Chapter 14: Days Ahead

Aubrey woke up that morning with the sun glowing brightly passing through her eyelids and into her eyes.  Someone had drawn the curtains of the two huge windows open.  Aubrey rolled over on her other side, away from the hideous morning sun.  Some one ripped the sheets off the bed as she curled up into a little ball hoping to keep at least some of the warmth that was originally held by the nice sheets.

"Come on, Aubrey get up," Adrielle's voice could be heard from the foot of her bed, "We got to get you ready.  You speak to the rest of Rivendell today."

"What?!" Aubrey shot up, her eyes barely open and her hair in a huge knot that only looked like a giant messy bun sitting on top of her head.

Adrielle gave her a disapproving look, "Well, looks like you need a good brushing."  She went to the side of the room where the brush was supposed to be sitting on the vanity desk top, "Now, where did that brush go?"

Aubrey smiled big as she remembered the night before and her first kiss.  She looked over to her left and found it sitting right by the window frame, "Here it is, Adrielle."

"Now how did it get over there?" Adrielle took it up in her hand, pointed to the vanity chair and told Aubrey, "Sit."

Aubrey got up and sat in the chair looking at her reflection as Adrielle tackled the knots in the back of her head.  Her face was almost beaming with light as she thought about what she will say when she went to go see Drogo later that day.  Adrielle noticed her none stop smiles and became curious.

"Aubrey, why do you seem so happy today?"

"No reason in particular, Adrielle.  It just seems that the future has grown much brighter then what it seemed yesterday."

"Ah . . . So it has nothing to do with your friend Drogo sneaking in to talk to you last night?"

"How'd you?"

"I was suppose to be the one checking up on him, but he was seeing you at the time.  Don't worry he isn't in trouble with anyone, I can keep a secret well."

"Thank goodness," Aubrey breathed out a sigh of relief, "What is this business of me speaking to the rest of Rivendell?"

"According to Lady Arwen, you are to tell us something of great importance.  Something that may change Rivendell forever."

"Besides me being the heir?"

"Apparently, most residences have known about that since you arrived," she finished her work with her hair, "Alright now for the decorations."

Adrielle placed a pinch of what looked like glitter in her hair and let it settle in her curly hair.  She placed a couple of pretty while jewels on the sides of her head and picked her up from the chair.  She led her to the other side of the dressing curtain and began to help her change into a long light blue gown.  She secured a stream of material flowing down in the back and stepped out to see herself in the mirror.

"Now, if you like it, you may proceed to Lady Arwen's quarters.  The others are waiting for you there."

"The others?"

"Your companions, of course."

Aubrey thanked Adrielle and made her way down the corridor.  She walked slowly down the wide hall that led to Arwen's room unsure of what she was to do when she addresses the people.  She looked out the gigantic windows and saw the people starting to gather near the front of the white building.  Many of them, including the younger elves, looked confused on why they were there.  It seemed to Aubrey as if she was taking a deeper breath with every step she took toward Arwen's room.

She reached the room and knocked on the door, "Come in Aubrey," Arwen called from inside.

Aubrey opened the door to find not only Arwen, but the others as well.  Kate and Kat ran up to her and flung their arms around her in a hug.  She gratefully accepted, holding the twins tight in her grasp.

"Oh man, am I glad to see you guys," Aubrey said pulling away, "How have you all been?"

Faramir came over and gave her a small hug and took his place back at Kate's side.  Thomas then came over and took his turn giving her a hug, "I'm doing pretty well.  All accept the fact that I'm starving to death."

"Oh Thomas, you did not starve.  You had plenty to eat- Now that I think of it you were not even seen without some piece food in your hand or in your mouth," Kat said crossing her arms.

"That only restates that fact that I was hungry," Thomas says confident that his point was won.

"But you're always hungry," someone said from beside the door.

Aubrey turned to see Drogo standing right beside the closed door that she walked through a few minutes before.  Aubrey smiled as she saw Drogo's face with a sly smirk plastered on it.  She walked over to him and saw that he was walking and standing tall as if he was never injured.

As they reached each other she leaned her forehead on his and looked into his eyes.  He wrapped his arms around her and gave her a small kiss, "Missed you."

"Yeah, me too," she bit her bottom lip and put her hand on where the wound should have been.  She looked at him with a questioning stare because it had no bandage over it.

"Oh, well it's all healed and I'm free to do whatever I want," he smiled triumphantly and looked at the others.  His face changed to an amused grin and Aubrey followed his stare.  The rest of the group, minus Arwen, was looking at them with their mouths wide open.

Faramir closed his first and stepped forward, "Now, when did this happen?  Not that I'm against it or anything, but . . . When? . . . How? . . ."

Thomas was right behind him, "I so confused."  Thomas rubbed his head and fell to the floor, crossing his legs Indian style and waited for an answer from Drogo and Aubrey.

Aubrey looked at Drogo and giggled.  They stepped apart slightly, but Drogo was still close enough to Aubrey to drape his arm around the small of her back. Before Aubrey started to explain what had happened last night, with the smallest detail she could think of Arwen stopped her in mid breath.

"At the moment the young princess has a public to address," Arwen stated tilting her head toward the window patio, "They are waiting to hear what is to come in the days ahead and to see you for the first time as a leader."

Aubrey's face turned to one of slight worry and the others noticed it without a problem.  Drogo held her a little closer and placed his chin on her shoulder, "Are you ready for this?"

"They are waiting, Drogo.  I cannot leave them without the information that they desperately will need.  They need to know of the attack to come."

"Aubrey, may I make a suggestion?" Arwen came up to her.

"Of course Arwen," Aubrey took a breath of relief.

"As you know, the age of elves is closing.  My people's reign over this land is over.  What if you suggest that the rest of the elves that are now residing here should go to the Undying Lands?"

Aubrey thought for a moment.  If they went back to the Undying Lands, then they would be safe from any attacks, they would be able to live free without a ruler and . . . she would be free to go back the Shire.

"What about the people?  What will they think?"

"You'll have to ask them," Arwen pointed toward the balcony.

Aubrey nodded and stepped toward the balcony.  Drogo gave her a kiss on the cheek for confidence and the others gave her smiles.  Arwen walked in front of her toward the railing over looking Rivendell.   She looked back at her quickly, "Are you sure you are ready?"

"As I said, if I am ready or not, these people have the right to know what is going to happen in their home."

Arwen nodded with a little smile and stepped forward.  Aubrey took another quick glance behind her at the rest of the group.  Every one of them gave her a toothy smile, except for Thomas who seemed to have found the fresh bread on the table and gave Aubrey a smile filled with bread.  Both Drogo and Kat hit him in the back of the head for that one.

"It's a wonder and a mystery how you can stay so thin with your eating habits cousin," Kat said holding her head in the palm of her hand.

"It's in my genes," he smiled proudly and rubbing the spot they hit him in the head. 

Aubrey smiled, took a deep breath and watched as Arwen made her opening words to the elves below the balcony.

"Rivendell," the crowd below grew quiet, "As most of you know, if not all of you, Sorion Cander's heir has been found after these thousands of years."  The crowd began to hum silently with the faint whispering of gossip.  The noise quieted after a few seconds and Arwen continued, "Which means that my family no longer has the right to rule here any longer.  Many of you do not know who she is.  I can only tell you that she is a hobbitlass of only sixteen years."

The crowd then forgot all about the hushed whispering and began to talk loudly among themselves.  Arwen glared and tried to regain the attention of the mass of elves, "In my eyes she has proven to be honest and is sure not to change any of our laws or well kept traditions.  In my opinion she is to be a great leader to you all."

Aubrey could hear a few comments below, but none got to her worse then one shouted by a younger looking male elf, "How can a young hobbitlass lead us?  She knows nothing of our ways."

"She may be young, but she is wise.  And she deserves your respect as being the rightful heir to the Cander throne.  And I believe that it is time that she spoke to you, as being your princess," Arwen stepped aside and let Aubrey step up to the railing so she could look over the mass of elves below her.  The whispering a talking stopped, as Aubrey was expecting it to grow louder.

Many of the elves stood in silence watching Aubrey look over the crowd carefully. After looking at them all she closed her eyes and took a deep breath, 'Come on, Aubrey.  Keep it together.  Believe in thy self, thy past and thy future.  All will be brought together,' Aubrey opened her eyes once more and looked out instead of down.

"People of Rivendell, I know what you must think of me.  You must be asking yourselves 'How can that young hobbit be our leader?'. . . And I agree."

"Aubrey-" Arwen tried to stop her, but Aubrey held out her hand to Arwen telling her not to stop her.

"You are right.  I do not know about your traditions or your laws.  I am lost in my own thoughts on how I must fulfill my father's place as your princess and still let you live your lives the way you have been before I even knew of this place.  But I need help.  I know that I am not fit to rule in Lady Arwen's place or in Lord Elrond's.  You need to tell me what you need, what you want and who you want to lead.  I may have the jewel of power, but what use is that power in the hands of someone who cannot use it to help their own people?" Aubrey looked around the crowd and saw Adrielle sitting on a large rock, her hands cupping her face and listening intently on her words.  She saw Aubrey looking at her and told her with her eyes to go on along with a small smile for encouragement.

"I'm not only up here to show you who I am.  I am up here to tell you of the events that are sure to come in the days following," the crowd was finally making movements and some noise, "There are orcs coming toward Rivendell to start a war."

The elves in the crowd began to talk furiously and ask each other what to do, Aubrey waited silently as they all started to quiet down.  One of the women elves with what looked like a small toddler in her arms shouted up to her, "What is your plan?  As our princess you must know of something to do."

"As a princess I should.  But I only have two options in my mind, one given to me by the wise Lady Arwen.  As the time of elves draw to a close and the time of men starts, there are not many places for elves to go.  One option is for the rest of you living here in Rivendell to travel to the Undying Lands and live there with the ones who left before you during the time of the ring.  This option was given to me by Lady Arwen."

Others began to shout up to her, "Is this the action you are taking?  Are you going to flee from Rivendell?"

Aubrey continued both ignoring and answering the question, "The other option, which I am following myself, is to stay here and defend this city as long as I can."

Arwen and the others inside the room were surprised to hear this.  Aubrey was risking her neck to stay here and is willing to die for these people whom she hardly knew.  Some of which do not believe in her.  Aubrey started to focus on individual people as she found the dark pair of eyes that just burned into her eyes.  It was Lord Carond, standing tall with his arms folded in front of him.  She looked hard at him and knew that he did not believe in her and she found the strength that was hidden deep with in her to keep going.

She started again with the strongest voice she could muster, "I won't move!  I won't run away!  And I won't let orcs take the power of the jewel to bring back the dark lord for as long as I breathe and live!  I promise every one of you listening to me that I will not run away from my duty as your princess!  I will stand my ground and fight for you, for your way of life!"  Her voice became softer, ". . . But I will not ask you to shed your blood for my cause.  It is your choice.  You can stay here and fight with me, or make your way to the Undying Lands where you will be safe."

Elves began to talk down among themselves.  Adrielle heard the conversations among the groups around her.

"I can't believe she is going to stay."

"Well, she can stay; I am not going to with orcs coming this way."

"We have to give her credit on her honesty and bravery."

"Why didn't they tell us sooner?"

Adrielle stood up on her rock and shouted to Aubrey, "I'm not leaving!  Rivendell is my home, and I will stay and defend my home!  I will fight the orcs beside you!"

Aubrey looked down at Adrielle, with a smile on her face as she saw the surprised expression on Carond's.  The other elves began to stand tall and yell that they would be staying too.  They would fight for their home, even if that would cost them their eternal lives.

Aubrey was amazed by the response.  She was almost certain that most would flee to the Undying Lands, but in the end only a group of a couple dozen decided to leave for the safety of their families.  Aubrey looked at the elves and couldn't help but smile at their determination to not give up their homes.  "Then those who have decided to stay," Aubrey started, "Prepare for war."

Aubrey stepped down from the place by the railing and began to go inside.  Arwen gave her a thankful smile and went to address the people once again.  Aubrey stepped inside the room and went to her knees.  Drogo came over to her, "Aubrey?"

"They have chosen what they want to do, but I don't want any of them to die.  Although I know by the time the orcs are finished here many will die."

Drogo hugged her and sat on the ground with her as she kept a blank expression on her face.  She knew what she had to do, but as Frodo was, she was afraid to do it.  Asking her people to risk their lives to defend the city.  Was that the right thing to do?

Arwen came back in hearing the applause of the people in the background and looked at Aubrey, "Aubrey, what is the matter?"

"I shouldn't have asked them to stay, Arwen.  Many are going to die.  Did I do the right thing?"

"Aubrey, you gave them a choice.  You told them what needed to be said.  You did the best thing you could do for them.  You did the right thing," Arwen held Aubrey's face in her hands and kissed her forehead, "Now we must get ready for war."

"Arwen," Aubrey's voice stopped Arwen in her tracks, "I need some work clothes."

"Aubrey?"

"I'm going down into the city to help the people prepare," she gave Arwen a determined stare to give no room for argument and Arwen only nodded and left the room.

"Aubrey, what can we do?" Kate stepped up to her.

"You guys have to go back to the Shire," Aubrey looked at her, "All of you," she looked at Drogo in the eyes.

"I'm not leaving you," Drogo said shaking his head, "If you stay I'm staying right by your side."

"Same with all of us," said Thomas swallowing the rest of the bread and crossing his arms.

"I'm not going to ask you guys to risk your lives.  I want you all out on the next wagon back to the Shire.  You can ride with the others who are planning to go to the Undying Lands."

"We're not giving you a choice to ask," Drogo said, "We are staying."

"But I don't want you to."

"What about your promise to me?" Drogo looked into her eyes with an unwavering stare.

"We will be together when this is over," Aubrey said not sure if she even believed herself.

"Then why do you fear that we won't be here when the war is done with if we stay?"

Aubrey lowered her eyes to the floor, "I just want you all to be safe."

"And we will," Thomas said, "Remember, we are the ones who taught you how to fight."

Aubrey couldn't help but smile at Thomas' constant ways of getting what he wants by badgering people into a corner they couldn't possibly fight out of without it ending with food, "I can never get rid of you guys can I?"

"We started this journey with you, Aubrey," Kat said taking her hand, "And we're going to finish it right by your side."

Aubrey squeezed her hand and the others put their hands on top, "We will not run, we will stay our ground.  We have to prepare to fight the orcs."