Heart Of Thranduil

Chapter 25

Thranduil had reached the pond, but no Arieth in sight. Where could she be? "Arieth!", he shouted. Nothing. "Arieth! Where are you?", he looked around searching for a sign of her, but all he could see was some of her clothes. Suddenly he heard some muffled sounds coming from under the roots of a tree. He rushed towards it and looked inbetween the roots. "Arieth?", he asked. "Help me!", he heard her say. Thranduil was just about to start cutting the tree when he noticed someone coming up behind him. "Don't be so hasty to cut the tree, young ellon", he heard a slow, deep voice say. He turned around and faced him. Treebeard. "Hello there", Thranduil said. "Well, isn't it the young prince of Greenwood the Great", Treebeard said. "Yes! Yes, it is", Thranduil said and put his hand to his heart and bowed his head. "Long time since I've seen you in these parts", Treebeard said and took a few steps forward. "Can someone please help me?!", Arieth shouted from under the roots. "Can you help me?", Thranduil asked Treebeard and pointed at the place where Arieth was being kept prisioner. "Of course", he said and spoke to the tree. "Away with you! You should not be waking! Let her go! Away with you!". The roots opened up and Arieth climbed out. Thranduil helped her. "Thank you!", Arieth said and smiled at Thranduil and Treebeard. Thranduil cleared his throat and nodded towards her body. "Oh my!", Arieth was only wearing some undergarment, which was all wet and dirty. She rushed towards the pond and grabbed her clothes. "Go to sleep! Away with you!", Treebeard whispered to the tree that had attacked Arieth. "What is going on?", Thranduil asked. "Why was the tree awaken?". "I'm not sure", Treebeard replied. "But Fangorn is not what it once was, it's not so safe in here as you might think".