Chapter 3
The Fellowship ran from the room filled with slain orcs and goblins and back into the corridor they had recently passed through. Adrianna gasped as the feeling of darkness overcame her once more but this time much, much stronger. The Fellowship couldn't run very far, as it wasn't until they were in the centre of the room that they found themselves surrounded by goblins. More creatures continuing to swarm out of holes in the stone ceiling, like a horde of wasps.
The Fellowship created a circle, guarding the Hobbits in the centre, everyone pulling out their weapons and pointing the tips of their blades and arrows at the creatures. Adrianna turned to Gandalf, "You know what this darkness is don't you?" She stated, more of an accusation than a question.
Gandalf nodded, and then a thud reached everyone's ears. The goblins wailed and cried before dispersing back into the cracks and crevices of the walls and in the ceiling. A golden, fiery glow appeared from the opposite corridor to them, and Gandalf's eyes darkened. "The Balrog." He stated. "This foul demon is no match for any of you. Run!" And flee they did, down narrow staircases and paths, dodging arrows fired by orcs and goblins as they ran whilst being careful not fall off the side of the staircases and plunge into the seemingly never-ending darkness below them.
Adrianna and Legolas jumped over the gap in the floor and turned around to help the others across. "Gandalf!" Legolas held his hand out, and helped the old wizard jump over the gap, and Adrianna helped steady Samwise as Boromir tossed him across.
"Not the beard!" Adrianna turned to see Legolas pulling the dwarf to safety by the end of his ginger beard.
Boromir tucked Merry and Pippin under each of his arms before he jumped across the gap, causing the edge of the stairs to crumble and fall. Frodo and Aragorn barely managed to stay on the stairs as it fell forwards and crashed into the rocky bridge everyone else was standing on. They jumped to safety and the Fellowship ran off as the stairs crumbled into the pit of blackness underneath them. Legolas drew his bow and fired some arrows at attacking goblins just before the Fellowship ran over a narrow bridge.
Adrianna shifted into her fairy form - not trusting her footing on the narrow bridge. As she flew to the other side if the bridge, she was soon joined by Legolas and Aragorn, and finally Boromir and the four Hobbits. Gandalf stood halfway along the bridge to meet the Balrog head on. He raised his staff and his sword together and growled at the demon, "You shall not pass!" He struck the bridge in front of him with his weapons, and a silver line ran across the path in front of his feet.
The Balrog cracked a flaming whip, and the Fellowship watched on in bewilderment as the bridge underneath the demon collapsed beneath him, casting him into the darkness below the bridge. Gandalf turned back to the Fellowship and took a few weary steps...but then the crack of the whip echoed around the cave once again as the flaming end wrapped around Gandalf's ankle, and pulled him down. The wizard hung onto the edge for dear life, and as Adrianna ran forwards - Legolas held her back.
"Gandalf!" Frodo cried, fighting Boromir who was restraining him.
The old wizard looked up and shot them a frightened, yet powerful glance. "Fly, you fools!" And then he dropped off the edge of the bridge, plunging into the darkness below.
It was a struggle to get everyone out of the Mines of Moria. Legolas had to half-carry the Faye as Boromir threw Frodo over his shoulder. Merry and Pippin were encouraged onwards by Aragorn whilst Sam ran out as fast as he could with Gimli bumbling behind him. Grief struck the remaining nine of the Fellowship as soon as they reached the refreshing outdoor air.
Adrianna shifted into her fairy form and flew towards the plants, perching herself on a leaf as she cradled her knees to her chest, tears pouring down her face at the loss of a dear friend. Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin broke down, receiving comfort from one another.
"Get them up." Aragorn stated, "We must move forward."
"Give them a moment for pity's sake!" Boromir reasoned, gesturing to the four hobbits, still in tears.
"By nightfall these hills will be swarming with orcs!" Aragorn yelled, "We must reach the woods of Lothlorien! Come, Boromir, Legolas, Gimli - get them up! On your feet, Sam." The Ranger turned around, searching for the missing member of the Fellowship. "Where is Adrianna?" He asked himself.
Legolas overheard him and looked around as he pulled Sam to his feet. "Come, Frodo!" The blonde elf called to the hobbit. The Prince then looked around for the faye and saw her sitting quietly on a leaf. "Aragorn, she's over there."
Strider looked to where the elf was pointing before making his way towards the fairy. He knelt down beside the faye and held out the palm of his hand, "Come, Ade." He stated, waiting patiently for the faye to compose herself. Adrianna sniffed before stepping onto his hand, drying her eyes as she did so. Aragorn popped her onto his shoulder before making sure everyone was ready, once they were, they made their way across the rocks and towards grassy plains, and into Lothlorien forest.
Aragorn lead the company as they exhaustingly stumbled on in the fading light. They walked quietly through the shimmer of a large forest for a few hours, all of them tired yet not willing to rest until they knew they were safe, "Aragorn?" Adrianna whispered, "This might sound strange but...I can't feel anything."
"What do you mean?" He asked, turning to look at the faye walking beside him.
"I think these woods are safe." She replied, smiling slightly. "Or at least...they are for the moment." She turned around to make sure everyone was following and just caught the last part of Gimli's sentence.
"I have the eyes of a hawk and the ears of a fox." Adrianna rolled her eyes and turned around, stopping suddenly when an arrow was pointed at her midriff.
"The dwarf breathes so loud we could've shot him in the dark." A blonde elf stated, he then turned to look at the rest of the Fellowship.
"Haldir of Lorien, we come here for your help." Aragorn stated, "We need your protection."
"Aragorn!" Gimli exclaimed in warning. "These woods are perilous. We should go back!"
"You have entered the realm of the Lady of the Wood. You cannot go back." Haldir's eyes locked on Frodo "Come, she is expecting you."
They followed the elves through the trees for an hour before arriving at a beautiful elven city, it reminded Adrianna of the Glade of Tarasara - but more graceful and golden than delicate and silver. She accidently flew into the elf that was leading them, and she was quick to apologise and hide sheepishly upon Aragorn's shoulder. The Fellowship looked up in awe at the beautiful elf maiden descending the grand staircase before them.
Her hair was gold, long and curly, and her dress was silver - making her almost seem as though she shined like a bright, beautiful lantern.
Adrianna felt jealousy swarm over her about how beautiful this woman was, and she looked her over again and again to find something that wasn't to perfection. But upon finding none, she sat upon Aragorn's shoulder and sulked.
"Welcome." Her voice was deep and dreamy. "I am Galadriel, Lady of the Golden Wood." She spread her arms towards her elven city. "I have been expecting you for a while now, I saw you arriving." She looked at Frodo, as if she was reading his mind.
"We have come for sanctuary." Aragorn stated.
"I know why you're here." The woman replied, "And who you are." She turned around and walked halfway up the stairs she had recently descended from. "And all about your quest to Mordor." She then turned to the elf that had led the Fellowship and nodded to him.
"I am Haldir." He stated, "Captain of the Galadhrim." He gestured for the Fellowship to follow him. "Come, I will take you where you may rest, and I will have someone bring you food."
Adrianna looked around at the city with wide, wondrous eyes. Never in her life had she seen somewhere so beautiful and magnificent. Although she had been to Rivendell before, she had never been anywhere else, and she knew that the four hobbits were thinking the exact same thing as they had never left the Shire before.
Aragorn suddenly stopped walking, and Adrianna almost toppled off his shoulder. They had arrived at their camp where tents had been set up for them; five in total. Haldir then turned to Frodo, "The Lady of the Wood would like to see you." He stated, gesturing for Frodo to follow him.
As the hobbit left, the rest of the Fellowship settled down in their camp. Adrianna floated off of Aragorn's shoulder and grew into her elf-like size. She ran a hand through her dry chestnut hair before turning around and coming face to face with a dark haired elleth, who was speaking too her in a language she didn't understand. Most probably elvish.
"What?" Adrianna asked the elleth.
"She wants you to follow her." Legolas stated as he passed the faye on the stairs, being led out of the camp by another elf. Adrianna nodded to Legolas with gratitude before smiling at the elleth and following her up a flight of wooden stairs and disappearing into one of the small huts in the trees.
Aragorn unbuckled his sheath from his belt and placed it beside the tent he would be sharing with Legolas. The Prince had also been taken away by another elf - as had Boromir and two of the hobbits. Gimli, Sam and Aragorn sat around a golden fire and as Boromir, Merry and Pippin returned bathed and in clean clothes, the dwarf, man and remaining hobbit left to go and get cleaned up and it wasn't long until Legolas returned and joined half of the Fellowship back at the camp.
As Frodo walked back to the camp after his meeting with Lady Galadriel and his bathe, he accidentally ran into someone. He apologised quickly before looking up and smiling in relief when it was someone he knew.
Adrianna smiled, "Don't worry - I was in a daze aswell." She admitted as they descended the stairs. The elleth had allowed her to bathe, and had given her a long green dress to wear whilst her legging's, blouse and waistcoat were being cleaned. Her long chestnut hair had been plaited over her left shoulder, and she looked radiant.
They made their way down the stairs and into the camp, where the rest of the Fellowship were eating food brought by the elves of Lorien. They sat down and ate and once they had finished, everyone sat around the camp-fire, silently talking to one another.
"What's it like in the Shire?" Adrianna asked the Hobbits, taking a seat on the floor between Merry and Pippin.
"It's home." Merry smiled, "We get up to a lot of mischief whilst we're there."
Pippin nodded eagerly, "Oh yes! Farmer Maggot hasn't caught us yet!" The hobbit laughed and turned to look at the faye. "We take food from him." Pippin explained. "Sam and Frodo listen out for him and the dogs, I remember one time when we went without them - Merry almost got bit on his bottom!"
Adrianna laughed and turned to the unfortunate hobbit, "You need elf ears for that kind of thing." She stated. "You'd be able to get away much sooner."
"What about your home?" Merry asked.
"Yeah!" Pippin agreed. "What's it like in The Glade of Tarasara?"
Adrianna sighed as she reminisced about times she'd spent at home when she was a child. "I remember when I tried to take something... it didn't go to plan." She chuckled, "My brother appeared with a wooden sword, and chased me around the entire market!"
"What did you try to take? We always go for the food." Merry asked, Pippin nodded enthusiastically at the mention of food.
"A flower, a Sweet Pea." Adrianna replied, looking bashful. "It's my favourite."
"We need to train you up for this kind of thing!" Pippin stated, "You should come to the Shire one day."
Adrianna nodded, "I've never been away from home before now - only to Rivendell. You are the first hobbits I've seen before; Aragorn was the first man and Gimli was the first dwarf."
"We'd not been out of the Shire before now." Merry stated, "We'd only known Gandalf. Everyone else here was the first of their race we've met. Except Aragorn... there are men in The Prancing Pony all the time."
"Why had you not been out of the Shire?" Adrianna asked. "Were you not allowed to go?"
Pippin shrugged, "Don't know really. We've always wanted to travel and have an adventure - so did Frodo and Sam. And here we are!" He splayed his arms out wide. "The furthest we've been from home, and planning to go even further!"
"What about you?" Merry asked. "Were you not allowed to travel anywhere?"
Adrianna shook her head, "My father wouldn't allow me to go. My brother was allowed from a young age, but only if he went with the guards." She sighed, "I had to stay at home."
"But here you are now!" The hobbit chuckled, "And going further!" The faye laughed again and then the hobbits decided to retire for the evening. They went into their tents; Frodo and Sam in one and Merry and Pippin in another.
Adrianna then looked up at the stars, tilting her head to the side in wonder. They were more beautiful here in these woods than she had ever seen before. The tree tops had parted, and the midnight sky clear from the wispy clouds, the stars shone silver, like the fairy lights on the trees in the Glade of Tarasara.
Legolas then came to sit beside the faye, "They're beautiful, aren't they?." He asked. Adrianna nodded and smiled in reply before turning back to look up at them. "I overheard Merry and Pippin talking about training you." Legolas stated, "For what?" He asked. "Surely it can't be fighting?"
Adrianna laughed, "To steal. They don't think I'm up to it."
"They're a bad influence on you, Ade." Legolas chuckled. "You should persuade them to get a new hobby."
The faye turned to look at the elf, "And what would you suggest?" She asked, "I don't think they'd enjoy picking flowers."
"You never know." Legolas stated, getting to his feet. "They might do." He turned towards his tent. "You should get some rest, Ade." He stated. "We're leaving tomorrow at first light."
As the Fellowship prepared to leave the safety of Lothlorien, they were given food and bedding supplies, along with some gifts given to them by the Lady Galadriel herself.
"To Aragorn, son of Arathorn." Galadriel handed him a green stone set in silver, and a beautiful silver scabbard for his sword. "And to Boromir, son of the Steward of Gondor." She presented him with a beautiful leather belt with a silver buckle. "Peregrin Took, and Meriadoc Brandybuck." She also handed them a new belt each, but the buckle was of a golden leaf, along with two smaller scabbards. "Samwise Gamgee." She presented him with a small pouch of Mallorn seeds and a small silver box of earth from her very own garden, along with a silver, elven rope with magical properties. "Prince Legolas of Mirkwood." She smiled at the elf and handed him a beautiful short, stout bow of the Galadhrim.
The Lady frowned as she reached the Dwarf, "What can I present to you, Gimli, son of Gloin?" She asked. The Dwarf blushed and bashfully asked for one lock of her golden hair. Kindly, the Lady cut three for him, which the Dwarf thankfully took. "Princess Adrianna of the Glade of Tarasara." The Lady of the Wood smiled at the chestnut haired faye before reaching forwards to place a silver leaf clip in her plaited hair, and then gently kissed her forehead.
Frodo received the Phial of Galadriel, a small crystal bottle holding a mesmerising white light, "Use wisely, young Frodo." She stated, before placing a kiss upon his forehead. "There are three boats at the edge of the lake." The Lady stated, turning to face the entire Fellowship. "Take them. They are at your disposal, and I pray that the Valar will watch over you for the remainder of your journey. Farewell."
The Fellowship made their way towards the lake, and quickly got into the boats. Legolas, Gimli and Adrianna got into the first one, Aragorn, Frodo and Sam into the second and finally Boromir, Merry and Pippin in the third. It wasn't a very long journey, for they reached the shore of Amon Hen. They set up a camp, and took their belongings out of the boats, before sitting down as Gimli went to go and collect some firewood.
"You didn't tell us you were a Princess, Ade." Merry stated as he and Pippin looked at the faye with wonder.
Adrianna smiled shyly from her place beside Aragorn and Sam, "I didn't." She fingered the silver clip in her hair. "It's nice when people treat you as an equal."
"I feel the same." Legolas stated from his place beside the dark haired hobbit.
"I'd love to be royalty!" Pippin exclaimed. "I wouldn't have to lift a finger!"
"And," Merry added, "You'd be able to do what you want."
Legolas and Adrianna shook their heads. "We have a kingdom to protect." Legolas stated.
"All work and no play." The faye added.
"No way!" The hobbits chorused, chuckling.
"Tutors." Adrianna stated.
"Dancing and Balls." Legolas added.
Merry and Pippin looked wary, "Perhaps not. But I bet you get a lot of attention." Merry stated, "I bet you get a lot of swooning elleths, Legolas." The hobbit chuckled, "And I can guarantee you have a suitor, Ade." Legolas smiled and shook his head as he ran his hand along his Galadhrim bow and looked up once the hobbits snorted with laughter.
"And Princess's are usually spoilt." Pippin added.
Adrianna was looking very red faced. From anger, embarrassment or both, no one knew.
The faye quickly got to her feet upon noticing that someone was missing, "Where's Frodo?" She asked.
Aragorn's smile dropped from his face and he grabbed his sword, "Boromir's gone too. I'll go and look for them."
Missing the opportunity for an escape, Adrianna turned to look at the two hobbits who were staring at her with mischievous looks in their eyes, sitting across the camp fire from her, just to the right of Legolas and the left of Gimli. "What?" She asked. "Yes, my father spoils me, alright?"
"Told you." Pippin stated to Merry.
Sam rolled his eyes at his friends and smiled to himself. He was more than positive that they had made a bet over who could be the first to anger the faye would win something. "You two had better be careful." Sam warned them. "You know what Aragorn said about-" He glanced at the faye before covering his mouth with his hand and mouthing the rest of his sentence to Merry and Pippin. "-Her temper!"
Merry and Pippin exchanged glances and shrugged, "What's with the blush, Princess?" Merry grinned.
"Don't tease the poor lass." Gimli chuckled from his seat on a log as he took a drag from his pipe.
Adrianna stood up and turned to the trees, shivering. "Something dark approaches." She stated.
Legolas also got to his feet, "Thundering footsteps...heavy armour and swords." He looked around at the three hobbits, the faye and Gimli. "Uruk-Hai." He grabbed his bow and led everyone into the trees, right after telling the hobbits to go and hide. As they ran further into the woods, Adrianna saw some of the Uruk-Hai running off in the direction the hobbits had gone in. She took off after them, slipping away from Legolas and Gimli.
She drew her bow as she saw Boromir battling alone, and came to his aid. The Gondorian looked up for a moment to see who had come to help him before going back to the battle. As more Uruk's came, Adrianna unsheathed her sword and changed into her fairy form to fly down the hill over the heads of the Uruk's, dodging blades as she made her way towards Boromir.
Adrianna hadn't predicted the sweeping motion of a black, rusty lamp. She fell onto her back once her small frame hit the glass panel in front of her. "Hey!" She shouted, attacking the glass in an attempt to break free. "Let me out!"
"I got a fairy!" One of the Uruk's roared, earning a few roars of excitement from his followers.
"Find the Halflings!" The powerful voice of the leader roared. Adrianna kept hammering on the glass of the lamp as the Uruk that had her captive began to run in the direction of Merry and Pippin. The faye looked for a way out, but couldn't tell which panel of glass was the door! She kicked and punched - knowing that she would get bruises on her hands - but she didn't care. She had to get out and save the hobbits!
"I demand that you release me!"
She watched Merry and Pippin run out of their hiding place and call for the Uruk's attention, and as the evil forces took off down the hill after the hobbits, Adrianna turned to see that they had risked their lives for Frodo, who was hiding behind a tree; his eyes filled with fear. Momentarily she stopped what she was doing as realisation struck her like lightening...Frodo was going to leave!
The lamp suddenly jolted and she banged her head on glass, and black spots began to cloud her vision, she barely managed to see Sam find his hobbit friend and Boromir fall to his knees before she unwillingly surrendered to the blackness, and passed out.
A/N: I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful Boxing Day :)
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