Disclaimer:

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

Chapter 11: Time for healing

The next morning Elanor awoke quite early. Her left shoulder did not hurt as much as it had the last time that she was awake and now it was easier to move it. "The healers of Minas Tirith sure are good one's," she thought as she sat up in her bed. The chamber was quite beautiful. It had a different kind of beauty then her bedroom at home, or the rooms that she had slept in while staying in Imladris and Rohan.

A large rug lay on the floor, it was a dark green one and it made Elanor think about the colour of the round door of Bag End. Only now she noticed that the bed in which she was currently sitting wasn't a bed for big-folk, but surely a bed made for hobbits. A huge smile appeared on her face as she noticed this. Also it was easy for her to look outside. There were two huge windows in the wall on her left but now huge curtains hung in front of them.

The furniture was beautiful. There was a big cupboard right in front of the bed. It was made of wood and beautifully carved. Big leaves and flowers were to be seen and to Elanor' utter amazement two hobbits were carved on it as well: A hobbit lad and a lass who were holding each others hand, staring into each other eyes. Elanor deeply touched by this got out of bed and walked over the soft carpet towards the cupboard. With her right hand she carefully touched the carvings.

On the same was as the two windows a little table stood as well. And again, it was hobbit height. Elanor was truly amazed by this for she had not expected such things at all. It seemed like her father' desk back in Hobbiton, but this one was beautifully carved in the same manner as the cupboard. Parchment lay ready on the desk, together with ink and quill. "Well, I'm going to use those for sure," Elanor thought as she saw them.

With a smile on her face she turned to face the wall that was right of her bed, in that wall was the door that must lead to... well somewhere. But also there was a painting hanging there. Interest Elanor walked forward, what she saw there brought tears to her eyes; it was painting of her family. Elanor had never known that there was one. Now her family would always be close. They would watch over her. A tear ran down her cheek, but she smiled none the less.

Then Elanor turned away from the familiar faces of her family, and her gaze rested on the closet again, she had brought far to less things to fill the entire closet. Yet she liked the closet very much. "Open it," A familiar voice said. Without that Elanor had noticed it, Aragorn had opened the door to see if she was feeling fine. Elanor turned around and smiled to the King, "Good morning, Strider, or do I have to say; my King?" – "Strider if you please Elanor, for that still is my name. Only I must ask you not to say this to me in front of the people of Gondor." Elanor smiled to him and nodded. " Now open the cupboard."

Elanor nodded again, "Yes sir," she said with a grin on her face. She opened the cupboard and immediately took a step back when she saw what was in there. Beautiful clothes in every colour of the rainbow, most of them were dresses, but tunics and breeches were there as well. And to Elanor' delight there were some ordinary hobbit clothes as well. They were just as beautiful as the other dresses, but more hobbit like.

With a huge smile on her face Elanor ran over to Aragorn to hug him, "Doila lle, Strider!" she exclaimed as she hugged him. Aragorn had kneeled so that he could look in to her face, " Ta naa seasamin, Mellonamin," Elanor looked to him with a puzzled expression, "I understood the last bit, but what else did you say?" This made Aragorn laugh, "You have much to learn, dear Elanor, I said; It is my pleasure, friend," Elanor smiled up to him, "Well, I hope the King has enough time to teach me then?" Aragorn smiled, " The King hopes this too, but the Queen is a far better teacher, now go get dressed then we will get you some breakfast, a servant will pick you up in a moment."

With a last goodbye the King closed the door behind him. Elanor sighed happily and glanced again to the cupboard. Would she be bold enough to wear something else then the hobbit clothes? Perhaps she could try the beautiful red dress… she loved that one already. Gently she took the dress out of the cupboard and spread it out over her bed. It really was beautiful. She found some water and washed herself before putting on the dress. Now she really felt like… like an elf or something. Though Elanor knew all to well that she wasn't one.

After collecting the gift and letters for the King Elanor stepped out of her room only to walk into someone. She fell to the ground and was soon helped up by the man. He was wearing a black tunic with a silver tree sewn on it. It was a young man, but he was much bigger then Elanor none the less. Not at old as Aragorn for sure, but such things were hard to tell for a hobbit. "I'm sorry!" she said looking up to the boy, who seemed surprised and very humiliated as well. "Don't be, miss Gamgee, it was my fault," the boy said, he made a low bow and said, "My name is Bergil, son of Beregond and I'm here to take you to the dining hall."

Elanor frowned slightly, she wasn't used to servants so she said just that which made Bergil look up with a smile, "You're just like Peregrin Took, you know him?" He had forgotten everything about the etiquettes for a moment, for he had known the four hobbits and was a friend with one in particular. "Of course I do, he is my uncle, or so I call him, but he isn't and please don't bow it makes me feel uncomfortable." Bergil… Elanor was trying to remember if Pippin had ever told her things of the man. "Wait! You kept him company right?" Bergil smiled and nodded, " That's true, but I forgot my duties, I'm here to bring you to the dining hall, will you follow me please"

"Of course," Elanor said and the two walked off. It was a strange sight, A large man and a little hobbit who, forgetting the fact that they had just met, were talking happily with each other. "Now that I remember your name, I think I have a letter for you as well. Let me look," she went through the little pile of letters and held one out to him, "It's for Beregond and Bergil, from Pippin." Bergil, happy and surprise as he was to receive a letter took it out of her hand. They rounded a corner and then he said, "Through this door, then you are at the personal dining chamber of the King and Queen."

"Thank you, Bergil, I hope I will see you again?" The boy smiled, " Of course you will, for as long as Prince Faramir stays here I will be here as well." He made a small bow, but he made it with a grin on his face and turned around, "Bye Elanor, I hope you have a good time in Gondor." – "I'll see you later, by Bergil!" Then Elanor turned to the door, now that she was here she did not dare to enter, for she was pretty shy about it. Of course, she had met Aragorn a few times before, but who else might be in there. Well of course Arwen, the Queen would be in there as well.

After a deep breath Elanor knocked on the door, "Come in Elanor," A gentle voice had spoken. Definitely a woman and it seemed to have a kind of age to it as well. Though Elanor had no idea where that thought had come from. Shyly she opened the door. The room was beautiful (Like all others she had seen in Minas Tirith) and filled with seven people. Elanor closed the door behind her and smiled shyly to them. To Gimli and Legolas she grinned and her smile widened a bit when she looked to Aragorn. The King stepped forward and held out his hand. Gratefully Elanor took it. "I want you to meet our other guest before you join us for breakfast."

"You've met Gimli of course," Aragorn said with a smile as the hobbit and dwarf smiled to each other, "It's good to see you up and about again, Elanor," the dwarf said with his deep booming voice, "I'm very sorry for what happened." This made Elanor smile and see said, "It was not your fault, Gimli and neither was it yours Legolas," she added looking to the elf who stood next to his friend. Legolas smiled and nodded his head.

"Then we have Prince Imrahil, he is the father of the Queen of Rohan," Aragorn said, leading her to the next man who gazed down to Elanor with a smile. "It's an honour to meet you, Prince Imrahil," Elanor said with a courtesy. The smile on Imrahil face widened. He was an old man with white hair and many wrinkles. Yet he seemed wise and noble to Elanor' eyes and his eyes were still filled with life. "The honor is on my side, misses Gamgee and please, Just Imrahil." Elanor grinned slightly, "Please, just Elanor then. You have a very nice daughter." The prince laughed, "Ah, yes Lothíriel, I trust she fares alright?" Elanor nodded with a smile before Aragorn led her on.

"Prince Faramir of Ithilien and his wife Éowyn, Princess of Ithilien." Elanor smiled to them, "I've heard much about you, it's an honour to meet you." Was this going to be repeated every time? "Are you going to repeat this every time?" Éowyn said, she was holding Faramir' hand and was smiling down to the hobbit, just as her husband. "I think we are all honoured to meet you and are all happy to see that you are out of your bed." Everybody laughed and Elanor grinned, "Well now that these things are said: I'm still honoured to meet you," Elanor almost stuck out her tongue but managed to restrain herself.

Faramir smiled to Elanor and spoke, "It is good to see a hobbit again, I would love to hear how everybody fares, but I think that everybody wants to hear this, but you must be hungry." Elanor laughed, "Indeed I am, but I have not eaten so much since I … well you know." Aragorn smiled and lead her on, now they were standing close to the table and in front of Elanor was the most beautiful woman she had ever seen, "You must be Queen Arwen!" she said, even before Aragorn had spoken. With deep respect Elanor made a bow but soon she was looking up to the elf again.

Arwen laughed delightedly, "Indeed, Elanor Gamgee," her laugh sounded full of merriment, and as Elanor looked into the Queen' eyes she saw that the Queen wasn't as old as she looked. There was wisdom in those eyes and a certain sadness that Elanor could not understand, perhaps she would find this out later, but the moment was interrupted by Aragorn who said, "Lets give this hobbit a full stomach, and I would not complain to some refreshments myself."

And with that all sat down at a round table. Which surprised Elanor for she had never seen such a thing before, "Strider?" she whispered to the King, she was seated at his right hand so it was easy for her to talk to her. "Yes Elanor?" he whispered back to her with a smile on his face. "Why do you have a round table? I've never seen such a thing before in my life." Aragorn smiled knowingly, "That is because nobody is supposed to sit at the head of the table, everybody is equal, them being King or captain or soldier," he said, not bothering to keep his voice down. "That's the best thing I've ever heard! No wonder you are the King." Elanor said with a grin on her face.

The meal was an enjoyable one and except for answering a few polite questions and asking some herself Elanor did not speak much. She was hungry. She ate at least three full plates; filled with everything from bread to dried meat and some tomatoes. It was a shame that there were no mushrooms, but it was a wonderful meal none the less. Soon she was the only one who was still eating. The people around here were talking about various things; from the weather to the things that had happened so many years ago. Finally Elanor was finished and the 7 friends fell silent.

Elanor smiled slightly and then blushed, " Uh, sorry that I kept you waiting, but I was starved." The others laughed and Gimli said, " Ha! You're a hobbit or you're not."

Dear readers,

I'm really sorry that it took so long to update, but school has started and the teachers think that we have nothing to do. Which means that we now have loads of homework. Yeck.

Also I had some trouble with how to continue, I hope this will satisfy you. And please people reviews! I luv reviews!

Greets

Maikie