Chapter 18 Arrival and Memory
A/N Hey hope you like the next chap people. Thanks to all who have read and
reviewed!
We ran on after the Nazgul and Frodo, not knowing if the hobbit was ok or not. My breath ragged, and legs aching, I hopped over a log with my back pack bouncing off my back. I heard a yelp from behind, looking back, I saw Pippin sprawled on the forest floor. Stopping, I jog over to him, grab his arms and pulled him to his feet. Nodding his thanks to me, we continued on.
Glancing at Glorfindel, I watched him, he had his bow out, just expecting something to jump out and attack us. Jogging my memory, I recalled that only five of the Nazgul had followed Frodo, now, where were the others? As if on cue, I picked up the sound of more hoof beats, and from the line of trees to our right came the other four and with their swords drawn, they approached us. Aragorn pulled out his sword, the Hobbits followed suit, while I drew out my handguns from their holsters. Taking aim, bringing the barrel to the lead Nazgul's head, I fired.
As the handguns bucked into hands, the Rider shrieked as the heat from the bullet caused his cloak to catch fire. Glorfindel gave me a quick nod, before letting loose an arrow. The arrow struck a horse on the neck, but because of the armor the corrupted horse had, it only pierced the skin. The arrow fell out when the horse shook its body, leaving behind a small red wound. I took the hint at Glorfindel's example, and as much as I didn't want to, I aimed for the wounded horse. Before I could fire at the horse, one of the Nazgul screeched, pulled on the reins of its horse and took off, the others quickly followed.
I glanced at Aragorn, whom looked a little tired. He sheathed his sword and began to inspect a bite a horse had given him. The hobbits flopped to ground, threw their swords to the side, all three had wounds varying from small cuts to a gash on Pippin's forehead. I walked over to Pippin and began to inspect the gash. It wasn't deep. I opened one of the pouches on my fanny pack, in hopes of some bandages. To my utter surprise, I found some gauze, ban-aids and a small bottle of Hydrogen Peroxide.
"Ok hold still Pip" I said while opening the bottle and pouring some on a piece of gauze, "this will sting just a bit, but it will clean the wound." I placed the soakened gauze on the gash, Pippin winced and took a sharp intake of breath, but he kept still. Holding the gauze on the gash, I get out the largest band-aid I had. Removing the gauze, I open the band- aid, took off the white pieces covering the sticky part, and placed it over Pippin's wound. Standing up, I took a look at my handi-work. I smiled when Pippin tenderly placed a finger on the band-aid.
"What is this thing?" Pippin asked me questioningly, looking up at me with weary eyes. "It's a type of bandage," I explained to the curious Hobbit, "the edges of it have a sticky substance, so it will stick to your skin, while the cloth part covers the cut" Pippin nodded at and closed his eyes, still breathing heavily from eshaustion.
"We will rest for awhile then keep on going," said Aragorn as he leaned against a tree looking at the four of us, "Rivendell is within a few hours walk from here.Hopefully Frodo will have made it there by then." Dropping my pack to the ground, I quickly followed suit after it. Opening up my pack I pulled the bag of Tootsie Rolls and began to nibble on one. Looking up at Glorfindel, I saw him staring at the bag of Tootsie Rolls. His was face was void of any expressions but I knew he was curious what the Tootsie Rolls are. Rolling my eyes I tossed him one.
Just as he caught the piece a candy my mind wondered to something else, some other...time. I remembered being Lorien, the sun was slowly rising into the sky as I stood next to my white mare, Asaki. I swept the brush in my hand down her back when my ears picked up a near silent sound. Looking behind me, I found Glorfindel next to his own horse, bent down, he looked as though he were searching for something. Going back to my work, I realized what he was looking for; the brush I had. Rolling my eyes, I whistled to him and tossed the brush to him.
"Navadriel? Navadriel?" I shook my head to clear what was without a doubt a memory of my old life, and brought myself back to reality. Blinking a few times, I looked around to find everyone was staring at me. All three hobbits looked concerned. Bringing my gaze to Glorfindel, I got up and motioned for him to follow me over to a nearby group of trees. I leaned up against a tree and took sudden interest of brown dead leaf on the ground next to my feet.
"What is wrong?" Asked Glorfindel with concern etching his voice. Looking up at him, I smiled weakly and answered him.
"Nothing terrible, more or less something good" I answered sitting down and looking up him, "thought you like to know that I have remembered something from my past life" He looked relieved and inquired about what the memory. I began to re-tell what I had remembered. He smiled and chuckled lightly when I finished.
"I seem to remember that I did not catch that brush you had tossed" he said still chuckling, "safe to say, that it hit me on the head" I smiled regardless that I didn't remember that part of the memory, but I still found it funny. We didn't get to speak again for Aragorn called for us. Getting up from the ground, I head back to the other's with Glorfindel walking next to me.
Gripping my pack, I walked onwards as the light of the day began to fail. We were now walking along a path high above Rivendell. I constantly looked downwards at it, along with the Hobbits. Only an hour ago, an elven scout had informed that Frodo was under Elrond's care. I was relieved to know that he was being tended to, but I still worried that it might be too late.
I couldn't see Rivendell clearly but from what I could see, it was far more beatiful than I ever imagined. The roar of a waterfall could be heard nearby, songs from fair elven voices wafted up from the valley below. It was wonderful to hear, it seemed to blend in with the trees below, they looked as though they glowed, and glowed brighter when a new voice joined in. I saw the silver shimmer of water near the rock edge, the pale moon was just beginning to appear in the crystalline water.
Down the path we went, the hobbits entranced by what they were seeing, Aragorn looking around hopefully while Glorfindel remained impassive. I myself, was content to just enjoy what surrounded me. With a small smile playing on my lips we came to a stop at a huge golden gate gaurded by several elves. Glorfindel called up to them, and soon enough, the gates opened and we passed through.
We ran on after the Nazgul and Frodo, not knowing if the hobbit was ok or not. My breath ragged, and legs aching, I hopped over a log with my back pack bouncing off my back. I heard a yelp from behind, looking back, I saw Pippin sprawled on the forest floor. Stopping, I jog over to him, grab his arms and pulled him to his feet. Nodding his thanks to me, we continued on.
Glancing at Glorfindel, I watched him, he had his bow out, just expecting something to jump out and attack us. Jogging my memory, I recalled that only five of the Nazgul had followed Frodo, now, where were the others? As if on cue, I picked up the sound of more hoof beats, and from the line of trees to our right came the other four and with their swords drawn, they approached us. Aragorn pulled out his sword, the Hobbits followed suit, while I drew out my handguns from their holsters. Taking aim, bringing the barrel to the lead Nazgul's head, I fired.
As the handguns bucked into hands, the Rider shrieked as the heat from the bullet caused his cloak to catch fire. Glorfindel gave me a quick nod, before letting loose an arrow. The arrow struck a horse on the neck, but because of the armor the corrupted horse had, it only pierced the skin. The arrow fell out when the horse shook its body, leaving behind a small red wound. I took the hint at Glorfindel's example, and as much as I didn't want to, I aimed for the wounded horse. Before I could fire at the horse, one of the Nazgul screeched, pulled on the reins of its horse and took off, the others quickly followed.
I glanced at Aragorn, whom looked a little tired. He sheathed his sword and began to inspect a bite a horse had given him. The hobbits flopped to ground, threw their swords to the side, all three had wounds varying from small cuts to a gash on Pippin's forehead. I walked over to Pippin and began to inspect the gash. It wasn't deep. I opened one of the pouches on my fanny pack, in hopes of some bandages. To my utter surprise, I found some gauze, ban-aids and a small bottle of Hydrogen Peroxide.
"Ok hold still Pip" I said while opening the bottle and pouring some on a piece of gauze, "this will sting just a bit, but it will clean the wound." I placed the soakened gauze on the gash, Pippin winced and took a sharp intake of breath, but he kept still. Holding the gauze on the gash, I get out the largest band-aid I had. Removing the gauze, I open the band- aid, took off the white pieces covering the sticky part, and placed it over Pippin's wound. Standing up, I took a look at my handi-work. I smiled when Pippin tenderly placed a finger on the band-aid.
"What is this thing?" Pippin asked me questioningly, looking up at me with weary eyes. "It's a type of bandage," I explained to the curious Hobbit, "the edges of it have a sticky substance, so it will stick to your skin, while the cloth part covers the cut" Pippin nodded at and closed his eyes, still breathing heavily from eshaustion.
"We will rest for awhile then keep on going," said Aragorn as he leaned against a tree looking at the four of us, "Rivendell is within a few hours walk from here.Hopefully Frodo will have made it there by then." Dropping my pack to the ground, I quickly followed suit after it. Opening up my pack I pulled the bag of Tootsie Rolls and began to nibble on one. Looking up at Glorfindel, I saw him staring at the bag of Tootsie Rolls. His was face was void of any expressions but I knew he was curious what the Tootsie Rolls are. Rolling my eyes I tossed him one.
Just as he caught the piece a candy my mind wondered to something else, some other...time. I remembered being Lorien, the sun was slowly rising into the sky as I stood next to my white mare, Asaki. I swept the brush in my hand down her back when my ears picked up a near silent sound. Looking behind me, I found Glorfindel next to his own horse, bent down, he looked as though he were searching for something. Going back to my work, I realized what he was looking for; the brush I had. Rolling my eyes, I whistled to him and tossed the brush to him.
"Navadriel? Navadriel?" I shook my head to clear what was without a doubt a memory of my old life, and brought myself back to reality. Blinking a few times, I looked around to find everyone was staring at me. All three hobbits looked concerned. Bringing my gaze to Glorfindel, I got up and motioned for him to follow me over to a nearby group of trees. I leaned up against a tree and took sudden interest of brown dead leaf on the ground next to my feet.
"What is wrong?" Asked Glorfindel with concern etching his voice. Looking up at him, I smiled weakly and answered him.
"Nothing terrible, more or less something good" I answered sitting down and looking up him, "thought you like to know that I have remembered something from my past life" He looked relieved and inquired about what the memory. I began to re-tell what I had remembered. He smiled and chuckled lightly when I finished.
"I seem to remember that I did not catch that brush you had tossed" he said still chuckling, "safe to say, that it hit me on the head" I smiled regardless that I didn't remember that part of the memory, but I still found it funny. We didn't get to speak again for Aragorn called for us. Getting up from the ground, I head back to the other's with Glorfindel walking next to me.
Gripping my pack, I walked onwards as the light of the day began to fail. We were now walking along a path high above Rivendell. I constantly looked downwards at it, along with the Hobbits. Only an hour ago, an elven scout had informed that Frodo was under Elrond's care. I was relieved to know that he was being tended to, but I still worried that it might be too late.
I couldn't see Rivendell clearly but from what I could see, it was far more beatiful than I ever imagined. The roar of a waterfall could be heard nearby, songs from fair elven voices wafted up from the valley below. It was wonderful to hear, it seemed to blend in with the trees below, they looked as though they glowed, and glowed brighter when a new voice joined in. I saw the silver shimmer of water near the rock edge, the pale moon was just beginning to appear in the crystalline water.
Down the path we went, the hobbits entranced by what they were seeing, Aragorn looking around hopefully while Glorfindel remained impassive. I myself, was content to just enjoy what surrounded me. With a small smile playing on my lips we came to a stop at a huge golden gate gaurded by several elves. Glorfindel called up to them, and soon enough, the gates opened and we passed through.