AN: Hullo! how are you all? I am finally back on my usual update schedule! whoohoo! i want to say that when school starts again, I might not be able to keep to it, tho. I will probably try to stick to once every two weeks? Ill tell you guys more when we get to it.
thank you for the follows, favs and reviews! You make my day :)
the8horcrux: Im glad you think that! Also the Elladan mad thingie was inspired by what Jack Sparrow says in one of the movies. Oh sorry, I should say Captain Jack Sparrow. Anyways, hope you enjoy this chapter as well!
PrettyRecklessLaura: Hope you enjoy this! :)
MustardLady: Thank you for your kind words :) he now lives in my heart. As for Arwen, no she is not going to leave, but just like in the movies, she is nearly going to. This story is slightly AU but not all the way. As for poor Thrandy, I agree! enjoy :)
mystarlight: Thank you for reviewing al the other chapters! You have no idea how happy that makes me :)) Thank you very much for your kind words and I hope you like this chapter too! as for all your other questions... I promise they will be answered as we go along! There should be a lot revealed soon, so stay tuned!
. . . Chapter 12— Nimrodel . . .
For a moment, Alysae stood transfigured at the sight that unfolded before her. Never before had she seen anything so beautiful, not beheld any tree so majestic. Silver were their high trunks, and of golden their many leaves which glimmered in the sun. Their presence surrounded her like many silent sentinels, eternal guardians of the forest. Peace and security descended into the minds of the two elves and princess, and their worries and hardship seemed to dissipate like water evaporating into thin air.
Then, she sneezed.
The sound echoed into the woods and the twins besides her turned to look at her, their dark hair whipping the air sharply.
"I ab alright," she said before sneezing again. And again.
"You must have caught a nasty cold in that accursed mountain," said Elladan, reaching into his pack for something. He pulled out a handkerchief, but Elrohir had been quicker and was already giving his to Alysae. "You astound me, brother," Elladan said with a grin. "I'd never thought you to be so sensible."
"Oh bother," Elrohir rolled his eyes.
Alysae sneezed once more and blowed her nose as elegantly as she could. The two brothers were still staring at her and that made her somewhat uncomfortable.
"What?" She said. "Don't you have other things to do thad watch be sdeeze, like addoy each to possibly death and spare be the cobing headache which cobes frob bearing your constant presence?"
Elladan raised a hand to his chest in mock hurt. "You wound me, dear one! Never did I think that such fair face could hide such a vicious tongue! O I shall nurse my wounded heart and hope that you will find mercy to bestow me! Mercy!"
Alysae rolled her eyes. She hid another sneeze into Elrohir's handkerchief, her eyes closing shut reflexively. That was another reason why she hated the cold: it gave her a nasty chill.
When she opened her eyes again she noticed the twins still staring at her. She raised an eyebrow.
"You look like Estel when he is sick," grinned Elrohir.
"Your nose is all red and your eyes watery," added Elladan.
"This isn't fud!" Alysae snapped. Except that it kind of was, and the two elves burst out laughing. Alysae realized that her voice had sounded extremely nasal. She sighted, waiting for them to resume their laughter. "Are you quite dode?" she said with a scowl when they fell silent.
Elrohir opened his mouth to speak but was interrupted when Alysae sneezed. Twice. "Please cad you do sobething about it?" she moaned, blowing her nose. "I ab about to beet the bost powerful elleth od Arda while sdeezing everywhere!"
Elladan grinned. "Do not worry, I am sure that it won't be too embarrassing for you."
Alysae shot him a glare.
"Fine, fine!" he relented, holding up his hands. "I will try to help. Somewhat." He grinned.
"Elladad!" She snapped. "Your father is Lord Elrond, the best healer in Arda, and I ab sure that he at least taught you how to cure a sibple cold!"
"Keep calm, Alys," grinned Elladan. "That's the first step." Alysae growled in frustration and irritation, and her eyes flashed dangerously.
"All right," he amended with a roll of his eyes.
-xxx-
They resumed their walk, the twins insisting that there was a place which would help immensely with her recovery, and Alysae sneezing from times to times or blowing her nose. She was still suspicious, but they had assured her that it was all in good faith. The twins were so confusing, she thought to herself; one moment jesting and mocking and laughing, and the next completely serious.
Their horses advanced at a slow pace; the only sound in the woods the low thump of hooves against soil, or the scurrying of small animals in the branches overhead. Other than that it was silent. Silent like a cloudless summer sky or the morning after a heavy snowfall: relatively calm and tranquil, but at the same time a little tense, like the deep breath before the plunge, or the calm before the storm.
And Alysae was aware that she was being watched. It had started faint, like a distant feeling, a whisper at the edge of her consciousness. But now it felt like thousands of eyes pricking her everywhere, dragging cold fingers down her spine. She did not dare speak of it aloud but her entire attention was on her surroundings.
"Alysae..." a voice hissed in her mind.
She jumped, bringing Celeg to a halt, and scrambled in her saddle, looking wildly around.
"Alysae?" The twins has stopped and were looking back at her with identical frowns on their faces. "Are you well?" asked Elrohir.
Alysae's eyes darted around, throwing glances at the branches overhead before she turned her gaze back on the twins. "Yes," she attempted a weak smile. "Everything is fine."
They shrugged it off, and Elladan gestured for her to follow. "Come," he said, "we are nearly there."
They continued one for a few minutes and the sound of water trickling by could be heard. It grew steadily louder until they finally reached a great river, softly bubbling and gurgling, making its way through the the golden trees, winding like a pale ribbon around them.
"It is the Nimrodel," said Elladan. "It is said that its water remove any weariness, and heals small wounds. I am sure that it would help greatly in getting rid of your cold." Then he, and his brother, dismounted and began removing their boots.
Alysae did the same, hoping that it would work. She had heard about the river, how it was named after an elven maiden. Celeg snorted happily at being free, and wadded to the edge of the stream, nuzzling his nose in the water and drinking it.
While Alysae had been untightening Celeg's saddle, Elladan had taken a goblet out of his pack and filled it with the cool water of Nimrodel. He approached her, adding a fine green powder to the liquid. "Athelas powder!" he explained, catching her questioning eye. "Drink this." He handed her the goblet.
Alysae with a barely concealed grimace downed the content of the goblet in one go. Immediately a cool sensation seeped down her throat, into her stomach and spread to the rest of her body. She gave back the goblet and walked to the stream, barefoot. She dipped her toes in. The water was fresh and cool, and it seemed to revive her, take away the tightening in her muscles and the worries of the past.
She wadded in until she was knee high in the water.
"Better?" she heard Elrohir ask a few meters behind her.
She turned round with a wide smile. "I've never felt so good!"
He raised an eyebrow, and that is when she realized that her voice did not sound nasal anymore; although her nose felt a little tight. She let out a breath of relief.
There was a sound of splashing water as Elladan wadded over to them. "I feel quite content already!" he said, dipping his hands in the water.
Elrohir who had taken to observe the surrounding with an air of familiarity spoke in a low voice: "There is a song, an old one that we sing oft in Rivendell."
Then in a soft voice hardly to be heard amid the rustle of the leaves above them he began:
An Elven-maid there was of old,
A shining star by day:
Her mantle white was hemmed with gold,
Her shoes of silver-grey.
.
A star was bound upon her brows,
A light was on her hair
As sun upon the golden boughs
In Lorien the fair.
There Alysae joined him, her voice rising high and fair. For a moment, Elrohir stopped and gaped at her, for she had never sang in front of them before. But Alysae continued, her eyes lost among the golden branches about, in a far away place.
Her hair was long, her limbs were white,
And fair she was and free;
And in the wind she went as light
As leaf of linden-tree.
.
Beside the falls of Nimrodel,
By water clear and cool,
Her voice as falling silver fell
Into the shining pool.
.
Where now she wanders none can tell,
In sunlight or in shade;
For lost of yore was Nimrodel
And in the mountains strayed.
.
The elven-ship in haven grey
Beneath the mountain-lee
Awaited her for many a day
Beside the roaring sea.
.
A wind by night in Northern lands
Arose, and loud it cried,
And drove the ship from elven-strands
Across the streaming tide.
.
When dawn came dim the land was lost,
The mountains sinking grey
Beyond the heaving waves that tossed
Their plumes of blinding spray.
.
Amroth beheld the fading shore
Now low beyond the swell,
And cursed the faithless ship that bore
Him far from Nimrodel.
.
Of old he was an Elven-king,
A lord of tree and glen,
When golden were the boughs in spring
In fair Lothlorien.
.
From helm to sea they saw him leap,
As arrow from the string,
And dive into the water deep,
As mew upon the wing.
.
The wind was in his flowing hair,
The foam about him shone;
Afar they saw him strong and fair
Go riding like a swan.
.
But from the West has come no word,
And on the Hither Shore
No tidings Elven-folk have heard
Of Amroth evermore.
Her voice faltered, and the song ceased. "I cannot sing any more," she said. "That is but a part, for Legolas could not remember the rest."
The twins stared at her silently. Beneath the golden boughs, a light shining about her, her hair glowed softly and her eyes shined with the lights of the stars; the twins could not help but think about the Lady Nimrodel. For a few moments, Alysae truly looked like an elven-maiden of old.
But then, the moment passed; the glow receded, and a shadow came about Alysae's face. She once more looked tired and pale and frail.
They shook themselves out of their stupor. Elladan opened his mouth to say some sort of witty remark, but when he noticed the shining of unshed tears in her eyes, he closed it.
"Let us go," she said, turning away. She went back whence they came from and took hold of Celeg by the bridle. She wiped her eyes then turned back round. "Well? What are we waiting for?"
The twins took their horses and led them and they all crossed the river. On the other side of the river bank, they ate and drank aplenty. Then they mounted once more and continued their journey.
-xxx-
They had not advanced a quarter of an hour when a sharp voice called out: Daro!
Immediately the party from Rivendell stopped. A second later, many elves surrounded them, standing tall and proud, their hair fair, and their faces also. Although they had many weapons upon themselves, long shining blades at the hip and bows at their shoulders, none of them had brandished them.
"Mae govannen hir nin Elladan a Elrohir!" a voice said by their right. There an elf came striding forth; he was tall in stature, taller than his comrades, he was clad in shining mail and in his hand sat strength. Stern and proud was his face.
Looking at him, Alysae felt intimidated. He did not look very nice, although his face was rather handsome. But weren't all elves?
The twins came forward with smiles on their faces. "Ah, Haldir," said Elladan. "It has been a long time since we last encountered you."
"Indeed," Haldir said, then he clasped a hand to his chest in the traditional elven greeting. The twins did the same.
Haldir turned to Alysae, raising one eyebrow. "And who May that be?"
"This, Mellon," said Elrohir, "is Alysae Thranduiliel."
The Lorien elf inclined his head at her, and Alysae reflected the gesture. Then, he turned back to the blond elves, giving them quick orders. They melted back into the trees except for one.
"You may leave your horses with Gilion," said Haldir. Alysae frowned in mild confusion; why did they need to get off their horses? But seeing as the dark haired twins dismounted without a word of objection, Alysae quickly followed their example. She had barely the time to caress the side of Celeg's face and plant a kiss there before the elf named Gilion was there, waiting at her side; Elladan's and Elrohir's horses were standing next to him.
"You are in safe hands, Mellon," she murmured in Celeg's soft ear. The stallion snorted and bumped his nose against her shoulder. When Gilion took hold of the reins, the horse diligently followed the elf, although somewhat reluctantly. The three horses and elf quickly vanished from sight, seeming to melt with the surrounding trees.
Alysae stretched her muscles a bit. The walk in the river Nimrodel had truly revived her, and had given her new strength; it's healing and soothing properties had not been exaggerated.
"Ready to go?"
Alysae turned round from where she had watched Celeg go, to see Haldir and Elladan and Elrohir all looking at her. She blushed. And then attempted to conceal it with a quick nod of her head. If that isn't embarrassing...she thought.
They walked again, following the tall Lorien elf, Elladan and Elrohir absorbed in conversation with him. Alysae followed silently behind. To say that she was disappointed was to say the least: she did not know why, perhaps it had been foolish of her, but she had expected Lothlorien to be... more than this. These woods were beautiful —that Alysae could not deny— but they were eerie and quiet, and so far, very... simple. Besides the Lorien elves did not seem overly kind. They made Alysae uncomfortable and tense with their stern faces with not a single emotion flickering inside their eyes. Even Haldir —who had just chuckled quietly at a joke the Elrondions had said— did not feel entirely so open. He was reserved. And this was something very unusual for Alysae. The Rivendell elves were very open and laughing, the ones of Greenwood were not as jovial but they tended to know how to have a good laugh in the rough times that were now.
To be frank, Alysae honestly thought that she could slip away quietly and no one would notice. Not even the twins.
She sighted and nearly fell as she stumbled on a protruding root. She caught herself in time. Why did this always happen to her?
"Are you all right?" said a voice quietly besides her. Alysae looked up into the soft silver eyes of Elrohir. How she could always manage to tell the two apart, remained a mystery even to her. It had infuriated the twins to no end when they could not play the "Guess who's Elrohir and who's Elladan?" game on her. But all she could say had always been: "I don't know! You two look the same but you feel different." And no matter how many times they had tried to get her to explain what she meant, she'd shake her head and repeat, "you feel different, and that's all I can explain."
Now, Alysae nodded. "Good as new."
"You did not look as if you were enjoying the very enjoyable trip on foot thought the very magnificent woods of my grandparents," he said with a smile. Alysae realized that she had been scowling while thinking, which explained Elrohir's reasoning.
"Oh you mean the absolute wonderful journey in which my feet would gladly trip over basically anything that sticks from the ground, in order for me to enjoy kissing this very magnificent soil?"
Elrohir laughed. "That did not make much sense at all."
"When do I ever?"
He opened his mouth to say something when he stopped abruptly. Alysae looked up and noticed Haldir and Elladan waiting for them. The Lorien elf had his arms crossed and did not look particularly pleased. But then was he ever?
Alysae noticed for the first time that they stood on the bank of a large river, so grand that it would need a bridge to cross. Its dark waters swirled and foamed, hitting against rocks as it wound downwards. The other side seemed to be about twenty meters across; too large a distance to swim, even if swimming was ever an option in this treacherous river.
She was about to say something, preferably about how they were going to cross those dangerous waters when Haldir beat her up to it.
"We cannot cross those waters on foot for they are immensely cold and churning," he said. "We used to have bridges there but we took them down when the menace of Orcs from the mountains became more imminent."
"Then how do you cross now?" the words blurted out of her mouth. Haldir shot her a look of annoyance at being cut off.
"We use ropes," he continued, ignoring her questioning look. "My brother Rumil is on the other side—" Alysae glanced at where he was gesturing, and sure enough an elf with hair that glimmered golden waved at them from afar "—we attach three ropes on either sides; one for the feet, one knee high and one for the hands. Although," his eyes shifted to where Alysae was standing, "I am sure that the knee high rope will suffice for handholds for you."
The twins burst out laughing while Alysae spluttered. "A joke about my height? How very original!" She grumbled and scowled at the Marchwarden.
A hint of a smile was about his face, so very faint that Alysae thought she had imagined it. She wanted to slap him, but she knew that she could not do it (much to her chagrin); if her father ever learnt of such behavior it would go ill for her. So she raised her chin and kept her head high. "Well? Are we waiting for nightfall to cross this river?" she scowled.
Elladan patted her head, messing up the blonde curls there. She glared at him with such venom in her usual merry blue eyes, that the dark haired elf took a step back. "All right, all right!" He raised his hands up in a gesture of peace. With one last wink, he turned round and ran lightly on the rope that Haldir and his brother had just secured while they had been talking. Elladan did not even use the hand rope and did not falter once. Alysae shook her head. Stupid elves with their perfect balance!
"Do you want me to go first?" Elrohir asked her as he noticed her staring into the churning waters.
"Nay, I'm fine," she assured him. "I only hope that I won't fall off."
Elrohir frowned. "Are you afraid?"
She shook her head. "I am not afraid of heights, nor of falling."
"Then what are you afraid of?"
"Of leaving without saying goodbye," she admitted quietly, her voice so soft it could be mistaken for the whipser of the wind. Her eyes grew large and sad, and a thousand emotions swirled inside their depths. Then, not wanting to see his expression, she turned away and stepped onto the rope, leaving him to ponder her words, her fingers gripping the hand rope above her head. Her progress was slow but steady, and several times she almost felt like she was about the slip off, but she managed it easily enough.
Once she was safely on the other side, Elrohir and Haldir ran over the rope as if running over a flat surface.
"Hullo!" said the elf who Haldir had named Rumil. He had a pleasant face: his young eyes shone, and a smile was about him, giving him a more approachable air than the other Lorien elves. Briefly, Alysae wondered how on earth Haldir and Rumil could be related.
"Well met," she smiled at him. He smiled back.
Then he turned to his brother who had just arrived. "Oi!" he said. "I'll see you soon, brother dear!" Then he ran lightly on the rope, back to the way they had arrived. Haldir detached the ropes on their sides and let them dangle, while Rumil pulled them his way. Then he took them off and slung them over his shoulder. With a last wave in their direction he turned away and soon disappeared.
"Let us go!" called Haldir. They set off again, and the air seemed suddenly warmer and more welcoming.
After a while they arrived at a hill where many yellow and white flowers dotted the green grass. The hills of Ceril Amroth. Alysae picked a a yellow flower from the ground and admired its design: it was shaped in the likes of a star, glimmering faintly in the dimming light.
"Elanor," said Elrohir softly besides her. She looked up at him surprised. He seemed to materialize next to her like a haunting ghost. "Sun star."
"Oh I've heard of them!" Alysae said with a smile. "Or well I read it rather. They say it only grows in here. And besides them, the white ones, they're niphredil, right?"
Elrohir chuckled. "Indeed, bookworm."
"I'm not a worm! They are dirty and horrible and terrifying. I like to think of myself as an avid intellectual individual. Although I suppose you don't know what that means, do you?" She glanced at him mischievously.
He laughed. "Whatever you say, bookworm."
She huffed and crossed her arms.
-xxx-
The sun had began to sink and all was basked in a warm glow; soft whispers of wind tickled their cheeks and wound their ways around them. Faint voices reached their ears, singing gently like many silver bells ringing down on them. They had reached great stairs which ran up, up round a large silver trunk; it was so high that Alysae could not see what was at the end of those stairs.
They began walking them.
Alysae's eyes were wide with wonder as she looked around her, from the silver railing that curled round, to the pale stones beneath her feet; everything was marvelous.
After a while —Alysae could not know how much time had passed since they had started climbing the stairs— the voices grew louder and clearer, and the light of the setting sun dimmer, although a white glow was about them.
Finally they had arrived to a large platform, a talan, which spread among the many branches of the trees. There was no railing, nor a border or fence or wall; there was no way to stop their fall should they trip. Or well, should Alysae trip.
The chant grew louder still, but not any less enchanting, and it felt like being awake in some pleasant dream. There were a few elves walking around, garbed all in white and silver or gold.
Alysae was so busy craning her neck this way and that in order to see as much as she could, that she did not hear the elf announcing the Lord Celeborn and the Lady Galadriel. There was a white light, and from there two figures emerged. One was dressed in silver, and had long hair of nearly the same color; the other, a female elf, had hair that glimmered golden and her dress shimmered in white. They were tall, the woman no less than the man, and both their eyes shone with the light of the stars, and their faces seemed ageless and kind.
Alysae gasped. Never before had she seen any beings more ethereal than them. Elrohir and Elladan were already striding up front. They bowed slightly and were embraced by their grandparents. Their ebony hair contrasted with the fair one of the rulers of Lorien.
They spoke quietly amongst themselves, before Elrohir gestured to her and said, "This is Alysae Thranduiliel and she shall be staying here for a while."
Galadriel turned to her, and her eyes widened in shock and her mouth parted. Alysae blinked.
Then, the lady elf's face smoothed back in a kind expression, but not before she had said four words —words which she had not said, not really; more like spoken in her mind if that was ever possible— words which had filled Alysae with dread, and had brought her entire world crashing down— a second time since setting off from Mirkwood.
"You should be dead."
-xxx-
Mae govannen hir nin Elladan a Elrohir!" - Well met Lords Elladan and Elrohir!
Mellon- friend
Daro! - Halt!
Tell me what you think!