Chapter Ten

Green Leaves

Though it seemed like it would never end, as April came, the snow started to melt and signs of life once again entered the village. The Elves came alive as well with the coming of Spring. The leaves and grass. The leaves of Mirkwood burst as they once again covered the forest floor in darkness. The fields were re-sown, the flowers bloomed, the Star-Trees opened into new splendor. And with the return of Spring, came also with the homecoming of ones long missed.

I was sitting at Elenowen's table practicing my Tenqwar when I heard the knock at the door. Turwethiel started to cry, so I swooped her into my arms out of her cradle cooed to silence her cries.

"Can you get the door Victoria?" Elenowen called from the kitchen.

"Sure." I shouted back, I soothed Turwethiel's cries and I walked rapidly to the door. Hardly looking up as I opened it and found myself face to face with a stranger. I spoke mostly in Sindarin now, and I could speak it fluently. Well....almost fluently. I quieted Turwethiel's cries before I looked up to meet stranger. I had never seen him before in the village, he was garbed as a warrior, a bow slung across his back, a sword at his hip. He looked strangely weary for an Elf and his eyes widened when he saw me.

"Can I help you?" I asked him, peering closely into his face.

"Is this the home of Elenowen?"

"Yes." Then it hit me, his eyes, his face, even his movements were vaguely familiar. Now ir struck a bell. "You are Cudir, aren't you?"

He looked surprised, he mastered his emotions well, but his eye brows raised. He nodded, and I turned back into the house. "Elenowen!" I shouted. "It's Cudir! He's come home!"

I saw my friend's pale face emerge from the back room, she blinked once or twice before running to the doorway as fast as she could. She flung herself into his arms, and he twirled her around like a child. Elenowen was crying and laughing at the same time as she clutched to him tightly. Cudir kissed her cheek as he held her,

"I was so afraid when we received no word..." she sobbed, burying her face in his shoulder.

"It's all right. I'm here now." he soothed, smoothing her hair and smiling as he looked into her eyes. Elenowen broke their embrace, wiping her tears away and glancing at me apologetically then back at Cudir.

"I'm sorry. Come, come in. Before you freeze to death."

He chuckled a little and smiled at her, "That's sounds like an excellent idea."

Elenowen took his hand, leading him gently into the house and seating him on a large cushioned chair. I took a silent stance at her side and when Cudir was settled, I handed Turwethiel to Elenowen who mouthed 'thank you', before laying the sleeping Elf child in her father's arms. Cudir's eyes were wide as saucers, I wanted to laugh at the expression on his face which was one of both amazement and curiosity.

"I've been busy while you were away Cudir." She said, the musical tone in her voice was one I had not heard in a long time. I was still cold from standing in the doorway but I couldn't help but smile, though I felt out of place.

"This... is ours?"

"She is Cudir." Elenowen said lightly, sitting beside him and leaning on his shoulder to look into Turwethiel's face. "Yes, she is ours."

His hands, slender and rough, traced the outline of her cheek. He smiled delightedly as she looked up at him with her deep blue eyes. Araviniel had once told me that elven children are born with green eyes, to represent new life. But Turwethiel's were clear and blue, like the sky. They mirrored Cudir's own which were just as clear and sharp as his daughter's. He gently rocked his baby girl in his muscular arms and sang softly, the sweetest melody I had ever heard in my life. I didn't understand the words, I leaned against the wall and hummed to the tune. What creations these Elves could make, it was a wonder. I felt the sense of intruding again, and I smiled once more at the two sitting side by side.

Then I gathered my cloak from its appointed place by the door. I slid on my warm, snow boots and quietly disappeared into the streets outside.

I was sitting on the bed in my room when the knock at the door sounded. It had actually been pounding for a long time, but I hadn't noticed. I had been dreaming, staring out the window at the snow flake that fell lightly on the groung below. It was Mirlaic who had jumped up in the end to answer it, soft exclamations being muttered under her breath. She then ushered someone in, and called my name. Her firm voice was enough to wake me from my fantasies, I had let my mind wander to Faerlain again. I found that often times... I just couldn't help it.

Sitting on a large chair in the main room, was Cudir. His tan face was tilted upward at Mirlaic and she was speaking softly to him. As my entrance, he rose and smiled warmly. "Victoria, you met Cudir, I am correct in assuming?" Mirlaic asked, glancing at first me, then as Cudir. I was wondering then if he was going to bow, he looked like he was going to. So I was slow to answer, and when I did, I stuttered slightly.

"Y..y...yes. I have. Yesterday, at Elenowen's."

"Ah, yes. I was just going to make some tea. He wished to speak with you for a moment."

I nodded as Mirlaic turned to the kitchen to make some tea. Then I glanced nervously at Cudir. I did not know him... at all. And besides that, I was not... well... I just wasn't good with people... or Elves. He smiled at me again and gestured to the chairs.

"Would you like to sit down?"

I blushed, managing a weak smile in return, "Oh. Yes."

We sat and I contented myself with just looking at him. After all, he was here to talk to me. He could start the conversation. He was remarkably handsome, I am beginning to think it's an Elf thing. He had a defined jaw, dark hair, and blue eyes that held a twinkle of laughter. He looked like he was ready to please, and he had an honest smile. (This was something I couldn't explain. If you see someone with an honest smile, you'd know. It all depends on your point of view.)

"I'm sorry for intruding on you like this Victoria." He began.

"No, it's all right. I wasn't doing anything...important." My cheeks reddened slightly as I thought briefly of Faerlain. Did he know what I was thinking about? Could he see?

He nodded and continued. "I wanted to thank you for all you have done for us, my wife and I."

"I did nothing." I protested, clasping my hands for they had nothing better to do.

"On the contrary, I heard that many things have begun to change since I've been away. All of which are rooted around you." He sat back in the chair, looking intently at me. "This village needed a change, we were beginning to be too far above others in our minds. I thank you for that as well."

I nodded. I mean, what are you suppose to say to that? Your welcome?

"I was all too happy to be home Victoria, especially to have my wife and a healthy daughter waiting for me on my return. The fighting has been fierce. The orcs and spiders seemed to join forces, if such a thing were possible. We never had a moment's rest." He paused, as if he only just remembered something. He blinked a few times, then adjusted his gaze to my eyes.

"You're the Victoria Faerlain spoke of, are you not?"

My heart lept at the sound of his name."You know Faerlain? Where is he?"

"The reserves haven't been disbanded as of yet. Yes, I know him. He'll be home in a month or two. By early summer at the very latest."

A month? Till summer? It seemed like an eternity. I hope he couldn't see how flustered I was.

"We were always close friends, served together throughout the winter. He asked me to give you hid greetings until he returns." I smiled wistfully. "I thought he exaggerated when he spoke of you." He grinned mischievously at me. "But I can see now that he spoke truth."

"What did he say?" I asked almost as once, my words were eager and my cheeks reddened slightly after I spoke them.

"Well, he said you were charming, polite, refreshing, fun, intriguing..." He paused, glancing at me with a twinkle in his eyes. "...beautiful."

I blushed a shade redder, if that were at all possible. I tried shrugging it off with a smile, "You're making fun of me."

"No. I'm not." In all of an instant, his hand was holding mine. "I know you little Victoria, however, I can see what even a mortal can do amongst the Elves. You are an amazing person."

"A young mortal Cudir, and I truly did nothing."

"What a personality too, you must be heartily missed where you come from."

The smile vanished from my face, I looked down. They probably didn't miss me at all, now that Talorta was gone my parents were probably relieved. It was then I noticed the silent tears that had crept onto my face. Cudir frowned, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean too..."

"No, it wasn't you." I said. I looked up and squeezed his hand, shrugging. "Unwanted memories. It's funny how things we wish so hard to forget come back so suddenly... and painfully."

He nodded, "I know the feeling." His eyes met mine once more and then he stood. "I should be going. I just wanted to say thank you for all you have done here." I had no words to say, no comment to shrug off his praise. For frankly, I found it hard to believe his words at all.

Ana became the most cheerful girl I ever knew after her brother's return. She no longer had need for my stories of castles and knights is shining armor. It was approaching spring once more, and the Star Trees of Gilloth were peeping out of their deep slumber as May arrived. Elenowen was happy as I had ever seen her, and it seemed that I was not really needed there anymore. Though I was never forgotten in Gilloth, I preferred to live quietly in the background and in the shadows of what went on in the village.

Araviniel and Talorta were my closest friends, and as I looked back, I wondered where the stubborn and slightly wild girl I had been had gone. It was like I had evaporated into thin air. Thought sometimes I regretted my change, I accepted this new life as best I could. For I was rapidly approaching 21, and I was no longer a clumsy teen. Araviniel was a skilled and quick leaner and soon she could handle any ailments that Mirlaic threw her way (though they were few in number). I told her one day that from now on, birthing children was her job.

As for me, surprise of surprises, I picked up drawing. There weren't exactly crayons or colored pencils in Gilloth, but I made out well with just plain quill and ink and something that resembled a thick lead pencil. If your at all interested in that sort of thing, the scenery of Gilloth was amazing. Even the forest had it's own beauty locked deep within it's menacing trees with their thick bark and dark leaves. I don't know why exactly I learned to draw. I guess sometimes I just felt Gilloth was all I knew of this world, whether it be a dream or reality. It was just so strange, and I suppose drawing the things around me was my only way of escaping my confinement and exploring this place all around me.

I would ride Talorta out everyday to the old willow tree where Faerlain used to give me lessons. There I would sit under it's comforting branches and draw everything and anything I saw that possessed a beauty of it's own. I had grown into the habit of stuffing a saddle bag full of my creations. This I would sling over Talorta's broad shoulders every time I went for a ride...just in case.

My particular favorite was one I had drawn of Turwethiel and Elenowen. They had been sitting by the stream, the elfling in her mother's arms. Little Turwethiel had been staring at the water with wide eyes and a face that only came once, when one experienced something wonderful for the very first time. Her silence that day was my only token of her amazement. Elenowen had been looking down fondly at her, her eyes bursting with love. Her dark hair shone as the sun reflected on it, framing her face so that she looked like an angel.

I never showed it to anyone. I don't know whether it was out of jealousy, or out of some emotion that I was unaware of. But most of my pictures, remained hidden deep inside me, a part of myself I could show to no one. Mirlaic once said, "A picture speaks wisdom and beauty with a thousand words." I guess she was right. Besides Mirlaic and Araviniel, no one knew of my new found passion. So I kept it that way. I spent most of my time alone, for ever the friendliest Elf cannot always comfort the tormented soul of a lost mortal. Too poetic to describe me I suppose, but it was how the words described me. And it was what I was.

"Talorta, stop eating my paper!" I scolded as his freckled nose nudged through my saddle bag which lay by my side. He froze, turning his great big head and staring at me through his large brown eyes. They were innocent eyes and I couldn't help but laugh. I wondered what words he would have used if he too could speak. I looked once more at the stream, I had been lost in thought, scribbling away at a picture without really noticing it. It was of Faerlain. I blushed, folding it quickly and shoving it into my bag. Rising, I brushed myself off and looked around. It was one of the few times I managed to slip into a pair of breeches without anyone noticing. Why I felt I had to hide them, I wasn't quite sure myself.

I had not many chores back at the flet anymore, thanks to Araviniel who's days serving the queen had made and imprint on her. The time spent at the flet now was mostly for lessons from Mirlaic and Araviniel. I absorbed everything I could about Middle Earth, anything they could tell or teach me, I listened to. Sometimes I felt like a caged animal in this village, but if I imagined hard enough, I could picture this entire world that was still so foreign and new to me.

"I guess we should head back." I slung the saddle bag over his shoulders and with the assistance of a log, slid onto his back. He started back through the woods towards the village when I felt very cold all of a sudden, having the distinct feeling that I was being watched. We were near the borders of the forest when I suddenly heard cries from deep within it. I slowed Talorta and stared into its depths.

"Hello? Is anyone there?" Silence was my reply. Dead silence. Which was strange, where had all the birds gone? Where were the animals that scurried about on the forest floor? Mirkwood was a dark place, but the forest was not dead. It as alive with all sorts of creatures and just then they all seemed to had disappeared. I nudged Talorta forward, the crying had stopped. But I shuddered again as we move on. And we left the forest with not a single sound coming from behind us.

"Victoria, have you seen Ana?" Elenowen asked as I rode into the village square.

"No, I was by the stream." I said, I was going to laugh until the expression on her face silenced it. She was worried.

"It's probably nothing, she's just out playing with her friends is probably all." She looked up at me, "I've been looking for her for a while, she left after noon with our horse and hasn't come back since."

I frowned, "That's not like Ana."

"I'm sure she's fine..." Elenowen said quickly, "But... its just not like her, as you said... She rode out towards the forest."

"I'll go take a quick look for her."

Relief flooded into Elenowen's face. "Thank you so much Victoria, you are a good friend."

I smiled down at her, whirling Talorta around and then cantered back to the forest. As we neared the dense trees, the utter silence sent shivers down my spine. "Ana!" I shouted, the air so thick that no echo could be heard in reply. We wandered further inside when suddenly I heard rapidly approaching hoofbeats. Elenowen's horse bolted from their left and crashed into Talorta's side. The horse's eyes were wide with wild fright as it fell to it's knees after it's collision, stumbling back to it's feet. And then continuing it's mad bolt back to the village.

Talorta was breathing deeply and I patted his neck, the other horse probably knocked the wind from his chest. Luckily Elenowen's horse was not large, known only for it's speed so Talorta wasn't badly hurt, only bruised. And since the horse had crashed into Talorta's shoulder, I was otherwise unharmed. Fear welled up in my throat as I spurred Talorta in the direction the horse had come from.

"Ana!" I screamed. What was going on?

It was then I heard wailing from further in, and I pushed Talorta forward. I noticed the growl from the bushes too late to react. Before I could do anything a huge monster emerged, it looked like an over sized wolf with a back problem. It's eyes were small and dark, it's fangs huge, dripping with saliva as it roared at me. Talorta reared, starting at the sight of it and backing up. It snarled and yapped as it circled us, and then... it charged.

I froze in fright and my gaze turned upward toward the thing sitting upon it's back. It had pale grey skin with a metal bar covering it's right eye and screwed into it's skull. I couldn't speak, and as I tried to scream, no words would wrench themselves from my throat. It wore black, funny looking armor with lots of pikes and sharp objects ejecting from it. A jagged sword was held out before it as it charged at me.

I don't know what happened, but I was frozen. I couldn't move, couldn't breathe and with panic growing in my mind I realized that I was going to die. Talorta flattened his ears as the monster approached and lunged out at it with his front hooves. I slid from his back as I lost my balance and hit the ground with a painful thud. My mind swam as I scrambled to return to the light. I could vaguely hear Talorta squealing, and the snarls of the monster as they fought. It was a living nightmare, I wanted to scream and to wake up. But I couldn't. You never wake up from nightmares when you want to. I struggled to push myself up...I grabbed a large branch at my feet as I straighted on my legs which were shaking violently. I couldn't move...I blinked. I was terrified out of my mind. And then something happened that will haunt me forever. Both beast and monster turned to me, shoving Talorta out of the way, and they grinned.

My heart pounded fiercely against my chest, my lungs ready to burst. I wasn't suppose to face something like this. It was like in a book I read once, fear quenches all thoughts or hopes of bravery. This world couldn't be real. I would wake up...and it would all be gone. But it wasn't gone, and I wasn't dreaming. For that demon was sure as hell going to kill me. The monster started to charge. I contemplated two things in those brief seconds, running was one of them. It lasted for about a half a second. But the other thing was that all my reason seemed to have left me, and in one final frantic attempt, I ran.

Crashing through the bushes, and I could hear them following me from behind. I swerved, backtracking and heading for the edge of the woods once more. From then on I have always hater tree roots with a passion, for as I ran, one tripped me. And I fell. I faced the monster with the stick held out in front of me. And that was when I squinted my eyes tight. It would be on me any second now. Three...two...one... The stick was torn from my grasp, twisting the wrist which had guarded it and sending bolts of pain up through my arm. Something sticky...something wet was on my fingers. And I heard a heavy thud that made me sick.

Right before I passed out.

When I opened my eyes agin, Talorta was hovering over me. His freckled nose was nudging my still body with concern. I sat up, looking around. The monster laid dead, as well as his rider. My stick protruded from it's throat. The grey beast looked like he had hit a tree, his eyes were open and staring unseeing at me with surprise, it's neck was misshapened. I took one more look at the corpses, and then at the dark blood that had run down my arm to my hand. Then I emptied the contents of my stomach with a wretching heave.

When I was through, I wiped my mouth and turned my pale face to the woods and called, "ANA!" One more time, carefully avoiding looking at the corpses. I heard the wailing again and I weakly pulled myself up in his back and spurred Talorta towards them. It was there, though those dark trees, that I found Ana. She was sobbing uncontrollably, one of her legs was twisted horribly. She looked up at me with wild eyes as we cantered over to her and let out another cry. This time

it was of relief as I dismounted and ran to her, hugging her close to my chest.

I was white as a ghost when we finally got back to Gilloth. Ana was huddled carefully in my arms, I was hunched over in my saddle, my eyes starting to close as Talorta finally plodded wearily into the village. It was dusk now, and the monster's dark blood was smeared across my face and had dried down my arm. I rode slowly towards to Elenowen's house, and upon reaching it, I dismounted. My legs would hardly hold my weight as I slid Ana into my arms and hobbled over to the door, knocking on it softly.

Elenowen opened the door, and let out a strangled cry. Cudir appeared behind her as Elenowen took Ana into her arms. I was pretty much worn and I leaned heavily on the door. "What happened? You're white as snow." Cudir asked, turning to me.

I quickly told him of the beast and the wolf. His expression darkened. "Orcs." He muttered. I could hardly think straight now, and as he spoke again to me I only understood fragments of what he was saying.

"I have to go." I mumbled, stumbling back to Talorta's side and started to pull myself on.

"Do you want me to take you home?" Cudir asked when Elenowen had carried Ana inside and put her to bed.

"I'm fine." I replied once I had scrambled onto Talorta's broad back.

"Victoria, wait."

I suddenly felt his hand on my arm. I looked down wearily at him. "Thank you." He said nothing else, for no other words were needed. Even in the dim light I could see his tears. I smiled softly,

"She is a good girl Cudir, one of my greatest friends." I blinked the sleep out of my eyes. He smiled in return and without anything else said, I rode again once more back to Mirlaic's flet as fast as Talorta could take me.

"Victoria!"

Mirlaic literally pulled me off Talorta when I reached the flet.

"Valar, the things that ran through my head when you didn't come back!" She embraced me tightly. I leaned heavily on her and nearly collapsed.

"I'm sorry Mirlaic, I'm so tired." I mumbled.

"Poor thing, I should say. Come, I'll get you all cleaned up." Before I knew it, I was sitting on a bed, a nightdress being slipped over my head, and a warm cloth wiping the remains of my vomit, and the monster's blood away from my skin. I told her all I could remember and she listened quietly. Soon I could no longer speak and tears ran down my cheeks and I just started to sob. I don't remember anything else about that night, except for Mirlaic's warm embrace as she held me tightly while I cried. Just like my mother used to do.

And in that moment, I would have given anything to have her arms around me once again. God, how I missed my mother just then.

Very many things happening in this chapter. Get ready for some excitement in the next few chapters, as well as the return of some familiar faces... :) I will say no more. :) Also, I don't know how many of you caught the bit about Elven babies having green eyes, but if you did, that was all my idea. :) I put that in and so far I have found nothing on that subject in any of Tolkien's works. Just so you all know. I'll try to update again soon, in the mean time, thanks a million to my beta reader, Kiann. :) Toodles! :)

Namarie,

Luthien Anaclime

TO BE CONTINUED....