Disclaimer: only Elli and Caitlin are mine. Rest is Tolkien's.
I'm going to explain the whole "Caitlin's an elf thing". I should've done this earlier, but my mind slipped and I noticed a thousand errors after I posted the chapter. Anyway, Caitlin isn't a real "elf". She wasn't born an elf so therefore she doesn't have all the elf capabilities. She basically only looks elvish. Tough luck for her. She's a Earthling, not a Middle-earth creature. So yeah, she feels nature's elements and doesn't walk on snow. But she hears well because ears are just like that. It's the pointy par; it's not genetic. But thank you to everyone who noticed. But no, I didn't screw up in the story; I just screwed up by not explaining sooner.
Now, thanks a bunch for my happy reviews! That makes me smile. And sorry for the delay, and that this chapter is long so I apologize in advance for that too. Anyway, on we go with the telling of my tale. Today we shall ride east!
ELLI'S POV
Try explaining the making of coffee to Pippin.
"Beans? I know what beans are, but coffee beans? And it makes a drink? Like a brew thing?"
"No. Well, I guess. I don't drink the stuff, coffee's too strong for my liking."
"Strong?" Merry asked. "Strong like liquor?"
"No, no! Not like liquor. Although I bet liquor in Middle-earth is different that where I come from."
Then Gandalf spoke up. "That miruvor I allowed you all to drink was a liquor, courtesy of Elrond's home. Is that different than what exists in your world?"
"No, it still gets rid of pain, but I don't drink the stuff. Too strong."
"Is there anything that isn't too strong for you m'lady?" Pippin asked. "You have me to believe that you'd sit by firelight and sip tea until supper time?"
"Well tea time does exist, does it not?" I pointed out.
"It most certainly does, but it's not all a hobbit drinks! We have ale-"
"I could use an ale ride now," said Merry. "I haven't had any good ones since Bree, although things there were creepy with those Black Riders."
"-And there's goats milk, and juice and all sorts of things I'm sure you could brew! Why, you don't have to live off of tea day in and day out, but it's one of the better of them. Besides ale."
"That's what we hobbits are good at. The making of pipe weed and ale." I looked at Merry and Pippin in wonderment. Cute they were indeed, but they meant well. Their image was altered on screen, but that's natural. And here they were praising the hobbit ways to me.
After Caradhras we had rested for a while. Gandalf said we needed rest after our fight with the snowy mountain. But then the subject of turning back came up, and some looked hopeful to return to Rivendell, but Frodo didn't want to face defeat. Like I'd blame him. But then we all knew that a new road was to be chosen. When Moria was mentioned, I looked at Caitlin and saw the same fear. Those damn balrogs.
But a decision was made, and Moria it was without a doubt. So we headed out at morning, and I got on the topic of coffee with Pippin. It felt strange though, not having to look down at hobbits but looking up at the "bigger folk". I had once been one of them, even if I had been short in my human days. But I liked being hobbit height; it was sometimes easier to relate to them than to Caitlin. Caitlin only ranted about wanting to go home.
After my "coffee" chat with Pippin, I started thinking back to what I remembered about this tale. I knew the movie better than the book. Images just stay in your mind better than words I suppose. But I did remember that after the snow and before the mines the Company battled wargs. So we were going to battle those huge wolf creatures, but I didn't remember when. But knowing the luck I had, I'd remember which night it happened and it would change because of Caitlin and I.
Evening finally came, and we stopped. Aragorn looked fidgety, standing erect and it looked like he was listening to the wind. I watched him closely, hoping to the end of all hope that he didn't feel the presence of wargs. But then he turned his head, and Legolas and Caitlin turned their heads too. Apparently the three of them heard something on the wind.
I pretended to ignore them, and got back to the task of eating the piece of food Sam had kindly handed me. I tried to listen to what the other hobbits were talking about. But Aragorn spoiled my fun.
"How the wind howls! It is howling with wolf-voices. The Wargs have come west of the Mountains!"
I nearly started choking, either because I had been right or because he really had scared the life out of me. I don't know. But now we all heard the howling. I felt my skin grow cold, and I looked at the hobbits around me. Fear was in their eyes, but they looked to the bigger folk for courage.
"How far is Moria?" Boromir asked.
"Not close enough," I mumbled. Gandalf of course had the answer, but mine was more logical. We were going to be eaten by wolves tonight. Not unless these stout men could save us.
"I wish I had taken Elrond's advice," Pippin muttered. I started thinking the same thing as him. A feeling of uneasiness had come over me, and I knew a lot more than a warg fight with orcs was about to happen.
"Elli you stupid hobbit! Follow us!" Caitlin called. I turned and saw the others running to get on top of the hill we'd been hiding under. I quickly got to me furry feet and chased after them, aware that they were lighting a fire.
"No use in trying to hide our trail. They will find us without a doubt," said Gandalf. And so we circled in around the fire, fearful and ever watchful of anything. Me head kept falling forward because I was so drowsy, but sleep wasn't allowed to happen. But once the wolves had surrounded our hill, I couldn't sleep. Too much fear.
My ears were ringing and I couldn't make out a dang thing. Gandalf had stood up and was bellowing something at a pair of wolf eyes. And then those eyes advanced closer. But Legolas shot it with his bow. And with that the wolves departed.
We were told to sleep while some people took guard, and I had just drifted off onto slumber land when me and the other hobbits were awakened by howls surrounding the camp.
"Tonight is not my night," I grumbled. But Gandalf was ordering us to fuel the fire and stand in fighting positions. I had my back to Merry and Pippin. I also had no weapon so I wondered what the heck I was good for, but I grabbed a huge stick and got ready to aim at a pair of beady eyes. Caitlin turned her eyes to me and saw me in a war stance. I thought she'd laugh hysterically but we were all completely consumed with fear. It was bad enough these wargs were huge compared to humans, but to a hobbit they could swallow you whole!
I held the stick high over my right shoulder, glaring back into the wargs eyes when out from behind him orcs came jumping! I screamed and dropped my stick, trying to figure out how the hell they got here and if they were in the book. I rather doubted it, but thought that the bigger folk would beat them off until I heard one of the ugly creeps shout, "grab the halflings!"
"Elli! Save your damn self!" Caitlin screamed. I looked at her, unsure of what to do. Where in the blazes was I going to go? The other hobbits were sword fighting, trying desperately to beat off the orcs and wargs that pushed through to kidnap them. Fear was in their eyes but they could at least fight courageously. They had swords! I backed up a few spaces, getting ready to turn and run for my life. I didn't even think about everyone else and if I'd find them later or not. I just didn't want to end up dinner.
I didn't have time to consider that, because before I could turn around and hightail it out of there, two scratchy orc arms came under my arm pits and hauled my furry feet up off the ground.
"Caitlin! Someone! Help!" I screamed. I couldn't see a damn thing because the smelly creep had thrown me over his shoulder and started running. I heard Caitlin screaming and a couple of arrows singing past me and the running orcs, but the orc holding me didn't go down. So I was taken captive and dragged off into the night.
CAITLIN'S POV
"Get away from me!" I screamed. "Devils children! Beasts! Get out of here! Give back my friend you sticking jackrabbits! Eat thorn bushes and die a painful death!"
I had a huge, burning stick in my hand and was waving it blindly. I couldn't hear or see a damn thing because I was so angry. I felt no more fear.
"Caitlin! M'lady, please! Put that thing into someone else's hands before we all perish by your mad swings." I turned to Aragorn, who was trying to get the burning stick from my hands. I stopped swinging, and handed it to him, and he in turn chucked it deep into the flames of the fire.
"Elli. Where is she? Elli? Elli! Get over here now! Elli!" I screamed.
"Caitlin! Stop screaming! She's gone. The orcs took her. We can't chase her down now. We can't, we have to keep going in the morning and we need much rest now."
"No! I won't! I won't go anywhere without her! I need her! She needs us! She doesn't know this world! Aragorn, we have to find her!" I started to bolt out of there and run after her, but Aragorn was the faster and caught me. He picked me up high over his head, and then sat me on the ground by the fire. I realized then that tears streamed down my cheeks. How could Elli be gone?
"No, we have to get her back," I sobbed. The little hobbits came over to me, two on each side, to try and offer warmth and comfort. "Elli, where did they take her? Why did they take her? What if I never see her again?"
"There, there m'lady," Sam replied gently. "'Tis ok Miss. We'll see Elli again, won't we Strider?" Strider only bowed his head and closed his eyes. No comfort in his truth.
"They were orcs of Saruman, no doubt," Gandalf replied. "They bore the White Hand. He knows a halfling has the One Ring, and he probably sent them out to find us. Elli doesn't have it, fortunately. But I can only wonder at what they might do to her."
"They won't kill her, will they? They can't hurt Elli!" I practically shrieked.
"No. No they won't kill her. But they'll torture her good and plenty to find out more about us. She might not give in, knowing the fate of this story already."
"But the stories changed! I know it has! I may not know this whole adventure, but I know tonight wasn't supposed to turn out as it had. Elli wasn't supposed to get kidnapped by orcs! Their probably weren't even orcs in the original tale!"
"You might be right, but only Elli knows that. Let us sleep for the night and then head out again in morning. No sense wandering now. Keep watch Aragorn for anymore fell beasts."
I lay down, surrounded by hobbit comfort and care. Tears still wet my eyes, and my mind worried for Elli. What was going to happen to her? Would I ever see her again? I prayed to whatever God existed in this world to keep her safe and strong. And for her to get the heck back to me.
"Good night hobbit lads," I whispered.
"Oh see, you do care," spoke Pippin, lifting himself up to look at me.
"This is a rare occasion. Go back to sleep little guy."
"Good night, Caitlin."
"Good night to you too, Pippin."
A/N: Well? Longer than most, but what do you all think? Review please! More to come as soon as I figure out how to go about this next!
I'm going to explain the whole "Caitlin's an elf thing". I should've done this earlier, but my mind slipped and I noticed a thousand errors after I posted the chapter. Anyway, Caitlin isn't a real "elf". She wasn't born an elf so therefore she doesn't have all the elf capabilities. She basically only looks elvish. Tough luck for her. She's a Earthling, not a Middle-earth creature. So yeah, she feels nature's elements and doesn't walk on snow. But she hears well because ears are just like that. It's the pointy par; it's not genetic. But thank you to everyone who noticed. But no, I didn't screw up in the story; I just screwed up by not explaining sooner.
Now, thanks a bunch for my happy reviews! That makes me smile. And sorry for the delay, and that this chapter is long so I apologize in advance for that too. Anyway, on we go with the telling of my tale. Today we shall ride east!
ELLI'S POV
Try explaining the making of coffee to Pippin.
"Beans? I know what beans are, but coffee beans? And it makes a drink? Like a brew thing?"
"No. Well, I guess. I don't drink the stuff, coffee's too strong for my liking."
"Strong?" Merry asked. "Strong like liquor?"
"No, no! Not like liquor. Although I bet liquor in Middle-earth is different that where I come from."
Then Gandalf spoke up. "That miruvor I allowed you all to drink was a liquor, courtesy of Elrond's home. Is that different than what exists in your world?"
"No, it still gets rid of pain, but I don't drink the stuff. Too strong."
"Is there anything that isn't too strong for you m'lady?" Pippin asked. "You have me to believe that you'd sit by firelight and sip tea until supper time?"
"Well tea time does exist, does it not?" I pointed out.
"It most certainly does, but it's not all a hobbit drinks! We have ale-"
"I could use an ale ride now," said Merry. "I haven't had any good ones since Bree, although things there were creepy with those Black Riders."
"-And there's goats milk, and juice and all sorts of things I'm sure you could brew! Why, you don't have to live off of tea day in and day out, but it's one of the better of them. Besides ale."
"That's what we hobbits are good at. The making of pipe weed and ale." I looked at Merry and Pippin in wonderment. Cute they were indeed, but they meant well. Their image was altered on screen, but that's natural. And here they were praising the hobbit ways to me.
After Caradhras we had rested for a while. Gandalf said we needed rest after our fight with the snowy mountain. But then the subject of turning back came up, and some looked hopeful to return to Rivendell, but Frodo didn't want to face defeat. Like I'd blame him. But then we all knew that a new road was to be chosen. When Moria was mentioned, I looked at Caitlin and saw the same fear. Those damn balrogs.
But a decision was made, and Moria it was without a doubt. So we headed out at morning, and I got on the topic of coffee with Pippin. It felt strange though, not having to look down at hobbits but looking up at the "bigger folk". I had once been one of them, even if I had been short in my human days. But I liked being hobbit height; it was sometimes easier to relate to them than to Caitlin. Caitlin only ranted about wanting to go home.
After my "coffee" chat with Pippin, I started thinking back to what I remembered about this tale. I knew the movie better than the book. Images just stay in your mind better than words I suppose. But I did remember that after the snow and before the mines the Company battled wargs. So we were going to battle those huge wolf creatures, but I didn't remember when. But knowing the luck I had, I'd remember which night it happened and it would change because of Caitlin and I.
Evening finally came, and we stopped. Aragorn looked fidgety, standing erect and it looked like he was listening to the wind. I watched him closely, hoping to the end of all hope that he didn't feel the presence of wargs. But then he turned his head, and Legolas and Caitlin turned their heads too. Apparently the three of them heard something on the wind.
I pretended to ignore them, and got back to the task of eating the piece of food Sam had kindly handed me. I tried to listen to what the other hobbits were talking about. But Aragorn spoiled my fun.
"How the wind howls! It is howling with wolf-voices. The Wargs have come west of the Mountains!"
I nearly started choking, either because I had been right or because he really had scared the life out of me. I don't know. But now we all heard the howling. I felt my skin grow cold, and I looked at the hobbits around me. Fear was in their eyes, but they looked to the bigger folk for courage.
"How far is Moria?" Boromir asked.
"Not close enough," I mumbled. Gandalf of course had the answer, but mine was more logical. We were going to be eaten by wolves tonight. Not unless these stout men could save us.
"I wish I had taken Elrond's advice," Pippin muttered. I started thinking the same thing as him. A feeling of uneasiness had come over me, and I knew a lot more than a warg fight with orcs was about to happen.
"Elli you stupid hobbit! Follow us!" Caitlin called. I turned and saw the others running to get on top of the hill we'd been hiding under. I quickly got to me furry feet and chased after them, aware that they were lighting a fire.
"No use in trying to hide our trail. They will find us without a doubt," said Gandalf. And so we circled in around the fire, fearful and ever watchful of anything. Me head kept falling forward because I was so drowsy, but sleep wasn't allowed to happen. But once the wolves had surrounded our hill, I couldn't sleep. Too much fear.
My ears were ringing and I couldn't make out a dang thing. Gandalf had stood up and was bellowing something at a pair of wolf eyes. And then those eyes advanced closer. But Legolas shot it with his bow. And with that the wolves departed.
We were told to sleep while some people took guard, and I had just drifted off onto slumber land when me and the other hobbits were awakened by howls surrounding the camp.
"Tonight is not my night," I grumbled. But Gandalf was ordering us to fuel the fire and stand in fighting positions. I had my back to Merry and Pippin. I also had no weapon so I wondered what the heck I was good for, but I grabbed a huge stick and got ready to aim at a pair of beady eyes. Caitlin turned her eyes to me and saw me in a war stance. I thought she'd laugh hysterically but we were all completely consumed with fear. It was bad enough these wargs were huge compared to humans, but to a hobbit they could swallow you whole!
I held the stick high over my right shoulder, glaring back into the wargs eyes when out from behind him orcs came jumping! I screamed and dropped my stick, trying to figure out how the hell they got here and if they were in the book. I rather doubted it, but thought that the bigger folk would beat them off until I heard one of the ugly creeps shout, "grab the halflings!"
"Elli! Save your damn self!" Caitlin screamed. I looked at her, unsure of what to do. Where in the blazes was I going to go? The other hobbits were sword fighting, trying desperately to beat off the orcs and wargs that pushed through to kidnap them. Fear was in their eyes but they could at least fight courageously. They had swords! I backed up a few spaces, getting ready to turn and run for my life. I didn't even think about everyone else and if I'd find them later or not. I just didn't want to end up dinner.
I didn't have time to consider that, because before I could turn around and hightail it out of there, two scratchy orc arms came under my arm pits and hauled my furry feet up off the ground.
"Caitlin! Someone! Help!" I screamed. I couldn't see a damn thing because the smelly creep had thrown me over his shoulder and started running. I heard Caitlin screaming and a couple of arrows singing past me and the running orcs, but the orc holding me didn't go down. So I was taken captive and dragged off into the night.
CAITLIN'S POV
"Get away from me!" I screamed. "Devils children! Beasts! Get out of here! Give back my friend you sticking jackrabbits! Eat thorn bushes and die a painful death!"
I had a huge, burning stick in my hand and was waving it blindly. I couldn't hear or see a damn thing because I was so angry. I felt no more fear.
"Caitlin! M'lady, please! Put that thing into someone else's hands before we all perish by your mad swings." I turned to Aragorn, who was trying to get the burning stick from my hands. I stopped swinging, and handed it to him, and he in turn chucked it deep into the flames of the fire.
"Elli. Where is she? Elli? Elli! Get over here now! Elli!" I screamed.
"Caitlin! Stop screaming! She's gone. The orcs took her. We can't chase her down now. We can't, we have to keep going in the morning and we need much rest now."
"No! I won't! I won't go anywhere without her! I need her! She needs us! She doesn't know this world! Aragorn, we have to find her!" I started to bolt out of there and run after her, but Aragorn was the faster and caught me. He picked me up high over his head, and then sat me on the ground by the fire. I realized then that tears streamed down my cheeks. How could Elli be gone?
"No, we have to get her back," I sobbed. The little hobbits came over to me, two on each side, to try and offer warmth and comfort. "Elli, where did they take her? Why did they take her? What if I never see her again?"
"There, there m'lady," Sam replied gently. "'Tis ok Miss. We'll see Elli again, won't we Strider?" Strider only bowed his head and closed his eyes. No comfort in his truth.
"They were orcs of Saruman, no doubt," Gandalf replied. "They bore the White Hand. He knows a halfling has the One Ring, and he probably sent them out to find us. Elli doesn't have it, fortunately. But I can only wonder at what they might do to her."
"They won't kill her, will they? They can't hurt Elli!" I practically shrieked.
"No. No they won't kill her. But they'll torture her good and plenty to find out more about us. She might not give in, knowing the fate of this story already."
"But the stories changed! I know it has! I may not know this whole adventure, but I know tonight wasn't supposed to turn out as it had. Elli wasn't supposed to get kidnapped by orcs! Their probably weren't even orcs in the original tale!"
"You might be right, but only Elli knows that. Let us sleep for the night and then head out again in morning. No sense wandering now. Keep watch Aragorn for anymore fell beasts."
I lay down, surrounded by hobbit comfort and care. Tears still wet my eyes, and my mind worried for Elli. What was going to happen to her? Would I ever see her again? I prayed to whatever God existed in this world to keep her safe and strong. And for her to get the heck back to me.
"Good night hobbit lads," I whispered.
"Oh see, you do care," spoke Pippin, lifting himself up to look at me.
"This is a rare occasion. Go back to sleep little guy."
"Good night, Caitlin."
"Good night to you too, Pippin."
A/N: Well? Longer than most, but what do you all think? Review please! More to come as soon as I figure out how to go about this next!