Merry: This is getting kinda old. Go to a part with Hobbits in it! Sam: But she's talkin' about the Elves! Everyone: Sam! (Merry shots Sam with a rubber band.) Sam: Ow! (Rubs his arm and glares at Merry who makes a face at him) Me: Okay, ok! I'll try to make it more interesting, golly! Pippin: Was that an insult when you said that I had gotten to the Elf person? (Everyone stares at Pippin) Merry: Yes, you dumb-bell! (Smacks Pippin on the side of the head. Pippin runs behind me and pecks in between my legs at Merry and sticks his tongue out.) Me: Stop it people! . Uh, I mean, Hobbits. Will everyone just shut-up and read the rest of the story, even if it is boring. (I glare at Merry) Merry: What? It needs Hobbits. Frodo: I don't know why she's so mad.I didn't do anything! Me: I can't take this any longer! Just read the fic! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The next few weeks went by quickly with all the packing everyone had to do.though I hardly had any compared to Arwen. I packed my best two dresses, my riding dress, and my hunting dress. I had secretly sowed my own hunting stocking, overskirt, shirt and cloak. I didn't want to be held up by the folds of my dress when I was trying to run so I made some clothes that only the he- Elves usually wear. I rode Earendil often to get him used to the long days that we would be traveling. Arwen often sat in her room folding and refolding her clothes. She was nervous but I wasn't sure why. O well, she didn't really want to talk about it so I dropped the issue. I was nervous but I tried not to show it. The last week slowly faded into February; now a frozen memory in times long gone by. We left Rivendell and journeyed slowly across the lands of Middle Earth, drawing nearer with each step to the east. The first few nights were very uneventful and dull. Time seemed to drag on and I was becoming impatient. The time as passing though, even if it did seem to drag and once, we reached a spot where I found ashes from a fire and that of a pipe. The pipe ash still had a faint smell to it and it smelled like the kind Merry and Sam used to smoke while they were staying in Rivendell. I suddenly realized how much I missed them and I longed to see them again. We didn't know whether to go across the mountains, around them or under them. The dwarves, we knew wouldn't be happy to see a group of Elves walk right through their city uninvited but we didn't want to go too close to Isenard. In the end, we decided to go over the mountain. The horses would slow us down, true but at least it wouldn't be a dwarf or an orc. I put my cloak on as we drew nearer the top of the snow-covered mountaintops. Elrond glanced at me for a second and then turned away. I walked lightly on top of the snow as did the others but the horses had to make a path through the snow. I held on to Earendil's halter and I guided him through the snow. I longed for the warmth of my fire and a night clear from the blowing, howling winds that were merciful less and kept the horses restless at high moon. It was almost March and we should have been in Lorien by now, if not in Lothlorien. Then one night, all of hell broke lose. We were coming down the mountainside, thankful we had made it and that the horses were fine, when a great army of Orcs came upon us in the falling dusk. I was just settling down to rest and I was in desperate need of a bath. Arwen stood up and stiffened and we all looked at her in confusion. 'A shadow draws near to this very place,' She whispered over her shoulder. I looked at Elrond and he nodded. 'We cannot avoid this. We must face it.' I closed my eyes and fingered the hilt of my sword. No, I decided. I am better with the bow.but were was my knife, just in case? I looked through my bag and finally pulled it out. It caught the final drops of sunlight as the sun was sinking in the west. It had been a knife used in the great battle that the alliance of Elves and men had destroyed Saruon. I would use it now to defend my people. I felt the earth beneath me rumble and I got to my feet to see a large army of orcs, goblins, and even a few cave trolls. I had never in my life seen anything so hideously ugly before in my life.

Elladan, Elrohir, Elrond, and I stood our ground with Arwen and Lindir behind us. Elladan was the first one to send an arrow flying at an orc. The next thirty seconds sounded of a whizzing and the shrikes of the orcs that were struck with an Elven arrow. Then in a rush, the creatures swarmed towards us. I had used half my arrows in the first two minutes of this battle. Sweat dripped off my face and my dress was stained with mud and the reddish-black blood of the many slain orcs and goblins. Elrohir and I made for the right side of the mob while Elrond and Elladan took the left and Arwen and Lindir took them head-on. We worked our way inward and I had to pick up some fallen arrows because I had used all mine. Almost all of our arrows were gone now and I chose not to waste my last ones and I pulled out my knife. I searched the ground for my sword and finally found it near the center of that crazy mob. I took many of these creatures down and when there were only a few left, I finally found a chance to catch my breath. The last ocrs were quickly subdued. I sat down heavily on the ground and I put my head between my knees. A few tears escaped the corners of my eyes and slid down my dirt-covered face. When I looked up, the others had gathered and were washing their hands and faces in a small stream a few meters away. I walked over and sat down by Elrohir and wash the dirt and blood off my hands, face and sword. Afterwards, we went throughout the rubble and found a few arrows that were still good and washed them too. Then we set off for the forests of Lorien. We got to the beautiful forests an hour or so after the weary fight. We settled on the grass and rested our minds and hearts. I had now been in my first battle and I never wished to be in another. Arwen was disturbed by the fighting and remained silent the rest of the way through the forests. I put my hand on her shoulder and she glanced at me and sighed a deep sigh that meant she had a burden on her heart. When we reached Lothlorien, I ran through the great trees in search of Elithraniel. I found her and I stayed with her the rest of the night until dawn. She helped me mend my torn hunting dress. Even though I had washed it, its stains wouldn't come off. This was my reminder that I had been in battle and hated it; hated killing and I never wanted to again.