Disclaimer- Let me check- Nope, LOTR is not mine, but the story and any characters in it that Tolkien did not mention are.
A/N- Thanks again GreyLadyBast for your encouraging review(s!) and cheerleader15, I'm glad you like it! Please enjoy this next installment.
Chapter 3- "Where's the Ferry?"
Dandelion tossed and turned. What had happened was fresh and troubling to her mind, so the result was she could not sleep. She finally sat up and looked at her friend. Poppy was sleeping, peacefully oblivious to the worries of her friend. Not that Dandelion could blame her; they had walked very far, and experienced a lot of problems before they could sleep. And yet...
Dandelion sighed and made her way to the banks of the Brandywine. She peered into its water. Silvery flashes told of the fish in its depths, but she was- oddly enough for a hobbit- not hungry. Cupping her hands, she immersed them in the cool liquid. She scooped some water into her hands and lifted them to her face, drinking deeply. When she had quenched her thirst, she glanced briefly at the other side of the river and turned to go back to her bedroll. Suddenly, her body froze and she looked back to the other edge of the river. There sat a creature that was definitely not a hobbit, and although he was tall enough to be one, he wasn't a Big Person either. He was an elf.
Dandelion gawked at him, her eyes almost as large as saucers. She had heard tales of elves, of course, from her parents, both of her grandfathers, and Mr. Meriadoc (among others) when she was very young, but she had never met or much less seen one.
The elf, on the other hand, seemed perfectly at ease. He waved and smiled, his silvery hair shining in the moonlight. She waved back, feeling awkward and very much like a 'foolish Took.' His smile broadened, and he whispered words in his own tongue, his voice barely carrying over the water. "Kaima, perian."* Dandelion did not remember what happened next until morning.
* * *
The smell of freshly cooked sausage greeted Dandelion when she woke. She sniffed appreciatively as she sat up, blinking sleepily. Poppy smiled at her. "Feeling better, sleepy-head?"
"Mmm, much," answered Dandelion, grabbing for something to put her breakfast on. "Is it done?"
"Nearly," Poppy answered, looking critically at the food she was frying. "I waited a while for you to wake, but when you showed no intention of doing so, I decided to cook first breakfast quickly so we could get an early start."
Dandelion shifted uncomfortably. "Next time, Poppy, you should wake me up yourself. I'll cook the next meal by myself to make up for it."
"You don't have to," Poppy began, but Dandelion cut her off.
"No, we split things equally or I'll feel like a useless lump." They laughed.
"Have it your way, but this meal's done cooking." Poppy tipped the pan, sliding half of its contents onto Dandelion's plate.
"Oooh! Mushrooms! Where'd you find some so early in the morning?"
Poppy laughed again at her friend's excitement. "I didn't. I packed them before we left."
"And you didn't tell me? Shame on you, Poppy Cotton!" exclaimed Dandelion as she ate the delicious spread.
While they dined, Dandelion happened to glance at the other side of the river. She chewed a mushroom thoughtfully, trying to think of what it reminded her of. "Oh, yeah!"
"Huh? What are you talking about, Dandy?" asked Poppy when her friend did not elaborate.
"I just remembered a dream I had last night. I walked to the Brandywine and drank some water, then I looked at the other end and I saw an elf!"
"Really?" inquired Poppy with interest.
"Aye, at least in the dream. He said something, hmm, I think 'twas 'kay muh peran.' Maybe it wasn't a dream, it seemed so real. If it wasn't, though, then I don't really know what happened next. I think I must have gone straight back to my bedroll and fallen asleep, but I don't remember doing it," the Took mused.
"Oh, Dandelion, if you actually saw an elf- I mean- they've all practically sailed west! That's amazing! If it wasn't a dream."
"Yeah," said Dandelion thoughtfully, looking again at the opposite bank. "If it wasn't a dream."
* * *
After breakfast (and Dandelion asking why they couldn't have second breakfast while they were at it), they packed up all of their belongings and started walking north. For, while they had reached the Brandywine very quickly, they were several miles south of Bucklebury Ferry, and even farther away from the Brandywine Bridge. This trip was mostly uneventful, until they reached the Ferry. Or at least where it was supposed to be.
"Where's the Ferry?" asked Poppy as she came up beside Dandelion, who was staring over the water.
"Over there," she said, pointing. Sure enough, the Ferry was on the other bank, tied to a pole so it would not float away.
"Oh, this a fine how-do-you-do. What use is a Ferry if it's on the wrong side?" exclaimed Poppy in annoyance. "Now we'll have to walk twenty miles more to the Bridge!"
Dandelion's face took on a look of horror. "We'll miss tea!"
A deep laugh interrupted their talk. A stout hobbit appeared on the other side of the River. "Well, now, we can't have two such lovely lasses as yourselves missing tea at Brandy Hall, can we?"
"Cousin Tunneler!" squealed Dandelion, a smile replacing her horrified look. "What are you doing in Buckland?"
"Can't an old hobbit visit his relations without being quizzed by every hobbit lass in the Shire?" complained Turner 'Tunneler' Boffin, but his eyes twinkled. "An' I'm not your cousin, Dandy Took!"
Dandelion waved her hand in a dismissive gesture. "You're some kind of cousin, since you're related to the Brandybucks and I am, too, but Papa knows more about the family trees than I do. Cousin Tunneler," she said as an afterthought.
"Still as cheeky as ever, young Dandy," the older hobbit replied. "But I don't believe I've met your friend?"
Poppy curtsied. "I'm Poppy Cotton, Mr. Boffin."
"Ah, call me Cousin Tunneler. Everyone does, even your less polite friend grinning madly over there."
Dandelion, who was 'grinning madly,' called over to the other bank, "You said we weren't going to miss tea, Cousin Tunneler. If so, you'd better get a move on with that Ferry."
"You'd work a poor hobbit to the bone, lass, if you could. I have half a mind to leave you over there 'til supper's done."
"Oh, dearest cousin, you couldn't starve fair lasses like us! Could you?" asked Dandelion, sighing mournfully.
"Get on with you now, Dandy, of course not! Far too kind-hearted to you, is what I am," grumbled Cousin Tunneler as he stepped onto the Ferry and slowly poled his way across the Brandywine.
"Hurry up, Cousin, or the fifth age will be upon us!"
"See how that slave-driver treats me, young Poppy? What have I ever done to get such a cruel, cruel lass for a cousin of sorts?"
"Stop bothering him, Dandelion! We can always leave her on this side until after supper, Cousin Tunneler," Poppy suggested, winking at the hobbit who had nearly reached their side.
"Now there's a good idea, young Poppy. More tea for us, eh?"
"That's a nice way to treat me, Poppy, after I've saved you from snakes, thorns, and that Sandyman!"
Cousin Tunneler reached the shore and looked at them curiously. "'Snakes, thorns and that Sandyman'? I can see you've had yourselves a bit of an adventure just gettin' here. But no time for talk now," he added as they boarded the Ferry, "not if you want tea!"
"Yes, we most certainly do!"
* * *
2nd A/N- Will Dandelion and Poppy ever make it to Buckland? Maybe. ;) Oh, by the way, the Elvish translates to roughly "Sleep, halfling" in English. Also by the way, if anyone knows a site with a lot of Elvish words and meanings, I'd be really grateful if you could post it in a review. And please, as always, read and review! Thanks!
A/N- Thanks again GreyLadyBast for your encouraging review(s!) and cheerleader15, I'm glad you like it! Please enjoy this next installment.
Chapter 3- "Where's the Ferry?"
Dandelion tossed and turned. What had happened was fresh and troubling to her mind, so the result was she could not sleep. She finally sat up and looked at her friend. Poppy was sleeping, peacefully oblivious to the worries of her friend. Not that Dandelion could blame her; they had walked very far, and experienced a lot of problems before they could sleep. And yet...
Dandelion sighed and made her way to the banks of the Brandywine. She peered into its water. Silvery flashes told of the fish in its depths, but she was- oddly enough for a hobbit- not hungry. Cupping her hands, she immersed them in the cool liquid. She scooped some water into her hands and lifted them to her face, drinking deeply. When she had quenched her thirst, she glanced briefly at the other side of the river and turned to go back to her bedroll. Suddenly, her body froze and she looked back to the other edge of the river. There sat a creature that was definitely not a hobbit, and although he was tall enough to be one, he wasn't a Big Person either. He was an elf.
Dandelion gawked at him, her eyes almost as large as saucers. She had heard tales of elves, of course, from her parents, both of her grandfathers, and Mr. Meriadoc (among others) when she was very young, but she had never met or much less seen one.
The elf, on the other hand, seemed perfectly at ease. He waved and smiled, his silvery hair shining in the moonlight. She waved back, feeling awkward and very much like a 'foolish Took.' His smile broadened, and he whispered words in his own tongue, his voice barely carrying over the water. "Kaima, perian."* Dandelion did not remember what happened next until morning.
* * *
The smell of freshly cooked sausage greeted Dandelion when she woke. She sniffed appreciatively as she sat up, blinking sleepily. Poppy smiled at her. "Feeling better, sleepy-head?"
"Mmm, much," answered Dandelion, grabbing for something to put her breakfast on. "Is it done?"
"Nearly," Poppy answered, looking critically at the food she was frying. "I waited a while for you to wake, but when you showed no intention of doing so, I decided to cook first breakfast quickly so we could get an early start."
Dandelion shifted uncomfortably. "Next time, Poppy, you should wake me up yourself. I'll cook the next meal by myself to make up for it."
"You don't have to," Poppy began, but Dandelion cut her off.
"No, we split things equally or I'll feel like a useless lump." They laughed.
"Have it your way, but this meal's done cooking." Poppy tipped the pan, sliding half of its contents onto Dandelion's plate.
"Oooh! Mushrooms! Where'd you find some so early in the morning?"
Poppy laughed again at her friend's excitement. "I didn't. I packed them before we left."
"And you didn't tell me? Shame on you, Poppy Cotton!" exclaimed Dandelion as she ate the delicious spread.
While they dined, Dandelion happened to glance at the other side of the river. She chewed a mushroom thoughtfully, trying to think of what it reminded her of. "Oh, yeah!"
"Huh? What are you talking about, Dandy?" asked Poppy when her friend did not elaborate.
"I just remembered a dream I had last night. I walked to the Brandywine and drank some water, then I looked at the other end and I saw an elf!"
"Really?" inquired Poppy with interest.
"Aye, at least in the dream. He said something, hmm, I think 'twas 'kay muh peran.' Maybe it wasn't a dream, it seemed so real. If it wasn't, though, then I don't really know what happened next. I think I must have gone straight back to my bedroll and fallen asleep, but I don't remember doing it," the Took mused.
"Oh, Dandelion, if you actually saw an elf- I mean- they've all practically sailed west! That's amazing! If it wasn't a dream."
"Yeah," said Dandelion thoughtfully, looking again at the opposite bank. "If it wasn't a dream."
* * *
After breakfast (and Dandelion asking why they couldn't have second breakfast while they were at it), they packed up all of their belongings and started walking north. For, while they had reached the Brandywine very quickly, they were several miles south of Bucklebury Ferry, and even farther away from the Brandywine Bridge. This trip was mostly uneventful, until they reached the Ferry. Or at least where it was supposed to be.
"Where's the Ferry?" asked Poppy as she came up beside Dandelion, who was staring over the water.
"Over there," she said, pointing. Sure enough, the Ferry was on the other bank, tied to a pole so it would not float away.
"Oh, this a fine how-do-you-do. What use is a Ferry if it's on the wrong side?" exclaimed Poppy in annoyance. "Now we'll have to walk twenty miles more to the Bridge!"
Dandelion's face took on a look of horror. "We'll miss tea!"
A deep laugh interrupted their talk. A stout hobbit appeared on the other side of the River. "Well, now, we can't have two such lovely lasses as yourselves missing tea at Brandy Hall, can we?"
"Cousin Tunneler!" squealed Dandelion, a smile replacing her horrified look. "What are you doing in Buckland?"
"Can't an old hobbit visit his relations without being quizzed by every hobbit lass in the Shire?" complained Turner 'Tunneler' Boffin, but his eyes twinkled. "An' I'm not your cousin, Dandy Took!"
Dandelion waved her hand in a dismissive gesture. "You're some kind of cousin, since you're related to the Brandybucks and I am, too, but Papa knows more about the family trees than I do. Cousin Tunneler," she said as an afterthought.
"Still as cheeky as ever, young Dandy," the older hobbit replied. "But I don't believe I've met your friend?"
Poppy curtsied. "I'm Poppy Cotton, Mr. Boffin."
"Ah, call me Cousin Tunneler. Everyone does, even your less polite friend grinning madly over there."
Dandelion, who was 'grinning madly,' called over to the other bank, "You said we weren't going to miss tea, Cousin Tunneler. If so, you'd better get a move on with that Ferry."
"You'd work a poor hobbit to the bone, lass, if you could. I have half a mind to leave you over there 'til supper's done."
"Oh, dearest cousin, you couldn't starve fair lasses like us! Could you?" asked Dandelion, sighing mournfully.
"Get on with you now, Dandy, of course not! Far too kind-hearted to you, is what I am," grumbled Cousin Tunneler as he stepped onto the Ferry and slowly poled his way across the Brandywine.
"Hurry up, Cousin, or the fifth age will be upon us!"
"See how that slave-driver treats me, young Poppy? What have I ever done to get such a cruel, cruel lass for a cousin of sorts?"
"Stop bothering him, Dandelion! We can always leave her on this side until after supper, Cousin Tunneler," Poppy suggested, winking at the hobbit who had nearly reached their side.
"Now there's a good idea, young Poppy. More tea for us, eh?"
"That's a nice way to treat me, Poppy, after I've saved you from snakes, thorns, and that Sandyman!"
Cousin Tunneler reached the shore and looked at them curiously. "'Snakes, thorns and that Sandyman'? I can see you've had yourselves a bit of an adventure just gettin' here. But no time for talk now," he added as they boarded the Ferry, "not if you want tea!"
"Yes, we most certainly do!"
* * *
2nd A/N- Will Dandelion and Poppy ever make it to Buckland? Maybe. ;) Oh, by the way, the Elvish translates to roughly "Sleep, halfling" in English. Also by the way, if anyone knows a site with a lot of Elvish words and meanings, I'd be really grateful if you could post it in a review. And please, as always, read and review! Thanks!
