Wayfarer of dawn

XIII. In which Rána becomes Eleniel

The Greenwood. It was marvelous, and once Rána's home. But now, for the lack of words, she despised it. Despised what it had become in her absence. She had warned the Elven king, but should have known he would not listen. Not to her. And now they were there, her companions and she, in front of the border that seperated two enterely different worlds - the world of the Elves of the Greenwood, and the world of all other creatures.

"Are you alright?" came Gandalf's voice from beside her. "It has been long, long since I looked upon the woods I once called home," Rána said softly. "But something is bothering you, and not just the fact that there is an Elven king in there who would not hesitate to kill you," Gandalf state bluntly. "I have indeed coped with death-threats before, if that is what you are implying. And yes, something else is bothering me." "What is it then?" Bilbo inquired, coming to a standstill beside them. "I once was able to walk within these woods without a care. I could tell you every tale the trees spoke of, and what kind of animals dwelled within. I could walk through the canopy, or scale a tree to look at the stars and feel safe. But no longer - no, Bilbo Baggins, no longer. These woods have turned cold to touch, gloomy to see. The animals within have grown feral and wild, or died - the trees suffered the same fate. I hardly recognise them - I hardly recognise my home." she said with an underlying tone of pure heart-wrenching sorrow. "Oh," Bilbo said softly as Rána walked off, towards the leader of their company. " 'Oh' indeed, Bilbo Baggins," Gandalf commented.

Rána came to a halt next to Thorin. "What is it?" The Dwarf asked uncertainly. "That forest, is not the Greenwood of old, there is something dark festering in it. It would do us well to be on guard," she said softly. "I was aware of that already, we will avoid them," he stated briskly. "I was not talking about my kin, Thorin Oakenshield," Rána hissed angrily and darted off - entering the forest.

Gandalf, horse at his side, walked up to Thorin - who somehow had missed his display of intend to leave. "Save me the stubborness of Dwarves, you just lost yourself the only guide you had," Gandalf said angrily. "Only? You are leaving us, just like she did," Thorin muttered angrily. "Put aside your anger, leave your prejudice behind and stay on the path," Gandalf muttered wisely and then climbed astride his horse. "That forest is infuated with magic, you will lose yourself if you do not stick to the path!" He called again, and then he was off.

It was no half an hour later that Thorin Oakenshield found himself forgetting the words of the Wizard - and venturing through the trees of Mirkwood, no longer did he have his eyes on the path.
"Thorin!" A soft voice called his name - like the caller was miles away. "Thorin!" Something hit his shoulder, but he paid no attention to it as he wandered onwards - seeing lights in the distance.
"Thorin!" He shook the annoying and pestering voice away.
Slap.
His eyes focused on the figure in disbelief. "You slapped me," he hissed accusingly. "You were wandering from the path," Rána answered. "Hmm," Thorin muttered and turned to the group, "PAY ATTENTION, FIND THE PATH!" His words rang through the forest, drawing the eyes of all Dwarves and a Hobbit.

Soon, Rána found herself next to Bilbo Baggins. Who found himself in a confused state of mind - not quite sure if up was up and down was down. "Bilbo," Rána's voice was soft. "Bilbo," he shook his head as if to clear it. "Master Baggins?" His eyes focused on her and he smiled softly. "Hello Rána -" "Look, there are Dwarves in this forest!" a voice called from ahead. "From the Blue Mountains, no less!" a second voice added. "Great," Rána hissed, "they completely and utterly lost it!" Bilbo looked at her in uncertain fright. "Lost it?" "Yes, Bilbo, they lost it. This forest toys with the minds of creatures, living and dying." "Then how do we get out?" "We....Kili stop hitting Fili! He's not your enemy!" and then Rána was bounding off again.

Not an hour later did everything truly go wrong - the Hobbit Rána had so carefully been watching was gone, the Dwarves had been kidnapped by spiders, and she got her foot stuck in a spider corpse. Angry Dwarven yells echoed through the forest, accompanied by the screeches of spiders. And then she heard it - arrows flying across the forest. "This day keeps getting better," she hissed. Yanking her foot one more time she got it loose, and dashed further into the forest.

"Dwalin, left!" Rána called out as she drew up her hood, and turned to kill a spider. "Balin, right!" Two spiders fell down to the ground, no longer moving. And then the spiders started falling dead, fast. "Elves," Rána muttered as the last of the spiders fell dead - leaving them surrounded. And then a yell cut through the forest. "Kili!" both Thorin and Fili cried out. Rána tried to look beyond the trees, but couldn't see anything. And then a spider dropped down next to her. Eyes widening in surprise she drew her already blood-coated swords, and lashed out. The spider screeched as Rána cut off his front leg. And then it lashed out - Rána jumped back and narrowly dodged a stinger. A hiss left its mouth and it lashed out again, scratching a tree as Rána ducked. Another lash followed, causing Rána to jump away as her long-sleeve got ripped. "Die already," she muttered as she lashed out, stabbing into its eyes - it fell still, no longer getting up.

Turning around Rána noticed she had wandered far from the group, too far. Making her way back silently she realised, upon coming within eyesight, that Thorin had his nephew's bow aimed at an elf. Quickly she scaled a tree, silent as the night.

She let herself fall in front of the King and the Prince - a hand deftly placed on the King's shoulder. "It is not deemed wise, to shoot the Prince of the Greenwood, when within the Greenwood."