AN: Hello! I am so sorry it has been so long since updating; there have been some internet restrictions in my house for the past few months so I wasn't able to get online to upload any new chapters. Unfortunately this update doesn't mean they will be consistent again, it just means I have internet for a little while on my computer so I can upload a chapter. Again, I am so sorry that I won't be updating regularly anymore, I know how that feels, but don't think I am abandoning the story. I will eventually finish it, I promise! I might make it a bit shorter than I originally intended so I can get the whole thing up faster, but leave a comment saying whether you would rather have a shorter story with the ending coming sooner or a longer story where you have to wait for the ending a bit longer. Anyway, here's chapter nine!

The journey was a pleasant one, with good weather and a safe path. They made it to the stone trolls by the evening of the second day, and arrived in Rivendell the next day at midday. After spending a short time resting and replenishing their supplies from the Rivendell gardens, they started out for the pass of Caradhras, or Redhorn Gate as it was often called, hoping to arrive there within one or two days. Elena was greatly enjoying the journey, as she was still a bit star struck by Merry and Pippin, but she was always aware in the back of her mind that soon it would be much more treacherous of a path in the days and weeks to come.

Occasionally she would be reminded of home in simple things, such as how the sun rose up over the mountains in the morning, looking so similar to those near her house, or roasting sausages over the campfire in the evening, which felt just like making hot dogs while camping with her dad. She wondered if time was passing back home as it was here, or if when she found a way back it would still be the same day as when she left. If time did pass the same way, what would her parents think? They would probably imagine she was carried off by some wild animal, maybe even a bear like her mom had mentioned, and think she was eaten in a horrible way. Or maybe they thought she had been found by some mysterious criminal in the woods who had kidnapped her and taken her away forever. Whatever they thought, Elena knew that the truth would never suffice to their questioning of where she had been for all those weeks. The whole thing is so crazy mad that they might even send me to some mental therapist if I tell them the truth. Maybe I can just say I got amnesia and can't remember what happened.

Thinking about it further, Elena realized that with her traveling so far away from where she came into Middle Earth, she might never find her way back home. What was the last thing I said to Mom and Dad? She regretted not giving her dad one more hug before he left for work, and wished she had at least said "I love you" to her mom before leaving on that summer day that seemed like ages ago but was really only less than a week. She loved being here in this fantastical world that she had loved for so long, but suddenly she had a severe case of homesickness for her parents, her house, even that old stray cat that always was hanging around their yard. She could feel herself getting emotional, but she didn't want to cause the attention of the party to draw towards her so she held back the tears and forced her mind to think of other things.

They were only about three or four miles away from the base of Caradhras Pass, and they were making good progress. Patting the nearest pack pony as she walked past it, Elena caught up to Eldarion, who was leading the group.

"Hey, Eldarion?" She said when she was walking along-side him. "Isn't the pass going to be covered in snow still? Or does it warm up this time of year?"

"It will still be a bit snowy, but not as bad as it usually is." He replied. "The summer months don't provide too much cloud cover to produce snow storms, but it is still cold enough to keep much of the snow from the winter from melting. It can be quite treacherous and icy, but at least there is less danger of getting caught in a blizzard or having an avalanche fall on top of you."

"Won't we need warmer clothes though? It's pretty hot down here, but if the snow isn't melting then it must be below freezing in the mountains."

"Yes, we've got some thick cloaks in the saddlebags, as well as some sturdier boots for you and I. Apparently the Hobbits claim that the snow doesn't bother their feet, so they should be fine, but with me in these thin boots and you in those…what did you call them?...combat boots, I thought to pick up some extra shoes in Rivendell."

"There certainly seems to be no limits to what the elves left behind," Elena said. "How could they have known so well what passing visitors would need?"

"Well, after all, they lived there for hundreds of years, and when they had to leave they made sure there was plenty of what they had given out during their time there. Warm clothing and shoes were a popular need for those traveling across the Misty Mountains, so they left a large supply of those things. As for those traveling in the opposite direction, They had lighter clothing to provide those who were traveling in the summer with more comfortable things to wear other than heavy wool and leather."

"Oh, that makes sense." Elena lagged behind a bit until she was walking beside Merry and Pippin, who were leading the ponies.

"…It was the strangest thing! I saw an odd man and woman walking through Bree, wearing weird clothes, and the man kept pointing this funny buzzing silver stick at—Oh hello Elena. I was just telling Merry about this man and his companion—"

"Oh don't bother her with your fanciful gossip, Pippin. We should be thinkin' about more concerning things, such as the dangerous climb that awaits us just a short way up the road."

"Well then," Pippin replied in a very hurt sounding voice. "I'm sorry for simply trying to lighten the mood a bit. Ever since we left Rivendell is seems as if everyone has been keeping to themselves and making little to no conversation. I understand the journey up the mountain will be dangerous but that doesn't mean we have to spend the last few safe miles moping about thinking about what will happen in the future. In my personal opinion I think we should be enjoying this beautiful afternoon while we still have time to enjoy it."

Elena nudged Pippin on the shoulder. "I think you're right, we should be enjoying the easy road and warm day without troublesome thoughts burdening us down. Let's play a game. It is a pretty popular traveling one back where I am from, and I think it would be fun to play now."

She then taught them how to play "I spy", and after hearing them play for a little while even Eldarion joined in. It was a bit more difficult to play with nothing but wilderness around them and since they were walking so much slower than if they were driving in a car, but it was still fun and the afternoon passed by quickly. They reached the base of the mountain about an hour before sunset, where they stopped for the night. Since they had so much daylight left, Elena, Merry, and Pippin spent the time gathering wild herbs and other things to go with dinner while Eldarion went off to see if he could find any rabbits. They feasted well that night on roasted rabbit meat with seasoned potatoes and grilled onions on the side. For dessert they made some flat cakes spread with the last of some sweet strawberry preserves they had taken from the cellar at Rivendell. When everyone except Merry, who was taking the first watch, and Elena had gone to bed, thoughts of home came again to invade the happy thoughts in Elena's mind.

"Hey Merry? When you went on your big journey all those years ago, how often did the thought of home come to you?"

"Oh, more times than I could count, Elena. So often did I wish for the comforts of home, for the constant fear of enemies attacking us to stop, and most of all for me to simply walk down the streets of Buckland and see friendly faces all around me with no danger near at all. When I finally did make it home in the end, it was a long time before it was the same as how I had left it, what with Saruman invading us and all. But after all the enemies were finally gone, and we were at last at complete peace, I truly felt happy. But then it wasn't long before Frodo left, and that was hard on all of us back in the Shire. We adjusted though, and although I still miss him terribly, it has been so long that things seem to be just like they were way back before Pippin and I stumbled into Frodo and Sam in Farmer Maggot's field. Oh, that was so long ago. Anyway, I'm sure you must miss home dreadfully. Eldarion told me how far away it is. It must have been months and months since you have seen home!"

"Well...yes, I do miss it very much. Especially my family. To be honest, they don't even know where I am exactly. They just know that I am away for a while."

"It certainly is a long while! But we shouldn't talk of such sad things. In fact, you'd best be getting to bed. Before you know it it'll be your watch, and then you won't get enough sleep tonight."

"Alright. Thanks for the talk Merry. I'll see you in the morning." Elena went off to where she had laid down her blanket and tucked herself in for the night. It was good talking with Merry, and she did feel better, but she certainly didn't lose all the homesickness that was tucked up inside her. That night, she dreamt about her parents and home. Suddenly, she was startled awake by Eldarion, who was leaning over her with his hand pressed gently over her mouth.

"Get your sword." He said, slowly removing his hand to be sure she didn't make a sound. "There are orcs nearby."

AN: I hope you enjoyed the longer chapter. Well, not much longer than normal but it was a bit longer anyway. Anyone catch the "odd man and woman with buzzing silver stick" reference? In the long period of time between the last update and now I have discovered Doctor Who, and it is now added to my list of obsessions. Anyway, until next time!