"Chapter Four:
Shadows And Truth"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I can't believe it's the last week of August already!" Lal exclaimed to Rosie as she crawled out of her bed Monday morning.
"Well, it is. Now come on and help Mom and I fix breakfast."
"Alright. I'm moving," Lal said rising to her feet.
"Good. Because the boy's don't wait," came Rosie's reply as she tossed a towel at the other girl.
"Yes, I know. Throw me my pack, would you?"
"Well, if you really want me to throw it..."
"Rose, you know what I mean."
The Cotton girl only smiled and handed Celalcien the bag.
After washing and dressing both the girls headed into the kitchen to help with the first morning meal.
During the past two weeks Lal had gotten used to life on the Cotton's farm and knew her duties, as well as her way around, quite well. Whatever it was that had caused Mrs. Cotton to accept her oddities in the first place she would never know. But the fact was that the hobbit had accepted her none-the-less and was very insistent on her staying with them during her visit. Though, Lal thought that maybe Rose had something to do with it.
"Celalcien, will you chop these?" Rosie asked, handing her a bowl of onions, and ending her reverie.
"Sure," she replied retrieving a knife from a cupboard.
"Do you think you'll see him today?"
"What?" Lal asked in response to Rose's question.
"Merry. Do you think you'll see him today?"
"I doubt it. He headed back to Buckland last week. Said he wouldn't be back until September."
"Still he might get back early," Mrs. Cotton threw in.
Celalcien didn't respond, her hopes that Merry would indeed return early taunted her. And amid the teasing that her heart put forth other thoughts came. "No, Celalcien. You mustn't fall for him. You can't. You have no choice but to go on...alone."
"It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out of your front door. You step into the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there is no knowing where you might be swept off to."
Frodo laughed a little, "I know, Bilbo. '…This is the very path that goes through Mirkwood, and that if you let it, it might take you to the Lonely Mountain or even further and to worse places.' "
"You listen well, my boy. You truly do. Such memories may serve you well some day. And if they don't you can tell your children about crazy Uncle Bilbo."
Frodo and Bilbo's conversation continued as the walked down the garden path and toward the trees. Both jumped over a low place in the hedge when they reached the end of the lawn.
"So, are you going all the way with me tonight, or am I to leave you at the Green Dragon?" Bilbo asked.
"Hmmm, I'm not sure. I'll tell you when we get there," Frodo responded as he walked beside the older hobbit.
"Very well then. Uh, have you found out any more about Celalcien?"
"Of all the things for him to talk about," Frodo thought to himself. Aloud he said, "Besides the fact that Merry has a very obvious attraction to her, no."
"Ah, just curious."
"How is your book coming Bilbo?" the younger hobbit asked attempting to change the subject.
"It's coming on just fine. Though, it is hard sometimes to figure out how much 'editing' is needed."
Frodo knew what Bilbo meant. The story of how he had acquired his magic ring had been altered a bit for the book. Why Bilbo had done that, Frodo didn't know, he thought the true account much better.
"Did I tell you that I ran into the S.B's the other day?" Bilbo asked.
"No, what on earth did they want?"
"Oh, apparently they had heard tell of a new-comer in the Shire. They are convinced that I had something to do with it."
"No doubt they meant Lal. I'll bet you they got their news from Ted Sandyman. He'd make her seem like bad news even if she saved him from the jaws of a dragon. He knows that we've been in her company, you know."
"Yes, you're probably right."
They soon passed the Green Dragon and walked on further into the trees. Normally they would catch a glimpse of passing elves and sometimes speak with them.
"Do you hear that?" Bilbo asked suddenly.
"Yes," was Frodo's reply as they came to a halt.
A voice as clear as the wind was singing among the trees.
"Elves." Frodo whispered.
"No," the other hobbit shook his head. "An elf. There is only one."
As they stood motionless the sun sank and the moon climbed high into sky, the stars beginning to shine like lamps. No other sound was heard, only the Elven voice, lonely and beautiful.
"I don't suppose we could at least get a better look." Frodo finally whispered.
Bilbo nodded, and silently they moved toward the sound.
As they drew closer a faint light could be seen through the trees, pale and bright like the moon.
A few more steps and they would be able to see the singer.
Finally they reached a small clear place. Frodo was shocked at what he saw. The elf was, indeed, not an elf.
"Celalcien." Bilbo whispered.
There she stood, dressed in the garb of a traveler and not reaching the height one would expect. But the sight was still a glorious one to behold, for the girl seemed to shimmer with the light of the moon though she carried no lamp.
Leaning his head against a tree and sitting on the ground, Frodo listened to her song.
"Ai! Laurie lantar lassi surinen!
Yeni unotime ve ramar aldaron,
Yeni ve linte yuldar vanier
Mi oromandari lisse-miruvoreva
Aundune pella Vardo tellumar
Nu luini yassen tintilar i eleni
Omaryo airetari-lirinen.
Si man i yulma nin enquanyuva."
Suddenly a branch snapped and the song ended. Frodo looked in Bilbo's direction, Bilbo looked down at the ground.
In an attempt to get closer he had stepped on a stick and snapped it. As a result Celalcien had fled.
"I am sorry my boy. Normally I'm more careful. But when you hear elvish music you don't pay much attention to much else."
"It's alright Bilbo. It's getting chilly anyway, we'd had best get home."
Frodo stood and the two turned to leave, only to stop and stare at the sight before them.
"Well, it's not often you find two hobbits walking after dark."
Frodo smiled, "Lal. We...uh...that is..."
"We were just headed home." Bilbo said.
Celalcien was silent.
"Listen, we are sorry for interrupting you. We were out for a walk and heard you singing. It was very..." Frodo stopped, searching for the right word. "Enchanting."
"It's alright. I need to get back to the Cotton's anyway. I guess I was missing Rivendell a bit tonight, odd as that is."
"Ahh, Rivendell, it is a hard place not to miss."
This time she did not answer.
"Lal, why don't I walk you back to the Cotton's farm?" Frodo asked.
She shook her head, "No, that's okay. I think I need to walk a bit more on my own tonight. I'll be fine."
Frodo nodded and he and Bilbo said goodbye.
The walk back to Hobbiton was slow and when they reached the front door they found themselves to be exhausted.
"Well, I guess you were right, Bilbo." Frodo said as they walked through the front door. "Lal does seem to be a half-elf. Though, I still don't see why it's so important."
"In time, my boy, you will. Now I'm off to bed."
***
"Take it. Celalcien, take it, run!"
"Father, no, I don't want to, I won't leave you."
"You must, you are my hope now."
"No." with tears in her eyes the child looked over at the body of her dead mother. Would this nightmare ever end?
"They are coming child," her father pushed something small and cold into her hand. "Run!"
Finally all her will broke. "Alright, father." Silently she began to run through the trees, away from all that she loved. Suddenly she heard a shriek, causing her to stop. Turning she ducked behind the low bushes, watching the scene that was taking place.
A creature, cloaked in black, was standing over her father, it's sword drawn.
It was everything she could do not to scream, not to cry, as the black shape brought its deadly weapon down.
She watched as blood spilled and soaked the ground. The thing searched the body, however, it did not find what it sought. Letting out another horrible scream it rushed away, passing her hiding place.
Celalcien's eyes flew open, she was surrounded by darkness. The only sound was her own breathing. Then she recalled being in the Cotton's home. Yes, that's where she was now, in Rosie's room. Slowly her breathing returned to normal. It was only a dream, everything she had seen just now, only a dream. And yet, it was so much more than that, it was a horror, it was a haunting ghost from her past. It had to stop, something had to happen.
Her thoughts screamed at her, "Either leave now or find someone to remove the burden, do something, this can't go on."
)Author's Note: The song in this chapter does belong to Tolkien. Just thought I'd let everybody know. Oh, please R&R, it would be much appriciated.
Shadows And Truth"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I can't believe it's the last week of August already!" Lal exclaimed to Rosie as she crawled out of her bed Monday morning.
"Well, it is. Now come on and help Mom and I fix breakfast."
"Alright. I'm moving," Lal said rising to her feet.
"Good. Because the boy's don't wait," came Rosie's reply as she tossed a towel at the other girl.
"Yes, I know. Throw me my pack, would you?"
"Well, if you really want me to throw it..."
"Rose, you know what I mean."
The Cotton girl only smiled and handed Celalcien the bag.
After washing and dressing both the girls headed into the kitchen to help with the first morning meal.
During the past two weeks Lal had gotten used to life on the Cotton's farm and knew her duties, as well as her way around, quite well. Whatever it was that had caused Mrs. Cotton to accept her oddities in the first place she would never know. But the fact was that the hobbit had accepted her none-the-less and was very insistent on her staying with them during her visit. Though, Lal thought that maybe Rose had something to do with it.
"Celalcien, will you chop these?" Rosie asked, handing her a bowl of onions, and ending her reverie.
"Sure," she replied retrieving a knife from a cupboard.
"Do you think you'll see him today?"
"What?" Lal asked in response to Rose's question.
"Merry. Do you think you'll see him today?"
"I doubt it. He headed back to Buckland last week. Said he wouldn't be back until September."
"Still he might get back early," Mrs. Cotton threw in.
Celalcien didn't respond, her hopes that Merry would indeed return early taunted her. And amid the teasing that her heart put forth other thoughts came. "No, Celalcien. You mustn't fall for him. You can't. You have no choice but to go on...alone."
"It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out of your front door. You step into the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there is no knowing where you might be swept off to."
Frodo laughed a little, "I know, Bilbo. '…This is the very path that goes through Mirkwood, and that if you let it, it might take you to the Lonely Mountain or even further and to worse places.' "
"You listen well, my boy. You truly do. Such memories may serve you well some day. And if they don't you can tell your children about crazy Uncle Bilbo."
Frodo and Bilbo's conversation continued as the walked down the garden path and toward the trees. Both jumped over a low place in the hedge when they reached the end of the lawn.
"So, are you going all the way with me tonight, or am I to leave you at the Green Dragon?" Bilbo asked.
"Hmmm, I'm not sure. I'll tell you when we get there," Frodo responded as he walked beside the older hobbit.
"Very well then. Uh, have you found out any more about Celalcien?"
"Of all the things for him to talk about," Frodo thought to himself. Aloud he said, "Besides the fact that Merry has a very obvious attraction to her, no."
"Ah, just curious."
"How is your book coming Bilbo?" the younger hobbit asked attempting to change the subject.
"It's coming on just fine. Though, it is hard sometimes to figure out how much 'editing' is needed."
Frodo knew what Bilbo meant. The story of how he had acquired his magic ring had been altered a bit for the book. Why Bilbo had done that, Frodo didn't know, he thought the true account much better.
"Did I tell you that I ran into the S.B's the other day?" Bilbo asked.
"No, what on earth did they want?"
"Oh, apparently they had heard tell of a new-comer in the Shire. They are convinced that I had something to do with it."
"No doubt they meant Lal. I'll bet you they got their news from Ted Sandyman. He'd make her seem like bad news even if she saved him from the jaws of a dragon. He knows that we've been in her company, you know."
"Yes, you're probably right."
They soon passed the Green Dragon and walked on further into the trees. Normally they would catch a glimpse of passing elves and sometimes speak with them.
"Do you hear that?" Bilbo asked suddenly.
"Yes," was Frodo's reply as they came to a halt.
A voice as clear as the wind was singing among the trees.
"Elves." Frodo whispered.
"No," the other hobbit shook his head. "An elf. There is only one."
As they stood motionless the sun sank and the moon climbed high into sky, the stars beginning to shine like lamps. No other sound was heard, only the Elven voice, lonely and beautiful.
"I don't suppose we could at least get a better look." Frodo finally whispered.
Bilbo nodded, and silently they moved toward the sound.
As they drew closer a faint light could be seen through the trees, pale and bright like the moon.
A few more steps and they would be able to see the singer.
Finally they reached a small clear place. Frodo was shocked at what he saw. The elf was, indeed, not an elf.
"Celalcien." Bilbo whispered.
There she stood, dressed in the garb of a traveler and not reaching the height one would expect. But the sight was still a glorious one to behold, for the girl seemed to shimmer with the light of the moon though she carried no lamp.
Leaning his head against a tree and sitting on the ground, Frodo listened to her song.
"Ai! Laurie lantar lassi surinen!
Yeni unotime ve ramar aldaron,
Yeni ve linte yuldar vanier
Mi oromandari lisse-miruvoreva
Aundune pella Vardo tellumar
Nu luini yassen tintilar i eleni
Omaryo airetari-lirinen.
Si man i yulma nin enquanyuva."
Suddenly a branch snapped and the song ended. Frodo looked in Bilbo's direction, Bilbo looked down at the ground.
In an attempt to get closer he had stepped on a stick and snapped it. As a result Celalcien had fled.
"I am sorry my boy. Normally I'm more careful. But when you hear elvish music you don't pay much attention to much else."
"It's alright Bilbo. It's getting chilly anyway, we'd had best get home."
Frodo stood and the two turned to leave, only to stop and stare at the sight before them.
"Well, it's not often you find two hobbits walking after dark."
Frodo smiled, "Lal. We...uh...that is..."
"We were just headed home." Bilbo said.
Celalcien was silent.
"Listen, we are sorry for interrupting you. We were out for a walk and heard you singing. It was very..." Frodo stopped, searching for the right word. "Enchanting."
"It's alright. I need to get back to the Cotton's anyway. I guess I was missing Rivendell a bit tonight, odd as that is."
"Ahh, Rivendell, it is a hard place not to miss."
This time she did not answer.
"Lal, why don't I walk you back to the Cotton's farm?" Frodo asked.
She shook her head, "No, that's okay. I think I need to walk a bit more on my own tonight. I'll be fine."
Frodo nodded and he and Bilbo said goodbye.
The walk back to Hobbiton was slow and when they reached the front door they found themselves to be exhausted.
"Well, I guess you were right, Bilbo." Frodo said as they walked through the front door. "Lal does seem to be a half-elf. Though, I still don't see why it's so important."
"In time, my boy, you will. Now I'm off to bed."
***
"Take it. Celalcien, take it, run!"
"Father, no, I don't want to, I won't leave you."
"You must, you are my hope now."
"No." with tears in her eyes the child looked over at the body of her dead mother. Would this nightmare ever end?
"They are coming child," her father pushed something small and cold into her hand. "Run!"
Finally all her will broke. "Alright, father." Silently she began to run through the trees, away from all that she loved. Suddenly she heard a shriek, causing her to stop. Turning she ducked behind the low bushes, watching the scene that was taking place.
A creature, cloaked in black, was standing over her father, it's sword drawn.
It was everything she could do not to scream, not to cry, as the black shape brought its deadly weapon down.
She watched as blood spilled and soaked the ground. The thing searched the body, however, it did not find what it sought. Letting out another horrible scream it rushed away, passing her hiding place.
Celalcien's eyes flew open, she was surrounded by darkness. The only sound was her own breathing. Then she recalled being in the Cotton's home. Yes, that's where she was now, in Rosie's room. Slowly her breathing returned to normal. It was only a dream, everything she had seen just now, only a dream. And yet, it was so much more than that, it was a horror, it was a haunting ghost from her past. It had to stop, something had to happen.
Her thoughts screamed at her, "Either leave now or find someone to remove the burden, do something, this can't go on."
)Author's Note: The song in this chapter does belong to Tolkien. Just thought I'd let everybody know. Oh, please R&R, it would be much appriciated.