Disclaimer: We own nothing blah, blah…..And I won fair and square!
Siriusly Sirius Lily Black : How can I put into words how flattered we were to read your review! It is an honor to have helped you see our beloved Boromir in a different light. I have personally always thought that he got the short end of the stick from Tolkien. I would've killed off Gimli instead. Of course perhaps the reason he killed Boromir is because we would care? Hmmmm have to think about that one. Welcome to the reading and review circle of our story!
Annamariah: Yes, we have finally written the story as it should have been written! It was a wonderful moment for both of us. And you can rush us if you want but I can't guarantee that we'll always go along. However I would like to borrow your mirror a little while. And by the way keep reviewing we love your thoughtful and long reviews! Sorry about the mistake about the Aragonath (We don't know how to spell it either) Winkle is such an idiot sometimes!
Winkle: "You big bully! Just because you are bigger then me, you think that you can push me around!
Snodgrass: "Well I can so there! Go and cry me a river!"
Winkle: "Ouch! Corny song reference!"
Snodgrass: " Go me!" ( does happy dance in silver and orange suit)
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Chapter Twelve
Fix it, fix it, fix it, fix it, fix it, fix it!
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Emily's POV
"Now hold still and I'll fix your belt." said the eflleth. She had a very soft voice and I was tempted to ask her to speak up every now and then. She had been pinning and sizing all my new clothes and was now measuring the proper length for my belt. It was the same belt I had been making the last couple of days, and it rested heavily against my hips. Who knew that an embroidered belt with a few glass beads could weigh so much?
"Ouch! Please be careful with those pins they're kind of like mini daggers!" I said. And the poor thing blushed to the tips of her pointed ears!
"Please forgive me my Lady it was not my intention to harm you."
"Oh never mind, I complain too much anyway. Go ahead you're doing fine, I am sorry I chided you." (Did I just use the chide? Boy I had been around elves too long it seems.)
After placing another pin she considered the effect the belt had with the dun colored gown I was wearing. For those of you who have no idea what "dun colored" means, I'll tell you that it is a plain dusty purple. And my belt was silvery white and as I said rested on my hips.
They were a lovely combination and other then the fact that they showed off my remaining bumps it was perfect. I should be satisfied considering that I was down at least thirty pounds since coming here, but still. I mean everyone is thin and perfect and so you tend to think less of yourself because of it.
But I felt even worse when the eflleth said "This color suits you not, your skin is too olive. I think that a shade of aquamarine would be more becoming to your coloring."
She went off to find the other dress while I wandered what color aquamarine was; the dress I was wearing now was very full in the skirt and heavily beaded. As I walked to the balcony it dragged along the floor with an loud swishing sound. Caras Galadhon was busy today and elves of all kinds were getting ready to do something. When my maid returned I asked her what was going on.
"Another company is departing for the Grey Havens my lady. They are leaving within the hour."
I watched the group below and felt ….sad. Like Sam before me there was some indescribably sadness about the thought that elves were forever leaving the shores of Middle Earth.
She fitted me into another gown which proved to be a lovely light teal color. It was the odd brocade that Elrond was always wearing, but in a much more feminine style. Long bell sleeves came to my wrists and there was the beautiful curling elvish embroidery around the shoulders, neck, and down the sleeves. The eflleth fixed the belt to this dress and it was perfect!
She smiled and said "There this suits you very well my lady. I will have another like it made in similar color. The girdle you wear is quite striking as the colors of an ambassador."
She collected her things and sailed out and I considered myself before the mirror. I did look rather well, but even as I looked at myself attired in all the splendid clothes of the elves I couldn't help but feel I was in over my head. I didn't now anything about being an ambassador or how to delegate.
"Do not be too harsh upon yourself Lady Emily, you will discover the way of it with time."
I turned and found the Haldir leaning against the porch railing, he was splendid in his armor and red cloak. His attitude was the slightly bored one that covered his unusual attention to everything.
"Thanks a heap for reading my mind without asking first. Isn't there some kind of code that says you can't read a person's thoughts without their permission?" I asked folding my arms in an Elrondy manner.
"Hmmm, no there is not." he finally said. "However, I won't if you prefer that I don't."
"I would rather you not then. How do I look?"
He looked at me and said "Fine." in a noncommittal tone. That was sure helpful but what else can I hope for from a guy.
"What are you here for now anyway?" I said trying to walk gracefully along in a skirt that was slightly too long.
"I have to see that your horse is one that will suit your personality and will take good care of an inexperienced rider." He straightened his tunic and offered me his arm. (That whole take my arm and I'll escort you thing was getting kind of natural. I think I would have been shocked if he hadn't done it.).
Resting my still bandaged arm in his, we wandered down to the stables, they resembled a smallish palace for horses. And it was bigger then my house back home. Inside it was full of beautiful animals. I have never been a big horse lover, but still! Pure black, white, chestnut and grey, they were all gorgeous creatures.
"Which one do I get?" I asked as we drew near the stalls. The horses seemed to know Haldir and he stroked the nose of a nearby stallion.
"The one that comes of itself to you is the horse that would best serve and carry you. I'll release them into the field and you go and wait for one to come up to you."
He ducked into the stalls and calling something out in elvish he sent them frisking out into the grassy plain. Following a little behind I watched as the animals circled the field and turned back galloping in pure pleasures of a beautiful day.
"What do I do now?" I asked as Haldir joined me.
"You simply wait until one approaches you, and then it's yours. You'll have to name it of course because it will be only to you and answer your call alone."
"Really? I get to name it?"
"Certainly, that way the animal is sure of it's owner. There I think your steed has just come up."
I turned and saw a drabbled grey mare coming to me and then she nudged me gently in the shoulder. Whinnying in my ear she blew her sweet breath over my face. I'm not joking when I say that her breath was sweet because it was. I mean I never thought a horse could have good breath, but she did. She was perfect her large eyes gazing intelligently back at me.
"Hello Pigeon." I crooned as I patted her head.
"Pigeon? Your naming this beautiful animal Pigeon? Can you not think of something more suitable?" inquired Haldir.
"I like the name Pigeon and that will be her name. If you don't like it you can go and sulk." I said as I began braiding the mane of my new horse.
"I can't tell you how diplomatic that was." mumbled Haldir as he called his own horse. It was a gigantic black…..thing with a long and curly mane that hung down into it's fiery eyes. It was perfectly hideous and I said so.
Rolling his ink blue eyes heavenward he said "I can see that you have much to learn about making yourself agreeable in company."
"I don't have to be agreeable to you Marchwarden." I said suddenly drawing myself up proudly and then in a quiet submissive tone I said "Forgive me for my ignorant words and allow my to say that your horse is quite…….singular."
He stared at me a minute and said "I can't tell if you serious or merely joking."
"I'm quite serious I assure you." I said and Pigeon gave an agreeing whinny.
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Barbie's POV
Yrch…orcs…Uruk Hai…to this very day the words never cease to stir a flood of memories. Ones I really would rather forget, but that will be the better for the telling.
I couldn't believe that this was happening to me. I was being kidnapped by the Uruk Hai, my arms tied around one of their thick, disgusting necks. They smelled like death warmed over then sent to hell and back, and my flesh crawled just to hear them talking in their own, guttural language. Now they were running like maniacs, and the rope that tied my hands together was rubbing harshly against my skin.
Merry was looking awful, and seemed to be drifting in and out of consciousness, and poor Pippin was really frantic.
"Merry-Merry," he whispered urgently.
His cousin gave a small moan as an answer, eyes fluttering open and shut. Pippin turned to me, as if for advice, and I have never felt so unwise. The tough little Brandybuck looked pretty bad to me right now, and I was supposed to know how it all turned out. But I was so unsure; maybe something had been changed when Emily and I came here. Yet I had to reassure him somehow, you have to do a lot of scraped knee psychology when you're the older sister of six other kids.
"I'm sure he'll be alright. A little thing like that couldn't keep your cousin down for long, you know that." Pippin looked only slightly convinced.
Then, suddenly we came to a halt, and I clipped my chin on my Uruk's shoulder. Hard. Double argh. Then they all started to guzzle on something disgusting looking from a jug, letting it drabble all over the place. I was beginning to feel sick to my stomach.
"My friend is hurt. He needs some water." Pippin called out anxiously. One of them made a sound that apparently was supposed to be a laugh, and shoved the rim of the jug into Merry's mouth, pouring it down his throat. The hobbit gagged and choked helplessly on the foul fluid, while the Uruk Hai erupted into hoarse, barking laughter. How very loathsome they were!
As if we didn't have enough trouble, we were then joined by another group of….things…but it was "just" orcs this time. We were shown off like prizes, as I suppose it was supposed to be an honor to have captured three of the enemy. I could have died from shame as the Uruks bragged about us.
The orcs weren't going to admit any admiration, and eyed me especially closely, looking from me to Pippin, then back to me again. Finally, one stepped forward, breathing heavily into my face, and I almost fainted at it's fetid odor.
"You don't look like a Halfling," he growled, apparently stating the first thing that came to mind. I felt like making a bitingly sarcastic reply to this, then decided that they probably wouldn't understand it anyway.
"Maybe," said another one, fingering a rusty knife at his belt " If she isn't a Halfling we could eat her. Master didn't say anything about not eating any humans. And she looks good enough for me!"
My heart gave a sickening thump, but I bit back the cry that rose in my throat, and tried not to look scared. The Uruk leader wasn't going to do what some orc told him though, at least without some finagling, and he stalked all round, scrutinizing me. Then the idiot asked me.
"What are you?"
At any other time I would have been able to invent some tale, but now, when it really counted, but the words died away in my throat, and the orcs and Uruks stepped closer, some withdrawing their weapons.
"Wait! You shall not harm a hair on my dear-ah-sister's head!" Pippin suddenly shouted this out, and their attention focused on him.
"She's not a hobbit! Look-it her! She 'as to be tfree feet taller 'an you!" said one, showing his yellow teeth.
"Well, you see," Pippin said, with a slight blush " There were these Easterlings that passed through our town once. My mother worked at the tavern and well-when they left, this fair creature was the result."
The orcs swiveled around, and studied me more closely, noting of course, my dark brown hair, brown eyes and naturally tan skin, all the colors of an-oh no! I must look just like an Easterling to them! Then of course, I was much shorter than most humans, and so my own life long bane saved my life then, and they backed off a little. But the Uruk leader was still suspicious.
"What Easterlings?" he asked.
"The um-Scurvy Riff-Raffs of the Misty Mountains," I said quickly, having found my voice. The Uruk seemed satisfied, thank Eru!
In fact, I actually heard one of them mutter, " Oh yeah, them Easterlings. I knowed one once."
Then one of them looked around, snuffling as if he had a bad cold. Finally he said "I smell man flesh!" and they began to run again. Cowards.
Though if I had those guys on my tail, I'd be pretty scared too. When Pippin heard that, he ripped off the pin that fastened his cloak, and spit it out on the ground, and we both watched it being trampled into the ground by the marching feet of out captors. Then I decided to leave my own mark, and kicked off one of my shoes, hoping that it would hit someone. Then I turned to Pippin.
"I can-not believe you told all those dirty stories about me earlier. What a filthy imagination you have, you Took you!" I said, in a lecturing tone.
"I did it to save your life Barbara. You could give me a little credit for that," he said in hurt tones.
"Thanks for that anyway. That I appreciate, but not those silly tales about my parentage. Easterling, indeed!"
"A Scurvy Riff-Raff of the Misty Mountains no less," agreed Pippin solemnly, a tiny twinkle in his eyes.
That made me feel a lot better, this gleam of sunshine in an otherwise horrible evening. I was going to need all the light I could get then, as we passed through a scrubby, desolate forest. It also didn't help that our "escorts" (ha!) had a bad habit of crashing right through everything, including thorns. At one point I leaned a little to the left to see what was ahead, then immediately regretted the action as I hit my head on something, and everything went white-then a throbbing, aching black.
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Emily's POV
Leaving Lothlorien had a bad effect on everyone in our little company. I use the word the word "little" in a connotative sense. There were over thirty members in our band, thirty were solider of the Galadhrim and the others were Haldir and myself. We had made pretty good headway and were only two days away from Rohan already.
The most surprising thing about leaving Lorien was when the Galadhrim soldiers had come marching to meet us in the perfect step. They faced the Lord and Lady and saluted Haldir. I noticed that they were all female! Galadriel patiently explained that they were the traditional guard for an Ambassador and were especially trained for peace keeping without violence.
I eyed their long swords and bows and thought how "peaceful" they all looked, as they gazed point blank at the horizon. Gold armor concealed in their dark grey cloaks they are now riding in formation around the Warden and myself. I was still marveling over how silently we moved through the forest. Almost gliding by the towering trees of the golden wood I saw Haldir casting one last look over the borders and give an almost unnoticeable signal to his wardens hidden in the trees.
As I rode along on my lovely Pigeon I thought about the last minutes I had sent in the presence of the Lord and Lady. Galadriel had retied my belt and shown me how to knot it in the traditional way of an ambassador.
"My Lady, I don't think I'm ready for this. Please don't ask it of me."
"There is no turning aside now Miluiel, you have set your hand to the plow and must follow through." she said. She stepped away and Celeborn held out a long sheathed sword at least five feet long. It was beautiful and inscribed with something but I forgot to ask what it said.
"My gift is small but it will behoove you have it in the future. Use it as a last resort and when you do, know that experience is not needed. It was the treasure of a mighty warrior and ambassador once, so now it will pass to another." His voice was cool and calm and every word held authority.
As I accepted the blade, but I couldn't help thinking of all the stupid things I had done the last few weeks and that very morning as well. I wasn't worthy of the honor they kept giving me. Head bowed I thanked them and Celeborn said "My dear child, Eru protect you. I fear we will not meet again."
Being the crying Mary-Sue that I am, I let a few tears drip off my nose as we left. But my spirits lifted as the sound of a harp and a light soprano voice followed our path out of Caras Galadhon.
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Barb's POV.
My head is going to explode. I know it. Why do those idiots keep bumping up and down? I can feel something dry and crusty on my forehead, but underneath the surface it's wet. Why won't they keep still! Please, I could use some quiet and few hundred aspirin. Ow.
"Are you alright?" Slowly I opened my eyes, just to see what nimrod would ask that kind of question now. Oh. It wasn't a nimrod. It was-it was-oh darn!
"Who are you?" I asked hoarsely, sounding like a sick frog. I could feel-or rather not feel my arms anymore, they were completely numb.
"It's Merry. Uh-how many hobbits you see?"
"One. How long have they been running?" I asked, trying desperately to concentrate on anything, anything but the dwarves that were hammering out Beethoven's fifth in my head.
"It's been two days since you hit your head. You've been out the entire time and I was beginning to think you weren't going to wake up," Merry said. I managed a crooked smile.
"Thanks for your concern. Does it really look that ghastly? My head I mean?"
"It wouldn't be quite so bad if something were done for it, but…he trailed off.
"Well, we all said we'd do our best for Frodo, even if it landed us in some pretty tight places. I suppose now all we can do is ride this out for know. I don't think these ropes are going to loosen anytime soon. Besides, I don't think the orcs would let us just march away because our ropes broke."
I let my head drop forward, despite the fact my entire body revolted at the scaly feel of the Uruk Hai's skin. I was too tired to care. I was feeling light-headed, and wondered if I was going to pass out. Then I remembered something I had read once, something about not letting yourself or another injured person go unconscious.
"Quick, talk to me. I think I'm going to faint," I said sluggishly, trying to keep my drooping eyes open.
"Don't you dare go to sleep Barbara Grace Paul. You can't go to sleep I absolutely forbid it."
My head snapped up in surprise, this sounded like Aragorn's voice, hard and commanding.
"What the heck was that?" I asked, wide awake now.
"Just a little acting. I didn't think you would listen to me, so-at least you're awake."
Merry shrugged as far as his bonds would allow him. I stared at him a little longer. There was definitely more to this Brandybuck than met the causal eye.
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Emily's POV
"Just fix it please!" I begged.
"No!" was the cold answer.
"Okay, fine! It doesn't bother me at all." I shot back and tried to peel my eyes away from Haldir's armor. It was perfect and golden and blah, blah, blah. But it was slightly off center and it was driving me crazy!
I had discreetly called attention to it and said that he may want to fix it. To my surprise and annoyance he wouldn't! It was jabbing into his side and it had to hurt I was sure of it.
I had gently persisted in my mission to make him adjust it. "Come on, Warden just fix it!"
"No! Now leave me alone if you please." and he said something to my horse who remotely stopped in her tracks. I urged her to go on but nothing happened. I watched Haldir riding away and called after him.
"You did that on purpose!"
"I don't deny it!" he answered and gave me the most devilish grin. My horse stayed clear of Haldir's for the next few hours and finally I decided upon a course of action. Our favorite Marchwarden was in the habit of reading my thoughts without asking so……
Emily's Thoughts: " Fix it, fix it, fix it, fix it, fix it, fix it, fix it, fix it, fix it, fix it, fix it, fix it, fix it fix it, fix it, fix it, fix it, fix it, fix it, fix it, fix it, fix it!"
And so it went for the next hour, I think I must have bored holes in the back of his head by this time. Nothing happened he didn't move and so I carried on determined that he would move the danged piece of armor!
Suddenly I was rewarded with a reaction. He wielded his horse around and came back saying, "Will you have the goodness to stop doing that!"
"Not unless you move your armor."
"No! I refuse to do so."
"But it's askew!" I returned.
"What? Are you the askew police?" he asked.
"Yes, I am the askew police now fix it! "
Now I saw that I had succeed in unleashing the intense and gloomy Marchwarden. He pulled away and stuck out his lower lip!
Without a word he rode away again and my horse just sat there like a bump on a log. It was slightly embarrassing as the elven guards had to stay with me. He rode ahead saying to the lead guard. "I will go and scout out the trail before us. I think yrchs may have passed by."
Emily's Thoughts to Haldir: "Liar!"
Haldir's Thoughts to Emily: "Oh shut up!"