Fan Fiction ❯ Elves Make For Strange Bedfellows ❯ Misfortune in Ediwione Forest ( Chapter 1 )

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Thanks again! FiFi Mac & Gibble-Snaxs - livinonlembas

Chapter: 1 - Misfortune in Ediwione Forest

Words could not describe the anguish the fellowship was feeling after seeing the demise of their leader Gandalf. Their hearts were heavy with grief as they slowly walked along the path leading away from the perilous Mines of Moria.

"Do not let this defeat slow our progress." Aragorn announced to his fellow travelers, for he knew that hesitation of any kind would lead to their annihilation at the hand of the Orcs who would be steadfastly pursuing them as nightfall vastly approached the weary group.

Aragorn perched himself atop of a large boulder to further inspect their surroundings. To his left he could see a vast open meadow...straight ahead showed a plethora of mountainous ravines and bearing right a heavily wooded, area that he had no record of. He contemplated which would be the safest and quickest route before the setting of the sun. "I fear our only refuge may be the woodland" Aragorn began.

"I do not recall hearing of such a forest. It seems that these woodlands have not been chartered as of yet." Borimor offered a bit concerned," We could only fathom what evil may be lurking abroad in a forest such as that."

"I agree, but it can be no worse than the certain death that follows us." Aragorn replied, and after a brief council with the remainder of the group it was decided that they would make for the entrance of the forest.

Upon entering the heavily wooded area, Legolas began to feel his senses sharpening...his eyesight was keen being of elven descent and he quickly took notice of the odd surroundings. Never before had he seen such a forest with hawthorn trees, collections of red and white capped mushrooms and flourishing foliage that he had never set his eyes on before.

"I believe I may know that which lives this forest." he offered, "For if I am not mistaken, this is Ediwione Forest; the tales that I have heard, though all believed to be that of myth and legend, suggest that it is inhabited by fairies."

"Fairies!" the hobbits chorused at once.

"My! What a delight!" Pippin beamed for a moment, though their spirits were still cast downward. They could not help but to feel a sense of peace in this enchanted forest.

"Don't know much about them!" spoke Samwise Gamgee as a matter-of factly.

"I also know little regarding them." Frodo agreed, for his uncle was seemingly schooled in many areas but made no mention of fairies.

"Then my best advice to us all is to keep a watchful eye abroad! For I do not know much, but from what I have heard of the tales of mischief and magical powers, we should be aware that this is indeed an enchanted forest and although we cannot see them they most certainly are seeing us." Legolas explained.

"Well now, what do you know!" Merry smiled smugly, placing his hands on hips.

"We may just get to see a fairy in our travels! The Gaffer will never believe this!" Samwise smiled.

"I am not sure that I would welcome such a meeting, for we do not know what fairies are capable of." Legolas spoke with caution. He could feel a presence around him; though its origin did not seem of brute descent he would still be taking no chances.

*********

"Your Grace!" Reitnor, a fairy guardsmen quickly descended upon the royal fortress.

"Do not speak!" replied Epoloven, Royal Advisor to the fairy King Oberon, "For I have already seen what enters our forest!" Epoloven gazed back into his enchanted mirror and studied the peculiar group of travelers. He felt his breath quicken in eagerness as he looked upon the dark haired halfling, as though something spoke to him, calling to him to look deeper into this traveler's soul. Epoloven focused harder and slowly began to see the aura that surrounded the tiny man. It seemed normal, being filled with the love and trustworthiness of all who surrounded him, however, there was also something harboring deep inside, a growing power so cynical that it summoned Epoloven to it. `What could this traveler possibly hold that has awakened such desire within me!" he thought to himself.

"Shall I inform the King and have the elders summoned for further council, my lord?" Reitnor questioned breaking the silence set upon the dark chamber. Epoloven's brow narrowed as the anger grew within him "Absolutely not! We shall not bother the King with such pettiness!" he scowled, "I will take care in dealing with this situation as always." He turned his back to Reitnor and gazed at the vision once more.

"My apologizes my lord, I mean no disrespect to thee." Reitnor trembled, for he knew that Epoloven's anger was best kept at bay for the consequences were unimaginable.

Epoloven turned about to face the timid guard. "Ahh Reitnor, I accept your apology," he said calmly as an evil smirk began to form upon his face. He walked closer to the guardsman, sensing his fear rise with each step he took towards him. He placed a cold hand on his shoulder. "Now my friend, you are still loyal to me are you not?" he stared intensely into his eyes.

"With my life my lord" Reitnor shuddered in response.

Epoloven spun on his heel as he turned away and began to pace about the room. "There is to be not a word spoken to anyone, including King Oberon and the royal court about the new arrivals, understood?"

"As you wish, my lord!" Reitnor stood at command.

"Good then, be off!" he waved the guard out the door before wandering back to his mirror he stood facing it now, marveling at his masculinity. His deep set blue eyes contrasted sharply with is short charcoal crop of hair, he lifted a perfectly manicured finger to his lips; too long had he served King Oberon he thought to himself turning from the cheval glass. The notion of him bowing to anyone enraged him as he turned sharply and faced the mirror.

"Show me what this halfling possesses!" he commanded. In an instant the reflection in the mirror revealed the small halfling toddling along Epoloven 's gaze now fixed upon the gold chain around his neck, he reached out and touched the mirror placing a finger on the ring securely fastened to the chain, in an instant the cheval glass blackened and the image of a fiery-red piercing eye flashed across the mirror sending Epoloven stumbling to the floor. He staggered to his feet once again. Having now tasted the power of evil he looked upon the mirror once more only this time he stared at his reflection for a moment when suddenly the image faded, Epoloven was no longer clad in his dark attire for now he was clothed in the richness of kingly robes and a crown of pure gold was beset upon his head. His libidinous lips curled into a fiendish grin as he glided swiftly over to the westward window of his chamber. "Ah my dear friend," he spoke into the vast darkness, "It is just a matter time until I see the great gift you have brought me."

*********

Perched high above in her favorite Wisteria tree, sat a very bored and seemingly unamused fairy by the name Felicity. She was an eccentric fairy who held an unique, exotic beauty unlike that of any other, her skin was the color of soft honey, her hair was long and as dark as the ravens feather; her eyes as black as the most precious onyx stone. Her looks though quite rare in the fairy kingdom suited her, for as lofty as fairies were thought to be she had a sense of mystique about her. She had a passion for enchantment and spellbinding and her skills were honed in such areas, more so than most of the other fairies in the colony and could usually be found using such talents to play mischievous pranks on her peers much to the dismay to both the King and the Queen.

But as of late, the forest in which she lived, remained quiet. She stretched out on her stomach upon one of her preferred limbs of the immense tree and hummed a quaint little tune as one by one, she began to nibble at a bunch of cherries that she had gathered earlier that morning. She busied herself by thinking about all of the times she had been summoned to her majesty's chambers for one thing or another and quietly chuckled to herself, for she longed to do something, anything! Why it had been nearly two weeks since she had been lectured by his highness or as she referred to him; Father. Surely he must think that she had fallen ill for as long as she had been around (roughly a thousand years, mind you...) commotion was something that naturally occurred on a daily basis!

Below her, near the trunk of the vast tree sat her sister fairy Kimber, who was deep in thought as she carefully examined a new herb that she discovered. She brushed a lock of chestnut hair from her porcelain face and smiled at her find for she knew this herb to be of the settenio family. Kimber was delicate and petite, with a busy crop of wispy brown hair and almond shaped amber eyes that twinkled. Felicity thought this to be her best feature, however Kimber was not one to take notice of such things and blushed at the thought. She was the quieter of the two and was content with the serenity that had been bestowed upon their forest as of late. Such inactivity had enabled her to accomplish some of the healing herbal spells that she had been working on. For this was one of her deepest passions, her talent for creating such remedies heeded endless hours learning from the elder fairies and reading through their old scrolls healing spells. Through such studies she had even refined a few of the spells and enhanced their healing strength by ten fold; hence awarding her praise from members of the kings council on numerous occasions; though in her mind she only received such high regard because she was the king's daughter.

Kimber, still entranced by her new find, was suddenly startled as she felt a sudden small yet profound pebble sized object hitting her atop the head. A faint giggle from her sister overhead spoke the obvious as Kimber tousled her chestnut hair only to find a few cherry pits. She looked up to see Felicity pop a cherry into her mouth and proceeded to spit out the remaining pit at her.

"What is the matter with you? Will you please stop!" Kimber yelled.

"I am so bored!" she replied readying herself to spit another cherry pit down upon her sister's head.

"Agghhh!" Kimber shot up before the seed made contact and moved away to the next tree.

Felicity rolled her eyes at her sister. Although she loved a challenge, she appreciated an easy target just the same... "Ai! Let us go to the edge of our boundary of the forest to the elven land Lothlorien!" Felicity suggested excitedly, for the only thing that tickled Felicity's fancy more than mischief itself was mischief, which involved the opposite gender.

Looking up and over to Felicity, Kimber's eyes grew in disbelief. "Are you mad! Do you not recall what happened the last time?"

"It was not that bad!" Felicity replied nonchalantly as she thought upon the said events.

"Not that bad?" Kimber shook her head in disbelief. "We were given the strictest of orders not to never, ever go near the edge of our boundary nor to ever interfere with elfin border patrols again!" Kimber paused, "Or did that slip your mind as well?"

For it seemed as though whenever Felicity had one of her `ideas' she was innocently dragged into the misfortunate outcome of the situation. No matter what Kimber's involvement or lack thereof in whatever situation was at hand she always found herself right there in thick of it all with her sister. However, after their last "episode" involving the elves, Kimber vowed to never again partake in such events.

Felicity floated down from the branch she had been resting on and stomped over to where Kimber now sat. "You are so simple and dull at times, do you know that!" Felicity snapped, "It is a wonder that I hang around you!"

Kimber calmly smiled back at Felicity and batted her eyelashes. "You `hang around me' because I am the only one who will tolerate your foolish behavior."

"My behavior is anything but foolish!" Felicity shot back in defense, "Can you honestly say that you have not enjoyed anything that I have conjured up?"

Kimber thought of her sister's words. She had to agree with her, even if she did not want to admit to it. Felicity saw by the look on her sister's face that she had once again won the battle of wits! She crouched down and was now at eye level with Kimber. Innocently, she looked at her sister, "If I promise you that I will not bring any catastrophe's upon us, will you come with me to the borders?" Felicity pleaded.

"I don't know" Kimber whined, looking down at her lap as she took her sister's promise into consideration. "Why do you wish to go to the borders so badly?" she questioned.

"Why?" Felicity thought for a moment and shrugged, "I guess that it is just that I need a change of scenery."

Kimber began to get that `bad' feeling deep within her. A moment or so passed before she finally agreed to join her sister on her journey to the outer regions of their forest. Felicity smiled gratefully at her sister. "Thank you!" she said as she stood up and began to head towards the narrow path that they would be taking.

"Besides, I was thinking that it would be considerate of us to apologize to Haldir." Felicity grinned.

Kimber, not noticing the change to her sister's now sinister expression, followed Felicity down the path. Taking Felicity words in, she began to wonder if Haldir would, in fact, ever forgive them for all the trouble they had caused.

*********

The fellowship walked briskly through the forest hoping to have gained much ground before nightfall. The woodland seemed to twist and bow with each turn taken, as if the trees would not allow them to pass freely. They had seemed to be milling for an hour or so when Borimor stopped suddenly. "Now wait! I know that I have seen that bilberry bush not but a few moments ago!" he huffed.

Legolas had feared this hour. His senses had indicated to him that the forest was intruding on their passage. He had hoped otherwise and could only offer them this, "I know what you speak of is true; for it seems that we are unable to leave this forest. Hopefully by morning all should be well and our passage will be permitted." He tried to reassure them.

"Might as well set up camp then." Aragorn suggested with a heavy sigh.

"Splendid idea!" retorted Pippin.

"Best one I have heard in hours!" agreed Samwise Gamgee.

"Best be getting on making the fire then! I am starving!" Merry added rubbing his round tummy. "I must say that lembas bread is nothing to fill up on! Why four or five slices…" he began.

"Four or five slices?" Legolas interrupted, "Why one bite should be enough to hold you for the whole day!" he said in disbelief.

"Bite of what?" laughed Sam. Frodo, Merry and Pippin laughed along in agreement.

"Never be able to satisfy a hobbit with a crust of bread!" offered Gimli, "That would be like trying to satisfy a dwarf with a drop of ale!" he laughed.

"Speaking of which, do we have any at hand, Gimli?" Frodo's eyes widened.

"Perhaps I have a flask or two," Gimli smiled as the hobbits all gathered around him.

*********

The sun rose high in the deep blue sky, indicating to Felicity and Kimber that the noon hour of the day was upon them. They had been walking nearly a day and half and were now near their boundaries of the forest.

Felicity stopped and slowly looked around. She could not fully understand why the journey had taken so long.

"What do you see?" Kimber spoke in a hushed tone. When her sister did not reply, she turned to find that she was now standing alone.

"Where did she go?" she mumbled to herself as she looked about for a trace of her sister. She began wandering about until she reached the edge of a small clearing.

"Felicity?" she whispered, but there was no answer. `Just great!' she thought to herself when suddenly she was grabbed from behind. A strong, yet delicate hand covered her mouth to prohibit her from screaming.

"Mani naa lle umien?" spoke a stern yet gentle voice.

Kimber began to squirm trying to break free, but the stranger's hold was too strong.

"Tampa!" The voice commanded. Kimber stood motionless in the stranger's tight grip. They stood there in silence for awhile when Kimber felt the hand placed upon her mouth slowly move away and she was then turned around to face her assailant and recognizing him immediately.

"Haldir!" she exclaimed; startled but comforted by his presence.

"Why have you come here?" He inquired, "I thought after our last encounter it was made perfectly clear that you were no longer permitted to come to the boundaries." he finished; staring firmly down upon her.

Kimber felt her face redden, "Haldir, we have not come to trouble you!" She replied reassuringly.

He held his stare and contemplated her words. Kimber could feel a small chill run down her spine as his gaze penetrated her.

" `We' you say? Your sister is here as well then?" he questioned once more, looking around.

"Why yes. Have you not seen her?" Kimber had suspected that he had been watching both of them.

"No, I have not, nor do I want too!" he grumbled annoyed with the fact that Felicity was somewhere about.

Kimber bowed her head in shame, "For what is worth, I am full of regret for the troubles we caused to you and your brothers."

Haldir sighed. Though he wanted to stay angry, he could not bare to see sorrow come upon the beautiful visage standing before him.

He lifted her chin looked into her eyes, "I forgive thee, liri maer "

Kimber's face brightened at his acceptance and reddened with shyness as she then noticed the way he was gazing upon her with lustful eyes.

"My, my Haldir! Judging by the way you have fixed your eye upon my sister, I might almost believe that you, the mighty warrior, might be wooed by her!" came Felicity's voice from high above in the tree.

Haldir stepped back away from Kimber and looked up to where the voice was coming from. "Ah, my fair Felicity! How I have missed you so!" he replied sarcastically.

Felicity shot him a look of surprise. "Come now! There is no need for bitterness... for I too remember a time, not so long ago, when you would fix your eye upon me that way!" Felicity taunted as she proceed to glide down to where they stood.

Haldir cleared his throat and tried to hide the slight look of guilt that he wore upon his face.

Felicity, now standing between the two, reached up and lightly stroked the side of his cheek "It is okay, I understand that you cannot help yourself, Melamin," she whispered.

Kimber stood abroad unable to speak as she watched Haldir's eyes close at the touch of her sister's caress.

She withdrew her hand and grinned. It was then that he realized his vulnerability and cursed himself for allowing her to intimidate him.

Sensing Haldir's distress, Kimber thought it wise to change the subject. "Felicity, where did you disappear to before?"

Felicity turned to her, "Oh, I thought I heard something, so I went to investigate."

"Oh really? And what was it that you heard then?" Kimber hoped to catch her in a lie. She folded her arms about her chest and tapped her foot delicately upon the greenery beneath her.

Felicity looked to her sister with innocent eyes "Oh, nothing." she replied.

Kimber glanced around, for she would have to wait and see.

"You almost had me, however I will not allow you to pass through these borders," Haldir stated flatly, glancing back and forth between the two.

"Right then! We shall be on our way. " Kim agreed as she took Felicity by the arm and proceeded to lead her back in the direction from whence they came.

"Haldir, why do you speak with such haste? For you do not know whether or not we come with good intention and you do not know if we even wish to pass through these borders." Felicity replied pulling away from her sister and stepping before him. He was nearly a foot taller, but no one would intimidate her!

His deep blue eyes pierced hers; "I said that you are not permitted to pass through these borders." he spoke in a commanding tone. She inched towards him and ran her fingers through his long blond hair, which was pulled back neatly. She could feel his expression soften as she brushed a lock of stray hair from his face across the tip of his ear.

"Haldir?!" a voice rang through the wood.

"I am here, Rumil!" he called to his brother, relieved as Felicity withdrew from him as he could now feel heat radiating to his groin.

"Did you not hear me?" Haldir questioned her grabbing her firmly by the arm.

"Why do you harbor such animosity? Did we not apologize for our actions?" Felicity offered.

"Our actions?" Kimber proclaimed in disbelief.

"Well, Kimber has offered an apology on many occasion but as of yet I have nigh heard your lips utter such words," he stated as a matter-of-factly still holding her arm rather tightly.

"What words would you have me utter?" she thought for a moment "Lle Mae?" she whispered with a smirk. His face reddened as she turned and hurried past the elven border to greet Rumil. Kimber, against her better judgment, followed close behind.

"My dearest Rumil," she announced their arrival.

"Hello Felicity... Kimber?" he replied, glancing cautiously at his brother.

"They were just leaving." Haldir reassured his brother.

"Ah, well then by your leave my ladies," Rumil conceded, bowing to them.

Felicity rolled her eyes and whispered to her sister, "Can you believe this?"

"Felicity! What do you expect from them!" Kimber was now glaring at her sister, "Lest we forget the events of few years past?" she continued.

Forget? The likely-hood of anyone forgetting they're last visit to the elven forest was nearly impossible...

The mention of such incident brought a scowl to the March Warden' face.

"You must leave at once!" Haldir commanded, "Nothing good can come from your presence here."

"Nothing good?" Felicity stared at him is disbelief, "What do you say?"

"I say you cannot be here," he replied coldly. "Now go!" his eyes were uncaring.

"How dare you," she stepped up to him, and grabbed his chin, forcing him to look her in the eye. He offered her a queer look at her brazenness, as did his brothers in disbelief.

"In all of my years upon middle earth I have given my heart to no other fairy yet I gave it to you, an elf! Haldir, aye 1714 days have past since our last meeting and the desire for you has not left me! I have breathed you every moment of every day!" her onyx eyes flashed. He stood motionless without expression.

"Can you not hear what I am saying to you, Warden? I am not asking you to forsake your colony I am only asking you for grace to be upon me and upon my sister."

He stood silent, eyes dark and piercing through her now.

"Can you not utter that you care for me? At the very least do so and we will part well," she pleaded. Kimber could not believe her ears! Never before had she heard such desperation in her sister's voice.

He removed his eye from hers and looked toward Rumil who was motioning for him to say something, anything! Yet, he did not.

"Very well," she replied curtly, "Your silence speaks great volume; I take leave from this place Haldir and with it I take my heart also!" she turned and walked to where Rumil stood and kissed first his cheek than that of Orophin. "Adieu, I bid you farewell my dear friends, and you have my humblest apologies for the witchcraft." she spoke glaring at Haldir then heading most determined toward the entrance of Ediwione forest.

"Why hast thou done such a thing?" Rumil questioned his brother. He walked over to where Kimber was standing and offered her a look of lament.

"Rumil, I would not expect you to understand the duties bestowed upon me," he retorted as his eyes followed Felicity.

"Are you not worthy of love, my dear brother? Surely your duties are not more important than your soul!" He replied.

"Have you not uttered your deepest thoughts for her into the darkness of the night? I have heard you with my own ears." Rumil insisted.

"And what of such love? Am I to believe all that she has said to me? For we have not been for 5 years," he stared once again into the vast darkness, "Surely she has shared herself with others, as did I." He spoke matter-of-factly.

Kimber could feel a fiery anger welling up inside of her at his last remark. She approached Haldir. "My sister does not whore herself around as you do, Haldir, she has spoken truth" she was standing but inches from him now and though he towered over her she did not back down. "You have pierced her deeper with your silence than with any arrow that lay sewn across your back and with that I hope you find comfort!" she seethed before turning on a sharp heel and running into the forest after her sister.

"Kimber?" Rumil called after her but to no avail for she was beyond distance from which he could be heard.

He turned to curse his brother but refrained as he saw his eyes glassed over, stifling what would have been tears; surprised he had allowed himself such vulnerability.

Haldir did indeed harbor feelings for her but to what degree, at the forsaking of his post? Dark times were now upon them and his burden was heavy.