Chapter VII: The Days of Planning
The next few evenings in Rivendell were spent mainly in the Hall of Fire or the library with Elaina and Ali planning for our trip. The three of us would go to the large library after dinner and spend the nights looking at maps. Ali carefully hand-copied many of them, as we would need them on our trek, and Elaina and I would often fall asleep before she was done. Somehow, though, we always awoke safe and sound in our beds.
One such night, the third of January, we stayed up with Ali for longer than usual. Ali obviously took advantage of this and decided to share with us all of her plans thusfar. We were gathered in the now dull and empty Hall of Fire in which we had spoken on our first night in Rivendell.
"As I have explained earlier," Ali began, "The Dunedain are highly selective of the persons that they ride with. They would perhaps allow me to ride with them, for I have been aquatinted with them before. But they certainly will not allow you to follow, they know nothing of your bravery, and you have no real battle skills." She paused. "I'm not meaning to be offensive, you know, just telling you the truth."
I nodded, a little offended, but I knew that she spoke the truth.
"I have no real knowledge of their plans," she continued, "as I have not spoken with them yet. But I know that Galadriel is the one who will summon them, and I assume she will lead them to Lothlorien." She took out a map and pointed to places as she spoke. "They will most likely travel through the Misty Mountains, in order to avoid the Gap of Rohan, and Isengard. I assume they will cross over the High Pass, and head towards the Old Forest Road, turning here. And traveling straight on to Lothlorien. But then again, they have not yet arrived, so I can not be sure. As for us, we will be forced to follow behind, and out of sight, taking...."
She stopped short as a hand was placed on her shoulder. The elf that stood behind her was pale with long silver hair.
"Melendil?" The frail elf spoke, "after all these years, could it be?"
Elaina jumped up and looked worried, "Celinya, are you well? Perhaps you should not be walking quite so much yet. How long have you been up and about for today? Please Celinya, come over here and rest." She began to approach her.
The elf ignored Elaina, but stared at Ali, who seemed quite confused for a moment and the spoke, "Celinya, of Gondolin? Refugee of the coasts of Arvernien?"
"Melendil!" Celinya replied, "I knew it was you!"
"No, I am sorry my name is Tinalion, but I am the daughter of Melendil."
"Melendil's daughter? But I thought that she could not bear children."
"My parents believed that at first. I was born shortly after they arrived in Lothlorien. But I am their only child."
I stared on intently, but confused.
"Well my word! you look just like your mother. And Belegar too, I could not see it at first, but now it is very clear. You have much of him in you as well. I knew your parents along time ago, dear Tinalion. We were good friends, but I suppose you already knew that, seeing as you could recognize my name."
"Oh my mother has spoken of you often. I have heard many tales of the refuge in Arvernien."
I looked at Elaina, who seemed confused as well. It was then that Ali turned to us. "Oh, Laurelin, Elaina, I am sorry."
Celinya turned to us as well. "Perhaps you could excuse us for a moment," she said, "there is much Tinalion and I have to talk about."
"Yes, I will finish.." Ali paused, "telling you that wonderful story after lunch."
Elaina and I nodded in full understanding and walked out of the Hall and back to our room to sleep.
* * *
The next morning, Elaina and I were rudely awoken by Ali at a quite unusual hour. She threw open the curtains and the bright sunlight shone through. I groaned an rolled over. I faintly hear Ali mumbling something about waking up and pulled my blankets up over my head. Ali laughed as she walked over and pulled them off, singing a song as she did so:
The Sun is up,
The Stars are gone,
It's time to rise,
And greet the Dawn!
She lifted me up and onto my feet.
Curse this hobbit stature, I thought, annoyed at the elf's unusual perkiness.
Ali seemed excited about something and she led us to her chamber. We followed a few paces behind as she walked far too fast for newly-awoken hobbits to follow.
We walked in just as Ali was finishing arranging things on her bed. She moved aside and I was amazed at what I saw. The bed was covered in garments and equipment. There were full sets of armor just right for hobbits and swords and cloaks of mail. There were also two small cloaks, a dull grey color.
"My word, Ali!" I gasped, "What wonderful outfits are these! They are the perfect size!" I looked on in awe and walked forward to investigate. My curiosity took hold of me and I rubbed the mail with my fingers and held up one of the small swords.
"Laurelin, look at these," Elaina called.
I turned to see Elaina holding a silver broach. I dropped down the sword and hurried over to have a closer look. The broach was a small silver leaf, similar in all but size and color to the one Ali often wore.
"Ali, it must have cost you a fortune to get all this!" I said.
"Oh hardly a cent Laurelin!," She replied, quite pleased at her accomplishment, "I wove the cloaks myself, and the broaches are my own. The gear was all lent to me, save the mithril and the swords. Its all used I'm afraid, but it will have to suffice."
"Suffice?" Elaina beamed, "Why its perfect, Ali, absolutely perfect!" She lifted up the grey cloak and then looked again at the gear on the bed. "But these swords and these daggers -- what purpose will they serve? We do not know how to use them."
"I have already thought of that Elaina. Believe me, you will soon enough. Rest while you can my dear hobbits, for you are scheduled for a vigorous fencing lesson after luncheon, in the garden, under the willow tree. It is a shame that I could not find bows small enough for you, for archery is my forte, I do not care for fencing. But I was lucky to even find swords this size, most children do not carry such weapons. Nevertheless, you will be skilled swordswomen by the time you are finished."
I grinned at the thought of learning how to fight with such weapons and turned to Elaina.
"I will see you again later, mellyn." Ali continued.
"Did you hear that Elaina?" I said as we walked down the hall, "We're gonna learn to wield a sword."
"I know!" Elaina replied. "How exciting!"
* * *
The next few weeks were spent under Ali's instruction. We would meet almost every afternoon in the gardens, under a tall willow tree. Ali taught us the basics of using a sword, though she often spoke of how she preferred a bow and a quiver of arrows. She said she was a much better archery instructor, but it was useless to teach us since we had no bows in our own size. She did, however, teach me how to string an arrow, "just in case". She had seemed to be holding something back.
By the middle of February, Elaina and I had become quite skilled in sword fighting. Ali met us outside by the tree for one of our final lessons.
I was up first. "Watch and learn, Elaina," I mocked.
The clanking of my dagger against Ali's sword had become a familiar sound. I had become quite comfortable with my dagger and had even named it Armath with a little help from Ali.
I pushed Ali back and smiled with pride at my accomplishment. "Hah," I laughed. But just as I let my guard down, Ali grabbed hold of Armath and flipped my onto my back, I laughed at my foolishness and at the grin on Ali's face and turned to Elaina.
"For the SHIRE!!" She shouted and lunged towards Ali. I climbed behind Ali and stood on my hands and knees just in time for her to fall backwards over me from the force of Elaina's blow. She fell to the ground and the three of us sat in a pile, laughing at ourselves.
We decided that we would stop our lesson for the day and we figured that we should go back inside in secret, as to avoid questions about our dirty appearances.
"Well, Laurelin," Elaina said, "We sure make a great team."
"Oh, absolutely, no one stands a chance against our superb fencing skills," I laughed.
Elaina chuckled. Suddenly, there came a loud clamoring of trumpets. I turned to Elaina and Ali and then looked up in amazement.
Ali seemed relieved. "Quickly, Laurelin, Elaina," she said, "We must go greet them. Hurry up and ready yourselves."
Ali dashed up the stairs and Elaina and I followed as fast as our hobbit legs could carry us. I splashed cold water on my face and hands and ran a brush quickly through my curly hair. I threw on the same dress that I had worn my first night in Rivendell and dashed out just in time to run into Ali. The three of us scurried down the hall until Ali halted to a stop and we ran into her back. She looked at each of us and we proceeded down the stairs as perfectly charming ladies. We reached the Great Hall and sat along the wall beside several now-familiar faces.
Soon, the great doors opened and a tall man entered. He wore a dark cloak and appeared dirty and mangy through his helmet. I assumed that he was the leader. Seven others followed him, all dressed similarly. The leader knelt before Elrond and took off his helmet, revealing his long hair and scruffy beard.
"Hail, Lord Elrond," he spoke in a low voice, "We have received a message. The author is unknown, but it has directed us here."
"Hail Halbarad, and the Dunedain of the North," Elrond replied, " I know why it is that you are here, but I am afraid that it is too soon to discuss matters will all of you. For now, Halbarad, I will speak with you only in the Council Hall. The others are free to do as they will. I would recommend that you rest, and take something to eat. There is much that lays ahead of you."
Halbarad and Elrond left the hall. I had been studying the other rangers and two seemed very familiar, though I was unsure how or why. Ali approached them and began to speak. One was tall and built and the other was must shorter and wore his hood high over his face. Suddenly, I realized who it was. It was my dear friend Maurelwen from the Shire, or Stryker as all others knew her as.
"Ma-, Stryker!" I cried and ran to greet her.
"Why, Hello Laurelin!" She replied. Ali looked at me, baffled.
Just then, the other man spoke, "Laurelin?" I turned to him just in time to recognize him as Darion, the ranger whose house we had visited over a month before. "Well, my word," he continued looking me over. "This certainly cannot be the little hobbit who only days ago had trouble sitting still for a few moments. I must say, you are quite the lady in this elegant attire, your friend as well."
I felt my face turn red. I turned to Elaina and saw that she was blushing, as well. Darion knelt down to my height and kissed my hand. "It is good to see you again, friend," he said and kissed my hand. I couldn't help but giggle at the treatment I was receiving, as if I was a real lady.
"Thank you Darion," I replied, "It is good to see you as well."
"Come now," he said as he stood, "the others have gone outside, let us join them."
"Indeed," Ali answered and Elaina and I followed them out into the garden. The garden was full of strong, burly men, each sitting with one another talking and laughing.
The five of us sat with one another for some time, catching up on our lives over the past years. I hadn't seen Maurelwen, or Stryker as she had always been known to me, for nearly twenty years. She had grown greatly, and was now a woman of about 35. I thought back to when I knew her in the Shire. She had been very young then.
We laughed as Darion told the others about my night on the stool, or "off of it" as he mocked. Just then, I heard a voice over my shoulder.
"Darion, Albareb, I need to speak with you." I turned to see Halbarad. Darion obeyed and he rose and bowed. He and Albareb followed their leader back into the villa.
"Well, Laurelin," Stryker began to speak, "I knew it was no hope trying to keep you in the Shire your whole life. I always knew that there was something special about you."
"Well," I replied, "The same for you. Anyway, I couldn't stay in the Shire without my friends... and Sam."
"The heart," She said, "It is a... strange... thing." She turned to the Villa and stared for a moment.
Ali broke the silence, "Stryker, there is something that I, we, need to talk to you about. Would you perhaps come with me to a more... private... place?"
Stryker rose to follow and Elaina and I looked at one another. I wondered what Ali was doing and nearly spoke up to beg her not to reveal our secret, but I followed in silence when she beckoned to us. We followed her down a hill to a small opening by a waterfall. It was then that Stryker finally removed her helmet. Her hair flowed down and I saw the old friend whom I remembered. I took a seat on a log with Elaina, still confused about Ali's intentions.
"Maurelwen, I need to ask of you a favor," Ali began, "But it is a great task indeed, and I know it will not be easy. Yet we have long been friends, and I know that I can trust you with a such an important task."
Strykerdid not allow her finish before chiming in. "Tinalion, I know that you hide something. I can not accept any task unless you speak openly with me. Why have the riders of the north been called here? Darion has told me much, but you know more. What is this evil that plagues us?"
I turned and stared at Ali, hoping that my looks would cause her to forget about whatever she was about to do and allow our secret to remain hidden.
Ali, however, ignored me and spoke openly about everything: the Fellowship, the danger in Mordor, the Nazgul, Isengard, but refused to mention anything about the Ring.
"Who are the members of this fellowship?" Stryker spoke after Ali was done.
Elaina now joined in the conversation, "Well there are four hobbits from the Shire; Sam, Merry, Pippin, and...and Frodo. And then theres Aragorn, but you already know that, Boromir of Gondor, Gimli the dwarf, the great Gandalf, and Legolas the elf."
Stryker turned to Ali, finaly understanding at the mention of the last name.
"You mean to follow them don't you? But if you mean to follow them, why would you need me? Surely you can not be suggesting that the dunedain accompany you on such a foolish quest, Halbarad will never...." she paused, "No, that is not it. So that is why we have been called here. We are to follow them, to give aid to Aragorn. You wish not for us to accompany you," she breathed deeply then, realizing my plan. "but to accompany us. Tinalion, you know that is not possible, the Dunedain know of your talents but would never allow you to join the Dunedain. They are highly selective, and you are still but a stranger to them. Most of the men have such a fear of elves, it was difficult enough to convince them to travel here. And..." She turned to us. "They want to....ohh surely not Tinalion. Laurelin, Elaina, you are wonderful people and I am forever a friend to both of you, but you wish to go with us? You have no skill in weaponry, and besides, you can not even ride your own horse."
I turned to Elaina and then down to the ground. After all I had learned, had it been in vain? I wanted to give her a nice demonstration of the skills I had acquired, and perhaps show her how well I was at fencing with, oh, rangers!
"Maurelwen please!" Ali interrupted. "We do not wish to ride with you. I know that would be far to great a thing to ask. Please let me explain." She turned to us, "And you would be quite surprised to see the fencing skills that these hobbits have developed." Elaina and I smiled.
"Well, what then are you plans?" Stryker asked.
"We only wish to ride behind you, and follow the path that you shall take. We will not in any way interfere with the plans of the Dunedain, nor will we act in any way that would reveal your mission or its purpose, whatever that may be. We planned not to tell anyone, but there are fears in my heart that I can not quiet, and I feel it necessary to have communication with at least one rider in your company."
"So you want me to violate their trust?" she said. "We do not keep secrets in our company, we have.."
"Oh you don't?" I finally interrupted, surprised at Stryker's blatant hipocrisy.
She was speechless.
"Maurelwen," Ali continued "I ask this of you only because I know that if you were in our position, knowing that the one you love was in danger, that you would wish to do the same thing. Please, Maurelwen."
She smiled. "I will aid you in any way I can, my friends, although, I do not know what help I can render."
Ali seemed to think for a moment then strung an arrow and shot it into the air. A raven soon flew down and Ali began to speak to it in a strange, foreign tongue.
She released it once she was finished and then spoke to us, "the raven is a faithful bird. He will relay our messages, all you must do is whistle like so..."
She whistled, and the black bird soon returned. ".....and he will come to you," Ali finished. She spoke again to the bird and released it.
Ali turned to Stryker and handed her her helm. "What say you, Stryker? Will you help us?"
Stryker smiled. "You have my allegiance, my friends, and you always will. It is late, they will be calling upon me soon. It is best that we return."
"Sounds good to me," I said and stood up from my seat. "But remember Stryker, not a word to anyone, not even Darion."
"Understood." said Stryker, we turned to go up the hill.
I smiled at Elaina and at Stryker. Well, I thought, Soon, very soon. I'm coming Samwise, I'm coming.