Chapter16

When I awoke, I was just being settled in a rather large bed. The sheets and blankets were white, and filled with down. I could feel it.

Tilting my head to the side, I saw Frodo. He was being laid in a bed twin to mine. But he looked gray and diminished. Several elves were bending over him. Speaking worriedly in their own tongue.

"Will he be alright?" I asked. I was shocked at the sound of my own voice. It sounded thin and strained.

A blonde female elf came over quickly and passed me a drought, tight lipped and worried looking. I thought it was for my voice, to rid it of the last shreds of the black rider's spell. And when I drank it my throat did feel much better....

But all of the sudden I was feeling so tired; I couldn't keep my eyes open for another second, and I was promptly back asleep...

When I next came to, I could hear many, many voices, lifted in a song. It was beautiful, all bells and falling water sounding, very soothing. I was in the same bed, but now it was dark out, and I knew it must be the middle of the night (at best.)

When I looked over to where Frodo was, he was still there. Though now, he just looked like he was sleeping. The color had returned to normal in his face.

I pushed myself up, and swung my legs over the side of the bed. My feet didn't even touch the floor. When I noticed that I had pushed myself up. But I hadn't felt any pain. And looking at my injured hand, I knew why.

Where before there had been a nasty gash, rested a neat little white scar. I stared at it in awe, then slowly opened and closed my fingers. Open and close, open and close. They worked perfectly.

I was overjoyed. Then I noticed I was garbed completely in white. It was very soft, a full dress and shift too. And my hair and face were clean. Which felt very strange, considering that I didn't remember washing or changing myself.

No, I hadn't. I'm positive. Which means the elves must've done it for me. I blushed. But I have to admit, it did feel wonderful. And though I had probably only gotten mere hours of sleep, I felt completely refreshed.

So hopping off of the bed, I padded silently over to Frodo, and taking a worried look at his shoulder, noticed that his wound was almost completely healed as well. I felt his forehead; it was no longer hot either. I sighed. I should've known the elves would take good care of him.

So I decided to wonder around a bit and see what I could of Rivendell. Maybe I'd even find some food. Or my companions.

The halls were huge, with ceilings so high; they would give normal trees a run for their money. And it was still and quiet, I felt completely at peace.

After roaming the halls for some time, my stomach was growling and complaining, so I decided to keep my word on looking for food.

I could still here the noise of merry making elves, and common logic proves solemnly, that where there is merry making, there is also food. So, not giving it another thought, I began to follow my pointy ears.

And I have to say, I found the elves. And rather quickly too. But I couldn't work up my nerve to enter the great hall. There were elves every where. Dancing, singing, talking, eating, or just sitting and enjoying themselves.

And I felt extremely out of place. After all, they were all just so beautiful and graceful, and TALL. I felt just the opposite. So I stood just beyond one of the many doorways, hoping that I was out of sight.

And then I watched. And watched and watched. When suddenly I spotted a mass of red curly hair. And then I saw a small arm dart out from underneath a table and grab at a plate.

"Pippin!" I hissed. They paid me no heed. I tried again, "Merry!"

Silence, then I heard muffled mumblings and a bit of a squabble, before a rather disgruntled and healthy looking Peregrin Took was pushed out from under the table on his bottom.

"Pippin!" I said with a huge grin.

"Merna! Oh, it's you. Merry said you were Gandalf or Elrond or someone. I guess he was just trying to scare me though." He returned with a lopsided smile.

I smiled at him from my hiding place. When he noticed that I was in fact.... Hiding.

"Merna, what are you doing? Hiding? Come in here." He said holding out his hand.

And I came. I grasped his hand firmly, and smiled at him. "Thanks, Pip," I said, 'And yes, I was hiding. But now, I intend to eat." I finished with a laugh.

I moved over to one of the food tables, grabbed a delicate crystal plate, and filled it with anything I could get my hands on. When I looked up from this strenuous activity, Pippin was gone.

My guess was that he was back under one of the tables. So taking a good guess to which one, I lifted up the cloth and ducked under myself.

I was right, but the first face I saw was Merridoc Brandybuck's. He smiled at me.

"'Ello Merna, what took you so long?" He asked.

I grinned back at him, "Would you believe I was lost?"

"Not for a second...oh good, you brought more food."

"No way" I laughed, "At least not for you. Why are you hiding UNDER the food tables anyway? Shouldn't you be taking food from the TOPS of them?"

"Oh, we already tried that, and they were happy enough at first, to let us have all we wanted, but then they realized that all we wanted, might be more than they have. So now we've resorted to sneaking it." Retorted Pippin.

And then I couldn't help it. I laughed and laughed and laughed. And in between laughing tried to ask: "Well..... (Laughter).....how...how....(More laughter) ....much.....did you....(Laughter)....eat?!?"

Pippin picked up the table cloth just a bit and said, "You see that table right there," (he pointed) "Well, me and Merry cleaned that one out, before they caught us."

I should have known. A whole table. And let me tell you, these tables aren't small.

I continued to stuff my face, allowing Pip and Merry to pick and choose off of my plate as well. When we were finished though, I head the music the elves were playing, and decided I would like a dance.

"Pippin?"

"Hmmm? (Still chewing)"

"Well, I was wondering if you wanted to dance? You know with...me?"

"(Choking noise) Out THERE? With all of those elves watching?"

"Well, yes. What's wrong with that?"

"They'll be watching?" (Sarcastically)

I gave him a smile, and raised my eyebrow (something I am very good at) and asked quite seriously, "Then does that mean that I have to go find myself an elvish prince? Or should I just dance with your dashing cousin?"

"What?" Asked Pippin.

"Dashing?" said Merry with a grin.

"Well, do you want to dance with me or not?"

"I'll dance with you, Merna!" said Merry with a wink. That Pippin saw.

I smiled at him, about to accept, when Pippin said quickly...

"Oh no you wont my dearest cousin. I am going to dance with her."

And with that, he took my hand and we ducked under the tablecloth, and onto the dance floor, just as a lively song began to play.

I put my hand on his shoulder, and Pippin took my other one, then he put his other hand on my hip.

And we danced, he twirled me, and we did a couple of dips, and bows/curtsies to each other. And by the time the first song was over, we were having so much fun; we danced through two more.

In the last dance, Pippin tried to toss me up into the air and succeeded. He caught me (amid the cheers of the elves) perfectly. And then we noticed that most of the others had stopped dancing to watch us. I daresay we were amusing. Two wee little people, lost among a forest of beautiful elves.

When we walked off of the floor, we were greeted by many elves, who introduced themselves and asked our names. I had said mine so many times I was starting to get tired of saying it.

By now, the elves were on such friendly terms with Pippin once more, that he decided to try his luck again at clearing tables. Hoping that they had forgotten all about the earlier incident.

I laughed as I watched him go, and by now feeling quite comfortable myself, I decided to walk about and look for some familiar faces.

I spotted Glorfindel among some others, and not wishing to disturb him, I just gave a quick little wave as I passed by. The nosing about the corridors I spotted Aragorn, who was privately 'conversing' with one who could be none other than Arwen Evenstar. I smiled, and walked the other way.

As I was making my way back to the Great Hall, I heard someone in the shadows say, "Are you looking for something there, lass?"

I smiled, "Not quite. I am looking for SOMEONE. Could you be the one I seek?"

"I could," came the voice. Which was a deep baritone.

"Then might you be Gandalf the Grey, wisest of all Maiar?"

He laughed, deep and full then came into the light. "Our paths may yet cross," he said with a twinkle in his eye.

"I knew we'd meet again Gandalf!" I said smiling as he pulled me into a fatherly embrace.

Author: Hope you all liked it. The next chapter will have the Council of Elrond in it, promise. Enjoy the updates and review.

I'll keep them coming!

Thanx, Pippinsgal011890