An Un-known Tongue

The next morning, birds chirped in the trees and the sun shined through the leaves. Jodi awoke first, her head still placed in Kendal's lap. She quietly rubbed her eyes and sat up. She brushed the leaves off the upper-body, they crunched softly as she swiped them away.

"Amin farim, amin poika de; taur na-almareº." Jodi sighed, standing up, brushing the dirt off the back of her legs and bottom. She looked at Kendal, still sleeping at the base of a trunk then turned around. Jodi smiled as she saw her pack still where she left it, along with her other things; by the fallen log. "A! luume' ten'vasa¹." She purred as she tugged a cooler out from under her bag. "Sii' dun-Kendal²."

Jodi tip-toed over to Kendal and lightly rocked her by the shoulder. Kendal's eyes fluttered, but she remained asleep. Jodi whispered her name and shook her more vigorously. Kendal moaned as she woke from her peaceful state and glared at Jodi.

"What now?" She asked, rubbing her eyes. Jodi smiled and said,

"Luume' ten'vasa¹."

Kendal glared again and sat up from the tree. "Okay-" she started before her voice was muffled by a feeling of an object lodged in her throat. She put her fingertips to her throat and coughed. Kendal started up again, only this time her voice was engulfed in an English accent. "Okay, you can just stop with what-ever language you're talking in. 'Tis getting very annoying."

Jodi looked at her half shocked and half angry, "Ve' amin sintaya mani amin lipt'ien!" She yelled, standing up, hovering over Kendal.

"Speak English!" Kendal yelled following in Jodi's movements. Even though Kendal was much shorter than her normal 5'5", and even more so then the day before. She tried to stare Jodi square in the eyes, but the height difference made it a difficult task. Even if Jodi hadn't grown at all.

"She said, "Like I know, what I'm doing." " A soft, slow voice said above the two girls. They both looked up and could see nothing. After a few seconds of silence, the voice spoke again. "Look over, by where, you slept."

Kendal and Jodi did as told, and still saw nothing. That was until the branch moved towards them, like the tree was holding out a hand. Jodi's eyes widened and she fell to the ground, not taking her eyes off the tree. Kendal looked at the branch that was coming ever so close to her and then looked at the ground; hoping it would go away. The tree chuckled and took in a deep, ragged breath before stating:

"We've been, watching you. Ever since the day, you came into, the forest."

"Begging your pardon Miss, but just who are "we"? How many are there? And just what are you?" Kendal asked, now looking shyly up at the tree. First at the roots and slowly working her way up, she noticed that the tree had eyes. Sharp and vivid eyes, like that of a cat. That seemed kind and wise with a knack for telling stories. The tree took in another breath and waited a few seconds before telling her answer.

"You Hobbits do, tend to be, quite hasty." The Tree spoke before a pause, "and ask too many questions. And in, answer to one question, little Hobbit; I am an EntWife. Laurelin³, the Elves of, Old called me. I propose, you can do, the same."

"Wait. The Elves of Old? What's that mean? Are they all gone?" Kendal asked, with a stern look set upon her brow. Laurelin chuckled for a long while before answering. By that time Jodi had loosened up her disbelief and sat down upon the fallen log.

"Like I said, earlier. You Hobbits do, indeed, ask too, many questions." She said with a soft sigh. Then the ground shook, Kendal wiggled her way over to Jodi and they latched on to the log. Holding it for dear life. A few minutes later the shaking subsided. Jodi and Kendal looked at each other then at Laurelin with wonder and amazement. The EntWife was standing up straight and towered over the two. The log, of which they were holding on to was tilted slightly up wards. "Please, if you would, climb up here, so I can get, a better look."

"A better look at what?" Jodi softly snapped to herself as they slowly climbed up the log, onto the very top of Laurelin's branches. Jodi arrived first to her surprise and looked down to see Kendal struggling to find footing for her abnormally large feet. But that couldn't be. Kendal never had trouble climbing trees. Of course she was never three feet tall either when she did it. Jodi tried to help by telling her where she could put her foot, but Kendal didn't understand a word of the Elvish coming out of her friends mouth. But soon enough, Kendal figured out her footing and climbed atop Laurelin. With the two sitting on the Entwife's shoulders(if you will), Laurelin looked at the two and began to walk. Every step caused the two to jump in the air, until the rhythm was memorized. And as log as they held on, neither of them fell off. Jodi gasped as she realized that they had left everything behind, and whispered the news to Laurelin in Elvish.

"Ho-ho." The Old Entwife bellowed, slowing her pace. "Young Elf, I have your things. I grabbed them, while the, young Hobbit, tried to climb up." Kendal looked at Jodi with a frown.

Always thinking about your things. She thought, shaking her head. Then suddenly, as Laurelin stopped near a clearing. "Where are we going?"

"We're already there." Laurelin softly said, putting the branch-full of belongings down near a large stone cavern. She took in a breath before continuing with what she supposed the Hobbits questions were. "This is where I live. An Ent-house. Not much like the Old Ents built .The ones in Fangorn Forest, but, close enough. This is the door, right before us. Not much to see, on the outside. But inside, ah, that's where it's-" She said before taking a pause, as if The Old Entwife forgot what she was talking about.

"Laurelin, lle quenad?ºº" Jodi asked softly, looking towards the Entwife's face. Laurelin laughed and grasped the two that were upon her shoulders gently, and set them down on the ground.

"You two shall, be my guests tonight. And for as long, as you see fit. You see, the others and I, have talked about you, for a while now. Two days, if I recall. And we want to see to it that, you both, are well taken, care of." Laurelin said, taking her sweet time. He whole speech lasting over ten minutes. In the mean time, Jodi and Kendal sat on the ground, listening. Maybe not with their full attention, but fully aware of what Laurelin was saying.

After a long and tiresome three hours of Laurelin's long speech, Kendal and Jodi watched as the EntWife moved a boulder from the cavern entrance with massive strength. They both starred in awe, until Laurelin motioned them to follow.

"Wow." Kendal gasped as she took in her first look of the cavern. The walls were made of glittering white stone and the floor was cushioned with grass; greener than green.

× Elvish Translations ×

º Amin farim, amin poika de; taur na-almare - I pray, my clean up would be bliss.

¹ A! luume' ten'vasa (Luume' ten'vasa) - Ah! Time for food. (Time for food.)

² Sii' dun-Kendal - Now to rise Kendal

³ Laurelin - Tree found in Evermeet

ººLaurelin, lle quenad? - Laurelin, you spoke?