The Warrior and the Poet(Extended Edition)

Part one: Upon the Eaves of Lothlórien


A bright light woke me. Sunlight streamed through the low thicket that appeared to surround me. How did I get here? Where was here, and, how did I get back home to my husband and family?

Confusion reigned as I peered around, blinking at the brightness of the sunlight. My head hurt. Putting a hand to my forehead I felt something sticky. I pulled my hand away to find blood on the palm. What happened?

Moragain?! Where was she? I remembered that she was supposed to be with me but I could not see her from where I lay. The world spun nauseously as I sat up. I had to find her and I wasn’t going to let a concussion stand in my way. Cautiously I stood up, standing still to allow the spinning world to settle. I looked around the area trying to orient myself. Where was I? Where was she? Panic rose in my throat. She was out there somewhere lost and afraid. She needed me and I didn’t even know where to start looking.

"Moragain!" I called frantically, "Moragain, honey, where are you?"

No answer except the happy chirp of birds. Where was she? Slowly I moved from the thicket, trying to walk quietly so I could hear any movement or voice that could lead me to my daughter.

"Moragain! This isn’t funny! Where are you?!"

How long I searched, I don’t know but thirst came upon me and I followed the sound of water to a swiftly moving river. As I knelt down on the bank to drink, I glanced at my refection in the clear water. I looked a mess. Leaves and twigs poked out of my hair, my face had dirt smudges on it, and my clothes were muddy. I had a sizable bloody gash on my forehead. I must have hit something when I fell. Fell? From where? What had happened to me? And where was Moragain? Why wasn’t she answering me? Had she been too badly hurt by whatever fall that had caused my injuries to call out? Maybe I could find a farmhouse and ask for help to find her.

I walked upstream and found a calm pool-like inlet. It didn’t appear to be very deep. I thought about shedding my clothes and going for a swim in the cool clear pool but on testing the water and finding it icy I decided against it. However the cold water against my injured head felt good, soothing the pounding headache that had been plaguing me since standing up. Still, I washed myself the best I could without soap in the frigid water, shivering all the while. Would I ever warm up after this?

"Come on!" I heard someone shout.

Hope spurred me. Perhaps they knew where Moragain was or could help me find her. I had finished tying back my wet hair when three men, followed by five smaller beings. Perhaps one of the children was Moragain!

As they came into view, the men stopped short, obviously surprised to see me standing there. Though they were the size of a seven-year-old, the five smaller beings were obviously men of some dwarvish race, almost Hobbit-like with their largish ears and hairy feet.

Still instinct warred with rising panic and worry. Instinct told me not to ask about her, to be cautious. I don’t know why, but I felt she was safer if I didn’t. Yet I wanted to find her, to know she was all right. They seemed safe enough but appearances could be deceiving.

"What is this?" chuckled the one with stringy reddish-blond hair.

"What does it look like?" I countered testily. That smile reminded me of someone in my past, someone who had hurt me, making me recoil from him.

The tall, lanky blond seemed to be smiling at my snapped question. Why did he look familiar? "Orcs are two leagues behind us, Aragorn. She can not be left here," he whispered to a scruffy looking, dark-haired man.

Aragorn?! What the hell?! This couldn’t be happening. I stared at them in perplexed astonishment. This had to be some Role Play that I had stumbled into. They couldn’t really be . . . Yet as I looked at them I could see how much they looked like the images that dwelt in my imagination, like the actors that had played the members of the Fellowship in the movies.

He nodded as he stepped closer to me. "You are injured."

"Can I ask a relatively stupid question?" I asked, ignoring the statement as I eyed the strawberry blond cautiously. Could it really be Boromir standing there? "Just where am I?"

"You are just outside the eaves of Lothlórien, my lady," Aragorn replied.

"Lothlórien? I have died and have fallen in to a story." I stared at them in numb disbelief. Here before me stood Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, Boromir and the Hobbits. I could not believe it. It was too incredible to be true.

"’Tis no story, I assure you, fair lady." answered the scruffy blond. "I would call this a living hell."

"I would agree." Burred one of the smaller beings with a long bushy copper beard.

I opened my mouth to say something about agreeing, realizing where it was I ended up, then thought better of it. I could very easily change the course of the ‘history’ if I revealed too much prior knowledge. Also it could hamper finding Moragain if she somehow ended up here as well.

"Forgive me," I said, bowing slightly and trying to ignore the dizziness that washed over me, "I guess I’m a little disoriented."

Aragorn smiled slightly at me. "Understandable, with that concussion you have, my lady. Yet we have little safety here in the open to tend your injuries. Let us be gone from this place. There will be time to take care of them once we reach the safety of the woods." Aragorn said striding quickly toward the forest with all the others, except the husky blond, hot on his heels.

I understood the very real danger, as if the mere mention of orcs wouldn’t have sent me running regardless of having knowledge of the stories. Just the sound of the word didn’t conjure up nice images. Nodding in compliance, I moved to follow Aragorn and the others, swaying slightly as a wave of sickness washed over me and halted my steps.

"Come, my lady." the one I knew to be Boromir said, reaching out for my arm to steady me, "let me help you."

I knew who they all were and knew to be wary, especially of this one. I could see it in his eyes, the ring had impaired his judgment and was quietly eroding his honour. I favoured him with a narrowed stare and a slight smile as I brushed past him, following the others, determined not to show the weakness I felt creeping up on me. I was going to have to be very careful.

"One would think you an elf, my lady," he called after me, "as cool and aloof as you seem to be."

"Thank you, my lord." I hitched my skirts and jogged after the receding group.

Just as the others slowed, I let out a startled yelp as the lacing on my bodice fell to pieces.

"What has happened?" the tall, lanky blond asked, coming up beside me.

"Nothing, except right now I could really use a good Elvish curse," I growled, trying to salvage what was left of the lacing, to no avail. How could I ask them to help me? Were not they taking the One Ring to Mordor? My troubles seemed insignificant compared to the fate of Middle Earth. At least they would be to them.

I swayed a little, blinking to try and clear my aching head. The dizziness was getting worse. No! I couldn’t give in to this. Any weakness shown on my part and I would garner no respect from these men. A woman alone in the company of men had to be able to hold her own among them or she was easy prey. I knew that much.

He chuckled softly, quickly pulling a leather lace out of the side seam on his jerkin and handing it to me. "Here. It will service until you can aquire a new lace."

"You don’t have to -" I began, shakily, closing my eyes against the wave of sickness that crashed over me. Suddenly I felt a strong hand on my shoulder and the nauseousness left me. Looking up into the elf’s face, I found him staring intently at me. What was he doing?

"It is nothing, hiril-nîn." He said, inclining his head slightly, his stare no less intense, as he let his hand drop from my shoulder.

"Hannon le. Forgive me, I am . . ." I paused a beat, confused by what I thought he had done and wondering if I should give him my real name or use the elvish name I had given myself. "I am Ithilin."

He seemed a bit taken aback by my use of elvish, but his smile widened and his blue eyes sparkled. "You are not so much a stranger to elves as I first thought, Lady Ithilin. You speak my native tongue as though you are born to it." He looked thoughtfully at the vest as I laced it up, "I think the lace will outlast your bodice, though."

I just shook my head, chuckling at his observation. "I’ve had this for about twelve years, elf. I hope to have it another twelve." Though the truth was I had been planning to make another bodice to replace this one, but had never gotten around to it. "There are many gaps in my education of the elven tongues, my lord, yet I am a quick and willing student."

Suddenly he looked up, quickly stepping between me and some unseen foe and drawing his bow. The dark wood creaked softly as he nocked a slender arrow to the string in one fluid movement. Needless to say, I was dually impressed.

We were surrounded by elves. Tall, blond, and armed to the teeth elves.

"The dwarf breathes so loud we could have shot him in the dark," sneered one of the elves.

I bit my lip to keep from laughing out loud. This was straight out of the movie and he said it exactly the same way. He really is a snot. I bent my head in an effort not to laugh, hiding my mirth in trying to tie the new lace.

"Aragorn, these woods are perilous!" the stocky dwarf cried, "We should go back!"

"You have entered the realm of the Lady of the Wood." The elf’s gaze landed directly on me, making the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. "You can not go back. Come, she is waiting."

"What is this?" cried the dwarf as other members of the company were blindfolded.

"We allow no strangers to spy out the secrets of the Land of Lórien. Few indeed are allowed even to set foot there. However, the Lady bids the woman to walk free in our land."

All eyes turned on me.

"If the others must go sightless, so must I." I said hastily. I really didn’t want any animosity directed towards me. I was in a precarious situation as it was. I was alone out in the middle of nowhere. I had no way of protecting myself, if these guys decided to get ugly. Not that I thought they would, considering I knew the story pretty well, but why take unnecessary risks, right?

"As you wish." Haldir nodded curtly and the next thing I knew, a dark piece of cloth was being tied tightly over my eyes.

"Ouch!" I hissed as the knot snagged a stray strand of my hair.

"Forgive me, lady. I meant not to hurt you."

"Forgiven, my lord. Though I should think, since you too have long tresses that you would be more careful."

I received a good-natured chuckle for that remark. "I will remember that the next time I have to blindfold a saucy elleth."

"You have to do this often, then?" I asked, smiling wickedly in the direction of the voice.

Silence. I swallowed hard, hoping that I wouldn’t find myself at the wrong end of a sword.

"You have a witty tongue, my lady," said Haldir. He stood so close that I could feel the warmth of his sweet breath on my face, noting that his voice held a slight hint of humor. The low purr I heard in his tone made me shiver with unexplained need. "You have managed to render my brother speechless for a change."

"I meant no offense," I replied hurriedly, desperately trying to recant any offense my big mouth had incurred. Why was he having this affect on me?

"And none was taken, I assure you. Though, Orophin has never had a lady speak thus to him." Another said, his voice heavy with amusement. "I dare say you have managed to put him in his place."

"Oh, thank you, Rúmil," Orophin growled behind me, his clear tenor voice dripping with sarcasm. "Who needs enemies when I have two brothers like you and Haldir?"

"I think I like elves." I giggled with relief. "They have a good sense of humor."

"Come, we must not tarry here."


* * *


When we stopped for the night, Aragorn knelt beside me to take care of the gash on my forehead. His hands, while gentle, were rough with calluses as he explored my wounded head.

"Ow!" I hissed, batting his hands away with a wince.

"You have a slight concussion, my lady," he said giving me a lopsided smile as he brushed my hair out of the way. "How did you come by such an injury?"

I scowled, cocking an eyebrow at him peevishly.

"By the Valar!" he exclaimed with a chuckle, sitting back on his heels as I sighed with annoyance. "I swear my adar gives me that same look."

"You do not give him reasons to, I suppose."

Aragorn laughed softly and shook his head, his wide-eyed look of innocence was only undermined by his mischievous grin. "No! None at all, my lady," he protested.

"My father would be asking me it the wall I had walked into had fared worse," I giggled.

"Why does that sound familiar?"

"Because, mellon-nîn, Lord Elrond asks you much the same question every time I drag you home battered and bleeding," his elven companion commented dryly, giving Aragorn a self satisfied smirk as he ladled steaming stew into a bowl and sat back against a thick branch.

Sprinkling some dried herbs into a basin of water, Aragorn shot the elf an annoyed glare. "Ada tells me of the astonishing memory of the elves, Lady Ithilin, but Legolas has yet to prove it. I’ve dragged him home half-dead more times than I can count and the proud creature refuses to admit to it."

My giggle soon turned to a gasp of pain as he began to clean my wound with a rag he pulled out of the basin.

"You will have a nasty headache for a couple of days, my lady, but I believe you will survive. Just do not try to go to sleep just yet." With that he handed me a bowl of the steaming stew, sprinkling more herbs on it. "It is only Athelas, Lady Ithilin. It will help dull the headache some," he smiled at my quirked eyebrow as he stood.

I sat back against the tree limb, losing myself in thought as I stared at the trees above me. A soft wind sighed through their leaves that glowed pale and silver in the half light of the waxing moon. While I enjoyed the serenity of my new surroundings, I missed them, all the screaming and the bustle that only three small children can bring to one’s life. I missed my littlest one most of all. His cherubic smile and his mischievous dancing eyes as he would take off with my keys or run through the house naked after a bath. I was worried, too. Moragain was out in the dark night somewhere, lost, alone, afraid and most likely hurt. I hoped that she hadn’t been to badly hurt and was able to find shelter. Sighing determinedly, I concentrated all my thoughts on her, hoping against all hope that they would reach out to her and comfort her. That by shear force of will she would feel me near her and not be afraid and know that I loved her with all my heart.

"What is it that so absorbs your thoughts, Lady Ithilin?" Legolas’ soft voice called me out of my reverie and back to Middle Earth, making me jump. "Forgive me. I meant not to startle you."

I laughed self-consciously. "You move so quietly I did not realize you were there, Master . . . I do not believe you have introduced yourself, Master Elf."

A quicksilver smile lit his face. "My name is Legolas, my lady. You have not answered my question. What is it that so absorbs your thoughts that you can not hear an elf walk up on you?"

"Feeling a little homesick, I suppose. I miss all the noise, believe it or not." I replied, fighting back the tears that had begun to sting my eyes. I was worried, too, about Moragain, but I didn’t feel like I could burden him or the others with that. All I could do is have faith that God would protect her.

"What kinds of noises?"

"The laughter and screaming of my children while they play and fight. The sound of my husband’s voice asking one of the kids something about school. Other noises you wouldn’t even begin to fathom. The sounds that are integral to my world."

"You are wed?" he asked, sounding somewhat surprised.

"Not knowing how I ended up here, I guess I still am." I said flatly as I twisted my wedding bands on my finger. Did they mean anything anymore? Had they meant anything for some time now? I lived like a nun except on the rare occasion that my husband actually felt up to heeding my advances. I sighed inwardly, brushing those morose thoughts aside and smiled weakly at the elf who stood before me. "The really strange part about this is that I can’t remember what I was doing when I fell into your midst."

"How many children?"

He sat beside me leaning back against the limbs supporting the talan as he offered me a small piece of bread.

"Excuse me?!" I laughed as I leaned back against the tree. The confusion that had started with his attention that afternoon disturbed me. That and the affect Haldir wrought on me. Something weird was happening here. I wasn’t sure what was going on so I felt like I needed to keep my distance.

He chuckled softly, flashing me an impish grin.

I rolled my eyes and laughed, "You look just like my three year old when he has done something he shouldn’t!"

"Perhaps I have given you something to remind you of home." Legolas said quietly. "You said children, so I assume there are more."

"I have three, the baby I just mentioned, a seven year old girl and a five and a half year old boy." I gazed up through the canopy at the star spangled sky and let the tears fall. Moragain was lost. Where was she? Could I ask them to help me find her? For all that I wanted to get away from all of the noise and the arguing and the constant tug of life, why did it have to be this way. "I miss them. I miss the ‘Mama, he hit me!’ and ‘Mom, can you help me with my homework.’ and ‘Mama, up.’ Do you have children?"

"No. Not yet. Perhaps someday."

"When you do, Master Legolas, keep them close and remind them every day that you love them."

"Sage advise from someone who knows," came the soft tenor beside me. "Na seere, orë-nîn."

"What?"

Legolas smiled gently as he gazed intently at me. "I said: ‘Be at peace, my friend.’ "

Why did he lie? I knew the elvish word for ‘friend’ and that was not it, but I was not going to argue over words in a language I barely knew and had admitted to as much. As I settled back against the tree, my thoughts turned again to my daughter, hoping that she was safe out there in the dark night. I could only hope that some kind farmer’s wife took pity on her and gave her shelter. I stifled a sad sigh as I sent up a silent prayer to Ilúvatar to protect my daughter wherever she might be in this world.