Disclaimer: the ONLY thing I own is Jacqueline, and some of the plot but
not all. Majority of the plotline belongs to Tolkien and Jackson, most of
the LOTR character lines are credited to Peter Jackson and his assistant
scriptwriter (most of the character's lines are from the movie), and all
LOTR characters belong to Tolkien.
Part One, The Fellowship: Chapter 4 - Beginning the Journey
"Why can't this be done another way?" Jacqueline pleaded. She was walking through the main chamber with Elrond.
"Because this is the way it should be," he answered. "You have a great deal of knowledge, more than either Gandalf or Galadriel. It will prove helpful to the Fellowship if you accompanied them and used your knowledge."
"But I'm not good with any type of weapon, especially those of this time. How helpful can I be if I can't even defend myself? Asking them to protect both me and Frodo is asking too much." She paused in her thoughts. "Can't I just travel to Lothlorien on my own, or even wait until your sons return so I may have them as escorts?"
Elrond shook his head. "There is no telling when my sons will return, and we cannot afford to wait I am afraid. But I am confident that you will learn, child; there is much doubt in you, and you must learn to let go of it for all of our sakes. Trust yourself to know the skill of war when you must fight, to find strength when you seem to reach an end, and to find hope when everyone else loses hope. Besides-" and they stopped in front of the mirror. "The link between our worlds has been broken."
The mirror was cold to the touch, black and dead. She was filled with mixed emotions; one part was grateful to be cut off from her father and the other was heartbroken from being cut off from everything familiar.
"Does that mean I can't go back to my world, at all?" she asked.
"Only if your deeds are great beyond common measure; our powers decrease as our time runs to an end. The Elven Ringbearers will only grant such a request if you fulfill a heroic task." Elrond answered.
"Like helping to destroy the Ring?" she questioned, though it was more of an affirmation. He nodded.
"It is obvious that without your aid, the evil of the Ring is not completely depleted, otherwise you would not be here. A power brought you to us, because the future needs to be rid of something, and I have every reason to suspect the Ring. You are the only one who knows the story."
"I still don't believe I can do this," she began, still reluctant and turning to face Elrond. "But I shall take on the oath the Fellowship swore. I will help to see the Ring destroyed as long as I am able to do so." Elrond smiled, gratefully.
"Then so it shall be."
In Jacqueline's room...
Arwen was helping Jacqueline pack. She had a better idea of what Jacqueline would need to take then Jacqueline herself, so Elrond requested her assistance. Most of what Jacqueline was given came from Arwen, including a traveling outfit once worn by Arwen's mother.
"Arwen, I can't take this. Your mother's memory doesn't belong on the kind of journey I'm about to face. I would be too afraid of ruining it or something," Jacqueline insisted, trying to refuse the outfit. It was a rich brown overcoat reaching down to the ground, and had wide sleeves. What she wore underneath were ivory leggings and a long sleeve ivory shirt, which extended down to her mid thighs. A burgundy tunic sat on top of her ivory shirt and she wore a pair of burgundy boots as well. Her vambraces were of brownish burgundy leather.
"My mother was a great woman," Arwen replied, not allowing her to reject it. "Such an heirloom deserves to be passed on to another great woman."
Jacqueline smiled. "You are a great woman yourself."
"Your task will prove to be much greater than anything I ever accomplish in my time." Arwen said modestly. "And though I have only known you for such a short time, it feels like we've known each other through many ages. May the strength of the Elves be with you, friend."
They hugged, like old friends do, and breaking the hug Jacqueline picked up her bag. It was small and light, only containing a few outfits should she need them. She was given a sword, which hung on her left hip, and a small knife, which she hid in one of her boots. Arwen stopped her before she left the room.
"My father asked me to give you this-," she said, giving Jacqueline a sheathed knife, longer than the one in her boot. The sheath was like leather. "He used to carry it with him in his battle days and it saved him from harm. He wanted you to have it in hopes that it will prove as useful to you as it had to him."
Jacqueline took it with reverence, and bidding her friend one last farewell she left the room.
Back outside, near Rivendell's entrance...
The Fellowship was making some last-minute preparations. Elrond told them of Jacqueline and that she would go with them. None of them protested, and even if any of them did it wouldn't have changed Elrond's decision. Aragorn was adjusting the packs on his horse as Legolas walked soundlessly down the stairs, passing the four hobbits sitting on the stairs. Boromir was adjusting his shield on his back and Gandalf was speaking to Elrond. Jacqueline climbed down the stairs, a figure in brown unsure of the reaction she would get. She wore the burgundy and ivory she tried to refuse from Arwen earlier; it felt necessary knowing Arwen held her in such high regard. Frodo was the first to see her come down.
"You're the one Lord Elrond is sending with us, aren't you?" he asked, giving her a warm smile as he stood up to greet her. Merry, Pippin and Sam took notice as well.
"I am," she answered, smiling and relaxing at his friendliness. "I hope I'm not offending anyone, being here."
"'Course you're not," Merry said.
"Having a woman on a journey never hurt anyone" Sam chimed in.
"Yeah, we're a very open minded people, you know. 'Course it wouldn't have changed Elrond's mind either way," Pippin said, matter of factly.
"Pippin!" Merry shot. Jacqueline chuckled.
"It's alright Merry. Amusing as his honesty is, he does speak the truth." She said, sighing heavily as Gimli arrived. She had no chance to explain what she meant to the curious hobbits, because Gimli's arrival meant that it was time to leave. She had noticed out of the corner of her eye stares of disproval from both Gimli and Boromir, and knew it would be a long journey.
"Strength be with you all friends," Elrond said, bidding them a formal goodbye. "May your courage of heart never fail you and return you safely back to us." And with that said, the Fellowship and Jacqueline left to begin the quest.
Out in the Wilderness...
They traveled long and hard, stopping momentarily to rest. Every now and then one of the hobbits would look back, with concern on their face, past Aragorn to her making sure she was okay. She would smile back, reassuring them that she was keeping up just fine. They all displayed their uniqueness of nature during their traveling, and Jacqueline could see it despite the fact that she was behind them all.
Gandalf led them on, clearly a born leader. But it was the obvious choice; Gandalf was used to such adventures and had the knowledge and mind to handle any situation. But age, it seems, had a habit of catching Gandalf, and Jacqueline noticed that he would sometimes rely on his ancient staff more than he usually did. Legolas followed him, his bright blue eyes always scouting for a threat. The uneven ground that was a bit of a challenge for most of them was like an even path to him. His light steps spoke clearly of many adventures in the forests and the way he carried himself told of many years of training and growing up in a royal court. What amazed her about him the most was that, for one so old, time did not touch Legolas; he looked not much older than she yet there was so much more wisdom in his features.
Gimli was behind Legolas, carrying his ax on his right shoulder. His helmet sat smartly on his brow, and his hair had been tamed into braids to make fighting less of a challenge. His persona spoke of great pride and independence, like he could have taken the Ring straight to Mordor himself. But he knew that his skills were invaluable to the Fellowship, and so he (reluctantly) became a team player. The four hobbits came next, safely between the Fellowship. Frodo, whose soul was heavy with his burden, Merry who was deep in thought, Pippin who just seemed to be content to be on the journey and Sam who was bound to prove that he could be helpful by leading Aragorn's horse. Boromir followed, trying to appear neutral and acting like this kind of journey was nothing out of the ordinary. He appeared stern, as if any sort of mistake was unacceptable, but Jacqueline knew that he was afraid of failing himself. She felt sympathy for him despite the fact that he harboured some ill feelings towards her; he came from a place where the burdens were usually put on him, and she knew it wasn't easy. Aragorn didn't seem to carry any of that. His face was emotionless; the only proof of any cares (besides being in the Fellowship) was the Evenstar he wore around his neck. Sometimes during the journey she wished she could be like Aragorn and have that unwavering strength to go forward despite the burden, but the years of living a sheltered and abused life hadn't lent itself to teaching her how to do so.
After much traveling they paused on a rocky hill. Jacqueline wandered over to where Aragorn sat, smoking his pipe, and took a seat next to him. He smiled at her, warmly, and she returned the gesture. They watched as Boromir taught Merry and Pippin the ways of the sword.
"Move your feet," Aragorn commented, pipe between his teeth.
"That's good, Pippin." Merry complimented. Pippin smiled.
"Thanks."
Boromir went at it again, picking up the pace to give Pippin a more realistic scenario. She could hear Gimli in the backround, suggesting they go through Moria; Gandalf was against it. Then Boromir accidentally cut Pippin and all hobbit-hell breaks loose. Jacqueline and Aragorn laughed as Merry and Pippin overtook Boromir, and as Aragorn went to go and try to aid the fallen man, got caught in the struggle as well. She got so caught up in the moment that she forgot about the approaching danger.
Sam spotted it first, while Gimli dismissed it as nothing. Boromir wasn't so sure of Gimli's theory.
"It's moving fast," he said, getting up. "Against the wind."
Legolas studied it for a moment. "Crebain from Dunland!"
"Hide!" Aragorn cried, grabbing his things. They scattered on the hillside.
"Merry! Frodo!" Boromir yelled, collecting the hobbits under a rock. Jacqueline miscalculated a jump and tripped in her rush, and was caught by Legolas. He pulled her under some of the undergrowth and kept her low to the ground like he was. The Crebain flew overhead, making a noise similar to a tornado. The Fellowship popped up from hiding when they disappeared.
"Spies of Saruman," Gandalf concluded. "The passage south is being watched. We must take the pass of Caradhras."
"No," Jacqueline said firmly, surprising herself as well as her companions. "Caradhras is a fruitless route and would deprive us of valuable time."
Gandalf nodded. "Then we have two other routes to choose from: Moria or the Gap of Rohan. Let the Ringbearer decide which will be our road." He turned to the hobbit. "Frodo?"
He hesitated, looking completely unsure of himself, then stood up as tall as he could. "We will go through the mines."
Part One, The Fellowship: Chapter 4 - Beginning the Journey
"Why can't this be done another way?" Jacqueline pleaded. She was walking through the main chamber with Elrond.
"Because this is the way it should be," he answered. "You have a great deal of knowledge, more than either Gandalf or Galadriel. It will prove helpful to the Fellowship if you accompanied them and used your knowledge."
"But I'm not good with any type of weapon, especially those of this time. How helpful can I be if I can't even defend myself? Asking them to protect both me and Frodo is asking too much." She paused in her thoughts. "Can't I just travel to Lothlorien on my own, or even wait until your sons return so I may have them as escorts?"
Elrond shook his head. "There is no telling when my sons will return, and we cannot afford to wait I am afraid. But I am confident that you will learn, child; there is much doubt in you, and you must learn to let go of it for all of our sakes. Trust yourself to know the skill of war when you must fight, to find strength when you seem to reach an end, and to find hope when everyone else loses hope. Besides-" and they stopped in front of the mirror. "The link between our worlds has been broken."
The mirror was cold to the touch, black and dead. She was filled with mixed emotions; one part was grateful to be cut off from her father and the other was heartbroken from being cut off from everything familiar.
"Does that mean I can't go back to my world, at all?" she asked.
"Only if your deeds are great beyond common measure; our powers decrease as our time runs to an end. The Elven Ringbearers will only grant such a request if you fulfill a heroic task." Elrond answered.
"Like helping to destroy the Ring?" she questioned, though it was more of an affirmation. He nodded.
"It is obvious that without your aid, the evil of the Ring is not completely depleted, otherwise you would not be here. A power brought you to us, because the future needs to be rid of something, and I have every reason to suspect the Ring. You are the only one who knows the story."
"I still don't believe I can do this," she began, still reluctant and turning to face Elrond. "But I shall take on the oath the Fellowship swore. I will help to see the Ring destroyed as long as I am able to do so." Elrond smiled, gratefully.
"Then so it shall be."
In Jacqueline's room...
Arwen was helping Jacqueline pack. She had a better idea of what Jacqueline would need to take then Jacqueline herself, so Elrond requested her assistance. Most of what Jacqueline was given came from Arwen, including a traveling outfit once worn by Arwen's mother.
"Arwen, I can't take this. Your mother's memory doesn't belong on the kind of journey I'm about to face. I would be too afraid of ruining it or something," Jacqueline insisted, trying to refuse the outfit. It was a rich brown overcoat reaching down to the ground, and had wide sleeves. What she wore underneath were ivory leggings and a long sleeve ivory shirt, which extended down to her mid thighs. A burgundy tunic sat on top of her ivory shirt and she wore a pair of burgundy boots as well. Her vambraces were of brownish burgundy leather.
"My mother was a great woman," Arwen replied, not allowing her to reject it. "Such an heirloom deserves to be passed on to another great woman."
Jacqueline smiled. "You are a great woman yourself."
"Your task will prove to be much greater than anything I ever accomplish in my time." Arwen said modestly. "And though I have only known you for such a short time, it feels like we've known each other through many ages. May the strength of the Elves be with you, friend."
They hugged, like old friends do, and breaking the hug Jacqueline picked up her bag. It was small and light, only containing a few outfits should she need them. She was given a sword, which hung on her left hip, and a small knife, which she hid in one of her boots. Arwen stopped her before she left the room.
"My father asked me to give you this-," she said, giving Jacqueline a sheathed knife, longer than the one in her boot. The sheath was like leather. "He used to carry it with him in his battle days and it saved him from harm. He wanted you to have it in hopes that it will prove as useful to you as it had to him."
Jacqueline took it with reverence, and bidding her friend one last farewell she left the room.
Back outside, near Rivendell's entrance...
The Fellowship was making some last-minute preparations. Elrond told them of Jacqueline and that she would go with them. None of them protested, and even if any of them did it wouldn't have changed Elrond's decision. Aragorn was adjusting the packs on his horse as Legolas walked soundlessly down the stairs, passing the four hobbits sitting on the stairs. Boromir was adjusting his shield on his back and Gandalf was speaking to Elrond. Jacqueline climbed down the stairs, a figure in brown unsure of the reaction she would get. She wore the burgundy and ivory she tried to refuse from Arwen earlier; it felt necessary knowing Arwen held her in such high regard. Frodo was the first to see her come down.
"You're the one Lord Elrond is sending with us, aren't you?" he asked, giving her a warm smile as he stood up to greet her. Merry, Pippin and Sam took notice as well.
"I am," she answered, smiling and relaxing at his friendliness. "I hope I'm not offending anyone, being here."
"'Course you're not," Merry said.
"Having a woman on a journey never hurt anyone" Sam chimed in.
"Yeah, we're a very open minded people, you know. 'Course it wouldn't have changed Elrond's mind either way," Pippin said, matter of factly.
"Pippin!" Merry shot. Jacqueline chuckled.
"It's alright Merry. Amusing as his honesty is, he does speak the truth." She said, sighing heavily as Gimli arrived. She had no chance to explain what she meant to the curious hobbits, because Gimli's arrival meant that it was time to leave. She had noticed out of the corner of her eye stares of disproval from both Gimli and Boromir, and knew it would be a long journey.
"Strength be with you all friends," Elrond said, bidding them a formal goodbye. "May your courage of heart never fail you and return you safely back to us." And with that said, the Fellowship and Jacqueline left to begin the quest.
Out in the Wilderness...
They traveled long and hard, stopping momentarily to rest. Every now and then one of the hobbits would look back, with concern on their face, past Aragorn to her making sure she was okay. She would smile back, reassuring them that she was keeping up just fine. They all displayed their uniqueness of nature during their traveling, and Jacqueline could see it despite the fact that she was behind them all.
Gandalf led them on, clearly a born leader. But it was the obvious choice; Gandalf was used to such adventures and had the knowledge and mind to handle any situation. But age, it seems, had a habit of catching Gandalf, and Jacqueline noticed that he would sometimes rely on his ancient staff more than he usually did. Legolas followed him, his bright blue eyes always scouting for a threat. The uneven ground that was a bit of a challenge for most of them was like an even path to him. His light steps spoke clearly of many adventures in the forests and the way he carried himself told of many years of training and growing up in a royal court. What amazed her about him the most was that, for one so old, time did not touch Legolas; he looked not much older than she yet there was so much more wisdom in his features.
Gimli was behind Legolas, carrying his ax on his right shoulder. His helmet sat smartly on his brow, and his hair had been tamed into braids to make fighting less of a challenge. His persona spoke of great pride and independence, like he could have taken the Ring straight to Mordor himself. But he knew that his skills were invaluable to the Fellowship, and so he (reluctantly) became a team player. The four hobbits came next, safely between the Fellowship. Frodo, whose soul was heavy with his burden, Merry who was deep in thought, Pippin who just seemed to be content to be on the journey and Sam who was bound to prove that he could be helpful by leading Aragorn's horse. Boromir followed, trying to appear neutral and acting like this kind of journey was nothing out of the ordinary. He appeared stern, as if any sort of mistake was unacceptable, but Jacqueline knew that he was afraid of failing himself. She felt sympathy for him despite the fact that he harboured some ill feelings towards her; he came from a place where the burdens were usually put on him, and she knew it wasn't easy. Aragorn didn't seem to carry any of that. His face was emotionless; the only proof of any cares (besides being in the Fellowship) was the Evenstar he wore around his neck. Sometimes during the journey she wished she could be like Aragorn and have that unwavering strength to go forward despite the burden, but the years of living a sheltered and abused life hadn't lent itself to teaching her how to do so.
After much traveling they paused on a rocky hill. Jacqueline wandered over to where Aragorn sat, smoking his pipe, and took a seat next to him. He smiled at her, warmly, and she returned the gesture. They watched as Boromir taught Merry and Pippin the ways of the sword.
"Move your feet," Aragorn commented, pipe between his teeth.
"That's good, Pippin." Merry complimented. Pippin smiled.
"Thanks."
Boromir went at it again, picking up the pace to give Pippin a more realistic scenario. She could hear Gimli in the backround, suggesting they go through Moria; Gandalf was against it. Then Boromir accidentally cut Pippin and all hobbit-hell breaks loose. Jacqueline and Aragorn laughed as Merry and Pippin overtook Boromir, and as Aragorn went to go and try to aid the fallen man, got caught in the struggle as well. She got so caught up in the moment that she forgot about the approaching danger.
Sam spotted it first, while Gimli dismissed it as nothing. Boromir wasn't so sure of Gimli's theory.
"It's moving fast," he said, getting up. "Against the wind."
Legolas studied it for a moment. "Crebain from Dunland!"
"Hide!" Aragorn cried, grabbing his things. They scattered on the hillside.
"Merry! Frodo!" Boromir yelled, collecting the hobbits under a rock. Jacqueline miscalculated a jump and tripped in her rush, and was caught by Legolas. He pulled her under some of the undergrowth and kept her low to the ground like he was. The Crebain flew overhead, making a noise similar to a tornado. The Fellowship popped up from hiding when they disappeared.
"Spies of Saruman," Gandalf concluded. "The passage south is being watched. We must take the pass of Caradhras."
"No," Jacqueline said firmly, surprising herself as well as her companions. "Caradhras is a fruitless route and would deprive us of valuable time."
Gandalf nodded. "Then we have two other routes to choose from: Moria or the Gap of Rohan. Let the Ringbearer decide which will be our road." He turned to the hobbit. "Frodo?"
He hesitated, looking completely unsure of himself, then stood up as tall as he could. "We will go through the mines."
