Disclaimer: The majority of these characters belong to J.R.R Tolkien. The main setting belongs to J.R.R. Tolkien. We are only using them to satisfy our creative muses, no more. Please don't sue us, the most you'll get is a pair of socks and a box of easy mac.
This is a collaborative work by El luitha 'uren and Tadandader HalfElven. We met at an online Tolkien message board called Rivendell (http://pub9.ezboard.com/brivendell45735) and began our Journey a few weeks later. We have no intention that anyone take us seriously, though there are some serious moments in this story. So enjoy if you dare!
This tale was begun at Rivendell and continues to be written there. We are uploading it here in spurts. So if you are eager to keep reading and our pace here is too slow, we add sections to Journey daily at its original home. If you enjoy our writing, more of our collaborative efforts and individual tales can also be found at Rivendell.
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Chapter 1 (April 25, 2002)
Tadandader HalfElvenI sighed. Luitha and I had been to every store in the mall, and still hadn't found a single item of Lord of the Rings merchandise. The storm outside showed no sign of abating, so there was no chance of leaving to go hit every Toys'R'Us in the area.
Luitha came back from the food court, carrying a soda. "You're bored, aren't you?" she asked.
I nodded, and was about to make a bizarre comment when a brilliant bolt of lightning hit. Everything went black.
………
The ceiling was carved in some sort of pattern, I decided. It was too swirly to just be random, but so far I hadn't figured the pattern out. I distantly heard a door open, but dismissed it until a head appeared, blocking my view. "Hey, can you move your head, please?" I inquired. Or at least, tried to inquire. It actually came out as "Hekumvrhd, pls."
"How do you feel?" I tried to understand why it sounded like two people had spoken. Then I saw another person standing by Luitha's bed.
"What hit us?" There, that came out right.
The head looked at me, a bit concerned. "We were hoping you could tell us." He, for that's what the head was, sat down in a chair beside my bead. I wished his face wasn't silhouetted so, because I couldn't see his features.
"We?"
"Do you not know where you are, and who we are?"
"No. The last thing I knew was being very bored in a mall."
"You were mauled? I did not see that when I attended to you."
"Um, no, in a mall. Attended?"
"Healed. I am Elrond, and you are in Rivendell. What is this mall you speak of?"
"You are Elrond?"
"Yes."
I promptly passed out.
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El luitha urenThere was one good thing in life, I thought as I waited in line for my coke and stared moodily at my Gandalf goblet from Burger King. Legolas lovers must have been having a much harder time than I was trying to find Lord of the Rings stuff. But honestly, who really wanted the Lurtz and the 'Orc Overseer' action figures? I felt bad for Tadan though- at least there was Aragorn merchandise. Elrond was getting quite the bad end of this deal.
Tadan was sitting at the foot of one of those indoor tree things they had in the mall, absently watching the crowd in the level above us. I had a sudden urge to give her some pipeweed and check to see if she had hairy feet. Oh yeah, I though, I had it baaaaad. Tadan turned then and watched my approach with a frown.
"You're bored, aren't you?" I asked. She nodded, opened her mouth...
Everything went black.
………..
Amazing how fascinating fire could be when you couldn't see clearly. Flames and smoke swirling to form a pattern, dancing with each other and reaching for the....
I shook my head. It was also amazing how poetic you could get when waking from unconsciousness. But the head shaking sent a wave of dizziness over me, and I closed my eyes again as the world began to spin once more. I could feel the heat on my face, the softness of the pillows and bed underneath me. The sheets, were they silk? I didn't know emergency rooms had silk sheets. How kind of them.
Wait a minute. I didn't know they had fires in their rooms either. Was my bed on fire?
Someone was talking, three someones. One of them sounded like Tadan. She didn't sound very good, must've been knocked out too. Who were the others? They didn't sound worried, so obviously the fire was not hazardous and therefore not part of my bed. What kind of ER was this?
I cracked open an eye, fought the wave of dizziness, and rolled my head over to see the speakers. Someone was sitting on Tadan's bed, long hair flowing down to his waist. I resisted the effort to growl that the 60's had ended forty years ago. Another man was standing behind him. Long hair too, though only down to his shoulders. So 90's. Were they wearing robes? And what was that, pointy ears!?
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Tadandader HalfElvenI came to about a minute later, staring into the very concerned eyes of Elrond. His hand rested on my head. Of course, with the odd way I was feeling, my first thought was to wonder where the other man had gone. After a quick glance I ascertained he was sitting on Luitha's bed. I closed my eyes weakly, listening.
"Are you well?"
"Mphtokbatm." She must have been affected the same way as I.
He said something else, but then Elrond spoke, and I missed it. "You are ill, but it is not a typical illness. Tell me, have you suffered a recent trauma?"
"I think...I think we were struck by a flash."
"A flash?" He sounded puzzled. In the cloudy mist of my thoughts I realized he must think I was insane.
"Lightning. Who's the other guy?"
"The one beside the bed of your friend is Estel, whom I have raised. 'Twas he who came upon your bodies while walking through the woods."
I felt myself drifting, everything was going quiet. "Sleep, visitor. Tomorrow, we shall talk more." I drifted off, hearing the voices of Elrond, Aragorn, and Luitha going distant. Just before I lost awareness I realized that I hadn't told him my name. Then I was asleep.
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El luitha urenThe man on Tadan's bed was definitely not a man. His voice was low and melodic, and I strained to hear his words. But the dizziness returned as I attempted to sit up. The man standing behind the Elf (Could he have been anything else? I was a Tolkien fanatic, of course he was an Elf.) came swiftly to my side and sat next to me on the bed.
He had a hood on, dark clothes that looked like they hadn't been washed in ages. I couldn't see any details of his face, all but his mouth was shrouded by the hood. And his eyes, two shining lights that shone with blue fire from within the shadow.
I froze.
He reached over and touched my forehead, and the corners of his mouth curved downward to form a frown.
"You are still dizzy?" His voice was gruff and deep. I swallowed and nodded slightly. "You are very ill. Lord Elrond has not the knowledge to heal this."
I felt the bottom drop out of my stomach. "Elrond?" No. No way. This could not be happening. "Where am I?"
"Rivendell, my lady." His lips curved to a smile now. "I found you and your friend in the wood and brought to here to heal."
"To Rivendell."
"You find that hard to believe?" The smile widened, and a mischievous sparkle lit up his eyes.
"Umm, yes."
"What happened to you? There are not many illnesses that can elude Master Elrond."
"Elrond. In Rivendell." Was I really dreaming? The world was swimming in interesting ways and I did have a rather active imagination. But I didn't remember a dream being this real.
"Elrond. In Rivendell." He repeated.
Wait a minute. My brain was recovering from that nice shock, and clarity was starting to seep in. Say I was in Rivendell, with Elrond. That would make the man sitting next to me...
"Estel," he said simply, as though reading the question in my eyes. My mind reeled, my vision spun. "Elrond," Estel called softly, and the Elf Lord came over. He touched my chin gently, then moved his hand to cover my eyes.
"Sleep," he commanded.
I had no choice. Fighting the heaviness on my eyelids the whole time, I fell asleep even before I could make a vocal protest.
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Tadandader HalfElvenI opened my eyes to see the sun shining through a window, landing right on my face. Carefully, I tried to sit up. Nothing happened. I tried again, only to feel so dizzy I almost fell out of the bed. I decided the floor didn't look very soft, so I laid back down onto the soft pillows.
The room looked different in the sunlight, though that might have been the fact that I was a bit more aware of my surroundings. The soft forest colors were soothing, and the ceiling definitely was patterned.
I was wearing a long green robe, and had a fleeting thought that it probably matched my eyes before rolling over to check on Luitha.
"Pssst, Luitha, are you okay?" There was no answer, so I tried to get up again. Stupid mistake. I ended up sprawled on the ground, tangled in the thick blanket that had been tucked around me. "Ooof! That kind of hurt!" I stopped as soon as I noticed I was talking to the floor. Carefully, I got to my hands and knees, and then sank back down, slowly. The world was spinning way too fast for me to even crawl.
I placed my cheek against the smooth, cold tiles. Who would have known the floor actually was comfortable?
I heard rapid footsteps, then felt two arms rapidly go underneath me.
"You should have stayed in bed." His voice was so beautifully hypnotic. I wanted to tell him that, but knew he would think me an idiot. Which I felt like right about then.
"I wanted to know if Luitha was all right. She didn't answer me."
"Your friend is doing just as well as you. And what is your name?"
"Tadandader. But my friends call me Tadan."
"Fate? They call you Fate?"
"Um, yeah." I was spared from any other embarrassment by Luitha's waking cough.
------------------------------------------------ El luitha urenIt was dark, all around, without a light anywhere. I was dreaming, falling forever in the darkness when...
I heard a muffled shriek, sat bolt upright, and felt a pair of strong hands pushing me back down. "Tadan?!" I called.
"She is safe. Lay back down." My head hit the pillow again, and I gasped with the sudden pain lancing through it. Something cool brushed over my eyes, and I felt a wet cloth press down on my forehead.
"No, no," I pushed it aside and struggled to sit up again. "Tadan?"
"Here," came the reply from across the room. I sucked in my breath, I'd never heard her speak that way before. She didn't sound very good at all.
"Tadan," he paused at the name and smiled, "is well for now." Elrond was standing over me. "She seems a little more disoriented than you. You yourself may be up in a day or two."
"Where's Estel?"
"Relax and sleep. You will be up by tomorrow." He touched my forehead again, and again I passed out.
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Tadandader HalfElvenElrond came back to my bedside, looking serious.
"She may be up tomorrow, but I will not?"
"For some reason, you were affected more than she." He pulled back the blanket that was still twisted around me and pointed to a burn I hadn't noticed before on my arm. "The lightning, if that is what it was, struck you with more force. You might say it was a twist of fate." A wry smile twisted his lips. He was laughing at me!
I opened my mouth angrily, but he raised his hand. "I do not mean to insult you. Relax. Your name was not your choice."
For a moment I considered telling him it was my choice, but decided against it. "How is she? I know she passed out again."
His eyes moved to Luitha's sleeping form before he answered. "I have already healed her burns. She merely needs to regain her strength, and she will be fine. You, however, are a different matter. Go back to sleep, Tadan. Your healing shall be continued this evening." His hand rested on my forehead, and I couldn't fight the sudden heaviness of my eyelids.
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El luitha urenWhy was it, I mused crankily, that whenever the sun rose, it always managed to precisely line up with my eye? With a groan, I rolled over and put the sunny window to my back. A hand pressed against my shoulder, and Elrond's calm voice came from above me.
"How are you feeling, Luitha?"
"You know my name?"
"Tadan told us. How are you feeling? Can you sit up?"
I could. I rolled back over, relieved that the movement had not been accompanied with bouts of nausea and shakily lifted my head off the pillow.
"Good!" Elrond smiled. "Whatever lightening struck you seems not to have had a very lasting effect. Would you like some fresh air? Come!" He held out his hand. "Your escort is waiting outside."
The air was cool, and a light breeze played with my hair as I stepped outside. I shivered in the cold, and for the first time became aware of silk moving against my skin. Not a dress, I thought. I hated dresses. It wasn't thankfully enough. But the pants were wide enough that it certainly felt like a dress, with the light blue fabric blowing around my legs in the wind. I had the sudden feeling it was picked out with the intention of matching my eyes, and I look accusingly at Elrond.
We walked along an arched pathway, and I gazed in wonder at the detail of the design and patterns. If I was still dreaming, this was the best dream I'd ever had. I touched a intricately carved poll with careful fingertips. Most detailed dream I'd ever had too. Birds chirped from the trees, their shrill voices playing a melody I'd never heard before. And was that Elvish singing in the distance? It was too beautiful to be human.
We descended down a covered walkway, and I still leaned heavily on Elrond's arm and was not at all steady on my feet. The path ended at the foot of the trees, and a giant forest leaned over us. I closed my eyes and sucked in air. Very quietly, in the distance, I could hear the roaring of a river.
The wind blew again, harder. I shivered violently and felt a cloak being thown over my shoulders.
"Thank you..." I turned to face Elrond, but the Elf Lord had disappeared. I hadn't even felt his arm leave mine. "Who...?"
"Lord Elrond has returned to your friend Tadan. Would you like to ride?"
Estel stood behind me and held out a hand in offering.
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Tadandader HalfElvenI woke again. The ceiling was getting sort of annoying now that I had figured out the pattern, so I rolled over to check on Luitha. The bed was empty.
"Luitha!" Panicking, I tried to sit up again. That was a very stupid idea. I fell back to the pillows, groaning, as my head spun. Where was she? Was she all right? Maybe something had happened while I was asleep. My friend! "Luitha!" I called again, and was answered with the door opening.
Elrond stood framed in the doorway. "Luitha, what happened, is she okay? Did she get worse? Is she all right?"
"Calm yourself!" I stopped, feeling rather flustered. "She is getting some fresh air and taking a tour of the city. Luitha is walking on her own. But now, I want you to sit up."
I focused on the objective, because I really didn't feel like falling over in front of him. Carefully I sat up. The world was rotating at a terrifying pace, but I stayed up. He placed a hand on my forehead.
"You still are extremely dizzy," he murmured. I was pretty sure I wasn't meant to hear that, and my point was proven when he spoke louder. "You condition improves slowly, but well. Lay back down."
"But..." I stopped as his eyes met mine. I could read something, was it uncertainty, in his eyes. I obeyed, only to be startled as he picked me up. "Wha.."
"It has been proven that time outside always helps to heal those who are ill. I am taking you to the porch, where there is a reclining chair. You shall rest there for a while."
I relaxed in his arms, and decided I didn't mind my inability to walk too much.
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El luitha urenThe rising sun was just casting its morning rays over the treetops of Rivendell. Estel stood just in the shade, and the shadows of the leaves danced with the wind on his face. He was uncloaked now, and for the first time I saw the Man's face. Strange how different he seemed from the Lord Elrond. His features were rugged and uneven compared to the smoothness of the Elves.
He held the reins of his horse lightly in one hand, and watched me with a tilt of his head.
"You seem much stronger now. Good! The fresh air from the forests of Rivendell will cure any ills you have left. Are you warm?"
I nodded and wrapped my cloak tighter around. I suddenly felt very nervous and very much out of my element. What had happened? How had I gotten here, of all places? Was I truly dreaming?
"Come." Estel held out his hand, and I accepted it without hesitation. Nope, that touch was definitely real. I couldn't be dreaming. He pulled me toward the horse.
"This is Roheryn. He will bear us wherever we wish to go." Well, horses were familiar at any rate. I swung up into the saddle with only a small grunt, Roheryn was much taller than any horse had any right to be. For a moment I was afraid my legs would give out, and I was disgusted with the weakness in them. Estel seemed to sense this, and as he leapt with ease into the saddle to sit behind me, he leaned forward and whispered "It will pass." How is it he always knew what I was thinking? I hadn't realized I was that easy to read. Elvish influence on him, I supposed.
"Are you all right? Dizzy?"
"No, I'm fine." My voice cracked. Attractive. Nice one Luitha.
"If do feel dizzy, tell m...." Estel's words were cut off by a shriek from the woods. I swung my head, nearly falling out of the saddle in doing so. Silk was slippery stuff. I was just in time to see a bunch of Elves tearing through the woods at top speed.
"What...?" Elves running from something?
Estel smiled. "The Elf hunters are on the loose again. Watch." I couldn't see much because of the trees, but I caught a glimpse of fleeting figures running after the Elves and the distinct smell of strawberries filled my nose.
"Pervy Elf hunters. They really do exist," I muttered, grinning at the look of panic on the faces of the Elves as they passed.
Estel was smiling by now too. I could see his laughter as we both turned to watch the chase. "The Elves really love it, being chased by hormonal humans. The Prince of Mirkwood, Legolas Greenleaf, never fails to let himself be captured. The Elves that have been caught tell great tales of the magic of 'tie bow' these hunters possess."
I grinned and neglected to mention that Tadan and I too knew the art of 'tie bow.' But my grin faded. I had a sudden longing for my own PEF friends. As the chase passed out of sight, I saw one hunter in the rear shriek and fall into some sort of netty trap. They even have a Lizard, I thought.
"Shall we be off?" Wrapping an arm around my waist to hold me steady, Estel kneed Roheryn, and the horse took off at a slow walk.
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Tadandader HalfElvenThe light played on Elrond's magnificent face as he approached the porch. Carefully he set me down onto one of the chairs, and took the one beside me.
"What you see is the main part of my city," he said. "There," and he pointed, "is where the Hall of Fire, our council room, is. And there," he gestured at an intricately patterned building, "is where healing is done. The roof is latticed, and has set within it various things that magnify starlight and sunlight. And..."
He stopped as I shivered. I really hadn't meant to interrupt him, as I felt that I could listen to his voice all day. But I was freezing. This was why I rarely got up this early at home. A thought of homesickness struck for a moment. Then Elrond spoke, and drove all other thoughts out of my head.
"I'm sorry, I forgot that you were dressed so poorly for the weather. I shall return in a moment, with a blanket." He stood up an re-entered the building, leaving me to stare into the city. A voice disturbed me from my reverie.
"Greetings! Is it safe to guess that you are Tadan?"
I nodded and looked to the side, where the voice came from.
"Welcome to Rivendell. I am Erestor. I had come out here to find Lord Elrond, but it seems he was called away from his duties as host?"
It was almost a statement, not quite a question, but I answered it anyways. "I was quite cold, and he went inside to find a blanket."
"Ah, proof that even the wise make mistakes. And speaking of whom..." he trailed off, and I heard footsteps approach. "Lord Elrond, Glorfindel is looking for you. It is about tonight."
"Very well. Keep her company while I search him out." Elrond stepped into my view and carefully wrapped a thick blanket around me. With a nod, he was off.
"Tonight?"
Erestor looked at me as he took a seat. His eyes were a soft hazel, and they kept switching colors as he moved. "Tonight there is a gathering of some of our most precious stars in the heavens. It is also the time when healing is most effective. Glorfindel and Elrond are going to try to discover what ails you yet tonight."
I felt a bit embarrassed. The Elves were going through so much trouble, just for a human who had accidentally landed in their world. "I don't mean to be a bother..." I began, but Erestor cut me off.
"You are not. It is the least we can do when two injured people come to our doors. Or should I say, forests. Although, there is question as to how a mysterious pair shows up with lightning wounds after two weeks of clear weather." His eyes were suddenly very piercing, but Elrond returned just then.
"Thank you, Erestor, you may go." Erestor nodded his head and left. I sat there, thankful for his timing, until he turned to me and spoke again. "How did the two of you come here, and from where? I am very interested in learning of your race, Tadan, for I was unaware of any other Half-Elves."
My face must have shown the shock I was feeling, for he continued quickly, "When you heal someone, you feel their race, and blood. Luitha is an Elf, and you are half Elven."
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El luitha uren"Tell me about yourself, Luitha." At last Estel broke the long silence, until now only filled by the rhythmic beating of hooves. I was quickly jarred out of the trance into which I had fallen. "The Elves of Rivendell and Elrond are very curious about you and your friend," Estel continued.
I smiled. "And you?"
I could almost hear the answering smile in his voice. "And I. Where are you from? Mirkwood? Though that would have been quite a trip for you to make."
"No..." I paused before answering. How much would Estel understand or believe? And how much would Tadan want to give away? "I come from a place called Virginia, though you've never heard of it. It's impossible for even a Ranger to reach."
"I doubt that, my lady. No place is unreachable for a Ranger." There was a merry twinkle in his eye. "But I have never heard of Virginia, is it an Elvish land? Strange name, Vir-gi-ni-a." He pronounced the new name slowly and carefully, rolling the unfamiliar sounds off his tongue.
"Humans for the most part." Should I mention that Elves and Hobbits and Dwarves did not exist in my world? Estel seemed to be about to say something, but I sensed it would be best to change the subject. "This is the River Bruinen?" The roaring of rapids had become louder, and as we turned a bend in the forest path, the river flowed into sight. "Is the Ford close by?"
Estel must have been surprised, for he hesitated before answering. "No, the Ford is a day's journey down the river from where we stand. You know much of this place and its people, though. I had gathered you had never been in Rivendell before."
Gulp. "In Virginia we have many histories of Rivendell and Middle-earth. I have spent many hours bending over books and maps, trying to absorb it all." I smiled then, thinking of rainy days that saw me curled up in a chair and blanket, Lord of the Rings in hand.
"Truly? I have never even heard of travelers visiting this Virginia, and there is not much that escapes my knowledge. Who then knows so much about this land and yet has never been here?"
"A man named J.R.R Tolkien. He wrote all of the books that I read."
"Ah." There was relief in Estel's voice. "That would explain some of it. Tolkien is not a man though. He is a Hobbit, and I believe he is quite comfortable in his hobbit hole in the Shire at the moment. He travels quite a bit, strange for a hobbit. But the land he told me he visited was called Britain, not Virginia."
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Tadandader HalfElvenIt took me a minute to find my tongue. Honestly, I had no idea what to tell him. Oh, of course I was going to tell the truth, but how much? His eyes were studied me intently as I groped for words. "I come from a land that is very far from here," I began haltingly. "It's called Florida, a vastly flat and plain land. I'm not sure how we got here from there, nor how one would go about returning." There, that should do it, not too many details, and yet, it seemed to be enough. And then he spoke again.
"And your heritage? What of that?"
Oops, I'd forgotten the second question. I could see he was sitting there, waiting for the answers, but I had none. Half Elf? My world was full of Humans and their inventions, not dragons and palantir. My mind was preoccupied as I tried to adjust how I sat to cover up my discomfort. That was a stupid mistake, or perhaps a brilliant one, because at that moment, my head decided to start spinning again. I put out a hand to steady myself, and missed the armrest, slamming my head into the armrest instead. I had two thoughts before I blacked out. One was that this accident couldn't have been better timed. The second was that if Elrond didn't think me a klutz before, he certainly would now. Then I passed out.
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El luitha urenTolkien a Hobbit in the Shire? Oh I definitely needed to talk to Tadan now. Shifting uncomfortably in the saddle, I tried to get rid of the new rock that had formed in my stomach.
"Tell me about your land?" Estel asked, as Roheryn paced alongside the river.
"It's not as beautiful as this place." I plucked a leaf from my hair and idly spun it between my fingers.
Estel chuckled. "Nay, no place is as beautiful as Rivendell. Only Lorien may surpass it yet." He turned the horse's head toward the river once more and stopped at the bank. "Are you thirsty? We may take a break here, if you wish."
"Please." I hadn't realized how weary I felt until that moment. Estel dismounted and helped me down from the saddle. The water was not moving so swiftly near the edge, and perhaps it was the stillness which prompted me to bend over and look in, taken with the sudden desire to see my reflection in the water.
I looked different, somehow, though I supposed a crossover from Virginia to Middle-earth would do that to a person. As I leaned closer, the changes in my appearance became more and more apparent. My face was thinner and smoother. My eyes had always been blue, but the color seemed intensified now. My hair was much longer, how had I missed that? Though still curly, strangely enough. Wait, now why was that strange?
I tucked ringlets nervously behind one ear, looked up for Estel, and froze. Slowly, I turned my gaze back toward the water and leaned in, holding my breath.
My ears were pointy.
Granted, I'd always had pointy ears, but not this pointy. I swallowed, my mouth opened in surprise, and I reached forward to touch the reflection and make sure it was real...
The next thing I knew, I was three fet from the shore, sputtering, hacking water from my lungs, and vainly trying to remember how to swim. But the darned cloak that had once been so warm was wrapped around my arms and legs and making floating a rather impossible attempt.
I didn't hear Estel call my name, didn't see him dive in after. But I did feel the pressure of his arms around me as he dragged me onto the shore. I sat up, hacked up another lung-full of water, and tried desperately to crawl back to see my reflection again.
Estel held me back. "Luitha, do you truly possess such a desire to kill yourself? Struck by lightning and now trying to drown?" He sounded amused. Was he laughing at me? I sputtered some more, looked up at him through dripping ringlets of hair, and wondered if he had known all along I was an Elf. Of course he knew. I was the only fool who hadn't seen it. And Tadan? Was she an Elf too?
"I'm sorry. I thought I saw something in the river and..." The explanation was lame and I knew it.
He waved his hand at me. "No matter. Let us return before Lord Elrond has to heal you all over again." He smiled at me, and I smiled back. "Are you sure you are all right? You will not try to jump from Roheryn's back?'
"I promise."
He lifted me into the saddle and swung up behind me. I shivered and huddled against his chest, and he wrapped his cloak around both of us. Roheryn moved at a steady trot back towards Rivendell. Lulled by the rhythm of the steady pounding of hooves and motion of the horse, and warmed by Estel's cloak, I fell asleep.