A/N: Hey, my friends :) So, here we are, another chapter is here. Now we have entered the storyline of 'The Two Towers'. Sunglee is now travelling with Legolas, Aragorn and Gimli, but poor Arwen has stayed behind and Lord Elrond makes plans about her. Well, I hope you'll like it.
SmellofRoses- Hannon le for reviewing, I am glad you liked it :D
Seagle87- Thank you, I hope you will like this chapter as well.
Disclaimer: Nope, nothing has changed, I still don't own Lord of the Rings.
The mountains and the hills were difficult to be passed. Every step was a risk, for one false move could mean the end. But the four hunters were not giving up. Three days now they were chasing the Uruk-hai who had abducted Merry and Pippin, they were running on the mountains resting only for a few minutes, wanting to move on fast. Aragorn's ranger abilities were extremely useful, since he could find tracks more easily.
In the morning of the third day, they had crossed a long distance. Aragorn knelt down and placed his ear on a rock, trying to find out how far away the Uruk-hai were. Gimli was looking at him, while Legolas and Sunglee were scanning the area with their eyes, bows in their hands.
'Their pace has quickened' Aragorn told them sharply. 'They must have caught our scent. Hurry!'
And with these words he raced forward, followed by Sunglee and Legolas, who were running like the wind. Suddenly Legolas turned towards Gimli, who had stayed behind, panting up the hill with a speed much slower than theirs.
'Come, Gimli' he said, encouraging and urgently in the same time.
'Three days pursuit' mumbled Gimli angrily. 'No food. No rest. And no sign of our quarry, but what bare rock can tell'
Sunglee could understand how he was feeling. Surely he was not used in such conditions and the situation did not help at all. She wanted to say something to comfort him, but she was afraid she would make him even more angry, considering the fact she was still enduring, thanks to her elven nature.
They continued running along the top of the mountain and the hills, but one hour later Aragorn stopped again. He fell on the ground to look and carefully picked up a brooch that was almost buried in the mud. It was a leaf with silver veins. Everyone gasped at its sight, having recognized it.
'One elven brooch from Lothlorien' Aragorn spoke out loudly what they were all thinking. 'Like the ones we have on our cloaks. One of the Hobbits must have dropped it as a sign for us'
'Not idly do the leaves of Lothlorien fall' Sunglee added, with her mind making thousand thoughts about this riddle. Was it really a sign from Merry and Pippin, like Aragorn had said? Or was it a sign that they were already…Sunglee's heart almost stopped at this possibility.
'They may yet be alive' whispered Legolas, as if he had read her thoughts, caressing her shoulder to console her. He then looked at Aragorn, pleading him with his eyes to give them courage.
'They are less than a day ahead of us' Aragorn said intensively and started running again. 'Come!'
The Elves ran after him. Legolas heard a strange noise behind him. He turned and saw Gimli rolling down a hill. His expression was so tormented that a small smile appeared on the prince's face.
'Come, Gimli!' he called for him. 'We are gaining on them!'
'I am wasted on cross-country!' was Gimli's furious answer. 'We Dwarves are natural sprinters! Very dangerous over short distances!'
'And what about the long distances, my friend?' Sunglee mocked him, making Legolas and Aragorn laugh hysterically and Gimli growl.
They kept running for two hours and reached the brow of a hill. There they stopped, both to rest and to look at the plain below. Legolas closed his eyes and took some deep breaths, enjoying the lovely view and the fresh air. The nature and Sunglee's presence next to him were calming his soul from the worry for his friends.
'This is Rohan, home of the Horse-lords' Aragorn explained. 'There is something strange at work here. Some evil gives speed to those creatures. It sets his will against us'
They started jogging down the hill, trying to see to the horizon. The Mirkwood prince and the Rivendell princess ran ahead, for they could see much more than Aragorn and Gimli.
'Legolas, Sunglee, what do your elf eyes see?' Aragorn asked them.
Their eyes caught a dark shadow that was moving fast in the plain. In a sudden they changed their rout.
'The Uruks turn northeast' Sunglee announced.
Legolas nodded in agreement. But then he realized what this was meaning and his voice became alarmed.
'They are taking the Hobbits to Isengard!' he shouted.
He closed his eyes, thinking about Saruman's workshop. The dark place, where Saruman was plotting against the Fellowship, where he had created the Uruk-hai. The place where Merry's and Pippin's death would be sure, if they would reach it. At the thought of the two brave Hobbits suffering in the hands of their enemies, he shivered and needed all the faith and hope he had to remain calm and focused on their mission.
Arwen was walking alone in the beautiful garden of Imladris, lost in her thoughts. There was a heavy silence, because her father was in his library and most guards had gone to scout the borders. It was not bothering her before, but after Sunglee's departure everything had changed.
She had reached the archery field and remembered, with a sad smile, Sunglee being here every day and practicing, if not with Legolas, then alone. Their father had told her that so much practice was not essential since she was so skilled, but Sunglee was never listening.
'I do not train to improve my aim, ada, I train because I love archery'
This was her permanent statement. She had tried to make her sister feel the same love for archery, but Arwen had never showed any enthusiasm. Now she was regretting it, though, thinking she had lost the chance to watch her sister showing the fighter inside her, to see her other side. Sometimes, when she was listening to Legolas praising Sunglee's skill, she was wondering how such a gentle girl could be so determined.
The sound of hooves made her run to the courtyard. Figwit and his group had just arrived. When they saw her, they inclined their heads politely.
'Lady Arwen'
'Figwit. What news do you bring?' Arwen asked him.
'Everything is well, my lady. We did not see anything suspicious. There is no need to worry'
'Hannon le' she replied with a friendly smile, although it was not real. Despite her relief that her land was safe, this was no good sign for the Fellowship and her little sister, since it meant that the dark forces of Mordor were focused on the One Ring, Frodo and his companions. But she would not show any emotion in front of the other Elves.
'Are you well, Lady Arwen?' asked Figwit, returning her to reality. 'Is there anything you need?'
'No, thank you, Figwit, I was only a little distracted. Do not be troubled'
From the window of his library, Lord Elrond was watching his daughter talking with Figwit. He was concerned about her. Aragorn's departure had saddened her, but at least she had Sunglee to lean on. Now that she had left as well, she was all alone, for Lord Elrond knew she would never talk to him. He did not like this situation at all. His visions were dark, with doubt and death for all members of the Fellowship. Aragorn's fate was unknown. Although Lord Elrond was considering him a son, his mortality was an obstacle. Either because of the war or because of old age, Aragorn would die.
The lord of Rivendell shook his head. He had taken a decision very difficult for all of them. He would wait for a while and if the visions would not change, even though this would cause great sorrow, especially to him and his youngest daughter, he would send Arwen to the Grey Heavens to take the ship for the Undying Lands. There her memory of Aragorn would be always sweet and it would prosper, without the doubt and the fear it was connected with here.
Elvish words/phrases used:
Hannon le- Thank you
A/N: Ok, everyone, that was it for now. Hope you enjoyed the chapter and I am looking forward to reading your reviews. Tomorrow evening you will have the next chapter :)