Please see Chapter one for disclaimers.
Chapter 11: Lessons and Leave Taking…
Sleep was hard to find and Kaitlyn felt like days had passed before morning finally came. The night before an Elvish healer had tended her hand and Aragorn had wrapped the injury. She didn't know what the healer had done but she hardly felt pain any longer. Despite this, it was advised that she not do anything too physical with her left hand until it had healed completely.
So, she knew it wasn't pain that kept her awake into the late hours of the night, but the thoughts that invaded her mind and refused to recede.
She quickly grew tired of gazing up at the soft white cloth of the tent, but leaving for a walk was out of the question for a number of reason. She might get lost, it was still raining and Legolas was awake. She didn't want to alarm or trouble him or anyone else for that matter if she suddenly got up and left.
She did her best to keep quiet, gazing at the cloth of the tent, memorizing the nearby trees. She made shapes with the light cast from lanterns and the shadows.
For a time she watched her sleeping companions. Gimli snored away as he did every night. Pippin and Merry slept side by side. Pippin was mumbling incoherently. Kaitlyn would smile each time she heard the bubbly hobbit say something about food.
Frodo was awake as usual, but pretending he was not. Sam slept soundly beside him.
Aragorn was sleeping between two giant roots of a tree that cut across the center of his tent. He slept with one arm raised above his head and the other rested on his chest. Like herself, Aragorn had taken a while to settle but unlike her, he now slept soundly.
She risked gazing at Legolas and saw that he was in the same position he had been for hours. Resting with his back against a tree and gazing out at the rain. She wondered what he found so fascinating.
Kaitlyn did not look at Boromir. She knew he was awake and she didn't want to bother with him. Not right now. She needed time.
Morning began with the lightening of the sky to the east and the quiet chatter of birds in the branches of trees. The rain continued to fall, letting up occasionally, but never ceasing completely. An eerie fog rolled in and Kaitlyn sighed as it blocked out her view of the trees.
"Good morning."
She startled at the voice and looked up to see Legolas. The fair elf was standing in the rain, not bothered in the least by the water soaking his hair and clothes. He was smiling and appeared cheery as if it was sunny and beautiful out.
Kaitlyn sat up immediately, gathering up her blankets and offering him a place to sit. "Good morning. Why don't you come in out of the rain before you catch cold?"
Legolas smiled. "Your concern is well meant but not necessary. Elves do not become ill as mortals do."
She shook her head. "Why am I not surprised?"
He grinned and entering the tent, took a seat on the ground beside her. "You did not sleep."
She sighed. "Did anyone ever tell you that you know way too much?"
"Nay, my knowledge is not great, only my awareness of what is happening around me at nearly all times."
"Well, then you are aware of too much, Elf."
Legolas' smile widened. "You have not denied my words."
She smirked. "Right, and I have no intention of denying them because you're right." She sighed deeply, the smile fading. "I didn't sleep. Not a single minute."
Legolas gazed down at her hand. "Your hand does not pain you greatly, but your mind is tortured."
She shifted uneasily and ran her hands through her tangled hair. Aware of how she must look, she quickly twisted her hair into a ponytail.
She didn't like that Legolas could sense what bothered her, even if that sense was vague. "I said I didn't want to talk about this last night and that hasn't changed this morning."
Legolas nodded. "Forgive me. I am merely concerned."
"I appreciate your concern but as you told me about becoming ill, 'your concern is well meant but it's not necessary.' I'm fine."
Legolas knew otherwise and was slightly hurt that she would lie to him, but he did not push her to answer him.
"Are you going to start teaching me Elvish today?" she asked, quickly changing the subject.
"If you so desire it."
"I do. It's a perfect day for it. It's raining."
He nodded. "Very well."
While their companions slept, Legolas began to teach Kaitlyn the basics of his language. First, he began to teach her words. She allowed him to write a vocabulary list in her sketchbook and she wasn't at all surprised when his handwriting was perfect.
He practiced teaching her how to say the words and she spelled out how they sounded so she would remember. They practiced vocabulary for a few hours, oblivious to the camp awakening around them. Merry and Pippin listened for a while until they grew bored and discussed food and home. Frodo and Sam listened as well though they were too far across the camp to really understand the words. Aragorn could hear them speaking in hushed voices and he was pleased to see Kaitlyn so interested in the Elvish tongue.
Boromir lay in his tent, facing away from his companions. Sleep had never come to him as his mind was tormented with images of what he had done, with thoughts of home and with visions of the ring. He was confuse and obviously still shaken.
"How can anyone be expected to sleep with that racket?" A voice boomed over the camp, echoing off the giant mallorn trees.
Kaitlyn and Legolas turned to see Gimli standing outside Kaitlyn's tent in the pouring rain.
"Our apologies, Master Dwarf. We attempted to be as silent as possible," Legolas told him.
Gimli grunted. "What is this nonsense? Laughing and talking. And I'm certain I heard Elvish words. Are you trying to convert her to be an elf?"
Legolas grinned.
"I don't think I have what it takes to be an elf, Gimli," Kaitlyn laughed.
"Humph. Learning Elvish…nonsense if you ask me."
Legolas bit back a tart remark.
"Where is this rain coming from? I thought the weather was always fair in this land?" Gimli continued.
Aragorn puffed the pipe he had lit and released the smoke. "The elves are preparing to leave the eastern shores. Their power over the land is diminishing."
Gimli frowned.
"What do you mean they are leaving, Aragorn? Are they moving to a new land?" Kaitlyn asked.
Aragorn nodded. "They travel to a land that mortals cannot venture to. They will leave the Grey Havens and sail to the undying lands of Valinor where the gods themselves live. Never to return to Middle Earth."
"What?" Kaitlyn grew wide-eyed. She turned to face Legolas. "You're going to leave?"
"Not today or any time soon. But someday I will leave, as the call of the sea becomes too strong for me to resist. But do not fear I have not yet heard the call of the sea. I am not ready to leave this world," he reassured her.
Legolas knew that Kaitlyn would have long been dead by the time he left Middle Earth. It saddened him to think that she and all his mortal friends would perish.
When no further conversation arose, they returned to Sindarin lessons, but Kaitlyn's mind seemed to be elsewhere. Legolas spoke to her and often her reply was delayed.
"Man presta le? Kaitlyn?"
She blinked and gazed at him. "Huh? What?"
"What troubles you? Man presta le? " He asked and spoke the Sindarin translation immediately.
She sighed.
"Speak to me. Pedo an nin."
She looked down into her lap and then at him.
Legolas could sense hurt emanating from her. Had he done something to hurt her feelings? He grew concerned. "Kaitlyn? What is it?"
"You're leaving and you didn't even tell me."
"Did you not hear what I said? I am not leaving for a long time. You will be dead and gone before I venture west."
She nodded with a frown. "I sometimes forget that you're immortal and that you will just keep on…living." She gazed at Legolas and noticed that he appeared sad.
"Immortality is not always a gift," he whispered softly. " Some elves believe it to be a curse. They believe mortality is the gift. Men are allowed to die and leave while elves must remain until they grow tired, bitter and weary with life. They will watch their mortal friends perish while they remain."
Legolas looked so sad, that Kaitlyn could almost feel the emotion emanating from him. She wished that she could hold him and comfort him as she had done to Brian so many times when he was shaken about a girl or his friends or whatever was bothering him. But the truth was that she didn't know Legolas well enough to feel comfortable doing something such as that. Besides, it was her fault he was feeling this way.
She attempted to smile and decided to put her hand on his in comfort. "I'm glad you won't be leaving for a long time."
He felt the warmth of her hand and glanced down to witness her fingers covering his. Her concern and her act of comfort melted the sadness in his heart like snow melting in the warming sunlight of springtime. It pleased him to know that she valued their friendship.
"So am I," he whispered, giving her hand a light squeeze, and he meant his words sincerely. If the rest of his time spent on Middle Earth was in the presence of mortals like Kaitlyn and Aragorn, he would consider himself blessed by the Valar.
She nodded. Feeling a little odd, she cleared her throat and removed her hand, suggesting that they continue with the lesson.
" Agreed. I shall speak the common tongue to you when we converse. Often I will speak the Sindarin translation immediately after that so you will learn the words and how they are pronounced a bit quicker."
"Okay. That's a good idea."
"Shall we learn a few verbs?"
"Sure."
Legolas wrote a list of verbs and their many endings. He taught her that when you had a verb and you were talking about yourself doing something that you ended the verb with the letter 'n'. As an example he told her about Hannon.
"Hanno is the verb to thank and the 'n' was added on because I was saying "I thank."
She nodded in understanding. "Okay. N on the end of verbs for saying I. What if I wanted to say, 'I speak'?"
"Write pedi on your list. It is spelled. P E D I. That is the verb stem."
"Okay and that means to speak?"
"Correct."
"So, would it be Pedin? I speak."
"Aye. Well done. Mae carnen."
They practiced a few more verbs and then he taught her the ending for you is 'ch or g'."
"Dregich. You flee. Bedich. You go. Gerich. You have."
"Aye. Mae carnen." Legolas was smiling brightly. "You learn quickly."
"Le hannon." thank you.
Her words earned her another warm smile from Legolas.
"Would you mind writing me a list of common phrases for me to learn?"
"If it will please you."
"It will."
"Then it shall be done."
Legolas wrote out a number of common phrases for her. He taught her how to pronounce the words and how the sentence structure worked.
After only a short while, Kaitlyn was beginning to feel overwhelmed.
Legolas could sense her weariness. "Perhaps we should cease for today," he suggested. "I should give you time to look over what we have discussed."
"I think that's a good idea. I was doing well at the beginning but I think I'm trying to learn too many things at once."
"Forgive me if I have loaded you with heavy work."
She laughed. "It's no more than my teachers from college used to give me. Of course this is a little more fun than memorizing the Periodic Table of Elements."
He gave her a confused expression.
"Uh, never mind. Le hannon for all your help today."
"Mae buiannen. Well served," he smiled. He turned then, concentrating on the sounds of the camp. "The rain has stopped and the others are preparing for breakfast. We should help."
She nodded and put her sketchbook away.
All through breakfast and her lesson with Aragorn, Kaitlyn could hear Legolas' voice in her mind speaking Elvish words to her. They repeated over and over again and became confusing.
'What did pedi mean again? Was it to slay or speak? What was the word for the moon? Magol nîn. Was that how you say 'my sword'?"
"Kaitlyn!"
She jumped and stared wide-eyed at Aragorn.
"You are not paying attention. I could have just hurt you."
She blinked, realizing that Aragorn's sword was dangerously close to her throat. "Oh, I…I'm sorry. My mind is elsewhere."
Aragorn lowered his sword. "I can see that. Most likely your mind wanders to a certain Mirkwood elf and his language."
She blushed. "How did you know?"
"Maer inc."
"Huh?"
"A good guess," he translated. "I am pleased that you are learning Sindarin as I know Legolas must be, but you cannot allow your studies to interfere with your training."
She nodded. "I'm sorry, Aragorn. You're right."
He sheathed his sword. "How does your hand feel today?"
"My hand?" She looked down at her left hand, which was still bandaged. "It's feeling better. The Elvish healer really helped."
"It should be wrapped again. Come. We have done enough for today." Aragorn held out his arm toward the direction of camp and he and Kaitlyn began the walk.
"I am glad the rain let up so that we could practice today," Aragorn told her.
"Me too."
"Despite your mind wandering, you did well today."
"Le hannon," she smiled brightly.
Aragorn grinned.
"I felt more confident today. I don't know why, especially after what happened yesterday."
Aragorn did not reply. His grin widened knowingly.
As soon as they came into view of camp, Aragorn noticed Boromir walking toward them. He felt Kaitlyn tense at his side and he lowered his hand to his sword.
Boromir swallowed as he stepped up to them. He looked down at Kaitlyn.
"Kaitlyn…I. I wanted to apologize for my behavior, yesterday. I never meant to harm you. Please know this."
Kaitlyn wasn't expecting an apology from him and surely not this soon. She didn't know what to say.
"I do not expect you to forgive me so soon, but I wanted you to know it was not my intention to harm you. Only to test your skills."
"You tested them and you will not do so again," Aragorn commanded.
Boromir nodded.
"Why didn't you stop when I asked you to?" Kaitlyn finally spoke up.
"You never asked me to stop."
"Yes, I did. Twice."
Boromir frowned. "I do not remember you asking."
How could he not remember? Kaitlyn wondered and then something Boromir had said during their 'test of skill' dawned on her.
"It is mine!"
His mind had seemed elsewhere and he had appeared almost in a trance like state. Almost how she must have looked when the ring had spoken to her. 'The ring!' her mind cried out. 'He meant the ring!'
Had the ring caused him to act like that?
Remembering that she wasn't alone and that Aragorn and Boromir were looking at her she replied, "It's in the past and it can't be changed."
Boromir frowned. "You will not even consider-"
"You can't expect me to forgive you right away. I need time." Kaitlyn told him. She was starting to feel a little shaken. If the ring had done that to Boromir, what could it do to her? Or to Frodo? Why didn't he seem affected by it?
Boromir nodded. "Then you shall have it."
She nodded numbly and began to walk away.
The rest of the day flew by due to the fact that Kaitlyn fell asleep from exhaustion and didn't awaken until well past dinner.
Pulling on her sweatshirt, she sat herself under one of the lanterns on the outskirts of camp and opened her sketchbook. It had been days since she had drawn anything, but drawing wasn't what interested her at the moment. The Elvish words written in Legolas' neat hand perked her interest. The Sindarin Language kept her mind busy and took her away from her troubles.
She stared at her book for hours. Attempting to memorize everything that she could.
Legolas watched her from afar. His sharp hearing could pick up her voice as she attempted to speak Sindarin words. The young mortal intrigued the woodland elf. She had once been afraid of him and his kind and now she was devoted to learning his language. It pleased him beyond describable words.
Kaitlyn slept after a few hours of practicing Sindarin. She awakened in the morning and went running with Aragorn and then had an hour of sword fighting. She was full of life as she fenced with Aragorn and she could hardly wait to start her next Sindarin lesson with Legolas. Her lessons with the elf and her time with Aragorn were things she began to look forward to in this strange world. They were a tremendous comfort to her.
When she and Aragorn returned to camp, there was an Elf male dressed in flowing gray garments waiting in the center of camp. He and Legolas were conversing in Sindarin and they were well aware that Aragorn was on his way back into camp.
The Elf bowed to Aragorn as the Ranger walked into the camp.
"Aragorn, i Cheryn vi eryn aníra pedi an le," the elf told him. Aragorn, the Lady of the wood wishes to speak with you.
Kaitlyn's ears perked at the word 'pedi'.
Aragorn nodded and he and the Elf left the camp without any further conversation.
Kaitlyn walked over to Legolas who was watching Aragorn leave. "I understood something he said," she told him.
"Did you?" he asked, turning toward her.
"He said 'pedi'. So, he was saying something about speaking."
"Mae carnen."
"What did he want to speak about?"
"I know not. Ú-istan. The Lady of the wood wishes to speak with Aragorn. That is all I know."
"Oh."
"Are you ready for your lesson?"
She nodded eagerly.
The two settled nearby on a large root with Kaitlyn's sketchbook and began another lesson.
Less than an hour later, Legolas began to test Kaitlyn with what she had learned that same day.
"Man eneth lîn?" What is your name? Legolas asked.
"Kaitlyn I eneth nîn." My name is Kaitlyn.
"Good. Now let us do numbers. One."
"Min."
"Two."
"Tad."
"Three."
"Neled."
"Four."
"Canad."
"Five."
"Leben."
"Six."
Eneg."
"Seven"
"Odog."
"Eight."
"Uh…"
"Eight?" Legolas asked again.
"Toloth?"
"Maer. Nine." Good.
"Neder."
"Ten."
"Pae."
"Mae carnen." Well done. "You are a fast learner. Sindarin in not an easy language to master. "
"I can say my name and count to ten. I don't think I have mastered it," she joked.
"Perhaps not, but you are off to a good start."
"I have a maer and patient teacher," she said honestly. Good.
He smiled, still enjoying how she combined the common tongue with Sindarin. Then the smile faded as he turned his head to the right.
"What is it?"
"Someone draws near." The elf got to his feet and stood perfectly still. "Aragorn returns. Something is wrong."
Kaitlyn got to her feet as did the hobbits and Gimli who had heard Legolas' words from where they sat across camp.
Sure enough, moments later Aragorn rushed into the camp.
"What is wrong, Aragorn?" Legolas asked.
"The enemy moves toward us. They know we are here and they're not far from this land. Only a few days journey. We must leave at once."
"Leave?" Kaitlyn blanched.
"Aye, we must get a head start. We will travel by boat down the river Anduin." He tossed a package wrapped in the large leaf of a tree to Kaitlyn who caught it easily. "Dress in this," he commanded. At her confused expression he continued, "It will disguise you. Everyone else begin to pack."
Legolas nodded and immediately he began to help anyone who needed assistance.
Kaitlyn went to her tent and pulled down the sides so that she would have privacy. She unwrapped the giant green leaf and found a shirt made of the softest fabric she had ever known. It was deep green in color. She also found a pair of dark brown pants and a leather belt with a silver buckle in the shape of a leaf. She put them on, thinking that she was going to resemble an elf but was surprised to look down and see she was dressed more like Aragorn or the hobbits in the earth tones. She then realized what Aragorn meant about the clothing disguising her. She would fit in with the group wearing these clothes. The only thing that distinguished her from her companions were her shoes. Her gray Nike running sneakers looked odd, but not hideous with the new clothing.
She tied up her hair in a ponytail, drew up the sides of her tent and exited. Aragorn nodded in approval when he saw the clothing.
"Do we really have to leave" Kaitlyn asked.
"Aye. We cannot linger," the man told her.
Kaitlyn frowned and watched as he went to his tent, packing the few things he owned. With a sigh and a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach, Kaitlyn moved to pack.
In less than a half-hour's time, the Fellowship had packed and were following Haldir to see The Lady and the Lord of the wood.
Haldir had them form a line and he and his fellow elves began to put gray cloaks on the members of the Fellowship.
"Never before have we clothed strangers in the garb of our own people." Lord Celeborn said as he clasped the green and silver leaf of Boromir's cloak. He stepped back and said. "May these cloaks help shield you from unfriendly eyes."
Boromir swallowed but did not look away from Lord Celeborn.
A million questions flew through her mind as Kaitlyn nervously touched the leaf of her cloak. She immediately moved her hand away as the Lady of the wood came forward with several elves behind her. The first elf held a bow, which the Lady took and presented to Legolas.
"My gift for you Legolas, is a bow of the Galadhrim. Worthy of the skill of our woodland kin."
Legolas took the bow into his hands, gazing in wonderment at such a gift. He pulled the string back in his hand, testing it.
The Lady smiled and moved toward Merry and Pippin. Two elves presented the hobbits with daggers.
Kaitlyn swallowed as she saw them.
"These are the daggers of the Noldorin. They have already seen service in war." She noticed Pippin's look of apprehension. "Do not fear young Peregrin Took. You will find your courage."
She moved to Sam and one of the elves handed the lady rope. "And for you Samwise Gamgee. Elven rope made of hithlain."
Sam nodded "Thank you, my lady," and then gazed over at Merry and Pippin. "Have you run out of those nice shiny daggers?"
The lady smiled, but did not reply. Next the Lady came to stand before Gimli who had his head lowered. "And what gift would a dwarf ask of the Elves?"
"Nothing." He mumbled. Hesitantly he looked up. "Except to look upon the Lady of the Galadhrim one last time. For she is more fair than all the jewels beneath the earth. "
The Lady laughed softly.
"Oh." Feeling embarrassed the dwarf turned away. "Actually," he said turning back. "There was one thing. No…no. I couldn't. It's quite impossible. Stupid to ask." He mumbled.
The lady smiled. "Nothing is impossible. I will discover this gift before it is time for you to leave."
Gimli nodded and the Lady continued down the line, stopping at Kaitlyn. "I believe my gift to you will cause you turmoil. But fear not, Kaitlyn Westerly. It will serve you well."
Kaitlyn nodded, suddenly fearful of what she was going to get. She was surprised to see that Haldir was the elf that moved forward to bring her gift. He did not smile at her, but stood waiting for his lady. The lady retrieved what Haldir held and moved to give it to Kaitlyn.
The mortal woman's eyes widened and she stepped back. A soft gasp was heard from the elves.
"It is an insult to refuse a gift from the elves," Aragorn whispered to her, though he knew how frightened she was.
"I…I mean no disrespect." Kaitlyn told the Lady immediately, bowing her head. She closed her eyes and held out her hands.
The Lady gently placed a sheathed dagger into the mortal's shaking hands. The fair elf gently reached for Kaitlyn's chin and lifted it to gaze into her eyes. The mortal's eyes opened and she stared forward into the depths of blue that seemed to shine with the very light of the stars.
"This dagger also belonged to the Noldorin, though it has not yet seen war. You will overcome your fear, young mortal. Do not hide from those who care for you."
The lady released her and moved to Frodo, handing him a glass container, which glowed. "Farewell, Frodo Baggins. I give you the light of Eärendil, our most beloved star." She moved forward and placed a kiss on Frodo's head. "May it be a light for you in dark places when all other lights go out."
Frodo nodded and he and the Lady stood gazing at each other for a few moments before the Lady stood before Aragorn.
The Ranger was the last of the line.
"Come." She commanded gently and she held her arm out for Aragorn to follow her. He did so and his companions watched as she lead him away.
"We have boats and supplies for your journey." Celeborn said to the remaining group. "Go now and prepare."
Kaitlyn's mind was still reeling with the Lady's words and with her gift. It was a miracle in and of itself that she managed to attach the knife to her belt. She hanged it on her right hip, since her sword hanged from the left.
Her companions were busy helping the elves load the boats with various supplies. Not far off, Aragorn was speaking to The Lady.
Kaitlyn tried her best to help her companions, but she felt like she was getting in the way. The elves were swift and sure- footed and they loaded the boats with ease while she was clumsy and slow.
Nearby, she watched and listened as Legolas explained about lembas bread to Merry and Pippin. The hobbits had eaten 4 of them and started speaking about other food. It made Kaitlyn feel queasy. She felt ill for having to leave Lothlorien and all the hobbits seemed concerned about was eating.
Kaitlyn went to the Mirkwood elf after he left the young hobbits. He was packing the very front of one of the boats.
"How can you be so happy?" she asked. She had watched him as he had bid goodbye to several elves, patting them on their shoulders and speaking in Elvish. He continued to smile even now and his steps were lively.
"How can I not be happy?" was his reply.
"We're leaving. This place has been a safe haven. We're going to deal with the enemy and no one knows whether we'll live or die. I don't think that's anything to be cheery about."
Legolas tilted his head and gazed at her intensely. "Blood still flows in our veins and adventure calls to us. That is much to be thankful for. We are bringing the ring to doom to save this land. I am honored to be a part of this quest. I would willingly die if it meant knowing that Middle Earth would be safe. Do you not feel the same?"
She sighed. "I didn't mean it to sound as if I'm not honored to be here. I am honored in a weird way. I have good friends here, but I am still confused about the ring and about what will happen. Is it even right for me to fight? This is not my world."
"It is now. Middle Earth is your home. But if you feel you cannot fight, then perhaps you should stay behind."
Tears clouded her eyes and Legolas sensed her anguish at the thought of being separated.
"I don't want to stay here and lose you or the others. You are all my friends. The only friends that I have and I care about you all."
"But could you die for your friends? Could you fight for them and for others?"
Kaitlyn looked at Legolas and then glanced at the hobbits as they sat in boats and Gimli who was waiting patiently to speak with the lady when Aragorn was finished. She glanced even at Boromir who was watching she and Legolas from where he sat in his boat. These people had become her family. They had already risked their lives to save her when she had not fought well at Moria. They had risked death for someone who had been a stranger at the time. Could she die for them?
"Yes." She answered without hesitation. "I would die for my friends if necessary."
Legolas nodded, feeling very pleased. "It is natural to be afraid of the unknown, but we are here to help you. And as time passes you will become even more aware of the world and how you can become a part of it."
"I don't know if I want to be more aware."
Legolas frowned.
"Maybe Gandalf was right to keep me in the dark. The little I know makes me afraid." She admitted openly. "Will I fight and fail? Or will I live to see the destruction of the ring?"
"You will not fail. You are strong."
She looked into his eyes. "Aragorn has told me the same, but I can't help but doubt myself. It's not that easy for me to kill. I did it in Moria and I thought about it for days afterward. I've not finished my lessons. I still can't hit the target."
"You will, when the time comes. You have learned enough to help you. You only need to take those lessons and apply them." He put a hand on her shoulder. "It is never easy to kill."
"But you do it with such ease. I saw you at Moria, how you took those creatures down."
"I have been doing it for far longer than you can imagine. It is not something I enjoy, despite how it may seem. I kill to survive and I kill those who oppose good. It will become easier for you when you discover the importance of this quest as the rest of us know it."
She nodded realizing that he was right. They fought for a cause and she did not yet realize the importance of their cause. She looked behind Legolas and didn't see the Ranger. "Where is Aragorn? He's no longer with the Lady."
Legolas turned from her and looked behind them. "He is speaking to Lord Celeborn, now."
She nodded and realized that he was correct. Aragorn was with the Elf Lord and Gimli now spoke to The Lady. She glanced at the boats and noticed Boromir, Merry and Pippin in one and Sam and Frodo in another. "Who am I going to travel with?"
"With Gimli and myself."
She sighed and gazed at the boat. It was gray in color and decorated with beautiful designs. They reminded of her of kayaks more than boats.
"Are you fearful of traveling on water?"
She shook her head. She only hated feeling afraid and confused. The others were in a fine mood, despite the fact that they could be traveling to their deaths.
She attempted to lighten her own mood and cracked a grin as she gazed at the small gray boat. "Do you have a license to drive this thing?" She teased Legolas as he helped her settle in the front.
"A license?"
"Yeah, you do know how to work this, right? We're not going to crash into any rocks, are we?"
Legolas laughed. "Nay, hiril nin. We will not crash. I will keep you safe." my lady
She laughed in return.
He gazed at her for a moment as the thoughts of their previous conversation still revolved in his mind. Then he moved away only to return with his Mirkwood Bow. "I desire for you to have this," he told her softly as he extended it to her.
Her eyes widened. "What?"
"I have little need of it now, with the gift the Lady has given to me. You have learned archery with this bow and you do not have your own. I would want someone I trust and I call a friend to use it and keep it by their side." He watched as her jaw dropped.
She shook her head. "Legolas, I couldn't. You made this. It's so precious to you and you've owned it for so long. I'd be afraid that I might break it or lose it."
Legolas appeared upset by her refusal and Kaitlyn suddenly remembered Aragorn's words.
"It is an insult to refuse a gift from the elves."
She never wanted to insult Legolas, not after he had been so kind to her. She opened her hands. "If you are certain, then I accept."
He smiled. "I am pleased that you accept.
He lowered the bow into her hands and she placed the familiar weapon across her lap, cradling it in her arms as if it were a precious child. She ran her hands over the smooth dark wood and looked up at Legolas who was watching her with amusement.
"You appear as I must have when I received my first bow," he told her.
"This is an extraordinary gift, how can I not be excited? And how the hell am I ever going to repay you?"
"You misunderstand my intentions. I wish for no physical gift in return. You have already given me a gift."
Her brows drew together. "What gift would that be?"
He smiled warmly. "Your friendship."
She blushed and ducked her head.
He grinned, finding her state of embarrassment very refreshing.
"There is something else."
She looked up as he retrieved a quiver filled with arrows.
"This is a gift from the March Warden, Haldir. He regrets that he was unable to give you a bow as he promised, but he was pleased to learn that I planned to give you mine. He hopes that our combined gifts will help these arrows be true to their mark."
She smiled and accepted the leather quiver with golden Elvish designs, her fingers grazing over the soft white feathers that fitted the ends of the arrows within it. "It was sweet of him to give such a gift." She glanced around the shore for him.
"You will not find him here," Legolas told her regretfully. "He has gone to attend his duties on the border of the wood."
She nodded sadly, wishing that she could have said goodbye.
Legolas watched as she fastened the strap of the quiver across her chest and he helped her unstring his old bow and fasten it to the quiver on her back.
He smiled as he stepped back. "You look like a warrior."
She leaned over in the boat just slightly so it wouldn't tip and gazed at her reflection in the water. It was true. She did look like a warrior, with her bow and quiver full of arrows, the foreign clothing she wore and a sword and dagger attached to her hip.
The reflection that gazed back at her was not Kaitlyn Westerly from Otter Lake, New York, but someone very different.
Legolas sensed her sadness and her confusion and placed a hand on her shoulder for comfort.
She looked up at him and gave him a sad smile. "I don't look or feel like the person that I was before."
"You have changed. You are no longer the same person."
"I feel like I'm not Kaitlyn Westerly anymore. She was some girl who studied Bio and loved her family and she watched movies with her friends and worked at the bank. She loved chocolate and coffee and her mom's peach cobbler pie." She told him, misty eyed.
"Times change and so must we. But not all change is bad." He gave her a warm smile.
She nodded with a sigh.
Legolas tilted his head and looked at her curiously. "Tell me, what does your name mean?"
"My name?"
"Aye, does your name 'Kaitlyn' mean something?"
"It means 'pure one.'"
Legolas smiled. "Rodwen."
"Rodwen?"
"Aye. It is the closest Sindarin translation to your name."
She smiled genuinely. "Rodwen. I like the sound of that. It sounds medieval or something."
"Would you like me to call you that every so often? A nickname perhaps?"
"You mean like you call Aragorn something that begins with an E?"
"Aye. Estel. It means hope."
She nodded. "I think I'd like that. I don't have a nickname for this world. At home I was always Kait, or Katie. Rodwen," she repeated.
Legolas smiled, pleased that he had been able to lift her spirits. Hearing the sound of someone approaching, the smile faded, he removed his hand from her shoulder and bounded to the shore.
Gimli was there and the dwarf seemed to be lost in another world as Legolas helped him into the boat.
The Elf and Kaitlyn exchanged glances, but said nothing.
The group set out down the river and Kaitlyn could not help but turn back and look as Lorien grew smaller and faded into the distance. Her heart grew heavy with the loss. While she had been so afraid of the elves at first, their home had become a place she had loved and grown accustomed to. She hoped that she would see it again one day.
Everyone sat in silence as they rowed down the river. With snow capped mountains behind them and beautiful green forests on either side of the water, Gimli was the first to break the silence.
"I have taken my worst wound at this parting, " he began. "Having looked my last upon that which is fairest."
Kaitlyn turned to look at the dwarf who sat behind her.
"Oh, Henceforth, I will call nothing fair unless it be her gift to me."
Kaitlyn's eyes widened and she and Legolas shared another look before the elf glanced down at Gimli. "What was her gift?"
Gimli looked as if in a trance, his eyes forward but they did not settle upon Kaitlyn. "I asked for one single hair from her golden head." The dwarf sighed contently." She gave me three."
Legolas smiled broadly and Kaitlyn laughed softly.
"If I didn't know any better, I'd say an elf caught the dwarf's eye," she teased lightly. Her words were similar to the very ones Gimli had said to her when she was still fearful of Legolas.
Gimli didn't reply to the light teasing. He only sighed and gazed out at the water, lost in his thoughts.
Kaitlyn looked up at Legolas and the two grinned as their boat continued down the river.
To be continued…
AN: My apologies about another delayed chapter. This one was nice and long though so I hope that made up for things. Chapters will probably be delayed a bit until after Christmas. It's a tough time of the year to get any writing done.
Many thanks to those who took the time to review this story in some form or other. Feedback is an author's best friend.
Happy Holidays…
