The Adventure begins

Lucania Took woke as the sun rose, she stated in wonder at her surroundings. The pair had travelled all the way to Lindon; it was beautiful to behold especially to a young hobbit. While her new friend slept she decided to look around, she passed some elves who looked at her in bewilderment. Hobbits were not common in this elven town so it was unusual to see one, "We live in unusual times" said one, "you think she's lost?" Said another. Lucania heard that question and turned to face the male elf, "I am not lost, my elf friend is still asleep so I thought I'd look around" she told him as if that answered all the questions he had.

"Elf friend?" He asked curiously, his green eyes were deep and full of ages past when looking into them.

"Yes, mister elf, or do I call you my lord elf? Surely you have a name" the hobbit asked trying to maintain her politeness and contain the excitement she felt at seeing so many elves.

The elf chuckled at the attempt of formality, "Do not worry young hobbit, I am Garloinin if you like I can show you around. Just don't disturb Cirdan or the elves heading in those ships do you understand?" He asked suddenly remembering the curious nature of some hobbits. Lucania looked at where Garloinin pointed, those are big boats! She thought, her blue eyes widened. "I understand, where are they going? If they need help catching fish I am their girl." She says looking back at the elf.

"They are going to the Undying Lands young one, I'll be sure to let them know you offered to catch them fish" he says patting her slender shoulder, "now come there's a lot to see"

Lucania followed Garloinin for her tour, her stomach growled on the way but this time she felt she could ignore it. "Who's Cirdan?" She asked unsure of why he must be left alone.

"He the shipwright and Lord here, he arrived during the years of the trees well the latter years that is. He ferries those wishing to sail west, I can tell you more as we go I just don't wish to disturb him in his duties." The elf said sensing this hobbit would eventually seek out the elder elf anyway.

Lucania nods, she takes in the views of the high arches and beautiful structures that made up this elven home. She loved how peaceful and relaxing it was in these "Grey Havens" as they were also called, when the Undying Lands were mentioned again she wondered what this place was but kept that to herself. She admired the bridges even and found herself further ignoring the fact that it was past time for first and second breakfast. "This place is beautiful, why would anyone want to leave?"

"Your Shire is beautiful why did you leave it?" He answered back.

"Because I wanted to explore and my cousin pretty much told me to, so who am I to disobey such orders" she smiles at that statement.

Garloinin chuckles again, he would miss the halflings when it came time for him to sail away himself. "Fair enough, it is hard to explain why. Let's just leave it at some feel their time on middle earth has passed and they leave for another home."

"Makes sense, I take it it's an elves only deal?" She asked, he nods and smiles sadly.

"But you young one have much to explore do not trouble yourself with the decisions of elves that wish to leave." He tells her gently while they continue to walk through the city.

The Hobbit agrees and continued to marvel at what was shown, she hoped Toniele would take her to more elven cities. She wondered if Bilbo had been here, he had been to a few elven cities when he told the tale of the lonely mountain. Her brows furrowed in thought and puzzlement, her tour guide noticed this and knelt down to her height. "What troubles you?" He asked a little concerned when the chattering died down.

"I'm just wondering if you met a Bilbo Baggins? He used to tell us tweens about his adventure to the lonely mountain and the elves he met along the way. I am wondering if he passed through here too?" Her head tilted causing ringlets of crimson to fall into her face. She brushed it back and stared into the emerald orbs of the elf.

"Bilbo Baggins? I have heard of him in passing but not here, no he was in Rivendell and Mirkwood. Maybe your elf companion can take you, I'm sure she wouldn't mind." He knew of the hobbit that travelled with the grey wizard and dwarves so long ago but didn't get the pleasure of meeting him.

Lucania takes in his words as he explained when and where this trek had occured, she really wanted to see these other places so badly now.

They continue their tour until they both spot Toniele with the horses, she smiles upon their approach. "Mae Govannen" she greeted in elven tongue to the older elf.

"Mae Govannen, Toniele. I see you no longer travel alone" Garloinin gestures at the hobbit maiden by his side.

"You would be correct" she says, "I came here mainly for another reason but then I gained a friend so now I have two reasons."

Toniele was happy to see Lucania out and learning all she could, she liked seeing the light in the hobbits eyes as she took in the views. She was originally coming here for a different reason but after meeting the young woman she wanted to focus on that rather than her other concerns. Her thoughts were interrupted by the hobbit with her hands on her hips, "Sorry what?"

"Have you eaten?" Lucania asked again, "Nice to see your back to earth"

Garloinin stifles his laughter this time, "I will be around should you have need of me" he walked away and heard the halfling, "Elves need food too!" comment. He took one last glance at both of them before heading to the docks.

"Toni, you can't skip breakfast. I will make some for you let's go back to the rooms we are staying in and I'll make you breakfast we can't travel on an empty stomach." She takes a step towards the elf and ebony horse Toniele was tending to.

"If you insist" Toniele sighs realising there was no getting out of this.

"I do insist" a look of determination crossed her face.

Lucania guided her friend back to what would be considered an elvish inn to the hobbit. She ignored the looks she was getting as she used all her strength to pull the elf. When they got back Lucania immediately set to work in the kitchen, though she realised she didn't have an apron to cover her blue floral dress. Oh well I'm not in the shire to retrieve it she thought. She found some fruit, a few vegetables and some fish she had caught before meeting Garloinin. She peered out of the kitchen to see Toniele enjoying some tea and reading a book. She's going to love this breakfast. The Hobbit went back to the kitchen and brought back the breakfast she had prepared for both of them, "here you are" she presented it in the same fashion she would if Toniele were to visit her home in the shire.

Toniele eyed the dish and smiled, "my favourite, thanks Luca" despite not appreciating being dragged in front of the other elves it had been worth it for this fish.

"If you do that again I'll carry you home in front of your Took relatives" she says between bites.

"You wouldn't dare"

"I would"

They have a stare down across from each other, Luca looks away, "Alright you win but eat more."

"Yes mother" Toniele answers teasingly

"Not mother, more like big sister" Lucania said equally playful.

"Hmm…" the elf said remembering her friends height. "Yes…. I can picture that" if I was around three to four feet.

After breakfast Toniele and Lucania prepared for the trek east, they also delivered some artifacts Toniele had found from a few ruins that appeared elven in origin. "Thank you Lady Toniele we thought these lost forever." one of the elves say gratefully. "You're most welcome, my travels usually bear fruit like this" she adds amiably.

"We know, which is why as always we look forward to your visits" the other elf adds.

Lucania remains silent, her thoughts drift to Garloinin; the emerald eyed elf. She wondered if he had any lost artifact to find, she wanders off when the elves begin talking in their language in order to find her friend. She checked near the docks and spotted a ship leaving, a female elf approached her with a rather sympathetic look, "I have something for you from Garloinin" she handed the hobbit a set of daggers with jewelled pommels and a note.

"Where's he gone?" She asked feeling her heart race.

"I'm afraid he's gone on one of those ships young hobbit" she said.

Lucania took an involuntary step back, her eyes widened in surprise, "Gone? I was going to ask….if he wanted to travel with us. She processed this information but it was overwhelming for some reason. "He didn't say goodbye" she finally managed after a stunned silence. She barely registered the elves hands on her shoulders, or the words of comfort. She tore herself away and ran, she didn't want the elf to see her tears, why did he leave? Is Toni going to leave too? She asked herself. She couldn't fathom why it hurt so much after knowing him for a day, he was nice and friendly and seemed to understand hobbits. She ran to her room and started cleaning up and packing at the same time, she left the note and daggers on the table as she couldn't look at them. Cleaning was what the young hobbit tended to do when something stressed her, which wasn't often.

"Luca?" A familiar voice says.

"Not now!" The hobbits voice broke.

"Luca, stop" Toniele said again, concerned by her friends frenzied desire to redecorate. She took the smaller woman by her shoulders and looked into the pained expression. "Garloinin left didn't he?" Lucania nods and falls limp into the elf's arms, "I was going to….ask if he...he…." She couldn't finish the sentence as she began to cry.

"To come with us? I'm sure he would have loved to. Perhaps in his younger days, he gave you a letter did he not? Read what he says it might comfort you and before you ask; no I am not leaving." She reassured the weeping hobbit.

Lucania at first shook her head but gave in, she retrieved the letter and read it:

Young Lucania, I am sorry to say that we will never see each other again. As much as I love the Shirefolk and your quaint customs it is not enough to keep me and my broken heart here. You probably wonder how I know so much, I have run into your kind before; that is the ones that dared venture from the comforts of the shire. Your hardiness and curiosity is something to behold for one who has been here since before even Toniele was a twinkle in her parents eye. Perhaps that is why I must leave, I have seen too much and suffered greatly as I know many in this world have. The only difference is with a long life one developes a long memory. It is my time to go and you caught me at a time when I was having trouble deciding. I saw another bright light in a darkened world, it gives me hope which is another reason I can leave.

As a token of friendship take these daggers, they protected me now they will for you. They were made in Gondolin; I'd ask Toniele as she's the historian what that great city is. I shall miss you and your kind, please don't cry when receiving this I know that will be hard but the memory I wish to take with me would be your smile and eagerness to learn.

Farewell, Faire Lucania Took

Garloinin Silvermoon of Gondolin

Lucania wiped her tears and smiled at the letter, she was sad she wouldn't see him again but could at least hold the memories as he would. She neatly folded it and placed it carefully in her cloak then took a look at the jewelled silver daggers. When she unsheathed them they had elegant elvish writing inscribed on the blades, the pommels were silver and ornate with emeralds; the colour of Garloinin's eyes.

"Will he be happier in the elves only lands?" She asked still looking over the daggers.

"Yes, he will. Those are beautiful, they can go with your bow and arrows" Toniele said quietly.

"That's all I need to know, that he will be happy" she turns around and hugged her slender and tall friend.

"Good, now isn't it nearly supper or dinner?" She asked.

"Oh...dinner!" She pulled away from the embrace and ran to cook them some food, "oh when can we leave this place?"

"By morning, we can go east" Toniele answered from the next room.

Lucania smiles, "Good, as beautiful as it is it's not a place I would stay."

Toniele agrees and goes over her small map and lists places they could visit next that wouldn't involve departing elves.

By the next day they set off again, Lucania riding toniele's bear and Toniele riding her ebony horse. They rode east and didn't look back at the ships heading west instead they looked forward to more adventures.