Disclaimer: Me no own Tolkien's work. (Bows humbly to Tolkien)
Chapter Quote: "Yes, feel free to come and catch chickens whenever you please."
Update: Chapter Edited
Chapter Three
Gilloth
Being in this strange lady's hut took a while to sink in, and a lot of soothing on her part. Her being Mirlaic that is. She figured I was some dim-witted girl from a mortal village, and being so kind, decided to inform me of this place at which I was residing. I have to tell you, I am not the person who is quick to trust... but there was something about Mirlaic that was calming. And sometimes she reminded me so much of my mother before Zach died I thought I might burst into tears. Maybe it was just the fact she looked so beautiful, or it might of just been her pointy ears. I don't know, but I found myself asking more and more questions; eagerly awaiting her replies and answers.
I was confined to my bed for a week more, and Mirlaic began to tell me everything she could about this world I was now in. She started by laying out a map of a place she called Middle Earth, I had never heard of it, but not wishing to sound any thicker then I must of already I asked enough questions to satisfy my curiosity, and not sound dim at the same time. In fact, though I felt young and childish around her, she seemed to not care. Instead she seemed to rather enjoy my company, and I her's.
She showed me where Gilloth was on her strange map. She had been right, the village was not on it and was roughly drawn on by herself. There was a large forest called Mirkwood, and towards the middle-eastern part was Gilloth. Only about 50 miles away from the palace, as she called it. She said Gilloth meant 'star-flower', after strange flowers which grew there. The flower was rare, and used for it's beauty and smell, which could lull a raging animal (or human) to sleep. It glowed at night a cream glowered white, hence the name.
She told me that this Mirkwood was inhabited by things called Elves, which immediately brought to my mind images of little people running around Santa's Workshop in the North Pole. She laughed when I tried to explain this to her, she didn't end up getting it in the end, but it didn't matter. She said that the Elves were the Eldar, the first and fairest race in Middle Earth. She told me that they were immortal and had lived in peace in their own respective countries for years. (She also said that Elves had pointy ears.) If you can imagine, when Mirlaic said she was almost 4,000 (She thought, she couldn't quite remember) I thought I had gone mad. But eventually the idea became more and more real, and alarmingly, proven true when I saw others stop by Mirlaic's cottage during my confinement. All of them held the same grace and poise Mirlaic did, all had pointy ears, all dressed...well...kind of funny. Like something out of King Arthur's time, only they all had this look of flawlessness... even when they were working. And they all had this look in their eyes. This depthless look, like they had lived through and seen countless things, and if what Mirlaic had told me was true, they had indeed.
She said that Mirkwood was ruled by an Elf name King Thranduil, and that his palace was what she was always referring to. It was an obviously famous place. During my days in bed, I weaseled everything I could out of her about this fascinating world. She told me about the race of men, and pointed out to me their countries, and the names of their rulers. Even telling me a little history about each. She told me of little folk they called the periannath, in their own language. But Half-lings in my own, she said she knew little about them. Few ever heard of them, they liked to keep to themselves and had only heard of them through Strider.
Of course when she mentioned his name I wanted to learn more about my mysterious rescuer. She could tell me little, she had known him for a little while, her being a healer and all. (Which I guessed was sort of like a doctor in this weird medieval-ish sort of way or in her case, middle earth-ish) She said he and his friend were tracking a nasty little creature named Gollum who she could again tell me little of. And that he was good friends with King Thranduil's son, Legolas. They seemed to get into a lot of trouble together when they (mostly Strider because he is mortal) were younger.
I loved to hear her speak in her language which she called, Sindarin. She even began to teach me a little. Needless to say, by the time I could get up and about, I was hesitant to leave Mirlaic to explore the village. After some persuading, she got me out to see Talorta and how my heart burst to see his familiar and much longed for face again.
"Hey baby!" I called as I entered the stables outside Mirlaic's house. I rubbed his neck as he whinnied happily and nuzzled my neck and chest with his velvet nose. I laughed and began to whisper the few phrases Mirlaic had taught me. I groomed him and found that he had become good friends with Mirlaic's horse, Sirdhail. Mirlaic had fashioned me into a sort of light brown dress, (which I hated but was not about to complain after being locked up for so long) and I decided to ride Talorta around the village bareback to see what I could see.
Gilloth was indeed as Mirlaic had said, small. But it was beautiful, it was the first place I had truly seen in this Middle Earth. I wondered if I had gone crazy, and maybe I was dreaming. But this was much better then at home, so who cared if none of it was real and I was in a coma or something? (I certainly didn't.) At least at first I didn't mind. The Elves of the village were one of the reasons it was so amazing. They were perfectly flawless in appearance and grace. And I instantly felt out of place. The villagers were hesitant to talk to me, which Mirlaic had explained, was due to the fact that most humans did travel through, not many people (of any race) ever stopped in Gilloth at all except to get samples of it's rare namesake.
On top of that, it turns out that most Elves just don't mix with most Humans either. I was still pale and slightly weak from me past experiences, but I decided the best thing for me today was to get out of Mirlaic's house. Not that I didn't like it, I was just to curious to the world that she had spent full days for almost two weeks telling all she could. That is, all that she could tell and that I could understand. She said I was welcome as long as I liked when I told her the chances of me going home (or even finding it) were remarkably slim. Mirlaic didn't seem to mind at all. She kind of was like a second mother to me, and I wondered why she didn't have any children of her own. And then thinking on it further, if she did have children the same age as me, they'd be hundreds of years old! And that in turn, felt strangely uncomfortable to imagine.
So I brushed Talorta off and jumped on, (which is a lie, I could barely manage to sit to his excited trot bareback let alone 'jump on'. I stood on his stall door.) And I started to wander through the village of Gilloth for the first time.
It was on the edge of a thick forest, trees surrounded the little village, but only lightly on the western side and more thickly towards the eastern side. Their was a single road that ran from the west to the east and deep into the forest which Mirlaic had said led straight to another village or two, and then to King Thranduil's palace. I felt like a little girl, dreaming of Knights in shining armor and princesses locked away in towers. But this time, it was so real. Small houses lined either side of the road and were literally built in and around the trees. None of them had been cut down, save a few to built the houses themselves. Carved with intricate designs that seemed to flow right into the tree, and sometimes it was hard when you gazed at each one just where the elf-kind had stopped and let nature take it's course.
These Elves were not wealthy either, Mirlaic had explained to me that since the Gilloth Elves had gotten into the habit of farming, they had sometimes been looked down upon by others. Most hunted for their food, and I found just by watching some young (They looked young at least. What were they, five hundred?) elves practice archery that their aim was deadly. They stared at me when Talorta and I had rode past, some had sniggered and turned away to shoot again, but others, (besides those who stared) and flushed a deep shade of red. (From anger or some other emotion I could not tell and did not ask.) Each house had at least one horse grazing outside of it, Elven horses bind themselves faithfully to their masters, so they most of the time don't bother tying them up. All were beautiful and well... perfect. Just like their owners. And it made me and Talorta stick out all the more like a sore thumb. When I passed most people would stop and stare and I would have to keep my distance if I wanted to hear their musical laughter and listen to the sounds of their voices, speaking fluidly in their own language.
I didn't quite know what to think of them at all. Should I try to be friendly? Or just keep my distance? By the end of the day as dusk came and night settled, I decided I didn't quite know and supposed I'd just have to give myself some time to adjust. Mirlaic was waiting for me with a steaming plate of food, meat. And I couldn't help wondering if she had caught it herself. That night I went to bed quietly without a word. And I was slowly beginning to wonder if I would ever accept this strange world without 1, going crazy. 2, fitting in. 3, accepting my life. And 4, without forgetting my past.
Six months past, and slowly I began to understand my sort of new 'mother' more. Mirlaic was the village healer and in being so, held great respect among the villagers. However, keeping me had seemed like a disgrace of sorts, and many of them eyed my coldly, if not just ignoring me completely. Since few could speak in the Common Tongue (that's what Mirlaic called English) she decided it was in my best interest to start to learn her language. I had also decided that announcing that I thought I was either crazy, or from another world was entirely out of the question of trying to explain.
She turned a cold shoulder to the whispers and sniggering being said about me, and quite frankly, it was only her patience that kept me from going out and chucking a rock or something at one of their heads when I heard what came out of their mouth's sometimes. (When I could understand them.) The Gilloth boys however, were much different... in a way that was growing rapidly more annoying everyday. Almost every one liked to talk loudly in Sindarin or Quenya whenever I walked by, knowing I could neither speak nor understand what they were saying. And those who could speak English did hesitate to call me whatever popped into their mind's first, which most of the time was 'foolish mortal' or 'daughter of orc swine' which I had to ask Mirlaic the meaning of and she flushed a deep red of embarrassment and would only say that it was a highly insulting comment.
I still haven't found out what 'orc swine' exactly is. Needless to say, I haven't made many friends. Actually, I haven't made any except for the horses around here who don't seem to mind that I'm human. I had made a breath through with my Sindarin and am actually able to converse haltingly in it. (Enough to understand most of what the boys say about me now and think of translating nasty reply's in return.) But I was still a long way off from being anything to these people. And sometimes I wondered if Mirlaic wished she had taken in a stray dog instead of me, it certainly would have caused less trouble. Or maybe even a dwarf... Mirlaic had told me all about them, though doing it without an edge of bitterness in her voice was extremely difficult. I've figured out that dwarves and elves DO NOT get along.
I was sitting at the table trying in vain to practice the Tenquar (Elven Alphabet) when Mirlair emerged from another room (Her house was actually much bigger then it had originally looked when I was sick.) with a small smile on her face.
"You've been learning Sindarin for a long time Victoria. I think it's time you tried it out in the village."
I glanced sharply at her and my eyes narrowed, "Do you find that wise? I find the local boys following me at every where I go trying to find some new way to get under my skin...uh...irritate me." I said quickly when I saw the confusion written on her face. "Besides that, how do I know whatever it is you want me to do will not just be ignored by whomever I want to talk to?"
She smiled and walked towards the table, "No, she will not be rude."
"She?"
"Yes, I want you to go see Alphril, the old merchant's wife. It's time we made you some proper clothes. And with the harvest coming on, I just don't have the time to make the material."
I blushed, "I cannot accept money from you or anything else to trade Mirlaic."
She laughed, "I know, you've told me countless times before. But you live here too, and you help and earn more then your fair share. Besides, I know Alphril's last chickens died in the spring. She would be more then happy to sell you some nice fabric for a few of ours."
"Mirlaic..."
"You will listen to me Victoria. I am tired of this, you live here now with me don't you?"
I nodded silently.
"And until you decide to leave, or find those whom love you, you are kinda (she smiled at the use of my words) suppose to listen to me so we can work together."
"You win!" I threw up my hands in defeat. "I honestly don't know why you don't have kids Mirlaic. You'd be a great mother."
She looked down and smiled faintly, "That is a story for another day." she looked up again, "Alphril's house is the greenish one with the Star-Flower tree by the front door. Tell her what you want, no cheating, you must speak Sindarin, and her son will come later to get the chickens."
"Alphril has a son?" I asked in surprise. I had met the older Elf a few times, and but I had never seen nor heard of her son.
"Yes, he's a soldier in King Thranduil's army. He was on duty on our southern borders and was granted a leave for a few months to take care of her."
"Oh." I said, Mirlaic was feeling talkative. I stood and grabbed my grey cloak which Mirlaic had given me. It was somewhere around the end of October I reckoned. We were nearing the Harvest which Mirlaic called, Yavieba. I smiled, I guess Elves don't celebrate Halloween. I was wearing my soft brown dress again, it had light blue edges, and was one of the few dresses I owned. I couldn't say I was thrilled about wearing dresses all the time, but it didn't seem like I had much of a choice.
-No cheating Victoria.- she said smugly in Sindarin.
-Uh...yes...I won't.- I said haltingly, and looked sharply at Mirlaic to make sure I had said nothing...stupid. She only smiled.
-Get going, it is almost supper timeand we should get started on those dresses tonight.-
I nodded and swept wordlessly into the street. The sun was nearing it's time to set so I hurried down to Alphril's house and knocked loudly on the door.
-Don't break it child! A few taps is all I need.- I heard Alphril say from within as the door swung open.
-Greetings Alphril.- I said slowly and she looked up at me in surprise.
-So Mirlaic has taught you our language?- she said, smiling.
-Some of it...just don't speak to fast. I'm not allowed to cheat.-
-Cheat?-
-Speak in the Common tongue.-
-I see.- and she smiled again. Alphril didn't look the age her eyes stated. She had blond hair reaching to her waist and she wore a simple brown dress, similar to the one I myself wore, except there was no blue. She moved gracefully...like a swan. -Come in, come in Victoria. What can I get you?-
-Some cloth, Mirlaic said I deserve a few dresses.- I scowled.
-I can tell your positively thrilled about it.- she said, gesturing me to follow her.
I was wrong about one thing, I think Alphril liked me. So that was two Elves so far in Gilloth.
She showed me dazzling material, some violet, some redder then blood, all amazingly beautiful. But in the end I choose a simple light blue and a light brown and green dress.
-What will you use in payment?- she said as she wrapped the fabrics up.
-Chickens. How many do you want?-
-Oh, I think two will be sufficient. I'll have my son follow you back. He hasn't been around here in a few years, and though I find it unlikely he's forgotten Mirlaic's cottage. He was there many times in his youth but you should accompany him all the same.-
-Thank you Alphril.-
She waved me off. -Anytime Victoria. Anytime. You must show me what they look like as soon as you've finished them.- she paused thoughtfully. -You know, they'd go very well with your eyes. You've lovely blue eyes Victoria.- I smiled.
-Farewell then.-
-Farewell, oh, Victoria. Tell Mirlaic you passed.- She winked at me before turning to someone who'd appeared at her side.
-There you are, here's Victoria. Now you follow her and go pick up two chicken's from Mirlaic's house.-
-Yes Mama.-
I couldn't see him until he had kissed Alphril and then walked into the street. He was tall, a good head above me. With dark brown hair braided in the common fashion ofawarrior. He had soft grey eyes, and I noticed the similar depth less look they had, but unlike the other Elves I had seen, he seemed so alive. I blushed when suddenly I realized I did not know his name. He walked up to me and smiled in a friendly way.
"Hello." he said.
I glanced up at him in surprise.
"Nana told me you did not speak Sindarin very well yet."
"I won't deny it." I said, my blush disappearing and replaced with a warm smile.
"I am Faerlain, and you are... Victoria?"
I nodded, again failing to conceal my surprise.
"Well, shall we go?"
I nodded and we started walking down the road back towards Mirlaic's flet. (That's what she called it, even though she said flet were built in trees. According to her, what she had was close enough.)
"I've heard all about you ever since I returned home." he said.
"Probably nothing pleasant." I said bitterly, casting a dirty glance at an Elf boy who'd stared at us as we passed and stuck his tongue out at me.
"On the contrary, I heard many nice things about you..." he looked at me sheepishly, "... most of which came from Nana."
The smile crept back onto my face, there was something about Faerlain that made you want to smile and just be happy. I found that as I talked to him, I just couldn't be bitter or angry.
"I apologize for the way my people have treated you."
"Don't apologize, it was their mistake, not yours. Besides, between you, your mother, and Mirlaic, that makes three of you who've begun to like me in almost three months."
He laughed, "I can see your making progress."
"I'm not exactly...polite and likable...sometimes anyway."
"I beg to differ, your witty. That's what you are."
"And you are strange. Come to think of it, I hadn't even heard of you until today."
"That's not a terribly long time if you look at it from my viewpoint. But I was away for so long most people probably thought I was dead or something of that sort. And I have to say, out of the all the mortals I've come to meet, I'm liking you the most." he said, his eyes were bright with laughter.
"Can't of been terribly many of them then."
"You could say that."
We talked all the way to Mirlaic's, and I found myself surprised when we reached her yard, it had seemed like only seconds for I had liked Faerlain so much. I showed him where the Chickens were kept and helped him catch two and put them in a cage.
"I had an enjoyable time Victoria." He said as he prepared to leave.
"Yes, feel free to come and catch chickens whenever you please." It was an absurd comment, but he only laughed.
"Well, you'll have to buy some more dress material for me to do so." He grinned and rubbed the back of his neck. "So, I could help you with your Elvish if you like. It would help you fit in more here until you decide..." he broke off and looked at me expectantly. I knew he was going to say, until you decide to leave.
I smiled, "That would be wonderful." And I wasn't lying, I wouldn't mind at all if I saw Faerlain again, again and soon that is.
"What about tomorrow? At the old willow by the stream."
"Works for me, what time?"
"Noon, bring something to eat." he smiled, "I look foward to seeing you again."
My stomach did a little leap and I smiled helplessly in return. "Sounds like a plan, I'll see you then."
"Good-bye Victoria."
"Namarie Faerlain." Again he gave me that smile and then walked back down the road. I lingered in the door way, watching him go and then shook my head. But the feeling of bliss I had felt with him didn't leave. And I found myself awaiting tomorrow anxiously.
A/N: I find myself updating this again only because I need to write out my other chapters. It will happen quickly though, don't worry. As I think everyone knows by now, I have a soft spot for OC's. In the future I think I'll have my go at a story with strictly cannon characters, but hey, we'll see what happens. I couldn't help myself, you know what a hopeless Romantic I am. Remember, Feedback is always needed and appreciated:) Thanks to Kiann who I don't know what I'd do without. :)
TO BE CONTINUED...