A/N: Okay, I'm very upset over ff.net's new policies regarding NC-17
stories. I'm not nearly as affected as a lot of writers out there, as I
can pull a few chapters from my stories and get away with an R rating, and
the story (though bowdlerized) is relatively okay. But PLEASE show your
favorite authors your support, especially if you've never dropped them a
line before. A lot of authors might disappear in the next few weeks, and
they would all appreciate your support! And of course, thank you to the
people who have taken their time to review my story.
Part 2:
Elrohir sighed as he rode over yet another hill that rose over the long grassy plains. He had not seen forests for many days and the treeless landscape was beginning to wear him thin. His horse was happy, though, as he thrived on the tall grasses that opened around them like a vast ocean of green and yellow waves. Elrohir was not happy. He had not seen another being in long time, and he was beginning to doubt the map that showed a large population of Men nearby.
Elrohir urged his horse onwards, allowing the stallion to choose his own pace. Elrohir kept his sharp eyes out for any small game that may be afoot, or any edible vegetation that survived the grasses' choking hold on the earth. The food Elladan had given him had run out some time ago, and Elrohir had been lucky so far to be able to find ample game in the forests. These grasslands, however, were another matter.
The sun had sunk low in the skies before Elrohir saw a settlement in the distance. Indeed, this was not a settlement but rather a small city! Checking his map again, Elrohir decided that this was his destination. It was a large town close to the capitol of Gondor, but far enough from the White City that it was somewhat isolated. He reasoned that no one there had ever seen an Elf in person, and they would undoubtedly not know what they were looking at when they saw him.
Elrohir smiled for the first time in many days as he neared the town, making out tiny lamps in the failing light. He was perhaps a mile away from the outskirts, and had come across no Humans yet. He dismounted his faithful stallion, unpacking the saddlebags so that his mount was free of any burden.
"It is time for you and I to part ways, my friend," he spoke softly to the horse. "You have served me well, and you know the road home. Bring my well wishes to Imladris, and I will see you soon."
The horse whickered softly, pressing its velvet nose against Elrohir's shoulder in a gesture of farewell. It turned and Elrohir smacked it lightly on the rump, sending the young horse galloping away west, towards home. Elrohir grinned as he shouldered his pack, checking to make sure that the money purse was still sitting securely in his tunic. He set off towards the town, singing under his breath as he walked.
************
The hard dirt roads of the town streets were uncomfortable under Elrohir's soft boots as he plodded along. He searched the signs hanging above the buildings for anything resembling an inn, or even a tavern where he could get a hot meal. His stomach ached from far too many hours without sustenance, and he was now more grateful than ever for the purse that Elladan had supplied him with. It contained more than enough for decent lodging, and it would be able to sustain him for several weeks if he was not able to find work in this town.
The streets were not deserted, even at this late hour. Elrohir could hear creatures scurrying for cover as he passed, and more than once he heard Human voices echoing from the dark confines of an alley. He kept his eyes on the road and his hood up to conceal his features; hopefully he would pass as just another weary traveler.
Elrohir turned a corner that looked far too familiar, and indeed, he looked up to see that he had passed this street twice now. Confound these humans and their dreadful towns! He was tired and cold and hungry, and so very close to his goal! He sat down heavily on hard wooden bench, trying to decide what to do. He was sure that he had tried all the possible streets from this point, and he could see no one to ask directions from.
Elrohir was quite lost in his own thoughts when a nervous voice broke through his fog.
"Excuse me, sir, but can I help you?" the voice said.
Elrohir looked up to see a young boy pulling on his tunic. The boy was perhaps ten or twelve, but not older than that by the standards of Men. Elrohir felt himself smile at the boy's wide-eyed expression, though he wondered why one so young would be out so late at night with no parents.
"Indeed I am in need of a guide," he admitted to the youngster. "Though I would question why one of your age is offering his services to a weary traveler so late at night."
The boy smiled, reveling large dimples and a row of crooked teeth. "I have no parents. I thought I could show you around the town, and maybe you would give me a reward for my kindness."
Elrohir immediately liked this young one's courage and honesty in the face of a stranger. "I would very much like it if you were to show me the way to the nearest tavern or inn, and yes, I will reward you for your services." Elrohir actually planned to give the boy quite a tidy sum, as he surely needed it more than Elrohir did.
The boy smiled widely. "It is not far!" he said, setting off down the road.
Elrohir followed the boy down several alleys and back ways that he did not even see, much less want to explore in the dead of night. This street urchin seemed to know every twist and turn of the town, and Elrohir was pleased by his sure guide. He rounded the last corner, out of a dark side street onto what seemed to be the main thoroughfare of the town. Even now he could hear the music of the taverns and smell the oil of the street lamps. He must not have been watching where he was going because he bumped into his young guide, nearly knocking him over.
"My apologies, my young friend," Elrohir said, reaching out to steady the child. The boy looked up at him with a startled look and turned to scurry down the street. "Wait!" Elrohir called, trying to stop the boy. However, he was soon out of sight before Elrohir could stop him.
He wondered why he had frightened the child so badly to cause him to run away before Elrohir could pay him, but his mood was too good to worry about it overly much. He headed towards an inn on the corner of the street. It looked inviting and warm, and his sore body would be thankful for a proper bed for the night.
Elrohir entered the inn, heartened by the sounds of a tavern. It felt good to be out of the cold at last. He went up to the innkeeper, seated at his small desk near the entrance. The innkeeper did not look like the most wholesome of characters, but Elrohir had been taught since a young age not to judge a person solely on their looks. He smiled charmingly at the man, though it only earned him a sneer in return.
"I guess you'd be wantin' a room for the night, eh?" the man drawled, looking him up and down warily.
Elrohir resisted the urge to touch his ears, reminding himself that they were hidden by his hood at least. "Yes," he replied. "And a hot meal, if that is available here."
The innkeeper made some noncommittal noise that was something between a bark and a snort. "Pay in advance and I'll see what I can get ya."
Elrohir smiled, reaching for the purse under his tunic. His hand encountered nothing but cloth and his mind quickly turned to panic. He searched for it in the folds of cloth, but there was nothing. Why that little street rat had robbed him blind! No wonder he ran so fast!
Elrohir composed himself, hoping the panic in his eyes didn't show. "I am sorry, but it appears as though I have been robbed," he tried to explain to the innkeeper. "Is there anything I could do for a room for the night?" he pleaded. "I am a stranger here, and I do not know where to go."
The innkeeper laughed. "No money, no room, it's as simple as that. I can't be runnin' no charity here!"
"But I can work!" Elrohir said.
"I have enough people here to run the place and a few besides," the man said. "You best be leavin' now, if you don't want no trouble."
Elrohir opened his mouth to say something more, but he realized the hopelessness of the situation and quickly left. The street outside seemed hostile and deserted and the voices coming from the inn were raucous and unfriendly. Elrohir did not know what else to do, so he tried every other inn on the street. He was turned away from every door with laughter and curses. He felt sick to his very being as he thought of the hospitality of Imladris and of the many weary travelers who sought shelter in his father's home. Who were these humans to turn away a person in need, whether he be Elf or Man? Did they not know what it was like to be cold and hungry in a strange place?
Elrohir did not know where he was headed until he looked back to see the town lights fading in the distance. He could hear the ominous peal of thunder in the distance and he hugged his cloak around him as a light rain began to fall. He thought of the little room he had at home, and of the hearth in the kitchen where he and Elladan would eat when they did not want to be bothered by the formality and chatter of the Great Hall. He would give anything to be there again, lazing against the sacks of flour with the kitchen cat curled in his lap.
It was with some surprise that Elrohir looked up to see a large building looming ahead of him. He had walked several miles, it seemed, and was outside of the town's borders. It was difficult to see through the now driving rain, but he thought it may offer some shelter to him. It was with some effort that he dragged his feet the remaining distance to the building. It was a large barn or a stable, he saw.
Careful to be quiet, he slid open the large door. It was not locked, luckily, and he had little trouble latching it again. His fingers were strangely numb and it took some effort, but he managed it after a few tries. The stable was dark but he could see the outline of horses moving restlessly in their stalls. He could not see any stable hands or people in the barn, which he thought strange as the horses seemed like quite magnificent animals. They eyed him with some curiosity, though none were alarmed by the stranger in their home.
Elrohir saw a ladder leading up to a hay loft on one side of the building. He climbed it slowly, shocked at his own clumsiness as he tried to haul his pack in after him. He collapsed onto the fragrant hay, barely managing to lay out his bedroll. He was shivering, though he couldn't tell if it was due to nerves or cold. Never had the world seem like such an unwelcoming place. He huddled under his thin blanket, letting his tears fall until he finally fell into an exhausted sleep.
Part 2:
Elrohir sighed as he rode over yet another hill that rose over the long grassy plains. He had not seen forests for many days and the treeless landscape was beginning to wear him thin. His horse was happy, though, as he thrived on the tall grasses that opened around them like a vast ocean of green and yellow waves. Elrohir was not happy. He had not seen another being in long time, and he was beginning to doubt the map that showed a large population of Men nearby.
Elrohir urged his horse onwards, allowing the stallion to choose his own pace. Elrohir kept his sharp eyes out for any small game that may be afoot, or any edible vegetation that survived the grasses' choking hold on the earth. The food Elladan had given him had run out some time ago, and Elrohir had been lucky so far to be able to find ample game in the forests. These grasslands, however, were another matter.
The sun had sunk low in the skies before Elrohir saw a settlement in the distance. Indeed, this was not a settlement but rather a small city! Checking his map again, Elrohir decided that this was his destination. It was a large town close to the capitol of Gondor, but far enough from the White City that it was somewhat isolated. He reasoned that no one there had ever seen an Elf in person, and they would undoubtedly not know what they were looking at when they saw him.
Elrohir smiled for the first time in many days as he neared the town, making out tiny lamps in the failing light. He was perhaps a mile away from the outskirts, and had come across no Humans yet. He dismounted his faithful stallion, unpacking the saddlebags so that his mount was free of any burden.
"It is time for you and I to part ways, my friend," he spoke softly to the horse. "You have served me well, and you know the road home. Bring my well wishes to Imladris, and I will see you soon."
The horse whickered softly, pressing its velvet nose against Elrohir's shoulder in a gesture of farewell. It turned and Elrohir smacked it lightly on the rump, sending the young horse galloping away west, towards home. Elrohir grinned as he shouldered his pack, checking to make sure that the money purse was still sitting securely in his tunic. He set off towards the town, singing under his breath as he walked.
************
The hard dirt roads of the town streets were uncomfortable under Elrohir's soft boots as he plodded along. He searched the signs hanging above the buildings for anything resembling an inn, or even a tavern where he could get a hot meal. His stomach ached from far too many hours without sustenance, and he was now more grateful than ever for the purse that Elladan had supplied him with. It contained more than enough for decent lodging, and it would be able to sustain him for several weeks if he was not able to find work in this town.
The streets were not deserted, even at this late hour. Elrohir could hear creatures scurrying for cover as he passed, and more than once he heard Human voices echoing from the dark confines of an alley. He kept his eyes on the road and his hood up to conceal his features; hopefully he would pass as just another weary traveler.
Elrohir turned a corner that looked far too familiar, and indeed, he looked up to see that he had passed this street twice now. Confound these humans and their dreadful towns! He was tired and cold and hungry, and so very close to his goal! He sat down heavily on hard wooden bench, trying to decide what to do. He was sure that he had tried all the possible streets from this point, and he could see no one to ask directions from.
Elrohir was quite lost in his own thoughts when a nervous voice broke through his fog.
"Excuse me, sir, but can I help you?" the voice said.
Elrohir looked up to see a young boy pulling on his tunic. The boy was perhaps ten or twelve, but not older than that by the standards of Men. Elrohir felt himself smile at the boy's wide-eyed expression, though he wondered why one so young would be out so late at night with no parents.
"Indeed I am in need of a guide," he admitted to the youngster. "Though I would question why one of your age is offering his services to a weary traveler so late at night."
The boy smiled, reveling large dimples and a row of crooked teeth. "I have no parents. I thought I could show you around the town, and maybe you would give me a reward for my kindness."
Elrohir immediately liked this young one's courage and honesty in the face of a stranger. "I would very much like it if you were to show me the way to the nearest tavern or inn, and yes, I will reward you for your services." Elrohir actually planned to give the boy quite a tidy sum, as he surely needed it more than Elrohir did.
The boy smiled widely. "It is not far!" he said, setting off down the road.
Elrohir followed the boy down several alleys and back ways that he did not even see, much less want to explore in the dead of night. This street urchin seemed to know every twist and turn of the town, and Elrohir was pleased by his sure guide. He rounded the last corner, out of a dark side street onto what seemed to be the main thoroughfare of the town. Even now he could hear the music of the taverns and smell the oil of the street lamps. He must not have been watching where he was going because he bumped into his young guide, nearly knocking him over.
"My apologies, my young friend," Elrohir said, reaching out to steady the child. The boy looked up at him with a startled look and turned to scurry down the street. "Wait!" Elrohir called, trying to stop the boy. However, he was soon out of sight before Elrohir could stop him.
He wondered why he had frightened the child so badly to cause him to run away before Elrohir could pay him, but his mood was too good to worry about it overly much. He headed towards an inn on the corner of the street. It looked inviting and warm, and his sore body would be thankful for a proper bed for the night.
Elrohir entered the inn, heartened by the sounds of a tavern. It felt good to be out of the cold at last. He went up to the innkeeper, seated at his small desk near the entrance. The innkeeper did not look like the most wholesome of characters, but Elrohir had been taught since a young age not to judge a person solely on their looks. He smiled charmingly at the man, though it only earned him a sneer in return.
"I guess you'd be wantin' a room for the night, eh?" the man drawled, looking him up and down warily.
Elrohir resisted the urge to touch his ears, reminding himself that they were hidden by his hood at least. "Yes," he replied. "And a hot meal, if that is available here."
The innkeeper made some noncommittal noise that was something between a bark and a snort. "Pay in advance and I'll see what I can get ya."
Elrohir smiled, reaching for the purse under his tunic. His hand encountered nothing but cloth and his mind quickly turned to panic. He searched for it in the folds of cloth, but there was nothing. Why that little street rat had robbed him blind! No wonder he ran so fast!
Elrohir composed himself, hoping the panic in his eyes didn't show. "I am sorry, but it appears as though I have been robbed," he tried to explain to the innkeeper. "Is there anything I could do for a room for the night?" he pleaded. "I am a stranger here, and I do not know where to go."
The innkeeper laughed. "No money, no room, it's as simple as that. I can't be runnin' no charity here!"
"But I can work!" Elrohir said.
"I have enough people here to run the place and a few besides," the man said. "You best be leavin' now, if you don't want no trouble."
Elrohir opened his mouth to say something more, but he realized the hopelessness of the situation and quickly left. The street outside seemed hostile and deserted and the voices coming from the inn were raucous and unfriendly. Elrohir did not know what else to do, so he tried every other inn on the street. He was turned away from every door with laughter and curses. He felt sick to his very being as he thought of the hospitality of Imladris and of the many weary travelers who sought shelter in his father's home. Who were these humans to turn away a person in need, whether he be Elf or Man? Did they not know what it was like to be cold and hungry in a strange place?
Elrohir did not know where he was headed until he looked back to see the town lights fading in the distance. He could hear the ominous peal of thunder in the distance and he hugged his cloak around him as a light rain began to fall. He thought of the little room he had at home, and of the hearth in the kitchen where he and Elladan would eat when they did not want to be bothered by the formality and chatter of the Great Hall. He would give anything to be there again, lazing against the sacks of flour with the kitchen cat curled in his lap.
It was with some surprise that Elrohir looked up to see a large building looming ahead of him. He had walked several miles, it seemed, and was outside of the town's borders. It was difficult to see through the now driving rain, but he thought it may offer some shelter to him. It was with some effort that he dragged his feet the remaining distance to the building. It was a large barn or a stable, he saw.
Careful to be quiet, he slid open the large door. It was not locked, luckily, and he had little trouble latching it again. His fingers were strangely numb and it took some effort, but he managed it after a few tries. The stable was dark but he could see the outline of horses moving restlessly in their stalls. He could not see any stable hands or people in the barn, which he thought strange as the horses seemed like quite magnificent animals. They eyed him with some curiosity, though none were alarmed by the stranger in their home.
Elrohir saw a ladder leading up to a hay loft on one side of the building. He climbed it slowly, shocked at his own clumsiness as he tried to haul his pack in after him. He collapsed onto the fragrant hay, barely managing to lay out his bedroll. He was shivering, though he couldn't tell if it was due to nerves or cold. Never had the world seem like such an unwelcoming place. He huddled under his thin blanket, letting his tears fall until he finally fell into an exhausted sleep.