TEoV Excerpt #9

The horses steadily trotted on.  The sun had reached its peak and was slowly starting to fall.  They had been traveling for days without any events, lightly cheered by Winnie’s amazing hunting talents and Atti’s Flute; they camped, and rose the next day, and the next.  The horses tired and they walked, the horses left to rejoin the herd.  A sharp exclamation from Winnie made them turn, “I just twisted my ankle,” She told them, Cirindiel stooped to look, “Its fine,” She said her blue eyes flashing; he nodded, but kept a close eye on her.  They continued for several more days.

 “I must—give in…” Winnie stumbled and fell; Cirindiel knelt down beside her, brushed her warm cheek and took off his tattered cloak and laid it under her head.  “She is right Cirindiel, we need water, if we don’t find any we will die,” Atti said.  Cirindiel knew he was right, “Stay here, I’m going to look around to see if there are any springs around here,” Cirindiel replied, Malladryl nodded already starting a fire.  Cirindiel walked and walked, straining to hear that precious sound of water, when he heard none he started back.  He heard a light rushing sound, turning towards the sound he started running, there! At last, a waterfall cascaded down into a crystal clear pool below! He turned and ran all the way back to camp.  Winnie still lay where she fell.  He skidded to a stop.  As soon as he stopped Malladryl got the fire started, a small flame slowly growing.  He kicked dust over it.  Malladryl looked up, “What do you think you’re doing?!” She snapped, “I found water!” He replied, he went over to Winnie, “Winnie? We’ve found water, can you walk?” He asked gently, Winnie moaned and feebly shook her head.  He slipped one arm behind her head and one under her legs and lifted her up.  She moaned a little.  “Come on guys, there is water this way, we can make camp in that forest over there, and there is a waterfall and a pool!” He remarked, Winnie smiled, “We... have to get there… first,” She mumbled, “We will,” He replied.  He led them through the forest; the waterfall could be heard ahead.   He laid her by the pool, and splashed water on her face, and dribbled some in her mouth, Malladryl drank without resting.   Atti watched for a moment.  When the others were done he walked to the waters edge and drank his fill. “Can I make a fire now?” Asked Malladryl, Cirindiel smiled and nodded, sitting up he grabbed Winnie’s bow, “What…are you…doing?” She asked grimacing, “We need food, I’m going to hunt,” He replied, “You stay and rest, your ankle his hurt badly,” He continued, she did not argue anymore.  It was just starting to get dark.  He strapped the bow to his back, and walked deeper into the forest.  He knelt down looking for signs of prey; there were deer and rabbit tracks everywhere.  “A deer would be nice!” He thought following one of the deer tracks in the mud, “Poor animal looks sick, its tracks are weaving back and forth,” He thought, “Should be an easy kill,” The tracks weaved left for several yards, then right, several yards.  “This doesn’t really look like deer tracks anymore; they look like they were put there by a hunter!” He slowed his pace, but kept following them.  He bent down to exam another track to make sure he was correct.  A voice sounded from behind a tree, “It’s a man! A man following a deer track,” The first voice said, “Aye laddie, I think he was hoping to find a deer, while we were trying to send a signal to Aragorn!” The second voice boomed loudly.  “Come out, friend or foe?” Asked Cirindiel, an elf stepped from out behind a tree, “Friend, if that be the way that you choose,” Replied the elf, Cirindiel nodded, “Ahhh, now I’m hungry thinking about deer,” A stout dwarf said stomping out from behind another tree.  “Legolos, can we please find something to eat, that man looks tasty!” He said grinning, Cirindiel took a step back, “Quiet Gimli, he is a friend,” The elf ordered.  The dwarf grumbled, “Fine, but I’m eating your lama’s bread,” Replied the dwarf.  “What are you doing here?” Asked the elf, Cirindiel cleared his head, “One of my friends has been injured and I was searching for food, they are camped by a waterfall, for are supply has gone out,” He told the elf, trusting fully in him already, he felt like he had seen him before, the elf nodded, “One of are fellowship has gone into these woods to look for water, have you seen him?” The elf inquired, Cirindiel shook his head, “May we come to your camp? Maybe he has found your water supply,” The dwarf said, Cirindiel nodded, “Of course, follow me,” He said leading them to the water-side camp.

Winnie blinked her eyes open and sat up.  A waterfall lay a few yards from where she lay, “Where am I?” she thought to herself, and then she remembered.  She had twisted her ankle badly a few days back, Cirindiel had gone off to look for water and had brought them here.  She examined her foot, it was really sore, she looked around the camp, Atti and Malladryl lay sleeping around the fire.  ”Cirindiel must still be out hunting,” she thought to herself, a rustle in the bushes alerted her, a man stepped out, “Mae Govennan,” The man said, Winnie gave a small wave of her hand, “Hello, who are you?” She asked, “I am Aragorn, I was following the sound of this water, it looks like it has been claimed already though,” He said gesturing towards the two sleeping, “No, it hasn’t, we are just staying for a few days until my leg heals,” She replied, “You are hurt?” He asked, she nodded, “It’s just a twisted ankle,” She insisted, at that moment Cirindiel came tromping through the trees, “Malladryl, I’ve found—“He stopped when he saw Aragorn, “Some friends,” He finished, “Aragorn!” The two newcomers shouted in delight, “Legolos! Gimli, my brothers, it is good to see you again!” He replied giving them each a hug, “So, this is Aragorn,” Cirindiel said, “Come, we shall feast tonight! And talk!” Aragorn replied, “Feast? We have no food,” Cirindiel said, “Not right now, but in a moment we will,” Aragorn said grabbing his bow, the three friends walked off.

He sat at the waters edge, feet dangling loosely in the water.  Malladryl sat next to him, “You ok?” He asked, she nodded, “It’s so pretty here, I wish we could stay forever!” she said, “I know,” he replied, she stood up and walked off in thought.  He got up and walked over to Winnie, “How is the ankle?” he asked, “It’s really sore,” she replied, he nodded and kneeled down, took his shirt off and tore it into strips, grabbing two thick sticks he wrapped one on each side of her leg, “What are you doing?” She asked, “It’s a splint; it will help it to heal faster, and hopefully, if it is broken, heal it correctly,” He said tearing the last bit of his shirt and wrapping the pieces around to hold it on.  “What about your shirt?” she pointed out, “It’s warm out, and I can go without it, “He said, Winnie smiled, “What?” He asked, she shook her head, “Nothing,” She replied. 

The hunting trio returned; a great hunt they had had.  They sat the game on the fire, “They will be really good cooked slowly,” Said Aragorn, Cirindiel nodded; Aragorn stared at him for a moment, “Where is your shirt…?” Cirindiel nodded at Winnie’s foot, “Ah, I don’t have a shirt, but would a cloak do?” Aragorn asked, Cirindiel nodded, “That would be great!” He replied Aragorn walked over to one of his packs, pulled out a cloak and handed it to Cirindiel; it was hooded and had two embroidered wings flowing down the length of the cloak, “It is beautiful!” Cirindiel remarked, Aragorn nodded, “It is yours! Take it as a gift from the men of Bree!” He said.  Cirindiel couldn’t say thank you enough, although the cloak gave little covering, it was a gift of friendship that would last forever.

They rested for several days near the beautiful waterfall.  After the fifth day they left.  “Will you come with us?” Aragorn asked, “Where are you heading?” Malladryl inquired, “We are looking for four of our companions, they are small hobbits, one holds the power of the world with him,” Replied Legolos, Malladryl gasped, Winnie stood up, “Frodo! And Sam…!” She shouted smiling, “You know the lads?” Gimli asked, Atti nodded, “Yep, Merry and Pippin too!” Aragorn looked stunned, “Where were they headed?” He asked, Cirindiel pointed towards a mountain, “That way, towards that mountain covered in smoke,” Legolos started, “They are going to destroy the ring!” He shouted, Aragorn nodded, concern in his eyes.  Cirindiel shook his head, “I’m tired of being in the dark, tell us everything,” He said, Aragorn motioned for them to sit.  They obeyed.

“And we tracked them into this forest, and found you,” Legolos put in, “And I found Winnie,” Aragorn said.  Cirindiel sat in thought, Winnie’s eyes shined, Malladryl listened intently, and Atti clenched and unclenched his fists ready for any action.  Cirindiel stood up, “We’ll help you in anyway we can,” He said at last, Winnie jumped up forgetting her ankle “Yes!” She shouted excitedly, then wincing with pain sat down again.  “After, Winnie’s ankle is healed,” He added, “No need to wait,” Legolos said, “Malladryl can heal her,” He continued, “I can?” She asked, Legolos nodded, “You are a Rune-Keeper are you not? Or haven’t you learned to heal yet?” He asked, “I haven’t learned to heal, I thought I could only fight,” She said lowering her eyes, Legolos chuckled, “Try it, what do you do when you want to defend yourself?” He asked, Malladryl thought for a moment, “I think about my enemy falling, and I stand up in victory,” She said, Legolos nodded, “Do as you would that, except think about healing instead of destroying,” He said his eyes twinkling, Malladryl nodded and grabbed her runes, she stood before Winnie with arms outstretched and eyes blazing,  “Allath gonaer eltoro,” She whispered closing her eyes, A bright light flashed, it wrapped itself around Winnie, pulling her up, spiraling into the air, she disappeared..  It flashed brightly again and Winnie reappeared laying on the ground, Legolos went over to her and looked at her leg, “It is healed,” He replied looking up, Atti nodded, “Nicely done Malladryl,” He said winking at her.