Lira.....is not in a good mood

I woke up to a chilly gray sky that promised rain, and poked my head out of the tent I lay in to stare at it. I felt much improved, but still rather weak. As it turned out, one of the orcs had hit me rather hard in the side, but in the excitement of the fight, I hadn’t thought it more than a bruise, and so had been as surprised as Aniron when it broke upon later, after the fight.

No one was in sight. I craned my head farther out, and looked around for Rosriel or Ella, or Vila. Or Aniron. But I couldn’t see anyone. I sighed, and lay back, staring bleakly into space. There was nothing I hated more than not being able to move, get up, walk. I hated being dependant on others, who always forgot about me. And of all things, I hated being left alone most. It was always the secret fear that hid itself beneath everything I said, did.

And now I was alone. I always ended up alone. And Vila wasn’t even here. I wanted Vila. I didn’t want Aniron. I didn’t want him to see me being so weak and childish.

I curled up sulkily, my side suddenly hurting more. Stupid, stupid orcs!

I heard footsteps suddenly, and peeked out of the tent. It was Aniron, and he had Elladan and Elohir with him. Good, maybe they could do something about my stupid wound.

“Lira. You’re awake,” Aniron said, surprised.

I turned my head away and refused to acknowledge his existence.

“I wouldn’t have left you without telling you if you’d been awake,” Aniron said, thinking I was angry. I let him go on thinking that. It was better than for him to realize I’d been crying. I hated crying.

Elohir cleared his throat slightly, and Aniron stepped aside. The two busied about my wound, and when they were done, I felt much better. And the fact that I’d managed to wipe the tears off my face without any of them noticing also helped restore my good mood.

“Where’s Vila?” I asked Aniron.

“I haven’t seen her,” he answered, and I frowned angrily. Some sister!

“Ella, then? What about Rosriel?”

“I saw Rosriel just a little while ago. She was with a newcomer who seems to have joined our fellowship,” he answered. But he looked away while he was speaking.

“And Ella?” I pressed, suddenly suspicious.

He exchanged quick glances with Elladan and Elohir, and they shook their heads just slightly. They were hiding something from me. I tried to sit up.

“Has she been hurt?? I haven’t seen her since the orcs attacked! Has she—she isn’t—?” my voice choked up, and I couldn’t question them further.

“No, no!” Aniron assured me hastily. “She made it through the fight without any injuries. She’s quite well.”

“Then what?” I practically screamed, and Aniron grimaced.

“She’s—gone,” he said, without looking at the twins, who looked disapproving.

“What??!!!” I couldn’t have heard him right. I tried to get up.

“Hold her down!” I heard one of the twins hiss, and Aniron pushed me firmly back down, where I lay trembling.

“She left last night,” he said quietly.

“B-but w-why?” I whispered, feeling the tears coming despite myself.

He was still holding me down, and I closed my eyes and pretended he was embracing me. It helped, but I hardly hold back a snicker when I wondered what Elladan and Elohir would think if they knew what I was thinking! Or Legolas…

“I don’t know,” he said gently.

“And without bidding farewell to any of us?” Or had she bid farewell to everyone but me because they didn’t want to disturb me? The thought upset me so much I nearly burst into tears on the spot.

“She left a note for Rosriel.” He hesitated, and then added, “Rosriel is very upset as well.”

I pushed the tears back, and stared with an unfriendly look as I could manage at the twins, until they took their leave. Aniron stayed.

“I’m sorry, Lira. You’re not the only one hurt by her leaving like this.”

I pretended not to hear, and folded my arms tightly, pulling away from him. Now that the shock had faded, I was beginning to be angry at Ella. That was easier. But some of his words sank in, and I looked at him.

“Rosriel is, of course,” I said finally, and he glanced away again.

“Of course,” he agreed. He always looked away from me when he was hiding something. What this time?

“Well?” I said, and he glanced back, startled.

“You’re hiding something,” I accused him. He blinked.

“Legolas seemed quite upset as well,” he said finally.

Legolas?

I couldn’t concentrate for long on this interesting fact, though. My thoughts kept going back to the same thought—How could Ella leave like this? Aniron noticed my distraction, and sat down silently beside me. I grimaced, and he noticed that too. “Do you want me to go?” he said, starting to get up. I did and I didn’t.

“No—yes—oh just stay where you are!”

He sat back down.

“You’re angry, now,” he said, studying my face. I shifted, and turned it away from him, and he was silent.

“Not at you,” I said finally, not wanting him to misinterpret my silence.

“At her?”

“Yes.”

I was silent a moment longer, and then suddenly, words came tumbling out of me.

“I shouldn’t be this angry at her, this hurt…. I know it’s not my fault she left… I know she didn’t leave because of me… not like the others—” I cut my words off quickly. I’d said far too much.

“Do you know why she left?” I said hastily, but Aniron was not so easily distracted. “The others?” he said, a touch of hesitance in his voice, as though he knew he was entering unknown territory.

I didn’t intend to tell him anything, I meant to keep silent or change the subject, but the words just poured out of me.

“I never can keep friends for long. They always leave. They always tell me I’m crazy and their mothers don’t want them to be friends with me because I’m always leading them into trouble. It’s gotten so bad that wherever I go, no one, elf or man, girl or boy will even speak to me beyond bare politeness, and their parents are as bad. It’s the same for Vila. Our parents are ashamed of us. They sent us off to Queen Arwen in hopes we could settle down and start anew, but too many people already knew us there, and the ones who didn’t were told by those. So—that’s the real reason we joined this Fellowship. Now you know.”

I wouldn’t look at him.

“Surely, you must be exaggerating,” he said in astonishment. “I am sure there must be some willing to give you a second chance!”

“Or a third, or fourth….” I agreed, not looking at him, and trying to hide the bitter note in my voice. But he did not sound convinced when he spoke.

“You cannot convince me that all are so unkind! There must be some who think kindly of you.”

“And those are the obedient ones who obey their parents and stay away from us,” I agreed.

“But you are only two young elven maids playing pranks!”

“Who would have thought so many people would have taken offence to having their hair died the color of a rainbow?” I agreed. He couldn’t hold back his laughter.

“It started with the fireworks, I suppose,” I said thoughtfully. “And ‘borrowing’ things… and…um, yes. A lot of things. A reputation is a reputation, and it grows in telling.

“Fireworks?” he said. “No, don’t tell me, please. And kidnapping people with curly hair?”

“Oh, that was only a few times.” I brushed the reference off.

“Only a few times…” he said dryly.

I glanced over at him, saw the stifled laughter on his face, and managed a shaky laugh myself.

Ëarwen (AY-er-when) Harethgalad (HAR-eth GAL-ad)

Ëarwen stood looking uncomfortable.
"Look, I'm sorry, but we can't stay here," she said suddenly.
Turwethiel looked up, astonished. "Ëarwen!" she said, shocked.
The half-elven girl looked abashed. "I did not mean it that way," she said, glancing apologetically at Rosriel. "But I hear something, and it is headed this way."
"What 'something'?" sniffed Rosriel, trying to gain her compusure.
"I don't know, but it is not good, whatever it is," said Ëarwen.
Rosriel was now convinced that Ëarwen was only half-elven. She lacked their usual tact. 'Well, at least they ALMOST all have tact,' she muttered to herself.
"Yes, Legolas can be a bit blunt," said Ëarwen. Rosriel blushed furiously.
For being a half-elf she really had good hearing.
Turwethiel stood up, one hand still on Rosriel's shoulder.
"We must go, I am afraid," she said, "for Ëarwen's hearing is keen, and seldom wrong."
Rosriel nodded and stood also. She felt very short between the two tall warriors on either side.
She noticed that Ëarwen wore a soft blue tunic over deerskin pants, and tall deerskin boots.
Her forearms were bound with warg skins tied with leather thongs, and her creamy hair was tied behind her at the top with another leather thong. Her eyes seemed to see much more than her mouth mentioned. Rosriel also noticed that she too carried a bow and arrow, but seemed more fond of the two sticks hanging by sheaths at her sides. They were about two and a half feet long, silver, and each end was a double-edged blade. "They are called Khelehb sticks, which means Silver sticks," explained Ëarwen, noticing Rosriel's glance. "I prefer them to my bow."
"Oh," said Rosriel. "Are you related to Turwethiel?" she asked.
Ëarwen shook her head. "No, merely good friends. I am the granddaughter of Glorfindel."
Rosriel stood, shocked, then said in a rush "You mean the same elf who is said to be one of the firstborn and who prophecied that no man could kill the witchking!?"
Ëarwen nodded. "The same. He resides at Rivendell with Elrond."
Rosriel nodded. "I knew that."
"We must be off, quickly, as in 'now,'" said Ëarwen, giving Rosriel a slight shove.
With a small glare, Rosriel began walking quickly, trying to stay even with the two tall girl's strides.

Rosriel and Turwethiel

I ran after Legolas. "Legolas, wait! Let me find Rosriel. I can relate with how she is feeling better than you can," I said quietly.

Legolas stopped, thought a moment, nodded his head, and turned back to camp. Taking a deep breath I pushed on into the forest.

"Rosriel! Rosriel come back!" I went a little further to find her curled up, crying by a tree stump.
"Rosriel, don't cry so. Ella would not want it."

"Why did she leave?! It's all Legolas's fault! I just found a link to my family that I always wanted and....and...." she looked up suddenly, "....and who are you to know about such things?! You are a complete stranger!!" Rosriel's eyes flashed but still tears spilled over.

I took a deep breath and sat down next her. "Rosriel, I know that I am a stranger to you, but I do know about such things as losing family."

She looked at me now differently and sniffed, "What do you mean"

I shuffled uncomfortably. I did not want to let her know my past, it was still too real and too personal to me. "You will just have to trust me that I know. I am sure Ella had her reasons, you will just have to trust that she loves you and you will see her again someday."

"You think I will?"

"I believe so. Let's go back to camp, Legolas deserves an apology."

Rosriel cringed, but got up anyway. We began to walk back when she asked, "Are you joining our group, Turwethiel?"

"I believe so. Is that alright with you?"

Rosriel looked uncertain for a moment. After all, Turwethiel was a stranger, and a rather mysterious she-elf. But she seemed to be a skilled warrioress, and understanding of others needs. "It's fine with me," Rosriel finally said.

They continued on until they reached the camp.

(continue on whoever wants! :))

(If y'all don't mind, since Ella is no longer with the fellowship but I'd still like to be an active writer here, I'll sort of take over Legolas now. That doesn't of course mean that the rest of you can't write him in wherever you see fit or anything like that. Just that I'll be writing stuff that includes his point of view & not Ella's)

Legolas:

Gone? How? The realization that Ella's leaving was probably my doing stung worse than the slap Rosriel had just given me.

Rosriel! Where had she run off to? It was bad enough having one lady I cared for gone, two would be intolerable. "Rosriel! Rosriel please come back." I ran in the direction she had gone. "I need your help," I said in case she was listening. "To find Ella."

~~~

Ella:

I ran as far as I could, and when exhaustion made running no longer an option, I walked. I no longer know where I am. I don't know how far from the fellowship I have come. I only know morning has come, and I am too tired to go further. I know I must continue onwards if I do not wish for the fellowship to find me--and find me they will if Legolas has any say in it--but an hour or two of sleep won't put me at too great a risk. With a clearer head, perhaps I shall know better what direction I am headed.

Ëarwen Harethgalad

Suddenly beside Turwithiel there appeared another figure.
She had sorrel hair and light blue eyes.
"Greetings," she said to the two dumbfounded sisters.
"My name is Ëarwen Harethgalad. I am half-elven, although I chose mortality." Her ears were pointed, but she was obviously not full elvish.
"Oh, okay," said the two, looking happy and blank at the same time.
Turwithiel grinned.

(sorry this was so short, I need to go over the thing again! But the main point is, I GOT IN!! YAY!) (I'll delete this once you've seen it, if you like :)

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 dín síla erin rád o chuil lín.

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

Farewell...in not so many words

I couldn't handle any goodbyes. I know they would also contain pleas for me to stay, and I wouldn't be able to refuse.

So I'm simply leaving. I don't yet know where I'm headed. The only continuing thought I have is that I must go someplace far away from these people. These people I call my friends. These people I've learned to love.

I take a deep breath, grab my belongings, and slip away, unnoticed as I'd hoped. I turn and look one last time upon the sleeping members of the fellowship. Each one has endeared themselves to me in some special way, even the newest members. My eyes rest on Legolas' form. I shake my head as though to rid myself of the image, and trudge onward.

"Namarie," I mouth. "And may you all stay safe and joyful."

Awake...

I noticed something sharp digging into my back and realized that I had been laying there for a while. What happened? I couldn't remember. Sitting up slowly, I reached for my belt. The little dagger that I had strapped there was gone. Suddenly, the memory jolted me wide awake. They knocked me down...then, they must have stolen Tiri Huor! Ay... I grabbed a tree branch to pull myself up, but a seering pain forced me to the ground again. My ankle must have been broken. The middle of nowhere...no people....not even a road...wait....is there a road somewhere near here? If I can only get to the road, then someone will find me.... Rolling over on my stomach, I began to crawl.

I was walking through the forest wondering what I should do next. Should I ask permission to join them? It's not like I have anything to go back to. With a heavy sigh I tried to block out the haunting memories when I spied Legolas.

"You look terrible, cousin," I stated.

Legolas looked up with sad eyes, "You know, we are so far apart we really can't even be considered cousins."

I shrugged. "What's wrong? Ella?"

"Yes. She doesn't love me......but love her more than anything."

I slowly nodded my head knowing what he meant, "Yeah.....I know."

"I'm sorry Turwethiel."

"It's okay. You're the only one who knows what I went through, and what I still hold deep within my heart."

"What are your plans now?"

"Well, I was wondering that myself. I don't have anywhere to go really."

"Why don't you travel with us?"

"Do you think they would accept me? They don't know me."

What's the Elvish Word for "Uffda"?

Things have gotten awkward around here. I never thought I'd want to be out of Legolas' presence, but...it's not easy being around him. Not that he's doing anything to make it thus. The simple knowledge that me being here is causing him pain--hide it as he may--well...

I have all but made a decision. I'm not quite sure how to go about doing it, but I believe it will be best for everyone. Well, everyone but me. I've never liked being on my own.