Author's note ~ Don't be surprised if I don't update any of my stories for
a while. My family and I are going through a really tough time right now
and I won't have a whole lot of time to write. But I will make an effort.
:) Please pray for us, we really need it.
"And the Fellowship of the Ring Shall Be Ten"
Chapter XIV ~ "The Great River Anduin"
The nine members of the Fellowship stood before the Lady Galadriel, their heads bowed slightly.
"May fate and peace go with you," Galadriel said, smiling gently at each of them in turn. Her piercing blue eyes rested on Teneriel for a few moments longer than was necessary.
"Take care, little one," her voice whispered in Teneriel's mind. "Return to us whole and unharmed if you can."
~~~~~~~
There were three each to a boat. Aragorn, Frodo and Sam occupied the first. Boromir, Merry and Pippin rode in the second. Legolas, Gimli and Teneriel traveled in the third.
On their second day out from Lothlorien, Gimli began to grumble. "Dwarves were made to live under the earth, not float on it! I do not like boats, I do not like the water!"
Legolas, who was sitting ahead of Gimli, half-turned and chuckled, his laugh ringing like bells through the air. "That much is obvious, friend Gimli," he teased.
Gimli growled and stood, leaning forward to swipe at the offending Elf.
"Gimli, no!" Teneriel yelped, reaching forward to grab the Dwarf and pull him back down.
It was too late. Gimli's sudden movement caused the boat to flip. All three tumbled face first into the waters of the Anduin.
Upon hearing the splash, Aragorn and Boromir turned their boats around, shocked expressions showing plainly on their faces.
Legolas broke the surface first, looking badly annoyed. "Where is that fool Dwarf?!" he snapped, treading water easily.
Gimli surfaced next, choking and coughing up water. "I will say it yet again : I do not like water!"
Legolas carefully turned the boat upright again, groaning when he saw their soaked packs.
"Lovely," Teneriel said, bracing her elbows on the boat side. "Now our spare clothes are drenched as well."
Aragorn paddled up beside them and tied a rope around the prow of their boat. "Swim to shore, the three of you. We will rest for tonight."
~~~~~~~
Teneriel stood shivering on dry land. A cool breeze had sprung up and seemed to cut straight through her soaked clothing.
Aragorn handed her his spare clothes, fighting back an amused smile. "They will be large, but you will be warm."
"Thank you," she said, ignoring the cold. "But 'large' is not the proper word."
He did smile then and pushed her into a dense patch of trees. "Off with you, now," Aragorn ordered.
By the time Teneriel returned to the camp in Aragorn's clothes, a roaring fire was blazing. She spread her damp clothes out on the ground near the fire and sat, tucking her knees under her chin.
"Where is Legolas?" Teneriel asked, noticing that one member of the Company was missing from the fireside.
"I am right here," he said lowly. Anger laced his voice as he strode into camp. If Aragorn's clothes were large on Teneriel, then they were a perfect fit compared to how baggy Boromir's were on Legolas. The Elf in question tossed his clothes near the fire and sat cross-legged on the ground, looking dejectedly at his matted hair. Legolas rummaged through his pack and pulled out a comb. He set about untangling the snarls and knots his hair had obtained during his unplanned dunking.
Merry laughed, poking the fire with a stick. "I was wondering how long it would take for a comb to make and appearance. I should've made a bet on it, I would've won."
Teneriel pulled her long, blonde hair over one shoulder and winced. There were twigs woven into her hair along with the expected snarls and tangles. "I am happy that you are able to find mirth in this situation, Merry," she said, narrowing her eyes ever-so-slightly.
Legolas tossed her his comb when he was finished with it. Teneriel caught it easily and smiled her thanks.
Gimli, who was closest in size only to the hobbits, wore an extra set of clothes that belonged to Sam. He sat by the fire looking extremely disgruntled. "I do not like water," he grumbled.
Pippin, who was very sensitive to the tension that had fallen over the camp, sat by Teneriel. "Can we play some sort of game?" he suggested quietly.
Aragorn shrugged slightly. "Perhaps a game would be appropriate. Lead off, Pip."
The hobbit smiled happily and laid his head on Teneriel's shoulder. "What sings like a bird yet stings like a bee?"
Aragorn laughed, putting more wood on the fire. "Quite simple, Pippin. An Elf!"
Pippin frowned. "I'll have to think up better riddles. Well then, Strider, if you think you can do better, go right ahead!"
Aragorn smiled at the offended hobbit. "Very well, Pippin, I accept you challenge. It comes unannounced, quietly and stealthily, but if left alone, it will eat away your very soul."
"Quite simple," said Gimli. "Disease, sickness."
"Nearly," said Aragorn. "But it can affect Elves as well as any other beings."
Teneriel nodded, taking sip of water. "Tis pride. If it is not overcome, then pride will eat you alive."
Aragorn bowed his head to her, amusement shining in his blue eyes. "The challenge is passed to you, my lady."
She raised an eyebrow and thought for a few moments. "It is sometimes seen and always felt, but never is it tasted, smelled or heard."
Silence reigned over the camp for a few moments as the Company pondered her riddle. Frodo sighed. "Well, I think it's shadow. But I'm not sure."
Teneriel smiled, not in the least bit surprised that the Ring-bearer was the first to catch it. "You are correct, Frodo. Shadow is indeed the answer."
The game continued on until one by one, the hobbits dropped off to sleep. Pippin was first, followed closely by Merry and Sam. Aragorn gently covered the sleeping hobbits with their cloaks and returned to his seat.
"Teneriel, you have first watch. Take two hours, then have Legolas relieve you. I will stand guard until the sun rises and we continue on our Quest."
She nodded and stood. "Then I shall take my watch in the comfort of a tree. Sleep well."
Teneriel leapt easily into the branches of a tall oak tree and settled comfortably about twenty-five feet off the ground.
Little did the Fellowship know that the quiet watch that evening would be the precursor to one of the worst days of their lives.
I don't blame you if you don't like my riddles, I'm not very good at them. But I thought that a little mirth would be in order, considering what is coming. Namarìe!
"And the Fellowship of the Ring Shall Be Ten"
Chapter XIV ~ "The Great River Anduin"
The nine members of the Fellowship stood before the Lady Galadriel, their heads bowed slightly.
"May fate and peace go with you," Galadriel said, smiling gently at each of them in turn. Her piercing blue eyes rested on Teneriel for a few moments longer than was necessary.
"Take care, little one," her voice whispered in Teneriel's mind. "Return to us whole and unharmed if you can."
~~~~~~~
There were three each to a boat. Aragorn, Frodo and Sam occupied the first. Boromir, Merry and Pippin rode in the second. Legolas, Gimli and Teneriel traveled in the third.
On their second day out from Lothlorien, Gimli began to grumble. "Dwarves were made to live under the earth, not float on it! I do not like boats, I do not like the water!"
Legolas, who was sitting ahead of Gimli, half-turned and chuckled, his laugh ringing like bells through the air. "That much is obvious, friend Gimli," he teased.
Gimli growled and stood, leaning forward to swipe at the offending Elf.
"Gimli, no!" Teneriel yelped, reaching forward to grab the Dwarf and pull him back down.
It was too late. Gimli's sudden movement caused the boat to flip. All three tumbled face first into the waters of the Anduin.
Upon hearing the splash, Aragorn and Boromir turned their boats around, shocked expressions showing plainly on their faces.
Legolas broke the surface first, looking badly annoyed. "Where is that fool Dwarf?!" he snapped, treading water easily.
Gimli surfaced next, choking and coughing up water. "I will say it yet again : I do not like water!"
Legolas carefully turned the boat upright again, groaning when he saw their soaked packs.
"Lovely," Teneriel said, bracing her elbows on the boat side. "Now our spare clothes are drenched as well."
Aragorn paddled up beside them and tied a rope around the prow of their boat. "Swim to shore, the three of you. We will rest for tonight."
~~~~~~~
Teneriel stood shivering on dry land. A cool breeze had sprung up and seemed to cut straight through her soaked clothing.
Aragorn handed her his spare clothes, fighting back an amused smile. "They will be large, but you will be warm."
"Thank you," she said, ignoring the cold. "But 'large' is not the proper word."
He did smile then and pushed her into a dense patch of trees. "Off with you, now," Aragorn ordered.
By the time Teneriel returned to the camp in Aragorn's clothes, a roaring fire was blazing. She spread her damp clothes out on the ground near the fire and sat, tucking her knees under her chin.
"Where is Legolas?" Teneriel asked, noticing that one member of the Company was missing from the fireside.
"I am right here," he said lowly. Anger laced his voice as he strode into camp. If Aragorn's clothes were large on Teneriel, then they were a perfect fit compared to how baggy Boromir's were on Legolas. The Elf in question tossed his clothes near the fire and sat cross-legged on the ground, looking dejectedly at his matted hair. Legolas rummaged through his pack and pulled out a comb. He set about untangling the snarls and knots his hair had obtained during his unplanned dunking.
Merry laughed, poking the fire with a stick. "I was wondering how long it would take for a comb to make and appearance. I should've made a bet on it, I would've won."
Teneriel pulled her long, blonde hair over one shoulder and winced. There were twigs woven into her hair along with the expected snarls and tangles. "I am happy that you are able to find mirth in this situation, Merry," she said, narrowing her eyes ever-so-slightly.
Legolas tossed her his comb when he was finished with it. Teneriel caught it easily and smiled her thanks.
Gimli, who was closest in size only to the hobbits, wore an extra set of clothes that belonged to Sam. He sat by the fire looking extremely disgruntled. "I do not like water," he grumbled.
Pippin, who was very sensitive to the tension that had fallen over the camp, sat by Teneriel. "Can we play some sort of game?" he suggested quietly.
Aragorn shrugged slightly. "Perhaps a game would be appropriate. Lead off, Pip."
The hobbit smiled happily and laid his head on Teneriel's shoulder. "What sings like a bird yet stings like a bee?"
Aragorn laughed, putting more wood on the fire. "Quite simple, Pippin. An Elf!"
Pippin frowned. "I'll have to think up better riddles. Well then, Strider, if you think you can do better, go right ahead!"
Aragorn smiled at the offended hobbit. "Very well, Pippin, I accept you challenge. It comes unannounced, quietly and stealthily, but if left alone, it will eat away your very soul."
"Quite simple," said Gimli. "Disease, sickness."
"Nearly," said Aragorn. "But it can affect Elves as well as any other beings."
Teneriel nodded, taking sip of water. "Tis pride. If it is not overcome, then pride will eat you alive."
Aragorn bowed his head to her, amusement shining in his blue eyes. "The challenge is passed to you, my lady."
She raised an eyebrow and thought for a few moments. "It is sometimes seen and always felt, but never is it tasted, smelled or heard."
Silence reigned over the camp for a few moments as the Company pondered her riddle. Frodo sighed. "Well, I think it's shadow. But I'm not sure."
Teneriel smiled, not in the least bit surprised that the Ring-bearer was the first to catch it. "You are correct, Frodo. Shadow is indeed the answer."
The game continued on until one by one, the hobbits dropped off to sleep. Pippin was first, followed closely by Merry and Sam. Aragorn gently covered the sleeping hobbits with their cloaks and returned to his seat.
"Teneriel, you have first watch. Take two hours, then have Legolas relieve you. I will stand guard until the sun rises and we continue on our Quest."
She nodded and stood. "Then I shall take my watch in the comfort of a tree. Sleep well."
Teneriel leapt easily into the branches of a tall oak tree and settled comfortably about twenty-five feet off the ground.
Little did the Fellowship know that the quiet watch that evening would be the precursor to one of the worst days of their lives.
I don't blame you if you don't like my riddles, I'm not very good at them. But I thought that a little mirth would be in order, considering what is coming. Namarìe!