A/N: I hope you people don't kill me for not getting this up. Honestly, I'm not sure why it took so long, but each grade level seems to get harder as it goes up. Sometimes it's hard for me to even write in this fic, much less type and post it. I sincerely apologize, but I just want to let you know that no matter how long it takes to get the next chapter up, it WILL get put up and not abandoned like other peoples' fics, ok? Now that that's settled, on with the story!
Disclaimer: I own Lindi,
and Reala owns...Reala. Everything else
(characters, setting) belongs to the supreme power that is J.R.R. Tolkien.
Chapter 7: The Beginnings of Legend
The Fellowship had left Imladris and was setting off on their quest. As they kept their path to their far off destination, their thoughts were constantly straying to their missing member. After a few long hours, when they were getting ready to make a brief stop for lunch, Boromir finally broke the silence.
"When is Reala coming back? Lindi, did she tell you?" he asked curiously. The young girl shook her head sadly.
"No, she simply said that she wouldn't be joining us right away. How long she will be gone I do not know."
"She'll be back," Gandalf stated bluntly, leaning his staff against the trunk of a large tree. "One way or another she'll eventually come. For now, let us rest awhile to set our minds at ease a bit."
There came a sigh of relief from the group (and a particularly louder sigh from a couple of 4-foot tall travelers in the back) that they would finally get a rest. Most weren't used to walking for so long after spending so much time dawdling in Rivendell.
They found a place under a small grove of trees and dropped their things to the ground, taking the great weight off their shoulders. They sat with their backs against the trees and stretched their aching legs. Gandalf had decided that it would be better not risking a fire, so they had to suffer eating cold food.
"You must always be wary of the spies of Sauron and Saruman. Birds and beasts are about and could strike at the faintest hint of our coming," the old wizard said, looking around their makeshift encampment for any sign of anything out of place.
Their reverie was short-lived because they soon had to get back to their journey once more. They couldn't afford to take long breaks when the fate of Middle-earth rested on their shoulders. Lindi stood up and stretched, preparing for another long walk. The hobbits stood beside her, Sam making sure all the provisions were again safely tied to his faithful Bill.
All seemed to be going well and the group was just about to set off once more when Legolas suddenly snapped his head around. His sharp Elven ears had heard something that was different from the natural wildlife around them.
"What was that?" he said quickly.
The fellowship instinctively hid behind the tall trees in case some ill creature was following them. However, upon closer inspection of the Elf's eyes, they were told that it was neither bird nor beast but a very familiar person.
Lindi stepped out of her hiding place and heaved a great sigh of relief at the sight. "Reala," she said softly. The dark-haired girl whirled around in surprise – she had not seen them. She now walked and carried only a leather bag that rested on her hip. Her brown eyes were wide with excitement, and she seemed out of breath.
"Hello," she said, nodding to the others. "Lindi, Gandalf, Strider – I saw you all and ran to catch up but you all suddenly vanished." She smiled slightly as though to say 'See? I'm okay, I'm trustworthy!' and set her bag down. "I bought something for all of you while I was out. Do you want it now?" Merry narrowed his eyes.
"Is it food?"
"More candy than food," Reala replied, and the hobbits were instantly before her, with Frodo lagging a bit. She handed them all cubes of something brown and clear wrapped in brown paper. Sam held it to the light.
"What is it?"
"Molasses. It's hardened molasses and sugar. Do not chew on it or you'll never speak again." She stood and looked to Lindi. "Care for one?"
"Thank you," Lindi smiled and accepted the palm-sized candy, unwrapped it, and licked the corner. "This is good. I think the others would like it if they tried it." Gimli was not impressed
"You're telling us that you were buying candy all this time? You expect us to believe that?" he demanded suspiciously, and Lindi swallowed before speaking.
"It is a long way to the nearest sweet shop," she told Gimli, then thought, "over 200 leagues to the nearest tavern…"
"Aye, it was a long way," Reala said, handing a cube to Gandalf, who pocketed it. "Boromir, Legolas?" She gave two pieces of the hard candy to Lindi, who passed them to the Man and Elf. "Aragorn?"
"Yes, thank you, Reala." Aragorn reached up and caught the candy with both hands when Reala tossed it to him. Legolas unwrapped it and inhaled deeply, then began sneezing in a wild fit. Gimli roared with laughter.
"Legolas, what is it?" Gandalf asked of his companion as he continued to sneeze uncontrollably, wracking his entire body. The wizard looked sharply to Reala. "What did you give him?"
"It must be the smell," Lindi said simply, wincing at Legolas. "Molasses has a very strong scent and Elves rarely encounter it. Do not fret, he will stop soon enough."
"Master Dwarf, enough!" Reala smirked when Aragorn scolded Gimli while patting Legolas's back.
Gandalf surveyed the fellowship once Legolas had stopped sneezing. "Well, now that you are with us again, Reala, perhaps we should press on, if that is alright with you." He waved his arm, gesturing them to proceed. "Come – we shall not stop until nightfall."
"It's good to see you again," Lindi said quietly as they began to move forward. "I've needed another feminine voice to talk to."
"I'm glad I could be one of more assistances than the Company's scapegoat," Reala laughed. "The first sign of danger and it's all over for me."
"At least the candy is good," Lindi chuckled, and once again took a lick from her cube, holding the rest of it inside the wrapper. "Thank you again."
"Don't thank me just yet." She absently looked at her block of solid sweet. She tasted it. "They are good."
"Lindi, may I have some of your water?" Pippin grinned at both women. "These are fun to chew."
"No don't – " Reala began, but it was too late. Pippin's teeth were stuck together. Lindi gasped.
"Oh my – Gandalf, Pippin chewed…now…he can't talk!" There was a laugh from the head of the traveling line.
"Yes, well, let him stay that way."
Boromir laid a hand on the hobbit's shoulder. "Come and walk with me awhile. I want to enjoy your company while you're not being a pest." Pippin whimpered but followed.
Lindi sighed. "At least we'll have quiet."
Pippin hung his head but walked beside Boromir. Merry made a mental note of not to chew his molasses. The rest of the Company trudged forward on their path, chuckling as they nibbled their candy carefully.
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They traveled much for the next few days, sleeping and stopping only briefly, and were lucky enough not to run into any spies of evil nature. The road was hard and perilous, but the thought of Middle-earth finally free from the dangers of evil and the need to keep the Ringbearer safe drove them forward.
One particular day they had decided to stop during the day to sleep, where there was less chance of a surprise attack. They stopped on a low hill with rocks and boulders surrounding them, and Sam was appointed to be watch. However, after only about an hour, Legolas was snapped out of his sleep-like state with a strange sound far away. He dared not move anything besides his eyes, which came to rest on the crouching forms of Sam and Aragorn. The Elf then noticed hundreds of black birds flying overhead, as if searching for something. Legolas suddenly realized what they were and his bright eyes widened in fear.
"Crebain from Dunland," he breathed to himself. The winged birds which were always used evilly as spies. He heard someone shift beside him. He turned to see Lindi, who had also woken to the loud flapping of the birds. Her ears had also been trained from living with Elves, but still not a tuned as Legolas or even Aragorn.
Once the birds had passed, Lindi crawled closer to Legolas. "We can't stay here," she whispered to the Elf. "If they are spies, we will surely be caught!"
"Aye," Legolas said with a simple nod and then proceeded over to Aragorn and conversed quietly with the Man, while Sam listened closely. Aragorn soon stood and gently woke Gandalf and repeated their information. The old wizard nodded solemnly and glanced to the range of cold, harsh mountains rising in the east. He sighed sadly, but went to wake the others.
Lindi went over to Reala and shook her gently, and Reala's eyes snapped open and immediately had her dagger at Lindi's throat. The blue-eyed human gulped nervously and Reala quickly withdrew her hand.
"I am sorry," she apologized sincerely, sheathing her weapon. "Reflex." Lindi nodded understandably and moved to the hobbits. She got a nicer response this time.
"How long have we been asleep?" questioned Frodo, rubbing his eyes then surveying the position of the sun in the sky, then frowned. "I'm still awfully tired."
"Only about an hour," Lindi answered, making sure Merry and Pippin were also awake. "Though I am afraid we must press on." She instantly received groans, but gave the hobbits a sympathetic look, as if to say 'I'm tired too.' Lindi explained what happened with the birds, and saw Aragorn telling Boromir and Gimli as well. The young girl let Gandalf tell them his decision.
The wizard took a deep breath. "Aragorn and I have discussed alternate courses we might take in order to avoid confrontation. We have decided to take the pass through Caradhras."
"Is that far?" Sam asked.
"It is several days' journey to the east,' replied Aragorn.
The group turned weary eyes to the large mountain range the Man gestured toward. The hobbits heaved a heavy sigh but hurried to gather their packs, silently musing once again how heavy the "bare necessities" could be. Merry poked Pippin in the side.
"Looks like you've left half of the old Peregrin Took back in Rivendell in exchange for your pack." Pippin smiled back, the playfulness returning to his weary face.
"And I'd wager half of my pipe weed that the patrons of The Green Dragon would wonder where the rest of Meriadoc Brandybuck has gone!" Pip countered with a teasing poke to Merry's thinning belly.
"Be quiet Pip."
"Well? Come on then," Gandalf ordered. "Let us waste no more time here. Samwise, cooking supplies must be ready to make us hot food when we break next."
"Yes, Mister Gandalf."
"Then let us go."
Moving up the slopes of the mountain was difficult. Twice Pippin slipped and had to be hauled back up by Boromir. Frodo stayed close to Aragorn.
"If you look to the ground then the snow is not so bad, Boromir!" Pippin shouted over the howling of the wind. "I can barely see my bloody hand in front of my face!"
"Yes, well when you run into me, you'll wish you'd have looked up," Reala snapped, and Pippin stuck his tongue out at her. Boromir laughed loudly despite the cold, swirling winds about them, and Pippin's feet once again slipped from under him. Gondor's captain scooped him up from the snow and looked up to see Gandalf eyeing him.
"The halflings cannot travel by foot any longer," the wizard voiced loudly. "Aragorn, Boromir – will you carry them?"
"Do we have a choice?" Aragorn asked, holding a hand before his eyes so the snow did not blind him. He bent down so Sam could hang onto his back while he carried Frodo. Boromir followed his lead and let Lindi set Pippin's arms about his shoulders while Merry leaned his head into his chest. Merry was freezing but Boromir gave off immense amounts of bodily heat and it dulled the harsh bite of the wind.
"Boromir, why can't I ride where it's warm?" Pippin whimpered, but smiled when the Man assured him he would have his turn. Gimli trudged on next to Gandalf, his fingers rigid and refusing to release the grip on his axe, while Legolas walked lightly next to Aragorn, Frodo and Sam (on top of the snow, of course).
"I do not see anything to provide shelter until four leagues over that ridge," he told the ranger, and Aragorn nodded gravely. Gimli shouted as a gust of wind swept through their company. Aragorn turned his shoulder into the blast and the Dwarf bellowed,
"Caradhras is not pleased! I assure you all that the worst is yet to come!"
"I am freezing," Frodo whispered to Aragorn, and the ranger pulled his arms tighter around the hobbit. "I cannot feel my hands." Aragorn called to Sam.
"Master Gamgee, are you well back there?"
"Cold, but well enough, sir."
"Raised by Elves and she still sinks in the snow," Gimli declared, looking at Lindi. The girl swept a mocking bow and continued to trudge, but now she was near Gandalf. "I suppose she's not as Elven as we all thought."
"Master Dwarf, some would take that as a compliment," Gandalf reminded him, and despite his grim face, teased, "such as stubborn, thick-skulled Dwarves." Gimli smiled.
"You seem weighed down," Reala remarked dryly as she passed Boromir, who was still fettered with hobbits. "Do you need help carting the halflings about?" Her eyes slid to the back of the group, where Aragorn moved forward in determination. "Aragorn certainly doesn't."
"You should keep your smarmy fancies to yourself," Boromir replied nastily, "you who is giving half your effort."
"Am I?" she hissed, and once again looked to where Aragorn heaved forward with the Ringbearer and his gardener. "You are the one giving up Gondor so easily."
Boromir's voice lowered in an angry whisper. "You expect me to challenge the heir of Isildur?"
"I expect nothing," she snapped, looking to Merry and making sure he was asleep and not listening. "I merely doubt his lineage, is all. He is no doubt an accomplished warrior, but is he a warrior enough to unite the world of Men?"
"What do you care of Gondor and who leads her people? You are Rohirrim."
"You mistake me," she replied testily. "My roots lie in Gondor, but I reside in Rohan." Her voice was quick, as if she would rather have not wasted her breath on such small matters. "And when the day comes I shall return, but not with a king who falsely pronounces himself the rightful heir."
"I admit to doubt, but if Aragorn is indeed king of Gondor, then I would be betraying her to revolt against him."
"You act as though I have suggested you destroy him." Reala laughed lightly, and Boromir's eyes flashed in anger. "I only said that I would prefer a rightful steward to a vagabond king."
Boromir went silent as the girl plodded forward without another word. As much as he did not like the so-called heir of Isildur, he still could not do anything rash. The spiteful wretch is just trying to get back at me, he thought, and hoisted Merry up so that the hobbit was more secure in his grip. Aragorn is the lost king.
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A/N: So what did you think? Did you like it? Thank our wonderful friend Ryo (aka Gandalf – "The Grey Hobo") for being a guest writer when I couldn't think of what to write, lol. Again, I'm sorry it took so long to get up, but as soon as I re-read all our reviews, I just had to get typing quickly so I wouldn't let anyone down. I tried to base this more off the book, with Sam standing guard when the Crebain come and whatnot. So please tell us what you think, we greatly appreciate you reviews!
-Lindi