One Day You'll Know

Chapter 31- I Want to Run

By midnight the party in Meduseld was cleared and the Fellowship set down blankets and pillows to sleep on the stone ground of the Golden Hall.

Noelle was physically and mentally drained from everything over the past couple of days: the battle, riding constantly for a day and a half, the party. But, she still couldn't sleep. Her brain was wired no thanks to Legolas and the random "vision" she got during the ceremony. Ever since she had started fighting on the front lines with the Jedi, her struggle to sleep had been a continuous issue.

Turning on her side for the one thousandth time, she sighed, sat up, and wrapped her Lothlorien cloak around herself. She gave up. She wasn't getting any sleep tonight. She might as well go take a walk outside. Maybe it would help quiet her mind. That was one good piece of advice from Master Yoda.

As soon as she stepped outside she saw Legolas and Aragorn gazing off into the distance of the night. Legolas could probably see so much with his eyesight. They were speaking in quiet whispers. What were they talking about?

Noelle was about to just walk away and go just have some time to herself, but her curiosity got the better of her. Plus, she really wouldn't mind seeing Legolas...

She blushed slightly.

Aragorn turned around slightly as she came over and gave her a slight smile. "You could not sleep either?" he asked.

Noelle nodded tiredly. Someone understood what it was like to be burdened with your responsibilities every night. She glanced over to the Elf. "What is it, Legolas?"

"The stars are veiled," he replied. "Something stirs in the East... a sleepless malice."

Noelle's eyes were drawn to the mountains surrounding Edoras and the night sky. She wasn't about to try and guess what he meant by "the stars are veiled," but the "sleepless malice" was definitely Sauron. It wasn't like she wasn't used to being around people who spoke in riddles. Personally Noelle would rather be direct about things.

"The Eye of the Enemy is moving," Legolas whispered as if he knew what she was thinking. He exchanged glances with Noelle and Aragorn, whose eyes were both filled with concern.

There was a moment of silence.

"I wonder where Frodo and Sam are," Noelle whispered quietly. She sighed. "I'm not that powerful. I can't sense them from this far away. I wish we knew if they are still alive. All this..."

"Would be for nought," Legolas finished for her.

Noelle nodded.

Aragorn didn't answer either of them. His eyes were also still transfixed in the distance. "We must have hope," he said. "That Frodo and Sam are indeed still alive. My heart tells me they are."

He was right, Noelle mused. Unlike her, at this point, Aragorn was able to have hope when there was none. There was a difference between being hopeful and being overly optimistic. She smiled, lost in thought, as a gentle breeze blew past them.

Suddenly she felt something. She didn't know how to explain it. She just knew. The Enemy was close.

"He is here!" Legolas cried. He had felt it too.

"Where?" Aragorn shouted loud enough for the whole town to hear.

"Inside, I think," Noelle got out shakily, still too stunned to answer. The feel of Sauron was crippling. Like a paralyzing cold feeling that was overwhelming. The Dark Side of the Force was embodied in him.

Aragorn raced past her, not stopping. Giving her a sympathetic look, Legolas paused for a second to gently squeeze her arm. Then he followed Aragorn.