A.N: Revised(14) More scenes, more dialogues.

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Long Road ahead

I've been lingering in the clearing for quite some time. I don't know how long was there. Wild flowers bloom across the clearing as fog wheeled around the borders of void. The tree shelter me with cascading vines and Nalana sat next to me as her hands elegantly moved the strings of her harp. I felt tired; too tired. As if I ran a marathon and my legs were no longer usable. I drifted as the music led me to peace. The body I took host of was recovering and not ready to be revived. Until then, I will remain here as a guest and keep Nalana company. Not able to utter a word or even move. Gentle music flowed to my ears and it helped me to relax. I understood why the Valor wanted to send Nalana here. To heal someone took a lot out of you. Unlike Lord Elrond, Nalana had a natural gift and shared it with me. I knew Nalana wanted me to learn to call upon her abilities without summoning her. It would be a hard road. The fight earlier was unlike anything I've ever face. Those things called orcs were dangerous and clever. A growing sensation swelled in my chest for I knew the events would only grow graver. I think…. I understand Nalana now. I have a charge and it must come first…

Nalana came to the end of her song and played no more. I blinked when the silence filled between us. "It is time for you to return."

Without another word, my world grew hazy. The fog engulfed me...

I snapped opened my eyes, my mind was hazy. My eyes clenched tightly and I tried to control the swirling in my head. I came to my realization that my hip was on something very uncomfortable and so was my bruised shoulder. That was because I lay uncomfortably on my side with my head on the ground. I found myself inside of the forest. Heavy rain poured down from the thundering sky as lighting struck the earth in the far distance. A thin blanket served as a tent that hovered over me. There was no light or fire except the gift from Galadriel. It shined faintly in the darkness.

I frown for I had no memories on how I got here. My body was heavy and bruised. Suddenly, a hand appeared on my shoulder and another over my mouth. I jumped in surprise but my eyes landed on silhouette of Aragorn. When he came closer, my shining necklace revealed the curves of his face. He hushed me and whispered gently, "Speak in hush tones."

Even though he whispered it was easy to hear. Slowly with the help of Aragorn, I managed to sit up. My head whirled with each movement. Nothing looked familiar except we were still in the forest. I could not hear my horse nor did I saw the others. But I heard movement in the darkness. I groggily looked to the side were Arwen sat. What happened while I was unconscious? Then I remembered… the battle and… Glorfindel. "Where is Glorfindel?"

I said a bit loudly which made Aragorn shush me and shot me a warning look. "He is safe." He said under his breath. "The others are searching for our missing horses as we speak."

I frowned in confusion. Why would they search for the horses? Much has happened since I've been unconscious and that alone made me shiver. "What do you mean?"

The shiver gave Arwen the wrong idea for she crawled next to me with a blanket. Gently she wrapped the blanket over my shoulders and laid a comforting arm around me. A sisterly gesture that encouraged me to relax. Arwen spoke up softly and filled in the blanks, "Three of our horses were struck down by the orc raid. The others ran off. My brothers and Glorfindel went to search for them while Aragorn and I kept watch over you."

All of this because of me… I definitely lived up to my purpose. Uselessness. My mind wondered and guilt filled me. The two elves were murdered and I never took the time to get to know them. Now they laid dead in the forest. Then Nerra came to me and wondered if she had been struck down. I frown in despair and leaned me head onto Arwen's shoulder. Arwen gingerly brushed her fingers through my ebony hair and hummed. "Worry not. If the horse are not discovered, they most likely found their way home."

"Was Nerra struck down?" I asked in a low and depressed voice.

"No." Arwen answered.

"We thought it would be best to make camp while you were unconscious." Aragorn said quickly as he pulled his own blanket tighter around his shoulders.

"Thank you." I said in elvish to them as Aragorn looked up me with gentle eyes. He offered a small smirk and nodded his head. I sighed with a smile on my face for I was content with the thought of my companion. They truly cared for me. It was a nice change. I snuggled closer to Arwen and relaxed when a strange sound echoed from the distance. Fear stricken, I shot up from Arwen. I searched through the small opening of our tent where the darkness overlaid the forest. Dark shadows moved and I can almost imagine red eyes glare back at me.

Aragorn placed a comforting hand on my shoulder with concern in his eyes, "Do not worry, the orcs are far off."

That did not help. Whether they were far off or not, the very idea terrified me. They could be lurking behind bushes and out of sight. My sensitive ears picked up very distance snarls as if the pack moved further away from us. I pursed me lips as I felt Arwen drawn me back to her and she said in a sure tone, "They would not find us. We will wait until morning to travel back home."

"Are you sure they will not find us." I asked for double reassurance as I glanced at Aragorn for confirmation.

"If we made no sound or create fire, they won't." Aragorn answered with honesty in his tone. That was when Arwen and I snapped out heads to the opening. We heard distance footstep drawn closer to the tent. Within minutes, Aragorn opened the flap to glance outside. Three silhouette figures got closer and suddenly, they appeared from the pouring rain. They dripped with droplet and their clothing drenched and their elvish hair matted onto their pale faces. They hunched down to crawl toward the back of the tent.

Elladan was the last one to enter and flashed me a smile. "You're awake, that's good. You had us worried for your wellbeing."

I smiled at him as he past by and sat next to Arwen. Elrohir was next to Aragorn and he leaned closer toward me with interest. "How did you do that?"

I looked at him as curiosity filled him. He waited for my response with limited patience. An eyebrow rose on his pale voice, encouraged me to talk. "I… just learned… It all new to me."

Elrohir frown to that answer and before he could inquire more, Elladan jumped in. "You are truly a mystery, My dear Amelia. You were glowing with white rays."

A smile came on to my face as Elladan described from his perspective. I tried to image me with white ray but that imagine was just simply strange. Swiftly I shook that thought away and I blushed to his comments.

"It was foolish." Glorfindel spoke up with a deep voice that I rarely heard him use. My eyes snapped to meet his hard blue ones. He was guarded and slightly… irritated. Why would he be? I just saved his behind! A little gratitude would be nice. His sudden change of demeanor bewildered me as everyone became suddenly silent. Tension grew in the little tent that forced me to swallow hard uncomfortably.

I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion and I pulled away from Arwen's embrace. I leaned forward toward him to make sure he saw me. "Foolish, why?" I snapped back, my temper brewed.

"You almost died." He stated the obvious, his voice never let up.

"So did you." I retorted.

"The circumstances were different." Glorfindel countered stubbornly.

I scoffed and leaned back. My arms crossed over my chest as I smiled sarcastically, "How so?"

"You can not risk you life to save mine." He declared, his voice full of emotion. "If I have to go to the Hall of Mandos then so be it, but you will not join the dead."

Whatever irritation feeling I had, left me. He was concerned for my safety. It was nice but not needed. I calmed myself and spoke in a gentler voice for I could no longer be angry at him, "It was my choice Glorfindel. As it was yours, when you took the arrow on my behalf. I had too and I would do it again."

"Enough." Aragorn whispered harshly as he kept his gaze to the opening. We quiet down and listened to the sounds of the thunderstorm and the distance snarls of an orc pack. I swallowed hard and tried to keep my nerves at bay. The tension built up between us. I glanced hesitantly at Glorfindel who kept his eyes averted. Was he truly angry with me? I only tried to help… wasn't that why I was here?

Worry not… he will forgive

I looked away and waited for daybreak. As the hours went on, the first light finally rose above the distance mountains. My attention was drawn to the beautiful landscape that was presented in the opening. The thunderclouds had past to reveal a lighten sky with a bright yellow sunrise. I smiled comfortingly at it.

Aragorn woke up from his light sleep and rubbed his eyes. He wearily cracked open his eyes and stared at Arwen who gazed at him with a soft smile. A small smile developed on his lips and he drawn himself up from the ground. He opened the flab wide to exit as he examined the surroundings. Eventually we all followed and Glorfindel spoke up first, "We should start to head forth."

"With any hope, we'll miss the orc pack." Elladan filled in, his voice tight for his hate for orcs. He turned to aid Elrohir with the tent. I grabbed my weapons that were on the side and sheath my dagger into their holders. My quiver strapped over my chest with the arrows that Elladan collected from the dead. Not all were there but a good portion. It was better than nothing.

We would travel by foot back to Rivendell. Glorfindel and Aragorn led the way as the twin took the back. The hills were bumping, moist dirt, full of dead and dried leaves. The trees grew tall with large and long branches. The sunlight peered through the gaps and lay over us. As we walked over a large hill, I felt my muscles tightened. I drawn my cowl over my head when the wind swept by us. The sounds of the orcs rang in our ears. If I didn't knew any better, there were multiple packs traveling through the forest. We were a small group and best not to test our luck. Elladan believed it would be best to avoid the roads and travel straight through the wilderness. I wasn't entirely sure if I liked that idea but he did have more experience than me.

As time went on, we traveled swiftly through the old forest until nightfall. Elrohir insisted that he rest so Aragorn can regain his human strength but Aragorn assured us he was fine. He was certainly a strong human with plenty of resistance. To Elrohir's dismay, we continued through the night. The high moon shined over us.

The snarls of the orcs ranged louder in our ears. A pack neared by. I listened intently to their direction. This time I was more prepared. My hands hovered over my daggers for precaution as I sensed them nearby. They lurked in the shadows.

"Trend carefully, they are close." Glorfindel whispered as the group came to a stop. We listened to the sounds of the earth. Anticipating the orc's movements. I heard their heavy footsteps getting closer. I readied my bow and arrow as well as the others. My eyes jumped around, waiting and listening. They neared and sensed us. My courage built in my chest and I was determined to prove to myself that I could do this. This time I will not hesitate.

From the darkness, shadows moved around like lurking wolves readied to pounce on their prey. My hand clenched in anticipation and my nerves turned into steel "Show yourself." I murmured in elvish, irritation formed in my chest for I tired of this prey game. Then from the corner of my eye, a shadow moved slowly and hid behind a tree. I noticed the silhouette of a head and swiftly, I aimed for it. My arrowed shooshed through the air and made it mark. A groan came from that direction followed by a thud of a dead body. Suddenly, the orcs ran around like a wheel as other charged us from different direction. Here we go again.

Another battle came and I readied my bow again. I shot down several wild orcs with fast and accurate pace. I ignored the shakiness in my hand and tried to overcome any fear that tried to build within. Slowly my arrows were almost all used up. One after another. Black blood spilled on the ground.

When I reached for another arrow, I was left empty. I tried to grasp thin air. An orc got very close to me and before I had a chance to reach for my daggers, the creature hauled it large weapon over his head prepared to strike me down. To my surprise, Elladan swung his sword crossed his stomach and it's inside rushed out. I thought for a moment I was going to hurl when bile burned my throat. Elladan looked at me with seriousness and suddenly winked.

I smiled and shook my head at his playfulness even in the mist of a battle. Swiftly, I turned with daggers in my hand and sliced open another's throat. I fought any orc that came my way. When I turned in place I noticed Arwen cornered by three orcs and Aragorn was far off not able to assist. Swiftly, I ran through a pack of orcs and sliced and diced those in my way until I reached Arwen. With fast movement, I struck an orc in the back and throw my dagger at another. Arwen stabbed the third orc in the gut when he was distracted.

To my dismay, more orcs rushed out from the trees. The battle raged on as the orcs surrounded us. Back to back, we were. There were too many of them. I pursed my lips in fear for were outnumbered. My hands clenched the daggers with anxiety and I swallowed hard. When things grew graver suddenly a bright light in the shape of an orb below out toward us. It grew larger and larger until it thrust everything in its path. The explosion came toward me and I braced myself. I was thrown back by the force and landed on top of Glorfindel. When I got too close, I blushed a deep red by our position. I was literally on top and his hands were on my shoulder to prevent my head clashing into his. Forced wind whirled my hair and skirt wildly. In fear, I ducked my head into the crook of hid neck as dirt and grass flew over us.

Perplexed, I looked over my shoulder and searched for the source of this power and in the distance a silhouette figure approached. He carried a staff in one hand and a sword in the other. My eyes squinted to make out the features of this character and suddenly I felt relieved. It was Gandalf the Grey. A smile came onto my lips. "Get up and fight!" He urged us to regain ourselves. It was in the moment when I realized the company was on the floor just as puzzled as me. "Fight!"

"Amelia, please you need to move." I heard Glorfindel said in an urged voice. I turned to him and realized I straddled him. My cheek flushed a deep red and I muttered an apology. The orc pack recovered from the blast and charged at us again. I readied myself for more fighting. Gandalf joined us and took down nearby orcs. I charged a small group and aimed for their weak spots in the legs. With the help of Gandalf, the orc packed was defeated.

Black blood stained the ends of my cloak. Once it was finished, I glance around my surrounding where nothing by limp and bloodied body sprawled across the hill. My stomach rolled in disgust as I fought back the urge to gag. This was too repulsive.

More is to come

I moaned and then sighed heavily. My eye averted from the ground and searched up the hill where Gandalf spoke to Glorfindel and the twins. To the side, there was Aragorn who held Arwen in a tight embrace while listening to the conversation. I was too disturbed to listen to the discussion. Over the trees was the high sun. I gazed at it and embraced the warmth that it radiated from the sun.

My ears picked up footsteps from behind. "My dear, you seem pale."

I turned to find Gandalf next to me. His sword was in its cover and he leaned on his staff. Grey bushy eyebrows rose in curiosity as he waited for my response. It was good to see Gandalf again and I smiled at him. No matter how sad my smile was, I mustered it. "I'm fine." I said weakly and even pitiful to my ears. He was not convinced. "Its just disturbing. That's all. I'll get use to it."

"You'll have too. It just the beginning." He answered grimly.

I snapped to him with questioning my eyes. I knew it but I suspected he would say something differently and not be so brutal. Before I could inquire further, Gandalf's attention was drawn by Glorfindel. "We ought to continue."

"Yes, I am sure Lord Elrond is wondering why you haven't arrived." Gandalf agreed as he started to walk up the hill. I watched him leave and I looked back at the sun again. "Come Amelia. Let us make haste."

With a sigh, I followed.

After a long journey, the company came to a stop on the outskirts of the forest. Less than a day away from Rivendell but Gandalf insisted that we rest before we continued. The dark sky overlapped the horizon with cloud. Orcs packs have been long since gone. None neared us and so we were untainted. Aragorn build a small fire, cautious not to allow it to grow too large.

I collapsed in front of the fire, weary from the long journey. The warmth from the fire radiated to my pale skin and sighed gratefully with a smile. Smoke filled my nostril and looked to my side where Gandalf and Aragorn smoked their pipes. The flame light danced across their faces. On my other side was Elladan who sat close with his twin on the side of him. Glorfindel kept watch from a distance. I wondered if he was truly still angry at me. With a deep sigh, I raked my hand through my ebony locks and scooted closer to the flames.

"You handle yourself well, my dear." Gandalf spoke up with his pipe hung from the corner of his lip. His eyes glanced at me from the corner with admiration twinkling. "You've adapted well."

I smiled slyly, "It was not without effort or help." I said softly as I gazed upon each of my companions that smiled at me.

Time went on and I heard the soft snores of Gandalf and Aragorn who took rest under the night sky. The twins scouted around the camp, cautious and readied for anything. Arwen sat close to Aragorn and rested her head on his shoulders. A small smile developed on his lips as she gently stroked his hand with her fingers. I smiled at the sight of them. It was a rare sight to see true love.

I dropped my eyes and glanced over my shoulder where Glorfindel stood off and guarded the campsite. I took the opportunity and approached his from behind. He slightly moved his head that indicated he was aware of my approached but he did not turn to me. I bit my lip nervously when I came next to him and found a tree that I could lean on.

"You should rest." Glorfindel uttered a gentle command without so much glanced my way.

I frown and crossed my arms. "I am fine. I want to talk to you."

He finally glanced at me from the corner of his eye and made no sound. With a sigh, I brushed a loose strand of hair behind my earlobe before I spoke up, "I know you're angry with me…. What would you have me do? I could not let you die."

He looked away and I heard his sigh heavy. He shifted uncomfortable before he turned, "I am not angry at you, Amelia."

"Then why…"

"You shouldn't have risked your life. I will always be indebt to you but that was… careless." Glorfindel cut my off softly. I sighed with irritation and rolled my eyes.

"What you view as careless, I view as valiant." I countered softly for I tired not to turn this discuss to a full out argument. A small blush came onto my cheeks when I said, "You know how I feel about you…. It would have…. devastated me if something were to happen to you. If you believe I am careless then so be it. I do not regret it. You promised that you would always be there for me, well I promise that to you too. I will always be there for you."

Before another word was uttered I swiftly turned and went back to the fire. My cheeks were full blow red by now but I cared not. I sunk down to the ground with a sigh for my heart felt heavy. Ever fiber wished that Glorfindel returned the feelings that I felt for him but I knew that would never happen. I yearned and I ached with no end. I looked up at Arwen who stared at me with knowingly eyes.

Swiftly, I dropped my gazed and laid down now the ground. I willed my aching heart to cease as I drifted to sleep.

To be continued...

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