01-22-2002
Note: I have read the books but I will follow more along the movie a bit more than the book merely because the simplified plot and actions are much easier to interpret into my fiction. Please do not hate me!
Meet Jaell Brandybuck: Chapter Fourteen
Well, this does not look too familiar… I trudged deeper and deeper in the forest, searching for any signs of Buckleberry Ferry. I knew it was very far off, past Farmer Maggot's, but I was too anxious to pay attention to fact. It was now the 22nd of September. Not only was it my second day of travel, but it was Frodo's birthday. I could not help but wince at the thought that I could not be there but my progress was rapid and could not turn back now. I passed trees of recognition and small landmarks of memory but as I got further, I felt even more alone, even colder. It was as though a Shadow of Evil was beckoning over Middle Earth. Oh, to stop these hauntings of the mind.
I took up more singing but that did not ease the pain of my swelling loneliness. Not even eating and slumber brought me total peace of mind; for I felt danger was near. I never ever knew how near. I glimpsed at the sun and noticed it was midday. I stopped off the path to the right and behind some trees and built a small fire and carefully made a small lunch and poured some mead into my travel mug. Chewing thoughtfully, I jerked my head to the left, towards the path. The footsteps I made them out to be went along rather slowly and I heard more than one pair. Two, I figured. I got up slowly and made my way behind a tree closest to the small-forested road.
"You know, Sam, I am glad you are with me." My eyes widened. Frodo? No, it can not be!
"I am glad to be along, Mister Frodo," a pause. "Do you smell something… like a fire and fried mushrooms?" Another pause and then a response.
"Why yes… I do. Perhaps someone is out here? These forests are never always empty, you know." I suppose some signaling went on here as I was far too afraid to glance from behind the tree. What would they say? Would they be angry? I heard rustling progressing to my general area and the pudgy face of Sam walking right past me and to my small campsite.
"Frodo? Perhaps you should see this for your own belief!" Frodo also walked past me and stood with Sam.
"Why, Sam! That is Jaell's doll… her pack! Why is it here and where is she?" I walked back slowly, as to not frighten them. And as I got closer, almost immediately they spun around to see me.
"Oh my!" Sam clutched his heart and Frodo chuckled at Sam's words.
"Why are you out here? I would have figured you were past the Ferry and over the River by quite a ways by now!" I pondered for a moment.
"It is hard traveling alone. What brings you two out here with such large packs? Going somewhere? And when did you leave?"
"So full of inquiries, little girl. Perhaps we should sit and relax for a moment and discuss this all out?" I nodded and took to my original seat and they set themselves down and we created a sort of small triangle of bodies.
"You go first, Jaell, since you were the one to take off from Hobbiton before us!" I nodded and started my story.
"Well, I talked to my mother and she suspects I'm half Rivendell Elvish, so it may have taken me a while to sort it out but I decided to leave and find out for myself. I left in the middle of the night because I knew that if I stayed for the farewells, I would not have left at all." They nodded understandably. "I have been strolling through this miserable forest for days and obviously not getting very far! I am tired, worn, and despondent. I heard you two talking on the path so I went to scout and saw you two. My heart jumped for joy and I am ever so delighted to see friends."
"I am glad we found you!" Sam chimed in. "We were worried. I actually was hoping we would see you along the way…" Frodo cut him off, sounding as if in a hurry.
"Jaell, we are currently on a quest and I will tell you fully what it is we set out to do but you may tell no one. Around others, do not refer to me as Frodo Baggins, but as Mister Underhill, okay?" I nodded, holding in my anxiety to hear their story, though full of peril. "Bilbo left a ring for me when he left. Gandalf found out that this ring is no ordinary ring. It is a ring I must go far and wide to destroy. You may either help or hurt my cause, I ask that you choose one. If you do not want to be involved, I will understand. We are headed to the Bree, the Prancing Pony Inn to meet Gandalf and I know you feel the urge to head to Rivendell. I have a feeling we will end up there somehow. If you wish to go before us, I will have no objection or question about your motives at all."
Taking it all in, I sighed out my breath rather than just simply exhaling.
"I would like to know more of this ring, Mister Baggins. For this tale of adventure is something I feel I must listen to!"
More to come…