A/N: I know I know, its been a while but please forgive me? Lol. I have put this story on the back burner the last two weeks to do my Xmas shopping so sorry, I am not gonna lie it hasn't been my top priority of recent weeks. :S on the plus sign though, I have finished buying, wrapping and placing all my crimbo presents under the tree and have decorated my whole house and I am therefore free to continue this story now, with hopefully another chapter if not two up before Christmas day. Maybe a little surprise also since yous have all been soo nice and patient. :] anyways, enough with my incessant ramblings and on with the story. Enjoy! :D

Chapter Fourteen: Many Arrivals

Hiding away in my room for the second time that day wasn't exactly one of the brainiest of ideas I had ever had. I had stared out of the window for what must have felt like hours, my gaze lingering over the view of the stables and my mind constantly reminding me of how much of a fool I was being. I was making this little incident out to be a total disaster and felt like everyone was blowing my feelings for Frodo out of proportion. They were being stubborn fools for pressing such futile things and I was being a bumbling idiot for scurrying away every time I was asked a question that was even the slightest bit awkward. Me finding that backbone of mine was not turning out to well at all. I sighed heavily as I watched the sunset behind the surrounding woodland and a soft knock at my door brought me tumbling back to the present.

"My lady Clara" a majestic female Elf spoke as she danced her way into my quarters, "I have longed to speak to you since your arrival"

Caught up in my mindless musings I had totally forgotten Arwen's visit. I had hoped to come back here and attempt to prepare myself to being in the presence of such elegance and authority, after my total mishap this morning with Lord Elrond I needed to make a good impression.

"Good evening my Lady" I just about managed to word out, my mind blank as to what else I could possibly say. I wanted to thank her for coming to help us in the woods and taking Frodo back to be healed. I knew he would not of made it if it were not for her timely arrival.

"Do not be nervous, I have only come to see how you are settling in" she smiled as she gracefully placed herself down on the seat at the dressing table not far from where I was standing at the window.

"Thank you for your concern my Lady" I nodded politely as I made my way over to the bed so I was sitting facing her. My legs were shaking slightly from nerves and I felt if I was sitting they wouldn't be able to show as much. "Everyone's been so kind to me and my fellow Hobbits. I cannot thank your people enough"

She nodded in acceptance of my statement before her eyes twinkled towards mine, "there is no need to thank me for Frodo's health, for I seek no rewards"

I blushed slightly at her knowing what was on my mind before deciding I should probably continue our conversation, "you shall receive my thanks all the same my Lady as I cannot thank you enough for what you and your father, Lord Elrond has done for me and my friends"

"I may know more than what you think Miss Clara, for I too know what it is to experience the loss of someone you love. Minutely as it may be"

I stared at my feet suddenly as my cheeks flushed hot no doubt furthering her thinking that I was in love with Frodo. I really did need to control my emotions more around people as they were clearly over signalling things that did not even exist.

"You do not yet realize it yet, but you will soon enough" she smiled at me as she began to make her way effortlessly over towards the open window to where I was standing only moments ago, "Aragorn and I were once in love, but now everything hangs in the balance" her eyes scanned the ever darkening world outside and rested upon the western horizon, lost in thought. "The world is changing and only love and hope will be able to see it through for the better"

I stared at her maroon covered back as I thought hard about what she might be trying to convey to me. It was obvious that she knew of Frodo's trinket and the implications it was causing but of what else she might have been referring to I was at a loss. I knew of the black riders and they seemed to be most horrid enough but the thought of who they might be working for often kept my thoughts occupied in the middle of the night. I knew it wasn't my place to worry and not in my nature usually, but the horridness of everything that I had seen in the past month of so had made me feel differently. I wanted to know what was being done with the ring before I went home. I needed to know that our journey home to the Shire would be significantly less bothersome than the journey from there. That was the other reason I had wanted to speak with Lord Elrond, although I had an inkling that the chance of him telling me anything would be next to none.

"You should not trouble yourself with such matters however", she turned and smiled at me before turning to gaze at the night sky's horizon once more, "many decisions will be made, but you should not let your mind linger on them, you will be journeying home soon and leaving all this behind"

I nodded to her back not really sure any more if that was exactly what I wanted. I was becoming very irritated of being kept in the dark and I was sure the others would fully agree with me on that.

Breakfast was a quick affair for me as I was still trying to avoid everyone, including Frodo. After Lady Arwen had left my rooms last night I had decided that I needed to avoid Frodo for a while to help die down the absurd speculation that everyone was set on having. I needed to distance myself from him to cast the illusion; I mean convey the reality that we were mere friends. Nothing more in the slightest. The others I was still embarrassed about running off last night so thought it best to avoid their company for a short while until I had managed to reclaim maybe an inch of my dignity back. I would feel much more confident after that. I hoped.

I had also set my mind on finding Lord Elrond today or even Gandalf, anyone who could put my mind at rest about what exactly was going on. I usually wasn't one for pressing for answers unless the question was meaningful enough, I would say that this was one question that needed to be asked and soon. I knew since Frodo had been healed now we would be leaving soon, but I didn't know how soon that would be. A day? A week? I felt extremely in the dark about everything at the moment. I had also guessed something was happening here in the next few days as more and more strangers seemed to be arriving since we had come here. Men had arrived last night, tall and warrior like while three small looking creatures I would guess at being dwarves from Bilbo's descriptions of them had arrived this morning at sunrise. Something was happening and I wasn't sure if we were included in it or not. I hoped for the latter, as I personally couldn't wait to go back home with the constant lingering thought of something big and horrible happening very soon.

"Clara my dear, the others have been looking for you" an old and wise voice called to me as I was walking aimlessly through the many halls, "They were worried you had left without them"

Although the laughter in his voice was evident, the absurdness of that statement made me scoff all the same, "and where would I wander off to on my own? I doubt I would get very far"

Gandalf's eyes twinkled as he approached me, "on the contrary my dear, I think you would get very far indeed"

I resisted the urge to scoff in the Wizards presence once again and decided to swiftly change the subject instead, "I was looking for Lord Elrond, do you know where he might be?"

His face tightened slightly as his lips curled downwards, "I am afraid Lord Elrond has important matters to attend to in the next few days and will not be able to be disturbed"

I nodded in solemn agreement expecting as much myself before I had even asked the question. I knew I was very low on the list of important people but I just hoped that maybe he could of spared some time to address me, unfortunately not however. I gazed up at the tall grey haired wizard with renewed hope, "can I have a moment of your time then Gandalf?"

He seemed to haver for a moment before nodding his head in agreement. He then lead me to what I assumed was the way to his rooms only to discover we were heading to what looked like an indoor courtyard; a tall statue stood in the centre holding a broken blade and numerous paintings and depictions of battles and times of old donned the surrounding walls. He sat down on a stone bench and I followed his movements, sitting next to him in high anticipation.

"I know one as curious as you is no doubt wanting to enquire more details of your situation" he gazed at me for a moment before letting his eyes wander around the large and exquisite open space we were sitting in the middle of, "I will answer as clearly as I can but you must keep in mind that some things are better off not knowing and that I do not know everything for certain"

My fingers curled around each other as I nodded in shocked understanding. I didn't expect him to open up to me soo freely and decided that whatever small amount of information he could offer was better than the none that I already had. I decided to start with a small and simple question first, "when will we be heading home?"

"I am afraid that is one of the more uncertain answers I have to give", the small bit of hope I had was quickly gone as he spoke them words. How could that be a difficult one to answer? I nodded all the same and decided to not push for this answer and just move onto my next question, hoping this one might be more fortunate.

"Why are so many people arriving? From what Frodo told me of the Elves over the years, they don't mingle with the other races much any more"

He looked at me then, a slight smile on his aged face, "I am pleased that you are not as, shall we say focus minded as most of your race" I smiled in admiration knowing exactly to what he was so kindly referring to, the narrow-mindedness of most of my fellow Hobbits usually hindered their ability to understand, or want to understand, the other races of the world. I personally found the idea of wanting to stay in the dark rather absurd. What if something happened and we had no knowledge of it? It was surely not a very good way of living I thought.

"I trust Frodo has told you of the ring?" I nodded in grave agreement before he continued in a less than happier tone, "the fate of the ring lies with all Middle Earth and not just with one race. Many are arriving to help discuss what is to become of it" I understood now just how dangerous this ring was and I didn't like it. I looked up to Gandalf, fear in my eyes as I began to try and word my next question. The one question now I was afraid to ask. He stopped me before I began however and continued talking himself, "It is not for you or any Hobbits to worry about however, it will be agreed without the need of any of your input so do not fret"

I didn't know if that answer relieved me or made me angry. I was happy that we would not need to stay for the meeting and could put all this nasty black rider business behind us sooner rather than later, but the prospect that the rings outcome was in the hands of all the races of Middle Earth and no-one thought to include Hobbits in that was slightly degrading and making me angry. Even if we were a docile and farming race, we were not complete useless people. I huffed at the damnation of it before letting my eyes wander to Gandalf once more. He was staring at the stone statue which was directly opposite of us. I felt my anger ebb slightly knowing that Gandalf would never knowingly exclude or insult my race what with his strong fondness of Bilbo and Frodo. He was most likely doing what he thought was best.

"What is the statue holding?" I found myself asking before I even had a chance to think. I was preparing to ask about who them blasted riders were working for instead but found that the words just wouldn't come out of my mouth. I felt like my mind was trying to tell me that was one question I was just not prepared to know the answer to just yet.

"She is holding what is left of Isildur's blade" I shot him a look of confusion not really sure of who Isildur is or why his blade was broken. Gandalf opened his mouth to continue before a male Elf appeared to our left.

"Lord Elrond seeks your council Gandalf" he nodded in our direction before turning and waiting by one of the many doors. Gandalf stood and began making his way quickly over to the Elf, his face stern and authoritative once again. It seemed like Gandalf was one of them older men who could be your wise old fore father one moment and a lecturing wizened Wizard the next.

"Gandalf wait!" I called as I made to follow him, "When can we resume our conversation?"

I was behind him in a flash, tugging on the back of his robes like a small pesky child but I did not care. He stopped in his tracks and knelt down to address me face to face. His expression kind and gentle again like that of a Grandfather, "I am afraid I have business to attend to and will most likely not be able to speak to you again before you have to leave" I frowned at this news causing him to smile slightly, "Do not worry though Clara Smallburrow as I am sure all will be well soon enough"

I smiled slightly in confusion at his words, my gaze firmly on his back as he left me alone with my thoughts. I had an inkling that even the great Gandalf was keeping me in the dark over what was really happening and he was more avoiding me the next few days than attending to business. I sighed and retook my seat on the stone bench. My gaze firmly on the statue and broken pieces of blade, confusion written all over my face and my mind racing even more than this morning. I cannot wait until we go home to the peace and quiet of the Shire I thought.

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