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Chapter 3: Concerning the Density of Nature
Ari didn't have much to pack, considering her arrival was not exactly expected, but the hobbits gave her a pack filled with food and an extra set of clothes – how they manage to find clothes that fit her she will never know – and now she stood before them, looking at each one. They did not try to hide the sorrow; their faces portrayed the very being of grief. Ari's heart nearly broke. She had come to love the Shire and her new friends in the short time she was here. But she could not stay, her heart told her to leave. And so she stood before the five hobbits sadly looking over them, silence enclosing them in a suffocating cloud of despair.
Perhaps that was an exaggeration, but that's certainly how Ari felt.
Merry and Pippin wailed their goodbye's, wiping hyperbolic tears from their faces. Ferna had not hesitated to give a surprisingly strong hug, and afterwards joined in on Merry and Pippins fake sobs. Frodo smiled politely, saying farewell many times over. Bilbo, however, was not the least bit saddened. He wore a broad grin, and gave a grandfatherly hug to Ari, reassuring everyone.
"Don't fear, young ones, this will not be the last time we see each other, I am sure of it. Now scamper off as you should, and we will meet again." Bilbo waved her off, and Ari could not help but look continuously over her shoulder at Bag End until it was not more than a round spot on the hills.
Ari met up with the waiting dwarf at the edge of the forest, all the while trying to stop herself from turning back.
Now the two travelers walked silently, the sun had almost completely dissolved entirely from the sky that was just barely visible through the canopy. The forest around them began turning to shadows and darkness. After a bit of walking in the night, Vena would halt unexpectedly and set up camp – meaning a blanket and the cold ground.
The same routine continued for a week more. Walking all day, occasionally stopping to eat, sleeping in the cold ground. All in silence.
Ari was happy though. She was surrounded by something familiar. Nature, trees, plants. At home, in the world she came from, she spent many nights camping out with her father. It was calming, and Vena's silence gave her time to think to herself. No questions were asked, no unnecessary stories. Without the pointless chattering, Ari was able to listen to nature speak to her. The way the trees rustled in the wind, the snapping of twigs, the scurrying of small animals, the chirps of birds, it was all so perfect.
As strange as it is, Vena seemed to from a bond with Ari through the silence. The fact that Ari stayed silent, the fact that she wasn't lie those busy body hobbits, gave comfort to Vena. So, Vena had revealed more about herself the week after their first out traveling. The only time they would talk was after making camp, when Ari wasn't listening to nature and Vena wasn't deep in thought.
"I enjoy helping the soldiers. I might as well be a blacksmith. No other male dwarf will admit the title to me, and yet the soldiers still come to me for help." Vena gave a rare chuckle. "They're just upset a girl can out-do them."
Vena had even come to trust Ari enough to tell her the reason she's out here, traveling to who knows where? It was obvious the question was burning within Ari, but she never asked.
"I will tell you." The suddenness of the statement surprised Ari, and her voice rang out in the dense silence of the forest. It was not often Vena initiated a conversation. So as not to scare her into silence, Ari sat quietly on her bed roll, staring expectantly at the dwarf.
"My father, he's not here anymore. I don't know if he's alive or not, but he's lost all effect on me. I care not for him. And my mother, she had good intentions. She was… mislead to believe her mother needed a father. I did not, I needed her. I never did get the strong mother I wanted. My mother's brother stepped in, and he's been taking care of me since. He calls it a vacation. Well, it's been one long vacation." Vena paused to think. Her mother… it's been a while. She wondered if she was doing well. If she was taking proper care of herself. It was rare, but on the occasion Vena had some great times with her mother. She laughed. It was the first laugh Ari heard from her.
"There was this one time," Vena lifted her sleeve to show Ari evidence of the story. Along her hand there was a gruesome burn mark. "My mother left me in the market place, once, to bargain with a merchant, and I was curious of the town blacksmith. I walked over to him, and when he wasn't paying attention, I took something – I can't remember what anymore – off the closest place I could reach. Naturally, the thing I had grasped had been in the fire just recently. And it was left there to cool. My hand burned, I cried, my mother sprinted over after hearing my wails."
Ari inspected the burn a little closer.
"Mother blamed it on the poor blacksmith. Gave him an excellent backhand. The guy cried just as hard as I did… or did I imagine that?" Vena gave a mighty chuckle. Ari smiled at this new side of Vena.
"That's beside the point. Back at home, ,there are many dwarves in our town, there's much competition. Between everyone. Merchants, crafters, even our protectors. The blacksmiths were no different. I was an excellent blacksmith, not to sound conceited. But I was a woman – not the only woman blacksmith I will add – and the males held grudges against me. One dwarf, Dene, spread rumors about, rumors that actually ruined my business and the other women's businesses. So I retaliated, with a good punch or two. Of course, that stained our family's name, and my uncle became so upset, he forbid me from blacksmithing ever again, I couldn't handle it."
A flash of guilt crossed Vena's features. But soon, a gentle smile replaced the frown. Then she nodded as if agreeing with herself.
"Don't get me wrong, I love my life, my mother, my uncle. I wouldn't change any of it, and yet… that's exactly what I did. I had a good life, and I left it. But perhaps, traveling out here is what I needed. We will continue on our way, and see where it leads us. This will be exciting."
Ari began to stoke the fire for more warmth. Through the flames, Ari saw Vena smile, staring at her.
"Thank you. I really needed someone to listen."
Ari smiled back.
"You're welcome."
It was three weeks after leaving the Shire, when things began to become strange. Ari loved the forest that much was clear to Vena. Sometimes, Ari would disappear to the trees when the two rested for the night. Vena loved watching the human's peaceful expression and gentle smile when she closed her eyes to listen to the hum of nature. Yes, Vena was certain Ari loved every moment spent out here. But suddenly, to the astonishment of Vena, Ari was becoming uneasy. She stopped exploring the areas around camp, stopped listening to the calls of nature. The bags around the girl's eyes was a clear sign of sleep deprivation.
Vena had felt something shift, but Ari's depression meant things were worse than she thought. The air of the forest was different, it was dense, tightly compacted, almost suffocating. The days seemed shorter and darker. But Vena had assumed it was the way the forest was, that they were in the very heart of the forest. They probably were, but Vena still worried for her friend. Something was very wrong.
It wasn't until midday of the twenty second day – Vena liked keeping track – that the girls found out what exactly was so strange. A noise unlike any other sounded from every angle. It was like a clicking, or gnawing. The two travelers stopped, Vena unconsciously inching towards Ari, the human was very aware she was slowly making her way closer to the dwarf.
Normally Ari enjoyed being surrounded by the comforts and sounds of nature, but this was menacing, something evil was lurking behind them.
"Run!" Vena's voice cracked, adding to Ari's fear. If Vena was scared… she was usually so strong, Ari had looked up to that. Her determination, fearlessness, but now… well, this was bad. Really bad.
The two scrambled through the forest, weaving through trees and vines, tripping over roots and rocks. Did they risk looking back? They didn't have to. A monstrous, grotesque sight appeared to their left. It was huge, as tall Ari, if not taller, and just as menacing as they had imagined. It clicked and gnawed its horn – like pincers, its eyes gleamed with satisfaction.
If Ari had been scared of them in her world – ha! She could only laugh at herself. Spiders. Spiders, of all things! Only more terrifying and apparently carnivorous man-eating beasts.
There were more, following behind the two girls, and the probability of even more, lying in wait ahead, was great.
The prey was caught off guard, and the two made a sharp turn to the right. Ari just barely noticed the spider that jumped out at them howl a scream of pain as an arrow shot through it's skull.
They ran for a long time after that, the licking eventually slowed to a halt, but for good measure, they ran a little farther, until they came to a small cliff overlooking a river. The drop was but a few feet and Vena contemplated jumping in, fearful of the massive spiders that might be waiting behind. A sudden snap of a twig made the two jump, and Vena just about dived into the running water.
"Don't!"
A firm hand roughly pulled Vena back, knocking her back on her behind. She grumbled indignantly, refusing to look up.
"I would not wish the fate of the Mirkwood River on anyone, even a dwarf."
"Even a dwarf," Vena mimicked, slowly getting back up, glaring at the man who shoved her. He merely quirked a fine eyebrow. To sum him up in one word it would e beautiful. His features were absolutely stunning. His face was flawless, no mark or scrape upon his skin, his eyes were bright and open, and lips curved into a perfect shape, his light and airy hair fell into all the right places, not a single strand out of place. His movements were graceful, despite forcefully pushing Vena down and warily watching her push herself up.
"How did you possibly get here?" the fair man said in skeptical amusement. "There are only two main roads traveled to Mirkwood, and both of them are fairly dangerous, even under our protection. But to travel straight through the forest," he blinked a few times, hidden amazement twinkling in those bright eyes. "It's a wonder you're alive. How lucky I should arrive to kill that spider before it preyed upon you." At this he lovingly caressed his bow, as if proving a point.
He looked on at the two girls, struggling to comprehend the miracle before him. A dwarf and human, with no combat training, made it to the semi-safety of Mirkwood. To divert his awkward gaze, Ari cleared her throat.
"Yes, well, thank you. I'm Ari and this is my friend Vena."
She looked at the man expectantly, but he continued to stare at the two.
"Ha!" Vena's laugh was short and harsh. The boy's shy!"
"Come, I will take you to Mirkwood." He turned on his heel crossly and gracefully strutted away. The girls followed.
"Great, of all the places we might end up, we go to the land of the elves!" Vena sighed dramatically.
"Elves?"
Vena almost laughed at Ari's excitement.
