Disclaimer: I do not now, have not and unfortunately will not ever own Lord of the Rings. (I am a bit obsessed though, with the story not individual people)
14.
The rest of the day and most of the night was the most busy that I had ever seen anyone in Rivendell, people were hurrying to various places and there was hardly any time for the customary storytelling after the evening meal. I barely saw the hobbits, Gandalf, or Strider until the following morning—the hobbits were bothering the cooks, Gandalf was either in the library, or with Lord Elrond, and Strider…he had been speaking to Lord Elrond since the first hour after the council was over.
I had tried to help either the cooks, the ones who were finding things, and even the ones setting the table; yet no one had let me help. It was all very confusing. I then retreated to my room, worrying that what I had said today to Strider had been something that was horribly wrong…perhaps I am no longer welcome here for my actions earlier. I sat in one of the chairs, staring out the window at the surrounding forest; I don't know what to do. No one will let me help, nor will anyone tell me what to do, I feel so lost here. It seems that everyone else knows what to do, where to go, and even what needs to be done…even the hobbits are being useful. All I seemed to do was sit still and listen to what is around me, I feel useless here.
Strider appears in the doorway to the room I am occupying, he steps inside when I glance over at the doorway to see who is there. I instantly get to my knees and bow my head, this must not have been the right thing to do, for he sighs and walks towards me. Strider's hand grips my arm and gently pulls me to my feet, his hand moves under my chin; he tilts my face up so he can see it before he speaks.
"Please, do not kneel to me. I am no king, though it I am supposed to become one. It is a path that I do not wish to take, yet it is the one which will help unite the world of men. You need not kneel nor do you need to bow to me. Though I would have it otherwise, it seems that you are to accompany us on our journey to destroy the One Ring in Mordor. We shall need to leave at first light, pack what you will need for a long and arduous journey. "
I looked at his shoulder as he spoke to me, listened intently to his instructions; I was determined to follow them perfectly, so he would have no cause to be upset with me. Yet he did not release my chin. I could feel him staring at me; I chanced a look at his face and discovered that he was gazing intently at me. His thumb brushed over lightly over my cheek, he looked at me for a moment longer before he seemed to come to a decision and he spoke again.
"You shall be called Raven. For, you should be free to fly wherever you choose, to spread your wings which have long been bound and kept you tethered to the ground. May the wisdom of the raven keep you safe and help you look after others."
Strider then leaned forward and pressed his lips to my forehead, somehow making my new name official with that act. He watched me for a moment longer before he let go of my chin, turned and started to leave, but he stopped in the doorway and spoke for a final time that night.
"I would have you stay here with Lord Elrond where it is safe. Yet it seems that it is your fate to go with us, though I wish it were not so. Sleep well, Raven."
He didn't look back at me as he left the room. He had left me with much to think about, and much to do before the coming dawn. I had to pack for a journey that would take me to someplace known as "Mordor", I only know that it is far away from here, far away from everything I have ever known. Far away from elves, from men, and from hobbits. Far away from forests with leaves of burning gold, far from musical waterfalls and rivers, far from the mountains that could be seen from my window. Far from everything I know…will it be far enough?
~Dawn~
The group I am now a part of, has been named "The Fellowship of the Ring". Nearly everyone looked back at Rivendell at least once as they passed through to the outside world; knowing that they were leaving the safety of the elves, for a much harder and uncertain road. The hobbits are excited that I am to come along, though it seems that Pippin is not entirely aware of where we are headed. Gandalf and Frodo lead the way out into the wilds, out into the unknown world, into the dangers that lurk ahead, waiting to weaken and destroy us. Wanting our mission to fail—Gandalf had been trying to warn us of the road ahead, yet I think he has made some of us more worried than before.
There are nine who depart this day from Rivendell, nine who are headed to Mordor. Legolas the elf from Mirkwood, Gimli a dwarf who seems to have a particular dislike for Legolas, Boromir son of the Steward of Gondor, Gandalf a wizard who is extremely wise, the four hobbits from the Shire, and Strider a ranger who is to be a king. To me, it seems an odd assortment of people, yet I am sure that everyone has a reason that they are part of this group.
I walk behind Strider, ready to aid him should he need anything. He and Lord Elrond have said that I am allowed to speak, yet I do not seem to have words to say. Even so, I am excited to see more of the world. Today I am no longer Thing, I have been given a new name—even if I do not know what is wrong with my old one—I am someone new as I depart from Rivendell. I am Raven, and I will follow the king wherever he should go, even unto death.
Please review and I hope that you have enjoyed reading this so far.