Disclaimer:

I owe nothing, everything belongs to mister Tolkien, who had created the wonderful fantasy story 'the Lord of the Rings'.

Chapter 6: Imladris

Dear diary,

Alright this is not going to be so easy. Writing all of it down. We left home a week ago and are still trying to reach Imladris (or Rivendell). I really miss everybody (already.. can you believe it?). Yet Gimli and Legolas are good companions, so they leave me alone when I want to be left alone and they talk with me when I want to talk. Really good arrangement if one could call it that. Ooh I miss home!

Saying goodbye was one of the hardest things to do. Imagine that your entire family is standing at the doorstep plus some very good friends (Merry and Pippin in this part) and they are all saying goodbye. wishing you the best and so on and so on. In the end, when we finally left I had no more tears to cry. Mum took it better then I thought (she only embraced me for like... 3 minutes?) and dad was just dad. He wished me a pleasant time (everybody did) and gave me some letters for friends in Gondor and Rohan as well.

Oi, got to go, were going further (it is midday now and we just had our lunch.) It is so strange... they only have 3 meals in a day. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner (Where did everything else go?)

Well We're off!

Elly

Carefully Elanor closed the book that her father had given her. " It's a good way to get rid of your thoughts and it will be fun to read when you are back home again," Samwise had said before hugging his eldest daughter. Now his daughter was packing the ink and quill again. " Alright... " she said, "I'm ready to go." Legolas smiled to her, "Bill is ready too. I think he has eaten enough for now." Elanor laughed and looked to her pony. Her father had bought it for her. She had named it after his old pony. The one who went with him on his journey.

" I agree with that," Gimli the dwarf said, " Come on, Laddie, help me up there." he said to Legolas who smiled at him. The elf and dwarf shared their horse, for Gimli did not feel sure enough to ride one on his own. And it gave him a better way to relax (this he had entrusted to Elanor, who thought that to be logic) It wasn't a nice thing at all; sitting on a horse the entire day. Her bottom hurt terribly, yet she had not spoken a word of it yet.

Finally they were all ready, and they went off again, further on the road that would lead them to Imladris. "Hopefully we will rest there for a moment, I hate riding!" Elanor muttered under her breath. Legolas looked up, for a moment Elanor had forgotten that he had a very good hearing. " We will rest in Imladris, Elanor, just say if you want a rest. Sometimes riding isn't so comfortable." Elanor blushed and looked away, which made Gimli laugh, "Don't worry, Elanor, I hate it just as much as you do. But your legs aren't so tired, and it goes faster then walking." That was a point on which Elanor had to agree.

It took them another week to reach Rivendell, Elanor was very glad when she could see the elven house in front of them. It was near sunset as they had finally reached it. She stopped Bill and gazed down, her eyes were widened and her mouth stood open. "Wow, this is a beautiful place!" And yet Elanor did not see it in the best of tidings. For most of the elves had left the city: to Valinor. Elrohir and Elladan, the sons of Elrond, were the only royalty that had remained in Middle Earth. For they did not yet want to leave their sister alone.

This was a sad story, for most of the elves in Middle Earth were leaving. Elanor found it strange, why would they leave? Middle Earth is nice and it is home. Now then Valinor was a far away place. Only elves lived there, what fun was there in that. For Elanor it was hard to understand that those elves lived forever. They were blessed with immortality. Whether that is a bless or a curse was hard to determent.

Now Elanor was standing in front of the twin sons of Elrond and she made a bow. Just as her father had learned her. Hand on her heart and one feet behind the other. Not to forget that she bowed her head respectfully. Both of the elves smiled to her and returned the greeting, only they did not put one feet behind the other, Elanor noticed. "Welcome to Imladris, misses Elanor, daughter of Samwise," one of them said. " I hope your stay here will be a pleasant one, " The other continued.

Elanor smiled up to them, " I hope so too, I can imagine why Master Bilbo spend so much time here." Both of them laughed, it was a merry laugh that filled Elanor with joy. " I can imagine... I'm Elrohir. " The one on the left said, " And this..." Elrohir said indicating to his brother, " is Elladan." Elanor looked from one to the other, "I don't think I can keep the two of you apart." This gave her another laugh and Elanor smiles slightly. Then she stepped aside so that Legolas and Gimli could greet their friends as well.

"Le abdollen…" Elladan said which earned him a smile from Legolas. Elanor looked from one to the other, she could not follow what they were saying for they were speaking in their own language. After a while Gimli moved restless "That's enough!" Gimli said stepping forward, "It's good to see you too Lord Elladan and Elrohir, but it's not polite if you speak in your own language when there are people present who cannot understand you."

With an apologetic smile the three elves looked to Elanor and Gimli. "We're sorry…" Legolas spoke, "But there were some things we had to talk about… but you most be tired Elanor." The hobbit nodded, "I can't say that I'm not." With a smile Elladan motioned one of the servants forward, "Bring misses Elanor to her room." The servant made a small bow and beckoned Elanor to follow him, so she did. "Thank you!" Elanor said when they had reached her room. She walked inside and gazed around.

This room was much bigger then her own at home. Flowers stood in vases in corners of the room and her bed was simply huge! "Of course they have no hobbit sized beds here." she scolded herself. Not that it mattered! Elanor thought it a good time for a little rest so she took of her cloak and hung it over a chair nearby, then she jumped on the bed and lay down. "Imladris seems beautiful," she thought, before closing her eyes and falling asleep.

The next morning she awoke bright an early, just as she had always done at home. It was a strange sensation, waking up in a bed after 2 weeks of sleeping on the ground with only a blanket between her and the cold night air. It was wonderful to be more precise. With a soft yawn Elanor sat up and looked around in the room. Yesterday she had been to tired to do anything then sleep so mornings were always welcome.

The room was beautifully decorated. Little leaves carved into the wood and there was a wonderful painting right in front of her. It was an elf and she was wearing a beautiful silver like gown as she danced through a beautiful forest. Not a forest like the ones that Elanor had even seen. No the trees were simply huge and they seemed to be of silver again. Only a different kind of color then the gown of the she-elf.

Just at the moment that Elanor wanted to step out of her bed she noticed that she was still wearing her clothes. They needed to be washed for sure! Her cloak good use a good shrubbery as well. So she got up and started to look around… maybe there was some warm water somewhere. To her surprise an elf entered, the woman made a small bow before saying, "Miss Gamgee, your bath is ready." Elanor' eyes widened in delight, "Thank you very much! Just call me Elanor please…" the elf smiled, "Just like your father," The elf said with a smile.

"You know him?" Elanor asked wondering how many more people she would meet who knew her father. "Of course I do, I'm Ránëwén and I was one of the handmaidens of Lady Arwen, when she stayed here." Elanor nodded, "Well Ránëwén I can say that I really need a bath." Ránëwén laughed, "Then please take the things that you need with you… I will show you were it is." Quickly Elanor took her bag that stood next to her bed and her cloak as well. "Ready!" Elanor said with a smile.

Ránëwén had showed her where the bath was and now Elanor was sitting in it, making sure that the dust of the road left her skin and her hair. She took a deep breath and dipped her head under water. When she sat up she pulled her clothes into the bath as well. After cleaning them she got out of the bath and soon she was fully clothed again. Her wet clothes she took back to her chamber where she put them over the edge of the balcony. Only then she looked into the valley that lay spread out before her.

Her father really had not exaggerated when he told her about this. It was simply breathtaking. Elanor could not find the words for it. And it was the first time that she found herself speechless. (This would happen more on her journey) The buildings seemed to blend in with their surroundings. Fall was approaching; the leaves of the trees started to turn brown, but red, yellow and other colors could be seen as well.

"There you are! We're having breakfast in the Main Hall… are you coming?" It was Legolas who made her look around. When she did she saw Legolas expression, it was one of amazement, " You washed your clothes already… and yourself." Elanor laughed at his expression, "Well of course! I'm not some block-headed Bracegirdle from Hardbottle!" They both burst out laughing and soon they had arrived in the Main Room. Here they were greeted by Gimli and many more elves. They all rose when they stepped into the room and Elanor looked slightly nervous.

"Don't worry and grow used to it," Legolas whispered and Elanor smiled up to him. They were welcomed with kind words and Elanor was offered a place between Elrohir and Elladan. It was a good thing that Elanor did not know the honor of this place or else she would not have talked so freely and eaten as only a hobbit could eat.

Their stay in Rivendell was a pleasant one and Elanor had already written three letters. To her family, friends and one to mister Greenholm. One of the messengers had taken them away the evening before the little fellowship would depart. Elanor had no idea how long they had stayed in Rivendell, but it had to be at least a week. Time seemed to pass both quick and slow in the Valley, which was a strange thing to Elanor. It almost seemed like elven magic or it could be her own imagination as well.

They would sat out for Rohan for that was where their next stop was. They would head for Edoras, because Legolas would like to see King Éomer and Queen Lothíriel again. It wasn't a sad goodbye that they had in Imladris for Elladan and Elrohir had promised her that they would visit Gondor. They had not seen their sister in 2 years and were anxious to see her again.

Reviews are always appreciated!

Maikie