The Mysterious Fate #wattys2016

The Anduin

Please read the author's note for disclaimer and explanation of this story.

I make no claims on Tolkien's works. I also give credit to Cormak3032.

When it was all said and done the journey south was relatively peaceful. The calming sounds of the water and birds combined with the warm sun made most of the Fellowship feel at ease. However, the seasoned warriors knew that it was only a calm before the storm.

As for Lana, she took it all in stride. She had no idea where they were going and could do nothing but trust implicitly in her companions. It was a strange feeling not having any control. She felt adrift with no anchor. It made her restless. On occasion, she would glance back at Legolas and Gimli. Everyone in her boat seemed withdrawn despite the fine late winter's day.

The elf had become quiet. Once again acting as eyes and ears for the group Legolas kept his focus on their surrounds even as he managed the vessel. Lana wondered what he was thinking. She was starting to see more behind the mask as she grew to know him better, but he was still very much a mystery to her.

His keen eyes surveyed the land as they floated down the river. Lana was curious as to what he could hear and see. The scenery was magnificent to her eyes so it had to be utterly amazing with his eagle-like vision. The forestlands gave way to rolling hills of hardy grasses. On the west side the growth was green and filled with life. But on the east, brown lands stretch as far as the eye could see. It seemed almost like a desert, but life clung stubbornly to the earth there too.

Gimli for his part remained silent in his own thoughts. Sometimes he would sigh deeply. No doubt his mind dwelt on the Lady Galadriel. He was also a bit of enigma to Lana. It wasn't his size or even his appearance that boggled her mind. It was the mere fact that he was a dwarf.

While she saw him, the hobbits, and Legolas daily, her brain still didn't know what to make of them. The fact that they were separate from her in ways that she couldn't even imagine was hard to comprehend. And yet, they were hardly different from her at all. In fact, she wasn't sure if there was really that much difference between them in the end.

Did they not breath the same air? Eat the same food? They laughed and cried as she did. They felt the same emotions. So how different were they really? Recalling the moments of laughter between herself and the hobbits, she smiled quietly.

Already she had been in this world a month.

Has it really been that long? A worried moue pulled on her lips. What did her family think? Again she wondered if they knew she was missing. They had to—that is if time ran the same there as it did here. I hope they found out soon! Irrationally she worried for her cat. She didn't like the idea that he might have gone hungry when she didn't come home.

Shoving the disconcerting thought away she reflected again on Lothlórien. She had changed a lot during those long days under the mallorn trees. Despite the endless hours, time had slipped by so fast!

She missed the Golden Wood immensely; the way the light spilled through the yellow leaves of the massive trees, the faint singing voices on the wind, and the feeling that time had stopped. Now it felt like time was trying to speed up in compensation for standing still.

She missed the easy conversations between herself and the hobbits. Funnily enough, she longed to return to the times when she and Aragorn ran through the trees in the morning, sometimes making a race of it. He always won, but the exhilarating feel of energy—the wind coursing through her hair and their combined laughter echoing in the morning stillness was a memory that she wished to capture in her hand and hold close to her heart.

She also wanted to return to the archery lessons with Legolas. Though drawing the bow was still a challenge, she had steadily grown to cherish the time they spent together. And now that she and Legolas were on better terms, she was anxious to make use of his expertise. Watching the river water flow past them, Lana wondered if there would even be time for lessons of any kind.