Chapter Seven - I am Yours for the Taken
The Fellowship tumble out of the Great Eastern Gate on to a grassy sunlit hillside. Rei's eyes were wide with horror as he tried to calm his heart, he had never run so fast, yet that was not what shocked him. The neko-jinn glanced over at Sam, Merry, and Pippin who where fallen slowly to the ground. Sobbing. They grieved at the lose of there dear friend Gandalf who had helped them escaped but not without sacrificing his own life. Rei stood up and looked at the doorway they all ran out of, he could still hear the drumming of those damn orcs and goblins, he was sure they would follow them.
Aragorn was the first to recover, he stood up and turned to Legolas and Gimli. "Legolas, get them up!" He said urgently he went to head over to Rei when he hearded Boromir's angered voice
"Give them a moment...for pity's sake!" Boromir's eyes held that darkness in them, but this seemed different than what Rei has seen before, this time he could tell that the male was filled with grief, he too had lost a companion. Aragorn shook his head and spread his hands out
"By nightfall these hills will be swarming with Orcs! We must reach the woods of Lothlórien." The ranger pointed towards the woods "Come, Boromir, Legolas, Gimli, get them up." Instead of heading towards Rei, who was trying to get Pippin up he headed towards Sam "Come on Sam, on your feet, Be strong." Sam nodded and with the back of his hand he wiped the tears from his face.
Boromir looked around, he panicked when he only counted three hobbits though sighed when he saw the fourth, Frodo, who was walking away, as if in a daze. Boromir looked back at Aragorn who called out to Frodo, the hobbit slowly turns, a look of numb shock on his devastated face. Once they where all up and ready the Fellowship marches on. Once within the forrest Aragorn scours ahead of the company, as they stumble on in the fading light. The tree trunks where huge and very grey. Gimli looks around nervously before stepping close to the neko-jinn
"Stay close, young Rei. They say a Sorceress lives in these woods. An elf- witch of terrible power. All who look upon her fall under her spell and are never seen again" Rei blinked several times, quickly looking over at Aragorn to confirm this. The ranger had a small smile upon his face and gently shook his head, causing Rei to smile back. Gimli continued to talk, not noticing the secrete conversation Rei and Aragorn where having "Well, here's one dwarf she won't ensnareso easily. I have the eyes of a hawk and the ears of a fox!" The dwarf said proudly.
Suddenly the Fellowship where surrounded by several armed elves with deadly arrows aimed at their heads. An Elf jumped down from one of the higher tree's, his hair was golden fallen over his armour, he was obviously the captain of this group. The elf slowly steps towards the group, his eyes immediately landed upon Gimli's
"A dwarf breathes so loud we could have shot him in the dark" Before anyone who could speak the Elf's eyes widened when it rest upon Rei's "O-oh my." The Elf went down on his knees, bowing for Rei "Creoso, yaaraer. (Welcome, Ancient one) I am Haldir." The Elf glanced up at the neko-jinn "Elen sila lumenn omentilmo. Vanimle sila tiri poikaer (A star shall shine on the hour of our meeting. Your beauty shines bright pure one)" Both Aragorn and Legolas eyes widened before looking at the neko-jinn like everyone was, the army of elves bowed along side there captain.
Aragorn looked down at the Elf who he knew already "Mellonamin...You know who this is?" Aragorn asked warily. Haldir looked up at Aragorn
"Yes, he is someone we have been waiting for, for over a thousand years. Lady Galadriel will most definetly be pleased. Come" The elf stood, along with his guards who hid among the trees once more. He lead the fellowship through the woods. Rei stuck close to Aragorn and Legolas, Aragorn holding his hand tightly
"What was he saying?" Rei whispered nervously
"He said you were beautiful" Aragorn stated, a jealously streak ran through him, this only causing to hold Rei's hand tighter. Rei frowned, letting silence fall over the Fellowship, though he felt a blush rise upon his cheeks as the more Elves they past the more they whispered, looking at him. He didn't understand why he was so special. They walked for what seemed like hours when they came across an opening within the forrest. There was many mighty trees, much taler than the other trees within the forrest, they binded together and twisted into a staircase and nestled up upon the top of the tree was a beautiful city which glowed in the late afternoon sun, there was a river running through the city and the Fellowship found themselves within the crown room.
Standing before them where two beautiful elves, in Rei's opinion, one male and one female, both with golden hair and sharp features. Aragorn and Legolas bowed there heads and Rei did the same
"No...no my dear, you bow for no one" Rei blinked up and looked upon the males deep grey eyes. "My name is Celeborn, and this is my wife Galadriel" Rei looked over at the woman, her eyes a royal blue, though her eyes seemed to be sparkling, filled with joy. She let her hand out, wanting Rei to take it. Aragorn stiffined lightly, opening his mouth to protest "Don't worry Estel, we will keep him safe" Biting his lower lip Aragorn nodded to Rei, who slowly took the lady Elf's hand.
Rei was then swift away from the Fellowship, by two elvish maids who took him further into the kingdom. The neko-jinn felt lost and wished to return to Aragorn's side but he was placed within a bathroom, where he was striped naked and placed in a bath. A deep red blush raised from his neck to his cheeks as the maids seemed to scrub his skin clean, washed his hair and brushed out the knots. Rei was then rinsed off before placed in a separate tub filled with milk. The maids giggled and left him be. A shaky breathe escaped him as he glanced around the room. It was of pure white and there roof was made of glass so he could see into the night sky. It was beautiful, seeing all the stars.
"You look even more beautiful now your all cleaned" Rei jumped hearing the soft voice and shot up out of the bath "No, no, no. Stay in the bath the milk will cleanse your skin leaving it feeling soft yet it will be tougher" Rei relaxed upon seeing it was Lady Galadriel. The Elf fluttered into the room, her white gown fluttering behind her before she sat next to the tub. "Lift your head back" She whispered softly, like a mother to a child. She then filled a glass jug with milk and poured it over the neko-jinns hair "This will help keep your hair soft upon your journy" Rei nodded softly, though his eyes kept going towards the doorway "Don't worry Rei, Aragorn and the rest of the Fellowship are safe" She whispered
"S-so you can read minds?" Rei asked nervously before adding "My lady"
"Oh Rei you do not need to call me lady, it is you we shouldn't be bowing for, calling sir, treating like royalty. And you answer your question yes I can read minds but only when I choose too. I can also let you hear my voice within your mind, though I believe what I said to Boromir earlier upset him" She said with a heathy sigh
"I don't understand, why am I so important?" Rei asked, looking so innocent and confused. Galadriel smiled gently, but did not answer the question. She helped Rei out, cleaning and drying him off. Galadriel wrapped a robe around the neko-jinns form and lead him into another room, a bedroom. It was a beautiful set up the colours pale yet clean and in the far end a dresser which had a chair in front of it. Galadriel sat him down and gently brushed his hair, removing the remainder knots
"There is so much to tell you, but I do not think you are ready to hear it yet young one" Galadriel finally said once she finished with Rei's hair, she had pulled the side on his hair back into a loose pony, letting his bangs frame his face. She clipped a flower, the same as her ring, upon the back of his hair. She knelt down and stared at the mirror at him "You are the most beautiful being upon this planet" She pulled back and put the eleven star Aragorn had gave him around his neck "This was once yours, but it was passed to Elrond who gave it to his daughter, who gave it to Aragorn, who has returned it to you." Galariel hated to see the frown upon the neko-jinn's face "You will figure who you are when you are ready too"
Rei nodded gently before allowing the elf to pull him across the room dressing him in one of the gowns. She smiled "You will never be mistaken for anything other than an Elf now" Rei smiled brightly at that.
Meanwhile the Fellowship were settling down for the night, the first in awhile where they felt safe. Though Aragorn was pacing heavily he was worried over Rei, no one seemed to want to tell him what was going on. Legolas smile sadly up at the male before standing up. "Estel you know he is safe here" he stated whilst crossing his ams over his chest, his head turning to follow his friends pacing
"I know but it's been hours, what on earth could be taking up this much time" Aragorn asked in a huff. Legolas frowned deeply
"Aragorn...perhaps we should leave him here" Legolas winced at the sudden stop of movements from Aragorn "He'll be safe here and it seems that these know who he is" Legolas bit his lip as he saw his friend frown deeply obviously thinking it over. Sighing Legolas changed the subject "How's Boromir doing?" He asked as he glanced over where the Gondorien was sitting alone, looking over the great elven city.
"He's fine, he understands what Galadriel was saying to him" Aragorn then smirked "But why not go other and ask yourself, you two seemed to be getting cozy in Moria" A soft chuckle escaped the ranger seeing Legolas blush. Though the laughter died upon his lips as he seen Rei. Aragorn's mouth dropped open, Rei looked exactly like an elf, such a beautiful creature 'And he's mine' he thought to himself
Legolas frowned seeing his friend act different, he then turned towards the source and looked just as shocked. The Fellowship quietened as they witness Rei walking towards them, dressed in a light blue gown then worked well with his tanned skin, his hair neatly flowing down his body. The hobbits whispering to eachother on how beautiful he looked. Though Rei's eyes where only for Aragorn. Once he was close enough he smiled shyly
"Hello Estel" He said slowly and politely like Galariel taught him to. "I'm Rei Kon, the son of Xia Kon. I was raised by humans so you must forgive me for I do not speak Elvish well" Rei bowed his head lightly "Cormamin lindua ele lle" (My heart sings for thee) Both Legolas and Aragorn looked on in shock as Rei spoken the words perfectly, letting them flow of his tongue naturally. Legolas took that moment to leave the two in there own privacy "If you would have me Lord Aragorn...I am yours for the taken, my king" Rei spoken quietly, hoping not to be rejected.
Aragorn used his tongue to wet his dried lips, gently taken Rei's hand and placing it over the rangers chest, over his heart. "You have my sword Rei...and my heart" he whispered, repeating the words he said the first night they had met