My first fanfic attempt..The Maiden and the Ranger part 1
Going to post something different tonight. I had started writing a fanfic a couple of years ago, and well...never finished it. I had it archived on my website for awhile and finally removed it recently. But I still have aspirations of finishing the damn thing, so maybe if I post it here and my flist would be so kind as to throw some feedback my way, maybe...just maybe I'll find the inspiration I need to finish it. Several of you are writers, and possibly one or two of you may have already read this, but anyone out there willing to beta this, throw suggestions, criticism, kick me...I would be forever grateful. I will add each segment to my Memories for easy retrieval as well. So I'll take a deep breath and just start posting it....
Author: Elessar’s Girl (lessy37)
The Maiden and the Ranger
Rated PG13
Disclaimer: Based on characters and places created by J.R.R. Tolkien in The Lord of the Rings. I do not own the rights to anything in Middle Earth, nor have I written this for profit. A few of the characters are my creations however no infringements are intended against anything belonging to the Tolkien estate.
Fifty years before the War of the Ring, in the summer of the year 2970, lived a maiden named Laurelin not far from the small village of Bree. She lived alone in a small cottage near the river Brandywine. Flowers filled the front of her yard. In the back grew a garden finer than any other in these parts.
Laurelin had sea green eyes that shown brightly though she spoke with a soft voice. It is thought she was a descendent of the race of Dunedain of Numenor, though no one knew for sure. She often wore clothing in the pale colors of spring flowers on her tall, slender frame.
On one fine spring day in the early morning light, Laurelin toiled in her garden, taking great care and pride in her work. She grew many varieties of herbs and flowers in the beds. Several birds were singing about her as she dug in the rich soil. Her pockets were filled with seeds to be sowed. Yet she sensed something dark in the air this day.
Then there appeared on the road a company of men. One of the riders carried a heavy burden on his horse. As they approached it became clear that the burden was a fallen companion. The company halted at the front gate. One man dismounted and moved to greet her. "We are seeking the maiden Laurelin. Can you tell us where we may find her?"
"I am Laurelin. Are you in need of aide gentlemen?" Laurelin approached the company and greeted them with a warm but concerning smile.
"We have great need of your healing skills and beg you to help our captain," the tall one answered at once. “He has sustained serious injury.” As he spoke, Laurelin could see the fear and concern in his eyes for the injured man.
Laurelin opened her front gate to the strangers. "Bring him inside quickly and I shall have a look at him." The men, gently carrying the fallen one, followed Laurelin into the cottage. She led them to a small room containing a bed in the corner. She motioned for them to lay him on the bed. The room had cabinets and shelves containing bottles of herbs, potions and other supplies.
The one who had begged for aide explained that the men were Rangers from the North and the injured man was called Strider. He had been struck down in battle. Laurelin began to examine him. He was hot to the touch, pale in color and barely conscious. She filled a bowl with cool water from a pitcher, adding a few drops of lavender oil from a bottle on the shelf next to the bed. Gently with a soft cloth she bathed his face and neck. He managed to open his eyes and look at her. She saw his eyes were a crystal grey. He could not manage to speak, but as their eyes met they seemed to make a connection. She sensed something in him she could not explain. Laurelin then turned to the men in the company. "I will do all I can to heal this man. How many days has it been since his injury?"
The tall one dressed in all grey spoke again "Two days my lady. I am known as Andale and I must ask one more favor of you. Please keep our presence here unknown to others. Your skills as a healer are well known in these parts and we shall put our faith in you now."
Laurelin once again turned her attention to the man now in her care and quickly assessed his injuries. She carefully removed his clothing. This was a man with many scars on his body, some new and some faded with time. Slowly and skillfully she removed the blood soaked bandages covering his wounds. Fresh blood was still seeping from a deep cut in his chest. She opened the cabinet closest to the bed and pulled out several soft pieces of cloth. She began to clean the wound best she could. She would need to stitch the wound closed to help it to heal. The Rangers stood anxiously nearby as Laurelin tended to Strider. "It may be best if you wait outside while I sew up his wounds. Some folk do not have the tolerance for such things."
Andale responded by motioning for the others to leave the room. “I do not wish to leave his side my lady. May I be of some help to you?”
“I may need you to hold him if he responds while I sew up his wounds.” Laurelin retrieved her needles and thread from the cabinet and stitched the wounds closed as quickly as she could. Strider, being incredibly weak yet, barely showed any response as she sewed. Thus all Andale could do was observe as she worked. She then continued to gently clean his body with a damp cloth.
Andale stayed by Strider’s side as Laurelin went to her kitchen to prepare a tea of herbs for Strider to drink. She had a pot of hot water on the hearth and filled a pitcher. She made a tea from herbs in her garden that may help to sooth him and reduce his fever. Returning to his bedside, gently she held up his head and he sipped the drink.
Andale sat with his captain while Laurelin went to prepare food for her guests. She served them a warm meal at her kitchen table. They ate as though they had gone without food for days. The men thanked her for the meal and went outside to have a look around.
Laurelin returned to Andale at Strider’s side with a plate of food. “Please have something to eat sir and I shall take watch over him.” Laurelin opened the windows in the room. She placed fresh cut flowers gathered from her garden on the small table at the foot of the bed. She prepared a paste made of herbs and applied it to Strider’s wounds. She continued to encourage him to sip the tea she had prepared for him.
“Not only are you a gentle caregiver, but an excellent cook as well my lady. My men and I do not wish to be in your way so we will leave you for now.” Andale again thanked Laurelin and said they would stay close at hand. She need only call out for them and they would come. He explained that the men found a small clearing in the trees just outside her grounds and set up their campsite. This would allow them to be close yet out of site to travelers on the road.
Laurelin returned her attention to Strider and he appeared to be sleeping comfortably. The tea seems to have helped bring a little bit of color into his face. Through the rest of the day and into the night she kept vigil at his side. Even though his fever was now gone he remained weak and near unconsciousness.
Morning came to the cottage. The birds greeted the sun with a cheerful song. Laurelin had changed his bandages in the night and continued her bedside vigil. Strider seemed to be sleeping peacefully. Andale came to the door seeking news of Strider’s condition.
“He has slept through the night and is no longer with fever. The wounds are deep and will be long in the healing. Only time will tell if he has sustained any permanent damage.”
“We thank you, my lady, for all you have done. We will gladly fetch any supplies you require. I have already sent the others in search of kindling for your fires.” Andale gave a smile for the first time to Laurelin. Shortly men appeared at the door with firewood in hand.
“If it would please you to sit with him sir, I will prepare a meal for all of us.” So it was agreed upon and Laurelin left Strider’s side to prepare breakfast. She also needed to fix a fresh batch of herbal tea for when he should awaken. “Gentlemen please place the wood by the hearth. You may sit at my table while I fix us something to eat.”
After the morning meal Laurelin began changing Strider’s bandages while he still slept. As she was finishing applying a clean cloth bandage to his chest, he reached for her hand. She was startled at first but he slowly opened his eyes, looked up at her face and smiled. Laurelin smiled in return and reached for a damp cloth. Gently she caressed his face and neck. All the while he held her hand in his, as if in appreciation.