The Protector in the Shadow

*Damn, well FF won't let me log in, so I guess I'll start on Chapter Seventeen. Now I saw a review that actually almost made me chuckle, and I got a few PMs on the subject too. Yes, I know it was so out of character to have Lyavain be overtaken by that, but think, perhaps only a day or two before all the bones in her body had been broken against her will in her change, and essentially she had lost her "father" the same day. Plus Boromir is a friggin ox, and we all know it. Anyway this chapter is a bit complex, but you're all still with me now right? So I'm sure you'll be fine! Enjoy my readers! - Ze*

Disclaimer: Well, still don't own it, though I have been watching outtakes on LOTR and they are freaking hilarious! Fëa is mine, not touch. Much love, peace.

*Past*

*Present*

Chapter Seventeen: How She Came To Be

It was tense, everything was tense. The silence that was echoing from the water around them was almost making it worse. The boats moved silently, only the light splashes from each rower at any given time. She was even more silent, the hood from her cloak was pulled over her head. Lyavain had only just started mourning the loss of her "father" it was something she hadn't wanted to do, but something about the run in with Boromir had brought it out of her. Aragorn and Frodo had hardly left her side since the incident, though it was mostly Frodo who was with her, anytime the Hobbit wasn't at her side it was always the man. For the most part Ava's stay at the kingdom of her grandmother was lovely, but the last night she had seen such horrific dreams, such horrid visions in her mind had hindered her sleep. She still kept her mind straight around the hobbits, she had watched as they accepted gifts from her grandmother.

She had been silent when she had been offered a silver hair clip, with bright azure jewels which now settled gently in her long almost silver hair. She listened softly to the hushed tones from one of the other boats, gently stroking Frodo's hair as his head rested in her lap. Her eyes were cast forward watching everyone else but Boromir, who even during strokes looked lover to her with hate. There was no other confrontation with him, only angry eyes and hateful expressions on Boromir's side. For the second time in her life she had been betrayed by someone she trusted. Her eyes did not produce hate, but sorrow. They could have been allies, friends even. Such a narrow minded son of Gondor.

She couldn't help the hiss that escaped her mouth when he looked at her again. The silent notion caused the others to turn and look at her. Even Frodo looked up at her with shock written on his face. She silenced the growls that reverberated from her chest with a light snort. Averting her eyes from Frodo. She could almost feel the alienation sinking in. She could feel it starting to take over, and it wasn't good. She knew what would happen, and she did not want it play out the way fate had decided it would. She knew this annoyance with the fellowship would fade, but her mind was so active. She missed her wolven form, where no one could read her emotions, or take advantage of her. She hummed before sighing deeply.

Something catching her attention in the forests, she could smell something, and hear something in the distance. The pounding of heavy footsteps though slightly muted by the damp earth could be heard. She looked to Legolas with a sneer noticing he had not heard the noise. Her small skull snapped in the direction of the forest. The noises were horrifying, causing her to growl slightly. Night slowly began to fall, taking over the sky with darkness, they made move to rest on the shores. Everyone setting up their bedrolls close for warmth while Lyavain sat hers further away. She heard movement and made a fleeting glance over her shoulder seeing Frodo and Sam come carrying theirs to place on either side of her. She smiled brightly at their choices and gently kissed both upon their foreheads. "I will take first watch." She said quietly as she stood to her full height, ruffling the two hobbits hair before moving to sit by the fire.

No one fought over the first watch, but she would figure to watch almost all three watches if she could get away with it. It would be easier that way, and the Fellowship would need their rest for days to come. Everyone would soon be separated, and she knew even another would die. She could no longer run it was clear nothing she tried would change the downhill spiral that the fellowship would take. It was hard to admit that most efforts would fail, but she had also seen the outcome of that said failure. She had noticed movement by the hobbits her eyes moved but her neck did not swivel to take in the sight of the creature who now sat next to her.

They offered no words to one and other for the comfortable silence was more than enough. Though soon Lyavain felt inclined to speak, fearing that soon if things strayed differently from her dreams they would not speak again like this for some time. "Will you not sleep, Lord Aragorn?" she questioned silently, watching as the lord raised his grey pools to meet her deep azure oceans.

"I find no rest tonight, Fëa," he said quietly, a small smile tugged at his lips as he chewed lightly on the end of his pipe, "though if my presence is a bur-"

"My lord's presence could never be a burden. I only was questioning for your own sake, few hours you have been sleeping as of late," she started, noticing the shocked expression on his face, her head dipped to stare into the fire. She swallowed slowly as she felt heat rise to her already hot face, "and I was simply worried." She said slowly, clearing her throat with an eye averting sigh.

The man sat for a moment, as a larger smile played at his face. Looking to the sleeping forms of the others before his eyes. "I thank you for your concern, but it is I who is worried. I have only seen you receive a restful sleep once since the mines of Moria." Aragorn countered with an intake of breath and an exhale of smoke. Silence fell between the two of them once more as they both seemed to enjoy few words yet many thoughts. She seemed to smile at his concern; it really did mean quite a lot that the King of men worried for her. She really had been worrying a lot about the man though, even in her most restless of sleeps she could hear the human move about. Humming songs in which ever language he could think of. He had quite the voice when it came to singing, the husky yet warm tones made the even saddest and solemn songs seem more relaxing and lush.

"I will find no rest until our task is either complete," she paused looking to Frodo who slept soundly in the arms of Samwise, his second protector, "or until we fail." She whispered almost too quietly. Locking eyes again with Aragorn, "I will not sleep until I again meet the father of my heart. Or until I fall in the arms of a lover." She said with a ghosted smile. Not sure if it were an appropriate conversation to be having or not.

At the mention of a lover Aragorn's heart contorted with pain and jealousy. He was still so confused by the feeling he had that he did not understand. His eyes watched with a soft expression as another blush overtook her lovely façade. He cleared his throat softly as his eyes dipped to his own lap as he stretched out lazily across the ground before the fire. "And does her lady have a lover?" He questioned, staring off into the stars, praying to the Valar that she did not.

"No," she said almost in a whisper, "who would take a beast as a lover? Indeed I do hold someone very close to my heart; he is much too grand for my forbidden existence." She said coolly though her mind cursed herself for revealing too much. Aragorn's heart was on a wild horse at the moment, raising and falling so deeply he felt soon his heart would fail him.

He took a sudden sharp intake of breath before looking at the woman. "Tis not the bloodline that matters milady," the king said with a soft tone, almost as soft as the sparkle in his eyes. The molten pools of steel in gleaming in the fire, "The heart is most important, love is pure at times, and rash. The man that will bid your love is a lucky one, and I must say I envy him slightly." He cooed, slowly raising to his feet and turning his back toward the river that was once behind him.

Lyavain did not know how to respond. In fact she almost could not, and she almost didn't want to. The calming words that had escaped Aragorn had put her at such ease she almost wished she could have stopped for quite some time only to sleep. She was relaxed and had utterly wished that the time had not come for second watch. Aragorn had pushed her off to bed and went to wake Boromir, who gruffly stood and plopped down in almost the exact spot she had been sitting. "Did the beast neglect her job?" Boromir hissed looking over to the now and strangely sleeping Lyavain.

"No Boromir, I rushed her off to sleep. " Aragorn said, again taking his seat at the Fire. Once more, silence enveloped the camp.

Screams pierced the air; the battle raged on like she was nothing, like this war was nothing. She watched the arrow fly toward the man whom she loved. Loved? She almost couldn't stop herself as her long pillar like legs moved. Her pawns digging into the dirt for grip as she flew, avoiding any contact from enemies and fiends. She would not lose another not again, and especially not him. If only she could have screamed for him to move, yet the only thing that escaped her lips was a violent roar warning Aragorn of nothing. Rage set in her azure pools as she ran, ignoring any pain that coursed through her because of being hit. She was focused. The stone was slippery going up the stairs, wet with blood and with the cursed rain that had decided to fall upon them. Could she make it? Of course she could! She was strong, too strong, yet far too concerned for the Ranger who soon would die if she didn't hurry. Everything was so slow, so lost in the movements of her body, it was like a blur. She took off into the air leaping before Aragorn and accepting her fate. Not even pausing before killing another Uruk-hai. She didn't feel the burn, only slightly yelping when the arrow caught something and snapped. She was thankful, very thankful that it had snapped.

Killing these damned things would be easier.

She sat up abruptly; her mind was far from in the right place. She could almost feel the arrow in her side, and that was not a comforting thought. She saw Aragorn finally sleeping not too far from where Sam, Frodo, and her lay. She looked up and met the cool eyes of Legolas, who had been watching her closely. Lyavain looked at him with a raised brow before smiling lightly. She took notice to the fact that dawn was still many hours away, and this pleased her. Perhaps she could create a small less hostile relationship with the creature before they were tossed into one unwanted creature of a relationship.

"Good morning," she said lightly a bright shine in her eye, almost closed to the expression Aragorn had worn that same night. Her mind flashed back to the dream and she rubbed her side with a cool hiss. If that dream was to become reality she knew that it would be one of the more painful things she had ever been inflicted with. "Never before have I known an Elf to watch a lady sleep unless instructed to, does my sleeping amuse you?" She questioned with amusement in her voice. Even if she did not entertain Legolas of Mirkwood, he most surely amused her.

He looked slightly serious for a moment before his facial expressions lightened into a small smile. He looked down for a moment shaking his head. "I find you rather odd, milady." His gentle voice was like silken fabric of old. The velvet tone always made her shiver, "if I may ask, would you tell me of how you came into existence. It is a topic I have wondered since the stories of old." He asked motioning to the small rock that sat near him. She nodded knowing that the question would have come up eventually anyway.

She slowly lowered herself down on the rock before beginning the story. She was going to speak lightly, not treading lightly on to many subjects. "Before I begin, I must insist on you calling me Fëa, or by my given name. Milady isn't a fitting name for a creature like I." She said with a soft smile, looking at Legolas with a small smirk. He fought the politeness in his heart, looking as if he was going to insist before lowering his head and closing his mouth. Nodding in a somber, faded way. "Now then, let me tell you a story, Legolas of Mirkwood."

Once deep in the lost world there was a woman, beautiful as she was innocent. She denied even the slightest bit of beauty, though she did enjoy being given praise. She wondered the woods around the city of Gondolin for years, finding much hope and such fond creatures in the surrounding forests of her prison. For she was a princess and the king of old never let his daughter stray too far out of his sight. She was born to give an heir to their throne, though her father would never admit it. He seemed to always attempt to push her off like a brood mare in heat to a stallion. She had been shown many a groom but never once found love within the Elves of her city. But there was darkness in the forest, a darkness that one would never imagine.

Her story paused as she took notice to the small crowd which had grown around the camp fire. Aragorn was propped up against a tree near the camp, the hobbits gathered around her feet. She smiled and Legolas looked at her to continue. She sighed trying to think of the stories her grandmother had always told her.

There was one thing that she loved most about the wild forest, a wild white wolf that was always close to the woman as she walked. Singing songs, and talking to the trees. He always watched from a far, more than aware that the beautiful creature that plagued his dreams of late. He was taken by her long wild black hair; the powerful blue in her eyes that he only wished matched his amber pools. They continued on like this for over twenty years, he would fallow her through the undergrowth. Getting closer and closer to each other in that time, never once did they lay eyes upon the other, only spoke in the silence of each other's mind. One day the wolf found the sweet woman crying in the abandon garden of the city-

She paused once more, taking a small sip of the drink she had been offered a few moments before. Taking a few gulps before ruffling Pippin's hair. The hobbit had pulled her off of her rock and had her sit with her legs straight so all of them could rest their heads on her lap.

He comforted her, finally showing her his true form, the largest wolven creature of them all. King of beasts if you will. He stayed with her, and soon found that she was soon to be wedded to another. The wolf was horrified, fearful that he would lose the most precious thing to him. So he prayed, he prayed to the Valar that he could become a real man, so he could protect the girl. So he could be there for her in her time of need. So he could touch her with the flesh of a hand, or the kiss of his lips. For the lick of a tongue was not nearly enough for either of them. It was fabled that the beast had taken her hostage, but that was far from the case, no she came to his den willingly. Every day for seven days, they prayed for help from the Valar. Finally, Estë took pity on the mismatched lovers. One day the pair awoke to the strangest sensation. Jaraera woke in the arms of a bare man, with hair white as snow. She suddenly gasped taking the man's face in her hands and calling out the wolf's name, "Alidre" she called with a shining expression on her face as the creature responded to her calls. Opening his eyes to see the world from a whole different view.

Estë soon visited them in her most pure form, warning them that she could only give him this form once every few years, so they needed to act quickly to what they will. If Estë had known the abomination she would create by allowing these creatures such love. Perhaps she wouldn't have gifted the man with a new form.

Within a month the news of the beast like man who would wed the princess was announced. And his secret spilled. The king did not care, he was happy his daughter had picked a strong man, and was now willing to give him an heir. Oh they did, they gave him an heir, a bouncing baby boy, with brown hair and eyes the color of ale, a wild smiling expression on his face. He was loved by all, cherished by all. And he was kept close to all of their hearts.

"Until the beast consumed him," She whispered her last part, her eyes glinting with sadness that she could not escape, "the beast killed my brother, for he was not worthy to bare the mark of my pack." She explained, falling out of story mode as the darkness continued to overtake them. Though the sun could be seen far off in the horizon.

"But that wasn't the worst of their worries."

TBC

*Well this is one of the first LEGIT cliff hangers I've ever left you on. I wanted to go deeper into the life of Lyavain; yes I gave some flashbacks on her life. But never the story of how she was created! Okay anyway, please vote on the new poll on my profile, make sure to R&R, if you have any questions of suggestions PM me and I'll get back to you a.s.a.p. This chapter was weird I know, but I hope you liked the length compared to the others. Have a wonderful day guys and be expecting TLF's update sometime tomorrow! Peace! Bless your face! - Ze*