Chapter Seven: The Journey Begins

''Nothing's gonna change my world.'' -The Beatles

Jaessa's Point of View

I had been strolling through the gardens picked a spot by the waterfall to sit when I saw Pippin rushing outside as if he had just spotted a ghost.

''Jae! Jae! Oh, there you are!'' He raced over to me as fast as he could.

''What is it? What's wrong?''

''Nellyra! She-she said Merry is going to leave and we can either go with him or go home. How does she know that? I am so confused...''

''Pippin, dearest, is there ever a time you're not? Relax, I am joking. I am afraid I can't tell you how she knows, but I can tell you that if she said this, she is right. Now we have to make a choice. Do you wish to go back to the Shire?''

''Oh, more then anything... but Merry is my best friend...'' I saw in Pippin's eyes a fear greater then anything I could ever imagine. Would I let Kassi go this alone only so I could return home? How selfish it would be of me.

''Say no more. Do what your heart tells you and I will go wherever you will.''

''I wish to go with Merry. You don't think I am going to let him get himself into trouble without me now, do you?'' His green eyes glittered mischeviously.

''Of course not! Come, let's go talk with him about this.''

''Not now-we must tell Kassi and Legolas as well.''

''Alright.''

We found the two sitting side by side, talking about their child in hushed tones.

''Kassi, Legolas, we have news.''

''What sort of news?''

''Merry is going to leave for Isengard soon, and Nellyra has told us that we must either go with him or go back to our home. He plans to leave tonight, as far as we know. We have made our decision to go with him. What is yours?''

Kassi's eyes widened and she gazed at her lover.

''What about our child? I will risk no harm to the baby.'' Kassi breathed.

''Then we must go back.'' Legolas nodded.

''But they will need someone to watch over them! I will not let four hobbits go to Isengard alone!''

''I will go.'' A voice chimed behind us. We turned to find Arwen standing there, gazing intently at us.

''Arwen, you really don't-''

''I believe I owe Merry something, seeing as how that woman nearly took his life in my name. I was planning to head for Gondor soon... I have been missing Aragorn.''

''So once we get to Isengard, we must part?''

''Unless I need to take a more swift route, yes.''

''So it is all planned. We will go tell Merry-''

''Before you do so, this arrived early this morning. I believe it is for all of you.'' Arwen handed me an envelope and I noticed it was already open. Inside, I found a letter written by someone with a delicate and very much elvish penmanship.

My dearest friends,

Gandalf and Sam have both informed me of your safe journey to Rivendell. I am pleased to hear that everyone is alright. Rosie has told me to let Nellyra know that she has found another replacement for her as barmaid- her name is Holly. Now she does not have to worry about who will take care of the Green Dragon whilst Rosie is having Sam's child.

Things are quiet here in the Shire. Jaessa and Pippin, you must not worry for Faramir. He is well taken care of-but he misses you deeply. Part of me longs to be in Rivendell once more, and yet, nay. My heart belongs in the Shire, as it always has.

I wish you all to take care, and tell the others I send my love and miss them as well. Return home safe... all of you... and soon. Things are much too quiet here for my liking.

Yours truly,

Frodo

The letter touched my heart and I longed to send him a letter before taking off to God knows where.

''Kassi, if I write you a letter to deliver to Frodo, will you take it back to the Shire before going back to Mirkwood?''

''I suppose so, yes! We could do that.'' She nodded.

''Wonderful! I shall write it now!'' I was able to get an ink quill with a small bottle of ink and I began to write.

Dearest Frodo,

Thank you for your concern. We are glad to have arrived here safely as well. I regret to inform you it will be long before we come home... if we ever come home at all. We do not know the details as of yet, but a new threat is rising in Isengard. Kassi is a few months along in her pregnancy-I would say three. By the time she gets there, she should be around four or five. Please take care of her-try to make her have the baby there instead of in Mirkwood... I don't believe she could make the journey. I trust you to take care of her.

I understand now how you feel. I longed to be out of the Shire and adventuring... but now, I only wish to be home with my lover and son. You must be so lonely there, my dear. Perhaps you can talk to the new barmaid. Holly is a lovely name. She must also be a lovely hobbit?

Well, whatever you choose to do, please do not worry for us. We are doing fine and will attempt to be home as soon as possible.

With all our love and blessings,

Jaessa,Pippin,Merry,Nellyra,Kassi, Legolas, and the baby

Feeling satisfied at last, I sealed the letter and handed it to Kassi. She grinned and we hugged breifly.

Then, I went to find Merry so we could speak with him about our choices.

''Jaessa. What are you doing here?'' He wondered, standing in the doorway of his room.

''I have come to tell you Pippin and I will be accompanying you to Isengard tonight, as will Arwen. Kassi and Legolas are going to the Shire to deliver a letter to Frodo and then they are going back to Mirkwood. They will risk no harm to their child.''

''First Nellyra, now this. Why must everyone come with me?'' He groaned.

''Because your cousin felt it would be selfish to go home without making sure his best friend was safe. Can you blame him? Besides, he didn't want you to get in trouble without him.''

''I understand. For once, I just wish I could do something on my own.''

''Merry, you cn do plenty of things on your own... but something this dangerous must be done with friends. You know as well as I do that without Sam, Frodo would have died before he even reached Mordor. You need us.'' I whispered, placing a hand on his shoulder.

''I suppose you're right. We leave tonight, then.''

''You have a good heart, Merry... but you're very headstrong.'' I said as he embraced me quickly.

''I have heard this before, Jae.''

''Yes, you certinaly have. It wasn't the first time and it won't be the last.''

So, after dinner that night, all of us had said goodbye to Lord Elrond. Arwen assured him she would be back to visit before he knew it and then it came to the hardest goodbye of all. I turned to Kassi and we hugged each other tightly.

''I hope that your baby is healthy and that you make a safe trip to the Shire and home. Thank you so much for taking that letter to him.''

''Oh, it's nothing. I survived Helm's Deep.'' She winked.

''Be careful, Legolas. Look after her.''

''Of course I will... on both accounts. You look after these other hobbits.'' Legolas smiled.

''That is why I am going, is it not?''

After all our goodbyes were said, the four of us were given our own ponies to ride while Arwen rode her own horse. Legolas and Kassi departed on only one horse, since they were traveling together they felt it would be more safe given their conditions.

''Goodbye.'' I breathed, looking back at them one last time. Kassi's eyes met mine and I knew we were both thinking the same thing, This was gonna be one Hell of an adventure.

Part Two: Kassi's Point of View

Legolas was silent for the longest time while we made our way through the Ford of Bruinen. Then, he finally spoke.

''So, we must deliver this letter, then go back the way we came to Mirkwood? The things we do for our friends.''

''I agree.'' I sighed deeply, holding tightly to him as the horse trotted through the water, clearly unhappy.

''Are you worried about the child?''

''Of course not. What trouble could we run into out here?''

''Supposing that what attacked Merry in Rivendell was the last of her kind, there can't be much left to worry about, but I assume she cannot be the only one.''

''Perhaps not. I have you here to protect me if something goes wrong.''

''Yes. I wouldn't want anything to happen to our first child. Do not worry, Kassi. All will be well. We will be back in the Shire before you know it, and this letter will be given to Frodo.''

''Then we can go home.'' I said against his back as our horse (that I had decided to call Rosemary) finally stepped onto dry land again. Once we were out of the Ford, Rosemary began to speed up. I held tight to Legolas as we flew through fields filled with golden wheat and across meadows where heather and wildflowers grew plentifully until we reached a heavily wooded area, with thick pine trees huddled together. I eyed the place nervously.

''Those are the Trollshaws. We must move past them to reach the Last Bridge. Be quiet now. I do not know if there are any Trolls still roaming these parts and I do not wish to know.'' Legolas patted Rosemary gently on the neck and she snorted before pushing onward, her ears pointing straight up to hear any unfamiliar sounds. My heart beat furiously as I gazed into the darkened forest. Then, something moved.

''Legolas, hurry! Something has moved!'' I shook his arm. Without a moment to lose, he whispered something to the horse and she snapped into action, her cautious trot becoming a fast run. I glanced back to see a Troll ripping through the trees with such brutality that my heartbeat started to beat so fast I thought it would explode inside me.

It was not a cave troll, as I could tell its eyes were larger and much more accostumed to daylight. The sun beat down on our backs as Rosemary zoomed past the forest, leaving the Troll behind us. He was not fast enough to catch up, especially when we reached the bridge. Legolas said something in elvish and Rosemary slowed to a stop, breathing heavy.

''She needs rest.''

''Where are we to sleep for the night?''

''I am not sure. We aren't even past the Last Bridge yet, and night fall will not be upon for for a few more hours yet.''

''We must get past the bridge. I do not like the idea of that Troll following us.''

''I do not like that notion either, although they are not known for following their prey.''

''I hope Jae and the others are alright.''

''I'm more then sure they are, Kassi. Come, we must press on.'' He nodded, nudging Rosemary gently so that she knew her rest was over.

I had almost fallen asleep when we reached the Last Bridge and passed over it. Underneath it was nothing but grass and flowers, vines crept along the sides of the bridge. It was a very beautiful sight indeed. Rosemary's hooves clacked against the stone as she carried us across. I sucked in a breath and waited for her to step off. I hated crossing bridges. Always had.

She broke into a faster trot once we got off the bridge and we continued along the path, headed straight for Amon Sul, or Weathertop.

''We shall rest on Wheathertop tonight. We shall be well into night by the time we reach the Weather Hills.'' Legolas announced, looking at the firey sunset lighting up the sky in brilliant oranges, yellows and reds.

''Then let us move with all haste. I am tired already, and night is not yet upon us.'' I yawned.

So, Legolas told Rosemary to go as fast as she could handle in elvish, and the horse obliged. Once we got past the bridge, I had no more fears of the Troll finding us. I was only tired and ready to nap. Although, I was a bit more thoughtful then I had been earlier. I was wondering what Jaessa and the others were doing, and if they had run into Trolls, or orcs yet.

The fields were every bit as beautiful as I had remembered them. Legolas pointed out the Weather Hills in the distance. They seemed so far off. Once the sun hid behind the trees and the sky faded into blues, purples, and the final reds, I knew it had to be around five or six o' clock in Michigan. No, I didn't think about my old life all that much anymore, but sometimes, I looked back on it. There were things I missed. Suddenly, I found myself wondering if anyone missed me. What had happened to our apartment and our family? Did they even realise we were gone? Since I had been brought into this strange world, I had gone from a normal everyday woman to a brave warrior carrying the child of a blonde elf that could speak to horses. Would my father be proud of the change?

Feeling a deep sense of confusion, I let my head rest on Legolas' shoulder and closed my eyes.

''Kassi. Kassi, wake up.'' I heard his voice break me out of the darkness. I opened my eyes to see that night had fallen already and the only color left in the sky now was an inky black.

''Legolas. Where are we?''

''We have only just arrived at Weathertop. I thought you would be more comfortable resting at the top of the hill then you would on the back of a horse.''

''You thought right.'' I sighed, yawning.

We trekked up to the top of the hill, leaving Rosemary at the bottom. I felt horrible leaving here there, but she couldn't climb the stairs or anything. There was nothing I could do.

''Do you ever feel like going back to before the Fellowship was formed?''

''Sometimes I do. Then, I think about you and I know that I am happy with the way things turned out. I don't think I would want to go back, or be happy during that time.''

''I understand.''

''What made you wonder that?''

''I just thought that... I don't know. I was just thinking of Michigan today.''

''Oh. I see.''

''I wouldn't want to go back there, I was only thinking of it. It will be summer there now. The trees will be tall and green, there will be people swimming to beat the heat... and here I am going cross country with an elf.''

''What?''

''I just miss it sometimes, is all. I still think of it every now and then.''

''I suppose I can understand that. There is nothing to be ashamed of.''

''Well, I just wanted to know. I'm going to go to bed, Legolas. Goodnight.'' I breathed, sitting down on the cold stone floor of the wrecked watch tower and curling up.

''Goodnight, Kassi.''

''Goodnight, Legolas.''