Chapter 4
The sweet smell of fresh bread filled Jaena's kitchen as she carefully removed the loaf from her oven. She had no sooner set it on the counter top, then there came a knock on her door. Jaena was puzzled at it. No one usually called upon her company. She removed the apron from around her waist and hung it on a hook near her door. She then opened the door. Upon opening it she discovered Legolas looking as though he was about to go on some kind of journey (At least, that is how she judged his clothing). Jaena gave him a puzzled look, but stepped aside and motioned to him to come in. "I am afraid I cannot stay long," he said after stepping into Jaena's small home. He looked around before continuing, "I must travel to Gondor. My dear friend King Aragorn has become ill, and I must go to him." "Why did you come to tell me?" asked Jaena at his blatant honesty. "I came to you because I would like you to accompany me," he answered her. After enjoying her shocked expression for a moment he continued, "I never travel alone, and seeing as you have always wanted to go on an adventure, I would very much like you to join me on this one." He stopped and looked into her eyes, as she obviously had to think about her answer before speaking it. Jaena honestly didn't have to think very hard before answering, "Yes!!"
Having never gone on an "adventure" before, Jaena lacked some necessities for a long-distance journey; Such as, traveling clothes; but that problem could be easily solved: Legolas had brought extra, and traveling clothes are traveling clothes; Jaena was not about to be picky.
The two elves set out on their trek that afternoon. Tebrilas had tried to talk Jaena out of going, but he was unsuccessful.
Jaena and Legolas walked through the woods. Legolas explained and defined all of the creatures and plants that surrounded them. It was not long before they came upon a small river flowing across their path. There was no bridge to bee seen, nor any other means of crossing over it. Legolas peered down at it, "I wonder how this could still be here…" He let his thought trail off. Jaena spoke to him, "What did you say? What is this river?" Legolas brought his thoughts back to the present, "Oh! Sorry about that. I have heard myth of this river, but I have never know of any truth of its reality," he answered. Jaena stared down at the river. In the darkness of the forest, the waters looked black. Jaena had become so enthralled in watching the black waters that she had not noticed that Legolas had walked away from her to her right. She started to follow him, but she had been walking along the edge of the river, and the dirt gave way under her weight. She tried to keep from falling by grabbing hold of a tree branch, but her efforts were unsuccessful. With a cry she fell with a rather loud splash into the cold black water. Legolas, having heard her cry, as well as the splash, ran back towards her. She was floating down the river. He reached out to her and pulled her to shore, being careful not to become wet or to fall into the river himself. He laid her down on some grass away from the water. She was fast asleep.
The sweet smell of fresh bread filled Jaena's kitchen as she carefully removed the loaf from her oven. She had no sooner set it on the counter top, then there came a knock on her door. Jaena was puzzled at it. No one usually called upon her company. She removed the apron from around her waist and hung it on a hook near her door. She then opened the door. Upon opening it she discovered Legolas looking as though he was about to go on some kind of journey (At least, that is how she judged his clothing). Jaena gave him a puzzled look, but stepped aside and motioned to him to come in. "I am afraid I cannot stay long," he said after stepping into Jaena's small home. He looked around before continuing, "I must travel to Gondor. My dear friend King Aragorn has become ill, and I must go to him." "Why did you come to tell me?" asked Jaena at his blatant honesty. "I came to you because I would like you to accompany me," he answered her. After enjoying her shocked expression for a moment he continued, "I never travel alone, and seeing as you have always wanted to go on an adventure, I would very much like you to join me on this one." He stopped and looked into her eyes, as she obviously had to think about her answer before speaking it. Jaena honestly didn't have to think very hard before answering, "Yes!!"
Having never gone on an "adventure" before, Jaena lacked some necessities for a long-distance journey; Such as, traveling clothes; but that problem could be easily solved: Legolas had brought extra, and traveling clothes are traveling clothes; Jaena was not about to be picky.
The two elves set out on their trek that afternoon. Tebrilas had tried to talk Jaena out of going, but he was unsuccessful.
Jaena and Legolas walked through the woods. Legolas explained and defined all of the creatures and plants that surrounded them. It was not long before they came upon a small river flowing across their path. There was no bridge to bee seen, nor any other means of crossing over it. Legolas peered down at it, "I wonder how this could still be here…" He let his thought trail off. Jaena spoke to him, "What did you say? What is this river?" Legolas brought his thoughts back to the present, "Oh! Sorry about that. I have heard myth of this river, but I have never know of any truth of its reality," he answered. Jaena stared down at the river. In the darkness of the forest, the waters looked black. Jaena had become so enthralled in watching the black waters that she had not noticed that Legolas had walked away from her to her right. She started to follow him, but she had been walking along the edge of the river, and the dirt gave way under her weight. She tried to keep from falling by grabbing hold of a tree branch, but her efforts were unsuccessful. With a cry she fell with a rather loud splash into the cold black water. Legolas, having heard her cry, as well as the splash, ran back towards her. She was floating down the river. He reached out to her and pulled her to shore, being careful not to become wet or to fall into the river himself. He laid her down on some grass away from the water. She was fast asleep.