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I felt someone sitting on the foot of my bed, and opened my eyes. After rubbing sleep from them, I saw Legolas sitting at me feet. I sat up, and threw the covers off my legs. I jumped to my feet, as Legolas said, " You look so tranquil when you sleep."
" How long have you been here?" I asked. Legolas stood up, next to me, as I brushed the tangles from my hair. I pulled it back and tied it with a black leather ribbon.
" Since yesterday. You've been sleeping for three days," he said. I moved for the door, and he took my hand. The pale, smooth skin of his hands pulled me out into the side corridor. A bell rang, and Legolas walked with me to the main hall, then let go of my hand.
" I must go, there is an assembly in the garden," he said, then hurried off. I walked around for awhile, admiring the ornate architecture of the Elven Houses of Imladris.
Nearly two hours passed, and I had grown ever more curious and impatient. At last, I let my footsteps carry me to the gardens, where I hid among the high rose bushes. A group of Men, Dwarves, and Elves, with a wizard and two hobbits, was gathered on the porch. A small, stone table stood in the center of the ring of peoples. Aragorn sat nearest to the right of Elrond. He wore his simple brown and green clothes of the Rangers. A couple chairs to the right, sat a man from Gondor. He wore dark, opulent clothing over his full body of chain mail. Several Elves, including Legolas and Glorfindel, were cloaked in light brown cloaks, the color of Mirkwood. Dwarves, three by the looks, sat, axes leaning against their legs of chairs. Gandalf sat next to Frodo, who sat next to Bilbo. Lord Elrond sat at the head of the circle. He was mediating the council.
" I know not the way," I heard Frodo say as I approached closer to the porch. Elrond looked up from where his eyes were cast down, and they seemed to alight. He muttered something, then emphasized the words, " This shall be the hour in which the Shire-folk will prove their worth."
So Frodo was appointed the task of taking the Ring to Mount Doom, where it should be cast back into the fiery abyss from where it was cast. Master Samwise Gamgee was surely to go with him. Gandalf, also, was immediately appointed one of the nine companions of Frodo Baggins.
Two months were spent at Imladris, Elrond and his council of Elven Lords and Gandalf speaking in secrecy of the journey. I remained in Rivendell, watching as almost two new moons had passed. At last, it came time for all the companions to assemble and leave.
Several men, an Elf, and a Dwarf were called to represent the free peoples of Middle-Earth. Legolas, clad in green and blue, would represent the Elves; Gimli son of Gloin, with his axe fixed at his side, would represent the Dwarves; Boromir and Aragorn, who both intended to follow the company until they parted for Minas Tirith, would represent the Men. Due to the constant whining of Peregrin Took and Meriadoc Brandybuck, they secured themselves each a place at Frodo's side. I, also, planned to go, but leave before them, and wait for their passing to join. This, I know would anger Gandalf, and most certainly seem improper to Boromir, son of Denethor, Steward of Gondor. But I took my chances, wishing to see the War of the Ring from a warrior's place, rather than from a book describing the bravery of the free people's male combatants.
And so, while I slipped form the city, wearing a fur-lined, dark green cloak which shone blue in some light, and carrying what little supplies I could, the nine companions of the Ring Bearer were readied and departed. I laid for awhile in hiding, listening to the daily song of the birds, and treasuring the last quiet of my life for a while. Then, on a cold, dewy morning, I heard the footsteps of a certain pony, Bill was his name I later learned, trotting through the forest, avoiding the main path. The fellowship finally was coming my way. I had borrowed a horse from Lord Elrond's stables, and had just gotten comfortable in my seat and was riding slowly, as to be overtaken quite easily. I heard the crunch of leaves and twigs under the foot of a man, for certainly no Elf would disturb the forest in that way. I had halted suddenly, as the noise disappeared. I turned, in the saddle, to jump down, and was pulled off the seat by two rough, calloused hands. I thrashed violently as I was carried away from my horse, backwards, into the vale in which I had recently hidden.
" Ah, Lady Seraniel, how kind of you to join us," Gandalf said, in a both angry and cheerfully sarcastic voice. I shrugged of the grip of Boromir.
" I haven't any idea how I came by you, Gandalf the Grey, but certainly it is by fortune, or misfortune, by the looks of company," I said, walking back to my horse, and remounting.
" Where do you go, Lady, in such cold weather, and on such short notice, as I've heard?" Aragorn said. His tone of voice carried icily through the air, and it seemed to me that the very hair on my neck stood, alarmed by his sternness.
" I wish to pay a visit to my kin, in the glorious woods of Lorien," I said, spurring the horse to quicken its pace a little. Before advancing far ahead, however, Legolas ran up to me, grabbing the reigns.
" You go as if you intend to pass into Lorien, but this is no the quickest route," he said, as the other caught up. Pippin and Merry walked farthest ahead, behind Aragorn and Boromir, and Gandalf.
" My real intentions would hinder my progress," I said. Legolas would indeed tell the others, and most likely I would be seen as a nuisance. But soon, I found myself comfortable in the midst of the companions, and liking their company, and they liking mine.
" Where do you really hail from, Lady Seraniel?" Pippin asked as I walked next to him, leading my horse to a nearby river.
" I hail from Lorien, where my mother's kin reside. My father, however, was an Elf of Mirkwood," I said. I sat down on the grass, my legs weary of travel, with little rest. The stream in which my horse was standing in trickled by slowly, swishing over rocks and san at the bottom.
" Are you married, or do you have a family?"
" No, even though I have been repeatedly advised to do so. My parents were killed. My father in battle, and my mother at the hand of sorrow." The thought of them brought a silence to my voice, in which I couldn't find it until later that day, into the night, when we were at last resting in camp.
The hobbits and Gandalf slept, as Gimli and Aragorn smoked. I walked out, into the forest surrounding the little glen. I finally rested with my side against a large birch tree. I pulled my cloak tighter around me, and pulled over it my blanket. The cold seemed to chill me, even to the bone. Gandalf warned not to build a fire, and so one wasn't. I closed my eyes as I sank to the ground.
Moments later, I felt something touch my cheek. A rough hand grazed the tip of my chin as I turned.
" You shouldn't deny yourself the warmth of the new fire," Boromir said. I almost jumped in surprise.
" Rest, Master of Gondor, for tomorrow the pace of our travel shall quicken," I said. My eyelids seemed too heavy to keep open, and my legs felt numb beneath the folds of my dress and cloak.
" Return to camp, where safety is guaranteed with the light of the fire."
" I am fine where I stay. Travel has worn me to a thread, and I have not the strength to get up, anyhow."
" It is by the orders of Gandalf that I was to find you, and bring you to him," Boromir said. He wrapped an arm around me, but I said shrilly, " No, I shall remain here." He trudged off, back towards the camp, and I remained against the tree for nearly three more hours. Dawn was approaching, perhaps only an hour away, when I again heard the soft rustle of movement next tome.
" Come, Seraniel, the hobbits are preparing a breakfast," Legolas said, as he gripped my arm and pulled me to my feet, which had again gained their feeling. His melodic voice seemed to make my mind sway back into dream. As he escorted me (in a sense) back to the camp, I dreamt of the songs my mother used to sing, of the rivers in Lorien, especially the Nimrodel.
" He we are," Samwise said, handing me a plate full of Shire-food. I opened my eyes wider as I smelled the bacon, eggs, and syrup. I ate excitedly, glad to have the rich, wholesome, (and, yes, sometimes greasy) food. Lembas had grown plain to my taste. All of the company was still eating, when dawn approached. IT moved over the mountains, and the sky turned orangish-pink. While Samwise and Frodo, the last two to start eating, finished their meals, Pippin and Merry learned how to fight from Boromir. I sat and watched, laughing at intervals, seeing how Pippin would almost hit Merry, then Merry lunge at Pippin. Legolas sat next to me. He all of a sudden stood up, facing the south, and I turned. A moving black cloud was coming swiftly our way, against the wind.
" What is it?" Samwise asked, also seeing the cloud.
" Crebain, from Dunland," Legolas said. Samwise raising an eyebrow, continued to eat.
" Put out the fire, Master Samwise," I said hurriedly. Gandalf jumped behind a large boulder, pulling Frodo with him. Sam put out the fire, then ducked under a bush, along with Pippin and Merry. I hid behind a berry bush, watching the skies, as the birds crossed over our camp, around to where Boromir and Aragorn were hiding, and then went back south.
" We must go on, immediately," Gandalf said. The company grabbed their packs and weapons, then we set off again. I walked next to my horse, letting Merry ride. The air was cold, but the wind had died down. We walked all day, and into the night. At last when we stopped to rest, everyone fell into slumber.
I felt someone sitting on the foot of my bed, and opened my eyes. After rubbing sleep from them, I saw Legolas sitting at me feet. I sat up, and threw the covers off my legs. I jumped to my feet, as Legolas said, " You look so tranquil when you sleep."
" How long have you been here?" I asked. Legolas stood up, next to me, as I brushed the tangles from my hair. I pulled it back and tied it with a black leather ribbon.
" Since yesterday. You've been sleeping for three days," he said. I moved for the door, and he took my hand. The pale, smooth skin of his hands pulled me out into the side corridor. A bell rang, and Legolas walked with me to the main hall, then let go of my hand.
" I must go, there is an assembly in the garden," he said, then hurried off. I walked around for awhile, admiring the ornate architecture of the Elven Houses of Imladris.
Nearly two hours passed, and I had grown ever more curious and impatient. At last, I let my footsteps carry me to the gardens, where I hid among the high rose bushes. A group of Men, Dwarves, and Elves, with a wizard and two hobbits, was gathered on the porch. A small, stone table stood in the center of the ring of peoples. Aragorn sat nearest to the right of Elrond. He wore his simple brown and green clothes of the Rangers. A couple chairs to the right, sat a man from Gondor. He wore dark, opulent clothing over his full body of chain mail. Several Elves, including Legolas and Glorfindel, were cloaked in light brown cloaks, the color of Mirkwood. Dwarves, three by the looks, sat, axes leaning against their legs of chairs. Gandalf sat next to Frodo, who sat next to Bilbo. Lord Elrond sat at the head of the circle. He was mediating the council.
" I know not the way," I heard Frodo say as I approached closer to the porch. Elrond looked up from where his eyes were cast down, and they seemed to alight. He muttered something, then emphasized the words, " This shall be the hour in which the Shire-folk will prove their worth."
So Frodo was appointed the task of taking the Ring to Mount Doom, where it should be cast back into the fiery abyss from where it was cast. Master Samwise Gamgee was surely to go with him. Gandalf, also, was immediately appointed one of the nine companions of Frodo Baggins.
Two months were spent at Imladris, Elrond and his council of Elven Lords and Gandalf speaking in secrecy of the journey. I remained in Rivendell, watching as almost two new moons had passed. At last, it came time for all the companions to assemble and leave.
Several men, an Elf, and a Dwarf were called to represent the free peoples of Middle-Earth. Legolas, clad in green and blue, would represent the Elves; Gimli son of Gloin, with his axe fixed at his side, would represent the Dwarves; Boromir and Aragorn, who both intended to follow the company until they parted for Minas Tirith, would represent the Men. Due to the constant whining of Peregrin Took and Meriadoc Brandybuck, they secured themselves each a place at Frodo's side. I, also, planned to go, but leave before them, and wait for their passing to join. This, I know would anger Gandalf, and most certainly seem improper to Boromir, son of Denethor, Steward of Gondor. But I took my chances, wishing to see the War of the Ring from a warrior's place, rather than from a book describing the bravery of the free people's male combatants.
And so, while I slipped form the city, wearing a fur-lined, dark green cloak which shone blue in some light, and carrying what little supplies I could, the nine companions of the Ring Bearer were readied and departed. I laid for awhile in hiding, listening to the daily song of the birds, and treasuring the last quiet of my life for a while. Then, on a cold, dewy morning, I heard the footsteps of a certain pony, Bill was his name I later learned, trotting through the forest, avoiding the main path. The fellowship finally was coming my way. I had borrowed a horse from Lord Elrond's stables, and had just gotten comfortable in my seat and was riding slowly, as to be overtaken quite easily. I heard the crunch of leaves and twigs under the foot of a man, for certainly no Elf would disturb the forest in that way. I had halted suddenly, as the noise disappeared. I turned, in the saddle, to jump down, and was pulled off the seat by two rough, calloused hands. I thrashed violently as I was carried away from my horse, backwards, into the vale in which I had recently hidden.
" Ah, Lady Seraniel, how kind of you to join us," Gandalf said, in a both angry and cheerfully sarcastic voice. I shrugged of the grip of Boromir.
" I haven't any idea how I came by you, Gandalf the Grey, but certainly it is by fortune, or misfortune, by the looks of company," I said, walking back to my horse, and remounting.
" Where do you go, Lady, in such cold weather, and on such short notice, as I've heard?" Aragorn said. His tone of voice carried icily through the air, and it seemed to me that the very hair on my neck stood, alarmed by his sternness.
" I wish to pay a visit to my kin, in the glorious woods of Lorien," I said, spurring the horse to quicken its pace a little. Before advancing far ahead, however, Legolas ran up to me, grabbing the reigns.
" You go as if you intend to pass into Lorien, but this is no the quickest route," he said, as the other caught up. Pippin and Merry walked farthest ahead, behind Aragorn and Boromir, and Gandalf.
" My real intentions would hinder my progress," I said. Legolas would indeed tell the others, and most likely I would be seen as a nuisance. But soon, I found myself comfortable in the midst of the companions, and liking their company, and they liking mine.
" Where do you really hail from, Lady Seraniel?" Pippin asked as I walked next to him, leading my horse to a nearby river.
" I hail from Lorien, where my mother's kin reside. My father, however, was an Elf of Mirkwood," I said. I sat down on the grass, my legs weary of travel, with little rest. The stream in which my horse was standing in trickled by slowly, swishing over rocks and san at the bottom.
" Are you married, or do you have a family?"
" No, even though I have been repeatedly advised to do so. My parents were killed. My father in battle, and my mother at the hand of sorrow." The thought of them brought a silence to my voice, in which I couldn't find it until later that day, into the night, when we were at last resting in camp.
The hobbits and Gandalf slept, as Gimli and Aragorn smoked. I walked out, into the forest surrounding the little glen. I finally rested with my side against a large birch tree. I pulled my cloak tighter around me, and pulled over it my blanket. The cold seemed to chill me, even to the bone. Gandalf warned not to build a fire, and so one wasn't. I closed my eyes as I sank to the ground.
Moments later, I felt something touch my cheek. A rough hand grazed the tip of my chin as I turned.
" You shouldn't deny yourself the warmth of the new fire," Boromir said. I almost jumped in surprise.
" Rest, Master of Gondor, for tomorrow the pace of our travel shall quicken," I said. My eyelids seemed too heavy to keep open, and my legs felt numb beneath the folds of my dress and cloak.
" Return to camp, where safety is guaranteed with the light of the fire."
" I am fine where I stay. Travel has worn me to a thread, and I have not the strength to get up, anyhow."
" It is by the orders of Gandalf that I was to find you, and bring you to him," Boromir said. He wrapped an arm around me, but I said shrilly, " No, I shall remain here." He trudged off, back towards the camp, and I remained against the tree for nearly three more hours. Dawn was approaching, perhaps only an hour away, when I again heard the soft rustle of movement next tome.
" Come, Seraniel, the hobbits are preparing a breakfast," Legolas said, as he gripped my arm and pulled me to my feet, which had again gained their feeling. His melodic voice seemed to make my mind sway back into dream. As he escorted me (in a sense) back to the camp, I dreamt of the songs my mother used to sing, of the rivers in Lorien, especially the Nimrodel.
" He we are," Samwise said, handing me a plate full of Shire-food. I opened my eyes wider as I smelled the bacon, eggs, and syrup. I ate excitedly, glad to have the rich, wholesome, (and, yes, sometimes greasy) food. Lembas had grown plain to my taste. All of the company was still eating, when dawn approached. IT moved over the mountains, and the sky turned orangish-pink. While Samwise and Frodo, the last two to start eating, finished their meals, Pippin and Merry learned how to fight from Boromir. I sat and watched, laughing at intervals, seeing how Pippin would almost hit Merry, then Merry lunge at Pippin. Legolas sat next to me. He all of a sudden stood up, facing the south, and I turned. A moving black cloud was coming swiftly our way, against the wind.
" What is it?" Samwise asked, also seeing the cloud.
" Crebain, from Dunland," Legolas said. Samwise raising an eyebrow, continued to eat.
" Put out the fire, Master Samwise," I said hurriedly. Gandalf jumped behind a large boulder, pulling Frodo with him. Sam put out the fire, then ducked under a bush, along with Pippin and Merry. I hid behind a berry bush, watching the skies, as the birds crossed over our camp, around to where Boromir and Aragorn were hiding, and then went back south.
" We must go on, immediately," Gandalf said. The company grabbed their packs and weapons, then we set off again. I walked next to my horse, letting Merry ride. The air was cold, but the wind had died down. We walked all day, and into the night. At last when we stopped to rest, everyone fell into slumber.