I'm back! It's been some time since I last posted a new chapter to this story, so here it is :D The fourth chapter. Special thanks, once again, to Death to Elves for Beta Reading.

4

Of Elves, Herbs and

Dwarf-like Hobbits

The elf let down her guard entirely then, waiting to listen to the hobbit's words. Thus, she put both her blades in their sheathes, tied round her belt. "A herb? For what purpose is it that you have come to its need? Medical reasons?"

The hobbit continued speaking. "No, it's just…anyway, I'll tell you. My Ma, has sent me to gather sprouts of a plant from your forest. In her letter, she mentioned it as 'King's…something"

"King's something?" the elf asked. "You don't remember the name, do you?". The hobbit, slightly insulted, put his hand in his pocket, which caused the elf to instantly unsheathe both her blades, and put the one back on his throat.

"Take your hand off your pocket, now" she said calmly.

"But…let me show you" Willie said and, as slowly as he could -so as not to give any impression of hostility that would probably cause him troubles in breathing- took a letter from his pocket. Once she saw the piece of paper, the elf lowered her blades once more, and sheathed the one -not both. The hobbit then handed the letter over to her. It was out of topic, but the elleth came through several lines written by Willie's mother towards her son, before she reached the herb reference -and she was more than puzzled at the way that this woman would write to her own child. After some sentences, she saw the name, as it was written on the letter: 'King's something'.

"…Oh…" the elf said awkwardly, as she handed over the letter, back to the hobbit. But she had understood what he was looking for. "You are after athelas"

"Uh…no!" Willie replied irritated. "The name starts with King's. See?"

"Athelas is the Sindarin name for the herb 'Kingsfoil', as it's known in Common Tongue" the elf replied back.

"Kingsfoil?" the hobbit asked as he put the letter back in his pocket. "Excellent, so you know it. Can I have it?"

"Wait…" the elf said puzzled. "You came all the way from the Shire to gather athelas in here?"

"Actually, I started from a village next to Rivendell, because I had another job to take care of near that place, but…wait, why is that uncommon? Athelas grows only here, I'm told…"

"That's not the truth" the elf interrupted him. "Athelas can be found anywhere around Middle-Earth. In Rivendell, in Lothlórien, in Fangorn. Why would you come all the way here, and put your life at risk, for such a common herb?"

Willie was still trying to think. Could his mother have mistaken the plant for another? Or was it another way for her to scold him? No, not this time. Perhaps she had just written the wrong name. After all, why would she send him so far away for such a petty purpose? Not that she hadn't done so in the past. The elf maid, puzzled, decided to give the hobbit what he was looking for. She stared around a bit, and soon her eyes captured it. A sprout of athelas, next to an unveiled root. She approached it with quick steps and showed it to the hobbit.

"There" she said. "This is the plant you're looking for. Since you came all the way here, you are free to have it. I advise you, however, if you wish to carry the sprout all the way to the Shire, that you place it in a pot with soil and water it occasionally, otherwise I doubt it will survive through half of your way back"

Willie inspected the flower carefully. He walked close to it, checked the petals, the sprout, always with a doubtful expression stuck in his face. In the end, he exclaimed determined:

"That's not the plant I seek!". That surprised the elf maid.

"You have already claimed" she said, "the name of the plant is Kingsfoil. This is it, none else".

"But, but, but…" mumbled Willie awkwardly as he took out his Ma's letter. "Look, here it says the plant is...I mean has white flowers, not blue! Also, Ma says that it is a long-legged, sweet smelling plant, creating gloomy "aisles" beneath the roof of branches. It's very specific a description, do you happen to know where I can find it? Please?".

To the sound of that, the elleth got startled. She had realized what plant the hobbit was speaking of. She could not believe that a halfling knew of its existence.

"Is that so?" she asked, as she inspected him suspiciously. "And what business does a hobbit of the Shire have with this particular plant?"

"Oh, so you know it! That's great, I need it, and quickly. Where is this athelas?"

The hobbit went happily to move around, looking for it, but suddenly the elf-maid threatened him with her blade, for one more time. She seemed to be utterly curious and angry at the same time. "It does not go by the name 'Athelas', the one that you seek»

The hobbit got impatient, thus spoke too recklessly, probably having forgotten how cornered he was a few minutes before. "I don't care what its name is, I just need to take it. I need this plant because my mother said so! Now I must have it! All!"

"All?!" the elf-maid asked, with a mix of smiling sarcasm and surprise in her face. "Your words would be very amusing, if their purpose was solely humor, but I assume it is not! Have you, any, the slightest idea, what herb you are referring to right now, hobbit?!"

"What is the deal anyway?" Willie asked puzzled. "It's just a mere plant, why make such a fuss and not let me have some?"

"Of course you don't know" she replied. "The herb you seek is sacred! And limited, even in our Realm! Those sacred plants have long, long history behind them, descendants of sprouts originating from the long-forgotten, divine lands of Beleriand. It was but the Great King of Greenwood, Oropher, responsible for their survival. This herb is not meant for the sticky paws of a hole-dweller, a lowly mutant-like hobbit of the Shire!»

Those words made Willie grow furious, for he never really enjoyed being named about his build. «I won't have a stupid elf satirize me, for any reason! If only I still had my knife, I'd show you a thing or two of not messing with Willie Sackville-Baggins!» he said infuriated, but suddenly the elf grabbed his neck, nearly choking him.

«You are right, Willie Sackville-Baggins!» she said in a sarcastic tone when naming the hobbit. «I shouldn't make such a fuss for a mere pest of your kind! But you still haven't answered to my question, halfling. What is your purpose and your motivation over claiming this plant?!"

Willie didn't seem to be really concerned over the elf's words. But another point drew his attention, which made him speak ruthlessly. "If I'm correct, you said descendants. Plural. In that case, it means there are many sprouts. I don't care whether it was taken by an Olofer or something, whoever that is, or if it was the first plant to grow in the world, even if it is the last thing I attempt to do, I'll take these plants with me! Either you try to stop me or not!"

The elleth was surprised by the hobbit's arrogance. A simple, weird-looking halfling, completely unarmed and disoriented in the woods, speaking with such certainty. But it only enraged her furthermore. "You are not capable of threatening me!" she said, and suddenly pushed the hobbit as hard as she could. Willie, as a result, landed on the ground prone on his back, completely startled and tried to crawl away, but the elf stopped him by stepping on his belly. "You should know" she continued, "I have killed many Men and Orcs who spoke so less than you, just for entering our Realm armed, you insolent, impertinent halfling! While you not only did so, but even resisted, insulted me and have prepared to commit sacrilege!"

"You're not going to kill someone unarmed" Willie said determined. "I doubt this would be beneficial to your image in your silly elven society, murdering an unarmed being, 30 points shorter than you and unable to fight back!"

"If I'm not wrong, those pieces of copper over there" the elf said and pointed at the broken knife, "are the remnants of the weapon you tried to use against me, in my territory. In this case, I'm not killing someone unarmed, my dear Hobbit. It's pure self-defense against an armed, arrogant intruder to our lands, and gives me every right to put an end to you, right now!"