Disclaimer:

I owe nothing, everything belongs to mister Tolkien, who has created the wonderful books named 'the Lord of the Rings'

Chapter 9: A surprise…

Back in the Shire life went on. Rosie was busy with her children and Samwise was trying to help her as much as he could for his task as a Mayor was beginning to grow as well. Or so it seemed to poor Samwise. It is not that he doesn't like the fact that he is the Mayor of Hobbiton, but he wanted to spend as much time with his family as possible, for he missed his eldest daughter terribly.

Lily and May were avoiding Lissy and the Took wasn't to happy with that. Why would they act like that. It wasn't her who had gone off to Gondor. It was Elanor. And Lissy simply found it stupid that they acted that way. Elanor was their friend, whether she was in Gondor or not. So Lissy went up to the Mayor alone, without May and Lily who had said that she was crazy if she would keep in contact with Elanor. Lissy didn't care.

A soft knock on the round door of Bag End made Rosie look up from the letter that her daughter had sent to them 2 weeks ago. She knew that her daughter was in Rohan and hoped that she was having fun. But now she had to open the door. Carefully she put the letter back into its envelope. Rosie had read the letter so many times that the parchment felt soft in her hands. Slowly she got up and walked to the door, opening it with a smile.

"Mistress Gamgee," Lissy said with a smile on her face, " I was wondering if your husband is at home?" Rosie smiled and opened the door further, "Lissy! Come in and have something to drink first. Samwise is finishing some papers at this moment," Rosie said, the smile on her face had widened. With a grateful smile Lissy stepped into the house. She had always envied Elanor, for Bag End was a big hole. The sound of playing children in the garden was good to hear and Lissy smiled. "Thank you," Lissy said with a smile.

"Make yourself comfortable!" Rosie said as she walked through the Living Room towards the kitchen. Lissy sat down on an old chair and soon was joined by Rosie who brought a tray with her. Soon they both said comfortably talking with a cup of tea in their hands. "Where are May and Lily?" Rosie asked, wondering where Elanor' other two friends were. Now Lissy felt uncomfortable and she averted her gaze. "Well… they don't want to keep in contact with Elanor anymore… uh. They think that she has gone mad."

To Lissy' surprise Rosie started laughing, "My daughter has always been mad." Lissy looked up to her in wonder, "Begging your pardon, Mistress Gamgee, but Elanor isn't mad! She is really nice and cares for others and…" Rosie held up her hand to stop Lissy, "I know she is, Lissy, but you are not the only one who heard the gossip, it has even reached our ears. Don't look surprised." Rosie added with a smile as she saw the look upon Lissy' face.

A blush crept upon Lissy' cheeks as she looked to the teacup that she held in her hand, "I don't think either of you is crazy," she said, "Well, perhaps you are, but in a good way if you follow me." Rosie smiled, " Of course child, and just Rosie will do, no more mistress Gamgee, alright?" Lissy looked up and smiled, " Thank you, Rosie." Right at that moment Sam entered, " And no more Master Sam or Mayor as well, just Sam." Lissy grinned, "Yes Sir!" The three of them laughed.

"Well let us write that letter then," Sam said, indicating Lissy to follow him to his study, "For that is why you have come is it not?" Lissy smiled and nodded, following closely behind him. Sure, she had been in Bag End before, but always with Elanor and now her friend wasn't here anymore. It was strange.

They were in Sam' study and he had already put some parchment, ink and quill ready. Lissy sat down in a chair that stood close to the desk and looked to Sam. "Well, just start and I will write it down," Sam said with a smile. "Alright, but," Lissy started, "Should I tell her about May and Lily?" Sam seemed to consider it for a moment and then said, "I think you should, I mean, she has at least one faithful friend left, that is better then 2 unfaithful ones." And so Lissy started:

Dear Elanor,

I hope you enjoy yourself on your little trip! Well it is not little, now is it? Tell Legolas that I'm sorry about the fact that I did not see his blue hair. I wish I had though. Can't you draw a painting and send it or something?

Rivendell really sounds beautiful, as you described it (Your father remembered the name, I did not, why are all those names so difficult?) Anyway, are you really going to learn elvish? I mean it seems very difficult. Anyway.

Here in the Shire things go as they normally go, only I have one thing to tell you that you probably won't like so much. Lots of people, including May and Lily, think that you are crazy. It is ridiculous! I mean, you are crazy, but in a good way. I would never go to Gondor or Rohan or Rivendell. At least you dare to do it. I guess I don't have enough blood of the old Took in my body.

The content of the rest of the letter is not important to us, for Lissy told Elanor about what had happened more in the Shire; From the tiniest little baby to the eldest gaffer. Nothing she missed out. After they were finally finished Sam looked up, "Well, that's a lot!" Lissy smiled, " I know, but I couldn't help it!" – " Don't worry we have an equally long letter, maybe even longer." Lissy smiled, "Well thank you for your hospitality but I have to get going, mother won't be too pleased if I don't show up for dinner.

Rosie joined them in front of the door, " Thanks for being so honest, Lissy, and know that you are still welcome here, even now that Elanor is gone." Lissy smiled to Rosie, "Thank you! And I will remember it, well I will see you later!" she closed the door behind her and walked down back to the lake. Indeed she had been honest with the Gamgee family. How could she not be?

Blothmath, the name for the month November in the Shire was half way and Fastred, together with his brother, was spending most of his time inside. Not that it was so could outside, but in front of the fire it was far more comfortable then out in the rain. For it was raining a lot. The letter that Fastred had written to Elanor had been posted a long time ago and Fastred was wondering when he would get his reply back.

Hopefully Elanor would send a map with it, for he had no idea where in Middle Earth she was. He had even no idea of how Middle Earth looked on a map. But now his mind was with a game of chess that he and his brother Hamfast were playing. "Checkmate," he said with a grin on his face as he looked to Hamfast who was frowning, "No… just check," his brother replied, quickly putting his King out of the way. "Well then now it is Checkmate," Fastred said, moving his Queen so that Hamfast had no other way out. " I give up!" Hamfast exclaimed, "You always win! It is no fun playing this game with you."

"Just a moment," Elanor said, she was climbing up a tree in the little forest where they had made camp, "I want to have a look around." Gimli was standing by the tree trunk looking up to her, "It is not save Elanor, get down!" the tone of his voice was clearly nervousness, "Your father is never going to forgive us if something happens to you." Legolas was out gathering some wood.

"Don't worry!" Elanor laughed, " I've climbed more trees then you Master Dwarf." Finally she had reached the highest branches, now she could take a clear look around. Their surroundings were beautiful. The little forest in which they had set their camp really was a little forest and around it hills spread out. Some bushes and in other places grass was seen.

But there was something else as well. Not so far away from them a little group of black figures were walking. They were coming towards them. Elanor, who had no idea what of who they were quickly climbed down, " I saw black figures moving towards us, Gimli." Now it was her time to sound nervous. Even before Gimli could answer Legolas returned, he had no wood in his arms and the expression on his face was grave. "There are some orcs approaching," was what he said. Elanor' face turned white, "But they don't travel in daylight."

But the daylight had faded away and dark shadows were creeping up. The sun had almost faded behind the mountains. "How many?" Gimli asked Legolas who answered, " Twenty, maybe more, but we can't fight them Gimli." The Dwarf had his axe ready in his hands and looked disappointed, "We can't risk that Elanor has no companions left to travel with." Elanor looked up to them in horror, "But… but…" Legolas placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, "We'll be alright Elanor, we've almost reached Minas Tirith."

That was true, they had been travelling now for 8 days. Just as easy as the first 5 weeks of travelling had been. Now the forest around them seemed scary and not so safe a place as she first had thought it to be, "We'll have to ride further before we can rest, just to make sure that the orcs don't come up to close," Legolas said. Even though Elanor was tired she did not complain, anything to avoid meeting these orcs sounded good to her ears at this moment.

She had heard enough of the stories of Pippin and Merry to fear the creatures. And she had read the red book that her father was finishing. The descriptions that Master Frodo had given of the beasts were enough to run a shiver down her spine. Now the thought that they were near was very frightening. Soon they were riding across the country again. Making haste, for Legolas wasn't sure how long the orcs would pursue them, if that were their intention.

And so they rode further through the upcoming night. Elanor seemed wide-awake, but she was deadly tired nonetheless. It seemed that she still wasn't used to riding. Slowly the hours pas by and finally Legolas said that they could rest now. Almost as soon as Elanor laid down she was asleep. Gimli first made a fire before he fell asleep as well. Legolas stayed awake, staring into the darkness. Keeping watch.

Dear readers,

Yes two more reviews!

Diamond North Took – Thanks for your review, and of course I will give you a review… as soon as your story is on the net 

Shadows of Moonlight – Hmmm. whether Elanor ends up with Fastred in the end… read the story –smiles- Thanks for the review and I'm sorry that you can't be my beta-reader. About the spelling errors, I'm trying to avoid them  I'm updating as soon as I can, but school is starting, so then it won't be as quick as it goes now, I'm sorry for that. Again: thanks for your review.

So… I'm still looking for a beta-reader. And still the reviews are very much appreciated.

Maikie