Legolas fitted an arrow to his bow and shot with impossible accuracy. The approaching spider hissed angrily and clicked its pincers. Legolas shot another arrow and it slowly fell, legs waving as it died.
Elizabette and Legolas exchanged a quick glance before each turned to the fighting at hand. Elizabette drew her sword and walked evenly towards another of the giant arachnids.
The spider saw her coming and jumped forward. Its speed was amazing; Elizabette barely had time to jump out of the way. She aimed a sword- stroke at it but only succeeded in grazing one of its legs and angering it.
Elizabette stood still for a moment, considering the best way to fight. The spiders watched her warily, unsure of her next move. Suddenly she slashed at the body of one. She managed to bring it down.
She did not stop to watch it fall. Another spider had crept up as she battled with the first and she barely managed to jump away. Across the clearing Legolas fought with his knife; the spiders were too fast for arrows.
Elizabette stabbed it sharply near the eyes, then with another brutal stab she killed it. Just in time she whirled to face another behind her.
She was surrounded by an inescapable thicket of hairy black legs. She stabbed at some; but as their owners hissed with anger and menace, a cruel pain stabbed at her arm and she cried out in agony.
Instead of subduing her as intended, the spider's attack made her angrier. The bright blade of her sword flashed in the dim light as she hacked and stabbed at her enemies.
Finally all were driven off or killed. The clearing was littered with death but Elizabette ignored it as she checked first her pocket for her necklace, then her arm.
Legolas appeared behind her. "Are you all right?" he asked.
"A spider tried to poison me," she replied with disgust.
Legolas hissed between his teeth. "Let me see," he said.
She held out her arm. Even in the dimness he could see; and what he saw relieved him. "There is no poison," he said. "It is only a small cut."
Elizabette smiled slightly. "That is good," she said. "Are you injured?"
"No," Legolas replied. He glanced around the clearing. "There are few groups of spiders now, and those that there are avoid light and warmth. It is late," he added. "I do not care to sleep here, but I do not know if we can safely go somewhere else."
Elizabette looked around. The dirty clearing disgusted her. "There must be another clearing," she said. Looking quickly around, she saw nothing that had been left by the other elves.
Legolas shrugged and led the way out of the clearing. "We may as well look," he said.
They headed in the direction of the palace, for as Legolas said there was no reason to make the journey longer. After an hour or so they came to a small clearing that seemed safe to both of them.
They sat on the grass quietly, watching for danger and resting from their labors. After a moment Legolas heard a short sob from Elizabette.
"What is wrong?" he asked swiftly, turning toward her.
She was silent for a moment, then she replied shakily, "Legolas, look where we are. We are somewhere in Mirkwood, separated from the others, the provisions, the water, and our packs, and we have no means of reaching the palace. What can we do now?"
Legolas pulled her into his arms. "We will find a way to reach the palace," he said. "We must."
He held her gently until her sobs abated. "Things will be all right," he whispered, aware of the watchful forest. "We will find a way."
"Should we watch?" Elizabette asked later. "After the surprise attack..."
Legolas did not reply for a moment. "I do not see the need," he said. "After that we will sleep lightly, for our minds will be on guard. We will wake with any motion."
"That is good then," said Elizabette. She wrapped herself in her indigo cloak and curled up on a patch of short dry grass.
Legolas lay down near her. He slipped into sleep, blue eyes open in the darkness.
---
The chill morning light crept into the clearing. Legolas sat up and glanced around quickly, reaching for his weapons to assure himself that they were still there. Elizabette stood a few feet away, braiding her honey- brown hair. A few wispy curls escaped and blew lightly in the sluggish early-morning breeze.
She fastened the braid with a blue ribbon and turned, hearing him stir. She smiled. "There are no signs of danger," she said. She glanced around the clearing. "But we have no food or water."
"Food is not a problem," Legolas replied, rising from the dirty grass with a grimace. "Water, however, may be. Unfortunately, we have no way of finding the others, except for a limited description from the horses."
Elizabette frowned. "Well," she said, "This incident rather reminds me of a scene in the book The Hobbit written also by J.R.R. Tolkien. It was about Bilbo Baggins and the finding of the ring."
Legolas glanced at her, and she could feel the intensity of his interest. "Go on," he said.
"Bilbo and the dwarves that he traveled with came to Mirkwood. By this time they had little food and though they had been strictly directed to remain on the path, they left it to follow a light."
She saw understanding dawn on Legolas' fair face.
"As they approached they saw that the light was firelight, and that there were many Wood-elves eating merrily. They stepped into the circle cast by the lights and everything disappeared."
Legolas nodded. "I was there," he said. "As soon as the hobbits came near the light, we moved our feast to another place. It happened three times that night."
"Could this have not been similar? How did you transport the feast?"
"By the power of our people."
Elizabette shrugged. "Perhaps that is what they did last night."
Legolas considered for a moment. "Perhaps," he replied, "though from Silrocca's reaction I think that it was unexpected."
Elizabette brought Súláríl's words back to mind. "You may be right," she agreed. "Although that does not help us much. Where should we go?"
Legolas was silent. He turned away, scanning the clearing again. Silrocca? he asked. Have you no idea where you are?
None.
Do you know how you were transported?
No. Everything dimmed, and we were suddenly here.
Is everyone there? No one is lost?
Everyone is here, Silrocca replied.
Is my pack there? Is Elizabette's?
I think so.
Legolas withdrew from the connection and turned to see Elizabette watching him with a strange expression on her face. Something told him that he would not like what she would say.
"Legolas," she said reluctantly after a moment, "can I speak with Silrocca?"
He turned away abruptly and did not reply. Elizabette waited patiently until he turned back to her.
"I suppose so," he said. She saw clearly the effort that it cost him.
She smiled gratefully. "Thank you," she said. In her thoughts, she called, Silrocca?
Yes, Elizabette?
Legolas gave me permission to contact you.
Yes. What did you wish to know?
Do you know where in Mirkwood you are?
Not precisely; we were transported too quickly to track our course.
Are you farther south than we were?
No, I believe that we are closer to the palace.
Have you any idea where the other elves mean to go?
Back to the palace. They do not know where you are.
Thank you, Elizabette said, withdrawing. She called next, Súláríl?
Yes.
How far are you from the palace?
A day's journey, perhaps.
Legolas and I are still at the camp. We are about three day's journey to the palace, on horseback. It will take long to walk.
What will you do?
I do not know.
Can Silrocca and I come to you?
I will ask Legolas what he thinks.
She withdrew completely and looked up to see Legolas watching her. "What did she say?" he asked.
"She thinks that they are nearer the palace than we are. So does Súláríl; he guessed that they have a day's journey to the palace, perhaps two."
"What should we do?"
"Walk, I suppose."
Legolas sighed. "It will be a long journey, and we cannot carry water."
Elizabette nodded. "That will be the greatest problem," she replied. "Is there a stream nearby?"
"There is, or used to be."
They set out in the direction of the palace. By midmorning they reached the stream. The water was clear and cool, and they drank deeply before crossing and continuing. At midday, Legolas stopped suddenly, looking pleased.
He jumped lightly up into the boughs of a large tree and smiled. "This is a dowaril tree," he said. "We can eat the nuts." He climbed down after a moment, holding a handful of small nuts rather like walnuts.
When they had broken the shells, Elizabette tasted one. She found the taste rich and buttery and quite pleasant. They ate several each and put the others in the pockets of their cloaks.
---
That night they lit a small fire after checking the area carefully. Legolas had had his flints in the pocket of his cloak when the others had disappeared.
After a brief communication with Silrocca, Legolas said, "It appears that the others know that we are coming. Silrocca told several of the other horses, who then passed it on to the elves."
"What will they do?"
"That I know not."
They were silent for a while, enjoying the water from a nearby stream and the dowaril nuts and the fresh meat of a squirrel that they had roasted. Later the forest was dim and their fire was only bright thing for leagues. No moonlight filtered through the shrouded trees and all was still.
---
Elizabette unbraided her hair and shook it out. She started suddenly as a misty darkness descended upon the camp.
Elizabette clutched at Legolas. He wrapped his arms around her. "It is happening," she whispered into his shoulder.
"It is," he replied.
After a few seconds the mist dissolved and they found themselves in almost complete darkness. They glanced around, looking for any sign of the clearing or the path. After a moment Legolas noticed a faint glow, slightly north of them.
He led the way. Elizabette followed, looking around warily. As they neared the glow, Elizabette heard a familiar and much loved voice in her head as she saw its owner.
Elizabette?
Súláríl!
How did you get here?
We were transported much as you were. The darkness descended and we appeared here.
Legolas caught her arm as they neared the clearing. The other elves were all there, speaking in Quenya. Silrocca and Súláríl stood by the edge of the trees, watching them.
He scanned the clearing for any signs of danger, then released Elizabette and stepped forward.
The elves' conversations broke off abruptly as they turned to Legolas. Then Duinral said,
"Legolas! Heri Elénwen! Manen nar tye? Manen poltye tulsímen?" (Legolas! Lady Elénwen! How are you? How did you come here?)
Legolas replied, "Aiya ilya. Ettulmë ve poltye." (Hail all. We came as you did.)
Elizabette was able to translate the greetings as Legolas had taught her some of the language, and, remembering faint things from her early years, she had picked it up quickly. Yet most of her attention was centered on Súláríl.
He stood still, resting his foreleg. Is your leg still sore? she asked him anxiously.
It is worse.
What is the cause?
No one knows.
Elizabette picked the foot up and again examined it. She could find no sign of the lameness. She turned back to the others as Legolas said her name.
Anarel gave her bread and dried fruit. Elizabette asked her why she believed that Súláríl was lame.
"I do not know for certain, My Lady," Anarel replied, "but I suspect that he stepped wrong and stretched the joint wrongly. This might cause the lameness. It has worsened during the journey today, though he was unburdened.
After she had eaten Elizabette boiled an olva envinya leaf in water and bathed Súláríl's foot.
It does feel better, he remarked as she finished.
Does it really?
Yes. Perhaps it will heal.
Do not strain it. I will not ride you until it is completely healed.
---
"Where is Elizabette?" Legolas asked, scanning the clearing.
It was morning. Sparse light filtered through the veiled trees, cold and chill with the morning dampness. The rich decayed scent of the earth floated on the heavy cool air.
Legolas glanced the clearing again. He had been to the stream to wash. She had been there when he had left.
Duinral and his friend Ryncäl looked up. Ryncäl shrugged. "Lady Elénwen? We have not seen her," he answered in the Common Speech.
Legolas frowned. "Where could she have gone?" he wondered.
Feláren, the elf who had become friends with Elizabette, looked at him. "She may have gone to the stream," she suggested.
Legolas shook his head. "I was just there," he replied uneasily, gaze skimming the clearing yet again.
Suddenly the branches over his head rustled slightly and Elizabette dropped to the ground beside him, landing easily on her toes.
"Worried about me?" she asked lightly.
Legolas smiled slightly. "What were you doing in the trees?" he asked.
"I wanted to see the light and feel the breeze," she replied. She turned away to check Súláríl's foot.
Is it better? she asked the horse.
Better than yesterday. It has not changed since last evening.
I will not ride, Elizabette said. I do not wish to make it worse again. She wrapped the foot in fresh bandages and combed her fingers through his mane, straightening the thick hairs.
Legolas and Silrocca came over to them. Silrocca nickered quietly. Legolas asked, "How is his foot?"
Elizabette picked it up. "It seems to be better," she replied, "but it may become worse."
"What did you do to heal it?"
"I soaked it in the water from the olva envinya leaves," she replied, releasing Súláríl's foot. Silrocca nudged Legolas' shoulder and he jumped lightly onto her back.
"Will you ride with us?" he asked Elizabette.
She shrugged. "I suppose so." She leapt easily up behind him. Súláríl came over to her.
Will you be able to keep up?
I think so. My foot is better than yesterday.
That is well, for we wish to reach the palace today. I will be happy to see the light, for the trees are thinner there.
Is your arm healing?
No.
She glanced down at the bandages. It still did not bleed, and it did not heal. She hoped fervently that there was something at the palace that could heal the cut.
---
Elizabette was stiff from riding in the unnatural position when they stopped for the midday meal. She jumped down from Silrocca's back with relief and busied herself checking Súláríl's foot.
It seemed no better or worse. She felt that the walking had done no good for him, though it had not made the foot worse. When we reach the palace you can rest, she told him.
She spoke with Feláren, her friend, during the meal. Feláren had at first kept away from Elizabette, but they had become good friends during their stay in Gondor. Feláren was the only elf besides Legolas who did not call Elizabette 'My Lady'. At first she had called her Elénwen, but Elizabette had explained the reason that she had taken that name and Feláren began to call her by her true name.
Feláren was interested to hear that the olva envinya water had helped Súláríl's foot. "Normally we crush it and place it on the wounds," she told Elizabette. "However, I see that you could not do this if you cannot find a wound."
Elizabette nodded. "I was not certain that it would help," she said, "though I did not believe that it would hurt."
Feláren smiled. "I was present when Súláríl was born," she said. "Even then he was spirited and would let no one near him. He is not much like his mother."
Elizabette nodded. "Not in personality or appearance," she replied, "except for his head. Silrocca is stronger than he is."
"That is probably partly because he has spent most of his first two years of life in his stall," Feláren replied.
Elizabette agreed. "I hope that his foot will heal," she said. "It is bad that we cannot find the source of the lameness."
"He will be all right, Elizabette," Feláren said reassuringly. "He is already healing."
"I hope so."
Feláren glanced at her face and changed the subject. "Would you like to ride with me this afternoon?" she asked. "Silrocca seems rather weary."
Elizabette nodded gratefully. "I would, Feláren," she replied with a smile. "Hantalë," she added in Quenya.
Feláren smiled. "Tya alassë." (To please you.)
Legolas smiled when Elizabette told him that she would ride with Feláren. He was pleased that Elizabette was finally becoming friends with some of the other elves.
They reached the palace late that afternoon. A shaft of golden autumn sunlight illuminated Súláríl's stall. Elizabette brushed his coat carefully and rewrapped his foot. Then she returned to the palace.
-
Epilogue thingy next...