Disclaimer: Don't own Lord of the Rings (as if you didn't know already), it all belongs to J.R.R. Tolkien. I'm not making any money off of this because it is simply a form of entertainment that I want to freely share with everyone.
As I've said before, reviews are welcome, but /not/ required. Constructive critisism is also welcome, but flames will /not/ be tolerated.
Now, on with the story!
~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^
/Last Time:/
"This whole place creeps me a bit, but that's just because of all the Elves," Nicole replied, trying to keep her expressions cool as she rolled her apple around in her hands, "Okay Pippin, why don't you show me around this place some? Maybe by the time your friend finally finds you, he won't be mad about the apple……….and it'll give me time to eat it as well." Pippin smiled again and nodded his head. He then struck out back in the direction that Nicole had been going when she had first ran into Pippin, expecting Nicole to follow him. And follow him she did, all the while admiring the little Hobbit and munching into the apple.
~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^
Some time later, after Pippin had showed Nicole all the locations that he knew of and getting them lost more than once, the two of them finally ran into the other three Hobbits near the courtyard where Nicole had first seen them.
" Pippin, where have you been? We've searched everywhere for you!" griped Samwise Gamgee. Nicole couldn't help but smile at the little gardener, who completely ignored her presence with all the concern for the youngest of their group.
" I was just showing Nicole around, Sam. You don't have to worry so much. It's not like I was stealing food from the Elves or anything, they won't let me. They're too vigilant for me to even lift an apple from them." Merry's brows furrowed at the mention of Pippin stealing apples and Nicole couldn't hold back the giggle that past her lips.
" Who's this?" asked Frodo, who finally noticed Nicole along with Sam and Merry. Nicole took a slight step out of the shadow she had been standing in and smiled shyly at the other three Hobbits.
" This is Nicole, the one who I was showing around. Nicole, this is Sam, and my cousins Merry and Frodo. Nicole is new to Rivendell as well, just got here today in fact. She comes from across the sea." Nicole just nodded her head as the other three Hobbits, especially Sam and Frodo, stared at her.
" From across the sea? You come from the Undying Lands?!" Sam's eyes grew so wide that Nicole became afraid that they might fall out of his head. Nicole felt as if her sides would bust if she had to hold in her laughter much longer.
" No, I'm afraid I'm from a place a bit further away than the Undying Lands, but I'm not sure if Gandalf and Lord Elrond would want me telling you about where I'm from." Nicole had bent slightly, her eyes intent on Sam's face and her voice kept low, just like she would act if she were telling a small child a story.
" Why not?" Sam asked, his eyes overflowing with amazement and wonder. Before Nicole could respond, someone interrupted her………
" You seem to make friends quickly, Nicole." Nicole whipped around to find Legolas standing behind her, out of his traveling garb, and looking as princely as ever. " You have befriended Lord Elrond, Elrohir, Mithrandir, and these small folk."
" I believe you missed one," Nicole replied easily. The Hobbits seemed even more shocked at the ease that Nicole was talking with this ethereal being. Legolas cocked his head in mock confusion while a small smile quirked at the corners of his lips.
" Who do you mean?" Nicole stood up straighter in mock anger, continuing the natural game that she and Legolas were playing, and placed her hands on her hips.
' This is nuts!' Nicole thought to herself, ' I can't believe the way I'm talking to him!'
" If I'm not mistaken, Legolas, I thought that by the way you treated me when I came here you wanted to be a friend. If I was mistaken, please correct me." Legolas' small smile grew slightly larger and he gave a soft laugh before stepping forward to give Nicole's shoulder another gentle squeeze.
" You were not mistaken, Nicole. Though I have just met you, you seem to be a noble example of the race of Man. I would be honored with your friendship. I have also come to let you know that dinner will be ready soon." At that the four Hobbits let out cheers of happiness and they, being led by Pippin and Merry, tore off in, what Nicole thought, the direction of the dining hall.
" Um Legolas………before we go to dinner………could you help me find some shoes to wear?"
~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^
After Legolas, much to his amusement, found Nicole some slippers, he looped his arm 'round hers and led her toward the dining hall.
" Legolas, I've got to say that I've probably been all over this place today and I still don't know where I'm at or where I'm going!" Legolas smiled good-naturedly at Nicole before stepping through the door to the dining hall. Nicole immediately wanted to shrink back into the hall at the sight of the dining area.
The inside of the dining hall was much larger than Nicole had thought, and there was a long table running the length of the hall. Rivendell Elves took much of the table up, while other parts of it consisted of the Dwarves from the Lonely Mountain, the other two Elves from Mirkwood, the four Hobbits, Gandalf, Lord Elrond, Arwen, and Aragorn at the head of the table, and the Men from Gondor, Elrohir and Elladan were mysteriously absent for some reason.
As Nicole looked over the Men from Gondor, her eyes caught with those of the Son of the Steward himself, Boromir. Nicole also saw that the only two empty seats left were near the head of the table, near Aragorn and Gandalf. One was next to Gandalf, who sat across from Arwen; the other was actually between Aragorn and Boromir. Nicole swallowed hard as Legolas led her to the table, but she let out a mental sigh of relief when he pulled out the chair beside Gandalf. Nicole had been so nervous before that she hadn't noticed that Frodo was now sitting on the other side of her.
Arwen Aragorn Legolas Boromir Gimli
Elrond--------------------------------------------------------------------
Gandalf Nicole Frodo Sam Merry Pippin
" Ah, Nicole! So glad you and Prince Legolas could join us, we were beginning to wonder if we should send someone out to search for you." Nicole felt herself blushing again and she stared down at the empty plate in front of her. Gandalf gave a hearty laugh while patting Nicole lightly on the back.
" If you will ignore an old man's ramblings I would like to introduce you to Strider, the Ranger who guided our Hobbit friends safely here from the village of Bree." Nicole brought her eyes up to meet those of Aragorn, who she had to refer to as 'Strider' until the Council of Elrond was over, and found that his eyes were not as Elf-like as she would have expected from him. Since he had been raised with Elves, Nicole had expected his eyes to hold the Elvish wisdom she'd seen in Elrond's, Elrohir's, and Legolas' eyes, a cool, colleted expression, as if nothing could shake him. But Nicole saw none of that in Aragorn's eyes. Yes, there was wisdom there, especially since Nicole knew that Aragorn was over eighty years old, but for the most part Nicole saw………humor in Aragorn's eyes. A dancing kind of humor that seemed to spark and flash just beneath the surface of his gray eyes.
" You must be Nicole. Lord Elrond has mentioned you." Aragorn reached across the table and offered his hand to Nicole. Though he wasn't wearing the soft, velvety clothes he was in during the Council, Aragorn still seemed more kingly than Ranger-like at that moment and Nicole wasn't sure how to react to him. Nicole timidly reached out and took Aragorn's hand, who gave Nicole's a firm, if brief, shake.
" And since you already know Prince Legolas and our four Hobbits, the only guests that you need to know are Boromir, son of Denothir, who is the Steward of Gondor. And Gimli, son of Gloin, who hails from the Lonely Mountain." Nicole removed her eyes from Aragorn to look down the table at Boromir and Gimli. Gimli raised his goblet to her before going back to the conversation he had struck up with Merry and Pippin. Boromir nodded his head, which he had been resting on his clasped hands. Nicole felt sorry that she wasn't sitting closer to the Steward's Son, she wanted much to talk to him.
" Now, since we have all gathered, we may begin tonight's gathering by offering our thanks to the Illuvatar," Elrond announced. Nicole felt the corners of her mouth quirk slightly at the fact that the Elves prayed at their dinner. She had always figured them to be very religious, despite the fact that the 'Lord of the Ring' books and movie didn't show it.
Elrond bowed his head and so did the others at the table, including the Dwarves, who had their own deity to pray to. Nicole bowed her head and prayed as well:
' God, Illuvatar, whatever you wished to be called or if you're two separate beings, I ask for you to watch over my new friends and me. I don't know why you sent me here or how I'm to get back, but I thank you for this great gift.' Nicole opened her eyes slightly and gladly saw that the others at the table were beginning to look up, not including the Dwarves, who seemed to be waiting impatiently on everyone else.
" Now that thanks has been given, we may eat," announced Elrond and nodded his head. Suddenly, out of nowhere, several Elves came into the hall bearing trays laden with all sorts of Elvish food. Nicole marveled at the delicate looking foods but was quickly distracted by the nagging fact that Elrohir and Elladan were not at the table. Turning slightly towards Gandalf, Nicole nervously asked about the Elvin twins.
" Um…Gandalf? Where is Elrohir?" Gandalf, who had been telling an Elvish servant what type of wine he wanted, paused for a moment before answering Nicole's question.
" Elrohir? Oh, yes! I believe Lord Elrond's sons went out on an errand. They should be back by tomorrow afternoon." After that Gandalf's attention went back to his food and wine, leaving Nicole a little disappointed at his answer. Nicole was startled when the same Elvish servant that had just served Gandalf tapped her on the shoulder. Nicole looked up and realized that the Elf, who was a plain (as plain as Elves can go at least) Elf maid, holding a pitcher in one hand.
" May I have your goblet, My Lady?" Nicole, ignorant on how to respond, simply handed the Elf her goblet and watched as she filled it with a soft rosy liquid. As the Elf maid handed Nicole back her goblet, Nicole hoped dearly that the wine, whatever type it was, didn't make her too drunk. Nicole had read too many stories where girls drank too much Elvish wine and either acted completely stupid or wound up in a………delicate situation with some person for the movie/story.
" Oh, before I forget," Gandalf said suddenly, looking back to Nicole, "I had the Elves give you a very mild wine because you're so young. Is that alright?" Gandalf must have seen Nicole's inner relief because he smiled and patted her on the shoulder once more before going back to his food.
Nicole, too, finally looked to her plate, which had been filled with food, most likely while she was looking at Gandalf or the Elf maid with the drink. Giving one more glance about the table to check and see if the others had started their food, which many had, Nicole picked up her fork and began to eat.
It wasn't until Nicole was half through with her dinner when she bothered to look up from her plate again. As she did, Nicole found herself looking at a amused Aragorn.
" What?" Nicole asked defensively. Aragorn chuckled before resuming his own meal. For the remainder of Nicole's own, she began to feel a little lonely. Not in the fact that no one was speaking to her, no, Frodo talked to her for a short while, even though Nicole never looked up from her food. Nicole's loneliness came from the fact that she was starting to miss her family.
' I wonder what they're doing right now...I wonder if they've sent people out to look for me.' The rest of dinner, for Nicole, was passed contemplating her new fate and she was so engrossed with her thoughts that she didn't notice as a few people began to rise from the table.
" My Lady?" Nicole looked up sharply after hearing her name being called and feeling a light tap on her shoulder. Aragorn was standing beside her and looking slightly concerned.
" Oh, I'm sorry. I was off in my own little world there."
" It's alright. Lord Elrond has summoned us all to the Hall of Fire. Would you like to come?" Aragorn offered his arm and Nicole nearly fell out of her chair. Casting a slight glance around for Arwen, Nicole felt a blush rising up her face as she stood and took Aragorn's arm.
...TBC...
As I've said before, reviews are welcome, but /not/ required. Constructive critisism is also welcome, but flames will /not/ be tolerated.
Now, on with the story!
~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^
/Last Time:/
"This whole place creeps me a bit, but that's just because of all the Elves," Nicole replied, trying to keep her expressions cool as she rolled her apple around in her hands, "Okay Pippin, why don't you show me around this place some? Maybe by the time your friend finally finds you, he won't be mad about the apple……….and it'll give me time to eat it as well." Pippin smiled again and nodded his head. He then struck out back in the direction that Nicole had been going when she had first ran into Pippin, expecting Nicole to follow him. And follow him she did, all the while admiring the little Hobbit and munching into the apple.
~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^
Some time later, after Pippin had showed Nicole all the locations that he knew of and getting them lost more than once, the two of them finally ran into the other three Hobbits near the courtyard where Nicole had first seen them.
" Pippin, where have you been? We've searched everywhere for you!" griped Samwise Gamgee. Nicole couldn't help but smile at the little gardener, who completely ignored her presence with all the concern for the youngest of their group.
" I was just showing Nicole around, Sam. You don't have to worry so much. It's not like I was stealing food from the Elves or anything, they won't let me. They're too vigilant for me to even lift an apple from them." Merry's brows furrowed at the mention of Pippin stealing apples and Nicole couldn't hold back the giggle that past her lips.
" Who's this?" asked Frodo, who finally noticed Nicole along with Sam and Merry. Nicole took a slight step out of the shadow she had been standing in and smiled shyly at the other three Hobbits.
" This is Nicole, the one who I was showing around. Nicole, this is Sam, and my cousins Merry and Frodo. Nicole is new to Rivendell as well, just got here today in fact. She comes from across the sea." Nicole just nodded her head as the other three Hobbits, especially Sam and Frodo, stared at her.
" From across the sea? You come from the Undying Lands?!" Sam's eyes grew so wide that Nicole became afraid that they might fall out of his head. Nicole felt as if her sides would bust if she had to hold in her laughter much longer.
" No, I'm afraid I'm from a place a bit further away than the Undying Lands, but I'm not sure if Gandalf and Lord Elrond would want me telling you about where I'm from." Nicole had bent slightly, her eyes intent on Sam's face and her voice kept low, just like she would act if she were telling a small child a story.
" Why not?" Sam asked, his eyes overflowing with amazement and wonder. Before Nicole could respond, someone interrupted her………
" You seem to make friends quickly, Nicole." Nicole whipped around to find Legolas standing behind her, out of his traveling garb, and looking as princely as ever. " You have befriended Lord Elrond, Elrohir, Mithrandir, and these small folk."
" I believe you missed one," Nicole replied easily. The Hobbits seemed even more shocked at the ease that Nicole was talking with this ethereal being. Legolas cocked his head in mock confusion while a small smile quirked at the corners of his lips.
" Who do you mean?" Nicole stood up straighter in mock anger, continuing the natural game that she and Legolas were playing, and placed her hands on her hips.
' This is nuts!' Nicole thought to herself, ' I can't believe the way I'm talking to him!'
" If I'm not mistaken, Legolas, I thought that by the way you treated me when I came here you wanted to be a friend. If I was mistaken, please correct me." Legolas' small smile grew slightly larger and he gave a soft laugh before stepping forward to give Nicole's shoulder another gentle squeeze.
" You were not mistaken, Nicole. Though I have just met you, you seem to be a noble example of the race of Man. I would be honored with your friendship. I have also come to let you know that dinner will be ready soon." At that the four Hobbits let out cheers of happiness and they, being led by Pippin and Merry, tore off in, what Nicole thought, the direction of the dining hall.
" Um Legolas………before we go to dinner………could you help me find some shoes to wear?"
~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^
After Legolas, much to his amusement, found Nicole some slippers, he looped his arm 'round hers and led her toward the dining hall.
" Legolas, I've got to say that I've probably been all over this place today and I still don't know where I'm at or where I'm going!" Legolas smiled good-naturedly at Nicole before stepping through the door to the dining hall. Nicole immediately wanted to shrink back into the hall at the sight of the dining area.
The inside of the dining hall was much larger than Nicole had thought, and there was a long table running the length of the hall. Rivendell Elves took much of the table up, while other parts of it consisted of the Dwarves from the Lonely Mountain, the other two Elves from Mirkwood, the four Hobbits, Gandalf, Lord Elrond, Arwen, and Aragorn at the head of the table, and the Men from Gondor, Elrohir and Elladan were mysteriously absent for some reason.
As Nicole looked over the Men from Gondor, her eyes caught with those of the Son of the Steward himself, Boromir. Nicole also saw that the only two empty seats left were near the head of the table, near Aragorn and Gandalf. One was next to Gandalf, who sat across from Arwen; the other was actually between Aragorn and Boromir. Nicole swallowed hard as Legolas led her to the table, but she let out a mental sigh of relief when he pulled out the chair beside Gandalf. Nicole had been so nervous before that she hadn't noticed that Frodo was now sitting on the other side of her.
Arwen Aragorn Legolas Boromir Gimli
Elrond--------------------------------------------------------------------
Gandalf Nicole Frodo Sam Merry Pippin
" Ah, Nicole! So glad you and Prince Legolas could join us, we were beginning to wonder if we should send someone out to search for you." Nicole felt herself blushing again and she stared down at the empty plate in front of her. Gandalf gave a hearty laugh while patting Nicole lightly on the back.
" If you will ignore an old man's ramblings I would like to introduce you to Strider, the Ranger who guided our Hobbit friends safely here from the village of Bree." Nicole brought her eyes up to meet those of Aragorn, who she had to refer to as 'Strider' until the Council of Elrond was over, and found that his eyes were not as Elf-like as she would have expected from him. Since he had been raised with Elves, Nicole had expected his eyes to hold the Elvish wisdom she'd seen in Elrond's, Elrohir's, and Legolas' eyes, a cool, colleted expression, as if nothing could shake him. But Nicole saw none of that in Aragorn's eyes. Yes, there was wisdom there, especially since Nicole knew that Aragorn was over eighty years old, but for the most part Nicole saw………humor in Aragorn's eyes. A dancing kind of humor that seemed to spark and flash just beneath the surface of his gray eyes.
" You must be Nicole. Lord Elrond has mentioned you." Aragorn reached across the table and offered his hand to Nicole. Though he wasn't wearing the soft, velvety clothes he was in during the Council, Aragorn still seemed more kingly than Ranger-like at that moment and Nicole wasn't sure how to react to him. Nicole timidly reached out and took Aragorn's hand, who gave Nicole's a firm, if brief, shake.
" And since you already know Prince Legolas and our four Hobbits, the only guests that you need to know are Boromir, son of Denothir, who is the Steward of Gondor. And Gimli, son of Gloin, who hails from the Lonely Mountain." Nicole removed her eyes from Aragorn to look down the table at Boromir and Gimli. Gimli raised his goblet to her before going back to the conversation he had struck up with Merry and Pippin. Boromir nodded his head, which he had been resting on his clasped hands. Nicole felt sorry that she wasn't sitting closer to the Steward's Son, she wanted much to talk to him.
" Now, since we have all gathered, we may begin tonight's gathering by offering our thanks to the Illuvatar," Elrond announced. Nicole felt the corners of her mouth quirk slightly at the fact that the Elves prayed at their dinner. She had always figured them to be very religious, despite the fact that the 'Lord of the Ring' books and movie didn't show it.
Elrond bowed his head and so did the others at the table, including the Dwarves, who had their own deity to pray to. Nicole bowed her head and prayed as well:
' God, Illuvatar, whatever you wished to be called or if you're two separate beings, I ask for you to watch over my new friends and me. I don't know why you sent me here or how I'm to get back, but I thank you for this great gift.' Nicole opened her eyes slightly and gladly saw that the others at the table were beginning to look up, not including the Dwarves, who seemed to be waiting impatiently on everyone else.
" Now that thanks has been given, we may eat," announced Elrond and nodded his head. Suddenly, out of nowhere, several Elves came into the hall bearing trays laden with all sorts of Elvish food. Nicole marveled at the delicate looking foods but was quickly distracted by the nagging fact that Elrohir and Elladan were not at the table. Turning slightly towards Gandalf, Nicole nervously asked about the Elvin twins.
" Um…Gandalf? Where is Elrohir?" Gandalf, who had been telling an Elvish servant what type of wine he wanted, paused for a moment before answering Nicole's question.
" Elrohir? Oh, yes! I believe Lord Elrond's sons went out on an errand. They should be back by tomorrow afternoon." After that Gandalf's attention went back to his food and wine, leaving Nicole a little disappointed at his answer. Nicole was startled when the same Elvish servant that had just served Gandalf tapped her on the shoulder. Nicole looked up and realized that the Elf, who was a plain (as plain as Elves can go at least) Elf maid, holding a pitcher in one hand.
" May I have your goblet, My Lady?" Nicole, ignorant on how to respond, simply handed the Elf her goblet and watched as she filled it with a soft rosy liquid. As the Elf maid handed Nicole back her goblet, Nicole hoped dearly that the wine, whatever type it was, didn't make her too drunk. Nicole had read too many stories where girls drank too much Elvish wine and either acted completely stupid or wound up in a………delicate situation with some person for the movie/story.
" Oh, before I forget," Gandalf said suddenly, looking back to Nicole, "I had the Elves give you a very mild wine because you're so young. Is that alright?" Gandalf must have seen Nicole's inner relief because he smiled and patted her on the shoulder once more before going back to his food.
Nicole, too, finally looked to her plate, which had been filled with food, most likely while she was looking at Gandalf or the Elf maid with the drink. Giving one more glance about the table to check and see if the others had started their food, which many had, Nicole picked up her fork and began to eat.
It wasn't until Nicole was half through with her dinner when she bothered to look up from her plate again. As she did, Nicole found herself looking at a amused Aragorn.
" What?" Nicole asked defensively. Aragorn chuckled before resuming his own meal. For the remainder of Nicole's own, she began to feel a little lonely. Not in the fact that no one was speaking to her, no, Frodo talked to her for a short while, even though Nicole never looked up from her food. Nicole's loneliness came from the fact that she was starting to miss her family.
' I wonder what they're doing right now...I wonder if they've sent people out to look for me.' The rest of dinner, for Nicole, was passed contemplating her new fate and she was so engrossed with her thoughts that she didn't notice as a few people began to rise from the table.
" My Lady?" Nicole looked up sharply after hearing her name being called and feeling a light tap on her shoulder. Aragorn was standing beside her and looking slightly concerned.
" Oh, I'm sorry. I was off in my own little world there."
" It's alright. Lord Elrond has summoned us all to the Hall of Fire. Would you like to come?" Aragorn offered his arm and Nicole nearly fell out of her chair. Casting a slight glance around for Arwen, Nicole felt a blush rising up her face as she stood and took Aragorn's arm.
...TBC...