drifted into a dreamless sleep.
Hey, I hope you all enjoyed the chapter, and I have a poll like question for you all: if you were reading a story and there were no replies to your reviews, would you be less inclined to review? I mean, I will not stop answering reviews, but simply out of curiosity. If you would answer this question in your review that would be great! Thanks!
Chapter 11 Review RepliesNightwoman: Thanks!
Elora Nova: you know, it could, or maybe it won't, that ambiguity saturates my story…sorry!
ThoseRainyDays: I hope you enjoyed it and thanks again!
Ms. Unknown: Awesome, I'm just glad that someone is noticing the changes! Because I have spent a LOT of time editing and revising…and I mean a lot!
Lluvia Negra: I know, that's why I re-wrote this story in the first place! I mean, I truly felt that I was straying WAY too far from the original text and I was doing it no justice…by the way, it's an interesting pen name!
TriGemini: Awesome! Because I know that stream of consciousness can get pretty boring after a while!
Legolas-Obsessionist: Thanks again! And you be careful with the preciousss….
