Grumpy: Thank you. Here is another installment.
Tracey: I'm glad you like the story overall even though the dialogue and the character names in Chapter 47 were unsatisfying. Was it the speech of Hyge and his family that you didn't think worked, or was it the speech of the strangers? Or both? If it was Hyge's family, was the dialogue too stiff or artificial? If it was the strangers, was it too vulgar? Or was it something else altogether? Thanks for reviewing!
Joee: Hyge leaves behind other siblings besides Berta. The idea is to remove Marta because she is most at risk and to remove Malinka because she has been traumatized.
Andi-Black: The Dunlendings' role in the larger story begins to become somewhat apparent in this chapter.
Dragonfly: The involvement of the Rivendell Elves will begin with this chapter.
Kelly Kragen: Yes, the murder of the mother and twins was particularly horrific.
Beta Reader: Dragonfly.
Chapter 46: The Plot Thickens
Erestor gently draped a blanket over the shoulders of the little human who sat upon a chair in Elrond's presence chamber, her legs dangling in midair. She looked up at the tall Elf in awe. He smiled reassuringly at her. She did not smile back, but Erestor thought that the fear in her eyes lessened somewhat.
The door swung open, and Elrond strode into the room. Minutes earlier he had been awakened by a servant and told that three humans had insisted upon entering the Hall and would not cease their clamoring until its Lord had been summoned. His face impassive, he surveyed the small band of humans. A young Man—he knew him to be Hyge Farmer, friend of both Legolas and Aragorn. A girl on the cusp of womanhood. Another girl, but one who was so tiny that she scarcely looked to be more than a toddler. Their clothes were stained with travel, and their faces were drawn and weary. Elrond's face softened.
"Erestor," he said, "will you go to the kitchen and ask that mulled cider be fetched hither—I know we have several barrels of most excellent cider, for we acquired them from Master Farmer here. Say also that food is to be brought to this chamber—preferably warm dishes, for I see that our guests shiver. Then awake the Head Housekeeper and tell her that we need two rooms prepared, one for Master Farmer, and the other for the two young ladies who accompany him. Let her be sure that warm water aplenty is furnished in both rooms and that the bedding be ample. Let garments be laid in each room that are of a size for our guests."
"'Twill be hard to find garments for the little one," Erestor observed.
"An Elf's tunic would serve her as a gown, I think," Elrond replied.
"True." With that, Erestor hastened to do as he had been asked.
"Now, then," said Elrond, addressing himself to the humans in a kindly tone, "whilst we await the warm food and drink, we can at least drive off some of the chill that grips you. But you should stay seated whilst you warm yourself, for you look weary as well as cold. We will move the chairs next the fire."
Elrond himself picked up the chair upon which the tiny human sat—with her still in it! She gasped and then giggled as he carried chair and child to the fireplace.
"There," Elrond said, placing the chair back upon the ground. "Now you may be seated—but you already are!" The elf lord made a great show of being surprised to find the child upon the chair, and the little one laughed outright.
Elrond now helped the older girl move her chair while Hyge carried his own. Once the humans were all comfortably settled, Elrond drew a vial of miruvor from his tunic.
"This is powerful even for an Elf," he warned his guests, "so one sip only for each of you."
Obediently, each took only a tiny mouthful, but at once each felt refreshed both in body and spirit.
The door banged open just then, and a decidedly grim-faced Glorfindel stalked in. The little child let out a small shriek and pulled the blanket over her head.
"There are Elves hurrying and scurrying outside my chamber," growled Glorfindel. "If we are under attack, I'd like to know why I haven't been summoned."
"'Tis naught but the Housekeeper and her assistants preparing two rooms for guests," said Elrond mildly. "We are not under attack."
"Oh, but you are!" exclaimed Hyge. "I mean," he said, his face flushing as both Elves stared at him in surprise, "I mean, you may be. It's probable. Um, it's possible. We are, anyway," he trailed off.
"Under attack," he added.
Erestor returned then, leading a procession of servants bearing pitchers of steaming cider and platters heaped with food. This brought the little child out from under the blanket, and the two girls fell to, but Hyge ignored the food. Having recovered his wits and his courage, he arose and faced the three Elves.
"My Lords, this past month evil Men have come from the south and journeyed through Dunland on their way north. At best, they have been stealing the food from the mouths of our children. At worst, they have slaughtered at least one family whose only offense was that they objected to the ill treatment they received at the hands of these Men. We beg you to assist us in turning back these Men from our borders. If you will not do it out of kindness, then do so out of self-interest. For as we journeyed north, we followed the tracks of these Men. They came to the very borders of Imladris before turning westward. Surely it cannot please you to have such evil Men draw within striking distance of your own folk."
Hyge took a deep breath and went on.
"But if neither kindness nor self-interest will move you to take steps to stop these Men, then at least allow my sisters Marta and Malinka to remain here in safety. The Men have looked upon Marta with lustful eyes, and Malinka has witnessed what no child should see and is terrified to be in the presence of these Men."
With that, he took another deep breath and fell silent, gazing anxiously at the three elf lords.
Elrond turned to the balrog-slayer.
"Glorfindel?"
The seneschal looked thoughtful.
"It has been a month since any of the patrols have journeyed further south than our own borders. It is possible that during that time Men have drawn near our borders. At dawn I will lead a patrol that will back trail our guests and investigate the matter."
Elrond shook his head.
"I agree that a patrol should go forth, but perhaps someone other than yourself could lead it."
"Wherefore?"
Elrond did not immediately answer. He turned to Hyge.
"Master Farmer, how many Men have passed through Dunland?"
Hyge considered.
"Seven bands have stopped at my father's homestead. Each band has numbered from five to a dozen Men—perhaps fifty, sixty Men altogether, I think. There may be others who followed a route that did not bring them near us."
"Have any of these passed by on their way back south?"
"None that I know of, my Lord."
Elrond addressed his seneschal.
"Glorfindel, half a hundred Men at the least have journeyed to the west, toward Bree-land and the Shire. If they have combined forces, they represent a great threat to the folk of those lands—and to others."
Glorfindel nodded grimly.
"Berenmaethor will lead the patrol to the south. I myself will lead a force to the west."
"Thank you, my friend."
Elrond turned back to Hyge.
"Master Farmer, you shall have all your requests fulfilled. Your sisters are welcome to remain here as long as they wish; moreover, we will move against these Men, and out of both self-interest and concern for our neighbors. And now I suggest that you have somewhat to eat, for if you delay much longer, your sisters will leave you nothing!"
Marta looked up and blushed—Erestor thought she looked most endearing when she did so—but Malinka, absorbed in her plate, paid Elrond no heed. He was, in any event, exaggerating, for enough food remained to have fed several hungry young Men. Certainly Hyge had no difficulty in satisfying his hunger.
After all three humans had finished dining, Erestor led them to their rooms.
"Here you be, Master Farmer," he said briskly as they came to the first chamber. "Should you need anything, just duck your head out and hail any Elf who happens by. You'll be seen to, I assure you."
Hyge thanked him and went in to the room, closing the door after himself.
Erestor led Malinka and Marta on a little further.
"Here you are, my Ladies," he said gallantly.
Marta blushed, and again Erestor thought her quite endearing.
"Within you will find warm water, sweet-smelling lotions and soaps—although no sweeter than you!" he declared, bowing to Marta. "You will also find soft towels—although I warrant no softer than your hair," he added, again addressing Marta. "After you have bathed, you may don the garments that have been set out for you. The scarlet gown, Lady, will complement your hair nicely, I think, especially when set off by the green sash."
Erestor bowed again, as he did so taking Marta's hand and kissing it. When he straightened up, he patted Malinka on the head.
"Good night, child," he said distractedly.
He started to walk away and then suddenly stopped and turned about.
"Oh, my Lady, I had forgot. My chamber is the next but one," he said, pointing to the door of his room. "Should you require anything, do not hesitate to knock upon my door. I shall be glad to do anything that I can to make your stay in Imladris, which I hope will be a long one, as pleasant as may be."
Marta blushed again and with head lowered said softly that she would remember his offer. Erestor beamed, strode to his door, looked back at Marta once more, and vanished into his room.
"He likes you," said Malinka.
"What a silly notion," scolded Marta. "He is merely being courteous. Did you not know that the Fair Folk are famed for their graciousness to their guests?"
"He wasn't all that gracious to Hyge," said Malinka stubbornly. "He likes you."
"Hush," scolded Marta, shooing Malinka into the chamber. "It is not to be thought of!"
Marta and Malinka had finished bathing and were sleeping soundly by the time that Legolas, miles away, was awaking in his chamber at Bag End. He yawned and stretched—and his feet shot off the end of the bed. He chuckled.
"I had forgot how short this bed is, even if it is extra-large, Halfling-wise."
He pulled his feet back under the quilt to enjoy a few last minutes cocooned in what was, for all its littleness, really quite a comfortable bed. Indeed, everything about the room had a comfortable look.
"I think," mused Legolas, "that if I were smaller I would very much enjoy being a Hobbit. There is a pleasant sort of earthiness about this place, not a dirty sort of earthiness, but a wholesome one, born of a love for all that is green."
As if in answer to his thoughts, he heard a whistling outside his window and the sound of shears.
"Ah," murmured Legolas, "someone is trimming the shrubbery outside that window." He allowed the rhythmic clacking of the shears to lull him into a sort of trance that was only broken by a gentle tapping upon the door. Bilbo stuck in his curly head.
"Good morning, Legolas—or should I say 'Good Afternoon', for 'tis well past lunch. In fact, I was just going to have tea, and thought you might like to join me."
"I would be delighted," replied Legolas.
"Excellent! I'll leave you to dress, then, and will see you shortly."
Bilbo bustled away, and shortly afterward Legolas heard him outside talking with the wielder of the shears.
"Hamfast, that bush under my window seems to have recovered nicely from the leaf blight."
"Aye, Master Bilbo. Didna expect that it would. Came out this mornin' thinkin' I'd be diggin' it up 'n' burnin' it. Come to find it lookin' like it never had no blight a'tall. Uncanny, I call it."
"Ah, there is no accounting for the power of nature," said Bilbo cheerfully.
"But 'tis onnatural, I tell ye," Hamfast insisted.
"Nonsense! Living things have remarkable powers of rejuvenation."
"Rejuvawhatsat or not, Master Bilbo, I never see a bush recover in the space o' a night."
"Oh, likely it has been slowly improving these several days and it merely became noticeable this morning."
Hamfast muttered 'onnatural' again, but Bilbo went on to speak of other matters.
"How quiet it is with your Samwise and my Frodo away on their bit of a camping trip."
"Now that's another thing, Master Bilbo. Meanin' no disrespect, but I don't hold with this gallivantin' here 'n' there."
"Why, Hamfast, they are only hiking within a two days march of Hobbiton. Hardly 'gallivanting', I should say."
"No good will come of it," said Hamfast darkly. "You mark my words, Master Bilbo. Folk oughter stay to home, they should!"
"Why, Hamfast, I haven't always stayed at home."
"There you have it!" exclaimed Hamfast. "Now, what did I tell ye, Master Bilbo? Folk oughter stay to home!"
"But Hamfast, good came of my journey there and back again, and good continues to come of it."
"Hmmph!" snorted Hamfast. "If good come o' it, then there be a King in the West! There now!"
Hamfast seemed to consider this last point to be irrefutable, and Bilbo laughed and gave over the argument, turning instead to a discussion of the ripeness of the tomatoes. As their voices receded into the distance, Legolas smiled.
"There will be a King in the West, Hamfast, and, although you cannot guess at it, great good has come of Bilbo's long ago journey, and the Valar permitting, great good will continue to come of it."
Legolas knew that Bilbo had accompanied a party of Dwarves to the Lonely Mountain and that his services had been invaluable, as they had both led to the destruction of the dragon Smaug and set the stage for a settlement of a dispute that would have led to a tragic war between Dwarves, Men, and Elves—his own kin among them. Since Bilbo's efforts had helped restore safety and prosperity both to Erebor and to neighboring lands, clearly great good had indeed come of his journey, a good that promised to extend into the future.
If there were any other good that might come of Bilbo's journey, Legolas was ignorant of it at this time. Gandalf was of course still keeping to himself any suspicions or surmises that he might have developed over the years. In any event, any suspicions that Gandalf may have had very probably had more to do with what ill might come of Bilbo's journey rather than what good. Indeed, those suspicions were why Gandalf had sent Legolas to the Shire in the first place, for he hoped that the sharp-eyed Elf might notice something about Bilbo and his situation that the wizard had hitherto overlooked.
In fact, it was not long before Legolas began to notice that Bilbo had one very peculiar mannerism. The Hobbit was forever slapping his pockets nervously. Eventually he would seem to find what he was searching for, and he would briefly leave off fidgeting. But let another quarter of an hour pass, and he would check all his pockets once again.
"What has he got in his pockets," Legolas wondered, unconsciously echoing a question that another had asked long ago.
Other than that peculiarity, however, Legolas noticed nothing untoward. It seemed to him that Bilbo was a healthy, hearty, happy Hobbit in full possession of all his faculties, both physical and mental. Legolas was sure that Gandalf would be delighted to learn that his friend Bilbo was in fact faring much better than most Hobbits of his age, a few of whom were dead, the rest of whom were hobbling about and shouting 'Eh! What's that you say!?"
"Mithrandir told me that Bilbo was fifty when he ran off and had his great adventure. He might be fifty still," marveled Legolas. "Could it be that he has a touch of elvish blood?"
It did not occur to Legolas that there might be another reason for the Hobbit's longevity.
Legolas was not put off by Bilbo's one peculiarity, and he spent two pleasant days in the Hobbit's company. It was with reluctance that he at last bade farewell to the Perian.
"I have a friend waiting for me in Buckland," Legolas said, "else I should stay longer."
"Pity Frodo hasn't returned from his excursion," said Bilbo. "You'd like him, I think. He is a lively, promising lad. I expect great things of him."
"Perhaps I shall meet him another time," said Legolas.
"I hope things turn out so that you do. You'd have grand times together, I am sure!"
"No doubt," said Legolas. With that, he slipped out into the gathering darkness and set a relaxed pace for Buckland, meaning to cover the distance in two days.
If, however, he had known what was about to transpire there, he would have run the entire distance instead.