A/N: Sorry this took me so long! I don't really like this chapter, it's
kind of setting up for ones to come. Tell me if you like it or not!!
Can anyone tell me how to do italics?
Ella's dreams were laced with seas of orcs weaving through elfish warriors in silver armor. She hated the sight of the orcs; they tarnished her reveries. She came to realize she was being forcefully shaken, and drifted back into consciousness.
"She is awake!" a relieved voice exclaimed.
"Finally," she heard Gandalf reply.
"Lemme sleep," Ella mumbled and tried to turn over and pull her blanket over her head.
"No you don't," came the first voice, " You must eat to regain your strength. You overextended yourself when you were burning those orcs yesterday. You can't sleep, it will only weaken you further."
"Legolas is right," Gandalf told her, " You must eat, Ella."
She felt food being poked into her mouth and obediently chewed.
"Two more bites and I sleep?" she pleaded.
"Seven," Legolas said.
"Three," she bargained. She opened her mouth to say something else, but food was poked into her mouth. "Heartless," she muttered, eliciting a laugh. She ate the rest of the food and then they allowed her to go back to sleep.
When she next awoke, she sat in Gandalf's cart. She blinked to accustom her eyes to the unfamiliar light. They were still in a forest, still following the same dirt road.
"Good," Gandalf said when he noticed she was awake, " I was about to wake you myself."
"Gandalf," Ella said, "Would you please explain what attacked us yesterday?"
Gandalf sighed. "You know that they are called orcs. They were once elves, but they were corrupted and tortured by the Dark Lord. They live to destroy on his command." Gandalf abruptly changed the subject, "But, I have much still to teach you. We cannot afford to waste any time."
"Today?" Ella groaned. Her head felt like a frog run over by a semi.
"Yes. I hate to push you, but this next magic is very useful. It can be used as a means of escape." Gandalf said.
"Okay," Ella said, "What is it? Wait a sec. Where's Lotheon and the elven patrol?" she asked.
"Lotheon has returned to Mirkwood, his home. The elven patrol accompanied him. Legolas did have them stay for a little while to make sure you were fine. He fed you himself." Gandalf told her.
"What I plan to teach you now is shapeshifting. This art has infinite uses. You can use it to hide from pursuers, or to reach outside of your normal physical capabilities by becoming something else. When you are in a different form, you can communicate in both the language of the being you are, as well as the Common Tongue. You cannot use magic when you are in a different form, except to change yourself back. That is the largest disadvantage. I most often use this to change into animals, but it is possible to change into other races."
"If I wanted to, I could change into an elf?" she asked.
"Yes."
"How do I start?" she asked.
"First you must envision the being you want to become. It should be fairly accurate, but perfection is not necessary. Then you must picture yourself becoming, while releasing a small it of magic. This spell requires little magic. You need not worry about clothing or weaponry when you transform. It will appear when you transform back to your real form. To turn yourself back, you simply picture yourself in your original form and expend a little magic."
Suddenly, Gandalf transformed into a robin. Ella, accustomed to unusual occurrences by now, didn't bat an eye. Gandalf reappeared.
"You try."
Well, she thought, horses are nice enough. Ella pictured a chestnut horse, and mentally poured herself into the form. The spell was finished, and she tested her limbs. Soon, she was trotting across the road. Moving in a horse form took hardly any energy; she felt like she could keep going all day. Gandalf beckoned her to change back into her normal form. She reluctantly complied. On their way again, Ella transformed into birds, chipmunks, and other small animals that fit into the cart. She tried a snake to see what Gandalf would do. He looked at her with a twinkle in his eye, and froze her with a snap of his wrist. Ella had never thrown off a spell before, and by the time she had done it she was numb for a quite a while afterward.
"Was that really necessary?" she asked Gandalf crossly. He just laughed.
They rode into Hobbiton at the end of the day. At first, it looked like a village of children to Ella, but after studying them, she was able to figure out the difference in ages.
A small dark-haired hobbit ran up to meet them.
"You're late," he accused Gandalf.
Gandalf replied that a wizard is never late, but on time always. The hobbit flung himself onto the cart and hugged Gandalf.
"This is Mr. Frodo Baggins, Bilbo's nephew," Gandalf said, introducing him. "Frodo, this my apprentice, Ella."
They continued to ride through the Shire. The hobbits all knew Gandalf, but Ella was a new face, and they regarded her closely. Frodo jumped off the cart after a while.
"It's good to see you again, Gandalf! And nice to meet you, Ella"
They reached a green door embedded in a hill. They knocked and a very grumpy hobbit told them to go away unless on party business. Gandalf got him to open the door, and he delightedly greeted them. Ella followed Gandalf in, and ducked to get through the door for she was almost as tall as Gandalf. She looked around her. The hobbit hole was the most comfortable and cozy home she had ever been in. The clutter just added to its charm. She followed Gandalf and Bilbo into the kitchen. Bilbo determinedly discussed plans for going away and seeing the elves and the Lonely Mountain again.
That evening was the birthday party. Ella found a seat on the sidelines to watch the festivities. The happy-go-lucky hobbits enjoyed themselves immensely. Ella forgot all about orcs and magic just by watching them.
Bilbo was asked to make a speech later in the evening. He spoke the usual niceties, but then slowed down, looked pained as he said, "It is time," and disappeared after looking at Frodo one last time. A universal gasp circulated through the hobbits. Gandalf went after Bilbo.
"Ella, stay here. Try to get them to settle down." He ordered as he raced off in the direction of Bilbo's hobbit hole.
Ella rose to her full height. She decided to treat the thing as a joke and said loudly for all to hear, " Bilbo's trick worked, I see! He was so excited to surprise all of you. Gandalf helped him with it," she fibbed. This calmed the hobbits down and the party was in full swing again. Ella slipped away.
She raced toward Bilbo's hobbit hole. She and Frodo arrived at the same time. Gandalf was inside, pensively smoking his pipe. Once they had gotten Gandalf's attention, he told them of Bilbo's departure, and handed Frodo the ring to keep safe. He quickly traded the cart for two horses, bid Frodo farewell, and then he and Ella mounted and rode off into the night.
Ella had never gone so fast on a horse before. Pony rides at carnivals didn't prepare you for this, she thought, grimly hanging on. They rode at a gallop all night, and into the day.
They reached a great city late the next day. Gandalf, strangely energetic for an old man, went immediately into the library. Ella, trailing him, also went to the library. The room was cavernous, with books in every nook of the room. These weren't just books, they were heavy tomes written on aged paper. Ella picked one up. It was in the Common Tongue, telling of the history of the first Great War. Food was brought to them, but they stayed in the library for days, and left only to sleep. Ella learned much about Middle-Earth. Not just its history, but also about its occupants and the geography. Gandalf also learned much, for he was ready to leave at the end of the third day. Again, they mounted their horses and raced off back toward the Shire, rarely stopping or speaking.
When they arrived at Bag End, Gandalf knocked and Frodo let them in. Gandalf threw the ring into the fire, and asked anxiously if there was writing on the band. When Frodo replied that there was some that he could not read, Ella saw Gandalf's shoulders slump as if a cumbrous weight had just been placed upon them. Gandalf related the story of the one ring.
"The ring cannot stay in the Shire!" Frodo said.
"No, it cannot." Gandalf replied, "You will travel to Bree, and I will meet you there. Stay off the roads."
As Frodo quickly readied himself for the journey, a rustling was heard outside of the window, and Gandalf dragged in Samwise Gamgee, one of the hobbits Ella had seen Frodo talk to at the party. Gandalf recruited Sam and sent them both on to Bree, with a promise of meeting them there several days hence.
"Okay, Gandalf," Ella said, turning to him, "What must we do to help Frodo?"
"I will go to Isengard, to consult with the top of my order, Saruman the Wise," he told her. "You will go back the library. You primarily read books of history last time you were there. This time, you will read books of magic and lore, to further your skill. I am sorry I cannot teach you firsthand what you need to know, but you are the most able student I have ever run across, and you will be fine. I will meet you there in several days time, and we will journey to Bree together."
With that, once more he galloped off.
Ella's dreams were laced with seas of orcs weaving through elfish warriors in silver armor. She hated the sight of the orcs; they tarnished her reveries. She came to realize she was being forcefully shaken, and drifted back into consciousness.
"She is awake!" a relieved voice exclaimed.
"Finally," she heard Gandalf reply.
"Lemme sleep," Ella mumbled and tried to turn over and pull her blanket over her head.
"No you don't," came the first voice, " You must eat to regain your strength. You overextended yourself when you were burning those orcs yesterday. You can't sleep, it will only weaken you further."
"Legolas is right," Gandalf told her, " You must eat, Ella."
She felt food being poked into her mouth and obediently chewed.
"Two more bites and I sleep?" she pleaded.
"Seven," Legolas said.
"Three," she bargained. She opened her mouth to say something else, but food was poked into her mouth. "Heartless," she muttered, eliciting a laugh. She ate the rest of the food and then they allowed her to go back to sleep.
When she next awoke, she sat in Gandalf's cart. She blinked to accustom her eyes to the unfamiliar light. They were still in a forest, still following the same dirt road.
"Good," Gandalf said when he noticed she was awake, " I was about to wake you myself."
"Gandalf," Ella said, "Would you please explain what attacked us yesterday?"
Gandalf sighed. "You know that they are called orcs. They were once elves, but they were corrupted and tortured by the Dark Lord. They live to destroy on his command." Gandalf abruptly changed the subject, "But, I have much still to teach you. We cannot afford to waste any time."
"Today?" Ella groaned. Her head felt like a frog run over by a semi.
"Yes. I hate to push you, but this next magic is very useful. It can be used as a means of escape." Gandalf said.
"Okay," Ella said, "What is it? Wait a sec. Where's Lotheon and the elven patrol?" she asked.
"Lotheon has returned to Mirkwood, his home. The elven patrol accompanied him. Legolas did have them stay for a little while to make sure you were fine. He fed you himself." Gandalf told her.
"What I plan to teach you now is shapeshifting. This art has infinite uses. You can use it to hide from pursuers, or to reach outside of your normal physical capabilities by becoming something else. When you are in a different form, you can communicate in both the language of the being you are, as well as the Common Tongue. You cannot use magic when you are in a different form, except to change yourself back. That is the largest disadvantage. I most often use this to change into animals, but it is possible to change into other races."
"If I wanted to, I could change into an elf?" she asked.
"Yes."
"How do I start?" she asked.
"First you must envision the being you want to become. It should be fairly accurate, but perfection is not necessary. Then you must picture yourself becoming, while releasing a small it of magic. This spell requires little magic. You need not worry about clothing or weaponry when you transform. It will appear when you transform back to your real form. To turn yourself back, you simply picture yourself in your original form and expend a little magic."
Suddenly, Gandalf transformed into a robin. Ella, accustomed to unusual occurrences by now, didn't bat an eye. Gandalf reappeared.
"You try."
Well, she thought, horses are nice enough. Ella pictured a chestnut horse, and mentally poured herself into the form. The spell was finished, and she tested her limbs. Soon, she was trotting across the road. Moving in a horse form took hardly any energy; she felt like she could keep going all day. Gandalf beckoned her to change back into her normal form. She reluctantly complied. On their way again, Ella transformed into birds, chipmunks, and other small animals that fit into the cart. She tried a snake to see what Gandalf would do. He looked at her with a twinkle in his eye, and froze her with a snap of his wrist. Ella had never thrown off a spell before, and by the time she had done it she was numb for a quite a while afterward.
"Was that really necessary?" she asked Gandalf crossly. He just laughed.
They rode into Hobbiton at the end of the day. At first, it looked like a village of children to Ella, but after studying them, she was able to figure out the difference in ages.
A small dark-haired hobbit ran up to meet them.
"You're late," he accused Gandalf.
Gandalf replied that a wizard is never late, but on time always. The hobbit flung himself onto the cart and hugged Gandalf.
"This is Mr. Frodo Baggins, Bilbo's nephew," Gandalf said, introducing him. "Frodo, this my apprentice, Ella."
They continued to ride through the Shire. The hobbits all knew Gandalf, but Ella was a new face, and they regarded her closely. Frodo jumped off the cart after a while.
"It's good to see you again, Gandalf! And nice to meet you, Ella"
They reached a green door embedded in a hill. They knocked and a very grumpy hobbit told them to go away unless on party business. Gandalf got him to open the door, and he delightedly greeted them. Ella followed Gandalf in, and ducked to get through the door for she was almost as tall as Gandalf. She looked around her. The hobbit hole was the most comfortable and cozy home she had ever been in. The clutter just added to its charm. She followed Gandalf and Bilbo into the kitchen. Bilbo determinedly discussed plans for going away and seeing the elves and the Lonely Mountain again.
That evening was the birthday party. Ella found a seat on the sidelines to watch the festivities. The happy-go-lucky hobbits enjoyed themselves immensely. Ella forgot all about orcs and magic just by watching them.
Bilbo was asked to make a speech later in the evening. He spoke the usual niceties, but then slowed down, looked pained as he said, "It is time," and disappeared after looking at Frodo one last time. A universal gasp circulated through the hobbits. Gandalf went after Bilbo.
"Ella, stay here. Try to get them to settle down." He ordered as he raced off in the direction of Bilbo's hobbit hole.
Ella rose to her full height. She decided to treat the thing as a joke and said loudly for all to hear, " Bilbo's trick worked, I see! He was so excited to surprise all of you. Gandalf helped him with it," she fibbed. This calmed the hobbits down and the party was in full swing again. Ella slipped away.
She raced toward Bilbo's hobbit hole. She and Frodo arrived at the same time. Gandalf was inside, pensively smoking his pipe. Once they had gotten Gandalf's attention, he told them of Bilbo's departure, and handed Frodo the ring to keep safe. He quickly traded the cart for two horses, bid Frodo farewell, and then he and Ella mounted and rode off into the night.
Ella had never gone so fast on a horse before. Pony rides at carnivals didn't prepare you for this, she thought, grimly hanging on. They rode at a gallop all night, and into the day.
They reached a great city late the next day. Gandalf, strangely energetic for an old man, went immediately into the library. Ella, trailing him, also went to the library. The room was cavernous, with books in every nook of the room. These weren't just books, they were heavy tomes written on aged paper. Ella picked one up. It was in the Common Tongue, telling of the history of the first Great War. Food was brought to them, but they stayed in the library for days, and left only to sleep. Ella learned much about Middle-Earth. Not just its history, but also about its occupants and the geography. Gandalf also learned much, for he was ready to leave at the end of the third day. Again, they mounted their horses and raced off back toward the Shire, rarely stopping or speaking.
When they arrived at Bag End, Gandalf knocked and Frodo let them in. Gandalf threw the ring into the fire, and asked anxiously if there was writing on the band. When Frodo replied that there was some that he could not read, Ella saw Gandalf's shoulders slump as if a cumbrous weight had just been placed upon them. Gandalf related the story of the one ring.
"The ring cannot stay in the Shire!" Frodo said.
"No, it cannot." Gandalf replied, "You will travel to Bree, and I will meet you there. Stay off the roads."
As Frodo quickly readied himself for the journey, a rustling was heard outside of the window, and Gandalf dragged in Samwise Gamgee, one of the hobbits Ella had seen Frodo talk to at the party. Gandalf recruited Sam and sent them both on to Bree, with a promise of meeting them there several days hence.
"Okay, Gandalf," Ella said, turning to him, "What must we do to help Frodo?"
"I will go to Isengard, to consult with the top of my order, Saruman the Wise," he told her. "You will go back the library. You primarily read books of history last time you were there. This time, you will read books of magic and lore, to further your skill. I am sorry I cannot teach you firsthand what you need to know, but you are the most able student I have ever run across, and you will be fine. I will meet you there in several days time, and we will journey to Bree together."
With that, once more he galloped off.