Disclaimer: I still don't own LOTR or any of its characters. Here's Chapter 2
Chapter 2:
Meeting Legends
Carole awoke to the sounds of birds and crystal wind chimes being stirred by the breeze. For a few moments she simply lay in bed, contented just to listen. She began to think that today she would tend her small garden, and spend the afternoon reading under a tree, when she remembered the events of, was it yesterday? She quickly opened her eyes, and sat up straight in this bed that wasn't her own, in a room that wasn't her own. In this land that wasn't her own. The room's walls were, at first glance, white. But when she looked around, used to the brightness of the light, she saw that the walls were in fact a pale, shimmery, icy blue, and there were white curtains hanging in front of an open balcony. Though the furnishings were the usual kind any bedroom would have, they were lovely in their design. Like ivy twining up lattice. As her eyes tried to soak up everything in this room, she heard a soft, sweet, happy, and kind voice say, "Ah, wonderful! You're awake."
Then, Carole turned, and saw him. The young gentle-hobbit from the beach. He was even more beautiful than she remembered. He wore a shirt the hue of the walls of the room, a silvery vest, and midnight blue trousers. He was smiling at her with the most adorable and sweet smile she'd ever seen, and that made her smile. He looked to her like a lord or a prince, handsome and graceful and almost perfect. Almost, for she now saw that his left hand had only four whole fingers; two thirds of his forefinger were gone. But that did not matter, really, to Carole, for it was his eyes that always captivated her. She felt like he was looking deeply into her, down to her very soul. At that thought, she blushed, and looked down, embarrassed by her rudeness.
"Oh, please, forgive me. I have been rude," he said as he sat next to her, on the edge of the bed. "I'm glad that you are awake. When I saw you fall on the beach, I was afraid you weren't going to make it before we could find help. How are you this morning?" he said as he took her hand both of his, "Is there anything you need or would like? Don't be afraid to ask for anything."
"Whe…where am I?" Carole asked timidly and quietly.
The prince-ling laughed, a most delightful laugh, and said, "You are in Valinor, my lady. The land of the Elves."
At that, Carole's heart jumped again. How could she be in Valinor? This was impossible. Only a small few that weren't Elves could come here. This must be a dream. Unless… "Who are you?" she whispered.
"My name is Frodo. Frodo Baggins," he said.
Carole was utterly stunned. She couldn't believe it. She had half expected him to say what he said, but she couldn't believe it. He was sitting right there in front of her, the most famous of Hobbits in the world, but she couldn't believe it. "I'm dreaming," she said aloud, "I have to be."
Frodo simply laughed. "No, my lady, you are not dreaming," he said, squeezing her hand a little, "Or else I've been dreaming, too, for over 400 years." An Elf maiden entered the room, then, carrying a small bundle. As the Elf maid walked to the foot of the bed, Frodo said to Carole, "If you are feeling well enough, I hope you might be able to join me and my friends for breakfast?"
Carole realized she was extremely hungry (as would anyone who hadn't eaten anything but a biscuit in almost two days), so she eagerly nodded her head. With that, Frodo got up and left the room to wait for her to get ready.
It had been many years since Frodo had come to Valinor with the Elves, Gandalf, and his uncle, but it hardly felt like it to him. Even the coming of Sam, Legolas, and Gimli seemed like a short time ago. When his old friends had first arrived, Frodo felt that the only way he knew that any time passed at all was when he looked at the old Dwarf and his childhood companion and saw that they were old and gray, for the years showed heavily on them. But Frodo had still been overjoyed when they had come. For a long time, he had been content and at peace, living in this beautiful place, with dear friends about him. But recently, he had silently wished that he could see a new face. A new Hobbit face. He truly did love his new home here, but he would sometimes miss some of the things he had had back in Hobbitton in Middle Earth. He missed the sounds of the Market, busy with people; he missed the quiet evenings he spent in the garden at Bag End. Most of all, his missed seeing more of his own kind. He missed his cousins, and nieces and nephews. He missed his old home.
In fact, he and his old friends had been talking about that just yesterday morning. They had gathered at the beach, watching the sunrise, and waiting for Gandalf to arrive. As they looked over the horizon, Legolas had remarked, "This is a most beautiful sight."
"Aye, my friend, it is," Gimili said, "but it makes me home sick, too."
"Homesick?" Legolas said, "Have you still not accepted this place as your home?"
" Aye, in some ways, laddie," the old Dwarf replied, "but to be true, I miss the sight of other Dwarves. It's no picnic being the only one of your kind on an island of Elves."
The others laughed, but not to be mean. Frodo chimed in, " I know how you feel, Gimli. I miss seeing other Hobbits."
"But Mr. Frodo," Sam said, obviously hurt by his master's remark, "aren't you happy with Mr. Bilbo and me?"
"Of course, Sam!" Frodo said, laughing again, "But a new face would be welcome. Especially someone from home."
Just at that moment, Legolas had turned his head towards a sudden sound. They all turned to look, and Frodo saw, down the shore, a girl. Not just any girl, but a Hobbit! She wore a simple white shirt, and a dark green skirt and cloak. Her chestnut colored hair blew in the wind, the sun giving it golden sparks. She had a simple beauty, unlike the grandness of the Elves, that he had long missed so much. It was like the Valar had granted the secret wish he had made in his heart. Then, he looked into her dark eyes, and realized that she was staring only at him. In that instant, he knew something that she hadn't even begun to think. She had given him her heart. He looked away when Legolas jumped up and ran off to get help for the girl, for Gandalf and Elrond were coming down the hill towards them just then, and in that moment, she had collapsed. He had rushed as fast as he could to her side. Frodo was so worried for her, and they hadn't even truly met. That's why he volunteered to look after her until she woke up. He wanted to make sure that the girl would be all right.
A few minutes later, Carole stepped out onto the walkway where Frodo was waiting. Today she was dressed in a pearly blouse, a soft green skirt, and a very lengthy, long sleeved silver ladies' coat, much like that the Elvin women wore. Carole felt like a grand lady in the unfamiliar garb. Frodo thought she was stunning.
"Shall we go, my lady?" Frodo asked her as he offered his arm.
"Yes," said Carole, giggling, "we shall indeed, mi' lord,"
"Please, call me Frodo," he said, and they walked down the causeway together.
As they were walking, Carole looked around at the marvelous buildings. They seemed so natural among the trees and forestry. It reminded her of the way the White Towers at the Gray Havens looked; like they had grown there naturally. Some stairways wrapped themselves around trees, reaching into the topmost branches. Many buildings rested within the trees. The bridge they were walking on now looked like it was completely made of ivy and rose vines.
Frodo broke the silence, saying, "This is what the Elvin realms in our world looked like, before they left."
Carole turned her head towards him, thinking that he must have read her mind, and replied, "It's enchanting. I feel like I'm in a painting." She looked into his eyes again. She could look into them forever. "My name is Carole, by the way."
"What?" Frodo asked, for he had been caught in her eyes, as well.
"My name. It's Carole," she said to him again.
"It's a lovely name. But it doesn't sound like a Hobbit name," Frodo replied.
"My papa visited Gondor once, with some of his cousins. He said it was a Numenorian word."
"Really?"
"Yes. It means 'song of joy'," Carole said as she blushed again.
"Song of joy," Frodo whispered, as if the fraise were a magic charm, or a prayer.
Feeling a bit awkward, Carole looked up, and saw that the sun had moved further across the sky. She realized that it was late in the morning, and said, "We better get going, or we'll miss breakfast and second breakfast."
"If we do, we'll be early for lunch," Frodo replied as he quickened his pace, and led Carole further on. They soon came upon an open courtyard. In the center were a grand table, laden with food, and seven people sat around it. Four she recognized as the others who had been sitting with Frodo yesterday morning. The Elf she guessed was Legolas, from Mirkwood. The Dwarf could only be Gimli, the only Dwarf to ever set foot on Elven shores. And the two elder Hobbits, she guessed, were Sam and old Bilbo. Then she looked at the other three. Two of them were Elves. A maiden with tremendous beauty and hair that must have been pure gold, and a king with hair darker than night and a look of immense wisdom and knowledge. The last was what appeared be an old man. He had a long white beard, and long white hair, and his robes were so white that they glowed, except for around the hem, where feint mud stains dimmed the light. She knew this must be Gandalf. All her assumptions were right, of course. And she was introduced to them all, including Elrond, Half Elvin, and Galadriel, The Lady of Light. Meeting these living legends left Carole speechless, though she longed to ask them all questions. They all sat down, finally, and began to talk of many things. Carole told them of the entire goings on of the Shire and the rest of Middle Earth (as much as she knew, anyway) up to that fateful day when the sea brought her to the island. They were more astonished at how much things had stayed the same than the changes, and whenever she would mention the name of a friend or relative of hers, they would ask questions about them, as well as ones about their own relatives and friends. Carole saw the sadness that filled Frodo and Sam's eyes when she spoke of the deaths of Merry and Pippin and King Aragorn and of how Brandybucks, Tooks, and Fairbairns would make a pilgrimage every year on the anniversary of Suaron's defeat to lay flowers on their tombs, which still reside in the burial halls of the Kings and Stewards of Gondor. In return, they answered all her questions about life on the island. They told how to behave in the presence of any of the Eldar, and about evenings spent doing nothing but singing or telling old tales or simply looking at the heavens. Carole soaked up as much as she could, captivated by all that she heard and saw.
"Well," said Gandalf as he got up from the table, "now that we are finished with breakfast, there are important matters that we must discuss with you, young lady."
"What do you mean, sir?" Carole replied, confused, but growing afraid, "Have I done something wrong?"
"Oh, no, my dear," Gandalf reassured her, "but we three have been sent on behalf of the Eldar to speak with you," he said as he gestured to Galadriel and Elrond.
Carole got up and followed the old wizard and the two Elves. When they had walked for ten minutes, Gandalf said, "Your coming was not by accident, child."
"What?" Carole asked.
"I say again, it was no accident. You were summoned here."
"But, why?" Carole implored.
"Because you were chosen," said Galadriel, "For a long time, the Eldar and Valar have searched for people who see under the surface of things."
"And you are not the only one who spends time idly dreaming and wishing for something more," Elrond added.
"All Elves think like you, child," Gandalf said, "as well as a few Dwarves and Men."
"But only a small few Elves still dwell in Middle Earth," said Galadriel, "and Men, Dwarves, and Hobbits have lost all sense of wonder. They no longer dream true dreams."
"True dreams?" asked Carole.
"Dreams of the fair folk," Elrond answered, "Dreams of animals that can only be seen by those either pure of heart or with magic in their blood. Dreams of things that defy all logic or reason. They have forgotten about the old wonders of the world."
"And they no longer look to nature and its beauty," Gandalf added, "but to what they can build and create. Their minds and hearts are closed to any new thinking, or believing in what they cannot explain or see, such as they," he said as he pointed into a nearby clearing. Carole looked to where he pointed, and saw horses…and they were all a brilliant pearl white with long golden horns extending forth from above their brows! Carole's eyes widened with wonder at these creatures. She had never seen anything like them. As she stood there admiring the horned horses, the bushes behind them began to shake. They all spun around, and Gandalf handed his staff to Carole, and reached into the shrubs, pulling out Sam and Frodo.
"I half expected you to follow us," the wizard said as he put them down on the ground.
"Don't blame Mr. Frodo, sir," said Sam, "I was curious about what you would need to tell Miss Carole, and Frodo went with me to keep me from trouble."
Gandalf laughed at his old friend, "You always seem to be eavesdropping, Samwise Gamgee"
"Sam, don't take the blame," Frodo said, "It was my idea to follow you, Gandalf."
"No need for apologies my boy," Gandalf said, trying hard not to laugh, "In fact, you may join us, for this concerns you, too."
All the while, Carole was still watching the strange horses. With out warning, she ran out into the field, and went up to one of them. The horse bent its head down, and Carole pet it the way she used to pet the ponies her grandfather kept on his farm.
"They are magnificent, are they not?" Galadriel said as she and the others walked down to join Carole, "We call them the Tilionroch,"
"In the Common Tongue, they are Unicorns," Gandalf added, "Now, the day has begun, and we have many more things to discuss," he said as he led the small party back to the walkway. Carole listened as they told her that in three days, there would be a meeting held for all on the island to attend, and for the rest of the day, they talked of sights and wonders that few would, or sometimes never be, seen.
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That night, Carole found that sleep eluded her. So much had happened to her in such little time. She felt like her head would burst with all that had happened. She decided that the best solution would be to take a walk, 'Maybe that will help me get tired,' she thought. As she walked, she passed many marbled walls, descended many stairs, and passed by a few Elves (for Elves do not sleep as other do, but walk in waking dreams), but she wasn't tired. Then, she came to a terace with three benches facing the sea. Sitting on one of the benches was Frodo. Carole had not had a chance to speak privately with him since that morning, so she walked up behind him.
"May I join you?" she asked. Frodo turned around, and Carole saw a smile and look of joyful surprise pass his fair face. "I couldn't sleep," she said, "and I thought I might as well wait and watch the sun come up."
"I felt the same," he said to her. Carole sat down next to him, and for a long time they only looked out at the star filled sky. Then, Frodo asked her, "Do you miss it?"
"Miss what?" Carole asked.
"The Shire," he replied, "Middle Earth. Do you miss it? Do you miss anyone from home?"
"Well, I miss my family. I know my parents must be very afraid, not knowing what happened. And I miss some of my friends, but other than that…no. There was nothing there I really could miss. My life always seemed peaceful, before, but now that I know the peace here in Valinor, it all seems boring.
"But your family must miss you," Frodo said.
"Yes, but they'll probably be over it soon," Carole replied, "In truth, I think that they will probably be better off."
"Why?" he asked, astonished that she would say such a thing. "Why would your family be better off without someone so gifted and open to the world around her?"
"Because I'm too open," Carole said. "I hardly ever helped with the chores, or tried to find someone suitable to marry. Everyone said I was either too lazy or too concerned with fairytales and myths to live in reality. No one understood that I could never be content to give up learning and reading to spend my life chained to someone whose only goal in life is to raise the fattest pig in the village."
"Why would you marry someone like that?" Frodo asked, smiling at the notion of this spirited girl as a pig-farmer's wife.
"Because the only person who ever wanted to marry me was a pig-farmer. Or the heir of one, least-ways," she answered. "His name was Andmar. Ever since we were small children he would follow me everywhere. He wouldn't leave me alone. He declared his intention to marry me when we were ten, and to show him my feelings, I pushed him into a mud puddle." Frodo laughed at this, and she, too, began to laugh at the memory of little Andy Flaxseed on that day, trying to get up from the mucky mess while she stood over him, yelling that she would never be his girl. Then, Carole stopped, as another memory came back to her. A memory she had pushed out of her mind, for it brought too many questions and truths that she could not bear. "He was with me when I went to the Gray Havens. He wanted to stop me, but I didn't listen, and I made him come with me so he wouldn't tell my parents. Then, when I was in the boat…" tears began to well in her eyes, "and the storm came…and the I started drifting away, he…he…" the words were too painful, and her tears poured out as she said, "He ran back into the woods."
"That abominable…he abandoned you?" Frodo said.
"Yes" she whispered, realizing how much it hurt her to know that the person who claimed to love her left her alone to, seemingly, die upon the sea.
Frodo saw her pain, and understood, for he too had felt great pain and loss, though in many ways it was different from hers. He took the sobbing young lady in his arms, and held her tight, trying to shield her from that pain, and any pain. Then, he whispered to her, "Neither he or anyone else was worthy of you, then."
At that, Carole raised up her head and looked into Frodo's eyes, which now shone like blue flame. As she looked at him, Frodo once again began to think of how lovely she was in her innocence and simplicity. Not thinking, he said to her, "If I had been there, I wouldn't have abandoned you."
They looked at one another for a long count of minutes, Carole hoping beyond hope that his words meant what she thought they meant, while Frodo remembered his past, and that as long as he was who he was, he could not have what he wanted now. Suddenly, they heard the call of a horn from the East. They both looked up towards the sea, and saw that an Elvin ship came with the dawn.
"More Elves are coming," Frodo said as he and Carole stood up. "I have to go home, before my uncle and Sam know I'm gone."
"Yeah," said Carole, her heart sinking, as the moment they had had together was now gone. "I have to go back to my rooms too." As she was about to ascend the first set of stairs, she turned and said, "Good day, mi' lo- I mean, Frodo."
"Good day," Frodo said.
As Carole walked away, making her way back to her quarters, Frodo watched her, and before turning to go home, softly said, "My lady"
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Long after the sun had risen in the East, Carole accompanied Lord Elrond to the peir to greet the new comers. At first she wondered while she would be asked to help greet Elves, but she soon found out that she was not the only one asked to go. Gandalf, Legolas and Gimli soon joined them. Of course, the old Dwarf asked the question she dared not ask of the wise Elf, "Why would you ask me to be part of the welcome wagon for more Elves?
" Because we believe that you will find a pleasant surprise," said Gandalf. Carole noticed that when the wizard said this, there was a twinkle in his old eyes, like that of a child with a grand secret that was about to be revealed.
The docks were filled with many Elves taking cargo and luggage from the ship. Carole thought that odd, for she was informed that Elves do not normally take treasures from the old world with them to Valinor. Why would they when all they would ever need or want was awaiting them? Then, a large plank was lowered from the side of the ship, and the passengers began to come down from the deck. Many beautiful and elegant Elves passed, shaking the hands of those who stood there to greet them, sometimes giving a low bow, and other such curtious gestures. Untill Carole looked up, and saw a sight that she never expected. Big folk were coming down the plank! Two young men and one young woman were stepping down from the deck, looking around in awe at the land of the Elves. The first man was extremely tall (even for Big Folk), his skin was tanned from many days of labor, and his hair was light brown. Carole could tell that the other two were related to each other, for they both had green eyes flecked with gold, and hair the color of fresh wheat. And Dwarves, in turn, then followed them! As Carole saw the first Dwarf boot step on to the plank, she heard Gimli give a loud and joyful cry, and before she could blink she saw him sprinting towards the bvottom of the plank, where he gave each Dwarf a bear hug and a slap on the back, greeting them in his native tongue. Just then, the humans who had arrived came upt to them, and Gandalf greeted them, saying, "Legovanen. Welcome to the home of the Eldar, were none from the race of Men has tred."
"Thank you, my lords," said the first man. "I am Thoron, son of Elohir, from Gondor. This is Homer, son of Eohelm, and his sister Hope, from Rohan."
"Elvin names for sons and daughters of Men," Gandalf said.
"My lord, we have traveled far, not knowing where we were going or why," said Thoron. Please, tell us that you know why we have come here."
"We know," said Elrond, extending his hand, "And we shall tell all soon, but we must first here your own tales" then, they shook hands, and Elrond said to all three, "Legovanen mellon."
Please, no rotten fruit! Review, please. :D
Chapter 2:
Meeting Legends
Carole awoke to the sounds of birds and crystal wind chimes being stirred by the breeze. For a few moments she simply lay in bed, contented just to listen. She began to think that today she would tend her small garden, and spend the afternoon reading under a tree, when she remembered the events of, was it yesterday? She quickly opened her eyes, and sat up straight in this bed that wasn't her own, in a room that wasn't her own. In this land that wasn't her own. The room's walls were, at first glance, white. But when she looked around, used to the brightness of the light, she saw that the walls were in fact a pale, shimmery, icy blue, and there were white curtains hanging in front of an open balcony. Though the furnishings were the usual kind any bedroom would have, they were lovely in their design. Like ivy twining up lattice. As her eyes tried to soak up everything in this room, she heard a soft, sweet, happy, and kind voice say, "Ah, wonderful! You're awake."
Then, Carole turned, and saw him. The young gentle-hobbit from the beach. He was even more beautiful than she remembered. He wore a shirt the hue of the walls of the room, a silvery vest, and midnight blue trousers. He was smiling at her with the most adorable and sweet smile she'd ever seen, and that made her smile. He looked to her like a lord or a prince, handsome and graceful and almost perfect. Almost, for she now saw that his left hand had only four whole fingers; two thirds of his forefinger were gone. But that did not matter, really, to Carole, for it was his eyes that always captivated her. She felt like he was looking deeply into her, down to her very soul. At that thought, she blushed, and looked down, embarrassed by her rudeness.
"Oh, please, forgive me. I have been rude," he said as he sat next to her, on the edge of the bed. "I'm glad that you are awake. When I saw you fall on the beach, I was afraid you weren't going to make it before we could find help. How are you this morning?" he said as he took her hand both of his, "Is there anything you need or would like? Don't be afraid to ask for anything."
"Whe…where am I?" Carole asked timidly and quietly.
The prince-ling laughed, a most delightful laugh, and said, "You are in Valinor, my lady. The land of the Elves."
At that, Carole's heart jumped again. How could she be in Valinor? This was impossible. Only a small few that weren't Elves could come here. This must be a dream. Unless… "Who are you?" she whispered.
"My name is Frodo. Frodo Baggins," he said.
Carole was utterly stunned. She couldn't believe it. She had half expected him to say what he said, but she couldn't believe it. He was sitting right there in front of her, the most famous of Hobbits in the world, but she couldn't believe it. "I'm dreaming," she said aloud, "I have to be."
Frodo simply laughed. "No, my lady, you are not dreaming," he said, squeezing her hand a little, "Or else I've been dreaming, too, for over 400 years." An Elf maiden entered the room, then, carrying a small bundle. As the Elf maid walked to the foot of the bed, Frodo said to Carole, "If you are feeling well enough, I hope you might be able to join me and my friends for breakfast?"
Carole realized she was extremely hungry (as would anyone who hadn't eaten anything but a biscuit in almost two days), so she eagerly nodded her head. With that, Frodo got up and left the room to wait for her to get ready.
It had been many years since Frodo had come to Valinor with the Elves, Gandalf, and his uncle, but it hardly felt like it to him. Even the coming of Sam, Legolas, and Gimli seemed like a short time ago. When his old friends had first arrived, Frodo felt that the only way he knew that any time passed at all was when he looked at the old Dwarf and his childhood companion and saw that they were old and gray, for the years showed heavily on them. But Frodo had still been overjoyed when they had come. For a long time, he had been content and at peace, living in this beautiful place, with dear friends about him. But recently, he had silently wished that he could see a new face. A new Hobbit face. He truly did love his new home here, but he would sometimes miss some of the things he had had back in Hobbitton in Middle Earth. He missed the sounds of the Market, busy with people; he missed the quiet evenings he spent in the garden at Bag End. Most of all, his missed seeing more of his own kind. He missed his cousins, and nieces and nephews. He missed his old home.
In fact, he and his old friends had been talking about that just yesterday morning. They had gathered at the beach, watching the sunrise, and waiting for Gandalf to arrive. As they looked over the horizon, Legolas had remarked, "This is a most beautiful sight."
"Aye, my friend, it is," Gimili said, "but it makes me home sick, too."
"Homesick?" Legolas said, "Have you still not accepted this place as your home?"
" Aye, in some ways, laddie," the old Dwarf replied, "but to be true, I miss the sight of other Dwarves. It's no picnic being the only one of your kind on an island of Elves."
The others laughed, but not to be mean. Frodo chimed in, " I know how you feel, Gimli. I miss seeing other Hobbits."
"But Mr. Frodo," Sam said, obviously hurt by his master's remark, "aren't you happy with Mr. Bilbo and me?"
"Of course, Sam!" Frodo said, laughing again, "But a new face would be welcome. Especially someone from home."
Just at that moment, Legolas had turned his head towards a sudden sound. They all turned to look, and Frodo saw, down the shore, a girl. Not just any girl, but a Hobbit! She wore a simple white shirt, and a dark green skirt and cloak. Her chestnut colored hair blew in the wind, the sun giving it golden sparks. She had a simple beauty, unlike the grandness of the Elves, that he had long missed so much. It was like the Valar had granted the secret wish he had made in his heart. Then, he looked into her dark eyes, and realized that she was staring only at him. In that instant, he knew something that she hadn't even begun to think. She had given him her heart. He looked away when Legolas jumped up and ran off to get help for the girl, for Gandalf and Elrond were coming down the hill towards them just then, and in that moment, she had collapsed. He had rushed as fast as he could to her side. Frodo was so worried for her, and they hadn't even truly met. That's why he volunteered to look after her until she woke up. He wanted to make sure that the girl would be all right.
A few minutes later, Carole stepped out onto the walkway where Frodo was waiting. Today she was dressed in a pearly blouse, a soft green skirt, and a very lengthy, long sleeved silver ladies' coat, much like that the Elvin women wore. Carole felt like a grand lady in the unfamiliar garb. Frodo thought she was stunning.
"Shall we go, my lady?" Frodo asked her as he offered his arm.
"Yes," said Carole, giggling, "we shall indeed, mi' lord,"
"Please, call me Frodo," he said, and they walked down the causeway together.
As they were walking, Carole looked around at the marvelous buildings. They seemed so natural among the trees and forestry. It reminded her of the way the White Towers at the Gray Havens looked; like they had grown there naturally. Some stairways wrapped themselves around trees, reaching into the topmost branches. Many buildings rested within the trees. The bridge they were walking on now looked like it was completely made of ivy and rose vines.
Frodo broke the silence, saying, "This is what the Elvin realms in our world looked like, before they left."
Carole turned her head towards him, thinking that he must have read her mind, and replied, "It's enchanting. I feel like I'm in a painting." She looked into his eyes again. She could look into them forever. "My name is Carole, by the way."
"What?" Frodo asked, for he had been caught in her eyes, as well.
"My name. It's Carole," she said to him again.
"It's a lovely name. But it doesn't sound like a Hobbit name," Frodo replied.
"My papa visited Gondor once, with some of his cousins. He said it was a Numenorian word."
"Really?"
"Yes. It means 'song of joy'," Carole said as she blushed again.
"Song of joy," Frodo whispered, as if the fraise were a magic charm, or a prayer.
Feeling a bit awkward, Carole looked up, and saw that the sun had moved further across the sky. She realized that it was late in the morning, and said, "We better get going, or we'll miss breakfast and second breakfast."
"If we do, we'll be early for lunch," Frodo replied as he quickened his pace, and led Carole further on. They soon came upon an open courtyard. In the center were a grand table, laden with food, and seven people sat around it. Four she recognized as the others who had been sitting with Frodo yesterday morning. The Elf she guessed was Legolas, from Mirkwood. The Dwarf could only be Gimli, the only Dwarf to ever set foot on Elven shores. And the two elder Hobbits, she guessed, were Sam and old Bilbo. Then she looked at the other three. Two of them were Elves. A maiden with tremendous beauty and hair that must have been pure gold, and a king with hair darker than night and a look of immense wisdom and knowledge. The last was what appeared be an old man. He had a long white beard, and long white hair, and his robes were so white that they glowed, except for around the hem, where feint mud stains dimmed the light. She knew this must be Gandalf. All her assumptions were right, of course. And she was introduced to them all, including Elrond, Half Elvin, and Galadriel, The Lady of Light. Meeting these living legends left Carole speechless, though she longed to ask them all questions. They all sat down, finally, and began to talk of many things. Carole told them of the entire goings on of the Shire and the rest of Middle Earth (as much as she knew, anyway) up to that fateful day when the sea brought her to the island. They were more astonished at how much things had stayed the same than the changes, and whenever she would mention the name of a friend or relative of hers, they would ask questions about them, as well as ones about their own relatives and friends. Carole saw the sadness that filled Frodo and Sam's eyes when she spoke of the deaths of Merry and Pippin and King Aragorn and of how Brandybucks, Tooks, and Fairbairns would make a pilgrimage every year on the anniversary of Suaron's defeat to lay flowers on their tombs, which still reside in the burial halls of the Kings and Stewards of Gondor. In return, they answered all her questions about life on the island. They told how to behave in the presence of any of the Eldar, and about evenings spent doing nothing but singing or telling old tales or simply looking at the heavens. Carole soaked up as much as she could, captivated by all that she heard and saw.
"Well," said Gandalf as he got up from the table, "now that we are finished with breakfast, there are important matters that we must discuss with you, young lady."
"What do you mean, sir?" Carole replied, confused, but growing afraid, "Have I done something wrong?"
"Oh, no, my dear," Gandalf reassured her, "but we three have been sent on behalf of the Eldar to speak with you," he said as he gestured to Galadriel and Elrond.
Carole got up and followed the old wizard and the two Elves. When they had walked for ten minutes, Gandalf said, "Your coming was not by accident, child."
"What?" Carole asked.
"I say again, it was no accident. You were summoned here."
"But, why?" Carole implored.
"Because you were chosen," said Galadriel, "For a long time, the Eldar and Valar have searched for people who see under the surface of things."
"And you are not the only one who spends time idly dreaming and wishing for something more," Elrond added.
"All Elves think like you, child," Gandalf said, "as well as a few Dwarves and Men."
"But only a small few Elves still dwell in Middle Earth," said Galadriel, "and Men, Dwarves, and Hobbits have lost all sense of wonder. They no longer dream true dreams."
"True dreams?" asked Carole.
"Dreams of the fair folk," Elrond answered, "Dreams of animals that can only be seen by those either pure of heart or with magic in their blood. Dreams of things that defy all logic or reason. They have forgotten about the old wonders of the world."
"And they no longer look to nature and its beauty," Gandalf added, "but to what they can build and create. Their minds and hearts are closed to any new thinking, or believing in what they cannot explain or see, such as they," he said as he pointed into a nearby clearing. Carole looked to where he pointed, and saw horses…and they were all a brilliant pearl white with long golden horns extending forth from above their brows! Carole's eyes widened with wonder at these creatures. She had never seen anything like them. As she stood there admiring the horned horses, the bushes behind them began to shake. They all spun around, and Gandalf handed his staff to Carole, and reached into the shrubs, pulling out Sam and Frodo.
"I half expected you to follow us," the wizard said as he put them down on the ground.
"Don't blame Mr. Frodo, sir," said Sam, "I was curious about what you would need to tell Miss Carole, and Frodo went with me to keep me from trouble."
Gandalf laughed at his old friend, "You always seem to be eavesdropping, Samwise Gamgee"
"Sam, don't take the blame," Frodo said, "It was my idea to follow you, Gandalf."
"No need for apologies my boy," Gandalf said, trying hard not to laugh, "In fact, you may join us, for this concerns you, too."
All the while, Carole was still watching the strange horses. With out warning, she ran out into the field, and went up to one of them. The horse bent its head down, and Carole pet it the way she used to pet the ponies her grandfather kept on his farm.
"They are magnificent, are they not?" Galadriel said as she and the others walked down to join Carole, "We call them the Tilionroch,"
"In the Common Tongue, they are Unicorns," Gandalf added, "Now, the day has begun, and we have many more things to discuss," he said as he led the small party back to the walkway. Carole listened as they told her that in three days, there would be a meeting held for all on the island to attend, and for the rest of the day, they talked of sights and wonders that few would, or sometimes never be, seen.
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That night, Carole found that sleep eluded her. So much had happened to her in such little time. She felt like her head would burst with all that had happened. She decided that the best solution would be to take a walk, 'Maybe that will help me get tired,' she thought. As she walked, she passed many marbled walls, descended many stairs, and passed by a few Elves (for Elves do not sleep as other do, but walk in waking dreams), but she wasn't tired. Then, she came to a terace with three benches facing the sea. Sitting on one of the benches was Frodo. Carole had not had a chance to speak privately with him since that morning, so she walked up behind him.
"May I join you?" she asked. Frodo turned around, and Carole saw a smile and look of joyful surprise pass his fair face. "I couldn't sleep," she said, "and I thought I might as well wait and watch the sun come up."
"I felt the same," he said to her. Carole sat down next to him, and for a long time they only looked out at the star filled sky. Then, Frodo asked her, "Do you miss it?"
"Miss what?" Carole asked.
"The Shire," he replied, "Middle Earth. Do you miss it? Do you miss anyone from home?"
"Well, I miss my family. I know my parents must be very afraid, not knowing what happened. And I miss some of my friends, but other than that…no. There was nothing there I really could miss. My life always seemed peaceful, before, but now that I know the peace here in Valinor, it all seems boring.
"But your family must miss you," Frodo said.
"Yes, but they'll probably be over it soon," Carole replied, "In truth, I think that they will probably be better off."
"Why?" he asked, astonished that she would say such a thing. "Why would your family be better off without someone so gifted and open to the world around her?"
"Because I'm too open," Carole said. "I hardly ever helped with the chores, or tried to find someone suitable to marry. Everyone said I was either too lazy or too concerned with fairytales and myths to live in reality. No one understood that I could never be content to give up learning and reading to spend my life chained to someone whose only goal in life is to raise the fattest pig in the village."
"Why would you marry someone like that?" Frodo asked, smiling at the notion of this spirited girl as a pig-farmer's wife.
"Because the only person who ever wanted to marry me was a pig-farmer. Or the heir of one, least-ways," she answered. "His name was Andmar. Ever since we were small children he would follow me everywhere. He wouldn't leave me alone. He declared his intention to marry me when we were ten, and to show him my feelings, I pushed him into a mud puddle." Frodo laughed at this, and she, too, began to laugh at the memory of little Andy Flaxseed on that day, trying to get up from the mucky mess while she stood over him, yelling that she would never be his girl. Then, Carole stopped, as another memory came back to her. A memory she had pushed out of her mind, for it brought too many questions and truths that she could not bear. "He was with me when I went to the Gray Havens. He wanted to stop me, but I didn't listen, and I made him come with me so he wouldn't tell my parents. Then, when I was in the boat…" tears began to well in her eyes, "and the storm came…and the I started drifting away, he…he…" the words were too painful, and her tears poured out as she said, "He ran back into the woods."
"That abominable…he abandoned you?" Frodo said.
"Yes" she whispered, realizing how much it hurt her to know that the person who claimed to love her left her alone to, seemingly, die upon the sea.
Frodo saw her pain, and understood, for he too had felt great pain and loss, though in many ways it was different from hers. He took the sobbing young lady in his arms, and held her tight, trying to shield her from that pain, and any pain. Then, he whispered to her, "Neither he or anyone else was worthy of you, then."
At that, Carole raised up her head and looked into Frodo's eyes, which now shone like blue flame. As she looked at him, Frodo once again began to think of how lovely she was in her innocence and simplicity. Not thinking, he said to her, "If I had been there, I wouldn't have abandoned you."
They looked at one another for a long count of minutes, Carole hoping beyond hope that his words meant what she thought they meant, while Frodo remembered his past, and that as long as he was who he was, he could not have what he wanted now. Suddenly, they heard the call of a horn from the East. They both looked up towards the sea, and saw that an Elvin ship came with the dawn.
"More Elves are coming," Frodo said as he and Carole stood up. "I have to go home, before my uncle and Sam know I'm gone."
"Yeah," said Carole, her heart sinking, as the moment they had had together was now gone. "I have to go back to my rooms too." As she was about to ascend the first set of stairs, she turned and said, "Good day, mi' lo- I mean, Frodo."
"Good day," Frodo said.
As Carole walked away, making her way back to her quarters, Frodo watched her, and before turning to go home, softly said, "My lady"
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Long after the sun had risen in the East, Carole accompanied Lord Elrond to the peir to greet the new comers. At first she wondered while she would be asked to help greet Elves, but she soon found out that she was not the only one asked to go. Gandalf, Legolas and Gimli soon joined them. Of course, the old Dwarf asked the question she dared not ask of the wise Elf, "Why would you ask me to be part of the welcome wagon for more Elves?
" Because we believe that you will find a pleasant surprise," said Gandalf. Carole noticed that when the wizard said this, there was a twinkle in his old eyes, like that of a child with a grand secret that was about to be revealed.
The docks were filled with many Elves taking cargo and luggage from the ship. Carole thought that odd, for she was informed that Elves do not normally take treasures from the old world with them to Valinor. Why would they when all they would ever need or want was awaiting them? Then, a large plank was lowered from the side of the ship, and the passengers began to come down from the deck. Many beautiful and elegant Elves passed, shaking the hands of those who stood there to greet them, sometimes giving a low bow, and other such curtious gestures. Untill Carole looked up, and saw a sight that she never expected. Big folk were coming down the plank! Two young men and one young woman were stepping down from the deck, looking around in awe at the land of the Elves. The first man was extremely tall (even for Big Folk), his skin was tanned from many days of labor, and his hair was light brown. Carole could tell that the other two were related to each other, for they both had green eyes flecked with gold, and hair the color of fresh wheat. And Dwarves, in turn, then followed them! As Carole saw the first Dwarf boot step on to the plank, she heard Gimli give a loud and joyful cry, and before she could blink she saw him sprinting towards the bvottom of the plank, where he gave each Dwarf a bear hug and a slap on the back, greeting them in his native tongue. Just then, the humans who had arrived came upt to them, and Gandalf greeted them, saying, "Legovanen. Welcome to the home of the Eldar, were none from the race of Men has tred."
"Thank you, my lords," said the first man. "I am Thoron, son of Elohir, from Gondor. This is Homer, son of Eohelm, and his sister Hope, from Rohan."
"Elvin names for sons and daughters of Men," Gandalf said.
"My lord, we have traveled far, not knowing where we were going or why," said Thoron. Please, tell us that you know why we have come here."
"We know," said Elrond, extending his hand, "And we shall tell all soon, but we must first here your own tales" then, they shook hands, and Elrond said to all three, "Legovanen mellon."
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