"Someone give us a song! I am tired of this silence!" said Frodo.
"Yes, something of elves. I have been wanting to hear about the elves for a long time, you know." said Sam.
"Alright. Only because he ties into our journey so, I will tell you the tale of Tenuviel." he said. And in a low chanting voice, Aragorn began the story of Tenuveil, the young and beautiful elven maiden of whom a man named Beren was trying to catch in the woods, for he had fallen in love with her from first sight. He spent nearly his entire life chasing after the immortal Tenuviel, until he finally caught up to her, and they spent there days together. My eyelids were starting to droop against the soft sound of Aragorn's voice, and the steady warmth of the fire. He explained the history of the song and who made it up, and afterwards, Merry, and Sam went out to look at the rising moon. I couldn't believe I was going to sleep. There was evil afoot, and I was sitting there with a blank look on my face, half asleep. A few minutes later I was jolted awake by Merry and Sam bursting back into the dell.
"The enemy! They are here!" cried Merry.
"You have seen them?" asked Strider standing up.
"No, sir." panted Sam. "We just felt terribly afraid." Merry was nodding in agreement.
"Everyone keep your backs to the fire, and keep awake!" said Strider. We all sat in a circle around the fire, sending dancing shadows onto the walls. The air hung tensely in the dell for more than a minute. Then, a gut-wrenching wave of fear flooded my mind. I could literally feel a shadow, maybe two, approaching us. But when I looked up, there were four ominous shapes looming over us on the hill before us. I backed against the wall, breaking into a cold sweat. Sam clutched Frodo's arms, and Merry and Pippin threw themselves on the ground. I looked on horrified as the black riders came nearer to us. I looked over to see Frodo take the Ring out of his pocket and slip it on his finger. He was gone, and I yelped.
"Take it off, you fool!" I hissed. I got no response, and just then, the four leapt forward, advancing on the spot where Frodo had been. I heard a yell, obviously Frodo's, yelling something in another language. One of the riders drew his sword and the tip disappeared, and reappeared. I hoped it hadn't hit Frodo. He slipped the ring off, and the riders retreated out of the dell.
"Frodo!" I cried, and rushed over to him. He didn't wake, but I noticed that his hand was clenched tightly over the Ring. I shook my head.
"We should rebuild the fire." said Strider. We worked grimly to build up the fire. We sat around, not saying a word. Frodo stirred in his sleep, or coma, rather, and blinked. I was overjoyed to see him move, finally.
"What happened? Where is he?" asked Frodo.
"You scared us so badly, Frodo!" I cried. "Didn't you here me when I said to take it off?"
"Yes, but I was so scared." he said.
"Didn't Gandalf warn you from the beginning not to use it?" I scolded.
"Be gentle, Olivia!" said Aragorn.
"I'm sorry, but I was worried about him." I said. I felt embarrassed and ashamed. Frodo was in pain, and I was yelling at him. "Sorry Frodo."
"It's alright. But my arm feel's horribly cold." he said. I began to long for a hobbit hole. So distant it seemed. A thing of the past. I watched Frodo as he lay in pain upon the dell floor, wincing every now and then. Aragorn beckoned Sam away from us. I could barely hear what he was saying.
"Only four of them were here. I don't have the first idea why not all of them came, but I believe they were ready in case we fought back. They've gone for now, but they'll be back, I fear. I am also uneasy about the possibility of the deadly wounding of your master." he said. Sam made a feeble squeak. "Worry not, Sam! I believe Frodo is made of stronger stuff than he looks. Even Gandalf shares my thoughts. I doubt if he is doomed, though. He may hold out longer than our enemies think. But now I must try my best to heal him, or at least keep him in expectable health. You will guard him while I'm gone, won't you?"
"Yes sir!" said Sam hurrying to Frodo's side. Strider went back out into the darkness. There was a long silence as Frodo dozed off.
"So, what'd he say?" I asked.
"That Frodo's strong, and that he probably will hold on longer than they think." said Sam.
"Well that's good, isn't it?" I said.
"I suppose." said Sam. "It doesn't stop me from worrying about him, though."
"True. Very true." I said nodding gravely. The night was slowly dying away, the gray morning overcoming it. The shadows were lifted from the dell as Strider came back, his arms full of plants.
"What's this?" he asked kneeling by a black cloak.
"Not mine." I mumbled.
"Look at this!" said Strider. "Here is where Frodo's sword dug into the ground!" there was a long scratch in the earth. "And this! Here is the very blade that struck our poor friend!" he held up a long thin knife.
"It even looks evil." said Sam. He gave a cry when the blade evaporated into a whisp of dark smoke.
"That proves it! I shall have to work harder to heal him, for few have the knowledge to cure this kind of evil wound." said Aragorn.
"Do you?" I asked. "Have that knowledge, I mean."
"We shall see." he said. I grimaced. He started to prepare the plants that he'd brought back with him.
"Strider?" I asked meekly.
"Yes?" he said.
"You didn't happen to notice that there was a notch out of that knife, did you?" I asked.
"I did." was the reply.
"So...so then, maybe some of the knife broke off under his skin, and that's why it hurts him so?" I asked in more of the speech commonly used in the Shire than I had intended.
"That is what I fear." he said.
"Just wondering..." I said, my voice trailing off.
"Look here, Olivia." said Aragorn. "I will teach you a small portion in healing."
"Alright." I said inching closer.
"These are Athelas, a plant that grows in dense thickets. It has a distinctive smell-" he said crushing a leaf in his strong fingers. It had a pungent odor, but not grossly overwhelming. "And it was brought here by men many years ago. Normally its powers are great, but I doubt if it'll have a great affect on Frodo's wound." He boiled the leaves, and I watched his actions carefully, so that I might remember how it was done if I ever needed it. He bathed Frodo's aching arm in it for a while. It's smell made me feel rested and refreshed. We sat in silence for a while watching Frodo. he stirred and woke up. We decided to continue on with Frodo's final say. He said he was strong enough to set out again. We traveled many miles that day and found a cleft in a small grassy cliff to sleep under. The wind and rain pounded down on us mercilessly. The cold was doing nothing to help Frodo's wound. I couldn't sleep a wink that night. I lay awake miserable. I was cold and wet, and I'd been hungry all that day, but I was too worried to eat anything. I shifted my weight, which made Frodo notice that I was awake.
"Can't sleep?" he asked weakly.
"Nope." I said staring into the swirling black clouds.
"I find it funny." said Frodo.
"What's that?" I asked brushing some of my hair, which was conveniently plastered to my head, out of my eyes.
"That sometimes you talk as if you're originally from the Shire, and then you use your own speech mixed in with it." said Frodo.
"I kind of just...picked it up. It's hard not to, really." I said.
"How about a song, then? Of where you come from." said Frodo. "I do hate this dreadful silence."
"I see this as hardly the time, nor place for a song, Frodo." said I, trying to sound kind.
"Are you embarrassed?" he asked.
"No! Of course not." I said in defense.
"Then scared, perhaps." he weedled.
"I am not scared, Frodo Baggins, I simply can't sing. I'll write a song and sing it for you when it's done." I said.
"All right, but I'll remember that." he said.
"I was afraid of that." I said grinning at him. "How is your arm, old friend?"
"Cold and very sore. I'm so tired..." he said trailing off.
"Don't leave us Frodo. It's not the quest. It's just that I don't think I could continue if you..." I stopped. He nodded grimly.
"I won't go without a fight." he said. "But we both need our rest."
We traveled on for a little more than four days, I couldn't keep track. We continued down the road for a few miles. Frodo was steadily getting worse, and I was really worried about him. My eyes kept darting back to his limp body lying on Strider's horse. Unfortunately for us, Strider informed up that we would have to make our way towards the road once more. I didn't like this news at all.
"Also," he added. "I would not be surprised if we found the last bridge guarded." This news was graver than the last and it put a pit in my stomach making my extremely uneasy and restless. In the morning we walked on for a few miles more and then, to my dismay, the bridge was visible in the distance.
"It doesn't look too guarded." I muttered, but no relief came of these words.
"Maybe not. But I'm going to get a closer look, just to make sure." Strider disappeared for a few minutes and then came back holding a green jewel. "This belongs to the elves. This brings good tidings. I don't think we will be bothered on the bridge, but after that, I dare not stay on the road." we continued across the bridge and as Strider said, it was not guarded by the Riders. We traveled that day and a few to come through a dismal looking forest. I think I preferred the road. Once we came across some towers. We continued on up a rocky hill where we found a small cave to camp in. The situation grew steadily worse for Frodo, for we had no hope of lighting a fire in the weather we faced that night. Wind and rain buffeted the cave noisily. I did not sleep at all that night. I figured that we must have been at least ten days from when we left Weather Top. When I did nod off, I was quickly shaken awake by the howling wind. In the morning the rain stopped and we continued through the forest. Even without the rain, it was no cheerier. A few hours past midday Strider informed us that we were too far north and that we needed to find a way to go south. Frodo was becoming weaker before my very eyes. My heart was full of concern for him. The way south was treacherous and craggy. Frodo attempted to climb the steep rocks, but soon fell shivering to the ground. His arm was limp.
"Strider," said Merry nervously. "I don't think Frodo can go any further."
"He's dreadfully ill." said Pippin biting his lip.
"Hopefully they can cure him when we get to Rivendell." said Strider. There was a hint of hopelessness in his voice, which didn't help my mood for the day.
"My master is so ill, yet his wound has closed up leaving but a small white mark. What is to become of him, Strider?" asked Sam.
"I do not know. He is beyond my help Sam, but never give up hope!" said Strider. A day or so ahead, we could go no further on the rocky path we were making for ourselves. Soon there would be no way to travel through them, so we headed towards the road once more. We found some old Troll dwellings that we supposed had not been used in some time, but all the same, we took caution in our steps. Pippin found the very Trolls that the dwellings belonged to, but they were frozen in stone. The same trolls that old Bilbo had come across in his journeys, or so they said. We were all growing quite tired of the silence, save the sound of out footfalls.
"How about a song to make the atmosphere a little cheerier?" said Merry.
"Haven had one since Weather Top, you know." muttered Frodo. We all looked at him. "I'm feeling much better today, so don't worry. Sam, give us a song!"
"I don't want to sing very much." said Sam.
"It's your turn." I said.
"Fine." said Sam. He went off into a song about a man named Tom who came across a Troll eating a bone of his uncle's. It was quite the humorous song, and we wanted to know where he had learned it.
"He thought of it himself, of course. I am learning a lot about Sam Gamgee on this trip." said Frodo. "First a poet then a jester. I suppose he'll be a warrior or a wizard when he comes out of this!"
"I hope not, master." said Sam. We went along the route that Gandalf and Bilbo once traveled until we were on a hill above the road. We were trying to find a good place to camp for the night when my stomach did a flip. I was sure that I had heard the sounds of hoofs. The sound came closer.
"Should we hide?" I wondered aloud.
"It doesn't sound like a Black Rider's horse." said Frodo. And he was quite right. The horse was a gleaming white and the ride atop it was the fairest I'd ever seen. I immediatly assumed that he was an Elf. He saw Strider and shouted what sounded like a greeting in his language. We were introduced to Glorfindel (that was his name,) and I kept my gender a secret yet again.
"Elrond has sent me to find you. He has reason to believe that you have had a number of run ins with the Nine Riders." said Glorfindel.
"Then Gandalf has arrived in Rivendell?" asked Strider.
"No, he had not arrived yet when I departed, but that was nine days ago." said he. "Elrond has send messengers abroad to tell all travelers of the roaming of the Black Riders. I hoped to run into you at the bridge two days ago, but I was met with three Riders. I was the one who left the stone."
"Would you like it back?" asked Strider.
"You may have it." said Glorfindel. "I will accompany you back to Rivendell, if you'd like."
"It would be appreciated." said Strider.
"My master...he is wounded. He cannot go any further today without rest." stammered Sam. Aragorn handed the hilt of the knife to Glorfindel. The elf shuddered in its presence.
"Keep this, Strider. Keep it until were are in the house of Elrond." he said. "But for now I must urge you to press on. I am sorry for your master, but he must endure only a little while longer today." We traveled in the direction of our destination for hours more until the sun crept behind the horizon, and darkness surrounded us. Glorfindel suggested that Frodo sit atop his horse so that if a Rider should come, he would be able to out run them. Frodo was reluctant to do so, because if he did have to flee from a Rider, he would leave all of us behind. I think he didn't understand that he was the one that they were aiming for, not us. Glorfindel's swift elven feet never tired, it seemed, though we hobbits lagged a bit, stumbling over our own feet in weariness. Strider seemed to be loosing consciousness as well. Somehow we managed to make it to daybreak when Glorfindel gave us some liquor to drink. All those who surround me know how I detest alcohol of any kind, but for this instance I made an exception. My thought was dry and it hurt to breathe very deeply. I collapsed for a moment drinking in deeply. As I drank, I felt my strength coming back to me, and my body restored. I ate a little dried fruit, as that was all we had left, and we continued our journey. We were finally allowed to rest, but briefly, since Glorfindel had his mind set on covering as much ground as possible during the day. Night fell once more, and I slept like a log. Nothing disturbed my sleep, not even dreams. I felt refreshed the next morning and we set out again. Our biggest peril so far lay on the road ahead where Glorfindel said that enemies would be waiting at the Ford. I was not scared for myself, but rather scared for Frodo. He was weak from his wound, and they would all be coming after him. The Ford was ahead. There was no turning away from the danger. Glorfindel stopped and told us to keep quiet. I listened as well, and I heard a horse's galloping hooves.
"Ride! Ride on, now!" cried Glorfindel. The horse reared and then sped away, Frodo trying to make it through the turbulent ride. The rest of us ran down after him as fast as our feet could carry us. Black Riders burst from the trail behind us and from either side of the trees quickly perusing Frodo as he rode. Asfaloth (the name I heard Glorfindel call his horse,) showed no signs of slowing at any time. I watched as the Riders slowly began to cut Frodo off from escape. The horse and Frodo hit the river with a splash and waded swiftly though it. They came up the other side, and then I lost sight of them, the distance between us being too great. The pain that I was enduring to keep my pace was far too great and I fell to my knees. Merry helped me back up and we hurried to the river's side. I nearly fell backward in surprise when the river water roze up in waves that resembled white riders upon equally white horses. The Black Riders that had bee-perusing Frodo were washed downstream. Not seeing a bridge in sight, I jumped into the cold water of the river. Sam and Pippin cried out assuming I didn't know how to swim. I paddled across and ran to Frodo's side. He'd fallen off his horse and lay there unconscious. Gandalf came down the hill and picked him up.
"Gandalf, you're here!" I sighed, relieved when he arrived.
"Let's get him to a room." said Gandalf. Our company went into the house of Elrond tired and worn. Merry and Pippin went to sleep, and Sam watched vigilantly over Frodo while he slept. The elves healed Frodo's arm and left him to rest. I sat by fireside warming myself up. I'd caught a small cold and I coughed painfully every once in a while. Gandalf disturbed my solitude at about half past ten that morning. I didn't turn around to greet him I was so deep in thought.
"Olivia," I heard Gandalf's voice say. He closed the door behind him.
"How are you?" I asked ripping my gaze away from the hypnotic flickering of the fire.
"Very well. Yourself?" he asked.
"Puzzled, might be the word for it. And concerned." I said thoughtfully.
"How so?" asked Gandalf.
"As for the first part I'm not sure why I'm puzzled. Confused about my life I guess. It's not an average one, and that's for sure." I said. "But I am very concerned for Frodo. Is he well?" I asked.
"Quite well, by the sound of it." said Gandalf.
"That is good news. Best I've heard in weeks. It's always depressing like, 'we need to go thought the marshes' or 'Gandalf might've been here, but we don't know,' or worse still ' the black riders are coming for Mr. Frodo!'"
"I understand how you must feel. And I'm sorry to say that I bring a rather ill conversation with me today." he said.
"What of? I don't believe I should be more upset than I have been for the past few days." I sighed.
"I am simply sorry to say that the journey will steadily worsen until it is over." said Gandalf. "You will see things that will shock and disturb you. Things that no one - man or woman - should see in their life time, and I and I am terribly sorry to have you all on this journey."
"You needn't be sorry. I agreed to go with them." I said. "I'm willing to go through this. No matter how homesick I get."
"Now it's interesting that you should say that. Homesick for what?" wondered Gandalf.
"The Shire I suppose...or would it be back home that I want? I cannot decide! Such a question is so hard to answer!" I moaned with dismay.
"Do not despair just yet." said Gandalf. "The road ahead is too long and hard for you to be worrying about little things."
"How can you possibly call that little?" I asked.
"Olivia, the road ahead is perilous. You will need all of your wits about you to succeed in what you are about to do. There will be a time in which you must decide, but that day is not today, nor tomorrow."
"You are right, as always." I said smiling. "I will not fail."
"I know you won't." said Gandalf smiling back. "I have much faith in you. Now, I need to go to see how Frodo is doing. There will be a feast held on Frodo's behalf, and I assume you will attend." There was really only one answer to this question, so I said I would come. Gandalf left and said he would be back to lead all of the hobbits (including me) to the feast. As Gandalf opened the door to leave I stopped him.
"Gandalf?" I asked.
"Yes?" he replied.
"How is it good triumphs over evil if the nice guys finish last?" I asked with a grin.
"Those phrases contradict one another, and cannot be used in one sentence. It depends upon the situation." he replied.
"Just seeing if you were paying attention." I said with a childish glint in my eyes.
"I always Am." he said. "And don't you go forgetting it."
"I won't." I said.
"Now really, I must check on Frodo!" he said. He left me alone in the room. Gandalf always made me feel much better about things. I was excited to see Frodo better, and to see the elves. I wondered what sort of hideous perils I would face during my journey. In my mind's eye I pictured revolting monsters and unseen terrors. I promised myself that I would be strong and that I would not fail. It's not over until the fat lady sings, and I didn't see a fat woman in the room. And if I did happen to see one, I doubt that she would be singing. Gandalf came in right in the middle of my musing and called out my name several times before I finally heard him. I got up quickly and we went down to Elrond's hall. It was magnificent with great hangings upon the walls and exquisite carvings on the beams that held up the high ceiling. Gandalf and Frodo sat at the front of the table with Glorfindel and Elrond. I had heard much of Elrond from my friends, so it puzzled me to look upon him. He looked middle aged, but in his face there was wisdom that I could not begin to comprehend. There was an elven maiden of the fairest sort that sat towards the middle of the table. I was told that she was Arwen, and that few had laid eyes on her. I felt honored to be in her presence. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Merry, and he looked like he was studying me. I looked over, but he was doing nothing of the sort. I looked around at the different folk of the hall and again, I saw Merry's face out of the corner of my eye. My eyes shifted in his direction, and I saw him turn away quickly.
"Ha!" I cried in a whisper. "I knew it! Why're you looking at me?" I asked.
"I wasn't!" said Merry.
"You were, I saw you." I said calmly.
"I wasn't looking at you!" said Merry.
"Shall we leave you alone?" asked Pippin.
"For what?" I asked hotly.
"For what?" he repeated. "I can see what's going on between you two."
"There is nothing going on!" I growled. I stayed silent through the rest of the feast angry at Pippin the feast was soon over, and I hadn't a thing to say to them, except for one thing. I pulled Pippin aside and looked him straight in the eye.
"I'm sorry for getting mad at you, Pippin." I said.
"It's really no problem." said Pippin.
"Just don't provoke me, alright? Not a good thing." I said patting him on the shoulder.
"Alright." said Pippin. Pippin can irritate me sometimes, but I love him dearly. He's like my little brother. He's younger than the rest of us. We followed everyone else into a great common room that was equally elegant as the last room
"Let's go see Bilbo." said Merry. We went inside and walked along a corridor into a well-lit common room. It was vast and the fall air seemed to swirl about it. People were singing songs and telling stories. In the corner sat Frodo on a stool talking to an elderly hobbit whose hair was white down to his furry feet. I supposed this was Mr. Bilbo Baggins that I'd heard so much about. We were introduced, and Bilbo promptly fell asleep.
"He's a tired old chap." sighed Frodo. "He'll come around in a minute or so." Bilbo woke up talking as if he was in the middle of a story that he never started.
"Is he alright?" I muttered to Frodo.
"He's 130 years old." said Frodo.
"Oh, well that explains it." I said nodding in astonishment. I had no idea people even lived that long.
"Is that Olivia? The young lass that came round about five years ago?" asked Bilbo cheerfully referring to me. He looked much older than I'd remembered him. My best guess was that the ring had let him go. It'd finally let old Mr. Bilbo go.
"Has it honestly been that long?" I asked in astonishment. I had no idea my stay was that long.
"It has, yes." he said smiling warmly. "I've missed you all." he said pulling us all into about a fifth of a hug each. "So," said Bilbo. "How is it doing?"
"What do you mean? The ring?" asked Frodo.
"Yes, yes, my dear boy! What of the ring?" asked Bilbo.
"It's...fine, I guess." said Frodo.
"Ah, here he is at last!" cried Bilbo. "Where have you been, Dunadan?" he asked.
"I didn't know you were called Dunadan, Strider." said Frodo.
"I have many names." said Strider simply.
"I haven't heard that one before. Strider, I mean." said Bilbo. "In any case, I have a bit of a song that I'd like you all to help me polish up." I was feeling rather stripped of my energy on many accounts, so with the leave of Mr. Bilbo, I went back to my quarters to have a rest. The fire had been tended to in my absence, and the room was warm and welcoming. I went into the bedroom and took off my vest, for on most nights it was a hindrance in my sleep. I slipped under the cool bedclothes and slid into a deep sleep. I had a most terrifying dream that night.
I was wandering through the Shire when I noticed the road had become paved and the city of London loomed in the distance. I looked back to the Shire where all my friends were, begging me to stay with them, their faces gone, erased by my memory. Then I heard other voices - voices that were so familiar yet so distant I couldn't place them. They were calling me, entreating me in long mournful cries. Why did you leave us? They cried in terrifyingly depressed voices. Come back, Olivia! To your home, come back! And as they did the road was getting longer both ways. Merry and Pippin's faces shown among the crowd, more melancholy than I'd ever seen them. Don't leave, they whispered. The Shire was getting further away. I looked both ways frantically trying to make a discussion quickly. The begging mournful voices blended together crying DON'T LEAVE US!
I woke up screaming and in a cold sweat. I could here the noise of footfalls on carpet. The door of my room was flung open, and Sam, Pippin, and Merry endured the room.
"What's happened? What's wrong?" asked Pippin with a frightened look on his face.
"A-a-a t-terrible dream, is all...a terrible dream..." I said trailing off. Merry took my shoulders in his hands.
"Are you alright?" he asked a serious but concerned.
"No, I'm not, and I won't be until it's all over," I muttered, my head falling onto his chest.
"Until what's all over?" he asked.
"It's only because...because I've been thinking about it too much. Gandalf's right I need to focus on what's ahead." I stammered, wiping away the tears that started streaming down my face. I could feel my eyes become red and swollen.
"Do you want to be alone?" asked Sam timidly.
"No, not at all Sam." I said sniffling. "I never want to be alone again." They got me a mug of strong herbal tea and we sat by the fire discussing my dream. "Everyone I knew was there. All of you, Frodo, Strider, Gandalf. And then there were my family and friends - faceless entities that I only know in my heart, but not in my memory. I could see my hometown on one side, then the Shire on the other, both places and its people were calling to me, begging me not to leave them. They sounded sad and angry at the same time. But each place and its people were drawing further away from me. I couldn't decide, and then I was alone."
"Terrifying." whispered Sam. I drank the tea in large gulps inhaling the scent as I did. I nodded to Sam's reaction.
"I know that both parties wish for me to stay with them. I wonder if my family knows I'm gone." the room fell silent, all apart from the gentle crackling and popping of the fire. "What's the time?" I asked.
"It was near eight o' clock the last time I checked." said Pippin, " and that was nearly twenty minutes ago.
"Surely you mean to say eight o' clock in the evening?" I asked.
"No, the morning." he said. "The council will be held today."
"I'm glad I don't have to go." I sighed.
"Why should Frodo be the only one to listen?" said Pippin angrily. "I want to know what they're talking about."
"We could sneak a listen...only a little one." said Merry with a grin.
"What if he leaves without us?" murmured Sam.
"Oh, he won't." I said like he was being silly.
"I'm going to take a look." said Pippin.
"You're not going without me." said Merry, his mischievous side kicking in. Then he paused. "Are you up to it?" he asked me. I sighed and nodded.
"I guess I can't stay here all day." I said with a shrug. We made for the council, my insides still shaking from the horrifying dream. The Rivendell air seemed to wash my cares away. It's beauty lay before me like a vast painting, and I had no choice but to let it consume me. I heard the murmur of voices above us and on a platform surrounded by archways that were nearly walls, but had too many windows to be called walls. The voices were arguing fiercely.
"Stop!" I heard Frodo's voice cry. "I will take the ring to Mordor." he said.
"I will stay with you on your journey, Frodo. I've already told you that." said Gandalf.
"You have me as well." said Aragorn.
"You have my bow." said Legolas.
"And my axe!" growled Gimli.
"Then I will go to represent Gondor." said Boromir (These names were introduced to me afterwards.)
"I won't let you go without me." said Sam.
"Sam!" cried Frodo in surprise.
"And us." said Merry. Pippin and I stood up.
"You can't expect us to stay behind." said Pippin.
"Until the end, captain." I said selecting him.
"So much for a private council." muttered Elrond.
"Where are we going, then?" asked Pippin cheerfully. I rolled my eyes and shook my head. We stayed a little over two months in Rivendell. There were men sent to patrol the lands ahead for any sign of the Riders which thought surely drowned in the flood. Elrond talked with us about the company and how we must set out in a week if we were to go anywhere at all.
"And you are still sure that you wish to be the Ring bearer?" asked Elrond. "Yes." said Frodo.
"Another thing that I wish to address is that there was intended to be nine in the company, yet we seem to have ten." he said looking straight at me. "And it is because of this I will request Miss Olivia to stay."
"I will do nothing of the sort." I replied.
"Nine men to accommodate the nine evil Riders." said Elrond simply.
"And one woman to make sure the nine men don't do anything stupid." I said smiling.
"Olivia will come with us, Elrond. It was decided months ago. Do not deny her the chance to prove herself." said Gandalf in my favor.
"Very well." sighed Elrond. "However," he said, his eyes returning to me. "Your cheek will not save you in battle." I nodded. Seven days passed with haste, in which time I took many walks with all of the company except for Boromir. He made me uncomfortable, but I didn't know why. I was greatly reluctant to leave to elegance and beauty of Rivendell. The terrain became more rocky and barren than the lush lands I was used to. The weather was cold and harsh, yet it wasn't snowy. I wrapped my cloak around me tightly. I never seemed to be warm. I got barely any sleep those weeks that we traveled. Mountains loomed overhead.
"Are we heading the wrong way?" asked Pippin. "I didn't know we were heading into the Misty Mountains."
"Dimrill Dale lies beyond the mountains, Master Peregrin. I don't suppose you read the maps in the House of Elrond? There were many on the walls." said Gandalf.
"I did look at them, but only briefly, so I do not remember." he said.
"Beneath those mountains is where the Dwarf fathers dwelt." said Gimli. "Also lies Khazad - dum. The elves call it Moria, I believe."
"They do indeed." said Legolas.
"And I hope we do not have to venture through It." said Gandalf. "Only as a last resort will I walk its dark paths."
"My cousin lives there, he will give us lodgings." said Gimli.
"There are foul things in those caves, Gimli. Far deeper than the mines." said Gandalf darkly. The weather got a little better as we neared the mountains. I remember well a few days later when we were camped in a flat rocky place. Strider sensed something strange in the air that day and I did as well. I felt as if I was being watched. Boromir gave Merry Pippin and I sword-fighting lessons. We were all doing quite well, when Boromir accidentally knocked Pippin's hand with the flat of his sword.
"Ouch!" cried Pippin and kicked Boromir in revenge.
"Hey!" said Boromir. Merry and Pippin tackled him and they all fell to the ground. I laughed, but did not join them. I felt very disconnected with Boromir. We had never really talked, and I did not want to start. I sat down and put my sword away. My shoulder ached from all the practice.
"What's that?" wondered Sam pointing at a mass of black. "I don't look like a cloud, does it?"
"It isn't a cloud." said Aragorn. "Everyone find a hiding place! Lay low and still!" I dove under a rock in a small space. I watched the sky to see thousands of crows and other dark birds swirl about the sky shrieking madly. They past on a gust of wind and we all emerged from our handing places.
"Eyes of Sauron." said Gandalf darkly. "They are everywhere. There shall not be a fire tonight. We will travel at night."
"That's a real nuisance!" cried Pippin. "Those crows spoiled my dinner plans for tonight! I was rather looking forward to a hot meal."
"You and everyone else." I muttered. For the next couple of days we trudged up the mountains only to be greeted by unrelenting snow. I am quite fond of snow, but that day I loathed it. It slowed our progress, and it made it hard for me to walk. It was well past my hips. Finally we decided to dig a trench like trial as we went along. It worked, but I still felt tired and frozen to the bone. My legs were stiff, and we seldom stopped. Suddenly there was a sound upon the wind. Like laughter and cries of agony at the same time. A huge rock was jarred loose from the cliff face above and nearly came down on me. Many more were to follow, and we ducked against the wall on the mountain for shelter against the rockslide. The rocks stopped tumbling and I looked up just in case more came down.
"How's that for an avalanche?" I murmured.
"That was no avalanche. That was the work of evil." said Gandalf.
"Fell voices are upon the air. We cannot go further tonight." said Boromir. "I believe that those stones were aimed at us." I sat down in the snow and shivered there between Frodo and Pippin. My breath became labored. I covered my mouth with my cloak hoping to make the harsh cold air easier to breathe. The night past slowly and once again, I got little to no sleep. The next day I could not walk any further on my own. The snow was completely over my head. All the hobbits had to be carried. I was on the back of Legolas and felt uncomfortable, for I did not know him as well as I would've liked.
"I hope I'm not too heavy." I said.
"You aren't." replied Legolas. "I don't mind carrying you."
"That is well since I would be lost in the snow without you." I said. I was growing dizzy, most likely from the altitude. The voices of the others seemed far away and they echoed faintly. Gandalf passed around a flask of liquor that gladly had a sip of. It was like coming out of a dream. My limbs were restored of strength, and my mind was clearer. Gandalf got a fire going around midday and I was more than happy to get my frozen feet warmed. The path became very thin and we had to go across one at a time, the hobbits clinging to the backs of the others. I was the first to cross as Legolas was the one scouting out the terrain ahead. Soon the snow was shallower so we could walk on our own again. More evil avalanches followed the thinning snow, blocking our way back. Aragorn spotted circling black birds below us, but we walked on. The road was all down hill from that point, and it felt good to know that I had walked the mountain without a scratch on me.
"Dammit!" I cried. "Look at my feet! I didn't even know I stepped on anything!"
"Probably because you were numb." said Pippin flatly.
"But now it hurts." I moaned.
"Big deal." said Pippin.
"See that ledge?" I asked with my teeth clenched together, putting my arm around him.
"Yes." said Pippin with a nod.
"If you keep it up, you'll have a one way ticket to the bottom of that precipice." I said pushing him away.
"I'll pull you down with me." said Pippin.
"Where are we to go now?" asked Frodo. "If we cannot go back through the Redhorn gate?"
"Either we travel on or go back to Rivendell." said Gandalf.
"I say we go back to Rivendell." said Pippin.
"I say we don't listen to Pippin." I said with a mischievous grin.
"I say we leave Olivia behind." said Pippin returning the favor.
"I say you both shut up." said Merry, noticing the irritated look on Gandalf's face.
"To go back is to except defeat." said Frodo thoughtfully.
"Yes. And I fear that soon we may have to decide weather or not to go through the Mines of Moria. I hope it does not come to that." said Gandalf gravely. "So now the question is, if I should go, who will follow me?" we sat in silence for a few seconds.
"I'll do it." I said firmly. Everyone looked at me. I guess they thought that I wouldn't be the first one to speak up. They thought wrong. "That's right. I'm going with Gandalf."
"If she will go, than I will go as well." said Gimli.
"I shall go." said Aragorn.
"I'm not going in there." said Boromir. "Unless we can find no other way."
"That's me as well." said Pippin.
"What are you, scared? Be a man, Pippin!" I hissed.
"Men have died in there." said Pippin. "I don't want to be the next. I think you're foolish to go."
"And what other choice to we have? No, you're right, Pippin. Lets stay here and freeze. I always knew you were the brains of this quest." I said angrily.
"Lets sleep on it and decide in the morning." said Frodo.
"Then we travel by the first light." said Gandalf. We all agreed with Frodo and I fell into an uneasy sleep.
The next morning Legolas jostled me awake. I was half buried and couldn't get up. Legolas hauled me out of the snow and we traveled on. The snow had finally stopped and a pale yellow sun came out from behind a veil of light gray clouds. We traveled around the mountain in which Moria lay hidden. All of the usual ways in seemed to be out of order. The sun was set and I was constantly tripping over things in the dark.
"The door in is most likely hidden." said Gandalf. "As is the way of the Dwarves." We searched around the perimeter until Gandalf stopped "Look here!" said Gandalf.
"I see nothing." I said studying the rock while massaging my poor scratched feet. The moon came out and shone on the rock wall. Glittering silver lines traced over the rock making a most beautiful picture.
"This is the door to Moria." said Gandalf.
"How do you open it?" asked Pippin.
"There is a pass word, of course." said Gandalf. Then he turned to Sam. "I am sorry, Sam. But Bill cannot follow us into Moria. You must leave him behind." said Gandalf meaning the pony that had come with us since Bree. Sam looked hurt and let down.
"No, not my Bill!" cried Sam. "He'd follow me in there, I know he would! You can't expect me to just leave him out here! He'll be eaten by wolves!"
"It hurts me deeply to say it, Sam. But you must let him go." said Gandalf. Sam burst into tears.
"Stop that, or you'll get me going." I said wiping a welling tear away.
"It's that sad!" cried Sam. "Go on Bill! And be careful!" said Sam pushing Bill away. The pony walked off.
"Now we must find a way to open these doors." said Gandalf.
"What do these runes say?" asked Merry.
"The Doors of Durin, Lord of Moria. Speak friend, and enter." I recited. It felt like someone had whispered it in my ear. Everyone looked at me.
"I had no idea you knew elvish!" said Merry.
"I don't, and that's what's scaring me." I said trembling.
"Do you know the pass word?" asked Boromir to Gandalf.
"No." said Gandalf. We sat down and waited for Gandalf to figure out the password. I sat staring into the foul murky water near us. It had a faint stench that did not agree with my stomach.
"I hate this pond." growled Boromir, throwing a rock into it.
"What are you doing?" I cried. "How do you know there's nothing in there?" Boromir said nothing.
"I've got it!" cried Gandalf. "It's so ridiculously simple I could kick myself for not noticing it! Mellon!" he said tapping on the carving with his staff. The wall cracked open into a door.
"Why didn't I think of that?" I wondered.
"What'd he say?" asked Pippin.
"Friend. It said 'Speak, friend, and enter'. It was on the wall the whole time." I said.
"Now how is it you all of a sudden know elvish?" asked Pippin.
"I don't know, ask Gandalf." I said with a shrug.
"Gandalf, why does Olivia know elvish?" asked Pippin.
"Because she is becoming more and more attached to Middle Earth." he said.
"But what's that got to do with anything?" Pippin asked.
"You see Pippin - and Olivia - she cannot be in two places at once, which she currently is." explained Gandalf.
"So then, I'm still back home?" I asked.
"Comatose." said Gandalf with a nod.
"I'm in a coma? That's what this all is?" I asked in horror.
"This is not just something you dreamed up. It is real. You are living in two places at once, and it is impossible to do for long. Your being here is most likely taking control of your being back home. That is the reasons for the strange dreams you've been having. You are being stretched between two worlds and two times." said Gadalf.
"Am I going to die?" I asked, afraid of the answer. But to my surprise, Gandalf laughed.
"Oh no, dear child. You certainly will not die!" he said.
"So if I don't decide, eventually what ever it is that's doing this will do it for me?" I asked.
"Precisely." said Gandalf. I nodded slowly.
"This is hard for me to grasp."
"It should be. If you didn't have any problem believing it, I'd be worried about you." he said with a smile. "Now," he said, his expression growing serious. "Let us go." No sooner had he set foot inside the door, I heard a slithering sound. I turned around to see a gigantic tactical come out of the pond and grab Frodo by the ankle.
"Let him go!" I cried and got out my sword.
"Stay back, Olivia!" growled Gandalf. Strider rushed forward cutting at the tenecal but more appeared.
"Frodo!" cried Sam with a horrified look on his face. I jumped forward and slashed the tentacle bearing Frodo. An octopus-like creature exposed its ugly head above the water. Nearly twenty more tentacles writhed in the water. Sam grabbed Frodo and dragged him towards the door.
"Inside! All of you!" roared Gandalf. All of us rushed inside not needing to be told twice. The octopus' tentacles groped on the shore for us. It found the door and with astonishing strength crumbled it. Our exit was blocked, and we were inside Moria.