The day was bitter. So this was why mother had complained about the heat in the South. She was from Rohan, where days in the summer are only as warm as the nights are in Harad. Father was from the Dunedain, who lived even farther North. Here, near where he used to live, icy rain dripped from the bare branches of the trees, and the sky was an even gray. Yet Turmegil was saying how beautiful the day was, and I agreed with him. My wet scarf clung to my neck and drenched hair, but the silent chilly gray beauty of the wood was far and away preferable to the oppressive heat and torture of the Haradrim slave camp.
"You have probably noticed this already, but I just thought I would bring it up. What is that black thing up ahead?" I questioned Turmegil. Being an elf, he had probably noticed the dark mass through the trees ages before. I, a human girl and prone to daydreaming, considered myself lucky not to trip over it.
"That is where the forest ends, and the mountain begins."
"Another one!"
He laughed, and I smiled.
"The mountains of Hithaeglir are the longest range in this part of Middle Earth, Elsayenle. You are lucky I did not decide to take the mountain route instead of cutting through Fangorn."

"Elsie," I rebuked him absently; Turmegil always refused to call me by my nickname.

Captured like my parents during the War of the Ring, he knew these lands, but to me they were wholly new. I shivered, remembering. Trees were a new thing to me, amazing enough on their own. Talking trees bordered on terrifying, beautiful as they were.
We came to the edge of the wood. Looking up, a sheet of rock stretched up to the sky, craggy and huge. This was the mountain.
"Rest now. We will be climbing for a long time," Turmegil said. " I will get wood for a fire."
I settled myself against a rock crag, my back to the forest. Turmegil unsheathed his woodcutting blade and headed off. Sleep slipped over me like a blanket.
***
"Ai! Goth!" The cries rang in my ears startling me from sleep. I started and straightened. Enemies. "No dhinen! Drego! Ave acheno!" I heard Turmegil's voice. Flee.
No. I can fight. I can't let him go! He would not say this unless he meant it. He would just tell me to stay hidden. I must. I can't! I must. The thoughts flashed through my mind as I unsheathed my sword. Deep breath. Go.
I knew how to use cover to an advantage, but in this barren place, there was little hope that I could escape unnoticed. I ducked among the rocks, crawling and zig zagging. The yelling was still behind me. My heart leapt in my throat and I could barely breathe. I was close to having to choke back tears. The climb seemed endless but I managed it somehow.
From about a hundred yards up I looked down to see bloodied bodies of the orc carcasses, some laying where I had been sleeping. The remaining score were carrying Turmegil far away. The last I saw of him was his cropped dark hair, then he was gone. The tears overflowed as I gazed and I buried my face in my arms. Was this escape all for naught? I might as well still be in the camp, awful as it was. At least I'd have a friend. Ai! I sobbed. There was nothing to be done. I was only sixteen, with no plan. No one knew us or where we were. I was not yet skilled enough to evade or take on an orc company alone. I would go to Lorien, though I did not know the way.

***
Goth = Enemy
No dhinen = Be silent
Drego = Flee
Avo acheno = Don't look back

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."

"I don't believe telling him will accomplish anything. I'm sure he knows. I'm sure it's what he wants as well. It's just...not possible. Things are too awkward now. We've both said and done things...I don't think we can go back to how things were. At least, I don't know how we could."

"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 was silent again, thinking. Suddenly her face contorted and tears sprang to her eyes.

"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."

Ella shook her head. "I can't."

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

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.

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."

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

What Have I DONE?

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. Without giving heed to what she was doing, she plunged it into the figure in front of her.  She heard a cry of pain and realized to late that she had slain her sister!

"Rosriel!" She cried "What have I done?"  Ella succumbed to despair and then slew herself, ending her grief once and for all....

They were so beautiful and kind, these people. I wanted to let myself be free...to get to know them and let them know me. But I was afraid...afraid of all that I'd been running from...afraid that if I let myself love them that I would get hurt or something worse...that they would get hurt loving me.

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

Ella:

I gathered my belongings, glad for something to keep my mind and hands occupied. We would move on, as planned.

"Can I help?"

I didn't look up; I'd recognize the voice anywhere. "You have your own things to pack," I muttered.

"I finished." Without waiting for an acceptance, Legolas began collecting my scattered items.

I hadn't explained my tears to him...he hadn't asked me to. But he had to be curious. I felt foolish now. Why hadn't I pulled away? Stop it, Ella. What's done is done. It cannot be changed. You've just got to move forward. Yes. Move forward. Literally, we would be. Figuratively, I needed to. If only I could convince my heart to, as well.

Where to Next?

The day after Miss Silmarien and all the rest joined back up with our Fellowship, we held a meeting to decide where we would be headin' to next.

"As leader of this company," Elenatintil spoke.  "I say that we follow our intention of tracing the footsteps of the original Fellowship and make the trip up to Redhorn Pass."

Vila raised her hand.  "But what about the feast in Moria, that the Dwarves are holding?  It's already been quite a while since Dior met up with us with the invitation."

Elenatintil turned to Dior.

"First of all," Dior glanced sidelong at Vila, "the invitation was for the royalty, the nobles of Rivendel, the Greenwood and Lothlorien, not annoying little elves like you."

I stiffed a chuckle as both Lira and Vila shot glares at Dior. 

"Though, of course, you are all invited," Dior continued.  "As for the matter of getting there, it was expected in advance that it would take some time to send out the invitations to the elves and allow them to travel to the Mines.  Also, as we are not all that far from the Mines, it would be perfectly fine if your company was to continue on their way before going to the mines."

Elenatintil nodded.  "Thank you, Dior."  She paused.  "Our company?  You will not be coming with us?"

Dior shook his head.  "I will travel on, and inform the others of your imminent arrival."

"Very well then."  Elenatintil looked around the group.  "Any more questions?  Objections?"

There were none and we prepared to break camp.

~  Samdo

Just so we know where we are...

Almost to the feet of the Redhorn. Camp during day of Jan. 11. Gandalf and Aragorn debate path. Wind turns NW. Black clouds form during afternoon. 284 miles. 34 mi last location.

~ Rosriel

Legolas:

I watched Ella walk to the edge of camp. Though I was too far away to see them, I knew tears had arrived. Why, Ella? Why won't you let me comfort you? I frowned. I respected Ella and wanted to honor her decisions, but...

Turwethiel had slipped away, needing time alone after our talk. I had no reason not to do what my heart told me I should. None but my pride.

I walked to her. "Ella?"

Ella:

He came. I could always count on him to come when I needed him. It's one of the many things I love about him. I turned to face him. He'd seen me cry before; I didn't care if he knew.

A look of something more comforting than sympathy crossed his face, and he wrapped me in his arms. My heart beat frantically, and my will split in two. Part wanted to stay in his arms forever; the other to pull away. Surely he could feel me shaking, could hear my heartbeat, could guess the reason......