The healing of Mirkwood Scars

News from the Neighbours

Maelynn leaned on the windowsill as she looked up to the clear sky. The stars were shining bright and their most beloved star was, of course, the brightest. The baths has done their miracles on her body but her mind was still foggy. Her hands could still feel Mira's life slip away as if water in the river flowing through your fingers. Captain Haldir tried to comfort her in the best way, may it be with reddish cheeks. But alas, he was called for further duties by his brother Orophin. Maelynn believed Haldir's younger brother did it on purpose. Of all the elves who didn't accept Maelynn within their mids, Orophin and Rúmil were the worst. They always seemed to look down upon the blond haired elven maiden with hatred in their eyes. Just like now, as she was eavesdropping on a heated conversation the brothers had. Captain Haldir didn't seem pleased and cursed in Westeron, a language his both brothers knew little of. Maelynn however did understand Westeron and smiled a little for Haldir just said he hoped his parents couldn't have given them some more brains. But jokes aside, things were getting worse by the day. The forest didn't sleep anymore, the animals habitant in it were restless. The orcs coming closer to the borders, with or without sunlight, was by far the biggest worry. And why?

When the moon sank to the horizon so make place for the reddened sky, someone knocked at her door. Maelynn looked up from her book and walked towards the door with book still in hand. Her purple organza robe slided with the long train on the floor and her curling hair dangled up and down with every step she took. She opened the door to see Haldir in Galadhrim battle attire. She rose up her eyebrow and closed her book with a smack. 
" We're going already?" Maelynn whispered in an urgent tone, but Haldir shook his head.
" I'm afraid you will not join us this time, Mae." He bit his lip and looked down to his feet. 
" Why, what is the matter?" Maelynn got inpatient. 
" News brings we need to travel to the Eastern border. Unknown beings have been reported on our borders with the roots of the mountain." Haldir spoke.
" Orcs are surrounding the forest from both the East and West now?" Maelynn mumbled annoyed and frustrated. 
" They are no Orc," Haldir spoke " but I have to depart with urgent haste." He looked up from underneath his eyebrows. 
" Why aren't I allowed to-" 
" Lord Celeborn has other purposes for you. A task for you alone." He answered her while taking breath.
" What task did Lord Celeborn bestow upon me?" She asked holding tight to her book, wondering why after all these years Celeborn decided she should do a mission alone and not right in the beginning. He too knew Maelynn was nothing more than an adopted outcast with no name. 
" We recieved note from Mirkwood, and it regards an escaped prisoner."  Haldir said as he looked at her with darkened eyes.
" What do they wish from us? To catch this prisoner and call the locksmith to alter their locks?" Maelynn mocked making Haldir shake his head. 
" This is no laughing matter, Mae. Your tracking skills are like mine, if not better. This creature you must find has played a grant role in this world and will perhaps have a bigger purpose in the future." 
" And why would that be?" 
" This creature's name is Gollum." Haldir looked over his shoulder and gulped. " Even Galadriel grows weary when hearing his name, for he beared the One for centuries long." 

It got silent. The One.... 

" What am I supposed to do when I find this Gollum, Captain." Maelynn lifted her chin up, as she felt she was going to play a bigger part than ever before. 
" Do not take his life. He lost the One for he is one a massive hunting spree. We've had contact with those whove had captured him in the past, and they delivered us the knowledge of the fact that this creature had been captured by Mordor itself. Why they released this creature is unknown to us, but for Mordor to release a being, drawing breath and all, is an ill omen. They brought the creature to Mirkwood where King Thranduil tried to draw knowledge out of it, but-" 
" Apologies, maybe after the incident of the dwarven company the King should have altered his prisoncells and guardduty. I-" 
" Do not mock him, Maelynn!" Haldir hissed, smashing his hand next to her head on the doorpost. " Celeborn entrusted you this mission and you shall participate in it for the greater good. I tried to send Rúmil or Orophin, but they will not allow them to be seperated from the Wardens." Haldir sighed and smiled a little. " I even tried to convince Lord Celeborn to allow me to join you, but he denied the request." 
Maelynn chuckled a little.
" Fine. I'll do it. As long as you return your sorry ass back to Lothlorien before I have finished the job. Or else I've got nothing or no one to return to."