Chapter 6, The Ring Goes South
"And then ya' kneed the White Wizard in the nose! I would have loved to see his face after that!" Gimli said to me with a hearty chuckle. The way he laughed made me smile. "If only you'd had a weapon, then you would have been able to get yourself out of that mess!"
"Yeah, and a lot of good that would have done! The only weapon I know how to use is a long staff, and I highly doubt that one of those could have helped me against Orcs with swords!" I answered candidly.
"You don't know how to use a weapon? With all due respect, hand-to-hand combat, as you are obviously trained, is useful but knowledge of a weapon is crucial. Well, any weapon would have been better than your 'tiki-wando' bag." I laughed at how badly he had slaughtered the word, 'Taekwondo'. "I suggest that you begin with a sword, then maybe a bow. Now an axe is a much superior weapon, not to be wielded by the weak of mind or arm." I smiled and gave Gimli a look.
"What are you trying to infer Master Dwarf?"
"Nothing like that young Laura! I am simply stating my opinion." We finally arrived on one of the many balconies where Gandalf stood speaking with Aragorn. We approached and as we did Gandalf turned and greeted warmly.
"Good evening Gimli, Laura. Laura I am glad to see your ankle is mending."
"So am I! It's healing so fast, I am amazed!" I replied with a smile. Gimli huffed and said,
"Harrumph, Elvish medicine may be the envy of many, but silly remedies are of no compare to Dwarvish hospitality and mining!"
"That may be so friend," Aragorn commented, "but those silly remedies have saved many a life including Frodo Baggins!" At this, Gimli gave a muffled huff and I smiled,
"I wish to congratulate you, Laura, for joining us on our quest. It was a very arduous decision." Gandalf said to break the silence.
"Yeah, I guess it was, but I'm sure it will be worth it!" I responded cheerfully. "Did Elrond inform you all of my decision?"
"Yes," Aragorn answered, "A messenger was sent to me telling of how you chose to join the fellowship almost immediately after the council."
"As was to me." Gimli added.
"Well, I was able to catch Lord Elrond almost immediately after the council was dismissed, lucky for me. I guess he spares no time!" I said plainly.
"In a situation like this, a man with such responsibility has no time to waste." Gandalf said thoughtfully.
"Speaking of responsibility, I was just speaking to our youngest comrade and she said that she had no knowledge of a sword or bow and arrow!" at this I could see that Aragorn was slightly surprised.
"That's not totally true! I've used a bow and arrow before, but I am not familiar with it; and I, umm…know nothing about using a sword." I laughed nervously as Aragorn and Gimli looked at me. "But I'm great at hand to hand combat, that's what I know how to do and I can do it well! If I do say so myself."
"I am afraid that hand to hand combat will be of little use to you, though it is not entirely superfluous. I am sure that your in experience with a sword is something we can remedy." Aragorn nodded.
"True, I am sure that I would be able to teach you how to yield a sword and bow. Thank you for bringing this to our attention Master Dwarf. We will be residing in Rivendell for a few months for we await the return of the scouts Lord Elrond sent ahead. In the time we have I am sure that we can create a solid foundation for your skills."
"Yes that would indeed be the best idea. I suggest that you work with her every morning we have. I do not know how long we will be waiting for the return of the scouts." The sun began to set and the oranges and picks lit up the sky. Just then a bell rang across Rivendell signaling that it was dinnertime. Gandalf and Gimli walked to dinner and I followed but Aragorn stopped me.
"Laura, I think we should do as Gandalf suggested. We will start training as soon as your ankle has mended."
"Ok. I think that we should too. I honestly can't wait!"
"No, we shouldn't. Do you think if your ankle was wrapped firmly you could stand on it?" I thought for a moment before answering,
"I believe I can! It can act as a brace, but not now, wait till the end of the week, I should be well enough to do it then!" Aragorn nodded and said,
"Very well. Would you like me to escort you to dinner?" I smiled as I extended my arm and said,
"That'd be great. Believe me, I regret now more than ever that I lost my cane. My ankle is killing me!"
During dinner, there was a lot of talk about the fellowship and what people thought would happen. I received many congratulations and best wishes from many along with sideways glances and piercing glares of disapproval. Obviously Legolas found out of my decision because all night he either did not even acknowledge my existence or I caught him sending glares of dislike my way. I didn't care though. Long ago I learned to let things go. It was actually an astonishing day; suddenly out of the blue after a large fight with my family I said to myself, 'You know, there are a hundred billion things you are capable of doing in just one day, why should I let one stupid little thing bring down the other 999,999,999 million things that can happen?' and ever since, my life has been a better place.
After dinner I wondered around Rivendell again, just thinking thoughts about everything to myself. The moon was waxing and crescent shaped and shone brilliantly; I loved the moon, something about it was so mysterious and intriguing. Finally I found Arwen wondering the halls too, she was walking smoothly and was obviously deep in thought. I called to her and as we walked we talked of my decision of joining the fellowship.
"It was a very tough decision for me to make, it may sound dumb but it may have been one of he most complex decisions I have ever had to make!"
"It is not dumb at all Laura." She replied in a gentle voice, "I can understand how perplexing that kind of situation is, and such a cataclysmic choice made by someone so young. I never thought that someone your age could make such a large decision with such a strait state if mind." I nodded and was bothered somewhat by what she said about my age.
"Yeah, I had a lot of help from your father. With out his advice I dunno if I would even be going with the fellowship." Arwen nodded and there was nothing said. We walked quietly allowing the silence to speak for us. I know it may sound strange, but though it had been only days since I first met her, it wasn't awkward to walk by her and say nothing. Sometimes when I walked by Janine, I felt uncomfortable if nothing was said. At long last, Arwen told me that she would walk me back to my room because I had to get an early start. So we walked and laughed as we spoke of Aragorn and others. When we arrived at me room we sat on my bed and talked, I soon fell asleep and she left me so that I may rest.
"Laura, you are late…again" I rolled over onto my side at the sound if Aragorn's voice. I opened my eyes and saw his dark figure leaning against my wall. I rubbed my eyes and sat up.
"6 o'clock? Already? Why why WHY do we have to practice so early? Does six o'clock and eleven o'clock make such a difference?" I exclaimed as pressed my head face down into my pillow.
Aragorn said sternly, "We have been doing this for over a month and a half Laura, I think that by now you could get yourself out of bed. Besides, by the time it is eleven o'clock half the morning is wasted! Come on now, up we get.." I groaned as I rolled out of bed and shuffled my feet to the basin. He was right, for about two months now Aragorn and I had been practicing "sword play" everyday without taking the weekends off. Thanks to the hobbits, I was getting up early and staying up late; I thought it was ironic that I was exhausted when I was so used to pulling similar hours during the school year. Maybe being more physically active and eating a different diet made me tired…maybe being in an entirely different plane of existence made me tired…oh well, it was all the same I guess!
We came to the empty balcony where I saw Gandalf and Boromir, watching me again.
"So this is the child who will be joining us? She has never yielded a sword before?" Phrases like this were a constant from Boromir at first; I could tell that he was having doubts about whether or not I could pull my own weight in the fellowship, but with time he seemed to warm up to me. I had met Boromir while I was wandering through Rivendell. I didn't know who he was but he seemed to be able to recognize me. I guess news could travel just as fast in Middle Earth as it could back home. He was a nice, polite, and really amiable person; later I even found myself wondering how a guy like that could end up going crazy and try to steal the ring. But then I remembered; this was the Ring of Power, and I sure in hell wasn't in Kansas anymore.
Boromir was as much of an instructor to me as Aragorn by the time two months had passed. I will never forget what I learned the first time I tried to sword fight: it is SO MUCH HARDER THAN IT LOOKS. The swords are heavy, longer than I expected they'd be…and they're heavy! It was actually kind of sad, not how bad Aragorn would school me when we fought, but how after those two months of training, my left arm was a lot buffer than my right arm. Yet again, I was learning; general use and technique was important, but I also learned how to not waste time and energy and how to make my attacks count. I had gotten a lot better than at the beginning, and though I whined about it, I was really grateful for all the time that Aragorn and Boromir spent trying to teach me.
At it neared the end of December, scouts had returned to Rivendell saying that Mordor and Isengard were both very much alive and the black riders were indeed on the move again. When Elrond told me this I was confused and surprised; in the book things were very quiet and there was no sign at all of the black riders or of an arousal of Orcs. I told Elrond this and he was very much displeased.
"I take this as a very bad sign, and to hear this is very bad news indeed." He said very seriously. "Something has changed the course of action for the Dark Lord, the Fellowship must move, and spare no time. This quest becomes more perilous by the moment." When he spoke how "something" changed the intentions of Sauron, I had a sour, gut feeling that I knew what that something was. Elrond sent messages to every one that was going to Mordor saying that we were to be ready to leave by early morning. Around midday, Elrond sent me with Arwen to meet a woman who would make clothes for me that accommodated my needs. Much to my delight, the tailor was a woman, I Always felt a little uncomfortable around male tailors. She took my measurements, and said that she would have two outfits ready by morning. When we left the chamber where we met the tailor, Arwen walked me to my room. When we arrived she grasped my hand and said,
"Laura, I have come to adore you and I consider a friend. I wish all blessings and luck." With this she handed me a small package wrapped in a green cloth. "I also wish that you would have this." I took it gently and unwrapped it; inside was a silver chained necklace. From the chain hung a very small trinket; it was a tiny conk shell, no bigger than the size of my thumbnail. It was made of a beautiful pearl-like material and was traced with graceful curves of silver.
"Oh Arwen, this is beautiful. I can't thank you enough, really-" I began to say but Arwen held up her hand to stop me.
"May it be a small piece of hope for you to hold to; when you see this charm, remember that you are never alone." I held the small shell in my fingertips as I watched it shine in the afternoon sun; it's shimmer made me feel like I was at home, on the beach again.
"Really Arwen, thank you so much." I said slowly and gave her a hug. She hugged back and when we let got she brushed some hair out of my face as she said,
"Aa' menle nauva calen ar' ta hwesta e' ale'quenle, namárië melonamin." I had no idea what any of that meant, but I knew it was some sort of deep and meaningful farewell.
Suddenly from out of the depths of the water, a huge grey wave came toward me. My feet planted themselves and refused to move as the water climbed past my ankles and inched towards my knees. The wave came closer and closer, and I simply watched as it loomed above me. NO! I was screaming in my head, I have to move! I have to move! I'll drown! But my body paid no heed to what I said; it simply stared at the wave as it began to crash down on me.
When the water hit me, it was like ice, ice prickling me all over my skin and tearing me apart. I struggled but I couldn't move; my lunges were aching and my muscles were tired. The air rushed from my mouth and I could feel the cold arms of infinity wrap around my shoulders; I was dying and I was simply lost in this world of cold, wet hurt. I looked up to the surface one last time for any sign of help and saw a hand reach down into the water. I fought against death's embrace to reach for it, and at long last I grabbed it. It pulled me through the water; I was traveling closer and closer to the surface of the water and then I came to it. First my hand, then my arm, then my elbow and finally my-
"Laura, wake now. It is time." Gandalf's voice said. My eyes opened slowly and I looked at Gandalf as he stood over a dresser. There were two outfits, as the tailor promised, and Gandalf held a sack in his hands. I stood from the bed as Gandalf continued, "Here are some things that the Lord Elrond bid you have: the clothes made for you by his servants are here, they are light and made to remain cool in heat and warm in cold and I believe they are resistant to filth. He also gives to you this traveling sack so that you may carry what so ever you desire." I smiled as I approached Gandalf and the gifts I had received. The clothes were amazing; they were hunting outfits in shades of green and brown that seemed to be drawn from the trees themselves. The sack was also a very nature inspired green and seemed big enough to carry all the necessities I had gathered, and lastly beside the sack was a pair of brown boots.
"Thank you bringing me these Gandalf. Though I wish that I could thank Elrond personally." Gandalf nodded as he set the sack down by the clothes.
"In this sack is a flask and a few other supplies for you. And you'll find it is very light. Dress quickly for we must make haste. We will be in the courtyard." Gandalf turned to leave but before he did he said, "Oh…and by the way…Aragorn left this for you." He walked to a chair and picked up a sheathed sword. "He had the sword you were using to learn sharpened by the Elven smiths." He handed to me and I took it with a smile.
"Thank you Gandalf, I'll be right down." With that he nodded and left the room. I soon dressed and found the clothes and boots fit perfectly; Gandalf was right, they were made of a light fabric, but on this cold morning they'd still kept me warm. I grabbed my sack, put my sword on my belt and left the room. I met the rest of the fellowship at the entrance courtyard of Rivendell; everyone was there as they should be: the Hobbits stood by each other, Gimli with his axe in hand and an excited face, Boromir, deep in thought with thick furs on his body, Gandalf, clad in gray and smiling, Legolas, dressed in a green hunting outfit with bows and knives at back, and Aragorn dressed in darker clothing and tightening his belts. We were actually leaving; I would actually leave with the fellowship to go on a god-forsaken quest to destroy a ring in Mordor. During those few moments of realization, my only wish was that I'd live, so I could go back to my rightful place in existence.
Llenya the fair: You know what? Reviewers of few words are okay by me! Once, I had a reviewer who would say AT MAX in their reviews, "Good chapter, please update." So, compared to that person you're a novelist! Thanks again for your AWESOME reviews!
Lozzy Babe: Thanks! I worked really hard on that chapter!
TriGemini: Your review made my DAY! I love hearing such output! LOOOOVE IT! It was amazing to read your thoughts and all I can say is that there will be more to come. I plan to update twice a week, until I run out of chapters! Thanks again for your thoughts!
Ms. Unknown: Yeah, so for you I bet this is moving so slowly! I'm so sorry about the pace, but I am still trying to finish the story as I am posting the re-written chapters! Thank you so much for your patience and loyalty!
ChildofGod-4ever: You are so wonderful! I've been wondering about the amount of reviews I had too! I had a lot more reviews the FIRST time I posted the story! But oh well…reviewers like you make writing worthwhile. Thanks again!
In addition to the reviews, I'd like to extend to you all the option of joining my Monthly "With Shores Beneath Their Feet" Mailing List. It will keep you in the "in" with news about the series and myself! If you're interested, please include your E-mail with your review! Thanks again and happy reading!
