((Ok, ok, I know it's been quite a long time since I've updated, but it's only because I've been working like mad on other portions of the story. I now have the entire storyline planned out! Many kudos to Keira (sp?) and Kathykins! It's all good now, and the rest of the story should follow, smooth as silk, or so the saying goes. By the way, for those of you who have asked, Calad Aur means Morning Light in Sindarin, aka Elvin. Thanks, all!))
Kara attempted valiantly to rid herself of the nagging feeling that she was going into this noble quest with what she thought of as the most unremarkable character ever designed by the Creator. She had halfway expected some kind of momentous change to seize her and turn her into a graceful lady or a powerful warrior, capable of defending the Nine travellers without breaking a sweat.
Well, she was definately breaking a sweat now, and it wasn't from defending the Nine. It was simply from trying to get everything she had been told to carry into one neat roll. Faradir was watching her with increasing amusement, not offering his help at any point. Kara knew that no one would likely offer their help on the road, but she still wondered just how much unholy delight he was taking in watching her swear at a deformed roll of wool. At last, she felt the buckle click into place, let go of the roll, and dropped to the floor. Faradir now laughed outright. Kara shot a glare up at him.
"Quite amusing. How long until we leave?"
"You have precisely three days to get that down."
"Wonderful. Care to give me any pointers?"
"No."
"Thank you."
Faradir continued laughing as Kara attempted to straighten her hair. The roll of clothes and utensils began to slither off the bed, and before Kara could catch it, it thudded onto her toe. Kara grunted and rolled her eyes. This day was not going right, and it wasn't even noon. With a deep sigh, she dropped onto the bed next to Faradir. He nudged her a bit.
"Are you all right, little one?" Kara shook her head.
"I don't even know what I'm doing. People seem to think that because of the prophecy, I'm some kind of indestructable being. But when something happens, I don't know what they expect me to do about it. I'm just a farm girl." Faradir nodded in understanding. He looked at her for a long moment, thinking hard. The silence deepened, allowing Kara to calm down. Finally, Faradir spoke.
"Interesting. The little ones are from the simplest background imagineable, yet they are the majority of the party. Aside from Frodo, I have never heard any of them question their usefulness. Neither should you question your ability, because it seems to arise at need." Kara nodded slightly. She still wanted to protest, but just at that moment the clock struck noon, signalling the summons to lunch. Faradir patted her arm. Kara smiled at him. They both rose wordlessly and, after Kara kicked her bedroll (not quite on accident, and not quite gently) they made their way into the dining room.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Boromir watched for the girl to enter the dining hall, only half-concentrating on his conversation with Gimli. He wanted to see how she held herself in conversation, if she truly ate like a peasant or comported herself as a lady, and whether or not her facial expressions continued to change like the sun passing behind clouds. The hobbits, he understood. The elves, he understood. But this girl was an enigma, one moment bright as the sun, the next somber. Or, as he had seen in the council, one minute demure and humble, the next spirited and confident. She seemed capable of many things, but what he wanted to know was, who was she in reality? When the capriciousness died away, who did she become?
Finally, they heard Kara's light, soft voice in the hallways outside the room. Faradir was with her. When they entered the room, Aragorn stood politely. Boromir would have followed suit, but Gimli was stepping on his pant leg. Kara surprised them all by executing a courtsey and greeting each one of them with a warm smile. Boromir smiled slightly in return and, wrenching his pant leg viciously from under Gimli's foot, assisted in seating her. He couldn't help but notice a rosy tinge creeping into her cheeks at this. Even in that, she shared a smile with Sam, perhaps sensing that he detested any fuss being made over him as well.
Boromir sat back down between Gimli and Aragorn, then made sure one eye stayed on Kara. She watched quietly as the others were served, graciously accepted her own food, and just as quietly began to eat. Aragorn was the first to speak to her.
"Have you met Bilbo Baggins yet, Kara? I've seen him puttering all around this house." Kara shook her head.
"No, I've been rather busy trying to keep the attack of a ferocious bedroll at bay." An immodest smirk at Faradir. The elf grinned.
"She's been trying to learn how to wrap a bedroll all morning. It's been a task indeed."
"Unaided by the clever-fingered elf designated to assist me."
"You would never grow if I made it easy for you."
Kara narrowed her eyes playfully at Faradir. He grinned back irresistably. Aragorn chuckled around a mouthful, swallowed, and announced,
"I think the elf is victorious by default. Fair Folk are a great deal more innocent-looking than the lady Kara is irritated."
"Your assistance is most appreciated, my lord."
Even as Boromir found himself chuckling from behind his water cup, he realized that this was yet another facade the creature was putting on. In his mind, a suspicion was beginning to form. When she was helped into her seat and blushed, and when she glanced across the table and smiled at Sam, that was the mask dropping away. Even if for an instant, that was who this Kara truly was.
Boromir placed down his cup and contemplated. He remembered watching her that morning in the garden. How her eyes danced in the morning light! How her features had glowed with joy! Moreover, and a credit to her character, she seemed to afford no more than average regard to Aragorn when so many were irresistably charmed by the dashing ranger. Once again Boromir observed that she seemed to view every being as equal and unique.
The meal was soon over, and one by one the diners excused themselves to each others' company or the privacy of their rooms. As Boromir left the dining room, he heard a voice behind him.
"Lord Boromir...wait!" He tuned to see Kara pattering toward her. She wore a simple green dress, unadorned by the stitched patterns or silver trinkets the elves seemed so fond of, nor was it of the rich fabrics or gay colors humans usually preferred. Her hair was down, and she wore no jewelry. Boromir could just see the Mark she bore, bulging out just beneath her throat. She smiled.
"You always fly so quickly. I've scarce had a chance to speak with you. I feel I'm going into this journey with a stranger." Boromir blinked down at her. She was still smiling.
"Much has happened, but I didn't mean to leave you ignorant of my character." Kara inclined her head. Her eyes were quizzical.
"It isn't your character I doubt, my Lord. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to imply..." The smile was falling away quickly, being replaced by a confused and penitent expression. Boromir chuckled.
"I was joking with you, dear Lady. In truth, I've been looking for a chance to meet with you."
Conversation flowed easily between the two of them. Though her background was simple, her mind was quick. Even so, she wasn't hasty with her words, often taking long pauses to consider how to respond to something. Boromir came to enjoy these pauses, anticipating what she would say, drinking in the soothing silence. So little solitude in this restful setting, and yet Kara's gentle voice drifted over him soothingly and relaxed him.
Kara was indeed a study. There seemed to be a menagerie of contradictions hiding just under her carefully maintained mask. She spoke and acted with the utmost gentleness, and yet burst with passion about most everything she cared about. When presented with what most considered to be greatness, she cared little, but her eyes lit up in wonder at the simplest of things: An opening bud, a moth on a tree trunk, closed tight against the daylight, a twig with moss growing on it, a burning candle.
Boromir found her fascination first amusing, then interesting, then strangely humbling. She was indeed a farm girl, but more observant than he could ever hope to be.
And yet there were moments, when their conversation lapsed, or when the sun set, or when the breeze blew just a certain way, and her face would fall. The light in her eyes would give way to deep pain. The hand linked into his arm would tremble breifly. It was in the stillness of these moments that Boromir wondered just what scars had been inflicted on her in the past.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
All too soon, the day of their departure dawned. Before the dawn arrived, the Nine, plus one, gathered with their loved ones at the gates of Rivendell. There were a few tears shed. Everyone was leaving something dear behind. The Hobbits left old Bilbo Baggins, Legolas left those of his kind, Aragorn left Arwen. Any fool could see how deeply in love those two were.
And Kara? Kara left the two elf scouts, Tathren and Faradir. Boromir watched out of the corner of his eye as she clung to them, devoid of the cold distances instilled in nobles from their birth. She wept quietly, her face buried in Tathren's shoulder, one hand clamped around Faradir. Gently, Tathren took Kara's face in her hands and whispered to her. Faradir murmured something quietly, and Kara nodded at him in response. Tathren dried her tears and slipped something into her hand. Kara smiled weakly. The elfin woman brushed Kara's hair out of her face. this time her words were audible.
"Peaceful journey, sweet Calad Aur." Faradir clasped Kara's hand.
"When you return, Calad Aur, you have a place here." Kara nodded, then pulled herself away from the two with an almost audible groan.
Boromir turned to Aragorn with a questioning look. Aragorn nodded, a signal that they were ready to leave. Boromir inflated his lungs, placed his horn to his lips, and sounded. The woods rang with the sound. The hobbits cried out in protest. Bill the pony snorted and pawed, shaking his head. Boromir replaced his horn in his belt.
"I will not go forward like a theif into the night." He said simply. He fancied he saw Kara staring at him in the corner of his eye. So much the better. If the party were focused on how insane he obviously was, they were less focused on their own fear.
...Now, if he could just get the rock out of his shoe...buggered thing had been flying around in there for hours.
Kara attempted valiantly to rid herself of the nagging feeling that she was going into this noble quest with what she thought of as the most unremarkable character ever designed by the Creator. She had halfway expected some kind of momentous change to seize her and turn her into a graceful lady or a powerful warrior, capable of defending the Nine travellers without breaking a sweat.
Well, she was definately breaking a sweat now, and it wasn't from defending the Nine. It was simply from trying to get everything she had been told to carry into one neat roll. Faradir was watching her with increasing amusement, not offering his help at any point. Kara knew that no one would likely offer their help on the road, but she still wondered just how much unholy delight he was taking in watching her swear at a deformed roll of wool. At last, she felt the buckle click into place, let go of the roll, and dropped to the floor. Faradir now laughed outright. Kara shot a glare up at him.
"Quite amusing. How long until we leave?"
"You have precisely three days to get that down."
"Wonderful. Care to give me any pointers?"
"No."
"Thank you."
Faradir continued laughing as Kara attempted to straighten her hair. The roll of clothes and utensils began to slither off the bed, and before Kara could catch it, it thudded onto her toe. Kara grunted and rolled her eyes. This day was not going right, and it wasn't even noon. With a deep sigh, she dropped onto the bed next to Faradir. He nudged her a bit.
"Are you all right, little one?" Kara shook her head.
"I don't even know what I'm doing. People seem to think that because of the prophecy, I'm some kind of indestructable being. But when something happens, I don't know what they expect me to do about it. I'm just a farm girl." Faradir nodded in understanding. He looked at her for a long moment, thinking hard. The silence deepened, allowing Kara to calm down. Finally, Faradir spoke.
"Interesting. The little ones are from the simplest background imagineable, yet they are the majority of the party. Aside from Frodo, I have never heard any of them question their usefulness. Neither should you question your ability, because it seems to arise at need." Kara nodded slightly. She still wanted to protest, but just at that moment the clock struck noon, signalling the summons to lunch. Faradir patted her arm. Kara smiled at him. They both rose wordlessly and, after Kara kicked her bedroll (not quite on accident, and not quite gently) they made their way into the dining room.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Boromir watched for the girl to enter the dining hall, only half-concentrating on his conversation with Gimli. He wanted to see how she held herself in conversation, if she truly ate like a peasant or comported herself as a lady, and whether or not her facial expressions continued to change like the sun passing behind clouds. The hobbits, he understood. The elves, he understood. But this girl was an enigma, one moment bright as the sun, the next somber. Or, as he had seen in the council, one minute demure and humble, the next spirited and confident. She seemed capable of many things, but what he wanted to know was, who was she in reality? When the capriciousness died away, who did she become?
Finally, they heard Kara's light, soft voice in the hallways outside the room. Faradir was with her. When they entered the room, Aragorn stood politely. Boromir would have followed suit, but Gimli was stepping on his pant leg. Kara surprised them all by executing a courtsey and greeting each one of them with a warm smile. Boromir smiled slightly in return and, wrenching his pant leg viciously from under Gimli's foot, assisted in seating her. He couldn't help but notice a rosy tinge creeping into her cheeks at this. Even in that, she shared a smile with Sam, perhaps sensing that he detested any fuss being made over him as well.
Boromir sat back down between Gimli and Aragorn, then made sure one eye stayed on Kara. She watched quietly as the others were served, graciously accepted her own food, and just as quietly began to eat. Aragorn was the first to speak to her.
"Have you met Bilbo Baggins yet, Kara? I've seen him puttering all around this house." Kara shook her head.
"No, I've been rather busy trying to keep the attack of a ferocious bedroll at bay." An immodest smirk at Faradir. The elf grinned.
"She's been trying to learn how to wrap a bedroll all morning. It's been a task indeed."
"Unaided by the clever-fingered elf designated to assist me."
"You would never grow if I made it easy for you."
Kara narrowed her eyes playfully at Faradir. He grinned back irresistably. Aragorn chuckled around a mouthful, swallowed, and announced,
"I think the elf is victorious by default. Fair Folk are a great deal more innocent-looking than the lady Kara is irritated."
"Your assistance is most appreciated, my lord."
Even as Boromir found himself chuckling from behind his water cup, he realized that this was yet another facade the creature was putting on. In his mind, a suspicion was beginning to form. When she was helped into her seat and blushed, and when she glanced across the table and smiled at Sam, that was the mask dropping away. Even if for an instant, that was who this Kara truly was.
Boromir placed down his cup and contemplated. He remembered watching her that morning in the garden. How her eyes danced in the morning light! How her features had glowed with joy! Moreover, and a credit to her character, she seemed to afford no more than average regard to Aragorn when so many were irresistably charmed by the dashing ranger. Once again Boromir observed that she seemed to view every being as equal and unique.
The meal was soon over, and one by one the diners excused themselves to each others' company or the privacy of their rooms. As Boromir left the dining room, he heard a voice behind him.
"Lord Boromir...wait!" He tuned to see Kara pattering toward her. She wore a simple green dress, unadorned by the stitched patterns or silver trinkets the elves seemed so fond of, nor was it of the rich fabrics or gay colors humans usually preferred. Her hair was down, and she wore no jewelry. Boromir could just see the Mark she bore, bulging out just beneath her throat. She smiled.
"You always fly so quickly. I've scarce had a chance to speak with you. I feel I'm going into this journey with a stranger." Boromir blinked down at her. She was still smiling.
"Much has happened, but I didn't mean to leave you ignorant of my character." Kara inclined her head. Her eyes were quizzical.
"It isn't your character I doubt, my Lord. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to imply..." The smile was falling away quickly, being replaced by a confused and penitent expression. Boromir chuckled.
"I was joking with you, dear Lady. In truth, I've been looking for a chance to meet with you."
Conversation flowed easily between the two of them. Though her background was simple, her mind was quick. Even so, she wasn't hasty with her words, often taking long pauses to consider how to respond to something. Boromir came to enjoy these pauses, anticipating what she would say, drinking in the soothing silence. So little solitude in this restful setting, and yet Kara's gentle voice drifted over him soothingly and relaxed him.
Kara was indeed a study. There seemed to be a menagerie of contradictions hiding just under her carefully maintained mask. She spoke and acted with the utmost gentleness, and yet burst with passion about most everything she cared about. When presented with what most considered to be greatness, she cared little, but her eyes lit up in wonder at the simplest of things: An opening bud, a moth on a tree trunk, closed tight against the daylight, a twig with moss growing on it, a burning candle.
Boromir found her fascination first amusing, then interesting, then strangely humbling. She was indeed a farm girl, but more observant than he could ever hope to be.
And yet there were moments, when their conversation lapsed, or when the sun set, or when the breeze blew just a certain way, and her face would fall. The light in her eyes would give way to deep pain. The hand linked into his arm would tremble breifly. It was in the stillness of these moments that Boromir wondered just what scars had been inflicted on her in the past.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
All too soon, the day of their departure dawned. Before the dawn arrived, the Nine, plus one, gathered with their loved ones at the gates of Rivendell. There were a few tears shed. Everyone was leaving something dear behind. The Hobbits left old Bilbo Baggins, Legolas left those of his kind, Aragorn left Arwen. Any fool could see how deeply in love those two were.
And Kara? Kara left the two elf scouts, Tathren and Faradir. Boromir watched out of the corner of his eye as she clung to them, devoid of the cold distances instilled in nobles from their birth. She wept quietly, her face buried in Tathren's shoulder, one hand clamped around Faradir. Gently, Tathren took Kara's face in her hands and whispered to her. Faradir murmured something quietly, and Kara nodded at him in response. Tathren dried her tears and slipped something into her hand. Kara smiled weakly. The elfin woman brushed Kara's hair out of her face. this time her words were audible.
"Peaceful journey, sweet Calad Aur." Faradir clasped Kara's hand.
"When you return, Calad Aur, you have a place here." Kara nodded, then pulled herself away from the two with an almost audible groan.
Boromir turned to Aragorn with a questioning look. Aragorn nodded, a signal that they were ready to leave. Boromir inflated his lungs, placed his horn to his lips, and sounded. The woods rang with the sound. The hobbits cried out in protest. Bill the pony snorted and pawed, shaking his head. Boromir replaced his horn in his belt.
"I will not go forward like a theif into the night." He said simply. He fancied he saw Kara staring at him in the corner of his eye. So much the better. If the party were focused on how insane he obviously was, they were less focused on their own fear.
...Now, if he could just get the rock out of his shoe...buggered thing had been flying around in there for hours.