Author's note ~ I decided to take a break from "And the Fellowship of the
Ring Shall Be Ten" to finish this story. So from now on, updates on this
one should be fairly common. :) :) :) It's really hard to keep up with two
stories, especially when one of them is really really long.
Also, for some of you hard-core romance fans, this story will not be like that. I'm not entirely certain of how it's going to end yet (yikes). ( And a word of warning, this story will be depressing. It should provoke sad and angry feelings, I hope. :) :) :) )
Oh, well, enough of my rambling. :) :) Enjoy the next chapter!
"Sun Star ~ Child of Light"
Chapter V ~ "The First Meeting"
Anorel felt ill. The stab wound in her shoulder had become badly infected and, because the sword tip was still embedded in her flesh, the wound had not closed at all.
She had stumbled out of Mordor some two days earlier. Now, Anorel was growing weak from hunger and lack of sleep.
Anorel sank to her knees at the shore of the river Anduin, thoroughly exhausted. As the waters lapped at her knees, Anorel felt somewhat calmer. She dropped the pack on the rocky shore and waded slowly into the river's deep water.
The pure waters of the Anduin washed the dirt and grime from her body and hair, massaging Anorel's aching muscles in the process. She pressed her fingers to her shoulder and hissed as blood seeped out of the gash. "Alas," she whispered, "if only Mirkwood was not so far away. I may not survive long enough to reach it."
She ripped a long strip of cloth from the bottom hem of her dress and tied it tightly around the wound, gritting her teeth to keep from yelling at the pain it caused. Anorel stepped out of the water and pulled open her pack, changing quickly from into the far cleaner and stronger traveling clothes.
"Well, distance matter naught right now. I have no choice but to survive."
~~~~~~~~
Three and a half weeks later, the doors to the Great Chamber were flung open. The many Elves that were sitting around the table all looked toward the door. Legolas walked briskly around the table and knelt quickly beside his father's chair.
"Atar, she is coming. I know not how far away Anorel truly is, but I need your permission to leave the city to find her," Legolas said, ignoring the strange glances he was getting from the other Elves.
Thranduil pursed his lips slightly, his eyes meeting his son's. "You may go, but I want you to take guards with you. At least six, my son. And you must stay with them at all times."
Legolas nodded, he had anticipated this and already had his guards picked out. They were waiting for him in front of the palace. "I know not when I will return, Father. But I will make haste."
"Good fortune go with you then, Legolas. And remember that you are my son, conduct yourself accordingly." Thranduil smiled and laid a hand on his son's shoulder, pushing Legolas on his way.
~~~~~~
Just before he reached the courtyard, Legolas felt someone grab him from behind and slam him into a wall. If he had not seen the face of his assailant, Legolas would have struck out instinctively. Instead, he sighed and shook his head . "Eithon, one day soon your surprise attacks will get you injured."
Eithon grinned broadly at his younger brother. "Be careful, little brother. And bring her back safely."
"I will, Eithon, I will. That is one thing that I am sure I will do." Legolas did not wait for his brother to embrace him, he hugged Eithon quickly. "Take care, brother."
With that, Legolas flew out of the palace and leapt lightly onto his waiting horse. "We go south," he ordered.
~~~~~~
Two days later, Legolas reined in his white horse suddenly. The Elven Prince held up a fist, warning his companions to slow.
"What is it, Prince Legolas? Is something wrong?" asked Miron, one of his guards.
Legolas closed his eyes and concentrated carefully. In the three days since he had first felt her presence, Legolas had been homing in on Anorel. The farther south his party went, the stronger the feeling became. Now he was close, Legolas was sure of it. "Nothing is wrong," he said, dismounting. "I believe we have found our quarry. Stay here, if I need assistance, I will call for you."
Miron's face darkened angrily. "I cannot do that, my prince. Your father wishes for you to stay with us at all times."
"And I will be in hearing distance. If I need you, I will call!" Legolas snapped, handing his reins to the older Elf. "But you shall remain here."
"Under protest, Prince Legolas," said Miron, taking the horse.
"Then that is how it will be," sighed Legolas, unsheathing one of his knives and walking into the dense trees. Mirkwood was not unwarranted in its name, for even in the bright sunlight of early afternoon the light off the path was dim.
Legolas wound his way carefully through the trees, searching for Anorel.
~~~~~~~~
Anorel had been in Mirkwood for two days and she was thoroughly lost. The stab wound in her shoulder was now throbbing with every step she took, and try as she might, Anorel could not bring herself to go any further. Darkness was creeping in at the edges of her vision as Anorel sank to her knees at the foot of a large oak tree. The exhaustion that had been a part of her life for the last month finally caught up with her, and Anorel fell into merciful unconsciousness.
~~~~~~~~
What first caught his attention about this particular tree was the faint ray of light that shone on the mossy ground at its base. His sharp eyes followed the light and widened slightly.
"Anorel," Legolas whispered, kneeling beside her. The relief he felt dimmed considerably as he saw her pale face and blood-stained tunic. Quickly, Legolas checked for her pulse and was pleased to feel it, weak though it was. He scooped her up into his arms and carried her swiftly back to the path.
"Miron," he called, laying Anorel gently on the soft grass by the camp.
Miron took one look at her and groaned. "You and I must leave now if we are to save her. I am not certain, but I think she may have internal injuries in addition to this," he said, motioning to her shoulder.
"All right," Legolas agreed, lifting Anorel onto his horse and leaping lightly on behind her. "Rest for tonight then follow us back," he commanded to the remaining guards. "Do not tax your horses unnecessarily."
With those last words, Legolas and Miron left for Mirkwood Palace, hoping against hope to reach it in time. For though she had been found, Anorel was at death's door.
Sorry it took me so long to update, I didn't mean to keep you in such suspense. :) :) Okay, yes I did. But I'm still sorry.
I don't know if anyone will have a problem with this, but as she is not a pure Elf, Anorel's injuries can become infected. Elrond is part human, so therefore his children would be too. I just wanted to clear that up in case people had questions.
Also, for some of you hard-core romance fans, this story will not be like that. I'm not entirely certain of how it's going to end yet (yikes). ( And a word of warning, this story will be depressing. It should provoke sad and angry feelings, I hope. :) :) :) )
Oh, well, enough of my rambling. :) :) Enjoy the next chapter!
"Sun Star ~ Child of Light"
Chapter V ~ "The First Meeting"
Anorel felt ill. The stab wound in her shoulder had become badly infected and, because the sword tip was still embedded in her flesh, the wound had not closed at all.
She had stumbled out of Mordor some two days earlier. Now, Anorel was growing weak from hunger and lack of sleep.
Anorel sank to her knees at the shore of the river Anduin, thoroughly exhausted. As the waters lapped at her knees, Anorel felt somewhat calmer. She dropped the pack on the rocky shore and waded slowly into the river's deep water.
The pure waters of the Anduin washed the dirt and grime from her body and hair, massaging Anorel's aching muscles in the process. She pressed her fingers to her shoulder and hissed as blood seeped out of the gash. "Alas," she whispered, "if only Mirkwood was not so far away. I may not survive long enough to reach it."
She ripped a long strip of cloth from the bottom hem of her dress and tied it tightly around the wound, gritting her teeth to keep from yelling at the pain it caused. Anorel stepped out of the water and pulled open her pack, changing quickly from into the far cleaner and stronger traveling clothes.
"Well, distance matter naught right now. I have no choice but to survive."
~~~~~~~~
Three and a half weeks later, the doors to the Great Chamber were flung open. The many Elves that were sitting around the table all looked toward the door. Legolas walked briskly around the table and knelt quickly beside his father's chair.
"Atar, she is coming. I know not how far away Anorel truly is, but I need your permission to leave the city to find her," Legolas said, ignoring the strange glances he was getting from the other Elves.
Thranduil pursed his lips slightly, his eyes meeting his son's. "You may go, but I want you to take guards with you. At least six, my son. And you must stay with them at all times."
Legolas nodded, he had anticipated this and already had his guards picked out. They were waiting for him in front of the palace. "I know not when I will return, Father. But I will make haste."
"Good fortune go with you then, Legolas. And remember that you are my son, conduct yourself accordingly." Thranduil smiled and laid a hand on his son's shoulder, pushing Legolas on his way.
~~~~~~
Just before he reached the courtyard, Legolas felt someone grab him from behind and slam him into a wall. If he had not seen the face of his assailant, Legolas would have struck out instinctively. Instead, he sighed and shook his head . "Eithon, one day soon your surprise attacks will get you injured."
Eithon grinned broadly at his younger brother. "Be careful, little brother. And bring her back safely."
"I will, Eithon, I will. That is one thing that I am sure I will do." Legolas did not wait for his brother to embrace him, he hugged Eithon quickly. "Take care, brother."
With that, Legolas flew out of the palace and leapt lightly onto his waiting horse. "We go south," he ordered.
~~~~~~
Two days later, Legolas reined in his white horse suddenly. The Elven Prince held up a fist, warning his companions to slow.
"What is it, Prince Legolas? Is something wrong?" asked Miron, one of his guards.
Legolas closed his eyes and concentrated carefully. In the three days since he had first felt her presence, Legolas had been homing in on Anorel. The farther south his party went, the stronger the feeling became. Now he was close, Legolas was sure of it. "Nothing is wrong," he said, dismounting. "I believe we have found our quarry. Stay here, if I need assistance, I will call for you."
Miron's face darkened angrily. "I cannot do that, my prince. Your father wishes for you to stay with us at all times."
"And I will be in hearing distance. If I need you, I will call!" Legolas snapped, handing his reins to the older Elf. "But you shall remain here."
"Under protest, Prince Legolas," said Miron, taking the horse.
"Then that is how it will be," sighed Legolas, unsheathing one of his knives and walking into the dense trees. Mirkwood was not unwarranted in its name, for even in the bright sunlight of early afternoon the light off the path was dim.
Legolas wound his way carefully through the trees, searching for Anorel.
~~~~~~~~
Anorel had been in Mirkwood for two days and she was thoroughly lost. The stab wound in her shoulder was now throbbing with every step she took, and try as she might, Anorel could not bring herself to go any further. Darkness was creeping in at the edges of her vision as Anorel sank to her knees at the foot of a large oak tree. The exhaustion that had been a part of her life for the last month finally caught up with her, and Anorel fell into merciful unconsciousness.
~~~~~~~~
What first caught his attention about this particular tree was the faint ray of light that shone on the mossy ground at its base. His sharp eyes followed the light and widened slightly.
"Anorel," Legolas whispered, kneeling beside her. The relief he felt dimmed considerably as he saw her pale face and blood-stained tunic. Quickly, Legolas checked for her pulse and was pleased to feel it, weak though it was. He scooped her up into his arms and carried her swiftly back to the path.
"Miron," he called, laying Anorel gently on the soft grass by the camp.
Miron took one look at her and groaned. "You and I must leave now if we are to save her. I am not certain, but I think she may have internal injuries in addition to this," he said, motioning to her shoulder.
"All right," Legolas agreed, lifting Anorel onto his horse and leaping lightly on behind her. "Rest for tonight then follow us back," he commanded to the remaining guards. "Do not tax your horses unnecessarily."
With those last words, Legolas and Miron left for Mirkwood Palace, hoping against hope to reach it in time. For though she had been found, Anorel was at death's door.
Sorry it took me so long to update, I didn't mean to keep you in such suspense. :) :) Okay, yes I did. But I'm still sorry.
I don't know if anyone will have a problem with this, but as she is not a pure Elf, Anorel's injuries can become infected. Elrond is part human, so therefore his children would be too. I just wanted to clear that up in case people had questions.