The Protector in the Shadow

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It's been awhile since I've updated this story hasn't it? Because it's normally my biggest, and honestly this story is my most important I take my time writing it. This will be the last short chapter in a long time. I'll be updating weekly on this story instead of every day. I like taking my time to write these chapters correctly, and make them a bit longer. My other stories will still be updated at random, but this schedule will be set in stone, and I'm not even kidding this time. I have a poll on my page for my new story, be sure to vote! I have three votes right now and I'm aiming for around 8 or 9 before I'm set in stone. Anyway another chapter, hopefully you like it! I send peace with you. Enjoy! -Ze

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Disclaimer: Must you remind me?

†Past/Sindarin†

‡Present‡

Chapter Twenty-Two: Return of a Father

She could feel the tension between Aragorn and herself. She felt her mind raging at her body; she wanted to contact him, and she wanted to speak with him again. She couldn't stop herself from staring at the ranger; no he wasn't a ranger any longer. Every day he grew more like a king and that thought frightened her. She was frightened she would lose the man she had come to care so intensely for. He meant much more to her then a random man, much more to her than a friend. She knew of the feelings she would come to possess for him, and that also scared her. A horrible creature, like her, falling for a man who would rise to much greatness, and be loved by many people, sounded like madness.

Surprisingly enough she was quite fond of the forest through which they wandered. She had stayed in the company of Fangorn many days before. During her time of shadow and darkness the trees comforted her. They gave her locations of prey, as long as she protected them from enemies. And she did protect them, very well if she might add. She protected them from man, warg, orc, elf, and any other beast that might have strayed to harm the forest. Though she never had seen elves harm any type of nature, let alone an entire forest. It was much safer simply to watch and ensure nothing would happen to her friends. The forest had changed, it was darker now. There was much pain and shadow hidden deep within the hearts of the creatures that lived in the forest. That darkness brought a great sadness into her heart.

Lyavain hadn't heard herself whimpering, and if she had she would have silenced herself before anyone had caught notice of the noise. It was the Elf who laid a comforting hand on her shoulder, and who spoke soft words in Sindarin to her. Though not her main form of language she knew all Elvish quite well, though she had matured mostly in the land of Lothlórien with her grandmother, she had spent a large amount of time in Mirkwood. Lothlórien had been her place of training her mind, allowing her to hone in her senses and telepathy. Mirkwood had been the place where she spent her time training her body, spending hours upon hours training her body to move freely. She had spent so much time in wolfen form as a child she was as weak and frail as a feather in Elven form. She was highly discouraged about becoming a fighter yet she trained anyway. At first blood and revenge on her mind, but soon her job as protector gave way. It was much more important to keep those around her safe. Soon she dropped all self-preservation, nothing except her companions mattered; she would give into death if that was what needed to happen. And quite a few times it had come very close to just that.

They stepped carefully into the forest, traveling deeper with each pace. The trees talked around them and Lyavain listened to each word of the forest, for each word mattered to her. Some greeted her as a friend, and others greeted her with anger, attempting to lift their roots to trip her. She would simply snarl something in either "old" Entish, or "new" Entish back to silence their moaning and obnoxious behavior. Every now and again one would attempt to trip up one of the fellowship and Ava would dart forward to snarl something into the forest. She had been taught Entish by Treebeard himself, and at one time was thought of quite highly in the forest. She had been adopted as a shepherd of the forest to protect both the trees, and the creatures who wandered within.

"These trees hold such anger for being so deep within the forest." Lyavain commented into the open space between the fellowship. Aragorn looked back briefly to Lyavain, to nod lightly at her words. At least the man had given up ignoring her, which was a good sign. Legolas' fingers still brushed through her coat with care, his hand had never left her shoulder, which she was more than fine with. But it seemed to bother Aragorn who had just noticed.

"All trees hold this anger now, Lyavain." Legolas said with a soft frown that graced his face like poison in a wound. There was a moment of silence that lapsed as the trees went silent, "They mourn such great loss." He said cryptically with a slightly unreadable expression. She nodded in agreement though, knowing almost exactly what he had meant. The trees had lost so much, so many had been taken for use at Isengard to burn and destroy. She couldn't help but be enraged at the Ents; they had failed their purpose given to them by the Valar! So many had been taken with almost no fight in the slightest, she highly doubted the Ents had even known about the creatures vanishing, but who could be sure.

They continued deeper into the darkened land, she felt herself falling into the language that the trees spoke. Listening closer, even drowning out the noises her companions made. She watched their lips move as they spoke to her, but she was far too busy listening to the sounds around her. Her mind flashed to the horrors that took place there, without thinking she flashed forward her paws padding almost silently as she moved. She followed the trail of a scent she knew very well. The scent of a hobbit, a Halfling she loved very much, Peregrin Took.

Through her haze she could hear Aragorn calling after her, and at first she wanted to heed his pleas to stop. But the second she felt the small breeze, and saw the flash of blond; she knew that Legolas understood what she was doing. They raced quickly beside one another, offering no words of comfort for there was none to give. Aragorn soon caught up with them, though just barely. He had held on thus far, but he was breathing heavily, showing just how exhausted he had really been. Gimli could be heard clamoring gracelessly after them, calling for them to slow down. When Lyavain finally slowed her pace she started inhaling deeply, to take in everything she possibly could. She sniffed leafs, ruffled grass, and even the other males to ensure it was the scent she had caught. She heard Gimli spit something out and mention orc blood; she noted the flat and mangled orc lying lifelessly before their eyes as she walked forward. Sniffing around the area and snarling when she caught Merry's scent very near to the Orc's.

"These are strange tracks." Aragorn pointed out looking carefully at the tracks. Lyavain had identified them to be Ent tracks, though she did not voice the identification of the creature's track.

Legolas made a statement about the forest before they creaked an Entish growl. "Killer of trees! An Axe!" some yelled while others simply grumbled to themselves. Her head snapped to Gimli and a feral snarl escaped her maw, her lips pulled up to reveal her teeth. Anger, was what haunted her face. She knew this place, she knew what was coming. She had to admit she did not expect it so soon, nor in the location of Fangorn.

"Gimli!" Aragorn hissed slightly, looking at the Dwarf with a bit of humor behind his eyes. "Eh?" the Dwarf's head snapped to face the king with his axe held up as he looked around in fear. Dwarfs and their toys, could they never calmly do anything?

"Lower your axe." He said while making motions with his hands to encourage such motions. Reluctantly, yet easily he lowered the weapon; a shocked and frightened expression on his face. There was nothing that entertained Lyavain more than that expression of utter horror. How a man could face a cave troll with ease, and not feel a flicker of fear, yet could be afraid of a bunch of trees was beyond her. She held back a wolfish laugh when Legolas called to Aragorn in Sindarin. Her attention was shot for a moment as she slowly backed away from view. Moving past Gimli who listened in attempt to understand what bit he could. She moved behind him, and when Aragorn gave the order she dared not move.

She didn't flinch from her spot, only stayed watching the white light that almost blinded the others. She stepped forward, able to see past the light and to the creature that created it. There was a sharp noise as soon as the weapons collided with the light. That was the only thing that made her flinch. The light reflected off of her pelt, almost making her look angelic as she was shining. Azure eyes glowing brightly in anticipation; she had waited a very long time for this day to come. Since the wizard had fallen into the chasm of darkness.

"You are tracking the footsteps of two young hobbits." The wizard stated with a cool, all knowing tone. There was something in the voice that cracked. Only Lyavain could hear it, she had spent the most time with the wizard so of course she could tell his voice from the voice that he had taken. She had locked her gaze with the creature; a small wolfish grin pasted on her face as she watched, still staying back from the rest. She couldn't hear the voice of Aragorn, who looked often between Legolas and the Wizard. Rarely drawing his eyes to Lyavain unless she was the only thing he could bear to lay eyes on. The gentle ring of the wizard's voice was all she could hear at the time.

"They passed this way the day before yesterday. They met someone they did not expect. Does that comfort you?" That voice drew her from her mindless stare the soft expression that crossed her face was hidden by snarls and growls that she had decided to put up after a few moments of silence on her part. Her hackles were raised as she stepped forward again, every hair on her back stood as she apologized feverishly in the mind of the man.

"Who are you? Show yourself!" Aragorn demanded, stepping back slowly as the light dimmed and revealed the young and beautiful face of Gandalf. The male had a gentle expression on his face, but it held something dark that even Lyavain could not place. Without a word or cry she moved toward him, looking surprised when he knelt only a little to capture her into a small, yet loving embrace. It wasn't what anyone had expected, yet she was so happy to be there. She whispered words of love and happiness to the old man.

This was not the return of a powerful wizard to her; it was the return of a father.

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Hopefully you all enjoyed this chapter! Thanks to the wonderful Serrah-Angel for proof-reading! Hopefully my grammar is getting better; I actually pay attention to what I write now! Enjoy my friends! Vote on the poll on my wall for my other story! Read and review! Thanks everyone who has stayed with me all this time! The action will be kicking up in all of my stories! Born of Fire is about to get a bit more structured, so be watching for that. Again this is a weekly update now, so I won't be posting randomly on this story like my others! After this chapter I'll be writing much longer more in-depth chapters, so put your diapers on friends, you just might wet yourselves! See you next update on for this story! Bye now! -Ze

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