Two years after the departure of Aragorn and Laurelen, Poppy was
wandering about on the grass near the entrance to the valley, wondering
what to do with herself. Everyone else was within the confines of the
dining hall, talking, singing, and eating. But Poppy had grown bored of the
endless ritual, very uncharacteristic of a hobbit.
She sat down on the slightly damp ground and began idly pulling up clumps of grass and clover. She heard a noise like soft footsteps coming toward her, but kept her head down, thinking it was someone coming to ask why she was outside alone. The footsteps came closer, and finally stopped not more than three feet from her. Poppy sighed, and finally looked up.
She almost squeaked with surprise when she saw two hooded and cloaked figures standing there. She squinted up at them, not really afraid so much as startled. Strangers often came to Elrond's valley, seeking his counsel.
The two were vaguely familiar, though she could not make out their faces as they were hidden in the shadows made by the hoods. One of them stepped forward, hand on the hilt of a sword in his belt. With the other hand, he pushed back his hood, revealing not a he, but a she.
Poppy looked for a moment, blinking in the sunlight, then gasped and jumped to her feet as she realized who it was. It was Laurelen!
But this was not the Laurelen she had last seen two years ago. This new person had a different look to her, besides the travel-stained clothing. The elf's face no longer registered any of the blankness that had become so characteristic of her. In its place was the fire that had been hidden for so many years. Not only had all the hatred and anger surfaced, but also a joy that had been so deeply buried, few thought it had even existed. But there was another change that was also unseen. Laurelen now exuded a self- confidence that bordered on arrogance, and more than made up for what she lacked in height, for though she had indeed grown taller, she still stood only at the shoulders of most other elves.
Now the other person stepped forward and threw back his hood, revealing Aragorn's face. "Well, Poppy, did you survive without your friend?"
"Y-yes, sir," stammered the halfling. "Should.should I tell Lord Elrond you have returned?"
Aragorn sighed, and Poppy noticed that his face was lined with grief. "No, young one. I must speak with him. Laurelen, I trust you can find your quarters?" The side of his mouth quirked up slightly at some private joke.
Laurelen grimaced at him. "I think I can manage." Her face softened. "Arwen will be looking for you."
Aragorn only nodded, and strode away. Poppy stood slowly. "What was that about?" she asked.
"What?" Laurelen replied with a deceptively innocent look.
"You know, about finding your quarters."
"Oh, nothing." The elf rolled her eyes slightly. "It's just that my sense of direction isn't quite what it should be. I got us rather lost one night when Aragorn let me lead." She grinned and shrugged. "But we have some talking to do. I hope your elvish has improved, because I'm feeling rather tired and I don't want to have to think about what I'm saying. I have missed you, my friend."
Poppy smiled and immediately switched to elvish, showing off her improved skill. "I have missed thee also, friend."
Laurelen laughed. "Then come, let us walk together."
* * *
The halfling and the elf strolled together on the grass, creating an amusing sight for any watchers as Poppy struggled to match the pace that Laurelen's longer legs set. Laurelen had already told her friend the story of her travels, and Poppy was only sad that she didn't have an exciting tale to tell also.
Now they walked in silence, simply enjoying each other's company. They wandered down by a stream, watching small fish dart from shadow to shadow, their silver flanks shimmering during their brief moments in sunlight. Laurelen would occasionally break into a song. The songs were none that Poppy knew, but when she asked where her friend had learned them, the elf would only reply, "Here and there. Shall I teach them to you?" So they spent the remainder of the day singing.
Finally, the afternoon turned to evening, and they were summoned to dinner. Poppy almost felt sorry for the elf who came to tell them. Though he stood a full head taller that Laurelen, he could barely meet her eyes for more than a moment. It seemed to embarrass him more than scare him.
Poppy later asked Arwen about it. During the two years that Laurelen and Aragorn had been gone, they had spent much of their time together, but Poppy was not expecting the troubled look that crossed Arwen's face.
Arwen seemed to hesitate for a moment, but finally said, "She bears her scars as much in her eyes as on her back, and they are not comfortable to see." But apart from this cryptic message, she would say nothing.
Poppy accepted this, and went to find her friend.
She sat down on the slightly damp ground and began idly pulling up clumps of grass and clover. She heard a noise like soft footsteps coming toward her, but kept her head down, thinking it was someone coming to ask why she was outside alone. The footsteps came closer, and finally stopped not more than three feet from her. Poppy sighed, and finally looked up.
She almost squeaked with surprise when she saw two hooded and cloaked figures standing there. She squinted up at them, not really afraid so much as startled. Strangers often came to Elrond's valley, seeking his counsel.
The two were vaguely familiar, though she could not make out their faces as they were hidden in the shadows made by the hoods. One of them stepped forward, hand on the hilt of a sword in his belt. With the other hand, he pushed back his hood, revealing not a he, but a she.
Poppy looked for a moment, blinking in the sunlight, then gasped and jumped to her feet as she realized who it was. It was Laurelen!
But this was not the Laurelen she had last seen two years ago. This new person had a different look to her, besides the travel-stained clothing. The elf's face no longer registered any of the blankness that had become so characteristic of her. In its place was the fire that had been hidden for so many years. Not only had all the hatred and anger surfaced, but also a joy that had been so deeply buried, few thought it had even existed. But there was another change that was also unseen. Laurelen now exuded a self- confidence that bordered on arrogance, and more than made up for what she lacked in height, for though she had indeed grown taller, she still stood only at the shoulders of most other elves.
Now the other person stepped forward and threw back his hood, revealing Aragorn's face. "Well, Poppy, did you survive without your friend?"
"Y-yes, sir," stammered the halfling. "Should.should I tell Lord Elrond you have returned?"
Aragorn sighed, and Poppy noticed that his face was lined with grief. "No, young one. I must speak with him. Laurelen, I trust you can find your quarters?" The side of his mouth quirked up slightly at some private joke.
Laurelen grimaced at him. "I think I can manage." Her face softened. "Arwen will be looking for you."
Aragorn only nodded, and strode away. Poppy stood slowly. "What was that about?" she asked.
"What?" Laurelen replied with a deceptively innocent look.
"You know, about finding your quarters."
"Oh, nothing." The elf rolled her eyes slightly. "It's just that my sense of direction isn't quite what it should be. I got us rather lost one night when Aragorn let me lead." She grinned and shrugged. "But we have some talking to do. I hope your elvish has improved, because I'm feeling rather tired and I don't want to have to think about what I'm saying. I have missed you, my friend."
Poppy smiled and immediately switched to elvish, showing off her improved skill. "I have missed thee also, friend."
Laurelen laughed. "Then come, let us walk together."
* * *
The halfling and the elf strolled together on the grass, creating an amusing sight for any watchers as Poppy struggled to match the pace that Laurelen's longer legs set. Laurelen had already told her friend the story of her travels, and Poppy was only sad that she didn't have an exciting tale to tell also.
Now they walked in silence, simply enjoying each other's company. They wandered down by a stream, watching small fish dart from shadow to shadow, their silver flanks shimmering during their brief moments in sunlight. Laurelen would occasionally break into a song. The songs were none that Poppy knew, but when she asked where her friend had learned them, the elf would only reply, "Here and there. Shall I teach them to you?" So they spent the remainder of the day singing.
Finally, the afternoon turned to evening, and they were summoned to dinner. Poppy almost felt sorry for the elf who came to tell them. Though he stood a full head taller that Laurelen, he could barely meet her eyes for more than a moment. It seemed to embarrass him more than scare him.
Poppy later asked Arwen about it. During the two years that Laurelen and Aragorn had been gone, they had spent much of their time together, but Poppy was not expecting the troubled look that crossed Arwen's face.
Arwen seemed to hesitate for a moment, but finally said, "She bears her scars as much in her eyes as on her back, and they are not comfortable to see." But apart from this cryptic message, she would say nothing.
Poppy accepted this, and went to find her friend.