The alarm clock rang. Aaliyah opened her eyes the sun wasn't even up yet. Aaliyah lived on a ranch with her father, Mary the housekeeper and cook also some stable hands. Her father was a horse breeder. Aaliyah's mother had died giving birth to her. Aaliyah kicked off her blankets kicking Raba (Ra-ba).
"Watch it pup you're the one that has to get up early not me." The wolf growled.
"I'm sorry." Said Aaliyah looking down at the hug white timber wolf lying in her bed.
Raba had looked after her since she was little and had helped keep her out of trouble. He had been the one who had helped her learn how to control her powers. Aaliyah had always been able to talk with animals. But it had been Raba who had showed her that she could do other things with her power.
Aaliyah put on her work cloths and went over to her vanity to grab a band to put up her hair. Aaliyah had shoulder length ebony hair. She was tall for a girl but she was ok with that what she did not like was her ears. They were pointed. When she had been little the ranch hands had teased her so much that she would cry. When that happened Raba would tell her the story of how her mother and father had met.
Her mother had been an elf princess daughter of lord Celeborn and lady Galadriel rulers of the woodland realm Leothlorien in Middle Earth. One day she had been walking in the forest and had accidentally gone through a portal that had transported her to the forest behind the stables were Aaliyah's father had found her. They had fallen in love and gotten married. It had been a nice story but Aaliyah was sixteen now and did not believe in things like elves.
"Are you ready to go down for breakfast?" She asked the wolf.
"Yes of course." Said Raba while he stretched.
When they got to the kitchen their breakfast was already waiting for them. A plate with eggs, sausage, and a hash brown was for Aaliyah and a bowl of raw meat for Raba. Mary was in the kitchen washing the dishes. She turned and smiled at Aaliyah and Raba when they came in the room.
"Good morning Aaliyah how are you this morning."
The smile never leaving Mary's face.
"Good morning Mary." Said Aaliyha returning Mary's smile.
Raba barked and waged his tale so Mary would see him.
"And a good morning to you to Raba."
Aaliyah sat down and began to eat her breakfast.
"Where's my dad?"
"He's in his study with some guests."
"Guests at this time in the morning how did they get here? I did not hear a car."
"They did not come in a car. They came on horse back."
"On horse back from wear we're miles from anywhere." Said Aaliyah an eyebrow raised.
"I don't know all I know is that they came this morning and your fathers been with them since then. Now hurry up and eat your breakfast so you can do your chores."
Aaliyah finished her eating and washed her plate before she left. She crossed the yard and followed the path that led to the stables. When she got there Dan a stable hand was already there. Dan had always treated Aaliyah like a little sister and she had always been thankful for that. He smiled and waved at her as she walked in. Aaliyah walked over to him.
"Good morning Dan how are you?"
"I'm fine, got a gift for you."
Aaliyah's eyes brightened, she loved getting gifts.
"What is it?"
"I'll give it to you after you finish your chores.''
Aaliyah was a little disappointed but agreed. Leaving Dan, Aaliyah went to say good morning to the horses. She feed, brushed, and watered the horses that were in her care. Then she led them to the back paddock for some exercise. When she got there, there were strange horses in the paddock among the others. "They most be the ones the guests rode in on." She thought to herself. As she neared the paddock Spirit her horse came trotting up to the fence. He was a mixed between an Arabian horse and an Australian mountain horse. He was 6 ft high for huff to shoulder. The tallest horse she had ever seen. He said that was because he was a warhorse and resembled the first of his people of ever to walk Middle Earth.
"Hello Aaliyah, Raba it is a wonderful morning to go for a run don't you think." Spirit said, with an I know some thing you don't air to him.
"Good morning." Said Aaliyah and Raba at the same time.
"So who are your friends?" Said Raba nodding to the new horses. "There as tall as you."
"They come from Lothlorien." Said Spirit in a matter of fact tone. "Their riders are sitting over there at the edge of the forest."
When Aaliyah had finished putting the horses in the paddock and had greeted the new comers she stood on the railing of the paddock so she could get a better look. On the far side sitting under the trees were two men and a woman. They were all tall with long blond hair. They wore funny cloths that did not change in color. They were mostly greens and browns with some blue in the woman's dress. One of the men lifted his head up to see what was going on; he saw her. He immediately stood up and told the others to do the same. Then they bowed to her. Aaliyah was so stunned she did not know what to do. Lucky for her Raba knew exactly what to do.
"Smile and nod."
It worked they smiled back at her. Aaliyah quickly walked away. Walking back to the stables Aaliyah asked Raba if he know who they were.
"I do not know who they are but I do know what they are."
"So what are they?" Asked Aaliyah impatiently.
"They are elves."
"Elves! You mean like in the stories you told me, but I thought they were just made up."
"Made up! Made up! They are not made up! You two-legers all think that elves are just made up for your amusement."
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I will never doubt you ever again, I swear. So what do you think they are here for." Said Aaliyah changing the subject quickly.
"I don't know but I don't think it is something bad."
"How do you know that?"
"Because they treated you with the respect you deserve."
"You mean the bowing thing."
"Yes they treated you like a princess."
Aaliyah wanted to look back but thought better of it and kept walking. Once back in the barn Aaliyah let out a sigh of relief that she did not know she had been holding. Ben another of the stable was cleaning put the stables.
"What took you so long?"
"I stopped to look at the visitors."
"They are a sight aren't they? Well don't just stand there grab a shovel and help me."
Aaliyah did as she was told. By the time she they were done it was time for lunch. Aaliyah and the other stable hands made their way to the kitchen. In the kitchen Mary rushed around the kitchen grabbing cups off shelf's and putting them in a picnic basket.
"What are you doing?" Aaliyah asked.
"I'm taking our guests their lunch. They did not want to come in and eat."
"What there too good for us are they?" Said Ben sarcastically.
Mary slapped Ben up side the head.
"They are our guests and if they want to eat the picnic blanket you let them."
Mary made here way to the door almost through the door she turned around.
"Aaliyah after lunch wash up."
"What?" Said Aaliyah a little confused. "I still have work to do."
"Your father asked me to tell you that after cleaned up to go to get him so you and he could go for a ride."
Aaliyah looked at Mary wondering why her father would want to talk to her.
"Ok I will thank you Mary."
Mary walked out the door. Aaliyah sat down every one was looking at her.
"So what did you do this time?" Asked Ben smiling.
"She did not do a thing." Said Dan. "Now eat your food."
Looking at Aaliyah he said "Since you are going for a ride I'll give you your gift after you eat."
Aaliyah finished her food at a recorded braking pace. A little later she was standing out side of the storeroom waiting for Dan to cache up. Aaliyah could only guess at what the gift might be. Dan was famous for the saddles he made. For her sixteen birthday he had given her the most beautiful bar back saddle she had ever seen. Now Dan had finally caught up to her.
"Now close your eyes and wait right hear."
Aaliyah obeyed with out hesitation.
"Ok you can open your eyes now."
Aaliyah opened her eyes and looked at her gift, it was a seat of some; kind leather with a curved back and some bags hanging on to bout sides for balance. Aaliyah did not now what to make of it but Raba did. He let out a happy bark and ran to the seat and sat in it Aaliyah laughed at the sight. It was a riding seat for Raba.
"Now Raba wont have a hard time keeping up with Spirit." Said Dan with a big smile on his face. "If he wants to he even has room to curl up.
Äaliyah ran to Dan and gave him a hug and a kiss.
"Thank you so much Dan, you're the best."
"I know, I know. Now go and get ready for your ride, so you can try it out."
Aaliyah let go of hem and walked back to the house Raba by her side.
"That was a great gift. That two-leger really knows what an wolf needs."
After Aaliyah had washed and dressed she went to get her father. She knocked on his study's door.
"Dad it's me I'm ready for our ride."
The door opened to reveal her father he blocked the doorway so she could not see inside the room.
" Good then lets be off."
Outside in the yard Spirit was waiting he had on the seat that Dan had made for Raba. It looked a little comical until Raba jumped on then it was just plane weird. Her father stopped and stared.
"Raba if you don't mined I would like to talk to Aaliyah alone."
Raba looked at Aaliyah
"Tell your father that I will go with you and leave you and that he should know that by now."
"He said that he will not leave me but he also said that he will not interrupt."
Aaliyah said the last part staring hard at Raba who eventually agreed. That done they got on the horses and headed for the lake that was a little ways in the forest. Her father made sure that they did not pass the elves. They rode in silence all the way to the lake. Once there her father cleared his throat.
"Aaliyah you now I love you and would only do things with your best interest in mined."
Aaliyah did not like the way things were sounding but did not say anything.
"By now Raba has already told you of what your mother was and of what you are."
"Yes he has."
"Good well what I have to say goes along with that. You are not a normal girl you have elf blood in you and not just any elf blood."
"I now the blood I have comes with great power. Raba told me this already. Does this have anything to do with why the elves are here?"
"Yes it dose you see not even your cousin Arwen has your power and she is a full blooded elf."
"I have a cousin."
"Yes, but let's stick to the subject ok."
Aaliyah nodded.
"Good, now this power makes you immortal and that is why the elves are here they want to take you back with them."
"How long would I be gone?" Aaliyah asked not really wanting to know the answer.
Her father look away from her before he answered her.
"You would never come back."
"Well if that's the case I don't want to go."
"I have already said you would be going with them."
"Well then tell them that you changed your mined because I'm not going never."
"This may seem like the wrong thing now but you will come to realize it is for the best."
Aaliyah's was trembling. How could her father have said that? She loved it here this was her home she could not just leave and never return. She tried to express this to her father but he would not lesion. She was going and that was that.