Chapter Nine
"The Princess and the March Warden"
Once the remaining Fellowship made it down out of the mountains they were able to move quickly, running over the easier terrain, making for the forest that loomed on the horizon. As they finally made it under the canopy of the trees, Jesse breathed a sigh of relief. She could feel the orcs in her mind as they chased after the grief stricken group once the sun went down and she knew that they were still coming.
As they walked deeper into the forest Gimli gathered the hobbits around him and said, "Stay close, young hobbits. They say that a great sorceress lives in these woods. An Elf-witch of terrible power. All who look upon her fall under her spell." "Gimli, I will try not to take that as an insult," Jesse said with a laugh and a shake of her head, "You do remember that I am a witch and last time I checked I was an elf as well. So I guess that makes me an Elf-witch." "Aye, Lass, you have me there," the dwarf admitted with a smile.
Laughing Jesse turned back to the path ahead of her, straight into the tip of an arrow. "The Dwarf breathes so loud we could have shot him in the dark," declared a tall handsome elf as he came to stand in front of the group. "Come it is not safe here, the sun is setting and there are orcs tracking you," he said turning and walking towards one of the larger trees.
Soon the Fellowship found themselves separated on two flets high above the forest floor. Jesse, Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli were on the flet with Haldir, and his two brothers, Rúmil and Orophin, while Boromir and the hobbits were on the other with two other guards. Jesse tried to stay out of the conversation as much as possible; she had too much on her mind. Suddenly she could hear the Lady's voice in her mind, 'You have done well Daughter of Ereinion; the Gondorian is not feeling the powers of the Ring. Yet your mind is still ill at ease. Many thoughts plague your thoughts. The answers you seek will come, for now you must allow the peace the woods offer to give you the comfort you need.' With that the Lady left her mind.
"Haldir o Lórien, allow me to present the Lady Jessica Halliwell," Aragorn said as he and Haldir came to stand in front of Jesse. "Mae govannen, Lady Jessica," the tall handsome elf said as he put his hand to his heart and bowed deeply to Jesse. "Thank you," Jesse said nervously, "It is a pleasure to meet you as well."
When noise of something coming through the undergrowth cut off any other conversation. Haldir ordered the wardens in his command to surround the trespassing orcs. Once everyone was in place they began to fire in to the unsuspecting orcs. Soon the threat was under control and silence once again rained in the Golden Wood.
"It will not be safe to journey to the city until the sun rises, and unfortunately we have little to offer in the way of comfort, but please make yourself comfortable My Lady," Haldir said as he walked up to Jesse on the edge of the flet. "It is ok, I really do not need much. I would like to however go to the hobbits and treat the injuries that they received in Moria, and please call me Jesse," Jesse replied smiling up at his handsome face. "I shall take you there myself," he said with a smile, as he led her to a small hidden rope bridge linking the two flets.
No sooner had Jesse made it across the rope bridge, she was surrounded by tired and scared hobbits. "Hey, it's alright guys," she said kneeling down so that she could look into their faces, "We're going to be ok. Now I want you to meet my friend Haldir. Haldir this is Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin, they are probably the bravest hobbits you are ever likely to meet," she added with a smile. "It is a pleasure to meet you," Haldir said smiling down at the hobbits. "Miss Jesse, Mister Frodo, is hurtin' somethin' horrible," Sam exclaimed looking at Jesse with concern in his eyes. "That is exactly what Haldir and I are here to fix Sam," she said as she kissed the hobbit on the forehead, "Now Frodo can you pull up your shirt for me so I can see your ribs?" Doing as she asked the hobbit lifted his shirt and watched as Jesse took a salve from the pouch at her waist and began to spread it over his bruised ribs, the comfort it brought was immediate. "Now for you Sam. Let me see that cut on your head," she said turning to the hobbit gardener. "Haldir, could you get me some clean water? I need to clean this cut out before it becomes infected," Jesse said still looking at the cut just above Sam's left eye. Haldir returned with the water quickly and Jesse set to work cleaning out the cut. It was not very deep so she put her hand over it and spoke a healing spell that Lord Elrond had taught her. Soon the cut was little more than a small scar. She was able to treat Merry and Pippin in much the same way as Sam.
Walking over to Boromir, who had been watching her from his place at the edge of the flet she asked, "How is your head? You took a pretty nasty fall when that troll hit you." "It will be fine, Jesse you have done enough," Boromir said noting that Jesse looked very tired. Sparing a glance at the tall elf in her company, he said with a smile, "Would you please see that she gets a decent nights rest Master Elf. She has a habit of forgetting to take her rest when she needs it." "I shall endeavor to see that it is done," Haldir replied with a bow and a subtle smile. "Well I see I am out numbered here," Jesse declared, "If you are fit enough to conspire against me then you can take care of yourself," looking back at the hobbits she lowered her voice and said, "Take care of them Boromir." "I will, I promise," he said getting up and walking towards the hobbits.
"You have a gentle way with the hobbits," the March Warden commented as they made their way back to the flet Jesse was going to be staying on. "I am used to working around hobbits and it is hard to not want to be gentle with them. Those little guys are so loving and sweet," she replied with a smile. "It is interesting to see someone treat another with such gentleness, yet from what Lord Aragorn has said you wield a sword with the skill of a seasoned warrior. It is most interesting indeed," he said with a smile that touched his eyes, making them sparkle in the moonlight. Jesse found herself hypnotized by those eyes. All she could do was smile up at the elf in front of her.
"Now," Haldir said taking on a commanding air once again, "I made a vow to make certain that you obtained your rest and I shall not be accused of shirking my duties. Jesse, your bedroll has been laid out for you and I must insist that you allow me to escort you there." Jesse fought the urge to smile, looking up at Haldir, and said, "Well then who am I to prevent a great captain such as you, from fulfilling his duty. Lead the way," she added the last bit with a small laugh and a shake of her head.
That night as Jesse laid her head down to sleep, she thought of everything she had been through and seen since she came to Middle Earth and she found under the peace of the forests of Lothlórien the peace that she had not had in her life in a very long time. As the dreams took her now they were dreams of happy things, and she found herself dreaming something she hadoften seen since her earliestchildhood memories. That night she dreamed of the wedding of herself and the elf that she still could not identify, but as she did as a child she could feel his love.
From his place in one of the upper branches of the tree, which held the flet in which the elleth slept, Haldir watched as a smile found its way across her face? He found himself wondering what dreams could bring such a smile to this strange new elleth. He knew without a doubt she was still grieving for Mithrandir but he was glad that in her dreams at the very least she could find peace. His thoughts turned to how he had first seen her, joking with the dwarf, dust and grime covering her face, yet she still carried a smile for her friends. Prince Legolas had told him that she had grown up in a distant future from their own, with a best friend that was possibly distantly related to the dwarf in their group. The idea of an elf and a dwarf being friends amazed him but he had to admit to himself, the Lady Jessica Halliwell was nothing short of amazing.
"Brother," the sound of his youngest brother's voice shook him from his reverie. "What is it, Rúmil," the March Warden asked, not turning his focus from the sleeping elleth. "A messenger has just arrived from Caras Galadhon, the Lady has granted the Fellowship entrance into the city and the Lady wants you to guide them to the city," the youngest of the three Lórien Brothers said, "Are the rumors true, brother? Is she truly the daughter of Gil Galad?" "Yes, Rúmil, what you have heard is true. The Lady told me of her when she told me of the Fellowship's coming," Haldir replied, his eyes never leaving the sleeping elleth.
"You, like her brother," Rúmil teased, as he watched the way his eldest brother watched the sleeping Princess of Noldor. "She is a princess, little brother, there is a prince in her future," Haldir sighed, shaking his head. The defeated tone in his older brother's voice caused Rúmil to step back. Never had he heard such a tone from his brother and it saddened him.
As the morning sun began its journey into the sky, a gentle hand came to rest on Jesse's shoulder bringing her into the waking world. "Jesse, it is time for us to begin our journey into Caras Galadhon," Aragorn said with a small tired smile. "Thanks, Aragorn," she replied as she sat up and looked around, "I would like to check on Sam and Frodo's wound's before we leave." Quickly grabbing her pack she made her way across the bridge to the flet occupied by Boromir and the hobbits.
As she stepped on to the flet Jesse was inundated by hobbits. "Hey guys, it is going to be just fine. The Lord and Lady will help us, I promise. Now let me have a look at your injuries so that we can get ready to head for the city," she said in a soothing tone. Once the hobbits had walked off to gather their things, Boromir caught Jesse's attention. "Are you sure that we are going to be safe here," he asked in a hush tone so that the hobbits would not hear. "Yes, for a time we will find safety and rest here. The Lady's magic as well as the work of the wardens will ensure it. She has already contacted me in my mind and has been waiting for us," Jesse assured with a kind smile, "Oh and Boromir don't worry so much it will give you wrinkles." She watched as laughing the Gondorian made his way to his things.
"Are they ready to set out," Haldir's voice came from behind her. Turning she looked up into his handsome gray eyes. "They will be shortly. Thank you for your help," she replied smiling up at him. "It has been my pleasure," the tall Lórien elf answered, "My brothers and I will be your guides into the city and as soon as the rest of the group is ready we will set out." "We will be ready," Jesse assured as she stepped over and helped a struggling Sam heave his pack on to his back. "Thank you Miss Jesse," the hobbit said as he smiled up at the elleth before he made his way over to the Ring Bearer to help him with his things.
It wasn't long before the group was gathered at the base of the trees ready to make their way towards the great city of Caras Galadhon. "We should reach the city before sundown," Aragorn announced as they began their trek through the immense forest.
As the day began to wear on Jesse noticed that Gimli seemed to be on edge. Falling back so that she was walking along side of her dwarf friend Jesse smiled down at him and said, "Gimli, it will be fine. The Lord and Lady have been waiting on us and we are all welcome here. Don't worry." "I will try Lass, but I can't help feeling responsible for loosing Gandalf. If I hadn't suggested," Jesse stopping his forward movement as she croutched down in front of him and stared straigt into his eyes cut off his words. "Gimli, that was not your fault and I know the Lady will agree with me on this, so listen up. Gandalf had a part to play in the things that happened in those mines. You had no way of knowing what would happen and I know damn well that Gandalf would not want you blaming yourself for what happened. You were not responsible and neither was Pippin. He is blaming himself too you know. He thinks he caused the Balrog to attack us. Now I do not want to hear you blaming yourself you hear me. If I do the last thing you will have to worry about is the Lady. I will be the elf witch that you will have to worry about," Jesse said in a serious tone, though the last of her words were softened by a quick wink. "All right Lass you made your point and I will do what I can to help the little one understand too," Gimli said putting his hands up in a joking defense.
The conversation between the dwarf and elleth did not go unnoticed. Haldir had seen Jesse fall back and also fell back to see what had gotten her attention. He had a hard time understanding the presence of the dwarf in the Fellowship. He watched from a respectable distance as Jesse confronted the dwarf on his self-doubt. The way she was able to make jokes with the dwarf brought a smile to Haldir's face. He had never met an elleth like Jesse before and he knew he never would again.
He stayed back a bit and watched as Jesse and the dwarf embraced and the blushing the dwarf walked on past him to join the four Halflings. "You can come out of your hiding place Haldir. Gimli and I are finished talking," the elleth said softly as she stood up again. "I did not mean to intrude," he replied as he stepped out into her path, "I was merely curious of why you had stopped." "It is alright Haldir, I do not mind. I was just unable to watch Gimli beating himself up over loosing Gandalf any longer. He had no way of knowing what would happen in those mines. It was not his fault and someone he trusted had to tell him that," Jesse said with a determined look on her face. "The dwarf is lucky to have someone who cares for him as much as you. I am unsure I would have been able to do the same in your place," the Lórien captain admitted, as he and Jesse began to walk again towards the rest of the group.
"I think you would have Haldir, if you knew a friend was feeling guilty for something they had no control over. I believe you would do everything you could to help them," she said as she stepped over a small log that had fallen into the path. As they continued to walk they fell into a comfortable silence just enjoying the sounds of the forest and the others company.
As the sun began its journey out of the sky they came in sight of two magnificent gates that seemed to open as if by magic allowing them to pass through. Jesse watched in awe as the great city of Lothlórien was opened up before her eyes. She could not help the gasp that escaped her mouth at the site ahead of her. "It is so beautiful," she exclaimed as she turned to look up at the smiling Haldir. "Indeed, I have lived here my entire life and still find myself in awe of its beauty," he agreed smiling down at Jesse and offering her his arm to escort her through the Golden City, "If the lady would allow me to escort her the rest of the way. The Lord and Lady of the Wood will be expecting us." "Of course," Jesse answered allowing him to take her arm and lead her down the path.