(I forgot to put in a disclaimer in the prologue so here it is, I don't own anything Tolkien related and all the original characters are mine.)
At the time I did not think that much of her. It is now that I look back that I realize that I should have savored that moment. I saw an average human woman walking along next to an average human man. She did not immediately strike me as particularly important. As they approached, I could see that they were glaring at each other, they wore the exact same expression of contempt and annoyance!
Their expressions changed from annoyance to curiosity as they came towards us, we must have looked odd, a ranger, an elf, and a dwarf together is a very rare occurrence!
Aragorn stepped forward purposefully and said "Greetings, we are sorry to intrude but we were wondering if we could find out how we could find some food and…" His voice trailed off at the end when he saw the man staring at me.
"Is there a problem?" he asked the man impatiently.
"No, it's just that we haven't seen any elves since the elves of the wood left. We assumed they'd all gone for good."
The girl looked up at me, her eyes full of fear.
"Are all the elves leaving middle earth?" she asked quietly.
"Yes eventually we will all leave." I said. She turned to the man.
"Well Morin you and mother have got your way. The elves are leaving like you both wanted. I just hope you realize that now we're all as good as dead." She hissed at him. She span on her heel and ran for the forrest leaving Morin looking angry and embarrassed.
"I'm sorry about her. I wish I could say that that little display isn't like her but unfortunately it's a daily occurrence." He sighed and smiled apologetically. " Come with me. We have enough food to spare I'm sure, then you can be on your way."
We all looked at each other in confusion as we followed Morin in the same direction the girl had fled. Obviously, we had stumbled upon a very troubled place.
A few minutes later we were following Morin through a high archway wrapped in tiny white flowers towards what looked like a grassy courtyard, leading up to a small platform where the girl was standing talking to a small group of men and women. She had removed the cape and was wearing a long white dress and now a wreath of white flowers on her head. Her face was animated as she talked to the group of people. When she finished talking they all nodded and all went in separate directions in the crowd stopping and talking to various people then moving on through the crowd. I would of liked to of heard what they had said but unfortunately Morin was talking in a very self important tone very loudly! "Well of course we are a peaceful race, our culture forbids any kind of violence so we tend not to mix with other cultures as we don't want to have to form allegiances. That would of course might mean us getting involved in their disputes, no no we are more developed then other races in that respect, no offense meant of course!" I could see Gimli and Aragorn were losing interest in his ramble but it did not deter him until he was interrupted mid speech by a horn being blown loudly.
The crowd swarmed up to the front where the girl was standing on the platform. "Citizens of Orietal I have to speak!" she shouted. The crowds' noise died slowly down to nothing more than a few murmurs and mumbles. Morin's face went white and he started frantically trying to push his way to the front of the crowd, Aragorn, Gimli and I decided to follow him to see what was going to happen. The girl took a deep breath and started her speech. "It is common knowledge now among our people that there is trouble in middle earth. There has been apparently for a great deal of time but we have chosen to ignore this. We cannot any longer. The elves protected us from harm before but I can confirm that the wood elves have left middle earth and this means we are left vulnerable to attack. If we do not break some of our rules and fight back on the attacks that are sure to follow then we are going to suffer and most likely be slaughtered! My mother, father and brother are against me in regards to this issue I'm sure you're well aware but if enough of you speak out then we could change their minds and maybe have a chance of survival!"
Morin got to the front of the crowd and climbed on to the platform. "Idril, stop!" he shouted, "If mother hears you then you will be in worse trouble!"
I turned to see the crowd to my right parting, a regal looking woman and a man walked down the the pathway. The woman was tall and had prominent facial features. She walked with an air of arrogance, very much like Morin. The man was the complete opposite. He was short with a small round face that looked like it was slightly too small for his body. He scuttled slightly behind his wife and looked terrified at the large crowd surrounding him.
The crowd went deathly silent as she approached the platform and Morin stepped back. His eyes were darting from side to side trying to find an escape route. "You are right Morin she is in a great deal of trouble. Idril step down please and go inside." There were a few minutes of deadly silence, I looked up and saw that her hands were trembling and her eyes had grown wide and frightened.
"No." she said in a shaky voice.
Her mother smiled nastily. " No? Daughter do not defy me. You will step down now. I heard your little speech, do you think that I will not punish you for your attempt to overthrow our authority."
"No. The people have a right to know how to protect themselves surely you see that!"
Morin looked even more panicked (if that was possible) and tried pulling her away from the edge of the platform.
"Please Idril come away", he pleaded "The orice you will pay isn't worth it!" She wriggled out of his grasp and stepped away from him in disgust. "Are you trying to tell me that helping our people survive isn't worth it?" she asked quietly. The crowd were now staring at Morin who looked terrified his eyes were darting between his mother and sister, trying to decide who to side with. The queen with the same nasty smile on her face stepped forward. This has gone on for long enough," she said "Idril either step down and vow that you will stop this nonsense or I will give you the same punishment that all others who try and overthrow my rule would get."
"Idril please step down! Please I beg you!" Morin pleaded.
"No Morin. If I can't get mother, I mean her majesty to see reason then I will find help from somewhere else." Idril said quietly. "I will not leave our people to suffer and die as she seems so willing to do."
With that she stepped down of the platform and walked away from the crowd.
"Continue with your business! Do not under any circumstances believe what she said. The elves told her lies and she was foolish enough to believe them. Continue." The queen then turned and stalked off in the same direction as Idril with her husband scuttling behind her.
The crowd stayed silent for a moment or two longer before exploding in to a loud burst of conversations and arguments over the scene on the platform. Morin had followed his parents so Aragorn, Gimli, and I were left standing in the middle feeling very out of place. " We should leave now, I do not think they really want to help us now!" I shouted over the noise. We all turned and started pushing our way back through the crowd. As we struggled forward, I thought over what had been said on the platform. Idril seems like a very brave human I thought. How could they be so ignorant not to believe her? Surely at least some of them must of known she was saying those things for their benefit?
It took us a good half an hour to get through the crowd and back to the forrest path. As I was, about to try and find another way to find the supplies we needed, I saw a figure sitting under a tree with a few small parcels next to her. She was wearing very different clothes than before, men's clothing; I noticed and had a sword lying next to her. It was Idril.