1 I apologize for not including this sooner but o well, better now than
never. This story is based of the Lord of the Rings trilogy written by the
magnificent J. R. R. Tolkien. This story is copyrighted to me, 2002.
Sorry for the misunderstanding in the past chapters when I may have unexpectedly switched from third person to first. When I originally wrote the story, some sentences were italicized. Uploaded onto this sight, past markings were eliminated. Therefor, from now on my story will go as follows:
"Talking"
'Thinking'
\flashback/
now onto chapter 3!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
2 Chapter 3: A New Life
The wizard and the two elves led Joslyn to their magical city within the forest, Alliswien and the young woman became overwhelmed with awe by its majestic beauty. She was received by another elf and was brought to the area designated to be her living quarters. Later, when she looked back on this time, Joslyn commented that getting those rooms was like receiving her own house. She was given her own sitting area, dressing room, bedroom, courtyard, and private dining room.
Josie was completely overjoyed with all that was provided for her. The sitting area was furnished with a lush sofa, wicker love seats, various side tables, and bookshelves filled with wondrous stories and other useful volumes. Adjoining this room was the dining room. After it remained unused for a time, Joslyn converted it for use of exercise, sword practice, the study of magic, and immersing into the histories of Middle-Earth. Back in her sitting room, a flight of stairs led to the sleeping chamber.
The bedroom featured a large canopy bed, easily sleeping three people. Miscellaneous shelves, chairs, and tables were arranged around the room. This became Joslyn's favorite room for it overlooked her courtyard which was lined with flourishing fruit and flower trees and other plants. Off the bedroom was her dressing area. This small room held a vanity and several wardrobes. These held the required formal wear, but Joslyn preferred wearing the attire of men being used to pants on Upper-Earth.
At formal occasions, for example banquets honoring new arrivals from across the sea, Josie was forced to wear formal dress. For her, she would only agree to wear plain dresses that she herself chose. She did have in her possession a few elegant gowns chosen by Galadriel claiming that one- day she would use them.
At the estate Joslyn was treated like the daughter of Elrond, Galadriel, and Gandalf. Josie truly was their daughter and held that title proudly. Josie came to call Galadriel, mom, or mother Gal when irritated. Having two "fathers", Josie called Gandalf, Gander (though he did not like the pet name) and Elrond, Rondy (he did not like his name much more.) In time, the names became part of routine and in turn Joslyn was called simply Jo.
In contrast to Jo's wishes, her training was put off for two weeks so she could get better aquatinted with the land and its customs. Joslyn came to understand many ways of her new life by reading the books in her rooms. Josie also loved to explore the estate, which was in fact more similar to a palace. She became friends with the guards and servants and in no time very close with the stable boy. Other than herself and Frodo, he was the youngest creature in the land.
Therefor Josie spent most of her time in the stables. The stable- hand, Lapnym, taught her how to ride and care for horses and in fairly a short time she was a skilled rider. Most of the horses ran free in the rolling fields, but all had stalls for the use of resting. Soon enough Josie had a horse of her own. He was a milk colored, fearless stallion whom Josie named Iffelin. She also met Shadowfax whom had been brought across the sea on boat at Gandalf's persistence. Though the horse refused to carry her, she still would talk to him from a safe distance.
On lazy afternoons Jo could be found in the hobbits' quarters listening intently to their stories and studying their maps. Bilbo often repeated facts for he was at a very old age, but when he did Josie would just pretend it was the first time she was hearing it. She bullied Frodo into teaching her to smoke pipes becoming the first female 2/3 elf, 1/3 woman to do so and probably the only, for no one else shared her lineage.
It came time when Elrond believed Joslyn was ready to begin her training to fight. At the announcement Joslyn became overly excited and rushed through her morning breakfast. "Joslyn, please slow down or you may choke yourself! You will not begin your lessons until after our mid-day meal," Elrond gently reprimanded the hyper girl. Jo chewed her food slower but there was nothing that could turn her excitement level down. She rushed through her minimal morning chores and then realized she still had the whole morning before her training would begin.
She decided to visit Lapnym. Josie raced down to the stables and quickly skirted up the ladder onto the hayloft rousing a young elf from his nap. "Come on! Let's go riding!" She shook Lapnym but only received a grunt as a reply. "Ok! You just sit there. I am going to ready up the horses and meet you outside in a few minutes." Josie vanished as quickly as she had come.
Lapnym slowly rose and rubbed his eyes and after yawning repeatedly a few times, slowly backed down the ladder. He walked the length of the stable to where he suspected Jo would be waiting for him. Sure enough she was waiting already sitting on her own horse, holding the reigns to his. He jumped onto his chestnut mare then giving it a nudge started onto the route to the lake, the usual destination when they went riding.
"Guess what?" Joslyn happily asked.
"What?" Lapnym was used to this informal speech that Jo claimed was often used in Upper-Earth.
"I told you to guess!"
"Ok, you tricked Frodo this morning?"
"Nope, did that two days ago, remember?"
"Then hmmm, you got to wear breeches to the banquet last night?"
"Ugh, unfortunately no."
Lapnym rode in silence before claiming, "I give up."
Jo immediately told her news. "Rondy says I learn to fight today!" Punching her fist into the air, she grinned proudly and sat up straight in her saddle.
"How is it then that you are here now?"
Josie sighed. "Rondy says that I do not start until after lunch today."
Lapnym glanced at the sun. "This make it only possible to have time for the river then."
They rode until they reached a sparkling river. Their horses took a drink and after Josie herself gulped down some refreshing water. "We should be heading back now," Lapnym spoke up. "You have been late far too many lunches and today especially you can not be tardy." He laughed, his eyes glinting and smoothed back his dark hair. "It wouldn't be too good if our little Joslyn dearest came strolling into the dining hall both late and wet."
Jo stood up and turn to face her friend. "What do you mean w-," but it was too late. Lapnym kicked her in the thighs sending her backward into the water. Though the water wasn't deep, her boots were becoming as heavy as lead and she slid them off. Lapnym was too busy laughing to notice the wet boot coming in his direction.
"Ow!" he cried. "That hurt!"
"Your fault," Jo grumbled climbing onto the banking, but she was smiling. She rung out her hair which had now become quite long and collecting her thrown ammunition, put the wet boots into a side bag hanging from her horses saddle. "Let's go," she said jumping onto Iffelin.
Lapnym whimpered as he climbed into his saddle. Settling, he rubbed his head.
"It didn't hurt at all," Jo plainly stated.
The young elf replied smirking, "I know, but you damaged my pride."
They looked at each other; one was dripping wet, the other had a red bookmark on his forehead, they burst into giggles. Nudging her horse to a trot, Josie hurried back, her bare feet dangling the whole ride.
Reaching the stables, they both unsaddled their horses and let them run into the fields to graze.
Racing up into her room, Jo changed into dry cloths. Still barefoot she ran down to the dining hall and slipped into her seat just as the head elf stood to give the ritual toast.
Sorry for the misunderstanding in the past chapters when I may have unexpectedly switched from third person to first. When I originally wrote the story, some sentences were italicized. Uploaded onto this sight, past markings were eliminated. Therefor, from now on my story will go as follows:
"Talking"
'Thinking'
\flashback/
now onto chapter 3!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
2 Chapter 3: A New Life
The wizard and the two elves led Joslyn to their magical city within the forest, Alliswien and the young woman became overwhelmed with awe by its majestic beauty. She was received by another elf and was brought to the area designated to be her living quarters. Later, when she looked back on this time, Joslyn commented that getting those rooms was like receiving her own house. She was given her own sitting area, dressing room, bedroom, courtyard, and private dining room.
Josie was completely overjoyed with all that was provided for her. The sitting area was furnished with a lush sofa, wicker love seats, various side tables, and bookshelves filled with wondrous stories and other useful volumes. Adjoining this room was the dining room. After it remained unused for a time, Joslyn converted it for use of exercise, sword practice, the study of magic, and immersing into the histories of Middle-Earth. Back in her sitting room, a flight of stairs led to the sleeping chamber.
The bedroom featured a large canopy bed, easily sleeping three people. Miscellaneous shelves, chairs, and tables were arranged around the room. This became Joslyn's favorite room for it overlooked her courtyard which was lined with flourishing fruit and flower trees and other plants. Off the bedroom was her dressing area. This small room held a vanity and several wardrobes. These held the required formal wear, but Joslyn preferred wearing the attire of men being used to pants on Upper-Earth.
At formal occasions, for example banquets honoring new arrivals from across the sea, Josie was forced to wear formal dress. For her, she would only agree to wear plain dresses that she herself chose. She did have in her possession a few elegant gowns chosen by Galadriel claiming that one- day she would use them.
At the estate Joslyn was treated like the daughter of Elrond, Galadriel, and Gandalf. Josie truly was their daughter and held that title proudly. Josie came to call Galadriel, mom, or mother Gal when irritated. Having two "fathers", Josie called Gandalf, Gander (though he did not like the pet name) and Elrond, Rondy (he did not like his name much more.) In time, the names became part of routine and in turn Joslyn was called simply Jo.
In contrast to Jo's wishes, her training was put off for two weeks so she could get better aquatinted with the land and its customs. Joslyn came to understand many ways of her new life by reading the books in her rooms. Josie also loved to explore the estate, which was in fact more similar to a palace. She became friends with the guards and servants and in no time very close with the stable boy. Other than herself and Frodo, he was the youngest creature in the land.
Therefor Josie spent most of her time in the stables. The stable- hand, Lapnym, taught her how to ride and care for horses and in fairly a short time she was a skilled rider. Most of the horses ran free in the rolling fields, but all had stalls for the use of resting. Soon enough Josie had a horse of her own. He was a milk colored, fearless stallion whom Josie named Iffelin. She also met Shadowfax whom had been brought across the sea on boat at Gandalf's persistence. Though the horse refused to carry her, she still would talk to him from a safe distance.
On lazy afternoons Jo could be found in the hobbits' quarters listening intently to their stories and studying their maps. Bilbo often repeated facts for he was at a very old age, but when he did Josie would just pretend it was the first time she was hearing it. She bullied Frodo into teaching her to smoke pipes becoming the first female 2/3 elf, 1/3 woman to do so and probably the only, for no one else shared her lineage.
It came time when Elrond believed Joslyn was ready to begin her training to fight. At the announcement Joslyn became overly excited and rushed through her morning breakfast. "Joslyn, please slow down or you may choke yourself! You will not begin your lessons until after our mid-day meal," Elrond gently reprimanded the hyper girl. Jo chewed her food slower but there was nothing that could turn her excitement level down. She rushed through her minimal morning chores and then realized she still had the whole morning before her training would begin.
She decided to visit Lapnym. Josie raced down to the stables and quickly skirted up the ladder onto the hayloft rousing a young elf from his nap. "Come on! Let's go riding!" She shook Lapnym but only received a grunt as a reply. "Ok! You just sit there. I am going to ready up the horses and meet you outside in a few minutes." Josie vanished as quickly as she had come.
Lapnym slowly rose and rubbed his eyes and after yawning repeatedly a few times, slowly backed down the ladder. He walked the length of the stable to where he suspected Jo would be waiting for him. Sure enough she was waiting already sitting on her own horse, holding the reigns to his. He jumped onto his chestnut mare then giving it a nudge started onto the route to the lake, the usual destination when they went riding.
"Guess what?" Joslyn happily asked.
"What?" Lapnym was used to this informal speech that Jo claimed was often used in Upper-Earth.
"I told you to guess!"
"Ok, you tricked Frodo this morning?"
"Nope, did that two days ago, remember?"
"Then hmmm, you got to wear breeches to the banquet last night?"
"Ugh, unfortunately no."
Lapnym rode in silence before claiming, "I give up."
Jo immediately told her news. "Rondy says I learn to fight today!" Punching her fist into the air, she grinned proudly and sat up straight in her saddle.
"How is it then that you are here now?"
Josie sighed. "Rondy says that I do not start until after lunch today."
Lapnym glanced at the sun. "This make it only possible to have time for the river then."
They rode until they reached a sparkling river. Their horses took a drink and after Josie herself gulped down some refreshing water. "We should be heading back now," Lapnym spoke up. "You have been late far too many lunches and today especially you can not be tardy." He laughed, his eyes glinting and smoothed back his dark hair. "It wouldn't be too good if our little Joslyn dearest came strolling into the dining hall both late and wet."
Jo stood up and turn to face her friend. "What do you mean w-," but it was too late. Lapnym kicked her in the thighs sending her backward into the water. Though the water wasn't deep, her boots were becoming as heavy as lead and she slid them off. Lapnym was too busy laughing to notice the wet boot coming in his direction.
"Ow!" he cried. "That hurt!"
"Your fault," Jo grumbled climbing onto the banking, but she was smiling. She rung out her hair which had now become quite long and collecting her thrown ammunition, put the wet boots into a side bag hanging from her horses saddle. "Let's go," she said jumping onto Iffelin.
Lapnym whimpered as he climbed into his saddle. Settling, he rubbed his head.
"It didn't hurt at all," Jo plainly stated.
The young elf replied smirking, "I know, but you damaged my pride."
They looked at each other; one was dripping wet, the other had a red bookmark on his forehead, they burst into giggles. Nudging her horse to a trot, Josie hurried back, her bare feet dangling the whole ride.
Reaching the stables, they both unsaddled their horses and let them run into the fields to graze.
Racing up into her room, Jo changed into dry cloths. Still barefoot she ran down to the dining hall and slipped into her seat just as the head elf stood to give the ritual toast.