Chapter 42 rewrite
Outside the border of Lothlorien, a fine blanket of snow covered the ground. By the hobbits' guess it was early February, Shire calendar, though one certainly couldn't tell looking around the Golden Wood. There, through the will and power of the Lady, summer's warmth never left the trees and the smell of wild flowers clung to the wind.
Nestled in Natasha's hood, Kirigan lay curled around her neck, the tip of his nose barely peeking out into the cold air. The cloak, one of many gifts from the galadhrim, was lightweight and very warm, and Natasha would not have felt the cold, even were Kirigan to vacate his position. She was having great difficulty remaining awake, with the rhythm of the horse's steady pace. He too was a gift from Lothlorien, Starwind being his name. One of their fastest horses, the stable hand had assured both her and the Lady. Swift, sure footed, and intelligent, Starwind was a prime example of an elven horse.
They had been riding for two days, barely stopping for food and water, in fear of a pursuit that, so far, had not shown itself. The rush following the discovery of the tracking spell on her had long ago worn off, and now with the ground passing beneath them in a blur, her mind had wandered in and out of daydreams for the better part of the last day or so. Most often her thoughts returned to her lovers who had remained with the Fellowship.
They had been understandably upset after learning of the danger she, they had all been in during the last few months. It galled to think all the careful planning they had done to avoid detection had been for naught. That the spell had escaped even Gandalf's detection did not take the sting away. And they had argued with Lady Galadriel's decision to send Natasha west in search of the dragons on her own. But in the end, it was for nothing. The Lady's decision, back by Kirigan, was upheld and Natasha had been given provisions, set on a horse and now here she was.
They had tried to hide their fear from her, but their last private moments had felt just a little too desperate for her not to notice. But when the Fellowship had gathered to bid her farewell, they had stood tall and unblinking, strong for the littlest members...and for each other.
The hobbits had tearfully hugged her. Even Gimli had shed a few tears. Boromir had bid her farewell, a kissed cheek and quick embrace, before he too viciously rubbed his eyes and returned to the line. Their friendship had grown since the days in Rivendell, though one could not say they were brother and sister. When it came time for her to leave, she was escorted to the borders by a patrol of march wardens. She had not looked back, and it had broke her heart.
Now, many miles away, Natasha wished more than ever that she could turn the horse back to the Golden Wood, and forget that any of this had ever happened. That there were no dragons that needed rescuing, no Ring to be destroyed. That she, Aragorn and Legolas could simply live out their lives contentedly. But none of these would have been real. And besides, by now, the Fellowship would also have moved on, taking boats down the Anduin, past the Argonath, and taking the eastern shore on to Mordor, and ultimately Mount Doom.
And for her and Kirigian, well now they were coming up on the edges of Fangorn Forest, it's trees towering ominously over them. Reaching out with her mind, she managed to contact another intelligent mind, but could make no sense of it. It was like nothing she had ever touched before. No elf, nor man, certainly not a hobbit or a dwarf. Orc minds did not have the same depth and vibrancy. What was it?
Not dragons either. Kirigan said with a yawn, his kaleidoscopic eyes whirling green and blue with curiosity. I don't think I've sensed that kind of mind in nearly... Well it was a long time even before I went to egg. But surely they've all gone by now.
This last he said almost to himself, as his thoughts turned inward. Finally, her own curiosity got the better of her.
"Who do you think it is, Kir?" She asked, giving him a nudge with her cheek, but he was too involved in his own argument to hear her.
It can't be ents. Surely not. They went looking for their females back when I was first hatched. And judging by the state of this forest, they couldn't have found them. From what I heard, the entwives valued order to their forests. But if these are ents, they might remember dragons. They may also remember if any have passed in the last few hundred years. He sighed.
"Do you think they would help us? Perhaps they've seen something."
Hmm? Oh, it couldn't hurt to ask, though it may be difficult to find one amongst all the trees. Kirigan's mind voice was just a little nervous. And I'm not very enthusiastic about going in among them. They're angry about something.
"That's the trees?!" Her voice came out in an embarrassing squeak. True, she had felt the anger, and had attributed it to the creature within. The trees in Rivendell, and even Mirkwood had not projected emotions like this.
These are quite a bit older than the trees of Rivendell or Mirkwood. These are much older, remnants of a great forest that stretched to the sea in the west and to mountains far to the east, east even of the Dark Lands. Much of it was destroyed in the battles against Sauron's master, back in the First Age, before even the elves were awake. But why are they so angry?
"Should we risk going in? I'd rather not anger them further. But-" Natasha replied, her gaze turning east along the forest perimeter. "This is the way. We may even have to venture inside, whether we wish to or not."
Kirigan hummed in agreement, his wings shifting restlessly. It does feel that way, doesn't it? Isengard is on the other side of the forest. And I do not believe Saruman has any knowledge of my kin. If he did, Gandalf would most certainly not have escaped alive. He paused in thought. I don't think the trees will cause us harm. I believe they are angered at the treatment of their kindred on the far side at the hands of the white wizard...we should be safe...provided we don't start any fires.
Natasha dismounted and patted Starwind fondly. She pulled the packs off his back, groaned as she settled their weight on her shoulders. Whatever else the Lothlorien elves were, light packers they were not.
"Thank you, Starwind, for carrying us this far. But the way forward is too dangerous for you. Return home, with our thanks." She turned his head north, towards home.
He trotted a small distance away, but stopped and started grazing, ears trained on her. Hands on her hips, Natasha sighed and followed, repeating her instructions. Again Starwind trotted away a small distance, and again stopped to graze, all the while watching her. Sighing in frustration, Natasha turned back to the forest, Kirigan chuckling in her ear.
Well he showed you. Tell me, how are you going to be queen, when you can't even get a horse to listen to you?
"Queen?!" Natasha croaked. "What are you talking about?"
Surely you didn't think that Aragorn would simply let you go after he becomes King? He will need an heir at some point, something Legolas can't provide him, nor would Legolas like to be called Queen, I think. That leaves you as the most likely candidate.
"I'm not going to be queen." Natasha said firmly. "Even if I wanted to be Aragorn's queen, do you really think the people of Gondor would let him marry a witch, cause that's what they called me."
They wouldn't dare. At least not to your face. And besides, I will be with you. Don't you want to be Aragorn and Legolas's mate?
"It's not that I don't want to. It just seems there's too much against me. I wouldn't want to bring trouble for Aragorn. He's going to have enough trouble when he takes the crown. The kingdom is a mess."
As they reached the tree line, Natasha hesitated. The forest was dark, even on the mid afternoon sun. Suddenly, a push from behind sent her stumbling forward into the trees. Starwind stood gazing serenely at her, before he pushed past her into the forest, waiting just within the tree line.
I think you're being told where you can shove your concern. Kirigan's smug smile was easily felt over their bond.
"I guess. Alright, Starwind. But don't say I didn't warn you." She took the reins and led the way further into the forest.
They hiked for what seemed like hours, and yet still there was no sign of their quarry. Finding an ent amongst the trees was very much like trying to find the proverbial needle in a haystack. The sun had already begun its descent in the western skies, leaving much of the forest in darkness when they finally stopped to rest.
"I think we should perhaps stop here to rest. We'll have to eat lembas tonight, I think. I'd rather not anger the trees with a fire." Natasha said.
"Thaaaat woooould be a wiiiise decision." A plodding voice came from above. The tree to which she had just tied Starwind's reins stretched long branch like arms and rootlike legs before settling them with a gentle, yet curious stare
"Yooooou….are no….orc." it finally said. "Shhhhhheeee …is not…an orc." He turned to the trees around them. The creaking and cracking that had followed them with every step suddenly ceased
"No…no I'm not an orc." Natasha replied, while Kirigan nodded vigorously. "What is that?" she whispered to the dragon.
That would be an ent. Kirigan whispered back, even though none could hear him unless he wanted them to.
"Why….are you here in this forest….little….?" the ent asked, bending his head down to hear her.
"Human. I'm a human. And I'm looking for someone." Natasha stammered.
The tree tilted his head to the side and studied her. "I don't recall….hooom…. humans having a…. dragon's head."I'm not attached to her. Kirigan protested, hopping off her shoulder and hovering over her head.
"Ahhhh." the ent said, nodding in satisfaction. "So there are….dragons still….around."
We never left. Just killed off. Kirigan snorted, landing back on Natasha's shoulder.
"Yessss, hooom, neeeews of the maaaaaasscre reached us eeeeeveeen here. Hoorible, Weeee share yoooour pain. Weeee tooooo have looooost much. Hooooom, what's…..this?" the ent paused, listening to the trees as he swayed in place. "The trees…..say that there are…others near…by."
Perking up, Natasha and Kirigan shared a glance before looking eagerly up at the ent. "Really? Do they know where?"
"Hooom….they say….the dragons…..are being held…..further to the…..west…in a cave. Their rooooots can taste the magic. It…is….half…. a day's walk from here….hooom. For ….an ent….that is. But….I would not advise…you to go there…little human. The Red One...does not….like...visitors."
"But we must, if we are to free them."
"Ah that would be...a glorious day, when...dragons fly the skies again. Theeeeey kept the orcs from felling our...forests. But, I fear...yoooou are toooo feeew."
"We have to try." She paused. "Could you not show us the way...you never told us your name."
"Noor have you...but, naaaames have such power."
"What may we call you then? I am called Natasha, and he is Kirigan."
"And yooooour companion?"
"Oh! this is Starwind." The horse stomped and snorted, not liking this tree-being. Trees should not move, and certainly should not talk, in his humble opinion. But very rarely did anyone ask him for it.
"The elders caaaaallll me Fireleaf…The Red One helped with that." The ent gestured his head, where the remains of blackened leaves and branches could still be seen. A. I ents thought and then he leaned closer to Natasha. "You may….stay….in my hoooomme….tonight, iiiif yoooou would like. Muuuuch safer thaaaan herre. It…..is…not far. Buuuut first, if you woooould not miiiind untying your friend."
Natasha loosed Starwind and carefully mounted, Starwind fell into a light trot behind the ent as he ambled and swayed through the forest. His home was indeed not far, and they, Natasha and Kirigan were soon dropping to the ground while the ent settled his long limbs into his gigantic chair for a night's rest.
They talked of many things from the world outside of the forest. Fireleaf had a healthy curiosity for things beyond his borders, even though he himself had never ventured there. And he shared stories of the trees and rivers, eventually lulling them into a deep sleep with his slow words.