A/N: If I have any reviews yet, thank you. It is indeed a beautiful story,
and I'm sure you're all just dying for the next chapter. Here it is.
Disclaimer: See first Chapter. Except I just realized I do also own a bedside lamp that reminds me of a Silmaril and my pet Ringwraith action figure Blackie.
Ch.4
To Rivendell then, Gandalf took her. He took his leave of Frodo in the early afternoon the day after Bilbo's party. Rian-Celine waved to him from a distance.
They rode in Gandalf's cart all the way to Bree. At the Prancing Pony Gandalf left the horse and cart, paid for his own horse's stabling and hired another horse for Rian-Celine. Rian-Celine blushed a little when Gandalf paid for it, wondering where the money came from. Gandalf smiled and told her that Bilbo had paid handsomely for the fireworks, and Frodo always gave him a little purse to "buy an ale and think of me". Not to mention what was left of his own share of dragon gold! Rian-Celine was quite delighted to hear of Frodo's custom. Character development! She was also delighted with her horse, Marigold. Marigold was a high spirited animal, which was why the Breelander had been willing to give her up. But under Rian-Celine's gentle guidance, she became the most docile horse ever bred. Rian-Celine had to buy some decent clothes too, for while a pair of slippers, kimono and nightgown was all very well in an American mansion, riding in them would be a very difficult maneuver.
They met no one on the road, except a solitary dwarf who kept very strictly to himself. When they stopped to rest sometimes Gandalf would tell her stories she'd never heard before until she fell asleep. Once she asked the wizard if he knew he was going to fight a Balrog and die, but Gandalf made no sign that he had even heard her.
Rian-Celine counted 10 days from the day they left the Shire to the day they reached the Ford of Bruinen. At the ford Rian-Celine met her first elf, named Girfrin. He hailed the wizard and his companion cheerfully, but Gandalf had to explain Rian-Celine's predicamate. They chatted for a while, Girfrin made his farewell. The hooded Rian-Celine thought the elves were quite cute if they all looked like Girfrin, then noticed Gandalf grinning at her. She grinned back, trying to hide the blush. It was hard keeping one's thoughts to oneself when one was in mind communications 101!
Gandalf led her by the hidden paths into Rivendell. Rian-Celine was astounded by the beauty of the valley: the great trees, the sweet flowers, the aweful waterfalls. Even the sky seemed clearer over Rivendell. And then they came to the Doors of the Last Homely House. Apparently the residents had been warned of Gandalf' coming, for immediately the Door was opened for them, and a joyous concourse of Elves and Elf-maids assembled around the great wizard. Rian-Celine wistfully wished she could hear what they were saying. Suddenly the Elves backed respectfully a slight way off to let another Elf-maid pass.
Disclaimer: See first Chapter. Except I just realized I do also own a bedside lamp that reminds me of a Silmaril and my pet Ringwraith action figure Blackie.
Ch.4
To Rivendell then, Gandalf took her. He took his leave of Frodo in the early afternoon the day after Bilbo's party. Rian-Celine waved to him from a distance.
They rode in Gandalf's cart all the way to Bree. At the Prancing Pony Gandalf left the horse and cart, paid for his own horse's stabling and hired another horse for Rian-Celine. Rian-Celine blushed a little when Gandalf paid for it, wondering where the money came from. Gandalf smiled and told her that Bilbo had paid handsomely for the fireworks, and Frodo always gave him a little purse to "buy an ale and think of me". Not to mention what was left of his own share of dragon gold! Rian-Celine was quite delighted to hear of Frodo's custom. Character development! She was also delighted with her horse, Marigold. Marigold was a high spirited animal, which was why the Breelander had been willing to give her up. But under Rian-Celine's gentle guidance, she became the most docile horse ever bred. Rian-Celine had to buy some decent clothes too, for while a pair of slippers, kimono and nightgown was all very well in an American mansion, riding in them would be a very difficult maneuver.
They met no one on the road, except a solitary dwarf who kept very strictly to himself. When they stopped to rest sometimes Gandalf would tell her stories she'd never heard before until she fell asleep. Once she asked the wizard if he knew he was going to fight a Balrog and die, but Gandalf made no sign that he had even heard her.
Rian-Celine counted 10 days from the day they left the Shire to the day they reached the Ford of Bruinen. At the ford Rian-Celine met her first elf, named Girfrin. He hailed the wizard and his companion cheerfully, but Gandalf had to explain Rian-Celine's predicamate. They chatted for a while, Girfrin made his farewell. The hooded Rian-Celine thought the elves were quite cute if they all looked like Girfrin, then noticed Gandalf grinning at her. She grinned back, trying to hide the blush. It was hard keeping one's thoughts to oneself when one was in mind communications 101!
Gandalf led her by the hidden paths into Rivendell. Rian-Celine was astounded by the beauty of the valley: the great trees, the sweet flowers, the aweful waterfalls. Even the sky seemed clearer over Rivendell. And then they came to the Doors of the Last Homely House. Apparently the residents had been warned of Gandalf' coming, for immediately the Door was opened for them, and a joyous concourse of Elves and Elf-maids assembled around the great wizard. Rian-Celine wistfully wished she could hear what they were saying. Suddenly the Elves backed respectfully a slight way off to let another Elf-maid pass.