Finding Home

Title: Finding Home
By: thegraybluebird
Author's Disclaimer: I own none of Tolkein's characters (but I wish I did in some cases *wink*), but only my own and this story.


CHAPTER 5--To Lothlorien

Chayton layed down to sleep with heavy thoughts on her mind. She still couldn't fully comprehend that this was all real. She realized that she was not dreaming this up after finishing her conversation with Boromir. It was then when the hard truth had hit her like a ton of bricks.

Chayton lay on her back, nestling her right arm at her breast. She thought about what Boromir had said about the elves. Could they really heal her like he said? she thought. This thought made Chayton suddenly think of her father. Their people had rituals of healing, so could the elves somehow be early descendents of Native American peoples? Chayton knew it was a farfetched idea, but not completely crazy. Her father told her that only those with the guidance of great spirits could have such magnificance and wisdom. Elves certainly were magnificent, and the way Boromir talked about them, they sounded as if they were wise as Gods.

Turning on her side, Chayton looked up at the nighttime sky. The sky was ablaze with stars: thousands of tiny pinpricks against dark velvet. The moon was a thin crescent in comparison, just a faint white sliver It was silently resting compared to the passionately burning stars. The stars were so visible it was as if you could reach up and pluck them from the sky, like grapes from a vine.

Chayton traced the outline of the sky with her fingers. Her father was up there now; a great spirit of the heavens. It had been so long since she heard his gentle voice, or touched his long, black hair. Had he not been taken so soon by Chayton's ancestors, she would still be happy and safe, from the terror that walked in the shadows of her bedroom at night.

"Father, please send me your guidance now, for I need it more than ever," she said to herself. Placing her left arm under her head, Chayton soon fell asleep, away from the thoughts she had long tried to forget.

Some time after Chayton had fallen asleep, she felt someone's hand covering her mouth. She awoke and instinctively began to scream. Her took a moment before she realized that it was Legolas who hovered over her. He pressed his finger to his lips, hushing her.

"What is it? What's happened?" Chayton asked.

"Please stay quiet, my lady," he whispered. "You must come now."

Legolas helped Chayton to her feet, and led her inward to the group. The others had been roused from their slumber as well. She could hear in the distance that something terrible was afoot.

Legolas already had his bow and arrows in hand. Aragorn, Boromir, and Gimli had their weapons drawn. Aragorn motioned for Chayton to hurry.

"Hurry and get them to the safety of Lorien, mellon nin; I will hold out the enemy, and rejoin you there," Legolas said.

"You cannot on your own, Legolas. You will be greatly outnumbered," Aragorn replied. "I will stay and fight with you."

Legolas smilied and nodded, holding his bow abreast. Aragorn looked toward the others.

"Boromir, Gimli, follow our path and it will lead you to the elven sanctuary," Aragorn said. "Get the hobbits and Lady Chayton to safety."

Boromir nodded, directing Chayton and the hobbits forward. Chayton protested away from Boromir, and went back to Aragorn.

"Lord Aragorn, I can help fight. My father taught me archery," Chayton said.

Aragorn lowered his sword slightly, placing a hand on Chayton's cheek. "No, Lady Chayton, you must get to safety."

"But--" Chayton began, worried.

"Do not fear, my lady, we will find you," Aragorn smiled.

Then, Legolas shouted, "Aragorn, they must make haste!"

Boromir returned and grabbed Chayton by the arm. She didn't look back at Legolas and Aragorn again, as she was hurried onward.

Aragorn had his drawn sword in both hands as the orcs began to pour down thorugh the trees. His eyes were fierce and his mind was filled with determination. The sneering orcs approached fast, but began to fall even faster as Legolas and Aragorn took them out one by one.


Chayton grabbed ahold of Merry and Pippin's small hands, as Boromir picked up and carried Frodo and Sam. Their feet traveled so quickly down the hill, that the poor hobbits and Gimli could hardly keep up. They came to a gorge with nothing but a sturdy log as a bridge for crossing. Gimli quickly crossed the log, and waited on the other side impatiently for the others. Chayton steadily worked her way onto the log, not looking down. Merry and Pippin helplessly clung to her sides, while Chayton safely crossed them. Boromir, carrying his sword and Frodo and Sam, made up the rear. The sounds of war cries and clashing weapons were heard in the distance behind them. Chayton slightly looked back, hoping to see Legolas and Aragorn on the horizon, but all she saw was smoldering darkness.

Light barely shown across the treetops, as the exhausted group slowed their pace to walking. They hadn't heard anything but silence in the past half hour. Chayton was worried because silence seemed more deadly than noise. Boromir set Frodo and Sam down, for they had made it to solid ground. Chayton noticed the pale and weak look upon the hobbit, Frodo's face. Around his neck was a small, golden ring. Frodo noticed her looking at it, and tucked it into his shirt.


Chayton slowed when Boromir came up beside her. "Boromir, do you think that Aragorn and Legolas are ok?"

Boromir smiled. "Do not worry, my lady. Just worry about taking care of yourself, now."

Chayton nodded and listened to the stillness of the woods they had entered. It was far more peaceful than she thought it could be, considering those villians that kept attacking them roamed about.

"How are the elves that live in Lothlorien? Are they much like Legolas?" Chayton asked, studying the expressions of the hobbits, Boromir, and Gimli.

Gimli threw the back of his axe over his shoulders. "The Lady of Lorien is said to be cunning. She can read your thoughts and everything. I don't like her already!"

"Is that truly a reason not to like somebody? Maybe trust issues, but not hatred," Chayton gave way to a small smile.

"Bah! I don't care; she won't get near me!" Gimli answered. "I've got the sight of a hawk, and the ears of a fox!"

Suddenly, the group seemed surrounded with multiple arrows pointed at their heads. There were at least five elves, to Chayton's fascination around them. Chayton gasped, as she met faces with another elf man, who's beauty was almost superior to the beauty of Legolas. Gimli let out a breath, lowering his axe slightly. Boromir stayed on full alert.

"The dwarf breathes so loudly that we could have shot him in the dark," the first elf said. " I am Haldir, the Marchwarden of Lorien. State your business here. Speak quickly if you value your lives!"

Chayton stood back to back with Boromir and the hobbits. They stood their silently, unknowing what to say. The elf's clear blue eyes locked with Chayton's own brown ones.

"Have you anything to say, young woman?" Haldir asked Chayton directly.

Chayton's mouth gaped as she looked to the others. They all just shrugged. Chayton cleared her throat, fixing her hair more to the side of her face. She knew she was not presentable, and it slightly embarrassed her.

"We only came to seek the protection of the elves," she claimed. "Please, we were attacked by horrible creatures, orcs, again this past night."

"She speaks the truth," Boromir added.

"Silence!" Haldir snapped at him. He looked the others over, before turning his attention back to Chayton. "Is this the truth?"

Chayton gulped and nodded. "Yes."

The elf with the clear blue eyes raised his eyebrows. Then, arrows suddenly were pointed behind Chayton. The elf brushed past her, and motioned for the elves to lower their weapons. Chayton's eyes widened when she saw Aragorn and Legolas walk up behind them. They were out of breath, but she could at least not detect any wounds from where she stood.

"Haldir, mellon nin!" Aragorn said, grasping arms with the elf. Legolas and Haldir nodded to one another.

Chayton watched them with great curiosity. They already know each other? Chayton thought. Middle-Earth seemed to be a small world after all.

"We ask for the protection of the Lady and Lord of the Golden Wood," Aragorn explained. He nodded over to Frodo the hobbit. "'Tis a heavy burden he carries."

"Very well," the elf called Haldir replied. He sneered at Gimli. "But, no dwarves are allowed past the boundaries of our woods."

"Why, you...." Gimli was cut off before he said anything regretful.

"Please, mellon nin, we must all pass through. Our fellowship is on a vital mission from Lord Elrond of Rivendell, and we cannot leave anyone behind,"
Aragorn repressed.

"Very well, but at least see to it that the dwarf takes a bath," Haldir replied.

Then, Haldir peered over at Chayton once again. She realized that the Native American made him look at her strangely. None of them must have ever seen someone who looked as she did before.

Haldir nodded his head toward her. "And, the girl? What is her purpose here? A whore, no doubt."

This not only angered Chayton's companions, but her as well. Before any of them could protest Haldir's accusations, Chayton lashed out at him first.

"How dare you suggest something like that? I am no thing to be taken by any man who pleases! How dare you!" Chayton was in Haldir's face. He saw the fury within her eyes, but made no eager reply.

Haldir realized his mistake, and bowed to the young woman. "My apologizes, but women do not usually travel with men that are on such a journey for anything otherwise. I have misjudged you."

"We rescued Chayton from the western forest. She is traveling with us until further notice, Haldir," Aragorn explained.

Aragorn placed a gentle hand on Chayton's shoulder. Her eyes flashes at Haldir once again before she turned and faced the other way. His apology meant nothing to such an insult as that!

"Come, then," Haldir said. "We will take you to meet with the Lord and Lady of the Golden Woods."

Chayton was disgusted with the elf, Haldir. How dare he just assume that she was a whore? He was nothing but a pompus, rude, annoying elven man, and she hated him!

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