Little Elf
Chapter Forty eight
15 Amrath 3017
Staring tiredly ahead Elle frowned glancing at her knives, which were lying in front of her crossed legs, in the grass.
'What are you waiting for them to do?'
Startled, Elle glanced up at Aragorn who was looking at her concerned
'Dance?' she replied wearily
'I do not believe that even your elven smiths have learnt to produce such a feat.'
'No, I don't believe they have,' came the listless answer
'Then why are you staring at your knives in hope that they will spring to life and answer a question for you?' Aragorn sat beside her.
Elle smiled slightly 'No, I don't believe they could give me the answers I seek'
'And what answer would that be?' Aragorn questioned.
Elle sighed staring at the land below, ignoring the suns hazy midday shine. 'It is nothing really' she replied her hand reaching to caress the engraved handle of a dagger.
'Which is why you have been staring unceasingly ahead for nearly an hour only to turn your gaze to your knives giving them a look that would likely boil metal' Elle gripped the handle 'the question is, what have your knives got to do with it?'
'Well done Sherlock' Elle replied
'What is a Sherlock?'
'He is a detective' Elle replied worrying her lip 'fictional of course, but nonetheless entertaining'
'Yet he has absolutely nothing to do with whatever you are mulling over. Now you helped me seven days ago so it is my turn to help you. I have a feeling it has something to do with our encounter with the orcs last night. You have been surprisingly quiet.'
Elle nodded grimacing 'I don't like orcs'
'Neither do I'
Elle rolled her eyes and hit him lightly in the chest. 'The last time I saw an orc I didn't kill it'
'And this ambiguous reply means what exactly?'
'My commander killed it'
'And you are full of guilt because you were told not to kill an orc?'
'Oh stop being sarcastic and evil! I'm all contemplative because I've never killed an orc, or any other creature before. You saw what I was like with the dead rabbit, and even though I know the orc would have absolutely no remorse had it killed me, it doesn't mean I can be happy about slaying something that lived and breathed.'
'I felt the same way, I was raised among the…er Dunedain, so although I knew the orcs were evil I was still taught that you only kill what you need to survive. I was shocked when I killed, but as it always is with orcs, it was in defence. My father was killed by orcs and I expected some sort of self gratification, and yet I didn't, even now I am not happy about killing but I do what must be done. Killing men, is something I do not relish, especially as they are working on a…a…'
'Misguided ideology that their leaders impregnated in their minds making them believe that they are right and that they need to protect their family and friends; loved ones from their evil opponent.'
Aragorn nodded 'you have to learn to make your opponent a faceless being otherwise you will cut yourself up over it; mentally you can't take the strain'
Elle smiled wearily 'Sorry. You must think I'm insane, nearly 3000 years old and ready to cry like a baby'
'But you are not crying are you?'
'No' Elle replied leaning her head against his leather-clad shoulder
'Good. Crying females tend to scare me'
'Is the wittle ranger sacred?' Elle teased
'Come, we were about to reach the bottom before we had our break. A couple of hours and the Misty Mountains will be behind us'
'Praise the Valar'
* * *
16th Amrath 3017
Ithil was already peaking out of the clouds; it had been for quite some time. Elle was loosely holding the reins, Aragorn sitting behind her 'it is now that I must take my leave'
Elle pulled at the reins turning to look at Aragorn 'What?'
'This is where I leave. My path lies elsewhere you know this. Rivendell lies just three leagues down this path. You will easily find it.'
'I was always told that Imladris was hard to find and yet you know where it is, and there's a path!'
Aragorn laughed 'One does not usually come across this path, it is unknown' he dismounted from behind, quickly followed by Elle
She busied herself with taking various spare meats and cheeses and putting them in spare saddlebags 'Here' she handed him the bag before flinging her arms around him 'thank you'
'Why are you thanking me? I should be thanking you. I have never relished pulling arrows from myself, it is excruciating and I don't believe I would have been able to take that one out'
Smiling into his hair she replied 'what do you do? Wait for random strangers to help you?' she pulled back from him
'Yes, that sounds about right.' They both shared a laugh 'Goodbye Elle, hopefully our paths will cross again'
Strider turned and left, walking in a southerly direction 'Goodbye Aragorn' Elle muttered softly.
Remounting she trotted steadily on following the path. When five elves dropped from the trees around her some time later she was not surprised "Halt"
"I believe I've already done that," Elle muttered to herself. Unfortunately the elves heard her and their leader, a tall elf with light gray eyes scowled
"Your name"
"Elle" she replied "Lady Ellette of Lothlorien" she clarified remembering what Galadriel had told her
The leader frowned "What is your purpose here?"
Elle cast her eyes heavenwards before replying exasperated "I am here to go under the tutelage of Lord Elrond"
"You are two days late, why?"
Elle pursed her lips while Anarmir pawed the ground picking up her mistresses emotion "That concerns Lord Elrond, not you" came the somewhat rude reply
Elle dismounted and then followed the elves, holding Anarmir's reins.
When they arrived at the brow of the cliff staring down at Imladris Elle took a pause, her breath taken away.
By then the sun has set, midnight blue creating a dramatic backdrop against the three-storey house. Following the other elves her eyes trained on the building she barely noticed Anarmir being taken away.
Upon entering an elf with an air of prominence came to them and quickly conversed with the 'leader' "Come, I will take you to Lord Elrond" Elle nodded at the blond elf, barely casting a look at the group who had brought her in.
Following him down the silent hallways Elle stared in wonderment at the murals adorning the walls in rich jewel tones "My name is Lord Glorfindel" he told her eventually
"Oh" *Balrog Slayer* "I'm Elle" she replied smiling hesitantly at him
"Unfortunately Lord Elrond is tied up this night so I will be taking you to your room, it has already been prepared, you will report to Lord Elrond tomorrow before breakfast"
Elle nodded slightly in acquiescence "and when do you have breakfast?"
"I personally breakfast at dawn, but Elrond and the majority of Imladris dine at eight."
Elle nodded "Hannon lle" thank you
The elf lord smiled at her before stopping "I believe this is your room, I will leave you to settle in."
He turned at left leaving Elle to enter. She didn't look around the room for she couldn't see much, a lantern on a bracket by the bed being the only light
Noticing another door Elle entered finding a bathtub and an unlit fire with five copper jugs placed beside it. Crouching down Elle started to build and light a fire before working out how to hear her bath. Looking into the jugs she found they were filled with water. Placing each of the jugs in front of the fire Elle decided to go back into the main room.
In the main room she found a nightdress left on her bed, which she brought into the bathroom leaving it on the clotheshorse by the fire.
On a few shelves were various towels which Elle also put onto the clotheshorse before checking on the water which was starting to warm. Carefully she filled the bath before stripping and getting into it, scrubbing off the general grime of her journey.
Eventually she got out, towelled herself down before getting into the warm nightgown. Not knowing what to do with the bathwater she left it there, adding her tunic and leggings to a laundry basket nearby.
After quickly plaiting her hair neatly she climbed into the comfortable bed, the ease of sleep and elven dreams enveloping her.
~*~
A/n sorry for the delay! Coursework redrafts have been a pain for the last week or so! I know this chapter isn't especially long (only 1,500 words) but the next one is a lot longer…
Kaye Thorn: Wow, I think that's the longest review I've ever had! The reason I switch between Aragorn and Strider is simply because Elle does the same thing in her head. She knows him as both, so while calling him Strider throughout would be consistent it wouldn't make sense as her thoughts about him are pretty inconsistent (if that made any sense) If you get to annoyed with Rumil I'd be quite happy to take him off your hands!
Haldir lover: And you did bug me to update! Lol, thanks under the mountains of homework fanfiction is occasionally forgotten (but only for the merest of seconds)
mali: When you say 'wonder how you guys know all this things' do you mean fanfiction writers in general, as pose to me, because there's only one of my no matter what the thoughts it my head try to tell me. But as an answer no I don't know the whole of the Appendices off by heart I know the general gist of where things go and if I'm not sure I look it up, to at least try and stay consistent with the books.
Hanya the bloody angel: I did re go over the last chapter after you ordered me to and yes it was yikes! That's the problem when you're in a rush and don't listen to what your friends tell you (i.e. "send it to me and I'll check it for you, and then post it" what can I say I'm stubborn sometimes)
Triss Marigold: Oh the twins will definitely be making an appearance in the story, whether people will be thrilled about this is a different matter entirely (you'll see in the next chapter)
Candy: Yes I've gotten back to updating regularly *coughs* But yes I agree, stupid school and stupid exams! Oh I can't wait until these damned G.C.S.E.'s are over.
KindCalypso: Lol, yes you do have meaning! Fear not! Yes she was bound to kill something eventually no heroine can go to middle earth and *not*
Gwilwileth