Chapter Eleven: On Swordsmanship, Mirkwood, and a Library
DISCLAIMER: I had way too much fun with certain parts of this chapter.
Random Quote: "Once you kill a cow you gotta make a burger!" ~Lady Gaga
Morning in Lothlorien was vastly different from the night. The air was crisper, and you could hear birds chirping throughout the forest. The sun shone brighter, filtering through the trees in dispersed rays of light. Legolas and Estela walked beneath the canopy of the forest, heading toward the archery range.
"It's so beautiful here," Estela sighed. "I wish we could just stay here forever."
"As do I. But the quest still looms in our near future. I was speaking with Aragorn before we arrived in Lothlorien, and we agreed to linger here for no longer than two fortnights."
"What's Mirkwood like?" Estela asked, voicing something that she had been wondering lately. "Is it similar to this place?"
"No, it differs greatly," he said. "To understand Mirkwood in the present, you also need an understanding of its past. Yet it is somewhat confusing, especially to those who were not born in Mirkwood and did not grow up with a basic knowledge of its history."
"Tell me. I can keep up."
Legolas stopped walking. He sat down on the forest floor against a tree, and motioned for her to join him. She sat down on the ground next to him, and felt the cool grass beneath her skin and the hard bark of the tree against her back.
"It is not a short story, Estela."
"It's fine. We have all day, after all," she urged. With that, Legolas launched into an excited description of Mirkwood. While listening to him, it became clear to Estela that he took much pride in his home, but that the pride was tainted with an underlying sadness.
"During the Years of the Trees, a small band of Teleri decided to settle in the great forest of Anduin. There, they began forging a life and building a home, eventually naming the land Greenwood for its vast array of green trees. Later, during the time of the Second Age, my grandfather, Oropher, established the Woodland Realm. Five thousand years later, the Elves of Greenwood fought in the War of the Last Alliance, in which Oropher was slain. My father, Thranduil, returned to rule Greenwood after Sauron's defeat." Legolas paused, looking at Estela to see if she were following him.
"Well, go on," she said, raising her eyebrows at him.
He regarded her with mild amusement, and then continued. "During the beginnings of Third Age, Sauron secretly built a stronghold at Dol Guldur, also known as the Hill of Black Magic. A shadow fell over Greenwood, and it became known at Mirkwood, which means 'forest under night' in Sindarin. Until Sauron is defeated and the One Ring destroyed, Mirkwood will remain as it is, decrepit in comparison with its former grandeur."
"Do you speak literally or figuratively when you say that a shadow fell over Greenwood?" Estela asked.
"Both, actually. Mirkwood became darker and gloomier, even during the daytime. The forest air became still and polluted, like water left lingering in an empty vase. The trees grew, spreading their gnarled tangles of branches to encompass my father's realm beneath a vast canvas that to this day keeps daylight from touching Mirkwood. When one is in the forests of Mirkwood, you cannot feel the rain falling from the sky, nor see the stars in the heavens. Attracted by the darkness, evil creatures came to live in the woods, including the Great Spiders."
"What are the Great Spiders?" Estela asked, thinking that she may already know the answer.
"They are creatures of colossal size, monsters who dwell deep below the treetops. They live in large webs which they weave in the forest, and feed on living creatures. The Elves of the Woodland Realm showed these cretins no mercy, but could not entirely extirpate them from Mirkwood." Legolas suddenly looked forlorn and distant.
Estela sensed the sudden change in his expression. "What's wrong?"
He spoke detachedly. "The Great Spiders killed my mother."
"I'm sorry," Estela said. He looked like he could use a hug, but Estela refrained, knowing that last nights' events were no measure of how she should normally behave around him. So she settled with empathizing. "I never knew my mother very well. She abandoned us when I was five. How old were you when it happened?"
"I was the age that would be equivalent to how old you are right now." The distant look suddenly vanished from his features, and he gazed at her intently. "Do not pity me, Estela. It happened so long ago, and she was not the only one. The Great Spiders killed many of my kind."
"Our kind," said Estela suddenly. Legolas looked at her questionly.
"You said the Great Spiders killed many of my kind. Technically, since now I'm turning into an Elf and all, that would make it our kind."
Legolas smiled at this. "Yes," he mused, "I suppose it would." They sat in silence for a moment, and then Estela spoke again.
"Tell me more about Sauron's stronghold at Dol Guldur. What exactly did he do there? How did it create such drastic changes in Mirkwood?"
After Legolas explained, Estela had another fresh slew of questions. They seemed to never end, as if her curiosity was an insatiable force that only became hungrier with more information. Legolas willingly answered her questions, and in fact seemed quite pleased with her interest in his people's history and culture. He kept thinking of how she was going to fit in perfectly with his people. Or rather, their people, he thought with a smile.
Several hours later, Estela and Legolas finally went to the archery range after acquiring a bow and arrows for Estela. They shot in silence for a full hour, their arrows hitting the golden markings on the trees with nearly every shot. Legolas never missed, but Estela sometimes did.
"Estela?" Legolas asked as they were shooting.
"Yes?"
"I know not how to say this subtly…"
"Then say it bluntly," she suggested.
Legolas lowered his bow and looked sharply at her. "Very well. You have said nothing regarding what happened last night. I find it quite strange."
Estela started. "Oh. That. Well, I figured that if I can't change anything about the Prophecy, then why bother letting it make me depressed and paranoid?" she said dismissively. "And do you mind not mentioning it to Adonnenniel? I decided not to tell her." Estela held his gaze levelly. Legolas looked as if he were about to argue, so she said, "Look. It's my decision."
"As you wish," he said uncertainly. "But know that if you ever do wish to speak of it, then I am here."
"Thanks," she said, somewhat surprised at the gesture.
They shot in silence for some more time, and then after a while gathered their gear and starting walking back through the forest.
"I was thinking," Estela said, "I want to learn how to fight with a sword."
"Aragorn or Boromir would be better suited to teach you the ways of the sword than myself. Come, we will ask them to instruct you." They walked back to their rooms, where they found Aragorn, Gimli, and Boromir.
Estela appraised them excitedly. Using a bow and arrows in battle seemed unrealistic for her. Shooting at a golden target in a pleasant forest was entirely different than aiming at moving targets during a battle. A sword would be better suited for her to use in an actual fight.
"Hello," Aragorn nodded at her and Legolas. He walked over to them, and then started speaking in rapid Elvish to Legolas. Estela looked back and forth between them, occasionally catching words such as 'Haldir' and 'hobbits'. They appeared to not be talking about anything serious, because Legolas started laughing and Aragorn grinned widely at him.
Boromir locked eyes with Estela, and they both shrugged in a gesture of mutual confusion. Estela spared Legolas and Aragorn an amused glance, and then walked away from them and joined Boromir.
"So," she sighed, "Do you happen to speak Spanish?"
Boromir shook his head. "I have never heard of that language."
"Darn. We could have totally given them a run for their money with the whole talking so nobody else can understand us thing they have going on."
Catching her drift despite the small amount of slang she had used, Boromir said, "That would be quite satisfying indeed." He frowned, and lowered his voice. "It is somewhat rude of them to speak in such a way that we cannot understand, do you not think so?"
Estela shrugged. "I guess that all my foreign language teachers back home are the epitome of rudeness in that case," she said with a short laugh. Estela looked up at him, and saw with some surprise that he appeared genuinely annoyed.
"How are you doing, Boromir?" she asked seriously, thinking about how he had told her the Ring affected him.
For a moment, he looked as if he was going to respond, but then Aragorn and Legolas abruptly ended their conversation and walked towards them. Boromir looked at her pointedly. "We can talk later, Lady Estela."
Estela nodded, and then turned her attention to Aragorn and Legolas. She was overcome with a sudden urge to confuse them. Payback time. "Lemme guess," she started, "You guys were talking about top secret government things. Politics? Global warming maybe? Child obesity problems in one of the world's superpowers? Endangered polar bear species? UFO sightings in Nebraska?"
Judging from their expressions, she had indeed succeeded in confusing them. "Umm…never mind," she muttered. Estela wished Adonnenniel was here. She needed someone to appreciate her selective sense of humor.
Still looking bemused, Aragorn spoke to her. "Lady Estela, Legolas tells me that you wish to learn swordsmanship. Myself, and Boromir if he's willing, can assist you in this if you wish."
"Alright," Boromir said immediately. "I am not busy with much. Would you like to start today?"
"Yes, please," Estela nodded, "But how about after lunch? I'm really hungry."
"I think that would be ideal for us as well," said Boromir, looking to Aragorn for agreement. "Perhaps then the hobbits and your sister could join us. It would be useful for all of them to refine their swordsmanship."
Just then, Adonnenniel and the hobbits appeared.
"What's up, guys?" Adonnenniel said cheerfully. Without waiting for a response, she barreled on. "I just had the funnest morning ever. Bellethiel showed us around here. It's amazing! So is it time for lunch yet? I'm seriously starved. We had, like, fruit and bread last night." Adonnenniel made a face.
"We were just about to eat," Gimli said, sounding amused. "Better get used to bread and fruit, though," he said gruffly. "It's all these darned Elves eat." His words earned a glare from Legolas.
As it turned out, however, bread and fruit was all the Elves ate. Adonnenniel didn't mind it too much though, since she was a vegetarian. Their lunch consisted of bread, fruit, and assorted cheeses, and much conversation. She loved talking to the hobbits. They were fun to talk to, and their innocence and cheerfulness reminded her of herself in ways. Plus, it was just so darn funny to make random conversation with them.
"So," Adonnenniel started, breaking a short lived silence lingering over the table, "Did I ever tell you guys about the time I went on a blind date with this really weird tall guy?"
Sam stared at her with confusion, as he often resorted to doing when she said something quite out of context.
"What exactly is a blind date?" Frodo asked innocently as he reached for some bread.
Adonnenniel chuckled. "It's when a bunch of your crazy friends decide to try and hook you up with some random guy you've never met before. Don't ever try it."
"What happened?" Merry asked. He was becoming steadily accustomed to the way Adonnenniel spoke, and thought he understood her somewhat.
"Well…See, he picks me up in this big yellow Jeep, and for the whole car ride to the restaurant all he said to me was 'hi'. And then when we got to the restaurant, I tried to talk to him, but he would just nod his head and stuff. The longest sentence I heard him say was something along the lines of 'these sweet potatoes are really cold'."
Four small pairs of eyes stared at her bemusedly.
Adonnenniel laughed. "You guys have no idea what I just said, did you?"
"I caught the sweet potatoes part," Pippin chirped.
"Have you seen him since?" Merry asked curiously, having understood some of what she had said.
"Naah," Adonnenniel said dismissively. "I think he's off making a living as a mime now," she mused.
They sat in silence for a moment, and then it was broken by Frodo, who was smiling at Sam. "Did I ever tell you about the time when Sam danced with Rosie Cotton?"
"Mr. Frodo!" Sam said, his cheeks turning a deep shade of scarlet.
"No way!" Adonnenniel gushed excitedly. "Sam's got himself a girl? Who is she?"
Sam seemed to recover from his embarrassment momentarily, as a dreamy look appeared on his face. "She is the most beautiful girl I e'er laid eyes on."
Adonnenniel let out a very girly and high pitched 'aaaawww!'. "That's so sweet!" she said quite squeakily.
Sam looked at her with a small smile.
Struck with a sudden thought, Adonnenniel tried to catch her sisters' attention. Estela was seated at the other end of the table, looking as if she were in deep conversation with Legolas and Aragorn. Adonnenniel watched them with amusement for a moment, noticing how Estela's eyes keep drifting towards Legolas, and vice versa.
"Hey, Estela!" she called.
Estela looked up from her conversation, startled. "Yes?" she called back.
Adonnenniel spoke loudly. "You remember that time when we were back home and I asked you which guy from this…err…world…I would be most compatible with?"
Estela's lips twitched with amusement. "Yes, I remember that."
"Who was it again?"
Estela started laughing, and it took a moment for her to compose herself enough to answer. "Figwit," she said shortly before bursting into a fresh fit of laughter.
"Right…Who's that?"
"Umm…I'll tell you later," Estela grinned.
"Alright then," Adonnenniel huffed. She turned to the hobbits. "Do you guys know who Figwit is?"
They gave her blank looks, and then slowly moved onto more normal topics.
At the other end of the table, Estela was receiving questioning looks from Aragorn and Legolas.
"So…" Estela began, trying to ignore their probing gazes. She turned toward Boromir, lowering her voice. "So how are you doing?" she asked. "We got interrupted the last time I asked that."
"I am fine," he said somewhat stiffly. She stared probingly at him, raising her eyebrows and silently conveying that she wanted more of an answer.
He sighed, and idly fingered a piece of bread. "Truly, Lady Estela, I am fine. I am actually rather partial to this place. However, I oftentimes wish we could continue with our quest. I see no purpose in lingering here longer."
"Hey," Estela grinned, "At least if we stay here for a while, then Adonnenniel and I can pick up some fighting skills."
"Yes," Boromir agreed readily, "That would be good. I say that in your current state, you would last ten, perhaps twenty seconds in a battle."
"Oh, you're just being nice," she joked. "I'd give myself five seconds tops."
"I am certain that with practice, your chances of imminent survival will increase," he said seriously.
"Lady Estela," Aragorn interjected suddenly, "Do you wish to learn swordsmanship with an Elvish sword or a short broader sword such as the ones Men more often use?"
"Elvish swords are lighter, right?" Estela asked.
"Yes," Legolas told her. "They are also curved and thinner."
"Better go with one of those then," Estela said.
"Very well," Aragorn nodded. He stood up from the table. "Come with us to the armory and we will obtain you an appropriate training weapon to begin with."
"No, no, no! You have to be light on your feet." Aragorn's voice was bordering on impatience. They had been at it for a full hour, and Estela could not even get the basics of sword fighting down. "Relax your arms, you are far too tense." Estela took a feeble swipe in his general direction.
"You may want to try holding the sword on the hilt instead of the end of the pommel," suggested Boromir. "That might improve your aim a bit."
"You look like a penguin," Adonnenniel added. Everyone stared at her. "I mean, just the way you're walking. It's more like waddling, like you're swaying from side to side. And you have your hands so close to your sides."
Estela gritted her teeth. Adonnenniel had picked up on sword fighting instantly, while she was struggling immensely. Her sister and the hobbits had been sparing together for a while now, while Estela had been rotating with Boromir and Aragorn as they each ran out of patience with her. She was dimly aware of Legolas watching her. Unlike Aragorn, he didn't seem exasperated at her inability to even hold a sword properly, but just slightly amused.
"Ugh," she moaned, dropping her sword and sitting down. Aragorn looked momentarily distraught at her careless handling of the Elvish weapon. He picked up the sword and eased it gently against a tree. "This is impossible!"
"It's alright," Adonnenniel said as she skillfully blocked a low strike from Sam. "You just need some more practice is all."
Estela rolled her eyes and sat down resolutely on the outskirts of the practice grounds. Her body felt worn out, more so than it had since their days of walking to Moria. Archery had been strenuous enough, and now sword fighting was exerting her energy both physically and mentally.
Legolas approached her. "Would you like to leave?" he asked.
"Yes, actually," she nodded. "Thanks."
"Come with me. I wish to show you a place here I think you will love." He helped her up, and together they left the practice grounds.
"Oh my God," Estela gasped. Before her, stretching out as far into the distance as she could see, was the most beautiful thing she had seen since coming to Middle Earth. Even more awe inspiring than the scenery and architecture. It was a library.
An endless array of books stood on wooden shelves supported by large tree trunks. A ceiling of intertwining branches was above them, letting in light that poured into the library, illuminating the precious books. "This is amazing!" she exclaimed. Estela approached one of the wooden shelves, and picked up a book at random. It smelled of oak. She tentatively fingered the binding of the book, and then opened it.
Her face fell immediately. "Are they all in Elvish?"
"Yes, they are all written in Sindarin," Legolas answered.
"Well," Estela said with fierce determination, "You'll just have to teach me Elvish then." She picked up three books at random. "We can start with these. Just read it out loud to me and then go back and translate it word by word." She paused, thinking. "Oh, and I should probably get some sort of paper and a writing utensil so I can record some basic words, like greetings and such. Do you know where we could get some paper?" She turned around to find him staring at her with a mixture of amusement and admiration, an expression she was getting used to seeing from him.
"There is a section of blank books for the purpose of writing on the other side of the library." Legolas said slowly. He looked at her intently. "Estela, learning Sindarin is no meager task. It is a long and strenuous process, especially for those who have not grown up hearing it spoken. It is not a task to be embarked on lightly."
"Hey, I picked up Spanish and French fast enough back home. Heck, I even took a semester in Japanese."
Legolas just stared at her.
"Look, I want to learn," Estela insisted. She then knew what the right thing to say was. "I'm intelligent enough to learn it. And besides, I'm an Elf, Legolas. I'm part of your world and your culture. I should be able to learn your language as well. The reason I took all those languages back home was because I wanted to someday travel to the places I had only read about in history textbooks, and be able to communicate with the people there."
"Very well," Legolas relented. "Stay here. I will return in a moment with paper." He walked off. The library seemed to stretch endlessly into the recesses of the forest. She watched him vanish, and then a few minutes later he reappeared with a book and a writing tool. They found a quiet place in library and sat down.
"I will introduce you to simple phonetics and pronunciation today," Legolas told her. "And perhaps we may start some basic phrases. Are you still certain you wish to do this?"
"Yes, I am," she nodded.
Legolas smiled. "I supposed you would say so. Let us begin."
"Alright," Estela said happily.
And so Estela spent the rest of the afternoon being introduced to Elvish. It was a magical and enchanting language, and she often became distracted by asking Legolas repeat certain words that were particularly pleasing to hear. As she had with other languages back home, she started catching on quickly.
Legolas spent the first hour or so introducing her to pronunciation. It was extremely difficult, but Estela found it much easier and more rewarding than sword fighting had been. She found that she was able to pronounce the words as if they had been there in the back of her mind all along, and she was simply being reminded of how to say them. After a while, pleased with her grasp of basic pronunciation, he moved onto words and phrases.
"If you wish to introduce yourself, say eem or estannen, and then your name. Try it."
After nearly two hours, Estela had written copious notes on pronunciation, basic phrases such as greetings, and miscellaneous words. At some point during the afternoon, Estela realized with a jolt that she was looking at the small words without her glasses, and they were flawlessly clear. Perfect eyesight must be one of the benefits of turning into an Elf, she thought cheerfully.
The books which Legolas read to her were as enchanting as the language itself. They revolved around Elvish myths and legends, as well as some true historical stories, all of which Estela found vastly intriguing. She loved learning the language while simultaneously increasing her knowledge of Elvish culture and history.
However, as much as she loved learning, after several hours her head felt like it might implode. Random assortments of Elvish words and names and places flitted through her mind, jumbled and disorienting.
"You look as if you are ready to retire," Legolas commented.
"Yes," she sighed, closing her writing book and mentally resolving to study them on her own later tonight. She had filled a full five pages with vocabulary, basic phrases, and their translations. "I'm getting pretty exhausted, actually."
Legolas looked upwards, staring at the treetops. "Time has passed faster than I realized. The sun is low in the sky," he noted.
"Alright," Estela groaned, standing up laboriously. Her muscles screamed in protest, still spent from archery and sword fighting.
"Come," he said once she had stood up. "Let us go to dinner. Tonight we dine in Lothlorien's grand hall with Haldir and his acquaintances."
Coming Up Next!
-A dinner with Haldir! Yay!
-More sword fighting and learning Elvish!
-Adonnenniel will rant about…food!
Another Author's Notes: So, I was going to make Estela be absolutely amazing at swordsmanship, like every Sue should be, but it was just too much fun to watch her completely fail at it! About Legolas' mother being killed by the Great Spiders, that is not in Lord of the Rings. None of Tolkien's' books give any amount of information regarding Thranduil's husband/Legolas' mother…She's not mentioned even in passing. So I decided I wanted to give her a story :)