Ch. 6
In the end, it wasn't that day, or the next, but the third that brought them to Rivendell. They woke in the morning to arrows in their faces. Amy didn't seem even remotely surprised, but Pete was angry, and several others were scared. Mattie had been on guard, but hadn't heard anything.
Amy sat up slowly, hands up. When she spoke, her voice could have frozen the Bruinen. "Kindly remove the arrows. This is hardly the reception I expected in Imladris of all places." She looked around a little more carefully, then spoke directly to the Elf whose arrow was pointed at Pete. "Glorfindel, what's the meaning of this? Why are travelers so ill treated miles from the Last Homely House?"
With a silent signal, the Elves lowered their bows. "These days have been dark, Almare. We had no word of your arrival, and we have had cause to fear any unannounced travelers. It has been long since we have had any word of you."
"That aside, I think you can see I'm not a threat. These are my trusted companions. What a way to return to Middle Earth." She shook her head.
"I'm sorry, Almare, but the times have been dark. We do not like to distrust travelers, but more and more, we are forced to do so."
"I'm sorry to be so testy, too, Glorfindel, but waking up to arrows in your face will tend to do that. Now, can we continue on our way to Imladris?"
"Of course. Shall I send for horses?"
"No. We've walked this far, we can make it a couple leagues further. If I don't miss my bearings, we should be there by evening, anyway."
"It's only about half a day's walk from here."
"It's that for you or me. These humans don't move as quickly as we do. You needn't wait for us. We're close enough to Rivendell we should encounter no trouble."
"Very well. I'll send word ahead so they'll be expecting you." With that, the Elves faded back into the woods. Mattie looked at her feet, embarrassed.
"Don't worry about not hearing them, Mattie. No human can hear an Elf approach if the Elf is trying to be quiet. I should have woken up myself, too. Things must be pretty bad for them to have been so suspicious. I'm sorry about that. I had hoped for a better reception. Hopefully we'll be greeted better in Rivendell."
"Is Almare your Elvish name?" Beth asked, still a little shaken.
"Yes. Amy Carmichael is a name I assumed to get along in Earth society. I've used a variety of names, depending on where I was living and when. It's just something to help fit in. I suppose we'd better get moving."
"Are we really slowing you down that much?" Randy asked.
"Yes, but it's OK. Elves are naturally strong and graceful, at least compared to Men. In any case, standing here jabbering is slowing us down more than anything. Let's get going."
That evening, the group did indeed reach Rivendell. As soon as they arrived, a messenger went in to inform Elrond, who was at dinner. Glorfindel met them in the courtyard a few minutes later.
"Almare, it's good to see you again. Please, come in. I've had rooms prepared for you. We're just finishing our evening meal, but I can have something brought for you. I've also ordered baths to be prepared for you."
"Are you implying we need them?" Amy's face was completely serious.
"I didn't mean anything, Almare. I wasn't trying to suggest…" He caught the mischievous glint in her eyes. "You little…"
"Thank you, Glorfindel. I think we're all ready to clean up and sleep in a real bed. I should pay my respects to Lord Elrond before retiring, though."
"It isn't necessary. I spoke to him about your arrival, and he told me to ask you to simply take your ease, and he'll see you in the morning—that is, unless you wish otherwise." Glorfindel had regained his composure.
"No. That really does sound wonderful, and there's no hurry."
"I'll take you to your rooms." Amy nodded and took the arm he offered, and the small group tramped after them. There was a suite of rooms for the women, and another one for the men. Each suite had a central sitting room, with bedrooms around it. Amy, Beth and Peter had their own bedrooms, and Mattie and Kim shared a room, as did Randy and Mark. Each group found hot baths waiting for them, and soft sleeping clothes. They were asleep the moment their heads hit the soft pillows.
A servant woke the guys in the morning, and Amy woke the rest of the women. She had been awake since dawn. Someone had laid out fresh clothes for all of them. For the women, there were elegant dresses, much like the ones Amy had brought to the Renaissance festival months ago. The men had tunics and leggings much like the Elves wore.
Only minutes after they were dressed and ready, a servant summoned them to breakfast. He guided them to the hall, where Elrond, Glorfindel, Elrond's sons, and an old man with a staff all waited for them. Amy seemed to start a little when she saw the old man, but he grinned at her, then stood with the others.
Elrond greeted them. "Almare, it is good to see you once again. It has been many lifetimes of men since we last saw each other. I would like you to meet my twin sons, Elladan and Elrohir, and Mithrandir, one of the Istari. My daughter, Arwen, will join us soon."
"Well met, my lords. I am not unacquainted with Mithrandir, but I left before your sons were born. What of Celebrían?" Amy stopped abruptly at the look that crossed Elrond's face. It passed in an instant, but not before she saw the pain in his eyes.*
"Celebrían was attacked by Orcs on a journey. She did not survive." Elrond closed his eyes for a moment, but his voice was steady.
"I am truly sorry, my lord. I did not mean to cause you pain." Amy restrained herself from reaching out to him. She looked over at Mithrandir helplessly.
"You could not have known. Please forgive me for darkening the morning with my griefs. Ah, here is Arwen. Allow me to introduce Arwen Undómiel, the Evenstar of our people."
Arwen walked over to them and took her place at her father's side. Pete elbowed Randy to get him to stop staring. Elrond spoke again. "Please, sit, and we will eat."
They ate quietly. Amy spoke quietly with Arwen from time to time, but it was just idle chat. After the meal, Elrond sent the travelers off to explore a bit, asking Amy to join him, Glorfindel, and Mithrandir after lunch. She led them out to the gardens, where they sat down to talk.
"What do you think so far? Is it everything you imagined it would be?"
Beth answered for all of them. "That and more. It's funny, though. Throughout the trip here, I've found my memory about the books we read fading." The others nodded their agreement. It had been much the same for them.
"Those events haven't occurred here yet. If we remembered what will happen, we might attempt to change the future. We're allowed passage between the realms, but since time isn't completely constant, it is, on rare occasion, possible to basically foretell the future. For most of us, time flows ever forward—maybe not at a constant pace, but always forward, never back. For a very few people, Tolkein among them, time wasn't constant. Tolkein came here and gathered information about the history of Middle Earth, but in such a way that he returned to his own time, even though the things he saw here were far in the future compared to the time he was living in. It's confusing, I know. I would never be able to travel in time like that. Tolkein could, but the Valar would never allow an Elf to do that. I left early in the Third Age, and now I return just nearly three thousand years later. I left in the 125th year of the Third age, and it's 3018 now. I spent roughly twenty-five hundred years in your world, so, for me, the time has been relatively constant." Amy paused and chuckled at the amazed looks she was getting. "I've been around a lot longer than that, guys, so don't be too surprised when I don't make much of five hundred years."
Mark spoke. "Just how long have you been around?"
"Do you really want to know the answer to that, Mark?"
"Yes, I do."
"I was already grown when Galadriel was born." Most of the group just stared, confused, but Mark drew in a shocked breath. "I'm one of the oldest Elves remaining in Middle Earth. Don't ask me for a number, because I don't think any of us really knows. Nobody kept track of time very well during the First Age. I know the length of the second age, and what has passed of the third age, because Men kept track. Time doesn't mean a lot to Elves. It's part of the reason I was never keen on classes remembering a lot of dates." Everyone chuckled at that. "We've sat around for long enough. Let's explore a little more, and then it will be time for lunch." With that, they got up and did just that, returning just in time for lunch.
* For information about Celebrían and her children, see the appendices to ROTK. Celebrían was Elrond's wife who was injured in an Orc attack. The three children (Elladan, Elrohir, and Arwen) were born early in the Third Age; Celebrían was attacked later in the Third Age). In this AU, she was killed; in the books, she crossed the sea to Valinor.
In the end, it wasn't that day, or the next, but the third that brought them to Rivendell. They woke in the morning to arrows in their faces. Amy didn't seem even remotely surprised, but Pete was angry, and several others were scared. Mattie had been on guard, but hadn't heard anything.
Amy sat up slowly, hands up. When she spoke, her voice could have frozen the Bruinen. "Kindly remove the arrows. This is hardly the reception I expected in Imladris of all places." She looked around a little more carefully, then spoke directly to the Elf whose arrow was pointed at Pete. "Glorfindel, what's the meaning of this? Why are travelers so ill treated miles from the Last Homely House?"
With a silent signal, the Elves lowered their bows. "These days have been dark, Almare. We had no word of your arrival, and we have had cause to fear any unannounced travelers. It has been long since we have had any word of you."
"That aside, I think you can see I'm not a threat. These are my trusted companions. What a way to return to Middle Earth." She shook her head.
"I'm sorry, Almare, but the times have been dark. We do not like to distrust travelers, but more and more, we are forced to do so."
"I'm sorry to be so testy, too, Glorfindel, but waking up to arrows in your face will tend to do that. Now, can we continue on our way to Imladris?"
"Of course. Shall I send for horses?"
"No. We've walked this far, we can make it a couple leagues further. If I don't miss my bearings, we should be there by evening, anyway."
"It's only about half a day's walk from here."
"It's that for you or me. These humans don't move as quickly as we do. You needn't wait for us. We're close enough to Rivendell we should encounter no trouble."
"Very well. I'll send word ahead so they'll be expecting you." With that, the Elves faded back into the woods. Mattie looked at her feet, embarrassed.
"Don't worry about not hearing them, Mattie. No human can hear an Elf approach if the Elf is trying to be quiet. I should have woken up myself, too. Things must be pretty bad for them to have been so suspicious. I'm sorry about that. I had hoped for a better reception. Hopefully we'll be greeted better in Rivendell."
"Is Almare your Elvish name?" Beth asked, still a little shaken.
"Yes. Amy Carmichael is a name I assumed to get along in Earth society. I've used a variety of names, depending on where I was living and when. It's just something to help fit in. I suppose we'd better get moving."
"Are we really slowing you down that much?" Randy asked.
"Yes, but it's OK. Elves are naturally strong and graceful, at least compared to Men. In any case, standing here jabbering is slowing us down more than anything. Let's get going."
That evening, the group did indeed reach Rivendell. As soon as they arrived, a messenger went in to inform Elrond, who was at dinner. Glorfindel met them in the courtyard a few minutes later.
"Almare, it's good to see you again. Please, come in. I've had rooms prepared for you. We're just finishing our evening meal, but I can have something brought for you. I've also ordered baths to be prepared for you."
"Are you implying we need them?" Amy's face was completely serious.
"I didn't mean anything, Almare. I wasn't trying to suggest…" He caught the mischievous glint in her eyes. "You little…"
"Thank you, Glorfindel. I think we're all ready to clean up and sleep in a real bed. I should pay my respects to Lord Elrond before retiring, though."
"It isn't necessary. I spoke to him about your arrival, and he told me to ask you to simply take your ease, and he'll see you in the morning—that is, unless you wish otherwise." Glorfindel had regained his composure.
"No. That really does sound wonderful, and there's no hurry."
"I'll take you to your rooms." Amy nodded and took the arm he offered, and the small group tramped after them. There was a suite of rooms for the women, and another one for the men. Each suite had a central sitting room, with bedrooms around it. Amy, Beth and Peter had their own bedrooms, and Mattie and Kim shared a room, as did Randy and Mark. Each group found hot baths waiting for them, and soft sleeping clothes. They were asleep the moment their heads hit the soft pillows.
A servant woke the guys in the morning, and Amy woke the rest of the women. She had been awake since dawn. Someone had laid out fresh clothes for all of them. For the women, there were elegant dresses, much like the ones Amy had brought to the Renaissance festival months ago. The men had tunics and leggings much like the Elves wore.
Only minutes after they were dressed and ready, a servant summoned them to breakfast. He guided them to the hall, where Elrond, Glorfindel, Elrond's sons, and an old man with a staff all waited for them. Amy seemed to start a little when she saw the old man, but he grinned at her, then stood with the others.
Elrond greeted them. "Almare, it is good to see you once again. It has been many lifetimes of men since we last saw each other. I would like you to meet my twin sons, Elladan and Elrohir, and Mithrandir, one of the Istari. My daughter, Arwen, will join us soon."
"Well met, my lords. I am not unacquainted with Mithrandir, but I left before your sons were born. What of Celebrían?" Amy stopped abruptly at the look that crossed Elrond's face. It passed in an instant, but not before she saw the pain in his eyes.*
"Celebrían was attacked by Orcs on a journey. She did not survive." Elrond closed his eyes for a moment, but his voice was steady.
"I am truly sorry, my lord. I did not mean to cause you pain." Amy restrained herself from reaching out to him. She looked over at Mithrandir helplessly.
"You could not have known. Please forgive me for darkening the morning with my griefs. Ah, here is Arwen. Allow me to introduce Arwen Undómiel, the Evenstar of our people."
Arwen walked over to them and took her place at her father's side. Pete elbowed Randy to get him to stop staring. Elrond spoke again. "Please, sit, and we will eat."
They ate quietly. Amy spoke quietly with Arwen from time to time, but it was just idle chat. After the meal, Elrond sent the travelers off to explore a bit, asking Amy to join him, Glorfindel, and Mithrandir after lunch. She led them out to the gardens, where they sat down to talk.
"What do you think so far? Is it everything you imagined it would be?"
Beth answered for all of them. "That and more. It's funny, though. Throughout the trip here, I've found my memory about the books we read fading." The others nodded their agreement. It had been much the same for them.
"Those events haven't occurred here yet. If we remembered what will happen, we might attempt to change the future. We're allowed passage between the realms, but since time isn't completely constant, it is, on rare occasion, possible to basically foretell the future. For most of us, time flows ever forward—maybe not at a constant pace, but always forward, never back. For a very few people, Tolkein among them, time wasn't constant. Tolkein came here and gathered information about the history of Middle Earth, but in such a way that he returned to his own time, even though the things he saw here were far in the future compared to the time he was living in. It's confusing, I know. I would never be able to travel in time like that. Tolkein could, but the Valar would never allow an Elf to do that. I left early in the Third Age, and now I return just nearly three thousand years later. I left in the 125th year of the Third age, and it's 3018 now. I spent roughly twenty-five hundred years in your world, so, for me, the time has been relatively constant." Amy paused and chuckled at the amazed looks she was getting. "I've been around a lot longer than that, guys, so don't be too surprised when I don't make much of five hundred years."
Mark spoke. "Just how long have you been around?"
"Do you really want to know the answer to that, Mark?"
"Yes, I do."
"I was already grown when Galadriel was born." Most of the group just stared, confused, but Mark drew in a shocked breath. "I'm one of the oldest Elves remaining in Middle Earth. Don't ask me for a number, because I don't think any of us really knows. Nobody kept track of time very well during the First Age. I know the length of the second age, and what has passed of the third age, because Men kept track. Time doesn't mean a lot to Elves. It's part of the reason I was never keen on classes remembering a lot of dates." Everyone chuckled at that. "We've sat around for long enough. Let's explore a little more, and then it will be time for lunch." With that, they got up and did just that, returning just in time for lunch.
* For information about Celebrían and her children, see the appendices to ROTK. Celebrían was Elrond's wife who was injured in an Orc attack. The three children (Elladan, Elrohir, and Arwen) were born early in the Third Age; Celebrían was attacked later in the Third Age). In this AU, she was killed; in the books, she crossed the sea to Valinor.