Chapter V: Elaina's Tale

Elaina began to tell me her tale:

"It all began when I left the Shire, one of the hardest things I have ever had to do, as Frodo needed me more that ever after Bilbo left.

"I remember walking with him before I left. We discussed much and I finally said to him, 'Frodo, I sense something inside of you. You are going to become something special someday.' I'll never forget his smile.

"The ride to Rivendell seemed to last for years and years as I was riding alone. I wanted more than anything to turn back, but my dear friend Celinya had fallen ill after being shot by an orc-arrow and I knew that she needed me.

"I finally arrived here many days later and spent the lonely months which followed tending to Celinya. Months soon turned into years and as they passed, I created a life for myself here working in the house of Elrond. I learned much, as I often spent time in the library. I would also spend time discussing matter with Bilbo, who had also come to live here.

"I felt torn between two lives which were equally wonderful and equally miserable. Finally, I decided that I had to return to the Shire and I made preparations to leave. However, when I went to see Lord Elrond to bid him farewell, he gave me a warning. 'I fear that I cannot allow you to return to the Shire,' he said, 'nor to allow you to travel anywhere at this time. Things are changing in the world, and a great darkness draws near. And you hobbits of stout hearts may become more valued than you are now.'

"I fought with him, but it was hopeless. Two years passed, and one day I heard news from Celinya. she told me that Glorfindel had been sent out to find a company of five: four hobbits and a man, a ranger of the Dunedain of the north.

"When she told me this, I could feel my heart sink. I immediately thought of Frodo. My suspicions were confirmed by Celinya, who told me that the hobbits were none other than Frodo, my brother Samwise, and their friends Meriadoc and Peregrin. She refused to tell me anything else about their quest, so I sat patiently in my chamber for days, awaiting their arrival.

"Finally, I awoke one day to see Sam's smiling face." Elaina paused for a moment and grinned at me. I could hardly believe my eyes at how much he had grown. We hugged and then spoke for hours." She grinned again. "He loves you Laurie, I can tell, you're all he ever talks about."

I blushed at Elaina's words, but deep down, I knew that they were true.

Elaina continued, "Though, all the time we spoke, he refused to tell me anything about the quest or of Frodo.

"I also met with Merry, who told me nothing. It was from young Peregrin that I heard the worst news I could ever imagine.

"'Well, then, what news of Frodo,' I asked him after a nice draught of beer, of course. I admit, I knew the Took couldn't keep any secrets after a cool mug of ale.

"'Oh no,' Pippin replied, 'I don't know a thing about any of that.'

"'Well, it's just that I already spoke to everyone else, and they already told me everything. I was just wondering what YOU knew,' I had said to him. And, after some more persuasion, Pippin told me that Frodo had been stabbed my a morgul blade and had fallen ill." I saw tears beginning to form in Elaina's eyes, but she continued.

"Elrond, however, wouldn't let me up to see him, so I spoke with Sam every night and he told me everything, as he almost never left Frodo's side. I was crushed.

"I wandered around for days, praying that Frodo would recover. Then, one day, I was pacing outside of his balcony and he emerged from his room, as healthy as ever. I felt my heart start pacing and I stood there, looking up speechless and breathless until our eyes met. We stood there, staring at one another for what seemed like forever until I saw him run back inside and come out of the door. I ran up the stairs and embraced him.

"It was wonderful, Laurie, our time together. They were here for almost two months in total."

"But, why?" I asked.

Elaina looked around and walked over to shut the doors. She spoke in a whisper, "It's big, Laurie, bigger than I ever imagined." She began to tell me how Elrond had called a council and she had listened in, in secrecy. She had snuck in with Sam and heard everything.

Elaina began to tell me about the ring. I immediately stopped her short. "One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all, and in the Darkness, bind them."

I didn't know what had caused me to repeat the verse, but I remembered it from when I was only a child, barely 15. A ranger, Maurelwen, also known as Stryker, had come to the Shire, a woman guised as a man. None, save me, knew her secret. In return for keeping her secret, she had shared with me countless tales about the world, including the One Ring.

I looked at Elaina, who stared, shocked, at my words.

"I thought those were only tales," I said.

"I'm afraid not," she replied, "It's more real than anything. And that's not all." She continued to tell me everything, about how Bilbo had won the ring and kept it hidden in the Shire and how Gollum was captured and told the enemy where it was. She told me about the conspiracy between Sam, Merry, and Pippin and about Galdalf and the treason of the head of his order.

I couldn't believe anything she told me. It all seemed like a dream and I could never imagine that the fate of all of Middle-Earth rested in the hands of hobbits, nevertheless my friends.

She finally told me of the fellowship and their mission. She named each of the other five: Aragorn, Isildur's heir, Gandalf, Gimli the dwarf, Boromir of Gondor, and Legolas.

The last name stabbed me like a knife. "Ali," I said to myself.

"What?" Elaina asked. I could see that she was confused and probably knew nothing about my travels thus far, so I told her about my departure with Ali, Bree, and my voyage to Rivendell.

"Traveling around, and with an elf as a companion?" Elaina said, "Well, there's a Brandybuck for you."

I smiled, "Though it makes me quite mad that that very elf you speak of told me nothing about any of this business." It was no lie, I was quite angry. Why had Ali hid this from me?

Just then, a knock came on the doors and they opened. A tall elf walked in. She was beautiful, with blue eyes and long, dark hair. She looked as if she had been crying.

"Que Undomel, Elaina," she spoke quietly, "And suilaid Laurelin."

"Hullo Arwen," Elaina replied. I gave the Lady Arwen a wave and a small half-smile, wondering how she knew my name.

"You attendance is requested in the Great Hall for dinner," she spoke, "in half an hour."

"Oh well, where has the time gone?" Elaina said, "Come, Laurelin, I'll give you some clothes to wear. I have quite the collection after living here so long, even some stitched by the Lady Arwen herself. We'll discuss matters further after dinner." She winked, rather obviously, at me and we left the room.

We walked down the hall to Elaina's chamber. She took a long dress out of her closet. It was dark blue with gold trim and it looked as if it were made for a very tiny elf. She handed it to me. "Here we are," she said, "This shall do quite nicely."

"It's beautiful," I said, "I've never worn anything like it!" I put it on and prepared for dinner. When I looked in Elaina's mirror, I could not believe how little I looked like the me I was used to seeing as a reflection.

"My, my," Elaina said, "You look almost like an elf." She came and stood behind me and looked at me in the mirror. "If only Sam could see how pretty you look."

I blushed and smiled.

"Well," Elaina said, "Let's be off. I'm so hungry I could eat an entire year's crop!"

I smiled at the thought of eating real food again, but was surprised at the fact that I wasn't as hungry as I usually was. Probably too angry and shocked to eat, I thought.

Elaina and I walked down a long hallway into a great open hall lit with many torches. A long table stretched down the room and at it were seated several elves. Each looked at us, and I knew that we were late. At the head of the table sat Elrond and Ali and two empty chairs, smaller, but higher up than the rest.

Elrond looked at us and beckoned us over to sit in the chairs. I felt a tremendous feeling of honor at the request. I took my seat and Elrond spoke to me, "No doubt you've heard that Samwise of the Shire was here. Tinalion tells me that you two shared a special bond. For such a small creature, young Samwise certainly had a large heart, a loyal, courageous hobbit, as were all your friends. You hobbits, you certainly are surprising creatures."

I grinned and blushed. What a name you've made for yourself now, Samwise, I thought and I wondered how much Elrond knew I was aware of.