Chapter 11
The wind ran its fingers through Arirua's newly washed hair as she left the small private bathhouse. She sighed with relief. Arirua enjoyed traveling but she missed the comforts of home, like baths. She laughed at the thought of asking Thorin if she could bring a small tub along with her. The dwarves themselves could use the occasional bath as well as she did. She continued to giggle to herself as she walked through Rivendell.
Arirua quickly returned to her room, pitter pattering with her bare feet through the halls. Her feet danced over the floors as she went quickly. The star did not want to be found by Sythralen or Elrond, who would likely send straight back to the infirmary, even after she had convinced the healers that she was fine. Arirua could not take another moment in the large bare white room. She wanted to sleep in her old room just once before Thorin decided that they would be departing.
When the fallen star reached her destination, she quietly pulled the double doors that lead to her room open. She slipped in between the doors and shut them as quietly as she could. When the fallen star turned around, away from the closed doors, she smiled at her small room that was laid out before her.
The room was slightly packed together with all her furniture but she was okay with that. Elrond had said that he was going to prepare a new room for her, but she had turned him down. Elrond and Arwen had already done so much for her, she felt as if she couldn't ask them for anything more.
The room held a small bed that was covered with clean fresh linens that Arirua could smell from where she was standing. There was a small writing desk and chair next to the bed. On the other side of the room was her small wardrobe and vanity, which were separated by a tall mirror for Arirua to use to fix her hair and prepare for the day. Next to her doors, on the wall, rested her bow and quiver, along with two detailed daggers and Lalar had been returned to its normal place by Sythralen.
Arirua ran her fingers along Lalar's sheath as she walked to her wardrobe to pull out a dress to wear. The star wasn't much of a dress wearer, but the elves did not always approve of her walking around in her leggings and tunics. Plus, she did not mind them occasionally. The star pulled out a pale aqua blue dress with a slit that went up to her waist, which had pale gray fabric sewn in behind it to keep the dress modest. The sleeves were loose and billowy, which allowed her arms freedom to do as she pleased, whether it be practicing her archery or in case of protection. She quickly pulled the simple dress she had taken with her to the bath house off and pulled the silky smooth dress over her head. When it was secure, Arirua tied a pale gray corset with silver designs into place and put her silver arm bands on her forearms. When she looked in the mirror, she nodded, approving. She reached over and grabbed the comb sitting on the vanity next to her and brushed the tangles out of her pale hair. When that was completed, she grabbed one of the decorative clips she kept on the vanity and pulled the hair from her face. Arirua turned back to the mirror, studying her refection, and smiled. Looking back at her was the old her, the star that never left Rivendell. Gone was the dirt and grime, back was the newly washed skin and clean clothes.
The fallen star turned away from her mirror and began to walk to her bed and writing desk. As she sat down on the bed, she opened the small drawer in the middle of the desk. Inside the drawer sat two things, a feather with a blackened tip from the ink she used, dusty from neglect, and a leather bound journal. She reached into the drawer and gently grabbed the journal from its place. After the journal had been taken out and placed on her bed, Arirua shut the drawer, leaving the feather behind to collect more dust. Arirua's pale blue eyes then turned to the journal lying on the smooth linen sheets. The journal sat there, closed, beckoning to her. Arirua reached over and opened the front cover and sighed loudly before turning to the first page that was written on.
Her hands shook as she turned the pages. The first few entires of spidery handwriting weren't bad. They were full of stories and tales of the stars. Arirua had explained to Arwen, when the young woman had found the journal, that it was her people's history. The first ever written copy of the stories. Most of the stories were just held in the memories of the stars.
It was the pages after the stories that scared her. The pages that held her story. The journal held her inked secrets, good ones and dark ones that she had never told anyone.
The first few pages of her story were about her arrival and time in Rivendell. As she read the entries, she smiled slightly, hands not shaking as much as they had been, as she read them. Arwen, Sythralen, and Elrond had been so kind to her when she arrived. Always making sure she had everything she could ever need or want.
It was entry number twelve that brought the dark memories.
The page told of a dream that Arirua once had. One that still haunted her at times. As the star read it, she could see it clear in her head as if she had just woken up from the dream.
The night sky was clear in the dream and Arirua was standing on the top of a tall mountain. One so tall that it seemed to touch the heavens themselves. The young woman could reach out and touch the stars and the moon. Suddenly, the stars and the moon were surrounded by flames. They were being engulfed by the red hot flames. Flames ran down on the land around her and the mountain she stood on. Middle Earth was burning. And there was nothing she could do about it. She tried to leave her mountain, tried to rush to the aid of Middle Earth's people, but she could never get off the mountain.
And then he came. He flew down from the heavens, wings and all. When Amlugon left his place in the heavens, it was never a sign of well-being or peace.
"Father!" she said to the dragon as it flew around the mountain breathing fire on the land far below. "Father, why must you do this?"
"Punishment, my child." the dragon said between flames. "You have disobeyed my orders. I am your father. I am also your KING!"
"My king, my lord, my father. I beg of you, please stop this madness. You are above all this pain and suffering." Arirua was now crying.
"Ah, you think this is their punishment for being wicked and cruel." Amlugon said as he turned his massive head to Arirua. He looked her in the eye and fallen star began to shake. She had never seen such anger and darkness in her father's eyes before. "This is not their punishment. It is your punishment..."
Suddenly Arirua was staring at her ceiling. A loud set of knocks came from her door.
"Arirua, are you in there?" Haldir asked through the door. Arirua frowned and sat up, feeling something fall from her lap. She looked down to see the journal, open to the dream page. She frowned at the journal but quickly put the it on the top of her writing desk. She then got off the bed, straightened her dress out, and walked over to the door.
"Yes, I am here, Haldir." the fallen star said as she opened the door. Haldir smiled when he saw her. "Please come in."
"Thank you my friend." Haldir said as he entered the star's room. "I was worried when you did not answer me." Arirua smiled at the elf's concern.
"I must apologize. I was asleep." Arirua explained to him. He nodded.
"It is fine." He said as he walked towards the windows. "I was just worried, that is all."
"Your concern warms my heart." She said with a smile. "I am glad that you came to see me. We did not get to talk much earlier." Haldir turned and looked at her. "I have missed you my dear friend."
"And I have missed you as well." Haldir told her. "When I heard that I would be traveling to this valley, I was not sure if I would be able to see you here in Rivendell."
"How so? It is not like you would not have had a friend here. Sythralen is here quite often." She asked him.
"I believed you to be traveling with a company of dwarves. I did not think that you would be in Rivendell when I arrived." Arirua could see that Haldir had not made a comment on her statement about Sythralen being in Rivendell.
"Thorin would have preferred that we did not stop, but Gandalf insisted." Arirua told him. "We are being tracked by an orc pack."
"Who are the cause of your injury, am I not mistaken?" Arirua nodded.
"I was so scared." she whispered. "I thought... I thought that I was never going to wake up." Arirua turned away from Haldir and blinked her eyes to keep the tears back.
"You are fine now though." He said to her reassuringly. She turned to see him with his arms open to her. Arirua smiled and walked over to give him a hug.
"Yes, I am fine now. Thank you for being here. For me I mean." Arirua said as she pulled back from the hug. "You are the best friend a star could ever ask for." He laughed.
"I am glad that a star finds my company so pleasant." He replied with a smile. Arirua laughed, and sat down on her bed, Haldir followed suit, sitting on the opposite side of the bed next to Arirua's writing desk.
"Does Sythralen know that you are here in Rivendell?" Arirua asked softly.
"No." Haldir said. "I do not wish to speak to her."
"Because of the King?"
"Because of the King." Haldir confirmed. There was a long awkward silence. Haldir glanced over and saw the journal sitting on her desk.
"Have you been writing again?" he asked, holding up the notebook.
"No, I have been reading about the past." She told him. "I was reading it before I feel asleep."
"May I?" He questioned, holding the book up.
"NO!" Arirua yelled, suddenly lunging across the bed for her leather bound book of secrets. Haldir froze, shocked at her reaction. Arirua froze as well, hand reached out towards the book that Haldir was holding. She retracted her hand quickly. "I am so very sorry." she said to him, "But please, I must have that back. I do not want you to read that."
Haldir placed the book on the bed, just in reach of Arirua. "If you do not wish me to read I will not."
"Thank you." she said quietly.
Arirua reached out to grab the leather bound pages with her left hand, but as her fingers brushed it, she left out a shout of pain. She quickly pulled her arm away from the book and cradled it against her stomach.
"Father, why must you curse me so?" she whispered through her tears. Haldir quickly came over to her side and helped her lay down on the bed.
"Rest, the pain will subside soon." Haldir told her, "Just like it always does."
"Thank you." she whispered to Haldir as her eyes drifted closed. "I believe that I am close to sleep." she whispered.
"Good." he told her, "Rest." Haldir turned to leave, when Arirua reached out with her right arm, trying to ignore the pain ever so slightly.
"Do not leave without saying good-bye this time? Promise?" She whispered.
"I promise." He said as he left.
"Mother, this story is quite enjoyable. I did not know that the Haldir Father spoke of in his stories knew the star." Eldarion said to his mother as he fidgeted with the edge of his sheets.
"Ah yes, I had forgotten that your father told you of his times with Haldir. But yes, my boy it is one and the same. Haldir has lived a great life, one that has been long and fruitful." Arwen told her son.
"What happened after Haldir left?" the boy asked his mother.
"Well, Arirua remained in her room for a deal of time for the rest of the day. In between bouts of sleep, she continued to write things in her journal about her journey and all the things that have happened to her thus far. Several hours later, she left her room." Arwen began.
Arirua walked through the halls, following the sounds of the loud dwarves. She laughed at the funny comments they were making and she could smell the wood burning, that they very likely got from one of the beautifully decorated chairs.
"Bombur?!" Arirua heard one of the dwarves said. She heard something being caught and then she heard something creaking and hitting the ground. As she turned the corner, she heard a rush of laughter. Seeing Bombur sitting on a pile of destroyed table, she couldn't help but laugh along with the others. Then when he stuffed the sausage that was in his hand into his mouth, her laughter grew.
"Well hello there Miss Arirua." Dori said when he heard her laughing. The laughter died down and attention was turned to her.
"Hello Master Dori. It is good to see you all well and fed." Arirua said with a smile.
"Fed maybe, happy about what they have, not so much." Dwalin muttered under his breath.
"I am sorry Master Dwalin, I have forgotten that dwarves prefer meat to the plants of the Earth. The elves do not enjoy the eating of an animal's flesh, therefore we do not have a stock of meat here." Arirua explained to Dwalin, along with the others. "I have come to see how you are. Are you being treated well?"
"Yes, we're quite comfortable lass." Dori informed her.
"That is good. I have no doubt that you were offered rooms, but it seems that you have turned the offer down. And I would not think of any other way you would stay here." She said with a smile. The fallen star looked around, suddenly releasing that there were several members of the company missing. "Where is Thorin, Bilbo, and Balin?" she asked the others. Many of the dwarves had gone back to setting up where they would be sleeping or eating, but Dwalin answered her.
"They had a meeting with the elf leader and Gandalf."
"Lord Elrond?" she asked.
"I guess. Didn't think it was important to get his name." Dwalin said as he went back to munch on the scraps on his plate.
Arirua thanked him for answering her and began to tiptoe through the company, saying hello to them as she passed them.
"Hello Fili." she said as she came close to her friend. The blonde haired brother looked up and smiled as she came closer to where he and his brother were sitting.
"Hello Lady Arirua." he said to her. Arirua crossed her arms and childishly stuck her tongue out at him.
"I asked you not to call me that no longer." she told him.
"I could not resist." Fili replied. Arirua glanced over at Kili and could feel the blush creeping across her cheeks.
"Don't I get a hello?" Kili asked her, his eyebrow slightly raised with a goofy grin across his face. He fiddled with the pipe that he was holding in his hand, waiting for her to answer.
"You have already seen me today. But if you insist," Arirua said with a small laugh, "Hello Kili."
"Hello Arirua." Kili said with a smile, before sticking the end of pipe back into him mouth.
"Now, if you will excuse me, I must find Sythralen before I return to my chambers." Kili frowned at her comment.
"Why not stay?" he inquired the star.
"I only stopped by for a moment; to be sure that you told the others that I was fine." Arirua said, using her hand to hide her giggle. "I would love to stay but as I said, I must find Sythralen and I have been away from home for a great deal of time, and I wish to spend a little time in my room, to sleep in a real bed." She began to walk down the hallway, "I will see you tomorrow my friends."
Kili watched her as she walked away from them. Suddenly he felt his brother hit him, grabbing his attention.
"Looks like you've caught the bug my brother." Fili said to him.
"Bug?" Kili asked.
"Yes, idiot, the bug. You know, four letters, starts with L." Fili said, trying to hint at his brother. Kili sat, blowing a smoke ring.
"Lice?" he asked stupidly.
"No! Love brother. You are in love!" Fili told him. Kili frowned at him.
"It's not love!" he said loudly, drawing attention to Fili and himself. "It's not love!" he whispered when the others turned away.
"You brother are in denial." Fili told him as he got up and walked away, leaving the dark haired archer to think.
"Sythralen?" Arirua whispered as she crept down the hall towards Elrond's study. Arirua had been sure that she had seen the fearsome warrior turn the corner, but she was still unsure. As she crept closer to the door of the study, she could hear voices.
"We knew of this quest to reclaim the Lonely Mountain." she heard Elrond say.
"Yes, I know, but I fear the dragon to be the least of our concerns." Sythralen said. Arirua frowned, but slid down on the wall so that she was in a sitting position. "I believe that they are following orders of one we have forgotten of. I believe that Azog the Defiler has decided to cower in his dark halls no longer and wishes to exact his revenge on the one who took his arm from him." Arirua's eyes widened at the words that Sythralen said as she told her grandfather her belief.
"My eyes did not fall upon the Defiler as we slew the orcs on the Pass." Elrond said to his granddaughter. "What proof do you have of this?"
"I have told you," Sythralen answered. Arirua could hear the annoyance in her voice. Sythralen was not used to Lord Elrond disagreeing with her, and the fact that he did, greatly annoyed her. "I heard them speaking of him and the four that escaped, I intended to follow them, but I was more concerned with the fallen. Still, I know they would have led me straight to him."
"Sythralen, please." Elrond said with a sigh. Arirua could picture him holding the bridge of his nose as he did often when he was stressed or annoyed. "You know I cannot act upon what you think is happening. Unless you have seen the Pale Orc..."
"By the time I see him it will be too late!" Sythralen said in a raised tone. Arirua could hear that Sythralen was doing all she could to keep her temper in check. "Since when have you thought so little of my opinion?" she demanded of Elrond.
"My child, you know that is not the case."
"Exactly! Because you know I wouldn't be bringing this to you if I did not believe it with my whole heart. Something terrible is coming." There was a long pause. "I have been having the nightmare again."
Arirua sat there, not being able to breathe or move. Sythralen's haunting nightmares from her dark days had returned. She was supposed to be healed. Arirua thought to herself. She was supposed to be better.
"This is all connected somehow." Sythralen began explaining. "Azog is no simple Orc. He was born to command armies and someone has found him to raise him to this purpose. I know it for my dreams are again filled with darkness."
"Peace." Arirua heard Elrond say to her. He was comforting her, something that she, as Sythralen's friend, should be doing. "You must give up this poisonous idea. I could care less about Azog when you awake every night in a cold sweat." There was a moment of silence and then Arirua could hear the sound of skin making contact with skin. It was not loud like a slap but it was a deafening sound, no matter how quiet it was. Arirua quickly stood up and tried to lean forward to hear the conversation better without being seen by those having the conversation.
"I know I am right about this." Sythralen said. Arirua smirked slightly to herself, knowing that the true stubborn Sythralen had been shown.
Suddenly, Arirua was falling ever so slightly from leaning forward. As she caught herself before she feel, she knew that she had been heard, for as she fell Sythralen said:
"You should still be in bed."
Arirua quickly smoothed out her dress and walked under the archway.
"I heard raised voices in the hall." she lied smoothly, not wanting Elrond to know that she had been eavesdropping. "Is everything all right?"
"Yes." "No." They said at the same time.
"She rides with the company," Sythralen snapped at Elrond, "She deserves to know the truth."
"Know what?" Arirua asked as she stepped further into the room. Now she was curious, maybe there was more they were keeping from her. Arirua had always hated secrets. She was always told they kept people safe, but she did not believe that. The fallen star could see Elrond shoot Sythralen a look, but the warrior elf seemed to ignore it.
"There were Moonrunes found on the map that Thorin possesses." Arirua frowned slightly, surprised that Thorin had willing passed over his map, let alone allowed the elves to know that he had it. "The Moonrunes on the map revealed that on the last light of Durin's Day, a door would be revealed on the Lonely Mountain. The dwarves will continue on this quest." Arirua smiled.
"Well, this is good news." Arirua exclaimed.
"For the company perhaps." Elrond explained. "But there are those who will speak against this journey." Arirua's frowned returned to her face once more. There it was again, the secret keeping. She already knew that the Lady of Light was in Rivendell, the others that he spoke of, however, she did not know.
"I give no cares to the mountain!" Sythralen said loudly. "Greater matters threaten your company."
"On the off chance that you are right, Sythralen..."
"I am right!" Sythralen told Elrond. Arirua sat down in one of Elrond's chairs and placed her hands in her lap, trying not the fiddle with them. She did not want them to see how nervous she was about the news she was about to receive. Sythralen walked over to her and placed a hand gently on the back of the chair and looked Arirua straight in the eyes. "I believe that Azog the Defiler is the one who sent those orcs after the company. His hatred for Thorin has no doubt festered over the years and four of his followers escaped so I have a feeling he will attempt an attack again."
"Are you certain of this?" Arirua asked quietly.
"No, she is not." Elrond said, trying to comfort the star.
"Is it not better to be safe than sorry?" Sythralen snapped at her grandfather. "Come, Arirua. Let us leave Lord Elrond to his books. Perhaps he can hide behind them to even further escape the truth." Sythralen grabbed Arirua's hand, pulled her out of the chair, and began to lead her back to the star's chambers.
"Do you truly believe this to be the work of Azog?" Arirua questioned, slightly out of breath.
"Have you ever known me to be wrong? There are dark forces at work here. My vision of the Dark Master has returned to me. I fear that somehow these omens are all connected." Sythralen told the star.
"I fear I must add another." Arirua informed her. They stopped walking and Sythralen turned her attention to the star. "Gandalf met with another wizard named Radagast who told him of the Greenwood."
"What of the Greenwood?" Arirua cringed inwardly, knowing that the Greenwood held a special place in Sythralen's heart; more so, it was the Lord of the Greenwood that held that place.
"A sickness has fallen over it. Giant spiders have begun to spin their webs over all that grows."
"Spiders?" Sythralen questioned. "Surely Thranduil will draw them back."
"From what I have heard, he is fighting them off as best as he can, but the creatures spawn too quickly. He has taken to locking his people within the gates without warning." Arirua told her.
"To keep them safe, he will do what he must." Sythralen defended. After a moment, the star spoke:
"If you truly believe all this to be true, then I will be on constant alert when we leave Rivendell."
"If you leave." Sythralen corrected. Arirua frowned, as she fidgeted with her fingers. "You heard Elrond. There are those who will not bless the quest. I imagine the council will be here by morning."
"Council?"
"The White Wizard and the Lady of Light. Guardians of Middle Earth like Mithrandir and Elrond. Galadriel and Elrond have been communicating I am sure. And now that Gandalf is here... it was bound to draw her."
"The dwarves must reach Erebor by Durin's Day." Arirua argued. "We can waste no time. We have so little of it as it is."
"Then I suppose we will have to come up with a faster solution." Sythralen said. Arirua smiled slightly, knowing that her friend was plotting something.
"What do you have in mind?" Arirua asked.
Arirua walked through the halls, alone once more. As she got closer to the camp, she could hear snoring and grumbles. Knowing that many of the dwarves had retired, she crept around the corner as quietly as she could.
Spotting her target, she quickly made her way to the sleeping form of the company leader.
"Thorin." she said in a hushed tone. "Thorin, you must awake. I have something I must discuss with you." Thorin grumbled something in his sleep, but Arirua could not make it out. "My Lord, you must awake or you shall never make it to your mountain."
"What do you want elf?" Thorin demanded, voice drowsy from sleep.
"I am no elf, my lord. But I have a plan to get us away from this place. You must listen."
"Speak."
"There is a council gathering tomorrow. They are arriving to discuss if we shall be able to continue to embark on this mission, as if it is their decision." Arirua informed him. "We must leave early and as quickly as we can, before they are able to stop us."
"And why should I do this?"
"Because if you do not, you shall never see your mountain." Arirua whispered to him. Arirua could see this expression change as the information began to sink in.
"Be ready to leave at sun rise." Thorin told her.
"As you wish." After she said this, Thorin rolled over, making it very obvious to Arirua that the conversation was over.
As the star walked back to her room and prepared her bags for the journey, she couldn't help but smile. She was going to see more of the world. After she changed out of her dress and into her night things, she stood at her window, looking up at the moon and stars.
"I am not knocked down yet Father. I will show you I am strong." Arirua whispered up at the sky.
As Arirua pulled back the covers and waited for sleep to overtake her, she began to sing softly, as she often did to Sythralen when the she-elf could not fall asleep after one of her spells.
"Take my love, take my land. Take me where I cannot stand. I don't care, I'm still free. You can't take the sky from me. Take me out to the black. Tell them I'm not coming back. Burn the land and boil the sea. You can't take the sky from me." Arirua rolled over and looked out the window and out to the stars.
"You cannot take my sky away from me." she whispered as her eyes closed.
A/N: HELLO PEOPLE! Please do not kill me for not updating in so long. It has been crazy over on this end of the monitor. I mean, honestly teachers, we have lives. Lol. I mean my teachers don't think I have one because every time I turn around I've either got a test or project due. UGH! Anywho, it's finally done. Longer than normal too. I want to say thank you to everyone who reviewed. It means so much to me. Now to answer your all your questions and comment on well, your comments :D…
Wise Owl Eyes: I'm glad that you loved the chapter so much. I had such a blast writing it, especially writing those little moments between Kili and Arirua. .Drozda: (btw love your name) Well, they don't kiss in this chapter (wink, wink) but they will soon. And there will definitely be some serious butt kicking soon. Wait till we get to Goblin Town ;D Protagonist of Life: Thanks :D lol Ragdoll Princess: Welcome to the story (I only say that because you commented on Chapter 2). I'm glad that you like it so far. I try to do the best I can and use the best writing style I can. It's gotta be poifect (perfect, I've been watching way to much Newsies.) 88XeqtionerAngel88: He is so adorable is he not? LOL XD miller330: Welcome :D I love having new readers. Oh, I think we're all pretty excited about that, including your truly over here ;P Dalonega Noquisi: I'm glad that you enjoyed the chapter :D it was a lot of fun to write. And they could be…. Hehehe I'm so evil. REDRydingHood: lol sorry for the wait, but here's something new :D jesskalynn4: Thanks, I'm glad that you are enjoying it :D And I will be addressing this question in a future chapter. I was planning on doing it this chapter, but I did not have a good place for it. However, Arirua is taller than Kili, not by a lot though. She is shorter than Tauriel but taller than Dwalin (who I think is the tallest dwarf). electrgirl88: Awwww your comment was so sweet. I'm glad that you are enjoying it so far, and I hope that you enjoy this chapter just as must as the rest of the story. jefferyA: hehehehe shopgirllaura: Everyone loves jealous Kili, but I mean honestly, why wouldn't you? Lol. And awww thanks :D
Okay, comments complete. :D Anyways, more to come soon, I'm getting your smoke signals (that's what I tell all my nonfanfiction writing friends when they ask why I'm so freaked out about getting the next chapter up. I always say "I can see the readers smoke signals.), and there may or may not be two other fanfics on the way or in the making. One is another Hobbit fanfic and one is a top secret fanfic. :P Love you all, here have a cookie…. ROGUE/Zella