CHAPTER 2: you speak what?!?
The fellowship readied themselves in case the new arrivals wanted to fight. Gimli loosened his axes, Frodo got ready to fall over and squeak like a hamster, and Legolas was still unconscious. From the ramp of the large 'ship' the hairy being growled and roared another challenge. Han was about to tell Chewie to shut up and stop frightening the poor peasants when Gandalf, albeit with much swaying, yelled out. "I'm sure I didn't damage your ship permanently. If you wish to remove my arms, please, feel free to come down here and try!" His credibility at being able to deflect the huge Wookiee was somewhat low at the sight of a drunken old man with huge eyebrows and little ability to stand without swaying.
Chewie was silent immediately, stunned by the old man's ability to understand Wookiee. Han sputtered vaguely, then managed to arrange his sounds into words.
"You know what he's saying? How?" He walked past his friend and came down to face Gandalf.
"I'm a wizard. It is my livelihood to understand the speech of other cultures. Now, who are you strange people, and why have you interrupted our quest? Are you sent from Sarumon? Or a greater evil?" Gandalf eyed Han with suspicion and started suddenly at the appearance of more people at the ramp.
"I am General Han Solo, of the New Republic. I don't know anything of Sarumon or any evil you speak of, and have no quarrel with you or your people. In fact, we don't even know where we are. My ship," Han waved behind him vaguely, "was damaged just outside of this planet's atmosphere. I'm taking my family and some friends for a vacation, and because of the breakdown, had to come in to repair. Do you know where I can find somewhere to get parts for my ship? We would gladly get out of the way of your... quest.." Behind Han, Leia and Luke came down to see who Han was talking to.
"Hmph. I know nothing of your ship, or repairs. This place is known by most as Middle Earth, and the area we now stand upon is Hollin. I am Gandalf the Grey, and we quest forth against the greater evil of Sauron. Traveling with me is Aragorn, heir to the Kingship of Gondor, Boromir.. some tosser who came along for the free fighting, Legolas, that prone feminine-looking chap, Gimli, our token dwarf, and four Hobbits..." He pointed. "Those small, useless looking people. I see you have more aboard than yourself and the beast." Gandalf managed to straighten himself, and with noticeable effort, threw off the effects of the alcohol, as least for now.
"Please introduce the remainder of your group, so we can all sit and find out what is to be done!" Leia, seeing an opening to introduce herself, strode forward.
"I am Leia Organa Solo, and this," She nodded to her left, "is my brother, Luke Skywalker. Han is my husband, and our children travel with us." With a growl to the remaining passengers aboard the Falcon, Chewie came down the ramp and introduced himself.
"Chewbacca? Hmph." Gandalf bowed, and turned his attention to the large group of people who had come down to meet the still-silent fellowship.
"Hey. I'm Jacen.. My sister Jaina, and brother Anakin. Nice country you've got here.. Any interesting animals?" Jaina elbowed her brother, and curtsied to the wizard. Anakin looked lost, and towing Tahiri with him, and went to stand beside Chewie. Tahiri, rolling her eyes, introduced herself to Gandalf, then looked over the rest of the fellowship. When she saw the hobbits, her eyes lit up and she pulled Anakin over to talk to them. Pippin, the closest hobbit to Tahiri, tried to edge back, but when the girl's enthusiasm bubbled over, he stuck out his hand to introduce himself.
"I'm Peregrin Took, son of Paladin. Yeh can call me Pippin or Pip if yeh want. This," Pippin grabbed behind and pulled Merry forward, " If mah cousin Meriadoc. call him Merry." Frodo and Sam managed to back up out of Pip's grabbing range, but Tahiri didn't mind.
"I'm Tahiri. This is Anakin, and we're pleased to meet you. If I may ask, why do you not wear shoes?" Tahiri pointed to the hobbit's feet. Pippin grinned, and Merry just looked shy.
"We're hobbits, we dunna havta wear shoes, our feet are think enough to walk over rocks. Why, miss, do you not wear shoes?" Tahiri grinned back, finally finding someone who understood her aversion to shoes. Anakin soon struck up a conversation about the weather with Merry while his girlfriend chatted to Pip about 'crazy shoe-wearing folk'. Meanwhile, Zekk, Lowie and Tenel Ka had descended, and met Gandalf. Zekk, after having heard Boromir being introduced as someone who "came along for the free fighting", went over and casually complemented the Gondorian on his sword. Manly sword-talk soon followed.
Lowie edged over to the almost cowering Frodo and Sam, and attempted to engage them in conversation, via Emteedee. Tenel Ka, after surveying the group, attempted to bring Legolas back to consciousness. This involved much prodding him until the elf decided to come 'round. Finally, the last inhabitants of the ship came down. Threepio and R2 edged slowly down the ramp, and were greeted with odd stares from the fellowship, and grins from most of the others. Gandalf scowled, and when the droids came within reach, he jabbed at R2 with his staff. The little droid squealed, and wheeling forward, shot sparks at Gandalf. Leia managed to get between the combatants before the wizard did something unnatural to the droid, and patted R2's head. She explained.
"These are our droids. They are machines, built to do jobs for us like people. This one We call R2D2, and the tall, golden one is C3PO. He translates languages." At this, Gandalf snorted, and said to the droid, in a sneering voice:
"Llie n'vanima ar' lle atara lanneina!" Threepio cocked his head to the side, and after 3.7 seconds, responded.
"Quel amrun! Saesa omentien lle.". Gandalf snorted again and fell silent. Han smacked Threepio.
"What did he say? And what was that you said?"
"Well, I am fluent in over six million forms of communication.." he trailed off, seeing the glint in Han's eye that meant another smack was coming. "He insulted my mother and my way of dressing, and I believe I greeted him cordially. The language is merely Quenyan, an old Elven language." Gandalf scowled deeper at the droid, and turning to his now larger fellowship, he said:
"If that's all, let us sit for awhile and rest. My old bones cannot take much more excitement!" A snort came from Legolas at this.
With night quickly approaching, the fellowship and the new 'expansions' built up a large fire and attempted to find food. Han and Luke rummaged in the Falcon for anything they could share, while Leia and unwilling volunteers Jaina and Anakin helped bring out some tents for the night. Aragorn conversed quietly with Gandalf off to the side of the group.
"Shall we continue our quest with these strange people? We cannot help them with their ship, but perhaps their skills will come in handy in Mordor." Aragorn didn't trust anyone but the fellowship, but since he had stood to the side and scowled the whole time they were introducing, he had not talked to any of the new arrivals.
"They may yet help us on our journey. But I do not wish to take them against their will. We shall discuss this with them tonight, and depart in the morning, nine strong or twenty-two." Gandalf knew that the Ranger disliked strangers, and he did not want one of them overhearing any plans they had not yet discussed. Aragorn scowled deeply at the wizard's departing form, then strode off into the blackness with his bow. Hopefully some hunting could take his mind off the departure tomorrow.
He had not gone ten feet beyond the circle of firelight when he heard faint footsteps behind. Turning, he found two of the strangers, a fire-haired female with one arm, and one of the brown-haired twins... Jacen? He had not listened enough to remember if that name was right. He spoke quietly when they had caught up.
"Why do you follow me? I must travel lightly and silently if you wish to eat anything but travel rations tonight."
"This is a fact. However, we are Jedi, and trained in many arts. Walking loudly is not something Jedi are know for. We come to aid you in your hunt. I am Tenel Ka, but I do not know your name." Tenel Ka addressed Aragorn directly, looking into his eyes with a regal air that challenged the Ranger to send her back. Aragorn realized this was no weak child, even with only one limb. He sensed that she could probably fight him to the ground with her corded muscles and lithe body. He nodded slightly, accepting the girl's presence.
"I am Aragorn, son of Arathorn, and heir to the throne on Gondor." He bowed. "You may accompany me, but be warned, I move fast. Who is your companion? Is he also one of these 'Jedi' of which you speak?"
"Yes." Jacen stepped forward and spoke. "I am Jacen, Jedi knight. I, uh.. I can sense animals nearby, and thought you may need someone with my skills." He stuttered slightly when he saw the kingly stare Aragorn fixed him with. Not unlike Tenel Ka's when she was angry. Jacen made a mental note not to interfere with the man. Aragorn looked Jacen over. 'Hm. Muscled, but he gives off an air of boy-ishness. Yet, if he can find meat for me, I suppose there is not harm in having him along.' Aragorn nodded at both the young Jedi.
"You may come. What do you plan to hunt with, may I ask?" He hefted his bow and quiver to relay his meaning.
"We will hunt with these, Aragorn." Tenel Ka unclipped her lightsaber and turned it on. The Ranger looked impressed.
"What is this, Milady? Some kind of magical sword?"
"It is a lightsaber, the weapon of the Jedi. It will carve through most anything. Each Jedi must make thier own saber as part of their training." At this Jacen also flicked on his lightsaber. Aragorn nodded, still looking awed. He turned, and set off at a light run. The Jedi re-clipped thier lightsabers and followed.
While Jacen, Tenal Ka and Aragorn were out hunting, everyone else was organizing, looking around or putting up tents. Boromir and Zekk, having found a common bond in weaponry and battle-lore, had volunteered to watch the bonfire. Boromir was facinated by Zekk's lightsaber, and kept asking the Jedi if it could slice through what had a found.
"Will it cut through wood?" Boromir's voice was less manly when he got excited.
"Yes, my friend. It will cut through wood." Zekk sighed, and unclipped his saber for yet another demo. Boromir grinned and help up a stick of firewood. Zekk ignited his lightsaber and sliced easily through the stick, as if it were Bantha meat. Boromir dropped the now-smouldering stick onto the fire and unsheathed his sword.
"Your magic sword is powerful, my friend, but what against the might of Gondor?" The man lunged at Zekk's still pulsating lightsaber with his sword. Zekk yelled and tried to dodge, but the Jedi was no match in agility for an excited Gondorian who had caught him by surprise. Boromir jumped forward and the swords clashed. Or rather, they would have clashed had Boromir's blade not been severed cleanly from the hilt. Zekk switched off his lightsaber and chanced a look at Boromir. Shock, dismay and predominantly awe covered the large man's face. He looked down at the blade shining on the dusk-shadowed grass, then at the useless hilt in his hand. Boromir gasped soundlessly for a moment, then managed a word.
"Wow."
Meanwhile, Leia finshed bringing out the last tent from the Falcon. Han's ship was always prepared for anything, as it's constuction warented many unscheduled stops. Translation: It's a malfunctioning bucket, so they always had to have gear for emergency fix-it stops Jaina, Anakin and Leia had managed to rummage up three small tents, and enough outdoor bedding for six people. After dinner, Leia figured, they could draw for tents or the sleeping cabins in the Falcon. Leia turned to her daughter.
"Well, that's it. We'll figure out who sleeps in these later. Dare we go over and chat with the pretty blond? Legolas?" Jaina grinned and shook her head.
"Subtle, Mom. Does Dad know about this yet?" She grinned at her mother's spreading blush. "No, I think Legolas is too in love ith himself to be much to talk to. We're better off with the dwarf." Jaina ignored Leia's continuing sputterings and joined Tahiri and Anakin, who were sitting with Merry and Pippin, trying to not be noticed and set to work.
On the other side of the encampment, Gandalf has having a coversation with Threepio, completely in Sindarin. The droid had managed to pull to the other ancient elven language from his memory banks, and was currently explaining their complete story to the wizard. (albeit without the classified parts)Artoo hooted and beeped his own embellishments every so often, but Gandalf didn't mind. He was getting rather fond of these machines.
Darkness fell. Zekk, without the help of the still-stunned Boromir, managed to keep the fire high. Anakin, tired of the hobbits's farm and tavern talk, came over to help. Luke and Han failed to find anything edible in the ship, as one of Gandalf's fire-blasts had incinerated the food storage compartments. Aragorn, however, managed to bring back two deer and a brace of rabbits. Jacen and Tenel Ka followed the Ranger, and took the credit for the deer. One was killed with a saber hole in the neck, the other had it's back broken by a kick from Tenel Ka. Aragorn had trapped the rabbits in an area where Jacen had told him the animals came to sleep.
One deer was spitted over the fire to roast, while Sam was given the rabbits. While waiting for the food, the company chatted amongst themselves. Chewbacca and Lowie returned from a forest walk, and Boromir still stared at his blade and hilt set. Dinner was served. Sam had produced a thick meaty stew form the rabbits, while the deer roast was seasoned from the hobbit's stash of spices. Aragorn ate quickly, then set to work cutting the remaining deer for drying. Gandalf would help with magic to produce jerky for the following day's departure.
The wizard finished his food, and waited for the rest to be done. He cleared his throat when the last hobbit sat back full, and caught the attention of all. Gandalf began..