Adult-FanFiction.org : Lord of the Rings

Love's Redemption	By : mthorsta Category: -Multi-Age > Het - Male/Female Views: 7108 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own the Lord of the Rings (and associated) book series, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 7
- 8
- 9
Chapter 6 - Strangers
  Jordan took a walk around to inspect the ruins. There wasn�t much to them, just a small circular structure with arched doorways and windows. Other than this, there was nothing but forest as far as the eye could see. The forest was comprised of tall pine trees which, in fact, looked exactly like they did in her world. That, at least, was a small comfort. There were no dwellings; no signs that anyone lived here. She looked up at the sky and thought, �Well, Dad, I�m here. Not exactly where I expected to be, but I�m here. Now what do I do?' Her main goal upon arriving was to seek out the other linking book at Minas Tirith, but where was it? She could be anywhere in Middle Earth! She decided to change her modus operandi to more immediate needs of finding food and shelter. But which way to go? There was no road or trail of any kind she could see. She had no choice but to just pick a direction and start walking through the woods. Although the trees were dense, there was little underbrush except for a soft green carpet of some type of leafy groundcover plant sprinkled with occasional small white flowers. This made for easy walking but as the flat ground quickly turned into an expanse of rolling hills, her progress became pretty slow going. She took a leisurely pace, though, taking in all of the sights and sounds. It was a beautiful forest and to her surprise, she felt a sense of security and peace and not nervous at all about hiking through the forest alone. Her nervousness began to grow, however, after walking what seemed like miles with no sight of a town or village or even a road. After descending the last hill, the ground became flat again and she began to hear the sound of rushing water.
  She followed the sound of the water until she stumbled onto a narrow dirt road that ran along the shoreline of a fairly large river. There were no tracks or footprints in the dust. Obviously, it was a road that was seldom used, but it was a road nonetheless. �Thank God for small favors� she thought. This river could be a means for transporting goods or a source of water; there had to be a town or village somewhere near it! By this time, though, she was weary from walking for so long and the light was fading. She would not make it to civilization this night. She took the road upstream and walked for a ways before ducking back into the woods to set up camp. She didn�t bother to start a fire; she didn�t have anything to cook on it anyway and it might alert someone to her presence. She spread out her bed roll and blankets and laid down lacing her fingers behind her head. She could see a few stars now between the tops of the trees and a faint wind gently swayed the branches. �How long it�s been since I was able to look at the stars�. She thought. Despite the convenience of modern technology, it only seemed to make things more complicated. The thing that once took half a day to do now took only 30 minutes but the time saved by technology only served to make people�s lives busier; get more done, faster and better. It was what was expected. Life was lived at lightning speed. There was never enough time to get it all done let alone have any free time to just enjoy the beauty of nature or gaze at the stars. More technology, it seemed, equaled more stress. Would a world with less technology provide a better quality of life? She pondered these things as well as her current situation as she studied the stars. Sleep would not come easy for her with the unfamiliar sounds of night echoing through the trees. Eventually, the wind through the trees did lull her to sleep although it was a very restless and fitful sleep.
  Morning came with all its brilliance and the sunlight shone brightly through her closed eyes forcing her awake. Her back ached from the hard ground and her stomach complained about the lack of food but she felt relieved she had survived the night without incident. She rummaged through her rucksack for something to eat. Luckily, she had been thinking clearly enough to pack some non-perishable things like beef jerky, mixed nuts, and dried fruit, but she forgot to bring water; not that it would�ve fit. She didn't know if it was safe to drink from the river; at home it was certainly not, but she didn�t have a choice. After eating just enough to make her stomach stop rumbling; she had to ration the food she did have carefully, she made her way down to the banks of the river, scooped up some water with her hands and drank. It was icy cold, but it tasted fresh and clean. Come to think of it, better than any water she had tasted back home! If it were tainted in any way, she would find out soon enough she guessed. She packed up her campsite neatly; daylight was wasting, she needed to get on the road. �Only�the road to where?� She wondered. She walked for hours down the narrow dirt road and still no sight of a living being, village, or town. She wished at this moment, she had a horse or something; anything to be able to travel faster. The road continued to meander by the river taking an occasional dip into the forest. By this time, her feet were hurting tremendously. Her shoes were obviously meant for costume purposes only and not suitable for walking long distances. When the road was near the river again, she sat down on a low rock to rest and cool her feet in the water. It was cold, but it did help some. She closed her eyes, letting her mind drift. All of the sudden came a voice from behind her, �You! Woman!�
  In an instant, Jordan�s eyes flew open and she turned towards the sound of the voice to see a rather heavyset old woman standing there. Jordan shrieked.

  �Calm down! I ain�t gonna hurt you.� The woman said in a loud, abrupt voice. �What are you doing out here all alone? Where is your escort?�

  Jordan jumped up and stood facing the woman. �My�my escort?� She stammered.

  �Your es-cort!� The woman enunciated. �No decent young woman travels through the wilderness without an escort! Was your party attacked?�

  �N-n-no. I have no party or an escort. I am by myself.�

  �Good gracious!� The woman said throwing her arms up in exasperation. She ambled down to the edge of the river, mumbling something about women these days not having the sense of a mule. She dipped the wooded bucket she was carrying into the water to fill it. Walking back up the bank, she turned to Jordan, �Well, come on!�

  Jordan stood there rooted to the spot, staring at the old woman. She was wearing a plain brown cotton dress with a white apron over it, smudged with dirt. Her wild gray hair was held back with cotton scarf. In one hand, she held the bucket of water and in the other hand, she carried a large walking stick. Jordan could tell she was a no-nonsense type of woman who expected to be listened to.

  �Well? You gonna stand there all day or do you want to eat!?�

  �Um, yeah. Yes. Thank you.�

The woman huffed and started walking down the road. She may be old, but she could walk fast! Jordan scrambled to dry her feet off and put her shoes back on. With Jordan�s feet hurting the way they did, she had a hard time catching up to her, but she managed. Jordan kept a couple paces behind the woman not daring to speak. Without looking back at Jordan or stopping, she said, �So, you got a name or am I just supposed to call you woman?�

  �My name is Jordan.�

  �I am called Maggie. Jordan. That�s a strange name. You�re not one of those Harad women are ya?�

  �No.�

  �Thieves, the lot of them!� She mumbled under her breath. �Pillage and plunder from us hard-working, decent folk. Curse them!� She spat on the ground.

  �What?� Jordan called up to her.

  �Nothing. What land do you come from then?�

Jordan didn�t know what to say. �United States� would mean nothing to her. �It�s very far from here.� Then she quickly changed the subject. �I am traveling to Minas Tirith but I have lost my way. Do you know of it?�

  �Minas Tirith? Of course.� She huffed, sounding a bit insulted, like this was common knowledge. �You know less than I thought you did, you�re on the road right to it!�
  The road had now turned away from the river and was winding deeper into the woods. As they walked, Jordan sized up this woman who walked in front of her. Her manner was very abrupt, almost to the point of being rude; definitely rough around the edges, but she seemed to mean well. After all, she was offering to feed her. Jordan figured she wasn�t used to interacting with people much.
  Maggie veered off onto a trail that, until a moment ago, was not noticeable from the road. Deeper and deeper into the forest they walked on the narrow trail which had quickly changed from relatively flat to a moderate incline. Jordan�s feet hurt so bad; they were being rubbed raw by her shoes. She didn�t doubt they were covered in blisters by now, and she was sure they were bleeding. It had become difficult to walk and she was falling further behind. Maggie, not hearing footsteps behind her anymore, stopped to see what had happened. She saw Jordan walking gingerly with a pained look on her face.

  �What's wrong with you?� She called out.

  When Jordan managed to catch up with her, she said �It�s my feet. These shoes have rubbed them raw.�

  �Well, it�s no wonder!� Maggie said looking down at Jordan�s shoes in disdain. �What kind of shoes are those?�

  �Apparently not very good ones but they�re all I have.� She snapped. She was tired and the lack of food and the pain in her feet were making her irritable.

  �Well, the cabin�s just up ahead. You�d probably fair better if you took them off. Once we get there, I�ve got some herbs �at�ll fix �em right up.�

  �Herbs?� What she needed was some Neosporin and some bandages! She did have some in her pack, but she doubted the woman would give her a chance. She seemed determined to use her herb-lore on her. She did as Maggie instructed, anyway, and took her shoes off. The forest floor was prickly but it felt better than the shoes.
  'Just up ahead?� They climbed for what seemed like miles. Jordan trudged on after the woman and eventually the forest gave way to a small lush valley nestled in the hills, carpeted in green grass and dotted with colorful flowers. Jordan could see a small wood cabin situated in the middle of the valley. Wisps of smoke drifted up from the rock chimney. It had a small vegetable garden out front surrounded by a makeshift fence of wooden logs. Jordan also noticed several goats around the cabin, grazing on the grass. About 50 yards from the cabin, there was what looked like a small creek winding down the valley.

  �Why don�t you get water from that creek instead of walking all the way down to the river?� Jordan asked her.

  �Bah! Come late spring, that creek is as dry as old bones. There�s a small pond just beyond that tree line over there.� Maggie said, pointing to the far side of the valley, �It's not fit for drinking, but the goats'll use it.�
  As they got closer, Maggie�s �cabin� looked more like a shed. �Well, you know what they say abaout beggars.� She thought. She followed Maggie inside and was glad to see it at least had a wood floor instead of dirt as she would probably be sleeping on it. Jordan stood near the doorway looking around the cabin as Maggie set down the bucket of water near the small stone fireplace and set about rummaging through some small metal tins on a set of shelves built into the wall. The furnishings were pretty sparse. She saw a small dining table, and near that, a large storage closet with doors on the front - a pantry, maybe? A chair sat just to the side of the fireplace and in the far corner was a small cot; she assumed that was Maggie�s bed. There were few windows; one in the very back and one in the front near the door.

  �It ain�t much.� Maggie said with her back towards Jordan, still rummaging through the tins. �Ah! Here it is. Sit.� She motioned for Jordan to sit in the chair near the fireplace. Maggie took the bucket of water and poured most of it into a kettle hanging above the fire. The rest of it she poured into a small bowl. She handed Jordan the bowl and a strip of cloth and said, �I can�t spare any more water to wash your feet off, so this will have to do.� Opening the containers of herbs she selected, she took a handful of each and began to crush them up in a mortar with a pestle. Jordan dipped the cloth in the bowl of water and began to clean her feet off. There were many open blisters, some of which were oozing blood. Tears welled up in her eyes. She was a capable, educated person; a doctor! But here, she felt so helpless! Back home, this would�ve been an easily curable ailment, but those shoes were all she had; she still had a long way to travel and she certainly could not do it barefoot. She kept her head down so Maggie would not see her tears if they should fall. Maggie dipped her finger in the kettle to test the temperature, then took a ladle hanging from a hook on the fireplace to pour some of the water into the herb concoction, mixing it up into a paste.

  �What is that?� Jordan asked.

  �Athelas. It is a healing herb. The others are for pain and to prevent festering.�

  Jordan doubted the ability of these herbs but let Maggie apply the paste to her wounds and bandage them up with some cotton cloth, anyway.

  �There.� She said, satisfied with her work. �I suppose I should set about making supper now.�

  �Do you need any help?� Jordan winced as she said it, as it meant she would have to be on her feet, but she didn�t want to seem ill-mannered.

  �I�ve been making supper by myself long before you came along and there ain�t nothing that�s changed now� She said with her head in the pantry, picking out various items and setting them on the table. Turning to Jordan, she said, �Besides, you ain�t gonna be any good to anyone if you don�t let those feet heal.� And with that, she grabbed a basket and went outside leaving Jordan sitting alone by the fire.
  The sky was dark by the time Maggie�s supper of stewed vegetables and warm bread was ready. They ate at the small dining table with a lantern as their light. The stew was pretty bland but it was warm and it filled her stomach.

  �So. You gonna tell me where you�re from?� Maggie said through a mouthful of food.

  �If you don�t mind, I�d rather not.�

  �Just so you know, I don�t usually take to strangers, but you don�t look like much - not that you could do any harm in your condition anyway - so I suppose it don�t matter where you came from. Why were you traveling alone?�

  She had to choose her words carefully. She wanted to avoid using modern terms that Maggie might not understand and cause any more suspicion about herself. �My parents died and I was alone and it was not safe for me in my homeland. I think I have some, uh, kin who live in Minas Tirith and I am going to go, uh, find them� �That sounded dumb.� She thought. The last part was a lie, but it didn�t sound believable to say she was traveling alone to Minas Tirith where she knew no one to find a book.

  �Was your village attacked?�

  �Attacked?�

  �Yes. That�s why your parents are dead and it�s not safe, right?�

  �No. They died of, um, old age.� �Old age?� She hoped that was a term Maggie knew. �I am, um, different from the people that live in my wor-, uh, land and sometimes people don�t understand when you are different.�

  �You didn�t have any sense to at least take a horse?�

  �After my parents died, I sold it for food.� She hated lying to her but what was she going to say? I come from another world and we don�t travel by horse anymore?
  Maggie seemed satisfied with that answer. �Like I said, the road you were on will lead you through Emyn Arnen to Osgilliath. It follows the Anduin River most of the way there. It is about a fourteen day journey on foot to Osgilliath from here, give or take. From Osgilliath, take the river crossing, then, it�s only another day�s travel to Minas Tirith. Between here and Emyn Arnen, though, are several outposts occupied by soldiers from Gondor but if you�ve got any mind, you�ll stay away from those! Stay in the trees and go around. Brigands and ruffians, the lot of them! Brutes! Were they to spot a pretty young maiden alone on the road? Well, no good could come of it, I tell you!�

  Jordan�s heart sank. Fourteen days walk? Men who would wish to take advantage of her? How would she ever make it? The rest of dinner was eaten in relative silence, to which Jordan was grateful. She no longer felt like listening to Maggie�s callous words. Her first impression of Middle Earth was not a very good one and it seemed that there were plenty of untrustworthy people here as there were back home. She appreciated Maggie taking her in, but she was such a harsh woman with not a kind word to say, it made Jordan feel like it was done so out of a sense of duty and not out of compassion. Maggie seemed like a very untrusting person. Maybe she just needed more time to open up.
  Once they had finished eating, Maggie stood up, gathered the dishes, and set them outside to be washed in the river the next day. When she returned, Jordan was unrolling her bedding.

  �You�ll have to sleep on the floor. All I got is this one bed and my old bones couldn�t take the hard floor but I�m sure you�ll fair just fine. You can clear a spot by the fire, if you wish.�

  �It�s fine. Thank you�for everything.�

  �It�s what any decent folk would do.� Maggie extinguished the lantern and got into bed.
~~~~~
  After a few days� time, Jordan�s feet were healed to the point where she could walk around a bit and help out with some of the daily chores. Maggie had found some old shoes that no longer fit her for Jordan to use and put her to work weeding in the garden and gathering vegetables and herbs for dinner and taught her how to milk the goats. Jordan found she liked working in the garden. It was hard work but it felt good to be outdoors. The little valley was beautiful and peaceful; the sun was warm and a slight breeze blew, making waves in the grass. In the morning hours, Maggie would make several treks to the river to gather water and wash the previous night�s dinner dishes. When that task was done, she would work in the garden with Jordan, teaching her about the different herbs and their uses.
  As the days went by, Jordan found herself beginning to like Maggie. She seemed to have softened up a bit as she became accustomed to Jordan�s presence. Jordan continued to heal and she soaked in everything Maggie was willing to teach her; about medicinal herbs and about survival. Medicinal herbs and their application were of particular interest to Jordan, being a doctor. She would need a skill or trade in order to survive in this world and without the technology of modern medicine, she would have to combine her knowledge with the resources that were available to her. Instead of a doctor in the traditional sense, she would become a healer, as Maggie called them. Maggie had come to realize her initial impression of Jordan being foolish and dim-witted, traveling about the wilderness alone, had been unwarranted. Jordan was bright, educated, and quick to learn.
  One day, while working in the garden, Maggie noticed Jordan would frequently reach up to touch the pendant around her neck.

  �What is that you wear around your neck?�

  Jordan took it off and handed it to her. �It is all that is left of my home.�

As Maggie inspected it, she noticed the strange language that was engraved on it. "It is beautiful, but this is not Elvish.� She said pointing to the inscription. �What manner of language is this?�

  �It is the language of the D�ni.� Jordan replied. The two women had developed a certain amount of mutual trust as time had gone on, so Jordan felt safe in divulging a little bit more information. �I am not entirely of the race of men,� She said, using the term she had heard Maggie use. �I am half D�ni, an ancient race of people, and I am all that is left of them.� She finished sadly.

  �Who are the D�ni? I have never heard of them.�

  �Not many have. They are a people blessed with long life and their culture was one of knowledge, literature, and art; but their greed and desire for power brought about their downfall and they are no more. My true heritage was kept a secret and only revealed to me by my father just before his death.�

  �Like the men of Numenor; the Dunedain, also blessed with long life!�
  One night, as they sat by the fire drinking their tea, Jordan asked Maggie to tell her about the war that happened here. Maggie looked at her strangely.

  �How could you not know about the war? Were you hiding under a rock or something?�

  Jordan was taken aback. She didn�t know how to make up for this lack of knowledge. She thought quickly and came up with: �As I told you, my home is far away. We heard rumors of war but our lands remained untouched.� It wasn�t a complete lie, anyway. Maggie seemed satisfied with that answer and proceeded to tell her the story of the war of the ring and of a small hobbit named Frodo, the unlikely hero, who carried the fate of Middle Earth around his neck. Jordan was saddened to learn that even Middle Earth could not go untouched by evil. But yet there was goodness, also, and love. She finally realized that it did matter where you were; there would always be evil, but there would also be good, and all that mattered is what you did with the time you were given. Do you live for good or for evil? That is the question.
~~~~~
  Jordan had spent a total of three weeks with Maggie. During this time, she had developed a strong friendship with this woman, as unlikely as it seemed to her when they first met, but the time had come for her to continue her journey.

  �You are fully healed now.� Maggie said to her over breakfast. There is more for you than what life in this little valley can offer you. I think it is time for you to go find it.�

  �You wish for me to leave?�

  �Well, it�s not because I don�t like ya. It�s not fitting for a young woman like you to spend all her time with an old crone like me. Besides you�re eating up all my food!� Maggie laughed and Jordan laughed with her, knowing the old woman was just joking. �I see great things for you, Jordan. You have a destiny to fulfill.�

  �How can you be so sure?�

  �Ah, the wise do not give up their secrets!� We will prepare today, and you shall depart tomorrow morn�.�

  Jordan was sad, excited, and scared all at the same time. She was eager to see new places and find new people, but the thought of traveling the long distance she had to go, alone, frightened her; especially with the warning from Maggie about the soldiers from Osgilliath. How would she be able to defend herself if they attacked her? No, she could not let herself think that way. She would have to be strong and resourceful if she was to survive. She thought about Frodo and the courage it must have taken to complete his task, and he was half her size! She would have to find her courage.
  Maggie packed up some food for Jordan to take with her along with a water skin that she could refill, and a packet of the healing herbs she had used on Jordan�s wounds. She also gave her and old wool hooded cloak she no longer wore to keep out some of the evening chill. Jordan took the time to bathe in the river, not knowing when she might have the chance again.
  That night, they shared their last meal together. It was a rather somber affair. Not a word was spoken. Although she faired better living along, Maggie had grown fond of Jordan and in turn Jordan was saddened to leave the only person in Middle Earth she could consider a friend. But Maggie was right. She couldn�t spend the rest of her days in this little cabin. Whether she really did have some destiny to fulfill, she couldn�t say, but she would not find it here. So, in the early morning, Jordan said goodbye to Maggie, thanking her for her kindness. They shared a brief hug and Jordan started her journey down the road to Minas Tirith.
~~~~~
   Every day she walked along the lonely dirt road, from sunup to sundown, only stopping briefly to get some water or eat a bit. In the evenings, while there was still light, she would record her travels in her journal she brought, if only to keep track of the days. One thing she really missed from home, though, was music. She loved music of all kinds. It reminded her of her mother. Her mother had loved music, too, and was always singing around the house. It was probably why Jordan developed such an appreciation for it. She hadn't bothered to bring her MP3 player because once the batteries died; it would be of no use to her. So, she did the next best thing - she hummed or sang songs to herself to keep her mind off the arduous journey.
   The first couple of days went well. The ground was flat and walking was easy. She had yet to encounter another human being and she felt relatively confident in her ability to reach her destination. But inevitably, the long days of walking with a heavy pack and sleeping on the hard ground were beginning to take its toll on her body. She had rationed her food and the little portions she allotted herself weren�t really enough to sustain someone at that level of physical activity. She had bruises all over and every muscle in her body ached. She was exhausted much of the time, never achieving restful sleep during the night. She found it hard to fall asleep; feeling every little rock and root through her bedding, and she woke frequently; her sleep disturbed by the sounds of night in the forest.
  On and on she walked. Every day felt like a month. Until now, the road had followed the river and was relatively flat and in good repair. By the eighth day, however, the road began to turn away from the river and head into a more mountainous region. The road became increasingly steep and narrow and looked more like a trail at this point; littered with boulders and logs, which made her progress painfully slow. The trees became sparse and the landscape consisted now of mostly dry brush and rocks. She was so tired, she could hardly will her legs to move; they felt so heavy, and her feet were bruised. Because of this, she frequently tripped over rocks or other debris in the road, scraping her knees and elbows. Her dress continuously snagged on low brush or rocks and was now torn in various places and the hem was in tatters. She made sure to fill up the water skin before the road turned away from the river but now she had none left and there was no source of water in sight. She had to stop and rest more frequently throughout the day and she knew by doing so, it would prolong the journey and she would run out of food too soon, but she just couldn�t maintain the pace she had set for herself.
  Never did she think the journey would prove to be this difficult. Every time she sat down to rest, it got harder and harder to get up again and continue on. Each time it took every ounce of strength to force herself to move. �Oh! I�d give anything to be back at Maggie�s cabin.� She mourned. Her predicament reminded her of an old gospel song her mother used to sing when she was little. It spoke about trusting in God to give you the strength to keep going even though sometimes it seems impossible. She hadn't prayed in a very long time but she prayed to God for that strength right now - the strength to make it over this mountain and get to Minas Tirith. She sang the song in memory of her mother and her voice rang out clear and echoed across the hills.
(Visit elvenladyofithilien dot com to hear Jordan's song)
   When she had finished singing the song, she felt better. Though only for a short while, it felt like her mother was with her; her arms around her, and she found the strength to keep walking. Eventually, the road took a turn and started to head down and back towards the river. Jordan was grateful at first but she soon found out that gravity was working against her as she had to use more of her leg muscles to keep her upright. By day twelve, Jordan ran out of food and that night, for the first time, she laid on the hard ground and cried. �Where is your courage now?� She laughed bitterly through her tears. She held the pendant containing her mother and father�s ashes and cried herself to sleep.
  The next day only brought more misery as she lost her footing on a loose rock and was sent tumbling head over heels down hill, resulting in a cut on her cheek and a large gash on her right leg just below her knee. After skidding to a stop, she lay there for a while, dazed. Her pack had dislodged from her back and was sitting uphill a few feet. She crawled over to it and dug out the Neosporin and some bandages. As she had no water, she couldn�t wash off her wounds. So, she gently wiped off the dirt caked with blood with one of the bandages. She examined the wound on her leg and determined it would need stitches but there was no chance of that here. She applied a generous amount of the Neosporin and bandaged her leg. The one on her cheek would have to remain uncovered. Afterwards, she collapsed on her back in the prickly grass. Her leg throbbed terribly. She remained motionless for awhile but her anger and frustration were too much and she beat the ground with her arms and legs and screamed: �I hate this place!� Her outburst expended a great deal of energy and she was out of breath and panting, but at this point, she no longer cared. �A month ago, I was living in a nice apartment with air conditioning and I had a car! Now I am going to DIE on the side of the road in this GOD FORSAKEN PLACE!� She screamed the last part of the sentence and then broke into hysterical laughter. She was delirious. Her laughter quickly dissolved to tears and she rolled over on her side and wept.
~~~~~
  Meanwhile in Emyn Arnen, Legolas studied his designs for Prince Faramir and his wife, Eowyn�s palace gardens. Everything was in place. They would commence excavation for the outer wall tomorrow. Something was amiss. He felt restless; he couldn�t concentrate. It was unlike him. He sought out his trusted friend and coordinator of the garden project, Cailethas.

  �Something stirs in the South Wood; I have sensed it.� Legolas confided to him.

  �I have sensed nothing of late. Haradhrim perhaps?�

  �I am uncertain.�

  �The Gondorian army patrols the southern border. I am sure they would be well aware of an impending attack.�

  �I am aware of this fact, Cailethas.� Legolas said crossly. �Nonetheless, I am planning a scouting mission to seek out this disturbance.�

  �Legolas, I must protest. This is highly unusual. The groundbreaking for the garden starts tomorrow. Then, there is the celebration. King Elessar and Queen Arwen will be in attendance. You mean not to be here?�

  �I am sorry. I cannot explain further, for I have not the answers.�

  �There is no one that can be spared for a scouting party. All are needed here or we will fall behind schedule.�

  �Then you will be pleased to know that none are required, as I shall go alone. I leave immediately and will return two days hence.�

  �Do you know which route will you be taking yet?

  �I will concentrate my patrols in the area between the Harad Road and the Old River Road. Please convey my deepest apology to Faramir for my absence.�

  Cailethas sighed. �It will be done.� He said reluctantly. Legolas placed his hand over his heart and bowed in thanks and left swiftly. He quickly gathered what he needed from his guest quarters and set out on horseback towards the Anduin River.
~~~~~
  Jordan awoke sometime in the night. She had passed out in the place where she lay in the grass. She unrolled her bedding and feebly crawled into it, wincing at the pain in her leg. As she laid on her back looking up at the sky, she noticed the stars were out and she watched them for some time. Her thoughts drifted toward her father and she called out to him, �Daddy, help me, please!� Tears ran down the sides of her head and over her ears. When she fell asleep again, she dreamt of him. She was at the hospital again and she heard him saying �There is nothing here for you now. Your heart knows what it wants, have the courage to follow it.� Then he was gone and all she saw was darkness. �No! Daddy, come back!�
  Jordan woke up to the bright morning sunlight shining through her eyelids. She was weak but she was still alive. She blinked a few times, squinting her eyes against the sun, and managed to sit up. Her throat was parched and her stomach cramped from the lack of food. She crawled out of her bedding gritting her teeth against the pain in her leg. Instinct kicked in. She had to keep moving. She was not going to give up. By shear will alone, was she able to roll her bedding up and shove it into her rucksack. She managed to struggle to her feet and get it on her back. Walking was a different matter. She found she couldn�t put much pressure on her right leg causing her to limp. She looked around for a branch of some sort that she could lean on, but found none. As she proceeded down the sloping road, she took it one step at a time, carefully choosing the placement of each foot, so as not to loose her balance. She had to rest frequently, but eventually made it to where the road leveled out again, and walking was a little easier.
~~~~~
  Legolas traveled south along the Anduin on the Old River Road for several leagues before cutting east into the forest. He regretted not being present for the groundbreaking and missing an opportunity to see his good friend Aragorn and the Lady Arwen but whatever it was that he was sensing, he felt responsible to investigate. If there was a chance he could avert some disaster, he would do it, even if it meant he had to sacrifice.
~~~~~
  Jordan noticed that trees began to dot the landscape again. All the while she walked, she looked for berries or something of an edible nature but there were nothing of the sort. The trees became denser and eventually she was in a forested area again which provided some relief from the hot sun. She managed to find a dead branch that could serve as a cane. Unsheathing her dagger, she used it to slice off all of the smaller limbs until it was just a smooth stick. It was not ideal but it helped to alleviate some of the pressure on her injured leg. After several hours, just up ahead, she spied a wooden bridge. Her heart leapt for joy. If there was a bridge, that meant water! She hobbled as quickly as she could to the bridge, but once she got there, her spirits sank. What used to be a small creek was now dried up. Defeated, she sat down on its banks, put her head in her hands, and wept. When she could cry no more, she raised her head and looked around. Downstream a ways in a deeper part of the rocky creek bed, she spotted a glimmer of hope for survival - a small pool of water that had yet to evaporate. She thought at first it was a trick of the light. She shrugged her rucksack off her back and struggled to her feet with the aid of her stick. As she got closer, she saw it was indeed a small puddle of water. Some luck at last! She crawled down into the creek bed and drank greedily with not even a thought that it might harbor bacteria and she could get sick. She choked on it because her throat was so dry and she coughed and sputtered but she drank more. After she had drank her fill, she rested her head at the edge of the puddle and slept, not caring that she lay on hard rocks. When Jordan awoke, the sun was high and she guessed it was about mid to late afternoon. She took another drink from the puddle and then filled her water skin with it. She had to keep moving. She had to find something to eat. Climbing out of the creek bed, she gathered her belongings, and started down the road again.
~~~~~
  Several miles away, Legolas continued to patrol the forest for a sign of anything untoward. He was utterly confused. The woods were peaceful and the trees sang to him. He felt no presence; no eminent danger. He had never been wrong before.
~~~~~
  Further on down the road, Jordan saw what looked like a clearing. As she got closer, she could see several old wooden buildings at the far end of it. She began to get nervous. Could this be one of the outposts that Maggie told her about? She got off the road and crept from tree to tree, using them to shield herself from view. Once she had a good vantage point, she crouched behind a tree, and studied the layout. She could see men dressed in chain mail and armor milling around. To the side of the buildings, she saw a length of fence with five or six horses tied to it. She was too frightened to approach the soldiers and ask them for help after Maggie�s warning, and there was no way around without being seen. She knew she would not last much longer without food. If she could just get to one of the horses without being noticed, she might make it to Osgilliath. Her legs were cramping in this position and her head was swimming from the pain, but she didn�t dare move and give away her position. All she could do was watch and wait. Finally, a small window of opportunity opened up when the group of soldiers went inside one of the buildings. If there was ever a moment in her life when she needed courage it was now! Walking as quickly and as quietly as she could to one of the horses, she swiftly untied the rope and led it away from the fence. Using every last ounce of strength she had, she managed to get her foot in the stirrup and hoisted herself up on to the horse. Just then, one of the soldiers spotted her as he came around the corner of the building.

  �You! Stop right there!� He yelled at her. Jordan panicked. Instead of stopping, she dug her heels into the horse�s flanks and galloped hard down the road. �Stop!� He yelled again. The rest of the soldiers came running out, swords drawn, when they heard the commotion.
  Jordan glanced back to see two men on horses coming up on her fast. She was not an experience rider and she was weak and unsteady. The men quickly caught up to her.
~~~~~
  Legolas rode leisurely through the trees on the outskirts of a large clearing. He had just made the decision to abort his scouting mission and return to Emyn Arnen when he heard the pounding of horses� hooves in the distance. By the sound, he judged they were just beyond the clearing and coming up quickly. He dismounted and placed himself in a strategic location. Nocking an arrow, he waited; for he knew not if they were friend or foe. When they came into sight, Legolas saw a woman riding one of the horses and two men riding after her.
  One of the men maneuvered his horse along side hers and swung his arm out catching her directly in the face; effectively knocking her off the horse. Jordan saw white light along with a burning explosion of pain. She hit the ground hard, landing on her back. She laid there half unconscious and only barely breathing. The soldiers brought the riderless horse to a stop, dismounted, and were approaching her with their swords drawn. She brought her hands to touch her face and inspect the damage; her nose was bleeding freely and her bottom lip was split. She tried to curl up into the fetal position to protect herself but couldn�t quite make it on to her side. One of the men rolled her back over face up with his boot and put his foot on her stomach forcing her to stay on the ground and held the tip of his sword to her throat.
  Legolas watched the whole scene unfold and couldn�t believe his eyes. What reason would these men have to treat this woman so brutally? He couldn�t stand back and allow this to happen. He had to take action. With stealth and lightning quickness, Legolas was behind them and had his bow trained on the man standing over Jordan.

  �Move away from her, now!� He said with authority. The men whipped around to face Legolas with their swords drawn.

  �Stand down, elf! Who are you to say what we do with our own prisoner?�

  �I am Legolas, Prince of Mirkwood, now of Ithilien. You WILL step away from her!� He said, hoping his title would bear some weight with them.

  �If you are from Ithilien, then you should know the laws of the land. You have no jurisdiction here, Prince. She is a criminal and we are doing our duty to the realm. It would not be wise to hinder us� The man said angrily. Jordan vaguely heard voices arguing and something about a prince and a prisoner.

  �And what manner of crime has this woman committed?� Legolas asked sarcastically.

  �She has stolen that horse you see there!� He said, pointing to the horses. �Now you will kindly step aside, so we can be on our way!� He took a step toward Legolas menacingly. Legolas lowered his bow, walked over to the woman, and knelt down beside her. Her eyes were closed and her face was bruised and swollen. Blood was seeping from her nose and lip, mixing in with the smudges of dirt. There was an older, healing cut on her cheek. Her hair was a tangled mess and her dress was torn and filthy. He put his hand on her arm to comfort her, and she jerked.

   �I will not hurt you.� Legolas said gently. �What is your name?� Jordan�s eyes fluttered and slowly opened at the sound of a kind voice.

  She managed to say, in a hoarse whisper, �Jordan.�

  �I am Legolas. Do not fear, my lady. I am here to help you.�

  She made a concerted effort to focus on the face of the person speaking to her. She could see he had long blond hair, part of which was in braids, blue or grey eyes, and�Jordan gasped�pointy ears! Her eyes widened. �You�re an elf!� She croaked and promptly passed out.
- 7
- 8
- 9
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Love's Redemption