-THE GAMES OF THE GODS-
-Disclaimer:-
CS: I own nothing but my cold toes and fingers. And I can't even feel them, so I'm not really sure that I have them, let alone own them...
Rachel: You should try getting hit by lightning. Then you won't be cold.
CS: ...I think I'll pass, Miss Bitter.
Rachel: *grump*
CS: I would gladly move to somewhere in the Australian outback, though...Think your house is still standing?
Rachel: It burned down, remember? Twice, in fact.
CS: ...Right.
...
CS: My characters are reminding me of plot details. This can't be good.
-32: Cheerfulness-
I woke the next day sometime after lunch, thoroughly grumpy. And that was before I remembered what had happened the night before. Before I remembered, I was hungry and tired and annoyed at having my hunger wake me up. Then I remembered the events from the night before - albeit slightly fuzzily - and got thoroughly pissed. Crawling out of bed, I poked my head out my door long enough to snag a servant and snap at them to have a meal brought to my room, then went back inside to brood.
Gandalf's and Glorfindel's arguments had seemed airtight and sensible last night, but I knew my judgment had been severely affected by wine and the need for sleep. So now, as I waited for my meal to appear, and even after it appeared, I carefully went through the argument I'd had the night before. By the time I finished breakfast, however, I was bewilderedly forced to admit that, while Gandalf and Glorfindel hadn't made any strong LOGICAL points, or really said anything profound, their arguments were sound. Or maybe it was that just for once I wanted to feel as if I belonged somewhere, and was latching on to the first thing I saw.
I decided that I didn't really care which it was. Instead, I was going to find Gandalf's hat - if he hadn't stolen it back from me last night - find the hobbits, and see if I could avoid Elves and Men entirely for the rest of the day. I pondered taking a nap first, but I realized if I went to sleep now, I'd sleep until supper, and then I'd be awake for only a short time before having to go back to sleep again. So I might as well just stay up.
I hunted around for a bit before I remembered where I'd hidden Gandalf's hat - behind a pile of my underthings. Delighted to find it still there, I put it on and hummed happily while I picked out a dress. While doing that, my eye caught on my borrowed trousers and tunic, and I amended my previous intention to avoid all Elves and Men to exclude the Rivendell seamstresses. Maybe the hobbits would be up to helping me find the seamstresses, too, since I had no idea where they were and didn't particularly want to ask anyone. My day feeling more settled in my mind - or at least full of more options - I quickly picked out a dark blue dress that matched my eyes, did my hair up, and set off.
Only once I was out of my room did I realize that I had no idea where any of the hobbits but Frodo's rooms were. Cheerfully, I decided that one or another of the hobbits had to be in Frodo's room, especially since Sam had supposedly barely left Frodo's side the entire time he was sick, and so I set off for Frodo's room.
Every Elf I passed in the hallways, of course, looked at me terribly odd. Whether it was for Gandalf's hat, or the fact that I might have run by them last night on my mad dash out of Rivendell, or they heard about my mad dash out of Rivendell and subsequent return, I didn't know and didn't particularly want to know. I did spot Boromir a little ways down the hall, looking like he had just survived a holocaust or two, talking to either Elladan or Elrohir - I couldn't tell which because of the distance, though I assumed Elladan because Boromir knew him better - but I managed to dodge down a side corridor before they spotted me.
I reached Frodo's room without spotting anyone else I didn't want to meet, and peeked in. Sam was there, watching Frodo with a worried look on his face, and I smiled slightly. Strangely enough, being right THERE, in the same room as Sam, I could tell that it really was just platonic brotherly love between him and his master. All the slash writers - which Kari told me there were many of - back home would be disappointed, I'm sure. But it was the truth. And suddenly, it gave me an idea. It was rather risky, and probably stupid, but I didn't care - I felt this was something I needed to do. After all the bad things I had let happen in Middle-Earth, without warning anyone they were about to happen, I wanted to help someone who wouldn't otherwise get that help.
"He will get better." I said softly, stepping into the room and closing the door behind me. Sam started, obviously not having heard me.
"Your pardon, Miss." he said, hastily standing up and bowing slightly, obviously unused to the gesture. "I know he'll get better, I just want to be there when he does."
"Well you needn't worry about him waking up without you here until the day after tomorrow." I said with a ghost of the smile.
"Still, Miss, I feel better sitting here and being sure he's alright." Sam said, shifting slightly uncomfortably. My ghost of a smile grew into a kind one and I came over to Sam and kneeled in front of him so we were eye-to-eye.
"I'm sure you do, Master Gamgee. Your love for your master does you credit, and will help both you and he through the many tough times that are to come to the happy end that lies beyond." I said softly.
"Begging your pardon, Miss, but what exactly do you mean?" Sam asked after a moment, looking just about as afraid of finding out as he was curious.
"I mean that if you stick by Mister Baggins here, no matter what the circumstances, you will find your way back to the Shire, and the happy life you deserve." I replied.
"But I'll be goin' back to the Shire soon's Mister Frodo wakes up. Won't I?" Sam asked, now wholly confused. I grinned and stood up.
"With a little detour, yes." I said. "Now, would you happen to know where Meriadoc and Peregrin have got off to?"
"I think they went to the kitchen." Sam replied, looking a little surprised by the quick change of subject and mood.
"Good. I'll go find them, then. Have a nice day, and don't spend all of it watching over Frodo, otherwise you'll soon be as pale as him from lack of sun!" I said cheerfully, waving as I returned to the door. I waited just long enough for Sam to bid me a confused goodbye, then went out into the hallway and skipped off down to the kitchens. Yes, you read that right, I skipped. The Elves I passed had even more strange looks on their faces than before. It was hilarious.
Anyways, when I got to the kitchen, I found Merry and Pippin trying to finagle food out of the cooks, who were looking slightly exasperated.
"Merry! Pippin! Are you bugging the cooks for food?" I asked as I came over.
"Only because we can't reach any of it." Pippin said with a half pout. I chuckled as one of the cooks put in something about that being intentional.
"Well, it's a good thing I came along, then." I said, then grabbed several buns that were cooling, and some pastries of some sort, and tossed them to Merry and Pippin before the cooks realized what I was doing. As said cooks glared at me, I waved cheerily to them, grabbed two apples, and ducked out of the kitchen, Merry and Pippin close behind.
"Thanwoo!" Pippin said once we were out of the kitchen, his mouth full of pastry. I smiled.
"Not a problem." I replied. "I was looking for something to do, anyways, and helping short people is always a good thing to do. Especially since, unless there are hobbits or dwarves around, I'm usually the short one." Pippin peered up at me.
"You look pretty tall to me." he said.
"That's because she's an Elf and you're a hobbit, Pip." Merry said, rolling his eyes. Pippin shrugged, and I resisted the urge to giggle.
"Well, if you're looking for something to do, d'you think you could show us around some?" Pippin asked after a moment.
"I can try." I said dryly. The hobbits looked at each other.
"Try?" Merry asked.
"Other than the main corridors, Rivendell is an absolute maze to me. I never actually got a full-fledged tour of it, and I haven't been here long enough to figure out where everything is myself." I admitted. "Though goodness knows, I've had need for quite awhile to snoop around and find where the seamstresses have hidden themselves. Elladan's going to want his trousers and tunic back eventually."
"Why do you have Elladan's trousers and tunic?" Pippin asked after a pause. Merry looked scandalized, and I chuckled.
"I borrowed them so I could learn sword fighting." I replied, and Merry relaxed visibly, though he did shoot Pippin one last disapproving glance. Pippin didn't seem to notice it anymore than he had Merry's scandalized look.
"You do sword fighting?" Pippin asked excitedly, and I nodded with a smile. "D'you think you could teach Merry and I some of it? We - ah - acquired some swords - well, to you they'd only be short swords - but we don't know how to use them." I chuckled again.
"I could, yes, but I'm still in the process of learning, myself. Lord Glorfindel can still beat me in about two seconds flat. But then, Glory can probably beat anyone in two seconds flat." I said wryly.
"Still, you're better than us." Pippin replied practically. I nodded, slightly amused, as I considered teaching the hobbits.
"Very well." I said finally. "But first, help me find the seamstresses so I can see about getting my own pair of trousers and tunics made." Pippin agreed eagerly to help me, as did Merry, though the older hobbit hid his enthusiasm better.
And so we set off to find the seamstresses of Rivendell. Surprisingly, it didn't take all that long - Pippin had a WONDERFUL sense of direction. Merry, however, was just about as lost as me by the time we finally reached the seamstresses. Thus, both of us made very sure Pippin didn't wander off as I went about getting some trousers and tunics made.
I had expected the seamstresses to make some big fuss about me wanting 'men's' clothing, but to my surprise, once they heard what I wanted, they got quite excited. After a few bewildered questions, I was finally told wryly by an apprentice that the master seamstresses had been getting bored, and fitting a women with 'men's' clothing was not only a change of pace, but a challenge. Apparently the last challenge they'd had was making maternity dresses for CelebrÃan. Between that and watching Merry and Pippin poke around the room in curiosity, I had enough to keep me occupied as the seamstresses measured just about every inch of me.
Finally, the seamstresses were done measuring, and after I arranged to have the clothing delivered to my room, I set off once again with Merry and Pippin, this time to our different rooms so the hobbits could get their swords, and I could change. We split up a short ways from my room, agreeing to meet at the same spot once we were ready, and then all went off.
I changed quickly, and then was about to head out when there was a knock on the door. I paused, considering who it might be. Then I decided that the only person who might knock on my door who I cared to see was the seamstresses delivering my clothing, and there was no way they could be done so quickly. So I went out onto my balcony and climbed/jumped down to the courtyard, then dashed back into the building.
The hobbits were waiting for me when I arrived, and we all set off for one of the less-used, and more private, sparring rings that Elladan had showed Boromir and I when I had commented on getting sick of everyone giving me strange looks. So began a nice, relaxing afternoon of teaching hobbits the basics of how to use swords. It was actually just as educational for me as for them - I was used to fighting people bigger and taller than me, so I had to constantly adjust and make up new moves to deal with the hobbits shortness.
The hobbit's stomachs growling at suppertime ended our practice, and, laughing and joking, we made our way to the kitchens, where between the hobbits pitiful pleading and my cajoling, we managed to get three full meals out of the cooks. We sat outside the kitchen to eat our meals, then Merry and Pippin asked if I wanted to come with them to the library to see Bilbo, but I passed to get changed out of my trousers and tunic. Once I was changed, however, and once again wearing Gandalf's hat, I found myself bored again, so I set off for the library. And that was, of course, when Glorfindel finally managed to find me.
"You are almost as good as Elladan and Elrohir at being unfindable." Glorfindel said, arching an eyebrow as he suddenly appeared in front of me. I yelped in surprise and jumped back, only then noticing the small side passageway off to my right.
"Don't do that!" I complained.
"What?" Glorfindel asked.
"Pop out of nowhere. It's freaky and scary!" I replied with an emphatic nod. Glorfindel paused, and then shook his head in amusement.
"You should listen better." he said.
"You should walk louder." I retorted.
"This is not why I wanted to find you." Glorfindel said, shaking his head.
"That's good. I would be slightly disturbed if you had wanted to find me to scare me and then argue about whose fault it was." I said. Glorfindel shot me a withering look.
"You seem to be in a wonderful mood." he said.
"'Course I am. I slept in until noon, and then spent the afternoon with hobbits!" I said cheerfully, bouncing slightly.
"So we figured out after a talk with Sam." Glorfindel said, arching an eyebrow. "Which brings me to why I wanted to find you. Lord Elrond and Gandalf wish to speak with you."
"Are they going to ream me out for the little pep talk I gave Sam?" I asked, making a face.
"Perhaps. I believe they have something else to speak with you about." Glorfindel replied. I sighed, my mood dampened somewhat.
"Well, better get it over with, then. Are they waiting for me someplace, or do I have to go find them?" I asked.
"I shall take you to them." Glorfindel said.
"Ah." I replied. "Lead the way then." Glorfindel did, setting off down the hall in the direction that I was pretty sure Elrond's study was. He didn't offer me his arm, as was the custom, but that was good, since I probably wouldn't have taken it. Through the magic of my cheerfulness and the effect of hobbits on the mind, I had been able to keep my mind on the topic at hand while I'd been talking to Glorfindel in the corridor, but now, walking beside him in silence, my mind was running through the events of last night.
I was actually somewhat surprised to realize, after a few minutes of walking, that my mind was not so much running over my little 'escape' out of Rivendell, but the events that caused that 'escape'. And my mind, though I tried to stop it, couldn't help but wonder if Glorfindel's actions had merely been a product of the alcohol and the situation, of if there was something...more. When I started to realize that I was almost hoping there had been something more to it, however, I firmly pushed my thoughts aside and decided it was time for a little distraction. While Gandalf and Glorfindel's arguments had been sound as far as I could tell, I still wasn't quite ready to completely give up believing in Mary-Sues - as I had said last night, while Mary-Sues were 'just stories', Middle-Earth was also supposed to be 'just a story', and I was currently walking in the corridors of Rivendell.
"So, why are you playing messenger boy?" I asked Glorfindel.
"If you will recall, I stole Elrond's horse last night." Glorfindel replied dryly.
"And for that he's making you play messenger boy? Hasn't he ever heard of overkill?" I asked, arching an eyebrow.
"Actually, until he and Gandalf wanted to talk to you, I was simply buried under a mound of paperwork." Glorfindel replied blandly. I blinked.
"Can I whack him when we arrive?" I asked.
"Be my guest, though I do not think it will help you much." Glorfindel replied with amusement.
"I'm already doomed, so it doesn't matter." I said with a grin. Seeing that the conversation was dying out again, I searched around for something else to talk about and found it in the fraying grey brim of Gandalf's hat that bobbed in and out of my vision as I walked. "Say, do you think Gandalf will take his hat back if I walk in wearing it?" I asked.
"Most likely." came Glorfindel's reply.
"Is there someplace I could stash it in-between here and wherever we're going so I could keep it?" I asked. There was an audible pause, as if Glorfindel was uncertain of how to reply.
"No." he said finally. "I am afraid there is not." His voice sounded a little odd, and I shot him a curious look.
"Really now." I said. Glorfindel just gave me a bland look, and I decided to let that topic drop. The topic of losing the wonderful grey hat, however, was not going to be dropped. "Then you are hereby drafted to help me keep Gandalf's hat." I announced, and Glorfindel looked at me in a combination of amusement and protest.
"I think not. I will not get involved in that petty squabble." he said.
"Yes you will." I insisted.
"Why?" he asked flatly.
"Because I said so!" I replied cheerfully
"That is hardly sufficient reason for me to get involved." Glorfindel said dryly.
"It is when I have two hobbits, a mischievous Elf, and two sons of the Steward of Gondor under my command." I replied with a slightly evilish grin. "Why, just the possibilities make me want to cackle insanely."
"More insanely than normal, you mean?" Glorfindel deadpanned. I narrowed my eyes, then swept off Gandalf's hat and swatted Glorfindel on the shoulder.
"I do NOT cackle normally!" I retorted, putting Gandalf's hat back on as Glorfindel rubbed his shoulder in mock pain.
"Very well." Glorfindel said with a sigh, rolling his eyes.
"Don't make me swat you again." I warned.
"Ah, you have not time to do so even if you had reason to." Glorfindel said brightly. "We have arrived!" With that, Glorfindel went the few remaining steps to the door directly ahead of us and knocked lightly. After a few moments, a 'who is it?' was heard from inside. Glorfindel immediately stuck his head in and informed Elrond that he had found me. That was followed by a command to bring me in, and Glorfindel opened and held the door so I could go in.
----To be continued...with understatments!----
(And some randomness!)
-Authors Note:-
Lalalala, as some of you may be guessing by now, things are most deffinately going to be interesting from here on in. We're getting to the good stuff, now! And not even close to the end! (I hope nobody out there was expecting a short tale...cuz this is going to beat out all my previous LotR FanFictions for length, and probably even some of my old *N Sync ones)
Melia: Happy Birthday! And as for my nickname for Legolas...Watch the part of the FotR where the Fellowship is on Caradhas. See Legolas nance around. Add a bunch of sugar, and you end out calling Legolas 'Nancy'. *nod* Honest, it was about two in the morning, and my sister, friend and I had jointly consumed half of one of those big boxes of freezer pops...and we'd just finished watching SNL. Bad combination, all around....That was also the night Frodo earned the name 'Druggie' (for when he wakes up in Rivendell) and Boromir earned 'Turtle' (for when he wears his shield on his back).
In other news, I finally got sick of having regular email server crashes at MyOwnEmail.com, which was where my FanFiction email was hosted. So I now have a new hotmail email! It is, strangely enough, crimson_starlight@hotmail.com It might take me a few days to switch between the addresses, but as of now, crimsonstarlight@starplace.com is an out-of-date email.
Yep, so, that's it for my author's note for this chapter. Hope y'all enjoyed it, and don't forget to review! I love getting reviews, they make my day. Even a flame would make my day...mostly because I could toss it at Jon Dalton of the current Survivor...sneaky l'il sexist bastard. *grumbles* Sorry, just watched a recording of yesterdays episode...
REVIEW PLEASE!
~Crimson Starlight
-Disclaimer:-
CS: I own nothing but my cold toes and fingers. And I can't even feel them, so I'm not really sure that I have them, let alone own them...
Rachel: You should try getting hit by lightning. Then you won't be cold.
CS: ...I think I'll pass, Miss Bitter.
Rachel: *grump*
CS: I would gladly move to somewhere in the Australian outback, though...Think your house is still standing?
Rachel: It burned down, remember? Twice, in fact.
CS: ...Right.
...
CS: My characters are reminding me of plot details. This can't be good.
-32: Cheerfulness-
I woke the next day sometime after lunch, thoroughly grumpy. And that was before I remembered what had happened the night before. Before I remembered, I was hungry and tired and annoyed at having my hunger wake me up. Then I remembered the events from the night before - albeit slightly fuzzily - and got thoroughly pissed. Crawling out of bed, I poked my head out my door long enough to snag a servant and snap at them to have a meal brought to my room, then went back inside to brood.
Gandalf's and Glorfindel's arguments had seemed airtight and sensible last night, but I knew my judgment had been severely affected by wine and the need for sleep. So now, as I waited for my meal to appear, and even after it appeared, I carefully went through the argument I'd had the night before. By the time I finished breakfast, however, I was bewilderedly forced to admit that, while Gandalf and Glorfindel hadn't made any strong LOGICAL points, or really said anything profound, their arguments were sound. Or maybe it was that just for once I wanted to feel as if I belonged somewhere, and was latching on to the first thing I saw.
I decided that I didn't really care which it was. Instead, I was going to find Gandalf's hat - if he hadn't stolen it back from me last night - find the hobbits, and see if I could avoid Elves and Men entirely for the rest of the day. I pondered taking a nap first, but I realized if I went to sleep now, I'd sleep until supper, and then I'd be awake for only a short time before having to go back to sleep again. So I might as well just stay up.
I hunted around for a bit before I remembered where I'd hidden Gandalf's hat - behind a pile of my underthings. Delighted to find it still there, I put it on and hummed happily while I picked out a dress. While doing that, my eye caught on my borrowed trousers and tunic, and I amended my previous intention to avoid all Elves and Men to exclude the Rivendell seamstresses. Maybe the hobbits would be up to helping me find the seamstresses, too, since I had no idea where they were and didn't particularly want to ask anyone. My day feeling more settled in my mind - or at least full of more options - I quickly picked out a dark blue dress that matched my eyes, did my hair up, and set off.
Only once I was out of my room did I realize that I had no idea where any of the hobbits but Frodo's rooms were. Cheerfully, I decided that one or another of the hobbits had to be in Frodo's room, especially since Sam had supposedly barely left Frodo's side the entire time he was sick, and so I set off for Frodo's room.
Every Elf I passed in the hallways, of course, looked at me terribly odd. Whether it was for Gandalf's hat, or the fact that I might have run by them last night on my mad dash out of Rivendell, or they heard about my mad dash out of Rivendell and subsequent return, I didn't know and didn't particularly want to know. I did spot Boromir a little ways down the hall, looking like he had just survived a holocaust or two, talking to either Elladan or Elrohir - I couldn't tell which because of the distance, though I assumed Elladan because Boromir knew him better - but I managed to dodge down a side corridor before they spotted me.
I reached Frodo's room without spotting anyone else I didn't want to meet, and peeked in. Sam was there, watching Frodo with a worried look on his face, and I smiled slightly. Strangely enough, being right THERE, in the same room as Sam, I could tell that it really was just platonic brotherly love between him and his master. All the slash writers - which Kari told me there were many of - back home would be disappointed, I'm sure. But it was the truth. And suddenly, it gave me an idea. It was rather risky, and probably stupid, but I didn't care - I felt this was something I needed to do. After all the bad things I had let happen in Middle-Earth, without warning anyone they were about to happen, I wanted to help someone who wouldn't otherwise get that help.
"He will get better." I said softly, stepping into the room and closing the door behind me. Sam started, obviously not having heard me.
"Your pardon, Miss." he said, hastily standing up and bowing slightly, obviously unused to the gesture. "I know he'll get better, I just want to be there when he does."
"Well you needn't worry about him waking up without you here until the day after tomorrow." I said with a ghost of the smile.
"Still, Miss, I feel better sitting here and being sure he's alright." Sam said, shifting slightly uncomfortably. My ghost of a smile grew into a kind one and I came over to Sam and kneeled in front of him so we were eye-to-eye.
"I'm sure you do, Master Gamgee. Your love for your master does you credit, and will help both you and he through the many tough times that are to come to the happy end that lies beyond." I said softly.
"Begging your pardon, Miss, but what exactly do you mean?" Sam asked after a moment, looking just about as afraid of finding out as he was curious.
"I mean that if you stick by Mister Baggins here, no matter what the circumstances, you will find your way back to the Shire, and the happy life you deserve." I replied.
"But I'll be goin' back to the Shire soon's Mister Frodo wakes up. Won't I?" Sam asked, now wholly confused. I grinned and stood up.
"With a little detour, yes." I said. "Now, would you happen to know where Meriadoc and Peregrin have got off to?"
"I think they went to the kitchen." Sam replied, looking a little surprised by the quick change of subject and mood.
"Good. I'll go find them, then. Have a nice day, and don't spend all of it watching over Frodo, otherwise you'll soon be as pale as him from lack of sun!" I said cheerfully, waving as I returned to the door. I waited just long enough for Sam to bid me a confused goodbye, then went out into the hallway and skipped off down to the kitchens. Yes, you read that right, I skipped. The Elves I passed had even more strange looks on their faces than before. It was hilarious.
Anyways, when I got to the kitchen, I found Merry and Pippin trying to finagle food out of the cooks, who were looking slightly exasperated.
"Merry! Pippin! Are you bugging the cooks for food?" I asked as I came over.
"Only because we can't reach any of it." Pippin said with a half pout. I chuckled as one of the cooks put in something about that being intentional.
"Well, it's a good thing I came along, then." I said, then grabbed several buns that were cooling, and some pastries of some sort, and tossed them to Merry and Pippin before the cooks realized what I was doing. As said cooks glared at me, I waved cheerily to them, grabbed two apples, and ducked out of the kitchen, Merry and Pippin close behind.
"Thanwoo!" Pippin said once we were out of the kitchen, his mouth full of pastry. I smiled.
"Not a problem." I replied. "I was looking for something to do, anyways, and helping short people is always a good thing to do. Especially since, unless there are hobbits or dwarves around, I'm usually the short one." Pippin peered up at me.
"You look pretty tall to me." he said.
"That's because she's an Elf and you're a hobbit, Pip." Merry said, rolling his eyes. Pippin shrugged, and I resisted the urge to giggle.
"Well, if you're looking for something to do, d'you think you could show us around some?" Pippin asked after a moment.
"I can try." I said dryly. The hobbits looked at each other.
"Try?" Merry asked.
"Other than the main corridors, Rivendell is an absolute maze to me. I never actually got a full-fledged tour of it, and I haven't been here long enough to figure out where everything is myself." I admitted. "Though goodness knows, I've had need for quite awhile to snoop around and find where the seamstresses have hidden themselves. Elladan's going to want his trousers and tunic back eventually."
"Why do you have Elladan's trousers and tunic?" Pippin asked after a pause. Merry looked scandalized, and I chuckled.
"I borrowed them so I could learn sword fighting." I replied, and Merry relaxed visibly, though he did shoot Pippin one last disapproving glance. Pippin didn't seem to notice it anymore than he had Merry's scandalized look.
"You do sword fighting?" Pippin asked excitedly, and I nodded with a smile. "D'you think you could teach Merry and I some of it? We - ah - acquired some swords - well, to you they'd only be short swords - but we don't know how to use them." I chuckled again.
"I could, yes, but I'm still in the process of learning, myself. Lord Glorfindel can still beat me in about two seconds flat. But then, Glory can probably beat anyone in two seconds flat." I said wryly.
"Still, you're better than us." Pippin replied practically. I nodded, slightly amused, as I considered teaching the hobbits.
"Very well." I said finally. "But first, help me find the seamstresses so I can see about getting my own pair of trousers and tunics made." Pippin agreed eagerly to help me, as did Merry, though the older hobbit hid his enthusiasm better.
And so we set off to find the seamstresses of Rivendell. Surprisingly, it didn't take all that long - Pippin had a WONDERFUL sense of direction. Merry, however, was just about as lost as me by the time we finally reached the seamstresses. Thus, both of us made very sure Pippin didn't wander off as I went about getting some trousers and tunics made.
I had expected the seamstresses to make some big fuss about me wanting 'men's' clothing, but to my surprise, once they heard what I wanted, they got quite excited. After a few bewildered questions, I was finally told wryly by an apprentice that the master seamstresses had been getting bored, and fitting a women with 'men's' clothing was not only a change of pace, but a challenge. Apparently the last challenge they'd had was making maternity dresses for CelebrÃan. Between that and watching Merry and Pippin poke around the room in curiosity, I had enough to keep me occupied as the seamstresses measured just about every inch of me.
Finally, the seamstresses were done measuring, and after I arranged to have the clothing delivered to my room, I set off once again with Merry and Pippin, this time to our different rooms so the hobbits could get their swords, and I could change. We split up a short ways from my room, agreeing to meet at the same spot once we were ready, and then all went off.
I changed quickly, and then was about to head out when there was a knock on the door. I paused, considering who it might be. Then I decided that the only person who might knock on my door who I cared to see was the seamstresses delivering my clothing, and there was no way they could be done so quickly. So I went out onto my balcony and climbed/jumped down to the courtyard, then dashed back into the building.
The hobbits were waiting for me when I arrived, and we all set off for one of the less-used, and more private, sparring rings that Elladan had showed Boromir and I when I had commented on getting sick of everyone giving me strange looks. So began a nice, relaxing afternoon of teaching hobbits the basics of how to use swords. It was actually just as educational for me as for them - I was used to fighting people bigger and taller than me, so I had to constantly adjust and make up new moves to deal with the hobbits shortness.
The hobbit's stomachs growling at suppertime ended our practice, and, laughing and joking, we made our way to the kitchens, where between the hobbits pitiful pleading and my cajoling, we managed to get three full meals out of the cooks. We sat outside the kitchen to eat our meals, then Merry and Pippin asked if I wanted to come with them to the library to see Bilbo, but I passed to get changed out of my trousers and tunic. Once I was changed, however, and once again wearing Gandalf's hat, I found myself bored again, so I set off for the library. And that was, of course, when Glorfindel finally managed to find me.
"You are almost as good as Elladan and Elrohir at being unfindable." Glorfindel said, arching an eyebrow as he suddenly appeared in front of me. I yelped in surprise and jumped back, only then noticing the small side passageway off to my right.
"Don't do that!" I complained.
"What?" Glorfindel asked.
"Pop out of nowhere. It's freaky and scary!" I replied with an emphatic nod. Glorfindel paused, and then shook his head in amusement.
"You should listen better." he said.
"You should walk louder." I retorted.
"This is not why I wanted to find you." Glorfindel said, shaking his head.
"That's good. I would be slightly disturbed if you had wanted to find me to scare me and then argue about whose fault it was." I said. Glorfindel shot me a withering look.
"You seem to be in a wonderful mood." he said.
"'Course I am. I slept in until noon, and then spent the afternoon with hobbits!" I said cheerfully, bouncing slightly.
"So we figured out after a talk with Sam." Glorfindel said, arching an eyebrow. "Which brings me to why I wanted to find you. Lord Elrond and Gandalf wish to speak with you."
"Are they going to ream me out for the little pep talk I gave Sam?" I asked, making a face.
"Perhaps. I believe they have something else to speak with you about." Glorfindel replied. I sighed, my mood dampened somewhat.
"Well, better get it over with, then. Are they waiting for me someplace, or do I have to go find them?" I asked.
"I shall take you to them." Glorfindel said.
"Ah." I replied. "Lead the way then." Glorfindel did, setting off down the hall in the direction that I was pretty sure Elrond's study was. He didn't offer me his arm, as was the custom, but that was good, since I probably wouldn't have taken it. Through the magic of my cheerfulness and the effect of hobbits on the mind, I had been able to keep my mind on the topic at hand while I'd been talking to Glorfindel in the corridor, but now, walking beside him in silence, my mind was running through the events of last night.
I was actually somewhat surprised to realize, after a few minutes of walking, that my mind was not so much running over my little 'escape' out of Rivendell, but the events that caused that 'escape'. And my mind, though I tried to stop it, couldn't help but wonder if Glorfindel's actions had merely been a product of the alcohol and the situation, of if there was something...more. When I started to realize that I was almost hoping there had been something more to it, however, I firmly pushed my thoughts aside and decided it was time for a little distraction. While Gandalf and Glorfindel's arguments had been sound as far as I could tell, I still wasn't quite ready to completely give up believing in Mary-Sues - as I had said last night, while Mary-Sues were 'just stories', Middle-Earth was also supposed to be 'just a story', and I was currently walking in the corridors of Rivendell.
"So, why are you playing messenger boy?" I asked Glorfindel.
"If you will recall, I stole Elrond's horse last night." Glorfindel replied dryly.
"And for that he's making you play messenger boy? Hasn't he ever heard of overkill?" I asked, arching an eyebrow.
"Actually, until he and Gandalf wanted to talk to you, I was simply buried under a mound of paperwork." Glorfindel replied blandly. I blinked.
"Can I whack him when we arrive?" I asked.
"Be my guest, though I do not think it will help you much." Glorfindel replied with amusement.
"I'm already doomed, so it doesn't matter." I said with a grin. Seeing that the conversation was dying out again, I searched around for something else to talk about and found it in the fraying grey brim of Gandalf's hat that bobbed in and out of my vision as I walked. "Say, do you think Gandalf will take his hat back if I walk in wearing it?" I asked.
"Most likely." came Glorfindel's reply.
"Is there someplace I could stash it in-between here and wherever we're going so I could keep it?" I asked. There was an audible pause, as if Glorfindel was uncertain of how to reply.
"No." he said finally. "I am afraid there is not." His voice sounded a little odd, and I shot him a curious look.
"Really now." I said. Glorfindel just gave me a bland look, and I decided to let that topic drop. The topic of losing the wonderful grey hat, however, was not going to be dropped. "Then you are hereby drafted to help me keep Gandalf's hat." I announced, and Glorfindel looked at me in a combination of amusement and protest.
"I think not. I will not get involved in that petty squabble." he said.
"Yes you will." I insisted.
"Why?" he asked flatly.
"Because I said so!" I replied cheerfully
"That is hardly sufficient reason for me to get involved." Glorfindel said dryly.
"It is when I have two hobbits, a mischievous Elf, and two sons of the Steward of Gondor under my command." I replied with a slightly evilish grin. "Why, just the possibilities make me want to cackle insanely."
"More insanely than normal, you mean?" Glorfindel deadpanned. I narrowed my eyes, then swept off Gandalf's hat and swatted Glorfindel on the shoulder.
"I do NOT cackle normally!" I retorted, putting Gandalf's hat back on as Glorfindel rubbed his shoulder in mock pain.
"Very well." Glorfindel said with a sigh, rolling his eyes.
"Don't make me swat you again." I warned.
"Ah, you have not time to do so even if you had reason to." Glorfindel said brightly. "We have arrived!" With that, Glorfindel went the few remaining steps to the door directly ahead of us and knocked lightly. After a few moments, a 'who is it?' was heard from inside. Glorfindel immediately stuck his head in and informed Elrond that he had found me. That was followed by a command to bring me in, and Glorfindel opened and held the door so I could go in.
----To be continued...with understatments!----
(And some randomness!)
-Authors Note:-
Lalalala, as some of you may be guessing by now, things are most deffinately going to be interesting from here on in. We're getting to the good stuff, now! And not even close to the end! (I hope nobody out there was expecting a short tale...cuz this is going to beat out all my previous LotR FanFictions for length, and probably even some of my old *N Sync ones)
Melia: Happy Birthday! And as for my nickname for Legolas...Watch the part of the FotR where the Fellowship is on Caradhas. See Legolas nance around. Add a bunch of sugar, and you end out calling Legolas 'Nancy'. *nod* Honest, it was about two in the morning, and my sister, friend and I had jointly consumed half of one of those big boxes of freezer pops...and we'd just finished watching SNL. Bad combination, all around....That was also the night Frodo earned the name 'Druggie' (for when he wakes up in Rivendell) and Boromir earned 'Turtle' (for when he wears his shield on his back).
In other news, I finally got sick of having regular email server crashes at MyOwnEmail.com, which was where my FanFiction email was hosted. So I now have a new hotmail email! It is, strangely enough, crimson_starlight@hotmail.com It might take me a few days to switch between the addresses, but as of now, crimsonstarlight@starplace.com is an out-of-date email.
Yep, so, that's it for my author's note for this chapter. Hope y'all enjoyed it, and don't forget to review! I love getting reviews, they make my day. Even a flame would make my day...mostly because I could toss it at Jon Dalton of the current Survivor...sneaky l'il sexist bastard. *grumbles* Sorry, just watched a recording of yesterdays episode...
REVIEW PLEASE!
~Crimson Starlight