As I raced over the countryside, I felt so scared. Scared like I had never
before in my life. We had gone thirty or forty miles and I could feel
Earendil's sides moving rapidly trying to breathe. I knew that even an
Elven horse couldn't go on forever without rest, water, or food. I slowed
him to a canter and then dismounted him. I took him to the safe cover of
the surrounding forest and found a small brook out of which Earendil drank
eagerly. I leaned down, cupped my hands and drew some of the water out of
the brook. It was very refreshing and some of it trickled out of my hands
and down my neck. A shiver ran through me as the ice cold water ran down my
body. I leaned forward to get some more and my hair fell into the water. I
paused for a moment, puzzling over a question. Should I? Yes. I walked over
to my small saddlebag and pulled a small Elvish knife out. I then leaned
forward again and began to cut my hair. My only beauty that I had never cut
before. The hair that my mother used to run her fingers through and tell me
how beautiful it was. Tears ran down my checks as I cut my hair. When I
finished I felt light headed and gazed into the water. The reflection
revealed a girl with golden shoulder length hair. A tear disturbed the
water and I didn't wait for the water to settle again. I got to my feet and
picked up Earendil's led.
'Come boy, 'I said gently. We walk another ten miles until I choose to
stop and rest. I laid down to rest and I looked heavenward. Then all was at
peace.
The next morning, or so I though, was darker than most. I choose not to
ride Earendil again for I thought he still looked tiered. I just thought
most of the day, something I hadn't done in a long time. I thought about
the past, my friends, and my family.
I thought, 'How can it be true that the Black Riders have returned? How is
it possible?' I pondered on many things and I don't know how many miles we
walked that day but it can't be very many because as I thought I began to
walk slower and slower. We could have only gone ten miles or so. Rivendell,
I guessed was about twenty or so more miles, give or take a few. I didn't
stop for very long that night, I rode on Earendil the rest of the way home
and we got there in half a day. As I crossed the Ford, I saw a familiar
figure in front of me. I urged Earendil faster and as soon as I caught up
with the Elf, I threw my arms around his neck. He was startled out of his
wits, but when he saw who it was, he laughed.
'Anodien!' Legolas embraced me and then pulled me away to examine me. 'You
look great,' he said. 'The only thing you seem to lack is a full stomach.'
'Yes.' I said, smiling. My hood covered most of my face so he did not know
that I had cut my hair. 'Why have you come back?' I asked, curious over his
return.
'Urgent business calls. I will say no more.' I nodded, although I was
dissatisfied at his answer. I went to my room to change for dinner and then
I went to Arwen's room to walk down with her. She was in her room but she
had a cut across her check.
'Arwen! What happened to you?!' I cried out. She looked up at me and
smiled.
'So you have not heard?'
'Heard what?' I replied.
'O, you will find out soon enough,' She smiled the sassiest smile I have
ever seen and then ran out the room before I could stop her.
'Arwen!!' I screamed after her. I raced down the stairs to the great
Hallway and flew down its passages. As I rounded the last corner of the
hall, I tripped over something.or someone. I fell flat on my face and as I
sat up I started to laugh hysterically.
Then I almost jumped out of my skin as a small voice said, 'Well, that's
lovely! She thinks its funny squashin' us like this.'
'I can't move Merry.' Said another tiny voice. I quickly got to my feet and
stood gawking at two Hobbits that I had never seen before. Both were short
and had curly hair though one's was lighter than the other's and they both
had big eyes, hairy feet and pointy ears. One was dressed in a golden
coloured vest and this one ran to retrieve his apple that had fallen out of
his hand when I had run into them. The other one had a scarf about his neck
and looked just a little younger than the other because he was a bit
smaller.
'Are you an Elf?' he asked me.
'Yes, I am. My name is Anodien. I live here in Rivendell. Why are you here,
since I can see you're both Hobbits, am I right?'
'Why, yes we are, m' lady.' Said the other Hobbit. 'We have come to stay
here for a while. Uh, you don't happen to know where the food is, do you?'
'Why, yes. I suppose I could take you there on the account you tell me your
names.' I answered. The one eating the apple looked at his companion.
'What?' he exclaimed. 'Go on, Pip. Tell her your name.'
'Fine then.' The littlest one came up to me and held out his hand. I gave
him mine and he pecked in softly. 'My name is Peregrin Took. But most
Hobbits just call me Pippin or Pip. Its easier to say, I guess.'
'Indeed,' I replied, holding back a laugh. 'And your name, sir Hobbit?'
'Sir? What on earth are you talking about? O! Never mind; if I don't tell
you my name you shall never led us to the food.' He held out his hand too.
Pippin was still holding my right hand so I held out my left. He kissed my
finger tips and then stood up and said, 'My name is Meriadoc Brandybuck but
like Pippin here, I have a nickname or whatever and its Merry. So if you
please, would you take us to where the food is?'
'Yes I will now. How nice! I have two Hobbits to escort me to dinner! I'm
one lucky Elf!'
'O quite being sarcastic!' Merry said; but he was laughing just the same
and Pippin was too; just to think how funny we must have looked. A short
Elf was bad enough but being escorted to dinner by two Hobbits only about
half my size must have been a site to see.
As we approached the hall, a loud peel of bells rang through the air. I sat
the Hobbits on either side of me and began answering their questions.
'Who is that? And that, and that one other there, and still another over
yonder?' They asked so many questions so fast.
I smiled. 'That, 'I said, 'Is the lady Arwen. She is Elrond's daughter, and
the last Elf to be born. Over there are her brothers, just returned from
the forests of Lorien. They saved their mother , who was tormented by Orcs
but she died, all the same,' Here I went silent for a time. I felt Pippin
slowly put his small hand on mine.
'It will be alright.' He whispered. Merry looked over at me. He opened his
mouth to say something but no words came out. He bowed his head and patted
my other hand.
'Come, now. Who is that?' He asked, trying to brighten the atmosphere. I
smiled at him. I looked up.
'That is Gloin. He's a dwarf and that over there is his son, Gimli. The
other one is Boromir, the son of the steward of Gondor. They have come here
for the same purpose as all the others, I suppose.' Merry nodded and bite
into his apple. Pippin still eagerly looked up and down the great table. I
shook my head. These creatures were so lovable and innocent. How come they
were here with all the Elves and dwarfs and humans?
Just then Pippin exclaimed, 'Look! Here comes Gandalf and Frodo! Here is
our noble cousin, Merry! Make way for Frodo, the Lord of the Ring!' I
looked back to see Gandalf quickly approach poor Pippin and grab his ear.
Pippin winced.
'Peregrin Took! Keep your confounded mouth shut for a minute will you? O,
excuse me, Anodien. I see you have meet my little friends.'
'Indeed I have, Mirthrandir, and I find their company quite pleasant.'
'Oh really?' Gandalf looked back at Pippin and poor Pip covered his ears
with his hands and huddled down into the folds of my dress. I couldn't
resist ruffling his head. He looked up and wrinkled his nose at me. I
wrinkled mine back and stuck out my tongue. I felt Gandalf's eye on me and
I turned to find him looking at me like I was a hopeless case. He shook his
head and sighed. Then he brought out from behind him another Hobbit with
big blue eyes and dark brown hair.
'Anodien, this is Frodo Baggins. Frodo, this is Anodien, daughter of
Ithildin.' I slowly looked up at Gandalf. A new voice drew my attention to
the new Hobbit I had just meet.
'Hullo, Gandalf forgot Sam. Anodien, this is Samwise Gamgee. Us four
Hobbits traveled here all the way from Bree. Well, actually it was Hobbiton
but Bree is where we meet Strider and.' 'Now Frodo, don't talk her ear
off! Well,' Gandalf said to me, 'He is unusually talkative today. I must go
and talk with Elrond. Frodo, I think you should come with me.'
'What 'bout me?' Sam said. 'Mr. Frodo's not going anywhere without me.'
'Sam, stay with Merry and Pippin. Maybe if you're good,' Gandalf flashed an
evil look at Pippin, 'She will take you to look around Rivendell.' He
nodded goodbye and then left me with the Hobbits minus Frodo. Well, I
thought, I guess I'd better show them around.
'Come on. I'll show you around.' I said. Merry and Pippin jumped up and
followed quickly behind me but Sam lingered for a bit and then finally join
our merry little group.
