CHAPTER 7:
We walked for days and days and days. We walked most of the days and days by night, sleeping during the day. I soon lost track of time, only vaguely guessing the time by the sun's occasional appearance. It grew colder and colder, and the little energy I had grasped from the food seemed to ebb away so quickly.
I became depressed, mourning for my home-life, fearing constantly that someone was going to attacks us, and soon I was consistently longing to run back to Rivendell, where he hope of returning home was bleak but at least it was safe.
But I was always stopped by the thought that I probably only get one chance at returning home - this time - and if I turn away from it now, I could be stuck in Middle Earth forever.
And if Arwen dies in my world, what would be of me? Would I die too? I didn't know. I just felt that by returning home, Arwen would be alive, safe and back in her world, and everything would be back to normal. So I continued this treacherous journey towards the Misty Mountains, spending my time drifting off into my morbid thoughts.
I became anti-social, talking only if I had to - a reflex to conserve warmth and energy I guess, an understanding optimist would say. I constantly felt sympathy from the other nine companions, whom seemed to be silently begging me to go back so they wouldn't have to protect one extra thing.
Aragorn was guilty, thinking it was solely because of him I came in the Fellowship. He hasn't expressed any of this feeling to me yet, instead steering clear of me, choosing to converse with Gandalf. Legolas was the only person that made an effort to try to make me talk or laugh. The others were either too in awe of me or felt it wasn't the effort, thinking, "She shouldn't be here in the first place!".
Gandalf, holding his staff that was now shining like a torch, and Aragorn were out in front leading the way through the darkened woods. Gimli was tailing them closely. I was walking with the hobbits that were all talking about the Shire to bored-eyed Boromir. I let them pass me and fell back to Legolas, who was at the rear, his sharp eyes scouring for any suspicious movements on either side of the path. It was night and it was practically pitch black, so I don't know how Legolas manages to spot anything unusual in it.
'Are you okay?' he asked me, gently.
I nodded wearily. 'Where are we now?' I asked.
'South of Rivendell. We're approaching Hollim or Eregion where the elves used to dwell.'
Suddenly a flock of white birds swooped down and started circling around us. Merry glanced back startled.
'Not to worry, Merry, these are my messengers,' he said, waving Merry on. 'They have the answer from Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel - at last,' he added more quietly to me. He began to speak to the birds in Elvish, I assume, and the birds whistled back an answer.
After a minute or so, they flapped off, disappearing from sight. 'Well, they say that the Lord and Lady have received our messages, but have never heard of such a thing happening before,' he said. 'They are looking into it and will send a message if they learn anything. Oh and they add to you not to get killed, for the circumstances for Arwen may be disastrous.'
For a moment my depression lifted and my sarcasm returned. 'Ah gee, that helps a heap. Telling me not to be killed. Hmm, but somehow I DON'T WANT TO BE KILLED EITHER! Incredible, though it seems!' It was a lame outburst, but it helped me get off my pessimistic morbid manner.
Legolas laughed. 'I see you're feeling better.'
'Yeah, I guess I am,' I smiled. 'Pity it's sooo cold. I think I could survive a long hike, but in the freezing cold - I'm not made for extreme temps!'
Legolas replied by putting his arm around me and shielding me from the icy draught blowing behind. 'Warmer, my little toddler?' he grinned.
'Yeah, thanks, pops. Much better.' I rested my head on his shoulder, cuddling up to his warmth. We walked like this in silence for a long while, Legolas still listening intently.
Abruptly, he yanked his arm off me and pushed me a little ahead of him.
'What the?' I said, throwing a questioning look at him. He pointed to where the other 8 companions were setting up camp, less than 30 metres away. 'Oh.'
We slipped in unnoticed except by Aragorn. I immediately moved towards him, out of guilt maybe? 'Hi, anywhere I can have a wash?' I asked him.
Gimli answered for him. 'Humph, there's an icy brook over there if you're desperate, though I don't think you'll enjoy it very much at this time of the year,' he laughed, hoarsely.
'I'll pass, on second thoughts,' I said. Gimli chuckled. I sat down next to Aragorn, shivering. He took my hand, but I felt myself wishing I could replace him with Legolas. I watched Legolas strode off behind the bushes.
Dawn came and for the first time since the start of the trip, the sun came out, weak, over the mountains. Aragorn made a small fire and started to roast mini sausages. The others and me huddled closed to the fire and within minutes we were eating our first hot meal in a long time.
The sun rose steadily, warming the chilled air. Some of the companions started talking of the journey ahead, but most tried to catch some sleep. Sam and Aragorn remained awake, to keep guard. I eventually fell asleep, after a long while trying to get comfortable on the hard, cold ground.
Once again I dreamt I was floating above my body in the hospital. Everyone was around my body again, sad expressions on their faces. My mother was talking to the doctor. I suddenly yelled, "Mum! I'm up here! Mum!" But my mother continued talking to the doctor, occasionally glancing down at my body. "Mum!"
'Alison!'
I jumped up, my eyes springing open. Legolas was peering down at me, his bright eyes squinted in worry. I had been moved under some shrubs. It was mid-afternoon and the sun was beating down strongly. However that wasn't I noticed at first. The air was thick with loud squawks and the flapping of wings. The squawks were not like Legolas' messengers - they were high- pitched and filled with sinister and evil feeling. It sent shivers down my spine.
'What's going on?' I asked Legolas.
'You were screaming again in your sleep.'
'No, I mean those black birds that's circling the area.'
'Crows, spies of Mordor, Gandulf thinks. They're searching for something - or someone,' he replied. 'Anyway, we have to stay here, hidden, until well into the night. So, what were you dreaming? You didn't dream Arwen is dead, did you?'
'No, but it was the same scene, the hospital, the bed, the people. But this time I was crying out to my mum.'
'Ah. Just hang on, ok? We'll be at Lorien soon.'
'Yeah, if you call months soon,' I said, doubtfully. I poked my head warily out and looked up. Swarms of the black crows were screeching still, scanning the ground below carefully. I shuddered. I glanced along the ground. Everyone else was watching them, crouched from under the shadows of their own shrubs and bushes.
The crows seemed to linger around for a long time, as if detecting that something suspicious was hidden nearby. They continued their hunt endlessly, their shrill voices carrying throughout the forest.
We walked for days and days and days. We walked most of the days and days by night, sleeping during the day. I soon lost track of time, only vaguely guessing the time by the sun's occasional appearance. It grew colder and colder, and the little energy I had grasped from the food seemed to ebb away so quickly.
I became depressed, mourning for my home-life, fearing constantly that someone was going to attacks us, and soon I was consistently longing to run back to Rivendell, where he hope of returning home was bleak but at least it was safe.
But I was always stopped by the thought that I probably only get one chance at returning home - this time - and if I turn away from it now, I could be stuck in Middle Earth forever.
And if Arwen dies in my world, what would be of me? Would I die too? I didn't know. I just felt that by returning home, Arwen would be alive, safe and back in her world, and everything would be back to normal. So I continued this treacherous journey towards the Misty Mountains, spending my time drifting off into my morbid thoughts.
I became anti-social, talking only if I had to - a reflex to conserve warmth and energy I guess, an understanding optimist would say. I constantly felt sympathy from the other nine companions, whom seemed to be silently begging me to go back so they wouldn't have to protect one extra thing.
Aragorn was guilty, thinking it was solely because of him I came in the Fellowship. He hasn't expressed any of this feeling to me yet, instead steering clear of me, choosing to converse with Gandalf. Legolas was the only person that made an effort to try to make me talk or laugh. The others were either too in awe of me or felt it wasn't the effort, thinking, "She shouldn't be here in the first place!".
Gandalf, holding his staff that was now shining like a torch, and Aragorn were out in front leading the way through the darkened woods. Gimli was tailing them closely. I was walking with the hobbits that were all talking about the Shire to bored-eyed Boromir. I let them pass me and fell back to Legolas, who was at the rear, his sharp eyes scouring for any suspicious movements on either side of the path. It was night and it was practically pitch black, so I don't know how Legolas manages to spot anything unusual in it.
'Are you okay?' he asked me, gently.
I nodded wearily. 'Where are we now?' I asked.
'South of Rivendell. We're approaching Hollim or Eregion where the elves used to dwell.'
Suddenly a flock of white birds swooped down and started circling around us. Merry glanced back startled.
'Not to worry, Merry, these are my messengers,' he said, waving Merry on. 'They have the answer from Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel - at last,' he added more quietly to me. He began to speak to the birds in Elvish, I assume, and the birds whistled back an answer.
After a minute or so, they flapped off, disappearing from sight. 'Well, they say that the Lord and Lady have received our messages, but have never heard of such a thing happening before,' he said. 'They are looking into it and will send a message if they learn anything. Oh and they add to you not to get killed, for the circumstances for Arwen may be disastrous.'
For a moment my depression lifted and my sarcasm returned. 'Ah gee, that helps a heap. Telling me not to be killed. Hmm, but somehow I DON'T WANT TO BE KILLED EITHER! Incredible, though it seems!' It was a lame outburst, but it helped me get off my pessimistic morbid manner.
Legolas laughed. 'I see you're feeling better.'
'Yeah, I guess I am,' I smiled. 'Pity it's sooo cold. I think I could survive a long hike, but in the freezing cold - I'm not made for extreme temps!'
Legolas replied by putting his arm around me and shielding me from the icy draught blowing behind. 'Warmer, my little toddler?' he grinned.
'Yeah, thanks, pops. Much better.' I rested my head on his shoulder, cuddling up to his warmth. We walked like this in silence for a long while, Legolas still listening intently.
Abruptly, he yanked his arm off me and pushed me a little ahead of him.
'What the?' I said, throwing a questioning look at him. He pointed to where the other 8 companions were setting up camp, less than 30 metres away. 'Oh.'
We slipped in unnoticed except by Aragorn. I immediately moved towards him, out of guilt maybe? 'Hi, anywhere I can have a wash?' I asked him.
Gimli answered for him. 'Humph, there's an icy brook over there if you're desperate, though I don't think you'll enjoy it very much at this time of the year,' he laughed, hoarsely.
'I'll pass, on second thoughts,' I said. Gimli chuckled. I sat down next to Aragorn, shivering. He took my hand, but I felt myself wishing I could replace him with Legolas. I watched Legolas strode off behind the bushes.
Dawn came and for the first time since the start of the trip, the sun came out, weak, over the mountains. Aragorn made a small fire and started to roast mini sausages. The others and me huddled closed to the fire and within minutes we were eating our first hot meal in a long time.
The sun rose steadily, warming the chilled air. Some of the companions started talking of the journey ahead, but most tried to catch some sleep. Sam and Aragorn remained awake, to keep guard. I eventually fell asleep, after a long while trying to get comfortable on the hard, cold ground.
Once again I dreamt I was floating above my body in the hospital. Everyone was around my body again, sad expressions on their faces. My mother was talking to the doctor. I suddenly yelled, "Mum! I'm up here! Mum!" But my mother continued talking to the doctor, occasionally glancing down at my body. "Mum!"
'Alison!'
I jumped up, my eyes springing open. Legolas was peering down at me, his bright eyes squinted in worry. I had been moved under some shrubs. It was mid-afternoon and the sun was beating down strongly. However that wasn't I noticed at first. The air was thick with loud squawks and the flapping of wings. The squawks were not like Legolas' messengers - they were high- pitched and filled with sinister and evil feeling. It sent shivers down my spine.
'What's going on?' I asked Legolas.
'You were screaming again in your sleep.'
'No, I mean those black birds that's circling the area.'
'Crows, spies of Mordor, Gandulf thinks. They're searching for something - or someone,' he replied. 'Anyway, we have to stay here, hidden, until well into the night. So, what were you dreaming? You didn't dream Arwen is dead, did you?'
'No, but it was the same scene, the hospital, the bed, the people. But this time I was crying out to my mum.'
'Ah. Just hang on, ok? We'll be at Lorien soon.'
'Yeah, if you call months soon,' I said, doubtfully. I poked my head warily out and looked up. Swarms of the black crows were screeching still, scanning the ground below carefully. I shuddered. I glanced along the ground. Everyone else was watching them, crouched from under the shadows of their own shrubs and bushes.
The crows seemed to linger around for a long time, as if detecting that something suspicious was hidden nearby. They continued their hunt endlessly, their shrill voices carrying throughout the forest.