Mysterious Fate
By Cormak
Disclaimer: The original characters from Lord of the Rings belong to their respective owners. New characters belong to me, especially Kaitlyn. This story was written for fan enjoyment and not profit.
Reviews are always welcome. I especially like constructive criticism. Flames are not welcome and will be ignored. Any additional author's notes may be found at the end of each chapter I post.
Special thanks to my beta Scattered Logic for listening to ideas and helping me to figure out where this story was going.
Chapter 6: Unjustifiable Fear
Sleep seemed to give the Fellowship a renewed sense of purpose. Though their hearts still grieved for the loss of Gandalf, they knew of what they had to do, all except the woman who traveled with them.
Kaitlyn continued to remain confused and withdrawn. She would speak if spoken to but she usually only conversed with Aragorn and even their conversations were limited. She also had a problem sleeping and would often spend the night tossing and turning or just gazing at the stars.
Aragorn pushed the group hard as he wanted to be in Lothlorien as soon as possible. There were three more days of walking and running over mixed terrain in good and bad weather.
On the third day he pushed the group particularly hard for he wanted to reach Lothlorien before the sun fell from the sky.
Aragorn and Legolas stopped running as they entered a forest. Leaves fell from the trees and an eerie silence was heard.
"Why are we stopping?" Kaitlyn asked, although relieved. Her lungs burned and her legs and body ached. The only reason she had kept going was the will to live. She kept telling herself that those monsters from Moria would find her and kill her if she didn't keep going. She was also stubborn and proud. She was quite aware that she was the only female and Boromir would taunt her to no end if she did not keep up.
"We are here." Aragorn said simply.
Kaitlyn frowned as she looked at the surrounding forest. What was so great about this place? It looked like all the other woods she had seen in this land.
As the group went deeper into the woods, Kaitlyn felt her heart begin to pound in her chest. It was deathly silent save for the wind rustling leaves. She felt like something was going to jump out and grab her. Aragorn said that elves lived here. But were they friendly elves?
"Stay close, young hobbits," Gimli said to the halflings. He drew Frodo close to him. "They say that a great sorceress lives in these woods. And elf-witch of terrible power."
Kaitlyn's eyes widened at his words. An elf-witch? What was Aragorn leading them into?
"All who look upon her will fall under her spell," Gimli continued.
Frodo glanced around in surprise, his eyes wide.
"…and are never seen again," the dwarf finished.
Frodo halted his eyes still wide, his breathing quickened.
"Mr. Frodo?" Sam asked in concern.
Frodo gazed back at his friend with a sigh, looked forward and continued walking.
"Well, here's one dwarf she won't ensnare so easily. I have the eyes of a hawk and the ears of a fox," Gimli boasted.
A creaking was heard and Gimli's eyes widened as two arrows were pointed into his face. One by one, each member of the Fellowship realized that they were not alone.
Arrows surrounded even Legolas, who was an elf.
"The dwarf breaths so loud we could have shot him in the dark."
Gimli growled as a fair-haired elf stepped forward to stand in front of Aragorn.
Kaitlyn stood completely still, fearing that if she even breathed she might be shot. But her curiosity got the better of her and her eyes roamed freely. The elves were all fair like Legolas. Blond hair cascaded down their shoulders and backs; they had light eyes and were dressed in robes. As beautiful as they appeared, they were also very dangerous. Her heart was thundering in her chest and her fear rose to new heights.
"Haldir of Lorien." Aragorn said with a bow.
Aragorn spoke to him in Elvish.
"Aragorn, these woods are perilous! We should go back." Gimli said and he glanced at all the elves around him, obviously uncomfortable with this situation.
"You have entered the realm of the Lady of the Wood. You cannot go back. " Haldir glanced at the group, his eyes falling upon Kaitlyn for a moment. She held his glance wondering why he was staring at her so intensely. Then he looked at Frodo and his brows rose as his gaze became even more intense.
"Come. She is waiting."
The elves lowered their weapons and the group walked single file. They traveled through the forest and as they neared the top of a hill, Kaitlyn nearly forgot about how scared she was. The sun was setting far off in the distance. The view was breathtaking and for a moment it eased her. Her ease was short lived as the group continued on toward the heart of Lothlorien.
The trees in the woods looked larger and larger as the group traveled deeper into them. Kaitlyn realized they easily dwarfed the giant redwoods and sequoias of the Northwest. Amazing structures were built upon the giant trees and they took Kaitlyn and the hobbit's breath away.
Haldir, as Aragorn had called him, lead the group up a staircase, which reached toward the top of a tree. Statues and engravings were seen. It was incredibly dark in the woods and yet light shone from places. Beautiful white light.
Some elves who stood on balconies of the great trees watched the group ascend the stairs. At their peak was a large space with intricate designs. White light filled this place as well. It was breathtaking, but not as breathtaking as the sight of a Lady in white with long wavy blond hair that descended a small staircase with an elf male beside her.
All eyes were on her.
The hobbits were amazed by her beauty, her grace. Aragorn bowed his head and put his hand to his head in some sort of greeting or sign of respect. Frodo stood looking at her intently.
The male elf began to speak, his eyes roaming and glancing at each member of the group. "Nine there are here but not the original nine that set out from Rivendell. Tell me, where is Gandalf, for I much desire to speak to him."
"He has fallen into shadow," the lady said softly. Her voice was beautiful, like singing, yet she was not singing a happy song. Her voice was full of grief.
A few members of the group fidgeted nervously. Kaitlyn was among them.
"The quest stands upon the edge of a knife. Stray but a little and it will fail to the ruin of all." She looked at Boromir who was shaking visibly. He lowered his eyes from hers unable to look at her.
She then glanced at Sam. "Yet hope remains while company is true."
She glanced at Kaitlyn who sucked in a breath. There was something about this elf woman that frightened Kaitlyn and it was not the fact that her presence commanded respect.
"Do not let your hearts be troubled." She said while looking at Kaitlyn. "Go now and rest for you are weary with trouble and much toil. Tonight you will sleep among us in safety."
Her eyes fell upon Frodo and widened after a moment. The hobbit stared back at her and it seemed as if they were lost in some private conversation without words.
The male elf that stood beside her made a gesture and several elves dressed in robes stepped from the side to escort the group. Frodo and the Lady held eye contact for a long while before Frodo stepped in place with the others.
The group had been given space to rest under white tents. Blankets, fine food, new clothing if they desired it and what interested Kaitlyn the most was the hot bath she received. She had seen herself in the reflection of the bath water and had been horrified. Her hair had been tangled and snarled, her face was dirty and grimy. She had looked worse than her companions had.
After a bath she was transformed and when she joined the group wearing a soft silky silver gown, the men gave her a double take.
"There is actually a woman who lurks under the strange other worldly clothes. My lady." Aragorn teased with a bow as she entered the camp.
Kaitlyn didn't know what got into her but she impulsively picked up a grape from the silver tray that was resting on a tree stump and threw it at Aragorn. She felt horrified after she did it, realizing this was Aragorn and not one of her friends from college.
He narrowly missed being hit by the plump fruit and gave a short laugh. The sound of his merriment made Kaitlyn's heart skip a beat.
The light banter did not last long as singing filled the air several moments later and it brought sadness to the group. It reminded them of their quest, of who they had lost along the way and any sacrifices they had made.
Legolas was returning with a pitcher of water that he had filled from one of the fountains. He had changed into a silver tunic and leggings from his usual green tunic and was devoid of his usual weaponry. He was lost in thought as he moved.
Kaitlyn glanced at him freely while his eyes and mind were elsewhere. While she had been here she had not realized how stunning the men she traveled with were. She had been too busy fighting for her life, running or missing home. Cleaned up here in Lothlorien they were handsome men.
She pulled her mind away from such thoughts and noticed that the hobbits were settling themselves. They had pillows and blankets, full stomachs and were clean. The elves had been gracious hosts.
"A lament for Gandalf," Legolas whispered gazing up into the trees.
Frodo stiffened slightly where he sat in the corner against a tree.
"What do they say about him?" Merry asked.
"I do not have the heart to tell you." Legolas replied looking at the hobbit. "For me the grief is still too near." His voice was pained and Merry did not question him any further.
Sam tried his best to make his own tribute to Gandalf and when it didn't come out the way he had hoped, he sagged to the ground feeling defeated.
Kaitlyn's eyes followed Legolas as he replaced the full pitcher on the tree stump that served as a table in the center of the camp. He went to his own tent and sat cross-legged. He must have felt her stare upon him because he looked over at her.
Kaitlyn quickly looked away.
Legolas frowned and felt more sadness. The mortal woman still feared him.
Aragorn walked over to Boromir who had isolated himself from the group. He sat on a large root of a tree beside a fountain.
"Take some rest." Aragorn told Boromir. "These borders are well protected."
"I will find no rest here."
Aragorn turned to look at him in surprise. Boromir was distressed.
"I heard her voice inside my head. She spoke of my father and the fall of Gondor. She said to me, 'Even now there is hope left.'" Boromir lowered his head. "But I cannot see it." He gazed up at Aragorn. "It is long since we had any hope."
Aragorn sat beside the troubled man. Gazing back, the ranger noticed that Kaitlyn was sitting not far off and she was watching them.
"My father is a noble man," Boromir told Aragorn. "but his rule is failing and our…our people lose faith." Boromir looked down. "He looks to me to make things right, I would do it. I would see the glory of Gondor restored."
Kaitlyn noticed that Aragorn looked away and fidgeted. She realized that he didn't do that often.
"Have you ever seen it, Aragorn? The white tower of Ecthelion?"
Aragorn looked at Boromir. "Glimmering like a spike of pearl and silver, it's banners caught high in the morning breeze. Have you ever been called home, to the clear ringing of silver trumpets?" He gazed at Aragorn who looked him in the eye.
"I have seen the white city long ago."
Boromir looked happier. "One day our paths will lead us there and the tower guard shall take up the call:" he put his hand on Aragorn and shook him slightly. "For the lords of Gondor have returned.'"
It was then that Boromir noticed Kaitlyn sitting not far away. His brows lowered. "Do you have no manners?" Boromir called to her. "Did no one in your world teach you that eavesdropping was rude?"
Aragorn stood and once again became the mediator. "It is late and we have had a long and hard journey here. Let us all rest and forget this."
Boromir frowned, feeling that Aragorn was taking her side, but he nodded realizing that he was much too weary to argue. He bid Aragorn good night and settled in his own tent.
The Ranger moved to sit beside Kaitlyn who had been listening to their conversation with great interest.
"I'm sorry, Aragorn. I didn't mean to be rude," she told him honestly.
He gave her a gentle smile and she smiled in return.
"Everything that I hear brings me closer to understanding this place," she explained.
Aragorn nodded. "I understand."
"Boromir said 'the Lords of Gondor.' You're lords?"
"Boromir is the son of the Steward of Gondor who rules over the people. I am a Ranger and I wish to stay as such."
"You humble yourself, Estel."
Kaitlyn and Aragorn turned to see that Legolas was standing not far from them.
Aragorn put up a hand at the elf. "Daro, Legolas." Stop, Legolas.
Legolas nodded realizing that his friend didn't wish to discuss the matter.
"How did you hear us? You were on the other side of the camp." Kaitlyn asked in amazement and annoyance. "And how did you creep up on us without us hearing you?"
Legolas smiled warmly. "Elves have superior senses to those of mortals and we are light on our feet, hiril nîn." my lady.
Kaitlyn frowned. Great, he had super hearing and super sight, which meant that nothing got past this elf. He was like superman only he didn't wear tights and a cape. She fidgeted as he moved closer to her and Aragorn and silently wondered if there was any kryptonite around.
"May I join you?" Legolas asked.
"Of, course, mellon nîn." My friend. Aragorn told him.
As Legolas moved to sit on a nearby root, Kaitlyn got to her feet.
"I…I'm tired," she said suddenly. "I'll see you in the morning, okay?" she gave a nervous smile to Aragorn, glanced hesitantly at Legolas and then quickly fled toward an empty tent near the hobbits.
Aragorn and Legolas watched as she settled down, pulling blankets over her before they gazed at each other.
Legolas frowned, finally seating himself. "She fears me."
"Nay, Legolas."
"Aye."
Aragorn sighed.
"Why, when I have done nothing to harm her?"
"I do not know," Aragorn whispered.
"I wish to offer her friendship but she will not allow it." The elf said quietly.
Aragorn sighed. Legolas trusted easily and enjoyed creating new friendships. He wanted to befriend Kaitlyn and she was proving to be more difficult than he might have thought. Her unwillingness to trust him hurt him.
"Give her time, Legolas. She does not know this world; it's people, languages or cultures. She feels isolated and confused. I am certain that she will come around with time."
Legolas nodded yet something nagged at him like a pesky insect. Why did she fear him and not Gimli or the hobbits?
His heart ached from the naergon lament, the loss of Gandalf and the woman's fear of him. He was surprised to admit to himself that he missed Mirkwood and even his father. He was far from his home and he was a part of something so much bigger than he was. He needed rest both mentally and physically for the journey ahead.
"How long will we stay in Lothlorien?"
"Perhaps a month, maybe more," Aragorn told him. "We need rest, Kaitlyn needs training and the hobbits could do with more. I will speak to Haldir about the matter. Perhaps he will be kind enough to ask the Lady of the Wood. I do not wish to impose."
Legolas nodded. Aragorn would make a good king someday. Of that he was certain.
"Maer dû, mellon nîn." Good night, my friend. Legolas told the man.
Aragorn smiled and patted Legolas on the shoulder. "Mae idh." Rest well.
The next morning Kaitlyn awakened and joined the hobbits for breakfast. She had noticed that they loved to eat especially Pippin who always seemed to be thinking about food.
Aragorn joined her where she sat. "Tomorrow, I wish to begin your training." He saw her tense visibly at his words.
"We need to develop your strength and stamina. You will join me for a run every morning before or after breakfast, the choice is yours, and when you have become stronger, we will start more vigorous training."
"Can I choose not to do this at all?" she tried.
"I offer this training for your own good. Not training was not an option. You must do this if you wish to survive."
She nodded sadly. "I know, but you can't blame a girl for trying." She gave him a weak smile and he patted her on the shoulder.
"Aragorn, there's someone here to see you."
Aragorn looked up to see Merry and Haldir was standing beside him.
Aragorn stood and smiled warmly. "Mae govannen, Haldir." He brought his hand to his chest, and bowed. Haldir did the same.
"Aníroch peded?" You wish to speak? Haldir asked.
Aragorn nodded and put a hand on Haldir's shoulder ready to lead him to a more private location but Haldir did not move. He looked at the mortal woman who had just finished her breakfast.
He gave her a smile and bowed in greeting. "Suilad, hiril nîn. Pedich i lam edhellen?" Greetings, my lady. Do you speak Elvish?
Kaitlyn gave him a blank stare.
"Nay, she does not speak Elvish, Haldir," Aragorn answered.
Haldir nodded. "Welcome to Lothlorien, my lady. Forgive me for assuming you spoke our language. I thought as a friend of Aragorn, you might be versed in some Elvish."
Kaitlyn didn't say a word.
"Does she know how to speak?" Haldir asked Aragorn with concern.
"Aye, she is choosing not to." He frowned at Kaitlyn.
"I don't mean to be rude." Kaitlyn whispered. She kept her eyes downcast from Haldir's. "It…it was nice to me you. Excuse me." She told him and she gave a hasty retreat.
"Goheno adaneth, mellon nîn." Forgive the woman, my friend. "She is not of this realm," he added apologetically.
Haldir nodded and followed Aragorn out of the camp.
Kaitlyn watched them go from where she had settled herself at the opposite end of camp. She reached into her bag, pulled out a book and kept herself occupied for the remainder of the day.
Aragorn was gone for most of the day. He returned in time for dinner and did not say a word to Kaitlyn about what had transpired that morning. With a sigh he sat beside Legolas.
"How did things go with Haldir?"
"Very well. He spoke to the Lady of the Wood and she has gladly granted us all the time we would like here. I think a month should be sufficient."
"A month is enough time to rest our minds and bodies."
"Aye." The Ranger began to eat his meal and he noticed that Kaitlyn was sitting off by herself. He watched as she kept looking up at the fountain and then toward the ground in front of her. She was an odd woman.
"I have learned that it is not you personally that she fears," Aragorn said, breaking the silence between himself and Legolas.
Legolas glanced at Aragorn and realized that he was looking at the mortal woman. The Ranger finally glanced at the elf.
"How do you know this?" Legolas asked.
"She shied away from Haldir this morning when he came to speak to me. You could ask the hobbits and they would tell you the same. I have also noticed that she keeps away from any elves that enter the camp."
Legolas frowned. "She fears my people," he realized aloud and although that was a terrible thing it made him feel somewhat better. She didn't fear him.
"That is how it appears."
"Why?" Legolas asked, his brows furrowed.
"I do not know," Aragorn said softly.
Aragorn found Kaitlyn staring up at the stairs when everyone else had gone to bed that night.
"You should rest. You have not had enough sleep," he told her.
"The stars are different here. They're not where they should be in the sky. I can't make out the Big Dipper or the North Star," she whispered with sadness.
"What is it that frightens you?" Aragorn asked, ignoring her words.
Kaitlyn turned to look at him in surprise.
"Something here frightens you. You draw further into yourself. I am beginning to doubt that only your grief causes this."
"I…There's nothing," she said looking away.
"You have to trust us all sometime."
"I'm very far from my home, Aragorn. I'm an outsider here."
"But you do not have to be. Why do you persist on this?"
"I'm a burden and I hate being that. I don't know how to fight or defend myself never mind others. I'm not a warrior."
She realized how true that was not only about fighting, but also about her. She had once believed herself to be strong mentally. She wasn't so sure about that anymore.
He put his hand on her shoulder. "We will teach you to fight. Soon I will show you the ways of the blade and Legolas will teach you of the bow and arrow."
Aragorn noticed her stiffen at the mention of Legolas, but he did not call it to attention. "You will become a skilled fighter in time."
"I don't think so. I'm clumsy and I hate knives," she told him stubbornly.
"You will have to learn not to fear them, my lady, because they could save your life."
She opened her mouth to speak but he gave her a bow and left her to her thoughts.
* * *
Aragorn awakened Kaitlyn early the next morning. She dressed in a tunic and leggings and jogged with him around Lothlorien. He was difficult to keep up with and he pushed her hard, but she was determined to show that she wasn't some whiney woman. He tried to teach her how to tread as quietly as she could for a human and he watched as she failed miserable. She was clumsy as she said she was and Aragorn knew he had his work cut out for him.
Each morning before breakfast they went running together and each morning he saw her begin to improve.
After running Kaitlyn usually kept to herself. If she wasn't napping, Merry noticed that she often went fiddling in her bag and he was curious as to what she was up to.
The hobbits and Gimli spoke to her more often and she slowly began to open up. She and Boromir argued with each other much to Aragorn's disapproval. Frodo and Sam usually kept to themselves and bothered little with the mortal woman.
"Transportation that is run by lightning and machinery. That does not require food or water and can travel great distances at high speeds with no rest. 'Tis but a tall tale that you weave, lassie," Gimli told Kaitlyn with a laugh.
The dwarf, mortal woman as well as Legolas were in camp. The hobbits were all off training with Aragorn and Boromir.
"You don't believe me?" Kaitlyn's eyes widened.
"I never said that, lass, I-"
Kaitlyn got to her feet, looking incredible hurt and angry. She grabbed her bag and left the camp seeking solitude among the trees.
Legolas looked up from feathering his arrows and gave Gimli a harsh stare. Today had been the first day that the mortal woman had begun to open up while in his presence. He usually kept out of her way and she kept out of his, but today they had tolerated each other's company.
"She is slowly beginning to open up. She is attempting to trust us and you may have lost that trust with your foolish words," Legolas told him.
"I did not mean to offend her, but not even you can deny that the tale is tall."
"Her tales may sound tall, but she comes from a different world. They may yet be true."
"Hmph. You don't have the right to reprimand me, Elf, you don't even believe them."
"That is where you are wrong, Dwarf. I do believe her," Legolas told him and he returned his attention to his arrows.
Kaitlyn sat among the trees for a long while. She was so lost in her thoughts that she did not hear Gimli coming behind her.
"I did not realize that you were so talented, lass."
Kaitlyn gasped and reached into her lap slamming the book she held, shut. Her face flushed bright red.
"There's no need to hide that. You have quite a talent."
"You shouldn't sneak up on people like that, Gimli. You're just as bad as Legolas."
Gimli huffed. "Don't start comparing me to the elf. You were lost in thought. I came to apologize for upsetting you. I do believe you, lass, I just find such machinery unbelievable compared to what we have in our world."
Kaitlyn smiled. "It's okay. I'm just having a bad day and I thought you didn't believe me."
"I've hurt your feelings and for that I am truly sorry." He held out a hand to her. "Truce?"
She smiled and shook his hand. "Truce."
"May I see your work?"
Kaitlyn glanced down at the sketchbook in her lap. She knew that sooner or later someone was going to catch her doodling and she'd been caught. Thankfully, it was only Gimli.
"Well? Let me see," Gimli said impatiently.
She hesitated at first but handed over the book to Gimli who sat down on a large root and began to flip through it.
"These are people, but I've never seen people like them before. What are they doing?" Gimli tried turning the book another way but it didn't help him understand what he was seeing.
Kaitlyn laughed and went to sit beside him. "They're ice skating." She told him, turning the book the correct way. "I went skating with friends but I hurt my ankle and sat out for a while. So I sketched people."
"They are walking on ice? Are they elves?" Gimli asked, clearly confused.
Kaitlyn shook her head.
"Then how can they walk on ice without falling through?"
"It's a controlled environment in a large building. The ice is only a few inches thick. You can't fall through it."
"Ah." Gimli said but he clearly did not understand.
He gazed at her landscape drawings, people in other situations, eating, sitting, and talking. There were drawings of dogs and other animals. "You draw many things."
"I like to sketch." She smiled.
"It is obvious." The dwarf smiled as he turned another page. "It's the hobbits. Merry and Pippin. It looks just like their wee selves."
She smiled at his enthusiasm.
"And you've drawn Aragorn and Boromir and..and THAT. " He smiled broadly. "Now, that is a very handsome looking dwarf. Look at that lovely bushy beard and the powerful build. He must be a fine warrior. "
Kaitlyn laughed and he laughed along with her.
As Gimli went to turn the page, Kaitlyn tried to snatch the book out of his hands.
"That's enough, Gimli."
"But I want to see the rest." He moved the book to the side so that she couldn't take it from him.
The commotion caught Aragorn's attention who had just returned from training the hobbits.
"Are the two of you fighting?" He asked.
"No, we're not," Kaitlyn said sounding annoyed. "Gimli, please give it back."
"You need to see these, Aragorn. She is a fine artist. She has drawn pictures of us."
Kaitlyn sighed and became increasingly aggravated.
Aragorn was intrigued and he moved to retrieve the book from the dwarf. He flipped through the pages of the hardcover leather bound book lingering on the drawings of him and his companions. He noticed sketches of things in Lothlorien, trees, some of the tents and the fountain that he had seen her staring at several days ago. He smiled at her.
"These are very good."
"Thank you. Can I have it back now?"
"I've not finished seeing the rest."
"What's going on here?" Pippin asked. Merry was by his side. The two hobbits were snacking on fruit.
Kaitlyn groaned.
"She has drawn your portraits, young hobbits. Come and see them, " Gimli announced and he gestured for the hobbits to look.
Kaitlyn raked her hand through her hair.
Aragorn kneeled to share the book with the hobbits, starting from the beginning.
"These are beautiful." Merry told her looking at her drawings of trees and animals.
"Look Merry, she drew us!" Pippin yelled with excitement. He turned the page to look at the drawings of Boromir, Gimli and Aragorn.
"I haven't finished the rest. Please, can I have it back now?" Kaitlyn asked impatiently.
Aragorn gazed at her and noticed that she seemed almost panicked by the thought of them turning the page. What was she hiding?
"We don't mind!" Pippin told her happily and he turned the page.
Aragorn suddenly realized the cause of her panic. Over the next two pages were drawings of Legolas. There were only 4 but he could tell that she had spent a lot of time working on these and far less on the other drawings. There was a profile, two of him standing in the tree line lost in thought, and one of him sitting on a log with a plate of food in front of him.
"Why do you have 4 drawings of Legolas," Pippin asked "and only one of the rest of us?" He sounded hurt.
Legolas who was still making new arrows looked up at the sound of his name. He had been listening to what was going on and had even glanced up a few times but now he stared openly.
Kaitlyn knew her face was red, she could feel her cheeks burning. "He's the only one that stands still long enough for me to sketch him," she mumbled.
Gimli laughed. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say the elf has caught the lassie's eye. She might be a bit taken by him; " he teased.
Kaitlyn's eyes widened. "I'm not taken by him! I told you, he's the only one that stands still!" She snatched the book from the unsuspecting hobbits and clutched it to her chest.
"Oh, now I was only teasing you." Gimli told her.
Kaitlyn turned away from him.
"I was jesting!" Gimli told her. " I did not mean anything by it. Please forgive me, lass."
Kaitlyn sighed, realizing just how childish she was acting and turned to look at the dwarf. "It's alright," she sighed. "I'm just…moody today."
"You should show those to Legolas. He might like to see them." Merry suggested.
"No."
"But why not?" Pippin asked.
Kaitlyn glanced over to where Legolas was making arrows. She was horrified to see that he was looking at her intently. With his super hearing, he'd no doubt heard what was going on. She looked away from him and noticed everyone was staring at her. She almost felt as if this was a dare.
She glanced at Legolas again. They stared at each other for a few moments and Kaitlyn was actually thinking about bringing the book to him. What was she so afraid of anyway? They were just drawings and everyone else had liked their portraits.
Gimli gave her a little shove forward. "Go on, lass."
His prompting made her change her mind and she was horrified that she'd even thought about showing them to Legolas. She shook her head, snatched her bag and quickly left the group.
"What was that all about?" Merry asked, his brows furrowed in confusion.
Aragorn sighed. "I do not know, but I will find out."
To be continued…
References: all the help with my Sindarin has come from the lovely people over at councilofelrond.com as well as from the dictionary and lessons on that site. I warn you that Sindarin is NOT easy! I've certainly been struggling! If anyone sees Sindarin errors and are versed in the language, please feel free to e-mail me with corrections.
Broken Fae: That was incredibly kind of you to say that and the day you left that comment for me, it brightened my day. I always attempt to do the best I can to keep people in character as well as do research for topics that I don't know much about. It's always a wonderful feeling to know that other appreciate that hard work.
Kmf: Wow, you're still reviewing my work. I'm honored. You've been following my stories since, "the Debt", right? I don't normally write OC stories so I felt a bit uncomfortable myself, writing this. But I've since started enjoying working with someone new. I love throwing characters in situations that are completely opposite of what they are used to. It's a nice challenge. I'm glad that I've kept your interest and I hope that you enjoyed chapter 6.
Alexexeika2222: Thank you! I hope you enjoyed this chapter as well.
Blue Angel Samui: I'm so surprised and pleased that some of the people who have read my Labyrinth stories have been reading this one. The support from Laby fans has been wonderful and I thank you all for reviewing and keeping in touch with me. I'm glad that you like Kaitlyn. I've been wondering what people have thought of her. She hasn't had too much action or background info, but she will in future chapters and so will the rest of the characters. Thanks for reading.