AN: I'm sorry I haven't updated the story lately! I'm going to try to be better. pouts More later!!!! Soon, I promise!!!!! And off we go into Tolkien's world!
Since the confrontation with Elrond, Gracy began to return to normal, but the matter of the ring was never far from her thoughts. It only heightened one day when Arwen returned. She came flying in on her horse carrying a small limp child. Or so it looked. "Frodo?" Gracy whispered as she ran towards Arwen. "Your father is in his study. I'll stay with Frodo. Go!" Arwen gave her a surprised look before she bolted to her father's study. Gracy held his small hand in hers for a moment before she jerked back in shock. His hand was colder then ice. His eyes were tightly shut and his mahogany curls were strewn all over his face. At that moment Arwen came hurrying back down just behind her father. It all happened so fast but in a moment Frodo was gone and she was restabling Arwen's horse.
"My father needs help as soon as we can give it to him," She breathed. Gracy nodded and as they ran to the herb house, Arwen began listing required things. They reached the herb house, a large airy building with huge shafts of light in various places. Arwen began collecting a few things on a shelf while Gracy ran up to the second level to get a large jar full of blackwart. She knew the herb well, having worked with it many times. She went back down to find Arwen making a bundle of small pouches. She took the jar from Gracy, poured some into a pouch and threw it in the bundle.
"Gracy, my father asked that you bring your, what do you call it? Books of Windows?"
"Book of Shadows," Gracy corrected her, "is there anything else?"
"He requested a glass jar and a handful of dried...nettles do you call it?"
"Yes. Take these things to your father and I will fetch the rest," Gracy spoke as she ran back up, this time to the third level of the building. Sitting in a shaft of sunlight on a book stand lay open, a large black leather book with Gracy's name and the words Book of Shadows stamped in silver on the cover. Gracy grabbed the book, ran down one flight of stairs and opened a small cupboard on one of the walls. She pulled out a small glass jar, tucked the book under her arm, held the glass jar in the other hand and ran to the room of healing where Arwen and her father waited.
Elrond had already gotten to work when Gracy arrived. She spent the rest of the time running in and out of the room to get this or that. She helped with a healing spell in the Book of Shadows, and ran back and forth to deliver messages. Then she and Elrohir went to Elrond's study to write messages. A council had to be called at once now that the ring and its carrier had arrived. When Elrond was finished, he left Frodo to rest and wake up on his own. He checked on Gracy's and Elrohir's progress. They had just finished the last scroll when he came in. He told them which lands and people they were to be sent to and sent a maid to alert the stables, to prepare Rivendell's swiftest messengers. When they finished, Gracy and Elrohir ran down to the stables. Horses were being led out and saddled while messengers readied themselves for their journeys. They began to hand out the scrolls and soon as a messenger was given one she or he would leap onto their horse and scamper off in the blink of an eye.
Finally that night, Gracy had a moment of rest, actually she was on in twenty minutes, but her legs were killing her from delivering messages and welcoming guests. Gracy lay next to Ally on a couch type bed outside, watching the waterfalls.
"Gracy, you awake?" Sierra approached them cautiously.
"Mmmm?" Gracy looked at her through one sleep blurred eye.
"Elrond wants one of you to welcome a guest and deliver a message. Sorry to wake you."
"That's okay," Gracy got up quietly and stretched, careful not to wake Ally, "I'll get it."
"You look really tired. Have you slept at all?" Sierra followed her.
"Nope, just those eight minutes," yawning and stumbling slightly, Gracy left.
The next morning, the situation was this: almost nobody, meaning Arwen, Gracy, Lorriane, Ally, Sierra, Elrond, and a whole bunch of servants, had slept. They were still going, but by afternoon, lo and behold! Frodo was awake! He even got up and walked around later that afternoon. Gracy had no more to do and thought eagerly of sleeping but all the others were so occupied so Elrond called for her to welcome some guests. Grumbling to herself, Gracy headed towards the stables. She climbed onto a horse and rode further out to wait. She was thinking about Frodo's happy face when he'd seen Sam, Merry, and Pippin. But perhaps the best part was the way Arwen's face lit up when she saw Aragorn safe and unharmed. Presently, the beat of hooves brought Gracy out of her thoughts. A tall man with a fur-lined cloak rode closer. Gracy immediately recognized him as Boromir. 'Actually,' Gracy thought, 'he looks even better in person.' Boromir stopped about a foot in front of her. Gracy bowed her head and made no indication that she knew anything about him, such as his birthday, his father's name, or his brother's future wife.
"My lord, welcome to Rivendell."
"My Lady," Boromir nodded, still slightly out of breath.
"What province have you traveled from? And what name shall I tell Elrond of who has arrived?" Gracy inquired, starting to feel surprised at the way she was talking. Boromir's mouth cracked a small smile. Whether it was because he thought she was adorable, or it was a half challenging, half sarcastic smile, Gracy didn't know. Either way he replied, "Tell him Boromir, son of Denethor has arrived from the Steward's house in Gondor."
"Very good, my lord, but if you would prefer to receive him yourself, his study can be found just there," Gracy replied, her voice softening a bit.
Boromir's smile grew, "Thank you, my lady. And whom shall I tell his lordship has sent me there?"
"Simply tell him Gracy has fulfilled the required duty and wishes to sleep seeing as she hasn't done so for almost a day and a half."
Boromir was positively grinning by now, "I'd be pleased to, my lady," and with that remark he bowed his head and rode off to the stables where a stable keeper was waiting. Gracy shook her head and turned her attention back to the clearing. After a moment she decided to ride out further. 'Not a moment too soon,' she thought to herself, for she heard the faint sounds of horse hooves striking the ground. She rode out further and was amazed to see Legolas riding towards her. Someone, who was most likely an elf as well, with dark hair was riding next to him. Legolas turned and said something to his companion that Gracy couldn't quite catch before he slowed his horse and called out, "Mae govannen, Gracy!"
Gracy raised an arm in greeting and answered, "Mae govannen, Legolas!"
He rode closer and reigned to a stop in front of her. "I see you have found yourself a home," he said grinning.
"Yes, I like it here very much."
He peered closer at her face, "You look exhausted. Have you slept recently?"
Gracy shook her head, "Even since the hobbit, Frodo Baggins, was brought in wounded, I haven't slept a wink."
"What have you been doing?" Legolas looked surprised.
"Writing messages, delivering them, running errands, performing spells...a lot more besides."
"Would Elrond not allow even a few moments rest?" Legolas looked positively stunned.
"When he can spare me. So far, everyone's been so busy that he cannot spare me. Now, if you would like to receive Lord Elrond, his study is just there."
"Oh, yes. This is my companion, Saelbeth, by the way," Legolas nodded towards his companion. Gracy bowed her head and smiled slightly. Saelbeth nodded politely in return.
"Well then," she said turning back to Legolas, "I suppose you'll be wanting to receive Lord Elrond?"
"That would be nice, yes."
"The stable keeper is waiting, he will help your horses get situated. Then you can go and receive him in his study," Gracy smiled at him.
"Thank you," Legolas returned the smile and he and his companion rode off. Sighing, Gracy waited till they were gone, then went to unsaddle her own horse. Whether there were more guests to welcome or not, she was tired. A soft pillow after a bath seemed just the thing.
Until next time!! Which will be soon! -kkatz and priya
Since the confrontation with Elrond, Gracy began to return to normal, but the matter of the ring was never far from her thoughts. It only heightened one day when Arwen returned. She came flying in on her horse carrying a small limp child. Or so it looked. "Frodo?" Gracy whispered as she ran towards Arwen. "Your father is in his study. I'll stay with Frodo. Go!" Arwen gave her a surprised look before she bolted to her father's study. Gracy held his small hand in hers for a moment before she jerked back in shock. His hand was colder then ice. His eyes were tightly shut and his mahogany curls were strewn all over his face. At that moment Arwen came hurrying back down just behind her father. It all happened so fast but in a moment Frodo was gone and she was restabling Arwen's horse.
"My father needs help as soon as we can give it to him," She breathed. Gracy nodded and as they ran to the herb house, Arwen began listing required things. They reached the herb house, a large airy building with huge shafts of light in various places. Arwen began collecting a few things on a shelf while Gracy ran up to the second level to get a large jar full of blackwart. She knew the herb well, having worked with it many times. She went back down to find Arwen making a bundle of small pouches. She took the jar from Gracy, poured some into a pouch and threw it in the bundle.
"Gracy, my father asked that you bring your, what do you call it? Books of Windows?"
"Book of Shadows," Gracy corrected her, "is there anything else?"
"He requested a glass jar and a handful of dried...nettles do you call it?"
"Yes. Take these things to your father and I will fetch the rest," Gracy spoke as she ran back up, this time to the third level of the building. Sitting in a shaft of sunlight on a book stand lay open, a large black leather book with Gracy's name and the words Book of Shadows stamped in silver on the cover. Gracy grabbed the book, ran down one flight of stairs and opened a small cupboard on one of the walls. She pulled out a small glass jar, tucked the book under her arm, held the glass jar in the other hand and ran to the room of healing where Arwen and her father waited.
Elrond had already gotten to work when Gracy arrived. She spent the rest of the time running in and out of the room to get this or that. She helped with a healing spell in the Book of Shadows, and ran back and forth to deliver messages. Then she and Elrohir went to Elrond's study to write messages. A council had to be called at once now that the ring and its carrier had arrived. When Elrond was finished, he left Frodo to rest and wake up on his own. He checked on Gracy's and Elrohir's progress. They had just finished the last scroll when he came in. He told them which lands and people they were to be sent to and sent a maid to alert the stables, to prepare Rivendell's swiftest messengers. When they finished, Gracy and Elrohir ran down to the stables. Horses were being led out and saddled while messengers readied themselves for their journeys. They began to hand out the scrolls and soon as a messenger was given one she or he would leap onto their horse and scamper off in the blink of an eye.
Finally that night, Gracy had a moment of rest, actually she was on in twenty minutes, but her legs were killing her from delivering messages and welcoming guests. Gracy lay next to Ally on a couch type bed outside, watching the waterfalls.
"Gracy, you awake?" Sierra approached them cautiously.
"Mmmm?" Gracy looked at her through one sleep blurred eye.
"Elrond wants one of you to welcome a guest and deliver a message. Sorry to wake you."
"That's okay," Gracy got up quietly and stretched, careful not to wake Ally, "I'll get it."
"You look really tired. Have you slept at all?" Sierra followed her.
"Nope, just those eight minutes," yawning and stumbling slightly, Gracy left.
The next morning, the situation was this: almost nobody, meaning Arwen, Gracy, Lorriane, Ally, Sierra, Elrond, and a whole bunch of servants, had slept. They were still going, but by afternoon, lo and behold! Frodo was awake! He even got up and walked around later that afternoon. Gracy had no more to do and thought eagerly of sleeping but all the others were so occupied so Elrond called for her to welcome some guests. Grumbling to herself, Gracy headed towards the stables. She climbed onto a horse and rode further out to wait. She was thinking about Frodo's happy face when he'd seen Sam, Merry, and Pippin. But perhaps the best part was the way Arwen's face lit up when she saw Aragorn safe and unharmed. Presently, the beat of hooves brought Gracy out of her thoughts. A tall man with a fur-lined cloak rode closer. Gracy immediately recognized him as Boromir. 'Actually,' Gracy thought, 'he looks even better in person.' Boromir stopped about a foot in front of her. Gracy bowed her head and made no indication that she knew anything about him, such as his birthday, his father's name, or his brother's future wife.
"My lord, welcome to Rivendell."
"My Lady," Boromir nodded, still slightly out of breath.
"What province have you traveled from? And what name shall I tell Elrond of who has arrived?" Gracy inquired, starting to feel surprised at the way she was talking. Boromir's mouth cracked a small smile. Whether it was because he thought she was adorable, or it was a half challenging, half sarcastic smile, Gracy didn't know. Either way he replied, "Tell him Boromir, son of Denethor has arrived from the Steward's house in Gondor."
"Very good, my lord, but if you would prefer to receive him yourself, his study can be found just there," Gracy replied, her voice softening a bit.
Boromir's smile grew, "Thank you, my lady. And whom shall I tell his lordship has sent me there?"
"Simply tell him Gracy has fulfilled the required duty and wishes to sleep seeing as she hasn't done so for almost a day and a half."
Boromir was positively grinning by now, "I'd be pleased to, my lady," and with that remark he bowed his head and rode off to the stables where a stable keeper was waiting. Gracy shook her head and turned her attention back to the clearing. After a moment she decided to ride out further. 'Not a moment too soon,' she thought to herself, for she heard the faint sounds of horse hooves striking the ground. She rode out further and was amazed to see Legolas riding towards her. Someone, who was most likely an elf as well, with dark hair was riding next to him. Legolas turned and said something to his companion that Gracy couldn't quite catch before he slowed his horse and called out, "Mae govannen, Gracy!"
Gracy raised an arm in greeting and answered, "Mae govannen, Legolas!"
He rode closer and reigned to a stop in front of her. "I see you have found yourself a home," he said grinning.
"Yes, I like it here very much."
He peered closer at her face, "You look exhausted. Have you slept recently?"
Gracy shook her head, "Even since the hobbit, Frodo Baggins, was brought in wounded, I haven't slept a wink."
"What have you been doing?" Legolas looked surprised.
"Writing messages, delivering them, running errands, performing spells...a lot more besides."
"Would Elrond not allow even a few moments rest?" Legolas looked positively stunned.
"When he can spare me. So far, everyone's been so busy that he cannot spare me. Now, if you would like to receive Lord Elrond, his study is just there."
"Oh, yes. This is my companion, Saelbeth, by the way," Legolas nodded towards his companion. Gracy bowed her head and smiled slightly. Saelbeth nodded politely in return.
"Well then," she said turning back to Legolas, "I suppose you'll be wanting to receive Lord Elrond?"
"That would be nice, yes."
"The stable keeper is waiting, he will help your horses get situated. Then you can go and receive him in his study," Gracy smiled at him.
"Thank you," Legolas returned the smile and he and his companion rode off. Sighing, Gracy waited till they were gone, then went to unsaddle her own horse. Whether there were more guests to welcome or not, she was tired. A soft pillow after a bath seemed just the thing.
Until next time!! Which will be soon! -kkatz and priya