Chapter 10
Adette's POV
The sky overhead was graying, the clouds billowing with rain. When they would eventually spill I knew not. It was dimming, everything was becoming slightly darker. I turned my head to see the gloomy faces behind me, tear streaked and pitiful. With Gandalf gone, Aragorn led the fellowship with Legolas and Gimli close behind.
I began to softly hum an upbeat tune, folding my hands behind my back as if nothing were wrong. When no one protested I hummed a bit louder.
"Let the rain fall down,
everywhere around you."
I looked up to see that Aragorn, Legolas, Boromir, and Gimli had all turned their heads to stare at me. I quickly closed my mouth, assuming that it was not the right time to be singing. Instead I resorted to humming once more and the four turned back around.
"Adette?"
I looked down by my side to see that Pippin was now walking beside me. His voice was quiet and I assumed that he was trying to keep from crying again.
"Yes Pippin?"
"Where are we going?"
I returned my eyes to straight ahead. The forest looked absolutely beautiful, with perfectly green grass. The trees all seemed to be exactly the same height, all perfection, and their leaves cut into different shapes and designs.
"Lothlórien." I answered, entranced by its beauty. As if reading my mind, Gimli's voice suddenly erupted in the serene silence.
"Stay close, young Hobbits! They say that a great sorceress lives in these woods, an Elf-witch, of terrible power. All who look upon her fall under her spell."
Suddenly I felt the first raindrop, and looked up to the sky. The clouds were finally giving birth, their children plummeting to earth. I closed my eyes and let my arms fall back as the rain fell a bit harder, gracing my hair and skin.
"Hurry, into the trees!" Aragorn called. Almost immediately I heard the rushing footsteps of the Hobbits scurrying away from me, but I shot an arm out.
"Stay for a moment." I murmured to them.
The rain had always offered to me a peaceful feeling. It was as if it cleansed my body and soul, allowing me to start anew. Instead of rushing to the trees I simply stood in the midst of the field, my arms open to accept this cleansing.
"Come!" Aragorn called once more.
I heard footsteps coming towards me and hands grasped my arms gently. I slowly opened my eyes, my face still pointed up towards the sky. Slowly, I lowered my face to look at Legolas. I saw him catch his breath, I had not imagined it.
I looked down to see what his eyes had drifted down to see. I was completely soaked, the tunic clinging against my skin as if it were my skin. I could see my arms through the white sleeves as well as my legs through the leggings. My hair was pushed back over my shoulders and I could feel it hanging limply behind me.
"You'll get sick again." He warned softly.
"Then let me get sick again!" I lunged at him, throwing him back onto the ground. I heard the breath leave his body with the impact of the ground and giggled, turning to motion for the Hobbits. "Come!"
When they didn't move I got off of Legolas and instead picked Pippin up off of the ground. As gently as possible I swung him about and let him fall to the ground into the muddy soup the fields had become. I heard him suddenly laugh, and he jumped on me.
"Pippin, she's a princess." Merry hissed, coming towards us.
"And if I do this," I grabbed a handful of mud and slopped it onto his tunic front, "then what?"
He looked down at the stain and then quickly backed up, a mischievous grin on his face. He tackled me as well, and we rolled around in the mud, laughing. I heard more footsteps and soon, Sam had joined in.
"We have no time for this lass." Gimli's voice was annoyed and near. I looked up from the Hobbits to see him standing there with Boromir and Aragorn, all of them looking displeased by what I had done. Legolas stood watching from where I had tackled him.
"Come Gimli, of course we do." I grabbed his ankle and pulled hard. He fell backwards on his back, and I looked to the Hobbits. "Get them! Get them!"
I didn't need to tell them twice. Soon we were all wrestling in the mud, even Frodo had come and joined in with them. The only one who stood was my stubborn husband, whom I walked over to while the others wrestled.
"Why are you standing here alone?" I asked him, my hands on my hips.
"We have to keep going Adette. We don't have time for this and you'll-"
While he had been droning on, I had reached down and gotten a handful of mud in my hand. He raised his eyebrows in surprise and before he could react, I slapped the mud into his face, laughing out loud as he raised a hand and pushed it off.
"You had better run." He growled, his eyes narrowed.
I ran around him, heading for the trees. I could hear Legolas practically right behind me, trying to catch up. The trees whizzed past as I continued to run, breathing heavily from laughing so hard. Could they not see what the rain had done?
Finally he caught me, falling on top of me. His hands sunk into the mud on either side of my head, his chest heaving and shaking from both running and laughing. The tremor of his breath tickled my ear, and I turned my head to the side for a kiss when suddenly he stiffened.
"Legolas?"
His body was gone from atop mine in a second, and I saw him step over me. I looked up from the ground to see him, his bow ready, protecting me from something. He turned to the side, listening.
"Adette!" Aragorn shouted. I was pulled to my feet and I looked around. The Hobbits, caked in mud, were in between Boromir and Aragorn. Gimli had his axe ready and I pulled out my sword to follow suit.
Suddenly we were surrounded by elves with bows, all ready to shoot. I felt Legolas's arm bump mine as he moved swiftly to my side. He stared straight ahead at the arrowheads pointed at us, his gaze not wavering. His jaw was set, his eyes stone. I stopped myself from sighing, once again seeing my husband's angry, slightly violent side.
One elf stepped forward from the rest, his hair just like Legolas's. His skin was very pale, nearly white in my eyes. Both his eyebrows and his eyes were a dark shade of brown, setting off both his skin and his hair beautifully. He wore a cloak colored as gray as the sky but I could see that he was fairly built. There was no denying that he was handsome.
"The dwarf breathes so loud that we could have shot him in the dark." He said in a cold voice, staring at all of us with emotionless eyes. He radiated a chill that could be matched with that of Caradhras. "Lower your weapons at once."
I slowly sheathed my sword, as did Aragorn and Boromir. Gimli reluctantly lowered his axe, muttering curses in his own language under his breath, no doubt embarrassed by the elf's comment. When Legolas took too long to lower his bow, I placed a hand on his arm reassuringly. He slowly lowered his bow, his eyes not leaving the arrowheads.
"Lower your bows." The elf waved his hand and at once the others did as they were told, stepping back a bit. "My name is Haldir, and I suggest that you follow us now."
Without another word he marched off, the other elves following him close behind. Aragorn looked torn, but slowly pushed past us and followed. After a moment of silent debating we also followed, wondering where Haldir was taking us.
"Mae govannen, Legolas Thranduilion." Haldir greeted Legolas, his voice warming up. We stood on a platform among the foliage, awaiting whatever was coming next.
(Welcome Legolas, son of Thranduilion.)
"Govannas vîn gwennen le, Haldir o Lórien." Legolas bowed his head a little in respect, and Haldir did as well.
(Our fellowship stands in your debt, Haldir of Lórien.)
He then glanced in my brother and I's direction, once again bowing his head. My brother and I did the same as Haldir came towards us and took hold of my hand. I was surprised by how gentle he was with me, considering his chilliness earlier, as he kissed my knuckles quickly.
"A, Aragorn, Adette in Dúnedain istannen le ammen."
(Oh, Aragorn, Adette, of the Dúnedain, you are known to us.)
"So much for the legendary courtesy of the elves! Speak words we can only understand!" Gimli said angrily. I smiled although my mind was screaming for me not to, for I knew he was being disrespectful. But how good it was to hear of someone else who spoke their mind.
"We have not had dealings with the dwarves since the dark days." Haldir answered coolly, his voice slipping back into its unwelcome tone. His eyes narrowed as he looked upon Gimli with disgust.
"And you know what this Dwarf says to that? Ishkhaqwi ai durugnul!"
(I spit upon your grave!)
Aragorn reached out and gripped Gimli's shoulder firmly, looking down on him with a serious look on his face.
"That was not so courteous." He said sternly, as if scolding a child.
Suddenly Haldir's eyes fell upon Frodo and I saw fear in them. I knew at once that he felt the presence of the Ring.
"You bring great evil with you." He muttered, stepping towards Frodo. I stepped behind him and placed my hands on his shoulders, feeling him tremble a bit under the hard gaze of Haldir.
"He has not brought the evil Haldir." I corrected him, holding my head high. If Haldir thought himself menacing then he had not met me. I was not afraid of him, only mesmerized. His eyes were so empty.
"You can go no further." He didn't even acknowledge my words, but simply looked back at Aragorn.
"Boe ammen veriad lîn. Andelu i ven!" Aragorn exclaimed angrily. When Haldir whispered to him he simply replied, "Merin le telim."
(We need your protection. The road is fell!) (I wish we may come with you.)
Obviously Aragorn had not convinced them. I squeezed Frodo's shoulders before gliding over to where Haldir and Aragorn argued in whispers. In a daring act, I reached out and touched Haldir's shoulder. He turned to me when I had, staring down at me.
"Henio, aníron boe ammen i dulu lîn." I hissed. He simply removed my hand from his shoulder. From the corner of my eye I saw Legolas notice his action and he came to my side.
(Please understand, we need your support.)
"Andelu i ven." He said, staring into Haldir's eyes. The two stared at each other, their faces both stone. Legolas was but an inch or two shorter than Haldir but the way that he stared at him made him seem so much taller.
(The road is very dangerous.)
It seemed like an eternity that Haldir and Legolas simply stared at each other until finally Haldir closed his eyes.
"You will follow me." He commanded.
Legolas's POV
We were left standing upon a glowing platform before an archway. The room was quite breathtaking with its glow and solitude. I looked back at the twisted staircase we had been led down, wrapped about a tree glowing both silver and blue. Lights of silver illuminated the palace we had been led to and I wondered if it were possible that I was dreaming.
From the stairs leading down to the platform we stood on were three figures, silhouetted by the glow of light. A very beautiful woman, Galadriel, who looked as though she would shatter into a thousand pieces if dropped, was being guided down by a man, Celeborn. She was dressed in a gown of white, her blonde hair falling down her front. As she neared I saw that her sea green eyes held such power that I nearly looked away.
I looked, instead, to my side where Adette stood. She was gaping at the fair woman, her eyes wide in disbelief. I recognized the look, for she looked that way at Arwen almost every time she laid eyes on her. I reached for her hand as it hung limply at her side. She responded and our fingers intertwined, a smile immediately replacing the hole her mouth had made.
"The Enemy knows you have entered here. What hope you had in secrecy is now gone." Celeborn said. He then looked at us puzzlingly. "Eight there are here, yet nine there were, set out from Rivendell. Tell me, where is Gandalf?"
None of us spoke. I knew not if we should say anything, and I looked to Adette, warning her to keep quiet with my eyes. She nodded, the smile fading.
"For I much desire to speak with him… I can no longer see him from afar." He went on.
"Gandalf the Grey did not pass the borders of this land. He has fallen into shadow." Galadriel spoke so suddenly, and in a voice so soft, that it surprised me. I quickly decided to answer her.
"He was taken by both Shadow and Flame: a Balrog of Morgoth. For we went needlessly into the net of Moria." I spoke slowly so that I did not have to repeat myself, for the words were painful to say.
"Needless were none of the deeds of Gandalf in life. We do not yet know his whole purpose. Do not let the great emptiness of Khazad-dûm fill your heart, Gimli, son of Glóin." She looked in Gimli's direction, her face depicting no trace of warmth or chill. She was simply monotone. "For the world has grown full of peril. And in all lands, love is now mingled with grief."
"What now becomes of this Fellowship? Without Gandalf, hope is lost." Celeborn said, brining Galadriel's attention from Gimli, who was trying not to cry. I pitied him but showed no sign of it.
"The quest stands upon the edge of a knife. Stray but a little and it will fail to the ruin of all. Yet hope remains while the company is true." Her eyes fell on Sam and I saw the ghost of a smile grace her face. "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Go now and rest for you are weary with sorrow and much toil. Tonight you will sleep in peace."
I sat alone, dressed in new clothes. I could hear the soft voice of a female elf singing a lament for Gandalf, her words saddening me even more. Grief seemed to hang over the fellowship like a canopy and it refused to let us out from underneath it.
I held my knife in a fist, staring at the tip as it shined in the glow. Even as night fell upon us, everything glowed as though struck by daylight. It seemed wrong for everything there to be so beautiful and prosperous when evil had taken Middle Earth by the throat and choked every bit of life out of it.
I ignored the rustling behind me, thinking it the wind blowing through the foliage. Only when I felt hot breath on my neck did I swipe my knife to the side, turning to see the blade pressed against Adette's neck. Her eyes held no trace of fear, only an eyebrow was arched.
"Did I startle you?" She asked in an amused tone. I lowered the knife, beckoning her to sit beside me. She did and I saw that she had dressed in her green tunic again.
"Legolas why are you out here alone? What is wrong?" She stroked my cheek with the backs of her fingers, her other hand on the knee that was up near my shoulder.
"Everything is falling into shadow Adette. I fear for Middle Earth, for humanity…for you." I turned my face towards her, caressing her neck as I captured her lips in a passionate kiss. She gasped into my mouth at my sudden action but accepted me.
We turned our bodies to each other, my hand still caressing her neck while the other cupped her face, still holding my knife. She wrapped her arms around my neck, pulling me closer to her. I was being dragged under her spell, but somehow found the strength to resist going any further. I pulled my lips from hers and slowly retracted my hands.
"You know not what lies in store for Middle Earth, none of us do. We can only try our best to do what we know must be done, even if we die trying."
I placed two fingers upon the lips I had just been kissing and shook my head.
"Don't speak of death tonight nightingale."
She nodded and kissed my fingers before cuddling up to me, her head resting on my shoulder. She wrapped an arm over my chest and onto my shoulder while the other laid on my thigh. I rested my head against hers and I could feel the blood rushing in her temple.
"Legolas, why don't you hold me?" She murmured, her voice hurt.
"I am angry." I answered simply, clutching the knife tighter. My knuckles turned white as my grasp tightened, and I heard them crack.
"Why?" She made no movement to lift her head and so I did not lift mine.
"When I saw those arrows pointed at you…I didn't like it." I snarled, a bit surprised at how ferocious I sounded. Adette moved her head from beneath mine and looked at my fist. She placed both of her hands around it.
"Let go of your anger Legolas. It will only make you sick." She whispered, lifting my fist to her lips. She kissed it repeatedly until I let the knife slip to the ground.
"I don't want you to be hurt Adette." I told her softly, my eyes watering. She didn't notice my tears and so I blinked them back quickly before she could.
"I won't…I have you and your temper to protect me, and I'm fully capable of looking after myself." She smiled and returned to her position. This time, I wrapped my arms around her and we sat together like that all through the night.
When she fell asleep, her breathing soft and her face abnormally angelic, I watched her until the sun rose in the morning.