Alright, I'm back everybody! And it's almost summertime! Yay!
So anyways, sorry about the long wait. I had finals and a bunch of other projects to do. But now it's pretty much over, so hopefully I can update more.
Disclaimer: I do not own Lord of the Rings, or anything else except my OCs and any of their belongings.
Okay, so enough with my rambling. Here is the next chapter!
Chapter 14: A Shadow Haunts Your Path
Windstorm's hooves thundered across the ground. It had been a few weeks since Hunter had left Edoras, and she had hardly ever stopped riding. The young girl reached back into one of her saddlebags and pulled out the small map Théodred had packed for her. It did not cover much area of Middle-Earth, only the lands of Rohan and Gondor, but it provided her with enough information to help her chart a path away from Isengard and Fangorn Forest.
But she had just left the boundaries of the map. Hunter had no clue where she would be traveling now.
A few more days passed, and Hunter found herself in a forest. The trees seemed unnaturally tall and emitted a soft silver glow, and even though she was sure she had never been here before, the woods seemed incredibly familiar.
Suddenly, Windstorm snorted and stumbled back as an arrow whizzed past his nose, missing it by a hair's breadth. "Whoa, boy!" Hunter exclaimed. "What was that?"
Another arrow flew past them, this one nearly striking Hunter. Both horse and girl stared around to see themselves surrounded by several arrow points. "Who are you, and what is your business in the woods of Lothlórien?" a voice asked forcefully. A golden-haired elf stepped out of the circle, his bow trained on Hunter's chest.
"Um," Hunter began, slightly startled and fearful of the arrows. "My name is Hunter Malbrooks of Rohan, and, well, I'm kind of lost."
"Lady Hunter, the bearer of the Anorgîl?" the elf asked incredulously.
Hunter nodded her head. "Indeed. There was…erm, trouble in Rohan. I was forced to leave."
"My apologies, Lady Hunter," the elf replied, motioning for the others to lower their bows. "I am Haldir. I-" Haldir stopped suddenly, as if another voice was speaking to him. "Ah," he finally spoke. "It appears that the Lady Galadriel wishes to speak with you."
Haldir set off at a face pace through the woods, Hunter following warily on horseback. It was not too long before they entered a glade of huge silver trees with platforms and houses arranged upon them. Everything, even the Elves passing them by, seemed to glow with a faint radiance.
Hunter was led to the base of what seemed to be the largest tree, a delicately wrought silver staircase winding up to the heavens. One of the other Elves gently took Windstorm's reins and led the stallion away as Hunter followed Haldir up the stairs.
At the top of the tree rested a white platform with walls seemingly made from the branches of the tree enclosing it. In the middle of the terrace stood the Lady Galadriel, just as elegant and mysterious as when Hunter had first met her so many months ago.
"Ah, thank you, Haldir," Galadriel nodded. Haldier bowed and exited the terrace. The great elleth turned to Hunter. "Greetings, Hunter. I have heard of the troubles you have faced in Rohan." A sheepish smile flashed across Hunter's face. "Do not worry over it, for it was not your doing," Galadriel reassured her. "Now, you must rest. Your journey has been difficult, and you are surely weary."
Hunter nodded gratefully. "Thank you, Lady Galdriel."
~o*o*o*o~
That night, Galadriel gazed out from her balcony, staring out at the stars. A shadow haunts the paths of the Elenmîr, she thought. They are in more danger than I predicted.
Indeed, Elrond's voice replied in her mind. And from what you have told me, it seems that Sauron is not the only one who seeks the Elenmîr.
A few moments of silence passed between the two Elves. Eventually, Elrond spoke again. Send Hunter to Imladris, he suggested. The road is well-protected, and Rivendell has always been a safe haven for its inhabitants.
Galadriel contemplated the idea for a moment. That seems to be the best choice, she finally answered. I do not wish to say it, but Lothlórien is too close to the shadow to be safe for the Elenmîr now. I will send Hunter as soon as she is ready.
~o*o*o*o~
Unable to sleep, Hunter stood up from the bed she had been given. The stars twinkled in the sky above her as she wandered among the trees. Eventually, she came to a clearing in the dense woods. A small waterfall gurgled behind a simple shallow silver basin upon a pedestal. Light reflected off the water in a mesmerizing dance, drawing Hunter closer.
This is the Mirror of Galadriel, a small voice in the back of her head whispered. Hunter could not tell if it was her own or another's, but it did not matter to her.
Do you dare gaze into the Mirror? the voice asked. You may see great things, terrible things, things that have yet to pass.
One small part of her willed her to return back to her bed, but the draw of the Mirror was too strong. Hunter approached the basin, gazing into the water. At first, she could see nothing but the reflection of the night sky, but soon, the water rippled, and visions appeared.
Fern stood in the middle of a dark, cobweb-filled chamber. Orcs swarmed around her, but she did not move. Her limbs seemed to be locked in place by fear, her breathing becoming fast-paced. A loud roar was heard, and Hunter wanted to shout out to her, push her out of the battle, but before she could make a sound, the water clouded, the scene shifting.
A forest glen was pictured, the ground covered with the dark shapes of dead bodies. A dark-haired figure leaned against a tree, two arrows protruding from the chest. Hunter at first thought it might have been Boromir (she remembered that event of the story quite clearly), but the figure was too small and thin for a man of his stature. But before she could ponder more on the figure's identity, the image changed once more.
The scene of a stony riverbank was littered with dead bodies, most of them in the garb of Rohan. Hunter's mouth gaped open in horror as she gazed down at one of the faces, the face of Théodred.
And once more, a new vision appeared. A limp body floated down a rushing river. Hunter seemed too high up to make out any distinctive features, but she could see the characteristic dark hair and worn clothes of one of the Rangers of the North…
Many other images swirled by, visions of everyone she knew near death or in danger. Finally, the water settled on one scene. It was a dreary brown battlefield, and war waged on around her. Hunter gasped as the vision continued. It was her dream, the dream she had the day she entered Middle-Earth, except now she knew who stood next to her on the battlefield: Ėowyn. The two fought back to back, facing the black-robed figure. But before the figure could swing at them, Hunter wrenched herself from the Mirror, unwilling to see what would happen next.
"The Mirror of Galadriel can show one many troubling visions," a voice remarked. Hunter looked up to see Galadriel gazing at her, a knowing look upon her face.
"Will any of those things come true?" Hunter managed to ask, a lump of fear forming in her throat.
"No one knows until the time comes," Galadriel replied. "But one thing is certain: a shadow haunts the footsteps of you and the other Elenmîr, and it will not stop pursuing you until it has consumed both you and those close to you."
Hunter's eyes widened. "Then they have to be warned!"
Galadriel nodded. "Indeed. Lord Elrond has advised that you should seek safety in Rivendell. If you meet any of the other Elenmîr, you must warn them."
"I can leave tomorrow," Hunter stated.
"Very well," Galadriel responded. "Now, you should seek rest. It is a long ride to Rivendell."
~o*o*o*o~
Hope rode swiftly upon Alagos, Gollum bouncing along in front of her. She was still cross with Aragorn and only spoke to him when necessary. He did not understand the way she felt, always being pursued, never being able to completely conceal her identity like he was able to.
Aragorn abruptly stopped galloping, staring warily at the surrounding trees. A great clamor could be heard quite near to them, followed by a deep, piercing horn call and the loud, throaty shouts of what could only be orcs.
Hope tensed in the saddle, gripping the reins tightly. "Hurry!" Aragorn shouted, cantering at full speed on Roheryn.
"Noro lim, Alagos!" Hope commanded, utilizing the Elvish Aragorn had taught her. Without delay, the bay stallion galloped after Roheryn, the two horses running rapidly through the trees.
Suddenly, a black-feathered arrow whizzed by Hope, embedding itself in a nearby tree. Hope chanced a glance behind her and saw that the orcs were closer to them than they believed. "Aragorn!" she cried, catching the elder Ranger's attention.
"Keep riding!" Aragorn replied. "Do not let them capture you or Gollum!"
Hope nodded, spurring Alagos into an ever faster run. More arrows flew past them, jutting up from the ground like needles in a pincushion. "Hold on, Gollum," Hope muttered, leaning forward.
Pain suddenly arced through Hope's back as she felt an arrowhead pierce her flesh. Biting back a cry, she urged Alagos to go faster. Another arrow embedded itself in her shoulder, causing her grip on the reins to slacken. Please let us be near the Elves, she prayed.
As if in answer, the glade was soon filled with the battlecries of the Wood-Elves, firing their own arrows at the oncoming orcs. Hope galloped past them to the gates of the city. Aragorn had already arrived, a look of worry on his face. The world surrounding Hope began to fill with haze, and she vaguely remembered falling out of the saddle before all went dark.
Cliffhanger!
So this chapter was quite ominous in my opinion. Tell me what you think. Please review!
FYI: Noro lim, Alagos! = Ride fast, Alagos!