Here I am again ,I'm in such a good mood now cause I got an A for a hard
test and now I'm happy and have inspiration and. . . I'll stop rambling
right now.
Meggers: Thanks for reviewing again, hope you won't need those tissues any time soon, though I can't promise you a thing.
LanierShazar: I don't intend to write so much but as I write I think and when I think, you better watch out.
Otaku: To answer all your questions; just read the chapter ok. Guns are bad so thanks for not shooting me, sometimes I wish we could go back at the times without any guns or bombs, the times where it was still simple you know. Though I'd probably be lost without my pc.
Arwen-evenstar: I'm so happy you liked last chapter cause I thought it was kinda. . . well bad. Hope you like this chapter too.
Sugar-is-sweet: Thanks for your great reviews, I have some ideas for even more complexity but they have to develop in my head first before I can write them down.
THEwriter Lioncub: Hope this chapter is good so you enjoy.
Punkpunk: tsk tsk too lazy to log in. Though I do feel very honored that you did read my fic in your state of boredom. I updated as I promised so you won't have to shoot me.
Ithilwen: Though I considered writing a chapter about Elladan, I decided against it as the story is about Rita and not our fav elf. So you'll just have to wait until he shows up again, sorry.
DISCLAIMER: Characters from the books belong to Tolkien, the rest are mine
Rita fell on the ground as she moved her neck around in order to loosen up her muscles, practice with Aragorn had been very intense.
Boromir and Aragorn left to talk for a while and the others hadn't returned yet so she was all alone. She closed her eyes and savored the feeling.
Don't get her wrong, she loved the members of the fellowship, but after spending time with them non-stop for months it was nice to have some time for herself.
Her moment of peace was disturbed when she heard soft whispers from behind her and she almost groaned as she recognized the voiced of Imari and Ilwen. She had forgotten all about the promise she had made, but she realized she couldn't break her word.
With a fluid movement she jumped up, startling the poor girls, and turned to them. "You girls ready to play?"
Two heads nodded vigorously and she was being dragged to their playground. Once they got there Rita noticed that a large group of children had gathered, there were 17 kids.
Salmir stepped forwards when he saw her and once again he took charge, he was the oldest of all children after all. "Rita we have played this hide and seek game you mentioned, but if I remember correctly you said that was the game you liked second-best. What is your favorite game and will you play it with us?"
"My favorite game. . . hmm now lets think, I did say that didn't I? I guess my favorite game is tag." after seeing the blank looks around her she raised her hands in the air in mock desperation.
"You don't even know what tag is? What kind of world is this?" meanwhile she was thinking fast at a way to explain the game. "Uhm, well tag is a game where one person is. . . never mind I'll just show you."
With that she tapped Salmir's arm and ran away. "Now you're it." Rita said "Now you have to try and tag somebody else, and then that person is it and you repeat that as long as you want the game to last."
Salmir got a look of understanding on his face and made a lunge for Imari, but she too got the rules and evaded him. Soon the children were involved in a vicious game of tag and Rita played along with enthusiasm.
She looked over her shoulder to see Ilwen running towards her with a gleam on her eyes and a smile on her face. Rita broke into a run. "You're never gonna catch me!" she yelled.
This of course made Ilwen run even faster and Rita tried to evade her by zigzagging past trees. She looked back to see Ilwen gaining on her so she missed the figure in front of her.
BAM, she had run into the person standing in front of her and they both toppled to the ground after the crash.
Rita groaned *That hurt* and tried to get up, which was a hard task as her legs were caught under the person she had hit. She looked up to see who she had run in to and recognized the face of Haldir.
"Oh hi Haldir" she was a bit flustered "Sorry about that, but I was being chased by a very evil little girl who runs way to fast for her age."
At that Ilwen appeared out of nowhere. "I am NOT evil and I'm already 212 years old so I should be able to run fast." She forgot about her anger when she saw the two sprawled out, and started to giggle.
Haldir glaring at her only made it worse and Rita started to giggle as well, the situation was so absurd. Here she was, trapped under an elf and unable to stand up. "Uhm, Haldir can you get up, my legs need their bloodcirculation back."
He flushed and jumped up, after that he helped Rita up as well who walked over to a still giggling Ilwen. "Aren't you going to tag somebody else now? I think you've been chasing me long enough don't you? Besides I think I need a break, especially after my little incident just now."
The girl nodded and started to run back to her friends, but turned around after a few steps. "That was fun Rita, thank you for playing with us. Will you tell us a story tomorrow again?"
"Sure Ilwen, just come and get me after lunch, that way I can spend the morning with my friends."
Her answer was a huge smile and soon the girl had disappeared and Haldir and Rita were alone. The silence was a bit uncomfortable so Rita broke it soon.
"I'm really sorry for running in on you Haldir, I should have been watching where I was going."
A grin broke out on his face. "It's not every day I get knocked down Rita, especially not by a maiden."
"I'm not your ordinary maiden." Rita retorted and followed when Haldir started to walk. "Where are we going?"
"The target range, I was going to practice archery before I was so rudely interrupted."
"I apologized so don't give me that routine." After a few seconds she changed the subject. "You were right you know."
He looked up at her, confused. "About what Rita?"
"The kids were standing in front of me about ten seconds after I finished breakfast, and they brought a bunch of friends."
They reached what Rita presumed was the archery field as there were targets standing everywhere. She sat down on the ground as Haldir took aim at his first target.
"Do you do this often?"
He nodded and let go of the arrow, it hit the center. (Of course)
Rita was fascinated as he kept shooting arrows. "How do you do that?" she asked "I mean, I've seen Legolas shoot a lot of arrows and I still don't get it. How do you get them to go the right way and reach for a next one at the same time? It seems so hard and you make it look so simple."
"Would you want to try?" he asked her and Rita agreed.
Holding a bow seemed very simple but Rita soon learned that it was so much complex than that it looked. Haldir adjusted the way her hands were holding the bow.
"Your left hand should be more in the middle and you shouldn't hold it so tight, when your muscles tire your aim will deteriorate."
"What do I do with my right hand?"
"You hold the arrow." He said in a dry tone and Rita rolled her eyes at her own words, it was such a stupid question. He handed her an arrow and she put it in the bowstring.
"Now you should pull the bowstring back, yes like that. But try to keep your left arm steady and direct your arrow to the right point with your right while you do that."
Rita did as he said and felt her arms tremble at this unknown activity. She couldn't hold on any longer and let the string go, the arrow only flew a couple of meters before it hit the ground.
She let out a laugh. "That went well."
"You released the arrow too soon Rita, you should have pulled your bowstring further back so it could cover a greater distance. Do you want to try again?"
Rita thought about it before shaking her head. "Though I'd like to learn archery I think it's best to stop for today. I've had sword practice today and I've been running around with the kids. Me thinks that's enough exercise for one day."
Haldir got a smile on his face as she mentioned his cousins. "They sure can be tiring." He mused "I often wonder how such small beings can be so. . . "
"Active?" Rita offered.
"Yes, active. They can run around all day without getting tired. They keep me and my brothers in shape with all the chasing they have us do."
"I can only imagine." They started to walk back to the clearing.
"Would you like me to teach you?"
Rita looked at him questioningly before he continued.
"Archery I mean, would you like me to teach you? It is the least I can do after you saved my nephew."
She sighed. "You don't have to Haldir, I didn't mean to pressure you in something you didn't want to do. I mean I don't have to learn archery anyway so it's not a problem if you won't teach me."
Haldir silenced her with a movement of his hand. "I do not feel pressured into teaching you Rita. I just meant to say that it is the least I can do as you refused our offers of our duties. I am sure Rumil and Orophin will aide in your lessons as well."
"Well if you put it that way, I'd be happy to learn archery Haldir." She could see a few figures sitting together and jogged up to them after having said goodbye to Haldir.
"What happened to you Rita?" asked Boromir "You suddenly disappeared, and why are there leaves on your clothes?"
Rita looked down on her outfit to see that she was covered in leaves and started to pick them of the material. "The kids came to collect me to play a game."
"And Captain Haldir played with you in this game?" Boromir asked with a raised eyebrow.
She grinned. "Nah, I just sort of knocked him down when I was running from Ilwen." After seeing the looks she was given she added. "What it's not like I did it on purpose. Anyway we talked and hung out on the archery field where he tried to teach me how to shoot an arrow. I failed miserably so he offered to teach me."
She missed the looks exchanged by Boromir, Legolas and Aragorn and she continued her story. "He said he and his brothers would teach me as I had refused their lives and duties after I saved Salmir." She was rolling her eyes at her last statement.
"It is a custom to do so Rita" lectured Legolas "If one saves the life of another. . . "
"The other owes them their life and duties, bla bla bla. Fioma explained that bit to me about a hundred times Legolas. It doesn't mean I should like it."
"No" added Aragorn "Yet it is appropriate to accept their gratitude and if Haldir has offered to teach you how to use a bow you did right by accepting it, especially after you refused their duties."
"I just said that." then she noticed that there were still quite a few members of the fellowship missing. "Where are the hobbits and Gimli?"
Boromir laughed as he answered. "They went to the kitchen to get something to eat, or as young master Took said: eat as much as they can because they had missed out on so much last few months."
This made them all laugh and Rita moaned as she made a too abrupt movement. Aragorn saw this and teased her.
"Muscle ache Rita?"
"You would too if you had just been fighting and running for nearly five hours." She added some words before Aragorn could even open his mouth to give a reply. "And I know you did the fighting part as well, but you are used to it and I am not." She suppressed a yawn but it was noticed.
"Why don't you sleep Rita" said Aragorn in a fatherly tone. "You have not rested properly these last few weeks."
"Indeed" added Boromir "You look very tired."
When she saw that Legolas was nodding his head in approval of this plan as well she relented. "Ok, fine I can see when I am not wanted any more. I'm just gonna sleep. Night guys."
"Good night Rita" chorused the three men as she crawled into her bedroll. She sighed in pleasure as she drifted of to sleep.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The next two weeks went by in a blur. Rita was busy all the time. Between sword practice with Boromir and Aragorn and archery lessons of the three brothers and sometimes Legolas, Rita had little time left to herself.
The time that she had left, she spent with the kids playing games and telling stories. Pippin and Merry would join them once or twice and had a great time.
Though the fellowship grew closer together, Rita could notice that Frodo was distancing himself from them. She wondered why but assumed it had something to do with the ring. She pitied the hobbit for having to carry such a burden.
She grew particularly close to Boromir and Pippin. The three of them would sit together at night for hours while the man from Gondor would tell them all about the White City. Soon they knew every detail and specific about it.
He would speak of his brother, whom he adored, and of his father, whom he greatly admired. He also spoke to them of his fears. The thing he feared most was that the White City would fall to the power of Sauron and the race of men would vanish for eternity. In his turn, Pippin told them of the Shire and Rita even told a few stories about her sister.
Rita did not have as many nightmares any more, but if she did Boromir or Aragorn comforted her, and they would rock her as if she were a little girl, until her breathing slowed and the shaking stopped. At times like these she felt completely safe.
Her skill with the sword was improving and she felt very proud when Aragorn or Boromir would compliment her. She didn't notice, but there was a change in her.
While her eyes used to radiate with pain, now they held laughter and joy though the pain was still visible to those who looked deep enough.
The members of the fellowship noticed this as well and rejoiced this change as they were now all connected to one and other.
Archery lessons were so much fun for Rita. Though she got the basics, she wasn't very good. It didn't matter how many times she was explained by one of her four (!!!!!) teachers, she would always hit the outer ring of the target.
So she gave up after a week and though they were still pretending to be teaching her, they would just talk and laugh.
One night, the night of December the 14th to be exact, Rita was unable to sleep as memories resurfaced. It was Carol's birthday. After tossing and turning for hours, she got out of her bedroll and climbed a hill and gazed at the stars. She started when she heard the voice of Boromir behind her.
"What are you doing up at this time of the night? You should be sleeping."
She gave him a weak smile and explained that it was her sister's birthday and she was unable to sleep. Boromir pulled her in an embrace and they sat in silence for an hour. He seemed to understand that she didn't want to talk about it.
He broke the silence when he started to tell her the story of the woman he had loved with all his heart. Her name was Lilandra. She was killed during an orc-attack when she was travelling to the house of her grandmother, who lived in one of the villages near the city.
Boromir told her about his guilt, for he was supposed to escort his love, but he was out to fight the orcs that had crossed the borders.
This time it was her who held him as he had held her. Rocking back and forth, she brushed his hair out of his face as she wiped a few lone tears from his cheeks. What he had said next sealed their bond.
"You are like the sister to me Rita, you are very dear to me. When this is all over we will travel through Gondor and the lands that surround it, you and I. And you shall no longer be known as Rita Saunders, daughter of Jack" he said her father's name with disdain "but you shall be known as Rita of Gondor, sister of Boromir."
She had to swallow a couple of times to get rid of the lump that had formed in her throat. She then surprised Boromir by grabbing the dagger, which he always carried. She made a shallow cut across her palm and did the same to him.
Then she pressed her hand into his. "Your blood is my blood" she said and her voice was thick with emotion. "We are now bloodbrother and sister."
They sat together for another hour until they went to get some more sleep after Rita had put a small bandage on both their hands. The cuts were almost entirely closed. If the others noticed, they never commented about it.
Aragorn's decision to leave struck all of them very hard. They liked the calm of the woods but knew they could stay there no longer without jeopardizing the future of entire Middle Earth.
The night before their departure a group of elves, consisting of Haldir and his brothers with his family and a lot of the young elves, with whom Rita had played, and their parents, joined them.
Rumil stepped forward. "I had promised you to tell the tale of Nimrodel, as you had promised to tell a tale from your country. I have come here to honor that promise and the others were eager to hear the sad tale you will tell."
The fellowship made room for the elves and all were quiet when Rumil started to tell about Nimrodel. Rita was captured by the story, it's content so beautiful yet so sad.
When he had finished all eyes were on her and she cleared her throat. "I will tell you a sad tale as well. A tale about a love doomed and an old feud between two families. I will tell you the tale of Romeo and Juliet."
Shakespeare had been one of Rita's favorite writers so she knew the story by heart. Sometimes she would even quote certain sentences and she was unaware about the effect she had on her audience. All were gaping at her, hanging on to listen to her every word. Sometimes a gasp was heard or an angry mumble, but mostly they were quiet.
A sigh was heard when she ended her tale. "For never was there a story more woe, than that of Juliet and her Romeo."
"That was a beautiful tale Rita" commented Rumil. "I once believed that only elves knew the best stories yet I think I must reconsider this."
"I wasn't the one who made up this story Rumil. A great writer called Shakespeare did and there are few who can compete with his talent and works."
"Nevertheless I must thank you for sharing it with us. Now we shall leave you all be so you can rest for your journey tomorrow."
One bye one the elves left and the fellowship was alone once again. Soon all were asleep but Aragorn and Rita.
"You should go and rest" Aragorn told her in the fatherly tone she had grown accustomed to.
"So should you, but I don't see you sleeping."
He sighed and touched the pendant around his neck and Rita guessed his thought. "You're thinking about Arwen, you miss her don't you?"
"More than I had ever thought possible, yet I am starting to doubt the future of our love. Our love is doomed, she is immortal and I am not" he turned to Rita "She gave up her immortality for me." He whispered.
"I know, she told me the night before we left of her decision." Answered Rita in a calm voice, she could see that he needed to say whatever he was going to say.
"But I am starting to wonder now if I should have excepted it. I am not worthy of her love and I am certainly not worthy for her to give up her immortality for."
"You are king" she pointed out.
"A king in exile." Aragorn sounded bitter.
Rita thought long and hard about what to say and how to formulate her words. "I believe that you are to hard on yourself Aragorn. Arwen loves you with heart and soul, nothing you say or do will be able to change that. She DOES believe you are worthy of her love and attention and that is all that matters."
He was quiet and Rita feared for a minute that she had crossed a certain line. "You have given me a lot to think about Rita, I want to thank you for your input. Now go to sleep and rest, for tomorrow our journey continues."
She went to sleep and the last thing she saw was Aragorn gazing at the stars while smoking his pipe.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The next morning Marinwe, the kind elf who had helped her after her arrival in Lothlorien, waked Rita.
"The Lady thought you would like to bathe in a hot bath once more before you departed. If you would so kindly follow me."
Rita grabbed her stuff and they made their way to the bathroom where a hot bath was waiting for her again. Marinwe left her with to do her thing and packed the clothes she had cleaned in Rita's backpack.
When Rita got out of the bathroom, she combed and braided her hair and told her what she had done for her.
"Thank you so much Marinwe" commented Rita "For everything"
Marinwe just smiled at her and led her back to the fellowship.
"There you are Rita, we were afraid we would have to leave you behind." Quipped Legolas.
"Believe me Greenleaf, the thought to stay here has crossed my mind, but I was just enjoying a hot bath as that will be a luxury I will not have for a long time."
Haldir came to collect them and brought them to the boats that had been arranged for them. Rita, for one, was very happy that she wouldn't have to walk any more. He also gave them all cloaks, specially woven by the Lady for them.
While the seating arrangements were being discussed Rita was pulled aside by Haldir and the rest of her friends joined them.
"We couldn't let you leave without saying a proper goodbye." Said Orophin, who had his arm around his wife.
Lamiel approached her with Elmère. They each held a beautiful hairpin and when they wanted to place them in her hair Rita refused.
"They would only break, since it won't be all that safe. I will put them in my bag."
The women nodded at this and wrapped the two pins in cloth to keep them safe, before Rita placed them in her bag, in the safety of Elladan's shirt.
Then the three brothers approached her. "We would have given you a bow if you were able to shoot any arrows" said Haldir "But since this is not the case we have another gift for you."
He handed her a vile filled with a yellow liquid. Rumil explained this gift to her. "It is a healing liquid we acquired from our healers. When a wound is infected a drop will be enough to heal it. The liquid is made from a very rare plant and should be used wisely."
The vile was also wrapped in a piece of cloth and Rita put it in the small bag of herbs Elrond had given her. She was thankful she hadn't had the need to use it yet.
The three children just clung onto her as they cried. "Do you have to go?" asked Ilwen as Imari begged her to stay. Salmir didn't beg or plead but cried as well.
Rita hugged them all and told them she really had to go. "I don't know if we will see each other again, but always know that I very much enjoyed your company and hope you will remember me as well."
The children vowed to remember her until the ends of time when Aragorn called to her that it was time to leave.
She hugged everybody one last time before she ran to Aragorn who explained the seating arrangements with her. Rita would be in a boat with Pippin and Boromir, while Frodo and Sam would sit with him and Merry and Gimli would go with Legolas.
Haldir and his brothers helped them into the boats and Rita looked at them as they moved away, until there was a too great a distance to see them. Suddenly she noticed a boat formed like a swan and her eyes widened when she recognized the Lord and the Lady of the Woods.
"You have resided in our realm for two weeks, yet you have not eaten a meal with us." Said Galadriel "Come now and join us."
They paddled to the shore and saw that a great meal had been prepared for them and they ate in silence until Galadriel raised a cup of farewell. After that she started to pass out gifts to the entire fellowship.
One by one, the members were called to her, each receiving a beautiful gift. Aragorn got a new sheath for his sword and a green emerald that he wore on his chest proudly. Legolas got a bow and a quiver stuffed with arrows, and so every member was given something that fit their personality.
After giving the light of Earendil (that is the name of the star right?) to Frodo, the Lady turned to Rita.
"I have given much thought at what I should give you Rita Saunders, and I must confess it was a hard task. You were already equipped with good weapons and a sheath so I decided to give you a more personal gift."
She handed her small box and when Rita opened it she saw a bunch of herbs.
Galadriel knew what she was thinking and corrected her. "These are not medicine, nor should you use them. When the time comes I will explain you the effect of them and we will continue this conversation then."
Rita bowed her head and was surprised when Galadriel touched her head and murmured an Elvish blessing.
The fellowship got into the boats again and Rita felt her heart grow heavy with sorrow as they left the peaceful woods of Lothlorien behind.
A/N: So what do you think??? Was this total crap or what? Do you know how hard it was to come up with a gift for Rita, it was driving me insane. I'm going to update soon, possibly even tomorrow cause I just love to write. Review to let me know what you think, even if you think it sucked.
Meggers: Thanks for reviewing again, hope you won't need those tissues any time soon, though I can't promise you a thing.
LanierShazar: I don't intend to write so much but as I write I think and when I think, you better watch out.
Otaku: To answer all your questions; just read the chapter ok. Guns are bad so thanks for not shooting me, sometimes I wish we could go back at the times without any guns or bombs, the times where it was still simple you know. Though I'd probably be lost without my pc.
Arwen-evenstar: I'm so happy you liked last chapter cause I thought it was kinda. . . well bad. Hope you like this chapter too.
Sugar-is-sweet: Thanks for your great reviews, I have some ideas for even more complexity but they have to develop in my head first before I can write them down.
THEwriter Lioncub: Hope this chapter is good so you enjoy.
Punkpunk: tsk tsk too lazy to log in. Though I do feel very honored that you did read my fic in your state of boredom. I updated as I promised so you won't have to shoot me.
Ithilwen: Though I considered writing a chapter about Elladan, I decided against it as the story is about Rita and not our fav elf. So you'll just have to wait until he shows up again, sorry.
DISCLAIMER: Characters from the books belong to Tolkien, the rest are mine
Rita fell on the ground as she moved her neck around in order to loosen up her muscles, practice with Aragorn had been very intense.
Boromir and Aragorn left to talk for a while and the others hadn't returned yet so she was all alone. She closed her eyes and savored the feeling.
Don't get her wrong, she loved the members of the fellowship, but after spending time with them non-stop for months it was nice to have some time for herself.
Her moment of peace was disturbed when she heard soft whispers from behind her and she almost groaned as she recognized the voiced of Imari and Ilwen. She had forgotten all about the promise she had made, but she realized she couldn't break her word.
With a fluid movement she jumped up, startling the poor girls, and turned to them. "You girls ready to play?"
Two heads nodded vigorously and she was being dragged to their playground. Once they got there Rita noticed that a large group of children had gathered, there were 17 kids.
Salmir stepped forwards when he saw her and once again he took charge, he was the oldest of all children after all. "Rita we have played this hide and seek game you mentioned, but if I remember correctly you said that was the game you liked second-best. What is your favorite game and will you play it with us?"
"My favorite game. . . hmm now lets think, I did say that didn't I? I guess my favorite game is tag." after seeing the blank looks around her she raised her hands in the air in mock desperation.
"You don't even know what tag is? What kind of world is this?" meanwhile she was thinking fast at a way to explain the game. "Uhm, well tag is a game where one person is. . . never mind I'll just show you."
With that she tapped Salmir's arm and ran away. "Now you're it." Rita said "Now you have to try and tag somebody else, and then that person is it and you repeat that as long as you want the game to last."
Salmir got a look of understanding on his face and made a lunge for Imari, but she too got the rules and evaded him. Soon the children were involved in a vicious game of tag and Rita played along with enthusiasm.
She looked over her shoulder to see Ilwen running towards her with a gleam on her eyes and a smile on her face. Rita broke into a run. "You're never gonna catch me!" she yelled.
This of course made Ilwen run even faster and Rita tried to evade her by zigzagging past trees. She looked back to see Ilwen gaining on her so she missed the figure in front of her.
BAM, she had run into the person standing in front of her and they both toppled to the ground after the crash.
Rita groaned *That hurt* and tried to get up, which was a hard task as her legs were caught under the person she had hit. She looked up to see who she had run in to and recognized the face of Haldir.
"Oh hi Haldir" she was a bit flustered "Sorry about that, but I was being chased by a very evil little girl who runs way to fast for her age."
At that Ilwen appeared out of nowhere. "I am NOT evil and I'm already 212 years old so I should be able to run fast." She forgot about her anger when she saw the two sprawled out, and started to giggle.
Haldir glaring at her only made it worse and Rita started to giggle as well, the situation was so absurd. Here she was, trapped under an elf and unable to stand up. "Uhm, Haldir can you get up, my legs need their bloodcirculation back."
He flushed and jumped up, after that he helped Rita up as well who walked over to a still giggling Ilwen. "Aren't you going to tag somebody else now? I think you've been chasing me long enough don't you? Besides I think I need a break, especially after my little incident just now."
The girl nodded and started to run back to her friends, but turned around after a few steps. "That was fun Rita, thank you for playing with us. Will you tell us a story tomorrow again?"
"Sure Ilwen, just come and get me after lunch, that way I can spend the morning with my friends."
Her answer was a huge smile and soon the girl had disappeared and Haldir and Rita were alone. The silence was a bit uncomfortable so Rita broke it soon.
"I'm really sorry for running in on you Haldir, I should have been watching where I was going."
A grin broke out on his face. "It's not every day I get knocked down Rita, especially not by a maiden."
"I'm not your ordinary maiden." Rita retorted and followed when Haldir started to walk. "Where are we going?"
"The target range, I was going to practice archery before I was so rudely interrupted."
"I apologized so don't give me that routine." After a few seconds she changed the subject. "You were right you know."
He looked up at her, confused. "About what Rita?"
"The kids were standing in front of me about ten seconds after I finished breakfast, and they brought a bunch of friends."
They reached what Rita presumed was the archery field as there were targets standing everywhere. She sat down on the ground as Haldir took aim at his first target.
"Do you do this often?"
He nodded and let go of the arrow, it hit the center. (Of course)
Rita was fascinated as he kept shooting arrows. "How do you do that?" she asked "I mean, I've seen Legolas shoot a lot of arrows and I still don't get it. How do you get them to go the right way and reach for a next one at the same time? It seems so hard and you make it look so simple."
"Would you want to try?" he asked her and Rita agreed.
Holding a bow seemed very simple but Rita soon learned that it was so much complex than that it looked. Haldir adjusted the way her hands were holding the bow.
"Your left hand should be more in the middle and you shouldn't hold it so tight, when your muscles tire your aim will deteriorate."
"What do I do with my right hand?"
"You hold the arrow." He said in a dry tone and Rita rolled her eyes at her own words, it was such a stupid question. He handed her an arrow and she put it in the bowstring.
"Now you should pull the bowstring back, yes like that. But try to keep your left arm steady and direct your arrow to the right point with your right while you do that."
Rita did as he said and felt her arms tremble at this unknown activity. She couldn't hold on any longer and let the string go, the arrow only flew a couple of meters before it hit the ground.
She let out a laugh. "That went well."
"You released the arrow too soon Rita, you should have pulled your bowstring further back so it could cover a greater distance. Do you want to try again?"
Rita thought about it before shaking her head. "Though I'd like to learn archery I think it's best to stop for today. I've had sword practice today and I've been running around with the kids. Me thinks that's enough exercise for one day."
Haldir got a smile on his face as she mentioned his cousins. "They sure can be tiring." He mused "I often wonder how such small beings can be so. . . "
"Active?" Rita offered.
"Yes, active. They can run around all day without getting tired. They keep me and my brothers in shape with all the chasing they have us do."
"I can only imagine." They started to walk back to the clearing.
"Would you like me to teach you?"
Rita looked at him questioningly before he continued.
"Archery I mean, would you like me to teach you? It is the least I can do after you saved my nephew."
She sighed. "You don't have to Haldir, I didn't mean to pressure you in something you didn't want to do. I mean I don't have to learn archery anyway so it's not a problem if you won't teach me."
Haldir silenced her with a movement of his hand. "I do not feel pressured into teaching you Rita. I just meant to say that it is the least I can do as you refused our offers of our duties. I am sure Rumil and Orophin will aide in your lessons as well."
"Well if you put it that way, I'd be happy to learn archery Haldir." She could see a few figures sitting together and jogged up to them after having said goodbye to Haldir.
"What happened to you Rita?" asked Boromir "You suddenly disappeared, and why are there leaves on your clothes?"
Rita looked down on her outfit to see that she was covered in leaves and started to pick them of the material. "The kids came to collect me to play a game."
"And Captain Haldir played with you in this game?" Boromir asked with a raised eyebrow.
She grinned. "Nah, I just sort of knocked him down when I was running from Ilwen." After seeing the looks she was given she added. "What it's not like I did it on purpose. Anyway we talked and hung out on the archery field where he tried to teach me how to shoot an arrow. I failed miserably so he offered to teach me."
She missed the looks exchanged by Boromir, Legolas and Aragorn and she continued her story. "He said he and his brothers would teach me as I had refused their lives and duties after I saved Salmir." She was rolling her eyes at her last statement.
"It is a custom to do so Rita" lectured Legolas "If one saves the life of another. . . "
"The other owes them their life and duties, bla bla bla. Fioma explained that bit to me about a hundred times Legolas. It doesn't mean I should like it."
"No" added Aragorn "Yet it is appropriate to accept their gratitude and if Haldir has offered to teach you how to use a bow you did right by accepting it, especially after you refused their duties."
"I just said that." then she noticed that there were still quite a few members of the fellowship missing. "Where are the hobbits and Gimli?"
Boromir laughed as he answered. "They went to the kitchen to get something to eat, or as young master Took said: eat as much as they can because they had missed out on so much last few months."
This made them all laugh and Rita moaned as she made a too abrupt movement. Aragorn saw this and teased her.
"Muscle ache Rita?"
"You would too if you had just been fighting and running for nearly five hours." She added some words before Aragorn could even open his mouth to give a reply. "And I know you did the fighting part as well, but you are used to it and I am not." She suppressed a yawn but it was noticed.
"Why don't you sleep Rita" said Aragorn in a fatherly tone. "You have not rested properly these last few weeks."
"Indeed" added Boromir "You look very tired."
When she saw that Legolas was nodding his head in approval of this plan as well she relented. "Ok, fine I can see when I am not wanted any more. I'm just gonna sleep. Night guys."
"Good night Rita" chorused the three men as she crawled into her bedroll. She sighed in pleasure as she drifted of to sleep.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The next two weeks went by in a blur. Rita was busy all the time. Between sword practice with Boromir and Aragorn and archery lessons of the three brothers and sometimes Legolas, Rita had little time left to herself.
The time that she had left, she spent with the kids playing games and telling stories. Pippin and Merry would join them once or twice and had a great time.
Though the fellowship grew closer together, Rita could notice that Frodo was distancing himself from them. She wondered why but assumed it had something to do with the ring. She pitied the hobbit for having to carry such a burden.
She grew particularly close to Boromir and Pippin. The three of them would sit together at night for hours while the man from Gondor would tell them all about the White City. Soon they knew every detail and specific about it.
He would speak of his brother, whom he adored, and of his father, whom he greatly admired. He also spoke to them of his fears. The thing he feared most was that the White City would fall to the power of Sauron and the race of men would vanish for eternity. In his turn, Pippin told them of the Shire and Rita even told a few stories about her sister.
Rita did not have as many nightmares any more, but if she did Boromir or Aragorn comforted her, and they would rock her as if she were a little girl, until her breathing slowed and the shaking stopped. At times like these she felt completely safe.
Her skill with the sword was improving and she felt very proud when Aragorn or Boromir would compliment her. She didn't notice, but there was a change in her.
While her eyes used to radiate with pain, now they held laughter and joy though the pain was still visible to those who looked deep enough.
The members of the fellowship noticed this as well and rejoiced this change as they were now all connected to one and other.
Archery lessons were so much fun for Rita. Though she got the basics, she wasn't very good. It didn't matter how many times she was explained by one of her four (!!!!!) teachers, she would always hit the outer ring of the target.
So she gave up after a week and though they were still pretending to be teaching her, they would just talk and laugh.
One night, the night of December the 14th to be exact, Rita was unable to sleep as memories resurfaced. It was Carol's birthday. After tossing and turning for hours, she got out of her bedroll and climbed a hill and gazed at the stars. She started when she heard the voice of Boromir behind her.
"What are you doing up at this time of the night? You should be sleeping."
She gave him a weak smile and explained that it was her sister's birthday and she was unable to sleep. Boromir pulled her in an embrace and they sat in silence for an hour. He seemed to understand that she didn't want to talk about it.
He broke the silence when he started to tell her the story of the woman he had loved with all his heart. Her name was Lilandra. She was killed during an orc-attack when she was travelling to the house of her grandmother, who lived in one of the villages near the city.
Boromir told her about his guilt, for he was supposed to escort his love, but he was out to fight the orcs that had crossed the borders.
This time it was her who held him as he had held her. Rocking back and forth, she brushed his hair out of his face as she wiped a few lone tears from his cheeks. What he had said next sealed their bond.
"You are like the sister to me Rita, you are very dear to me. When this is all over we will travel through Gondor and the lands that surround it, you and I. And you shall no longer be known as Rita Saunders, daughter of Jack" he said her father's name with disdain "but you shall be known as Rita of Gondor, sister of Boromir."
She had to swallow a couple of times to get rid of the lump that had formed in her throat. She then surprised Boromir by grabbing the dagger, which he always carried. She made a shallow cut across her palm and did the same to him.
Then she pressed her hand into his. "Your blood is my blood" she said and her voice was thick with emotion. "We are now bloodbrother and sister."
They sat together for another hour until they went to get some more sleep after Rita had put a small bandage on both their hands. The cuts were almost entirely closed. If the others noticed, they never commented about it.
Aragorn's decision to leave struck all of them very hard. They liked the calm of the woods but knew they could stay there no longer without jeopardizing the future of entire Middle Earth.
The night before their departure a group of elves, consisting of Haldir and his brothers with his family and a lot of the young elves, with whom Rita had played, and their parents, joined them.
Rumil stepped forward. "I had promised you to tell the tale of Nimrodel, as you had promised to tell a tale from your country. I have come here to honor that promise and the others were eager to hear the sad tale you will tell."
The fellowship made room for the elves and all were quiet when Rumil started to tell about Nimrodel. Rita was captured by the story, it's content so beautiful yet so sad.
When he had finished all eyes were on her and she cleared her throat. "I will tell you a sad tale as well. A tale about a love doomed and an old feud between two families. I will tell you the tale of Romeo and Juliet."
Shakespeare had been one of Rita's favorite writers so she knew the story by heart. Sometimes she would even quote certain sentences and she was unaware about the effect she had on her audience. All were gaping at her, hanging on to listen to her every word. Sometimes a gasp was heard or an angry mumble, but mostly they were quiet.
A sigh was heard when she ended her tale. "For never was there a story more woe, than that of Juliet and her Romeo."
"That was a beautiful tale Rita" commented Rumil. "I once believed that only elves knew the best stories yet I think I must reconsider this."
"I wasn't the one who made up this story Rumil. A great writer called Shakespeare did and there are few who can compete with his talent and works."
"Nevertheless I must thank you for sharing it with us. Now we shall leave you all be so you can rest for your journey tomorrow."
One bye one the elves left and the fellowship was alone once again. Soon all were asleep but Aragorn and Rita.
"You should go and rest" Aragorn told her in the fatherly tone she had grown accustomed to.
"So should you, but I don't see you sleeping."
He sighed and touched the pendant around his neck and Rita guessed his thought. "You're thinking about Arwen, you miss her don't you?"
"More than I had ever thought possible, yet I am starting to doubt the future of our love. Our love is doomed, she is immortal and I am not" he turned to Rita "She gave up her immortality for me." He whispered.
"I know, she told me the night before we left of her decision." Answered Rita in a calm voice, she could see that he needed to say whatever he was going to say.
"But I am starting to wonder now if I should have excepted it. I am not worthy of her love and I am certainly not worthy for her to give up her immortality for."
"You are king" she pointed out.
"A king in exile." Aragorn sounded bitter.
Rita thought long and hard about what to say and how to formulate her words. "I believe that you are to hard on yourself Aragorn. Arwen loves you with heart and soul, nothing you say or do will be able to change that. She DOES believe you are worthy of her love and attention and that is all that matters."
He was quiet and Rita feared for a minute that she had crossed a certain line. "You have given me a lot to think about Rita, I want to thank you for your input. Now go to sleep and rest, for tomorrow our journey continues."
She went to sleep and the last thing she saw was Aragorn gazing at the stars while smoking his pipe.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The next morning Marinwe, the kind elf who had helped her after her arrival in Lothlorien, waked Rita.
"The Lady thought you would like to bathe in a hot bath once more before you departed. If you would so kindly follow me."
Rita grabbed her stuff and they made their way to the bathroom where a hot bath was waiting for her again. Marinwe left her with to do her thing and packed the clothes she had cleaned in Rita's backpack.
When Rita got out of the bathroom, she combed and braided her hair and told her what she had done for her.
"Thank you so much Marinwe" commented Rita "For everything"
Marinwe just smiled at her and led her back to the fellowship.
"There you are Rita, we were afraid we would have to leave you behind." Quipped Legolas.
"Believe me Greenleaf, the thought to stay here has crossed my mind, but I was just enjoying a hot bath as that will be a luxury I will not have for a long time."
Haldir came to collect them and brought them to the boats that had been arranged for them. Rita, for one, was very happy that she wouldn't have to walk any more. He also gave them all cloaks, specially woven by the Lady for them.
While the seating arrangements were being discussed Rita was pulled aside by Haldir and the rest of her friends joined them.
"We couldn't let you leave without saying a proper goodbye." Said Orophin, who had his arm around his wife.
Lamiel approached her with Elmère. They each held a beautiful hairpin and when they wanted to place them in her hair Rita refused.
"They would only break, since it won't be all that safe. I will put them in my bag."
The women nodded at this and wrapped the two pins in cloth to keep them safe, before Rita placed them in her bag, in the safety of Elladan's shirt.
Then the three brothers approached her. "We would have given you a bow if you were able to shoot any arrows" said Haldir "But since this is not the case we have another gift for you."
He handed her a vile filled with a yellow liquid. Rumil explained this gift to her. "It is a healing liquid we acquired from our healers. When a wound is infected a drop will be enough to heal it. The liquid is made from a very rare plant and should be used wisely."
The vile was also wrapped in a piece of cloth and Rita put it in the small bag of herbs Elrond had given her. She was thankful she hadn't had the need to use it yet.
The three children just clung onto her as they cried. "Do you have to go?" asked Ilwen as Imari begged her to stay. Salmir didn't beg or plead but cried as well.
Rita hugged them all and told them she really had to go. "I don't know if we will see each other again, but always know that I very much enjoyed your company and hope you will remember me as well."
The children vowed to remember her until the ends of time when Aragorn called to her that it was time to leave.
She hugged everybody one last time before she ran to Aragorn who explained the seating arrangements with her. Rita would be in a boat with Pippin and Boromir, while Frodo and Sam would sit with him and Merry and Gimli would go with Legolas.
Haldir and his brothers helped them into the boats and Rita looked at them as they moved away, until there was a too great a distance to see them. Suddenly she noticed a boat formed like a swan and her eyes widened when she recognized the Lord and the Lady of the Woods.
"You have resided in our realm for two weeks, yet you have not eaten a meal with us." Said Galadriel "Come now and join us."
They paddled to the shore and saw that a great meal had been prepared for them and they ate in silence until Galadriel raised a cup of farewell. After that she started to pass out gifts to the entire fellowship.
One by one, the members were called to her, each receiving a beautiful gift. Aragorn got a new sheath for his sword and a green emerald that he wore on his chest proudly. Legolas got a bow and a quiver stuffed with arrows, and so every member was given something that fit their personality.
After giving the light of Earendil (that is the name of the star right?) to Frodo, the Lady turned to Rita.
"I have given much thought at what I should give you Rita Saunders, and I must confess it was a hard task. You were already equipped with good weapons and a sheath so I decided to give you a more personal gift."
She handed her small box and when Rita opened it she saw a bunch of herbs.
Galadriel knew what she was thinking and corrected her. "These are not medicine, nor should you use them. When the time comes I will explain you the effect of them and we will continue this conversation then."
Rita bowed her head and was surprised when Galadriel touched her head and murmured an Elvish blessing.
The fellowship got into the boats again and Rita felt her heart grow heavy with sorrow as they left the peaceful woods of Lothlorien behind.
A/N: So what do you think??? Was this total crap or what? Do you know how hard it was to come up with a gift for Rita, it was driving me insane. I'm going to update soon, possibly even tomorrow cause I just love to write. Review to let me know what you think, even if you think it sucked.