Author's note: Hello! Tis a new month and hopefully a new bunch of chapters! Me and my family have a tradition, that whenever it's the first day of the month we yell or leave a note or whatever it takes that says rabbit rabbit. But you have to say it before the other person can say it to you in order for it to count, whoever got the most people by the end of the day is the winner! And so far I have gotten five people! Ha ha ha! Rabbit rabbit! (don't ask me how it got started)
I would like to dedicate this chapter to you, LadyDorothy, Luneara Eclipse, NaruVamp, Ren, Mynameistolong, Diana(or whoever you are), Horserider15, Fallen angels sky, Starrycat05, Mannymaarie and Rock'xanne! You are all so awesome, I really hope you enjoy!
Warnings: None for this one, well...except for mystery (plays mysterious music).
Disclaimer: I don't own anything...except for my OCs and part of the plot!
Chapter seven
o0o
Adona's POV
Lothlorien was stunning. That is the only word I could think of; stunning. It had these huge trees the size of sky-scrapers that seemed to glow, giving it an unnatural look. But at the same time it seemed natural. Weird.
We had a talk with the Lady of Light herself just a few hours ago, well, actually more than a few hours, but you know what I mean. She gave us a speech about our journey like being on the tip of a knife, which I understood. She means our journey is very risky. But I saw the Hobbits furrow their brows in confusion, so I'll have to explain it later to them.
The weirdest part is when she was talking to me in my mind. She told me "Good job", which I don't even understand. What in this world was she talking about? If you find out, call me. The second weirdest thing was when she asked me to stay afterwards for a minute, when I looked at Legolas, he looked at the Lady of Light with a questioning gaze than shrugged, turned and walked away.
She said something like this:
"Your hair shall be fixed over time, the others will wear off during your stay here."
"Do you have a special soap that can wash it out?" I asked with a hopeful expression.
"For Prince Legolas and the ever loyal Samwise. But for yourself, only you can find the answer to solve this riddle." She smiled slightly.
I sighed. "Did you want to ask me something else?" She had a strange twinkle in her eye. She just stared at me, not moving one bit. For a while I wondered if she turned to stone. I just stood there, too tired to care really. After a exceptionally long time, her husband Celeborn spoke.
"What have you been discussing?"
"Nothing. She is just staring at me." I answered truthfully.
She laughed out loud, "As always…" She whispered after she stopped laughing. I looked at Celeborn. He raised a brow and shrugged a tad.
"Oh, did you want to see the Flute?" I asked.
"Yes. I would love to see the Flute of Manwë." She said with a twinkle in her eye.
I took out the flute, and gave it to her. She examined it and Celeborn gasped a little.
"How did you acquire this?" He asked.
"Eru gave it to me." I answered. His eyebrows shot up. It wasn't a real lie, Eru did give it to me, just after I gave it to him. Mark was the one who gave it to me, and I have no idea how he did, so it was just easier to say that. I wonder though, how did Mark get this?
"You met Eru?" His voice quivered just a tad. Who could blame him? I just met God, and that deserves the achievement of the millennium award.
"Yes. He is very nice I must say." Then I looked up in thought, "Actually, he is perfect." I corrected myself.
"May we examine this further?" Galadriel asked softly.
"Uh…sure. Just make sure you're careful with it." I shrugged. "Always have to be nice to gifts that are given to you."
They both chuckled. "We promise. Now go rest yourself, fore the journey ahead of you will takes it's toll on you and everyone else if you're not careful." She made a gesture for me to go.
So here I am. I already slept, bathed and dressed. They made me wear a dress, which did not please me very much. I would rather have a tunic and some leggings, but when I said that to the maids, they laughed. So I have to wear this light gray dress with black trimmed sleeves in a medieval fashion. It had a hand stitched leaf pattern that went up the sides, so it match my hair and the colour matched my eyes. I stood up from my spot on the bed and looked at myself in a mirror. I looked a little better than I once had, though I'm not stunning like some other people I know. Yeah that's right, I'm talking to you Galadriel.
I got the courage to walk out of the chambers that was given to me, because they said it was inappropriate for a female to sleep in the same room as the males. Which I don't know why, because I've slept next to them for the last month…or weeks…ah! I don't know.
The reason why I had to gather up my courage is because I know everyone is going to send me to their doctors…er…healers. And I don't feel like dealing with a bunch of stuck-up doctors right now. So I am going to have to suck up the pain that finally caught up with me from all those injuries and the traveling and climbing, a person can only handle so much.
I walked down the tall stairs to find the fellowship, but when I was walking down I tripped over the ends of my dress (which is very long) because I forgot to lift them. And I closed my eyes, ready for impact, but something broke my fall. I opened my eyes to see a giant Elf the size of the Statue of Liberty, except he wasn't green or copper. He looked down at me with a death glare, his white blond hair flying behind him like there was a wind storm. But the thing that shocked me the most was his brightness, he was brighter than the sun!
"Watch where you are going next time." He said in a cold voice, one that can freeze lava.
"Ah…um…eh…sorry?" I couldn't get the words out right. I put a hand to my head as he let go of me. "I tripped because I forgot how to use a dress." I smiled brightly, hoping he wouldn't be too mad. I looked up at him and realized he was about 7 and a half feet tall!
His eyes widened and he dropped his mouth. "Lady Adona? I-i-it's y-you!" He whispered.
I widened my eyes. "How do you know my name? Have I met you before?"
His face fell, well, actually it crashed to the ground and blew up. "You don't remember?" I shook my head. "S-so, you have not…" He didn't finish. He just straightened his back and drew in a breath. "Why is your hair blue and white?" He asked, but this time his tone was just slightly less cold.
"Um…ask Lady Galadriel. Because I have no idea." I said brushing off some imaginary dust on my shoulders to ease some awkwardness. "I really am sorry about falling on you. But for all it's worth, thank you for catching my fall." I looked up and he was gone. Great, I just made my first enemy on my first day around civilization. Good job Adona. Though I can't help but wonder why he thought I was someone he recognized…oh well, it happens to the best of us.
I found the rest of the fellowship after asking a bunch of Elves who don't speak English, so I had to improvise by playing charades. I found them sitting quietly together, which was odd, but I guess they were in mourning.
"Hey guys. Why the long faces?" I asked walking up to them. They looked up.
"Adona, you look lovely." Legolas smiled sweetly, too sweetly. I knew right then and there that I was going to get a long and boring speech on safety lessons.
"We have decided on something." Aragorn said grimly and paused for a while.
"Yes?" I asked trying to find out what they are getting at.
"You are staying here." He said in a firm tone.
My eyebrows flew upwards and my eyes blew open as much as my eyelids would let me. "What?"
"It is too dangerous for you to proceed. You don't know how to fight…at all. You don't think before you act. You clearly have problems from your past. We are only doing this because we are worried for your safety, and want to protect you." Aragorn said quickly while he stood up.
"I can learn! Please, I want to go with you guys!" I said in a pleading tone.
"You have to stay here, Sar." Boromir said solemnly.
"No! I am going with you, even if I have to sneak out of here and follow you. And you know how dangerous that can be." I resisted the urge to smile when I saw their expressions.
"You wouldn't dare." Legolas said in a shocked tone. But he had the slightest trace of a smile.
"I would. And I will if you decide to leave me here. Plus, I don't think Galadriel would welcome me to stay here." I said raising a brow.
"Actually, Lady Galadriel suggested the idea. She said that she wanted to learn more about you." Aragorn said looking down, in thought perhaps?
"Why would she want to learn more about… me?" I said, shock laced my voice.
"Yes. But don't astray from the subject. If you are going to go with us, then you need to tell us about what happened in your past." Aragorn said with a poker face. I really didn't want to tell them about my past. I already cried so much that I feel numb, and I don't want to cry again. I couldn't stand their gazes afterwards and the pitying tones.
"It's alright, Adona. We are here for you." Frodo of all people said. I looked into his eyes for a brief second. Patience and sympathy were the two emotion residing in his eyes. I took a deep breath and told them, I told them some of it, but not all. By the time I was done I felt better, but tears fell despite my best efforts to enclose them.
I looked up and saw that everyone had grim faces, and I thought I saw Boromir wipe a tear from his cheek. Legolas had moved from straight across from me to right next to me in the middle of the story, talking softly in Elvish to calm me down. The Hobbits just stared at the ground.
"I am sorry…" Aragorn said softly.
I shook my head. "You have no reason to be, it wasn't your fault. Plus, I feel better now that I've told you all. Though you don't need to be sad, I have already been through the tears. I don't need anymore to fall. Come on, let's go get something to eat." I said standing up. Legolas and Aragorn exchanged unconvinced glances, but I just shrugged it off and started walking in the direction that Aragorn was walking in.
We soon came to a clearing with a rug or a very detailed blanket on the ground covering the grass that resided below it. It was large enough for all of us to sit on and to my surprise it looked like it could hold more people. After a while, I decided that I really liked that rug, it was very comfortable and it was stunning. But the comfort really won me over.
We sat in silence as a female Elf came out with a tray full of different kinds of food that I have never seen before, as long as it's not dried meat and fruit I'm fine with it. But before me and the Hobbits dug in, Aragorn held up his hand, saying;
"There is someone else joining us." He glanced behind him. "Last minute reservation." He smile a little bit.
"Who is it?" I asked.
"Lord Glorfindel of the House of the Golden Flower." I bursted out laughing. Seriously? House of the Golden Flower? I'd be embarrassed beyond belief if I had that title, especially if I were a man!
"I would not laugh if I were you." Legolas said in a very serious tone, his face was very serious too.
"Why?" I asked, the giggles finally passed.
"Just wait until you see him. And he is a very respected Lord." Legolas answered with mixed emotions on his face, there was amusement and seriousness. How funny would it be, if it were an Elf the size of that one huge dude I fell on awhile back! I would really have to restrain myself to not laugh if that happened.
All of the sudden, a bright light blinded me, it took me a minute to adjust to it, and when I did, I immediately wiped the smile that I wore because of my thoughts off my face. It was the huge Elf dude! His ice blue eyes settled on Frodo, but it looked like he wasn't focusing on him. But I noticed things about him that I didn't see before, like his golden hair that blew in an imaginary wind, and his lithe but muscular appearance.
"Frodo, it is good to see you have made it." His voice didn't boom like the last time I heard him speak.
"It is good to see you too." Frodo said standing up in respect. Aragorn, Legolas and Frodo clasped forearms with him. I would have too, but I didn't want him to notice or recognize me, so I just sat in the background.
But unfortunately I stick out like a sore thumb, and he did a double take on me and said something in Elvish and Aragorn introduced us.
"Adona, this is Lord Glorfindel of the House of the Golden Flower. Lord Glorfindel, this is Adona." Heh, a long name for a long guy.
"Nice to meet you, again, Lady Adona." He said with a ghost smile. The others looked at me with questioning eyes.
"Ah, yeah I bumped into him awhile ago." I smiled nervously. His smile turned into a smirk. I looked at Legolas, who was watching me and Glorfindel intently. He had an evil smile on his face. What's his problem?
"Come let us eat." Aragorn said after a silence as I stared at Legolas and he stared at me. I sat down still staring at him, he did the same. Without looking, I took a bite of a random food, he did the same.
"Alright you two, what are you doing?" Aragorn said clearly annoyed.
"We are having a staring contest, the first one to look away or blink loses." I answered Aragorn and stated the rules for Legolas at the same time, I love multi-tasking.
The others started a conservation that me and Legolas contributed to too, but we didn't have the chance to read their expressions to our answers.
"Adona, I want to marry you!" Merry yelled, I snapped my eyes in his direction. And then everyone started laughing so loud that I cringed.
"Game over!" Legolas said between fits of laugher.
"That's not fair! It was Merry…" I slowly turned my head to Merry and glared with my harshest fake glare that I could muster.
He shrugged. "That makes us even." I lifted a brow, then remembered the stories I told them.
"Fine. But don't expect me to let this slid." I said, an evil grin slowly appearing on my face. Pippin and Merry stopped laughing and looked at each other with worried glances. My grin got bigger. Then I looked at Glorfindel, he had only smiled slightly through this whole ordeal. I wonder why he's so stiff? I'll have to find out from Legolas. Hee hee…
Glorfindel decided to look at me right then to catch my scheming look and raised a brow. I looked at his eyes that were trying to unlock something it seemed. His eyes were almost like mine, except I could actually look at them, instead of flinching away.
"Adona, you haven't answered me." Merry said innocently.
I slowly turned my head to him with a glare on my face. "Go marry an Orc-Maiden. Leave me alone."
They all chuckled, well, except for Ol' Glory. Yeah that's right, I already have a nickname for him. Now, to find the right time to say it.
After a few more hours of talking and "feasting", as Pippin and Merry say, Ol' Glory excused himself in a rather hasty way. He said "I have…things to do." Then glared at me and walked off. Probably still hates me. Oh well, after that I heard a voice in my head saying;
"Meet me in the gardens…"
Which I thought was weird, but none the less, I excused myself and followed instructions from a voice in my head.
Soon I came to a clearing from all the paths and trees to a place with a fountain and a waterfall sort of thing. I then saw Galadriel walking out from a place hidden to my view.
"I am glad you came." She smiled softly. "It is refreshing to see you…I mean one of your kind again." She corrected herself.
"One of my kind?" I asked.
"Yes. It is obvious to me, because your aura is much different than others. Just like the Valar, they don't look any different from us, but we know it is them because of their aura." She had a certain glint in her eye that I could not truly identify, it was kind of like sadness. "You are of an almost extinct race. One that is important, but heart-breakingly rare."
"What? What am I? And don't you stop at Bo-, because everyone stops at Bo-." I stared at her intently.
"Well, if everyone stops at 'Bo-', then maybe I shouldn't give you answer." She smirked a little.
"No! Please, I begging you! Give me an answer!" I said desperately. I have almost no patience in these kinds of situations. I have been waiting for an answer ever since Eru said I was of a rare race, and I'm not in the mood for riddles this time.
She stared at me for what seemed like forty years, then finally answered. "You are a Bonder. One who keeps peace between animals and people."
I raised my brow. "One who keeps peace between animals and people?"
She laughed softly. "Yes. Without Bonders the Balrogs and Dragons and sorts of others creatures would attack us. But there is only two Bonders in Middle-Earth, two people that have to live in the waters and the mountains in order to keep peace between us and the animals. I have met one when I was younger. Her name was Asailai, Mother of horses and Unicorns." I was so close to laughing out loud. Mother of horses and Unicorns? Lord of the House of the Golden Flower? You've got to be kidding!
"You should not laugh. Unicorns are the symbol of Eru." Her face was stern. "She was also like a Mother to us all. When we were in dire need and none else came for us, she did. She did more than you know, and to this date she is very well respected…" Her face softened.
"She was or is the most powerful Bonder to date. We do not know what happened to her. But what matters is that you have to be careful with yourself, because it is said from Asailai herself that if a Bonder is killed or murdered then the animals go on a rampage and destroy everything they can destroy. That is one of the reasons I want you to stay here and go to Imladris where Lord Elrond is. He was close friends with Asailai and loved her as a mother, she also told him a lot about Bonders. So it is best if you go there."
"But what if I want to go to with Frodo?" I asked, I wasn't really sure about my choice now! I told Frodo that I would be there for him and the rest of the fellowship, but at the same time if I die then people get the wrath of the animals, which if Sauron found out he would double time his efforts and try harder to kill me.
"It would be too much of a risk. Sauron tried to desprately kill Asailai, so she hid in the mountain, where Sauron couldn't find her. You must consider everyone else, it will be what Sauron wants. Don't do what he wants." Her eyes were pleading with me.
"But I promised Frodo…" I whispered.
Her eyes softened. "In these times we cannot always keep our promises." She took a step closer to me. "You have already been through so much. And the future will just bring you more. The Fellowship is breaking and war is near. Bonders are like Elves the most, you can die of grief just as we do. You will live an immortal life and experience much. Do not let yourself do this." She said very slowly.
"I will not die of old age or sickness?" I said, my heart breaking at each word. I will see Aragorn and Boromir and the Hobbits and Gimli die? A tear slipped from my eye and ran down my cheek.
"It is a sad thing. But it is also a good thing." She smiled softly.
"But they are my best friends. My family… I cannot leave them in their time of need. I need to go with them…" I stared at her eyes trying to find her reaction. It was emotionless, of course. "I feel so bad for letting Gandalf down. I cannot let them down." Another tear escaped from the corner of my eye and followed the path of the last tear.
"If that is your decision then so be it. But I will not let you go without proper training and someway to defend yourself." She gave the flute of Manwë back to me. "Tomarrow go to the training grounds at dawn. Now you must rest." She took my hand and patted it, then she walked or floated away, I couldn't see her feet so I don't know.
I walked back to my flat or talan as they call it, and I walked in and found Legolas sitting on my bed.
I sighed. "What are you doing here, Ken?"
"Galadriel told us about you being a Bonder before she told you. That's why we really want you to stay. If all fails then we need a back-up plan, one that may need your help." He said with a worried expression. Then I decided to scare him.
"Bonder? Ken what are you talking about?" His expression turned from one of worry to horror.
"Uh…um…why don't you go talk to Lady Galadriel." He smiled nervously and got up to leave. I laughed out loud. Then he turned with a furious expression.
"You knew?" He said through clenched teeth.
I nodded. Then all of the sudden I felt myself on the ground, I opened my eyes to see Legolas towering over me.
"Did you just push me?" I tried to say in serious tone. He nodded, and we glared at each other for a minute then we both started laughing.
"Some gentlemen!" I said between chuckles.
"What is it you say? Touché." Legolas said smiling. I eventually stopped laughing.
"Well, I supposed you don't know my decision, huh?" I said getting up and sitting on the bed. Legolas sat next to me.
"No."
"I decided that I'm still going with you guys." Legolas was about to speak, so I spoke up to beat him to it. "Because I can help along the way. But Galadriel said she will not let me go until I get proper lessons, which start tomorrow."
Legolas' eyes filled with confusion. "Who is training you?" That question suddenly filled my head.
"Oh no! What if it's a stuck up snob that will laugh at everything I do? What if it's the best trainer and I look like a total fool, like I always do?" I started to freak.
"Or maybe it's Aragorn." Legolas said reassuringly.
I looked up in thought. "Maybe your right." I smiled at him.
o0o
The training grounds
I have been trying to tell myself all night that it will be Aragorn who is training me. But somehow I don't believe those I'm walking down the stairs to the training grounds, or I think. Let me ask one more time.
"Excuse me? Could you point me in the direction of the training grounds?" I asked the nearest Elf. He pointed the way I was going. "Thanks."
I walked halfway down the stairs, then stopped. Look at the beautiful white stairs! I just noticed it, so what a beautiful surprise. I wonder if this is really the way to the training grounds? Let me ask one more time. Oh, Adona! Stop distracting yourself, all it will do is earn yourself a lecture on the importance of being on time.
I walked the rest of the way down, and entered the training grounds. And to my horror there was everyone! Haldir and his twin brothers, the Fellowship and is that *gasp* Lord Celeborn? Everyone was there! Oh no!
I started backing away from the training grounds. Run as fast as you can, Adona, just run! I felt an arm wrap around my shoulders.
"It's alright, Adona. You'll do just fine." I turned to see Aragorn looking sympathetically at me.
"Aragorn! Are you crazy? Look at all those people! What do I do?" He started pushing me back to the training grounds.
"You need to learn, Sar. It's for your own good." He had a slight smile on his face. He grabbed my arm and started to dragged me out to where all the people were.
"Aragorn? Please tell me you're the one who is training me. Please?" I pulled out my best puppy dog eyes.
"I am sorry. But your trainer is Lord of the Golden Flower." He knew I would instantly know who is was.
I let out a cry of despair. Which let everyone know I was coming. "Aragorn! Don't let him!" I whispered. He yanked my arm forward so I would be in front of him.
"Sar! We thought you would never make it!" Boromir said coming forward.
I glared at him. "Me neither." I mumbled.
"Aye, come, lassie, you need an attitude change!" Gimli laughed.
"I need a physical change." I mumbled again.
"Come on you cannot be that bad." Lord Celeborn said. Boromir, Gimli, and Legolas laughed even harder then before.
"Clearly you have not seen her fight." Legolas said. I just stood there with an emotionless expression.
"And you are not making it any better." Aragorn came to my rescue. Eru bless you, Aragorn, Eru bless you.
"Alright, Adona, here is your sword. By the way, what happened to your sword from the journey?" Ol' Glory stepped out from the crowd.
"Um…I threw it?" I smiled nervously.
"At the Balrog." Legolas corrected.
"To help Gandalf, which obviously didn't work." Gimli continued.
"Hey he tripped, didn't he?" I came to my own defense.
"Stumbled actually." Boromir corrected.
I shrugged. "I did better than you, didn't I?" I smirked a little. Boromir glared at me. And to my surprise, Aragorn laughed out loud.
"Well…'tis admirable…to an extent." Ol' Glory said with a shocked expression.
I shrugged again. "If you're looking through an idiots point of view." I pointed at myself. He didn't even smile a little bit at that. I thought about saying; "Who got your panties in a bunch?" But decided against it.
"Just remember what I taught you before." Aragorn whispered in my ear then gave me a gentle push.
Glorfindel lifted his brow. "How many techniques do you know?"
I smiled sheepishly, and quickly glanced at Aragorn. He flicked his wrists. "Ah! I know how to hold the sword properly, you have to tighten your wrists when you go in for the blow." I thought for a second more, then glanced at Aragorn once more. He lifted his elbows. "Oh, and this is a defense pose."
Glorfindel circled me, and nodded his head in approval. "What else?"
I glanced at Aragorn. He moved his feet a little bit. "And you always have to move your feet."
"Mmhmm, what else?" He didn't meet my eyes, but he focused on my feet.
"Eh…kill, don't be killed and be good at it." I smiled sheepishly again, and looked at Boromir. Who was trying not to laugh. Glorfindel quickly met my eyes, then looked at my feet again.
"I guess those are the true rules of war, but you would want to be more noble than that." He shook his head. "And?
"I'll just be truthful, I just dodge. I don't drive my opponents away with force. I dodge and back away until I find an open spot. That is all the knowledge I have, I'm not much of a warrior. So don't expect a lot from me." I looked his eyes, and they seemed to softened as I went on.
He drew in a breath. "Alright, we will start will a duel to see what your strengths and weaknesses are." Glorfindel poised himself in a warrior stance and everyone backed off to the sidelines. I quickly glanced at Aragorn for reassurance, then looked head on.
I was used to running and doing quick maneuvers to throw off my chaser. Not fighting head-to-head battles! I couldn't even picture him as a lion…
All of the sudden I felt my heart start to throb, why? I don't know.
Ol' Glory made the first move. He lunged at me with his sword, but instead of meeting it with my sword, I jumped out of the way and held up my sword to meet another blow he had coming for me. I had to hand it to him, the guy was strong, in fact, so strong he almost blew the sword right out of my hands. There was no way I could beat him that way, so I decided just to go on the offensive and dodge his blows and hope for an opening.
"You are supposed to meet his sword!" Legolas called out from his position on the side.
"I can't! He is too strong! I'm going to break my wrists before we are done here!" I called back. Imagine David and Goliath, fighting sword to sword. Gee, who do you think would win?
"Think of him as Jack!" Aragorn called, knowing me so well. I furrowed my brows and bit my lip. Imagine Jack, Jack the one who killed so many…
But I couldn't hate someone that did nothing to me! I couldn't picture Jack's hideous face on the glorious giant in front of me. Why must I be so dang sweet? Stupid, stupid little-miss-goody-two-shoes!
Dang! When I was cursing myself, Ol' Glory got an opening and disarmed me and won.
"If you were an Orc, I would not have forfeited at this point." I mumbled a little. I wasn't comfortable fighting people I don't have anything against, stupid little-miss-
"Great job, Adona, you lasted more than a few seconds!" Legolas said.
"And much longer than we expected." Boromir continued.
"It seems you have good reflexes in dodging, but no strength in your blows. Let us start with-" Ol' Glory went on and on about techniques on sword fighting. And made me do all sorts of training warm-ups, not to mention everyone throwing random advice out there every now and then. Lord Celeborn's advice was the most simple but the most helpful, and every time he did, I would send an appreciative glance towards him. Gimli's didn't make sense, Legolas' was meant for a real warrior such as Glorfindel, Aragorn's earned second place but some of his advice was meant for Glorfindel, Haldir's was…odd. His twin brothers said things in Elvish and no one bothered to translate so I don't know what their advice was, that was the same case for a lot of Elves actually. Boromir didn't really say anything which I was glad for that, trying to listen to everyone is a pain, but it must be done…unfortunately.
We did this all day, and then finally Glorfindel said these glorious words:
"That is enough for today." I almost jumped for joy, but couldn't feel my legs or my arms or pretty much anything else so…
"Well, Sar, you did much better than last time." Aragorn said sympathetically as he was walking up to me.
"Thanks, Dave, I really enjoyed it." I made no effort to hide the sarcasm that drowned my tone. Then I gave him a sickly sweet smile.
"Ah! But you are still the worst fighter I have ever seen." Legolas added.
"Such a gentleman." I said with the sickly sweet smile still residing on my face. When I get tired there could only be two things that can happen; one I can get really sarcastic. And two I can get crazy and morbid. Thank God I'm really sarcastic right now.
Legolas shrugged. "I try my best."
"Mmhhmm." I hummed a cheery tune.
Legolas messed up my hair in a brotherly fashion. "Let us go eat."
"We will come in a little while." Aragorn said. Then Legolas dragged me off to the kitchens. Since we missed lunch and dinner we have to sneak some food.
"We have to get enough food for everyone. You distract the chefs and I will get the food." Legolas whispered.
"Alright, see you in a bit." I didn't have a plan, so I decided to just let it play out.
I walked up to one of the chefs, who was a male or Ellon as the Elves call it. "Do you speak Common?" Then the Elf looked confused. He didn't, this aught to be fun.
I started to act panicked. "Does anyone speak Common?" I said loudly. They all looked confused. So I started to play charades and they all circled me, trying to figure out what I was trying to say. I did over dramatic movements to imply something urgent, I was trying to tell a random story that mimes usually do. Like the box and the key thing.
By the time a half an hour went by everyone was scratching their heads and trying to shout out random ideas in Elvish (which I just shook my head to those ideas, even though I had no idea what they were saying), then finally someone got the brightest idea and brought someone to speak Common or English.
"What is the matter?" An Ellon said.
"I need to relieve myself!" I said in an over dramatic tone.
"Down the stairs to the left!" He said in a rushed tone. I ran out of there and ran to the spot where Legolas said to meet. Once I got there, everyone was there as well. They had laid out the same blanket from yesterday that I loved, with all the food laid out as well. Legolas managed to get a lot actually.
"There you are! We have been waiting!" Legolas said standing up. "But no one noticed me in the slightest. What were you doing?"
"I was telling them a story." I said breathlessly.
"Would you mind retelling that story?" Lord Celeborn asked with a hint of a smile.
"You don't know how to speak Elvish. So how did you get everyone intrigued?" Haldir questioned.
I smirked. "I have my ways. I can't retell the story because I don't even know the story. I just played charades." I turned my smirk into a smile when I looked at Lord Celeborn.
"What is charades?" Confusion filled his eyes.
"A game where one tries to guess what the other person is trying to say or what thing he is trying to portray (rhymie!) by movement." I answered.
"Sounds…interesting." He looked down.
"It can get real interesting." I also looked up. One time while playing with my brothers it got so "interesting" that the neighbors called the police, because they thought that one of us was having a heart attack because we forgot to close the windows and the blinds. When actually Erwin and I knew each other so well that we were winning by a landslide, so James decided to push it up a notch and acted with wilds things, ending up with Erwin trying to portray a rabid poodle having a heart attack. Good times…
"What are you grinning for?" Ol' Glory asked, seemingly anxious.
"Memories." My voice had a hint of laughter in it. "Brothers can be wild at times."
"Agreed." Haldir, Aragorn, Boromir and Legolas said.
"Especially twins." Aragorn said as if it were an after-thought.
"Agreed." Haldir said.
I laughed. "I am a twin!" My laugh became evil.
"I feel for your mother. Five children, one of them being you." Legolas shook his head. I didn't want to ruin the moment by saying; my mother died when we were young, so I let it be.
"I feel bad for Aragorn. Having to deal with you his whole life…the poor boy must have been forced to take the rabies shots." I shook my head.
"What are rabies shots?" Legolas asked.
"Shots you have to take when you get bitten by a rabid animal." I smile sweetly.
Legolas glance at the floor for a minute, then his eye widened with realization. "You are a morbid little girl!" I laughed, then I felt myself hit the ground, but this time someone was on top of me.
I opened my eyes to see Legolas sitting on my stomach. I squirmed, trying to get out from under him, but failed. He was three times my weight! "Legolas! Your butt … your butt is killing me!" I tried hitting him.
"Why do you think hitting me with all your girlish strength is going to get me off of you?" Legolas smirked.
"Because I am a girl, genius!" I tried pushing him, didn't work.
"Really? I hadn't noticed." He put a finger to his chin in mock thought.
"Don't make me hit a Lady again." I countered.
"You have been naughty little boy." Legolas said in a mother-like tone.
"I promise I'll behave mother dearest!" I said in a squeaky voice, because I could hardly breath.
"Alright, but only if you promise." He waved his finger in the air.
"I said I promise!"
"Alright." He got off of me, I sat up gasping for breath.
"You need to lay off the honey cakes!" I said breathlessly. Everyone chuckled.
After that we ate and most of the others parted, leaving me, Legolas and Ol' Glory alone.
"So you are saying that this Imladris place has the largest library in the world?" I said in awe, I hurried to close my mouth just in case I started to drool. Even though I have dyslexia, I love books. In secret Erwin would read books to me since I had such a rough time, but I loved the stories and information they held. But when Erwin left to go to a performing arts school in London, I had to read on my own. Sometimes, I would get so frustrated at myself I would cry, I know, it wouldn't get me anywhere. But I couldn't help but feel like I could do nothing and accomplish nothing. And despite it all, I eventually learned to be more patient with myself and learned to deal with the way I am. So I can read, it just takes me longer.
Glorfindel smiled just a tad at what I'm guessing to be my enthusiasm. "Yes. It has books of every language and writings." Oh! I forgot the writings! I wonder if they have the same alphabet as we do on Earth…I hope so, for everyone else's sake. I wouldn't want to teach me, even if I were to get paid a million dollars!
"Yes. But Mirkwood has the largest collection of statues." Legolas said with pride.
"Imladris has the rarest flowers." Glory said smirking.
"Mirkwood has the best archers." Legolas countered.
"Imladris has the best spear and staff fighters." Glory said in return.
"Mirkwood has m-" Legolas started.
"Alright! We know. Everyone has the best of everything!" I said in a laughing voice. As much as this was entertaining, it was getting serious, and quickly.
"Mirkwood is the best though." Legolas said with pride written on his face.
"I am afraid that is untrue, Prince Legolas." Glorfindel didn't try to hide the distaste of the name. But it was half playful and half serious. "Imladris clearly rises above all."
"What about this place? Huh?" I said smirking.
"This is the closest to Mirkwood." Legolas said smirking as well.
"That doesn't mean it's yours." I cocked my head to the side.
"No. But we have the same trees." He said smiling.
"So that would mean here is no different from there." I cocked my head to the other side. I looked at Glorfindel who was smirking and nodding his head in approval.
"I can't believe I'm losing to this little girl." Legolas whispered to himself.
"Just an hour ago, you said I was a little boy." I said innocently.
"I wish. So I could actually do more than push you." Legolas said with a dark smile. My mouth dropped, he wouldn't dare…would he?
"Well, good thing I'm a woman, huh?" I smiled just a tad.
"You are not a woman. You are a female that acts like a male." Legolas smirked.
"And what you are, what I think, is a male that has spent too much time around females, and now wants to be one." I smiled sweetly. "Maybe that would explain why one of my dresses are missing. Also my eyeliner."
"You little-" Legolas fumed.
"Ah ah ah. Sticks and stones, Kenny, sticks and stones." I smiled even more sweetly.
"Sticks and stones?" Glory asked.
"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me." I answered sweetly.
"Very nice poem." Glory said.
"Indeed." I smiled, then looked at Legolas who was staring at Glorfindel intently. Then I glanced at Glorfindel, he was doing nothing.
"Why are you two staring at each other?" I asked what was on my mind.
Legolas snapped out of his stupor, and smiled at me. "It's getting late. Why don't you go to bed?" His change in attitude surprised me, and made me a little suspicious. I stared at him for a while, then looked at Glorfindel. He was now staring at me trying to find something in my eyes.
"Alright." I looked between the both of them, then I said my goodbyes and left the two alone.
o0o
The next few days were the same; Begrudgingly get up, train, eat, talk, sleep. Though Legolas and Glorfindel always glared at each other, and didn't talk to each other…wait…they must have continued their argument between which place is better right after I left that one night! Do males ever grow up? I mean come on, they are what? Over two millenniums old? And they argue and glare at each other for days afterward! If Gandalf were here, he would say "Fool of a Glorfindel and Legolas!". I am going to have a talk with those two!
Oh, and you know how people usually catch on in a few hours or days? Well, I'm not one of those people. By any rate it's going to take me years to get the hang of a few simple techniques! I'm still the awful little girl that can't get anything right. Though, Glorfindel is extremely patient and Aragorn still comes everyday to help me, translating complicated maneuvers that Glorfindel tries to explain. Legolas just stands there, not exactly watching me, but Glorfindel. Which is a little creepy, I wonder what he is doing?
Lord Celeborn only came every now and then. But when he did, it always helped me. He seems to understand that I'm below a beginner. You know when the caterpillar turns into a butterfly? Well, I'm a caterpillar egg, no, not even an egg. I'm a developing egg. And he understands that the best.
Haldir and his brothers went on patrol after the first day. And everyone else had their own thing to do. Boromir sometimes came too, but he just sat there staring at the ground. But the Hobbits were the best! When they came, they cheer me on, it reminded me of my nephew. Merry and Pippin especially…
Sometimes I would catch a glimpse of Galadriel watching me from the distance. But it would only be for a second, because I would be trying to fight Glorfindel. And apparently beginners luck exists, because after lasting a surprising two minutes, I never even lasted longer than 30 seconds afterwards. And Aragorn told me that they were leaving in two days! I try to get my butt in gear…it's just so hard. Much harder than anyone truly knows. It feels as if there is a block in my head, the one that controls my movements, and it's not letting me let go and learn! It's so frustrating! I slam my head against the wall of my talan in anger, but it does nothing! Soon they are going to leave and I would have failed…again! Why can't I just get zapped by Amarian my guardian angel and be done with it! Or better yet, Eru! Life sucks…always has, always will. This isn't exactly the normal life I've always wanted, and I love it, but come on! For once in any life I have lived, I have always earned everything and learned it the hard way that is the way life goes, could I get this the easy way? Could Eru just bless me? I have been a hard worker and I always will be, don't I deserve this one thing that I want so badly? And I want it for good! Please!
I got down on my knees and pleaded with Eru or anyone that was listening. Tears falling from the corners of my eyes, which secretly deep down inside I was using for convincing reasons. I pleaded for two hours, and by that time I was tired. But kept going at it until someone knocked on my door. I was tempted to say "bad timing punk!" But decided against it. I slowly walked up to the door.
"Who," I sniffed, " is it?" I asked.
"It's Celeborn." I heard a soft sympathetic voice through the door.
"I doubt you want to see me." I mumbled more to myself, but forgot that Elves can hear very well.
"Yes. I do in fact." He said a little more sternly. And I reluctantly opened the door. His kind eyes met mine and I let him in.
"My wife said that you were troubled. Why are you crying so?" He said as soon as I shut the door.
"I'm crying because my life is miserable and useless and hard and has no easy routes to take. No fences to keep me from crashing into the trees." I mumbled while dropping to sit on my bed. Lord Celeborn sat next to me.
"You do have an easy route. Just don't go." He said patting me on the back.
"I wish it were that simple." I said.
"It is. Don't war with yourself on this, you are clearly not warrior, so don't try to be one."
"I promised Frodo I would always be there for him. And I intend to keep my promises."
"In these times promises cannot always be kept."
"I know…It's just…every time I was in need no one was there for me. And I don't want Frodo to feel the same way. I don't want to be..." I was going to say my father, but decided against it.
"What don't you want to be?" Celeborn pressed.
"My father."
"What did your father do?"
"I did everything I could to impress him or even get a glance from him. And he barely acknowledged my existence." I looked at Celeborn and he was furrowing his brows in thought and…was that just a hint of anger? No, it couldn't be…
"He is not your father then." He said smiling a little. I smiled a little bit. "Frodo has the rest of the Fellowship to look after him. You are needed here."
"What could I be needed here for?" I raised my brow.
"You could be bonding with creatures and we will have an advantage if all else fails." He left his mouth open to say something, but closed it, I guess deciding against it.
I knew we were going to win, but I couldn't tell him that. "Unfortunately, I need to do this." I looked him in the eye.
"Why? Other than Frodo, why?"
"I have the power to help then and there if something happens." He looked down.
"Very well. But do not think for one minute that we agree." He said smiling innocently.
"I would expect no less. Hey, could you talk to Galadriel about Glorfindel and Legolas. I think they have been fighting on which place is the best and it got a little too serious. Now all they do is glare at each other." I stared at the ground.
Celeborn laughed. "I will try to remember." He glanced down. "I think it is time for you to rest."
I nodded. "Oh! And I want to thank you for your advice. Your advice is the most helpful out of everyone else's. So thank you."
"You are welcome. Now rest. Tomorrow there will be a morning for Gandalf the Grey." I smiled as he left. I shut the door and picked up a purple candle with two gold strips turning around it's circular shape to light it, but when I turned around I found an Elf standing in the middle of my room.
"Ahh! Who are you?" I screeched. Then I instinctively threw a candle at the offending figure, it missed him by a mile, and hit a tapestry which fell off the wall and fell behind a nightstand.
The Ellon turned from watching the candle hitting the wall to me. "Well…good thing I'm here." He said clearly amused, but he did not move, in fact he didn't even twitch when I threw the candle at him. "Don't you recognize me?"
I shook my head. "Not really."
"Tis me, Amarian."
Author's note: To answer Ren's question; what's your favoite cookie? Because you can have you favorite cookie!
Well, I really hope you liked this chapter, and if you did just review to show me that you do! PPWACOT (pretty please with a cherry on top)! I'll give you another cookie! ;D