The Three Forbidden Stars

Chapter Five – Bridge of Khazad Dum and Lothlorien

But before we could run, the huge orc had come. It was stronger than the orcs that we had battled before and it batted the men aside like flies. Before anyone could react, it thrust its spear and Frodo catching him in the chest, with the mithril was. Aragorn recovered and brought his sword down on the head of the orc, killing him.
“Now!” shouted Gandalf. “Now is the last chance. Run for it!”. Aragorn picked up Frodo and proceeded to run as the rest of us followed. Frodo protested saying he was well enough to walk, amazing everyone. They had thought he was dead. We were pushed forward by Mithrandir, while he stayed behind to jam the doors. He returned looking worse than Frodo did, he explained that the was something terrible behind us. Turning his attention to Frodo, he asked him how he was faring, considering he has thought he was dead. Instead of answering Gandalf, Frodo turned to me.
“How did you know, Lady Feawen?” he said, as everyone looked confused. “You said that it would save my life. How did you know?”.
“I have the gift of foresight, Frodo”, I replied, awkwardly.
“So you know the outcome of this quest?” asked Boromir. But before I could reply a fierce red light shone with great power. The drums started up again and smoke curled up into the air. Gandalf called for us to run as the arrows flew over our heads. Suddenly the bridge appeared before us giving new hope. But the arrows still came.

~~~“Legolas sees the bridge in view and runs. But he stumbles and the arrows pierce his chest and neck. No-one notices as the elf falls to his knees dying, no-one except Aragorn.”~~~

I looked and saw Legolas running towards the bridge, with a light heart. Then I saw the arrows coming, almost in slow motion. As I pounced towards the elf, I realised I had no idea what I was doing. I knocked him over and landed on top of him as the arrows hit me and I felt each one individually shock me. Five altogether. The first thing I thought was that this was definatly not a dream! Legolas had no idea what had happened as he got up until he pulled me up next to him. By the look on his face, he was about to growl me until he saw the arrows sticking out of my side and back.
“You took those arrows for me?” he asked softly. I nodded, biting my lip because I knew healing myself was not an option until we were out of the Mines. More orcs appeared us and Legolas set an arrow to his bow angrily, even though it was a long shot for his short bow. Before he even attempted to shoot, two trolls stomped their way out. He dropped his arrow and gave a cry of terror as the orcs moved aside to let a far worse creature approach.
“Ai, ai,” he cried. “A Balrog. A Balrog is come!”. Gandalf understood what had caused him much grieve before and commented on his lack of strength. Then he seemed to suddenly remember what to do and he commanded us to make our way over the bridge and up the stairs. The Balrog was followed us to the bridge, making the people in front next to go faster. As the fire creature came Gandalf stood his ground on the middle of the bridge.
“You cannot pass,” he said. “I am a servant of the Secret Fir, wielder of the flame of Anor. You cannot pas. The dark fire will not avail you, flame of Udun. Go back to the Shadow! You cannot pass”. Although I knew what was going to happening, I didn’t want to see Gandalf fall. I slipped away from the company and made my way up the stairs towards Lothlorien. I killed a good number of the Orcs that stood in the way of the Great Gates so they would not hinder the Fellowship. Never stopping I ran with what was left of my energy towards the woods ahead. I crossed the stream of Nimrodel giving a quick prayer to Ulmo, the god of water in Middle Earth, as I passed through the trees. Trying to as quiet as I could I knew that I had been found out and that there were elves above me.
“Vedui’ Haldir o Lorien”,[Greetings, Haldir of Lorien] I called out. Suddenly someone jumped down from the tree in front of me, an arrow set to their bow pointing at me.
“Amin sinta lle?” [Do I know you] Haldir asked, frowning at me.
“Nay, ananta amin sinta lle!” [No, but yet I know you] I replied, smiling.
“Mani naa essa en lle?” [What is your name?] He said, looking worried. “Mani uma lle merna?” [What do you want?].
“My name and business is none of your concern, only the Lady Galadriel’s”, I replied, in the common tongue because my knowledge of Elvish didn’t go that far. “And I thought you would know to be but a little more respectful towards a lady.”
“I’m sorry, but I cannot allow you before the Lady until I know your name and business,” he said, lowering his bow a little bit. But that was all I needed. Whipping out my twin knives, I knocked his bow out of his hands and put the knives across his neck. Almost instantly six more elves leaped out with their bows drawn circling us.
“I did not want to have do that, Haldir” I said. “But I have little time to waste. Lead me there and I will not harm you.”
“What is your business,” he persisted. “Do you wish to harm them instead of me”.
“Nay, I wish only to ask advice on a matter that is greatly important to me,” I said, rolling my eyes. Still holding him hostage, I used my mind to talk to him through his mind, knowing he would think it has Galadriel.
“We know of her and we wish for her to be brought before us.” He thought about this for a moment before turning his attention back to the other elves.
“Vanne me” [Leave us], he commanded. They hesitated for a second before jumping back up the trees again.
“Will you release me now?” he asked me. “This is greatly uncomfortable”.
“You brought this on yourself,” I retorted. “You could have been polite and led me there but no you wished for the hard way.”
“Fine.” Silence. “I know you don’t want to tell me your name but do you have something I may call you as we walk”.
“I’m going to be honest with you, Haldir. I don’t know my real name. That’s why I’m here, to seek advice from Lady Galadriel. And to get her to back me up. I have been travelling with the Fellowship from Imladris ever since Hollin. Naturally they wanted to know where I belong but I do not know. I was outside my home praying when I fainted. I wake up and I am in Middle Earth. As for what you can call me, Legolas named me Feawen after I attacked him.” Haldir smirked at this before surprise took over.
“So you are not of this world? How did you get these then?” He said as he reached behind him to touch the tips of my ears. “Only an elf has these and if what you say is true, Lady Feawen -smirk- you should be a mortal”.
“You know as much as I know” I replied quietly. We walked in silence, me walking behind him with the knives around his neck. As we approached the gates, four more elves jumped out of nowhere and pointed their bows at me.
“Khila amin” [Follow me], Haldir said, waving the elves away. I figured that one act of trust deserved another so I released him and sheathed my knives.
“Diola lle” [Thank you], I said as I bowed.
“Now we must tend to your wounds before we go in” he said, reaching for an arrow. I had forgotten about them. I shook my head and jumped out of the way. I pulled each one carefully by myself, feeling the pain of each arrow ripping my skin, and put them in a pile. Blowing on the pile, I burned them into nothing. Then I blew a blue fire onto my hands and smoothed it over where the arrows had pierced me. The fire seeped in the holes closing them and healing me completely.
“Ta nae seasamin”, [It was my pleasure] he said, chuckling as we walked up the stairs toward the throne room. “Amin nauva auta yeste” [I will go first]. The guards opened the doors and we walked in. Galadriel and Celeborn sat serenely on their thrones, discussing something. She was radiant, beautiful and seemed to glow with a white light. Haldir stepped forward and bowed.
“Ahh.. we have been expecting you, mellonamin. I do hope you have not hurt our March Warden too badly”, said Galadriel, smiling.
“Only his pride, I fear, Arwenamin”[My lady], I replied, bowing as well.
Galadriel invited me to sit next to her and Celeborn left with Haldir. She asked me to tell her my story and tell her why I had come to her. I told her about everything from the moment I got to Middle Earth until there because I felt my past would need to be brought up at another time. She was interested in my powers and asked for a demonstration. I felt strange showing the most powerful elf in the world my powers but I did any way. I summoned a candle to my hands and blew it out. Then, letting it hover in midair I rubbed my hands together. When I opened them there was fire on my hands which I rolled into a thin thread and twisted around the candles wick. Then I clapped my hands and a thin stream of water flew out of the small bowl of water on the table and twisted itself around the wick putting the flame out. I looked at her expecting her to be nonchalant about it but she looked surprised. She asked me all the other things I knew, to which I told her about my mind powers and element control. Just before either of us could say anything Celeborn walked in, without Haldir. He sat down and after a few moments he nodded. I guessed that Galadriel had talked to him through her mind, I could of listened if I had wanted but would be rude.
“We must decide a name for you even if Feawen does suit you,” Celeborn said briskly. “You will need some more ladylike clothes as well.” I looked down at my clothes, a skirt (they needed to think I was a lady) and a sweatshirt, which were pierced with arrow holes. There was blood crusted on them, mine and the orcs.
“How well can you speak our language?” asked Galadriel.
“I know enough to pretend that I know it, but I would appreciate some help,” I replied. “What name do you think would suit me?”
“Feawen, does suit you,” said Celeborn, with an evil grin until Galadriel shot him a look. “But Miraina Meloithil will do for now.” Suddenly Galadriel stood gracefully and glided out the door.
“Khila amin”,[Follow me] She said to me. She led me down the stairs and through many corridors to a door. Nothing could prepare me for the sight of the room, when she opened the door. It was airy and expensive-looking. A four poster bed, a roman-loveseat styled sofa, drawers made of a dark wood, bedside tables of the same wood and a Japanese-style screen made up the beautiful furniture in the room. To decorate the room someone had draped silks and chiffons over the bed and sofa, scattered candles everywhere and hung up paintings of different events. My bags had already been put in this room. It reminded me of my room when I lived with my parents except this was up a tree. The Lady of the Golden Wood glided over to the wardrobe and began going through the dresses, searching for one that I would wear. While she did that, I removed my belt and weapons and put them in the empty wardrobe.
“I found it!” Galadriel exclaimed, showing me a violet gown, same colour as my eyes. The bottom and the sleeves flowed out, while the neck was high with a slice from the top of my neck to my chest, revealing a plum undershirt. I pulled my clothes off and slipped the gown on. The silver lacing on the slippers that Galadriel presented me, matched the lacing on the sleeves of the dress. She then opened a small wooden box that sat on the dresser and gently removed a silver and purple necklace and a matching ring. After I put them on, she stood back and admired her handiwork while smiling gently.
“I wonder if…,” she said, softly trailing off. “You wish to go and meet the fellowship?” I nodded because that was my intention. She placed her hand on my arm and led back out of the room, out of the corridors and down to the base of the trees. As we passed people, many people bowed to us. We stopped near an elven soldier who was slinging his quiver and bow over his shoulder. When he saw us he bowed and said “Aaye, Lady Galadriel. Vedui’ Melui Gwend.” I blushed and hid my face slightly.
“Don’t tease him to much, no matter what he says,” she said in my head. Then she turned her attention back to the soldier. “Celebnar, take Lady Miraina with you to deliver your message. She wishes to meet with the approaching fellowship and Haldir.” He bowed to Galadriel, then he turned to me and put his arm out. I linked my arm in his and started walking. Quickly I turned my head and winked at the Lady who laughed as she glided off.