Chapter 4 A New Friend

The fellowship crossed a green plain seeing the Misty Mountains from a distance. It looked as though the clouds were passing through the mountains like a current of water. By nightfall, they reached an opening at the base of the Misty Mountains. They decided to stop and eat as the sun peered over their heads. Legolas took a small bite of the lembas bread and went back to looking for an exit to the other side.

"There... There's one... we just have to cross the Anduin River." Said Legolas peering at the opening.

"Oh no... I'm not crossin' any rivers." Said Merry taking another bite out of the Elvin bread.

"Why not?" Legolas snapped his head looking at the young hobbit eating.

"What do you mean? We're hobbits. We don't do water." Merry said lifting his chin, tried to make himself look knowledgeable.

"Well you crossed over one to go to Rivendell." Said Legolas fighting back.

"No. We went around." Pippin said defending his hobbit cousin.

"Listen, we have to go this way... it's the only way unless if you wish to go all the way round the Misty Mountains." Legolas said hoping it would make the hobbits agree.

"That sounds good." Pippin and Merry looked at each other and nodded. Gimli laughed in the back.

"Come on guys" Sam said getting a little annoyed with the hobbits attitude. "We'll cross the river."

Legolas nodded and went back to guarding. The Hobbits finished up their halves of the Lembas bread and traveled onward. They all sat up on their ponies and started to cross the Anduin River. The currents were rapid and when the hobbits noticed it they got more and more afraid.

"We just have to cross slowly." Shouted Gimli from the back of Legolas' horse. The hobbits nodded and traveled onward.

They were almost halfway done, till Legolas noticed something attacking on the other side.

"Watch out guys. There are attackers up ahead. Legolas then looked for a way that he could kill the beasts before they got there. The only way he could was to jump from the horse into the currents and switch places with Gimli. He held his breath and jumped from the horse holding onto the saddle. The current pulled his lower body up making it harder for him to climb up. He then noticed a tree streaming toward him and Gimli. Legolas kept trying to get up as the hobbits yelled "Get up! Get up!" Gimli offered his hand to Legolas. Legolas grabbed his hand but it was slippery. He let go and could feel his life flashing before his eyes. Gimli caught him by the collar and pulled him up onto the horse. The log was only inches away from Legolas' horse. Gimli took the reins and kept making the horse run faster and faster to escape the dangers of the floating tree. He made it just in time. The hobbits cheered and then finally caught up with the horse on their small ponies. Gimli and Legolas already crossed safely and started to slay the beasts on the other side. Once the hobbits got there all of the beasts were dead.

"How many, Legolas?" Gimli asked confidently.

"21... and you?" Legolas said stroking his bow.

"Hah... 23."

"That's impossible there were only about 30 beasts."

"Well then someone is lying." Gimli said with a grin. "Oh... welcome hobbits!"

"Are we traveling onward?" Sam asked impatiently.

"Well if we go now, we'll reach Mirkwood near sunrise. So I believe we should find a spot in the forest to rest." Legolas said looking around the opening of the forest. They traveled a little more into the forest and found an opening. They set up camp and made a small fire. Sam, Gimli and Legolas sat around the fire while Pippin and Merry had their own private meeting.

"Why did you call me back here Merry?"

"Cause I found something you might want." He pulled out a little bag full of Longbottom Leaf.

"Longbottom Leaf? Where did you get that from? I thought we smoked all of Saruman's."

Merry giggled and looked around. "It's Gimli's stash. I stole it in Rivendell. I couldn't resist." They both pulled out their pipes and put in the Longbottom leaf. At the fire however, Gimli could smell something.

"Hey... I smell something else burning. It smells like... Longbottom leaf! He went to check his bag for his stash and it was gone. "MERRY!! PIPPIN!! You rascals!!!" Merry and Pippin jumped and ran through the forest. Gimli chased them. Sam and Legolas watched and laughed. They then heard something and everyone stopped to listen. It sounded like a howl of some sort. Merry and Pippin heard rustles around them. Gimli and the two hobbits ran back to camp and got their weapons. The five of them huddled together and guarded each other... Merry heard another rustle in front of him. Merry started to back away slowly. Legolas and Gimli got in front of him and the other hobbits, ready to attack. Everything was silent. There was another rustle further in the woods. Legolas and Gimli ran toward it. Merry, Pippin and Sam stayed behind. Merry urged forward, but Pippin held him back. Sam kept guard, Pippin sat down near the fire scared. Merry stood watching the forest.

"Argh!" He heard Gimli shout. Merry ran into the woods following the sounds of Gimli's scream. He caught a glimpse of Legolas and Gimli looking at something. He caught up with them.

"Merry? What are you doing here? You'll be safer at camp." Merry looked up at Legolas then looked at the small wounded girl. She was as small as a hobbit though she had elf type ears. She also didn't have enormous hairy feet like all, if not most, hobbits do. Her hair was brown and curled down the bottom. She wore a tan peasant shirt with a patched red vest on top. Her pants were also shredded at the bottom and her feet were covered with black boots. She was unconscious and bleeding from the arm. "We found her. A strange creature was looking around her for something. As soon as he saw us he ran." Legolas said. Gimli, with the bottom of his axe, poked her side to wake her up.

He turned around and said, "Think she's dead?"

"Why? What's wrong?"

"Well she's not breathing or moving. Shame too... She's not bad for a hobbit."

"GIMLI LOOK OUT!!!" Legolas and Merry shouted.

"What?!" Gimli shouted back and he peaked. There was the young girl awake. She picked up a log and hit Gimli over the head with it. She caught his fall and placed the blade of his axe to his throat. Legolas aimed his bow.

"Drop the Bow!" She shouted. "Drop it or the dwarf dies."

"Lower your bow! Lower your bow!!" Gimli shouted. Legolas lowered his bow and Merry stood as still as glass.

"Now tell me! Where's your leader?" She asked.

"um... I beg your pardon Miss? We don't have leader." Merry said stepping forward slowly.

"Yea... I've heard that one before. You herlums are all the same!"

"Herlums?" Legolas questioned. "You've mistaken us for some other tribe."

"You guys can't fool me!"

"Oh yes we can" A voice came from behind her. It was Sam. He put his sword by her throat. "Let go of the dwarf." She let the dwarf go and stood in the middle of the circle formed by the five of them.

"Now what is this Herlum tribe you speak of?" Legolas questioned.

"It's a tribe that are trying to take over the West Kingdom and they almost did."

"How can they do that? It's heavy guarded..."

"It is possible. Herlums are very aggressive fighters... and I apologize to you all for thinking you were apart of it. You just can't really trust anyone in these woods anymore."

Sam lowered his sword.

"Thank you, Miss. Are you alone?" Merry asked.

"No. My brother and I spilt up. Could you please help me find him?"

They nodded and she ran off into the woods and they followed her. As they ran, they saw shadows in the woods of Herlums following them. They reached another opening and found a young boy. His hair was blonde and straight. He wore a peasant shirt as well and a green patched vest. He was much taller than the new girl they met. His pants were brown and were shredded at the bottom. He had a gash at the head. She seemed to know him.

"This is my brother, Delegar." She said.

"Lora.." he whispered. "We have to get you out of here..."

"Lora? Is that your name?" Merry asked.

"Oh... I'm sorry... yea. I'm Lora." She said. "Listen, there's no time for greetings. We have to get him out of here."

"I'll carry him.." Legolas offered. "Come on. Follow me. We'll go to Mirkwood." Everyone followed Legolas through the woods. Suddenly a herlum jumped in front of them. It was very tall and had pitch black skin. Every vein in its body, was shown on its arms. The herlum's eyes were golden and had a nose that was small and dented in the middle. Its face resembled a cat's and it's ears stood up like a hare's.

"It's an Herlum!" shouted Lora. Gimli ran to it and sliced it with his axe. "That won't kill it!! Herlums are fast healers!" She ran in front and shouted an elfish phrase.

Nar, Lasto beth nîn, Dagor Goth Taurë.

The herlum went into flames and she traveled onward. Once they reached Mirkwood, the herlums turned away. The herlums hate sunlight. Out of breathe, Lora sat on the steps entering into Mirkwood. The hobbits fell beside her. Legolas took Delegar to the elves of healing. The hobbits, Gimli, and Lora shortly followed.

"So what are you exactly?" Pippin asked.

"Pippin." Merry shouted.

"What? I want to know." Pippin said.

"It's quite alright. I'm a hobbit and an elf. My father was a hobbit and my mother was an elf."

"Really? Wow... are they here waiting for you?" Pippin looked around at the elves passing by.

"No, they died when I was 5." Lora looked down and walked quietly.

"Oh, I'm sorry."

"No, it's alright. You didn't know."

"How?" Merry asked.

"They were killed by an herlum named Zarkof. Ever since, I've been trying to destroy the herlum tribe."

"Is that pendant around your neck your mother's?" Pippin asked.

"This? No... this is a key to the throne of the West. I had to steal it back from the herlums. I actually was headed hear in the first place. I had to go and seek council and there it would be decided who was to take the throne." They all went into the room where Legolas took Delegar. Legolas saw Lora come in.

"Lora come here I must speak with you." She walked over to Legolas. "Pedich Edhellen? " Lora nodded. "Lasto! Ú-iston, Im nautha e innas na sui ned si. Ae e matha naeg, anna sen galas." He grabbed her hand and gave her a strange leaf.

"Hannad le" She smiled and Legolas smiled back. She went over to Delegar's bed and kissed her brother's forehead. She went back over to the hobbits.

"What's that he gave you?" Pippin asked.

"It's a plant to help my brother. It's just in case if his pain comes back." Lora said.

"He could've said that in English, couldn't he?" Merry wondered.

"Well things like that aren't really considered to be polite in English, to elves at least." Lora said. Legolas walked over to Gimli, Lora and the hobbits.

"We'll be staying here tonight. Lora, you know where to go after dinner." She nodded. "Ok, off to dinner." Legolas said and the hobbits ran to their food. Lora joined them. The hobbits all wanted to know more about her, especially Merry since he was not married.

"So how old are you?" Merry asked urgently.

"I turned 32 in hobbit years nearly 3 days ago."

"Are you married?" Pippin asked looking at Merry.

"No... I'm not." Pippin and Merry smiled at each other. Once they finished their dinner, Lora left for a secret meeting with the High Elves. She seemed very nervous and had been nearly drenched in sweat while waiting for them to call her. When she came out, she did not look too excited.