Nuts in Middle Earth by TRMJ and Elf+Nut
Disclaimer: LOTR was created by JRR Tolkien, and all the characters and names you recognize belong to him.
Debora and Claudia are just two internet girls having some fun with their favorite characters. Not copyright infringement was intended. This was made just for fun. And yes, we ARE nuts, so don't bother emailing us just to tell us that.
Reviews are ALWAYS welcome! :) Debora (Brazilian Nut) and Claudia (ElfNut)
Thanks to everyone who has reviewed us so far!
______________ Nuts in Middle Earth Chapter 10__________________
After breakfast the next morning, the company was ready to leave.
By this time, Haldir had come over and soon the Fellowship had once again started their trek through the forest. Debora and Claudia had returned to their previous clothes, knowing that dresses were not the best outfit for their journey. None of them spoke during their walk.
The task looming ahead of them, which had been forgotten during the few days they had spent at Lorien, had come back in all its magnitude to haunt their thoughts. When the sun was at his higher place in the sky, they finally arrived at the Anduin River.
Celeborn had told them the previous afternoon that they would be given boats to continue their trek, either they still wanted to venture into Mordor or not. At their first sight of the river, most of the Fellowship didn't see the boats, until they noticed Haldir pointing them out in the direction Legolas had moved towards. Soon, though, they had climbed inside the boats. Aragorn, Frodo and Sam got the first one, Gimli, Legolas and Claudia the second one, and Merry, Pippin, Boromir and Debora the last one.
They had barely moved towards the center of the river, where the stream was stronger, when they heard the sound of a crystalline voice behind them. When they turned, they saw what appeared to be a swan coming towards them, but was in fact a boat with the sunlight glinting on its smooth surface. Galadriel sat in the middle of that boat alongside Celeborn, with even more of a regal aura about her, and she was singing.
When they closed the distance between them and the Fellowship, Galadriel spoke. "Before you leave, my friends, I wish to share a last meal with you."
They docked the boats by the shore and settled on a spot of grass, while some young elves served them lunch. They were silent through the meal.
Debora was sitting by Boromir, and to her it seemed that every mile that brought them closer to Amon Hen was like walking on hot coals to their doom. She was still feverishly trying to work a way out to save Boromir.
Claudia could almost see the stormy thoughts raging inside Debora's mind. She would do anything to spare her this suffering, but there was no way out that she could think of. Legolas noticed that something was worrying both women, but didn't say anything in front of Galadriel and the others. Debora's eyes were filled with pain and despair when she looked at Boromir, and he couldn't understand it. But Legolas was not the only one observing the two women. For there was nothing that could be hidden away from Galadriel's sight.
When they finished the meal, they rose to thank their hosts and bid them farewell. But Galadriel still had gifts to give them for the journey.
To Aragorn, she gave a precious sheath for his sword Anduril, Isildur's broken sword that had been forged whole again by the elves.
To Merry and Pippin, she gave silver belts, while she gave to Sam, the ever- faithful gardener, a wooden box with Lorien's earth and seeds.
To Gimli, the dwarf, she asked what she could give him. He shyly asked her to give him one of her hairs, to which she promptly agreed. Galadriel gave him a thin strand of her hair, making Gimli blush and bow deeply in thankfulness.
Frodo got a tiny flask that glowed with light. It contained Earendil's light, the elves brightest star.
Legolas received a beautifully crafted bow and quiver, while Galadriel gave to Boromir a golden belt, engraved with beautiful engravings of leaves.
When she turned to Debora and Claudia, who stood together, she gave both a sad look.
She gave to Claudia a pendant with a dark blue stone. Claudia heard the elven queen's voice in her head. "This is to remind you of the one you gave your heart to, but you both will have to wait for another life to join your paths forever."
Claudia bowed to the queen, but did not move an inch away from Debora, who was looking distrustfully but proudly at Galadriel. Galadriel looked into Debora's eyes, while she gave her the same pendant she had given to Claudia, only that the stone set in it was a light sky- blue, like Boromir's eyes.
"Debora, do not fight the destiny, for it will only bring you sorrow to do so. And never forget that love transcends life and death."
Debora eyed the gift Galadriel had given her, and couldn't help but let tears come to her eyes. It was easy for the elven queen to say that, but for her to accept it... Trying to hide the true reason behind her tears, Debora said. "This is beautiful. Thank you," and she bowed her head graciously.
After all of them had received their gifts, Galadriel and Celeborn sent them their way, wishing them luck and blessing their quest. As they distanced themselves from Lorien, they were accompanied by Galadriel's voice once again, this time singing a song in the elves tongue.
Legolas and Claudia easily fell into conversation, as also did Merry and Pippin, but the other members of the Fellowship didn't. They were all immersed in their thoughts, worried about their future. About Middle Earth's future.
Debora was absent-mindedly fingering the stone on the new necklace Galadriel had given her.
Her mind was being more and more consumed by despair. Despair at Boromir's impending death. Despair at her inability to do something about it. And despair made a very fertile ground to seduction and destruction. But no one around Debora noticed her quick and guilty glances at the Ringbearer.
Meanwhile, Gimli had just voiced his sadness at leaving Lorien and the beautiful Galadriel.
Legolas eyed the dwarf, compassion filling his eyes. But before he could say anything to lessen his friend's pain, Claudia interrupted.
"Gimli, it's better to have loved and lost than never have loved at all," said Claudia, her eyes focused on Legolas. Legolas looked into the woman's eyes and knew that there was something about to happen and the women knew about it and somehow could not change it.
The pain in Debora's look earlier, the haunted look in Claudia's eyes now... Something was wrong, very wrong. And Legolas felt that Claudia was for some unknown reason saying goodbye in her own way. He felt the sting of pain and anguish hit him, as he thought of them parting. He had known they weren't destined to share life as a couple. It had been clear from the very beginning.but he did not want to part from her so soon. There was so much he wanted to show her about Middle Earth, the forests he loved so much and he knew she would loved them too. He had played with the idea of staying with Claudia in Minas Tirith once Sauron was defeated and Debora and Boromir were wed. He would give up Mirkwood, anything, once he had found his soul mate. But he was not ready to let her go, not yet.
"Claudia," he started. " What is bothering you? You speak of loss and make my heart ache. We can stand up to anything, amaelamin."
Claudia smiled sadly. "Legolas, I'd wish some things were different, but...sometimes," Claudia shook her head. "Forget it. Just remember, enjoy the moment." She said and turned to him and kissed him, making the elf loose the rhythm of the paddling.
Gimli turned to see both, and chuckling said. "Do you want me to take over the paddling, Master Elf? After all, I am not looking forward to a dive in the river."
Legolas and Claudia blushed furiously and settled into their places, both tasting the other on their lips.
***
The day they left Lorien passed by rather quickly, just as the following days. The river seemed to know their need for hurry, and so the stream moved quite fast.
Much to Debora's increasing dismay.
The Fellowship traveled by day through the river and slept by night on the shores or small islands that they could find. The air seemed to hang over them as a burden much heavier than any of them was willing to carry or acknowledge. More than once black crows or eagles could be seen and heard over their heads. Saruman's spies, no doubt. But Saruman wasn't the only one keeping an eye on them. In a particular bright night, before the Fellowship had stopped to rest, a shadow appeared and hovered above them. One big enough to cover the full moon for a full second, and to send shivers down their spines. It seemed to be some dark winged creature, casting evil reflections on the water.
The shadow disappeared into the dark trees, but they could still feel its presence. Not daring even to breath, the Fellowship looked up into the Darkness, trying to figure out where the new foe was hiding.
Aragorn and Boromir had drawn their swords, Legolas had his bow ready in his hand. Debora and Claudia held their lightsabers ready in their hands, but didn't ignite them to avoid attracting the unknown beast to the boats. There was still the chance of escaping whatever it was.
Neither saw the shadow looming over Frodo, and as the hobbit ducked, it seemed that the horrendous beast had caught the hobbit in its claws. There was the sound of an arrow flying close to Claudia's head, as Legolas shot towards the intruder. The beast fell into the river, while Sam was easying Frodo down into the boat, after the scare. It had been very close. The elf moved gracefully inside the boat without even rocking it ever so slightly, and gathered Claudia into his arms.
"Are you well? You were in the way of the arrow destined for the creature."
Claudia was pale, for Legolas' fast reaction had caught her unaware, but she smiled at him.
"I am fine, Legs. Just caught by surprise. You saved Frodo, blessed be your eyes and quick reactions."
The elf smiled at her back, while both looked over to were Sam and Aragorn were taking care of Frodo. Aragorn turned to them and nodded, letting them understand that the Ringbearer was well.
"What WAS that thing, though?" Boromir muttered.
Debora answered without thinking. "It was a Nazgul." Everyone turned to face her.
Debora ducked her head, cursing herself for talking more than she should have. "A server from Mordor."
The others exchanged worried glances. They needed to move, and fast. So, instead of stopping to rest, they continued their trek through the night, and only stopped the following day. Overall, though, their trek through the river was calm, even if tense.
The members of the Fellowship kept mostly to themselves, worried about what the future had for them, and only exchanged very few words.
Claudia wanted to talk to Debora, because her friend seemed to grow more and more wary and consumed as the days passed, but the boats arrangement didn't allow her to find na opportunity to talk to her alone. Little did she know that her friend was having a battle within her very soul. A battle that kept her awake during most part of the night.
It was during one of those restless nights that Boromir awoke to find Debora silently crying. Boromir put his left arm around her shivering form, startling Debora. Pulling herself with her hack against him, he whispered in her ear. "Shh. It's alright. Everything is going to end up just fine. I won't let anything hurt you." That just made her cry even harder.
If he only knew WHO was going to get hurt before this was over...WHO was going to die...
Listening to her increased sobs, Boromir stood on his right elbow and placed his chin on Debora's left shoulder.
"Please, don't cry. It pains me greatly to see you crying and I'm being incapable to stop it."
Debora decided she couldn't keep her secret any longer.
"I'm afraid death is pending upon us," she said and silently cursed herself, for she couldn't ignore Gandalf and his warnings either.
Boromir moved the few strands of hair that had fallen over her face, placing them behind her head. "Listen, what if we leave the Fellowship once we reach Tol Brandir and go to Gondor? They need me there, and we have more chances of winning this war against Sauron with battles than sneaking into his own territory without an army."
Debora reached up to Boromir's face, and caressing his cheek she brought his lips to hers. Boromir could taste the bittersweet tears on her lips. Breaking their kiss, Debora said with a sad smile. "Okay. Let's do that." Boromir felt visibly calmer by her answer, just as Debora had expected, and soon he was sound asleep besides her. But Debora spent the rest of the night crying; more silently now, but crying nevertheless.
***
After a week traveling by the river, they finally reached the Argonaths, the imposing stone replicas of Isildur and Anarion. When Claudia looked to Aragorn, who was reverently looking up to the statues of his ancestors, she detected a very distinct hint of royalty emanating from him. She looked at Debora to point that out to her, but her friend had finally lost the last color that still remained in her face. Claudia gulped. She had almost forgotten.
The day the Fellowship passed the Argonaths was the same day that...
Legolas interrupted her thoughts. "Is everything alright, amaelamin?"
Claudia looked at him and smiled, sadly. "No, Legolas. There is evil surrounding us. We will face evil soon again.And all we have left is hope. And love. Never forget that."
Legolas had already asked her more than once about the reason of hers and Debora's sad mood, but Claudia had time and time again dismissed his worries as to fret about Sauron and the orcs pursuing them.
After a few hours, Debora spoke for the first time in what seemed like days, something very strange for a person that just couldn't stop talking normally. "There. Tol Brandir."
The rest of the Fellowship followed her gaze, and there it was. Tol Brandir, with Amon Lhaw at their left and Amon Hen at their right. Aragorn directed his boat to the right side of the river, in which Legolas and Boromir quickly followed him. Once all of them had left the boats, they started to set up their camp for the night, very much like they had done the previous nights.
And they were all so busy, that Claudia only noticed that Debora was absent after they had finished setting the camp. She had hoped to finally be able to talk to her friend, since she knew the events were close at hand. And at a more accurate inspection, she noticed that Debora wasn't the only one missing.
**********
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