A/N: Here comes another chapter. In this one Boromir meets Ranelen.
Several days after the One Ring was carried to Imladris, Ranelen was reading on the bridge. She was caught up in the story of the beginning when a rough, angry voice interrupted her peaceful moment.
"All of these blasted trees! No good stone or rock anywhere! Elves and their tree infested places!" Then the voice shifted to Dwarvish and the words were lost to her even as the speaker got closer.
The Dwarf who spoke rounded a corner. He was reminiscent of a mountain, sturdy and seemingly impossible to move. At first he didn't notice her, lost in his mumbled Dwarvish cursing.
The only reason he did notice her was he tripped over a stone and went down flailing. Ranelen was getting up to check on him when he got up cursing, causing her to laugh. The Dwarf saw her at last and began to curse softer, once or twice slipping into the common tongue saying something about "annoying Elves" and "don't make their presence known".
Ranelen hurried to apologize. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you I was here. I thought you would see me, and I'm sorry that I laughed at you. It was rude."
The Dwarf momentarily seemed to think that she was picking at him, but after a second he saw that her words were serious. He gave a small bow as he said, "There is no need to apologize. My kind are not known for their grace. We are warriors and people of the mountain. I am Gimli, Son of Gloin."
"Greetings. My name is Ranelen." There was a moment of awkward silence before she asked, "Are you here for the Council?"
Gimli briskly nodded. "Aye, lass. And I can't wait for it to be done with. You Elves are lost in the beauty of stone and rock, but in flowers and trees you're a lost lot. Never will be able to understand how ye could stand it."
Ranelen smiled softly with her eyes shining from the memory of moonlight slanting across ancient trees and sunlight resting on a hundred flower petals. She said quietly, trying to explain with hurting Gimli's feelings, "Each petal and leaf is a gift. It reflects the inner beauty of the world. I may not be an Elf, but I understand how they feel. Trees and flowers are a small bit of freedom and peace from the world's horrors."
The Dwarf shook his head but had a smile on his face. "Lass, you have a way with words. I may not understand you're feelings about bushes, but I understand what you're saying. You're a temptress when you talk like that," he said with a twinkle in his eyes. "Alas, I have to be going. There has to be some good ale in this place." With that he walked off.
A low growl from a hungry stomach followed the Dwarf's departure. Ranelen went inside to find something to eat, thinking of the Council that was to come. The Hobbits joined her, including the Ring Bearer, Frodo.
Frodo was a slightly dimmer version of the other Hobbits. It seemed his wound had drawn much of his strength from him, and what was left was constantly being gnawed on by the Ring.
At one point two of the Hobbits, Pippin Took and Merry Brandybuck, challenged Elladan and Elrohir to a drinking contest. They started off peaceful enough. Then as time went on their tongues got looser and so did their actions. By the time that supper was over, the Hobbits and Twins were dancing on the tables singing obnoxious drinking songs.
Thinking to find some peace from the ruckus of the dining hall, Ranelen made her way to the small room that held the most important relic to the Line of Isildur. The Shards of Narsil were placed centrally in the room with paintings of the 'slaying' of Saulron painted on the walls and several benches put beside walls.
Ranelen found a spot in the corner and sunk down with her back pressed against the wall. The shadows were a welcome security from any prying eyes that might enter. A cool breeze blew gently through the room, calming and cleansing.
Some time after there was another arrival. Aragorn entered the room, being careful to not walk near the heirloom of his house. He sat on a chair and began to read a book he had brought with him.
Aragorn's presence wasn't bothersome, but soon another entered the room. A Man, appearing to be some warrior from Gondor, walked in and began to look around, stopping to peer intently at the picture of Isildur about to cut off Saulron's finger.
Suddenly he seemed to sense a presence. His posture straightened and his body tensed in preparation to face whoever watched him. The Gondorian turned around and his eyes fixed on…
A/N: Cliffhanger! Next chapter see if he confronts Ranelen! Yeah, I know this was short, but I really wanted a cliffhanger.
