Over the next few months, Laurelen stayed in Bree with Aragorn, and
her back slowly healed from its horrible wounds. She recovered from the
near-starved condition she had been in when Poppy found her. She also grew
to trust Aragorn, and he and Poppy were the only two people she would speak
to, or even acknowledge.
When she had sufficiently healed, Aragorn decided it was time to take her back to live with her own race. He told her he was taking her to Rivendell. She was not overjoyed at the prospect, for, as she explained to him, she was not sure how she would fit in among them anymore. But when he questioned her further she wouldn't say anything else. She also hesitated at leaving Bree because that meant leaving Poppy. They were very good friends by now, and Laurelen knew she would be lonely without the cheery hobbit to talk to.
Poppy was not happy with the situation, either. She begged Aragorn and Laurelen not to go. But Laurelen tearfully told her that she felt this was something that had to happen. "It may be that I will be able to piece together the shards that remain of my life and be at peace," Laurelen explained. She had still not told either of them anything about her past.
Aragorn left on an unexplained errand, but he was back in two days, and said it was time to leave. "I have horses. They are not fast, but they are sturdy. We leave at sunrise."
Laurelen did not sleep at all that night. Somehow, she did not feel a need for it. Instead she wandered outside to watch the stars. "A Elbereth! Your light shines brightly, but still I cannot see my way. My heart is torn in two!" she lamented. She spent the rest of the night sitting outside against a fence, trying to restore her piece of mind. Poppy was in a similar state, but she took action instead of letting the sorrow overcome her. She quietly packed a bag with enough provisions for two weeks, and then crept silently out the door down to the gate, where she hid behind a bush to await the dawn, which was but an hour away.
* * *
Just as he had promised, Aragorn and Laurelen rode through the gate and out onto the road just as the sun was coming over the hills. After waiting for the longest five minutes of her life, Poppy slipped through the gate and began following them. She was hard-pressed to keep up, for though the horses did not move fast, neither did they tire easily.
On they went, the two on horses in front, Poppy following. They only stopped to eat a noon meal, and then to sleep at night. They did not catch Poppy following until the third night.
Aragorn went out to search for fuel for a fire, and, coming back, he noticed the hobbit-prints. He would never have seen them, except it had rained a few nights ago and there was deep mud. He followed them and found Poppy sound asleep, curled up on a grassy area. He left her there, and went back to where he had left Laurelen eating.
"Come with me," he said quietly. "There is someone following us." Laurelen's face turned very white, for he spoke in a very serious voice. But she got up and followed him. He led her right to where Poppy was and quietly pointed the slumbering hobbit out.
Poppy was awakened by soft footsteps. She had very keen ears for a hobbit, and an ability to wake herself up at a noise. All she could see were two dark shapes standing near her. Her first instinct was to grab the stout walking stick that was lying on the ground beside her. She stood up and shouted, "Don't you come any nearer! I'll beat ya with my stick."
At this point, one of the people promptly sat down and seemed to be crying. Then Poppy realized, no, it didn't sound like crying. The person who was still standing had his hand over his mouth. Finally, the one on the ground seemed able to stand it no longer. He fell over laughing. At this point, Poppy realized it wasn't a he; it was a she. And she had a very familiar laugh. The standing one finally lit a match, and the hobbit blushed when she found Aragorn standing before her. Laurelen was still rolling on the ground laughing in a very undignified way.
Poppy blushed again and tried to explain herself. "Well sir, y'see. I just. it wasn't." she stuttered, and finally she blurted out, "I didn't want to be left alone!"
Aragorn laughed again, "Well then, little friend, we shall just have to bring you with us. I admire such dedication, especially in one so small, and I'm sure Laurelen will be glad of your company. But what about your family?"
"Well, sir, I haven't got any, y'see, not as far back as I can remember. I was raised by Mr. Butterbur at the inn, he's got such a good heart, but I never had any parents, and no friends neither, till I met her," Poppy said, pointed at Laurelen, who was now sitting upright, trying very hard to follow the conversation.
Laurelen now offered up her own part of the conversation. "Then come. We have enough food, for halflings such as yourself, enough. Tomorrow, you ride. I will walk." Her grammar was still a little sketchy, but it was improving.
But Aragorn turned to her and spoke in her own tongue. "I had hoped to travel fast tomorrow. Are you sure you are strong enough to run? There is threat of a storm, and I want to get as far as we can while the road is still good."
"I will be fine. Do not worry."
"Then let us finish this night's rest, and we will start early."
When she had sufficiently healed, Aragorn decided it was time to take her back to live with her own race. He told her he was taking her to Rivendell. She was not overjoyed at the prospect, for, as she explained to him, she was not sure how she would fit in among them anymore. But when he questioned her further she wouldn't say anything else. She also hesitated at leaving Bree because that meant leaving Poppy. They were very good friends by now, and Laurelen knew she would be lonely without the cheery hobbit to talk to.
Poppy was not happy with the situation, either. She begged Aragorn and Laurelen not to go. But Laurelen tearfully told her that she felt this was something that had to happen. "It may be that I will be able to piece together the shards that remain of my life and be at peace," Laurelen explained. She had still not told either of them anything about her past.
Aragorn left on an unexplained errand, but he was back in two days, and said it was time to leave. "I have horses. They are not fast, but they are sturdy. We leave at sunrise."
Laurelen did not sleep at all that night. Somehow, she did not feel a need for it. Instead she wandered outside to watch the stars. "A Elbereth! Your light shines brightly, but still I cannot see my way. My heart is torn in two!" she lamented. She spent the rest of the night sitting outside against a fence, trying to restore her piece of mind. Poppy was in a similar state, but she took action instead of letting the sorrow overcome her. She quietly packed a bag with enough provisions for two weeks, and then crept silently out the door down to the gate, where she hid behind a bush to await the dawn, which was but an hour away.
* * *
Just as he had promised, Aragorn and Laurelen rode through the gate and out onto the road just as the sun was coming over the hills. After waiting for the longest five minutes of her life, Poppy slipped through the gate and began following them. She was hard-pressed to keep up, for though the horses did not move fast, neither did they tire easily.
On they went, the two on horses in front, Poppy following. They only stopped to eat a noon meal, and then to sleep at night. They did not catch Poppy following until the third night.
Aragorn went out to search for fuel for a fire, and, coming back, he noticed the hobbit-prints. He would never have seen them, except it had rained a few nights ago and there was deep mud. He followed them and found Poppy sound asleep, curled up on a grassy area. He left her there, and went back to where he had left Laurelen eating.
"Come with me," he said quietly. "There is someone following us." Laurelen's face turned very white, for he spoke in a very serious voice. But she got up and followed him. He led her right to where Poppy was and quietly pointed the slumbering hobbit out.
Poppy was awakened by soft footsteps. She had very keen ears for a hobbit, and an ability to wake herself up at a noise. All she could see were two dark shapes standing near her. Her first instinct was to grab the stout walking stick that was lying on the ground beside her. She stood up and shouted, "Don't you come any nearer! I'll beat ya with my stick."
At this point, one of the people promptly sat down and seemed to be crying. Then Poppy realized, no, it didn't sound like crying. The person who was still standing had his hand over his mouth. Finally, the one on the ground seemed able to stand it no longer. He fell over laughing. At this point, Poppy realized it wasn't a he; it was a she. And she had a very familiar laugh. The standing one finally lit a match, and the hobbit blushed when she found Aragorn standing before her. Laurelen was still rolling on the ground laughing in a very undignified way.
Poppy blushed again and tried to explain herself. "Well sir, y'see. I just. it wasn't." she stuttered, and finally she blurted out, "I didn't want to be left alone!"
Aragorn laughed again, "Well then, little friend, we shall just have to bring you with us. I admire such dedication, especially in one so small, and I'm sure Laurelen will be glad of your company. But what about your family?"
"Well, sir, I haven't got any, y'see, not as far back as I can remember. I was raised by Mr. Butterbur at the inn, he's got such a good heart, but I never had any parents, and no friends neither, till I met her," Poppy said, pointed at Laurelen, who was now sitting upright, trying very hard to follow the conversation.
Laurelen now offered up her own part of the conversation. "Then come. We have enough food, for halflings such as yourself, enough. Tomorrow, you ride. I will walk." Her grammar was still a little sketchy, but it was improving.
But Aragorn turned to her and spoke in her own tongue. "I had hoped to travel fast tomorrow. Are you sure you are strong enough to run? There is threat of a storm, and I want to get as far as we can while the road is still good."
"I will be fine. Do not worry."
"Then let us finish this night's rest, and we will start early."