I decided that my story was moving along too slowly, so I've skipped ahead
to when the Fellowship leaves Imladris.
I shoulder my pack. Boromir stands easy, already armed and ready to go. "I'm still annoyed at the twins. They wouldn't tell me where they went. And I'm eternally curious, so it's not fair that they shouldn't tell me things. It does stuff to my head." I grump as we leave the room. Boromir laughs at my impatience. "Dear me, but it's cold isn't it? You know, back in my home, it'd be summer now. I'm glad for the clothes the Elves gave me, really glad." I comment as we pass a window that looks out onto a wintry twilight garden.
"Well, you were right. We are leaving on the 25th of December."
"I'm dreaming of a white Christmas!" I sing out. Boromir just shakes his head. I've told him about Christmas. "Christmas carols, I'll have to teach you. . .Or maybe I should teach Leggy."
"You know he's still annoyed about that."
"Well, he just has to get used to it. I am queen!" I pronounce, striking a pose. Boromir keeps walking. I hurry after him. "You can't ignore me! Especially if I do this!" I run in front of him, and kiss him. He nearly falls over, shocked. And I did push him rather hard. Then I run away down the corridor dodging Elves. "Hey Glor! How's life?" I wave at Glorfindel and come to a halt. I look over my shoulder; Boromir is slowly walking after me.
Glorfindel smiles. "Good morning, Cat." Yes, he's in the club. The club of 'let's worship Cat'! "I wish you luck and wisdom on your journey."
"Gee thanks. I don't know what I'd do without all you Elves." Impulsively I fling my arms around me and hug him tight. He pats me on the back. Then I run on. "Hurry up, we're gonna be late Boromir!" I hear Glorfindel laugh behind me and Boromir starting to run. He is very loud. I run quietly, only my bag and bow slapping against my back making any noise, I note smugly. We reach the front hall of the Last Homely House and slow panting to a halt. "I won! I won!" I do a victory dance. Boromir picks me up and spins me around. "Ouch! Put me down!" I hammer vainly at the shield on his back. "Ow!" He puts me down on the ground and I shiver as a cold wind blows through the open door. "Cold."
"What do ye expect for winter?" I hear Gimli's gruff voice say.
"Well met, Master Dwarf." I smile at him. Gimli's not so bad as all that. "Hey Frodo, where are the other Hobbits?" I run over and hug him. He looks vainly around for help.
"Coming. Ah, there they are. Merry, Sam, Pip!" Frodo runs over to them. He's a lot better now, but still I fear for him. I know what is to come, that's why. I smile at their cheerfulness. You'd think that we were off for a picnic, rather then to save the world. Aragorn is talking quietly with Arwen. She's got the Elf look on, otherwise she'd be crying. She turns and exits into the corridors of the House. I look around for Sam. He's disappeared again. There he is, just outside. Sam is holding the halter of a pony, stacked high with gear.
"Sam! Is that Bill?" I run over to him.
"Yes, Mistress Cat."
"Just Cat is fine, Sam!" I tell him, like I've told him every time he's said that. He just ducks his head and smiles shyly. "Ah well, guess I'll never be able to make you say it, will I? After all, you always call Frodo Mr. Frodo, or Master Frodo and you're one of his fondest friends."
"You think so?"
"Sam, I know so." I pat Bill on the head and go off to talk to Legolas. "Leggy! How's stuff?"
"Stuff is probably wondering why you are asking about it." He says with a faint smile. I pout and hit him on the arm.
"You know what I mean. Where's Gandalf? Everyone's here but him."
"I am not sure. But he will be here." I nod and lollop over to Boromir.
"Everyone's here. I think we'll move out soon." Boromir nods and pulls out his warhorn. "What are you doing?" I turn and see Elrond coming through the doorway.
"Loud and clear it sounds in the valley of the hills," He says, "And then let all the foes of Gondor flee!" He puts it to his lips and blows a long blast. It's very loud. I cover my ears until the ringing stops. Elrond comes to Boromir's side, frowning in displeasure.
"Slow should you be to wind that horn again, Boromir, until you stand once more on the borders of your land, and dire need is upon you." Elrond says solemnly. I hiss in a breath. Prophetic words, Elrond, but I vow to change the outcome of his actions.
Boromir just smiles at Elrond. "Maybe, but always have I let my horn cry at setting forth, and though thereafter we may walk in the shadows, I will not set forth as a thief in the night." Brave words Boromir. I am freezing so I go and stand near the great fire in the hall. I look up as Elrond leaves, then comes back in with Gandalf. It is so cold, and the light of the fire does little to cut through the mist seeping in through the door. Elrond calls us over to him.
"This is my last word," He says in a low voice, "The Ring-bearer is setting out on the Quest to Mount Doom. On him alone is any charge laid: neither to cast away the Ring, nor to deliver it to any servant of the Enemy nor indeed to let any handle it, save members of the Company and the Council, and only then in the gravest need. The others go with him as companions, to help him on his way. You may tarry, or come back, or turn aside onto other paths, as chance allows. The further you go, the less easy will it be to withdraw; yet no oath or bond is laid on you to go further then you will. For you do not yet know the strength of your hearts, and you cannot foresee what each may meet upon the road." The Company shifts uneasily. Bilbo hurries from Frodo's side to stand with Elrond.
"Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens." Gimli gruffly rebuts.
"Maybe, but let him not vow to walk in the dark, who has not seen the nightfall." Elrond answers.
"Yet sworn word may strengthen quaking heart." Gimli says quietly to this.
Elrond looks on Gimli with new respect. "Or break it. Look not too far ahead! But go now with good hearts! Farewell, and may the blessing of Elves and Men and all Free Folk go with you. May the stars shine upon you faces!" He raises his hand to wish us farewell.
"Good . . . Good luck!" Bilbo stutters, his lips blue with cold. "I don't suppose you'll be able to keep a diary, Frodo my lad, but I shall expect a full account when you get back. And don't be too long! Farewell!"
We move out, Sam leading Bill. Many Elves walk with us part of the way, saying quiet farewells. No songs now, no thanksgiving, no laughter, but a sense of great change. I open myself to the trees and they mourn the beginning of a new age, where all will be pain and fire and chaos. I shiver from more then cold and withdraw back into my self. The Elves left us behind long ago as we reach the top of the hills leading out of the valley of Imladris. We pause there and look back at the lights of the Last Homely House, then we go on. Sam clucks to Bill and I walk with Boromir, glad of his closeness, his aliveness. It is a dull and misty night, and the sun already disappears behind the trees. A glorious beginning to a vital journey.
I shoulder my pack. Boromir stands easy, already armed and ready to go. "I'm still annoyed at the twins. They wouldn't tell me where they went. And I'm eternally curious, so it's not fair that they shouldn't tell me things. It does stuff to my head." I grump as we leave the room. Boromir laughs at my impatience. "Dear me, but it's cold isn't it? You know, back in my home, it'd be summer now. I'm glad for the clothes the Elves gave me, really glad." I comment as we pass a window that looks out onto a wintry twilight garden.
"Well, you were right. We are leaving on the 25th of December."
"I'm dreaming of a white Christmas!" I sing out. Boromir just shakes his head. I've told him about Christmas. "Christmas carols, I'll have to teach you. . .Or maybe I should teach Leggy."
"You know he's still annoyed about that."
"Well, he just has to get used to it. I am queen!" I pronounce, striking a pose. Boromir keeps walking. I hurry after him. "You can't ignore me! Especially if I do this!" I run in front of him, and kiss him. He nearly falls over, shocked. And I did push him rather hard. Then I run away down the corridor dodging Elves. "Hey Glor! How's life?" I wave at Glorfindel and come to a halt. I look over my shoulder; Boromir is slowly walking after me.
Glorfindel smiles. "Good morning, Cat." Yes, he's in the club. The club of 'let's worship Cat'! "I wish you luck and wisdom on your journey."
"Gee thanks. I don't know what I'd do without all you Elves." Impulsively I fling my arms around me and hug him tight. He pats me on the back. Then I run on. "Hurry up, we're gonna be late Boromir!" I hear Glorfindel laugh behind me and Boromir starting to run. He is very loud. I run quietly, only my bag and bow slapping against my back making any noise, I note smugly. We reach the front hall of the Last Homely House and slow panting to a halt. "I won! I won!" I do a victory dance. Boromir picks me up and spins me around. "Ouch! Put me down!" I hammer vainly at the shield on his back. "Ow!" He puts me down on the ground and I shiver as a cold wind blows through the open door. "Cold."
"What do ye expect for winter?" I hear Gimli's gruff voice say.
"Well met, Master Dwarf." I smile at him. Gimli's not so bad as all that. "Hey Frodo, where are the other Hobbits?" I run over and hug him. He looks vainly around for help.
"Coming. Ah, there they are. Merry, Sam, Pip!" Frodo runs over to them. He's a lot better now, but still I fear for him. I know what is to come, that's why. I smile at their cheerfulness. You'd think that we were off for a picnic, rather then to save the world. Aragorn is talking quietly with Arwen. She's got the Elf look on, otherwise she'd be crying. She turns and exits into the corridors of the House. I look around for Sam. He's disappeared again. There he is, just outside. Sam is holding the halter of a pony, stacked high with gear.
"Sam! Is that Bill?" I run over to him.
"Yes, Mistress Cat."
"Just Cat is fine, Sam!" I tell him, like I've told him every time he's said that. He just ducks his head and smiles shyly. "Ah well, guess I'll never be able to make you say it, will I? After all, you always call Frodo Mr. Frodo, or Master Frodo and you're one of his fondest friends."
"You think so?"
"Sam, I know so." I pat Bill on the head and go off to talk to Legolas. "Leggy! How's stuff?"
"Stuff is probably wondering why you are asking about it." He says with a faint smile. I pout and hit him on the arm.
"You know what I mean. Where's Gandalf? Everyone's here but him."
"I am not sure. But he will be here." I nod and lollop over to Boromir.
"Everyone's here. I think we'll move out soon." Boromir nods and pulls out his warhorn. "What are you doing?" I turn and see Elrond coming through the doorway.
"Loud and clear it sounds in the valley of the hills," He says, "And then let all the foes of Gondor flee!" He puts it to his lips and blows a long blast. It's very loud. I cover my ears until the ringing stops. Elrond comes to Boromir's side, frowning in displeasure.
"Slow should you be to wind that horn again, Boromir, until you stand once more on the borders of your land, and dire need is upon you." Elrond says solemnly. I hiss in a breath. Prophetic words, Elrond, but I vow to change the outcome of his actions.
Boromir just smiles at Elrond. "Maybe, but always have I let my horn cry at setting forth, and though thereafter we may walk in the shadows, I will not set forth as a thief in the night." Brave words Boromir. I am freezing so I go and stand near the great fire in the hall. I look up as Elrond leaves, then comes back in with Gandalf. It is so cold, and the light of the fire does little to cut through the mist seeping in through the door. Elrond calls us over to him.
"This is my last word," He says in a low voice, "The Ring-bearer is setting out on the Quest to Mount Doom. On him alone is any charge laid: neither to cast away the Ring, nor to deliver it to any servant of the Enemy nor indeed to let any handle it, save members of the Company and the Council, and only then in the gravest need. The others go with him as companions, to help him on his way. You may tarry, or come back, or turn aside onto other paths, as chance allows. The further you go, the less easy will it be to withdraw; yet no oath or bond is laid on you to go further then you will. For you do not yet know the strength of your hearts, and you cannot foresee what each may meet upon the road." The Company shifts uneasily. Bilbo hurries from Frodo's side to stand with Elrond.
"Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens." Gimli gruffly rebuts.
"Maybe, but let him not vow to walk in the dark, who has not seen the nightfall." Elrond answers.
"Yet sworn word may strengthen quaking heart." Gimli says quietly to this.
Elrond looks on Gimli with new respect. "Or break it. Look not too far ahead! But go now with good hearts! Farewell, and may the blessing of Elves and Men and all Free Folk go with you. May the stars shine upon you faces!" He raises his hand to wish us farewell.
"Good . . . Good luck!" Bilbo stutters, his lips blue with cold. "I don't suppose you'll be able to keep a diary, Frodo my lad, but I shall expect a full account when you get back. And don't be too long! Farewell!"
We move out, Sam leading Bill. Many Elves walk with us part of the way, saying quiet farewells. No songs now, no thanksgiving, no laughter, but a sense of great change. I open myself to the trees and they mourn the beginning of a new age, where all will be pain and fire and chaos. I shiver from more then cold and withdraw back into my self. The Elves left us behind long ago as we reach the top of the hills leading out of the valley of Imladris. We pause there and look back at the lights of the Last Homely House, then we go on. Sam clucks to Bill and I walk with Boromir, glad of his closeness, his aliveness. It is a dull and misty night, and the sun already disappears behind the trees. A glorious beginning to a vital journey.