Chapter Four~
The next few days passed quickly and I found myself set in a routine; eating alone in my home, walking around the city, playing with the children who flocked to me after the one who had seen me play had told everyone she knew, hanging around the Fellowship and trying to make friends with them. It was easy with the Hobbits, they asked questions about myself and I would ask about their home. It was a tradeoff really, but whenever they asked about my scars or brother I would turn down the subject. They quickly understood that I wouldn't answer so they quickly stopped asking. Legolas, Gimli and Boromir were harder to trying and make friends with though. Legolas rather leave me alone then talk to me; Gimli thought I was an Elf in disguise and Boromir was to lost in his own head. Aragon was the only one outside the Hobbits who was kind to me. One day when I was just sitting with him he asked,
"Do you wish for me to teach you how to use a sword?" I was surprised beyond words but quickly accepted figuring that if I did go with them I'd be useless not knowing how to protect myself. So he got his sword and a spare sword and he set out to teach me. After grabbing our swords we stood across each other in the clearing the Fellowship had made their camp in, each of us waiting for the other to make a move. The Fellowship watched from a safe distance and I couldn't help but notice how they were silently cheering on Aragon. As my eyes were distracted Aragon swung out hard seizing my distraction as an opportunity to quickly end this but he got a shock when I blocked it turning my gaze back to him calmly.
"That was too easy." I said smirking causing him to growl and swing out this time an upper cut. Once again I managed to block playing defensive now waiting for his energy to deplete. After a while of his swings and jabs I realized it would be a long while before he tired so switched quickly to offensive changing my feet work and tactics. He soon caught on and changed to a more protective angle but I wasn't about to let him win so damn easy. For once I was glad I was not in a dress, for earlier I had dressed in breeches and a tunic and now was thankful since I very well might have lost if I had been in a dress. As the sounds of clanging swords echoed throughout the wood a few curious Elves came to watch including of course Haldir who was leaning against a tree, arms crossed and a smirk on his face. Having seen my gaze turn to Haldir Aragon changed out positions so that I was where he was and likewise.
"Getting tired?" I asked him trying to gauge his stamina.
"No, are you my lady?" he asked all too innocently but that set me off, just like he wanted, and I swung with more force this time. It was myself who decided this needed to end so decided to use the same trick I used against my brother to win almost every time. Pretending to drop my sword I raised my hands in the air in mock surrender and as Aragon came charging to finish it I grabbed a knife that I had placed in my tunic beforehand and dodging his blow caught him from behind wrapping one arm around his neck the other around the hand holding his sword. The knife pressed against his throat and adding a wee bit of pressure said,
"Surrender?" he nodded almost instantly and so I let go but not before kicking him in the rear to make a point. The sound of clapping filled the air as well as laughter and as I took my bows Aragon said,
"Where'd you learn sword work so well?" turning around to see him I smiled and held out a hand for him to take saying,
"It's called fencing where I'm from." as he stood with my help he clapped me on the shoulder saying,
"Very impressive then." smiling I couldn't help but squeal internally that THE Aragon from Lord of the Rings was giving little old me a compliment. As the gang came up to congratulate me I noticed Haldir was still leaning against his tree talking to his brother Rumil.
"That was great Anna!" cried Pippin almost knocking me over with a hug. Laughing at his enthusiasm, I patted him on the shoulder and said,
"Thanks there buddy."
"That was quite impressive indeed." Legolas said bowing slightly to me and as I returned it couldn't help but smile. I had impressed him; no other girl in my world could say that now could they? As the others gave their praise it was to my utter shock Boromir who said,
"Maybe having you along wouldn't be so bad." I had to raise my eyebrows at this comment but it was Legolas who came to my recuse saying,
"If she wishes to come that is."
"Yeah, well, I'm going to get un-sweaty right now thanks." and turning around tucked the knife back in my tunic and headed to my house. As I walked away I noticed Haldir had vanished from his spot and wondering where he went shrugged before turning around to smack right into the chest of somebody.
"God man damn!" I said stepping back and grabbing my nose which had hit the hardest onto the person's chest. Familiar laughter caused me to look up to find Haldir standing there laughing at me. Rolling my eyes, I stepped around him saying as I did,
"Thanks for scaring the crap out of me."
"That was not my intention." he said taking stride with me to follow me to my house. There was a brief moment of silence before he said,
"You fight amazingly well, for a woman." the last part I knew was in jest but it still bugged me so I turned round to say,
"Yeah, this world is just full of fascist pigs." one eyebrow rose at this but he said nothing as I laughed at his expression.
"What do you find so funny then?" he asked crossing his arms in irritation. When my laughter died down I slapped him on the shoulder saying,
"Nothing, nothing whatsoever." and turning back around headed to my house with a stunned Haldir standing behind me. When I reached my staircase the same little girl who had been with me when I played the piano came running up calling out,
"Song Anna song!" turning to see her, I was amazed to find several others with her all calling out the same thing. Sighing knowing that they wouldn't leave until I gave them what they wanted I motioned for them to sit and as they all did I began to sing,
"Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens, bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens. Brown paper packages tied up with string, these are a few of my favorite things!" they all clapped as I sang cheering the whole while.
"Girls in white dressed with blue satin sashes, snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes. Silver white winters that melt into spring, these are a few of my favorite things." at each line I tickled a girl in a white dress, tapped the nose of a young boy who was on my right and waved my hands around in a wild fashion. Their faces were filled with awe at my song, all smiles and giggles making my heart swell with motherly pride.
"When the dog bites, when the bees sting, when I'm feeling sad. I simply remember my favorite things and then I don't feel so bad!" and finishing up couldn't hold back my laughter as they cheered and clapped. Standing, I said to them,
"Now I'm going to be right back ok?" the nodded and scurried off leaving me be for a short while. Climbing up the stairs to my house and coming to the landing managed to bathe in peace within my little abode. When I was finished I changed from my tunic and breeches into a light blue dress, braiding my hair in front of the vanity mirror. As I sat there I realized it would only be a few more days until the Fellowship left and had to decide whether or not I would go with them. On one hand if I went I may be able to find my brother, on the other I might completely change the fate of this world. Sighing deeply I stood from the vanity and decided to go ask Galadriel whether or not I should go. As I wandered the city I noticed a change in the air, it was thicker than normal and seemed as if there was smoke lingering in the breeze.
"I too have noticed the change." said a whimsical voice and turning around found Galadriel standing before me.
"What is it?" I asked suddenly worried for some strange reason. She noticed this and coming forward said,
"Orcs are coming closer each minute towards our borders. They seek the Ring and you and will not stop until they get what their master wants."
"We need to leave then." I said looking down at the forest floor feeling a pang of agony rush through me.
"You intend to leave with them?" she asked coming to stand beside me letting her calming aura try to soothe me.
"I might be able to find my brother." I said weakly already knowing what she would say, but to my surprise she said nothing of the sort but instead said,
"I hope you find what you truly are looking for." before leaving me alone once more. As she left I wondered what she meant but shaking my thoughts away rushed to the clearing where the Fellowship was in and found them settling in for the night.
"I'm going." I said causing them to look confused at me.
"What?" asked Frodo who was poking the fire with a stick but stopped when I had come into the clearing.
"I'm going with you." everyone looked surprised at this but it was Aragon who stood from his tent and coming over to clap a hand on my shoulder said,
"You are most welcome then." smiling, I thanked him and bid them all goodnight and well rest since they were most likely leaving in the morning. I quickly returned to my house in order to pack finding to my surprise a bag to place my things in along with several tunics and breeches for the journey. Packing everything into the bag I also packed some nonperishable food knowing it might be a life saver, no pun intended. The sound of the door opening caused me to turn to find Haldir looking rather upset.
"Word travels fast doesn't it?" I said sarcastically returning to my bag in order to finish up packing.
"I know you wish to save your brother-" he started coming over towards me and turning me around to see him.
"But he probably is already dead. Why waste your time when you could be here, happy and unharmed." he finished almost pleading with me to stay, but his words only made me angry and slapping out of his hold said,
"He might still be alive, you don't know for sure in fact, you have no clue!"
"He is dead, of this I know for sure." he said sharply but instantly he looked as if he shouldn't have said that.
"And how do you know that? Let me guess, you asked Galadriel to look into the Mirror and saw his gruesome horrible death?" I asked tears springing into my eyes at the words. To my shock he looked away and I realized that's exactly what he had done. Feeling weak I felt my knees go out and falling was caught by Haldir who had moved at lightning fast speed.
"Let me go! Let me go!" I said ponding into his chest with my fists sobbing as hard as ever. With him holding me on the ground, he grabbed my wrists saying,
"Be still."
"NO!" and using whatever was left of my strength pushed out of his hold to stand yelling at him,
"You don't give a damn about me! All you care about is, is, well it's not me that's for damn sure! If you cared, if you ever cared you wouldn't have betrayed me like that. Going behind my back then stabbing it with the fact you SAW his death! How dare you!" and storming into my bedroom locked the door behind me and threw myself on the bed sobbing as hard as if it had been me who had seen Roger's death. The fact that Haldir would do such a thing, to go behind my back, ask Galadriel to see into the future and see my dear brother's death made every emotion scream in agony. He couldn't be dead, he just couldn't! I would never let that happen!
"He lives." said a dark voice that echoed around me. Sitting up as best I could in my state, I looked around to find nothing but knew who the voice belonged to.
"He lives by a thread, but lives none the less." the voice continued.
"What do you want?" I asked my voice cracking. Laughter swam into my mind as I moved to stand by the windows, the image of the Flaming Eye appearing before me.
"You. With you I can take over all the worlds!" he said the flames reaching out to touch me, to burn me. Even though I stepped away the flames continued to come ever closer towards me until I was in a corner, hugging my knees to my chest and head buried in my lap. That's how I fell asleep that night, in the corner feeling utterly alone and heartbroken.