Once for
all we’ll be there to defend one another
Once and
for all every kid is a friend, every friend a brother
Five
thousand fists in the sky
Five dozen
reasons to try
We’re going
over the wall
Better to
die than to crawl
Either we
stand or we fall
For once,
once and for all
- Newsies
The time came, much sooner than expected, for
the Fellowship to continue on towards Mordor.
In response to Aragorn’s announcement that they would leave with the
following day, Galadriel bid that each of them should see her privately. At Kate’s nervous concerns, all assured her
that the Lady of the Woods likely onlt had some choice words of advice for each
of them.
Kate shivered as she stepped forward into
Galadriel’s chambers, feeling oddly as though she should kneel or curtsey or
some such thing. Instead, she managed
to pull her eyes from the floor and meet the older immortal’s eyes.
“You… called for me, my lady?”
Galadriel nodded, smiling gently. “I did.
You need have no fear of me, young Katyrial. You are of my blood, therefore I will not harm you.”
Kate nodded shakily. “Forgive me, my lady. I’m
not yet used to being an elf.”
Galadriel nodded in apparent understanding,
beckoning her forward. “Come closer, young one. I have some gifts for you.”
“Gifts?
Of what sort, my lady?”
“Of the useful sort. You have no weapons as your brave companions do and you lack
other basic supplies; something we should remedy. I have deemed that these should serve you well on your journey
within Middle Earth.” The Lady gestured towards a table, where a host of
supplies had spontaneously appeared.
Kate gasped and tentatively reached out a
hand. Among the items was an
exquisitely wrought bow of wood so light it was almost white, with gilded
designs on its polished surface… and a leather quiver filled with fine arrows,
each guiding feather slid into the slender shaft with obvious attention to
efficiency and speed.
“My lady…” she breathed. “You are too kind. These are valuable items.”
“Your gratitude is welcomed, however I am not
yet finished. This cloak will allow you
to all but disappear within the forests.
You will need gauntlets to wield the bow efficiently… and the short
sword will serve you when your bow cannot.” Galadriel pointed out.
Kate nodded.
“Thank you, my lady. I will try
to use them well… to help Frodo on his quest.”
Galadriel smiled at the new elf. “You are an extraordinary child, Katyrial.”
Kate looked down with a blush. “I imagine so… how many humans have been
suddenly turned into elves? I don’t
even look like an elf.”
“Yet you have the heart of an elf. The soul.
You feel your friends’ pains as if they were your own… your soul is more
gentle than those of the humans…” the Lady insisted, moving to her side to
delicately lift a small wooden box from the table. It was about the size of a small jewelry box, stained lightly
with scalloped edges and an intricate leaf-like design on the top. Two small jewels glittered like fiery diamonds
from the corners.
“One last gift for you, Katyria New-Elf.”
Galadriel spoke softly before opening the box to reveal a small pendant of some
kind resting on a pillow of ivory-colored velvet. “The Heart of Lorien… this amulet will give you instant sanctuary
within any Elvish community. As it will
comfort you in times of great despair.
Use it well, young one… for you will have need of it.”
Kate’s breath caught as she lifted the
necklace from the box. It was the most
beautiful thing she’d ever seen… an elegantly turned sliver of gold that curled
to form a tiny, circular cage that mimicked the twists of a vine. Inside was a glass crystal that caught every
available light and seemed to glow as though an infinitesimal star was held
captive within.
“My lady…I…thank you.” Kate stumbled slightly
as Galadriel placed the necklace over her head.
“You are most welcome, Katyrial… go now and
see my handmaiden, Lustinawen… she shall bind your hair for your journey.”
Galadriel dismissed her regally, sending the overwhelmed elf scampering for the
door.
When Kate left Galadriel’s chambers, she
certainly looked the part of an Elvish archer.
Galadriel’s handmaiden had woven her hair into an intricate French style
braid on the top half of her head to keep it out of her face, leaving the rest
to flow down her back. Behind either
ear, a section of hair had been twisted into shiny, auburn ropes, not unlike
Legolas’ braids. Looking into the mirror
beforehand, Kate was oddly pleased by her reflection… she felt sufficient, no
longer helpless as she was in Moria.
The bow strapped to her back and the amulet around her neck stiffened
her resolve as she approached the others already waiting on the river’s edge.
“Katie…” Jason smiled, holding her by the
shoulders. “Stunning, cuz… orcs will
run in terror.”
She smiled back, feeling a little more at
ease. “Doubt it… but at least I can defend myself now.”
“All the same,” Legolas stepped forward, his
eyes shining despite his determined expression. “I should ask that you would stay close to me and Gimli.”
She nodded. “So long as Jason remains near
Boromir for the same reason. His skills
may be sharper than mine, but we are both strangers in this world.”
Jason agreed.
“Of course. I was planning on it
anyway.”
Three Lorien boats, each with the carved bow
of a swan; Aragorn took the lead with Frodo and Sam, Frodo looking particularly
withdrawn and despondent. Boromir and
Jason were next with Merry and Pippin between them, each man wielding an
oar. Lastly, Legolas, Gimli, and Katie. There was some argument over who would row
the boat, Gimli not being one to sit and be an idle passenger for any length of
time. However, Legolas pointed out
that, while strong and sure, the dwarf’s arms simply weren’t long enough for
him to efficiently pull the boat all day.
Gimli grumbled, but let the elf have his way in the end.
Katie sat at the front of the boat, facing
backwards so she could look at her companions.
Gimli looked weary and Katie expressed concern.
“It’s nothing, Kate… nothing a little rest
would not cure.” He waved her worry away.
“You did not sleep well in Lothlorien?” she
asked. “I am surprised. I never slept so well in my life while in
the forests.”
He shrugged.
“Sleeping above ground does not often agree with dwarves.”
“Ah… you are accustomed to complete darkness,
then. The moon and starlight kept you
awake?” she nodded, considering.
“Elves are the opposite.” Legolas
volunteered. “Absolute darkness upsets
us.”
“Well you sleep with your eyes open anyway.”
Gimli snorted in a friendly fashion.
“You do?” Kate squeaked.
Legolas nodded. “In a manner of speaking.
We do not sleep as humans and dwarves define it. Elves slip into a state somewhat like a trance;
our eyes remain open and our senses alert, but our minds are elsewhere,
reliving happy memories.”
“That explains why I dreamt about my sixth
birthday so vividly last night.” Kate whistled.
Legolas laughed. “Reverie… we call it reverie.”
“As Jason would put it ‘the lights are on but
no one’s home’.” She quipped, watching Maximus crawl out of her bag and scamper
around the bottom of the boat, whining for Gimli to pet him.
“Something like that.” Gimli muttered. “Is this ‘dog’ of yours daft? He will not leave me in any peace!”
“He likes you for some reason.” Kate
shrugged. “Must be your magnetic
personality.”
Gimli shot her a withering glance before
sweeping the min pin up in one thick hand.
“Now listen to me, you little beast!
Leave me be, or so help me, I will toss your little hide right into the
Anduin!”
Maximus regarded the dwarf seriously for a
moment, then proceeded to lick Gimli’s nose.
Gimli blinked in surprise and sighed, settling the dog on his lap. “You
win, little one… ai, defeated by a lick to the nose…”
“How do you think he got me to take him home?”
Kate asked merrily.
They traveled from dawn until the sun was just
a sliver of red above the trees. Kate’s
back and arms ached with a dull fire as she steered the boat ashore at
Aragorn’s command. She was exhausted
physically, yet her mind was still alert.
A prickling sensation nagged behind her ears, as it had been for several
hours, and she did a slow 360 degree turn, searching the trees for a
threat. She could see none… but the
anxiety did not cease. Quietly, she
pulled Legolas aside at her first chance, once the forests were quiet and
everyone had settled around the small campfire.
“Come with me for a moment, please?” she
asked, grasping his sleeve.
He nodded and followed her a little ways off,
out of earshot, but still within view of the fire. “What troubles you, Katyrial?”
“I didn’t want to alarm the others.” She
sighed. “Maybe it’s just my
imagination, but I feel edgy… like we’re being watched or followed… and not by
anything friendly.”
He looked up at the darkened forest
searchingly. “I have felt it as
well. We are in danger, I think… but I
know not from what.”
“Orcs?” she suggested.
“Possibly… I might even go so far as to say
likely.” He sighed.
“What do we do?”
“Nothing… only remain vigilant. We must not allow the enemy to catch us off
guard.”
She took a deep breath, biting back a retort,
dismayed by the idea of waiting for the enemy like sitting ducks. What she had already seen of melee combat
unnerved her to begin with… skirmishing with orcs again, even with weapons in
hand, fairly made her tremble.
“I have an idea…” she whispered. “But I want to run it by Jason first… see
what he thinks.”
Legolas’ brow furrowed. “What does Jason know of battles that we do
not?”
She smiled.
“An addiction to computer strategy games and an intimate knowledge of
every war movie since John Wayne’s time.”
“What?”
“You’ll see.
If I’m right… you’ll see.”
After much discussion, Jason gave Kate a
disgruntled go ahead, despite misgivings.
Her original plan had been pared down at Jason’s suggestion. He had insisted on keeping it small so that
if it failed, the company could still escape with their skins intact.
With some semblance of a plan in mind, Kate
was able to calm herself somewhat and rest.
However, she still insisted on taking her respite in a very human
manner; under a blanket with her eyes closed.
Legolas chuckled at her and received an attack from a min pin as a
result.
Almost a week passed in much the same manner;
rising with the sun to a quick breakfast and rowing the boats down the Anduin
until twilight. In the spirit of both
fellowship and safety, they always remained close, each boat no more than a few
yards off from the next. Luckily, the
weather remained abnormally fine for almost early February (according the
Jason) and the skies were bright above them.
The rest in Lothlorien and the lack of any immediate threats served to
cheer them. They bantered with each
other, telling jokes and singing songs.
Sam in particular proved to be quite adept at making up ballads on the
spot. Jason talked Kate into singing
the entirety of Les Miserables to pass the time. Even Gimli joined in, telling ancient
Dwarven tales of the mountains. After
so many true stories of dragons, orcs, goblins, and the like… she was almost
wishing for an old-fashioned terrorist with an Uzi.
Nothing, not even a spring break in London
could’ve prepared her for the gates of Argonath. The pair of stone kings loomed ahead for hours before the boats
actually passed them, their arms outstretched towards them.
“Wow… those are… incredible. But why are they out here in the middle of
nowhere?” Kate asked softly, staring up at the somber faces.
“They mark the beginning of Gondor’s northern
border. These two statues are Aragorn’s
ancestors… Isildur and Anarion, great kings of the past who guard this path.”
Gimli supplied, clearly appreciative of the stone work involved in making the
massive statues.
Once they passed the great gates, Aragorn
motioned for everyone to pull ashore.
Confused by the early rest, but thankful nonetheless, Katie stepped out
of the boat and stretched.
“We will wait here and cross to the eastern
shore at nightfall. Then we will hide
the boats and continue on foot.” Aragorn explained wearily.
“Oh yes?” Gimli challenged, proceeding to describe
Aragorn’s prescribed path in disgusted detail.
A new wave of unease flowed over Kate like ice
water, making her straighten and look up at the trees warily. Legolas had felt it to, for he quickly sided
over to Aragorn.
“We should leave now.” He suggested, his voice
urgent.
“No.” Aragorn disagreed. “Orcs patrol the eastern shore. We will need the cover of night.”
“It is not the eastern shore that worries me.”
Legolas whispered. “A shadow and a
threat has been growing in my mind.
Something draws near… I can feel it.”
“As do I.” Kate volunteered. “The forests are too quiet behind us. Something terrible is going to happen if we
stay too long.”
Aragorn sighed, knowing the elves’ senses to
be keener than his. “Night is but a few
hours off. I know well that you both
are attuned to threat more so than any of us.
We will have to wait and hope for the best.”
“Where’s Frodo?” Merry’s question interrupted
any further discussion.
Sam started guiltily from his sound sleep and
Jason was the first to notice that Boromir was also missing.
“I’m worried.” Jason frowned. “He’s been acting weird recently… his mind
wandered far to easily the past few days.”
Kate swallowed against another frigid wave of
dread. “Jay… I think it’s time we put
our plan into action… now.”
Jason paled slightly. “You sure you’re up to it, cuz?”
“Yes… I think so.” Kate nodded.
“Plan?” Aragorn echoed, looking between
them. “What plan?”
“A little modern US warfare.” Kate replied,
staring up at the trees in an assessing manner before standing under one large
one. “This one should do well… thick
enough to hold me… too thick to be chopped down easily… lots of foliage.”
“You are choosing now to climb the trees?”
Legolas asked in disbelief as Kate pulled herself up onto the lowest
branches. “Katyrial, now is not the
time to be scampering through the branches.”
“Oh, trust me… there is very little scampering
involved in being a sniper, my dear Legolas.” Kate shook her head as she
continued up, pleased by how easily it came to her.
“Sniper?” Gimli repeated. “What the devil is a… sniper?”
“An individual with a ranged weapon who is
hidden. Katie can alert us of any
incoming threat and pick them off before they even know where she is. It’s called sniping… guerilla warfare… very
useful in dense area like this.” Jason explained. “You wouldn’t happen to be able to see Boromir or Frodo from up
there can you?”
“Keep your shirt on.” She called back,
scanning between the trees for any movement that could be the hobbit or the
Gondorian. “There! They’re both over that way… west by
northwest…Frodo doesn’t look too happy… and neither does Boromir frankly. You might want to get over there and get
them back, Aragorn.”
In the distance, she could see the human
suddenly leap upon the hobbit, fighting with him, obviously trying the wrench
the One Ring from him.
“Shit!
Jason! Boromir’s attacking
Frodo! Go get them! Run!” Kate yelled frantically, urging her
cousin on as he took off through the brush and trees.