Chapter 2
It was late the next morning when Elyzabêth awoke and she was up and ready in but a few moments. Her luggage was strapped upon her midnight black stallion, of whom she had befriended long ago. He had been found wandering Gondor, silent as a shadow, but Elyzabêth had managed to catch him and take him back to her father. She'd offered the magnificent beast to him, for him to ride and stable himself, but he had insisted she keep him, for he trusted her and her alone and would only ever obey her. For you see, the will of an elf is strong and they may only find one horse to bear them and Absalom, her black stallion, was the one horse that would do so for her. So she'd stabled him herself and cared for him. Soon enough they would ride across Gondor until the sun would turn orange as it sank beneath the horizon.
As she went about checking his girth, she thought as to why her grandfather would summon her to Rivendell. She had done nothing wrong to be called there as punishment, and she was sure she was not needed for anything, like bringing supplies, or weapons. Besides, weapons were no longer needed. The world had been at peace for many a year. After the war of the ring, peace and tranquility had been restored to all the lands of the world, people were able to return to their old ways, their old lives, although Gandalf had spoken and said that most of Middle Earth had not been affected at all, like the Shire, so people already had peaceful lives, for they had not even known of the dangers around them.
So as Elyzabêth saddled Absalom, she thought of the last time she had visited Rivendell. She'd been very young then, so she didn't remember much. All she could really remember was a garden filled with white light, and the smiling face of her grandfather. Elyzabêth wondered if he'd aged much since she last saw him, as most elves kept a youthful appearance throughout their long, peaceful lives. But Lord Elrond was a half-elf, so he did not have all of the traits of an elf. He would indeed grow weary through age, and though he would live for many a year, he would still age, slowly but surely. He was in fact, immortal, but his being a half-elf gave him limits to his power.
Once Absalom was tacked up and ready to go, Elyzabêth mounted him once she had bid farewell to her parents. Her mother had wished her luck and had given her blessing to her child so that she would find peace where she was headed. Her father had bid her a safe journey and told her to 'ride hard towards the sunset', an old blessing given from the heart of all of Gondor's people. Elyzabêth had also given her blessings to her kin and to all of Gondor, and with that she set off, straight towards Rivendell. She knew the journey would be long and hard, but as she spurred her steed onwards, she couldn't help but feel free as she left the borders of her homeland. She would visit her people often, after all, she was their soon to be queen. One day, she would sit upon her father's throne and rule the land of Gondor, and what a mighty ruler she'd be. Her rein would be long, longer than her father's as she too was a half-elf and she knew she would choose an immortal life. Only if she had a child would she step down from the throne, otherwise she would forever keep watch over the land, keeping it safe and protected, peaceful and tranquil.
Elyzabêth thought about this as she rode, her guards keeping close to her. She would send them off when she was close to Imladris, the last homely house, as she wanted to enter alone. She could feel Absalom tiring as he ran, his breaths becoming sharper and ragged. She let him slow down, otherwise he would have kept running until he had blacked out, for he would do anything for her, even if it involved him perishing. Elyzabêth smiled to herself as he slowed his pace to a trot and the guards also slowed and fell into step either side of her. She was still unsure as to why she needed them, there was no evil left in the world, and no one wanted her dead, so no one would attack her on her journey. But she stayed quiet about it, for she knew her mother and father were simply trying to protect her just as any parent would. All parents worry about their children, they do not do things out of spite, like keep them at home once the sun has set, or not let them venture to certain places, they do it out of love. They just want to protect their children, keep them safe at all times. And Elyzabêth knew this with all her heart, so she let her parents try and protect her, even though she was perfectly safe. Soon enough the sun started to set and they stopped only to eat and drink, for an elf's eyes are keen, so they can travel even at night.
Not a sound was made as they crept across the land of Rohan, they moved silently, unheard by most. The moon rose up into the midnight black sky, casting a pale white light onto the ground. Stars appeared like little moth holes in the curtain of darkness. The road ahead was quiet and calm, and they made their way forward without a single noise. Even the horses were silent.
The starlight glinted off of the blade that hung at Elyzabêth's side.
Isildur's blade.
Her father had given it to her as she left, as a final act of protection. He told her to keep it safe and that he hoped it served her as well as it had served him.
The darkness was absolute as they left the land of Rohan and continued toward Rivendell. The moon and stars barely visible in the eyes of the night.
A single owl hooted but that was the only sound heard, save the steadying breaths of Absalom. His coal black coat was as dark as the night, as it surrounded the trio. The cool air blew through Elyzabêth's hair as she urged Absalom into a gallop. They sprinted across the open plains that bordered Rohan. The air whipped her hair around her face wildly as Absalom's main and tail flew behind them. Hooves thudded across the soft dusty ground as the two guards struggled to keep up with the two of them. But they couldn't even get close, for their steeds were just ordinary horses and had nothing on Absalom. Soon he and Elyzabêth were miles in front, enjoying the feeling of the cool air roaring in their ears and the land speeding by them. They were fast as the wind, but as silent as an owl. They were nothing but a shadow as they raced across the land, slowing only when the end of the plain came into view.
Elyzabêth stopped her noble steed briefly whilst they waited for the guards to catch up. Once they were a group once more, they continued over the border.
Silent as shadows.
A/N- Okay, so that's the next chapter done, quite frankly, I'm not sure if I should continue this story, so please leave a comment and tell me what you think so that I know if I should keep going! Also, check out my other stories, but DON'T FORGET TO LEAVE A REVIEW! Anything will do, but all of your support really helps, so make sure you keep it up!
