Disclaimer: The Lord of the Rings is property of Tolkien and there are many references throughout to Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series. I only own what you do not recognize. The character Chinky is not meant to cause offence and is named after a real horse whose name has been shortened from a Fiat Cinquecento (Chinky – Chento).
Chapter 4: House of Elrond
They galloped throughout the day, covering leagues and leagues in bounds over the soft pine covered ground. Chinky set a hard pace for the other two horses, but she knew how urgent it was to get Amy to Elrond.
'How are you faring Amy?' Chinky asked.
'I don't feel the pain in my hand, but come to think of it I can not feel that arm.'
'Elf boy did a good job there. You should be thankful.' Chinky said maintaining her speed.
'I am thankful, but he knows something about me, I can feel it. Plus, it is Legolas! An elven prince!' Amy said gathering the reins up in her good hand.
'So that's why you are embarrassed, you think you've gone mad? It's not every day you meet characters out a book!'
'Yes slightly,' Amy said sheepishly realising how stupid she must sound.
'He knows something about you.' The horse replied.
'I know, not that it's unusual that I'm the last to know.' Amy said dejectedly.
'Well what if I was to tell you that Aragorn knows something about you, as do I? And what we know could change the course of Middle Earth.'
'I really am in Middle Earth?'
'Yes young one, you are. And you are vitally important to the world, I will say no more.' Chinky replied.
'Tell me what you know.' Amy said in surprise.
'No.' Chinky said simply
'Fine, keep your secrets but I know you're up to something,' Amy said signalling the end of the conversation with her.
BREAK
"Where am I now?" Amy asked trying to sit up.
"You are in the house of Elrond little warrior. Lie back down."
Amy looked up and rubbed her eyes and saw four people. Aragorn was sitting next to her stroking her hair soothingly. Amy smiled as she could feel his large hands brush over her soft hair. She sunk her head back into the pillows and surveyed the other three people. Legolas was sitting on the end of her bed looking out the window. An old grey man who she presumed to be Gandalf sat on a chair smoking a pipe. And finally a dark haired elf was looking at her from the end of the bed.
"I am Lord Elrond. You came to me three days ago, in desperate need of my help."
"Yes I remember I got shot by a blasted orc arrow; I can remember galloping flat out on Chinky, then, well that's about it. What! I've been here three days!" Amy said finally grasping the situation and sitting up.
"Calm down," Aragorn said pushing her down slightly.
"Yes, that arrow, as I thought, was poisoned," Legolas said, "If Chinky had been any slower we would not have made it on time. Even when we did I am very surprised at your recovery rate. I have only ever seen elves recover so fast!" He said this while still gazing out the window; he finally looked round at her and smiled showing brilliant white teeth that made Amy suppress a tremor. "No matter you are safe now."
"Yes but for how long?" Amy looked to see where the raspy voice came from and she settled on the wizard in the corner.
"Huh?" She said, with an utterly confused look on her face.
"The enemy know where you are, and is looking for you, Amy daughter of Onlee." Gandalf said looking over at her. He had a kind face despite his age. His wrinkles were set almost too deep into his face. And his hair was the colour of the smoke coming out of the pipe.
"It cannot be?" Elrond said suddenly looking at her. "I thought you to be male?" He said this almost to himself.
"Well in my defence I only found out three days ago that my father was called Onlee, and I am definitely not male!" Amy said somewhat indignantly. She looked over at Legolas and saw him try and stifle a grin.
BREAK
Two weeks later
BREAK
Amy yawned it was a lovely sunny day. The sun shining through the golden leaves left little patterns on the soft mossy floor. She sat with her feet in one of the many small streams that ran through Rivendell. She had been here nearly three weeks and she could not be having a better time. She could paint when she wanted, practice archery with Legolas, sword fight with Aragorn. Muck about in rivers and ride Chinky when she felt like it. 'Finally life has perked up,' she thought.
The peace and quite did not last long though. It never did when your two best friends were male.
'Ugh,' Amy said as something hard landed on her stomach. The wind was knocked out of her as she looked up to see Aragorn lying on her belly.
"Get off you great fool! I've just eaten!" Amy managed to splutter out before pushing him off.
"Well we had to get your attention somehow! You were off in a dream world!" Legolas said as he gracefully sat down next to her.
"Perhaps that's where I wanted to stay," she said crossing her arms across her chest. She smiled to herself; she didn't really want to stay there. She preferred it so much more when she was with the two future kings.
"Well Little Warrior you've got a visitor coming tomorrow, Elrond told us to tell you." Aragorn said. He still used the name he had given her on their first meeting. And after seeing her fight with him the name stuck.
"Who's coming to see me? I can count the number of people I know in this world on two hands, and that includes the blacksmith! Who wants to see me?" Amy said flicking water at them.
"Lady Galadriel, of Lothlorien. No one knows why she wants to see you. Well Elrond and Gandalf know, but they are not telling. Gandalf left a few days ago to find Shadowfax so he can escort her here." Legolas said cheerfully wiping water off his face.
"Err, I'm not even going to ask why she wants to see me, I'll find out tomorrow. Guess I'm even more important than the two future kings if she wants to see me not you!" As soon as she said this she regretted it. Her two companions looked at each other and smiled. Legolas picked up her hands and Aragorn took her feet.
Amy started squealing and kicking. "Put me down! Put me down! Legolas Greenleaf, let me go! Aragorn put me down now!"
"That's not going to help you now Little Warrior! Legolas to the muck heap!" Aragorn said as both man and elf carried her towards the back of the stables.
"Legolas, Estel, put her down this instant!" Legolas and Aragorn looked round to see who had bellowed at them and grimaced when they saw Elrond standing behind them. They both let go of her at the same time and she landed with a 'THUMP' on the soft earth.
"What do you think you were doing? I expect more from two princes." Elrond said.
By this time Amy had picked herself up and walked over and stood behind Elrond who instantly put an arm round his new little foster daughter. Amy stuck her tongue out at them, before smiling sweetly and innocently at Elrond.
"Amy, darling, Galadriel is arriving early. She will be here in no more than three hours she was already through the Misty Mountains when Gandalf met up with her. I want you to go and change, and put on your best clothes. Chinky will be washed and brushed so you will be ready to meet her. Estel, Legolas I want you to go help Amy, and change yourselves.
