To Become a Ranger
Chapter 9
Rivendale
Alyssa groaned and tried to open her eyes which she promptly closed when the glare of the sun hit them.
"Where am I?" she mumbled faintly.
"You are in the house of Elrond and it is October the 21st if you ought to know." Said someone beside her bed.
Alyssa turned her head to the side and squinted at the person beside her. The man smiled kindly at her and bowed his head in greeting.
"My name is Erestor, my lord had just sent me in to check on you as he had expected you to wake up around now. He is with the Hobbit Frodo Baggins who had just woken up also."
Alyssa grunted and cleared her throat. "How long have I been out of it?"
"Almost three days my lady." He answered.
She waved him off, "Its Alyssa."
The man bowed his head again. "Very well, I am just going to step out now and summon Arwen, she should be able to help you." Erestor then turned around and strode purposefully out the door leaving Alyssa to look at her surroundings.
She was in small bed room with a large balcony looking out to the gardens. The room itself was lightly colored and had a small beautifully carved dresser across from the large bad she was lying in. Alyssa felt the sheets, she didn't know the material and she was sure you couldn't find it on Earth where she came from, but she guessed it was very close to silk. The head board of the bed she was in had an elven woman with leaves carved into it. She lifted the covers a bit to see her state of dress and found that (thank god) she was in some kind of a flowing night dress that sadly went way past her feet. 'Damn elves and there tallness.' She thought to her self. She turned her head when she heard the small click of the door being opened and saw Arwen come in.
Arwen smiled at the young human lying in the large bed. The girl could have passed as an elf if she a bit taller and wasn't so… jaded. Yes that was the word.
"I brought you some clothes." She said and almost laughed at the scowl she was cross the girls face when she saw the dresses she was holding.
"I am not wearing a dress." The girl said crossly.
"Yes you are." Said Arwen in a sing song voice, she then dropped the dresses on the end of the bed and moved to Alyssa's side to help her up.
"I can do it myself." Alyssa snapped when she felt Arwen take her arm.
Arwen just nodded and took a step away but still close enough so that if she did fall she would be there to catch her.
Alyssa got unsteadily to her feet and slowly walked over to the basin of water that was beside the dresser on a little stand to wash her face. When she was done she turned to Arwen who had picked up the first dress and was holding it up to her. It was burgundy and looked like it was made of velvet and had a deep swoop down that back that would show a lot of skin. Alyssa wrinkled her nose at it and shook her head. Arwen side and threw it back on the bed. She then pick up the next dress and for then next couple of minutes they when through Arwens pile of dresses all being turned down buy Alyssa.
Arwen sighed. "There is this one," she said absentmindedly holding up an older dress "but it's not really all that proper and it has never fit anyone properly since my mother passed on."
Alyssa frowned and took the dress out of Arwen's hand and held it up. It was a woman's riding dress and looked old and well worn. It was a dark moss green with a flipped up collar and was tied together in the front like a bodice by a thick piece of long string that was attached to the dress at the hips by a silver broach. The sleeves where long and split out at the elbows where you could see the white sleeves underneath it. "I'll try this one on I guess."
Arwen just raised her eye brow yet still helped Alyssa into it. When they where finished getting her into it Arwen stood back and sucked in a breath. She could remember her mother wearing the exact same dress when the family had gone out riding when she was younger and if it was possible it looked even better on Alyssa then it did on her mother with her long dark curly locks cascading haphazardly down her back.
Alyssa pulled at her sleeve nervously waiting for Arwens opinion. When she still hadn't gotten it she looked up and saw that the elf had been thrown back into her own memories so she decided to ask the question out loud. "How do I look?"
Arwen mentally shook herself and nodded her head. "You look great! But we do need to fix your hair. So sit."
Alyssa groaned in annoyance yet sat on the bed while Arwen started to untangle her hair.
A half hour later the two woman stepped out of the room, Alyssa wearing her old boots she had gotten in Fort Norst, much to Arwens annoyance, it wasn't her fault her big feet just didn't fit into the tiny slippers of the elves, here feet where size nine men's.
Arwen then led Alyssa down the many hallways to the dinning hall where lunch was being served at the moment for the much need food, according to Alyssa growling stomach.
They silently entered the hall and took their seats at the empty table nearest to the door. Almost all the elves in Rivendale where already seated and the food had already been served.
Alyssa looked at the food around the table. Most of it was fruit, nuts and salad but there where a few small slices of meat for those who didn't live on a strictly fruit diet. There was also honey which you could pour on your food and this juice that at a really bitter after taste.
Alyssa looked around at all the faces in the room and found Aragorn sitting at the head table with Lord Elrond, Erestor, Glorfindel, Elladan, Elorhir and the five rowdy hobbits, Merry, Pippin, Sam, Frodo (who actually didn't look to bad considering his recent injury) and an older Hobbit with white hair.
"That's Bilbo Baggins." Said Arwen noticing her gaze. "He has lived here for the past year or so, he told me that the Shire wasn't really his home anymore, not since his adventure to the lonely mountain."
Alyssa nodded and tuned back to her food. Naught five minutes later someone came over to their table and sat down beside her. He wore a grey worn robe with a funny hat and a large staff. Alyssa's eyes grew wide in recognition, it was Gandalf the Grey, and she had totally forgotten that he was here in Rivendale, quite stupid of her really.
"Lady Arwen and how are you this fine afternoon?" the old pilgrim said.
"I'm wonderful Mithrandhir." Stated Arwen with a large smile on her face she loved it when Gandalf came to Rivendale it always made the days here more amusing.
"And you must be the mystery Alyssa every one is talking about. Both the Hobbits and Aragorn have told me much about you." He said turning to Alyssa beside him.
Alyssa nodded her head but didn't say anything, she didn't know if she could trust him or not, even when she had read the books she still was weary of him.
"How about you and I go for a nice walk around the gardens, I hear that the forest looks beautiful this time of year."
Alyssa nodded her head in acceptance and excused her self form the table. They then slowly walked out of the Hall and into the gardens. They where beautiful she had to agree yet she could tell that Gandalf was not admiring the gardens like he said he would, he was watching he for something, she did not know what but it was kind of unnerving.
"You do not trust me." He finally said.
"I have no reason to yet." She said cryptily.
"Understandable. Aragorn told me and Lord Elrond your story, and I must say you've had quite the adventure yet the only thing I don't understand is how you got here, to middle earth."
Alyssa shrugged her shoulders. "I honestly don't know the only thing I can think of is, that I some how fell through a void of some kind and even then those are just myths and stories so I honestly can't help you with that."
Gandalf nodded but she could see he wasn't satisfied with it. Let him ponder over it. "In two weeks time a council will be summoned and the free people of middle earth will decide the fait of the ring. We all feel that you should be invited also as you are now tied almost directly with the ring, because of your connection with the Nazgul. Aragorn and the twins have also offered to teach you the ways of Middle earth and battle and Aragorn also mentioned your interest to become a Ranger." Gandalf raised his eyebrow at that. "You will run into a lot of anger and resentment my dear girl; this place is nothing like your world. I must ask you, is this what you truly want?" he said worriedly and it sounded like it truly came form his heart.
Alyssa smiled kindly at him touched buy his worry. "Yes it is exactly what I want and I know that there will be a lot of resentment towards me but honestly I don't care, its what I want and nothing save death will stop me from achieving my goal."
Gandalf stopped and put his hand on her shoulder. "That attitude will get you far and because of it I will let my worry rest but if you ever need any help or and ear to yell at just come to me." He then turned and walked away leaving Alyssa to ponder his words.
"So where would this Alyssa be oh dearest little brother." Said Elladan to Aragorn after lunch. He was eager to get started on the training. If this girl could hold off two Nazgul with out much training then he was very eager to see her take them on with training.
"She would be out in the gardens young master Elladan." Said Gandalf sneaking up on them. Elorhir jumped and turned around. "God, don't do that, your going to give me a heart attack some day."
Aragorn just shook his head and left his two twin brothers bickering with Gandalf, if he knew them, they could spend hours sending insults back and forth. He entered the gardens and looked around, looking for any sign of Alyssa.
He heard a twig snap above him and found Alyssa sitting in the large willow that leaned out over the water.
"What prey I tell are you doing up there in that dress of yours?" he asked with a small grin on his face, (AN: and no he could not see up her dress you pervs)
Alyssa blushed and made sure no one could see up her dress. "I just didn't feel like finding a bench and the view up hear is beautiful. Why don't you come up?"
Aragorn just shook his head and quickly swung himself up to the branch she was sitting on and sat down beside her. He had to admit it was a beautiful view of the east wing of the last homely house and the small water fall that ran down beside the willow into a small pool at the bottom where the willow was.
"So what do you think of Rivendale?" he asked her.
"It's wonderful, very peaceful and quiet." She answered. She looked at him and saw his relaxed state and the small smile that always seemed to play over his face here. "This is your home, isn't it, where your heart belongs."
He looked at her in surprise. "And where dose your heart belong oh Lady Alyssa."
A sad look over came her face. "In my shop near the ocean, down by St. Margaret's Bay." She laughed but there was no joy to it. "Did I tell you about the boat me and my friend where building." Alyssa caught his surprised look, "I may be a smithy but I know carpentry pretty well, and I do know how to sail to, any one who grew up by the ocean does. Well, our boat or rather small ship I guess you could call her was named the 'Odonta' don't ask me why we named her that it just sounded cool and stuck in our heads. She had big white sail and was almost completed before… well yeah anyways she was my baby my pride and joy I miss her terribly." Alyssa snorted. "You probably think I'm crazy don't you."
"No I understand your obsession with it yet I have never sailed before, actually I have never seen the ocean even though I am very well traveled." He said.
Alyssa looked surprised at that. "Really, well one day I am going to show you the ocean and the beauty of sailing."
"Yes one day when all in the world is well, I would love to go sailing with you." He said his eyes glazing over.
Just then the dinner bell rang from the tower signaling that dinner was served and that it was seven o-clock. "Well we best get going or there's not going to be anything left knowing Elladan and Elorhir as I do."
Alyssa jumped down and smiled up at him. "Are they really that bad?" she asked.
He jumped down beside her. "Oh you have no idea. No Idea at all."
And so they walked side by side towards the great elven house not really knowing that, two extremely taxing and highly annoying weeks lay ahead of them.
AN: well there's chapter 9. Big thanks goes out to my brilliant beta reader Gitana Dragon and to all those who reviewed (that doesn't include you shan) thanks again!