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I guess I'm up to writing a bit more before the scene between Bilbo and Elrond. Maybe one more between Frodo and Gail. I'm starting to get a better feel for the story as I go on. Okay, in this story, Gail comes face to face with a nightmare.
OCTOBER 2968 Rivedell & The Shire (A couple of weeks after Frodo's birth)
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RIVENDELL
It was one of many games that the three friends played in the Valley whenever they would return with her brother for a while. A Race. An innocent act that had never before led to any trouble. Legolas, Glorfindel and Guiltily were racing to the Ford at the borders of Rivendell.
There was a bright sun in the azure skies over Rivendell. She was riding in the valley, clad in white pants and a soft blue shirt. Her hair was braided behind her and she rode hard. It was a race, and she was going to win it…this time. She urged her white stallion forward, stroking its neck fondly. "Come on Boy…We can do it this time." Behind her Glorfindel was hot on her trail, riding almost neck and neck with Legolas. The two blonde elves were riding stallions of a similar breed and color. They had always won before, but she had been training.
As they galloped forward, they began to approach the Ford … on the edge of Rivendell's borders, she could hear someone shouting in her ears. That was their destination, the ford was where they always stopped the race. It was Legolas she could see when she glanced over his shoulder, but she did not. "Gail slow down…you won't be able to stop him!" the prince was shouting. She did not hear though as the wind was rushing by. She turned then to her other side, where Glorfindel was coming up on the right. She hadn't heard the words and continued to spur the horse on….faster and faster.
But something was wrong…As bright and sunny as the day had been before…a sudden shadow crept over the sky…so quickly…like a great billowing black hand…enveloping everything…clouds rippled above, churning in cold darkness as they moved forward.
The Ford was suddenly rushing forward and into her vision. She felt something…call her…then…but it was not Legolas or Glorfindel. The call was like a whisper in her head…then she saw him…standing there in brilliant ethereal light, just across on the other side of the ford. The tall white king…his robes flowed in an almost formless way but he was unmistakable. He lifted his skeletal hand…and out of the corner of her eye she saw Glorfindel's horse rear, and buck backwards, throwing him off of it and into a tree. There was crunching sound when he hit and she cried out trying desperately to reign in her own steed. But she couldn't, she turned over to her left, where Legolas was riding beside her, trying to reach out his hand. "Grab ahold!" he cried out.
She tried…she really did…but she could not drag her gaze away from the figure on the other side of the ford. Legolas was almost able to touch her hand, but she pulled it away when she looked back to the White King. He was also reaching towards her…
"Do not cross the ford." she could hear Elrond's voice echoing in her ears from the past. "You may go anywhere in the valley…but never cross the ford."
Always before, nothing had happened. They had stopped and then she looked beyond the ford and asked them a million questions about the world beyond it, and they made their way back to Rivendell. But today…today was different. It was October the 20th…2968.
The one voice became clear in her mind. "Cross to us…" Both of the King's hands spread, and Legolas struggled to keep control over his own steed, but it was beginning to buck…and refuse to move forward. . "Cross the ford…" the words sounded like the crunching noise that is made when one walks through cracked dry and dead leaves.
Legolas was unsure exactly what was going on, she had never had a problem stopping before…but once he saw what happened to Glorfindel he knew that something was very wrong. He would not give up…something was happening. He could not see the King, but he knew that something had got control over her horse…and there was only one thing that he could do. He vaulted off his own steed, and ran forward, bracing one foot against a rock. Though pain laced through his eyes at the idea of having to do what he must….he notched an arrow and aimed at a place where the beast might recover from…The sharp sound echoed through the air as the arrow sliced into the flesh of the beast.
The White King screamed….a sound that echoed across the valley and beyond as he forced the stallion forward…despite its pain. Twas a shill cry…but as though it were made from a thousand voices instead of just one. The stallion was almost to the river, a few more seconds and it would be carrying her across.
Legolas had no time to waste, he notched a second arrow, and aimed for the horse's head. The words of Elrond passed through his head…"Never let her leave the valley, no matter what you have to do to stop her." …and he let fly. Almost in slow motion the second arrow sped by, narrowly missing hitting Gail as it cut into the brain of the beast…causing a quick and easy death. The horse tumbled, and spilled her from the saddle, crashing into the ground.
Legolas ran forward, his bow in his hands and he pushed the beast off of Gailethil. "Gail…are you alright?" he lifted her, brushing her hair away from her face. Her eyes were closed and she was shivering...as though cold, and her face was drenched in sweat.
She opened her eyes, and they shimmered with tears, seeing only what was across the ford. "Let me go…" she clutched at the Prince of Mirkwood. "It hurts…."
The White King knew he was defeated…this time…and did nothing more.
"Glorfindel!" she suddenly cried, her eyes seeing what was around her once again. "Where is he? I saw him fall…" then she saw him limping in their direction, leading the other two horses. His expression was grave…and there were tears in his clothing where he had hit stone when falling down.
"I'm alright." he assured her gently, rushing over to bend down and assist Legolas. "What happened?" he looked at the Prince.
"She was about to cross the ford." The expression on his friend' face was very grave. "The horse did not fall to my first arrow, something was controlling it." He released his hold on Gailethil so that Glorfindel could take care of her. "I had to kill the beast or it would have taken her across ."
"The White King called to me…" she whispered softly, burying her head into Glorfindel's shoulder. And then…she smiles a strange and wistful smile…and it is more than obvious that she is talking about someone else. "I can hear him crying…finally…after all this time…he's here…" Her face was a strange combination of joy and sorrow.
"We have to tell Hir Elrond." Glorfindel responded, lifting up the she-elf in his arms. His breath caught in his throat when he heard Gail speak, for he knew that she meant the one from all those years ago. He met Legolas' gaze and set his chin in determination. Gail was looking far away and not quite entirely with them yet…and it was raining besides. "What fell voice was that which commanded our steeds?"
"I do not know, but you are correct. That was … far too close…We must get her back, and quickly. " Legolas turned to Gail as she began to rub her eyes and then blink around as though one who had just awoken, lifting her head away from Glorfindel's shoulder and staring at something on her fingers.
"Glorfindel." Gailethil looked up at him with eyes that he would forever be lost in, eyes that could have commanded him to do just about anything. "You're hurt…" she had touched the side of his shirt and blood had stained her fingers. He shivered at her touch, but perhaps it was just the rain. She glanced back at her horse and her eyes opened wide, "Oh! No…" she tried to struggle to get up, but was restrained. "What happened?" she whimpered…for she truly couldn't remember. "Legolas…?" and she began to cry again…her head was hurting so much that she couldn't think straight…and she was very dizzy.
Glorfindel shook his head, "Its not bad." he assured her, allowing her to cry as she would. Legolas came over and laid a hand on the she-elf's shoulder. "I'll be fine.."
"It had to be done." he whispered helplessly, "I'm sorry."
"What happened…What happened…" she repeated over and over again, whimpering and shivering…but not from the cool rain that was fell down. "I'm so cold…" she laid her head back on Glorfindel's shoulder. "Everything is spinning…"
Indeed her hands were like icicles when he touched them. "Here." Legolas took her from Glorfindel so that the other could mount his steed. Then she was carefully handed up to the younger elf, and he held her tightly in his arms. Legolas lept up onto his own horse. "I feel…something still there…we must be away."
And they rode hard back through the valley.
The White King watched from the edge of the Ford. His cold lifeless eyes followed them until they were out of site. Patience. Things were changing already. At least they knew one thing...they were that much closer to the Precious, that much closer to the Ring. He could feel it...as though it was just beyond his reach...but it would soon make its presence known in the world, and with the aid that they were getting from the voice in the Planetir things could proceed far differently. From what she had told them, if they did not do exactly as she directed...Sauron would never regain the One Ring. He smiled...well...it wasn't exactly a smile, it was more like a sneer. They had to get her out of Rivendell. But...how?
He needed a spy. He needed to convince someone in Rivendell to lure her outside. His gaze narrowed when he saw the look that Glorfindel was giving the Last and a perfectly awful smile spread over his skeletal face. How interesting.
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THE SHIRE
It had been quite a long night, but the little baby boy was now resting…though he had been crying and fretful all night. He was cradled gently in Primul'as arms as Bilbo came in to see him, brought by Drogo. A storm was raging outside and water could be heard pelting against the windows.
Bilbo gazed down at his nephew curiously. He seemed to need a great deal of attention…this one, but he would soon grow strong.
Drogo grinned in that boyish way that he had. "Cute little fellow, isn't he…He's been a bit ill lately, but he's getting better." The dark haired hobbit laughed a little at Bilbo's expression. "Oh come now, Bilbo. Tis only a babe. He won't bite. If you want to hold him, I'm sure Primmy will let you."
Bilbo fingered the ring in his pocket absently, as though he was thinking of something else, and wasn't entirely sure what it was. He'd heard something though…perhaps it had only been the wind because out side…rain was falling in heavy torrents. He shook his head, "I'm not that good with children.." He only know that what he'd heard just now was not the cry of a baby. "Did you hear that?" Bilbo asked, looking out the window and fancying that he saw a black shape there for only a moment.
"Hear what?" Drogo shook his head, "Nothing there…Just the wind." he smacked Bilbo on the back affectionately, "I'm glad you're here, though. Little fellows going to be quite the charmer when he grows up. Look at that cleft on his chin, just like his grandfather. I think we're going to call him Frodo."
"Frodo…" Bilbo smiled, though the smile did not quite reach his eyes as something was nagging at the back of his mind. "I like the sound of that." Something...did not sit right with him though, and he nervously kept glancing to the window and felt the most peculiar desire to put on the ring in his pocket.
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I guess I'm up to writing a bit more before the scene between Bilbo and Elrond. Maybe one more between Frodo and Gail. I'm starting to get a better feel for the story as I go on. Okay, in this story, Gail comes face to face with a nightmare.
OCTOBER 2968 Rivedell & The Shire (A couple of weeks after Frodo's birth)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RIVENDELL
It was one of many games that the three friends played in the Valley whenever they would return with her brother for a while. A Race. An innocent act that had never before led to any trouble. Legolas, Glorfindel and Guiltily were racing to the Ford at the borders of Rivendell.
There was a bright sun in the azure skies over Rivendell. She was riding in the valley, clad in white pants and a soft blue shirt. Her hair was braided behind her and she rode hard. It was a race, and she was going to win it…this time. She urged her white stallion forward, stroking its neck fondly. "Come on Boy…We can do it this time." Behind her Glorfindel was hot on her trail, riding almost neck and neck with Legolas. The two blonde elves were riding stallions of a similar breed and color. They had always won before, but she had been training.
As they galloped forward, they began to approach the Ford … on the edge of Rivendell's borders, she could hear someone shouting in her ears. That was their destination, the ford was where they always stopped the race. It was Legolas she could see when she glanced over his shoulder, but she did not. "Gail slow down…you won't be able to stop him!" the prince was shouting. She did not hear though as the wind was rushing by. She turned then to her other side, where Glorfindel was coming up on the right. She hadn't heard the words and continued to spur the horse on….faster and faster.
But something was wrong…As bright and sunny as the day had been before…a sudden shadow crept over the sky…so quickly…like a great billowing black hand…enveloping everything…clouds rippled above, churning in cold darkness as they moved forward.
The Ford was suddenly rushing forward and into her vision. She felt something…call her…then…but it was not Legolas or Glorfindel. The call was like a whisper in her head…then she saw him…standing there in brilliant ethereal light, just across on the other side of the ford. The tall white king…his robes flowed in an almost formless way but he was unmistakable. He lifted his skeletal hand…and out of the corner of her eye she saw Glorfindel's horse rear, and buck backwards, throwing him off of it and into a tree. There was crunching sound when he hit and she cried out trying desperately to reign in her own steed. But she couldn't, she turned over to her left, where Legolas was riding beside her, trying to reach out his hand. "Grab ahold!" he cried out.
She tried…she really did…but she could not drag her gaze away from the figure on the other side of the ford. Legolas was almost able to touch her hand, but she pulled it away when she looked back to the White King. He was also reaching towards her…
"Do not cross the ford." she could hear Elrond's voice echoing in her ears from the past. "You may go anywhere in the valley…but never cross the ford."
Always before, nothing had happened. They had stopped and then she looked beyond the ford and asked them a million questions about the world beyond it, and they made their way back to Rivendell. But today…today was different. It was October the 20th…2968.
The one voice became clear in her mind. "Cross to us…" Both of the King's hands spread, and Legolas struggled to keep control over his own steed, but it was beginning to buck…and refuse to move forward. . "Cross the ford…" the words sounded like the crunching noise that is made when one walks through cracked dry and dead leaves.
Legolas was unsure exactly what was going on, she had never had a problem stopping before…but once he saw what happened to Glorfindel he knew that something was very wrong. He would not give up…something was happening. He could not see the King, but he knew that something had got control over her horse…and there was only one thing that he could do. He vaulted off his own steed, and ran forward, bracing one foot against a rock. Though pain laced through his eyes at the idea of having to do what he must….he notched an arrow and aimed at a place where the beast might recover from…The sharp sound echoed through the air as the arrow sliced into the flesh of the beast.
The White King screamed….a sound that echoed across the valley and beyond as he forced the stallion forward…despite its pain. Twas a shill cry…but as though it were made from a thousand voices instead of just one. The stallion was almost to the river, a few more seconds and it would be carrying her across.
Legolas had no time to waste, he notched a second arrow, and aimed for the horse's head. The words of Elrond passed through his head…"Never let her leave the valley, no matter what you have to do to stop her." …and he let fly. Almost in slow motion the second arrow sped by, narrowly missing hitting Gail as it cut into the brain of the beast…causing a quick and easy death. The horse tumbled, and spilled her from the saddle, crashing into the ground.
Legolas ran forward, his bow in his hands and he pushed the beast off of Gailethil. "Gail…are you alright?" he lifted her, brushing her hair away from her face. Her eyes were closed and she was shivering...as though cold, and her face was drenched in sweat.
She opened her eyes, and they shimmered with tears, seeing only what was across the ford. "Let me go…" she clutched at the Prince of Mirkwood. "It hurts…."
The White King knew he was defeated…this time…and did nothing more.
"Glorfindel!" she suddenly cried, her eyes seeing what was around her once again. "Where is he? I saw him fall…" then she saw him limping in their direction, leading the other two horses. His expression was grave…and there were tears in his clothing where he had hit stone when falling down.
"I'm alright." he assured her gently, rushing over to bend down and assist Legolas. "What happened?" he looked at the Prince.
"She was about to cross the ford." The expression on his friend' face was very grave. "The horse did not fall to my first arrow, something was controlling it." He released his hold on Gailethil so that Glorfindel could take care of her. "I had to kill the beast or it would have taken her across ."
"The White King called to me…" she whispered softly, burying her head into Glorfindel's shoulder. And then…she smiles a strange and wistful smile…and it is more than obvious that she is talking about someone else. "I can hear him crying…finally…after all this time…he's here…" Her face was a strange combination of joy and sorrow.
"We have to tell Hir Elrond." Glorfindel responded, lifting up the she-elf in his arms. His breath caught in his throat when he heard Gail speak, for he knew that she meant the one from all those years ago. He met Legolas' gaze and set his chin in determination. Gail was looking far away and not quite entirely with them yet…and it was raining besides. "What fell voice was that which commanded our steeds?"
"I do not know, but you are correct. That was … far too close…We must get her back, and quickly. " Legolas turned to Gail as she began to rub her eyes and then blink around as though one who had just awoken, lifting her head away from Glorfindel's shoulder and staring at something on her fingers.
"Glorfindel." Gailethil looked up at him with eyes that he would forever be lost in, eyes that could have commanded him to do just about anything. "You're hurt…" she had touched the side of his shirt and blood had stained her fingers. He shivered at her touch, but perhaps it was just the rain. She glanced back at her horse and her eyes opened wide, "Oh! No…" she tried to struggle to get up, but was restrained. "What happened?" she whimpered…for she truly couldn't remember. "Legolas…?" and she began to cry again…her head was hurting so much that she couldn't think straight…and she was very dizzy.
Glorfindel shook his head, "Its not bad." he assured her, allowing her to cry as she would. Legolas came over and laid a hand on the she-elf's shoulder. "I'll be fine.."
"It had to be done." he whispered helplessly, "I'm sorry."
"What happened…What happened…" she repeated over and over again, whimpering and shivering…but not from the cool rain that was fell down. "I'm so cold…" she laid her head back on Glorfindel's shoulder. "Everything is spinning…"
Indeed her hands were like icicles when he touched them. "Here." Legolas took her from Glorfindel so that the other could mount his steed. Then she was carefully handed up to the younger elf, and he held her tightly in his arms. Legolas lept up onto his own horse. "I feel…something still there…we must be away."
And they rode hard back through the valley.
The White King watched from the edge of the Ford. His cold lifeless eyes followed them until they were out of site. Patience. Things were changing already. At least they knew one thing...they were that much closer to the Precious, that much closer to the Ring. He could feel it...as though it was just beyond his reach...but it would soon make its presence known in the world, and with the aid that they were getting from the voice in the Planetir things could proceed far differently. From what she had told them, if they did not do exactly as she directed...Sauron would never regain the One Ring. He smiled...well...it wasn't exactly a smile, it was more like a sneer. They had to get her out of Rivendell. But...how?
He needed a spy. He needed to convince someone in Rivendell to lure her outside. His gaze narrowed when he saw the look that Glorfindel was giving the Last and a perfectly awful smile spread over his skeletal face. How interesting.
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THE SHIRE
It had been quite a long night, but the little baby boy was now resting…though he had been crying and fretful all night. He was cradled gently in Primul'as arms as Bilbo came in to see him, brought by Drogo. A storm was raging outside and water could be heard pelting against the windows.
Bilbo gazed down at his nephew curiously. He seemed to need a great deal of attention…this one, but he would soon grow strong.
Drogo grinned in that boyish way that he had. "Cute little fellow, isn't he…He's been a bit ill lately, but he's getting better." The dark haired hobbit laughed a little at Bilbo's expression. "Oh come now, Bilbo. Tis only a babe. He won't bite. If you want to hold him, I'm sure Primmy will let you."
Bilbo fingered the ring in his pocket absently, as though he was thinking of something else, and wasn't entirely sure what it was. He'd heard something though…perhaps it had only been the wind because out side…rain was falling in heavy torrents. He shook his head, "I'm not that good with children.." He only know that what he'd heard just now was not the cry of a baby. "Did you hear that?" Bilbo asked, looking out the window and fancying that he saw a black shape there for only a moment.
"Hear what?" Drogo shook his head, "Nothing there…Just the wind." he smacked Bilbo on the back affectionately, "I'm glad you're here, though. Little fellows going to be quite the charmer when he grows up. Look at that cleft on his chin, just like his grandfather. I think we're going to call him Frodo."
"Frodo…" Bilbo smiled, though the smile did not quite reach his eyes as something was nagging at the back of his mind. "I like the sound of that." Something...did not sit right with him though, and he nervously kept glancing to the window and felt the most peculiar desire to put on the ring in his pocket.
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