I lept forward to catch the girl as she fell to the ground. Her sword slipped from her hand and her head rolled back. She looked young, very young. Elrohir bent over us. "Is she alright?"
I looked over her briefly. "I do not think that she is hurt." I glanced to her sword and at the direction she had come from and could make out the fallen shape of a wolf. "She killed one of the wolves though."
Elenatintil came over and knelt down beside me. She looked the girl over closely. "No, she is not injured. Anarion, carry her over to the fire."
Anarion gently took the girl from me and brought her over to the fire where Elenatintil began to examine her. I looked out into the darkness. It seemed as if the wolves were gone, but they had gone so quickly... and why had they attacked us in the first place? I spoke to Aldarion in a low voice. "Do you think they have left?"
He too glanced into the night. "I hope so. We will have to keep a guard for the rest of the night." He touched my arm briefly. "Are you alright?"
Try as I might, I still could not help trembling at his touch. "Yes, I am fine. And you?"
He nodded. "The same." He walked away from me. "Elladan, Legolas, Elrohir, help me to dispose of the carcasses."
I looked over the rest of the company. They all seemed to be fine. But wait... where was Samdo? I looked about again, thinking that I had missed him in the low light. I could not find him. I turned around as I heard a shout from Legolas.
"I've found Samdo!"
Elanor gave a cry and ran towards Legolas. Picking up my skirts, I followed her and we met Legolas at the edge of the firelight. "Is he alright?" I asked anxiously.
"He is alive," Legolas reassured us, "but he will need Elenatintil's healing." We followed Legolas as he carried the hobbit and laid him down gently near the fire. Elenatintil hurried over to us and bent over Samdo. Her face was grave. "Rosriel, would you tend to the girl while I care for Samdo? I think she will wake soon."
I nodded, biting my lip and hoping that Samdo was alright. I made my way to the other side of the campfire and knelt down beside the girl as she started to stir.
~ Rosriel
Showing posts with label Lady Luthien Rosriel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lady Luthien Rosriel. Show all posts
Monday, March 15, 2010
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
A Sisterly Talk - Part 2
Ella started making designs in the snow as she tried to form words. "It's just...things have been awkward ever since Leggy told me......you know. And I don't know how to fix it. I want him to....." Ella shook her head, dismissing the thought. "I want our friendship to go back to normal."
Rosriel nodded silently, "You are sure of that?"
Ella looked at her hands again. "Yes, I am sure."
Rosriel paused. "Then I think you need to tell him so."
"It would be difficult," Rosriel agreed thoughtfully. "Well then, if what you really want is to go back to being just friends, then I honestly think that you should talk to him about it, just so that you both know what you are both thinking and there aren't any misunderstandings. It will be awkward, but if you don't want more than friendship then talking it over will be the best for both parties. Don't you think?"
"Ella, what is it?" Rosriel's face grew concerned and she put her arms around Ella. Ella continued to cry. "Ella, what is wrong?"
Ella tried to stop the tears. When she regained her composure enough she whispered, "That isn't what I want. But I don't think it's possible to get what I want anymore. I blew my chance."
"Ella, what on earth do you mean?"
"I love him. I don't want just friendship with him. But when he told me he loved me, I flatly denied him. I...I just can't be the one to tell him....and I know he'll never tell me again." Ella sighed. "He's probably found someone new, anyway. I wouldn't blame him."
Rosriel couldn't help but laugh, "Ella, where would he find someone new? He has been with the company this whole time!"
"There are other girls in this company," Ella replied wistfully.
Rosriel hugged her sister, "The only way you will ever know is to tell him you love him. If he has in fact moved on, then you can deal with the hurt and get over it. If he still loves you, then so much the better! But if you remain silent, then you are forcing both yourself and him to continue on in this endless wheel of akwardness around each other and pain."
Rosriel couldn't help but laugh, "Ella, where would he find someone new? He has been with the company this whole time!"
"There are other girls in this company," Ella replied wistfully.
Rosriel hugged her sister, "The only way you will ever know is to tell him you love him. If he has in fact moved on, then you can deal with the hurt and get over it. If he still loves you, then so much the better! But if you remain silent, then you are forcing both yourself and him to continue on in this endless wheel of akwardness around each other and pain."
Roseriel opened her mouth to say something, then shut it. She could tell that Ella couldn't be pushed any further. "All right," she said quietly. "You don't need to do anything before you are ready to."
Suddenly their conversation was cut short by a foreboding howl.
Rosriel and Ella
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
A Sisterly Talk
First, I must apologize dear readers, for tormenting you so cruelly with our last post. I will confess, when I was writing it with Ella, I came up with the wonderfully evil idea. But if you must kill anyone, kill Ella, for it was she who pulled out the knife and forced me to kill myself... er, forced me to have the idea for Ella to kill myself.
Anyhow, here is what really happened.
The snow had started to fall fast and thick by the time the company had made it halfway up the mountain and camped for the night. Rosriel had watched her sister closely the whole day. She could sense that something was bothering Ella, but she couldn't tell what. I must talk to her about it, tonight after everyone else is asleep.
After dinner, Rosriel waited impatiently as slowly, one by one, the rest of the company wrapped themselves in blankets and lay down. Carefully, Rosriel eased herself up and crept over to where her sister lay.
Ella woke up with a gasp, sat straight up and pulled out her knife. "Who is there?"
Rosriel jumped back, hissing, "Ella! Be careful with that thing."
Ella relaxed, recognizing her Rosriel's voice. "Rosriel, it is only you. You startled me!"
Rosriel moved closer, "I am sorry for startling you," she said apologetically. "But you would not wake up."
Ella laughed quietly, "Well, I am certainly awake now." Her face took on an alarmed expression. "Is something wrong?"
"No," Rosriel shook her head, "nothing wrong in general. But I sense that something is wrong with you, and I wanted to talk to you about it. I did not realize that you were asleep already."
Rosriel sighed impatiently. "Ella, there is something that is bothering, I can see it in your face. Why won't you talk to me about it?"
"There is nothing wrong with me."
"Yes, there is! I know there is!" Rosriel took Ella's hand. "I only want to help you. Can't you trust me?"
"Of course I trust you," Ella hesitated.
Rosriel paused, then said softly. "Is it about Legolas?"
Anyhow, here is what really happened.
The snow had started to fall fast and thick by the time the company had made it halfway up the mountain and camped for the night. Rosriel had watched her sister closely the whole day. She could sense that something was bothering Ella, but she couldn't tell what. I must talk to her about it, tonight after everyone else is asleep.
After dinner, Rosriel waited impatiently as slowly, one by one, the rest of the company wrapped themselves in blankets and lay down. Carefully, Rosriel eased herself up and crept over to where her sister lay.
Rosriel gently touched Ella's shoulder and whispered her name. Ella did not move. She started shaking her a little. Still, no response.
Rosriel grunted and looked around, trying to think of a new tactic. Snow! Of course! She grabbed a handful and dropped it onto Ella.
Ella woke up with a gasp, sat straight up and pulled out her knife. "Who is there?"
Rosriel jumped back, hissing, "Ella! Be careful with that thing."
Ella relaxed, recognizing her Rosriel's voice. "Rosriel, it is only you. You startled me!"
Rosriel moved closer, "I am sorry for startling you," she said apologetically. "But you would not wake up."
Ella laughed quietly, "Well, I am certainly awake now." Her face took on an alarmed expression. "Is something wrong?"
"No," Rosriel shook her head, "nothing wrong in general. But I sense that something is wrong with you, and I wanted to talk to you about it. I did not realize that you were asleep already."
Ella raised a disbelieving eyebrow at Rosriel. "Do I usually need snow pelted on me just to get my attention? I think not."
"Ella...tell me what's bothering you."
Ella was silent for a moment, seeming to ponder. Finally she said, "I don't know what you're talking about."
Rosriel sighed impatiently. "Ella, there is something that is bothering, I can see it in your face. Why won't you talk to me about it?"
"There is nothing wrong with me."
"Yes, there is! I know there is!" Rosriel took Ella's hand. "I only want to help you. Can't you trust me?"
"Of course I trust you," Ella hesitated.
Rosriel paused, then said softly. "Is it about Legolas?"
Ella stared at Rosriel, glanced at Legolas to be certain he was still asleep, and nodded slightly. She stared at her hands. "Is it that obvious?" she whispered.
I knew it. Rosriel shook her head, "No, I don't think that anyone else has noticed," she paused and Ella looked relieved. "Except for perhaps Legolas."
Ella looked up, slightly pale. "Do you really think so?"
"I'm not entirely sure," Rosriel said thoughtfully. "At least, I don't think he knows that you are troubled about him, exactly. But why don't you tell me just exactly what trouble you are having."
I knew it. Rosriel shook her head, "No, I don't think that anyone else has noticed," she paused and Ella looked relieved. "Except for perhaps Legolas."
Ella looked up, slightly pale. "Do you really think so?"
"I'm not entirely sure," Rosriel said thoughtfully. "At least, I don't think he knows that you are troubled about him, exactly. But why don't you tell me just exactly what trouble you are having."
Ella started making designs in the snow as she tried to form words. "It's just...things have been awkward ever since Leggy told me......you know. And I don't know how to fix it. I want him to....." Ella shook her head, dismissing the thought. "I want our friendship to go back to normal."
Rosriel and Ella
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
We finished packing our bags and waved farewell to Dior as he set off for the Mines of Moria. I shivered in the chill wind that had started blowing and felt my face flush slightly. If it hadn't been for my running off, we could have been to the mines by now. I shrugged. Good had come of it, after all, I'd found Edroliel and helped her.
As we began walking, I made my way over to Ella. She looked up at me briefly as I came up beside me and I caught side of her expression. "Ella, is something wrong?"
She sighed, "No... not really."
"Ella," I pressed, "Something is wrong. Please, you can talk to me about it."
Ella opened her moth to speak, then shut it again. "I - I guess I will talk to you tonight."
I nodded and changed the topic of conversation as Legolas walked up beside us. I saw Ella glance towards him and guessed why she had chosen to remain silent. My heart ached for her. Oh Ella, can't you tell that he loves you? Why won't you talk to each other?
~ Rosriel
As we began walking, I made my way over to Ella. She looked up at me briefly as I came up beside me and I caught side of her expression. "Ella, is something wrong?"
She sighed, "No... not really."
"Ella," I pressed, "Something is wrong. Please, you can talk to me about it."
Ella opened her moth to speak, then shut it again. "I - I guess I will talk to you tonight."
I nodded and changed the topic of conversation as Legolas walked up beside us. I saw Ella glance towards him and guessed why she had chosen to remain silent. My heart ached for her. Oh Ella, can't you tell that he loves you? Why won't you talk to each other?
~ Rosriel
Friday, October 9, 2009
Friends... and Maybe More
The return trip to the rest of the fellowship was quiet, or so it seemed to me. As the camp came in sight, I found my feet moving slower and slower. It had been a few days, but I still did not want to see Aldarion and feel the hurt again.
We drew near and were spotted by our friends. Elanor, Vila and Raewyn ran to meet us and escorted us the rest of the way. They were chattering on about a prank of Lira's and some soup when I saw Aldarion waiting. I tried to ignore him and focus my attention on the story.
"And then we looked at the soup and it was just glowing!" Raewyn giggled. "You should have seen Samdo's face when he went to stir the soup!"
Elenatintil approached us with a smile, "Why don't you girls let them sit down a bit and then continue your story?" She turned to Ella. "Ella, I am so glad you are back. And you, Edroliel," she turned to where the girl was sitting in the hastily constructed wheel chair. "Aldarion has told us about you. I hope you will be better soon."
Edroliel smiled and we moved around the campfire. I said little, doing my best to stay away from Aldarion. My efforts were in vain, and I turned to find him standing close beside me. I looked away.
"Lady Rosriel," he spoke softly. "May I please speak with you for a moment?"
I wanted to turn away, give him a cold shoulder as he had done to me, but I could not. Only when I was very angry could I deliberatly hurt someone. Slowly I met his eyes.
"It will only be for a moment," he looked so pleadingly at me that I could not refuse. I nodded and followed him towards the tents, out of the ear shot of the others. He stopped and took my hand.
"First I wish to make an apology to you. I left without saying good-bye - no, I did worse than that. I deliberatly ignored you, one whom I consider to be a good friend." He sighed. "I would not be surprised if you did not consider me your friend any more."
I looked away. "I was not angry, just... hurt."
Aldarion nodded. "You had every right to be. I wish to ask for your forgiveness, and to give you an explanation as to why I did not want you to question me," he paused, "as well as to answer those questions, if you still want to know."
I drew my hand back and looked at him. "I do wish to know." I tried to laugh. "Curiousity has always been one of my weaknesses. But you do not have to tell me, if you do not..."
"I do wish to tell you." He stopped, as if thinking how to begin. "As I think you guessed Ne- Edroliel and I have met before, in Gondor as we said when we first saw each other back where you found her. My father is Elboron, the son of Faramir, Prince of Ithilian and Eowyn the White Lady of Rohan." He looked at me, as if to gauge my reaction. "All my life, my brothers and I have been judged not by who we are, but who our grandparents are." He gave a short laugh. "'You can do better than that! You are the grandson of Faramir!' 'Master Aldarion, would your grandfather daydream during his history studies? No! Of course not!'"
He paused, and I waited patiently for him to continue.
"It was especially that way with friends. Not so much when we were younger, boys do not care about rank and all that, but as we got older it grew worse. My father is a valiant man in his own right, as well as second in command of the Rangers of Ithilian. All the boys our age wanted to be our friends and then expect us to somehow get them a good position with the Rangers. If we did not or could not, that was it. Friends no longer." He scowled. "Needless to say, we got quite tired of that. It is frustrating... wanting to make a friend, but not knowing if that friend is a true friend or only out for your "influence". Anarion and I finally decided we had had enough and left. Our younger brother, Barahir, stayed behing. Said he would just make friends with the scrolls in the archives." Aldarion looked at me. "That is why Anarion kept our background a secret, when we met up with you. For once we wanted to have friends who liked us for who we are. Anarion was able to convince me that it is alright if we tell you now, that you shall still be our true friends."
I touched his shoulder hesitantly. "I at least, will always be a friend, Aldarion. I forgive you. Thank you... for telling me."
His eyes lit up, "Le hannon, Rosriel." He raised my hand to his lips, and kissed it. "I am honored to be counted amoung your friends." He smiled. "Shall we return to the others?"
My heart was fluttering wildly. "Y- you can." I stammered. "I am going to freshen up, in my tent first."
"Of course." Aldarion bowed, then walked away.
In a daze, I stumbled to the nearest tent, pulled aside the flap and stepped in. I looked down at my hand and touched the spot where Aldarion had kissed me. Finally my head understood what my heart had been trying to tell me for weeks.
I loved him.
We drew near and were spotted by our friends. Elanor, Vila and Raewyn ran to meet us and escorted us the rest of the way. They were chattering on about a prank of Lira's and some soup when I saw Aldarion waiting. I tried to ignore him and focus my attention on the story.
"And then we looked at the soup and it was just glowing!" Raewyn giggled. "You should have seen Samdo's face when he went to stir the soup!"
Elenatintil approached us with a smile, "Why don't you girls let them sit down a bit and then continue your story?" She turned to Ella. "Ella, I am so glad you are back. And you, Edroliel," she turned to where the girl was sitting in the hastily constructed wheel chair. "Aldarion has told us about you. I hope you will be better soon."
Edroliel smiled and we moved around the campfire. I said little, doing my best to stay away from Aldarion. My efforts were in vain, and I turned to find him standing close beside me. I looked away.
"Lady Rosriel," he spoke softly. "May I please speak with you for a moment?"
I wanted to turn away, give him a cold shoulder as he had done to me, but I could not. Only when I was very angry could I deliberatly hurt someone. Slowly I met his eyes.
"It will only be for a moment," he looked so pleadingly at me that I could not refuse. I nodded and followed him towards the tents, out of the ear shot of the others. He stopped and took my hand.
"First I wish to make an apology to you. I left without saying good-bye - no, I did worse than that. I deliberatly ignored you, one whom I consider to be a good friend." He sighed. "I would not be surprised if you did not consider me your friend any more."
I looked away. "I was not angry, just... hurt."
Aldarion nodded. "You had every right to be. I wish to ask for your forgiveness, and to give you an explanation as to why I did not want you to question me," he paused, "as well as to answer those questions, if you still want to know."
I drew my hand back and looked at him. "I do wish to know." I tried to laugh. "Curiousity has always been one of my weaknesses. But you do not have to tell me, if you do not..."
"I do wish to tell you." He stopped, as if thinking how to begin. "As I think you guessed Ne- Edroliel and I have met before, in Gondor as we said when we first saw each other back where you found her. My father is Elboron, the son of Faramir, Prince of Ithilian and Eowyn the White Lady of Rohan." He looked at me, as if to gauge my reaction. "All my life, my brothers and I have been judged not by who we are, but who our grandparents are." He gave a short laugh. "'You can do better than that! You are the grandson of Faramir!' 'Master Aldarion, would your grandfather daydream during his history studies? No! Of course not!'"
He paused, and I waited patiently for him to continue.
"It was especially that way with friends. Not so much when we were younger, boys do not care about rank and all that, but as we got older it grew worse. My father is a valiant man in his own right, as well as second in command of the Rangers of Ithilian. All the boys our age wanted to be our friends and then expect us to somehow get them a good position with the Rangers. If we did not or could not, that was it. Friends no longer." He scowled. "Needless to say, we got quite tired of that. It is frustrating... wanting to make a friend, but not knowing if that friend is a true friend or only out for your "influence". Anarion and I finally decided we had had enough and left. Our younger brother, Barahir, stayed behing. Said he would just make friends with the scrolls in the archives." Aldarion looked at me. "That is why Anarion kept our background a secret, when we met up with you. For once we wanted to have friends who liked us for who we are. Anarion was able to convince me that it is alright if we tell you now, that you shall still be our true friends."
I touched his shoulder hesitantly. "I at least, will always be a friend, Aldarion. I forgive you. Thank you... for telling me."
His eyes lit up, "Le hannon, Rosriel." He raised my hand to his lips, and kissed it. "I am honored to be counted amoung your friends." He smiled. "Shall we return to the others?"
My heart was fluttering wildly. "Y- you can." I stammered. "I am going to freshen up, in my tent first."
"Of course." Aldarion bowed, then walked away.
In a daze, I stumbled to the nearest tent, pulled aside the flap and stepped in. I looked down at my hand and touched the spot where Aldarion had kissed me. Finally my head understood what my heart had been trying to tell me for weeks.
I loved him.
~ Rosriel
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Returning
The early morning sun was peeking up over the tops of the mountains as I bent down near Edrolliel. I felt her forehead, noting with relief that her fever had disappeared. Standing, I went to find Elladan. He glanced up as I came near.
"Good morning, Rosriel."
"Good morning."
"How is Edrolliel this morning?"
"Much better," I replied. "Her fever is gone."
Elladan nodded with a smile. "I am glad to hear it. I have never gotten sick myself, being an elf you know, but I certainly can feel sorry for those who can become ill."
I smiled. "Yes, with human descent, I have gotten sick once, and it was not pleasent."
"Do you think Edrolliel can travel now then? It is about time that we rejoined the others and continued on our way."
Rejoin the others... Aldarion. My heart flinched. I was not angry at him for not speaking to me - I never had been able to hold a grudge - but I still felt hurt. But Elladan was right, we had been away for long enough. "I will see if she thinks she would be able to travel, if someone helped her walk."
Elladan nodded. "Yes, or we could build a chair for her, the way we did when Ella sprained her ankle."
I smiled. "I will go and see what she says."
~ Rosriel
"Good morning, Rosriel."
"Good morning."
"How is Edrolliel this morning?"
"Much better," I replied. "Her fever is gone."
Elladan nodded with a smile. "I am glad to hear it. I have never gotten sick myself, being an elf you know, but I certainly can feel sorry for those who can become ill."
I smiled. "Yes, with human descent, I have gotten sick once, and it was not pleasent."
"Do you think Edrolliel can travel now then? It is about time that we rejoined the others and continued on our way."
Rejoin the others... Aldarion. My heart flinched. I was not angry at him for not speaking to me - I never had been able to hold a grudge - but I still felt hurt. But Elladan was right, we had been away for long enough. "I will see if she thinks she would be able to travel, if someone helped her walk."
Elladan nodded. "Yes, or we could build a chair for her, the way we did when Ella sprained her ankle."
I smiled. "I will go and see what she says."
~ Rosriel
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Why?
I waited for Aldarion to return from talking to the girl, I could not recall her name at the moment. I had several questions to ask him, but I feared he would be reluctant to answer them. I grew more certain that he would when he first turned back to say something else to the girl and then walked right past me. Was he trying to avoid me?
I got up to follow him, but stopped a few paces back when I saw him speak to Elladan. My ears caught their low conversation. Wait... Aldarion was going to leave? Well, I could certainly understand the thoughtfulness in relieving the others of their worries, but I had not thought we were planning to stay where we were for that much longer. A doubt crept into my mind... had he somehow guessed that I wished to question him and used this as an excuse to - the thought hurt - get away from me? I waited for him to finish speaking. I figured that if he was not running away from me, in a manner of speaking, he would say farewell before he left.
My heart sank as Aldarion left Elladan and began walking towards the edge of the camp without so much as a glance towards me, even though I had been close by. It sank still further when I saw him bid a farewell to Ella and Legolas before walking out of the camp. So he did wish to avoid me.
The knowledge was painful, and I turned away, trying to hide the tears that had sprung from the hurt in my heart.
~ Rosriel
I got up to follow him, but stopped a few paces back when I saw him speak to Elladan. My ears caught their low conversation. Wait... Aldarion was going to leave? Well, I could certainly understand the thoughtfulness in relieving the others of their worries, but I had not thought we were planning to stay where we were for that much longer. A doubt crept into my mind... had he somehow guessed that I wished to question him and used this as an excuse to - the thought hurt - get away from me? I waited for him to finish speaking. I figured that if he was not running away from me, in a manner of speaking, he would say farewell before he left.
My heart sank as Aldarion left Elladan and began walking towards the edge of the camp without so much as a glance towards me, even though I had been close by. It sank still further when I saw him bid a farewell to Ella and Legolas before walking out of the camp. So he did wish to avoid me.
The knowledge was painful, and I turned away, trying to hide the tears that had sprung from the hurt in my heart.
~ Rosriel
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Surprise Meeting
"No, you have been here for a while," I singled for Aldarion to bring me some food. "I heard you calling, but I only found you earlier today."
The girl looked puzzled. "I was calling you? But I do not remember..."
"Well," I hesitated, "I am not very sure, but, it was as if I could hear you, in my heart. I followed your call until I found you. I really do not know how to explain it."
"Oh," she looked puzzled. "Well, now that you mention it, I did call for help in my thoughts." She glanced at me with sudden amusement. "You don't happen to be a long lost sister, do you?"
I laughed merrily. "No, I don't think so! As far as I know, I only have one long lost sister, "I pointed out Ella, who was sitting near Legolas. "That is her there, her name is Ella. She is sitting next to our cousin, Legolas."
"Legolas?" She looked curious. "I think I have met him before, in Gondor. Legolas Greenleaf, from the Greenwood?"
I nodded, "Yes. That would be him." I looked up as Aldarion approached with some food. "Thank you Aldarion!"
He smiled, handing the food to me, and bowed. "Happy to serve you, my lady." He then looked at the girl we had found, and I saw surprise register in his face. "Lady Nessima?"
She looked surprised as well. "Aldarion? Aldarion, son of..."
"Yes," he cut her off. "I am that Aldarion. What are you doing so far from Gondor?"
I looked from one to the other, feeling just a surprised as the two looked. Aldarion knew this girl, Nessima he had called her. Well, if they were both from Gondor, then that was not to startling that they should have met before. Yet I was curious. Why had Aldarion stopped her from naming his father?
~ Rosriel
The girl looked puzzled. "I was calling you? But I do not remember..."
"Well," I hesitated, "I am not very sure, but, it was as if I could hear you, in my heart. I followed your call until I found you. I really do not know how to explain it."
"Oh," she looked puzzled. "Well, now that you mention it, I did call for help in my thoughts." She glanced at me with sudden amusement. "You don't happen to be a long lost sister, do you?"
I laughed merrily. "No, I don't think so! As far as I know, I only have one long lost sister, "I pointed out Ella, who was sitting near Legolas. "That is her there, her name is Ella. She is sitting next to our cousin, Legolas."
"Legolas?" She looked curious. "I think I have met him before, in Gondor. Legolas Greenleaf, from the Greenwood?"
I nodded, "Yes. That would be him." I looked up as Aldarion approached with some food. "Thank you Aldarion!"
He smiled, handing the food to me, and bowed. "Happy to serve you, my lady." He then looked at the girl we had found, and I saw surprise register in his face. "Lady Nessima?"
She looked surprised as well. "Aldarion? Aldarion, son of..."
"Yes," he cut her off. "I am that Aldarion. What are you doing so far from Gondor?"
I looked from one to the other, feeling just a surprised as the two looked. Aldarion knew this girl, Nessima he had called her. Well, if they were both from Gondor, then that was not to startling that they should have met before. Yet I was curious. Why had Aldarion stopped her from naming his father?
~ Rosriel
Friday, April 17, 2009
Persuasion
"Afraid? What would I be afraid of?"
"Of your feelings."
"Rosriel, really. Why would I be afraid of my feelings?"
"Because of what they might mean to you. Sometimes people are afraid of their feelings because they do not want their lives to change. Sometimes they are afraid of their feelings because they fear that admitting them or acknowledging them might make them more vulnerable, more easily hurt." I turned away, giving her time to think. I focused my attention on the girl we had found. She appeared to be awake now, if you could call it that. Her eyes were still closed, but she gave the faintest flutter of her eyelids when I lifted my canteen to her mouth. Feeling her forehead, I noticed that it was rather warm. My brow furrowed, something needed to be done for her.
I glanced up at Ella's face, but it was hidden in the darkness. While I waited for Ella to speak, I searched the pouch I wore at my waist for an herb that would lessen the girl's fever. By the flickering firelight, I did find something and crushed it into the water. Then I moved the girl's head into my lap and tried to get her to drink as much of the liquid as she could.
We sat in silence. When the girl coughed, I moved the water skin down from her lips. I began combing her hair with my fingers, noting that her face was tense. Having my hair brushed always had helped me to relax, I hoped it would help her as well. I looked up as Ella spoke.
"Or," she said softly, "one may be afraid of one's feelings, for fear of giving another pain."
I looked at her keenly. "Ella, I do not believe that you feel nothing for Legolas."
She turned towards me. "Why do you say that?"
I smiled softly, glancing down at the girl and was pleased to see that she had indeed relaxed. "Well, we have grown rather close since we first met and we are sisters, which most likely helped me to read your face more easily. Legolas is a very dear friend to you, you said yourself that when in Rivendell others teased you for your curled hair, he alone defended you. That in itself would endear him to you." I thought, then went on. "The way you act around him, you always have a smile ready for him..." I laughed, "Well, almost always. You tend to ask his opinion first, before asking anyone elses. I have seen how you look so happy and blush when he gives you a compliment or says a kind word to you. And do you not remember how upset you were that first day he joined us when I ran up to him and gave him a huge hug?"
Ella giggled. "Oh my, yes! I was so silly! I recall that at the time, I could not even tell why I was so upset with you..." Her voice trailed off and she sat silently.
I waited patiently while she thought.
~ Rosriel
"Of your feelings."
"Rosriel, really. Why would I be afraid of my feelings?"
"Because of what they might mean to you. Sometimes people are afraid of their feelings because they do not want their lives to change. Sometimes they are afraid of their feelings because they fear that admitting them or acknowledging them might make them more vulnerable, more easily hurt." I turned away, giving her time to think. I focused my attention on the girl we had found. She appeared to be awake now, if you could call it that. Her eyes were still closed, but she gave the faintest flutter of her eyelids when I lifted my canteen to her mouth. Feeling her forehead, I noticed that it was rather warm. My brow furrowed, something needed to be done for her.
I glanced up at Ella's face, but it was hidden in the darkness. While I waited for Ella to speak, I searched the pouch I wore at my waist for an herb that would lessen the girl's fever. By the flickering firelight, I did find something and crushed it into the water. Then I moved the girl's head into my lap and tried to get her to drink as much of the liquid as she could.
We sat in silence. When the girl coughed, I moved the water skin down from her lips. I began combing her hair with my fingers, noting that her face was tense. Having my hair brushed always had helped me to relax, I hoped it would help her as well. I looked up as Ella spoke.
"Or," she said softly, "one may be afraid of one's feelings, for fear of giving another pain."
I looked at her keenly. "Ella, I do not believe that you feel nothing for Legolas."
She turned towards me. "Why do you say that?"
I smiled softly, glancing down at the girl and was pleased to see that she had indeed relaxed. "Well, we have grown rather close since we first met and we are sisters, which most likely helped me to read your face more easily. Legolas is a very dear friend to you, you said yourself that when in Rivendell others teased you for your curled hair, he alone defended you. That in itself would endear him to you." I thought, then went on. "The way you act around him, you always have a smile ready for him..." I laughed, "Well, almost always. You tend to ask his opinion first, before asking anyone elses. I have seen how you look so happy and blush when he gives you a compliment or says a kind word to you. And do you not remember how upset you were that first day he joined us when I ran up to him and gave him a huge hug?"
Ella giggled. "Oh my, yes! I was so silly! I recall that at the time, I could not even tell why I was so upset with you..." Her voice trailed off and she sat silently.
I waited patiently while she thought.
~ Rosriel
Thursday, April 16, 2009
I Have Found Her
I had run on and on, following the call that I felt deep in my heart. And as I ran I pondered. Where did this call come from? Who was calling me? Could it be Ella? Was she hurt? No, I thought. I knew that it was not Ella, it was someone else.
The sun was getting lower and lower in the sky. I glanced up anxiously. The call was getting fainter, and I knew I had to find who ever it was soon, before dark. I quickened my pace and then stopped. Wait, what was that I had heard? Listening carefully, I heard a faint moan to my left. Stepping lightly, I walked towards the sound, then coming around a tree I spotted something. Someone. It was a girl, and she was lying on the ground as if in pain.
Quickly I knelt at her side, and laid my hand on her forehead. I spoke gently. "Hello? Can you hear me? You are very ill...and hurt too. I want to help you. Will you let me? Will you let my friends and I take care of you? My name is Rosriel." I saw her mouth move and bent down close. I heard a horse, faint whisper.
"Yes."
I sighed with relief. "Can you tell me what is wrong? Where does it hurt?" I waited for an answer. The girl's mouth moved feebly, but no sound came out. A tear slipped down her face. "There, there," I wiped the tear away. "It's alright. You don not have to say a thing. Just try to sleep and I will take care of you." She relaxed and I lifted my water skin to her lip, helping her get a small drink. Then I set about gathering wood for a campfire.
As I gathered bits of brush and twig I heard a rustle behind me. I stood and looked carefully around. My keen eyes caught the sight of a figure dropping quickly down behind some bushes. My breath caught in my throat. I could hardly believe my eyes. "Ella? Ella, come out! I saw you!"
Slowly she stood up. Tears filled my eyes as I ran to my sister and embraced her. She pulled away.
"Rosriel, I had to leave. I am sorry I did not say good-bye, but you must understand..."
I put my finger to her lips. "It is alright, really." I hesitated. "I understand, and if you still do not want come back, if you want to go on your way... that is alright with me."
Ella stared. "It - it is?"
I nodded. "Yes, if that is what you need to do. But for now, "I grabbed her hand. "Please, will you not spend the night with me? I would love to have another talk with you, and I need help." I re-gathered my kindling and began leading the way. "I found a young girl, she is very sick and injured I believe as well. I need help caring for her."
Ella nodded. "Of course I will help you. " She began building the fire as I examined the girl, who now appeared to be sleeping. I carefully felt her arms and legs, noticing that she winced when I touched her ankle. I looked up.
"Her ankle appears to be broken," I examined her further. "But other then that, she just seems to be dehydrated and I wager that she has not eaten in a few days."
Ella came over and knelt next to me. "Do you think she will be alright?"
I ripped off the hem of my dress and finding a flat stick, began binding the girl's ankle. "I think so, if she gets something to eat." I looked up. "Did you bring any food supplies?"
Ella looked through her pouch. "A few things, but not something she could just swallow. And I'm not sure how to make a broth with what's around here." She glanced around. "Or should I say... what's not around here."
I sighed, looking down at the sleeping form. "Well, then I guess we shall have to wait until someone finds us." I half smiled. "I imagine Legolas is having a panic attack over my disappearance, and most likely everyone else is worried as well." I laid my hand on Ella's shoulder. "If anyone should show up, particularly Legolas, it is alright if you go on."
She nodded slowly. "I will decide that later."
We sat together in the growing darkness, watching over the injured girl, enjoying each other's company as only sisters could.
~ Lady Rosriel
The sun was getting lower and lower in the sky. I glanced up anxiously. The call was getting fainter, and I knew I had to find who ever it was soon, before dark. I quickened my pace and then stopped. Wait, what was that I had heard? Listening carefully, I heard a faint moan to my left. Stepping lightly, I walked towards the sound, then coming around a tree I spotted something. Someone. It was a girl, and she was lying on the ground as if in pain.
Quickly I knelt at her side, and laid my hand on her forehead. I spoke gently. "Hello? Can you hear me? You are very ill...and hurt too. I want to help you. Will you let me? Will you let my friends and I take care of you? My name is Rosriel." I saw her mouth move and bent down close. I heard a horse, faint whisper.
"Yes."
I sighed with relief. "Can you tell me what is wrong? Where does it hurt?" I waited for an answer. The girl's mouth moved feebly, but no sound came out. A tear slipped down her face. "There, there," I wiped the tear away. "It's alright. You don not have to say a thing. Just try to sleep and I will take care of you." She relaxed and I lifted my water skin to her lip, helping her get a small drink. Then I set about gathering wood for a campfire.
As I gathered bits of brush and twig I heard a rustle behind me. I stood and looked carefully around. My keen eyes caught the sight of a figure dropping quickly down behind some bushes. My breath caught in my throat. I could hardly believe my eyes. "Ella? Ella, come out! I saw you!"
Slowly she stood up. Tears filled my eyes as I ran to my sister and embraced her. She pulled away.
"Rosriel, I had to leave. I am sorry I did not say good-bye, but you must understand..."
I put my finger to her lips. "It is alright, really." I hesitated. "I understand, and if you still do not want come back, if you want to go on your way... that is alright with me."
Ella stared. "It - it is?"
I nodded. "Yes, if that is what you need to do. But for now, "I grabbed her hand. "Please, will you not spend the night with me? I would love to have another talk with you, and I need help." I re-gathered my kindling and began leading the way. "I found a young girl, she is very sick and injured I believe as well. I need help caring for her."
Ella nodded. "Of course I will help you. " She began building the fire as I examined the girl, who now appeared to be sleeping. I carefully felt her arms and legs, noticing that she winced when I touched her ankle. I looked up.
"Her ankle appears to be broken," I examined her further. "But other then that, she just seems to be dehydrated and I wager that she has not eaten in a few days."
Ella came over and knelt next to me. "Do you think she will be alright?"
I ripped off the hem of my dress and finding a flat stick, began binding the girl's ankle. "I think so, if she gets something to eat." I looked up. "Did you bring any food supplies?"
Ella looked through her pouch. "A few things, but not something she could just swallow. And I'm not sure how to make a broth with what's around here." She glanced around. "Or should I say... what's not around here."
I sighed, looking down at the sleeping form. "Well, then I guess we shall have to wait until someone finds us." I half smiled. "I imagine Legolas is having a panic attack over my disappearance, and most likely everyone else is worried as well." I laid my hand on Ella's shoulder. "If anyone should show up, particularly Legolas, it is alright if you go on."
She nodded slowly. "I will decide that later."
We sat together in the growing darkness, watching over the injured girl, enjoying each other's company as only sisters could.
~ Lady Rosriel
Monday, April 13, 2009
A Call
Together Turwethiel and I began walking back towards the camp. We had just come in sight of it when I stopped. "Turwethiel, please go on ahead."
She looked at me quizzically. "What do you mean? I thought you said you were going to come back to the camp."
I shook my head. "I know, but... I am not ready just yet." I played with my necklace. "I need some time to think, to adjust."
Turwethiel nodded. "Yes, I can certainly understand that. What shall I tell them?"
"Just that I need some time to be alone."
I watched Turwethiel walk away and then turned back to the forest. I found myself wandering, and thinking, eventually sitting down beside a small stream and staring into it's bubbling waters. How I hoped that Ella was safe! I had sent word by the band of elves whom had rescued us from the orc attack that she had been found, and now I dreaded the thought of the anguish they might feel if something terrible happened to her - again. Yet I did not want to send word to them that she had left our company, for she might come back or maybe was even on her way to visit them.
My heart lifted at the thought and I hoped that Ella would go to visit our parents. How happy that would make them! I could picture the reception in my mind... a royal welcome for a princess of the Greenwood. I was sure that our uncle, King Thranduil would host at least one feast. I wished that I could be there, then reminded myself that I did not even know what Ella's plans had been. Still, the thought was comforting and I clung to it.
I started up as I felt a hand on my shoulder, heard a voice behind me, and whirled around. I gasped. "Legolas!"
He looked apologetic. "I am sorry Rosriel, I did not mean to startle you. I thought you heard me coming." He glanced at me carefully. "Would you prefer that I leave?"
I felt a slight twinge of irritation, had not I told Turwethiel to let them know I wanted to be alone? But then, perhaps Legolas had not been with the company. The thought occured to me that perhaps he had been worried about my flight into the forest and come to find me. "No, no. I do not mind." I saw that there was still a red mark on his face, and I blushed. "Legolas, can you ever forgive me? I am so sorry! I did not mean to, I was so upset..."
He nodded. "There is nothing to forgive." He smiled, taking my hand. "I am glad that you are safe, I was afraid you might be lost."
I burst into tears. My dear cousin! I had slapped him, yelled at him in front of the whole Fellowship, and he had still worried for my safety. I flung my arms around him "No, I am not lost."
He stepped back, looking a bit confused at my outburst. "Yes well," he glanced down. "I am afraid I have an apology as well," he took a deep breath. "I suspect it was because of me that Ella left. You were right, I did say something to her, but I would not have if I had known that this is how she would react. I am sorry."
I stared. What could he mean? An idea occured, I recalled how Ella had told me of Legolas' kindess to her when she grew up in Rivendell, how treated her so gently, had taken care of her the time she had hurt her ankle. "You told her you loved her, did you not?"
He looked surprised. "How did you know?"
I smiled. "Never put it past a woman to guess when a man is in love, particularily with her sister or friend." My smile faded, "Then she does not return your affections?"
"No, she seemed most upset when I told her, and now she has left..." he trailed off. "I believe I must have displeased her greatly."
I shook my head, "I do not believe that she does not return your feelings!"
Legolas looked up, startled.
I went on, "If she felt nothing for you, she would have told you and stayed, not run off as she did. No, she must either be uncertain of her feelings or there is something holding her back and so she left."
A look of hope entered Legolas' eyes. "Will you help me search for her?"
I was hesitating, on the verge of agreeing when suddenly something held me back. I knew with a deep conviction that I could not go with Legolas. "No," I replied, gently but firmly. "I can not."
His face fell, "Very well." He turned to go, then looked back. "Are you coming back to the camp?"
I was about to follow, when once again I felt that I could not. I paused. What was this? I knew not where it came from, but in my heart, I felt a call and I could not ignore it. For whatever reason, I could not go back to the camp. I shook my head. "I will be along shortly, maybe."
Legolas looked bemused, then nodded, looking at me closely. "Do not be long."
I did not answer as he turned and slowly walked away. I waited until he was out of sight and then began walking in the opposite direction. I did not know where I was being called, but I followed the way that seemed right. It felt like a call for help, an urgent call.
Quickening my pace, I hurried on.
~ Rosriel
She looked at me quizzically. "What do you mean? I thought you said you were going to come back to the camp."
I shook my head. "I know, but... I am not ready just yet." I played with my necklace. "I need some time to think, to adjust."
Turwethiel nodded. "Yes, I can certainly understand that. What shall I tell them?"
"Just that I need some time to be alone."
I watched Turwethiel walk away and then turned back to the forest. I found myself wandering, and thinking, eventually sitting down beside a small stream and staring into it's bubbling waters. How I hoped that Ella was safe! I had sent word by the band of elves whom had rescued us from the orc attack that she had been found, and now I dreaded the thought of the anguish they might feel if something terrible happened to her - again. Yet I did not want to send word to them that she had left our company, for she might come back or maybe was even on her way to visit them.
My heart lifted at the thought and I hoped that Ella would go to visit our parents. How happy that would make them! I could picture the reception in my mind... a royal welcome for a princess of the Greenwood. I was sure that our uncle, King Thranduil would host at least one feast. I wished that I could be there, then reminded myself that I did not even know what Ella's plans had been. Still, the thought was comforting and I clung to it.
I started up as I felt a hand on my shoulder, heard a voice behind me, and whirled around. I gasped. "Legolas!"
He looked apologetic. "I am sorry Rosriel, I did not mean to startle you. I thought you heard me coming." He glanced at me carefully. "Would you prefer that I leave?"
I felt a slight twinge of irritation, had not I told Turwethiel to let them know I wanted to be alone? But then, perhaps Legolas had not been with the company. The thought occured to me that perhaps he had been worried about my flight into the forest and come to find me. "No, no. I do not mind." I saw that there was still a red mark on his face, and I blushed. "Legolas, can you ever forgive me? I am so sorry! I did not mean to, I was so upset..."
He nodded. "There is nothing to forgive." He smiled, taking my hand. "I am glad that you are safe, I was afraid you might be lost."
I burst into tears. My dear cousin! I had slapped him, yelled at him in front of the whole Fellowship, and he had still worried for my safety. I flung my arms around him "No, I am not lost."
He stepped back, looking a bit confused at my outburst. "Yes well," he glanced down. "I am afraid I have an apology as well," he took a deep breath. "I suspect it was because of me that Ella left. You were right, I did say something to her, but I would not have if I had known that this is how she would react. I am sorry."
I stared. What could he mean? An idea occured, I recalled how Ella had told me of Legolas' kindess to her when she grew up in Rivendell, how treated her so gently, had taken care of her the time she had hurt her ankle. "You told her you loved her, did you not?"
He looked surprised. "How did you know?"
I smiled. "Never put it past a woman to guess when a man is in love, particularily with her sister or friend." My smile faded, "Then she does not return your affections?"
"No, she seemed most upset when I told her, and now she has left..." he trailed off. "I believe I must have displeased her greatly."
I shook my head, "I do not believe that she does not return your feelings!"
Legolas looked up, startled.
I went on, "If she felt nothing for you, she would have told you and stayed, not run off as she did. No, she must either be uncertain of her feelings or there is something holding her back and so she left."
A look of hope entered Legolas' eyes. "Will you help me search for her?"
I was hesitating, on the verge of agreeing when suddenly something held me back. I knew with a deep conviction that I could not go with Legolas. "No," I replied, gently but firmly. "I can not."
His face fell, "Very well." He turned to go, then looked back. "Are you coming back to the camp?"
I was about to follow, when once again I felt that I could not. I paused. What was this? I knew not where it came from, but in my heart, I felt a call and I could not ignore it. For whatever reason, I could not go back to the camp. I shook my head. "I will be along shortly, maybe."
Legolas looked bemused, then nodded, looking at me closely. "Do not be long."
I did not answer as he turned and slowly walked away. I waited until he was out of sight and then began walking in the opposite direction. I did not know where I was being called, but I followed the way that seemed right. It felt like a call for help, an urgent call.
Quickening my pace, I hurried on.
~ Rosriel
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Once again, my sister is gone
I opened my eyes slowly and rolled over, catching a glimpse of the sun rising over the mountain peaks. I looked heavenward, not a cloud in the sky! A perfectly lovely day for walking, talking to my dear sister Ella and making the new members of fellowship feel welcome.
As I got to my feet, smooth piece of birch bark fluttered down from the sash about my waist. I bent and picked it up. It was addressed with my name at the top. Curious, I began reading. Why would someone leave me a note?
Mara mesta, my sister. I must leave you and our friends now. I do not plan on returning, but I hope I will see you again someday. I am not sure where I shall go, and I need to be alone, please do not follow me. I hope you understand. Ná Elbereth veria le, ná elenath dÃn sÃla erin rád o chuil lÃn.
I stared at the note, hoping against hope that what I read was an illusion, a dream. I read it over and over again, my hands beginning to tremble. Ella, my sister, she could not have disappeared again! I had to follow her! There were skilled trackers amongst the Fellowship, Aldarion, Elrohir or Legolas....
Legolas. Could he have been the reason my dear sister had left? I recalled how he had upset her not too long ago when he had tried to reveal her curled hair without her consent. My face flushed angrilly. I would kill him if he was behind this!
My emotions flew faster than my thoughts, provoking me to I run towards where Legolas was sleeping in the manner of the elves. I grabbed his shoulders and shook him, waking him from his thoughts. "You did this! I know it!" I shoved the letter in his bewildered face, starting to sob. "It is your fault that Ella left!"
He stared in disbelief. "Ella, she, has left?" His voice trembled.
"Do not pretend that you are clueless!" I was beyond caring that the rest of the camp had awoken and was staring at the scene I was causing. "I am sure it was you! You are always upseting her! And now she has left!"
His face flushed, from a guilty concience I thought. "Rosriel, you must calm yourself."
"Calm myslef?" I stared at him. My voice grew quieter and cracked. "I just found my sister, a part of my family that I have always wanted and never had, and now she has just left! Gone in the night!" My voice began rising again. "And you tell me to calm myself?"
I could see the hurt in his eyes, from what I knew not, yet his face took on the most annoying expression of patience. "Yes I am. You are making a scene and a fool of yourself."
At that moment I hated my cousin so much that I lost my head and did something I had never done to anyone, ever. I raised my hand and slapped his face just as hard as I could. I caught my breath. What had I just done? I stared at the red mark on Legola's cheek, feeling everyone's eyes on my back. I stepped back, feeling so ashamed of myself that I wished I could vanish into the ground. Then I turned and ran off into the trees, as fast and as far away as I could.
~ Rosriel
As I got to my feet, smooth piece of birch bark fluttered down from the sash about my waist. I bent and picked it up. It was addressed with my name at the top. Curious, I began reading. Why would someone leave me a note?
Mara mesta, my sister. I must leave you and our friends now. I do not plan on returning, but I hope I will see you again someday. I am not sure where I shall go, and I need to be alone, please do not follow me. I hope you understand. Ná Elbereth veria le, ná elenath dÃn sÃla erin rád o chuil lÃn.
I stared at the note, hoping against hope that what I read was an illusion, a dream. I read it over and over again, my hands beginning to tremble. Ella, my sister, she could not have disappeared again! I had to follow her! There were skilled trackers amongst the Fellowship, Aldarion, Elrohir or Legolas....
Legolas. Could he have been the reason my dear sister had left? I recalled how he had upset her not too long ago when he had tried to reveal her curled hair without her consent. My face flushed angrilly. I would kill him if he was behind this!
My emotions flew faster than my thoughts, provoking me to I run towards where Legolas was sleeping in the manner of the elves. I grabbed his shoulders and shook him, waking him from his thoughts. "You did this! I know it!" I shoved the letter in his bewildered face, starting to sob. "It is your fault that Ella left!"
He stared in disbelief. "Ella, she, has left?" His voice trembled.
"Do not pretend that you are clueless!" I was beyond caring that the rest of the camp had awoken and was staring at the scene I was causing. "I am sure it was you! You are always upseting her! And now she has left!"
His face flushed, from a guilty concience I thought. "Rosriel, you must calm yourself."
"Calm myslef?" I stared at him. My voice grew quieter and cracked. "I just found my sister, a part of my family that I have always wanted and never had, and now she has just left! Gone in the night!" My voice began rising again. "And you tell me to calm myself?"
I could see the hurt in his eyes, from what I knew not, yet his face took on the most annoying expression of patience. "Yes I am. You are making a scene and a fool of yourself."
At that moment I hated my cousin so much that I lost my head and did something I had never done to anyone, ever. I raised my hand and slapped his face just as hard as I could. I caught my breath. What had I just done? I stared at the red mark on Legola's cheek, feeling everyone's eyes on my back. I stepped back, feeling so ashamed of myself that I wished I could vanish into the ground. Then I turned and ran off into the trees, as fast and as far away as I could.
~ Rosriel
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Wait a minute.. you're my WHAT?
I awoke from a troubled sleep and horrid dreams to a pounding head and Aldarion's worried face bending over me. Groggily I realized he was shaking me and calling my name. "Ow!" I moaned.
His face brightened with relief. "Rosriel, you are awake!"
"Which is to be regretted," I groaned again, trying to sit up. "Oh my head! What happened?"
"After you caught Elanor.."
I sat up quickly. "Elanor! Where is she? Is she alright?"
Aldarion pushed me back down again gently. "She is fine, though with a sore head as well, I imagine." He smiled.
I sighed with relief, "Then what?"
"She knocked you over backwards and you both crashed into this tree."
"Ouch," I rubbed my head. "No wonder it hurt's." I looked around, realizing something suddenly. "Wait, the battle, is it over?"
Aldarion helped me up, explaining, "We were close to being overwhelmed and had all but given up hope when a band of elves appeared in the nick of time and chased the orcs away."
I smiled, "How kind of them."
Seeing that I was alright now, Aldarion walked away to check on the others. Realizing I was a mess from rolling down the hill, I began brushing the leaves and grass from my dress and combing my hands through my hair. I touched my neck to fix my necklace where it lay hidden beneath my gown when I paused. "My necklace!" I gasped, "It's gone!"
Frantically I began shaking my dress, hoping it would fall out from somewhere. Ella came to see what was wrong.
"My necklace, it's missing!" I cried, searching the leaves now in desperation.
Ella bent down to look as well, "What does it look like?"
My hands pushed twigs and grass aside as I began describing it. "It is silver, a silver butterfly with wings of ruby, sapphire and mithril, small and..."
Ella's cut me off, "Does - does this, happen to, be it?"
I looked up at her strange tone of voice. "Yes!" I exclaimed with delight. "Oh yes! Thank you ever so much!" I grabbed it from her and gave her a hug all in one motion. "You don't know how much this necklace means to me." I looked up from fastening it around my neck and saw the strange expression on Ella's face. "What? What is it?"
She stared at me. "Your necklace, where did you get it from?"
Curious, I explained. "My father had a necklace like this made for my older sister, and when I was born, he had one made for me as well. I've never seen any other necklace like these."
"Your sister," Ella's voice cracked. "Your sister, where is she?"
"She dissapeared, a year after she was born." I looked closly at Ella, who had begun to cry. "Why do you ask? Is something wrong?"
She shook her head, reaching towards the neckline of her dress. My eyes widened as she pulled out a necklace identical to mine. "Why! Where?" I gasped.
Ella's voice shook, "When Elrond found me, I was about a year old. He said this necklace was around my neck." She began sobbing, "You are - we are..."
Realization dawned upon me and I shrieked, "You're my sister!" Sobbing and laughing we fell into eachothers arms. "It's you, it's you, it's you!" I kept repeating over and over.
She laughed. "Oh blessed orcs!"
We laughed and giggled and cried. "Come on!" I pulled her up, "Let's go tell everyone!"
"The whole world!" Ella cried.
Together we ran happily towards where the rest were gathered.
His face brightened with relief. "Rosriel, you are awake!"
"Which is to be regretted," I groaned again, trying to sit up. "Oh my head! What happened?"
"After you caught Elanor.."
I sat up quickly. "Elanor! Where is she? Is she alright?"
Aldarion pushed me back down again gently. "She is fine, though with a sore head as well, I imagine." He smiled.
I sighed with relief, "Then what?"
"She knocked you over backwards and you both crashed into this tree."
"Ouch," I rubbed my head. "No wonder it hurt's." I looked around, realizing something suddenly. "Wait, the battle, is it over?"
Aldarion helped me up, explaining, "We were close to being overwhelmed and had all but given up hope when a band of elves appeared in the nick of time and chased the orcs away."
I smiled, "How kind of them."
Seeing that I was alright now, Aldarion walked away to check on the others. Realizing I was a mess from rolling down the hill, I began brushing the leaves and grass from my dress and combing my hands through my hair. I touched my neck to fix my necklace where it lay hidden beneath my gown when I paused. "My necklace!" I gasped, "It's gone!"
Frantically I began shaking my dress, hoping it would fall out from somewhere. Ella came to see what was wrong.
"My necklace, it's missing!" I cried, searching the leaves now in desperation.
Ella bent down to look as well, "What does it look like?"
My hands pushed twigs and grass aside as I began describing it. "It is silver, a silver butterfly with wings of ruby, sapphire and mithril, small and..."
Ella's cut me off, "Does - does this, happen to, be it?"
I looked up at her strange tone of voice. "Yes!" I exclaimed with delight. "Oh yes! Thank you ever so much!" I grabbed it from her and gave her a hug all in one motion. "You don't know how much this necklace means to me." I looked up from fastening it around my neck and saw the strange expression on Ella's face. "What? What is it?"
She stared at me. "Your necklace, where did you get it from?"
Curious, I explained. "My father had a necklace like this made for my older sister, and when I was born, he had one made for me as well. I've never seen any other necklace like these."
"Your sister," Ella's voice cracked. "Your sister, where is she?"
"She dissapeared, a year after she was born." I looked closly at Ella, who had begun to cry. "Why do you ask? Is something wrong?"
She shook her head, reaching towards the neckline of her dress. My eyes widened as she pulled out a necklace identical to mine. "Why! Where?" I gasped.
Ella's voice shook, "When Elrond found me, I was about a year old. He said this necklace was around my neck." She began sobbing, "You are - we are..."
Realization dawned upon me and I shrieked, "You're my sister!" Sobbing and laughing we fell into eachothers arms. "It's you, it's you, it's you!" I kept repeating over and over.
She laughed. "Oh blessed orcs!"
We laughed and giggled and cried. "Come on!" I pulled her up, "Let's go tell everyone!"
"The whole world!" Ella cried.
Together we ran happily towards where the rest were gathered.
~Rosriel
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Attack! - Part 1
Soon strike a good path that goes southeast toward the mountain pass. Path is lined with stones. Full moon. 233 miles from start. 1 miles since last location
We all lept up at the sound of Legolas, Ella and Samdo's shouts.
"Orcs!" yelled Samdo, waving his blue sword. "It's orc's it is!"
"Where?" Elena shouted back.
Legolas ran up and pointed back over his shoulder. We turned to see at least a hundred orcs, maybe more, swarming over the next rise in the land. Elrohir began issuing commands.
"Everyone, back up to this rise here, find some place to brace your selves against, where you won't be easily reached. Climb trees if you need to. Those without bows and arrows stay close to those who do! Now move!"
We hurriedly began finding safe places amongst the trees and boulders. Elanor sat with me in a tall oak and we both watched nervously as the orcs came closer, their harsh noises filling the air.
"Stay close to me," I whispered, drawing an arrow from my sheath and preparing to fire on Elrohir's command. She nodded silently, gripping her small sword tightly.
"FIRE!"
I began firing my arows rapidly on the oncoming rabble, hitting a target each time. Legolas, Elladan, Elrohir, Elena, Ella, Aldarion and Anarion all had bows, as well as Vila. Samdo stayed crouched beside Aldarion, and I saw Lira with Anarion, and Raewyn with Elrohir and Dior with Legolas. I was relieved that we were all accounted for.
By now the orcs had come upon us and began attacking those on the ground and attempting to shoot the few of us in the trees. I kept firing down at the rabble, hoping and praying that this was it, and that more were not coming. I suddenly realized that Elanor and I were the only two left in a tree, and the rest were now on the ground fighting hand to hand.
"Should we get down?" Elanor touched my arm, looking worried about the jump down. I nodded. I was running out of arrows and if I used them all, then we would both be at risk at our elevated height.
"I'll go down first and make room for you to jump!" I lept down out of the branches without another word and pulled my sword. A large orc made a run at me and I killed him on my first stroke. Fighting furiously and getting further away from the tree then I had intended, I risked a glance back at Elanor. "Jump down!"
Suddenly my heart froze in my chest. Somewhere an orc had lighted a torch - probably from the remains of our campfire - and had just thrown it at the base of Elanor's tree! I cried out and tried to fight my way back through the orcs. Samdo had also seen her plight and was running towards her as well, roaring and chopping, till a sword hilt knocked him to the ground. "Jump!" I screamed.
Taking a large breath and screwing her eyes up tight, Elanor lept as far as she could into the air. I managed to catch her as she came down, just past the flames, and we thudded to the ground. My sword went flying out of my hand and we began rolling down the hillside. Trying futily to stop our descent, we crashed into a tree and everything went black.
We all lept up at the sound of Legolas, Ella and Samdo's shouts.
"Orcs!" yelled Samdo, waving his blue sword. "It's orc's it is!"
"Where?" Elena shouted back.
Legolas ran up and pointed back over his shoulder. We turned to see at least a hundred orcs, maybe more, swarming over the next rise in the land. Elrohir began issuing commands.
"Everyone, back up to this rise here, find some place to brace your selves against, where you won't be easily reached. Climb trees if you need to. Those without bows and arrows stay close to those who do! Now move!"
We hurriedly began finding safe places amongst the trees and boulders. Elanor sat with me in a tall oak and we both watched nervously as the orcs came closer, their harsh noises filling the air.
"Stay close to me," I whispered, drawing an arrow from my sheath and preparing to fire on Elrohir's command. She nodded silently, gripping her small sword tightly.
"FIRE!"
I began firing my arows rapidly on the oncoming rabble, hitting a target each time. Legolas, Elladan, Elrohir, Elena, Ella, Aldarion and Anarion all had bows, as well as Vila. Samdo stayed crouched beside Aldarion, and I saw Lira with Anarion, and Raewyn with Elrohir and Dior with Legolas. I was relieved that we were all accounted for.
By now the orcs had come upon us and began attacking those on the ground and attempting to shoot the few of us in the trees. I kept firing down at the rabble, hoping and praying that this was it, and that more were not coming. I suddenly realized that Elanor and I were the only two left in a tree, and the rest were now on the ground fighting hand to hand.
"Should we get down?" Elanor touched my arm, looking worried about the jump down. I nodded. I was running out of arrows and if I used them all, then we would both be at risk at our elevated height.
"I'll go down first and make room for you to jump!" I lept down out of the branches without another word and pulled my sword. A large orc made a run at me and I killed him on my first stroke. Fighting furiously and getting further away from the tree then I had intended, I risked a glance back at Elanor. "Jump down!"
Suddenly my heart froze in my chest. Somewhere an orc had lighted a torch - probably from the remains of our campfire - and had just thrown it at the base of Elanor's tree! I cried out and tried to fight my way back through the orcs. Samdo had also seen her plight and was running towards her as well, roaring and chopping, till a sword hilt knocked him to the ground. "Jump!" I screamed.
Taking a large breath and screwing her eyes up tight, Elanor lept as far as she could into the air. I managed to catch her as she came down, just past the flames, and we thudded to the ground. My sword went flying out of my hand and we began rolling down the hillside. Trying futily to stop our descent, we crashed into a tree and everything went black.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Sword lessons.
We have crossed several low mountain spurs, and are now on a low hill. While the rest are finishing their noon meal, I am surveying the countryside. In front of us I can see more hills rolling along. Beyond that is Hollin Ridge and further, past that, my elven eyes can see the Mountains of Moria.
"What are you looking at, my lady?"
I jumped, startled by the voice. "Aldarion, I did not hear you!"
He smiled. "Well, I am a Ranger." Behind us, Elladan snorted, almost derisively. I glanced swiftly at him, then back at Aldarion. Other then a slightly sour look on Elladan's face, I could tell nothing from either one's expression. 'What is going on there?' I wonder.
"You had asked me a question?" I say.
"I only asked what you were looking at."
I waved my arm out at the landscape. "This". I said simply. "Are not the mountains in the distance beautiful?"
He laughed, amused. "My lady, you forget that I am not an elf."
"Oh," I blushed and giggled. "Sorry."
"She does that all the time." Elena said as she walked past, rolling her eyes. "I am forever searching the skies for something, or scanning the landscape, before I remember she can see much farther than I can."
Aldarion smiled. "I can, however, see that apple on that tree, down at the bottom of the hill, and to the left." He looked at the bow and arrows on my back. "I recall you aiming those at me when we met. Do you have great skill with those?"
In answer, I fixed an arrow to my bow, drew it back, and fired, knocking the apple from the tree. "If you would like, I shall hit that one as well, over there." I pointed to a tree several yards further then the first."
"The one nearly hidden behind that large tree? Very well."
I fired my bow again, and was satisfied to see an apple fall to the ground. I glanced at Aldarion. "Could your mortal eyes see that?" I teased.
"I could and it was a good shot." He replied. "Indeed you are quite skilled."
We talked of weaponry and archery as we walked down the hill to retrieve my arrows, discussing the differences between Elven arrows and Gondorian ones.
"Can my lady wield a sword as well?" Aldarion queried after we had retried the arrows, and the apples.
"Could my lord please call me by my name?" I asked, almost shocked at my boldness.
"If my lady - if you would like it, then yes, Rosriel."
For some reason, my heart skipped when I heard him say my name. I was being foolish, I told my self. Many other men have said my name and no differently. I returned to his question.
"I am afraid my skill with the sword is not nearly as good as that with a bow." I said regretfully. "In Greenwood, the bow is the more common weapon."
"I could give you some pointers, if you would like," he offered.
"Now?"
"If you wish."
"Do you have an extra sword?"
"I do."
"Very well then." We took our positions and started out with some basic moves. Once I demonstrated what little I knew, Aldarion began teaching me some harder tricks. I did very well, and was secretly pleased with myself for catching on so quickly. Then Aldarion surprised my with a quick twist that nicked my hand slightly and sent my sword flying.
"Ow!" I exclaimed.
Aldarion's face was all concern. "Are you hurt?"
"No, no," I reassured him. "It is only a little scratch." I glanced at the sword. "You did catch me by surprise! How did you do it?"
He glanced up the hill. "It looks like they are getting ready to move on. Shall we end the lesson, and I explain it to you as we walk back?"
I nodded in agreement, and we both reached for my fallen sword at the same time. We managed to bump our heads together twice before I finally was able to grab the sword. I reached out to hand it to him and as he took it... our hands touched. I flushed slightly and glanced up at Aldarion's face. He smiled gently, "Shall we walk back up?"
I smiled back, "Yes. Thank you for the sword lessons."
He bowed. "Thank you... Rosriel".
"What are you looking at, my lady?"
I jumped, startled by the voice. "Aldarion, I did not hear you!"
He smiled. "Well, I am a Ranger." Behind us, Elladan snorted, almost derisively. I glanced swiftly at him, then back at Aldarion. Other then a slightly sour look on Elladan's face, I could tell nothing from either one's expression. 'What is going on there?' I wonder.
"You had asked me a question?" I say.
"I only asked what you were looking at."
I waved my arm out at the landscape. "This". I said simply. "Are not the mountains in the distance beautiful?"
He laughed, amused. "My lady, you forget that I am not an elf."
"Oh," I blushed and giggled. "Sorry."
"She does that all the time." Elena said as she walked past, rolling her eyes. "I am forever searching the skies for something, or scanning the landscape, before I remember she can see much farther than I can."
Aldarion smiled. "I can, however, see that apple on that tree, down at the bottom of the hill, and to the left." He looked at the bow and arrows on my back. "I recall you aiming those at me when we met. Do you have great skill with those?"
In answer, I fixed an arrow to my bow, drew it back, and fired, knocking the apple from the tree. "If you would like, I shall hit that one as well, over there." I pointed to a tree several yards further then the first."
"The one nearly hidden behind that large tree? Very well."
I fired my bow again, and was satisfied to see an apple fall to the ground. I glanced at Aldarion. "Could your mortal eyes see that?" I teased.
"I could and it was a good shot." He replied. "Indeed you are quite skilled."
We talked of weaponry and archery as we walked down the hill to retrieve my arrows, discussing the differences between Elven arrows and Gondorian ones.
"Can my lady wield a sword as well?" Aldarion queried after we had retried the arrows, and the apples.
"Could my lord please call me by my name?" I asked, almost shocked at my boldness.
"If my lady - if you would like it, then yes, Rosriel."
For some reason, my heart skipped when I heard him say my name. I was being foolish, I told my self. Many other men have said my name and no differently. I returned to his question.
"I am afraid my skill with the sword is not nearly as good as that with a bow." I said regretfully. "In Greenwood, the bow is the more common weapon."
"I could give you some pointers, if you would like," he offered.
"Now?"
"If you wish."
"Do you have an extra sword?"
"I do."
"Very well then." We took our positions and started out with some basic moves. Once I demonstrated what little I knew, Aldarion began teaching me some harder tricks. I did very well, and was secretly pleased with myself for catching on so quickly. Then Aldarion surprised my with a quick twist that nicked my hand slightly and sent my sword flying.
"Ow!" I exclaimed.
Aldarion's face was all concern. "Are you hurt?"
"No, no," I reassured him. "It is only a little scratch." I glanced at the sword. "You did catch me by surprise! How did you do it?"
He glanced up the hill. "It looks like they are getting ready to move on. Shall we end the lesson, and I explain it to you as we walk back?"
I nodded in agreement, and we both reached for my fallen sword at the same time. We managed to bump our heads together twice before I finally was able to grab the sword. I reached out to hand it to him and as he took it... our hands touched. I flushed slightly and glanced up at Aldarion's face. He smiled gently, "Shall we walk back up?"
I smiled back, "Yes. Thank you for the sword lessons."
He bowed. "Thank you... Rosriel".
Monday, August 18, 2008
Dealings with Stubborn Elves
I woke up, startled, at Legolas's shout. Through my blurred eyes, I was Ella running off over the top of the rise. A few others jumped up as well, but most just groaned and rolled over.
"Legolas, what in the world is it?" Elena mumbled while rubbing her eyes. He stood there, glancing towards the way Ella was running and back, looking slightly unsure of himself.
"I - ah - just thought that I would wake everyone - er - up." He finally mumbled, looking for all the world like a child who had been caught at something.
"Well, couldn't you have done it a bit quieter?" Elena sounded almost irritated. "It is still early and I don't see the rush."
"No, of course. No rush. Go back to sleep." Legolas turned and began to walk quickly away. Wondering what on earth had happened, I followed him.
"Legolas, there was a reason you shouted to wake us up." I caught up to him and grabbed hold of his arm. "Why was Ella running away from camp?"
"Nothing, it was nothing." He tried to shrug me off. I held on tighter.
"No, it's not nothing." I insisted. He remained silent, and I felt my irritation with him growing. "Ella didn't just run off because she felt like it. You had something to do with this, what was it? What did you do?"
"She did not have to run away."
"But she did." I waited for him to answer. "Fine," I huffed. "I shall go find her and see if she is more willing to talk." I left my stubborn cousin standing there and stormed off over the rise. I looked around for Ella, wondering where she could have gone to, and hoping she had not run into trouble. Finally, I saw her, huddled up next to a rock.
"Ella!" I called, running up. She looked up, almost fearfully, then flushed and turned away. I dropped down beside her. "Ella, what is it? Why did you run away?" I saw with some concern that she had been crying. "What happened?"
"Just go away!" She cried, trying to push me away.
"Not until you tell me what is wrong."
"No."
"Yes."
"Well, just look at me!"
I looked her over. "What? You look the same as ever."
Ella turned to me almost fiercely. "What do you mean I look the same? Just look at my hair!"
I did, and my eyes grew wide. Her hair, normally straight, now had the loveliest curls I had ever seen. "Oh Ella," I breathed. "It's gorgeous! How in the world did you get it like that?"
She stared at me with disbelief. "You - what?"
"I think it is lovely! You should always have it like this! How do you do it?"
"It - uh - it's natural." She stammered. Seeming to gather courage, she went on. "When I was younger, in Rivendell, the other children made fun of me, so I discovered away to straighten it. I do it every morning so no one will know. Legolas is the only one here who knows my secret. He thinks it will help me to find my family, because he thinks it means that I am part Hobbit. This morning, he tried to show my hair to everyone, without my consent" she finished wryly.
I nearly flared up again. "Really! That elf. Sometimes I can hardly believe he is the even keeled elf from the Red Book of Westmarch. But your hair!" I ran my fingers through it. "It is so beautiful. And as for it meaning you are part hobbit..." I looked closer and shook my head. "I rather doubt it. Hobbit's curls are closer together and more springy, you know? But yours are loser, more gentle. No, if anything, I think you must have human blood."
Ella looked surprised. "Really? There are those of the race of men that have curled hair?"
"Rarely, but sometimes they do. I've known one or two of the Rohirrim who have curled hair, Aldarion says his mother had curled hair, and my great-great grandfather - who was human - is said to have curled hair as well."
She sat silently, thinking this new information over. "I suppose Legolas has told everyone," she said at last.
I shook my head. "No, actually." I laughed, "he rather awkwardly came up with -well - no excuse for waking everyone up so early. Would you like me to help you straighten your hair before we go back?"
Ella shook her head slowly. "No, I think I will leave it the way it is." She looked up at me. "I was afraid that I would be made fun of, but your reaction has given me reassurance." She hugged me.
I released her and ran my hand over her hair again. "Good, I was hoping you would. You know, the wash you used to straighten it must have changed the color slightly as well. It looks redder than it did before."
We got up and began to walk back to camp, conversing merrily.
"Can I give Legolas a tongue lashing for you?"
"No!"
"Why not?"
"Because, there is no need to now! My hair is the way it naturally is. Isn't that what you both wanted?"
'Yesss... but it's the fact that he tried to reveal it without your consent."
"I suppose he did... but no."
"Spoil sport."
"Too bad!"
~ Rosriel, 74 miles
"Legolas, what in the world is it?" Elena mumbled while rubbing her eyes. He stood there, glancing towards the way Ella was running and back, looking slightly unsure of himself.
"I - ah - just thought that I would wake everyone - er - up." He finally mumbled, looking for all the world like a child who had been caught at something.
"Well, couldn't you have done it a bit quieter?" Elena sounded almost irritated. "It is still early and I don't see the rush."
"No, of course. No rush. Go back to sleep." Legolas turned and began to walk quickly away. Wondering what on earth had happened, I followed him.
"Legolas, there was a reason you shouted to wake us up." I caught up to him and grabbed hold of his arm. "Why was Ella running away from camp?"
"Nothing, it was nothing." He tried to shrug me off. I held on tighter.
"No, it's not nothing." I insisted. He remained silent, and I felt my irritation with him growing. "Ella didn't just run off because she felt like it. You had something to do with this, what was it? What did you do?"
"She did not have to run away."
"But she did." I waited for him to answer. "Fine," I huffed. "I shall go find her and see if she is more willing to talk." I left my stubborn cousin standing there and stormed off over the rise. I looked around for Ella, wondering where she could have gone to, and hoping she had not run into trouble. Finally, I saw her, huddled up next to a rock.
"Ella!" I called, running up. She looked up, almost fearfully, then flushed and turned away. I dropped down beside her. "Ella, what is it? Why did you run away?" I saw with some concern that she had been crying. "What happened?"
"Just go away!" She cried, trying to push me away.
"Not until you tell me what is wrong."
"No."
"Yes."
"Well, just look at me!"
I looked her over. "What? You look the same as ever."
Ella turned to me almost fiercely. "What do you mean I look the same? Just look at my hair!"
I did, and my eyes grew wide. Her hair, normally straight, now had the loveliest curls I had ever seen. "Oh Ella," I breathed. "It's gorgeous! How in the world did you get it like that?"
She stared at me with disbelief. "You - what?"
"I think it is lovely! You should always have it like this! How do you do it?"
"It - uh - it's natural." She stammered. Seeming to gather courage, she went on. "When I was younger, in Rivendell, the other children made fun of me, so I discovered away to straighten it. I do it every morning so no one will know. Legolas is the only one here who knows my secret. He thinks it will help me to find my family, because he thinks it means that I am part Hobbit. This morning, he tried to show my hair to everyone, without my consent" she finished wryly.
I nearly flared up again. "Really! That elf. Sometimes I can hardly believe he is the even keeled elf from the Red Book of Westmarch. But your hair!" I ran my fingers through it. "It is so beautiful. And as for it meaning you are part hobbit..." I looked closer and shook my head. "I rather doubt it. Hobbit's curls are closer together and more springy, you know? But yours are loser, more gentle. No, if anything, I think you must have human blood."
Ella looked surprised. "Really? There are those of the race of men that have curled hair?"
"Rarely, but sometimes they do. I've known one or two of the Rohirrim who have curled hair, Aldarion says his mother had curled hair, and my great-great grandfather - who was human - is said to have curled hair as well."
She sat silently, thinking this new information over. "I suppose Legolas has told everyone," she said at last.
I shook my head. "No, actually." I laughed, "he rather awkwardly came up with -well - no excuse for waking everyone up so early. Would you like me to help you straighten your hair before we go back?"
Ella shook her head slowly. "No, I think I will leave it the way it is." She looked up at me. "I was afraid that I would be made fun of, but your reaction has given me reassurance." She hugged me.
I released her and ran my hand over her hair again. "Good, I was hoping you would. You know, the wash you used to straighten it must have changed the color slightly as well. It looks redder than it did before."
We got up and began to walk back to camp, conversing merrily.
"Can I give Legolas a tongue lashing for you?"
"No!"
"Why not?"
"Because, there is no need to now! My hair is the way it naturally is. Isn't that what you both wanted?"
'Yesss... but it's the fact that he tried to reveal it without your consent."
"I suppose he did... but no."
"Spoil sport."
"Too bad!"
~ Rosriel, 74 miles
Friday, August 8, 2008
Water fight!
I am still wet as I sit down to write this. How much fun though! And the look on Dior's face! Let me start at the beginning...
These past few days we have been walking in a stream bed, which was very handy for getting all the water we needed for cooking, and took away any excuse the menfolk had for not washing! The idea however for splashing others with it did not occur though, until today.
I carried the pots and pans I had used for making breakfast down to the stream in order to wash them off.
"Rosriel," Lira called. "Would you like some help with that?"
"Why thank you Lira," I replied. "That would be nice!" I knelt down on the bank and began scrubbing yucca roots that Vila had picked up along the way for soap as Lira finished bringing down the bowls and cups. We were chatting cheerily when a shadow fell over us. I glanced up and stifled back a sigh. It was Dior. Despite what Ella had suggested about trying to make friends, it was still difficult for me to be charitable, even harder for Lira.
"What do you want?" she snapped.
Dior ignored her. "I came to thank you for the fine meal, Miss Rosriel." He bowed and I softened slightly.
"Le hannon," I replied, inclining my head. My good feelings quickly dissipated, however.
"You must have grown in courtesy and decency of cooking since you captured Thorin's company," Dior said in an antagonistic tone of voice.
My face flushed a faint shade of red and I felt my irritation growing again. Before I could make a reply though Lira threw a handful of water straight into the dwarfs face! I couldn't help but laughing at his shocked look and threw my own handful of water. He looked angry, but I could see his lips twitching as if trying not to laugh.
"Never splash a dwarf!" he boomed and threw water all over me before retreating beyond splashing range. Giggling, I attempted to throw water at him, but ended up soaking Lira instead. She shrieked and grabbed a pan full of water to throw on me. I ducked quickly, and much to Lira's dismay she drenched Anarion, who had come up to see what we were doing. He looked startled, then joined in with vengeance. Lira and I threw water at him as best we could through our laughter.
"Two against one is not fair!" Anarion protested. "Aldarion, come and help out your poor besieged brother!"
Aldarion looked up from where he was sharpening his knife. "If you are foolish enough to get involved in a water fight," he said calmly "especially with those two, then you shouldn't expect your older and wiser brother to save you."
Anarion looked so dismayed as he fended off out onslaught, that I felt slightly sorry for him and then did something I would not have otherwise decided to do. Motioning to Lira and Anarion to keep up the raucous, I silently filled a pot of water, crept up behind Aldarion and dumped it on his head. He lept up with a roar of surprise.
"So this is how elf princesses of Greenwood treat Rangers now is it?" He exclaimed. I shrieked as he chased me back down to the water, where I promptly slipped on a rock, falling face first into the cold stream and Aldarion joined in on Anarion's side.
Vila, Ella, Samdo and Elanor all joined in, and after a bit of splashing, so did everyone else - except for Elladan who had previously walked off to somewhere. In the midst of our splashing he returned and stood on the bank watching.
"Am I the only sane member of this fellowship left?" he called with a smile. In response, Elena took a cooking pan of water and threw it at him. Drenched, he joined in as well. Finally, we called a truce and staggered back to our campfire, where we are attempting to dry ourselves off. I admit I am a bit disappointed that our path now leaves the stream, but we must go on. I am sure there will be other streams along the way.
How thankful I am that our fellowship is not pressed by haste and danger, and that we have time for such fun and enjoyment.
~ Lady Rosriel, 70 miles
These past few days we have been walking in a stream bed, which was very handy for getting all the water we needed for cooking, and took away any excuse the menfolk had for not washing! The idea however for splashing others with it did not occur though, until today.
I carried the pots and pans I had used for making breakfast down to the stream in order to wash them off.
"Rosriel," Lira called. "Would you like some help with that?"
"Why thank you Lira," I replied. "That would be nice!" I knelt down on the bank and began scrubbing yucca roots that Vila had picked up along the way for soap as Lira finished bringing down the bowls and cups. We were chatting cheerily when a shadow fell over us. I glanced up and stifled back a sigh. It was Dior. Despite what Ella had suggested about trying to make friends, it was still difficult for me to be charitable, even harder for Lira.
"What do you want?" she snapped.
Dior ignored her. "I came to thank you for the fine meal, Miss Rosriel." He bowed and I softened slightly.
"Le hannon," I replied, inclining my head. My good feelings quickly dissipated, however.
"You must have grown in courtesy and decency of cooking since you captured Thorin's company," Dior said in an antagonistic tone of voice.
My face flushed a faint shade of red and I felt my irritation growing again. Before I could make a reply though Lira threw a handful of water straight into the dwarfs face! I couldn't help but laughing at his shocked look and threw my own handful of water. He looked angry, but I could see his lips twitching as if trying not to laugh.
"Never splash a dwarf!" he boomed and threw water all over me before retreating beyond splashing range. Giggling, I attempted to throw water at him, but ended up soaking Lira instead. She shrieked and grabbed a pan full of water to throw on me. I ducked quickly, and much to Lira's dismay she drenched Anarion, who had come up to see what we were doing. He looked startled, then joined in with vengeance. Lira and I threw water at him as best we could through our laughter.
"Two against one is not fair!" Anarion protested. "Aldarion, come and help out your poor besieged brother!"
Aldarion looked up from where he was sharpening his knife. "If you are foolish enough to get involved in a water fight," he said calmly "especially with those two, then you shouldn't expect your older and wiser brother to save you."
Anarion looked so dismayed as he fended off out onslaught, that I felt slightly sorry for him and then did something I would not have otherwise decided to do. Motioning to Lira and Anarion to keep up the raucous, I silently filled a pot of water, crept up behind Aldarion and dumped it on his head. He lept up with a roar of surprise.
"So this is how elf princesses of Greenwood treat Rangers now is it?" He exclaimed. I shrieked as he chased me back down to the water, where I promptly slipped on a rock, falling face first into the cold stream and Aldarion joined in on Anarion's side.
Vila, Ella, Samdo and Elanor all joined in, and after a bit of splashing, so did everyone else - except for Elladan who had previously walked off to somewhere. In the midst of our splashing he returned and stood on the bank watching.
"Am I the only sane member of this fellowship left?" he called with a smile. In response, Elena took a cooking pan of water and threw it at him. Drenched, he joined in as well. Finally, we called a truce and staggered back to our campfire, where we are attempting to dry ourselves off. I admit I am a bit disappointed that our path now leaves the stream, but we must go on. I am sure there will be other streams along the way.
How thankful I am that our fellowship is not pressed by haste and danger, and that we have time for such fun and enjoyment.
~ Lady Rosriel, 70 miles
Saturday, August 2, 2008
The Fourth Months Path
Due to Elena's preocupideness at the moment, I have taken it upon my self to write out the fourth month's path.
Well, I am afraid the fellowship has not done the walking for our third month, so that has now become the fourth month's path. We must make up the lost ground!
August 7th we will be at the 60 mile marker, where we will leave the stream bed that we have been following.
We should have walked 67 miles by August 14th. The paths will be few and winding, and we will camp during the day, as the Fellowship did.
We will reach the top of a small rise and angle southeast by August18th, the 70 mile marker.
By August 29th we should have walked 82 miles total and have reached the thorn thicket where the Fellowship camped during the day. As of yet, we have not decided whether or not to camp during the day there, but I think that it would be fun! I just hope that certain members do not push other certain members into the thorns!
I have taken the liberty to decide that we will continue at 7 miles a week, which has so far proved to be a pretty good pace. I hope that we may stick to this month's plan!
~ Lady Rosriel, 69 miles
Well, I am afraid the fellowship has not done the walking for our third month, so that has now become the fourth month's path. We must make up the lost ground!
August 7th we will be at the 60 mile marker, where we will leave the stream bed that we have been following.
We should have walked 67 miles by August 14th. The paths will be few and winding, and we will camp during the day, as the Fellowship did.
We will reach the top of a small rise and angle southeast by August18th, the 70 mile marker.
By August 29th we should have walked 82 miles total and have reached the thorn thicket where the Fellowship camped during the day. As of yet, we have not decided whether or not to camp during the day there, but I think that it would be fun! I just hope that certain members do not push other certain members into the thorns!
I have taken the liberty to decide that we will continue at 7 miles a week, which has so far proved to be a pretty good pace. I hope that we may stick to this month's plan!
~ Lady Rosriel, 69 miles
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
The Story of My Sister...
Today is slightly overcast, which fits my mood -also overcast. I sighed again and almost without knowing it reached up and pulled my necklace from where it lay hidden under my dress. I played with it distractedly. For some reason my sister had been in my thoughts a lot lately. I thought about her often... but not as much as recently. Why? I mused.
Sighing again, I put my necklace away and continued walking on. I heard someone catching up behind me and turned to look who it was. Elena smiled as she came closer. "I thought I would walk with you, dear cousin!" She called out.
"To what do I owe the honor of your company?" I said with mock solemnity.
"You looked cloudy," Elena glanced sideways at me. "Thinking about Aldarion again?"
"No." I half snapped, a bit irritated. "Why do you think that I think about Aldarion every moment of the day?"
She raised her eyebrow, "Sorry, I did not know that you were touchy on that subject."
"I am not touchy!" I protested hotly. "It is just that you always seem to think that I can not think of anything but Aldarion and so you never ask my advice about anything anymore!"
Elena was silent. "I am sorry if I acted that way," she said at last. "I did not mean too."
I cooled off slightly. "I am sorry for losing my temper. I should not have."
"So what were you thinking about?"
I looked up at the cloudy sky which had tno began to drizzle slightly and pulled my dark green cloak tightly about me. "My sister." I said at last.
Elena looked puzzled. "I did not know you had a sister."
"I did, at one time. Maybe I still do. "
"What do you mean?"
"Well," I explained. "About a three hundred years before I was born, so not that much older..."
"Wait!" Elena intergected. "Three hundred years? What do you mean not that much older?"
I glanced at her in mock disbelife "I am an elf. I am imortal. How many years is a long time?"
Elena pretended to glare at me, "Oh please, surely three hundred years isn't a short amount of time even for an elf?"
I giggled, "No it isn't. Anyhow, about fifty years before I was born - I am serious this time - my sister was born. They called her Luthien Elsulien. My mother loved the story of Beren and Luthien, so she named us both after her, and then Elsulien, 'star wind'. They call her Gwanwen now, "I added sadly, "'Departed Maiden'. My father said she was very lovely for how young she was.
She nodded. "So what happened to her?"
I sighed. "Well, about a year after she was born, my mother and father decided to make a trip to Rivendell. They took her with. While crossing a pass in the mountains the party was waylayed by orcs." I looked out over the landscape. "Not very far from here, I believe. It was dark out, and the elf women who was carrying my sister must have been seperated from the main party during the attack. At any rate, they were able to fend off the orcs, though they had to make a run for it during the respite. The next morning, when they gathered the remains of their company," I paused sadly, "Niether the elf woman nor my sister were there."
I fingered my necklace again. "They searched the mountains many times, never finding a trace. My mother was heart broken, and she never spoke of my sister. I only heard of her by chance, overhearing someones comment and then I was able to pry the story from my father. He also told me," I showed my necklace to Elena, "That she had a necklace just like this one." I slipped it back to its hiding place. "But I doubt she would still have it, if she is indeed alive somewhere."
Elena put an arm around my shoulders. "I hope that indeed she is and that someday you will find each other."
I smiled at my cousin gratefully and at that moment the sun burst through the clouds. "Le hannon. Thank you"
~ Lady Rosriel 58.62 miles
Sighing again, I put my necklace away and continued walking on. I heard someone catching up behind me and turned to look who it was. Elena smiled as she came closer. "I thought I would walk with you, dear cousin!" She called out.
"To what do I owe the honor of your company?" I said with mock solemnity.
"You looked cloudy," Elena glanced sideways at me. "Thinking about Aldarion again?"
"No." I half snapped, a bit irritated. "Why do you think that I think about Aldarion every moment of the day?"
She raised her eyebrow, "Sorry, I did not know that you were touchy on that subject."
"I am not touchy!" I protested hotly. "It is just that you always seem to think that I can not think of anything but Aldarion and so you never ask my advice about anything anymore!"
Elena was silent. "I am sorry if I acted that way," she said at last. "I did not mean too."
I cooled off slightly. "I am sorry for losing my temper. I should not have."
"So what were you thinking about?"
I looked up at the cloudy sky which had tno began to drizzle slightly and pulled my dark green cloak tightly about me. "My sister." I said at last.
Elena looked puzzled. "I did not know you had a sister."
"I did, at one time. Maybe I still do. "
"What do you mean?"
"Well," I explained. "About a three hundred years before I was born, so not that much older..."
"Wait!" Elena intergected. "Three hundred years? What do you mean not that much older?"
I glanced at her in mock disbelife "I am an elf. I am imortal. How many years is a long time?"
Elena pretended to glare at me, "Oh please, surely three hundred years isn't a short amount of time even for an elf?"
I giggled, "No it isn't. Anyhow, about fifty years before I was born - I am serious this time - my sister was born. They called her Luthien Elsulien. My mother loved the story of Beren and Luthien, so she named us both after her, and then Elsulien, 'star wind'. They call her Gwanwen now, "I added sadly, "'Departed Maiden'. My father said she was very lovely for how young she was.
She nodded. "So what happened to her?"
I sighed. "Well, about a year after she was born, my mother and father decided to make a trip to Rivendell. They took her with. While crossing a pass in the mountains the party was waylayed by orcs." I looked out over the landscape. "Not very far from here, I believe. It was dark out, and the elf women who was carrying my sister must have been seperated from the main party during the attack. At any rate, they were able to fend off the orcs, though they had to make a run for it during the respite. The next morning, when they gathered the remains of their company," I paused sadly, "Niether the elf woman nor my sister were there."
I fingered my necklace again. "They searched the mountains many times, never finding a trace. My mother was heart broken, and she never spoke of my sister. I only heard of her by chance, overhearing someones comment and then I was able to pry the story from my father. He also told me," I showed my necklace to Elena, "That she had a necklace just like this one." I slipped it back to its hiding place. "But I doubt she would still have it, if she is indeed alive somewhere."
Elena put an arm around my shoulders. "I hope that indeed she is and that someday you will find each other."
I smiled at my cousin gratefully and at that moment the sun burst through the clouds. "Le hannon. Thank you"
~ Lady Rosriel 58.62 miles
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
An Accidental Eavesdropping
I lay beside the fire, staring up at the stars, fingering the necklace I wore about my neck. I thought again about the sister I had never met. I wonder if she is alive, somewhere.
Sighing, I rolled over to go to sleep, when low voices cought my ear. It was Aldarion and Legolas. They were sitting on the other side of our campfire, and it seemed as if they were in the middle of a conversation. I must have been so wrapped in my thoughts that I did not hear them. Out of idelness, I listened.
"No", Aldarion laughed slightly. "I am not one to go around telling people I love them." He paused. "No, I have taken a vow, that I shall tell no maiden that I love her, unless I am ready to ask for her hand in marriage with my next breath."
"That is a good vow to take," Legolas replied thoughtfully. "But one that not many can keep."
"I have so far, and I intend to keep it."
There was silence for a good many minutes. I was about to fall alseep, when I cought my name.
"The Lady Rosriel, is you cousin, is she not, Legolas?"
"Yes, she is."
"Are you two particularily close?"
"Meaning do we confide in eachother?" Legolas asked. "Yes, we do frequently and we have since she was young." I had rolled over slightly and saw him glance at Aldarion. "Why do you ask?"
Aldarion's face was in the shadow, so I could not see his expression. "Do you know, I was just curious, prehaps wrongly so but, I was wondering..." he hesitated. "Does, is she - promised - to anyone?"
Legolas thought. "She has not plighted troth with any one." I could see him smile. "Nor had her heart been given to anyone when she left the Greenwood for Rivendell." He added casually, "Of course, that may have changed since she departed that fair place." He laughed. "Does that satisfy your questionings, Aldarion?"
Aldarion shifted almost uncomfortably. "Yes, thank you." He stood up, looking out at the dark landscape, then back at Legolas. I could see his face now, which was serious. "I did not want to make any mistakes."
Legolas stood up as well, and he said something that I could not hear.
"So I assume your heart is free as well?" He added louder.
"Why do you think I asked the questions I did?" returned Aldarion.
He walked away, and Legolas sat down near the fire. I turned on to my back. Why did I feel so breathless? Yes, I liked Aldarion, but I had never thought.... Why was I so completely elated? What was this feeling? I had never been in love before... was this it? I did not know.
Confused, I fell asleep.
~ Rosriel 52 miles
Sighing, I rolled over to go to sleep, when low voices cought my ear. It was Aldarion and Legolas. They were sitting on the other side of our campfire, and it seemed as if they were in the middle of a conversation. I must have been so wrapped in my thoughts that I did not hear them. Out of idelness, I listened.
"No", Aldarion laughed slightly. "I am not one to go around telling people I love them." He paused. "No, I have taken a vow, that I shall tell no maiden that I love her, unless I am ready to ask for her hand in marriage with my next breath."
"That is a good vow to take," Legolas replied thoughtfully. "But one that not many can keep."
"I have so far, and I intend to keep it."
There was silence for a good many minutes. I was about to fall alseep, when I cought my name.
"The Lady Rosriel, is you cousin, is she not, Legolas?"
"Yes, she is."
"Are you two particularily close?"
"Meaning do we confide in eachother?" Legolas asked. "Yes, we do frequently and we have since she was young." I had rolled over slightly and saw him glance at Aldarion. "Why do you ask?"
Aldarion's face was in the shadow, so I could not see his expression. "Do you know, I was just curious, prehaps wrongly so but, I was wondering..." he hesitated. "Does, is she - promised - to anyone?"
Legolas thought. "She has not plighted troth with any one." I could see him smile. "Nor had her heart been given to anyone when she left the Greenwood for Rivendell." He added casually, "Of course, that may have changed since she departed that fair place." He laughed. "Does that satisfy your questionings, Aldarion?"
Aldarion shifted almost uncomfortably. "Yes, thank you." He stood up, looking out at the dark landscape, then back at Legolas. I could see his face now, which was serious. "I did not want to make any mistakes."
Legolas stood up as well, and he said something that I could not hear.
"So I assume your heart is free as well?" He added louder.
"Why do you think I asked the questions I did?" returned Aldarion.
He walked away, and Legolas sat down near the fire. I turned on to my back. Why did I feel so breathless? Yes, I liked Aldarion, but I had never thought.... Why was I so completely elated? What was this feeling? I had never been in love before... was this it? I did not know.
Confused, I fell asleep.
~ Rosriel 52 miles
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