1.1.1.1.1.1 Chapter 2

The Wood and The Shire

The narrow winding paths of Mudwort curved round a wooded corner. Amaranth's small feet stumbled upon a few stones. Her pale little hand rested upon the back of a gleaming white horse. It was a horse of Elven home. She had called it Evenstar in memory of her mother.

"Right then, Evenstar… where now?" she asked, her voice soft and quiet.

The woods either side of the path were silent but intriguing. She looked her eyes full of a fear of sorts as she walked slowly into the wooded side to her right. She began to sing shakily, the song of Undómiel, the song she sang when Angrec fell in love with her.

iUndómiel, the star we knew,

Undómiel, away she flew.

Away from Rivendell, Elronds house

Away from Lothlórien, Celebrian's home

For she chose, above immortality

A love of loves that was meant to be.

Her wed-life with her love lasted six-score years

But in the end, it ended in tears.

The bittersweet taste of mortality struck

And after her love's death, her soul was shook

She travelled through Lórien, and lay herself down

Her old age overcame her, behind her she left her crown

Now all that remains are memories

Painful bitter memories

We will never look upon that face,

Look into those eyes full of such grace

For she is now gone, along with her love,

And has left us on this world, to grieve her"/i

A smiled creeped over her face as she led Evenstar over more logs and leaves, next moment she stumbled upon a small pile of burnt wood, signs of afire. Also, next to the wood lay a small leather pocket patch, filled with leaves and little white flowers; Amaranth traced the slight smell of honey in the air to those five little petals.

"Aranthi," Amaranth whispered with a smile. "That means, of course… Angrec." She smiled even more when she heard a rustle of footsteps upon the leafy ground, she turned around and instead of seeing, as she'd hoped, her love, Angrec, she saw a female elf with long blonde hair. She was an elf of Mudwort, her name was Furze. Amaranth met her many years before in the woods encircling the Garden of Estel. She was searching for Jonquil, as they had been very good friends for a while.

Amaranth stood still for a moment staring at Furze in surprise.

"Furze!" she said, still staring, Furze stared back,

"Ai! Amaranth; Ser'noth'A e Ashan'rai?"

"Siana," Amaranth smiled, "Furze, what brings you to the wood of Mudwort? Do you not live upon the plains? In the domes?"

"I do indeed. Only, I was on a walk, rumours have reached the dome plantations. Evil has reached Mirkwood. Every elf or other being that dwells there is in fatal danger."

Amaranth tried her hardest to cover up her terror.

"And what news of the Garden of Estel? Has it yet been reached?"

"I know not. But I assume your sister, Astarii, Ser'noth'A e Ashan'rai, will come to you with news."

"Tell me, Furze, why do you call me and my sister by that name? Sister of the son of the High King?"

"Ah, because you are. Eldarion is the son of the High King. The King that saved Gondor. Bless him with a million Aranthi petals." Furze sighed, "He was a fine fellow. Although, I did not know him myself, I have heard many a tale." Her eyes slipped up to the cracks in-between the branches of the trees, "I must go on. Namarië Amaranth."

"Namarië."

Furze walked slowly through the trees, Amaranth was turned round, her eyes upon Furze's back. Just as she disappeared from sight, a hand slipped itself around Amaranth's slim waist. She shivered, and was at first afraid but soon she smelt the Aranthi petals upon his cloak and she smiled, turning round to her love, ranger and warrior Angrec.

"Ah, my love. Amaranth." He smiled back at her and held her close to his body, smelled the beautiful soft rose smell in her hair and rubbed his cheek against her soft skin.

"Angrec, beloved. Where have you been?"

"Just here. Waiting." He pulled away from her and looked into her bright blue eyes. "You are so beautiful."

"Ah, Angrec. You must not spoil me. My head will grow too big for my crown." She smiled at him and he laughed, a strong yet quiet laugh.

"I do love you," He said, running his fingers across her cheek, "and you are so beautiful, no man or elf or other being upon this earth deserves such a beauty."

Amaranth laughed,

"And no woman nor elf nor other being deserves to be treated so well."

"Apart from you."

He pulled her close again. They stayed in a loving embrace for a long while, just standing holding each other on the outskirts of the wood.

*****

At midday on the twentieth of September, Burdock Buckbean could be found sitting outside his hobbit hole with a big red book. What was this big red book you ask? The Red Book. Passed down for thousands of years from Bilbo Baggins, to Samwise Gamgee, to Elanor Gamgee, to Elanors children, their children and so on, until it came into the hands of one Burdock Buckbean of New Row.

1.1.1.1.1.1.1 The Return of the King… Aragorn returned to Gondor

to claim his crown and take the hand of Arwen Undómiel,

daughter of Elrond in marriage.

Burdock spent many a day sitting out in the sun of the Shire reading of Frodo, Bilbo and Sam's adventures. Reading of Aragorn and Arwen after he'd heard so much from the rumours around the Shire.

Rumour also had it that daughter of Aragorn and Arwen, Amaranth Undómiel, would be coming to the shire extremely soon to seek out people to help her on a quest.

Burdock wanted very much to be able to go on adventures like he'd read about in the Red Book.

"Burdock Buckbean! My word, you're still reading that book?" a voice bounced into Burdocks busy ears, the voice belonged to one Houstania Hyssop, a blonde Hobbit with beady black eyes, which made her look like a piglet.

"Yes, I am, Miss Hyssop and I'd be eternally grateful if you left me to it, my dear." He smiled at his neighbour, she laughed back at him.

She passed by, pulling her many children behind her, who in turn all waved at Burdock and he waved back, then turned another leaf in the book.

But something stopped his eyes from reading. A gleaming white horse, followed by seven other light brown horses, came galloping over the bridge and came to a halt just outside New Row. The rider of the white horse dismounted, and Burdock stood to see the rider in better view. He saw that it was an elven lady, with long dark hair and a beautiful pale face.

"Hobbits! Hear me, Hobbits! Evil has awoken!" her strong voice shouted over the Hobbit-Holes. There were murmurs and shouts of terror, "Be not afraid of us – we are here to recruit more for our journey to the depths of shadows! Who here will put their talents to their uses and stop evil from its victory once more?" the other riders behind her had dismounted. It seemed to Burdock that they were a mixture of men and elves, male and female, dressed in brown and black and greens, muddy and wet from their journey.

Questions erupted from the crowds of Hobbits that had now formed around the riders.

"Where have you come from?"

"Why do you need us?"

"What evil do you speak of?"

The elf lady hushed the questions and shouted out again,

"The evil is Orc-species! Arisen from the lava! But fear not! I am Amaranth, daughter of King Aragorn and Queen Arwen, I and my fellows are here to help you! Now, who of you Hobbits will help us conquer evil?"

Burdock stepped out of his garden gate and further toward the horses and their riders.

"I will go. I have always wished for adventure. Although, I do not wish to go alone."

Amaranth smiled at Burdock.

"You will not go alone. There is me, my fellows and we seek one more of your kind to accompany us."

Burdock saw Amaranth turn to a man of the riders and whisper to him in elven tongue.

He only caught the words Ashtae, meaning 'the area around', Estai, meaning 'anger', Evrantilen, meaning 'oath-sworn' and many more most probably talking about the quest, but then the words changed to more personal, private words, so Burdock blushed and stopped listening abruptly.

"Tell me," said the man, smiling, "What is your name, young hobbit?"

Burdock grinned at the man,

"I am Burdock Buckbean, of Baggins lineage."

Amaranth smiled back at him.

"Frodo Baggins and my father went on the Quest of the Ring together. You are clearly destined to be with us on this journey. Yet we still need one more of Hobbit Kind."

A small hobbit stepped forward through crowds of his kindred, and said in a squeaky voice,

"I am Yarrow Hyssop. I am a small hobbit but my strength is but hidden within. I wish to accompany you on this quest."

"I am glad you have the courage to step forward, Mr. Hyssop." Smiled the man. "I am Angrec. I am of no famous lineage, but I am friend of the High Elves."

Jeers came from the crowds, but Amaranth hushed them again.

"We now have our full nine. If you would be so kind, dear Hobbits, to care for our horses and give us food and shelter for a day or two until we have our strength and plan ready to go?"

Hobbits came around the horses and led them off. Amaranth's hand found its way into Angrec's hand and they walked slowly up to Burdock.

"We wish to be placed to be together. But we wish not to take up room. Do you have blankets so that we could sleep in the wooded area yonder?" Angrec pointed to a wooded area over the bridge. Burdock looked but was overcome with guilt to let an Elven Maiden and her beloved to sleep in the wood.

"Oh, no, no. Please, my lady Amaranth, and kind Sir, please, you are to stay with me! There is much room! There is just me in this place and it does get quite lonely at times. I would appreciate some company for a few days."

And then, Burdock Buckbean was placed with the burden of an Elven Princess and her lover staying under his roof. He suddenly became very sheepish.