Disclaimer: I own nothing...as usual. Everything is Tolkiens unless you don't recognize it, then its mine. I also don't own the song Split Chick by Mandy Moore, May it be by Enya.
A/N: I'm so sorry its taken meso long to update this story, let alone any of them, so if you have been reading my other stories besides this one, I'm sorry but it may take a while for me to update. I'vehad a horrible time so far, my boy friend died over seas in London, and then my uncle died just recently.I also started school so I'm swamped but I have not given up on any of my stories and never will,I hate when people give up on them. AnywaysI hope you enjoy this chapter,the next onewill be coming soon...I hope!
The next day early in the morning everyone was up and working quickly getting everything needed for the trip to Imladris. Strider took the hobbits and were collecting everything they didn't have, and also buying a horse to carry the extra packs. While Blaise was working on sharpening the short swords, which were to be past out later when they were on the road, to give to the hobbits to protect themselves.
They were all together right after the sun had risen and were starting off on the journey to Imladris. The hobbits were still weary of Blaise and Strider, and the two knew it and were ignoring the fact and concentrating on the path they were taking. But Blaise tried her hardest in the beginning to stop their worring but later realized they would be wary of them until they faced something that would give another view to them.
Blaise knew that they were watching her too. She could feel the stares of their eyes on the back of her head. Her father would look back, since he was leading them, and look at her and just kind of silently tell her to put up with it. She wondered though why they were so shocked and suprised by her looks, she knew they had atleast seen her face in the dark, but ever since she had taken her hood off in the morning light they were all big eyes and staring. She was half suprised they hadn't fallen on their faces from not looking at where they were walking.
Strider knew they were staring at his daughter and was kind of weary of it himself, since he didn't like to think of his little girl being all grown up and as pretty as her mother. It scared him everytime a male of any make walked up to her and started a conversation. It scares him even more when during a ball there would be a long line of men wanting her company either to dance, or to take a walk around the gardens. He knew that he hadn't been around a lot when she was younger but he also hadn't been able to get to Lothlorien where she was born and raised for the beginning of her life. She was raised with her mother and her great grandparents, who told her everything they knew about him, and what he did, and when she finally asked to begin her lessons with the sword and bow and arrow, they had the marchwarden teach her in the beginning, which changed after she arrived in Imladris where her Uncles Elladan and Elrohir and himself took up the teaching, and her Grandfathers friend and confidident Glorfindel took up teaching her the staff and the twin knives.
Strider knew he was remembering the past, and how he had kicked himself so many times for not being there for his own blood, but knew that she had excepted him as if she had known him since birth. He still didn't know how she did it, but it didn't really seem to bother her, which made him worry all the more.
A couple of hours after they had started, Strider and Blaise turned at the sound of pans being unpacked. Blaise cocked her eyebrow up in a questioning way when she realised that the hobbits thought they were going to stop again to eat. Strider took this in as well, telling them that they were not to stop until later, turned and had to chuckle quietly so as his daughter not know he had seen the eyebrow raise, and it instantly reminded him of her grandfather. When she followed behind him, she quietly suggested giving the hobbits some apples to help them make it to mid-day. Her father took the suggestion to heart, grabbed an apple and chucked it over his shoulder Blaise laughed out loud when she saw it hit Pippin on the head. He looked up at the sky while Merry took it from him and said something, then turned right before another apple hit Pippin also on the head. Blaise couldn't contain her laughter when she saw Pippin again look up at the sky as if the sky was throwing the apples at him. She quickly grabbed two more apples and jogged towards Sam and Frodo and handed them each one.
At a little after mid-day they stopped for a break to rest their feet, and to eat a little lunch that was to hold them over until they stopped for the night. Blaise went around scouting the area and taking in the tracks and what the trees were saying about the Ringwraiths. Strider was also scouting the area on the otherside as Blaise was. Leaving the hobbits to sit around and prepare a meal for them all.
After the food was ready Sam began passing out the partions to the others, the second to last was Blaise and when she seen how much she was getting she pulled him aside and told him, "Sam, make as much as you did today everyday, but cut my part in half and add it to you hobbits' meals, for I don't need as much food as you guys do. Is that okay?" At Sams nod Blaise gave him a big smile.
After they started back on the road Blaise was walking with her father, keeping step with a little bit of jogging sometimes but it was plainly obvious that he was trying to slow down for the hobbits who had smaller legs then they did.
Frodo along with Merry and Pippin had been staring at Blaise almost the entire time they had been out walking. Frodo couldn't get over the fact of how pretty she was with a rugged look as well. Merry and Pippin who were walking along with him and also staring were just amazed at how beautiful she was, whispering to eachother how pretty she was and comparing what they all liked.
Blaise was pretty tall, maybe a little shorter than her father. She had dark brown hair, almost black, and weirdly enough had what it looked like blonde and light brown streaks in it. Frodo realized after they had sat down for their lunch that she had clear blue looking eyes, but if you were to get up closer to her you would see that they were bluish-gray, with silver and gold outlining it. Her face though was fairly skinny, she had very defined cheek bones.
Frodo from hearing all of the descriptions from his Uncle knew that she resembled most elves, so he wasn't really all that shocked at her features. He was more shocked that she had an aura around herself that just made her feel like she was royalty. She seemed like she was sure of herself to the point of being a regular snob, but yet she seemed to be so unsure of herself, looking from side to side, not meeting eyes with the person shes talking to, besides her father, and not really all that out spoken unless she has the energy.
That night they all went to sleep except for Strider in the beginning for watch, and later on Blaise joioned him. They were sitting quietly for a while, with Blaise fidgiting everyonce in a while, which she is very well known to do. Finally fed up with it Strider turned to his daughter and decided against telling her to go back to sleep, so instead he told her, "Blaise, stop fidgeting, your going to give us away with all of the noise you are making rubbing ur bottom on the branch."
Blaise looked down at him from the spot that she was sitting in the tree he was leaning against. "Well I can't handle the silence, and the trees aren't gossiping to me anymore, they're just complaining now. Anyways I wanted to see how well we progressed today and if we have to push them harder tomorrow." Blaise sighed turned and glared at the trees in the surrounding area and then leaned against the trunk of the tree and looked back at her father.
"I believe that we made well time, it might not hurt to move a little faster but as long as we reach Rivendell safely, I'm not complaining." Strider looked at his daughter and then in a demanding tone told her, "go back to sleep, you will be taking watch tomorrow night." with that he turned back around and listened to the forest.
Blaise automatically listened to him, so she put her legs up on the branch also and slowly entered sleep wishing to command the trees to be silent so she could rest peacefully without dreaming up what ever they talk about.
Blaise awoke sometime later to a stick poking her in the butt, repeatedly. Looking down with slightly glazed eyes, she realized it was one of the hobbits, Merry, waking her up. She guessed since he couldn't reach the tree branch he improvised by using a stick instead of yelling out loud.
Blaise quickly jumped out of the tree and began cleaning up the campsite, getting rid of any signs of their fire. Finally satisfied enough with the outcome of the firepit area, she looked up to see her father watching her progress, she was delighted to see him smile and nod his head her way, obviously approving her work.
It had been a couple of hours since they had left there campsite now and Blaise was trying to entertain herself without bothering her father, who was walking along side her. Finally figuring out there was no way to keep herself entertained without bothering him, she decided to sing, since he usually liked to listen to her sing.
I can run as fast as the boys
I can sing and dancee ballet
I can show you all of my toys
though I'd rather be alone today
It's not that I don't like to hang around with you
And though you're fun, I'm on the run, so much to do
Gotta make the dreams I have come true
'Cause life is what you make it and to waste it just won't do
Split Chick
Gotta split, can't stay
That's the way i'm a Split Chick
Thanks a lot
Had fun, see you babe
I'm split in two, I'm a Split Chick
I can hold my breath forever
I can pledge allegence in reverse
You know kids can be so clever
It can be a blessing or a curse
When I'm with you I get lost inside your eyes
I forget about the time and I realize
I gotta run along and sing my song
I'll kiss you and miss you and be back before too long
Split Chick
Gotta split, can't stay
That's the way I'm a Split Chick
Thanks a lot
Had fun, see you babe
I'm split in two, I'm a Split Chick
Split Chick
Gotta split, can't stay
That's the way I'm a Split Chick
Thanks a lot
Had fun, see you babe
I'm split in two I'm a Split Chick
(That's right...)
Every flower has to find a way to reach up to the sun
Even through the cracks in the sidewalk
(Whatever...Sure)
Gotta make the most of everyday
Makin' friends that'll help me on my way
I'll rise above the fear I feel
I'm gonna take these dreams and make them real
Split Chick
Gotta split, can't stay
That's the way I'm a Split Chick
Thanks a lot
Had fun, see you babe
I'm split in two I'm a Split Chick
Split Chick
Gotta split, can't stay
That's the way I'm a Split Chick
Thanks a lot
Had fun, see you babe
I'm split in two I'm a Split Chick
Split Chick
Gotta split, can't stay
That's the way I'm a Split Chick
Thanks a lot
Had fun, see you babe
I'm split in two I'm a Split Chick
I'm split in two I'm a Split Chick
Split Chick
Gotta split, can't stay
At the end of the song, Blaise looked around her and realized they had stopped and everyone was looking at her strangely, even her father. "What!"
"Nothing, Blaise just next time you pick a song, don't make it so...different, choose something a lot more mellow." Strider said looking down at his daughters face, slightly suprised at the song she had sung, not knowing where she had learned, an almost vile sounding song.
"Sorry Adar, I will think more wisely on the next song I choose to sing." Blaise looked slightly offended by what her father had said, since she liked the song, but she also knew that if her father thought the song sounded a little strange, she couldn't even imagine the hobbits reaction to it. Looking behind her she saw the hobbits all with big eyes looking at her intently. Shrugging her shoulders slightly at them she turned back to face forward and started to walk again, the others following her until her father took the lead again.
That night Blaise realized the hobbits had finally stopped looking at her strangely, she guessed because they had both gotten used to her appearance, and they had also mostly forgotten the song. Sitting down she looked towards her father who stopped the hobbits from starting a fire knowing that the Ringwraiths were still trying to hunt them.
Strider sat down across the campsite from his daughter, watching her intently. She was acting strange and he was starting to wonder if something was bothering her. Finally not being able to handle thinking something was on her mind and bothering her to the point of being a normal elleth, he quickly made his way over to where she sat intently taking in the surroundings.
"Manen lle?" (How are you?) Strider asked his daughter after he had sat down next to her. When she didn't answer right away he again asked her in a slightly more demanding voice. "Manen lle?"
"Im vaer" (I am fine) Blaise answered, not making eye contact, after the second time he had repeated the question. She felt his fingers cup her chin and knew right before he made her face move that he wanted the truth and knew that he would know if she was lieing if she were to look into his eyes while answering. She also knew he could tell she was lieing without having to look at her expresive eyes, he was very observant, and also the ties between them made it increasingly hard to lie to him since part of him, his own blood, was pounding in her veins making the connection between them unbreakable.
Making his daughter look into his eyes he demanded "Uuma risa a'amin. Kwentra amin!" (Do not lie to me. Tell me!) Strider was beginning to really despair, he couldn't handle thinking something was bothering his daughter and she refused to talk to him. She used to be so open with him, even when she really didn't know him, she used to prefere to talk to him over her own mother, depending on the problem.
"I'm fine Adar, I'm just thinking about Imladris, and trying to connect with Naneth, I was hoping to speak with her quickly before having to worry about taking watch." Blaise said switching back to the common tongue, not caring if the hobbits over heard this conversation. She waited to see if her father was pleased with the answer she gave him.
Strider understood what was wrong with his daughter after she had admited that. She was missing her mother, this was one of the longer times she had been away from her, and it was having an affect on her. He thought back to his first time out on his own without his brothers, and shuddered, he remembered the despair he felt at being left alone. He took comfort though that his daughter wasn't alone now, she had him to lean on, and he was going to help her through it. She would be fine and used to it in a couple of more days, they were more less a week away from Imladris and if they kept the pace they would be there before she realised it.
Strider taking the hint that it was okay for the others to over hear if they were still awake continued the conversation in common tongue until the end. "I understand Blaise, take some rest, I will take your watch. Quel kaima iell-nin, Amin mela lle." (Good night my Daughter. I love you) Strider watched his daughter slowly rest her head on his shoulder and heard her barily whispered answer.
"Quel kaima Ada, Amin mela lle." (Good night Daddy. I love you) With that Blaise tried to focus one last time on talking to her mother, but quit after she realised she was still too far away to reach her. Before her eyes were completely glazed over, she heard her father singing one of her favoite songs. It was a song that reminded her of her mother.
Strider not knowing how else to comfort his daughter started to sing softly a song that was tought to him when he was young. It not only helped his daughter he realised, but it brought some hope to himself. It reminded him of his beloved, his daughters mother, his soul mate.
May it be an evening star
Shines down upon you
May it be when darkness falls
Your heart will be true
You walk a lonely road
Oh! How far you are from home
Mornie utúlië
Believe and you will find your way
Mornie alantië
A promise lives within you now
May it be shadows call
Will fly away
May it be your journey on
To light the day
When the night is overcome
You may rise to find the sun
Mornie utúlië
Believe and you will find your way
Mornie alantië
A promise lives within you now
A promise lives within you now
The next morning they started walking again, keeping a better pace considering where they now were at, the marsh lands. Blaise was almost laughing at the talk the hobbits were having.
"I am being eaten alive!" Pippin exclaimed before hitting another midge away from his neck with his hand. "Midgewater! There are more midges than water!"
"What do they live on when they can't eat hobbit?" Sam asked no one imperticular as he scratched an area on his neck.
Blaise couldn't help herself and thought that they deserved a little fun so she told them about one of the days she had to spar with Glorfindel with the twin knives. "So when Glorfindel went to slice me in half, I panicked, so I kicked him, repeatedly I must admit, in a very inapropriate place. I felt so bad afterwards, but most people there found it funny to watch the Great Balrog Slayer go down by a elleth not even a quarter of his old age. I must say I also found it funny, that is until I got yelled at by almost all of my family, lets see there was Vede Elrohir, who told me I did well for my first spar; Vede Elladan, who decided to tell me that even though I had beaten Glorfindel, it was an unfair way of winning; Naneth who was beside herself to say much more than 'what if you were not able to block his strikes'; Elrond who was beside himself to see his Granddaughter beat his longtime friend and councelor; Adar who was too proud of me to say anything negative; Galadriel who thought it was time I learn to use another weapon; and finally Celeborn who thought it was funny to see Glorfindel go down the way he did."
With that story everyone had made it out of the marshes for the most part and they quickly put up camp. Sleeping on the soggy ground with Midges all around them.
Blaise took watch for the first part of the night and then relinquished the rest of the night to her father for her to get some rest, if she could ignore the midges long enough to anyway, and gather her strength for the next day.
Blaise woke the next morning, if you can call still being dark the morning. She quickly assessed the time and thought it was time to wake the hobbits. Going over to Merry and Pippin she quickly had them up and moving around the campsite, so she worked her way towards Sam and Frodo. She woke Sam and told him to wake Frodo since she figured he wouldn't let her near enough to him to actually wake him effectively.
After everyone had been wakened and had eaten their breakfast, the five waited for Strider to come back from scouting and tell them where they were to be heading. Blaise was a little curious to hear which course her father was going to take, knowing that all ways were going to be dangerous with the wraiths hunting them.
Strider returned and told them that they were to take the road towards Weathertop, and they were to reach it by night fall, if not earlier. They all left the camp soon after the sun had risen and walked all the way to Weathertop by nightfall. Before making it there though Strider again sang, giving the hobbitspart of a song from Elven history.
Gil-Galad was an Elven-king
Of him the harpers sadly sing:
the last whose realm was fair and free
between the Mountains and the Sea
His sword was long, his lance was keen
his shining helm afar was seen
the countless stars of heavens field
were mirrored in his silver shield
But long ago he rode away
and where he dwelleth none can say
for into darkness fell his star
in Mordor where the shadows are
After making a stop at the bottom Strider made his way to a small section of flat rock where he stopped and waited for the others to catch up. Telling Blaise where exactly they were and making sure she realised a way of excape if necessary. Making camp on the small ledge on the side of the watch tower Strider left them to scout; after handing out the short swords to the hobbits and making sure Blaise was prepared for anything and everything if need be.
Blaise helped the hobbits set up the campsite and prepared herself to take watch until her father came back. Not realising it, her eyes slowly glazed over, but her senses stayed alert to wake her at any movement. Which is what she awoke to, Merry, Pippin, and Sam had a fire going and were cooking what looked to her as breakfast. She realised the same moment Frodo had, who had been resting, that the fire was going to attract the attention they didn't want from the wraiths. This was quickly taken care of and everyone stayed silent hoping and praying that it would stay silent, but were quickly scared when they heard the screeches in the distance, but not too far in the distance.
Blaise took up the rear as the hobbits ran up the stairs to the very top of Weathertop Hill. They formed a circle their backs against eachother, slightly hard for Blaise since she was quite a deal taller than them, and effectively kept their eyes open for the wraiths who they knew were following since the screeching had become closer and more frequent.
Blaise could almost feel her ears ringing from the pitch of the screechs, she remembered the night at Bree where her father had to stop her ears from bleeding. She hated to admit it but her ears weren't used to loud noise and she could already feel the effects from these wraiths and they were still climbing the hill, she was terrified of what would happen when they met face to face or cloak really she realise when they appeared around the stone remains. She quickly got her sword out and ready to defend herself and the hobbits the best she could.
She was suprised by how the hobbits seemed to be so brave. She was shocked when Merry and Pippin both tried to defend Frodo, who the wraiths were clearly after. Sam was next, and then it was just her and Frodo left. She knew that fire was what she needed to really get rid of them but she had no time, so she decided to go against them with her sword and if need be her knives.
Blaise moved infront of Frodo and stode defiently before him. "Frodo if need be comes around, I want you and the other hobbits to excape and fine my father. Hurry!" With that Blaise started to fight against one wraith at a time.
The first one almost got passed her but she stopped him by stabbing him in the neck, but in the face which she knew would be the only real way to slow down one. She turned quickly when she heard the hobbits all yelling at Frodo. Fear struck her when she saw Frodo disappear, knowing he had used the 'ring' and also knowing that now he could see the creatures under the cloaks. She screamed suddenly when a sword cut into her side, she knew immediately that she should worry about the wound but other things were on her mind for her to worry about herself. Turning around she saw her father coming from one of the edges of stone wall that still stood. Knowing she could fight for a while longer she pushed herself to the limit helping her father get rid of the wraiths one at a time.
Quicklly turning back to Frodo only to see him laying on the ground with a wound on his shoulder gave her fear, but to see the blade that had stabbed him, made her blood run cold, she knew what type of blade it was for her Grandfather was a well known Elven healer and had tought her for a summer about any ailings he could put into her head. Frodo had been stabbed by a Morgul blade, as she made the revolation her father had made the same kneeling next to Frodo, holding the dagger until it disintagrated into dust, which Strider quickly threw the blade down in disgust.
Blaise watched her father pick up Frodo and hurry off in the distance with the hobbits following him. She quickly looked down to see the extent of damage she had taken, covered it the best she could hoping her father wouldn't notice and ran to catch up with the others, not wanting to be left alone with so much evil around her.
They had been running for what seemed like forever. They had finally stopped in a small clearing, and Sam, Strider, and Blaise went out to search for athelas for Frodos wound. Blaise was ten maybe fifteen feet from her father when she heard a quiet, familiar voice speak softly to Strider.
"Whats this? A ranger caught off his guard?" Turning quickly Blaise saw the outline of her mother. She almost went towards her, when they both ran off towards the clearing. Making her way back quickly Blaise walked into the clearing to watch her mother and father fight over who was to ride with Frodo to Imladris. While watching she realised her parents were having a moment while they could, she turned and felt the pull of her wound, but ignored it to the best of her ability. Looking around though she quickly realised the stone structures she thought surrounded the area were trolls, or what were once trolls, now they were just mere statues of their old selves, which was a good thing.
Blaise quickly turned back when she heard her mother quietly address her. "Blaise, come here quickly." Blaise quickly moved towards her mother, in time to be hugged, almost smothered. When they pulled apart, she knew her mother had figured out about her wound that her father still had not picked up on.
Before her mother could ask she answered "Im vaer. Do not worry Naneth!" (I am fine) Her mother watched her contently for a second or two and must have taken her word for she quickly turned back to her horse, which Blaise realised was Glorfindels horse Asfaloth, she quickly smirked knowing her mother had taken it without permission since the horse was Glorfindels pride and joy since he had no elleth for himself.
They watched Arwen gallop off with Frodo into the forest. Then turned back to the clearing gathered there things, and traveled as far as they could go before stopping for the night. They did this until they were across the Ford of Imladris, or Rivendell as others call it. Once on the other side of the Ford, Blaise felt at peace immediately. She was walking a little farther a head of the rest of the group and so when she was close to the House of Elrond, her home she was suprised when she had a dizzy spell knowing that elves never felt weakness unless illness takes them and that rarily ever happens unless it be by a weapon.
Remembering her wound she did the only thing she could think of before crumpling to the ground.
"Help me!" She screamed in her mind, knowing it would get through the connection to not only her father, but her mother, uncles, and grandfather.
A/N: I hope you liked this chapter. Please review and tell me your feed back on it. I may be coming back on here and redownloading it with a more prepared version of this chapter, but I figured this is better than nothing. REVIEW!