Part Two
Chapter 13
I am attempting to use the correct Elvish language.
"Ever close your eyes,
ever stop and listen,
ever feel alive,
and you've nothing missing,
you don't need a reason,
let the day go on and on.
Let the rain fall down,
everywhere around you,
give into it now,
let the day surround you,
you don't need a reason,
let the rain go on and on.
What a day, what a day to take to,
what a way, what a way to make it through,
what a day, what a day to take to a wild child.
Only take the time,
from the helter skelter,
every day you find,
everything's in kilter,
you don't need a reason,
let the day go on and on.
Every summer sun,
every winter evening,
every spring to come,
every autumn leaving,
you don't need a reason,
let it all go on and on.
What a day, what a day to take to,
what a way, what a way to make it through,
what a day, what a day to take to a wild child.
What a day, what a day to take to,
what a way, what a way to make it through,
what a day, what a day to take to a wild child.
What a day, what a day to take to,
what a way, what a way to make it through,
what a day, what a day to take to,
what a way, what a way to make it through.
What a way, what a way to make it through,
what a day, what a day to take to a wild child,
what a day, what a day to take to a wild child."
"It's a marvel lass." Gimli shook his head.
"What is?" I asked.
"That such a lovely voice could come from such an unfeminine woman such as yourself." Gimli laughed and soon Aragorn and Legolas joined in. I raised an eyebrow and nodded at his joke.
"Alright, alright, but at least I know that when the occasion calls for it I can always punch you in the nose again." This only made Aragorn and Legolas laugh harder, and I thought that their lungs would give out. Gimli scowled, and kicked my foot.
"You caught me off guard, I won't let it happen again." He assured me.
"Well this 'unfeminine woman' needs to use the bathroom, so," I stood up and brushed myself off, "don't come peek at me Gimli."
"I think that husband of yours would punch me if I tried."
"No, I would just drive an arrow through your throat and rip it open," Legolas cocked his head to the side, "although I could punch you as well."
I laughed, although I knew he was quite serious. Gimli laughed quietly, rubbing the back of his neck at Legolas's threat. Gimli wasn't afraid of Legolas, I knew that for damned sure, but his words probably caught him off guard.
Just as I was walking through the gap between Legolas and Aragorn I stopped. The lightness swept over me, and the gray smoke curled above me. I felt the faintness wash through my body quickly, making me forget my surroundings. I was only vaguely aware of Legolas catching me as I fell backwards, and Aragorn coaching me quietly.
I could see the band of Uruk-hai running through the fields, their feet creating dents in the ground as they stampeded like animals. A pain, a tiredness, in my thighs began to burn intensely in my legs and I knew I was feeling Merry and Pippin's pain from riding on the backs of the Uruk-hai. I hoped it was a sign that they were alive and well.
Suddenly they stopped running and I could see that it was night. They were going to stop running eventually, and it would be our chance to save Merry and Pippin.
"Dúlinn." Legolas's calm voice broke through the vision. As I blinked out of the smoke, I could see Legolas's face above mine. I realized that I was lying across his lap, his arm holding me up towards his face.
(Nightingale.)
"Are you alright sister?" Aragorn asked, coming into view as well. He experienced premonitions and visions much different from mine. Mine were dream like and needed my full attention for me to fully see and comprehend them. His came and went easily enough.
"The Uruk-hai are going to stop soon during the night." I told them, sitting up in Legolas's lap. Gimli was crouched near me, and I knew he had been curious about what had been happening.
"Did you see where lass? What did-"
Legolas shot his free hand out and covered Gimli's mouth with it without his eyes leaving mine. The beautiful blue hues calmed the pain in my thighs and helped me to concentrate on what I had seen. He slowly took his hand from Gimli's mouth, who was furious, and placed it against my cheek.
"I saw a forest, the trees were odd looking. Perhaps it was because it was night, but the leaves looked dark in color. Does this help?" I looked from Aragorn to Legolas. Aragorn smiled and leaned back against a rock.
"Let me think for a little while. You did good Adette."
"We should get some rest before we have to start up again." I patted Legolas's leg and stood to get up. My legs still felt heavy, as though I hadn't used them in days. I began to fall back on my butt when Legolas's hands flew out and grabbed my hips, keeping me in a sitting position a few feet from the ground.
"Are you alright?" He raised an eyebrow and evaluated me quickly before returning his eyes to mine.
"Merry and Pippin must have not walked for awhile." I laughed tiredly. Legolas spun me around quickly, setting me gently in the place he had been sitting. He kneeled by my side.
"Where does it hurt?" He asked softly, for Gimli and Aragorn were trying to sleep.
"It doesn't hurt Legolas. My thighs are sore…" I didn't even finish my sentence before his hands had moved to my thighs, and he began rubbing them. I winced, pushing his hands back. "They're sore."
"Let me." He ignored my hands and continued to rub, although he was gentler than before. He massaged each of them individually, taking his time. I watched as his hair fell over his shoulders, draping along my leg as he continued to rub. I reached out slowly, so as not to startle him, and tucked the hair back behind his ears. With one finger, I barely touched the tip when a hand flew up to catch mine. "Wait until I'm done for lovemaking dúlinn."
"Lovemaking? In front of Aragorn and Gimli?" I hissed, whacking him across the arm. He grinned playfully and looked up, his eyes sparkling with mischief and lust. Why did he have to look at me like that? I swallowed, looking up instead at the stars.
I wondered if Frodo and Sam were alright. I had promised Frodo that I would look out for him, and with him so far away, I couldn't. There wasn't a day that went by that I didn't pray for either of them, hoping deep in my heart that they hadn't fallen into despair.
"How does that feel?" He cupped my cheek, crawling to my side. His other hand made its way across my stomach to my waist. He stroked it with his thumb without breaking eye contact. He knew exactly what he was doing and I hated him for it – but how I loved him for it.
"Better thank you." I breathed, earning a smirk. He brushed his lips against mine, pulling back when Gimli grumbled in his sleep. He groaned and rolled his eyes and I couldn't help but giggle at the look of frustration on his face.
"You dare to giggle at me?"
"I'm not afraid of you Legolas." I poked him in the chest. He responded by wrapping his arms around me and locking my lips in a quick, yet tender, kiss.
"Good, because I would never want you to be." He murmured, pushing his face into my neck. I could feel him breathing in and out so slowly, but becoming faster as he ran his nose along my pulse point. I moved my arms around his neck and maneuvered his head up to mine.
"Not here."
"Adette-"
"Not here."
He growled, pulling me with him on top of his body as he laid down. I rested my head on his chest as his arms held me closer against him. He moved one hand slowly from around me to push back my hair, running his fingers through the long strands.
"Sleep well dúlinn." He whispered.
"Sleep well Legolas."
I turned around to still see Aragorn with his ear pressed against the rock. His eyes were shut, concentrating. He didn't move an inch, except for the breeze that blew his hair about. Legolas and Gimli were still at the base of the hill, waiting for Aragorn to decipher where the Uruk-hai were headed.
Suddenly he lifted his head, muttering under his breath.
"Hurry!" He shouted, getting to his feet. I began running and he soon caught up with me. I slowed down a bit so that I could speak with him without getting farther ahead.
"They know we're coming don't they?" I asked.
"Yes, their pace has quickened."
I turned my head to see Legolas catching up quickly, running gracefully through the yellow-green grass. He made running look like a dance with the way his long legs carried him, his golden locks blowing back in the wind.
Gimli was much farther behind. I laughed and Aragorn turned his head to see why I had laughed. When he saw Gimli he smiled.
We soon reached a valley between two rock walls. The ground had been trampled on, the imprints of feet and broken grass led us to believe that the Uruk-hai had been through there. Something caught my eye, and I bent down to see what it was.
"Aragorn, I've found something." I picked the mud off of the tiny object, handing it to Aragorn as he bent down beside me. He studied the small leaf in my hand.
"Not idly do the leaves of Lorien fall." He murmured.
"They may yet be alive." I whispered, getting to my feet. We wasted no more time in the valley and continued on our way. If there was any chance that the two were alive, we had to move quickly or we may be too late.
We had run all through the day and nearly all through the night. Only when Gimli tiredly requested taking a breather did we stop for a short while. We were running again before the sun rose.
The day was dark and gloomy. The wind blew a bit more harshly and the sky was mostly gray. Legolas and I turned to see the sun rising, the sky around it red. Legolas looked troubled, and when I touched his hand, he covered it with his own.
"A red sun rises. Blood has been spilt this night." He murmured, turning as we both heard the sound of hoof beats. My heart jumped at the sound. Perhaps, by some miracle, Merry and Pippin would be with the riders. Suddenly I was tugged behind a rock with the others as the horses passed. I searched for Merry and Pippin, but I saw neither one of them.
"Riders of Rohan," Aragorn came from the hiding place, "what news from the mark!"
Instantly the horses turned and charged towards us. Legolas, Gimli, and I came out from behind the rock to join Aragorn. We were slowly surrounded and I recognized the look on Legolas's face as spears were thrusted into our faces. It was the same look he had worn when we were surrounded by Haldir and the other elves. I remembered him telling me that he didn't like all of those arrows pointed at me. This was the only reason I didn't protest when he stood in front of me.
"What business does an elf, a man, a woman, and a dwarf have in the Riddermark?" One of the riders asked. He seemed to be the leader, for his horse was a bit closer to us than the others and he spoke with much authority. "Speak quickly!"
"Give me your name, horsemaster, and I shall give you mine." Gimli replied stubbornly. The man got down from his horse and came close. I felt Legolas tense in front of me, his hand sliding onto my waist. If the man saw it, he didn't pay any attention.
"I would cut off your head, dwarf, if it stood but a little higher from the ground."
Legolas gently pushed me to the side and pulled out his bow, an arrow ready to shoot the man right in the face. His eyebrows were furrowed in anger, his eyes set and stone on his target.
"You would die before your stroke fell." He said coolly, his tone completely opposite of his usual, comforting tone. I placed a hand on his arm just as I had when we had been confronted by Haldir.
"Legolas, thuio." I said gently, smiling only a little to comfort him. The man who had spoken glanced my but said nothing. Legolas lowered his bow and I took my hand from his arm.
(Legolas, breathe.)
"I'm Aragorn, son of Arathorn." Aragorn stepped forward and nodded towards me. "This is Adette, daughter of Arathorn and Princess of Mirkwood," he then nodded to both Gimli and Legolas, "and these are Gimli, son of Glóin, and Legolas, Prince of Mirkwood."
"We are friends of Rohan and of Théoden, your king." I told the man. Only when I spoke did he finally acknowledge me. He slowly removed his helmet, and as he did so, the spears were pulled back.
He had dirty blonde hair that was messy and tangled. His eyes were a dark shade of brown and were very angry looking. I wondered what lurked inside of this man for him to be so angered.
"Théoden no longer recognizes friend from foe. Not even his own kin." He looked away from me and back to Aragorn. "Saruman has poisoned the mind of the king and claimed lordship over this land. My company are those loyal to Rohan. And for that, we are banished."
"I'm sorry." I offered slowly. He ignored my words and continued on.
"The White Wizard is cunning. He walks here and there they say, as an old man, hooded and cloaked." He glanced briefly at Legolas. "And everywhere his spies slip past our nets."
Before Legolas could speak a word, for I knew he would have in our defense, Aragorn quickly spoke up.
"We are no spies. We track a band of Uruk-hai westward across the plains. They have taken two of our friends captive."
"The Uruks are destroyed. We slaughtered them during the night."
I gasped, earning a worried look from Legolas. He reached for my hand, ignoring the stares we were getting from the leader, and squeezed it.
"Dúlinn?"
"Merry a Pippin." I whispered.
(Merry and Pippin.) (DUH! Haha.)