Loving Allegra
Chapter Five: Mithfalien
"How would I know such things?" she heard a new voice say. She sat up and saw an Elf maiden in the doorway. She was tall with fair skin, flowing auburn hair, and brilliant green eyes.
"Who are you?" asked Allegra.
"A nice way to greet the one who has eased your pain," she said.
"Oh...thank you," said Allegra.
"I am Mithfalien," she said. "Come, it is time for you to get dressed and get back to your companions."
"I thought I was supposed to be resting," said Allegra.
"You are rested enough. Come now, your friends are waiting." Allegra got up and followed Mithfalien down the hallway and into another room, just as beautifully furnished as the one she'd woken up in. There was a long wardrobe against the wall and a tall golden mirror against another. Mithfalien opened the wardrobe, and inside were several dresses, tiny compared to the rest, but equally elegant. "These were made for you at Lady Arwen's request."
"Will they fit?" asked Allegra feeling the fabric.
"I believe so. If they do not, it would be a terrible waste of fabric," said Mithfalien.
"I suppose it would be," agreed Allegra. "I really like this one," she said pointing to a white dress with a flowing train, no sleeves, and a low cut collar. Tiny pink flowers were embroidered all over it.
"Let me help you put it on," Mithfalien offered. She took the dress off the hanger and helped Allegra situate the dress so it sat right. She looked at herself in the mirror and found quite a different person than she had seen just a week ago in the waters of the Brandywine. Her hair had grown much longer and it shimmered in the sunlight. The dress flattered her slightly heavier set figure very well. Her skin seemed fairer, bringing the light brown freckles that flecked her cheeks stand out a little more. The scares on her arms had completely vanished. She looked down for the one on her foot and saw that it had dissapeared...along with all the hair on her feet.
"What have you done to my feet?" cried Allegra.
"Cleaned them, of course," said Mithfalien. "They were very dirty and they had hair on them."
"There's supposed to be hair there!" Allegra cried.
"Do all of your kind have hair on their feet?" asked Mithfalien.
"Yes!" said Allegra, exasperated.
"Ah. Well, I'm terribly sorry. It will grow back, I'd imagine," she said.
"You imagine or you know?" asked Allegra skeptically.
"I am almost positive," said Mithfalien. Allegra sighed.
"And why is my hair longer?" she asked.
"The oils we put in your hair has hastened the growth of it," said Mithfalien.
"Interesting," muttered Allegra.
"Shall I show you to your friends?" asked Mithfalien.
"Yes, please," said Allegra happily. Mithfalien lead her down to a courtyard where she found Sam, Merry, and Pippin. When they saw her, their jaws dropped in unison.
"You look like...like," stammered Sam with a red face.
"A woman," said Pippin.
"Yeah," agreed Merry, looking as though his eyes might pop right out of his head.
"Well that just happens to be what I am," Allegra pointed out.
"Yes but...but you're normally not this, erm...," Merry stuttered.
"Beautiful," muttered Pippin in an almost awe-stricken voice. Sam and Merry looked at him as if they thought him mad. Allegra's cheeks turned pink as she smiled.
"Th-thanks," she muttered. She never got any male attention. She looked behind her friends absent-mindedly and saw a familiar shape heading towards them.
"Hey, look, there's Frodo!" cried Allegra happily.
"Frodo!" Sam cried. They ran to Frodo, so happy to see that he was not dead. They laughed and exchanged hugs. Pippin threw his arm around Allegra and pressed her against him, both of them beaming at Frodo. Frodo cocked his head slightly at them.
"How long have I been asleep?" he asked with a laugh.
"Look," said Sam, pointing behind Frodo with a happy smile. Allegra was glad that Sam had distracted them. Frodo looked around, forgetting about what had just happened. There sat Bilbo Baggins on a bench under a tree. He had aged dramatically since the last time he was seen, but smiled happily as he always did when Frodo came over and gave him a hug. They both went off to chat, and the four companions were left alone to talk.
"What happened to your feet?" asked Merry.
"They," stammered Allegra with a fake smile and an irritated shrug, "removed the hair."
"Why?" asked Merry, looking disgusted.
"I don't know, she said she didn't know all Hobbits had hair on their feet," said Allegra.
"Course we all have hair on our feet," said Sam. "I can think of a Hobbit that didn't."
"I don't expect her to know instantly about our ways and all that, but she could have at least asked me before she went and ripped all my hair out," she grumbled.
"Is it going to grow back?" asked Pippin almost hopefully.
"I hope so, because it looks really strange without it," said Allegra looking down at her hairless feet. She covered them up with her dress. "So what have you three been up to these past three days?"
"Sam and I did a little exploring. Sam's mostly been watching over Frodo and Pippin's been making sure you're all right," said Merry. Allegra knew that he felt a little bit lonely lately. She decided to try and include him more to compensate.
"Everything's alright now, and we're all back together again," said Allegra. "We're a team, the five of us."
"Well mostly you three," said Sam. "There ain't a time I can think of when Meriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrin Took weren't followed closely by Allegra Burrows." This made them smile and think back on the Shire, which wasn't so far away.
"I hope that one day we'll be able to go back to the Shire," said Pippin. "And one day things will go back to normal."
"I hope so too," said Merry.
"So you said you explored the grounds?" asked Allegra.
"Yes," said Sam. "They're really beautiful. Flawless gardening, I should like to know how they do it." Allegra smiled and laughed. Sam and Merry lead Pippin and Allegra around Rivendell, showing them all the most beautiful courtyards, gardens, and fountains.
"How long are we staying here?" wondered Allegra.
"I haven't heard, but I hope for at least a little while," said Sam. "All this moving about is making me tired."
"I have a feeling that there's going to be a lot more moving around to come, Sam," Allegra said darkly. "But, on a happier note, I'm feeling well enough to teach you some Elvish." Sam's face lit up and they all went back to Allegra's room. She found a quill, some ink, and a small roll of parchment. Merry and Pippin pulled up chairs to watch.
"Alright, so the first thing you need to know are the symbols," said Allegra writing them down carefully with their common speech equivalent on the side. "Oh, this dialect is called Quenya, if you were wondering. Now, it's important in Elvish to know how to pronounce the sounds. Some sounds are absent in Quenya that we use regularly. Most of the sounds made by the letter 'I' aren't used except for 'ee' like in Keri (that's my aunt's name.) There are marks you can put over vowels when you want their sounds to change, but that's for later. Anyway, 'qu' translates into 'kw', pronounced like 'queen.' Here, I'll just write all the rules on the side so you don't forget them," said Allegra, getting frustrated. She really wasn't a very good teacher.
"That's fine with me. I forget things easily," said Sam. Allegra took the time to write all the rules down, the markings to make the vowels change, and a few phrases. "How do I write my name?" asked Sam.
"Like this," said Allegra writing down Sam's name in the loopy symbols. She gave him the quill and he copied it. "That's really good!" said Allegra. "Now you can write in Elvish."
"That's terribly clever of you," said Mithfalien's voice. "Where did you learn Quenya?"
"Gandalf taught me. You have a knack for eavesdropping, don't you?" said Allegra in more of a teasing way than irritated.
"Can I help it if you talk at the top of your voice?" asked Mithfalien.
"Well you could keep walking," Allegra pointed out.
"I could have, it's true. However, I have no duties to carry out for a while yet," she explained as she came closer.
"That's tragic," muttered Allegra. "This is Mithfalien, guys."
"Hello," they said out of unison. Mithfalien nodded to them with a smile.
"This is Merry, Pippin, and Sam," said Allegra.
"Good evening," she said. She looked down at Merry, Pippin, and Sam's feet. She smiled. "Hobbits really do have hair on their feet."
"That's not funny!" cried Allegra. Mithfalien's smile broadened.
"I'll leave you now," she said, almost laughing. "I have nearly forgotten that I have to meet someone."
"You'd better leave," grumbled Allegra. "And no more eavesdropping!" she cried after her. Mithfalien did not answer as she left the room.
"You make friends wherever you go, don't you?" said Sam.
"I don't know about that, I haven't really been many places," said Allegra. "And plus, she's not really my friend. She's just...everywhere."
"Thanks for the Elvish, but I'm going to go find Frodo," said Sam.
"Alright. See you later, Sam," said Allegra. Merry and Pippin muttered their good-byes. Allegra sighed.
"It's strange isn't it?" asked Merry.
"What's strange?" asked Allegra.
"That we should just get caught up in all this ring business," he said. "That we should be stealing vegetables at the exact time that Frodo and Sam were leaving the Shire. And curiouser still, how the Ringwraiths managed to block our way home."
"Uncanny," muttered Allegra flatly. Gandalf entered the room, making his presence known with three swift knocks on the door jam with his staff.
"Hello," he said sitting down in Sam's old chair. "How are you feeling?" he asked Allegra.
"Good as new," she said.
"Good," said Gandalf with a nod. "I'm glad I caught you all here instead of having to hunt you down individually. At seven o' clock, Lord Elrond his holding a feast in Frodo's honor. It is almost mandatory that you attend."
"I wouldn't say no to a feast, I'm starving," said Pippin.
"You're always starving, Pippin," said Merry. Gandalf ignored him.
"Good. Then I'll see you all at seven. If you get lost, I'm sure you'll find someone to give you directions," said Gandalf getting up to leave.
"What time is it now?" asked Allegra.
"Five o' clock," said Gandalf as he left. "Plenty of time to get ready."
"I'm glad I have this dress so I don't have to go in your clothes," Allegra said to Pippin.
"What's wrong with my clothes?" he asked in an offended tone.
"Nothing, they're just not very feminine," she said.
"Actually, I beg to differ," teased Merry.
"My clothes aren't feminine!" cried Pippin. "And if they are, they're no different than yours!" he told Merry.
"I'm more masculine than you anyway," said Merry.
"You both act like girls, lets just leave it at that," said Allegra.
"Girls!" cried Merry. "I don't think so!"
"Well I do. It's from hanging around me all your lives," said Allegra.
"Not all my life, I'm nine years older than you," said Merry.
"Nine years, oooh! What a difference!" teased Allegra.
"I don't have to sit here and take this," joked Merry. Allegra laughed at him. "Come on, Pippin," he said pulling Pippin out of the room by his arm. This made Allegra laugh harder. They got up and left, Pippin blowing a raspberry at her through a laughing smile as they left. She stuck her tongue out at him and wiped her eyes.
"Couple of idiots...," she muttered. "Guess I'll get ready for dinner," she sighed. She looked at herself in the gold mirror on the wall. Her hair was just the same as when she'd looked at it last, and her dress needed no adjusting. "Well that was easy," she said to herself. She hopped onto the bed jumped on it for a little while, feeling awfully childish, but couldn't think of anything better to do.
"That puts unnecessary ware on the bed, you know."
"Back so soon?" asked Allegra. "A simple 'hello' would suffice, you know," she pointed out.
"I'll try that someday," said Mithfalien.
"So who did you have to meet? Where are they?" asked Allegra, trying to look around Mithfalien, but no one was there.
"Legolas, Prince of Mirkwood has come to Rivendell for the council tomorrow," said Mithfalien happily. "However, at the moment, he is detained."
"Doing what?" asked Allegra.
"Getting ready for the feast," said Mithfalien. "One cannot go to an Elven feast in their traveling clothes."
"I guess not," said Allegra. There was a small pause. "So why did you have to greet this Prince?"
"I've been waiting for two years to see him again," said Mithfalien.
"Ah," Allegra said with a nod. "That kind of greeting."
"Indeed," she said. "I am very happy now that he is here."
"I'd like to meet this 'Legolas' of yours," said Allegra.
"You will. Tonight at the feast," said Mithfalien.
"How long have you two been together?" asked Allegra.
"Only one hundred seven years," said Mithfalien. "Someday, I would like to marry him, but I do not know if our families will permit it. We shall see."
"Maybe I'll be as lucky," said Allegra.
"You have eyes for someone?" she asked.
"No...well, sort of...He was the one that was at my bedside while I was asleep," said Allegra.
"I did not see him clearly," Mithfalien said, trying to think of which Hobbit sat with Allegra.
"He's got curly brown hair, he's a little bit taller than me...," said Allegra trying to jog Mithfalien's memory.
"That does not help," said Mithfalien.
"I guess it doesn't," laughed Allegra, noticing that all her friends had brown curly hair and were taller than her. She sighed. "Well, never mind, I'm sure he'll end up sitting next to me at dinner. He's not the brightest star in the sky, but he's charming in his own way. I kind of wish I would have noticed sooner. See, he's my best friend, and I guess we just sort of grew closer."
"I see," said Mithfalien. "I hope that you are together far into the future."
"I don't really know about that, I don't even know if this will last," Allegra said. "But it would be nice, I suppose...It's still weird looking at one of your best friends and seeing someone completely different than the week before."
"I understand. Come with me. There is enough time to find Legolas and get to the feast without being late," said Mithfalien
"Alright," said Allegra getting up from her seat on the edge of the bed. She followed Mithfalien across Rivendell to the other guest quarters. Dusk had fallen over Rivendell. Everything was covered in blue shadow. They walked down one of the corridors and stopped at a door. Mithfalien opened the door slowly without knocking. Allegra followed her into the room. A tall, slender figure rose from inspecting his baggage and came to greet them. He took Mithfalien's hands in his and brought them up to his mouth, giving her a soft kiss on the top of her hands. He greeted her in Elvish.
"Who is your companion?" he asked in the common tongue.
"This is Allegra. She is a Hobbit of the Shire," said Mithfalien.
"Good evening," he said. "I am Legolas of Mirkwood." Allegra nodded her head in respect.
"I have been given the duty of watching over her, and I have offered to escort her to the feast," Mithfalien continued. "Will you come as well?"
"Of course," said Legolas. As they walked out of Legolas's quarters, Allegra felt out of place walking behind the two of them. She could tell they had strong feelings for one another. It made her feel a little lonely.
They entered a great hall, a covered area with open areas that let in the almost chilly evening air. Allegra spotted Arwen at the head of the table next to who Allegra imagined to be her father, Elrond. There were many Elves, a few Men, and a small group of Dwarves. Despite their rough appearance, Allegra thought that she might like to meet a Dwarf, just to see what they were like. The table was filled with strange foods Allegra had never seen before on beautiful silver platters. Allegra found Strider and sat down next to him. Mithfalien and Legolas found seats on the opposite side of the table.
"How are you feeling?" asked Strider.
"Much better, thank you," Allegra replied.
"That's good to hear. Where are your friends?" he asked.
"I don't know, I came with Mithfalien and Legolas," Allegra explained. When the last few stragglers entered and were seated, Lord Elrond rose to give a speech. He opened his mouth to speak when the sound of running feet and panicked voices issued from the corridor outside the hall. Merry, Pippin, and Sam ran into the hall. They slowed down to a brisk walk when they saw most of the eyes in the hall on them. They sat down in the three empty seats beside Allegra and tried to control their heavy breathing. Elrond cleared his throat and began to speak.
"Thank you for attending," he said. "This feast is in honor of Frodo Baggins, a Hobbit of the Shire. He has traveled from his home with four of his friends and a great burden that has troubled the minds of all of us for some time. Tomorrow we will discuss the matter at hand, but for tonight please eat and rest." With that, he sat down and waved his hand towards the food on the table. Everyone put food on their plates and started to chat with the people near them.
"Where have you three been?" asked Allegra.
"We couldn't find the way here," said Merry.
"You could have asked for directions," said Allegra.
"We found it all right," said Sam.
"Men," Allegra muttered, rolling her eyes.
"Where were you?" asked Pippin.
"Talking with Mithfalien," said Allegra. She and her companions filled their plates with more food than most of the guests had helped themselves to. Allegra thought that she could see Pippin watching her out of the corner of her eye. She smiled to herself, but did not look over at him.
Allegra thought that the Elvish food was interesting, but by the end of the night, she was certain that she enjoyed Hobbit cuisine much better. Nine o' clock came and went. Many of the guests had retired, leaving the rest to chat idly with friends and acquaintances. Allegra, sleepy from her large meal, decided that she would follow suit and get back to her room.
An hour passed by slowly in Rivendell, during which most of its inhabitants fell softly to sleep. There were a select few, however, that could not find solace in slumber. Allegra sat up in her bed, unable to sleep. Not wanting to sleep. She was about to get out of bed to take a walk through the empty hallways when the door creaked open. Her stomach lurched in fear.
"Are you asleep?" Pippin's voice whispered. She heaved a sigh of relief, happy that it wasn't another horrible black monster coming to kill her in the night.
"No," said Allegra quietly.
"Can I come in?" he asked.
"Of course you can," Allegra said. She reached over on the bedside table and turned the little knob on the lamp, causing the dim light coming from the wick to intensify, throwing a bright, warm glow on the two hobbits. She could now see his face in the flickering light. He approached the bed and looked like he didn't know what to do. Allegra smiled at him and motioned for him to sit with her. He had to take a good hop at the bed to reach the top. He sat down and looked a little uneasy. "So," she said slowly. "Why did you come?"
"I just wanted to see you," he said. She smiled. "And I couldn't sleep."
"I can't sleep either. Thanks for thinking of me," she said.
"It's not a hard thing to do," said Pippin fondly.
"What makes it so easy to think about me? I'm not that interesting, am I?" she asked.
"Sure you are! You're very clever, you know."
"Well, thanks," said Allegra with half a chuckle. An interesting adjective, she thought.
"I still feel like I'm going about this all wrong," he said. "What will your father say when we get back?"
"He'll probably fetch the pitch fork from the back garden and skewer you with it," she said as seriously as she could. A mortified expression took Pippin's face. "Kidding! I'm sure he cares more about me getting home than he does about that," said Allegra with a smile.
"I hope we get home," he said sadly.
"I think we will," Allegra said confidently. There was a lull in the conversation.
"May I ask you something?" Pippin asked her.
"Of course," Allegra replied.
"Is it alright if I touch you? I mean, not in a bad way, but maybe I could hold you sometimes....or something?" he asked. Allegra laughed at his lack of grace.
"I suppose you could," she said. "No harm in that. It's a little soon, though..."
"If I'm going too fast, I can slow down," Pippin offered quickly. "I promise."
"No, it's fine," she said.
"I'm sorry that I'm so bad at this," Pippin apologized.
"No need to be sorry. It isn't as if I know what I'm doing either," Allegra told him. He smiled and tried putting his arm around her. He moved his arm forward, then pulled away, and finally rested it around her shoulders. Allegra giggled at him as she laid her head on his shoulder. They sat there for a few minutes, enjoying each other's company.
"I'd better go," Pippin said finally.
"Alright," Allegra said, leaning forward to free his arm. He climbed off the bed and shuffled towards the door.
"Have a good sleep," he said, turning back. Allegra noticed that he was blushing furiously from their encounter.
"You too," Allegra told him.
"Good night," he said.
"'Night." Pippin slipped out the door and shut it quietly. Allegra squirmed under the blankets and blew out the lamp. She rolled over and drifted off into a very sound sleep, feeling very happy indeed.