AN: Chapter 3 :)
Chapter 3
Beriadanwen and Celandine had made camp, close to a river bank. The pair was in a glorious mood, after the day's previous events. Beriadanwen had seated herself on a rather large tree root that rose from the forest floor, and had a clay pipe within her grasp. A triumphant smile was present on her face. She took up the pack she'd stolen and began to rifle through it. "This must be the elf's pack, all the clothing has the mark of Mirkwood on it" For some reason when she spoke of Mirkwood, a shadow passed over her face, barely there before it was gone. She continued to dig and came across the bow of Galadriel. Her eyes widened "this is a pretty piece of workmanship! It's a far sight better than mine!" she took her own bow from her belongings and placed it in the pack, taking the fairer one as a replacement "oh well, mine now"
The young she-hobbit had taken to standing over the large fire dressed in the Dwarfs helmet and shirt. The shirt hung down past her knees and the helmet sat awkwardly on her head. Both were obviously too big for her. She picked up a browned leaf and a mossy twig. Holding the twig over her lip and the leaf at her chin she grinned at Beriadanwen.
"Ey! Who am i?"
"The village idiot…" Bee replied sarcastically
Too pleased with herself to take offence, Celandine pressed on "No, but viry close. I'm da dwarf dat we defeated earlier. Dun't cha recornize me?"
Beriadanwen shook her head, as if despairing of the young hobbit. "I knew it. Your head really is empty"
"Oh. Luk at me. I'm a big piwerful dwarf, I dun't tink wimmen can be better den men. Oh, luk I have a big fat furry face" Celandine sang, dancing around the clearing.
"You're a girl" Bee said, pointing out the obvious as she blew a ring of smoke.
"So? The dwarf gurls ave bards as will"
"I have to say the likeness is uncanny" Beriadanwen laid her cheek in her hand, rolling her eyes at her young hobbit friend. "Stop playing around, and come and eat"
Instantly Celandine stopped dancing and hurried over. As she stepped forward, she trod on the lagging hem of the shirt and pitched forward. The dwarf's helm slipped over her eyes as she fell, blinding her temporarily.
Celandine fell flat on her face with a thud. Beriadanwen broke into a gale of laughter, bending forward and clutching her stomach. "See what happens when you try to be one of those things" Beriadanwen said continuing to giggle. "it's the dwarf garments. Anything made by dwarves makes you naturally clumsy"
Brushing dirt from her knees and face, Celandine stood, grumbling as she made her way over to the fire.
Bee pocketed her pipe, slid down from her root and joined Celandine by the fire. She held out a ladle full of stew but then paused.
"You don't have a bowl, and you can't very well use your hands"
Celandine thought for a moment before taking the helm from her head and offering it up. Bee shrugged, "Good enough I guess"
Somewhere in the near bushes three men sat squatting, watching the two women standing around their camp fire eating stew.
"These are the bandits that defeated you?" Aragorn questioned raising an eye brow at his short friend. Gimli growled in annoyance, watching as the women continued to use his helm as a bowl.
"They're a lot more intimidating up close!" he said gruffly, pouting as if sulking.
Legolas had an eyebrow raised also "that impression of you was… interesting"
"It was very rude! And I'll make sure that they pay for that display of insolence if it's the last thing I do!"
Gimli exclaimed, wringing his hands.
"You're not an orc, we do not seek vengeance. Even if they do use our helms for stew bowls" commented Aragorn, glancing back over at the two feasting bandits, who now seemed to be doing some more really bad Dwarf impressions. Gimli wrung his hands even harder, growling in anger.
"Well! Are we going to get our things back or just sit here and be insulted some more?"
Aragorn's hand went to his sword. He unsheathed it, the metal ringing faintly as he did so. Legolas notched an arrow in his bow. Watching the others prepare their weapons made Gimli long to hold his axe again, but he had to recover it first. His fists and jaw clenched.
Gimli didn't wait he shot out from their hiding spot right into their camp site. The two stopped their chatter looking back at the livid little dwarf. The two glanced briefly at each other before bursting into fits of laughter.
"Look it da dwarf frum befur" Celandine pointed out, holding her stomach as she continued to laugh.
"You see my friend the idiots only own one pair of clothes"
"And I'm afraid we got all 'his clurthes 'aven't we!"
But the laughter was very swiftly swallowed when Aragorn and Legolas emerged from the bushes, weapons outstretched. Their eyes were trained on the pair, cold and serious. Bee drew back, covering her face with her hood. Aragorn was quickly at her side. Legolas went to Celandine, bow string taut.
"If you would be so kind as give my friend his garments back I'm sure that would be much appreciated" Legolas said curtly, arrow pointed straight at the back of Celandine's head.
Brow furrowed deep in barely contained fury, Celandine pulled the dwarf's shirt off and tossed it away. Gimli hurried after it and eagerly put in on, glad to have it back.
"Where is the rest of it?" Aragorn asked, sword in hand, keeping Beriadanwen in check.
Bee made no reply, standing silently, sullenly, head bowed. Aragorn reached up, and slipped her hood from her head. The hood fell, exposing her hair and face. Whirling around, she hissed in anger, bringing her hood back up over her head. But it was too late. They had seen here for what she was. Legolas gasped
"Arquenniel Perianaya, daughter of Eöl!" Legolas breathed in wonder and amazement.
Bee shot him a murderous glare, hands clawed as if she meant to strangle him.
"Who?" Celandine asked, confused
"What?" Aragorn was equally confused.
"She is no common vagabond! She is the only daughter of a noble family! When she went missing 2 years ago, my family came to the throne of Mirkwood, as is tradition when no heir comes forth. Her disappearance was never solved. Her family had given up hope of finding her." Legolas looked back to Bee, eyes shining as one who has found a long lost and dearly loved relative.
Celandine looked at Bee, finding this new development unfathomable "You told me your name was Beriadanwen!"
"And it is! My name is mine, to do with it as I may. When I left Mirkwood I left the name of Arquenniel Perianaya behind also. A name is a mere title you identify yourself with and mine is Beriadanwen! It has been ever since I left Mirkwood and it will be until the day I die!" Bee drew her sword, violently daring anyone to disagree. No one came forward. The glade was silent.
"Do ya ave a crown?" Celandine questioned curiously, breaking the tense silence.
Bee sighed, rolling her eyes "trust you to prioritise a crown over learning the true identity of your best friend"
Celandine shrugged. Legolas hurried to Bee's side, moving to take her hand. She pulled back and held out her sword, warning him to keep his distance.
"I will take you back to Mirkwood, ere we continue our journey. There you will be safe and your family's honour will be restored"
"You will do no such thing! If you move to touch me I will strike you down!" Bee replied, her voice thick with aggression.
"But, Arwen en amin, your duty…" Legolas insisted
"Do not speak to me of duty! Indeed do not speak with me at all for I have nothing to say to one such as you, with your talk of safety and duty! You have recovered your possessions, you need not remain here any longer" she tossed their packs to them, sheathed her blade and turned dismissively. Legolas turned to his companion, the man shrugging his shoulders. Sighing in frustration, he ran to Bee's side and seized her arm.
"As the heir apparent to Mirkwood's throne and on your sense of honour and duty, I command you to return to Mirkwood"
Yanking her blade out into the open once more, Beriadanwen whirled around, a look of fire in her eyes "And as the original heir apparent to Mirkwood's throne and on the power of my sword I command you to leave me be!"
The two elves stood, glaring at each other, tense and still. Aragorn came forward.
"Legolas, I know this matter is important to you but I remind you of our original mission and its grave importance"
"What mission is dis den?" Celandine's ears pricked up, sensing adventure.
"Nothing that concerns a child such as you" Aragorn said blithely.
"CHILD!" Celandine shrieked, throwing back her hood and bring her knife out. "You call me child! I'll show you child!" she leapt forward and before Aragorn could quite register what was happening, she brought her knife down. It bit quickly into his leg. He cried out in pain and confusion, looking at this suddenly changed enemy.
"I am no child!" Celandine roared, breathing like a warhorse.
"Celandine calm yourself, these people are not worth your anger" Bee shushed turning towards Aragorn who was leaning over his wound "Why don't you go all out and call her a Halfling now that would be fun" she said, sneering at the ranger, entirely without pity for his suffering.
Aragorn looked up, mouth open, stunned at the events that had just transpired. Beriadanwen slung her pack up over her shoulder and tossed the hobbit's pack to her. Celandine deftly caught it, her eyes unmoving from Aragorn. Legolas was enormously grieved.
"Lady, you can not just melt back into the woods and live a life of poverty and shame! I could not forgive myself if I allowed you to go!" he swept forward and stood in front of her, hands out as if calming a frightened horse. His eyes were gentle, almost condescending. Bee was seething, moments away from throttling the Elven prince.
"When you open your mouth, all you succeed in doing is proving you know nothing and increasing my animosity towards you! Did you ever consider, with your pompous head all full of the chains of duty, that such things you wield to command me are the very things I left Mirkwood to escape? The words you think so noble serve only to strengthen my resolve to hold all you say in contempt and rebel against you! You speak of protecting me and move to stop me as if I am a weak and wavering child! I tell you now you could not survive for one day in the world you speak of protecting me from, yet this wood has become my home! And I say it is better to me than Mirkwood ever was, for all its danger!"
Aragorn took Legolas's arm, moving to pull him away. When he did not come Aragorn bent towards him and whispered "Legolas, we must be getting on! Our mission is one we can not afford to delay!"
Bee heard everything he said, her ears buzzing with the sound of his voice. Curiosity stirred inside her. The hunger for excitement awoke.
"I'll make you a deal" she found herself saying "If we can accompany you on this "mission" you speak of, I will return with Legolas to Mirkwood"
"No deal" Aragorn said quickly.
Bee affected indifference. "Ah well, penneth" she sighed, looking to Celandine "Back to a life of poverty and shame it is then"
Celandine smiled and shrugged nonchalantly "That's jurst da way it goes I giss. Hope we dun't git eated by a worlf or some'ing" they moved to leave the glade, turning their backs on the company.
"Wait…" Legolas held out a hand to stop them "Deal"
The two friends shared a knowing glance, before turning back to the three men, "Are you sure 'My Prince?' we wish not to be a burden" Bee spoke slightly sarcastically, towards the elf before her.
He grimaced for a moment. "Yes, I am sure"
"Legolas!" Aragorn spoke sharply "May I speak with you for a moment?"
Legolas goes to his side. Aragorn draws close, keeping his voice low "What are you thinking? We can't afford to look after a random elf maiden and she-hobbit on our journey! We must move quickly and can't let anything slow us down!"
"I understand that Aragorn! But this isn't just a random elf maiden! This is the missing daughter of the Perianaya family! The Perianaya family has been very dear to me for as long as I can remember. My father and I were their chief comforters when Arquenniel went missing. I could not go home and face them, knowing I found the daughter their hearts have long ached for and just left her in the woods!"
Giving a growling sigh of frustration, Aragorn threw his hands up in the air. "Fine, fine! But they are your responsibility, not mine!" Legolas nodded quickly in agreement.
They returned to others finding the two women discussing something quietly to each other, both looking up at the men every few seconds as if seeing if they were listening.
"We should all get some rest, we will set off first light" Aragorn announced, turning to look directly at the she-elf and hobbit he sighed heavily. He shook his head wearily and set a blanket down on the ground.
"Gimli, you're on first watch tonight. Wake me in two hours" he ordered laying himself down on his blanket, closing his eyes tightly as if trying to wish away the very situation her was in.
Gimli went to the far side of the camp taking a seat on the side of tree. The two elves shared a glare before Bee headed off back towards her root, lifting herself up onto it followed closely by the clambering Celandine.
Legolas watched as they settled slightly before taking a seat up against a near-by tree, where he could keep an eye on the Perianaya heir. He could hardly believe he'd found her. Yet, he was not as happy as he thought he should be under the circumstances. Arquenniel was nothing like he expected, she did not even answer to Arquenniel anymore. But if he could bring her back to Mirkwood, if he could restore her family, he would.
Bee and Celandine sat quietly glancing around at the men around them.
"Ya nut really goin back with dat prack are ya?"
"No, of course not. But I'm perfectly content to let him believe that" the two laughed quietly to one another.
"why din't ya tell ma ye were a prancess?"
"Because I'm not! I left all of that behind, that's not me anymore"
"Well da pointy eared prack down der seems ta fink ya are" she stated dryly.
Bee rolled her eyes "That pointy eared prack as you call him can think whatever he likes. He could be Prince of the Orcs for all I care"
Their talk soon faded away as weariness set in. In a matter of minutes, the clearing was quiet.