They stayed in Rivendell a good while (well, seven days) longer and were quite happy and content. Gandalf and Aragorn spent much of their time researching (except for when Aragorn was smooching Liv Tyler) through old lore books that were in Rivendell, and Frodo spent most of his time with Bilbo and Sam. Merry and Pippin just bumbled about, not really doing much. Except eat. They ate quite a bit.
Luthien and Elanor however were quite busy. They had to pack. They would need food (lots of food); warm clothes that looked nice yet rugged so as not to appear too girly; a towel in case they fell in the water; a small looking glass (as Legolas would be around almost 24/7); hairbrushes; some nice elfish conditioner and shampoo (big bottles. They'd be away for a long time); band-aids with smiley faces (which had fortunately been packed before they hopped into the book); warm toe socks- which as Luthien pointed out to Elanor she didn't really need- and sunscreen. The sun shining off the snow on Caradhras would be quite hazardous for their skin.
The rest of the time, when they weren't quickly dashing back to shove some new item in their already bulging backpacks, Luthien avoided Elrond as much as possible, though there were some meetings in the Halls of Fire that she couldn't get away from. Elanor bumbled with Lila and the other hobbits, having a fun old bumbly time.
They were making ready to set out one December evening at dusk, having already said goodbye to everyone in the hall. Bilbo was very sad and quiet (Luthien and Elanor noted how sweet this was.), Aragorn sat with his head bowed to his knees- quite obviously because he would be leaving lover-elf-girl again- while Sam went through everything in his pack, realising sadly he had forgotten his rope.
It was all very sad and quiet. Elanor sniffed, though she was actually very excited. Except for the fact she was leaving Lila behind, for her trusty companion had agreed to be a messenger and go back to the Shire, though she was terribly miserable to be leaving her darling Frodo.
Lila stood outside with them looking forlorn and lonely. Elanor gave her a big hug and told her to be happy and to eat lots and lots of extra meals in memory of them, and then Luthien knelt down and hugged her because she was very cute and needed a hug. Just when Gandalf and Elrond came out Frodo hugged Lila and gave her a sweet little hobbity kiss on the lips.
Elrond did his speech, adding a part about watching out for the fair maiden and her companion ('what?!' Elanor exclaimed in a whisper. 'Am I not fair? And a maiden?!' Luthien hushed her.) who would sometimes be travelling with them. The he said his elvish goodbye (which- Luthien was very happy- did not include hugging) and they began to go.
Luthien was hurriedly given a necklace with a bluestone, shaped like an eagle, set upon a silver chain by Rakael, Karlwen, Earlwen and her other elf buddies who stood beside the road looking sombre and silent.
'I will return here again, my friends,' she told them, 'be not heavy hearted. Good will triumph over evil once more.'
'But at what price?' Rakael said sadly and bowed his head.
'Perhaps you would travel to the great city when all this is over,' Luthien said smiling, hoping she wouldn't get killed if she wasn't actually meant to be in the book, 'I shall wait for you all with a song of our travels.' And she turned back and ran quickly up the path to catch up with Elanor. She heard their soft voices bidding her farewell and realised suddenly that she had tears in her eyes. Not sad tears, tears of pain. The chain had caught on her hair.
Gandalf appeared suddenly beside her and said thoughtfully (Gandalf was always such a thoughtful wizard) 'The road ahead of us is dark and perilous, but if you stay true to the fellowship, we shall succeed.' He said this so confidently that everybody stopped sniffling.
Luthien grinned internally as she walked in silence besides her all because she realised she was going to be around him All The Time.
At that moment Elanor was thinking more about the fact that there would be no more second breakfast for her…she was have to get through this. And Pippin would be just the hobbit to help her.
As they walked Gimli chattered…and chattered…and he kept on chatting. Luthien's heart skipped a beat every time she heard Legolas interject something (which wasn't very often.) Him talking about nature was a real turn on.
The fellowship walked on ahead after awhile, and Elanor and Luthien lagged behind a little. Luthien talked for a little bit about the coolness of Legolas- 'he's such a champ, isn't he?'- and Elanor nodded patiently, not listening to a word she said.
Eventually after a few uneventful (well, eventful, but we're not retelling the story) days, the fellowship attempted Caradhras while Luthien and Elanor stayed back. Elanor built a lovely snowman and used some of the warm clothes she'd packed to clothe it. Luthien wanted to follow Legolas and hear him saying his cute little line about Boromir and Aragorn snow-ploughing, and see him prance along the snow. But she just couldn't be stuffed.
Elanor didn't want to go up on the mountain in the least bit (although the prospect of being cuddled up with Pippin was quite appealing) and so she stood happily with Bob the snowman, telling him that yes, one day he would melt, but for today it was all okay and well and good.
And then they waited a long time. Where they stood the sun shone brightly and slowly…slowly…Bob began to melt.
Luthien sighed loudly and patted Elanor on the back as she wailed mournfully. "Boh-ob!' She sniffled. Luthien was becoming impatient- what on earth were they doing on that mountain for goodness sakes? And here she was, stuck with a fitful hobbit who was mourning a snowman.
At last her all came glowing towards them, lightly stepping across the snow. He smiled beautifully at them and said 'why have you waited for us? Or are you unsure of the way to go? It seems Caradhras is angry and will not let us pass. We go now to the Mines of Moria.' He finished as the others came puffing up behind him.
'We began to move on but my heart told me to wait here,' Luthien replied after smiling genially at him for awhile. Elanor sobbed. Legolas looked to Luthien and she explained 'her snowman has melted in the heat of the sun and she weeps for… he was carved in the likeness of her father,' she added lamely.
'So she is skilled in the craft of snow,' elfieboy said interestedly. Elanor sniffled a little quieter and snuck a look at Pippin hopefully. She was skilled.
Gandalf looked fondly down at her, for he did so love the sweet little hobbits and patted her curly head. Then he said a few quiet magic words and Bob miraculously stopped melting and stayed as hard as…hard snow.
Elanor gave a little squeal of delight and hugged Bob happily. Then she would have hugged Gandalf but as she was a short hobbit that was virtually impossible, and so she threw her arms around the wizard's knees. 'Yay!'
Alas, then she had to part with Bob. Sadly she waved to him and trudged along behind the company, silently delighting in the sympathetic glances Pippin threw at her.
Luthien shivered dramatically. If Legolas noticed, maybe he would put his arm around her shoulder. Unfortunately, Legolas wasn't really a cuddly sort of elf. It seemed that Boromir was more in touch with this sort of thing. He placed his cloak on her shoulders kindly and she smiled at him. Gee, he was a kind man of Gondor. She would have to get him to teach Legolas these sort of matters.
And on they trotted. Trotting on to good ol' Moria Mines. After getting chased by wolves, that is. And oogedy boogedy stuff…but eventually they were at the gate and Gandalf was horse whispering with Bill the pony, while Sam, cute dear little Sam, sniffled sadly and patted him goodbye.
Yadda yadda yadda, they were inside spooky orcie dark Moria and in the dark walking for hours. Luthien accidentally bumped into Legolas quite a lot. It was rather dark in the dark there.
Elanor wished awfully she had brought her little torch with her, as Gandalf's stick thing didn't actually give off all that much light, and the thought of scary, scary goblins creeping up on them did, needless to say, freak her out a little. She wondered if it was possible to be killed in a book…at least the orcs and goblins really sucked at shooting. That was somewhat of a relief. All the same, she grabbed Luthien's hand, and held it, whimpering.
Luthien felt a hand on her own and for a split second hoped it was Legolas. But no.
'I'm scared,' whimpered the hands owner.
'Don't worry,' she reassured her. 'Just as long as we stick together, we'll be fine, I promise.'
Legolas glanced over at them and smiled. Luthien happily observed this and noted to herself to be more kind to Elanor, for Legolas seemed to like that in a gentle elf maiden.
The days they spent there were very cold, gloomy and uncomfortable. The only thing that kept Elanor and Luthien going was the knowledge that they were close in the dark with their loves. Legolas is all the light I need, Luthien told herself over and over again when she heard orc footsteps close by. The Mines of Moria were awfully scary and sometimes they would walk along steep paths, on one (or both which was worse) side there being a steep, seemingly endless drop into blackness.
Heights, Elanor reflected shivering, were bad.
The fellowship plus two walked along, all of them quite quiet and depressed. All but Luthien, that is. She was ambling cheerfully behind Legolas, planning their wedding day with great detail. It kept her mind occupied for several hours.
They reached a large gap in the path, at least seven feet wide. Legolas nimbly leapt across to the other side, as if it were just a happy old walk in the woods. Luthien, very enthusiastically, followed suit, and grinned back at her friend feeling very pleased with herself.
The others followed, not quite as elfy or happy about the fact that they might fall into blackness, but jump they did, until only Pippin and Elanor were left on the other side.
Elanor gulped.
'Come on, Elanor,' Luthien said, after a few moments passed.
'It's all right for you,' she called back. 'Your legs are twice the length of mine.'
'Frodo made it,' she answered smugly.
'Yeah well he's super hobbit, isn't he?' Elanor glanced at Pippin, who was standing silently next to her, his lovely little face pale. She took his hand, just for the moment feeling sorry for him. Then of course she realized she was holding his hand, and felt quite a bit happier
She also felt quite a bit lovesick.
Pippin took a deep breath, and whispered to Elanor 'well, I suppose we had better jump then?'
After she had recovered from a brief dizzy spell (he had whispered in her ear, you see), she nodded, trying to look brave. 'After you,' she said politely, and after an internal struggle she released his hand from her own grasp.
Pippin leapt across the gap in cute lovely hobbit style, leaving Elanor all on her own.
She whimpered.
'I'll give you toe socks when we get home,' Luthien called over, trying to coax her.
Elanor shook her head frantically.
'And endless supplies of mud-cake!'
Elanor seemed to be considering this offer. 'No…I think I'll just stay here. But thankyou all the same. It's been nice knowing you all. I'm sorry we won't have the chance to get married, my love.'
The fellowship stared at her, and Luthien, now impatient, said 'iamondDae of ongLae eeveClae…' in pig-latin so as to confuse the hobbits from knowing whom she was talking about.
Elanor made a strange grunting sound, and a few seconds later she was standing on the other side of the gap. 'Well,' she said brightly. 'That wasn't too hard, was it?'
Luthien rolled her eyes.
After that the path became more dangerous, and Luthien could no longer plan what flowers she would have in her bouquet, as every time she was pondering over which one was better, roses or daisies, she would trip on a rock and almost die and then she'd have to start all over again, once she'd recovered from the shock of a near death experience, that is.
'What d'you think is better, roses or daisies?' She whispered to Elanor, when the two of them were standing at the back of the line, the others caught up in their own thoughts.
'Daisies are nice,' Elanor said thoughtfully. 'But roses smell really nice and you can have lots of different colours. I personally think you should have Elanor flowers at your wedding. Now that would be excellent and marvellous, not to mention altogether beautiful. Almost as beautiful as me,' she said after a moments reflection.
'Ooh! Violets!' Luthien said excitedly and rather loudly, causing Gandalf to cover her mouth with his hand. She resisted the urge to bite it and whispered 'Sorry, Gandalf,' and turning to the rest of the startled fellowship, said, 'my apologies, good companions.'
'My apologies, good companions,' Elanor mimicked, snickering.
Luthien stuck out her tongue when they'd begun to trot off again.
And they continued on until they got to the really wide arch opening into 3 passages where Gandalf ponders which passage to take.
FINALLY – a million hours later- Merry and Pippin nearly die when they bustle through the stone door to the left, leading on to the chamber with the big hole in the floor (which is what they would have fallen through and died by). But they don't because that would not be good. Instead, they got a righ' talkin' to by Gandalf, and then the fellowship and Luthien and Elanor began to unroll their pillows and blankets.
Luthien almost knocked Boromir into the old well-which-was-now-an-inconvieniently-placed-hole-in-the-middle-of-the-floor when he dared to take her place beside Legolas. Her elven hottie once again saved the day and grabbed Boromir before he did fall.
'How clumsy of me!' Luthien pretended to be embarrassed -which she was anyway, so she did a good job of it, 'Forgive me, Boromir, my foot tripped on a stray rock-' she gestured to a spot which unfortunately did not have a stray rock so she quickly added, 'but it has fallen into the deep now. I could have caused us all much grief a moment ago. Words cannot express my sorrow and shame for that near-incident,' she bowed her head and tried to ignore Elanor as she laughed silently, overbalanced and nearly fell into that darn hole.
'It is forgotten,' Boromir said kindly, and he courteously kissed her hand.
Luthien burst out crying – Boromir was going to -to die – and the fellowship stared at her in alarm. Gandalf sat her down on some pillows and looked into her eyes. After a moment he said to her quietly, 'you have been gifted with foresight, Luthien, though now it may seem more of a burden than a gift, use it as an advantage. We must remain strong, our minds should not be clouded by doubt and foreboding,' he added in that stern sort of voice he says stuff in sometimes. Luthien (playing along) bowed her head and nodded and suddenly he smiled, 'you have a stout heart and a strong will –you represent the she-elves in our company and for that you will forever be remembered and revered.'
Luthien raised her head and smiled, 'Thankyou,' she said and stopped herself from adding 'but I'm sure I'll be just as revered and remembered as the Beautiful Princess of Mirkwood with the Hottest Elfie-prince that ever did kick orc-ass in Middle Earth'.
Elanor was about to brood as she observed all the attention and complements Luthien was receiving, when suddenly she realized her own love would be chucking a stone into the hole right about this time. She glanced over at him and sure enough, whilst everyone else settled down into their beds, he slowly made his way towards it and was overcome by the urge to drop in a stone.
Elanor understood completely. She, too, liked to hear that satisfying plink of the stone at the end of its long drop. Luthien called it "That Plinky Satisfaction of Plinktom", but Luthien was busy setting up her bed as close to Legolas' as was possible without actually being in his bed – though that was not a bad idea. Perhaps she could run it past him, Elanor thought evilly, but immediately snapped out of evil-mode and went back to feeling sorry for Pippin, as he was currently being reprimanded by Gandalf and soon would be punished to be on first watch. 'I would watch too but I am ever so sleepy,' she muttered to herself and yawned to prove it.
Then they heard the hammers and their tom-tapping and it really was quite frightening. 'It's sounded as if it were a code,' Luthien whispered, feeling intelligent.
She could just make out Legolas as he sat up beside her, straight and alert, listening intently. Ahh, he was so dreamy…and slowly, very slowly, she began to fall asleep, staring at the cavernous roof high above her, thinking about how close she was to a certain Silvan elf. A certain hot Silvan elf. A certain hot Silvan elf prince. A certain hot Silvan elf prince who was the embodiment of all things…hot. Yes, very soon, by the light of the moon, hopefully in Gondor, maybe in the woods -haven't quite figured that out yet…we are children of the wild though…ooh, perhaps up a tree…hmm, a little unorthodox but…he is a tree elf.
Ahem. And so on.
Meanwhile, Elanor managed to stay awake long enough to see Pippin miserably seated by the door, frightened of the hole. Looking lovely, naturally.