Disclaimer:  I am certain you all are quite assured that I do not claim Middle-earth nor any other element of Tolkien's design for my own and you won't try to get me sued.  I thank you for this, and in return I would like you to feel free to read any and all of my fics.  A reasonable settlement, don't you think?

A/N:  Thirty chapters?! And who knows how many pages . . . man, do I not have a life.  Well, I do.  My life is Middle-earth.

Chapter 30

CHRISTMAS, COME AND GONE

            Lord Elrond brought her to her room, where first she had woken in Middle-earth and there she found her jeans and shirt and jacket.  She touched them and felt oddly comforted.

            "They will no longer fit you, I am afraid," Lord Elrond commented and Apryl had to agree with him.  "I am afraid we have no hobbit-sized clothes here," Elrond began, "So I have spoken with several of the women and they have agreed to take your measurements and sew you some dresses.  We cannot have you walking about in a nightshirt, now can we?"

            Apryl smiled. 

            "But," Master Elrond frowned, "In the meantime I am afraid I am at a lose as to what to do.  We have no clothing suitable to one of your stature."

            To Apryl, the answer seemed obvious.

            "Does either Merry or Pippin have extra clothes that I might borrow?" she wondered.  She couldn't force herself to ask if Frodo did.  She did not know him well enough and he . . . she was . . . 

            Apryl glanced at Elrond expectantly.

            "I suppose I might see--"  The elf lord seemed a little put off at this question.  Finally, he asked, "It is common practice for women to wear men's clothing in your land?"

            Apryl could have hit herself.  Of course he would think it odd!  But she didn't care.  She wasn't going to be traipsing around the House in nought save her pajamas.  She'd much rather do so in Merry or Pippin's clothes. 

            Apryl stopped and a slow smile spread across her face.  Merry or Pippin's clothes. 

            "Very well," Master Elrond continued and Apryl was jerked back to reality.  "I will speak with the hobbits and see if either has ought they might spare.  Give me but a moment and I shall return."  He turned to leave.

            "Lord Elrond," Apryl called and the elf turned.  She hesitated, and then:  "What happened to me?" she asked finally.

            The elf frowned.  "I know not for certain, my dear.  The ways of the Maiar are queer to me and I do not wholly understand them.  I am not the one to ask, but Mithrandir."

            "When will I see him?"

            Lord Elrond seemed to be amidst some inner struggle.  Finally:  "In time."  And then he was gone.

            Apryl considered this for a time, then shrugged.

            The ways of all are queer.  The only difference is where you stand.

            She grasped her jacket in her hands and looked at it for a time.  All that I have left of home, she thought sadly.  She went through the pockets, pulling many different objects from its depths and spread them upon the clean linen of her bed.

            She picked through the items, musing over each in turn.  At last, she came across a silver necklace that held a silver star.

            Apryl sighed and closed her eyes.  Morgainne.

            Morgainne had given her the gift roughly a year or so ago, to match her own silver necklace and silver moon.

            Where are you, my friend? Apryl wondered suddenly.  It felt like she hadn't seen Morgainne in near forever.  Are you angry with me for walking away?  For not understanding?  But . . . don't you see?  I can't understand, for we had been friends.  We never kept anything from each other.  I had trusted you.  I had loved you.

            Apryl gripped the necklace in a balled fist until the star's sharp edges pricked at her skin.  Still, she did not release her hold.

            Lord Elrond re-entered the room, then.  Her back was to him but she heard the rustle of his robes.  She released her hold on the necklace, dropped it back upon the pile of knickknacks.  She turned to face him.

            In his arms there was a bundle of small clothing.  He handed them to her.

            "Once you dress, I would have you join me for the evening sup.  Would you be so kind?"

            She nodded her head.  "I'd love to."

            Elrond smiled, pleased.  "Meriadoc and Peregrin will join us.  Do you recall the way to the Hall?"

            "I--I believe so," she fought for a mental picture but could not grasp one.

            Elrond smiled, amused.  "I will have Meriadoc fetch you, for it is on his way and he has been to my Hall many times over the past weeks."

            Past weeks?

            Lord Elrond seemed to note the incredulous look she bestowed upon him and said, "Many things will be explained to you and the others."

            How long was I . . . dead?  Not too long surely!  A horrible thought crept into her conscious.  When was it they left? Apryl thought desperately.  December, January?  Oh, curse my forgetful mind!

            "Will the others be joining us?" she wanted to know.

            The elf shook his head.  "None save the halflings, you and I."  He was quiet a moment, and then, "Does that displease you?"

            Yes, it displeases me! Apryl wanted to say.  Why can I never see Frodo?  I have seen him once since I have arrived and that only when Sam and I were freezing to death.  And Morgainne, she thought.  I would speak with her.

            But she said none of this.  Merely:  "No, it does not displease me."  She could tell that he knew she lied, but he said nought of it and, with an assurance that he would send Meriadoc in a short time, he left the room to go about, Apryl was sure, much more important matters.  

            As soon as Lord Elrond was out of sight, Apryl undid the bundle he had handed her and hurriedly adorned the clothing.  It was a fair fit, a little loose but otherwise quite comfortable.  She glanced in the mirror at the far side of the room and giggled.

            What a hobbit you make, Apryl, she thought.  Her hair was a delighted mess and she made a face at it.  Running her fingers through the tangled knots she succeeded in smoothing most of it, though without a hairbrush there wasn't much help for it.

            They have to brush their hair somehow.

            She searched the room and eventually came across one in the top drawer in the large cabinet (made larger still by her sudden lack of largeness).

            How do they do it? she wondered, looking around and finding everything much too large and daunting.  But at the same time, being as small as she was excited her.  At least I won't have to look down at the hobbits any more.

            "I see they fit."

            Apryl spun around and saw Merry regarding her from the door.  She smiled at him and bade him to come in. 

            "Yes, they fit well.  Are they yours?"

            Merry gestured at shirt.  "That is," he said.  "But the pants are Pippin's."  He grinned.  "I didn't figure a pair of my own would fit too well," and with that he patted his belly.

            Apryl stifled a giggle.  He was probably right.  He was, after all, nearly a full-grown hobbit and it was starting to show in his middle.  Pippin, on the other hand, being as young as he was, wouldn't yet have a hobbit belly for many years to come.

            "Well," Apryl said, "Thank you.  I don't know what I would have done if I was forced to stay in my paj--er, nightshirt all day long."

            "Wouldn't be going out much, I can tell you," he said with a smile and Apryl felt herself blush.  No, indeed, she wouldn't have.  But she had been around either hobbit in her pajamas more often than not.  It was odd, at the time she hadn't felt uncomfortable at all, indeed she hadn't even thought about it.

            "Well," Merry said, "Are you ready, then?  Master Elrond is waiting."

            Apryl nodded and followed Merry from the room and down the halls.  "Where's Pip?" she wondered curiously.

            Merry smiled fondly.  "You know Pip," he said, "takes him near as long as a girl to get ready."  He glanced sideways at her.  "Beg pardon, no offence intended."

            Apryl laughed.  "None taken."  She smiled at him and he returned the look.

            "I like this," Apryl said suddenly.

            "What's that, lady?"

            "Being able to look at you eye-to-eye.  I don't much like looking down at someone."

            Merry smiled and his blue eyes alighted.  "I must agree.  Looking up at one all the time is most tiring."

            "Then we are both pleased?" Apryl asked.

            "Indeed, I believe so."

            The girl smiled, though as they continued onward in silence it slowly faded.  Eventually they entered the Hall and found, to both their amazement, that Pippin was already seated and talking to Lord Elrond.  Both looked at the other in surprise.

            "Come, join us," Elrond said kindly and Apryl found that he sounded different.  More personable. 

            Merry and Apryl hurried towards the table.

            Apryl had gone white.  She lost her hold on the spoon and it clattered upon the plate.  Beside her, Pippin was choking.

            "They're gone!?" Pip sputtered, looking wildly at the elf and then to his cousin.  Merry looked very wretched and miserable and would not catch his cousin's gaze.  Pippin didn't care.  "You let him go?  How could you, cousin?  We had promised!"

            Merry glanced up.  "How could I?" he demanded, the misery he had been holding suddenly vented through anger.  "What was I to do, Pippin, leave you alone and go with Frodo myself?  He does not need me, not as you had.  Frodo has Sam, but you had none and neither did I.  I was not going to leave you to die."

            "No," Pippin counter angrily, "But you have no qualms about letting Frodo die?"

            Lord Elrond broke in:  "Gentlemen, please, calm yourselves."

            "Do you think the choice was easy?" Merry demanded, hurt.  "Do you think I made it lightly?  I knew not what to do, Pip!"

            "Yes, and now Cousin Frodo will pay for your error!"

            Merry looked as though he had been struck. 

            "He had counted on us, Merry, and we--"

            Meriadoc's eyes hardened and his jaw set.  "I did a wrong, Peregrin," he gritted, "and I am sorry for it."  He slid from the elvish chair and turned to Elrond. 

            "Forgive me, Master Elrond, but I have suddenly lost my appetite."  And with that, Merry went from the Hall.  Pippin watched his cousin leave but refused to say ought.

            Lord Elrond watched this exchange in concern but neither did he say anything, but turned to the girl as she had said nothing since he had first told her of Frodo's departure.

            "Lady Atira?" Lord Elrond said gently. 

            "How is this so?"  She looked to him, almost in a dazed manner.  The exchange between Merry and Pippin did not altogether sink in yet.  What the Master had said . . . surely not . . . "I do not understand."

            "The Fellowship of the Ring left my care on the eve of the twenty-fifth, four nights ago.  The Company consisted of Nine--"

            Nine!  Apryl looked over at Pippin.  How--? 

"--Gandalf, young Samwise, Aragorn, Boromir of Gondor, Gimli, son of Glóin, Legolas and Morgainne of Mirkwood, and Glorfindel of my House accompanied Frodo on his quest to destroy the One Ring."

            Apryl was certain she would be sick.

            This isn't how it's supposed to be.  Not like this!

            "Please," Apryl managed.  "I don't feel so good . . ."

            Lord Elrond looked at her in concern.  "What is it, my dear?"  But Apryl would only shake her head.  Elrond waved an elf over.

            "Would you be kind enough to show Lady Atira to her room?"

            The elf nodded.  "Certainly, Lord."

            Pippin regarded Apryl.  "What's the matter?"  She was ill, yes, but it was no common virus but worry and fear that plagued the girl.  Pippin knew this but was uncertain of how he knew.  He looked up at the elf lord.

            "I will take her," Pippin offered.  He looked around him.  "Dinner seems to have been ruined and I am sorry for it."

            Elrond smiled tiredly and waved it aside.  "Do not be sorry, Master Took.  Go, then, and sleep well."  The elf lord knew that there would be no such luck for either hobbits or child this night, nor for many yet to come.

*****