I woke up a cry, my covers lay in a twisted array on the floor and I was covered in a cold sweat. Dal's red eyes still burned into my brain and somewhere in the back of my head Rash was throwing a party with my paranoia. I swung my legs over the side of my, trying to catch my breath and straighten out my gown when there came a knock at my door. I hurried to it, maybe it was Allanon, perhaps he dreamed the same thing as I.
I flung open the wooden door hopefully, but the only person who stood there was the tiny Frodo Baggins.
"Begging your pardon, Lady," He said softly and I spotted his servant Samwise at the edge of my opened door, "but I sleep next to your room and I thought I heard a cry. I thought I would check in on you and . . . " He trailed off looking helpless and horribly embarrassed, but something in his blue eyes told me he knew what I dreamed about.
"I'm all right, Master Frodo, won't you come in, and your friend, I had a dream, I'd like to talk to someone about it," His face lit up, but his servant, Samwise looked sour and scooted in on Frodo's heels. He took one look at my disheveled bed and gave a slight snort, whispering something to his master.
I tore the blankets off the bed and threw them in a corner of my room and sat down and invited them to sit as well. I had to tell him my dream without telling him everything about me. I knew Allanon would have kittens if he knew what I was doing.
"So, Lady Meia, what happened in your dream?" Frodo asked softly, his legs dangling over the side of the bed.
"It was a nightmare, really, there was this dark tower surrounded by fiery pits, and at the top, two men fought, a white one and a dark one. The dark one won and it was just horrible, the feeling and the screams and my skin still crawls," I tried to keep it vague, like I hadn't a clue what I saw. Sam gave Frodo's sleeve a tug.
"That's what happened in your dream, Master Frodo, with Saruman! I think we should go tell Gandalf right away!" The name of the grey man sent a chill through me and I almost cried out against it, but the fear was not mine, it was Rash's. Frodo shook his head.
"No, Sam, I don't think so," He said, " I think I saw the dream because I have the ring." Frodo's blue eyes locked on mine, "But why would you see it?"
"Yes, Lady Meia, why would you see it?" Sam almost sneered. I didn't know if I wanted to smack the small hobbit or pinch him, but I knew he was only looking out for his master.
"I'm not sure, maybe . . . from being in the presence of the ring," I offered lamely, " You heard Gandalf," I choked on every syllable of the man's name, " 'The ring affects us all differently,'"
Frodo nodded satisfied, but Sam eyed me warily. "Well, I think unless something happens we can keep this as our little secret, okay, Lady Meia,"
"Okay, Master Frodo," I smiled, relieved, Frodo and Sam slipped down from the bed, and the kind dark haired hobbit patted my hand.
"Good night and pleasant dreams, Lady," He smiled and the two left, closing the door behind them, leaving me with my thoughts of three men, one with red eyes, one with black eyes, and one with gem blue eyes.
I rose and dressed the next morning. The clothing Arwen had laid out for me were superb. They consisted of a soft, but strong, loose cotton sweater with a sturdy green leather vest with scalloped edges and sleeves. Also I had been given a pair of thick leather breeches, with a pair of ankle high boots and a woolen cape that was dyed blue.
I made my way to the dining hall and found everyone eating at a large table. I was late.
"Sorry, I overslept," I offered as everyone lifted their eyes to me.
I quickly helped myself to some buttered bread, cheese, and fruit and sat beside Red at the end of the table. He had been a little miffed at being left behind, but when he was promised a place with Elrond's guards he was as happy a child with a toy. Bremen too was a little disappointed at staying, wanting to keep an eye on Allanon and myself, but Allanon convinced him that he would be to much of a distraction. Ryer Ord Star said little and was still adjusting to the place. Her eyes were always large, and she was always being startled or looking over her shoulder.
"Allanon seems chipper this morning," Red whispered in my ear as I took a bite out of my buttered bread. I looked down the table and saw Allanon eating with a cross face. Aragorn who sat a little further up and across from the druid seemed to have an even darker look.
"It seems Strider woke on the wrong side of the bed as well," I whispered after swallowing.
The rover suppressed a smile and reached out for a chunk of cheese. Something bugged me though, it seemed there was someone missing when Brom burst into the dining hall, marched right over to the elven-lord, and planted himself at Elrond's elbow.
"I am not staying! How can you treat me as such a child!?" Brom demanded as Elrond turned his smiling eyes to the silver boy. "You're going to leave me behind and stick some withered old dwarf in my place?" He asked furiously and I gasped.
"Brom! How dare you-" I was shushed by Elrond.
"Now, now Lady Meia, let me hear the young lad," Elrond grinned and turned back to Brom. "Now, Master Brom, what is it you'd like to tell me?"
Brom narrowed his black eyes, "Bremen told me, just now, that you were going to leave me here. I have a magic sword and you were going to put that old dwarf in my place-"
"Now see here," Bilbo said, standing from his place beside Frodo, "I don't mind being called old and withered -cause I am- but I am no dwarf! I am a hobbit, and Elrond was only going to because, well, because your only a child,"
"So's master Pippin, and he's going!" Brom challenged, and Pippin who sat across from Frodo, went red.
"Is this why Allanon's so sour?" I asked and Redden nodded.
"He really wants Brom to go, since he has the sword and all, but Strider thinks Brom's too young and won't let him go,"
"Just a moment," Aragorn said, as if on cue, and rose, looking doubly cross, "There are other reasons why Master Bilbo was chosen over you, Brom, other than your age,"
"What reasons?" Brom demanded, turning his inky eyes on the ranger. Aragorn looked to the amused Elrond who gestured for him to continue.
"For one," Aragorn began, "Master Bilbo has been on adventures before, he's more experienced,"
"I've been on adventures," Brom countered, "and I'm young, I'm used to long walks and won't get winded easily,"
A murmur rippled down the table, and Aragorn's dark eyes flashed, "He has also fought orcs, goblins, and trolls,"
"I've fought those and gnomes and were-beasts and skull-" Gimli who sat at Brom's elbow gave the boy a hard pinch. Brom wheeled on the dwarf but Aragorn shook his head.
"I will not allow a young boy to go marching to his death!" Aragorn frowned, " I would feel responsible if anything happened to you," At that, Boromir stood with a smile.
"Responsibility?" Boromir asked, " If that is all that stands in this young lad's way than I shall be his protector, and you'll need not worry about him, Aragorn,"
" I approve," Said Elrond and looked down the table, "That is if the fellowship agrees," Everyone murmured their consent and Allanon's look brightened considerably. As everyone ate I caught snippets of conversation as Bilbo told his bright eyed nephew he was actually glad not to be going, and Aragorn telling Boromir that he would hold the borderman to his word.
We were on the road before noon and I was told we would take a pass high in the mountains. I was not worried about the pass, but the dangers we might encounter